Minutes of the Community Focus Council Meeting of the Greater Geelong City Council held at the the Potato Shed, 41 Peninsula Drive, Drysdale on 12 February 2019, commencing at 7:00pm.
Colin Bridges
John Nolan
Vicki Perrett
Judy Baird
Peter Winkler
Chris Reynolds
Phil Edwards
Richard Strates
Councillors:
B Harwood (Mayor)
A Aitken
K Grzybek
E Kontelj
S Mansfield
J Mason
P Murnane
T Sullivan
M Cutter (Chief Executive Officer)
G Smith (Director Planning and Development)
B Luxford (Director Investment and Attraction)
G Wilson-Browne (Director City Services)
R Stevens (Acting Director Community Life)
M Dugina (Director Finance & Strategy)
J van Slageren (Manager City Development)
L Barton (Acting Executive Manager People and Organisation Development)
R Leonard (Executive Manager Governance & Legal Services)
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.
Councillors:
S Asher (Leave of absence)
P Murrihy
Councillors Mason and Sullivan provided the gallery with a snapshot of the major projects and issues in the Bellarine Ward.
Councillor Mason moved, Councillor Grzybek seconded –
That the Minutes of the Community Focus Council Meeting held on 13 November 2018 be confirmed.
Carried.
Nil.
Colin Bridges asked the following questions in relation to Amendment C375:
I am very concerned about the lack of vegetation protection in Barwon Heads but am pleased that Council has proposed better protection for the Warrenbeen Court area. Such protection must now be drafted in a manner to be explicit and enforceable to achieve the stated objectives of the proposed Environment Significance Overly which is: “To protect and enhance the long term future of the Coastal Moonah Woodland vegetation community; and to minimise the impact of residential use and development on the Coastal Moonah Woodland vegetation community”.
At the panel hearing Council’s own expert confirmed that removing the existing exemption for building and works and fencing would improve the effectiveness of the proposed ESO Overlay achieving the stated objectives of the overlay and the panel reported that clarification was required.
The current proposed ESO Schedule 6 has been redrafted since the panel hearings with the following outcomes:
There is still no requirement for a permit for fencing;
The buildings exemption has been retained despite Council’s expert acknowledging that it compromises the effectiveness of the overlay;
Compliance is still reliant upon a “tree canopy drip line” and has been further confused by the addition of a “derived grasslands” boundary, neither of which terms are defined within the planning scheme.
I am aware that Mr Warwick Manderson has sent a submission to Councillors pointing out the potential deficiencies in drafting of the proposed ESO Schedule 6 and I support his concerns.
My questions are:
On what basis has Council proposed that there should be an exemption for building works?
Gareth Smith responded Council officers have decided to support the ESO6 drafting as recommended by the Independent Panel. The exemption only applies under certain circumstances. All interested parties had an opportunity to appear at the panel hearing and submit their arguments. The panel considered those arguments and formed its own position on the issue with officer’s support.
Has Council sought and obtained qualified and experienced legal and ecological opinion on whether the current draft would be capable of achieving the stated objectives of the ESO?
Gareth Smith responded, “No”. Council’s responsibility, as the planning authority, is to consider the panel’s report (Planning and Environment Act Section 27). These matters are addressed in the panel report. The time for legal and ecological opinion (or “evidence”) is at the panel hearing.
John Nolan addressed Council as follows in relation to Amendment C375:
Members of the Barwon Heads Association committee met with Cr Asher, the Director of Planning and Development and the City Development Manager on 1 February 2019 to present and discuss the Association’s opinion on Council’s exhibition of Amendment C375 to implement the BHSP into the Planning Scheme and the Independent Panel’s recommendation that the Amendment be adopted as exhibited subject to some changes.
At the 1 February 2019 meeting the Association reiterated our : written submission to Council; submission to the Panel; verbal presentation to the Panel; and letter to the Mayor and Councillors of earlier this month and requested further consideration of the four key matters that we have been consistently raised, and believe the exhibited Amendment and the Panel’s report failed to address.
At the conclusion of the meeting, reassurances were given to the Association that these aspects of the Amendment would be reviewed and given further consideration prior to completing the Officer’s report to Council.
