Minutes of the Community Focus Council Meeting of the Greater Geelong City Council held at the Ocean Grove Surf Lifesaving Club, 26-30 Surf Beach Road, Ocean Grove on 8 October 2019, commencing at 7:12pm.
Lex Chalmers
Jerry Belkus
Caroline Danaher on behalf of Sanja Van Huet
Michael Loughnan
Sarah Roberts
Monica Winston
Caroline Danaher
Tina Thorburn
Brian Golland
David Phillips
Sandra Gatehouse
Victoria Strachan
Phil Edwards
Sarah Roberts
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)
T Ellis (ActingDirector Economy, Investment and Attraction)
G Smith (Director Planning, Design and Development)
S Broadbent (Acting Director City Services)
M Dugina (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.
Nil.
Councillors Asher, Mason and Sullivan provided the gallery with a snapshot of some of the activities and project happening in the Bellarine Ward.
Councillor Grzybek moved, Councillor Mason seconded -
That Leave of Absence be granted to Councillor Bruce Harwood from 16 October to 23 October, inclusive.
Carried.
Councillor Mason moved, Councillor Murnane seconded –
That the Minutes of the Community Focus Council Meeting held on 9 July 2019 be confirmed.
Carried.
Nil.
Questions submitted prior to the meeting from Lex Chalmers and Jerry Belkus will be responded to in writing.
Caroline Danaher asked the following question on behalf of Sanja Van Huet
Will Council declare a moratorium on Council approvals for all planning, new building, construction and infrastructure permits and plans, and on all alterations and amendments to all current building, construction and infrastructure with the entire Shire. This moratorium to be enacted and enforced until the release and finalisation of Geelong CEO’s Sustainability Framework: post-February 2020 to allow for recommendations in that report. Be aware that any permit approved during this period will be viewed with the suspicion they deserve.
The Mayor responded that last month Council voted to develop a Sustainability Framework that seeks to identify potential actions to mitigate the impacts of climate change in our region.
City staff are now investigating potential measures to incorporate into the City’s Strategy and operations, with a report to Council by February 2020.
Declaring a moratorium on Council approvals for planning permits and plans prior to February 2020 does not form part of that resolution.
The City works under legislation that requires the organisation to comply with timeframes while assessing applications.
Will Council implement an immediate motion for a Citizens’ Assembly to be actioned this year, to show that Council is sincere in their adoption of the amended motion of Councillor Asher, in good faith?
The Mayor advised a motion to implement a Citizens’ Assembly did not form part of the resolution.
Addressed to Councillor Kontelj, I request that you personally reply to my many questions and submissions to Council over the past 3 months. I have requested answers with every item of correspondence and have only received an acknowledgement of receipt in your personal reply to me, please address what I have outlined and suggested for Council to implement as a matter of urgency in response to global warming. You may note that I have not just asked for a declaration of a climate emergency (as stated by you during the climate emergency debate)?
Councillor Kontelj thanked Ms Danaher for the questions and responded Ms Van Huet will be responded to as outlined in her question.
Michael Loughnan asked would Council please contact all Victorian Councils asking their opinion about the recouping of value from a landowner who has experienced a rezoning. Invariably, landowners having their land rezoned are gifted a valuation uplift from the community via Council and this gift is never repaid. Land valuation before and after rezoning would capture the quantum of that gift so that it could be repaid to Council at the point of land sale. If unenforceable at present would you ask all Victorian Councils re this and present your findings to the Victorian Government as soon as possible, perhaps next month.
The Mayor responded there is a lack of policy and state mechanisms available in Victoria to capture land uplift. The City receives development contributions through rezoning of land which contributes to funding local infrastructure.
In growth area municipalities in metropolitan Melbourne, the Growth Areas Infrastructure Contribution (GAIC) is applied to help fund state infrastructure. The City is active in advocating to the state government that there should be a similar mechanism available to capture land uplift in Geelong.
An area where there is emerging interest in capturing value uplift is to fund social housing. This is an area the City may explore with the state government as we develop social housing policy.
The City regularly engages with other municipalities on shared challenges we are experiencing as well as advocating through the MAV.
Note that Council is not in a position to lead a submission to government on behalf of other Councils as the issue varies in its significance and relevance across Councils, but we will continue to advocate and respond to government policy initiatives as they arise.
Sarah Roberts asked the following questions in relation to the Ocean Grove Principal Pedestrian Network:
Will Council please reject recommendation 11.2 on the basis that Social and Infrastructure Planning needs to allow a method 5, ‘fully Council funded’, to be voted upon by all members of Greater Geelong community for these new footpath projects?
The Mayor advised the question relates to an item on the agenda this evening. The City’s Recommendation in the report supports a process where everyone in Ocean Grove will have the opportunity have their say on the footpath project. I also note that the City is meeting with you next week in regard to it.
It is not sustainable for Council to solely fund the construction of all new footpath infrastructure within existing suburbs. Also, the consultation undertaken in 2016 identified community support for the option 4 – shared funding model – with a maximum 50% property owner funding contribution recognizing that there are benefits flowing of the wider community.
Will Council please reject recommendation 11.2 on the basis that Social and Infrastructure Planning a) need to reassess the Benefit Cost Ratios (Council: Private) listed in Table 1?
The Mayor advised the Benefit Cost Ratio changes with the mix of properties, the location of the footpath and access and amenity benefits.
Will Council please also reject Recommendation 11.2 on the basis that a) the Special Rates and Charges Policy is beyond its review date, and hasn’t been applied consistently in recent times?
