Minutes of the Ordinary Meeting of the Greater Geelong City Council held at the Council Conference and Reception Centre - City Hall on 12 May 2015, commencing at 7:00pm.
Mark Boyanton (Bicycle Users Geelong)
Dan Cowdell
Nanette Mannix
Paul Westcott
Cr D Lyone (Mayor)
Crs:
T Ansett
L Ellis
J Farrell
K Fisher
B Harwood
M Heagney
J Irvine
E Kontelj
Cr R Macdonald
Cr R Nelson
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 S Kontelj
Cr Fisher moved, Cr Richards seconded –
That Leave of Absence be granted to Cr Macdonald from 1 – 12 June 2015, inclusive.
Carried.
Cr Irvine moved, Cr Harwood seconded -
That the Minutes of the Ordinary Meeting held on 28 April 2015 be confirmed and signed.
Carried.
The following Declarations of Conflicts of Interest were made in relation to Agenda Item 1 – Budget Referrals 2015-2016:
Cr Farrell declared an indirect interest in the Victorian Local Governance Association (VLGA) in that she works as a contractor for the VLGA.
Cr Irvine declared an indirect interest in St Albans Breakwater Cricket Club in that he is the President of the St Albans Breakwater Cricket Club.
Cr Harwood declared an indirect interest in the Composting Site Setup Works in that he undertakes consultancy work for a company that is assisting Council in establishing a green organics site.
Cr E Kontelj declared an indirect interest in the Geelong Soccer Club Facilities Upgrade due to his close association with a committee member.
Cr Lyons declared a direct interest in the Town Centre Tree Lighting in that he owns property in the CBD that may be impacted by the continuation of the lighting and decoration program.
Cr Heagney declared a direct interest in the Town Centre Tree Lighting in that she owns property in the CBD that may be impacted by the continuation of the lighting and decoration program.
Cr Heagney declared an indirect interest in Managing Future Growth Batesford South Study due to her close association with a ratepayer who has significant property interests in the area.
Cr Ellis declared an Indirect Interest by a Conflicting Duty in Agenda Item 6 – C274 HO1600 Heritage Review, Batman Park, Indented Head in that he is a Board Member of the Bellarine Bayside Foreshore Committee.
Cr Nelson declared an Indirect Interest in Agenda Item 9 – Highton Drainage/Flood Study as he owns a property in the flood overlay zone.
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.
Mark Boyanton (Bicycle Users Geelong) asked the following questions:
Can Council please write to Bicycle Users Geelong and Bikesafe and list off the cycling related projects delivered in the 2014/15 budget, and cycling projects in the draft 2015/2016 budget? And can that list detail the works undertaken, the cost, and how it has or will improve cycling outcomes? Can we have answers in writing within two weeks?
What work is being done by the City of Greater Geelong to lobby and work with the state and federal government to gain funding and drive more cycling infrastructure?
There is limited cycling access to the Geelong CBD that is safe. What is Council doing about this and when and where can we expect to see improvements?
Cr Richards thanked Mr Boyanton for his questions and as requested a written response will be forwarded to both Bicycle Users Geelong and Bikesafe.
Cr Heagney also thanked Mr Boyanton for attending the Meeting and advised she attended a presentation by Barton on Friday morning in relation to the bike network.
William Tieppo added Council is working to provide a safe connection for pedestrians and cyclists from eastern suburbs into Central Geelong and the waterfront. The project is jointly funded and includes the construction of a 1.5km long, 2.5metre wide asphalt shared path through Eastern Park and along Ryrie Street; and realignment of road markings on Garden Street to provide safer space for cyclist. Completion should be November 2015.
Dan Cowdell asked Council to write to the Geelong Sustainability Group outlining all draft budget allocations for 2015-2016 to do with:
Council Environmental Unit
Council’s Future Proofing Geelong Unit
Council’s Waste Area
Any other allocation from other areas considered to be environment or sustainability orientated
Cr Richards responded that a written response, as requested, will be forwarded to the Geelong Sustainability Group.
William Tieppo added a more detailed written response will be provided. Council is committed to improving the local environment as reflected in the 2015/16 budget. Specific measures within the budget included supporting the work undertaken by Future Proofing Geelong, the allocation towards restoring waterways, wetlands etc. Council has also been making provision for funding the rehabilitation of the Corio Landfill and for a continuation of risk assessments and monitoring works on disused landfills.
Nanette Mannix asked her questions as a very concerned resident of Geelong regarding the front page of the Geelong Advertiser Friday, 8 May 2015:
How many Councillors knew beforehand of the epic spray in state parliament given by Geelong Labor MP, Christine Couzens, regarding Mayor Darryn Lyons?
Do all Councillors agree with Ms Couzens using parliamentary privilege was warranted of our Mayor and Geelong Council being in shambles, turmoil, chaos, bad smell and bullying?
What is the Councillor’s response in publicly answering these accusations or are you going to continue the infighting rather than stand united for the benefit of Geelong?
The Mayor expressed his disappointment and indicated he was not aware of what happened last week other than when it was announced.
Cr Eddy Kontelj added he is not part of any political party and was not in Geelong at the time. Cr Kontelj expressed his extreme disappointment that Ms Couzens, so early in her tenure, would speak ill of our Council and the Mayor. He was very disappointed and the comments made were not beneficial to any of us.
Cr Heagney advised she is a member of the Liberal Party and was not aware of the comments made beforehand. This Council is coming together, we have disagreements but that’s democracy and part of that is the political process, it doesn’t mean there is infighting. The best possible outcome is achieved by all political parties working together.
Paul Westcott addressed Council in relation to the Moorabool Street Bus Interchange:
Has any previous decision of the full Council or of Council’s Central Geelong Taskforce supported the removal of the Interchange from its current location, and if so, where is it, and if not, how can Councillors advocate for the facility to be moved? I note that public transport and the Bus Interchange are a State Government responsibility, so what input has Public Transport Victoria and the State Government had into this effort? Will Council and the Taskforce undertake genuine consultation with the general public, and in particular, public transport users to ascertain what they think of such a major change to the current arrangements, and if the Task Force persists with the view that the Interchange should be removed, will that be subject to ratification by the full Council?
The recently published plans of the Taskforce obviously rely on successfully reducing car use in and around the city centre, which surely requires the improvement of other sustainable transport options, in particular public transport. What importance does Council and its Central Geelong Taskforce place on improving public transport to the CBD? How do the published plans make public transport into Geelong more usable and attractive?
Bus users are heartily sick of being blamed for economic and social problems which have nothing to do with public transport, and for which they have absolutely no responsibility. When there were no bus stops in Moorabool Street for almost five years, the street, sadly, continued to decline.
Cr Heagney responded that the Central Geelong Special Task Force, is looking at ways to ‘Green our CBD’ through the “City in a Park” project. A potential suggestion was to move the bus interchange to Lt Malop Street so Moorabool Street can be green and we can link Moorabool Street and the Waterfront.
Cr Richards added there is no decision by this Council to move the Bus Interchange and I would expect any decision to do so would come back to this Chamber and would not recommend anything until full support of Council has been reached.
Mr Westcott asked why should public transport users be subjected to a less convenient service because they are being mistakenly blamed for the problems of the central city?
Cr Heagney added she did not believe that public transport users are an issue to the CBD. We have got to go through a process to gain public feedback.
Cr Richards suggested Mr Westcott directly address the Central Geelong Task Force in relation to the public transport and bus interchange issues.
Nil.
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