WEBVTT

00:00:00.560 --> 00:00:03.560
Councilors, council officers, Glen Eira

00:00:03.679 --> 00:00:05.896
residents and committee members viewing

00:00:05.920 --> 00:00:08.535
our meeting this evening.

00:00:08.559 --> 00:00:10.776
I would like to welcome you to the 24th

00:00:10.800 --> 00:00:13.735
of February 2026 ordinary council 

00:00:13.759 --> 00:00:15.815
meeting of council. There are a few

00:00:15.839 --> 00:00:17.335
items that I would like to mention

00:00:17.359 --> 00:00:18.936
before we begin this evening. The first

00:00:18.960 --> 00:00:20.536
is a reminder to councilors, council

00:00:20.560 --> 00:00:22.456
officers, and members of the public that

00:00:22.480 --> 00:00:25.175
all mobile phones are to be switched off

00:00:25.199 --> 00:00:27.255
or placed on silent for the duration of

00:00:27.279 --> 00:00:29.415
the meeting. In the event of an

00:00:29.439 --> 00:00:31.495
emergency, members of the community in

00:00:31.519 --> 00:00:32.936
the gallery are asked to follow

00:00:32.960 --> 00:00:34.856
instructions provided from council

00:00:34.880 --> 00:00:36.375
staff.

00:00:36.399 --> 00:00:38.535
Our meetings are being livereamed to the

00:00:38.559 --> 00:00:40.215
community. If a technical problem is

00:00:40.239 --> 00:00:41.496
encountered during the meeting, which

00:00:41.520 --> 00:00:43.256
prevents council from live streaming,

00:00:43.280 --> 00:00:44.616
the meeting will be adjourned for 10

00:00:44.640 --> 00:00:47.015
minutes to reinstate the live stream. If

00:00:47.039 --> 00:00:48.776
the live stream is unable to be

00:00:48.800 --> 00:00:50.695
restored, we will continue the meeting

00:00:50.719 --> 00:00:53.175
as this meeting is in person and being

00:00:53.199 --> 00:00:55.816
recorded. Council is not responsible for

00:00:55.840 --> 00:00:58.456
any data usage charges or technical

00:00:58.480 --> 00:01:00.776
issues that members of the public may

00:01:00.800 --> 00:01:02.776
experience in accessing council's live

00:01:02.800 --> 00:01:05.256
stream or recordings of meetings. A copy

00:01:05.280 --> 00:01:06.936
of the live stream meeting is placed on

00:01:06.960 --> 00:01:08.775
council's website the day after the

00:01:08.799 --> 00:01:11.336
meeting. Thank you councilors. We will

00:01:11.360 --> 00:01:13.016
now commence with the items on the

00:01:13.040 --> 00:01:16.040
agenda. Item one, acknowledgement of

00:01:16.640 --> 00:01:19.016
traditional owners. Glen Eira City Council

00:01:19.040 --> 00:01:20.856
acknowledges the Boonwurrung, Bunurong and

00:01:20.880 --> 00:01:23.496
Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung peoples of the Kulin Nation 

00:01:23.520 --> 00:01:25.336
as traditional owners and custodians and

00:01:25.360 --> 00:01:27.415
pays respect to their Elders past and

00:01:27.439 --> 00:01:29.256
present. We acknowledge and uphold

00:01:29.280 --> 00:01:30.536
traditional owners continuing

00:01:30.560 --> 00:01:32.376
relationship to the land and waterways

00:01:32.400 --> 00:01:34.616
and we extend our respect to all Aboriginal

00:01:34.640 --> 00:01:37.415
and Torres Strait Islander Peoples. Item

00:01:37.439 --> 00:01:39.415
two is apologies. We have no apologies

00:01:39.439 --> 00:01:41.336
this evening. So I will move on to item

00:01:41.360 --> 00:01:44.360
three.  item three

00:01:46.880 --> 00:01:48.936
is a reminder to declare any conflicts

00:01:48.960 --> 00:01:51.415
of interest in any items on the agenda.

00:01:51.439 --> 00:01:53.496
Councilors, there is a requirement for

00:01:53.520 --> 00:01:55.415
disclosure of conflicts of interest to

00:01:55.439 --> 00:01:57.336
items listed for consideration on the

00:01:57.360 --> 00:01:59.576
agenda or any item that is considered at

00:01:59.600 --> 00:02:01.976
this meeting in accordance with section

00:02:02.000 --> 00:02:04.375
130 brackets 2 of the local government

00:02:04.399 --> 00:02:07.399
act 2020 and rule 85 of the Glen Eira City

00:02:07.759 --> 00:02:10.056
Council governance rules. Councils are

00:02:10.080 --> 00:02:12.456
advised that should they have a conflict

00:02:12.480 --> 00:02:14.696
of interest,  you must declare the

00:02:14.720 --> 00:02:16.616
conflict immediately before the item and

00:02:16.640 --> 00:02:18.935
state whether the conflict is general

00:02:18.959 --> 00:02:21.176
or material before you vacate the

00:02:21.200 --> 00:02:23.736
chamber for the duration of that item.

00:02:23.760 --> 00:02:25.976
 this meeting is in person. So we'll

00:02:26.000 --> 00:02:27.736
move to item four which is public

00:02:27.760 --> 00:02:29.976
participation.  we will now commence

00:02:30.000 --> 00:02:32.616
public participation. We have 15 minutes

00:02:32.640 --> 00:02:34.136
for public participation with each

00:02:34.160 --> 00:02:37.160
submitter permitted 3 minutes.  at 15

00:02:38.319 --> 00:02:39.816
seconds prior to the end of the three

00:02:39.840 --> 00:02:42.295
minutes  any speakers will  receive

00:02:42.319 --> 00:02:45.256
a warning.  CEO will tell us how many

00:02:45.280 --> 00:02:47.016
registrations we have this evening and I

00:02:47.040 --> 00:02:48.536
will hand over to you to call forward

00:02:48.560 --> 00:02:50.136
the first public participation

00:02:50.160 --> 00:02:52.295
submitter. Thank you through the Mayor.

00:02:52.319 --> 00:02:54.855
There is one submitter for this

00:02:54.879 --> 00:02:56.935
evening. It's Mr. Paul Kane if you'd

00:02:56.959 --> 00:02:58.855
like to come up and take to the

00:02:58.879 --> 00:03:01.336
microphone.

00:03:01.360 --> 00:03:04.360
Yes.

00:03:07.920 --> 00:03:10.920
I'll just check that it's turned on.

00:03:14.879 --> 00:03:17.879
Is that? Yep, it's on good

00:03:18.640 --> 00:03:20.935
some of you may remember me from last

00:03:20.959 --> 00:03:23.959
time I came and stood here, I think in

00:03:24.159 --> 00:03:27.159
in mid December or early December, and I

00:03:28.319 --> 00:03:30.775
did bring up  dump rubbish. Now I'm

00:03:30.799 --> 00:03:33.656
back again on a similar thing. I not

00:03:33.680 --> 00:03:35.495
sure how good your memories are, but I

00:03:35.519 --> 00:03:38.519
did say up to that date I put in 3,042

00:03:39.760 --> 00:03:42.760
snaps through our send snap. What is it?

00:03:43.599 --> 00:03:46.376
Snap sentence of and since that time

00:03:46.400 --> 00:03:49.400
I've added another 142 in my neighboring

00:03:49.760 --> 00:03:51.656
streets,

00:03:51.680 --> 00:03:54.680
which is quite a lot really. And  I

00:03:54.959 --> 00:03:57.176
did notice after I saw it here last time

00:03:57.200 --> 00:04:00.200
that for about 2 weeks things improve.

00:04:00.560 --> 00:04:03.560
rubbish got removed and it's back to its

00:04:03.599 --> 00:04:06.456
same old structural self. three or four

00:04:06.480 --> 00:04:09.480
send snap and solves get sent in to

00:04:09.519 --> 00:04:12.376
remove one pile of rubbish over quite a

00:04:12.400 --> 00:04:15.256
few months. Sorry, quite a few weeks.

00:04:15.280 --> 00:04:18.280
And  now we've got our Elster Creek

00:04:19.280 --> 00:04:20.856
litter

00:04:20.880 --> 00:04:23.256
management action plan to be passed

00:04:23.280 --> 00:04:24.856
tonight and I'm sure it will be and it's

00:04:24.880 --> 00:04:27.880
an excellent plan. And I'd like to kind

00:04:27.919 --> 00:04:30.919
of remind everyone that the

00:04:31.360 --> 00:04:33.256
the litter

00:04:33.280 --> 00:04:35.976
in conjunction with dump rubbish is

00:04:36.000 --> 00:04:37.735
quite strong. We get quite a lot of

00:04:37.759 --> 00:04:40.296
litter coming off out of our dump

00:04:40.320 --> 00:04:43.320
rubbish piles. And  if they're going

00:04:43.759 --> 00:04:45.496
to sit there for one or two weeks, the

00:04:45.520 --> 00:04:47.816
crows break open the bags, people empty

00:04:47.840 --> 00:04:50.840
the bags and and  we end up with that

00:04:51.199 --> 00:04:53.336
in our gutters and in our storm drains

00:04:53.360 --> 00:04:56.360
and and  into the bay. I think

00:04:56.560 --> 00:04:59.560
we all recognize that and  it's not

00:05:00.479 --> 00:05:03.479
new use, but 

00:05:04.000 --> 00:05:07.000
 some action on that. Now,

00:05:07.199 --> 00:05:09.256
I didn't have time to mention last time

00:05:09.280 --> 00:05:12.280
that some of the snaps and solves were

00:05:12.639 --> 00:05:15.639
taking up to three goes to get that pile

00:05:16.720 --> 00:05:19.175
of rubbish removed. And that's like you

00:05:19.199 --> 00:05:20.696
wait a week to see if it's going to be

00:05:20.720 --> 00:05:23.175
removed and it's not. So, you photograph

00:05:23.199 --> 00:05:25.256
it, you send it in. If it's not removed,

00:05:25.280 --> 00:05:28.280
next Thursday you take it again. So,

00:05:28.479 --> 00:05:31.479
that's what we're up to three weeks

00:05:31.520 --> 00:05:34.296
already or more. Now, I did follow a few

00:05:34.320 --> 00:05:35.976
of these

00:05:36.000 --> 00:05:39.000
piles that didn't get collected.

00:05:40.240 --> 00:05:42.136
Been a bit curious. I thought, well, got

00:05:42.160 --> 00:05:43.656
to be a reason. Now, they fall in

00:05:43.680 --> 00:05:45.656
between the chairs or or what's

00:05:45.680 --> 00:05:48.615
happening here. And I did speak to

00:05:48.639 --> 00:05:51.015
somebody at the health help desk and

00:05:51.039 --> 00:05:53.976
they said, well, it's marked down as

00:05:54.000 --> 00:05:56.536
already collected [music]

00:05:56.560 --> 00:05:59.256
and that's and I thought, well, well,

00:05:59.280 --> 00:06:01.096
actually, it's still sitting there. I

00:06:01.120 --> 00:06:02.615
just passed it this morning and it's

00:06:02.639 --> 00:06:04.615
been there for 3 weeks and it's still

00:06:04.639 --> 00:06:05.976
sitting there. And she says, "No, it's

00:06:06.000 --> 00:06:07.895
it's in our books. It's being removed."

00:06:07.919 --> 00:06:09.416
Well,

00:06:09.440 --> 00:06:12.440
use your imagine imagination on what

00:06:12.880 --> 00:06:14.856
could be happening there. Are we

00:06:14.880 --> 00:06:16.615
actually paying people to remove dump

00:06:16.639 --> 00:06:17.976
rubbish and they're not actually

00:06:18.000 --> 00:06:20.856
removing it or or whatever? I can only

00:06:20.880 --> 00:06:23.175
speculate on that and I properly think a

00:06:23.199 --> 00:06:26.136
bit of speculation on that is probably

00:06:26.160 --> 00:06:28.615
or investigation into that is probably a

00:06:28.639 --> 00:06:30.295
good idea.

00:06:30.319 --> 00:06:33.319
 it might remove some of the 

00:06:34.800 --> 00:06:37.256
structural problems I think. Is that

00:06:37.280 --> 00:06:39.656
Mr. Kane you're at 3 minutes. Would

00:06:39.680 --> 00:06:40.936
you be able to wrap up please?

00:06:40.960 --> 00:06:43.960
Okay. Question is 

00:06:44.639 --> 00:06:47.639
with all this work 142 snaps in couple

00:06:49.360 --> 00:06:52.360
of months over 3,042

00:06:52.720 --> 00:06:55.256
 3,184

00:06:55.280 --> 00:06:58.280
since I've been doing it.  now I'll

00:06:59.840 --> 00:07:01.575
sum it up quickly and the question is we

00:07:01.599 --> 00:07:03.175
we've got a we've had a litter

00:07:03.199 --> 00:07:05.175
prevention officer Les King now for a

00:07:05.199 --> 00:07:08.199
bit over a year now less being curious

00:07:08.479 --> 00:07:10.696
and I guess Les is a bit curious. It

00:07:10.720 --> 00:07:13.720
would be nice to see what his

00:07:13.919 --> 00:07:16.919
thoughts are on dumped rubbish. Has he put

00:07:17.919 --> 00:07:20.216
a report through to council on what he

00:07:20.240 --> 00:07:23.096
has found? I see

00:07:23.120 --> 00:07:26.120
signs going up against dumped rubbish and

00:07:26.240 --> 00:07:29.240
fines on it. And what I see is rubbish

00:07:29.599 --> 00:07:31.256
gathering around those signs. Those

00:07:31.280 --> 00:07:33.175
signs are used to lean mattresses

00:07:33.199 --> 00:07:36.199
against and and

00:07:36.800 --> 00:07:39.015
as my partner wife said,

00:07:39.039 --> 00:07:41.416
Mr. Kane, it is 5 minutes now. Have you

00:07:41.440 --> 00:07:43.175
finished asking your question?

00:07:43.199 --> 00:07:43.895
Sorry.

00:07:43.919 --> 00:07:45.256
I think we'll call that a finish. I

00:07:45.280 --> 00:07:46.376
think you've given us quite a bit of

00:07:46.400 --> 00:07:46.856
background.

00:07:46.880 --> 00:07:47.336
Yes.

00:07:47.360 --> 00:07:49.976
Hand over the CEO through the Mayor

00:07:50.000 --> 00:07:52.056
so I think the question is whether we've

00:07:52.080 --> 00:07:54.056
received any information or any reports

00:07:54.080 --> 00:07:57.080
on Dantra and some of the issues that

00:07:57.120 --> 00:07:59.175
might be behind that. Can I also can I

00:07:59.199 --> 00:08:01.256
hand over to um the director of

00:08:01.280 --> 00:08:03.256
sustainability assets and leisure  Mr.

00:08:03.280 --> 00:08:05.575
Madonna just to  provide a response to

00:08:05.599 --> 00:08:07.256
that? Thank you.

00:08:07.280 --> 00:08:09.096
 thank thank you Paul and through the

00:08:09.120 --> 00:08:11.496
Mayor. Um yeah we do have that data

00:08:11.520 --> 00:08:14.136
available. happy to follow up with you

00:08:14.160 --> 00:08:17.160
um after this meeting um obviously with

00:08:17.280 --> 00:08:19.015
our little prevention officers, our

00:08:19.039 --> 00:08:20.936
waste team and working with our

00:08:20.960 --> 00:08:23.575
contractors. So um so if you leave that

00:08:23.599 --> 00:08:24.855
with me, I'll be able to come back.

00:08:24.879 --> 00:08:26.776
Sorry, this is not a dialogue. The

00:08:26.800 --> 00:08:29.735
director question. So if you could

00:08:29.759 --> 00:08:32.759
it was a question to me from Noah. So

00:08:34.240 --> 00:08:36.375
 answer to that. You get all the data

00:08:36.399 --> 00:08:38.776
with the send snaps and solve you've got

00:08:38.800 --> 00:08:41.416
the data.

00:08:41.440 --> 00:08:43.336
Okay. If  Mr. Kane, if you could sit

00:08:43.360 --> 00:08:45.736
down now and and allow Mr. Mcdana to

00:08:45.760 --> 00:08:47.896
respond.

00:08:47.920 --> 00:08:50.920
Um thank you through the Mayor. Um

00:08:52.000 --> 00:08:54.216
I think I initially said we we do have

00:08:54.240 --> 00:08:57.240
the data. Um happy to follow up and um

00:08:57.680 --> 00:09:00.296
come back to you with how our litter

00:09:00.320 --> 00:09:03.255
prevention officers, our waste team, and

00:09:03.279 --> 00:09:05.976
our contractors use that data um to

00:09:06.000 --> 00:09:08.375
respond to your requests and other

00:09:08.399 --> 00:09:10.136
community members requests. Thank you,

00:09:10.160 --> 00:09:10.536
Mayor.

00:09:10.560 --> 00:09:13.560
Thank you.

00:09:15.600 --> 00:09:17.815
 thank you Mr. Kane.  we're now up

00:09:17.839 --> 00:09:19.576
to item five which is written public

00:09:19.600 --> 00:09:21.255
questions to council. Tonight there is

00:09:21.279 --> 00:09:24.056
one written public question.  so I'll

00:09:24.080 --> 00:09:26.296
now hand over to you to read the written

00:09:26.320 --> 00:09:27.815
public question and have the relevant

00:09:27.839 --> 00:09:29.976
director answer.

00:09:30.000 --> 00:09:31.336
Thank you through the Mayor. The

00:09:31.360 --> 00:09:33.255
question is from Katherine McNorton from

00:09:33.279 --> 00:09:35.416
Glenn Huntley. And the question is,

00:09:35.440 --> 00:09:37.176
"Thank you for notifying Corfield

00:09:37.200 --> 00:09:39.416
Recreation Center members of works in

00:09:39.440 --> 00:09:41.656
Maple Street, Corfield South. What

00:09:41.680 --> 00:09:44.375
percentage tree canopy cover will be

00:09:44.399 --> 00:09:47.016
added over footpaths outside council's

00:09:47.040 --> 00:09:49.976
CRC and synagogue where there are no

00:09:50.000 --> 00:09:52.375
nature strip trees? What measures are

00:09:52.399 --> 00:09:54.375
included to promote active travel and

00:09:54.399 --> 00:09:56.375
manage water to lower the neighborhood's

00:09:56.399 --> 00:09:58.216
flood risk and to improve water quality

00:09:58.240 --> 00:10:01.016
to Ster Creek and Bay? I hope trees,

00:10:01.040 --> 00:10:02.856
water, and active travel are regularly

00:10:02.880 --> 00:10:04.616
designed into council works to deliver

00:10:04.640 --> 00:10:06.776
plans for climate, street trees, tree

00:10:06.800 --> 00:10:08.776
canopy, integrated water, and active

00:10:08.800 --> 00:10:11.176
travel. And thanks for the great music

00:10:11.200 --> 00:10:13.336
under the stars concert, great choice of

00:10:13.360 --> 00:10:15.255
performances, and a lovely way to catch

00:10:15.279 --> 00:10:17.576
up with local friends. And I'll again

00:10:17.600 --> 00:10:19.176
ask director sustainability assets and

00:10:19.200 --> 00:10:22.200
leisure, Mr. Mcdana, to respond.

00:10:23.120 --> 00:10:24.776
Um, thank you, Katherine, and through

00:10:24.800 --> 00:10:27.336
the Mayor. Well, thank you for your um

00:10:27.360 --> 00:10:29.656
positive feedback about the music under

00:10:29.680 --> 00:10:32.616
the stars event. Um in relation to Maple

00:10:32.640 --> 00:10:35.096
Street Corfield South Road

00:10:35.120 --> 00:10:36.696
reconstruction

00:10:36.720 --> 00:10:38.935
council council's intent is to deliver a

00:10:38.959 --> 00:10:41.176
safer, greener and more climate

00:10:41.200 --> 00:10:42.776
resilient street that aligns with our

00:10:42.800 --> 00:10:45.336
adopted urban forest, our climate

00:10:45.360 --> 00:10:48.360
emergency and integrated water um and

00:10:48.560 --> 00:10:51.416
integrated transport strategies. A key

00:10:51.440 --> 00:10:53.176
key principle of the project is the

00:10:53.200 --> 00:10:55.255
retention and protection of the existing

00:10:55.279 --> 00:10:57.736
street trees which provide um

00:10:57.760 --> 00:10:59.576
established canopy shade and

00:10:59.600 --> 00:11:02.456
environmental benefit. Um there is

00:11:02.480 --> 00:11:05.096
limited locations um that additional

00:11:05.120 --> 00:11:07.576
trees can be planted. Therefore, our

00:11:07.600 --> 00:11:10.216
focus on further canopy growth has been

00:11:10.240 --> 00:11:12.536
on the nature strip opposite Corfield

00:11:12.560 --> 00:11:14.536
recreation center where there is ample

00:11:14.560 --> 00:11:17.560
space for larger canopy trees. In terms

00:11:18.240 --> 00:11:20.856
of active travel, um Maple Street

00:11:20.880 --> 00:11:22.776
reconstruction forms part of council's

00:11:22.800 --> 00:11:25.495
road renewal program and prioritizes

00:11:25.519 --> 00:11:27.096
improved footpath condition and

00:11:27.120 --> 00:11:30.120
accessibility, safer street layouts, and

00:11:30.240 --> 00:11:31.815
a street environment that supports

00:11:31.839 --> 00:11:34.776
walking and local everyday movement.

00:11:34.800 --> 00:11:36.616
With respect to water management, the

00:11:36.640 --> 00:11:39.336
project includes upgraded drainage and

00:11:39.360 --> 00:11:41.016
road infrastructure designed to better

00:11:41.040 --> 00:11:43.096
manage storm water and reduce water

00:11:43.120 --> 00:11:46.120
pooling during heavy rainfall. And more

00:11:46.320 --> 00:11:48.136
broadly, council is committed to

00:11:48.160 --> 00:11:50.216
embedding tree retention and planting,

00:11:50.240 --> 00:11:52.055
water sensitive design, and active

00:11:52.079 --> 00:11:54.616
transport outcomes into capital works

00:11:54.640 --> 00:11:57.640
wherever practable. Thank you, Mayor.

