Minutes of the Ordinary Meeting of the Greater Geelong City Council held at the Council Conference and Reception Centre in City Hall, 57 Little Malop Street, Geelong on 17 November 2015, commencing at 7:00pm.
Joy Porter
Roger Smith
John Pettit
Lionel McWilliam
Sarah Schonfelder
Ian Hughes
Councillors:
Cr D Lyons (Mayor)
T Ansett
L Ellis
J Farrell
B Harwood
M Heagney
J Irvine
E Kontelj
R Macdonald
P Murrihy
R Nelson
A Richards
K Spiller (Interim Chief Executive Officer)
D Frost (General Manager Strategy and Performance)
P Bettess (General Manager Planning and Tourism)
W Tieppo (General Manager City Services)
L Quinn (Acting General Manager Community Services)
P Jane (Acting General Manager Projects, Recreation and Central Geelong)
T McDonald (Acting Governance Coordinator)
A Paterson (EO – Mayor)
J Merlo (Senior Media Officer)
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.
One minute’s silence was observed on behalf of Council and the community of Geelong to pay their respect to the fallen of Paris this week. Mayor Lyons has also written a personal letter to the Mayor of Paris expressing the sincere condolences of the people of Greater Geelong.
Cr K Fisher
Cr Ansett moved, Cr Ellis seconded -
That the Minutes of the Ordinary Meeting held on 20 October 2015 and the Special Meeting held on 10 November 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.
Joy Porter asked what is Council prepared to do to assist the Portarlington community to retain its local swimming pool and secure its future?
Paul Jane responded that Council doesn’t have any intention to take over the facility as it requires considerable investment to bring it up to a safe standard for public use. In an effort to address this issue consultation with the community to discuss access to existing Council owned facilities could provide alternative options.
Cr Heagney suggested the group submit to the Community Budget Submissions Program which closes on 20 November.
Cr Farrell added it should be noted that submissions are generally on Council owned facilities.
Roger Smith, Operations Director, Echidna Walkabout Pty Ltd asked will Council permanently protect the wider You Yangs region from mining and urban development that will destroy the proven wildlife tourism potential of the area by considering a new planning initiative that could be called the “You Yangs Protection Zone” taking in the catchments of Hovells Creek and the Little River?
Peter Bettess responded that the matter would require State Government approval which is a lengthy process, but Council could certainly help and review the current overlays and zones in the area.
John Pettit asked the following:
The Planning Department in February 2009 issued a Planning Permit no 1153/2008/4 to allow mining to proceed and infringe substantially into the Victorian Registered Aboriginal site “You Yangs Wooloomanata 7722-0006”. The result of issuing this permit was a decimation of the site and the loss of thousands of Aboriginal artefacts. Contrary to the permit and the CHMP the owner has allowed the site to remain an un-rehabilitated mess for the past four years.
How can Council assure us that the same mistakes and outcomes will not happen again in future proposals?
Having granted the permit with strict conditions to mine in this Aboriginal Registered site what supervision was carried out by the planning department or other responsible authorities to assure the safeguards to the Aboriginal Heritage required in the Permit and the Work Plan were actually adhered to?
Peter Bettess responded that provisions were carried out through Aboriginal Affairs Victoria and the provision was provided under terms of the Cultural Heritage Management Plan. Council’s Planning Permit does not have a role in that.
Lionel McWilliam asked how is Council going to control the proposed increase to 500% in the amount of trucks using Sandy Creek Road?
Peter Bettess responded that the traffic issues using Sandy Creek Road is one of the things considered as part of the planning permit.
Sarah Schonfelder invited the Mayor and Councillors to “Thank You” Day at Guf on 27 November 2015, commencing at 2:00pm.
Cr Heagney responded she will be attending.
Ian Hughes (President of the Geelong East Men’s Shed) asked if Council is aware of the significant asset they have with Men’s Sheds in general and their contributions to the local community and if Council will consider supporting their submission for funding?
Cr Irvine acknowledged the significant work provided by the Men’s Shed and indicated he would do everything he could to support the funding application.
Cr Ellis presented a petition from residents of Portarlington expressing their concern regarding the closure of the Portarlington Pool at 84-110 Smythe Street, Portarlington.
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