Council Minutes - Section C: Assembly of Council - 24 April 2018
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China’s new National Sword Policy, which restricts the import of contaminated paper, cardboard and plastics, has disrupted recycling markets worldwide, significantly impacting Victoria and its recycling processors.
This follows two years of clear warnings from China, the world’s largest recycling processor, that the system needed to change or it would close its doors.
As a result, Victoria appears to be one of the most vulnerable states in Australia, and is facing the potential collapse of its recycling industry.
The impact of China’s new policy is being felt throughout Victoria’s regional cities and in metropolitan Councils, as recycling processors seek to reset contractual arrangements with Councils to better reflect current market conditions.
Over the past six years, our community has paid more than $34.6 million dollars to the Victorian Government via a compulsory Waste Levy applied to the Drysdale landfill.
However, $500 million of this fund, collected from Councils across the state, has remained unspent.
Now is the time for State Government to use the funds to design an environmentally-sustainable solution to the issues facing the recycling industry, to foster best-practice use of resources in waste management and to encourage innovative responses to greenhouse gas emissions, climate change and landfill issues.
The Victorian Government recently announced a $13 million contribution to address short-term recycling issues.
However, this is only a temporary solution until 30 June 2018, and it does not do enough to address the industry’s long-term viability. It will not provide Councils and their contractors with enough time to develop long-term solutions.
Councils will be required to meet any increase in recycling costs from 1 July 2018 onwards. Therefore, from 1 July 2018 if no further State Government funding is provided the municipal waste charge is likely to increase.
We know from our community’s input into Greater Geelong’s clever and creative vision that Geelong residents expect Council to show environmental leadership.
With Victoria’s recycling industry in crisis, the City of Greater Geelong is now investing in, and researching, waste-to-energy options for our region and beyond.
Now is the time to further investigate realistic options for future waste management solutions.
We join the call of other local Councils for the Victorian Government to invest its $500 million Sustainability Fund to help the City of Greater Geelong and the state of Victoria to develop innovative solutions, new technologies and sustainable markets that will ensure a sustainable future for our waste management.
CouncillorHarwood moved, CouncillorMason seconded -
That Council requests the Victorian State Government, as a matter of urgency, to invest its $500 million Sustainability Fund in innovative solutions, new technologies and sustainable management of recycling and waste materials.
Carried.
Community Focus Committee Meetings began in February 2018 with the intention of Council better connecting with its community and giving the community more opportunities to ask questions and submit information to Council before decisions are made.
Three meetings have been held to date throughout the municipality in Leopold, Highton and South Geelong. They have been supported by the community with between 20-50 members of the public attending each meeting and asking a number of questions and submitting information and petitions.
The Committee cannot make decisions regarding the following:
Councillor Code of Conduct
Councillor Facilities and Expenses
Electoral Matters
Governance Matters
Appointment of the Chief Executive Officer
Declarations of a rate or charge
Borrowing of money
Adopting or amending the Budget
Entering into contracts for an amount exceeding an amount previously determined by Council
Planning Scheme Amendments
Exercise the power of delegation and/or
Exercise any prescribed power.
Disbanding the Committee and adopting a Community Focus Council Meeting structure (in line with the power and delegations of an Ordinary Meeting of Council) will expand the nature of the business that can be considered, giving the community the opportunity to hear a broader range of topics and debate.
This will also enable the streamlining of internal processes, allowing for a more efficient conduct of Council business.
Community Focus Council Meetings will be held throughout the municipality giving the community access to Council and ensuring transparency for Council business.
Community Focus Council Meetings will include an informal 30 minute meet and greet with Councillors from 6.30pm prior to the meeting starting at 7.00pm
CouncillorHarwood moved, Councillor Grzybek seconded -
That Council:
revokes the Terms of Reference and the Instrument of Delegation for the Community Focus Committee
replaces the Community Focus Committee Meetings with Community Focus Council Meetings;
notes the Community Focus Council Meetings will have the same power and delegation as an Ordinary Meeting of Council and will operate in accordance with the terms of the Council’s Meeting Procedures Local Law 2017
holds Community Focus Council Meetings on the second Tuesday of the month, with the exception of January and December and be held at venues throughout the municipality
allows and encourage the community to attend, submit information and ask questions on issues that arise at Community Focus Council Meetings or raise general issues or questions.
Carried.
Background
Our heritage gives us a sense of our cultural identity. It helps us to understand the past, enrich the present and can be of immense value to future generations.
It is vital that we recognise the importance of heritage in our deliberations and strategic focus.
Whist it is a strategic area of focus under the Arts and Culture portfolio, I strongly believe that it deserves a higher level of recognition through inclusion in the portfolio name. Consequently, I propose the following notice of motion:
CouncillorMason moved, CouncillorSullivan seconded -
That Council amend the Portfolio name Arts and Culture adopted by Council resolution on 13 March 2018 to Arts, Culture and Heritage to reflect the broader strategic areas of focus.
Carried.
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