00:12:01.600 --> 00:12:03.976
Thank you, Mr. Mcdana. We're now up to

00:12:04.000 --> 00:12:06.055
item six, which is confirmation of

00:12:06.079 --> 00:12:09.079
minutes of the previous meeting. 6.1 is

00:12:09.360 --> 00:12:10.935
confirmation of minutes for the ordinary

00:12:10.959 --> 00:12:12.456
council meeting held on the 3rd of

00:12:12.480 --> 00:12:14.615
February, 2026. , could I please have

00:12:14.639 --> 00:12:17.176
a mover up for that item? Thank you,

00:12:17.200 --> 00:12:19.016
councelor Parasol. Are you moving the

00:12:19.040 --> 00:12:21.976
item as printed in the agenda?

00:12:22.000 --> 00:12:23.976
Great. Could I please have a second for

00:12:24.000 --> 00:12:26.296
that motion?

00:12:26.320 --> 00:12:28.456
Thank you, councelor Daniel. , I

00:12:28.480 --> 00:12:31.480
invite you to speak, councelor Harrisol.

00:12:34.399 --> 00:12:35.736
Right on.

00:12:35.760 --> 00:12:38.136
, nothing further to add. Thank you,

00:12:38.160 --> 00:12:39.576
Madam Mayor.

00:12:39.600 --> 00:12:41.336
Thank you, Council Parasol. Councelor

00:12:41.360 --> 00:12:42.456
Daniel,

00:12:42.480 --> 00:12:44.055
nothing to add as well. Thank you,

00:12:44.079 --> 00:12:44.935
Mayor.

00:12:44.959 --> 00:12:46.536
Thank you, Council Daniel. , would

00:12:46.560 --> 00:12:48.375
anyone wish to speak against that

00:12:48.399 --> 00:12:51.176
motion? Would anyone else like to speak

00:12:51.200 --> 00:12:53.815
on that motion? , Council Parasol,

00:12:53.839 --> 00:12:56.375
I'll hand back to you to sum up.

00:12:56.399 --> 00:12:59.399
Nothing to add. In that case, ,

00:12:59.760 --> 00:13:00.776
nothing to add.

00:13:00.800 --> 00:13:02.296
Thank you, Council Parasol. That case,

00:13:02.320 --> 00:13:03.576
I'll put this motion to the vote. All

00:13:03.600 --> 00:13:05.656
those in favor, please raise your hand.

00:13:05.680 --> 00:13:08.055
And that motion is carried unanimously.

00:13:08.079 --> 00:13:10.055
 we're up to item seven which is

00:13:10.079 --> 00:13:12.055
reception and reading of petitions and

00:13:12.079 --> 00:13:14.055
joint letters. As there are no petitions

00:13:14.079 --> 00:13:16.696
or joints, we will proceed to item eight

00:13:16.720 --> 00:13:19.656
of the agenda. Item eight is reports by

00:13:19.680 --> 00:13:21.176
delegates appointed by councils to

00:13:21.200 --> 00:13:22.935
various organizations. Are there any

00:13:22.959 --> 00:13:24.536
councilors who wish to submit a report

00:13:24.560 --> 00:13:26.216
to the meeting? Thank you councelor

00:13:26.240 --> 00:13:28.856
Embaldo. Please proceed.

00:13:28.880 --> 00:13:31.576
Thank you very much Mayor. I attended

00:13:31.600 --> 00:13:33.815
the February meeting of the Metropolitan

00:13:33.839 --> 00:13:36.839
Transport Forum. The meeting focused on

00:13:36.880 --> 00:13:39.880
the transport outlook for 2026, which is

00:13:40.320 --> 00:13:42.696
expected to be a significant year for

00:13:42.720 --> 00:13:45.720
transport policy and infrastructure

00:13:46.160 --> 00:13:47.736
discussions.

00:13:47.760 --> 00:13:49.976
With the state election later this year,

00:13:50.000 --> 00:13:51.976
there was a strong emphasis on the

00:13:52.000 --> 00:13:55.000
importance of coordinated advocacy

00:13:55.200 --> 00:13:57.896
across member councils.

00:13:57.920 --> 00:14:00.296
The MTF highlighted the critical role

00:14:00.320 --> 00:14:03.320
councils play in shaping and supporting

00:14:03.680 --> 00:14:06.680
advocacy priorities particularly around

00:14:07.120 --> 00:14:09.416
improving network capacity,

00:14:09.440 --> 00:14:12.136
connectivity, accessibility and

00:14:12.160 --> 00:14:15.016
sustainable transport outcomes.

00:14:15.040 --> 00:14:16.856
On this note, I've spoken with our

00:14:16.880 --> 00:14:19.416
planning department and city future

00:14:19.440 --> 00:14:22.296
teams and we will be providing our

00:14:22.320 --> 00:14:25.016
advocacy priorities. These will be

00:14:25.040 --> 00:14:27.736
tabled along with updates at upcoming

00:14:27.760 --> 00:14:30.536
meetings as part of the leadup to the

00:14:30.560 --> 00:14:33.495
election period. All councils will will

00:14:33.519 --> 00:14:36.519
be kept in the loop read this. So the

00:14:36.800 --> 00:14:39.800
MTF also advised that a CBD forum and a

00:14:40.399 --> 00:14:42.216
series of metropolitan town hall

00:14:42.240 --> 00:14:44.776
meetings are planned later this year

00:14:44.800 --> 00:14:46.615
creating further opportunities for

00:14:46.639 --> 00:14:49.639
engagement and sectorwide discussions.

00:14:50.399 --> 00:14:52.456
We also heard from guest speaker Mr.

00:14:52.480 --> 00:14:55.016
Edward Martin of Melbourne Airport

00:14:55.040 --> 00:14:57.976
Corporation who provided an overview of

00:14:58.000 --> 00:15:00.055
developments in and around Melbourne

00:15:00.079 --> 00:15:01.576
airport.

00:15:01.600 --> 00:15:03.736
This included updates on the airport

00:15:03.760 --> 00:15:06.055
rail link project, the current

00:15:06.079 --> 00:15:08.136
limitations in public transport

00:15:08.160 --> 00:15:11.160
connectivity to the airport and third

00:15:11.440 --> 00:15:13.255
runway development and a proposed

00:15:13.279 --> 00:15:15.815
long-term study examining the health

00:15:15.839 --> 00:15:18.696
impacts of aircraft noise on surrounding

00:15:18.720 --> 00:15:21.720
communities. was a very interesting

00:15:22.240 --> 00:15:25.175
um speech by this gentleman. He was very

00:15:25.199 --> 00:15:26.696
knowledgeable.

00:15:26.720 --> 00:15:28.375
Finally, the forum acknowledged the

00:15:28.399 --> 00:15:31.399
recent executive elections, welcome new

00:15:31.680 --> 00:15:34.296
council representatives and expressed a

00:15:34.320 --> 00:15:36.856
shared commitment to progressing key

00:15:36.880 --> 00:15:38.696
transport discussions throughout the

00:15:38.720 --> 00:15:41.175
year. I look forward to continuing

00:15:41.199 --> 00:15:43.896
Glenor's participation in this work.

00:15:43.920 --> 00:15:46.920
Thank you.

00:15:47.120 --> 00:15:48.615
Thank you, councelor Baldra. Are there

00:15:48.639 --> 00:15:50.456
any other councilors who wish to submit

00:15:50.480 --> 00:15:53.175
a report tonight?

00:15:53.199 --> 00:15:55.336
No. In that case, let us move on to item

00:15:55.360 --> 00:15:56.776
nine, which is reports from committees

00:15:56.800 --> 00:15:59.800
and records of assembly. 9.1 is advisory

00:15:59.920 --> 00:16:02.136
committee. 9.1.1 is advisory committee

00:16:02.160 --> 00:16:05.160
meetings.  the recommendation is that

00:16:05.600 --> 00:16:06.696
the minutes of the ultimate club

00:16:06.720 --> 00:16:08.856
advisory committee 13th of August 2025

00:16:08.880 --> 00:16:11.255
be received and noted with the

00:16:11.279 --> 00:16:13.096
administrative changes as printed in

00:16:13.120 --> 00:16:15.255
tonight's agenda. Could I have someone

00:16:15.279 --> 00:16:16.536
Thank you to move the motion, councelor

00:16:16.560 --> 00:16:19.560
Essov, as printed in the agenda? Yes,

00:16:20.320 --> 00:16:22.136
madame may.

00:16:22.160 --> 00:16:24.375
Thank you. , could I have a second for

00:16:24.399 --> 00:16:26.776
that motion?

00:16:26.800 --> 00:16:28.615
Thank you. I think it was councelor

00:16:28.639 --> 00:16:31.255
Young. Thank you. Um, councelor Essov,

00:16:31.279 --> 00:16:32.696
would you like to speak to the motion?

00:16:32.720 --> 00:16:35.096
Thanks, Madame Mayor. Um, noting that

00:16:35.120 --> 00:16:36.696
the endorsement of these minutes is

00:16:36.720 --> 00:16:39.720
rather belated. Um firstly  the Olter

00:16:40.399 --> 00:16:42.776
club committee met on the 13th of August

00:16:42.800 --> 00:16:44.696
last year where we received a

00:16:44.720 --> 00:16:47.096
presentation on revised concept plans

00:16:47.120 --> 00:16:49.416
and received feedback from the members

00:16:49.440 --> 00:16:52.055
of the committee. We also received a

00:16:52.079 --> 00:16:54.536
presentation of the engagement approach

00:16:54.560 --> 00:16:57.336
that would be taken for that stage.

00:16:57.360 --> 00:16:59.096
Finally, the next steps were outlined

00:16:59.120 --> 00:17:00.536
with the next meeting scheduled for

00:17:00.560 --> 00:17:03.175
November 6, which has happened  where

00:17:03.199 --> 00:17:04.775
broad engagement findings would be

00:17:04.799 --> 00:17:07.015
considered and and a review of the final

00:17:07.039 --> 00:17:09.815
concept designs undertaken. Since that

00:17:09.839 --> 00:17:11.655
time, we've of course endorsed the

00:17:11.679 --> 00:17:13.736
concept plans and look forward to

00:17:13.760 --> 00:17:15.976
further discussions as to the best use

00:17:16.000 --> 00:17:18.295
of the heritage building on the site.

00:17:18.319 --> 00:17:20.935
Thank you. Thank you, Councelor Esoff,

00:17:20.959 --> 00:17:23.415
Councelor Young.

00:17:23.439 --> 00:17:26.216
 thank you to um councelor Essov and

00:17:26.240 --> 00:17:28.936
to the Stonwick Club Advisory Committee

00:17:28.960 --> 00:17:31.960
and nothing further to add Madame Mayor.

00:17:32.240 --> 00:17:33.496
Thank you councelor Young.  would

00:17:33.520 --> 00:17:34.856
anyone like to speak against this

00:17:34.880 --> 00:17:36.376
motion?

00:17:36.400 --> 00:17:37.895
 would anyone else like to speak on

00:17:37.919 --> 00:17:40.456
the motion? That case I'll hand back to

00:17:40.480 --> 00:17:42.376
you to sum up. Councelor Escov, nothing

00:17:42.400 --> 00:17:44.535
to add. Councilors, let's put this

00:17:44.559 --> 00:17:46.056
motion to the vote. All those in favor,

00:17:46.080 --> 00:17:48.456
please raise your hand. That motion is

00:17:48.480 --> 00:17:50.936
carried unanimously. We're now up to

00:17:50.960 --> 00:17:53.576
item 9.2.1. 2.1 which is records

00:17:53.600 --> 00:17:55.176
assemblies. Would someone like to put

00:17:55.200 --> 00:17:57.816
this motion? Thank you councelor

00:17:57.840 --> 00:18:00.840
Castlake as printed in the agenda.

00:18:02.080 --> 00:18:03.736
Yes, as printed. Thank you Mayor.

00:18:03.760 --> 00:18:05.256
Thank you. Could I please have a second

00:18:05.280 --> 00:18:07.655
for this motion? Thank you councelor

00:18:07.679 --> 00:18:09.576
Ragney.

00:18:09.600 --> 00:18:12.600
Councel sorry councelor Klake. Thank you

00:18:13.600 --> 00:18:15.256
Mayor. I don't wish to speak to the

00:18:15.280 --> 00:18:18.280
item. Thank you councelor Ragny.

00:18:19.679 --> 00:18:22.535
I echo  councelor Kaisle's words.

00:18:22.559 --> 00:18:23.496
Thank you.

00:18:23.520 --> 00:18:24.856
Thank you. Would anyone like to speak

00:18:24.880 --> 00:18:27.496
against this motion?  would anyone

00:18:27.520 --> 00:18:30.520
else like to speak on this motion?

00:18:31.039 --> 00:18:32.376
 in that case, I just want to note

00:18:32.400 --> 00:18:34.216
that the  records of assembly for the

00:18:34.240 --> 00:18:37.240
27th of January 2026 assembly and the

00:18:38.080 --> 00:18:40.936
3rd of February 2026 premeating. I now

00:18:40.960 --> 00:18:42.696
hand back to councelor Castlake to sum

00:18:42.720 --> 00:18:45.720
up.

00:18:46.080 --> 00:18:48.936
Nothing further to add Mayor. Wow. We're

00:18:48.960 --> 00:18:50.296
moving through it tonight. Thank you,

00:18:50.320 --> 00:18:52.296
Councelor Cars Lake.  councils, let's

00:18:52.320 --> 00:18:53.816
put this motion to the vote. All those

00:18:53.840 --> 00:18:55.816
in favor, please raise your hands. That

00:18:55.840 --> 00:18:58.376
motion is carried unanimously.  we are

00:18:58.400 --> 00:19:01.256
now up to the officers reports item 10.

00:19:01.280 --> 00:19:04.280
And the first is item 10.1,

00:19:04.480 --> 00:19:06.376
application for a rate cap variation

00:19:06.400 --> 00:19:09.400
2026 2027. Could I please have a mover

00:19:09.440 --> 00:19:11.096
for this motion? Thank you, councelor

00:19:11.120 --> 00:19:13.336
Jang.  will you be moving this motion

00:19:13.360 --> 00:19:15.816
as printed in the agenda?

00:19:15.840 --> 00:19:17.176
Yes, I do.

00:19:17.200 --> 00:19:18.775
Thank you. and a second for this motion.

00:19:18.799 --> 00:19:21.256
Thank you, councelor Ragny. Councelor

00:19:21.280 --> 00:19:22.856
Jiang, if you'd like to speak to the

00:19:22.880 --> 00:19:24.936
motion.  before we start, would you

00:19:24.960 --> 00:19:26.296
like an extension?

00:19:26.320 --> 00:19:29.176
 yes, please. Just maybe two minutes.

00:19:29.200 --> 00:19:30.856
So, okay, that will give you seven

00:19:30.880 --> 00:19:32.535
minutes. All those in favor of granting

00:19:32.559 --> 00:19:35.559
councelor Jang a I'll second that. Um a

00:19:36.480 --> 00:19:38.775
I'll put that an extension. Please raise

00:19:38.799 --> 00:19:41.799
your hand. Do we need to second? Sorry.

00:19:41.840 --> 00:19:44.616
Council Jang seconding it.

00:19:44.640 --> 00:19:47.640
um and it's supported unanimously.

00:19:47.760 --> 00:19:49.015
Please speak.

00:19:49.039 --> 00:19:51.576
Thank you, Madame Mayor. I want to begin

00:19:51.600 --> 00:19:54.535
by acknowledging that many households in

00:19:54.559 --> 00:19:57.416
our community are doing it tough. I

00:19:57.440 --> 00:19:59.976
understand that any increase, even a

00:20:00.000 --> 00:20:03.000
small one, can feel frustrating. This is

00:20:03.200 --> 00:20:06.056
a difficult decision and it's not one I

00:20:06.080 --> 00:20:07.895
take lightly.

00:20:07.919 --> 00:20:10.216
Before I outline my position, I want to

00:20:10.240 --> 00:20:12.936
briefly expand the um background to this

00:20:12.960 --> 00:20:15.736
dis discussion because many people have

00:20:15.760 --> 00:20:18.535
heard rates and are concerned without

00:20:18.559 --> 00:20:21.559
knowing the full context. In Victoria,

00:20:22.960 --> 00:20:25.496
councils are subject to a rate cap set

00:20:25.520 --> 00:20:28.376
by the state government. The original

00:20:28.400 --> 00:20:30.696
purpose of rate capping was a good one

00:20:30.720 --> 00:20:32.936
to help keep keep council rates

00:20:32.960 --> 00:20:35.960
affordable for households. However, the

00:20:36.960 --> 00:20:39.960
cap is linked to the consumer price

00:20:40.480 --> 00:20:43.256
index which reflects the cost of

00:20:43.280 --> 00:20:46.280
everyday household items. The challenge

00:20:46.799 --> 00:20:49.416
is that councils don't face the same

00:20:49.440 --> 00:20:52.440
costs as households. Local government

00:20:52.799 --> 00:20:55.256
costs are mainly driven by things like

00:20:55.280 --> 00:20:58.280
construction, materials, maintenance,

00:20:58.400 --> 00:21:00.936
um, and infrastructure renewal. And

00:21:00.960 --> 00:21:03.960
those costs have risen much faster than

00:21:04.480 --> 00:21:06.936
CPI, especially after the COVID

00:21:06.960 --> 00:21:08.696
pandemic.

00:21:08.720 --> 00:21:11.720
Because of this mismatch, the system

00:21:11.919 --> 00:21:14.919
recognizes that in some circumstances,

00:21:15.919 --> 00:21:18.696
consoles may face genuine financial

00:21:18.720 --> 00:21:21.416
pressure and that is why rate cap

00:21:21.440 --> 00:21:24.440
variations are allowed.

00:21:24.799 --> 00:21:27.799
This year, the rate cap is 2.75%.

00:21:28.320 --> 00:21:30.856
Council is proposing to apply for an

00:21:30.880 --> 00:21:33.015
additional 2.25%

00:21:33.039 --> 00:21:35.816
for one year only. What does this mean

00:21:35.840 --> 00:21:38.840
in practical terms? For the average

00:21:39.039 --> 00:21:42.039
household, it's about $37 per year,

00:21:43.039 --> 00:21:46.039
roughly $9 per quarter.

00:21:46.159 --> 00:21:49.159
That would generate generate around $3

00:21:49.200 --> 00:21:51.736
million per year, which would help

00:21:51.760 --> 00:21:54.760
council continue doing what residents

00:21:55.120 --> 00:21:57.256
expect of us.

00:21:57.280 --> 00:21:59.576
This is not about increasing rates for

00:21:59.600 --> 00:22:02.535
the sake of it. It's about protecting

00:22:02.559 --> 00:22:05.559
our essential services and facilities

00:22:05.679 --> 00:22:08.376
that every resident and every family

00:22:08.400 --> 00:22:11.400
rely on. In other words, this is not

00:22:11.600 --> 00:22:13.816
about helping council. This is about

00:22:13.840 --> 00:22:16.456
supporting all of us, our families and

00:22:16.480 --> 00:22:19.480
the community we share.

00:22:19.600 --> 00:22:21.736
I want to acknowledge the work of our

00:22:21.760 --> 00:22:24.296
officers. Their advice comes from a

00:22:24.320 --> 00:22:26.936
place of professional responsibility

00:22:26.960 --> 00:22:29.655
focused on the sound and sustainable

00:22:29.679 --> 00:22:31.895
operation of the council as an

00:22:31.919 --> 00:22:34.296
organization. [sighs] While as

00:22:34.320 --> 00:22:37.015
councilors, we bring another important

00:22:37.039 --> 00:22:40.039
perspective. We are residents and rate

00:22:40.159 --> 00:22:43.159
payers ourselves. We live here, we pay

00:22:43.520 --> 00:22:46.520
rates here, we rely on council services

00:22:46.559 --> 00:22:49.559
ourselves. And this decision affects our

00:22:49.600 --> 00:22:52.600
own households as well.

00:22:52.640 --> 00:22:54.456
I want to explain why I believe this

00:22:54.480 --> 00:22:56.296
step is necessary using a simple

00:22:56.320 --> 00:22:59.320
household example. When a family faces

00:22:59.440 --> 00:23:01.655
financial pressure, the first thing they

00:23:01.679 --> 00:23:04.679
do is cut non-essentials,

00:23:04.799 --> 00:23:07.799
holidays, eating out, optional spending.

00:23:09.280 --> 00:23:12.280
Council has already done that. We have

00:23:12.799 --> 00:23:15.736
delivered around 5 million in internal

00:23:15.760 --> 00:23:18.760
efficiencies, reviewed services, exited

00:23:19.919 --> 00:23:22.919
some programs, repro prioritized capital

00:23:23.840 --> 00:23:26.216
works and sought grants and

00:23:26.240 --> 00:23:28.135
partnerships.

00:23:28.159 --> 00:23:30.535
Independent reviews show that Ganera is

00:23:30.559 --> 00:23:32.535
already one of the most efficient

00:23:32.559 --> 00:23:35.559
councils. But there comes a point where

00:23:35.760 --> 00:23:38.376
you can't keep cutting without starting

00:23:38.400 --> 00:23:41.176
to cut into the basics.

00:23:41.200 --> 00:23:43.576
things like maintaining your home,

00:23:43.600 --> 00:23:46.296
fixing what's broken and paying the

00:23:46.320 --> 00:23:49.320
bills and that keep everything wrong. If

00:23:49.760 --> 00:23:51.895
a family tries to maintain the same

00:23:51.919 --> 00:23:54.535
responsibilities with less and less

00:23:54.559 --> 00:23:57.559
income, eventually it comes unworkable.

00:23:58.400 --> 00:24:01.400
At that point, the choice isn't is not

00:24:01.679 --> 00:24:03.816
between comfort and savings. It's

00:24:03.840 --> 00:24:06.376
between making a small contribution now

00:24:06.400 --> 00:24:09.400
or facing much harder consequences

00:24:09.600 --> 00:24:11.015
later.

00:24:11.039 --> 00:24:14.039
So that is where council is today. As

00:24:14.480 --> 00:24:17.176
elected representatives, we cannot

00:24:17.200 --> 00:24:19.816
simply do nothing and leave the

00:24:19.840 --> 00:24:22.216
consequences for future councils and

00:24:22.240 --> 00:24:24.456
future residents. We have a

00:24:24.480 --> 00:24:27.416
responsibility to act even when the

00:24:27.440 --> 00:24:29.576
options are limited and the decisions

00:24:29.600 --> 00:24:32.600
are difficult. And this proposal is the

00:24:33.360 --> 00:24:36.360
fairest way to raise funds. A modest

00:24:36.480 --> 00:24:39.480
rate increase spreads the cost across

00:24:39.520 --> 00:24:42.520
all properties. And for anyone who is

00:24:42.720 --> 00:24:45.720
genuinely facing financial difficulty, I

00:24:46.240 --> 00:24:49.015
want to say support is available. We

00:24:49.039 --> 00:24:52.039
have flexible payment options and a

00:24:52.159 --> 00:24:54.936
financial hardship policy in place and

00:24:54.960 --> 00:24:57.960
our priority is to make sure people know

00:24:58.000 --> 00:25:01.000
we are here to help. Thank you.

