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 22 May 2018, commencing at 7:00pm.
Jennifer Bantow
Mark Brunger
John Pierotti
Graeme Palmer
Councillors:
B Harwood (Mayor)
S Asher
K Grzybek
E Kontelj
S Mansfield
J Mason
P Murnane
P Murrihy
R Nelson
T Sullivan
B Luxford (Acting Chief Executive Officer)
J van Slageren (Acting Director Planning and Development)
T Ellis (Acting Director Investment and Attraction)
G Wilson-Browne (Director City Services)
L Quinn (Director Community Life)
P Anderson (Director Finance & Strategy)
A Keen (Executive Manager People and Organisation Development)
R Leonard (Senior Manager Legal Services & Governance)
The Chair declared the meeting open at 7:00pm.
Council acknowledged Wadawurrung Traditional Owners of this land and all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People who are part of the Greater Geelong community today.
Councillor Kontelj congratulated Rose Pirrottina, 2018 President of the Bell Park Soccer Club, who was awarded the inaugural Geelong Female Football Administrator of the Year Award.
The Mayor welcomed Mayor, David Bell and Chief Executive Officer, Keith Baillie from the Surf Coast Shire.
Nil.
Councillor Kontelj moved, Cr Mansfield seconded –
That the Minutes of the Ordinary Meeting held on 24 April 2018 be confirmed.
Carried.
Councillor Kontelj declared an Indirect Interest in Agenda Item 2 – 2018-2019 State Government of Victoria World Game Facilities Fund, in that his daughter plays soccer at Bell Park Sports Club.
Questions were submitted prior to the meeting from Carol Boglis, Paul Roberts and Paul Burton. As they were not present at the meeting their questions will be responded to in writing.
Jennifer Bantow addressed Council as follows:
Amendment C359 Combined Heritage, is about dozens of heritage places, the City Centre Fringe Areas, east, north and west, Dennys Lascelles Woolstore at 20 Brougham Street, shop at 11 Mercer Street, places in Ceres, Newtown, Ocean Grove, Geelong West, Drumcondra and Fyansford.
It proposes the addition of heritage overlays but also the deletion of heritage overlays in many places.
The National Trust supports many of the amendment proposals but does not support others.
An all day Victorian Planning Panel Hearing was held on 12 February 2018 to resolve public submissions to Amendment C359. The Panel Hearing Report was received on 23 April 2018.
There are 19 Panel recommendations.
Does Council intend to change Amendment C359 to incorporate the 19 Panel recommendations? In particular the further recommendations:
The Panel makes the following further recommendations:
“Council should consider reviewing the Woolstores Industrial Heritage Area and design policy to ensure that design response to development is best practice and avoids facadism.
Council should consider reviewing the Geelong Commercial Heritage area, in particular the contribution of post-war buildings and the heritage contribution of Ryrie Street/Fenwick Street intersection”.
The Mayor responded Council will consider the officer report about the Amendment at its upcoming meeting on 26 June 2018. It is premature to comment on how Council will decide on the Amendment prior to the officer report and recommendations being finalised and formally considered at the Council Meeting.
Under the Planning and Environment Act 1987 Council is required to consider all of the Panels’ recommendations. However, they are only recommendations and Council can choose to accept or not accept them. If it doesn’t accept recommendations justification must be provided to the Minister for Planning who has the ultimate approval role.
The Panel provides further recommendations and advice about reviewing the Woolstores and Geelong Commercial Heritage areas. This advice is beyond the scope of Amendment C359 but will be taken into account as Council determines future heritage review priorities across the municipality.
Regarding Item 1 - Potential Sale of Former Geelong Post office, and in particular, references in Item 1 to Osborne Park:
Could I first ask please if the Mayor’s views carried in the Geelong Advertiser, over the last week or so, about disposal of Council’s assets are correct, and if these views are held as Council policy or are they individual opinions?
Was the sale of the former Post Office and the Old Geelong Gaol part of Councillor’s platforms when they were candidates before the election last year? These properties belong to the people of Geelong, have they been asked?
Has a serious investigation of the Bendigo Old Post Office solution been made?
Due to the inadequacies of the Conservation Management Plan and for other reasons, could Council please not accept the recommendation of Item 1, that notice is given to sell the Geelong Post Office?
The Mayor thanked Ms Bantow for her questions which are noted and will form part of the debate this evening.
Mark Brunger asked if Council thought it was a good idea to sell off the Old Post Office to maintain other buildings. The Old Post Office should be maintained as an important cultural building.
The Mayor responded the comments will be addressed during debate of the item.
John Pierotti asked could a convenient time be set up to meet with the National Trust?
The Mayor advised the request could be facilitated.
Graeme Palmer asked if Obsorne House is up for sale as reported in the Geelong Advertiser? Has this been a Council decision or just a reporter’s speculation?
The Mayor responded the statement is purely speculation.
Nil.
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