Minutes of the Community Focus Council Meeting of the Greater Geelong City Council held at the Bellarine Living and Learning Centre, 20 Worden Court, Whittington on 13 August 2019, commencing at 7:12pm.
Jenny Speed
Jennifer Bantow
Tina Thorburn
Richard Grey
Susan Allsop
Gavan O'Connor
Shaun Richens
Emilian Nicolae
Councillors:
B Harwood (Mayor)
A Aitken
K Grzybek
E Kontelj
S Mansfield
J Mason
P Murnane
P Murrihy
M Cutter (Chief Executive Officer)
B Luxford (Director Economy, Investment and Attraction)
G Smith (Director Planning, Design and Development)
R Thomas (Acting Director City Services)
S Broadbent (Acting Director Customer and Corporate Services)
R Stevens (Director Community Life)
K Phyland (Executive Manager People and Culture)
R Leonard (Director Governance, Strategy and Performance)
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
R Nelson
T Sullivan (leave of absence)
Councillor Mason moved, Councillor Murnane seconded –
That the Minutes of the Community Focus Council Meeting held on 9 July 2019 be confirmed.
Carried.
Councillor Grzybek declared a direct interest in Agenda Item 1, Draft Lara Recreation Reserve Masterplan, in that she is Secretary of the Lara United Football Club.
Councillor Mason presented a petition from concerned citizens of Portarlington in relation to the removal of a large family of feral cats in the Portarlington Shopping Centre.
Councillors Kontelj, Mansfield and Murrihy provided the gallery with a snapshot of some of the activities and projects happening in Brownbill Ward.
Jenny Speed addressed Council as follows in relation to a Community Hub in Whittington:
Many discussions and meetings have been held over the past 10-15 years at all levels of government, agencies and community re building a Community Hub in Whittington to service the wide variety of needs of our community. With Council’s Social Infrastructure Plan currently under review what is Council’s commitment to a new Community Hub connected to the recently completed upgrade of Whittington Primary School?
The Mayor responded that as part of the current review of the Social Infrastructure Plan, Council will have an opportunity to consider the future direction for investments in social infrastructure across the entire municipality. The City is aware of the proposed idea for a community hub in Whittington. Council will be considering this idea, along with other investment priorities during the development of the new social infrastructure plan occurring over the next six months. All priorities emerging from this review process will be considered as part of the 2020/21 budget cycle. We would encourage the community to engage in our review process, with the new draft of our social infrastructure policy currently online and available for comment at geelongaustralia.com.au/yoursay/default.aspx. The engagement on a draft plan is likely to occur later this calendar year.
Jennifer Bantow asked the following:
Will Council please consider having its newly appointed heritage architect undertake an ‘Osborne Park Heritage Interpretation Plan’ for the entire property, including the sports ovals and the former polo ground, and all the buildings, during the Osborne Park Master Plan 6 week community consultation, and complete this ‘Osborne Park Heritage Interpretation Plan’ before the Business Case is started, and to have the Business Case comply with the ‘Osborne Park Heritage Interpretation Plan’?
The Mayor responded that the current priority is completion of the Master Plan. There is a comprehensive conservation management plan and works schedule in place for the house and stables to guide the restoration works, including priorities. An interpretation plan is premature at this time until the Master Plan is finalised and repairs completed. Should one be needed in the future our Senior Heritage Planner, Heritage Advisor and Heritage Advisory Committee would be pivotal to this work. Consultation with all stakeholders would inform an interpretation plan if it was required.
Does Council have an overall plan to create public reserves along the entire length of the Barwon River corridor, on both the north and south banks, from Merrawarp Road to the Heads at Point Flinders and Sandy Point?
The Mayor responded neither Council nor the river management authority (Corrangamite Catchment Management Authority), has such a plan. This matter was investigated some years ago in partnership with other river management authorities to look at the feasibility of achieving public reserves along this length of the river. At that time the work did not progress any further due to the complex diversity of land management arrangements between public and private landholders along the corridor, which resulted in this outcome being deemed too complex to achieve.
Tina Thorburn asked Council to declare a Climate Emergency.
The Mayor thanked Ms Thorburn for her comments and added that this Council is aware of the issue.
Richard Grey raised concerns regarding the condition of naturestrips in Katarina Place, Whittington.
The Mayor and Deputy Mayor agreed to meet Mr Grey on-site the next morning to discuss the issue further.
Susan Allsop asked the following questions in relation to Osborne Park Precinct Draft Master Plan:
Re: Osborne House Titles 56A, 56B and 56C
Why the need to change the current designation from public use zone 6?
What zoning designation is being considered/proposed?
Why has the northern industrial zone between Mackey Street and the northern boundary of the Philip Russell Polo Field been included in the Master Plan?
The Mayor took the question on notice for a written response.
Gavan O’Connor asked the following regarding Osborne Park:
I refer to the July resolution sponsored by Councillor Aitken/Kontelj and passed by Council which set this process in motion (Draft Osborne Park Master Plan). Dos this draft Master Plan reflect the spirit and intent of the resolution passed by Council at that time?
In view of previous questions asked tonight relating to the heritage value of the site, is it the case that the plan has been developed without expert advice present on the panel responsible for considering and writing the Master Plan?
Councillor Kontelj responded that Council will be debating the item later this evening and suggested that it hasn’t quite met the intent that I personally put forward on July 24.
Councillor Aitken added he did not agree the intent put to Council for the Master Plan design was met.
Shaun Richens asked about the dangers being experienced with traffic on the corner of Dorward Avenue and Wilson Road intersection due to cars parking too close to the intersection thus limiting driver vision.
Councillor Kontelj acknowledged the problem and advised it has been put into the system for further action.
Emilian Nicolae addressed Council with general observations relating to the City of Greater Geelong. Areas of concern to him were: parking in the CBD area (some should be free) which may help with smaller business patronage; increase/install street lights on main streets (dark spots); install/implement traffic lights at high traffic roundabouts; car parking at VLine stations; more engagement with stakeholders via mail/local paper, e-mail etc.; local indigenous representative at Community Focus Meetings and more work to help/relieve organisations to address homelessness and unemployment.
The Mayor thanked Mr Nicolae for his comments.
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