00:25:02.640 --> 00:25:04.696
Thank you, councelor Jen. , next I'll

00:25:04.720 --> 00:25:06.535
call on councelor Ragny. Would you like

00:25:06.559 --> 00:25:07.496
an extension?

00:25:07.520 --> 00:25:08.936
Yes. Thank you, Mayor. Could I request a

00:25:08.960 --> 00:25:10.056
3minut extension?

00:25:10.080 --> 00:25:12.456
So, I'll put the motion that we give 

00:25:12.480 --> 00:25:14.376
councelor Ragny a 3minut extension.

00:25:14.400 --> 00:25:15.816
Could I please have a second for that

00:25:15.840 --> 00:25:18.456
motion? Councelor Jiang. Thank you.

00:25:18.480 --> 00:25:19.976
Councelor, let's put that motion to

00:25:20.000 --> 00:25:21.976
vote. All those in favor, please raise

00:25:22.000 --> 00:25:23.176
your hands. That's supported

00:25:23.200 --> 00:25:24.856
unanimously. I now invite you, Councelor

00:25:24.880 --> 00:25:27.096
Ragny, to speak.

00:25:27.120 --> 00:25:29.255
Mayor, fellow counselors, and members of

00:25:29.279 --> 00:25:31.496
our community tonight. We are faced with

00:25:31.520 --> 00:25:33.496
an incredibly difficult decision, but

00:25:33.520 --> 00:25:36.296
one that us as leaders must consider and

00:25:36.320 --> 00:25:39.096
must engage with. Any conversation about

00:25:39.120 --> 00:25:41.255
increasing rates affects real people,

00:25:41.279 --> 00:25:43.736
real households, and real pressures that

00:25:43.760 --> 00:25:45.255
many in our community are already

00:25:45.279 --> 00:25:46.696
facing. And I want to acknowledge that

00:25:46.720 --> 00:25:49.096
from the outset. As outlined by

00:25:49.120 --> 00:25:51.176
councelor Jiang so well tonight we're

00:25:51.200 --> 00:25:52.936
considering applying for a rate cap

00:25:52.960 --> 00:25:55.816
variation a one-off rate cap variation

00:25:55.840 --> 00:25:57.336
that would take next year's increase

00:25:57.360 --> 00:25:59.255
from 2.75%

00:25:59.279 --> 00:26:02.216
to a total of 5%. I want to be very

00:26:02.240 --> 00:26:05.176
clear. We have not reached this decision

00:26:05.200 --> 00:26:07.655
lightly. We've explored other options

00:26:07.679 --> 00:26:09.895
first. We have made difficult decisions

00:26:09.919 --> 00:26:12.376
already. But the reality we face is

00:26:12.400 --> 00:26:14.856
serious and doing nothing will carry far

00:26:14.880 --> 00:26:17.336
greater consequences. This isn't about

00:26:17.360 --> 00:26:19.655
short-term finances. It's about making

00:26:19.679 --> 00:26:22.376
long-term decisions that affect

00:26:22.400 --> 00:26:24.456
everything in our municipality. It's

00:26:24.480 --> 00:26:26.616
about making measured decisions now so

00:26:26.640 --> 00:26:28.775
our community in the future is not

00:26:28.799 --> 00:26:30.535
forced to face much more ownorous

00:26:30.559 --> 00:26:32.216
decisions.

00:26:32.240 --> 00:26:33.976
Our financial sustainability strategy

00:26:34.000 --> 00:26:35.816
confirms something really important.

00:26:35.840 --> 00:26:37.976
While council's finances are relatively

00:26:38.000 --> 00:26:40.535
stable today, that won't will not remain

00:26:40.559 --> 00:26:43.559
the case without major change. Over the

00:26:43.600 --> 00:26:45.816
past decade, rate caps have remained

00:26:45.840 --> 00:26:48.616
around 2 to 3%. But the real cost of

00:26:48.640 --> 00:26:50.775
local government has increased

00:26:50.799 --> 00:26:53.096
drastically. Construction, materials,

00:26:53.120 --> 00:26:55.736
employee costs and has increased in some

00:26:55.760 --> 00:26:57.976
years up to 9%.

00:26:58.000 --> 00:27:00.376
At the same time, we experienced a $55

00:27:00.400 --> 00:27:03.400
million impact  during CO 19, an

00:27:03.679 --> 00:27:05.416
increase in costs shifting from other

00:27:05.440 --> 00:27:07.255
levels of government.

00:27:07.279 --> 00:27:09.015
What this has created is a structural

00:27:09.039 --> 00:27:12.039
gap between what council can raise

00:27:12.080 --> 00:27:15.015
 and what it costs to deliver over 120

00:27:15.039 --> 00:27:17.015
services and maintain approximately $3

00:27:17.039 --> 00:27:19.576
billion worth of community assets.

00:27:19.600 --> 00:27:21.336
Independent modeling shows that without

00:27:21.360 --> 00:27:23.496
action, our cash reserves are projected

00:27:23.520 --> 00:27:26.520
to fall from $67.4 million to $10.9

00:27:27.039 --> 00:27:30.039
million by 203435.

00:27:30.320 --> 00:27:31.895
At that point, council would not have

00:27:31.919 --> 00:27:33.336
enough short-term funds to meet

00:27:33.360 --> 00:27:35.496
day-to-day expenses and costs or

00:27:35.520 --> 00:27:38.056
maintain services and infrastructure at

00:27:38.080 --> 00:27:39.976
the expected standards from our

00:27:40.000 --> 00:27:42.856
community. In simple terms, we will be

00:27:42.880 --> 00:27:44.936
forced into making reactive decisions,

00:27:44.960 --> 00:27:46.936
cutting services quickly, delaying

00:27:46.960 --> 00:27:48.535
maintenance, and passing even greater

00:27:48.559 --> 00:27:51.255
costs onto future communities. None of

00:27:51.279 --> 00:27:52.696
us in this room want to be looking back

00:27:52.720 --> 00:27:55.015
in 10 years time and wishing that we had

00:27:55.039 --> 00:27:56.216
acted sooner and made a different

00:27:56.240 --> 00:27:58.775
decision. That's why this proposal is

00:27:58.799 --> 00:28:00.775
about being proactive. It's about

00:28:00.799 --> 00:28:02.696
protecting the future of the services

00:28:02.720 --> 00:28:04.616
our community relies on every single

00:28:04.640 --> 00:28:06.375
day.

00:28:06.399 --> 00:28:08.936
As I explained, council delivers over

00:28:08.960 --> 00:28:11.176
120 services. And these aren't abstract

00:28:11.200 --> 00:28:13.255
line items. These are things that people

00:28:13.279 --> 00:28:16.279
see and feel and use every single day.

00:28:16.480 --> 00:28:18.616
rubbish collection, maintenance of parks

00:28:18.640 --> 00:28:20.616
and open spaces, maternal and child

00:28:20.640 --> 00:28:22.775
health services, support for our older

00:28:22.799 --> 00:28:25.015
residents, youth services, community

00:28:25.039 --> 00:28:27.096
programs, infrastructure renewal, and

00:28:27.120 --> 00:28:28.856
support for our vulnerable members of

00:28:28.880 --> 00:28:30.856
our community. These services are

00:28:30.880 --> 00:28:33.015
valued. They are expected and without

00:28:33.039 --> 00:28:34.535
action, they are at risk of being

00:28:34.559 --> 00:28:37.416
reduced or cut in the future.

00:28:37.440 --> 00:28:38.856
Before we even started considering a

00:28:38.880 --> 00:28:40.456
rate cut variation, council took

00:28:40.480 --> 00:28:42.056
significant steps to improve our

00:28:42.080 --> 00:28:44.616
financial position. We delivered over $5

00:28:44.640 --> 00:28:47.015
million in internal savings. We reviewed

00:28:47.039 --> 00:28:48.696
and rep prioritized our capital work

00:28:48.720 --> 00:28:50.856
program. The previous council exited

00:28:50.880 --> 00:28:53.816
early learning and inhome services. We

00:28:53.840 --> 00:28:55.336
strengthened our approach to grants and

00:28:55.360 --> 00:28:57.336
advocacy. We partnered with neighboring

00:28:57.360 --> 00:28:59.096
councils to reduce costs and improve

00:28:59.120 --> 00:29:01.416
efficiency. Those weren't easy decisions

00:29:01.440 --> 00:29:03.736
to make, but they were responsible ones.

00:29:03.760 --> 00:29:05.655
And despite all of them, the long-term

00:29:05.679 --> 00:29:08.375
outlook still shows a growing gap. The

00:29:08.399 --> 00:29:09.895
proposed rate cut variation would

00:29:09.919 --> 00:29:11.655
generate approximately $3 million in

00:29:11.679 --> 00:29:14.679
additional revenue per year.

00:29:14.880 --> 00:29:16.456
This funding helps maintain healthy

00:29:16.480 --> 00:29:18.775
liquidity. In other words, it ensures

00:29:18.799 --> 00:29:21.015
council can meet its obligations,

00:29:21.039 --> 00:29:23.096
respond to unexpected costs, and

00:29:23.120 --> 00:29:24.696
continue delivering services without

00:29:24.720 --> 00:29:26.775
sudden disruption. Strong liquidity

00:29:26.799 --> 00:29:28.456
protects the community from sharper cuts

00:29:28.480 --> 00:29:31.015
later. Importantly, the impact on

00:29:31.039 --> 00:29:32.856
residents is modest. For the average

00:29:32.880 --> 00:29:34.696
rate payer, the variation represents

00:29:34.720 --> 00:29:37.576
approximately $37 per year above the

00:29:37.600 --> 00:29:40.600
state cap state cap, which is about $310

00:29:41.200 --> 00:29:43.655
per month or 71 cents per week. For

00:29:43.679 --> 00:29:46.056
around 90% of rate payers, this increase

00:29:46.080 --> 00:29:49.080
is approximately $31 per year or 60 per

00:29:49.360 --> 00:29:51.736
week. Even with this adjustment, Glen Eira

00:29:51.760 --> 00:29:53.255
would remain one of the lowest rating

00:29:53.279 --> 00:29:55.015
councils in the inner metropolitan

00:29:55.039 --> 00:29:58.039
council in Melbourne. In 2024 25  we

00:30:00.640 --> 00:30:02.135
were one of the lowest rating councils

00:30:02.159 --> 00:30:03.736
and the average rates and charges per

00:30:03.760 --> 00:30:06.760
property was $1,986

00:30:06.880 --> 00:30:09.336
which is about $423 below the

00:30:09.360 --> 00:30:11.496
metropolitan average and that relative

00:30:11.520 --> 00:30:13.655
position would remain.

00:30:13.679 --> 00:30:15.255
We do recognize the cost of living

00:30:15.279 --> 00:30:17.895
pressures but support is available.

00:30:17.919 --> 00:30:19.655
Eligible pensioners and concession card

00:30:19.679 --> 00:30:21.976
holders are able to receive up to $320

00:30:22.000 --> 00:30:23.416
in combined rebates from the state

00:30:23.440 --> 00:30:25.736
government and from local government and

00:30:25.760 --> 00:30:27.336
payment plans and financial assistant

00:30:27.360 --> 00:30:29.255
options remain available for residents

00:30:29.279 --> 00:30:30.775
who need the support through our

00:30:30.799 --> 00:30:33.176
financial hardship policy. Community

00:30:33.200 --> 00:30:34.936
consultation has been at the heart of

00:30:34.960 --> 00:30:37.176
this process. Over the past 2 years,

00:30:37.200 --> 00:30:39.336
more than 3,200 community members have

00:30:39.360 --> 00:30:42.135
participated in discussions um about

00:30:42.159 --> 00:30:43.895
priorities, tradeoffs, and funding

00:30:43.919 --> 00:30:46.919
options. In 2023, 73% of participants in

00:30:48.240 --> 00:30:49.895
our community priorities panel supported

00:30:49.919 --> 00:30:51.976
applying for Ray cap variation as part

00:30:52.000 --> 00:30:53.576
of a broader package to strengthen

00:30:53.600 --> 00:30:55.895
council's long-term sustainability. What

00:30:55.919 --> 00:30:58.216
we heard from the community was clear.

00:30:58.240 --> 00:30:59.576
They want us to protect essential

00:30:59.600 --> 00:31:01.895
services, act responsibly, be

00:31:01.919 --> 00:31:03.496
transparent about financial challenges,

00:31:03.520 --> 00:31:05.576
and explore all reasonable options. And

00:31:05.600 --> 00:31:07.096
that's exactly what this council is

00:31:07.120 --> 00:31:09.015
doing tonight. If approved, this

00:31:09.039 --> 00:31:10.856
variation would help protect essential

00:31:10.880 --> 00:31:12.535
services, support priority

00:31:12.559 --> 00:31:13.976
infrastructure renewal, maintain

00:31:14.000 --> 00:31:15.816
financial resilience, and reduce the

00:31:15.840 --> 00:31:17.336
likelihood of more severe measures in

00:31:17.360 --> 00:31:19.576
the future. It is a step to stabilize

00:31:19.600 --> 00:31:21.816
our financial sustainability now rather

00:31:21.840 --> 00:31:23.176
than defer the problem to future

00:31:23.200 --> 00:31:24.856
councils and to future community and

00:31:24.880 --> 00:31:27.015
residents. Tonight's decision is not the

00:31:27.039 --> 00:31:29.496
final step. If council does resolve to

00:31:29.520 --> 00:31:31.416
proceed, a detailed application will be

00:31:31.440 --> 00:31:32.696
submitted to the essential services

00:31:32.720 --> 00:31:35.416
commission and that process ensures

00:31:35.440 --> 00:31:37.096
transparency, scrutiny, and

00:31:37.120 --> 00:31:39.816
accountability. Counselors, leadership

00:31:39.840 --> 00:31:41.736
means making decisions not just for

00:31:41.760 --> 00:31:43.816
today, but for the future. And

00:31:43.840 --> 00:31:45.976
leadership means making decisions even

00:31:46.000 --> 00:31:47.655
when they're not popular and when

00:31:47.679 --> 00:31:49.336
they're difficult, when they are in the

00:31:49.360 --> 00:31:51.736
best interest of our community. By

00:31:51.760 --> 00:31:53.495
acting now, we reduce the risk of far

00:31:53.519 --> 00:31:54.936
more difficult and more ownorous

00:31:54.960 --> 00:31:57.015
decisions in the future. We protect the

00:31:57.039 --> 00:31:59.255
services that our community expects and

00:31:59.279 --> 00:32:01.336
deserves and we ensure council remains

00:32:01.360 --> 00:32:03.416
financially resilient for the long term.

00:32:03.440 --> 00:32:05.015
For those reasons, I support the

00:32:05.039 --> 00:32:07.176
application for ray cut variation and

00:32:07.200 --> 00:32:09.015
hope that my fellow councilors do as

00:32:09.039 --> 00:32:11.015
well. Thank you.

00:32:11.039 --> 00:32:12.696
Thank you, councelor Magne. Would anyone

00:32:12.720 --> 00:32:15.720
like to speak against this motion?

00:32:17.840 --> 00:32:20.456
Councelor Esikov.

00:32:20.480 --> 00:32:22.296
Thank you, Madame May. I'm not sure if

00:32:22.320 --> 00:32:24.056
I'm speaking against it because I

00:32:24.080 --> 00:32:26.375
haven't made my mind up yet.  but I'll

00:32:26.399 --> 00:32:29.176
speak now just in case.

00:32:29.200 --> 00:32:31.495
There's certainly pros to what we have

00:32:31.519 --> 00:32:33.816
before us. It's one measure that we

00:32:33.840 --> 00:32:35.895
could take towards achieving financial

00:32:35.919 --> 00:32:38.375
sustainability in the long term. The

00:32:38.399 --> 00:32:41.399
10-year forecast. The cons of course is

00:32:41.840 --> 00:32:44.135
the timing during a cost of living

00:32:44.159 --> 00:32:46.775
crisis and we don't know right now what

00:32:46.799 --> 00:32:49.255
changes may occur in local government

00:32:49.279 --> 00:32:52.216
between now and that 10-year forecast.

00:32:52.240 --> 00:32:53.976
things that might affect our financial

00:32:54.000 --> 00:32:57.000
sustainability such as AI for example.

00:32:58.240 --> 00:33:00.135
 it may well be that we didn't need to

00:33:00.159 --> 00:33:02.296
impose this on our community at this

00:33:02.320 --> 00:33:04.296
time.

00:33:04.320 --> 00:33:06.936
Then there's arguments to be had. The

00:33:06.960 --> 00:33:09.816
average increase on all rate payers will

00:33:09.840 --> 00:33:12.840
be $37 a week with the impact for 90% of

00:33:14.159 --> 00:33:17.159
rate payers as low as $31 a week. But

00:33:17.519 --> 00:33:19.976
that average is across all properties

00:33:20.000 --> 00:33:22.375
from studio apartments right through to

00:33:22.399 --> 00:33:24.936
large family homes on the proverbial

00:33:24.960 --> 00:33:27.816
quarter acre block. And because rates

00:33:27.840 --> 00:33:29.816
are calculated on the valuation of each

00:33:29.840 --> 00:33:31.816
property, houses will be the most

00:33:31.840 --> 00:33:34.696
affected by rate increases. We have a

00:33:34.720 --> 00:33:37.495
total of 23,479

00:33:37.519 --> 00:33:39.736
houses in Glen Eira.

00:33:39.760 --> 00:33:42.760
The number of flats is 19,128

00:33:43.440 --> 00:33:45.495
and they will be most likely the least

00:33:45.519 --> 00:33:48.216
affected. The number of villa units and

00:33:48.240 --> 00:33:51.240
town houses sits at 23,497,

00:33:52.559 --> 00:33:54.856
the most of all categories. And they

00:33:54.880 --> 00:33:56.696
will have a very mixed result because

00:33:56.720 --> 00:33:58.775
the most recent builds, dual

00:33:58.799 --> 00:34:01.255
occupancies,  sidebysides, however you

00:34:01.279 --> 00:34:03.336
like to call them,  which we've seen

00:34:03.360 --> 00:34:05.976
grow exponentially over the last years,

00:34:06.000 --> 00:34:07.576
they'll be valued much higher than the

00:34:07.600 --> 00:34:10.600
older style villa unit style.

00:34:11.040 --> 00:34:13.895
Data from February 25 to January 26

00:34:13.919 --> 00:34:16.216
tells us the average, not median,

00:34:16.240 --> 00:34:19.176
average, house prices in Glenra, keeping

00:34:19.200 --> 00:34:21.176
in mind that average by its very

00:34:21.200 --> 00:34:23.736
definition means that many would be

00:34:23.760 --> 00:34:26.760
valued much higher and some lower with

00:34:26.800 --> 00:34:29.256
those averages well over $2 million in

00:34:29.280 --> 00:34:32.280
Corfield North down to $1.5 million in

00:34:32.560 --> 00:34:35.016
Bentley East.

00:34:35.040 --> 00:34:37.176
These averages put house owners squarely

00:34:37.200 --> 00:34:39.575
in the category of those impacted much

00:34:39.599 --> 00:34:42.599
more than the median of $37 a week up to

00:34:43.280 --> 00:34:46.280
many hundreds of dollars each year.

00:34:46.800 --> 00:34:48.615
Everyone is feeling the cost of living

00:34:48.639 --> 00:34:50.855
pressures. Whether it's in their fresh

00:34:50.879 --> 00:34:53.496
food and grocery shopping, power prices,

00:34:53.520 --> 00:34:55.416
insurance, health care, dental care,

00:34:55.440 --> 00:34:57.656
clothing, footwear, pet costs, it's

00:34:57.680 --> 00:34:59.416
affecting each and every one of us in

00:34:59.440 --> 00:35:02.440
our everyday living and spending. Coffee

00:35:02.800 --> 00:35:05.800
is said to be up to $7.50 this year.

00:35:06.160 --> 00:35:08.696
Who's going to be going out for coffee?

00:35:08.720 --> 00:35:10.536
 people are still trying to work out

00:35:10.560 --> 00:35:12.536
what they can and what they can't afford

00:35:12.560 --> 00:35:15.560
to retain and maintain.

00:35:15.760 --> 00:35:17.656
There are a limited number of ways that

00:35:17.680 --> 00:35:20.680
we council can increase our revenue.

00:35:21.040 --> 00:35:23.335
Increasing rates is clearly one way that

00:35:23.359 --> 00:35:25.575
can achieve some increased revenue and

00:35:25.599 --> 00:35:27.896
it can achieve it in a you could say

00:35:27.920 --> 00:35:29.656
fair way across the municipality.

00:35:29.680 --> 00:35:31.736
Councelor Escov, I'm sorry to interrupt,

00:35:31.760 --> 00:35:33.176
but I forgot to ask if you would like an

00:35:33.200 --> 00:35:34.136
extension at the beginning.

00:35:34.160 --> 00:35:35.095
Yeah, just three minutes.

00:35:35.119 --> 00:35:36.376
So, next three minutes. I also just

00:35:36.400 --> 00:35:38.136
wanted a point of clarification. You

00:35:38.160 --> 00:35:40.936
said $37 a week for the median property,

00:35:40.960 --> 00:35:43.736
and I assume you meant $37 per year.

00:35:43.760 --> 00:35:45.256
If that's what I said, I did maybe.

00:35:45.280 --> 00:35:45.815
Yeah. Yeah.

00:35:45.839 --> 00:35:48.216
Okay. Um, I'm happy to put the motion

00:35:48.240 --> 00:35:50.055
for the 3minut extension. Could someone

00:35:50.079 --> 00:35:51.976
second it? Thank you, Councelor Jang.

