councilors Council officers Glen Eira
residents and community members viewing
our meeting this evening I would like to
welcome you all to the 19th of March
2024 ordinary meeting of council there
are a few items that I would like to
mention before we begin this evening the
first is a reminder to all councilors
Council officers and members of the
public that all mobile phones are to be
switched off or placed on silent for the
duration of the meeting our meetings are
being live streamed to the community if
a technical problem is encountered
during the meeting which prevents
Council from live streaming the meeting
will be adjourned for 10 minutes if the
meeting cannot be resed within 30
minutes the meeting will be adjourned to
be reconvened on Wednesday the 20th of
March at 730 p.m. council is not
responsible for any data usage charges
or technical issues that members of the
public may experience in assessing
council's live stream or recordings of
meetings a copy of each of the live
stream meeting is placed on council's
website the day after the
meeting item 1
the acknowledgement of traditional
owners Glen Eira City Council
respectfully acknowledges that the
Bunurong people of the Kulin Nation are
the traditional owners of the land now
known as Glen Eira we pay our respects
to their Elders past present and
emerging and acknowledge and uphold
their continuing relationship to and
responsibility for this
land apologies CEO do we have any
apologies this evening no we don't Madam
Mayor thank you now I'll move on to
item three which is a reminder to
declare any conflicts of interest
councilors there is a requirement for a
disclosure of conflicts of interest to
items listed for consideration on the
agenda or any item that is considered at
this meeting in accordance with Section
130 in Brackets 2 of The Local
Government Act 2020 and Rule 60 in
Brackets 3 of the Glen Eira City Council
governance
rules councilors if you have a conflict
of interests pleas please state the item
number and the title of the item I don't
believe we have any conflicts of
interest
today
we will now commence public
participation we have received two
questions three questions and we
will have 15 minutes for this section
with each submitter permitted 3 minutes
15 seconds prior to the end of the 3
minutes you will receive a reminder that
your 3 minutes will be up CEO we will
now commence public
participation
thank you Madame Mayor could Mr Ray
Ears come forward
please thanks Ray if you just press
the speaker on the light should come on
there
great Mayor CEO and councilors
my name is Ray ? a resident of Derby
Crescent and I'm here tonight
representing the Derby residents group
many of whom are here tonight as well
recently residents of Derby Crescent
signed a petition objecting to the
proposal to construct a bike path in
Derby Crescent we also attended a
feedback session on the 14th of March
that was hosted by
Council and it was at this for where
we clearly and unanimously expressed a
rejection of the proposed bike path
along our
street we are not against cyclists or
the concept of strategic bike paths we
understand the need to encourage cycling
as a mode of active
transportation and indeed we support the
requirement to build a network of safe
cycling paths many of us are cyclists
ourselves however ? Avenue is
selected by the lgrp as the most
appropriate location for the bike path
after extensive expert analysis and
major stakeholder
consultation indeed Derby Crescent was
rejected as a viable option option as
part of that process
Derby is now being looked at once again
and we are now asking you to reject
Derby
Crescent as being a totally unsuitable
option for the reasons I would like to
present to you
now the first reason is our concern
about the visual amenity our street was
once a pleasant leafy Cresent with many
mature canopy trees at the Northern end
and more garden-like plantings along the
railway verge south to Lord Street this
verge included a consistent array of
mature trees grassy areas and flowering
plants the old rail infrastructure was
largely hidden behind the dense
vegetation screen and the trains were
not particularly visually
intrusive in this regard I encourage you
to look at the Historical images on
Google Street View since the removal of
a large number of trees and shrubs our
street is now almost unrecognizable
and it's overwhelmed by enormous shiny
steel rail infrastructure that is on
full view to residents pedestrians and
those driving past from our houses the
outlook is one of highwire fences steels
trackside cabinets
bollards and most recently finished off
this morning a huge steel guard rail
that you would see normally or you would
normally find protecting infrastructure
on a
freeway not something you would find in
a small suburban street where the
speed limit is 40 kms an
hour we have train passengers now able
to look into our front yards in some
properties and observe us when we leave
our homes we feel our privacy has been
eroded as previously they couldn't see
because of the
trees this has impacted the residents
feeling of security and impinged on the
use of our front gardens a new bike
path with open access along the rail
corridor from ? Road will only add to
the degradation of our privacy and
security we understand that
landscaping is the last part of the
project to be completed we're hoping
this will go some way to amiliar the
loss of our precious trees and
community-led
plantings indeed we've been looking
forward to the
materialization of the concept of trees
being planted as outstands in the road
something that has been previously
promised by Council to help restore our
lost visual amenity a bike path with
that
promise your time is almost is up
actually can I have an extension
please I've got probably 30 seconds to
go yes go ahead yeah
the second reason why we object to a
bike path in our street is that Council
would be imposing substantial
convenience on residents the
inconvenience of a one-way street with
its associated congestion loss of
parking and driveway exiting problems
none of these currently exist these
problems and a bike path would mean
Council would be altering in a negative
way the character and amenity of our
street forever in addition with 24/7 365
bike traffic on a path so close to our
homes would be exposing us to the
intrusion of even more artificial light
and noise the possibility of disturbed
sleep and the creation of a physical
barrier to our once activities
that we used to enjoy along our street
activities such as having our kids play
together on the railway verge in the
street or the or the community in
general getting together to maintain our
community strict
gardens so in finishing with great
respect
the residents of Derby Crescent asking
you the Mayor and councilors Glen Eira to
support us by rejecting our street as an
option for the proposed bike path and
please let's make Darby green again
thank you thank
you thanks Ray and I know you've got a
couple of questions that will be covered
in the next section of tonight's
meeting and the mayor will also speak
to the petition later in tonight's
meeting as well Tom Lawson Tom would
you like to come forward
please good evening mayor and
councilors thanks for giving us the
opportunity to speak at the feedback
session held by council at Caulfield Park
Reserve last Thursday on the 14th of
March possible ? bike path on Derby
Crescent regarding the possible lxrp bike
path on Derby Crescent 100% of the residents
there were not in support of a bike
path and could not see any way in which
a bike path could be a viable option in
a much narrower
street that is Derby Cresent much
narrower than Queen's Avenue and nor to
council suggest
otherwise residents were assured that
our bike path would not go
ahead in Derby Crescent without Council
approval based on the feedback from
residents and the fact that it would be
impossible to create a separate bike
path without further desecration to our
visual amenities by removing more trees
reducing The Verge removing significant
car spaces and in impacting on access to
driveways can we obtain confirmation
that a bike path will not go ahead in
Derby Crescent and the focus in said will
be on regreening
revegitation and restoration of the Derby
Cresent that we once knew and loved when
will the decision be made and when can
we expect landscaping to commence given
we were informed it will be completed by
March
2024 I also need to ask was there a
conflict of interest in the council's
decision to reject the proposal of
Queens Avenue as there is a counselor
that
I just wanted to table that question
thank you thank
you thank you Mr Lawson I might
respond to your direct question
actually first so no there was no
conflict of interest in relation to
that because the a counselor declared
a conflict of interest and left the room
and didn't play any role or participate
in the decision-making process so there
was no conflict of interest
Mr McDonald would you like to respond
to Mr Lawson's other question around the
time frame yeah thank thanks Tom and
through the mayor thanks for your
speech and nice to see you again the
the the feedback from the session was
was loud and clear myself and the CEO
have provided that to
lxrp there's still a process to go
through as we explained on the night
that the final options or any options
for a strategic cycling Corridor are
still being worked through with the
lxrp and as we explained you know Derby
is being looked at there's no final
decision Council will make a decision on
the process they may not be the final
decision maker but we'll certainly be
party to that decision any final option
will have to go through a an extensive
Community engagement process more so
than what we did last week that was just
a feedback session where the community
will get to give feedback on options
depending on what they end up being the
other feedback that we heard loud and
clear was about the revation or the
revitalization of of Derby in line with
what had been promised by the lxrp that
has been provided to the government
and the lxp officers that any option
regardless of inclusion or not inclusion
of a bike path long Derby it must have a
revegetation plan implemented and
we're continuing to work through with
the the officers of the state's
government as early as today and
we'll continue to do that thank you
thank
you and thank you mayor our final
submitter is Miss Sue Noly Sue would
you like to come
forward good evening n you mentioned
people who speak loudly and clearly I've
been
accused I've been rung up and told that
I spoke too loudly at a council
meeting I speak loudly and clearly so
that people can understand
me one of the goals in council's
integrated transport strategy is to
increase access to off-road safe cycling
corridors however Council officer Mitch
mcferson very intelligently stated that
the corridors must be well planned and
delivered with Community
feedback in mind I don't know how long
you're going to have Community feedback
because I now know and I didn't come in
tandem with the group here tonight I
didn't know that they would be putting
in a petition but I now know that three
streets are becoming divided you are
dividing a community by not standing up
and representing yourself councilors you
are the council
councilors excuse me while I get this
back the residents of Derby Cresent have
presented their probably unanimous
opinion on this lxrp generated faral
situation Council voted unanimously not
to accept either option presented by the
lxrp and to write to the minister for
transport infrastructure we don't know
whether Council has yet received a
response however Council reported
62% of 881 people surveyed wanted the do
nothing option that supported neither
lxrp choice for Queens Avenue why won't
Council and that means its elected
representatives the mayor and councilors
here present stand up for the 62%
majority of potentially affected
residents and reject any shared user
plan that impacts residential amenity
and that means do nothing I am the only
cyclist who is involved in this fical
situation that I know of the only
cyclist
is a cyclist that important I ride and I
rode this evening on Queens Avenue it is
safe councilors with the exception of
one of you who has told me the reason
why that counselor doesn't cycle I don't
know why the rest of you don't try it
and maybe you might agree with what I
say even though I speak loudly my
question is have you heard from the
minister thank you Miss
Noly through you mayor Sue no we
haven't heard directly from the minister
but we have been engaging directly with
the level crossing removal project on no
the the motion was that you were going
to write to the minister Brad Hazard I
believe his name is has the letter been
sent has the email been sent I'll change
my question yes that
that was not your question but your qu
the answer to your question is yes the
letter was sent immediately after the
council meeting to the minister these
poor people are going to be your time is
up thank
you I will now move a procedural motion
to bring item
10.5 which is written public questions
on tonight's agenda for forward to be
heard at this stage of the meeting do I
have a second for this motion councilor
schmood I will now put that to the vot
all those in favor this motion is
carried unanimously before we commence I
would like to advise that as per our
governance rules there's 15 minutes
allocated to the reading of written
public questions to council tonight we
have received 25 questions these will be
responded to in the order in which they
were received all questions read and
answer will be published in this
evening's council meeting minutes CEO I
will now hand over to you to commence
the reading of the written public
questions thank you thank you mayor
our first question is from Thomas Lo of
Caulfield East the recent lxrp project at
Glenn Huntley station has resulted in an
increase in rail squeal SL screeching
from the corridor near my house I've
raised this concern with MTM and the PTV
Ombudsman but have got no meaningful
response is this something that local
Council can assist with getting a
resolution for it's affecting the
neighborhood making it difficult to
sleep or enjoy activities at home thank
you and Mr mcdonal will
respond thank you Thomas of your
question and through the mayor so
Council has raised the matter with the
lxrp and Metro trains and has
subsequently been advised that they are
aware of the issue and as an interim
action they have been manually
lubricating the track and are regularly
monitoring the noise it has also been
advised by the lxrp that it is proposed
to replace the 400 met section of track
in June
2024 Council will also write to the
minister of Transport infrastructure to
ensure the necessary attention is given
to this important matter and that the
state government take prompt action
thank you mad May our next question is
from Neil Freeman of callfield the cross
cross over from newstead street that
connects with a private driveway within
2 260 kuong road is far too wide
approximately 10 years ago a new gate
was constructed which provides a far
wider crossover than was the situation
previously this creates a serious danger
to Residents and their property in
newstead street vehicles exiting to 60
kuong Road have caused damage to
Vehicles parked in newad Street and near
misses to pedestrians newed street is
7.9 M wide from gut to gut an allowance
of approximately 2 m for parked Vehicles
provides a width of 3.9 M for vehicular
travel as 260 kuong road is a single
property AB butting newstead Street the
allowable crossover should only be 3.6 M
wide the gate needs to be replaced as it
is damaged will the city of glena
enforce a crossover width of 3.6 m in
line with the requirements for any other
property within the municipality and Mr
mcdonal will again respond
thank you Neil for your question and
through the mayor again council's
Traffic Engineers have completed a
review of the location has been
determined that the width of the access
into the 260 Kong Road property has not
