Minutes of the Ordinary Meeting of the Greater Geelong City Council held at the Council Conference and Reception Centre in City Hall, 30 Gheringhap Street, Geelong on 24 January 2017, commencing at 6:30pm.
Russell Coad
Clive West
Alison Williams
Daniel Ryan
Ian Kelly
Fiona Conroy
Eric Sharkey
Patricia Fyfe
Geoff Gugger
Dr Kathy Alexander (Chair), L Gardner, P Dorling.
K Spiller (Chief Executive Officer)
L Hill (Acting General Manager Strategy and Performance)
P Bettess (General Manager Planning and Development)
B Luxford (General Manager Investment and Attraction)
W Tieppo (General Manager City Services)
L Quinn (General Manager Community Life)
A Keen (Executive Manager People and Organisational Development)
T McDonald (Manager Customer Service and Council Business)
The Chair declared the meeting open at 6:30pm.
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.
Nil.
L Gardner moved, P Dorling seconded -
That the Minutes of the Ordinary Meeting held on 13 December 2016 be confirmed, with the following amendment:
“Kathy Alexander responded it was her understanding it will be used to repair the cattle yards pending information on the costs of the repairs and a decision to proceed with any repairs”.
That the Minutes of the Special Meeting held on 21 December 2016 be confirmed, with the addition that the Contractual Matter is in accordance with 89 (2) (d) of the Local Government Act.
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.
Russell Coad invited the Administrators to participate in the “Inward Trade Mission” in Geelong hosted by G21 Agribusiness from 13-17 March.
Clive West advised of the unclean condition of public seating on the south side of Little Ryrie Street behind Officeworks caused by birds resting in the trees. The same problem is experienced along the City’s Waterfront.
Kathy Alexander advised that Council will investigate and take appropriate action.
Alison Williams asked questions regarding the Terms of Reference for the Geelong Saleyards Advisory Committee:
Could the CoGG confirm that if the peak user group (that is: Geelong Saleyards Users Group) nominates a representative to membership of the Committee who is a fit and proper person and has the confidence of users, that the person will be appointed?
Kathy Alexander responded that the membership process is outlined and any person who considers they fit the criteria should be encouraged to consider submitting.
One of the stated objectives of the Committee is to “advise Council on options to address issues and assist with the identification of preferred solutions for Council decisions on operational issues and in relation to strategic decisions it may make in relation to ongoing service”. Can you please explain what that means, as it is not comprehensible to me?
Kathy Alexander advised there is nothing in the Terms of Reference which prevents spontaneous advice coming from the Advisory Committee on both strategic and operational issues.
Daniel Ryan asked why do officers say the Terms of Reference are consistent with the Australian Code of Practice for the selling of livestock, when that is patently incorrect?
Kathy Alexander responded that Council have been provided with copies of other Saleyards Terms of Reference and believes that the proposed Terms of Reference is consistent with other similar Terms of Reference. She pointed out that the City of Greater Geelong’s proposed Terms of Reference are specific to the period between now and the end of June 2017, at which time a decision will be made about the future of the Saleyards.
Why is it proposed that the Committee will advise Council officers, rather than Council/Administrators?
Kathy Alexander notes that the Committee should advise Council/Administrators and indicated her intention to amend the sentence accordingly.
Ian Kelly asked:
Do Administrators and Council realise the importance of the beef industry in Geelong given the following facts released in the Meat and Livestock Australia Industry projections for 2017?
Australians consume on a per capita basis 25.9 kg per annum. The weighted average retail price in September 2016 was $19.34kg. I’m only a small producer on 100 acres and based on these facts I provide beef rot 154 people for a year with beef in Geelong.
Likewise if we look at the 8,717 cattle sold through the Geelong Saleyards in 2015/16 they equate to feeding 78,082 people in Geelong with beef for a year. This has a retail value of $39,112,000 and this does not include the value of sheet.
Did you realise that this is a really important piece of public infrastructure that you have proposed closing which processes a retail value of $39million a year and will you please fast track the re-opening process as soon as possible?
Kathy Alexander responded by saying it is important to develop an Agri-business strategy and obtain independent market analysis to make an effective decision about the place of Saleyards in the broader development of Agri-business.
The draft Terms of Reference proposed that the Committee’s only role is to a) provide information on the perspectives of stakeholders, b) advise ways to inform and consult with stakeholders outside the Committee, c) advise on communication associated with the closure of the saleyards and d) respond to specific questions referred to it. Why are Council’s draft terms of reference so markedly limited and different from Terms of Reference of equivalent bodies across Victoria and nationally?
Kathy Alexander advised the Terms of Reference must be read as a whole. The objectives make clear that advice and response can relate to operational or strategic issues.
She advised there is nothing in the Terms of Reference which prevents spontaneous advice coming from the Advisory Committee on both strategic and operational issues.
The Saleyards Advisory Committee Terms of Reference will be in place for the period between now and 1 June 2017.
Given that there have been at least two damning occupational health and safety reports, including risks included in earlier reports that have never been addressed, operating losses over a number of years significantly greater than comparable Saleyards elsewhere, and stakeholders who are deeply unhappy with the service. Are Administrators confident that Council possesses the skills and expertise to conduct a rural business such as Saleyards without the influential advice of a properly constituted expert advisory committee?
Kathy Alexander advised that a properly constituted Advisory Committee of experts will advise on all operational and strategic issues in the future. Council is comfortable with the current staff working in collaboration with the Advisory Committee.
Fiona Conroy asked given that the Saleyards are a major importance to livestock producers in the Golden Plains and Surfcoast Shires and provide a regional livestock saleyard service, why are representative of neighbouring Councils not included in the proposed membership of the Saleyards Advisory Committee?
Kathy Alexander responded the Expressions of Interest will be advertised publicly and neighbouring Councils will be advised. The proposed membership does not exclude people outside the City of Greater Geelong expressing their interest.
Will Council be publicising the resumption of sheep sales and could the Council please erect some signs at the Saleyards notifying people of the date sheep sales are resuming?
Kathy Alexander responded “yes”.
Eric Sharkey asked why won’t CoGG work with stakeholders to develop strategic and business plans for ongoing operations of the Saleyards? Why is development of such plans not included in the Terms of Reference?
Kathy Alexander indicated that the Committee will be able to have input into the operational and strategic issues.
Has the Council given any consideration to form a Section 86 for the purpose of formalizing the Advisory Committee?
Kathy added the proposed Terms of Reference of the Advisory Committee are for the period of operation up to end of June 2017, at which point the future of the Saleyards will be decided. At that point is may or may not be relevant to consider at Section 86 Committee.
Patricia Fyfe asked as a ratepayer and a livestock producer who is very interested in the current issue of the Geelong Saleyards, could you please provide me with the detailed financial reports of the Geelong Saleyard Operations for the past ten years? Could you also please provide these reports to the Geelong Saleyard Users Group? I would appreciate these being available by 31 January 2017?
Kathy Alexander responded Council would put the information on the website.
Geoff Gugger asked how will the public know what the Committee is advising, and whether Council and/or officers accept the Committee’s advice?
Kathy Alexander responded the Minutes of the Saleyards Advisor Committee will be available on the new Saleyards website, and we would like to be as open and transparent as we can.
Jack Ayerbe presented a petition from Aberdeen Holdings Australia Pty Ltd. (proprietors of The Great Western Hotel), requesting the removal of the City of Greater Geelong’s proposal to place a Heritage Overlay on the Great Western Hotel.
Contents | Next Page: Section B – Reports