00:35:52.000 --> 00:35:53.976
All those in favor, please raise your

00:35:54.000 --> 00:35:56.055
hands. That motion for the extension is

00:35:56.079 --> 00:35:58.616
carried unanimously. So there are a

00:35:58.640 --> 00:36:00.856
limited number of ways we council can

00:36:00.880 --> 00:36:03.176
increase revenue. Increasing rates is

00:36:03.200 --> 00:36:04.856
clearly one way that can achieve some

00:36:04.880 --> 00:36:07.095
increased revenue and it can achieve it

00:36:07.119 --> 00:36:09.256
in a you could say fair way across the

00:36:09.280 --> 00:36:11.496
municipality. But that perceived

00:36:11.520 --> 00:36:13.656
fairness inevitably includes some people

00:36:13.680 --> 00:36:16.680
who may be assetri cash or income poor

00:36:17.119 --> 00:36:18.936
living in their family home that has

00:36:18.960 --> 00:36:21.496
increased in value over the years but

00:36:21.520 --> 00:36:23.496
they have a very modest income or

00:36:23.520 --> 00:36:26.216
receive a pension. And I think we all

00:36:26.240 --> 00:36:28.055
understand how difficult it is balancing

00:36:28.079 --> 00:36:30.696
a budget on a pension. It can also

00:36:30.720 --> 00:36:32.376
affect families where a partner is

00:36:32.400 --> 00:36:34.376
unemployed and relying on center link

00:36:34.400 --> 00:36:36.856
while looking for work.

00:36:36.880 --> 00:36:38.856
I do not want to see people forced to

00:36:38.880 --> 00:36:41.256
sell their home which comes at a great

00:36:41.280 --> 00:36:44.055
financial cost in itself as well as

00:36:44.079 --> 00:36:46.216
being one of the most emotional decision

00:36:46.240 --> 00:36:48.376
decisions a person makes during their

00:36:48.400 --> 00:36:49.976
lifetime

00:36:50.000 --> 00:36:52.216
just so that so that they can maintain

00:36:52.240 --> 00:36:55.240
an already tight budget. There are only

00:36:55.680 --> 00:36:57.896
some things that people can cut back on

00:36:57.920 --> 00:37:00.536
when costs go up and where every dollar

00:37:00.560 --> 00:37:03.335
counts. Where does this yet another

00:37:03.359 --> 00:37:05.256
increase in expenses leave these more

00:37:05.280 --> 00:37:07.896
vulnerable people in our community who

00:37:07.920 --> 00:37:09.575
may already be scraping the bottom of

00:37:09.599 --> 00:37:11.416
the barrel to feed themselves a healthy

00:37:11.440 --> 00:37:14.055
diet and pay the bills.

00:37:14.079 --> 00:37:16.456
Local businesses who also pay rates are

00:37:16.480 --> 00:37:18.856
also feeling the pinch with their costs

00:37:18.880 --> 00:37:20.936
ever increasing while their patronage is

00:37:20.960 --> 00:37:23.176
falling because people are already

00:37:23.200 --> 00:37:25.416
cutting back because of financial

00:37:25.440 --> 00:37:27.496
pressures. Running a business at the

00:37:27.520 --> 00:37:29.896
moment in Victoria is far from easy with

00:37:29.920 --> 00:37:32.696
record numbers going under.

00:37:32.720 --> 00:37:35.720
This is where timing matters.

00:37:35.760 --> 00:37:37.736
Other options at our disposal might be

00:37:37.760 --> 00:37:39.815
to increase the cost of services we

00:37:39.839 --> 00:37:42.456
provide which affects certain cohorts

00:37:42.480 --> 00:37:44.696
more than others. We would cut the

00:37:44.720 --> 00:37:46.696
actual service. We could cut the actual

00:37:46.720 --> 00:37:49.656
services we provide which affects users

00:37:49.680 --> 00:37:52.456
of those services. Or we could introduce

00:37:52.480 --> 00:37:54.616
paid parking which will most likely move

00:37:54.640 --> 00:37:56.456
shoppers to drive to other suburbs that

00:37:56.480 --> 00:37:58.776
don't charge or simply add yet another

00:37:58.800 --> 00:38:01.335
burden to their cost of living. and of

00:38:01.359 --> 00:38:02.776
course the real risk of losing our

00:38:02.800 --> 00:38:05.016
shopping strips because customers will

00:38:05.040 --> 00:38:06.776
go elsewhere and traders will go belly

00:38:06.800 --> 00:38:09.736
up. The last option of course is selling

00:38:09.760 --> 00:38:11.896
off the family silver or in our case

00:38:11.920 --> 00:38:14.920
assets none of which are good choices.

00:38:16.400 --> 00:38:18.136
When weighing up all of the choices

00:38:18.160 --> 00:38:20.296
here, and if I had to choose at least

00:38:20.320 --> 00:38:22.696
one of those options, I'd be erring on

00:38:22.720 --> 00:38:25.176
the side of this small variation to the

00:38:25.200 --> 00:38:27.095
rate cap because I do see this as the

00:38:27.119 --> 00:38:29.575
fairest of any of our choices, probably

00:38:29.599 --> 00:38:31.896
the most equitable way forward and the

00:38:31.920 --> 00:38:34.536
one with the lowest risk. However, the

00:38:34.560 --> 00:38:37.256
timing is just appalling.

00:38:37.280 --> 00:38:39.176
While I'm yet to listen to the debate

00:38:39.200 --> 00:38:41.976
around the table on this, I can say I

00:38:42.000 --> 00:38:44.296
would be it would be with a very heavy

00:38:44.320 --> 00:38:46.696
heart if I support it and I would urge

00:38:46.720 --> 00:38:49.256
anyone who is significantly affected to

00:38:49.280 --> 00:38:51.335
talk to council about our hardship

00:38:51.359 --> 00:38:53.976
policy and how that may assist them in

00:38:54.000 --> 00:38:56.536
the future. Thank you. Thank you,

00:38:56.560 --> 00:38:58.616
Councelor Essov. Would anyone else like

00:38:58.640 --> 00:39:01.016
to speak on this motion?

00:39:01.040 --> 00:39:02.696
Thank you. Councelor Maldo, would you

00:39:02.720 --> 00:39:05.176
like a time extension? that.

00:39:05.200 --> 00:39:06.856
So, can I give you two just in case I

00:39:06.880 --> 00:39:08.055
don't have to interrupt you? Okay, I'm

00:39:08.079 --> 00:39:09.815
going to put the motion for an extra two

00:39:09.839 --> 00:39:11.416
minutes. Could someone second that

00:39:11.440 --> 00:39:12.936
motion, please? Thank you, councelor

00:39:12.960 --> 00:39:15.016
Daniel. All those in favor, please raise

00:39:15.040 --> 00:39:17.095
your hand. , the extension has been

00:39:17.119 --> 00:39:18.696
granted unanimously. Thank you,

00:39:18.720 --> 00:39:20.856
Councelor.

00:39:20.880 --> 00:39:23.016
Before I became a counselor, I was one

00:39:23.040 --> 00:39:24.696
of those community members who would

00:39:24.720 --> 00:39:27.720
email council, call council, and yes,

00:39:27.839 --> 00:39:30.776
sometimes even winge about council. Like

00:39:30.800 --> 00:39:33.016
many people, I had strong views about

00:39:33.040 --> 00:39:35.176
what should be done, when it should be

00:39:35.200 --> 00:39:37.815
done, and how it should be done. And I

00:39:37.839 --> 00:39:40.055
want to be completely honest tonight.

00:39:40.079 --> 00:39:42.055
When I first heard that a rate cap

00:39:42.079 --> 00:39:44.696
variation was being proposed, I was not

00:39:44.720 --> 00:39:46.296
happy.

00:39:46.320 --> 00:39:48.376
My immediate reaction was the same as

00:39:48.400 --> 00:39:51.400
many residents would have, frustration

00:39:51.440 --> 00:39:54.440
and concern, questioning why it needed

00:39:54.640 --> 00:39:57.416
to happen at all. In the current climate

00:39:57.440 --> 00:40:00.055
with families already feeling stretched,

00:40:00.079 --> 00:40:02.296
the last thing anyone wants to hear is

00:40:02.320 --> 00:40:05.320
that something else is going up. I know

00:40:05.359 --> 00:40:07.176
what it feels like to open a bill and

00:40:07.200 --> 00:40:09.656
eat higher than expected. I know the

00:40:09.680 --> 00:40:12.296
pressures people are under.

00:40:12.320 --> 00:40:14.536
What I didn't fully appreciate before

00:40:14.560 --> 00:40:17.095
becoming a counselor were the realities

00:40:17.119 --> 00:40:20.119
behind every decision. the costs, the

00:40:20.960 --> 00:40:23.960
regulations, the time frames, the

00:40:24.000 --> 00:40:27.000
advocacy required, and the financial

00:40:27.200 --> 00:40:30.200
constraints council must work within.

00:40:31.359 --> 00:40:32.936
During the election, like many

00:40:32.960 --> 00:40:35.335
candidates, I was driven by a genuine

00:40:35.359 --> 00:40:37.976
desire to deliver as much as possible

00:40:38.000 --> 00:40:40.216
for the community.

00:40:40.240 --> 00:40:43.240
14 months into my term, I now better

00:40:43.280 --> 00:40:45.335
understand the complexities of local

00:40:45.359 --> 00:40:47.736
government and the responsibility that

00:40:47.760 --> 00:40:50.456
comes with ensuring long-term

00:40:50.480 --> 00:40:53.095
sustainability.

00:40:53.119 --> 00:40:55.736
After reviewing the financial data,

00:40:55.760 --> 00:40:58.456
asking questions, and understanding the

00:40:58.480 --> 00:41:01.480
broader picture, I have come to accept

00:41:01.520 --> 00:41:03.575
that while this increase is not

00:41:03.599 --> 00:41:06.055
something I wanted to see, it is

00:41:06.079 --> 00:41:08.776
something that needs to be done.

00:41:08.800 --> 00:41:11.176
Glen Eira City Council is not seeking to

00:41:11.200 --> 00:41:14.200
burden residents. Far from it.

00:41:14.880 --> 00:41:17.815
But to continue delivering the 120 plus

00:41:17.839 --> 00:41:20.839
services our community relies on, we

00:41:21.119 --> 00:41:24.119
must act responsibly and sensibly.

00:41:24.720 --> 00:41:26.776
We are all seeing rising costs in

00:41:26.800 --> 00:41:29.800
everyday life. Utilities, groceries,

00:41:30.240 --> 00:41:33.240
insurance, wages. For an organization

00:41:33.599 --> 00:41:35.976
like Lenara, those increases are

00:41:36.000 --> 00:41:38.776
multiplied across every service we

00:41:38.800 --> 00:41:41.736
provide from infrastructure maintenance

00:41:41.760 --> 00:41:44.760
to community programs, staffing and

00:41:45.119 --> 00:41:47.976
compliance obligations.

00:41:48.000 --> 00:41:50.936
Importantly, Glenora has historically

00:41:50.960 --> 00:41:52.856
maintained one of the lowest rate

00:41:52.880 --> 00:41:55.176
increases in Melbourne.

00:41:55.200 --> 00:41:57.335
While that has undoubtedly supported

00:41:57.359 --> 00:42:00.055
residents over many years, it simply

00:42:00.079 --> 00:42:03.079
isn't sustainable forever.

00:42:03.119 --> 00:42:05.176
Our financial team has worked hard to

00:42:05.200 --> 00:42:08.200
minimize the impact. Under the post

00:42:08.560 --> 00:42:11.095
adjustment, the medium household would

00:42:11.119 --> 00:42:13.575
see an increase of around 10 cents per

00:42:13.599 --> 00:42:16.599
day, approximately $37 per year on the

00:42:18.480 --> 00:42:21.016
rate notice. That is less than the cost

00:42:21.040 --> 00:42:23.335
of a single meal out.

00:42:23.359 --> 00:42:26.359
No one likes increases and I certainly

00:42:26.640 --> 00:42:29.496
don't stand here celebrating one. But

00:42:29.520 --> 00:42:32.520
the this modest 2.25% adjustment helps

00:42:33.599 --> 00:42:36.136
bring council back to a stable

00:42:36.160 --> 00:42:39.016
operational position so we can continue

00:42:39.040 --> 00:42:41.976
delivering the services our community

00:42:42.000 --> 00:42:44.696
expects and deserves. Many people may

00:42:44.720 --> 00:42:46.536
not realize the breadth of our council

00:42:46.560 --> 00:42:49.496
provides. Library serving all age

00:42:49.520 --> 00:42:52.456
groups. The Town Hall Gallery free and

00:42:52.480 --> 00:42:55.480
open to all. Parks and open spaces,

00:42:55.839 --> 00:42:57.496
community events from Christmas

00:42:57.520 --> 00:43:00.456
celebrations to Diwali, community grants

00:43:00.480 --> 00:43:03.416
that support local groups, maternal and

00:43:03.440 --> 00:43:05.976
child health services, waste and

00:43:06.000 --> 00:43:08.856
recycling collection, support for older

00:43:08.880 --> 00:43:10.776
residents and vulnerable members of our

00:43:10.800 --> 00:43:13.016
community. These services are not

00:43:13.040 --> 00:43:16.040
luxuries. They are ex they are essential

00:43:17.200 --> 00:43:20.200
to connection, well-being and quality of

00:43:20.240 --> 00:43:23.240
life. Having now seen both sides as a

00:43:23.839 --> 00:43:26.696
resident and as a counselor, this has

00:43:26.720 --> 00:43:29.720
been an eyeopening experience. It has

00:43:30.079 --> 00:43:32.295
even made me reflect on some of my own

00:43:32.319 --> 00:43:35.319
past criticisms. So while I respect the

00:43:35.440 --> 00:43:38.055
rate that rate discussions are difficult

00:43:38.079 --> 00:43:41.079
and create can create strong emotions, I

00:43:41.440 --> 00:43:43.815
ask our community to view this proposal

00:43:43.839 --> 00:43:46.839
in context. This is not about wanting to

00:43:47.280 --> 00:43:50.055
increase rates. It is about protecting

00:43:50.079 --> 00:43:51.575
services.

00:43:51.599 --> 00:43:54.599
It is about long-term responsibility.

00:43:54.640 --> 00:43:57.496
It is about sustainability.

00:43:57.520 --> 00:43:59.736
Know that your council is working for

00:43:59.760 --> 00:44:02.536
you. know that these decisions are not

00:44:02.560 --> 00:44:05.176
made lightly and know that acting

00:44:05.200 --> 00:44:08.200
responsibly today ensure we can continue

00:44:08.560 --> 00:44:11.560
serving our community tomorrow. Thank

00:44:11.839 --> 00:44:13.411
you.

00:44:13.435 --> 00:44:14.216
[clears throat]

00:44:14.240 --> 00:44:16.536
Thank you, Councelor Baldo. Um would

00:44:16.560 --> 00:44:18.136
anyone else like to speak on this

00:44:18.160 --> 00:44:19.976
motion?

00:44:20.000 --> 00:44:21.815
Councelor Daniel.

00:44:21.839 --> 00:44:23.176
Thank you, Mayor.

00:44:23.200 --> 00:44:24.055
If [clears throat] I could just Would

00:44:24.079 --> 00:44:25.416
you like an extension?

00:44:25.440 --> 00:44:26.936
Maybe a minute, please.

00:44:26.960 --> 00:44:28.376
Okay. So, I'll put a motion for an

00:44:28.400 --> 00:44:29.736
extension of a minute. Would someone

00:44:29.760 --> 00:44:31.335
like to second that? I think it was

00:44:31.359 --> 00:44:34.295
councelor Parasol. All those in favor,

00:44:34.319 --> 00:44:36.295
please raise your hand. That 

00:44:36.319 --> 00:44:38.456
extension was carried unanimously. Thank

00:44:38.480 --> 00:44:40.376
you, councilors. Tonight, we're

00:44:40.400 --> 00:44:41.896
considering one of the most sensitive

00:44:41.920 --> 00:44:44.456
decisions a council can make, whether to

00:44:44.480 --> 00:44:47.480
apply for a rate cap variation. I want

00:44:47.520 --> 00:44:49.335
to begin, like my fellow counselors, by

00:44:49.359 --> 00:44:51.016
acknowledging that we are living through

00:44:51.040 --> 00:44:53.575
a cost of living crisis that impacts all

00:44:53.599 --> 00:44:56.055
of us. As a renter, my family

00:44:56.079 --> 00:44:58.536
experiences a 10% annual rent increase

00:44:58.560 --> 00:45:01.560
as a standard. Now, throughout the past

00:45:01.839 --> 00:45:03.335
year, I've approached every decision

00:45:03.359 --> 00:45:06.136
with that reality front of mind. I know

00:45:06.160 --> 00:45:08.295
that an increase in household cost

00:45:08.319 --> 00:45:11.319
matters. It matters a lot. But

00:45:11.520 --> 00:45:13.976
leadership also requires us to weigh the

00:45:14.000 --> 00:45:16.055
cost of action against the cost of

00:45:16.079 --> 00:45:17.976
inaction.

00:45:18.000 --> 00:45:19.736
The report before us makes something

00:45:19.760 --> 00:45:22.760
very clear. Glen Eira's finances are sound

00:45:22.960 --> 00:45:25.736
today, but not indefinitely.

00:45:25.760 --> 00:45:28.136
A decade of rate capping, rising

00:45:28.160 --> 00:45:30.376
construction costs, costs shifting from

00:45:30.400 --> 00:45:31.815
other levels of government, and the

00:45:31.839 --> 00:45:34.536
impact of co have created a structural

00:45:34.560 --> 00:45:36.536
gap between what we can raise in revenue

00:45:36.560 --> 00:45:38.295
and what it actually costs to deliver

00:45:38.319 --> 00:45:41.319
services and maintain $3 billion worth

00:45:42.160 --> 00:45:44.295
of community assets.

00:45:44.319 --> 00:45:46.055
Independent modeling shows that without

00:45:46.079 --> 00:45:48.055
change, our cash reserves are projected

00:45:48.079 --> 00:45:51.079
to fall significantly by 203435

00:45:52.319 --> 00:45:53.815
to levels that would threaten our

00:45:53.839 --> 00:45:55.896
ability to meet day-to-day costs and

00:45:55.920 --> 00:45:58.920
maintain infrastructure safely.

00:46:00.400 --> 00:46:02.216
Like my fellow counselors have said, we

00:46:02.240 --> 00:46:04.536
have not come to this lightly. Over the

00:46:04.560 --> 00:46:06.616
past year, we've listened and asked

00:46:06.640 --> 00:46:08.776
questions as we were presented with

00:46:08.800 --> 00:46:11.016
sobering information about our financial

00:46:11.040 --> 00:46:12.696
position.

00:46:12.720 --> 00:46:14.456
We have delivered millions in internal

00:46:14.480 --> 00:46:17.095
savings. We have reviewed capital works.

00:46:17.119 --> 00:46:19.416
We exited services. We partnered with

00:46:19.440 --> 00:46:21.496
neighboring councils and strengthened

00:46:21.520 --> 00:46:23.736
our grant advocacy.

00:46:23.760 --> 00:46:25.656
Independent reviews confirmed when I

00:46:25.680 --> 00:46:27.736
operate sufficiently to similar compared

00:46:27.760 --> 00:46:30.376
to similar councils. And yet the

00:46:30.400 --> 00:46:33.400
structural gap remains.

00:46:33.680 --> 00:46:36.295
And just to be clear, if council does

00:46:36.319 --> 00:46:38.295
not have a strong case for the increase

00:46:38.319 --> 00:46:41.016
with evidence of other actions taken to

00:46:41.040 --> 00:46:43.095
improve our position, the Essential

00:46:43.119 --> 00:46:45.016
Services Commission rate cap will not be

00:46:45.040 --> 00:46:47.016
approved.

00:46:47.040 --> 00:46:48.536
And repeating some of the numbers we've

00:46:48.560 --> 00:46:50.456
heard tonight, this proposal is about a

00:46:50.480 --> 00:46:53.480
one-year variation, 2.25% 2% above the

00:46:53.760 --> 00:46:55.335
2.75%

00:46:55.359 --> 00:46:58.359
cap, a total of 5% increase, generating

00:46:58.880 --> 00:47:01.880
$3 million per year.

00:47:02.240 --> 00:47:03.656
For the average property, that

00:47:03.680 --> 00:47:06.680
represents about $37 per year, around 71

00:47:07.200 --> 00:47:10.200
cents per week. And for 90% of rate

00:47:10.720 --> 00:47:13.095
payers, that average is about $31 per

00:47:13.119 --> 00:47:15.016
year.

00:47:15.040 --> 00:47:17.416
And this isn't about expanding services.

00:47:17.440 --> 00:47:19.256
It's about simply protecting essential

00:47:19.280 --> 00:47:21.496
ones, maternal and child health,

00:47:21.520 --> 00:47:23.896
libraries, parks, community programs,

00:47:23.920 --> 00:47:26.055
and continuing priority infrastructure

00:47:26.079 --> 00:47:29.079
renewal. If we do not act, the choices

00:47:29.280 --> 00:47:31.896
become harder. Service reductions

00:47:31.920 --> 00:47:33.976
affecting families, older residents, and

00:47:34.000 --> 00:47:35.896
people with disability,

00:47:35.920 --> 00:47:38.295
deferral of asset renewal, increasing

00:47:38.319 --> 00:47:40.616
long-term costs and safety risks, or

00:47:40.640 --> 00:47:43.416
heavier reliance on debt.

00:47:43.440 --> 00:47:45.095
I also want to acknowledge the strong

00:47:45.119 --> 00:47:46.696
community engagement that has informed

00:47:46.720 --> 00:47:49.416
this decision. Thousands of residents

00:47:49.440 --> 00:47:51.335
participated in conversations about

00:47:51.359 --> 00:47:53.896
priorities and tradeoffs. A clear

00:47:53.920 --> 00:47:55.496
majority of the deliberate p

00:47:55.520 --> 00:47:57.896
deliberative panel supported a rate cap

00:47:57.920 --> 00:47:59.736
variation as part of a balanced

00:47:59.760 --> 00:48:02.216
financial strategy.

00:48:02.240 --> 00:48:04.616
Fairness matters to me and a general

00:48:04.640 --> 00:48:07.095
rate increase spread across the

00:48:07.119 --> 00:48:08.456
municipality rather than

00:48:08.480 --> 00:48:10.536
disproportionately increasing specific

00:48:10.560 --> 00:48:13.560
service fees.  um that often hit

00:48:14.079 --> 00:48:16.936
vulnerable residents hardest.

00:48:16.960 --> 00:48:19.335
I am not shying away from this decision

00:48:19.359 --> 00:48:21.736
even though it is hard to speak on it

00:48:21.760 --> 00:48:24.136
because no one wants to cause pain to

00:48:24.160 --> 00:48:26.696
our community. But I'm speaking to it

00:48:26.720 --> 00:48:28.776
directly because I am accountable to our

00:48:28.800 --> 00:48:31.656
community for the votes I cast.

00:48:31.680 --> 00:48:34.456
And this is what ultimately guides me.