changed although the fence has been
upgraded our Traffic Engineers have
categorized this entrance as an access
road rather than a property crossover
the access road has been designed to
allow two-way traffic through the gate
and is believed to operate safely any
modifications to the width would impact
on the two-way safe traffic movement the
giveway signage and the line marking
does provide clear guidance to motorists
entering and exiting the site despite
this our Traffic Engineers have noted
that a minor adjustment to the parking
Arrangements May provide enhancements to
traffic exiting the site accessing at
newstead Street and they will be in
contact with you to discuss this matter
thank you mayor
our next question is from Trevor Pitkin
of Caulfield East when will the council
advise residents of its timeline to
reach a decision regarding
recommendations to lxrp in relation to
Derby Crescent bike path proposal Mr
McDon thank you Trevor Council
understands that a final decision will
be several weeks away importantly the
process to come to final decision will
involve a further Community engagement
Council will pass on to to the oop all
the information during the recent
feedback session with residents so that
it can be used by them when considering
options for
consultation Trevor Has a second
question which is does council accept
that a bike path in Derby Crescent will
preclude the proper restoration of
visual amenity previously enjoyed by
residents thanks Trevor and the council
does understand that there are some
constraints along Derby Cresent we
are supportive of Derby cres hasn't been
replanted and rated as part of any
future Works
proposed our next questions are from
Cheryl ears of Caulfield East as a
community protest against a bike path
Derby Crescent residents have put up 100s
of we have suffered enough make Darby
green again no bike path posters and
other banners along the rail Corridor
together with 43 M of bright green
fabric cut to make strips and Bows now
tied around every tree pole and fence
along the street will Council concede
that it has received loud and clear the
strong message from Derby residents that
they don't want a bike path and that
Council recognizes it will not be acting
in the Resident best interests if it
allows the alexp to consider a bike path
option in front of their homes Mr
McDon and thank you for the question
Council has heard the strong concerns
raised at the resident feedback session
on 14th of March is important to note
however that no options for a bike path
on Derby Crescent have yet been finalized
by the lxrp or presented to the
community for feedback we have provided
the strong feedback received so far to
the lxrp so this can be considered as
part of the finalization of any proposed
design no final design or decision will
be made without further Community
engagement Cheryl's second question is
will the councilors of Glenn Iris
support the residents of Derby Crescent
like they did with Queens Avenue and
report back to their lxrp unanimously
and say no to a bike path on Derby
requesting it to look at alternative
options that don't involve Derby Mr
McDonna thank you for your second
question Council has received a joint
letter to be tabled tonight several
emails and inperson feedback from
residents of Derby Cresent we understand
that any proposed Works along Derby
present still requires further analysis
by both the lxrp and Council before a
final decision is
made there will be additional process of
community engagement importantly Council
has already provided the feedback to the
lxrp that any proposal must incorporate
a robust replanting and regeneration
strategy for Derby
Cresent our next two questions are from
Ray ears of Caulfield East regarding the
opt of a proposed bike path along Derby
Crescent Council has made a request to
lxrp that there will be no loss of
street parking nor any loss of remaining
vegetation in relation to their option
for a proposed bike path along Derby
Crescent has there or will there be any
traffic engineering analysis or opinion
provided to the lxrp from Council
Engineers of the effects that are
proposed bike path and Associated
one-way thorough Fair Arrangement will
have on the residents existing Street
amenity that is to ensure that there
will be safe SL adequate traffic
clearances to parked cars and the
ability for residents to comfortably
enter or reverse from their driveways
along Derby Crescent Mr
McDonna thank you Ray for your
question yes council's Traffic Engineers
will be closely reviewing any proposal
developed by the lxrp to ensure all
reasonable required Road Safety design
standards are
achieved Mr 's second question is
regarding the option of a proposed bike
path along Derby Crescent how will the
council's promise of proposed tree
outstands along the railway side of
Derby Crescent be honored if a proposed
bike path is installed noting that tree
outstands along with other proposed
revation has been proposed to assist us
with the replacement of our lost
neighborhood character and visual
amenity Mr
mcdonal thank you Ray for your second
question Council has provided feedback
to the lxrp that any proposal must
incorporate a robust planting and
regeneration strategy while any proposal
including whether tree outstands will
feature has not been finalized Council
will ensure all options are communicated
as part of the community engagement
process to include a level of replanting
and
revation our next question is from
Angus Morrison of
menone can Council please confirm the
amounts of the waste Levy spent on the
following items one street and Road
cleaning two graffiti removal three
waste education four waste enforcement
action five public bins six Public Waste
Disposal and seven tree planting and
maintenance and Mr McDon it seems to
be your night
tonight thank you it is my night
thank Angus the council currently
utilizes a service charge to fully
recover costs of council's Waste
Services the minister for local
government released new best practice
guidelines late December advising what
councils may include in the calculation
for Waste Service charges of your list
Council currently only recovers the
cost for street cleaning Street bins and
education costs through the charge the
cost to council to remove these from the
waste charge and absorb them into
General operating expenses is estimated
at approximately $ million council is
working through the implications of the
new guidelines for future
budgets and Mr Morrison has a second
question which is has glena Council
purchased carbon offsets and if so what
is the total expenditure in the last 12
months and forecast expenditure in the
next 12 months and where are or will
these carbon offsets be
located Mr
McDonald thank you Angus for your second
question Council has not purchased
carbon offsets in in the last 12 months
as part of council's commitment to
achieving zero net emissions by
2025 for our operations and achieving
climate active certification it is
likely that we will need to purchase
offsets at least in the short term and
council is currently considering its
options in this
regard and we're going back to derby
Crescent with some questions from Ian
Sparrow of Caulfield East
objection to proposed bike path in Derby
Cresent given that lxrp has previously
identified several very valid reasons to
reject Derby Cresent as a location for a
bike path why has Council Revisited
Derby Crescent as an option Mr
McDonna thank you Ian Council made the
decision at the council meeting in
February to not support either of the
two options for Queen Avenue proposed by
the lxrp and wrote to lxrp and the
minister for transport infrastructure
advocating to reconsider these options
and request that LX work with Council
and the community to achieve the best
possible outcome since then Council has
been working with the lxrp to revisit a
number of locations for a strategic
cycling connection including Derby
Cresent Mr spar's next question was
objection to proposed bike path in Derby
Crescent which count cers have recently
walked or driven along Derby Crescent and
viewed the destruction of residential
amenity caused by the removal of
hundreds of trees and
shrubs Mr
McDonald it was a question to you would
you like to respond councilor's
mood might like to just indicate by
raising their hand if they've been down
di
present yep thank you thank you
counselor
Mo thank you Ian so Council does
acknowledge that Derby Cresent does
require replanting and revation post or
level crossing removal works and we'll
Advocate strongly to ensure that this is
incorporated as part of any option for
proposed Works along Derby
crism through you mayor our next
question is from Sunol of colfield the
letter to council from 51 residents of
Derby Crescent seeks a forthright answer
from IL about an issue which has pitted
residents against each other and sadly
damaged the social fabric of our
neighborhood our government is in intent
in on destroying communities by
presenting ill conceived and incomplete
proposals that create anxiety and
confusion with increasing vehicle
numbers on our roads it's very clear
that motorists don't want to be cyclists
and since most cyclists are riding for
recreation there will never be the
switch from car to bike for most people
to think otherwise it's like creating a
new chapter of in Wonderland I believe
an Su from Glenn Huntley to Caulfield
station is unfeasible unnecessary and a
waste of tax pays money so why is
Council continuing to support this
initiative Mr McDonna thank you sue
council's integrated transport strategy
identifies the need to create safe
strategic cycling connections throughout
glenara however it is important that
they are delivered safely which may
require cre design Council believe there
is a feasible way to create a safe
cycling connection as part of the lxrp
project which incorporates sound Rel
landscaping and does not result in the
loss of residential
parking Miss noie I must insist that you
respect other members of the gallery
councilors staff and refrain from making
comments
or disrupting the proceedings while the
meeting is in progress thank
you Miss Nolly has a second question it
is disappointing to see that Council and
the labor government continue to ignore
the very obvious need for public toilets
to be open for use in the Glen Huntley
shopping precinct on February the 6th I
spoke publicly to Council on behalf of
Traders however Council has been
complacent and slow to act as the green
vacant lights flash butt ballards lock
block entry tonight I ask can Council
advise when the toilet Block in Glen
Huntley will be opened for use what are
council's reasons for the continued
prevention of use of the completed three
public toilets it owns Mr
McDonna thank you s for your second
question as part of the Glenn Huntley
and near Road level crossing removal
project the old to block was demolished
and reconstructed with a new changing
places facility is understood the lxrp
still needs to complete the final
building compliance requirements before
the facility can be handed over to
council which will occur in the next
few
weeks it works you are of the government
I must insist that you refrain from
calling out during the meeting of the
government you are a waste of
space
Lu we will now move to item four of
tonight's agenda which is the
confirmation minutes of meeting or
meetings do I have a
mover councelor parasol do I have a
seconder counil
Schmo does the we mover wish to speak
second wish to speak any other speakers
anyone wish to speak against motion I
will now put that to the
vote that's carried
unanimously item five is the reception
and reading of petitions and Joint
letters
councilors we have received a joint
letter from the residents of Darby
Cresent Coffield East as provided in the
agenda papers I will move that item may
I have a second thank you councelor
Schmo I would like to acknowledge
tonight the residents of Derby Crescent
and those of you who are here tonight
with us in the gallery it is always
great to see so much Community interest
and involvement in our Council meetings
I acknowledge the petition we have
received from the residents expressing
concern at a possible cycling Corridor
on Derby Crescent while this is not
council's project we will certainly
continue to convey the residents
concerns to the level crossing removal
project
lxrp as you know last month council did
not support the lxrp proposed designs
for a cycling Corridor on Queens Avenue
this followed feedback from close to 1
,000 community members we instead ask
the lxrp to explore other options or
ways to make Queen's Avenue a more
viable option I thank the residents who
attended last week's information session
which with Council offices where we
heard your feedback and I was glad I was
able to attend that with councelor
parasol we heard that planting and
regeneration of vegetation along Derby
Crescent is a high priority for you and
you are concerned a cycling Corridor May
prevent that from occurring we also
heard that you think Queens Avenue is
the correct location for this cycling
connection and that alternative
Solutions such as Shifting The Curve
should be further explode Council
strongly supports new cycling
infrastructure but we believe any
solutions must be welld designed and
balance the needs of the community and
the local environment we must sure that
we find ways to retain the trees as well
as the imunity with your feedback in
mind we will continue to Advocate the
lxrp to ensure that any proposed design
for Derby presentant includes revation
and improved Landscaping we will also
work with them to explore whether there
are ways to make Queens Avenue more
viable and of course we will ensure that
you are further consulted before a final
decision is made we will continue to
work with you and the lxrp and keep you
updated as our Discover discussions
continue councelor
SM thank you Madame mayor I've got
nothing further to add to that thank you
anyone wish to speak against that
motion are there any other speakers to
the
motion I don't wish to s up I will
now put that to the vote all those in
favor that's carried unanimously we will
now move to item six which is reports by
delegates account appointed by Council
to various
organizations are there any councelors
here who wish to submit a report to the
meeting I believe there's none so we
will move to item
seven I just want to let the all the
residents from Darby Cresent you are
welcome to stay for the rest of the
meeting and if you wish to leave you
might you can leave as well thank
you so item seven is advisory
committee minutes do I have a mover
councelor Jang do I have a
seconder councelor
klac councelor j thanks Madame mayor
I'd like to speak to the Min of the
community grants and awards aniversary
committee meeting held on 13 February
this was the first meeting of the new
year and I thank my fellow councilors
for electing me as the chair at this
meeting we reviewed and discussed the
applications of annual community grants
Senior Citizen Center grounds facility
High grounds small grants and youth
Excellence grants unfortunately the
committee decided not to support funding
a facility High Ground of
7,425 for integral Y Central Melbourne
to help them rabina Park Community room
because the number of G residents was
only three per session so the committee
didn't believe that the activity could
be providing sufficient Community
benefit to GL era it is the committee's
PRI priority to ensure that funds can be
used to maximize the benefits of G
residents thank you thank you councelor
J councilor KAC
I have nothing further to add thank you
does anyone wish to speak against that
motion any other speakers on the motion
councilor McGee Madam mayor thank you
I'll speak on the community engagement
advisory committee I stepped in to
cheer that meeting in the absence of
councilor smoo and I presented as as
as printed M May once that was the first
time that i' had actually gotten to go
to that committee and what found was
really quite surprising I expected a to
sit and listen to officers speaking
about engagement but instead I heard