The Officer’s report does not give the impression that these matters have been given appropriate further consideration. In particular Section B – Reports of the Officer’s report does not refer to the Association’s matters in Section 5.2 Increased Housing Diversity Planning Provisions, does not consider the Association’s opinion on the coastal character of Barwon Heads in Section 6.2 Town Character and as such accepts the Panel’s opinion that the DDO’s faithfully translate the town character attributes, and leaves the traffic and parking study with a vague scope and subject to funding.
Can Council advise how each of the four matters were reviewed and given further consideration (including assessment of the impact of incorporating) between the meeting of 1 February and the issue of the Officer’s report of 8 February? These matters are:
A reduction in the maximum height in the increased Housing Diversity Area from 11m to 9m outside of the commercial and mixed use zone by an acceptable planning scheme amendment.
The inclusion of more specific requirements and decision guidelines in DD041 and DD042 to ensure the coastal character of Barwon Heads is identified and protected for all dwellings and not just those that are triggered by a planning permit.
The inclusion of the ‘Barwon Heads Residential and Landscape Character Assessment’ Hansen report dated March 2017 as a Reference Document to DD041 and DD042.
The preparation of a traffic and parking study for Barwon Heads, including a potential Parking Overlay, and other specific actions for the future management of parking and traffic in Barwon Heads.
Gareth Smith responded the issues of heights in the increased Housing Diversity Area, DDO drafting, the status of the Hansen Character Assessment and traffic and parking were all matters that the Barwon Heads Association presented submissions on at the Amendment C375 Panel Hearing. Council representatives and others lodged submissions on these issues. The Independent Panel prepared a report and made recommendations in its report. The panel did not agree with the submissions of the Barwon Heads Association or make recommendations to change the Amendment documentation as requested by the Association. After considering the panel report, the officer’s report has supported the panel’s recommendations except for some minor drafting changes. Section 27 of the Planning and Environment Act says the planning authority(ie Council) must consider the panel’s report before deciding whether or not to adopt the Amendment
John Nolan also asked:
The Barwon Heads Association made a traffic and parking submission to Council on the C375 Amendment : BHA believes that a new Barwon Heads Traffic and Parking Study be undertaken as a matter of urgency.
At Council’s Ordinary Meeting of 26 June 2018 submissions on Amendment C375 were considered. Cr Mason moved that Council resolved among other matters to commit to and support at the Panel an updated traffic and parking study being undertaken that includes measurements conducted during both peak summer season and the non-winter period. Such study should be conducted to reflect the changing traffic conditions in Barwon Heads as a result of regional growth in surrounding areas, as well as the car dependency of residents and visitors through limited alternative transport options.
In response to the Panel’s direction, Council submitted:
‘Council officers will commit to submit a funding bid for Council consideration to fund a traffic and parking study to be undertaken for the Barwon Heads Township. The study would include undertaking traffic measurements during both peak summer and non-peak winter periods to identify traffic improvements for all road users. At its earliest, the submission would be for the next financial year budget bid process. Council advised that the Structure Plan would be changed to reflect this’.
In Attachment 7 of the Officer’s report under Traffic and Parking states:
However, after consideration post-hearing, adding a ‘Further work’ provision in Clause 21.14 of the Greater Geelong Planning Scheme is preferred over changing the Structure Plan. A provision in the Scheme provides added weight and transparency.
The ‘Further work’ provision in Clause 21.14 include the statement ‘Undertake a traffic and parking study that includes assessment of the changing traffic conditions in Barwon Heads as a result of regional growth’.
Gareth Smith added the proposed ‘Further work’ provision in Clause 21.14 is appropriate as drafted and does not require amendment. The drafting is consistent with the State Government A Practitioner’s Guide to Victorian Planning Schemes October 2018
Can it be confirmed that the Traffic and Parking study will include: traffic volume surveys (arterial, collector and residential); parking availability survey – location, form and time limits, if any (CoGG and BCCOM); identification of future sources and volumes of traffic and visitations; future projections of traffic flows (with modelling) and parking demands; parking usage at various times; asses capacity to waive car parking requirements and recommend a town wide cap with a proposed implementation mechanism; options identification (including parking overly); consultation; recommendations; and implementation program as requested in the Association’s submission and reinforced at the Association’s Traffic and Parking sub-committee meeting?