00:48:34.480 --> 00:48:36.696
the slow erosion of services, the

00:48:36.720 --> 00:48:38.616
gradual decline of infrastructure, the

00:48:38.640 --> 00:48:41.176
loss of things we value that is harder

00:48:41.200 --> 00:48:43.496
to repair and far more costly to

00:48:43.520 --> 00:48:45.016
reverse.

00:48:45.040 --> 00:48:47.016
If we allow our financial position to

00:48:47.040 --> 00:48:48.696
deteriorate, the burden does not

00:48:48.720 --> 00:48:51.720
disappear. It simply shifts forward onto

00:48:52.800 --> 00:48:55.800
future councils and future residents.

00:48:56.000 --> 00:48:58.136
So tonight, I'm choosing long-term

00:48:58.160 --> 00:49:00.216
responsibility over short-term

00:49:00.240 --> 00:49:01.896
avoidance.

00:49:01.920 --> 00:49:04.216
I believe our C community deserves

00:49:04.240 --> 00:49:06.456
honesty about the challenge, fairness in

00:49:06.480 --> 00:49:09.016
how we respond to it and courage in

00:49:09.040 --> 00:49:11.095
making decisions that protect Glenir's

00:49:11.119 --> 00:49:13.575
future. So for the those reasons, I'll

00:49:13.599 --> 00:49:15.736
be supporting the application. Thank

00:49:15.760 --> 00:49:17.896
you, Mayor. Thank you, Councelor Daniel.

00:49:17.920 --> 00:49:19.575
 would anyone else like to speak on

00:49:19.599 --> 00:49:21.496
the motion?

00:49:21.520 --> 00:49:23.416
Council Parasol, would you like an

00:49:23.440 --> 00:49:26.136
extension of time? No. Thank you.

00:49:26.160 --> 00:49:26.616
Please.

00:49:26.640 --> 00:49:29.640
Thank you, Mayor.

00:49:29.680 --> 00:49:32.055
 many councils already spoken and

00:49:32.079 --> 00:49:35.079
they've spoken really well and  it's

00:49:36.240 --> 00:49:38.616
really hit my heart what they've been

00:49:38.640 --> 00:49:41.640
saying. Um it's been really a difficult

00:49:42.400 --> 00:49:45.016
decision for me and I don't take it

00:49:45.040 --> 00:49:46.535
lightly.

00:49:46.559 --> 00:49:49.095
We do know the council has this problem

00:49:49.119 --> 00:49:52.055
for financial sustainability.

00:49:52.079 --> 00:49:54.055
We are the lowest rating council in the

00:49:54.079 --> 00:49:56.936
metropolitan area

00:49:56.960 --> 00:49:58.535
and there are all the good reasons

00:49:58.559 --> 00:50:00.055
you've already heard why we should

00:50:00.079 --> 00:50:03.079
justify this additional rate increase of

00:50:04.160 --> 00:50:07.160
2.25%.

00:50:07.680 --> 00:50:10.680
But I feel the community is as a whole

00:50:11.119 --> 00:50:14.119
really suffering and hurting and the

00:50:14.880 --> 00:50:16.856
same applies to business suffering and

00:50:16.880 --> 00:50:18.616
hurting.

00:50:18.640 --> 00:50:21.640
Everything is costing everybody more

00:50:22.000 --> 00:50:24.936
including council and we are facing a

00:50:24.960 --> 00:50:27.896
cost of living crisis.

00:50:27.920 --> 00:50:29.976
I believe at this stage we're the only

00:50:30.000 --> 00:50:32.295
metropolitan council that is asking for

00:50:32.319 --> 00:50:35.319
this rate variation application.

00:50:37.200 --> 00:50:39.335
But I think somehow we need to find

00:50:39.359 --> 00:50:42.359
other ways to raise our income.

00:50:43.119 --> 00:50:46.119
Be innovative and find innovative ways.

00:50:47.680 --> 00:50:50.680
Maybe AI is an example.

00:50:51.200 --> 00:50:54.200
On balance, at this time with a heavy

00:50:54.240 --> 00:50:56.776
heart, I will vote against this

00:50:56.800 --> 00:50:59.335
application for the rate variation.

00:50:59.359 --> 00:51:02.359
Thank you.

00:51:02.400 --> 00:51:04.136
Thank you, councelor Parasol. Would

00:51:04.160 --> 00:51:05.736
anyone else like to speak on this

00:51:05.760 --> 00:51:07.736
motion?

00:51:07.760 --> 00:51:09.575
Councelor Young, would you like an

00:51:09.599 --> 00:51:10.936
extension?

00:51:10.960 --> 00:51:11.815
Yes.

00:51:11.839 --> 00:51:14.216
How long would you like? , I'm going

00:51:14.240 --> 00:51:17.095
to ask for

00:51:17.119 --> 00:51:17.896
seven minutes.

00:51:17.920 --> 00:51:19.335
I'm going to ask for six minutes.

00:51:19.359 --> 00:51:19.976
Six minutes

00:51:20.000 --> 00:51:22.136
and hope that I don't

00:51:22.160 --> 00:51:23.496
that I go under.

00:51:23.520 --> 00:51:25.656
Thank you. Um, I'll put the motion that

00:51:25.680 --> 00:51:27.896
we grant an extension of six minutes to

00:51:27.920 --> 00:51:29.815
council Young, seconded. Councelor

00:51:29.839 --> 00:51:31.736
Ragny. All those in favor, please raise

00:51:31.760 --> 00:51:34.535
your hands.

00:51:34.559 --> 00:51:37.176
That motion is carried unanimously. ,

00:51:37.200 --> 00:51:39.016
Council Young, please speak. Thank you,

00:51:39.040 --> 00:51:41.496
Madame Mayor. I'd like to thank  my

00:51:41.520 --> 00:51:43.896
colleagues tonight for all of  the

00:51:43.920 --> 00:51:46.856
very considered and thoughtful words

00:51:46.880 --> 00:51:49.880
that have been used to respond to this

00:51:50.160 --> 00:51:53.160
motion. None of us are happy about being

00:51:54.480 --> 00:51:57.480
here having to consider this, but we are

00:51:57.839 --> 00:52:00.535
because all of us take our our

00:52:00.559 --> 00:52:03.176
responsibility to the community

00:52:03.200 --> 00:52:06.136
incredibly seriously. And I feel like I

00:52:06.160 --> 00:52:09.095
can  I can really confidently say that

00:52:09.119 --> 00:52:10.776
about all of my colleagues in in the

00:52:10.800 --> 00:52:12.376
room.

00:52:12.400 --> 00:52:15.400
I wanted to  provide more context

00:52:16.800 --> 00:52:19.800
 tonight for why we are where we are.

00:52:20.720 --> 00:52:23.656
And but first I wanted to  provide

00:52:23.680 --> 00:52:26.680
some of the  numbers around the the

00:52:27.359 --> 00:52:29.416
motion proposes to seek a modest

00:52:29.440 --> 00:52:31.176
increase. We've certainly heard from

00:52:31.200 --> 00:52:33.256
some of the other councilors tonight

00:52:33.280 --> 00:52:36.055
about what that increase is for the

00:52:36.079 --> 00:52:39.079
majority of Glen Eira. For the roughly 10%

00:52:39.760 --> 00:52:41.976
minority of properties in Glen Eira that

00:52:42.000 --> 00:52:45.000
are valued at $2.5 million or above,

00:52:45.280 --> 00:52:46.936
this is the breakdown of what the

00:52:46.960 --> 00:52:49.960
proposed  increase would look like for

00:52:50.319 --> 00:52:52.936
most of this minority. So for households

00:52:52.960 --> 00:52:55.736
with a property valued at 2.5 to3

00:52:55.760 --> 00:52:57.976
million, the average increase would be

00:52:58.000 --> 00:53:01.000
$84 for the year. For properties valued

00:53:01.839 --> 00:53:04.776
at 3 to3.5 million, the increase would

00:53:04.800 --> 00:53:07.800
be $100 total for the year. $3.5 to 4

00:53:09.680 --> 00:53:12.680
million would be an increase of $116

00:53:13.040 --> 00:53:15.256
total for the year. For properties

00:53:15.280 --> 00:53:18.280
valued at 4 to4.5 million, the increase

00:53:18.640 --> 00:53:21.640
would be a total of $132

00:53:21.920 --> 00:53:24.055
for the year. And for properties valued

00:53:24.079 --> 00:53:27.079
at $4.5 to $5 million, the increase

00:53:28.000 --> 00:53:30.535
would be $149

00:53:30.559 --> 00:53:33.559
total for the year.

00:53:35.920 --> 00:53:38.696
So why is Glen Eira City Council in its

00:53:38.720 --> 00:53:41.095
current financial position? There's a

00:53:41.119 --> 00:53:42.696
lot of reasons.

00:53:42.720 --> 00:53:44.216
State government rate capping of

00:53:44.240 --> 00:53:47.016
councils significantly limits the

00:53:47.040 --> 00:53:49.416
revenue council can generate with

00:53:49.440 --> 00:53:52.376
revenue from rates representing over 65%

00:53:52.400 --> 00:53:55.095
of council's revenue. This rate capping

00:53:55.119 --> 00:53:57.496
has been taking place for 10 years and

00:53:57.520 --> 00:53:59.575
Glen Iris started with lower than

00:53:59.599 --> 00:54:02.295
average rates. This meant that rate

00:54:02.319 --> 00:54:05.256
capping prevented revenue from keeping

00:54:05.280 --> 00:54:08.280
pace with rising costs. Over time, rate

00:54:09.040 --> 00:54:10.616
capping has the potential to have a

00:54:10.640 --> 00:54:13.335
cumulative negative effect on the fiscal

00:54:13.359 --> 00:54:15.976
viability of council. It may seem good

00:54:16.000 --> 00:54:18.696
for rate payers on the surface to never

00:54:18.720 --> 00:54:21.720
increase rates, but over time, year on

00:54:21.839 --> 00:54:24.696
year, not seeking an increase means

00:54:24.720 --> 00:54:26.696
revenue can't be consolidated and

00:54:26.720 --> 00:54:29.720
invested. It can't earn value over time,

00:54:29.839 --> 00:54:32.456
and it can't meet the real costs of

00:54:32.480 --> 00:54:34.136
providing services and asset

00:54:34.160 --> 00:54:36.776
maintenance. Never seeking modest

00:54:36.800 --> 00:54:39.176
increases over time may also lead to

00:54:39.200 --> 00:54:41.416
needing to seek larger increases down

00:54:41.440 --> 00:54:43.815
the track to make up for those loss

00:54:43.839 --> 00:54:45.896
accumulation and consolidation

00:54:45.920 --> 00:54:48.055
opportunities.

00:54:48.079 --> 00:54:51.079
As councelor Jiang noted earlier, rate

00:54:51.359 --> 00:54:54.359
capping is tied in part to the consumer

00:54:54.720 --> 00:54:57.416
price index or CPI which doesn't fully

00:54:57.440 --> 00:54:59.335
reflect the real cost born by local

00:54:59.359 --> 00:55:01.575
government but rather is relevant to the

00:55:01.599 --> 00:55:03.815
price of household goods and services

00:55:03.839 --> 00:55:05.416
like food, clothing, and household

00:55:05.440 --> 00:55:08.055
equipment. Things mostly irrelevant to

00:55:08.079 --> 00:55:10.535
local government expenditure. Between

00:55:10.559 --> 00:55:13.559
2022 and 2024, the rate cap was set

00:55:14.160 --> 00:55:16.295
significantly below inflation by the

00:55:16.319 --> 00:55:18.616
state government. The Municipal

00:55:18.640 --> 00:55:21.575
Association of Victoria, the MAV, and

00:55:21.599 --> 00:55:23.656
many councils have proposed to the state

00:55:23.680 --> 00:55:25.736
government that the local government

00:55:25.760 --> 00:55:28.760
cost index is a much more relevant index

00:55:28.880 --> 00:55:31.335
in determining a rate cap as it measures

00:55:31.359 --> 00:55:33.496
inflation in costs specific to local

00:55:33.520 --> 00:55:35.656
government expenditure.

00:55:35.680 --> 00:55:38.680
The MAV also noted just last month that

00:55:38.720 --> 00:55:41.176
the current rate cap capping system

00:55:41.200 --> 00:55:44.055
fails to keep pace with rising costs in

00:55:44.079 --> 00:55:46.295
areas such as construction, materials

00:55:46.319 --> 00:55:49.095
and services, compounding the financial

00:55:49.119 --> 00:55:52.119
strain faced by councils and Victoria is

00:55:52.880 --> 00:55:55.256
the only Australian jurisdiction without

00:55:55.280 --> 00:55:58.280
a current local government cost index.

00:55:58.559 --> 00:56:01.016
Responding to the CO 19 pandemic is

00:56:01.040 --> 00:56:03.016
another reason as we've heard from a

00:56:03.040 --> 00:56:04.775
number of the other councilors here

00:56:04.799 --> 00:56:07.496
tonight. During this period of impact

00:56:07.520 --> 00:56:09.815
from the pandemic

00:56:09.839 --> 00:56:12.696
 in the in the previous term there

00:56:12.720 --> 00:56:14.136
were many new properties that were

00:56:14.160 --> 00:56:16.936
purchased for open space development for

00:56:16.960 --> 00:56:19.335
the use of our community in the future

00:56:19.359 --> 00:56:22.359
as part of the open space strategy. And

00:56:22.880 --> 00:56:25.880
simultaneously 58.8 8 net million was

00:56:27.119 --> 00:56:29.896
spent refurbishing the Carnegi pool. We

00:56:29.920 --> 00:56:32.136
have very limited discretionary reserves

00:56:32.160 --> 00:56:34.535
compared to other councils. Most of our

00:56:34.559 --> 00:56:36.696
reserves are tied to open space which

00:56:36.720 --> 00:56:38.856
cannot be used for broader capital or

00:56:38.880 --> 00:56:41.880
contingency needs. As a first-time

00:56:41.920 --> 00:56:44.295
counselor like I am, you inherit

00:56:44.319 --> 00:56:46.456
whatever financial position exists the

00:56:46.480 --> 00:56:49.480
day that you get sworn in.

00:56:51.040 --> 00:56:54.040
I can I can help as as the rest of our

00:56:55.280 --> 00:56:58.216
council can and is doing to continue to

00:56:58.240 --> 00:57:01.240
provide the community by responsibly

00:57:01.280 --> 00:57:03.176
protecting the services and assets our

00:57:03.200 --> 00:57:05.016
community depends on now and into the

00:57:05.040 --> 00:57:07.176
future.

00:57:07.200 --> 00:57:09.176
Cost shifting from other levels of

00:57:09.200 --> 00:57:11.656
government is yet another reason. Cost

00:57:11.680 --> 00:57:13.656
shifting continues to erode council's

00:57:13.680 --> 00:57:15.416
bottom line with responsibilities

00:57:15.440 --> 00:57:17.496
transferred to local government without

00:57:17.520 --> 00:57:19.256
commenurate funding.

00:57:19.280 --> 00:57:21.815
Councils are expected to deliver these

00:57:21.839 --> 00:57:23.896
services regardless of cost escalation

00:57:23.920 --> 00:57:26.775
or long-term financial sustainability.

00:57:26.799 --> 00:57:29.256
Over the past decade alone, Glenra has

00:57:29.280 --> 00:57:32.055
absorbed more than $18 million in

00:57:32.079 --> 00:57:34.136
unfunded service transfers from the

00:57:34.160 --> 00:57:36.295
state and federal governments. This

00:57:36.319 --> 00:57:39.016
includes waste and recycling reforms,

00:57:39.040 --> 00:57:40.936
expanded emergency management and

00:57:40.960 --> 00:57:43.575
recovery responsibilities, urban storm

00:57:43.599 --> 00:57:45.575
water management, and additional

00:57:45.599 --> 00:57:47.656
building and planning regul regulations

00:57:47.680 --> 00:57:50.680
and more. Each of these has increased

00:57:50.720 --> 00:57:53.176
council's operating and compliance costs

00:57:53.200 --> 00:57:56.055
without matching ongoing funding.

00:57:56.079 --> 00:57:57.736
Another reason is the significant

00:57:57.760 --> 00:57:59.815
increase of up to 30% in the cost of

00:57:59.839 --> 00:58:01.335
asset maintenance and essential

00:58:01.359 --> 00:58:03.496
services, including repairing and

00:58:03.520 --> 00:58:05.335
maintaining roads and footpaths,

00:58:05.359 --> 00:58:08.055
building upkeep and broader

00:58:08.079 --> 00:58:10.856
asset maintenance. These increases over

00:58:10.880 --> 00:58:13.016
the past few years have been driven by

00:58:13.040 --> 00:58:14.936
factors largely outside council's

00:58:14.960 --> 00:58:17.496
control, such as higher material,

00:58:17.520 --> 00:58:19.496
construction prices, increased

00:58:19.520 --> 00:58:22.216
contractor and labor costs, and rising

00:58:22.240 --> 00:58:25.016
insurance and compliance costs.

00:58:25.040 --> 00:58:27.416
With all that in mind, there is a cost

00:58:27.440 --> 00:58:30.055
of doing nothing with the rates.

00:58:30.079 --> 00:58:32.535
Progressively over the next decade, we

00:58:32.559 --> 00:58:34.216
wouldn't have enough short-term funds to

00:58:34.240 --> 00:58:36.696
pay for day-to-day costs, and reliance

00:58:36.720 --> 00:58:38.775
on debt would increase with repayments

00:58:38.799 --> 00:58:41.799
forecast to peak at $9 million per year.

00:58:42.640 --> 00:58:44.856
While council has reported an operating

00:58:44.880 --> 00:58:47.256
surplus, this does not mean there is

00:58:47.280 --> 00:58:49.976
excess cash available to spend. An

00:58:50.000 --> 00:58:51.896
operating surplus is an accounting

00:58:51.920 --> 00:58:53.815
measure that reflects the difference

00:58:53.839 --> 00:58:56.136
between total income and total expenses

00:58:56.160 --> 00:58:58.936
for the year. These figures include

00:58:58.960 --> 00:59:01.335
non-cash items like depreciation on

00:59:01.359 --> 00:59:03.656
community assets including roads,

00:59:03.680 --> 00:59:05.416
buildings, and facilities as well as

00:59:05.440 --> 00:59:08.376
other accounting adjustments. A surplus

00:59:08.400 --> 00:59:10.696
represents council's overall financial

00:59:10.720 --> 00:59:12.295
financial position and long-term

00:59:12.319 --> 00:59:14.616
sustainability rather than money just

00:59:14.640 --> 00:59:16.456
sitting in the bank.

00:59:16.480 --> 00:59:18.376
So what else is Glen Eira City Council

00:59:18.400 --> 00:59:19.656
doing to manage its financial

00:59:19.680 --> 00:59:21.176
sustainability?

00:59:21.200 --> 00:59:23.095
Applying for a rate variation to

00:59:23.119 --> 00:59:25.176
increase rates is absolutely not the

00:59:25.200 --> 00:59:26.856
whole picture to secure council's

00:59:26.880 --> 00:59:29.656
ongoing financial sustainability. It is

00:59:29.680 --> 00:59:31.815
nonetheless a crucial part of this

00:59:31.839 --> 00:59:34.839
journey. Applying for a rate variation

00:59:34.960 --> 00:59:37.016
even by a modest amount is only one of

00:59:37.040 --> 00:59:40.040
the levers council is proposing to pull.

00:59:40.079 --> 00:59:41.575
Council developed its financial

00:59:41.599 --> 00:59:44.136
sustainability strategy late last year,

00:59:44.160 --> 00:59:46.055
which is our roadmap for resetting our

00:59:46.079 --> 00:59:48.535
financial future. How we will work

00:59:48.559 --> 00:59:50.775
towards delivering the services and

00:59:50.799 --> 00:59:53.575
infrastructure our community values most

00:59:53.599 --> 00:59:55.896
while staying financially strong for the

00:59:55.920 --> 00:59:58.535
long term. The strategy adopted by

00:59:58.559 --> 01:00:01.559
council focuses on five strategic goals.

01:00:02.079 --> 01:00:04.295
balance future budgets, boost revenue

01:00:04.319 --> 01:00:06.456
and drive efficiency, strengthen

01:00:06.480 --> 01:00:09.256
reserves, manage debt responsibly, and

01:00:09.280 --> 01:00:11.176
build a funding pipeline for capital

01:00:11.200 --> 01:00:13.976
works. This includes taking actions like

01:00:14.000 --> 01:00:15.896
aligning our capital works and other

01:00:15.920 --> 01:00:18.295
expenditure with available funding,

01:00:18.319 --> 01:00:20.616
requiring significant reductions in

01:00:20.640 --> 01:00:23.016
planned expenditure, leveraging our

01:00:23.040 --> 01:00:25.095
property portfolio through the strategic

01:00:25.119 --> 01:00:27.736
property plan to generate

01:00:27.760 --> 01:00:30.136
commercial returns where appropriate,

01:00:30.160 --> 01:00:31.976
and establishing a contingent risk

01:00:32.000 --> 01:00:33.896
reserve to provide a buffer for

01:00:33.920 --> 01:00:36.456
unforeseen events.

01:00:36.480 --> 01:00:38.616
Council has delivered a $5 million

01:00:38.640 --> 01:00:40.856
efficiency saving so far through a

01:00:40.880 --> 01:00:42.775
review of services and operational

01:00:42.799 --> 01:00:45.335
inefficiencies and reduced recurring

01:00:45.359 --> 01:00:47.656
operational costs by finding more

01:00:47.680 --> 01:00:50.535
innovative ways of doing things. Council

01:00:50.559 --> 01:00:52.775
has also reviewed and prioritized the

01:00:52.799 --> 01:00:55.335
long-term capital works program to focus

01:00:55.359 --> 01:00:57.496
more on maintaining and renewing assets

01:00:57.520 --> 01:01:00.520
we already have.

01:01:00.640 --> 01:01:03.640
councilors, we cannot however

01:01:04.799 --> 01:01:07.256
in good conscience continue the way we

01:01:07.280 --> 01:01:10.055
have been without creating bigger, more

01:01:10.079 --> 01:01:12.775
expensive problems later.

01:01:12.799 --> 01:01:14.936
Thank you, Madame May.

01:01:14.960 --> 01:01:16.456
Thank you, Councelor Young. , would

01:01:16.480 --> 01:01:18.136
anyone else like to speak on this

01:01:18.160 --> 01:01:19.736
motion? Councelor Cars Lake, would you

01:01:19.760 --> 01:01:21.416
like an extension?