a lot of really great questions and
comments from the community members on
that committee that committee is doing
some really really wonderful work and
when I left that that meeting I was
certainly very much engaged and looking
forward to the next meeting but I
certainly indorse the U the minutes as
printed thank
you any other speakers come
coun thank you Madame mayor I look I
just was unfortunately not able to
attend the last meeting on the 19th of
February so I thank councelor McGee for
sharing it on my behalf I just wanted
to recognize the amazing community
members we have on that committee it
wasn't enough to attend the meeting and
share all their thoughts there but I got
phone calls afterwards to make sure that
I also heard what was discussed and what
they thought was important and given
the importance of community engagement
for councilors for the council to hear
back from people that enthusiasm and
commitment of community members to
advise us on how best to engage with our
community is really valued so thank you
and a big shout out to all of them thank
you any other
speakers I might ask this move it to
Su up I will now put that to the vote
all those in favor that's carried
unanimously records of assembly and
do I have a
more counselor McGee do I have a second
counselor
parasol councilor McGee hased councilor
parasol anyone wish to speak against
that motion any other speakers does m
want to s up I will now put that to
the vote all those in favor that's
carried
unanimously we will now move to officer
reports and it's 8.1 which is the
Elston week Heritage review
2023 do I have a mover
councelor
penu do I have a second councelor kle
councelor
penu thank you mayor Cade this is
a very large item the first item on the
agenda the AIC her Heritage re review
and it goes to some
315 Pages the report and the
associated
attachments so the office officer
report is seeking our endorsement the
council's endorsement to commence the
planning scheme amendment that is
amendment
c257 to include four precincts which is
two new precincts and two existing
Precinct extensions identified within
that review Into The Heritage over
overlay of the glenara planning scheme
attached to the officer's report
mayor is also Heritage review the Alix
structure plan
2023 a Heritage analysis analysis and
recommendations for zonning in an alwick
and also the amendment
docentation and it's worth noting
that this is the first step in a
six-step process for the council
to adopt or agree to for this
report and Amendment and Associated
docentation to to go to the
minister to seek The Minister's
endorsement for to prepare an
amendment
associated with this Heritage review
I thought look there's so much detail
it's very hard to cover it all in the
three minutes that I'll be allocated so
I thought I'd just also go back to that
that the previous Heritage review
of the history of how we got here and
you can see in the report on page two
that the Glenn ARA Heritage review of
the steric structure plan area 2019
stage two
was originally adopted by Council in
December 2019 so that is actually before
this Council was elected and planning
scheme Amendment then c204 was lodged
for authorization but the minister only
granted partial authorization and five
precincts currently under consideration
with this Heritage review were not
approved as part of
c204 the recent adoption of the elic
structure plan by Council earlier last
last year and subsequent adoption of
proposed planning of controls required
to implement the structure plan is the
appropriate trigger for Council to now
consider the remaining five Heritage
precincts which weren't considered back
in
2019 so given the length of time that
passed since then the it was
considered appropriate to request the
Consultants to review the remaining five
precincts and provide a new report for
our consideration the this that is the
Glen Heritage review of AIC structure
plan
2023 which is attachment to to this
report and the differences between
the two Consultants report that is the
earlier one and this one is detailed
in attachment one so even saying all
that just shows you how complicated it
is and having read through the
Heritage review the very large 350
pages of the report and attachments and
the maps it does it does conf you
can get quite confused but in a nutshell
part of the major activity center of
ston week is the boundar is being moved
around certain areas are having either
neighbor neighborhood neighborhood
character overlays removed and Heritage
overlays put in place or the the
other way around some areas namely
the area to the West of the ax
station even though they have some
Heritage value are being excluded from
the Heritage review other properties
which have been looked at Again by The
Heritage Consultants are being
included with Heritage overlays and also
some some sections of ston Wick that are
not inside the major activity center
boundary will also nevertheless have
heav overlays put on top of them put
on over them it's fair to say like
that almost anybody who looked at this
would have things they really agree with
for example I mean you I was going to
say and I should say many public and
private buildings in ster week that date
from just after the establishment of
Victoria in 1851 and a great many date
from the 1880s 1890s and the early
20th century so we have a lot of
Heritage in Alon Wick so the Heritage O
review is very important but as I was
saying there's there's a lot of detail
in it there's some things that people
would agree with some of the Heritage
on being applied to the shops for
example which are some of the oldest
buildings are very welcome pic do you
no don't I'm just about to wrap up
because I you know I couldn't possibly
cover it all so I I encourage
people who are interested in Elon Weck
live in Elston Weck or and or are
interested in Elon Weck to read through
these and and they can participate in
the stages of the process which is
just going to begin with this thank you
the councel piku councilor
kle thank you Madame mayor and thank
you councelor penu for attempting to
give a smary of what is as you say a
very comprehensive and complex report
I will won't add too much much but it
I think what's important to note
rising out of this is there is a really
comprehensive piece of work that has has
obviously commenced prior to the
existence of this Council and a huge
amount of work within the planning team
and I had the Good Fortune to
actually go out with the Heritage one
of the the principal strategic planner
Jackie Brasher who has a background
in Heritage and to look over some of the
areas that have been previously captured
in various neighborhood overlays
which will now be picked up into
Heritage overlays and I think what's
struck me is how pleasing it was to see
the amount of recognition of the superb
Heritage in stenwick so I was
really pleased to see that and
there's a lot in this report well worth
looking at and clearly also that the
work of two Heritage external Heritage
independent herit review so well done
to the team and thank you very
much thank you anyone wish to speak
against that motion councelor
isakov yes thank you Madame mayor
look while I agree with much of what
this review is
proposing there is an element that I
don't agree with and that is putting 12
Stanley Street in a Heritage
overlay the owners of 14 and 16 Stanley
Street haven't responded so we don't
really know what their thoughts are on
this proposal number 18 already has a
Heritage overlay in place but it's worth
noting that all the affected properties
will be invited to take part in the
panel hearings if this is endorsed the
evening the amenity of the properties
especially number 12 along that
Northern side of Stanley Street will be
completely eroded when development
occurs along this section of Glen hutley
Road which is their North so it will
block their Northerly light and their
Northerly sun in particular number 12
has been altered over the years and the
changes made such as new windows the
brick work having been painted over
which I know from experience is
impossible to remove italianate ball
estring around the upstairs balcony the
downstairs entrance porch and the fence
are been changed with that ballestra
and all these things did ract from any
Heritage the property once had these
changes along with its position on the
corner of car street which has become a
really busy part of the activity center
in terms of retail and Hospitality
offerings have diminished the chances of
restoration from Little to
unlikely it is it forms a part of the
landscape now of car street cuz that
is the length of this property at 12
Stanley Street although it fa Stanley
the length of it is car streate so it's
a big part facing car streate on this
basis its inclusion in a Heritage
overlay is a real overreach I think in
terms of adding Heritage value to the
street especially from the cast Street
perspective where it would be better
suited to form part of that straight
scape I'm going to foreshadow an
alternate recommendation should this
one fall or fail one that removes 12
stany street from the Heritage overlay
but Ms 14 16 and 18 within it thank you
thank you Council asov any other
speakers on that
motion c
C you've already spoken any other
speakers coun
parasol without being repetitive I
completely endorse Council isakov's
remarks and I'll just implore if the
motion is pass ask that the community
Gets behind on the second stage and
makes any objections that they feel
warranted at the time thank
you any other
speakers councilor
SM thank you Madame mayor and as
has been noted by previous councilors
this is the first stage by no means
means that all these properties will end
up with or without Heritage as
recommended by the two consultants
and also the interpretation placed on it
by our officers in in recommending
decisions to us I just wanted to go back
to the panel report on the area and I
guess the tensions that are showing up
in this particular report before us so
we heard from the state government
looking at this plan report that we
actually shouldn't be I could read from
it but this was back in the day that
it wasn't passed and that Elon week
South was removed at this stage is not
considered appropriate to apply the
Heritage overlay more extensively than
El we given the council has yet to seek
authorization for plan clim amendment to
implement elwi structure plan we've now
done that and I recall when I first
brought up the fact that we needed
Heritage in Elston week South hearing
from many many residents back in 2020
end of 2020 and 21 I'm pleased that
we're finally here but that was quite
a few years ago in particular dwelp
at the time said doing so by default
could lead to Heritage controls being
the primary driver for the development
outcomes within elwick activity center
and wider application of the her over in
elwick I'm literally quoting from
them in El needs to be considered
in the context of implementation on the
elwi structure plan conversely from the
planning panel what we heard was that
in particular there's a leld view
by planning panels and councils that
Urban consolation development are not
relevant when considering whether the
Heritage overlay should apply in other
words the Heritage work should be done
first the Heritage decision should be
made and then decisions should be
made about how we increase density so I
find the report before me somewhat
confusing in terms of where we've
decided not to listen to the Consultants
where we've decided to add things back
in so I understand that we've heard
from a resident at 12 Stanley for
instance an example about not wanting it
we haven't necessarily heard from some
other residents I know that sometimes
people don't look at things that come
from Council if it doesn't have a bill
attached to it if this dis does pass
tonight there will obviously be further
opportunities for members of the
community whose properties are on the
list to either write in support court or
to object and to put their submission in
presbly in the next stage so at this
stage I'm hoping a few other people will
speak so I can make up my mind but I
guess I'm not 100% happy with what's
before me for a range of different
reasons thank you any other
speakers councelor
atopos thanks M Kade look the
work is pretty extensive and I think
those that
we'll look at it and either go through
it in detail and find reasons to rebut
what's being put forward Others May
just rebut it anyway because they really
just don't like it I don't know what
their plans are but I think at this
stage it would be important that after
us doing this work that actually at
least minim gets to that next stage so
we can have proper consultation on all
the properties in regards
to I'm I'm going to read out a few
little facts but I think it's important
that we consider this as we embark on
all different Heritage reviews that will
come towards Council this term and
future terms and I hope hopefully they
get continued to be repeated so of the
councils that sit near us these are
the numbers of Heritage properties that
have been protected I'll go in order
because it's easier Bayside have
2,181 Bor andara have
1485 glenara have
3,275 Melbourne City which I don't know
we should include it but anyway it's in
and around us
12867 Port Philip 6
16878 Stonington
10,266 Yara
2255 now they're pretty Stark numbers
and I don't think that even if you
were to take into consideration our
lovely Southeastern corner of of
glena which is predominantly more new
you know in the tuck Awards and your
East Bentley and so on and so forth that
and you were to look at the work that we
have done since this data was made
available which was in 2019 I still
don't think that we've caught up in
those numbers and I still think that
this municipality has a lot of Heritage
to protect and that's why I've raised
them as a concern and I think it's
important
I know some people might just think it's
just one property or a few people might
think it's just a few properties but if
we keep doing these a few properties a
few properties it ends up becoming a
massive gap between us at
3,275 dwelling that are protected and
the largest one which is
2255 dwellings protected now I'm going
say that we have to get to that number
by the way or that it's a competition
but I think that that bridge needs to be
or that Gap needs to be bridged is how
the saying should go so I think it's
important that at minim that we go
ahead we look at these properties having
properly reviewed by the people that
own the properties themselves by their
Consultants that might look at it and
see whether they're worthy of protection
and then we reconsider it and obviously
maybe take it to a panel and so on and
so forth through the rest of the stages
so keep those numbers in mind when
considering what comes before us
regarding Heritage thank you councilor
councelor Jen
thank you Madame mayor I cannot
support councelor eso's alternate or
potential n that number 12 standing
stet should be excluded because of
two reasons one that this
recommendation is not just not
consistent with the Alon W structure
plan the properties that officers
proposed to exclude in the report are
either within the residential grows zone
or are proposed to be Upson to
residential grows Zone the removal of
this properties is consistent with
council's councelor Jang would you like
to speak to the recommendation which
has been supported oh okay yes thank you
yeah I support Council pentus
motion because I think the
recommendation officer recommendation is
consistent with the a week Str plan
and also I believe that my my
position on Heritage protection
matters is always consistent I trust
independent consultants and officer
Council officers expertise I
believe the the assess all the
properties against the same criterias
so the the property that they
recommended to exclude are within the
residential good Zone as I said so
that's consistent with council's
adopted a WRA plan and all the others
should be included in the herriage
protection list so that's why I support
