Minutes of the Ordinary Meeting of the Greater Geelong City Council held at the Council Conference and Reception Centre - City Hall on 14 April 2015, commencing at 7:00pm.
Steve Gleeson
Evan Hardie
Michelle Rimmer
Leanne Hinge
Sue Anic
Rhys Booth
Cr D Lyons (Mayor)
Crs:
T Ansett
L Ellis
J Farrell
K Fisher
B Harwood
M Heagney
J Irvine
E Kontelj
S Kontelj
Cr R Macdonald
A Richards
G Miles (Chief Executive Officer)
D Frost (General Manager Strategy & Performance)
P Bettess (General Manager Economic Development, Planning and Tourism)
W Tieppo (General Manager City Services)
L Quinn (Acting General Manager Community Services)
J McMahon (Acting General Manager Projects, Recreation and Central Geelong)
J Brown (Manager Administration and Governance)
R Bourke (Governance Co-ordinator)
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.
Cr R Nelson
Cr Ansett moved, Cr Fisher seconded -
That the Minutes of the Ordinary Meeting held on 24 March 2015be confirmed and signed.
Carried.
Cr Macdonald declared an Indirect Financial Interest in Agenda Item 2 – Combined Planning Scheme Amendment C324 and Permit Application 1503/2014 – 357 and 359 Pakington Street, Newtown in that he has an interest in a property within close proximity to this development proposal.
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.
Steve Gleeson asked:
Waterfront residents and visitors are unreasonably impacted by the inaction of the owners of Steampacket House to resolve the public safety issue raised in an Emergency Order from March 2014.
The purpose of the scaffolding to facilitate a work site (rather than simply apply a ‘bandaid’ to a public safety requirement)has been ignored for close to a year with no actual repair work having taken place in this time.
Our residence directly abuts Steampacket House on the east side – due to the scaffolding our balcony is rendered unusable and the valuable visual amenity and natural light are both robbed. The financial impost also includes money paid for cleaning and maintenance works as part of an Owners Corporate, which can’t be completed on our apartment due to the contractors not having access.
Our investment made to live in Geelong and enjoy participating in the revitalisation of the CBD is both diminished and undermined by the lack of enforcement of and reasonable resolution to this matter.
Will Council request its officers to provide appropriate customer service to enquiries made regarding this matter and exercise all its relevant authority to enforce the owners to complete the required public safety works immediately, remove the imposing scaffolding so as to restore amenity and access to residents and visitors and reopen Dundry Lane?
Peter Bettess responded he would provide a more comprehensive response in writing.
Council issued a building order on this site because the concrete façade was deteriorating, so in the interest of public safety, scaffolding was erected.
The nature of repairs on this building are complicated and the owner is currently engaging architectural consultants in relation to the repairs. Building approval should be issued soon and Council is hopeful it will be completed within 3-4 months.
Evan Hardie asked questions in relation to the gifting of old Netball Courts, Ocean Grove, Land:
Are the Mayor and Councillors aware that at a meeting I instigated and held in early February 2014 with two executive officials of the Karingal Disability organisation, Robyn Bradshaw and Julie Graham, that I was told by them quite clearly that they expected to receive gifted land from the intended sale of the old Netball Courts land in Ocean Grove, and that they had received assurances to that effect from unidentified sources from within Council?
Are you also aware that these officials showed me at that meeting, completed architectural drawings of a $1ml worth, 1,000 sq metre specialty home to be built on this proposed gifted land?
Are you also aware that a 1,000 sq metre home will not fit on one of those blocks with an unencumbered area of approx 650 sq metres?
Is it therefore not surprising to you that the Submissions Hearing Pane of 3 June 2014 recommended to Council that the previously advocated one block be increased to two blocks?
Council also aware that Cr Fisher in her role as the Disability Portfolio Holder is Council’s eligible representative on a twenty member body called GRAND – the Geelong Regional Alliance Network of Disability groups, of which CoGG is a member, and that the Karingal group, via Robyn Bradshaw, has been its Chair in recent years. Are you equally aware that one of these member organisations will be selected by its own member – CoGG – to receive the proposed gifted land, now worth approx $1ml?
Can Cr Farrell confirm to Council that, as a co-board member, until approximately December 2013, of Ocean Grove Community Enterprise, along with two board members who also sit on the disability group, Bethany’s Board, that you may have advocated for this gifted land proposal?
Can this notion be supported by the public declaration by Jane Thomas in July 2014, upon receiving on behalf of Bellarine Supported Living, a cheque from Ocean Grove Connected Communities (was O.G. Comm Enterprise), for $4,000, that she had worked hard with you for 2-1/2 years towards this gifted land outcome?
In the view of the Mayor and Councillors, does it appear that Council’s Code of Conduct may have been breached in regards to the Council’s final decision to gift this land, owing to what may have been a series of predeterminations or perceived bias by some members of Council along with a heavy disregard for other opposing points of view by way of public submissions to panel hearings? And, have the codes of Impartiality, Integrity and Accountability and showing no favour to a particular segment of the community been adequately upheld?