01:01:21.440 --> 01:01:23.575
Um, I'd like one minute extension. I'm

01:01:23.599 --> 01:01:25.095
hoping to do this within 4 minutes.

01:01:25.119 --> 01:01:25.496
Thank you.

01:01:25.520 --> 01:01:27.256
Okay. Thank you. Um I'll put the motion

01:01:27.280 --> 01:01:29.896
that councelor Carlac be granted a one

01:01:29.920 --> 01:01:32.535
minute extension. Councelor Ragn fast

01:01:32.559 --> 01:01:34.136
tonight. So seconding that motion. All

01:01:34.160 --> 01:01:37.160
those in favor please raise the hands.

01:01:38.480 --> 01:01:40.936
Yes. Um that motion to give council car

01:01:40.960 --> 01:01:42.216
lake a one minute extension has been

01:01:42.240 --> 01:01:44.295
granted unanimously. Please proceed.

01:01:44.319 --> 01:01:46.216
Thank you Mayor and thank you councilors

01:01:46.240 --> 01:01:48.295
and thank you very much for your

01:01:48.319 --> 01:01:50.856
fabulous speeches tonight. Um I want to

01:01:50.880 --> 01:01:53.176
thank um councelor Jiang first of all

01:01:53.200 --> 01:01:55.736
for moving this motion with such a clear

01:01:55.760 --> 01:01:58.376
explan explanation of what the rate cap

01:01:58.400 --> 01:02:01.016
is and its impact and other people have

01:02:01.040 --> 01:02:03.976
mentioned um different elements of that.

01:02:04.000 --> 01:02:05.896
I wasn't sure that I was going to speak

01:02:05.920 --> 01:02:07.496
tonight but I did want to make sure that

01:02:07.520 --> 01:02:10.520
one thing was said and um I so I have a

01:02:10.799 --> 01:02:12.535
a set of scrappy notes before me as I

01:02:12.559 --> 01:02:14.376
was making notes while you were all

01:02:14.400 --> 01:02:17.335
speaking. So I hope I do this justice. I

01:02:17.359 --> 01:02:19.095
think it's really important to note and

01:02:19.119 --> 01:02:21.176
others have mentioned it that the rate

01:02:21.200 --> 01:02:23.416
cap variation application is not the

01:02:23.440 --> 01:02:26.295
first, it is not the only and it will

01:02:26.319 --> 01:02:28.696
not be the last measure that councilors

01:02:28.720 --> 01:02:31.256
are considering to secure our financial

01:02:31.280 --> 01:02:32.775
sustainability.

01:02:32.799 --> 01:02:34.936
 a combination of well-considered

01:02:34.960 --> 01:02:37.960
measures measures over times um mean we

01:02:38.319 --> 01:02:40.616
can have a moderate take a moderate and

01:02:40.640 --> 01:02:43.640
responsible approach. No action would

01:02:43.839 --> 01:02:46.839
mean um that this council would be

01:02:47.119 --> 01:02:48.856
required to modify services in

01:02:48.880 --> 01:02:51.656
infrastructure development um to support

01:02:51.680 --> 01:02:54.680
day-to-day  running costs. Um and we

01:02:55.359 --> 01:02:57.896
would have to make that decision before

01:02:57.920 --> 01:02:59.416
2034.

01:02:59.440 --> 01:03:01.656
Um

01:03:01.680 --> 01:03:04.680
as a council we have a um we are  well

01:03:06.559 --> 01:03:09.559
reggulated um responsible financial

01:03:09.599 --> 01:03:12.599
managers and the importance of securing

01:03:13.119 --> 01:03:15.256
our finances for day-to-day op

01:03:15.280 --> 01:03:17.736
operations would mean we would need to

01:03:17.760 --> 01:03:20.456
take fairly drastic action I think if we

01:03:20.480 --> 01:03:22.456
did not undertake these steps at the

01:03:22.480 --> 01:03:23.976
moment.

01:03:24.000 --> 01:03:25.976
So central to our conversations as

01:03:26.000 --> 01:03:27.896
counselors and the information that

01:03:27.920 --> 01:03:28.936
we've sought throughout the

01:03:28.960 --> 01:03:31.416
consideration of a rate cap variation

01:03:31.440 --> 01:03:34.440
were those who this rate cap would hurt

01:03:34.640 --> 01:03:36.775
most.

01:03:36.799 --> 01:03:39.736
every single conversation and the and

01:03:39.760 --> 01:03:41.815
the community needs to hear that loud

01:03:41.839 --> 01:03:44.696
and clear because every single counselor

01:03:44.720 --> 01:03:47.095
in this room has considered that very

01:03:47.119 --> 01:03:50.119
carefully and taken  a really strong

01:03:50.240 --> 01:03:51.416
brought a really strong sense of

01:03:51.440 --> 01:03:54.295
responsibility to those in our community

01:03:54.319 --> 01:03:57.319
who can least afford any cost increases

01:03:58.480 --> 01:04:01.480
and it's to those people that I really

01:04:01.520 --> 01:04:04.136
have addressed my my mind has gone to

01:04:04.160 --> 01:04:07.160
most because the legacy of not acting

01:04:08.480 --> 01:04:11.480
will hurt those communities most.

01:04:12.099 --> 01:04:12.856
[gasps]

01:04:12.880 --> 01:04:15.335
What I know is that while council

01:04:15.359 --> 01:04:18.295
services are for everyone, we know

01:04:18.319 --> 01:04:20.616
everyone benefits from council services.

01:04:20.640 --> 01:04:22.456
As soon as we wake up in the morning and

01:04:22.480 --> 01:04:24.456
walk out into the street, everything

01:04:24.480 --> 01:04:27.176
that goes on in our day, council impacts

01:04:27.200 --> 01:04:28.696
on.

01:04:28.720 --> 01:04:30.856
What we don't spend much time thinking

01:04:30.880 --> 01:04:33.496
about is the importance of council

01:04:33.520 --> 01:04:35.656
services for those on the lowest

01:04:35.680 --> 01:04:37.176
incomes.

01:04:37.200 --> 01:04:40.136
For those who are most cash cashrapped,

01:04:40.160 --> 01:04:43.015
for those who go through hardship, for

01:04:43.039 --> 01:04:45.176
those who can't afford overseas holidays

01:04:45.200 --> 01:04:48.200
or holidays at all, the local park, the

01:04:48.559 --> 01:04:51.559
pool, the library, these services being

01:04:52.319 --> 01:04:55.319
first class is critical.

01:04:56.559 --> 01:04:59.015
And I I think it is important to be

01:04:59.039 --> 01:05:02.039
reminded that this rate cap is very

01:05:02.720 --> 01:05:05.720
moderate. The majority of rate cap um

01:05:07.039 --> 01:05:10.039
rate payers will be um required to pay a

01:05:11.520 --> 01:05:14.520
less than $31 a year. So really talking

01:05:15.280 --> 01:05:18.280
about a majority, I think it was 90%

01:05:18.720 --> 01:05:21.720
will pay less than $3 a month. [gasps]

01:05:22.960 --> 01:05:24.775
Now, I believe that cutting council

01:05:24.799 --> 01:05:27.799
services would reduce opportunity,

01:05:28.640 --> 01:05:31.176
would reduce engagement, would reduce

01:05:31.200 --> 01:05:34.200
equity, and would reduce our capacity to

01:05:34.319 --> 01:05:37.319
be strong environmental stewards,

01:05:37.520 --> 01:05:39.656
and the long-term outcomes for the

01:05:39.680 --> 01:05:42.136
health and well-being of our community

01:05:42.160 --> 01:05:45.160
would be undermined. I believe I can say

01:05:45.440 --> 01:05:47.335
that confidently.

01:05:47.359 --> 01:05:50.136
reducing the scope of local government

01:05:50.160 --> 01:05:51.976
 through a rate cap was never

01:05:52.000 --> 01:05:54.456
something that people had in mind and

01:05:54.480 --> 01:05:57.416
I'm aware that my clock has stopped. Um

01:05:57.440 --> 01:05:59.896
but what I want to say is that I I do

01:05:59.920 --> 01:06:02.920
support a rate cap variation. I strongly

01:06:03.280 --> 01:06:06.055
support a rate cap variation as I'm

01:06:06.079 --> 01:06:09.015
strongly concerned about the legacy of

01:06:09.039 --> 01:06:11.736
this council on future councils because

01:06:11.760 --> 01:06:13.656
we want those councils to be able to act

01:06:13.680 --> 01:06:16.680
in the community interest. Thank you.

01:06:17.680 --> 01:06:20.136
 thank you councelor Klake. I might um

01:06:20.160 --> 01:06:22.055
take a moment to say a few words before

01:06:22.079 --> 01:06:25.079
I hand back to the mover. Um to sum up

01:06:25.359 --> 01:06:27.815
um this is this is a hard decision. The

01:06:27.839 --> 01:06:30.839
idea of actually raising you know taxes

01:06:30.880 --> 01:06:33.815
taking um it can be challenging for

01:06:33.839 --> 01:06:36.839
people to think about. Um but I think we

01:06:37.440 --> 01:06:38.936
have a financial sustainability

01:06:38.960 --> 01:06:41.815
strategy. We endorse that. Um thank you

01:06:41.839 --> 01:06:43.496
councelor Young for outlining all the

01:06:43.520 --> 01:06:45.575
the various factors that would take into

01:06:45.599 --> 01:06:47.736
account. How do we raise income? How do

01:06:47.760 --> 01:06:49.815
we reduce our costs? We've put in place

01:06:49.839 --> 01:06:51.656
a lot of efficiency measures. We've

01:06:51.680 --> 01:06:54.680
slowed down our capital program. Um at

01:06:55.200 --> 01:06:56.696
the end of the day though, we need to

01:06:56.720 --> 01:06:58.696
think about how do we set the council up

01:06:58.720 --> 01:07:01.720
for now and in the future.  and  on

01:07:02.079 --> 01:07:04.295
balance because this is such a modest

01:07:04.319 --> 01:07:06.295
request for a variation on top of the

01:07:06.319 --> 01:07:09.176
rate cap. Um I'm happy to support going

01:07:09.200 --> 01:07:11.575
to the Essential Services Commission 

01:07:11.599 --> 01:07:13.815
with a rate cap variation application.

01:07:13.839 --> 01:07:16.216
 and I I hope that they will support

01:07:16.240 --> 01:07:18.696
 our case. Um I'll now hand back to

01:07:18.720 --> 01:07:21.496
councelor Jang to sum up. Thank you.

01:07:21.520 --> 01:07:24.520
Thank you Mayor. Um I want to thank my

01:07:24.640 --> 01:07:26.616
fellow counselors for their very

01:07:26.640 --> 01:07:29.015
thoughtful and considered contributions

01:07:29.039 --> 01:07:32.039
to the debate and I also want to thank

01:07:32.160 --> 01:07:34.696
the the many residents who have shared

01:07:34.720 --> 01:07:37.656
their views and feedback with us. This

01:07:37.680 --> 01:07:40.456
is this is an important and difficult

01:07:40.480 --> 01:07:43.335
decision and it's one that has been

01:07:43.359 --> 01:07:45.815
shaped over time through community

01:07:45.839 --> 01:07:48.839
engagement, professional advice and the

01:07:48.960 --> 01:07:50.856
perspectives brought forward by

01:07:50.880 --> 01:07:53.880
counselors around this table. I want to

01:07:54.400 --> 01:07:56.775
be very clear about one thing and those

01:07:56.799 --> 01:07:59.799
of us who are supporting this proposal

01:08:00.160 --> 01:08:03.160
are not advocating for higher rates and

01:08:04.160 --> 01:08:05.736
as councelor Young said we are not

01:08:05.760 --> 01:08:08.055
happy. We don't take any satisfaction in

01:08:08.079 --> 01:08:11.079
supporting a rate increase. As said, we

01:08:11.440 --> 01:08:14.136
are rate payers ourselves.

01:08:14.160 --> 01:08:16.295
I also want to acknowledge that some of

01:08:16.319 --> 01:08:18.775
our um fellow counelors have raised the

01:08:18.799 --> 01:08:21.255
concerns and opposing views. Those

01:08:21.279 --> 01:08:24.279
points are valid and I absolutely share

01:08:24.319 --> 01:08:27.319
the empathy for our residents. This is

01:08:27.679 --> 01:08:29.735
not a debate between right and wrong.

01:08:29.759 --> 01:08:32.215
It's a debate about judgment, balance,

01:08:32.239 --> 01:08:34.056
and risk.

01:08:34.080 --> 01:08:36.536
So ultimately my position comes from

01:08:36.560 --> 01:08:39.175
weighing all all of those considerations

01:08:39.199 --> 01:08:41.976
together. The financial realities, the

01:08:42.000 --> 01:08:44.936
long-term impacts and our responsibility

01:08:44.960 --> 01:08:47.960
to the whole community on that balance

01:08:48.080 --> 01:08:50.695
and with the long-term interests of our

01:08:50.719 --> 01:08:53.496
community in mind. I believe this is the

01:08:53.520 --> 01:08:56.376
right decision to make at this point in

01:08:56.400 --> 01:08:59.175
time.

01:08:59.199 --> 01:09:00.856
Thank you, Council Jane. I'll now put

01:09:00.880 --> 01:09:02.456
this motion to the vote. If you could

01:09:02.480 --> 01:09:04.456
keep your hands raised while I call out

01:09:04.480 --> 01:09:06.215
names. All those in favor please raise

01:09:06.239 --> 01:09:08.775
your hands. Got councelor Jiang,

01:09:08.799 --> 01:09:11.799
councelor Rimaldo, councelor Ragny,

01:09:12.159 --> 01:09:13.496
councelor Young, councelor Smood,

01:09:13.520 --> 01:09:15.735
councelor Carlate, councelor Essov and

01:09:15.759 --> 01:09:18.215
councelor Daniel. Thank you. Um if you

01:09:18.239 --> 01:09:20.376
could lower your hands all those in

01:09:20.400 --> 01:09:23.400
against that is councelor Parasol. Um

01:09:23.440 --> 01:09:25.976
this motion is carried. Thank you

01:09:26.000 --> 01:09:29.000
councilors. Well, now [applause]

01:09:36.799 --> 01:09:39.096
just  checking councilor Essov, you

01:09:39.120 --> 01:09:42.120
put your hand up for in support. Yes.

01:09:42.880 --> 01:09:45.175
Thank you. Um we'll now move on to item

01:09:45.199 --> 01:09:48.135
10.2, the Ster Creek Litter Action Plan.

01:09:48.159 --> 01:09:50.215
 could I please have a mover for that

01:09:50.239 --> 01:09:52.056
motion?

01:09:52.080 --> 01:09:54.296
Councelor Daniel. , are you moving the

01:09:54.320 --> 01:09:56.296
motion as recommended by the officers

01:09:56.320 --> 01:09:57.976
and printed in the agenda?

01:09:58.000 --> 01:09:59.816
Yes, it is. Thank you. Thank you,

01:09:59.840 --> 01:10:01.655
Councelor Daniel. And a seconder for

01:10:01.679 --> 01:10:04.056
that motion, Councelor Carl Lakeake.

01:10:04.080 --> 01:10:05.816
Council Daniel, I would like to invite

01:10:05.840 --> 01:10:07.976
you to speak on the motion. Thank you

01:10:08.000 --> 01:10:10.215
very much, Mayor. Tonight, I'm very

01:10:10.239 --> 01:10:12.695
pleased to move the adoption of the Ster

01:10:12.719 --> 01:10:14.695
Creek Litter Action Plan, a

01:10:14.719 --> 01:10:17.576
collaborative and practical strategy to

01:10:17.600 --> 01:10:18.936
address one of the most persistent

01:10:18.960 --> 01:10:20.536
environmental challenges in our

01:10:20.560 --> 01:10:23.256
municipality. And I want to thank and

01:10:23.280 --> 01:10:25.256
acknowledge the members in the gallery

01:10:25.280 --> 01:10:28.280
that I know are here to hear this item.

01:10:29.199 --> 01:10:31.016
Since I spoke to this plan in November

01:10:31.040 --> 01:10:32.776
last year, we have come to a final

01:10:32.800 --> 01:10:34.296
version of the plan that was further

01:10:34.320 --> 01:10:36.936
informed by broader community engagement

01:10:36.960 --> 01:10:39.816
across three councils and incorporating

01:10:39.840 --> 01:10:42.296
counselor feedback. This engagement

01:10:42.320 --> 01:10:44.376
generated more than 4,000 visits to the

01:10:44.400 --> 01:10:47.256
Have Your Say page, over 300 direct

01:10:47.280 --> 01:10:49.655
community interactions, 75 formal

01:10:49.679 --> 01:10:51.896
submissions, and extensive in-person

01:10:51.920 --> 01:10:54.920
pop-up engagement with residents. I read

01:10:55.360 --> 01:10:57.256
all the very thoughtful comments left by

01:10:57.280 --> 01:10:59.576
residents in the engagement report, some

01:10:59.600 --> 01:11:01.496
insightful comments I've highlighted for

01:11:01.520 --> 01:11:04.056
future discussion in council. The

01:11:04.080 --> 01:11:06.536
feedback was clear. Litter is seen as a

01:11:06.560 --> 01:11:08.936
serious environmental and amenity issue

01:11:08.960 --> 01:11:10.695
and the community wants coordinated

01:11:10.719 --> 01:11:13.336
prevention, enforcement where needed,

01:11:13.360 --> 01:11:15.175
infrastructure investment and

01:11:15.199 --> 01:11:17.655
transparent monitoring.

01:11:17.679 --> 01:11:19.416
Importantly, the final plan reflects

01:11:19.440 --> 01:11:21.655
that input, including strengthening

01:11:21.679 --> 01:11:23.016
actions addressing business

01:11:23.040 --> 01:11:25.496
contributions to litter, explicitly

01:11:25.520 --> 01:11:27.416
including apartment buildings in

01:11:27.440 --> 01:11:29.816
compliance investigations, and making

01:11:29.840 --> 01:11:32.135
clear links between gross pollutants and

01:11:32.159 --> 01:11:34.536
microlastics.

01:11:34.560 --> 01:11:36.936
Glitter impacts waterway health,

01:11:36.960 --> 01:11:39.496
biodiversity, flood risk, and ultimately

01:11:39.520 --> 01:11:42.520
the health of Port Philip Bay. Because

01:11:42.560 --> 01:11:44.376
Creek sits within a highly urbanized

01:11:44.400 --> 01:11:46.776
catchment and flows beyond mun municipal

01:11:46.800 --> 01:11:49.496
boundaries, addressing litter requires

01:11:49.520 --> 01:11:51.816
coordinated cross agency and cross

01:11:51.840 --> 01:11:54.296
council action. And that is exactly what

01:11:54.320 --> 01:11:56.776
this plan represents.

01:11:56.800 --> 01:11:58.376
At this point, I'd like to share some

01:11:58.400 --> 01:12:00.456
good news that isn't public yet.

01:12:00.480 --> 01:12:02.456
Following a concern raised by a resident

01:12:02.480 --> 01:12:04.376
last year about overflowing container

01:12:04.400 --> 01:12:07.096
waste in public bins, officers applied

01:12:07.120 --> 01:12:09.976
for external funding to trial container

01:12:10.000 --> 01:12:11.816
diversion units under Victoria's

01:12:11.840 --> 01:12:14.695
container deposit scheme. I'm pleased to

01:12:14.719 --> 01:12:16.215
share that council has successfully

01:12:16.239 --> 01:12:19.016
secured funding from Vic return to

01:12:19.040 --> 01:12:21.096
support a local trial of up to 100 bin

01:12:21.120 --> 01:12:23.256
baskets to be attached to public litter

01:12:23.280 --> 01:12:25.336
bins across Glenra.

01:12:25.360 --> 01:12:27.016
These units are already being used in

01:12:27.040 --> 01:12:29.336
other councils in Victoria and are

01:12:29.360 --> 01:12:30.936
designed to increase recovery of

01:12:30.960 --> 01:12:33.016
eligible beverage containers while

01:12:33.040 --> 01:12:35.496
reducing recycling contamination which

01:12:35.520 --> 01:12:38.215
is quite high in our public bins and

01:12:38.239 --> 01:12:40.616
also it's a great  local funding

01:12:40.640 --> 01:12:43.175
opport fundraising opportunity.

01:12:43.199 --> 01:12:45.096
The trial will include audits before and

01:12:45.120 --> 01:12:47.496
after implementation, installation in

01:12:47.520 --> 01:12:49.896
hightra locations such as our activity

01:12:49.920 --> 01:12:52.296
centers and transport areas, and

01:12:52.320 --> 01:12:54.376
evaluation to ensure we learn from the

01:12:54.400 --> 01:12:55.976
results.

01:12:56.000 --> 01:12:58.296
This is a strong example of how resident

01:12:58.320 --> 01:13:00.456
feedback, officer expertise, and

01:13:00.480 --> 01:13:02.616
partnership funding can work together to

01:13:02.640 --> 01:13:05.096
support the prevention and removal goals

01:13:05.120 --> 01:13:07.336
of this action plan.

01:13:07.360 --> 01:13:09.655
Urban waterways like Ster Creek may

01:13:09.679 --> 01:13:11.816
often be hidden underground, but they

01:13:11.840 --> 01:13:13.816
remain vital ecological systems

01:13:13.840 --> 01:13:15.336
connecting our neighborhoods to Port

01:13:15.360 --> 01:13:17.976
Philip Bay. By adopting this plan

01:13:18.000 --> 01:13:19.416
tonight, we are endorsing a

01:13:19.440 --> 01:13:21.175
collaborative, evidence-based, and

01:13:21.199 --> 01:13:23.096
community informed approach to

01:13:23.120 --> 01:13:25.175
protecting our waterways and improving

01:13:25.199 --> 01:13:27.976
local amenity. I thank the officers, the

01:13:28.000 --> 01:13:29.976
partner organizations, and especially

01:13:30.000 --> 01:13:32.135
community contributors for their work,

01:13:32.159 --> 01:13:34.456
and I commend this plan to councilors.

01:13:34.480 --> 01:13:36.776
Thank you.

01:13:36.800 --> 01:13:38.536
Thank you, Councelor Daniel. ,

01:13:38.560 --> 01:13:41.496
councelor Cast Lake.