the motion thank
you anyone else wish to speak to this
motion I might just add a few no
I might add a few points then
strengthening protection through
Heritage controls is something Council
can do in this instance expert Heritage
Consultants were engaged to conduct a
review of the area and their report sets
out their recommendations on properties
and precincts that in their professional
view are worthy of inclusion because of
their Heritage significance residents
love their neighborhoods and they choose
to live in a certain area because they
value the heritage character of their
homes I have a few observations on this
report and the recommendation the report
recommended that several properties at
Momi Street and at 35 to 37 Garden
Street are worthy of Heritage
consideration however the officer
recommendation proposes to exclude the
whole of Momi Street 35 37 Gordon Street
and 1 and three rden Street 32 to 38 hor
Street and 5 7 and 9 McMillan Street
from the pro poed Elston Vick South
Heritage Precinct as these areas are
located in an area of Housing
Opportunity identified in the Elston VI
structure plan these areas are either
Zone residential growth zone or four
stories or are proposed to be upzone to
a residential growth Zone and including
these properties in a Heritage overlay
would negatively impact on potential
future housing growth in an area that
Council has resolved to identify has has
Housing Opportunity so what the officers
have done here is exercise their
discretion based on the adopted ston big
structure plan to not include these
properties though the Heritage report
recommends their inclusion I think this
is an important point to make because
the officers in doing so have recognized
that what is set out in the report was a
consultant recommendation on Heritage
alone and not other strategic OB
objectives that in fact have been set by
Council to enable future housing growth
as I see it the work involved in
protecting Heritage and balancing that
with enabling more housing growth in
only small and select areas are both
very important to glena we are all aware
of the housing crisis and the impact it
has on our residents now the point that
I take away from this is that we need to
carefully balance our need to protect
Heritage with the need to ensure we also
encourage F future housing growth in
areas that we deem to be suitable and
use our discretion when doing so taking
into account submissions made by
residents the report recommends the
inclusion of the property at 12 standy
Street within the proposed Heritage
overlay when assessing whether to
include this property within a Heritage
overlay it is clearly not enough to
merely look at the condition of the
property but rather adopt a more
holistic approach with when making an
assessment I think what merits
consideration in respect to this
property whether it should be included
within the overlay or not is is it
position as well as councelor esakov has
said may I have an extension please of
Just 2 minutes thank
you all those in
favor carried
unanimously yes I
am so and the opportunity for it
backs onto the south side of Glen huny
Road and there's opportunity for
opportunity for o six-story buildings to
the north of the properties at 12 to 18
Standley Street there may be a laneway
separating the properties from Glen huny
Road but there will be eminent impacts
to these four properties when the areas
get developed in the future furthermore
on the opposite side of cast Street
there's already a four-story building
which has a commercial ground floor and
residental IAL flows so when you look at
all the de development that surrounds
that area and future development
opportunities it lends itself as the
ideal location for future housing growth
it is also close to a major activity
center and the station so I think
Council has an opportunity here like
what we have done for mombi Street and
the two properties at Gorden Street to
not attach Heritage overlay if they
consider so as it's an opportunity to
increase housing stock however there is
a process to be followed to commence the
planning scheme amendment process
council's resolution on this report is
the first step in the process and I
support the recommendation that has been
moved Council will seek authorization
from the minister for planning to
prepare the amendment and then the
community will be advised of the
proposed amendment and make a submission
these submissions will be considered by
Council so it is an opportunity for all
residents whose properties are included
in this amendment to make their
submissions if they
wish that it is to be considered by
council at a future meeting thank you
councelor peniku would you like to
Smer thank you Matt and thank
you all the councilors who've
contributed to the discussion tonight on
the elic Heritage review I just
like to respond to what councelor
thanop said and I think I've said many
times in this chamber that pretty
weak on Heritage review on Heritage in
Victoria and it seems we're very weak in
glena I think I've also mentioned the
lost city of Melbourne film if you
haven't seen that you should go and see
it what went on in the 1970s and we're
sort of going through a wave of that now
and we do need to protect our heritage
we we certainly need to do more as I
said when I was moving the motion there
are parts of this motion of this
report and recommendation that have
removed removed some Properties or
and even streets and sections that the
Heritage Consultants recommended be be
covered by Heritage over and that is in
mccom Street Gordon Street Rosen Street
Horn Street and McMillan Street with
which I might not agree particularly on
some of those properties that I don't
believe they should be some of those
properties should be but that I I'm
taking the view now that we start the
process and we let the people that are
affected there go through it Council
esakov foreshadowed an alternate and as
is totally her right and I I was open
to looking at the argents about
12 Sandy street but also the officers
have have provided us with some
advice that that removing the her
Heritage overlay from number 12 would
affect numbers 14 and 16 and 18 as well
so it not just affect that property so
and would also would also provide
that there would be no justification to
downsize the site from residential
growth Zone to growth res General
residential Zone which is recommended
in the report and this would be the same
for 12 14 and 18 Stanley Street anyway I
don't really want to go into the Weeds
on Stanley Street I'd just rather say
that we do need to do better with
with Heritage there are properties
probably should be covered by Heritage
but let's put it out there for the
community because actually they haven't
seen this yet we're at stage one of a
six stage Pro process thank you maam
thank you I will now put that to the
vote are all those in
favor and all those
opposed that motion is carried
sorry got just when we do when there
a split vote we have to R out all the
names for and
against as part all those in favor my
apologies so it's councelor Jen
councelor Schmo councelor McGee
councelor penu councelor klac councelor
parasol councelor atopis and councelor
kid and those opposed councelor isakov
thank you councelor
atopis let's move on to 8.2
philanthropic partnership and
sponsorship sponsorship policy do I
have a mover for that
councelor parasol is that as
printed now we have a slide
Amendment like to put forward and can
read it yes please that Council
adopts the draft philanthropic
partnership and sponsorship policy
attachment one and this is the amendment
part with the amendment to Clause 6.2
paragraph
2 which is this includes but is not
limited to Partners D Dash donors
involved in the production of tobacco or
Associated products alcohol gambling AR
armaments fossil fuels pornography
products
which support child labor or cause
unacceptable damage to the natural
environment and two revokes the
philanthropic Partnerships policy
adopted by Council in
2022 do I have a
second councilor SM councelor
parasol thank you madam
May i' just like to state that this
is a separate policy to the following
agenda item 8.3 which is for the naming
of council
assets Council itself is committed to
partnering with the community to deliver
values services and
infrastructure our priorities our future
survey which was the biggest survey
result we've had in all my time and I
believe in council's time
1755 responses were received
and they told us that the preferred
method of raising revenue was to explore
sponsorships and Partnerships with
government non
for-profits and the private
sector we can use this new expanding
policy to actively actively seek this
result so it's a new way ahead for the
council it's a plan for New long-term
sustainability the February 22 adopted
philanthropy
policy actually did achieve four
Partnerships and total of over
$250,000 so with this new policy it'll
allow Council to further investigate
opportunities and identify potential
Partnerships
this policy aims to ensure that
initiatives do
support Council goals particularly
emphasizing gender equity and Community
safety there is a strict exclusion list
barring Council Partnerships with
industries that don't align with the
community
expectations including gambling and
alcohol
Industries some other councils had
success in this
area and while our Council ganara
doesn't have dedicated resources we will
initially use our existing resources and
staff but I'm hoping when officers
monitor all the opportunities and
potential returns then some dedicated
specific resourcing and staff may become
part of our
work let's hope that this policy
successful in the future given cost
shifting to
councils and ensuring our financial
sustainability this policy must abide
with sections 8 9 10 11 and 70 of the
Local Government Act of
2020 if this policy is adopted we will
pursue further engagement with the
community to gather their visions and
Views insights into what sponsorship
Partnerships and F fundraising
opportunities residents and businesses
would be Keen to
support I want to thank our director
of custom and and corporate Affairs
Kelly vse Sophie Patterson for the
advocacy lead job and all the team that
did this work and look forward to
support for this motion thank you thank
you councilor parol councelor Schmo
thank you Madame mayor and look I I
think I really really want to
acknowledge all the work that Council
parisol has done since he's been elected
as a councelor to really make us think
about our different sources of of
Revenue and this became even more
important through the epy work of
councelor McGee when we started
investigating our financial
sustainability between 55 and 65% of
council's Revenue is rates and charges
and then we go down to things like
grants from other levels of government
then user fees and then statute fees and
fines we know that there are a lot of
gaps across our municipality about
things that are actually really
important to People based on the
feedback that we had and we've got gaps
in our open space we've got some gaps in
public toilets there are
facilities such as Pavilions that don't
I think do they all have women's
changing rooms yet no and we know
that a lot more girls and women are
playing sports so all of that those
Capital expenditure that Capital
infrastructure costs and so opening
up the possibility and a framework for
seeking and accepting other sources
of income so philanthropy whether
it's from community members whether it's
from other organizations whether it's
businesses I think opens up the
possibility for us to provide exactly
what the community is asking for without
necessarily rapidly increasing some of
those other things particularly
obviously rates and user fees and and
fees and fines I know no one gets
pretty gets at all excited about getting
a parking fin or anything like that so I
I want to thank councel parasol all
the staff who've worked on it for really
actually now giving us a set of criteria
and framework and broadening that based
on what we brought and discussed in
Council over a year ago so that we can
actually build perhaps a bit of a
strategy about seeking this extra source
of funding to give the community what
they're asking for thank you thank you
anyone wish to speak against that
motion councelor
kle look I find myself tonight
feeling the need to speak against the
motion I read the motion originally and
sort some internal discussions about it
because I'm look I I'm not opposed to
sponsorship and philanthropy
philanthropic you know seeking
money through philanthropic you know
grants and Partnerships however local
government is a very sensitive animal
and I'm very new to it but my my
perception was I had some had some
concerns and I raised them in discussion
s about the potential for a number of
donors to seek to influence Council so I
sought discussions and I was reasonably
satisfied around the exclusions in
that I have great confidence in the
offices and the councilors and and
the degree of rigor that local
government generally approaches these
things tonight we've sought to modify
the motion and one of the things that
we've done is reframed the wording
from the original prined which include
production and sale and some had some
other words around it we've reduced that
I think it's
unlikely but there are some
possibilities that arise out of these
new modified words that leave me
uncomfortable and I would I I
appreciate that everybody in the room
has had a longer process and experience
and opportunity to discuss these things
than I have so yeah that's pretty
much all I've got to say thank you thank
you any other speakers on the
motion councilor
piku thank you may thank you may I'd
also like to speak in support of the
motion and congratulate Council
parisol on the work he's done in this
area and echoing the words of
councilor smoo in terms of what kind
councel carmaker said I do agree and the
wording may not be perfect but I've had
another look at it and I've thought
perhaps bodies not limited to can cover
some of the concerns you've raised
because trying to talk about
production of sale
of it would become a very very unwieldly
sort of a sentence but I do agree with
with your sentiment that sale of
armaments for example is not something
we would be we would be agreeing to
accept a philanthropic donation from
I've also raised in in this
chamber before the idea of us relying
too much on philanthropic donations too
and in lie of rates and other
Government funding that we should be
getting because we are a council and not
a private business however with
apologies to Council of parasol I
would like to move a a friendly
Amendment because I'm pretty sure I
heard Council of parisol say the words
support child labor rather than the
words produced with child labor and I
wonder if councilor parasol would accept
that friendly
Amendment would you accept that
Amendment councilor
parol and
councelor Schmo would okay and with
that I will support the
item thank you councilor penq
any other speakers on that motion
councilor
esakov yeah thank you Madame mayor
yes I also thank Council parisol for his
consistency on this one it's taken a
long time as we as everything does in
government but we got there and here
it is tonight so I support it in its
philanthropic intent I would not
support partnering where we would lose
ownership of council own land but in
general term terms yes I support
philanthropy and
sponsors as put by in the alternate
motion by councelor parasol I also
believe that the wording should remain
the same as it is currently in the
current policy that will be sort of
passing tonight or cancelling tonight
that's defined in there and
excludes Partners donors involved in the
production we've already gone through
this I probably don't need to go through
it again but not to include selling I
think it certainly would exclude many
prospective sponsors along the way not
that I think we have many gun shops
in glena I haven't seen any anyway
we're not us yet but who knows we might
get there the the term philanthropic
partnership is defined in the policy as