Will the Mayor and Councillors consider advising Council officials to investigate and verify the above discoveries, assertions and answers to questions in accordance with the principles of Councils’ Code of Conduct and Good Governance practices?
Finally, Councillors, are we here dealing with the ‘gifted land’, the ‘sacrificed land’ or the ‘promised land’?
Cr Fisher thanked Mr Hardie for his questions regarding her position or influence on the GRAND and introduced him to co workers and friends, including the Disability Advisory Committee members and advised she works closely with NDIA in Geelong.
Cr Fisher added she hoped there was as much interest in meeting with other service providers who may well put in an EOI and submission into the land as the meeting held with Karingal.
In relation to block size – it was a surprise to myself that only one block was being sought yet a Councillor colleague offered the second block which would provide extra accommodation in the City of Greater Geelong. It was without hesitation I was thrilled to be able to support that motion.
Regarding your questions relating to myself, I very well may be Council’s eligible member to sit at the GRAND table, but I do not and I never have. I wish to make it very clear that I personally have no direct advocacy role, nor influence over the Geelong Regional Alliance Network of Disability. I am Chair of the Disability Advisory Committee of Council.
Further, you have referred your concerns to the Local Government Minister, the Local Government Investigations and Compliance Unit and State Ombudsman and that responses received have concluded that there is no evidence of a breach of the Local Government Act.
I also understand that you referred your concerns to the State Ombudsman and who has advised they are not proposing to undertake any further inquiries.
I am very happy with the open process and submissions are open to all providers.
Cr Farrell added there was no breach and she had nothing further to add.
Michelle Rimmer asked the following in relation to Greyhound Permit petition:
In the Council Minutes from 24 March, reference is made to Cr Ansett presenting a petition “objecting to new greyhound permits and increase of numbers of greyhounds on current permits in Avalon”.
Are these changes to permits proposed or already in effect?
When were these new permits granted and by whom?
Who submitted the petition and what are their concerns?
Will Council take action following the objection to new greyhound permits?
Cr Ansett responded he was provided with the petition and has an obligation to present. The petition objected to new greyhound permits and the increase of numbers of greyhounds on current permits.
Peter Bettess added there was a series of permit applications made for greyhound establishments. All the applications were deferred pending a review of the policy requested by Greyhound Victoria. Permits have not as yet been determined. A Hearing Panel is scheduled for Thursday at 5pm, and the recommendation is that they be refused.
Leanne Hinge asked questions regarding Rocke Bros operations:
It is to my understanding that Rocke Bros will relocate as their operations are not consistent with the light industrial area to which they are operating.
In the interim, I am imploring to Council to have in place, time restrictions as they are still operating on a 24 hour basis and at full throttle?
A time limit must apply. If they do run after hours, who can I contact to inform of this so it can be stopped?
Peter Bettess responded they are relocating. Council will take up with the company, but there is no ability for the Council to force a curfew on them. The company have been responsive in relation to the past two requests.
Cr Ansett responded the Company is definitely relocating and we will be meeting with the owners through the week and there is no doubt we can make them aware.
Sue Anic – organiser of Autism Walk Geelong held on Sunday 12 April with over 1,000 people attending.
Sue asked how she can organise a meeting with Council to discuss the ongoing last minute phone calls, emails and running around that is caused by us having our sensational balloon release? We would like to make sure that it is an ongoing integral part of the Awareness Walk. We would like to meet to discuss that this can be ongoing as long as the walk is a part of our greater City?
Cr Fisher responded the Group is supported throughout the region and that Council’s continued support was reflected by the Certificate of Appreciation presented to Council.
The Mayor thanked Ms Anic.
Linda Quinn indicated she would be in contact to organise a meeting.
Rhys Booth asked questions in relation to the Old Geelong Gaol:
What alternatives have been considered to development and changes made to the Geelong Gaol. Has a feasibility and concept study been undertaken?
Does the Council wish to follow the Burra Charter recommendations on the proposal?
What is the official stance on the prison?
Cr Ansett responded he has always been passionate to retain the gaol in its current format.
Dean Frost added that through Council’s process it was resolved to take submissions for the potential sale of the Gaol. The submission period has closed and a Submissions Review Panel have met. A report considering these submissions will be presented to Council next week.
The Mayor added he was aware of the $35ml state government grant to re-do the Bendigo Gaol and will certainly be going to look at the work being done there.
Cr Heagney responded a process was undertaken by Council in 2013 where we worked with Geelong Rotary Club to see what opportunities there were to attract visitors and at that stage went through a heritage study.
Cr Heagney added she doesn’t believe there is a Council standing on this at the moment and the actual position of this Council will be determined at a future meeting when a report is presented to Council.
Nil.
Cr Fisher presented Council with framed Certificates of Appreciation for Council’s support in relation to the ”Autism Walk Geelong” and the “Having a Say Conference 2015” which provides the opportunity for people with disabilities to have their say.
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