01:13:41.520 --> 01:13:43.736
Thank you, um, Mayor, and thank you,

01:13:43.760 --> 01:13:46.760
Councelor Daniel. Um, , I will keep my

01:13:47.600 --> 01:13:49.496
comments very brief. I first of all want

01:13:49.520 --> 01:13:51.816
to thank the community members and

01:13:51.840 --> 01:13:53.655
advocates that have kept these issues

01:13:53.679 --> 01:13:56.536
around Ster Creek and litter alive and

01:13:56.560 --> 01:13:59.336
on the agenda and for the people who did

01:13:59.360 --> 01:14:01.736
the work behind this report and all the

01:14:01.760 --> 01:14:03.976
community members who  provided their

01:14:04.000 --> 01:14:07.000
feedback and um thoughts. Um so this

01:14:07.520 --> 01:14:09.256
motion is fundamentally about taking

01:14:09.280 --> 01:14:12.280
responsibility for and and maintaining

01:14:12.480 --> 01:14:14.536
the health of our catchment and our

01:14:14.560 --> 01:14:17.560
waterways. Um

01:14:18.800 --> 01:14:20.376
it's about supporting the long-term

01:14:20.400 --> 01:14:22.376
health of the bay as well as mitigating

01:14:22.400 --> 01:14:25.175
flood risk. A huge value in this project

01:14:25.199 --> 01:14:28.056
will be the reduction of litter and um

01:14:28.080 --> 01:14:29.416
pollution generally across our

01:14:29.440 --> 01:14:31.736
municipality. So I'm pleased that it's a

01:14:31.760 --> 01:14:33.655
partnership project and I look forward

01:14:33.679 --> 01:14:36.135
to hearing about updates and seeing the

01:14:36.159 --> 01:14:38.296
outcomes in our immediate environment.

01:14:38.320 --> 01:14:40.936
So thank you.

01:14:40.960 --> 01:14:43.256
Thank you councelor Klake. Does anyone

01:14:43.280 --> 01:14:46.280
want to speak against this motion?

01:14:46.560 --> 01:14:49.016
Good. Um, any other councilors wish to

01:14:49.040 --> 01:14:51.576
speak on the motion?

01:14:51.600 --> 01:14:53.655
No. In that case, my pleasure to hand

01:14:53.679 --> 01:14:55.655
back to councelor Daniel to sum up.

01:14:55.679 --> 01:14:56.856
Thank you, Mayor, and thank you,

01:14:56.880 --> 01:14:58.695
Councelor Kslate for your supporting

01:14:58.719 --> 01:15:01.719
comments. Um, I'm extremely excited

01:15:02.159 --> 01:15:05.159
about this plan and I'm I'm really um

01:15:05.520 --> 01:15:07.496
looking forward to the next 5 years to

01:15:07.520 --> 01:15:10.520
see this unfold and benefit our our

01:15:10.719 --> 01:15:13.096
ecosystems, our community health and

01:15:13.120 --> 01:15:16.120
well-being. Thank you.

01:15:16.640 --> 01:15:18.376
Thank you, Councelor Daniel. Um, I'll

01:15:18.400 --> 01:15:19.896
now put this motion to the vote.

01:15:19.920 --> 01:15:21.336
Councilors, all those in favor, please

01:15:21.360 --> 01:15:23.576
raise your hand. And that motion is

01:15:23.600 --> 01:15:26.600
carried unanimously.

01:15:28.159 --> 01:15:29.655
It's always nice when we have a happy

01:15:29.679 --> 01:15:31.896
community on a vote. Thank you. Um we're

01:15:31.920 --> 01:15:34.056
now up to item 10.3, which is the

01:15:34.080 --> 01:15:36.135
Municipal Association of Victoria May

01:15:36.159 --> 01:15:39.159
2026 State Council motion. Um a big

01:15:40.159 --> 01:15:43.159
thank you to our representative on the

01:15:43.199 --> 01:15:46.135
MAV, Councelor Jang.  the motion is

01:15:46.159 --> 01:15:48.215
that we adopt some submission and

01:15:48.239 --> 01:15:49.976
motions for submission to the 29th of

01:15:50.000 --> 01:15:53.000
May meeting. Um I'm looking for a

01:15:53.120 --> 01:15:54.616
council to put the motion. Thank you,

01:15:54.640 --> 01:15:56.695
councelor Jang.  will you put the

01:15:56.719 --> 01:15:58.536
motion as printed and recommended by the

01:15:58.560 --> 01:15:59.655
officers in the agenda?

01:15:59.679 --> 01:16:01.016
Yes, as printed.

01:16:01.040 --> 01:16:02.695
Thank you. And a second for the motion.

01:16:02.719 --> 01:16:04.536
Thank you, councelor Esikov. Councelor

01:16:04.560 --> 01:16:05.736
Jang, would you like to speak to the

01:16:05.760 --> 01:16:06.376
motion?

01:16:06.400 --> 01:16:08.695
Thank you, madame Mayor. This report

01:16:08.719 --> 01:16:10.776
right to the upcoming state council

01:16:10.800 --> 01:16:13.096
meeting of the municipal association of

01:16:13.120 --> 01:16:15.256
Victoria, which will be held in May

01:16:15.280 --> 01:16:16.856
2026.

01:16:16.880 --> 01:16:19.816
The MAV is the legislated PI body

01:16:19.840 --> 01:16:22.776
representing all 79 councils in

01:16:22.800 --> 01:16:25.496
Victoria. Twice a year councils can

01:16:25.520 --> 01:16:28.520
submit motions to s state council. If a

01:16:28.800 --> 01:16:31.655
motion is carried it gives mav a formal

01:16:31.679 --> 01:16:34.135
mandate to advocate to the state

01:16:34.159 --> 01:16:36.695
government on behalf of the entire

01:16:36.719 --> 01:16:39.496
sector. Tonight we are considering two

01:16:39.520 --> 01:16:42.520
motions for submissions for submission.

01:16:42.560 --> 01:16:45.096
These two motions reflect two of the

01:16:45.120 --> 01:16:47.416
most significant challenges currently

01:16:47.440 --> 01:16:50.440
facing our local community. The first

01:16:50.719 --> 01:16:53.416
relates to housing delivery and local

01:16:53.440 --> 01:16:56.056
strategic planning, particularly in the

01:16:56.080 --> 01:16:58.616
context of the stage 2 activity center

01:16:58.640 --> 01:17:00.616
proposal and the extensive community

01:17:00.640 --> 01:17:02.616
engagement

01:17:02.640 --> 01:17:05.016
um and feedback we are receiving at the

01:17:05.040 --> 01:17:07.576
moment. Many residents are concerned

01:17:07.600 --> 01:17:10.215
about density, infrastructure, capacity,

01:17:10.239 --> 01:17:11.976
neighborhood character and whether

01:17:12.000 --> 01:17:14.456
growth is being planned in a coordinated

01:17:14.480 --> 01:17:17.416
and fair way. This motion makes a clear

01:17:17.440 --> 01:17:20.440
point. consoles are not the primary

01:17:20.560 --> 01:17:22.936
barrier to housing supply. The

01:17:22.960 --> 01:17:24.856
overwhelming majority of planning

01:17:24.880 --> 01:17:27.336
applications are approved in a timely

01:17:27.360 --> 01:17:30.360
manner. The larger constraint is market

01:17:30.400 --> 01:17:33.016
visibility, construction costs, labor

01:17:33.040 --> 01:17:35.816
shortages, state charges, and broader

01:17:35.840 --> 01:17:38.840
economic conditions. At the same time,

01:17:39.199 --> 01:17:41.816
recent state planning reforms have

01:17:41.840 --> 01:17:44.056
reduced the local strategic planning

01:17:44.080 --> 01:17:47.080
powers in key areas. This limits

01:17:47.440 --> 01:17:50.056
council's ability to align housing

01:17:50.080 --> 01:17:52.776
growth with transport, infrastructure,

01:17:52.800 --> 01:17:55.800
open space, and community needs. The

01:17:55.840 --> 01:17:58.215
motion calls on the state government to

01:17:58.239 --> 01:18:01.239
focus on the real barriers to delivery

01:18:01.280 --> 01:18:03.896
and to work collaboratively with

01:18:03.920 --> 01:18:06.616
councils and industry to turn planning

01:18:06.640 --> 01:18:09.640
approvals into actual homes. The second

01:18:10.640 --> 01:18:13.096
motion addresses anti-semitism and

01:18:13.120 --> 01:18:15.896
social cohesion. Valera is home to one

01:18:15.920 --> 01:18:18.296
of the largest Jewish communities in

01:18:18.320 --> 01:18:20.616
Victoria. We have seen a significant

01:18:20.640 --> 01:18:23.640
rise in anti-semitic incidents and

01:18:24.159 --> 01:18:27.159
increased concern within the community.

01:18:27.440 --> 01:18:30.135
Councils play an important local role

01:18:30.159 --> 01:18:32.215
through education initiatives,

01:18:32.239 --> 01:18:33.655
partnerships with community

01:18:33.679 --> 01:18:36.679
organizations and the rapid  response

01:18:37.120 --> 01:18:40.120
coordination. But we cannot scale this

01:18:40.239 --> 01:18:43.239
work without structured state support.

01:18:44.159 --> 01:18:46.456
With the um Australian government

01:18:46.480 --> 01:18:49.016
committing to a Royal Commission into

01:18:49.040 --> 01:18:50.616
anti-semitism,

01:18:50.640 --> 01:18:53.640
the urgency is clear. This motion calls

01:18:54.000 --> 01:18:56.616
on the state government to establish a

01:18:56.640 --> 01:18:59.416
dedicated funding stream and partnership

01:18:59.440 --> 01:19:02.376
framework so councils can deliver

01:19:02.400 --> 01:19:05.400
practical evidence-based prevention and

01:19:05.920 --> 01:19:08.215
response initiatives.

01:19:08.239 --> 01:19:11.239
Both motions are constructive. Both are

01:19:12.000 --> 01:19:15.000
sectorwide and both seek stronger state

01:19:16.080 --> 01:19:19.080
local partnership not conflict.

01:19:19.920 --> 01:19:22.920
Through the MAV, we have an opportunity

01:19:23.040 --> 01:19:26.040
to elevate these challenges beyond our

01:19:26.080 --> 01:19:28.856
municipal boundary and advocate

01:19:28.880 --> 01:19:31.736
collectively for fairer, more effective

01:19:31.760 --> 01:19:34.760
solutions. So I commend the motions to

01:19:34.800 --> 01:19:37.800
council. Thank you.

01:19:38.880 --> 01:19:41.416
Thank you, councelor Jang. And 

01:19:41.440 --> 01:19:43.016
councelor Essov, would you like to speak

01:19:43.040 --> 01:19:43.576
to the motion?

01:19:43.600 --> 01:19:45.576
Yeah, thanks Madame Mayor. Trouble with

01:19:45.600 --> 01:19:48.296
speaking second is that the mover in

01:19:48.320 --> 01:19:50.056
this case has said everything that I was

01:19:50.080 --> 01:19:52.215
going to say and more. So, thank you,

01:19:52.239 --> 01:19:54.456
Councelor Jen. Um and I'm not going to

01:19:54.480 --> 01:19:56.135
repeat the same comments. There is

01:19:56.159 --> 01:19:58.536
absolutely no need. I'll just say that I

01:19:58.560 --> 01:20:00.056
look forward to these motions being

01:20:00.080 --> 01:20:02.056
endorsed at the May State Council

01:20:02.080 --> 01:20:03.896
meeting and hope to see them endorsed

01:20:03.920 --> 01:20:06.536
with 100% support across the state.

01:20:06.560 --> 01:20:08.776
Thank you.

01:20:08.800 --> 01:20:10.456
Thank you, Councelor Esikov.  would

01:20:10.480 --> 01:20:13.175
anyone like to speak against the motion?

01:20:13.199 --> 01:20:15.096
Would anyone else like to speak on the

01:20:15.120 --> 01:20:17.576
motion?

01:20:17.600 --> 01:20:20.456
 in that case, I I just want to thank

01:20:20.480 --> 01:20:22.296
 Council Jang as our representative

01:20:22.320 --> 01:20:24.695
and all my fellow councils, I think, for

01:20:24.719 --> 01:20:26.536
 choosing these two motions to take to

01:20:26.560 --> 01:20:28.936
our state representative body.  and I

01:20:28.960 --> 01:20:30.695
think particularly as council Jiang has

01:20:30.719 --> 01:20:33.175
said  being the council with the

01:20:33.199 --> 01:20:36.056
largest Jewish community in Victoria um

01:20:36.080 --> 01:20:39.080
it is I think quite timely to  try and

01:20:39.520 --> 01:20:41.336
get statewide action and and federal

01:20:41.360 --> 01:20:42.856
action on strengthening council led

01:20:42.880 --> 01:20:45.016
anti-semitism initiatives. So I will now

01:20:45.040 --> 01:20:48.040
hand back to councelor Jang to sum up. I

01:20:48.239 --> 01:20:50.695
think that thank you.

01:20:50.719 --> 01:20:52.296
In that case councils let's put this

01:20:52.320 --> 01:20:54.135
motion to the vote. All those in favor,

01:20:54.159 --> 01:20:56.376
please raise your hands. And that motion

01:20:56.400 --> 01:20:59.175
is carried unanimously. We're now up to

01:20:59.199 --> 01:21:01.256
item 10.4

01:21:01.280 --> 01:21:03.016
 which relates to our national

01:21:03.040 --> 01:21:05.256
representative body. So Australian Local

01:21:05.280 --> 01:21:07.096
Government Association known as ALGA,

01:21:07.120 --> 01:21:09.496
the 2026 National General Assembly

01:21:09.520 --> 01:21:11.655
motions.  the recommendation is that

01:21:11.679 --> 01:21:13.655
council endorses two motions for

01:21:13.679 --> 01:21:15.976
submission to the 2026 Australian Local

01:21:16.000 --> 01:21:17.976
Government Association National General

01:21:18.000 --> 01:21:19.816
Assembly. All the details are in our

01:21:19.840 --> 01:21:22.376
agenda. , I'm looking for a mover for

01:21:22.400 --> 01:21:25.016
the motion. Thank you, Councelor Jiang.

01:21:25.040 --> 01:21:27.336
, will you move that motion as printed

01:21:27.360 --> 01:21:28.695
based on the recommendations of the

01:21:28.719 --> 01:21:29.976
officers?

01:21:30.000 --> 01:21:33.000
Um, no. Um I will um move the motion as

01:21:34.880 --> 01:21:37.880
printed with the following amendments

01:21:38.159 --> 01:21:41.159
to change the first line to that council

01:21:42.480 --> 01:21:45.480
endorsed the following three motions

01:21:46.000 --> 01:21:49.000
instead of the two and adds motion

01:21:50.480 --> 01:21:53.480
three. Um

01:21:53.840 --> 01:21:56.840
should I read read out all? Um okay.

01:21:56.880 --> 01:21:59.880
Motion three, anti-semitism.

01:21:59.920 --> 01:22:02.056
The National General Assembly

01:22:02.080 --> 01:22:04.695
acknowledges the import the importance

01:22:04.719 --> 01:22:07.096
of all levels of government working

01:22:07.120 --> 01:22:10.120
collaboratively and constructively to

01:22:10.239 --> 01:22:13.175
combat anti-semitism and all forms of

01:22:13.199 --> 01:22:16.199
racism, hatred and big as well as  to

01:22:18.239 --> 01:22:21.239
promote social cohesion in Australia. um

01:22:22.719 --> 01:22:25.719
two calls on the Australian government

01:22:26.000 --> 01:22:28.215
to initiate and fund a national

01:22:28.239 --> 01:22:29.496
framework and civic [clears throat]

01:22:29.520 --> 01:22:32.520
education program to enhance the role of

01:22:33.040 --> 01:22:35.336
local government in facilitating social

01:22:35.360 --> 01:22:38.360
cohesion in local communities.

01:22:40.080 --> 01:22:41.816
Thank you councelor Jiang. If I could

01:22:41.840 --> 01:22:44.215
have a seconder for that motion.

01:22:44.239 --> 01:22:47.239
Councelor Essov. Thank you.  councelor

01:22:47.280 --> 01:22:48.695
Jang I invite you to speak to the

01:22:48.719 --> 01:22:49.496
motion.

01:22:49.520 --> 01:22:51.655
Thank you madame Mayor. We have just

01:22:51.679 --> 01:22:53.576
discussed the motions to our state pick

01:22:53.600 --> 01:22:56.600
body in Victoria and this this item now

01:22:56.639 --> 01:22:59.175
relates to our national pig body the

01:22:59.199 --> 01:23:01.336
Australian local government association

01:23:01.360 --> 01:23:04.360
and ALGA ALGA national assembly the most

01:23:04.719 --> 01:23:07.096
significant national forum for local

01:23:07.120 --> 01:23:09.896
governments. It is where councils from

01:23:09.920 --> 01:23:12.215
across Australia come together to set

01:23:12.239 --> 01:23:15.175
the federal advocacy agenda for the year

01:23:15.199 --> 01:23:18.199
ahead. motions carried there um gave

01:23:18.560 --> 01:23:21.256
ARGA a clear mandate to take our

01:23:21.280 --> 01:23:24.280
collective voice to CRA to ministers

01:23:24.960 --> 01:23:27.256
departments and the national policy

01:23:27.280 --> 01:23:30.280
tables this year's theme stronger

01:23:30.800 --> 01:23:33.800
together resilient productive united

01:23:34.880 --> 01:23:37.736
speaks directly to the pressures we are

01:23:37.760 --> 01:23:40.760
seeing in our own local community. So

01:23:41.199 --> 01:23:42.936
first the motion calls for stronger

01:23:42.960 --> 01:23:45.256
federal support for local climate action

01:23:45.280 --> 01:23:48.280
and community resilience. Councils are

01:23:48.639 --> 01:23:51.639
on the front line of climate impacts. We

01:23:52.080 --> 01:23:54.135
maintain the roads drainage community

01:23:54.159 --> 01:23:57.016
facilities and emergency relief centers

01:23:57.040 --> 01:23:59.976
that that residents rely on during

01:24:00.000 --> 01:24:03.000
extreme heat, storms and flooding. Yet

01:24:03.280 --> 01:24:05.576
the scale and the frequency of these

01:24:05.600 --> 01:24:07.896
events is increasing

01:24:07.920 --> 01:24:09.896
while our revenue base remains

01:24:09.920 --> 01:24:12.920
constrained. If we are serious about re

01:24:13.520 --> 01:24:16.215
resilience, we must invest before

01:24:16.239 --> 01:24:19.239
disaster disaster strikes. Expanded

01:24:20.239 --> 01:24:22.776
grants and co-investment would allow

01:24:22.800 --> 01:24:25.736
councils to strengthen infrastructure,

01:24:25.760 --> 01:24:28.215
protect vulnerable residents, and reduce

01:24:28.239 --> 01:24:31.239
long-term recovery costs for all levels

01:24:31.360 --> 01:24:33.096
of government.

01:24:33.120 --> 01:24:35.496
The second motion seeks a dedicated

01:24:35.520 --> 01:24:38.520
federal funding stream and participate

01:24:38.560 --> 01:24:40.856
partnership framework to strengthen

01:24:40.880 --> 01:24:43.880
community-led responses to homelessness.

01:24:44.320 --> 01:24:46.936
While councils do not deliver specialist

01:24:46.960 --> 01:24:49.960
homelessness services, we enable the

01:24:50.239 --> 01:24:53.239
local ecosystems that make early

01:24:53.520 --> 01:24:55.896
intervention possible through

01:24:55.920 --> 01:24:58.615
facilities, grounds, partnerships, and

01:24:58.639 --> 01:25:01.639
neighborhood connection. We are seeing

01:25:02.239 --> 01:25:04.936
increasing rental stress and a growing

01:25:04.960 --> 01:25:07.816
complexity of need in Glen era.

01:25:07.840 --> 01:25:10.776
Prevention, coordination and wrap

01:25:10.800 --> 01:25:13.800
wraparound support delivered by trusted

01:25:14.239 --> 01:25:17.096
local organizations is far more

01:25:17.120 --> 01:25:20.120
effective than crisis response alone.

01:25:20.560 --> 01:25:22.776
But that requires sustained national

01:25:22.800 --> 01:25:25.800
investment, not fragmented short-term

01:25:26.159 --> 01:25:28.135
funding.

01:25:28.159 --> 01:25:30.615
And the third motion that I moved to be

01:25:30.639 --> 01:25:33.639
included relates to  again addressing

01:25:34.159 --> 01:25:37.159
anti-semitism. I have already spoken to

01:25:37.440 --> 01:25:40.056
this in the previous motion and I will

01:25:40.080 --> 01:25:43.080
not repeat myself. This is a

01:25:43.440 --> 01:25:45.896
particularly significant challenge not

01:25:45.920 --> 01:25:48.776
only for Gera but for many communities

01:25:48.800 --> 01:25:51.800
across the nation. It is not just issue

01:25:52.239 --> 01:25:55.175
a issue for the Jewish community or

01:25:55.199 --> 01:25:58.135
Jewish areas. it affects everyone

01:25:58.159 --> 01:26:00.856
everywhere. We are calling for stronger

01:26:00.880 --> 01:26:03.096
action from the federal government to

01:26:03.120 --> 01:26:06.120
address this issue. Um so all three

01:26:06.880 --> 01:26:09.655
motions are of national significance and

01:26:09.679 --> 01:26:12.056
a call for partnership between the

01:26:12.080 --> 01:26:14.296
federal and the local governments. I

01:26:14.320 --> 01:26:17.096
commend these motions to council. Thank

01:26:17.120 --> 01:26:18.936
you.

01:26:18.960 --> 01:26:20.615
Thank you councelor Jang.  councelor

01:26:20.639 --> 01:26:22.056
Esikov, would you like to speak to the

01:26:22.080 --> 01:26:22.936
motion?

01:26:22.960 --> 01:26:24.856
Yes. Thank you madame Mayor.  I'll

01:26:24.880 --> 01:26:26.936
speak to the third part. Um the third

01:26:26.960 --> 01:26:29.175
motion asking that the National General

01:26:29.199 --> 01:26:31.336
Assembly acknowledges the importance of

01:26:31.360 --> 01:26:32.776
all levels of government working

01:26:32.800 --> 01:26:35.175
collaboratively and constructively to

01:26:35.199 --> 01:26:37.175
combat anti-semitism and all forms of

01:26:37.199 --> 01:26:40.199
racism, hatred and bigotry as well as

01:26:40.320 --> 01:26:43.256
promote social cohesion in Australia.

01:26:43.280 --> 01:26:44.856
and two calls on the Australian

01:26:44.880 --> 01:26:46.776
government to initiate and fund a

01:26:46.800 --> 01:26:49.096
national framework and civic education

01:26:49.120 --> 01:26:51.016
program to enhance the role of local

01:26:51.040 --> 01:26:53.816
government in facilitating and fostering

01:26:53.840 --> 01:26:56.840
social cohesion in local communities.