a relationship between Council and a
partner intended to achieve a
philanthropic purpose of benefit to the
local community the details of which
will be set out in a partnership
agreement and it states that
applications would be treated on a
case-by casee basis so it's not you know
all over because of the wording they are
treated separately and differently I
would have liked to have seen stronger
language in relation to the protection
of council owned land and the scope of
Partnerships in that space But it isn't
there in any
strength but hopefully in our case by
case basis it will be dealt with
appropriately and from a
philanthropic perspective the policy is
welcomed and would give the local
community the opportunity of really
becoming part of the projects that
Council undertakes orbe it it can be in
a very small way or it can be in a very
Monental way thank you thank you any
other speakers on that
motion coun
atopis just a few highlights just one
for the community thanks me I should
have started with there is a a
threshold So Below
$50,000 we have as part of this
motion CEO and officers would be able
to organize those arrangements it's
it's very rare that our CEO and officers
would not bring that to council for a
consideration anyway when we have our
briefings but anything more substantial
than that it will come Council will come
through a council process for
consideration in the chamber so the
community will also have an opportunity
to have a look at that as well I think
one thing that's important is that and
everyone wouldn't know this that's ever
dealt with council is there's multiple
strategies and policies that usually
overlap one another and one thing that
we do have at council is a property
strategy now thanks to counselor's mood
so you know a lot of our decisions
when it comes around property and those
sorts of things I think will will
definitely sit under that strategy and
how we use them so I think I don't think
that this this particular
proposal puts at risk any your
council's land through pH philanthropic
or Andor sponsorship processes but I
could potentially see a Stadi being
not Stadi but a Pion named after a a
company if they wish to partner with us
or or a bunch of other things
potentially as long as it fits within
the criteria that is set out I do think
the wording that we've sort of come to
and I do appreciate Council pentu
identification of those words but is not
limited to really gives us that rle room
between ruling a whole bunch of things
out but actually giving us the power
to decide who and and what we can use
within this policy so thanks Council
parasa for your work and I think this
is a really good little but important
part piece of the puzzle to help us
help Council moving forward
financially thank you any other speakers
councilor McGee Mame if I could start by
asking just a question for
clarification in the policy we talk
about not accepting from gambling and or
fossil fuels now in the past United
energy has sponsored tree planting
through biodiversity would that mean we
would then say to them that no we won't
take their
assistance and also not quite a few
years ago now and and at other stages
the Melbourne Racing Club have given
over their least land for things like
our Carol by candle light and and
various events at the race course would
we now have to say to them no we can't
accept
that
anyone thanks and through you mayor
so Council M the provisions in the
policy do provide that there are
stronger Provisions around I guess
the production of those things so it
would be again up to council to make
that decision but the pro the
provisions are strengthened through this
policy yes and that's exactly what I was
getting at because it doesn't preclude
companies from offering but the
decision would then come to council to
decide that I worry about you know
the old throw the baby out with a bath
water you make a you make a policy
without fully understanding the
ramifications off that policy and
everything we read there sounds great
but then I would just hate that one day
we miss out on something really
important just because we've thrown in
word fossil fuel and we then can't take
grants from you know power companies now
I don't understand power companies don't
create the power they certainly sell the
power but it's an Associated they
make their income through fossil fuels
and like everyone else though I
remember when councel parasol came to
me with this idea and I thought it was a
great idea but my God is going to take
an awful lot of work and it did take an
awful lot of work and Council PR all
congratulations thank you councelor
McGee any other
speakers Council parisol would you like
to s
up would you like to s up councelor
parisol thank thank you may look I
I got to say that it's really wonderful
for all the councilors to
congratulate me but I just want to say
that this is a council decision we're
all part of a team and without your
support this wouldn't have happened and
that includes our CEO and all the staff
so thank you for your vot of confidence
because I really do feel this is a way
forward for us as a council and I'd like
to see
the quarter plus million 250 plus that
we've already raised continue to grow
into much bigger
amounts so I just again thank you all
look I think
the policy outlines a robust
framework for engaging in philanthropic
Partnerships and
sponsorships but it also emphasizes
council's commitment to to responsible
governance and I hope that all the
councilors appreciate that the
community wellbeing and strategic growth
and it positions us as a council that is
actually now proactive and d and will be
a dynamic entity dedicated to fostering
positive change and collaboration with
Council and the Gara community and move
with the times in this changing world
and a new way for sustainable economic
viability for the council so again I
thank you all for your support and I
hope that we will pass this motion
tonight thank you thank you councelor
parol I will now put that in the vot all
those in
favor councelor Jen councelor SM
councelor McGee councelor pinq councelor
parasol councelor isov Council atopis
councelor kid and those against
councelor kler so that has been carried
let's move on to 8.3 which is the
naming rights policy and do I have a
mover councelor parasol and is that as
printed and do I have a second Cel SM
councelor
parisol thank you madam mayor again and
before I start I'll just like to thank
all the officers for their work
again this policy the name rights
policy applies only to the naming of
council
assets place name are an important part
of gara's historical cultural and
Geographic
environment and significantly
contributes to a sense of belonging
within the
community and is also a method of
identification serves as an important
practical service by providing addresses
for raing emergency services and guiding
uses even for our road
networks in ganara we have a
responsibility to preserve the heritage
of place names while we adapt to the
evolving
municipality the rich history of ganara
underscores the importance of preserving
existing names as well as recognizing
the first nation's traditional place
name
naming rules are
mandatory for all naming authorities in
Victoria this policy aims to support a
fair and clean process for naming of
council down
places the policy allows Council to
consider naming
opportunities which align with council's
objectives and
priorities many other councils already
have a similar type
policy various forms of naming policies
exist in the city of Melbourne monach
Kingston just to name a couple
councils Council acknowledges there is
an opportunity to partner with business
and other entities where values
practices and
products are consistent with Council
objectives and
policies and there is a potential for
Revenue generation through naming
routes this naming rights policy
provides a robust framework for the
responsible naming and renaming of
council owned assets its Implement
implementation will enhance Council
commitment to community welfare
responsible governance and sustainable
Financial
practices if endorsed tonight Council
officers will Implement a comprehensive
operational approach to the naming of
council assets as well as consider its
capacity to establish new Partnerships
so I trust that we will'll vote for and
support this policy thank you thank you
councelor par councelor Schmo nothing to
add thank you does anyone wish to speak
again against that motion any other
speakers on the
motion would you like to s up
councelor parasol No thank you thank you
I will now put that to the vote all
those in
favor carried unanimously 8.4 is the
proposed reintroduction of the special
rate scheme and that's for
carnegi shopping
center can I have a
mov counc esakov and second for that
motion count
atopis councelor fov thank you Madame
mayor the recommendation before us is
that Council give notice of its
intention to declare a new special rate
on properties in the Cari shopping
center for a period of 7 years from the
1st of July this year through to the end
of June 31 or 2031 the carnegi Main
Street Association has formally
requested that Council declares a new
special rate for the center effectively
providing a continuance of the current
special rate which expires at the end of
June this system has been in place for
20 plus years and the majority of
Traders support the scheme the money
raised has been used to promote and
Market the center and provide additional
support to businesses where required
including throughout the covid-19 crisis
for many
retailers 26 of the 240 properties have
supported this but for 24 properties it
was wasn't possible to receive a
response from them because they're
either vacant or closed 11 businesses
opposed the renewal of the system and no
response was received from 54 of the
businesses now if this intention is
supported tonight there will be a period
of formal stakeholder engagement
including both owners and occupiers of
the properties after which a report will
come back to us at a council meeting
we will have the objections in front of
us and there'll be an opportunity for
submitters to speak to us at that
meeting to their submission so I'm in
support of the recommendation as printed
to have this intention endorsed thank
you Council isov Council
atopis nothing more to add in terms
of the process where we're at just to
say that the three centers that do have
a special rate Levy do put functions
together quite spectacularly really
those have been to any of the centers
that put things on most of them are
run by Traders groups so it does really
allow businesses to collectively
gather some some money and actually do
some promotional work in their centers
and I might actually add that those that
don't have a special rate ly actually
really suffer ultimately and and
wish that they did they're very
difficult to get so I fully endorse
Council supporting this and judging by
the work that has been done so far from
the committee does seem to have wide
support within the catchment of
carnegi but we do need to go through
that formal process to ensure that it is
the right decision moving
forward thank you does anyone wish to
speak against that motion any other
speakers on that
motion would Council esakov like to s
up there's probably nothing really I
need to add to this at this stage but
look forward to hearing submitters and
seeing submissions thank you thank you I
will now put that to the vot all those
in favor that is carried unanimously 8.5
is the proposed reintroduction of a
special rate scheme for the Elston Vick
shopping center can I have a mover
please councelor penq and is that is
that as
printed and councelor SM coun
PQ thank you m and as per the
previous item this item is is that
Council gives notice of its intention to
declare a new special rate on properties
in the stenwick shopping center for the
period of 7 years from the 1st of July
this year to the 30th of June 2031 and
this this has been in place as in caragi
for more than 20 years and it will
the current one will expire this June
the Elon week Main Street committee has
requested the council will declare a new
special rate for the Senate to continue
as I said for the next seven
years the relevant Traders Association
spend the funds that are allocated by
the levy as specified in the special
rate declaration which is attachment one
to this report and in accordance with
our special rate agreement between the
Traders and Association and the council
and this requires a submission of annual
budg budgets regular financial reporting
and audited accounts financial
statements I should say funds have
primarily been used to employer
Center coordinator provide special
community events provide regular
advertising and promotion including the
promotion of spe special events such as
Halloween manage and regularly update
its website and social media develop its
brand communicate with Traders engage
with the local community and seek grant
funding and provide a weekly cardboard
collection
over the last seven years mayor the
achievements have included the as I
mentioned the Elon week Village website
high quality series of Articles
profiling businesses social media a
monthly newsletter the Halloween
festival Business Development and
covid-19
support and the ston week Main Street
committee has a a vision and which by
which it wants to develop elil is a
distinct brand and a friendly and
welcoming reputation and a number of
other aims that has in its vision for
the next seven years and I think
we should all support the
continuation of this for the next seven
years thank you thank you
councilor thank you Madame mayor
and I will endeavor not to repeat
anything that P Council penu has said
she's smed up this item very well I
just want to sort of I guess put some
numbers around it as well so there are
290 rable properties in the proposed new
scheme but there are actually 46 vacant
or closed properties at the moment so
quite a considerable proportion so as
a result weren't actually able to
gauge the initial support for this
only from 244 of the sites of which we
got feedback and support from 171 so
this is the start of a process to check
in and I think it's important that we do
that and I'd also just like to
acknowledge the Traders are so El
Traders Association has reached out to
the the local Council of that area to
organize to meet with us I think that
will be a really useful conversation for
us to give hear their ideas and and
and also I guess to hear as we are
local residents for them some of our
thoughts as well so hopefully that will
be an interesting discussion and then
obviously they'll work directly with
Council thank you thank you anyone wish
to speak against that motion any other
speakers on the motion Council penq
would you like to s
up thank you mat yes Council smooth
raised some good some well important
points there about the number of
properties that are not occupied at
the moment but of the 244 properties
that were reached out to 70% were in
favor which is which is a high number
and I was going to run out of time when
I was moving the motion soing out a few
things now so in terms of its vision
the ston week the the committee
wants to also create marketing and
promotions and continue to enhance elic
Village on its online presence through
digital marketing marketing activities
and
strategies and continuing to
encourage Shoppers as it already does to
to think of Ali Village as a vibrant
shopping destination which it is
despite some vacant properties and
as I mentioned before it also has a
special Heritage aspect to it and
so so I think the committee is
looking to provide activities and
support for Traders to enhance
the the Elon Wick
Village area and so it's worthy
your support thank you I will now put
that to the vote all those in favor that
MO motion is carried unanimously 88.6 is
the audit and risk committee by annual
report is there a
Moval councilor penu I might second that
councilor K Council
penq thank you mayor so the audit
and risk Committees of the council is
one of the actually legislated
