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 28 August 2018, commencing at 7:00pm.
Roman Goeppert
Brett Cleeland
Councillors:
B Harwood (Mayor)
A Aitken
S Asher
K Grzybek
E Kontelj
S Mansfield
J Mason
P Murnane
P Murrihy
R Nelson
T Sullivan
M Cutter (Chief Executive Officer)
F Gray (Acting Director Investment and Attraction)
J van Slageren (Acting Director Planning and Development)
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 (Executive Manager Governance and Legal Services)
The Mayor 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.
Nil.
Councillor Murrihy moved, Councillor Asher seconded -
That the Minutes of the Ordinary Meeting held on 24 July 2018 be confirmed.
Carried.
Nil.
Roman Goeppert advised Council his family bought a block of land on Sutalo Street in the Red Gum Estate in Marshall 3216. The land salesman, Ilija, has moved the title date from October this year to February 2019.
Upon contacting Ilija he said that this decision is currently with the Council. Wightons Lawyers advised that there is no exact date for settlement, but at this stage they can advise that a Statement of Compliance has not been issued.
I wonder if Council could progress and issue a Statement of Compliance so that the Civil Works and the build of Sutalo Street within this Estate can start?
The Mayor thanked Roman for his question and appreciated the fact that he would like to take possession of the land as soon as possible and can understand the frustration at the delay.
Unfortunately, Council’s planning team cannot issue a Statement of Compliance yet as they are still waiting on an updated plan from the developer. Council planners have requested a number of changes to the plan back in July and have not received them yet. There is also a significant amount of wok on the sub-division that needs to be completed before we can issue a Statement of Compliance.
Council is happy to provide detailed information to you in writing which you can then pass on to Wightons Lawyers. Council will also continue to work with the developer to assist in the process where possible.
Brett Cleeland asked the following questions in relation to the Better Bike Connection Project:
Is the City of Greater Geelong making any estimates on how successful it expects each of the options for the Better Bike Connection on High Street, Belmont to be in encouraging people to ride a bike instead of driving a car?
The Mayor advised with our rapid population growth we are facing real challenges in terms of the way we moved around the City, and encouraging more people to ride will have a positive influence on congestion, safety, our health and the environment.
Research has shown us that there are typically four types of riders:
1% who are fearless and will ride no matter what;
6% who are confident and enthused;
33% who have no way and don’t know how;
But crucially, 60% who are interested in riding but are concerned about their safety.
The Better Bike Connections project aims to target this 60% by helping them feel safer riding between locations – particularly through the means of separating bike riders from vehicles and pedestrians where it is practicable to do so. So, given that high percentage, we believe the project has the potential to have a big impact.
It is also important to note that the project also offers us an opportunity to look at High Street as a whole, including its amenity, footpaths and greenery.
Given the many benefits to Geelong from a larger portion of people using bikes instead of cars for transport, is the City of Greater Geelong making estimates in any way on the benefits to the Geelong community for each trip that is undertaken by bike instead of by car using the Better Bike Connection Southern Link?
The Mayor responded as the City continues to grow, active and public transport will play an important role in the way we move.
Our long-term ‘Clever and Creative’ vision aims for 50% of journeys to work to be made via active or public transport. Every person riding instead of driving will experience health benefits – this is particularly relevant tonight when we are discussing the Municipal Public Health and Wellbeing Plan, which states that 40% of residents are obese or pre-obese.
Almost every person riding to work on a bike also takes a car off the road – this reduces congestion on the roads, reduces emissions and takes pressure off car parking in the CBD.
In conclusion, there are many clear benefits in having more people riding rather than driving.
In deciding on which of the proposed High Street bike lane options to implement as part of the Better Bike Connection, is the Council considering the difference in the expected number of journeys that will be converted from car to bike for each option, and the difference in the expected resulting benefits? And if so, how is this to be weighed against other considerations for deciding which option to go forward with?
The Mayor indicated that the potential change in travel mode of each option is one factor that will be used to inform our assessment. Once the community engagement on the High Street section of the route finishes, Council will receive a report for consideration. This will provide the results of the survey and the face-to-face engagement sessions.
Each of the options presented has the same aim of providing safe, accessible and efficient bike facilities on High Street. There is also the potential for improvements to pedestrian safety and shopping centre amenity.
All of these factors and the varying viewpoints will be carefully considered .
Nil.
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