Minutes of the Ordinary Meeting of the Greater Geelong City Council held at the Portarlington Cricket and Football Club on 24 March 2015, commencing at 7:00pm.
Lian Chan
Victoria Strachan
Robert Kanngieser
Glen Jose
Jennifer Banrow
Councillors:
D Lyons (Mayor)
T Ansett* (7:05pm)
L Ellis
J Farrell* (7:05pm)
K Fisher* (7:05pm)
B Harwood
M Heagney* (7:05pm)
J Irvine
E Kontelj
S Kontelj
R Macdonald
R Nelson
G Miles (Chief Executive Officer)
D Frost (General Manager Strategy and Performance)
P Bettess (General Manager Economic Development, Planning and Tourism)
J McMahon (Acting General Manager City Services)
L Quinn (Acting General Manager Community Services)
J Merlo (Senior Media Officer)
A Paterson (EO – Mayor)
The Mayor declared the meeting open at 7:00pm.
Council acknowledges Wadawurrung Traditional Owners of this land and all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People who are part of the Greater Geelong community today.
Councillor:
A Richards
Cr Ansett moved, Cr Irvine seconded –
That Leave of Absence requested by the Mayor from 27 March to 2 April 2015, be cancelled.
Carried.
Cr Heagney moved, Cr Ansett seconded -
That the Minutes of the Ordinary Meeting held on 10 March 2015 be confirmed and signed.
Carried.
Nil.
Question Time is an opportunity for questions to be addressed to Council and while the minutes record the general content, they do not purport to be a transcript of what was said by individuals. Likewise Councillor or Officer verbal responses are in summary form only. Views expressed may not be the views of Council.
Council's practice is to provide a separate document on its website setting out questions and responses including any more detailed written responses which may be provided subsequent to the meeting.
Lian Chan and Victoria Strachan submitted questions prior to the Council Meeting, but as they were not present their questions were taken on notice for a written response.
Jennifer Wills addressed Council as follows:
Communities in the Greater Geelong area including Point Lonsdale, Barwon Heads, Ocean Grove and Portarlington are concerned about environmental degradation from plastic shopping bag pollution, and the ongoing detrimental impacts on sea birds and other marine life. Community groups in recent years have taken action to address the problem by mounting educational campaigns and supplying reusable bags to reduce disposable plastic bag usage and wastage; but faster action is needed to protect our fragile environment.
Staying-in Portarlington Inc is asking will Council support these community grass roots initiatives by introducing a Council-wide ban on plastic shopping bags in Greater Geelong?
Jenny McMahon responded she was unclear if Council has the ability to legislate and enforce a Council-wide ban on plastic shopping bags. As you know Council currently undertakes a number of initiatives to help reduce plastic bags and other forms of plastic from entering the environment. It also includes supporting regular cleanups of waterways and beaches and undertaking environment education programs. Council also provides support to the Barwon Heads Sustainability Group, who have an initiative to reduce plastic bags usage in Barwon Heads. I will ask our Environment Unit to contact you for further discussion.
Cr Farrell added that Council contributed $2,000 to the Barwon Heads Group to buy bags some years ago, reflective of Council’s appetite to do so.
Lorraine Andrew asked:
I have had a letter in regards to roads being sealed. I am all for this and would like to know when will this starts as every time we get a letter the price has gone up?
Jenny McMahon responded that unfortunately she could not provide a definitive answer but would follow up with relevant officers and provide a written response.
Helen Freeman asked the following:
Please provide details:
for the 2004-2014 period the rates paid by residents of Portarlington, Indented Head and St Leonards?
for the 2004-2014 period provide the amounts spent on the areas list in a), above?
The Mayor took the question on notice for a written response.
Tom O’Connor asked his question in relation to Tourism on the Bellarine:
What incentives do Council have in place right now to encourage tourism on the Bellarine?
Cr Fisher responded that a she would arrange a written response from Roger Grant, Manager Tourism.
Cr Fisher added consultants are being commissioned to develop a tourist plan for the region and a website is to be launched for Greater Geelong and Bellarine Tourism.
Also, the opening of the new “Flying Brick Cider Company” which also features an accredited Visitor Information Centre. A Marine Sculpture Park is also being considered.
Elizabeth Fairlie asked question regarding Heritage Conservation:
Bonsey Cottage, built in 1854, has been assessed in the outer areas heritage study as being of regional significance. It is of historic and aesthetic value. The house has been little altered both within and without.
It is with a sense of urgency that I ask on behalf of Bonsey Cottage that Cr Nelson makes a budget allocation to see his ward of the outer areas heritage study brought to a logical and tangible conclusion to save this and other historically significant buildings?
Cr Nelson responded that he would endeavour to have Bonsey Cottage included in either this budget or a subsequent budget as he too agrees with the need to have it protected.
Cr Ansett added that he would work together with Cr Nelson to make it happen.
Robert Kanngieser asked:
Why has the edging in the shopping centre (St Leonards) never been asphalted and what is happening with the bus shelter?
Jenny McMahon took the question on notice for a written response.
Where shopping centre is around post office has it been approved for three storey buildings?
Peter Bettess responded the issue is probably the 7.5metre trigger for requiring a planning permit, but would have to follow up for specifics.
Roads are pot-holed and in need of repairs: The Esplanade, St Leonards, Murradoc Road, between Murradoc Road to Queenscliffe?
Cr Ellis indicated this was a VicRoads responsibility, but would make further investigations.
Glen Jose asked an infrastructure related question which was not submitted.
Jennifer Bantow asked questions regarding Heritage Conservation:
Cr Nelson – can a review of Deakin Ward places identified in the Outer Areas Heritage Study please be included in the next budget?
Cr Nelson responded that budget time is a tough time, but will work with Cr Ansett in an effort to have it included in this budget or the next.
For the last six years Council and the Geelong and Regional Branch National Trust have jointly presented Heritage Awards to owners to recognise their contribution to heritage conservation.
Cr Ansett – could Council be represented at the presentation?
Cr Ansett responded that he would be happy to attend.
The local Geelong and Regional Branch of the National Trust often receives calls from the public about concern for the conservation of heritage places. In recent itmes the Branch has received an increasing number of calls about the issue of multi storey, high density unit development in areas of high heritage value. Existing residents who enjoy living in these areas and who value their homes because of the heritage neighbourhood character are caused great distress and worry because of the detrimental impact on their amenity of these inappropriate intrusions into their neighbourhood.
The Branch requests the City of Greater Geelong planners consider the overall general trend of breakdown of heritage precinct which is happening in a way which could be described as … death by a thousand cuts. This has been defined as the way a major negative change happens slowly in many unnoticed increments and is not perceived as objectionable when each individual change occurs.
Will Council support heritage by stemming this trend by refusing these applications?
Peter Bettess responded he would need to investigate where these developments causing public distress were occurring.
Cr Kylie Fisher presented Council with a framed print recognizing their contribution towards People with a Disability, 3 February 2015.
Cr Ansett presented a petition from residents objecting to new Greyhound Permits and increase of numbers of Greyhounds on current permits in Avalon.
Contents | Next Page: Section B – Reports