committees in the Local Government Act
so Council has a lot of committees
and it doesn't have to have all of those
committees but it definitely has to have
the audit and R risk committee under
the Act and the committee is required
under the ACT to also provide a Rec a
a report to Council on its activities
twice a year and the purpose of that
report is to note the activities or
for the not purpose of this report is to
note the activities from the period of
September 23 to February
24 and the agendas for the Committees
are driven by the committee's annual
work plan which it Works to every
year at the meetings held in the
period for for this report the committee
focused on financial and performance
reporting risk and man risk
management fraud and internal control
the committee receives business unit
risk reports at each meeting in line
with the role in risk program so
covering all aspects of Council in a
rolling
calendar committee also looked at the
results of the results of annual self
assessment of its own performance and
assess the performance of council's
internal Auditors and we also hear
from the external audit as in Vago
Representatives brief the committee on
sector developments and and progress in
planning for our external audits that
happen every year V Veo thank you may
thank you councilor peniku and I too
would like to acknowledge the
contribution of all the members on the
audit and risk committee they do some
really valuable work and U we are
better off for their contribution is
there anyone who wishes to speak against
that motion any other speakers on that
motion would councilor penic you like to
s
up I will now put that to the vote all
those in favor and that it's carried
unanimously and the item number 8.7
is the audit and risk committee
minutes councilor pen and I might second
that as well councilor kid councilor
penu thank you just turned myself off
Council sorry thank you mayor as I
mentioned in the previous item that the
council has required under the Local
Government Act and the charter that the
minutes are provided to the Council of
every audit and risk committee minutes
this report is to present to council
for approval the audit and risk
committee minuts from the meeting held
on the 23rd of feary
2024 and on at that meeting key top
topics considered were the risk
management fra framework and risk
appetite which is an important
piece of work looking at
basically how how much risk
appetite Council has for certain loan
loans and debt Etc it's an important
issue for the committee to keep its eyes
on it reviewed council's procurement
and contracts
processes business continu and
disaster recovery and Associated risks
the corporate governance report the
internal audit reviews for o ands and
assets management the as I mentioned
before in the previous the Victorian
auditor General's office audit strategy
for the current year it the report
that we just presented and sector
updates from internal and external
Auditors and we do learn a lot about
what's going on not only in Victoria
with external Auditors about what the
Auditors are doing in other states as
well so there's a wealth of information
that comes to this committee
for the benefit of council and community
of Glenn AA and I'd also like to
thank the independent members of the
committee for their time and effort and
expertise that they give to council
thank you councilor pinu I entirely
agree with what you have said and
thank you for your comments on that
does anyone wish to speak against that
motion are there any other speakers on
the
motion councilor pen you would you like
to s up I will put that to the vote
all those in favor that is carried
unanimously 8.8 is the local government
election 2024 service level agreement
coun would you like to move that as
printed as printed thank you and
councelor isakov councelor
schm thank you Madame mayor so the
council term is a 4-year term and
that means we're drawing to the end of
of the term that we were elected as
councilors at speak later this year
the council local government
elections are placed midway between the
four-year term of the state government
elections so gives people a bit of a
rest and by the Local Government Act
2020 we are obliged to use the
services of the Victorian electoral
commission to conduct a local government
elections as well as if there are any
changes in councilors and countback so
we have two councilors here who
didn't join us at the end of 2020 but
subsequently and that was all based
on the services provided by the
Victorian electoral commission it is
important to note that the chief
executive officer can't enter into
agreements requiring expend a grer than
500,000 so that's why this is coming to
council because the quote that they have
given us is
$782
714 excluding GST the Assption
they've made is and this will be a
change for this coming election up until
now we've had three Wards each with
three councilors elected we're moving to
single member wards with much many other
Metropolitan councils if they haven't
already done so in the last election
typically there was between 10 and 13
candidates in each Ward so they've
divided that by three and come up with
the idea that there'll likely be four
candidates per Ward that probably is
not borne out by looking at some of the
other councils near us that already
had single member Wards but at the
moment this is the estimate of the 782
almost 83,000
and what we will be doing
according to the recommendation tonight
is is providing authorizing the CEO to
sign the Electoral Services agreement on
that behalf noting that it is only an
estimate and there may be far more
people running for each of the nine
Wards but that we won't know until it
happens so we have to have the
elections we will have to say goodbye
some of us may run again some of us may
be back and some of us will may be a
long-term farewell although perhaps
retaining some interest in what's
happening or not as the case may be
so I really just and will'll s up by
saying I think we actually have no
choice but to endorse this
recommendation thank you thank you
councelor
esakov yes thank you Madame mayor
Council mood's taken some of my thunder
I was also going to mention that they
had estimated four candidates per
Ward don't we wish that it would only be
four would be a very rare thing it's
not likely Basel side and Kingston
when they went to single Wards had at
least 10 running in each of the single
Wards so I I do hope that their estimate
for the cost won't double accordingly
or more than double cuz four
candidates to 10 is more than double
and they haven't included the GST in
that which is close to another
$80,000 so in all likelihood it will
cost more than a million doar this
election the other provisors too
that the cost of printing and postage
don't go up which will affect the the
cost ultimately as well and I note that
Australia Post has a current proposal of
putting postal costs up 25% at the
moment I'm not sure if that's going to
succeed or not but that will put the
price of postage up quite dramatically
but as councilor SM said we don't
have much Choice there's no range of
electoral organizations for us to choose
from it's one size fits all thank you
thank you Council OV does anyone wish
to speak against that motion councilor
McGee Madame mayor I will speak against
I think it's a silly motion and then
I'll tell you
why there is no alternative but to use a
Victorian electoral commission it's not
something we can put out the tender this
Council would never spend a million
dollars without putting it out the
tender we're being told we have to use
Victorian elector Commission Now there
may be that there's no one else there
that could do it the Australian
electoral commission could do it they
got the same expertise but we have been
told we have to do this but we're also
been told we have to move to nine Wards
which no one in this Council actually
wanted we didn't want nine Wards we
wanted the old system to stay exactly as
it was three Wards three councilors per
Ward so one we're being forced into
single member Wards because that is the
Local Government Act of 2020 which none
of us had much in put into and here we
are now going to spend upwards of a
million dollars of raid payers funds to
do something we didn't ask for we didn't
want and I feel don't believe in but
what I am pleased and I'll be voting
against the motion what I am most
pleased about is on the 26th of
October I will cease being a
counselor and the first thing I will be
doing as a civilian will be writing the
Victorian auditor general and asking for
a performance audit to be conducted on
the Victorian electoral commission 2024
local government
elections thank you councelor McGee are
there any other speakers on this
motion councelor
peniku thank you mayor yes I will
support the motion even though I
agree partly with what councilor mcke
has said that it is a sillly motion
but I not for the reasons he says just
for well not for all the reasons Hees as
I should
say I certainly I do agree with the
establishment and the use of the
Victorian electoral commission and the
Australian electoral commission for
federal elections and the VC and the
a are used for other elections as well
by NGS Etc take use their services
you know contrast that with other
countries even the United States for
example which you know they have coun
they have politicians drawing up
electoral boundaries and all sorts of
strange arrangements for the running of
Elections or any other countries that
you might like to consider that are
currently holding elections at at the
moment or one was just held certainly
there is no independent electoral
Commission in the Russian Federation
but so I I I say these things but
it's very it's very important and
it's it's an important
you know I can't think Foundation
of democracy to have an independent
electoral commission so in that respect
I I don't agree with with with
councelor McGee but I do agree that
the we didn't want Single member Wards
we shouldn't be going to single member
Wards that they are less Democratic
they are going to result in less
diversity and they are in fact contrary
to the ACT and if I could be have the
time to read out from the ACT section 28
the role of a counselor is to
participate in the decision making of
the council to represent the interests
of the municipal community in that
decision making and to contribute to the
Strategic direction of the
council and the C and review of
strategic docents of the council
including the council plan it's not
to represent a ward that is not
mentioned in the Local Government Act at
all all councilors are there to
represent the whole community and to
look for the benefit of the community
and based on where the needs are where
the requirements are across the
community and moving from the the
some you know Melbourne City Council
doesn't have Wards at all so there's an
example there's no Wards everybody is
just elected to melbour city council
the the sort of compromised position
is to have multi-member Wards which
results in more diversity one of the
issues that was raised at the luncheon
that the mayor and I attended was will
this will this result in fewer women
being elected when we're trying to get
more women into local government but it
also means that people councelors are
forced in a way to focus down on a
smaller area when they should be looking
outwards to the whole municipality
and also even beyond that as we've
discussed many times s in this chamber
working with other councils on on issues
that are common to us in our areas of
Interest communities of Interest so
that's why I think it's it's you know
it has it this this item has is is born
of an issue that we we don't agree with
but we don't have much chance much
choice in we can't oppose the CEO
doing what she's meant to do Under the
ACT thank you thank you any other
speakers Council
atopis just thanks M I think
mostly I agree in terms of don't know
why the requirement was required to
change it actually didn't mind
multi-member Wards I think that they can
be quite good especially in getting
diversity across the line and looking
at some of the numbers between councils
that moved it wasn't wasn't there
were some wards that got massive numbers
but there were some wards that only had
four and five people running in some
Wards in Bayside it did go from an
average of about four to seven and
they're very similar Council to us but
they only have seven Wards and we're
going to be moving to nine so it'll be
interesting to see how it goes there and
Kingston on the other hand went on an
average of five if you include the 11 WS
that they now have to about 6.5 so there
was a massive movement in terms of the
the one benefit when you do have
smaller areas to cover as someone
running there is a barrier to coming
into any elected office quite frankly
one of the barriers is finances a
smaller boundary for you to appeal to
can allow for better entry for people to
come into so for one one silver lining
of the the decision of making them
smaller boundaries and one of the
reasons you're probably seeing more
people run is because affordability is
becoming an option for people so that
doesn't take away from all the other
points that were made by Council picure
and Council McGee I think the death
worth considering but I just wanted to
raise that because that's something that
we should put as part of our
consideration thank you councelor
canopis any other
speakers I might ask councelor Shang
to s
up oh sorry council is
M thank you Madame mayor and look I
think just reiterating the points that
my fellow Council made the ponal
elect commission is a monopoly we
trust that the estimate that they're
giving us is as Fair priced as it can be
given that we have no choice as to where
we go we hope as councelor esof has said
that if far more than the four
candidates per war turn up that this
is not a a direct thing but it's kind of
kind of like a scale up as in the buk of
the cost has already been covered and
it doesn't end up being 1.5 million
because I don't think that would deliver
good value to the community I think
as the point that has been made by
council pentu is that there is a lot of
trust in The voran Electoral
commission and also the El Commission in
terms of the Integrity and quality of
our elections people don't contest
the votes we believe the final result
that's obtained and that is important
I think we're probably most of us in
Furious agreement in terms of
questioning whether there's any extra
value added for our community moving to
single member Wards other than as as
Council theopolis has aply pointed out
it's going to be far easier to walk
around and meet people in something
that's about a third of the size of what
the current Wards are probably means
that family and friends may not be
called into for as much help or
perhaps delivery companies for those
who have the ability to to pay for that
in their own campaigns but at the end of
the day we really have no choice
to have the majority of us even if it's
not unanimous support this so that
the CEO can sign the Electoral Services
agreement thank you thank you I will now
put that to the vote all those in
favor councelor Jen councel smth
councelor penu councelor C councel
parasol Council isakov councel
atopus are for that motion and
councilor m is
against 8.9 classified three register
quarterly report do I have a mover
councelor klac is that as
printed yes madame mayor as printed and
may I have a second councilor pen C
kle thank you Madame mayor look it's
always a pleasure when the classified
tree registry comes up on the agenda
because I think we the convers ations
are becoming more and more frequent
about the concern about canopy and trees
in our community we've had a
considerable representation of community
members around the importance of trees
so it's an honor to move the classified
tree registry quarterly quarterly report
that I'm grateful to my councelor
colleagues for allowing me to do this
evening seeing new trees added to the
classified tree register is always a
pleasure with only 12% of our