The Mayor responded that Council uses the Special Rate and Charge provisions of the Local Government Act to deliver this infrastructure and the policy is consistent with those provisions and not out of date.
It sets out the principles for the use of special rates and charges for the provision of infrastructure in a fair and equitable manner and applies to the provision of “first up” infrastructure where it can be demonstrated that a special benefit applies to those properties included in the scheme.
It is true that there is a large administrative process involved with preparing a scheme of this nature, however the City’s processes ensure that it is done with fairness, equity and consistency.
Monica Winston asked the following in relation to the Climate Emergency Motion and Amendment:
Please indicate if you do any work for fossil fuel extraction companies?
Why, when climate science and environmental reporting about ecosystem collapse is not about opinion, did the six councillors vote on language that doesn’t reflect the truth?
The climate emergency motion was not for and about the councillors and your agreement on an amended declaration omitting the words emergency, urgency and global so that you could all agree. The motion was to tell the citizens of Geelong the truth.
You 6 Councillors failed in your duty of care and I request your resignation.
Councillor Harwood responded that the debate answered most of your questions.
In relation to Councillor resignation – that is entirely up to the individuals own discretion at Councillor election time.
Caroline Danaher asked why was it necessary to exclude the word emergency in Councillor Mansfield’s motion. What scientific or empirical fact will it take for you to know and understand that we are facing the 6th extinction and the climate and ecological emergency before us now is almost to the point of no return, if we do not act today?
The Mayor thanked Ms Danaher for her comments and advised that Council has had the debate.
Tina Thorburn stated there are now 57 jurisdictions across Australia who have declared a Climate Emergency – which is 4 more than the last time I sat before you. 57 jurisdictions representing over 23% of our population. Disappointingly, the City of Greater Geelong is not included in that number.
Is Council prepared to cease all planning approvals that may cause further environmental destruction?
The Mayor responded Council has had the debate and thanked Ms Thorburn for her comments.
Brian Golland addressed Council as follows:
Today’s meeting was mis-advertised in the Geelong Advertiser last Saturday – 3/39 Smithton Grove.
Keeping our footpaths and naturestrips clear and safe is communicated as a Council objective but is unattainable – planning is directly opposed to the objective..
The Ocean Grove Principal Pedestrian Network is not only overdue but is now into another round of meetings – 800 submitters in 2016 have never been contacted since that date..
Conversations with Council’s customers is totally lacking.
The Mayor thanked Mr Golland for his comments and acknowledged it is an issue which will be further investigated.
David Phillips asked the following:
The City of Greater Geelong has a strategy to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 50% by 2020 based on 2015 data.
What is the basis for the 2015 data? Please make this available.
What were the emissions in 2016, 2017 and 2018?
Please make this data available on the Council website? Despite my previous request this has not yet been provided.
The Mayor indicated the data will be provided on Council’s website.
Sandra Gatehouse expressed her concern and disappointment in the quality of the live streaming at the last Council meeting.
Regarding the Barwon Heads Arts and Community Hub (BHA) I would like to confirm the following:
This is meant to be a multi-purpose facility which has been lobbied for by a number of community groups;
The BHA and the Barwon Heads Arts Council are working closely together;
The funding of $1m is a commitment to the community from the Member for the Bellarine and is meant to be utilised for the old kindergarten site in Clifford Parade;
Can you confirm that this funding will be spent on infrastructure, not consultants and designers?
Can you confirm that the community will be involved in all aspects of the evolution of this community project and that no decisions will be made without reverting to the community for input?
The Bellarine Councillors are aware that there is a draft scope for the Barwon Heads Parking and Traffic Study in the system.
We seek confirmation that this study will take into account the growth in Barwon Heads, the significant number of day visitors, the number of car spaces that have been waivered as part of planning permits and projected figure for future traffic;
We seek confirmation that the Council will work closely with Regional Roads Victoria and Barwon Coast to ensure that this study is worthwhile and produces a clear plan for traffic and parking for the town and not just another dated document relying on five year old data?
The Mayor thanked Ms Gatehouse for her comments.
Victoria Strachan provided further comments in relation to the Barwon Heads Arts and Community Hub:
The Barwon Heads Arts Council was established in 2012 to establish a community space for people to come together and learn new skills. Also Barwon Heads is an arts town with no dedicated arts facilities. We now have 400 members and a highly committed, professional and enthusiastic committee. We run events all year around with the Bellarine Arts Trail. A needs analysis was undertaken in 2016 that concluded there was a need for a facility. A petition collected 900 signatures to support transitioning the vacant kindergarten to a hub.
Barwon Heads Arts Centre is working with BHA closely on this issue and other potential users. We are grateful for the $1m election commitment and look forward to a positive and constructive relationship with Council.
The Mayor thanked Ms Strachan for her comments.
Phil Edwards addressed Council in relation to the Ocean Grove Principal Pedestrian Network
Mr Edwards expressed his frustration with the time it has taken to date as the community consultation was in 2015;
Option 2 for the PPN was an option put forward by the Ocean Grove Community Association in an effort to prioritise the PPN work and was not put forward to reduce the scope of the full PPN of 23.3km;
2015 community consultation showed 56% of 800 people supported a shared payment model across all of Ocean Grove. This support for a shared payment model was again evident at a recent community forum.
The Mayor responded the comments will be addressed during debate of the item later this evening.
Sarah Roberts asked is working for a fossil fuel extraction company in some capacity, isn’t it considered a Conflict of Interest in a climate emergency debate?
The Mayor responded that any declaration of a Conflict of Interest is up to the individual to declare.
Nil.
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