Can the ‘Further Work’ provision in Clause 21.14 be amended to reflect this scope?
Can it be confirmed that the funds will be made available in the 2019/20 budget for the traffic and parking study recognising the urgency for the study as per the Association’s submission?
Gareth Smith responded Council’s Transport Unit will determine the scope of the study consistent with the Council Resolution of 26 June 2018. Detailed scoping would occur when a budget is approved.
Questions submitted prior to the Council Meeting by Denice Tyler and Phil Joyce are acknowledged and will be responded to in writing.
Vicki Perrett addressed Council in relation to single-use drink containers:
Geelong Sustainability congratulates Council on its proposed Plastic Wise Program. In relation to single-use drink containers – the Collins Dictionary 2018 Word of the Year was ‘single-use’ in recognition of the growing global awareness of the environmental harm caused by plastic pollution. In Australia, the ABC War on Waste TV series has raised our wasteful habits and the urgent need to change. The natural beauty of the Bellarine requires our protection and stewardship. While many people are actively involved in caring for our bays, litter remains an ongoing problem which intensifies over the summer period. Container deposit schemes reduce drink container litter, increase recycling rates and complement kerbside recycling services. All other mainland states already have a CDS or are in the process of implementing one. 84% of Victorians are in favour of a CDS. Effective environmental management is a strategic priority in the Council Plan 2018-22 and embedded in our vision for a clever and creative city region. It’s not clever to waste finite resources. Australia is taking steps towards building a circular economy. A CDS would generate local jobs and provide a valuable funding boost to community groups.
Will the Mayor write to the Minister for the Environment, the Hon Lily D’Ambrosia MP stating that (subject to reasonable conditions) the City of Greater Geelong supports the introduction of a state-wide Container Deposit Scheme?
The Mayor thanked Ms Perrett for her comments in relation to the Plastic Wise Program which Council endorsed at its December meeting. There are a number of initiative outlined in the Plastic Wise Program which will recue the City’s usage of single-use plastic. Deposit Container Scheme is another potential way to reduce rubbish and increase recycling rates. The Council will consider your request to write to the Minister for the Environment about the introduction of a Deposit Container Scheme.
Judy Baird asked:
The Bellarine Springs Retirement Village is located on the southern end of Central Road, Drysdale. In the past twelve months there has been huge residential development in this area in addition to our constantly growing Village. This has meant a greatly increased flow of traffic including large trucks and trade vehicles. With a complete lack of footpaths and a narrow road the safety of pedestrians is now being put at unacceptable risk.
Despite lengthy negotiations with the Council we have been unable to get an answer as to when footpaths will be constructed, and as senior citizens we believe we have the right to access public open space on foot or in a mobility device if we do not have a car.
When was the last traffic count done in Central Road?
When will a footpath be constructed on the southern end?
The Mayor took the questions on notice and a written response will be forwarded.
Peter Winkler asked the following in relation to Kyema Drive Flooding:
The residents request an update;
The residents would like a committed date for a resolution – within 18 months?
Guy Wilson-Browne responded he was aware of the petition and will respond to it in the next few weeks. An update on the issue will be presented to the Council Meeting on Tuesday,12 March.
Chris Reynolds asked why was so much money was spent on resealing Anderson Road, Drysdale in January 2019 when it’s due to be permanently closed by mid-2019?
Guy Wilson-Browne indicated he would further investigate the issue and make further contact with Mr Reynolds.
Phil Edwards asked his question regarding the Ocean Gove Principle Pedestrian Network:
Is the City of Greater Geelong seeking co-operative funding from State and Federal Governments for the cost of the Principle Pedestrian Network, with partial contribution from ratepayers, or will Council simply adopt a Special Rates Charge for the total cost?
Gareth Smith responded that Council is aware of the issue and is subject to budget outcomes.
Richard Strates addressed Council as follows in relation to Amendment C375:
Regarding Council officer report, paragraph 22, what process will Council initiate to investigate/explore an expansion of the Barwon Heads town boundary as proposed by the Barwon Heads Lifestyle Group?
The Mayor took the question on notice for a written response.
Nil.
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