municipality municipality tree canopy
remaining every tree we can protect for
the future is
important tree preservation has many
benefits not only aesthetic and
practical in cooling neighborhoods but
also in enhancing Community
wellbeing there is a generalized anxiety
across the community about climate
change and I think we're seeing it in
real
terms perhaps felt most acutely by
younger me MERS of our
community so tree preservation is one
small step we can do to Future
Generations in in to combat climate
change tonight is a particularly
important quarterly report as it
contains a recommendation for a tree
that qualifies for the registry on many
counts the river red g on Mama road is
a Heritage treasure that has likely that
was likely already an adult tree when
Johnn made contact with people of the
Kon Nation on the banks of the era there
are only a handful or so of trees of
this caliber or age in glenira and this
is the kind of tree that deserves the
higher standard of protection and
preservation for the appreciation of
future
Generations I visited the tree and it
contributes positively to the Aesthetics
and quality of the environment in the
immediate
neighborhood
I have spoken to members of the arborist
team about the value of this tree and we
know that it is
historic ecological and genetic
significance as Remnant precolonial
vegetation my understanding from the
arborist is that the tree is one of the
best if not the best tree that's been
nominated today in glenira I don't think
there's a competition there but it's
highly considered we know that the tree
was beloved by the former owner of the
property who understand may have been
the Nom nominator for the of the tree
and effectively acted as a guardian of
the tree vly hoping the tree would be
preserved for the
future the owner has passed away the
properties have been sold but the tree
was on the up phen nomination well
before the property was on the market
the tree is located on a very large
block and it's well located towards the
rear of the
block the tree has been dependently
assessed as being in a stable and good
condition I'm aware that the arborists
team members made real estate agents and
prospective buyers aware of the existing
nc6 classification which includes a
vegetation overlay for the area so
I'm confident that the residents knew of
the tree status before purchasing the
property I also believe possibly
appeared on the section 32 I asse
it would have there has been some
discussion regarding layers of
protection amongst councilors here so
and to to in simple terms it is
currently protected under an
neighborhood overlay it is not
currently on the classific classified
trry which is why it's been nominated
and is before us tonight my
understanding is that the overlay that
exists currently was put in place over
10 years ago and but the classified
tree register would afford
additional and appropriate level of
protection so I'd like to move the
quarterly report tonight and speak
strongly in favor of the preservation of
this tree thank you councilor kle
Council
peniku thank you mayor
just to note that the
classified true quar report that we're
considering now well the report says
it there 21 trees but am i counting it
it's 22 trees and that includes
the river Ed g which Council Kake
has mentioned at 33 amama Road there's
also a white Wy and a river pepm at 18
pel Street Bentley East and a
southern mahogany in the Caulfield East
Reserve there's also 13 jelly Palms in
Caulfield Park North Caulfield which I'm
sure most people are familiar with if
you've W walked there and and five
Canadian popular popers at princess Park
in Caulfield South again if people have
been there they'll be aware of those
trees so there's four trees on private
land and the rest are on public land
there's been no objections to any of
the trees except to the tree at 33 on
road and without repeating everything
that councilor Kake has already said
about that tree it certainly is I
identified as a Remnant tree so more
than 200 years old so we're going back
there to 18 we're now 200 years ago was
1824 so before 1824 so definitely in
that area was not settled at that at
that stage so that's how long that
tree's been there and that makes it a
very special tree not withstanding the
other aspects in terms of its shape
and it's it's also part of a stand of
River red gs surrounding it in in voy
Park so it's such a special tree and
as counselor car lake has said we're
losing our trees in the previous
council meeting we spoke about 3,000
trees being removed from private
property every year now that's an
awful lot of trees I mean if you just
think about five five years that's
15,000 trees and we're down to 12.5% of
our canopy and when we have such special
trees such as the one at 33 on Mama Road
really is our duty in a way to
protect them and to put them on the
classified tree register that's what
it's for now councelor kle mentioned
that it it may have been nominated by
the previous owner in fact it's been
nominated by many people there have been
two objections just from the landholder
and the and their property next door
but the our own arborist and the
consultant arborus both supported
that the tree meets all the criteria for
being included on the classified tree
register and it's very important that
we look after trees like this as as a
community we we can't reach out
Council P would you like an extension
just for a minute thank you all those in
favor car thank you councilors we can't
reach our canopy cover just by
Council trees as I've mentioned before
they're only oneir we Council properties
is only one3 of glenara so 2/3 of it is
in private land and that's where the
trees are being removed and this is such
a special tree a Remnant tree and
part of a stand of trees probably some
of them when I went around had a very
close look are quite a bit younger so
probably offspring of that tree so
we have a very special tree here it
deserves to be on our register as a
classified Tree in glenara so I will
re be supporting the report as
printed thank you councilor
peniku anyone wish to speak against that
recommendation counil isov yes thank
you Madame mayor I certainly support
the courtly report in its in its
entirety except for 33 amama Road
and I will foreshadow an alternate
recommendation should this motion that's
been put fail tonight and those the
follow for the following reasons
there's absolutely no question at all
that the tree in question is an
extremely old extremely rare extremely
valuable tree it meets all the criteria
that's required to be on the classified
tree register but that's exactly why
it's already protected from removal or
ping pruning or lopping under the Glen
Ira neighborhood character overlay 6
which applies to a portion of Northern
Marben it recognizes the importance and
significance of established canopy trees
to the amenity and character of the
local area a planning permit is already
required before any work can be done to
a tree under this overlay to double the
layer of bureaucracy by adding a further
protection layer I believe is
unwarranted and onerous for not only the
property owner but for Council to do it
twice it's protected
under the the overlay that it's got now
it just seems senseless that you know
we've received submissions from both the
owner and the neighbor who is affected
by the canopy of the tree also that I
don't know I prese that they're aware
that it's covered under the Heritage
overlay that it's got now with the
neighborhood character overlay but
they believe that it has concerns to
them from a perspective of risk and
safety sorry I'm bit distracted it's
very close to their F the neighbor's
fence it's it's canopy covers about my
estimate looking at the overhead is
about 25% of the block is covered by
the Tre canopy the the owners are
concerned being a young family with
young children who will want to be
playing in that backyard they're
concerned about the the fact that gs
do drop limbs a g of this size it's
huge the limbs that it potentially
could drop are trees the size of trees
they drop them randomly and they
are
and I can understand why they are
concerned about the safety of their
children and and the safety of their
property for that matter because it
can land on their roof as much as it can
land on a person
they counc esakov would you like an
extension oh only only for 20 seconds
thank you 20 seconds councilor atopis
Council all those in favor carried
unanimously they bought a house that
when I looked at the sale online it's
a very small house a very old house
in need of renovation I don't know if
that's been done yet or they're planning
to renovate it has two bedrooms and a
bathroom not a lot else but a living
room if they're a family with
multiple children which it sounded like
on their objection they are going to
probably want to extend that house
there doesn't leave a lot of room to
extend unless they go Under The Canopy
of the tree which may or may not even be
allowed so look I don't know in from
that aspect I'm I'm not going to make a
judgment but I certainly don't want to
be putting a second overlay or second
protection layer over a tree that is
already protected it just seems
ridiculous it looks like something to me
that you'd see on a current affair one
of those silly things that councils can
do and wouldn't like to say that
thank you thank you councelor
esakov any other speakers on that
motion Council
atopis thanks Meade yeah
look I do take Council es points about
the double bureaucracy I can understand
that argent but I'd actually
flip it on its head and say when you
have something so significant that's
probably the one time it might actually
be a really good story to tell the wider
community that we're got an issue of
canopy that not only do we have the
neighborhood character overlay for that
area that has a protection for this
vegetation but we're actually also going
to include it on a classified tree
register which was its sole purpose of
saving trees it ensures its safety
within that area on top of the potential
safety it already has some of the
concerns in terms of wanting to
expand the house and those sorts of
things come with risk if someone was
buying that house with young kids and
knowing it was small when you're already
purchasing an area that has a
neighborhood of character overl which
comes with its limitations anyway in
terms of
development
and I'd hope and I'm just going to
asse that they'll have knowledge of
what that NCO looks like if not in
this chamber right now they'll be
scrambling to look what that nc6
describes which sort of goes against
some of the argents that they're
putting to us in terms of why it
shouldn't be within the classified tree
register and goes against what some of
the things that have already been said
about why it shouldn't be in the
classified tree register because there
is protection apparently already
there I I do
the when trees get to this sort of
size there are risks that we shouldn't
ignore that's fair they can fall on
people it can harm people there's no
doubt about that they're right next door
to a park that is beautiful for its
canopy cover and Rich trees and I'm
pretty confident to say that they will
be allowing those kids to run through
that Park and I'm not sure that we
should be lobbing off all those trees
within boy park because of the fact that
it may fall or a limb may fall on
somebody it's important like Council
as a responsib Authority within that
boid Park area that we make sure that
all trees there are as responsibly kept
as possible people that are owners of
these types of assets including trees to
make sure that they're as safe as
possible for the people that may be
within their grounds it's important that
we send a signal to the community that
not only that we just going to talk
about the problem that we have about can
it be cover and then put a few things in
place but that when we have an
opportunity to protect a tree that is is
really in the top 1 percentile of trees
within the area that we actually are
serious about what this is all about if
we can't protect a tree like this then I
don't know how we're ever going to
actually achieve some of our goals I
know that planting and all that sort of
stuff will help us but if we can't
protect these ones then I don't see how
we're ever going to achieve our goal of
restoring some of the can of cover that
we've lost in the city of
glar thank you Council atopis
coun thank you Madame mayor and I'm very
conscious of time and we'll need to do
an extension soon but I just wanted to I
I think acknowledge the challenge
that the classified tree register poses
to us because it actually means that
we're placing some constraints
where a tree is is put on the register
to what they can do with their land
without going through a process of
applying for a permit to either prune or
to remove a tree and what it's
essentially saying is that where we're
doing that we're asking the owners of
private land and acknowledge that many
of the trees that have made on the
register actually on Council land but
we're asking the owners of prob land to
then become custodians of a tree that
has been identified by arus and then
supported by councilors as being
worthy of that special extra layer of
protection I I wanted to comment on
on the neighborhood character overlay
specifically
n6 two of the objectives are to
preserve and enhance the unique
landscape character of the area which
extends across the Open Spaces and into
adjacent private Gardens and Street
planting and to maintain the prominence
of vegetation in the area by retaining
established vegetation particularly
medi to large siiz canopy trees and
the planting of substantial
vegetation so you know when you when you
look at that and and one would hope that
because the both the the Naval
character overlay and the DDO are
available if one looks up the title
and and sees that those incbrances are
there that before the people who
purchased this property actually looked
and saw that and and hopefully inquired
about what that meant what that means
is if if with it as as it stands
currently if the owners want to I
think the words was prune or Lop
or remove the tree that they would need
to apply for a panning permit and if
they didn't like what council decided
presably the option would be to go to
to V what vcat would consider would not
be the tree itself but how that meets
the neighborhood character overl of
which there are many other conditions in
that neighborhood character overlay to
do with the built form to do with the
general landscape not specifically this
tree I want to also acknowledge the
point that other people have made which
this this tree is has been around
since before this area was settled by
Europeans so it would have been
essentially what our boy Park captures
is what would have been a creek at
times it's a very large very significant
tree and is part of a group of trees and
particularly River red g in Boyd Park
so it is a very very special tree and I
guess the question is is the extra
layer of protection that would be
provided by the local the significant
tree is it a double whammy or is it
giving a protection that the
neighborhood character overlay doesn't
actually provide the focus of the
significant tree register is very much
looking at our Urban trees our
significant trees and particularly the
part of that tree canopy counil would
you like extension 45 seconds can I have
a move councelor atopis councelor Jang
all those in
favor that's carried unanimously thank
you yeah so the tension for us is to to
sort of really decide are we asking
the people and they already are because
the neighborhood character overlays to
continue to be custodians for this land
can they actually if they do want to
build or renovate do so in a way that
really celebrates and and and
incorporates the tree into their plan or
are we saying that we believe the ntion
the the character neighborhood
character overlay is sufficient and I
I think hearing from everyone else
people are coming to this from very
different positions I think that this
tree is priceless rare red gs last
up to 500 to 1,000 years so so it's in
its teens and we know how special teens
are the Adolescence in our lives it
would be a great shame if this tree was
not preserved the the question we have
before us is is whether to support the
extra layer by also putting on the
significant tree register thank you
thank you Cel SM any other
speakers
okay I might say a few words on that
I largely support this report
but I do have concerns about including
the tree at 33 Omama road on the
register for and I share many of the
concerns that have been voiced by
councelor isakov we all agree I think
around the stable that it the tree is
significant and it is necessary to save
the tree it is in fact protected there
is
protection
in addition to that I think it's
important to remember remember that as
it's currently protected under the
neighborhood character overlay it is
protected from removal pruning or loing
the planning overlay as set out in the
report recognizes the importance of
established canopy trees to the amenity
and character of the local area
reflecting the trees contribution to the
area's natural biodiversity that is the
extent of the pro protection so
there is protection for this tree and if
an owner intends to prune lock or remove
if they need to make an application to
council now the tree has been nominated
for inclusion on the classified tree
register since it has been nominated it
has to go through this process and then
we decide whether it should be included
on the register or not the objective of
the local law is apart from providing
for the registration of classified trees
to also protect trees there's no refer
reference in the local law to can it be
cover in part five of the local law it
goes on to say that count recognizes the
contribution that classified trees make
to the character of our Suburban
environment and furthermore the local
law prevents the indiscriminate damage
to and destruction on tree in the
classified tree policy it states that
trees contribute to the character and
identity of the area and seeks to
protect significant trees if this trees
is also included on the register and the
owner wishes to do anything with this
tree they will have to in fact apply for
not one but two permits which in my view
is an unnecessary burden to subject a
resident
to we have also spoken of risks in
respect to this tree now I think the
risk that is posed in a park is
significantly different to the risk that
is posed to the residents or home owners
and I think that requires due thought
and consideration because we
submissions have been made about U
children playing in that Garden then
I would hate to see anyone getting
hurt in addition to that upon in my
view upon careful consideration of the
relevant provisions of the local law in
my view the tree actually has adequate
protection on the neighborhood character
overlay and it currently recognizes the
importance of established canopy trees
and the trees contribution to the area
natural biodiversity so I don't think
any add protection is necessary for this
tree and there's no necessity to include
it on the register thank you councelor
kle I might ask you to Su up
please thank you Madame mayor thank
you very much for the interesting
discussion about this tree I am
really very moved by this tree and
I very strongly support its inclusion on
the register so much so that when I mve
the motion and he spoke about the tree
so thank you councilor penu for
mentioning all of the other important
trees I'd also really like to thank
councel esakov because you raised really
important points and highlighted the key
values that and attributes of this tree
but in speaking against the inclusion
of the tree you spoke about things that
are not in the report you talked about
the concerns about the stability of
the tree and it's clear from our
arborists in their report that the tree
is in actually excellent condition and
it presents as being a very stable and
strong tree that doesn't pose a risk
the and and in in arguing to exclude the
tree from the classified register you
also talk about things that are beyond
our remit as Council I haven't spoken to
the family I don't know what their
intentions for the property are and
though those aren't are reasons that we
would as a council ordinarily
necessarily contemplate when it comes to
assessing a tree our objective is to
assess the tree does it meet the
criteria for the classified tree
register and I believe it does
overwhelmingly so I think to exclude the
tree for reasons that are beyond our
decision-making remit would be a real
disservice to this tree and also to the
community who respect and value this
remnant vegetation so and the other
thing is that it's also clear that the
location of the tree would not prevent a
further renovation or extension of the
property it is not a very large block
it may require some consideration and
design for to accommodate the tree but
that to have a property that featured
this tree would be an amazing asset
for that household and really an Envy
a very enviable position to be in so
this tree is not just a tree it carries
genetic history it is located where its
relatives seeded it it is a treasure
that I don't even think that we can
fully appreciate at in
2024 in another 50 years we will have a
new appreciation of this tree the reason
for the why I think it is entirely
approp
that there be a double layer of what is
called bureaucracy I would say it is
protection is that it actually prevents
people saying this tree is a nuisance
it's dropping tweaks it's dropping
whatever I think I'd like to remove it
because when I'm hearing the objection C
like your time is up and can I please
have an extension not on the sming up
you don't get an extension we got it we
watching yeah thank you I would like to
now move a procedural motion to extend
the meeting to 11:00 p.m. do I have a
second to councilor SCH all those in
favor of that's carried unanimously
thank
you now I will go back to the U
voting on The classified tree register
all those in
favor of the
recommendation one councelor Shang
councelor councelor McGee councelor penu
councelor KAC councelor atopis and those
against councelor p councelor isakov and
councelor K thank
you that motion is
carried 8.10 is the sale of land
abouting van CR Court mckinon may I have
a
mover J and may I have a
second councelor M councelor Jang thank
you mayor K the owner of number
one Cru Court mckinon occupies a section
of council land that forms part of the
elster creek trail Council approached
the owner to determine their interest in
purchasing this land and the owner
indicated their interest so this report
seeks approval to proceed with the sell
of the land to the owner the land has
been fenced into the P private property
for many years and a driveway and the
car port have been constructed on this
land so it is appropriate to sell the
land to the property owner ice Port
offices recommendation thank you
councilor
McGee nothing to add thank you anyone
wish should speak against that motion
any other speakers on the motion
councilor
peniku thank you mayor it was raised
with me and it was mentioned in the
report that there was the possibility
that the land could be returned to
form part of the aler creek trail so I
went down and had a look and in
the report it says that doing that
would create a blind corner and a
security risk for users of the park that
sort of set me on the tra to go down
there and have a look I couldn't really
see that perhaps that could happen I
think it could probably happen the way
the way it is now but what really
stood out to me was that the as
mentioned in the report the the owner
of one cert has occupied that bit of
council land for a very long time it's
41 odd square meters not a very large
not a large area I mean it would if
it was returned it would add to the
to the ster ster Creek Trail it will
definitely there are some trees quite
close to the fence that are in the trail
that are quite close to the fence it
will give them a bit more room but
unfortunately there is a new building
going up there which is pretty close
to the fence so even if there was
a a view of council to to reclaim
that land and add it to the osta quick
TR well I don't think it's actually
physically possible now to do that thank
you thank you any other speakers on that
motion if there are no other speakers I
might ask the mo to s up just want to
thank councel P for for your comment
and your support thank you I will now
put that to the vote all those in favor
that is carried unanimously 8.1
instrent for appointment and
authorization of authorized off officers
do I have a motion as printed as
printed council is Mo and do I have a
second councelor isov counil thank
you Madame mayor so typically the CEO
actually directly appoints staff we
constantly told stay out of operations
but according to section 1882 C of
the planning and environment act it
does not allow this particular function
to be delegated so what we're being
asked to do nice to for to point an
officers bi resolution in this case
and a warm welcome to our newest
director of planning and place Rosa
zuas try and work on getting that a bit
smoother off the tongue the
instrent of appointment will be to
appoint Rosa to this position and
other than that really nothing more
to say thank you
kov yeah simply a housekeeping matter
it allows Rosa zolus to carry out her
duties and rightly so thank
you thank you anyone wish to speak
against that motion any other speakers
on the motion would the mov like to s
up no okay I'll put that to the vot all
those in favor that is carried
unanimously 8.12 is the Australian local
government Association National
General Assembly conference I do I have
a mover counil SM as pred as printer and
counelis thank you councilor SM thank
you Madame mayor the Australian local
government Association or national
general assembly in Cambra is a really
important opportunity for councilors
to get some professional development
we really predominantly in a sense
volunteer our time and to network
with other councils and to hear some
really important speakers who you
know really get us to think about and
the different things that we can do to
have an impact for our community I know
that and I've been twice each time
I've gone I've brought back a whole lot
of information and ideas and shared it
with different staff and different
councilors so it's been really value ad
I think we get far more from it than it
actually costs this year in in line
with our Consciousness about financial
sustainability we're proposing
that the mayor would attend both the
local government For as well as as
the the special mayor's event as well as
councelor Jan cake our newest
counselor and councelor Su penu who has
not been before thank you thank you
councilor Council
asopus thanks M and I agree with
councilor's mood that there is value in
this not everyone will find it but
that's fair enough I myself am
considering going up paying for it
myself and organizing it all myself just
because I find it valuable and important
that you make the connections and and
speak with a whole bunch of people from
across the sector but also to dr
home the important issues that are
important to us if we talk about
financial sustainability as a perfect
example you want to be at the largest
Conference of all councils across
Australia to dr home that message and
make sure that it's top on the agenda
and I did I would like to mention that
at the last conference we did have
to get up and defend our
rather you know pretty pretty tame
motion that we put forward but there are
other councils that this agree with you
surprise surprise around Australia so
it's important that you get up there and
you're there present to actually defend
that so I do support the mayor and the
two lieutenants that will be supporting
her and you may see me around camera
during that
time thank you councilor atopis anyone
wish to speak against that
motion any other speakers on the motion
would the mo like to s
up yes look I I think that at the
end of the day I really do believe the
value that we derive from it is is
more than it costs I didn't actually
mention the approximate cost of 3 and a
half thousand per counselor they give
up their time in their working week or
couple of days their working week to be
there in each of the last few
years we've actually put motions as
councelor atopos has said the
important thing about putting motions
about things that we think is important
is getting the support of a a a National
Organization so while there are 79
councils in Victoria there are 537
councils across Australia to have our
motions as a collective voice and I
might say that each of the Motions we'
put on the ones that I've been have
actually been Consolidated and become
leading motions for the organization
which means we're taking the message to
the federal government about things that
are really important for councils across
Australia with the voice of the
Australian local government Association
so as councelor stop has said it is
really important to have some councilors
there to speak to to network
promote our motions and then to speak to
it during the debate if there is one
thank you thank you I will put that
to the vote all those in favor that's
carried unanimously 8.13 is community
grants may I have a mve councelor jang
and a
second councelor peniku
C thank you Madame mayor the
community ground cward of theary
committee receives assesses and
recommends applications for Community
grants programs youth excellence awards
and citizen of the Year applications as
I have already spoken on the minutes of
the committee's February meeting earlier
this evening I'm not going to repeat the
details of the applications I hope
councilors will support the committee's
recommendations
and if the recommendations are endorsed
I congratulate all the grant recipients
and thank them for their commune
services or individual Excellence I
especially wanted to congratulate the
youth Excellence grounds
rans [ __ ] Call for who is going to
participate in men's net Nation series
2023 in Singapore and Jordan who is
participating in the Australian
Emergency Medical Services professional
development tour in California
congratulations to them thank you thank
you Council councilor
peniku just briefly thank you mayor
is to draw attention to the
recommendation that Council also
approves senior
citizens grants for the 32 senior
citizens groups outlined in attachment
one to the report
which is done once a year to those
senior citizens groups and helps
them and with a formula as to how many
members they have Etc and what they how
many times they meet and the other
work of the committee is for as Council
Jang has said youth youth excellent
grants which usually have one or two
every meeting and small grants and
also facility High grants which is sort
of what the bread and butter of the
committee where
we enable our Community groups to
Mee in counil properties for you know
very small fee and this helps all
of our community collectively helps all
of our community groups to function and
assist them in their you know aims aims
and objectives of the various groups
thank you thank you anyone wish to
speak against that
motion any other speakers on the motion
I might ask counil Zen Jen but he would
like to s up thank you I might put
that to the vote then all those in favor
that is carried unanimously item nine is
urgent business there is no urgent
business tonight item 10 is ordinary
business or request request for reports
from a member of council staff there
are no requests I believe rights of
reply are there any rights of reply I
don't believe so 10.3 is notice of
motion I don't believe that we have any
notices of motion 10.4 is counselor
questions don't believe we have any
of those either written public questions
we have already heard that this evening
next item is confidential items of
which we have none and that brings me to
item number 12 and the closure of the
meeting I declare the ordinary meeting
of council closed at 22 and 10 minutes
thank
you