01:26:56.960 --> 01:26:59.336
It's um absolutely unfathomable

01:26:59.360 --> 01:27:00.856
unfathomable

01:27:00.880 --> 01:27:03.416
and unbelievable really that we need to

01:27:03.440 --> 01:27:05.416
be talking about the exponential

01:27:05.440 --> 01:27:07.416
increase in anti-semitic incidents

01:27:07.440 --> 01:27:10.440
across this m municipality, this state

01:27:11.199 --> 01:27:14.056
and across this country and the need to

01:27:14.080 --> 01:27:16.296
voice the community concern that this

01:27:16.320 --> 01:27:19.096
has caused and that we have to now

01:27:19.120 --> 01:27:21.416
demand action to address this problem

01:27:21.440 --> 01:27:24.215
that is not going away. There needs to

01:27:24.239 --> 01:27:26.936
be a federal action right now as well as

01:27:26.960 --> 01:27:29.416
state which the previous item in

01:27:29.440 --> 01:27:32.296
relation to the MAV was advocating for.

01:27:32.320 --> 01:27:34.376
 while a royal commission has been

01:27:34.400 --> 01:27:37.016
called and initiated today following the

01:27:37.040 --> 01:27:39.175
terrorist attack in Bondi, there's still

01:27:39.199 --> 01:27:40.856
a lot of work that must be done

01:27:40.880 --> 01:27:43.416
immediately and coordinated across all

01:27:43.440 --> 01:27:45.976
levels of government and that needs to

01:27:46.000 --> 01:27:49.000
start now. Thank you.

01:27:49.120 --> 01:27:50.776
Thank you councelor Esikov. Would anyone

01:27:50.800 --> 01:27:53.416
like to speak against this motion?

01:27:53.440 --> 01:27:55.016
Would any other councilors like to speak

01:27:55.040 --> 01:27:58.040
on the motion?

01:27:58.080 --> 01:28:00.215
 in that case, I will say a few words

01:28:00.239 --> 01:28:02.376
before I hand back. Um I wanted to just

01:28:02.400 --> 01:28:03.976
start  by asking the move and

01:28:04.000 --> 01:28:05.736
secondary if we I could propose a

01:28:05.760 --> 01:28:08.615
friendly amendment to  just change the

01:28:08.639 --> 01:28:11.416
title of the third part of the motion um

01:28:11.440 --> 01:28:13.175
to something a little bit more detailed.

01:28:13.199 --> 01:28:16.135
And my proposal is Australian government

01:28:16.159 --> 01:28:17.736
national framework to combat

01:28:17.760 --> 01:28:19.576
anti-semitism and promote social

01:28:19.600 --> 01:28:21.256
cohesion.

01:28:21.280 --> 01:28:22.536
I thought that might be a bit more

01:28:22.560 --> 01:28:25.496
wholesome than just one word.

01:28:25.520 --> 01:28:28.135
Thank you. I'm happy to accept that.

01:28:28.159 --> 01:28:29.736
Second, are you happy to accept that?

01:28:29.760 --> 01:28:31.256
Yes, happy with that. Thank you.

01:28:31.280 --> 01:28:33.576
Thank you.  so then just briefly, I do

01:28:33.600 --> 01:28:36.600
want to um acknowledge that um and thank

01:28:37.520 --> 01:28:39.096
councelor Parasol for reminding us that

01:28:39.120 --> 01:28:41.096
for the MAV motions, we had a motion on

01:28:41.120 --> 01:28:43.016
exactly that topic which has become our

01:28:43.040 --> 01:28:46.040
third part of the motion.  and also 

01:28:46.480 --> 01:28:48.536
thank the Mayor of Waverly in New South

01:28:48.560 --> 01:28:51.336
Wales who's the Mayor including Bondi 

01:28:51.360 --> 01:28:53.416
for sharing with me earlier today the

01:28:53.440 --> 01:28:54.936
motion that they have put and

01:28:54.960 --> 01:28:57.336
successfully passed tonight. Um and we

01:28:57.360 --> 01:28:59.175
have  used their wording for this

01:28:59.199 --> 01:29:01.896
third part third motion that we planning

01:29:01.920 --> 01:29:04.920
if supported to take to Algaras. So um I

01:29:05.280 --> 01:29:06.536
did want to let my fellow councilors and

01:29:06.560 --> 01:29:07.816
the committee know that it has passed in

01:29:07.840 --> 01:29:09.896
New South Wales and we will now hand

01:29:09.920 --> 01:29:12.920
back to councel Jang to  sum up. 

01:29:13.840 --> 01:29:15.416
thank you. I just want to thank

01:29:15.440 --> 01:29:17.416
councelor Escov for your comments. I

01:29:17.440 --> 01:29:20.135
certainly echo and support um all what

01:29:20.159 --> 01:29:23.159
you said and thank  Mayor for the very

01:29:24.159 --> 01:29:27.159
sensible amendment. Thank you.

01:29:27.840 --> 01:29:29.496
Thank you councilors. We'll now put this

01:29:29.520 --> 01:29:31.576
motion to the vote. All those in favor

01:29:31.600 --> 01:29:34.536
please raise your hands. That motion is

01:29:34.560 --> 01:29:37.096
carried unanimously. Councilors we're

01:29:37.120 --> 01:29:39.576
now

01:29:39.600 --> 01:29:41.816
got happy audience tonight. Um we're now

01:29:41.840 --> 01:29:44.840
up to item 10.5 which is the quarterly

01:29:44.880 --> 01:29:47.416
reporting of community grants and the

01:29:47.440 --> 01:29:49.655
recommendation is that council council

01:29:49.679 --> 01:29:51.336
receive and note the quarterly report

01:29:51.360 --> 01:29:54.360
from the director of community wellbeing

01:29:54.560 --> 01:29:56.615
um outlining community grants and awards

01:29:56.639 --> 01:29:58.695
approved for the period September to

01:29:58.719 --> 01:30:01.719
October 2025.  could I please have

01:30:01.760 --> 01:30:03.256
someone to move the motion? Thank you.

01:30:03.280 --> 01:30:05.256
Councelor Parasol, will you move the

01:30:05.280 --> 01:30:07.416
motion as  recommended by the officers

01:30:07.440 --> 01:30:08.936
and printed in the agenda?

01:30:08.960 --> 01:30:11.576
As printed. Thank you. Thank you. And a

01:30:11.600 --> 01:30:13.256
seconder for that motion, councelor

01:30:13.280 --> 01:30:15.976
Essov. Thank you, councelor Parasol, if

01:30:16.000 --> 01:30:17.336
you'd speak to the motion.

01:30:17.360 --> 01:30:20.296
Thank you, Madam Mayor. Um, grants and

01:30:20.320 --> 01:30:22.056
awards for the period September and

01:30:22.080 --> 01:30:24.776
October 2025.

01:30:24.800 --> 01:30:27.736
They they include the small grants

01:30:27.760 --> 01:30:30.215
facility high grants youth excellence

01:30:30.239 --> 01:30:33.096
areas are outlined in this report and

01:30:33.120 --> 01:30:34.776
are assessed in accordance with comm

01:30:34.800 --> 01:30:37.096
community the council's community grants

01:30:37.120 --> 01:30:39.416
policy of 2023

01:30:39.440 --> 01:30:41.336
and the endorsed guidelines for this

01:30:41.360 --> 01:30:43.816
program and the total amount for the two

01:30:43.840 --> 01:30:46.840
months of September October is $14,289

01:30:48.719 --> 01:30:50.296
18

01:30:50.320 --> 01:30:52.296
the community grants and awards come

01:30:52.320 --> 01:30:54.536
under and include small grants which are

01:30:54.560 --> 01:30:57.560
up to $1,000 for urgent needs or new

01:30:57.679 --> 01:31:00.679
projects. Facility high grants are up to

01:31:00.960 --> 01:31:02.536
75,000.

01:31:02.560 --> 01:31:04.456
There's youth excellence awards year

01:31:04.480 --> 01:31:07.480
round recognition of youth from 10 to 25

01:31:07.920 --> 01:31:10.215
years in Australia,

01:31:10.239 --> 01:31:12.215
including education, leadership, and

01:31:12.239 --> 01:31:15.239
sports grants from 360 to $1,200.

01:31:16.239 --> 01:31:19.239
And  I must say that  some of them

01:31:19.280 --> 01:31:21.016
have even be moved on to become

01:31:21.040 --> 01:31:22.695
Olympians.

01:31:22.719 --> 01:31:25.719
And  we also include the arts. The

01:31:26.320 --> 01:31:28.936
annual community grants community

01:31:28.960 --> 01:31:31.960
strengthening program is up to $3,000

01:31:32.080 --> 01:31:34.456
and partnership and events are up to

01:31:34.480 --> 01:31:37.480
$10,000 per year.  as well as that we

01:31:38.639 --> 01:31:41.639
have c senior citizens center grants

01:31:41.760 --> 01:31:44.135
which support venue hire and program

01:31:44.159 --> 01:31:47.159
costs. And we also offer nonmonetary

01:31:48.239 --> 01:31:50.215
recognition through our citizens of the

01:31:50.239 --> 01:31:52.536
year awards and business excellence

01:31:52.560 --> 01:31:54.135
awards.

01:31:54.159 --> 01:31:56.215
Over the years, council has a commitment

01:31:56.239 --> 01:31:59.096
to granting of public funds to various

01:31:59.120 --> 01:32:01.336
non-for-profit organizations for

01:32:01.360 --> 01:32:04.215
projects and activities that strengthen

01:32:04.239 --> 01:32:07.096
community connection. Develop and

01:32:07.120 --> 01:32:10.120
accessible and include in community.

01:32:10.560 --> 01:32:12.615
encourage new initiatives and

01:32:12.639 --> 01:32:15.336
volunteering and support our community

01:32:15.360 --> 01:32:18.360
in planning and delivering new projects.

01:32:19.920 --> 01:32:21.816
I just want to thank the team led by

01:32:21.840 --> 01:32:24.614
director Jane Price and Lana

01:32:24.638 --> 01:32:25.736
[clears throat]

01:32:25.760 --> 01:32:28.056
Carrie the coordinative community

01:32:28.080 --> 01:32:29.496
strengthening for all the work they've

01:32:29.520 --> 01:32:32.520
done to put this together. Thank you.

01:32:33.040 --> 01:32:34.536
Thank you councelor Parasol. Councelor

01:32:34.560 --> 01:32:37.560
Esikov. Yeah, thanks Madame Mayor. Um

01:32:37.600 --> 01:32:39.336
yes, before us we have the September

01:32:39.360 --> 01:32:42.135
octo and October grants um which

01:32:42.159 --> 01:32:45.016
councelor Parasol has outlined  which

01:32:45.040 --> 01:32:47.336
I won't repeat.  but the only thing

01:32:47.360 --> 01:32:49.576
I'd like to say is thank you to all the

01:32:49.600 --> 01:32:52.135
groups who do this work for the

01:32:52.159 --> 01:32:54.856
community and also congratulations to

01:32:54.880 --> 01:32:56.695
Alyssa, Eva, and Chloe for their

01:32:56.719 --> 01:32:59.016
successes in table tennis, soccer, and

01:32:59.040 --> 01:33:01.816
artistic gymnastics.  we wish you all

01:33:01.840 --> 01:33:04.456
the very best in the future  in your

01:33:04.480 --> 01:33:07.480
chosen fields of interest. Thank you.

01:33:09.199 --> 01:33:10.936
Thank you, councelor Esikov.  would

01:33:10.960 --> 01:33:12.456
anyone like to speak against this

01:33:12.480 --> 01:33:14.536
motion?

01:33:14.560 --> 01:33:16.056
 would anyone else like to speak on

01:33:16.080 --> 01:33:18.695
the motion?

01:33:18.719 --> 01:33:21.416
That case, would you like to sum up?

01:33:21.440 --> 01:33:23.896
I think together with council cop, we've

01:33:23.920 --> 01:33:26.920
covered everything. Thank you very much.

01:33:27.040 --> 01:33:28.536
Thank you councils. Let's now put this

01:33:28.560 --> 01:33:30.296
motion to the vote. All those in favor,

01:33:30.320 --> 01:33:32.456
please raise your hands. And that motion

01:33:32.480 --> 01:33:35.175
is carried unanimously.

01:33:35.199 --> 01:33:38.135
Councilors, we are now up to item 10.6,

01:33:38.159 --> 01:33:40.056
which is a special grants program,

01:33:40.080 --> 01:33:43.080
social cohesion community grants. ,

01:33:43.360 --> 01:33:46.056
and I might leave the recommendation for

01:33:46.080 --> 01:33:47.576
someone who wants to put the motion to

01:33:47.600 --> 01:33:49.256
speak to. , could I please have a

01:33:49.280 --> 01:33:51.256
mover for the motion? Councelor Essov,

01:33:51.280 --> 01:33:53.655
will you move the motion as recommended

01:33:53.679 --> 01:33:56.456
by the officers as printed? Thank you.

01:33:56.480 --> 01:33:59.336
, and a second for the motion. Thank

01:33:59.360 --> 01:34:01.016
you, Councelor Parasol. Councelor

01:34:01.040 --> 01:34:03.416
Esikov.

01:34:03.440 --> 01:34:05.416
Yes. Thank you, Madame May. This report

01:34:05.440 --> 01:34:08.215
is proposing a one-off social cohesion

01:34:08.239 --> 01:34:10.776
community grants round  allocating

01:34:10.800 --> 01:34:13.800
$90,000 from unspent and unallocated

01:34:14.400 --> 01:34:17.400
funding within the 2526 community grants

01:34:18.239 --> 01:34:19.736
program.

01:34:19.760 --> 01:34:22.135
These funds have become available as a

01:34:22.159 --> 01:34:23.816
result of savings in the community

01:34:23.840 --> 01:34:26.456
grants budget due to a number of reasons

01:34:26.480 --> 01:34:28.056
including the number of applications

01:34:28.080 --> 01:34:31.080
received, applicant ineligibility,

01:34:32.000 --> 01:34:33.736
or submissions not meeting the

01:34:33.760 --> 01:34:36.760
assessment criteria. The proposed grants

01:34:36.800 --> 01:34:38.536
round will support initiatives that

01:34:38.560 --> 01:34:41.256
strengthen co social cohesion, promote

01:34:41.280 --> 01:34:43.576
inclusion, and foster understanding

01:34:43.600 --> 01:34:46.456
across Glen Eira's diverse communities.

01:34:46.480 --> 01:34:48.695
They address community need and align

01:34:48.719 --> 01:34:51.256
with the priorities of social council

01:34:51.280 --> 01:34:54.215
social cohesion task force as well as

01:34:54.239 --> 01:34:56.536
border sector guidance including the

01:34:56.560 --> 01:34:58.536
Jewish community council of Victoria's

01:34:58.560 --> 01:35:01.016
10-point plan to strengthen social

01:35:01.040 --> 01:35:03.896
cohesion and address anti-semitism.

01:35:03.920 --> 01:35:05.816
They also reflect the principles of the

01:35:05.840 --> 01:35:07.816
welcoming cities framework which

01:35:07.840 --> 01:35:10.215
emphasizes inclusion, belonging,

01:35:10.239 --> 01:35:12.776
equitable participation and connected

01:35:12.800 --> 01:35:15.655
resilient communities. funding will

01:35:15.679 --> 01:35:18.135
prioritize visible place-based and

01:35:18.159 --> 01:35:20.376
community-led activities that bring

01:35:20.400 --> 01:35:22.376
people together in positive and

01:35:22.400 --> 01:35:25.016
meaningful ways. This round will not

01:35:25.040 --> 01:35:27.336
replace or duplicate current grant

01:35:27.360 --> 01:35:29.496
streams. Instead, it will provide a

01:35:29.520 --> 01:35:31.976
timely mechanism to address emerging

01:35:32.000 --> 01:35:34.615
social cohesion challenges that sit

01:35:34.639 --> 01:35:36.615
outside the scope and timing of

01:35:36.639 --> 01:35:39.416
council's annual grant rounds. Any

01:35:39.440 --> 01:35:41.576
remaining funds that go unspent will go

01:35:41.600 --> 01:35:44.215
towards the end of the financial year.

01:35:44.239 --> 01:35:46.936
bottom line outcome, but I hope to see

01:35:46.960 --> 01:35:48.776
some really valuable initiatives come

01:35:48.800 --> 01:35:50.776
through in this important area. Thank

01:35:50.800 --> 01:35:52.296
you.

01:35:52.320 --> 01:35:53.816
Thank you, Councelor Esikov. Councelor

01:35:53.840 --> 01:35:55.496
Pel.

01:35:55.520 --> 01:35:57.816
Thank you, Madame Mayor. Um, I'd just

01:35:57.840 --> 01:35:59.896
like to say that everything's been

01:35:59.920 --> 01:36:01.816
covered by councelor Ezikov, but I just

01:36:01.840 --> 01:36:03.736
personally think on behalf of all our

01:36:03.760 --> 01:36:05.416
councilors, this is absolutely a

01:36:05.440 --> 01:36:08.135
wonderful initiative. It's a targeted

01:36:08.159 --> 01:36:10.456
initiative and I'm very proud of our

01:36:10.480 --> 01:36:13.480
council led by director Jane Price and

01:36:13.840 --> 01:36:15.336
coordinative community strengthening

01:36:15.360 --> 01:36:17.976
Lana Kerry and the team for taking this

01:36:18.000 --> 01:36:20.296
initiative at this very troublesome time

01:36:20.320 --> 01:36:23.320
for all of us. So thank you very much.

01:36:23.600 --> 01:36:25.175
Thank you councelor Paristol.  would

01:36:25.199 --> 01:36:26.776
any councils like to speak against the

01:36:26.800 --> 01:36:29.336
motion? Would any other councils like to

01:36:29.360 --> 01:36:32.360
speak on the motion? That case councelor

01:36:32.480 --> 01:36:34.376
Esikov would you like to sum up?

01:36:34.400 --> 01:36:37.256
Nothing to it. Thank you, councilors.

01:36:37.280 --> 01:36:38.615
Let's put this motion to the vote. All

01:36:38.639 --> 01:36:40.776
those in favor, please raise your hands.

01:36:40.800 --> 01:36:43.800
That motion is carried unanimously.

01:36:44.639 --> 01:36:46.215
And [clears throat] now up to our very

01:36:46.239 --> 01:36:49.016
exciting item 10.7, financial management

01:36:49.040 --> 01:36:52.040
report as at the 31st of January, 2026.

01:36:52.159 --> 01:36:53.496
Could I please have a mover after the

01:36:53.520 --> 01:36:55.655
motion? Thank you, Councelor Castlake.

01:36:55.679 --> 01:36:58.376
Will you move the motion as printed?

01:36:58.400 --> 01:37:00.856
Yes, as printed. Otherwise, I give the

01:37:00.880 --> 01:37:03.880
CFO a heart attack, I'm sure.

01:37:04.400 --> 01:37:06.376
Um, and could we please have a seconder

01:37:06.400 --> 01:37:07.655
for the motion? Thank you, Councelor

01:37:07.679 --> 01:37:10.215
Young. Councelor Castle, would you like

01:37:10.239 --> 01:37:13.175
to speak to the motion? , thank you.

01:37:13.199 --> 01:37:16.199
Yes, I'm moving  the recommendation

01:37:16.960 --> 01:37:18.615
um that council notes the financial

01:37:18.639 --> 01:37:20.456
management report for the period ending

01:37:20.480 --> 01:37:23.480
31st of January 2026.

01:37:23.520 --> 01:37:25.336
I just will make a few comments about

01:37:25.360 --> 01:37:28.135
the report. Um, this report meets

01:37:28.159 --> 01:37:30.056
council's requirements under section 97

01:37:30.080 --> 01:37:32.376
of the local government act 2020 and

01:37:32.400 --> 01:37:34.215
provides an update on council's

01:37:34.239 --> 01:37:36.215
financial position, performance, and

01:37:36.239 --> 01:37:37.736
sustainability.

01:37:37.760 --> 01:37:40.760
, the forecast for the 202526

01:37:40.960 --> 01:37:42.776
financial year remains an operating

01:37:42.800 --> 01:37:45.800
surplus of 4.97 million with no material

01:37:46.719 --> 01:37:48.695
adverse movements identified for the

01:37:48.719 --> 01:37:51.256
January reporting period. Council's

01:37:51.280 --> 01:37:53.816
position, financial position continues

01:37:53.840 --> 01:37:56.840
to be stable. Liquidity remains above

01:37:57.840 --> 01:38:00.296
council's minimum target and the small

01:38:00.320 --> 01:38:01.976
reduction reported this month does not

01:38:02.000 --> 01:38:04.056
raise concern. The adjustment to the

01:38:04.080 --> 01:38:05.896
capital works forecast reflects the

01:38:05.920 --> 01:38:08.296
completion of the Glen Huntley Park

01:38:08.320 --> 01:38:10.376
project rather than any change in

01:38:10.400 --> 01:38:12.536
service delivery. The report also

01:38:12.560 --> 01:38:14.135
clearly sets out the position of the

01:38:14.159 --> 01:38:16.776
open space reserve including committed

01:38:16.800 --> 01:38:19.016
and available funds and appropriately

01:38:19.040 --> 01:38:20.936
notes the reserve is not currently held

01:38:20.960 --> 01:38:23.816
in a separate cash account. Importantly,

01:38:23.840 --> 01:38:26.056
the report confirms the council's

01:38:26.080 --> 01:38:28.456
financial sustainability risk as we've

01:38:28.480 --> 01:38:30.695
discussed at length tonight. Um, and

01:38:30.719 --> 01:38:32.936
that is expected to improve from high to

01:38:32.960 --> 01:38:35.655
low over the forward period supported by

01:38:35.679 --> 01:38:37.655
the actions contained in the financial

01:38:37.679 --> 01:38:40.296
sustainability strategy adopted in

01:38:40.320 --> 01:38:42.456
December 2025.

01:38:42.480 --> 01:38:44.615
Overall, the report demonstrates prudent

01:38:44.639 --> 01:38:46.856
financial management, continued

01:38:46.880 --> 01:38:48.856
oversight of risk, and alignment with

01:38:48.880 --> 01:38:50.936
council's adopted strategies, including

01:38:50.960 --> 01:38:53.496
our climate emergency response strategy.

01:38:53.520 --> 01:38:55.095
For those reasons, the report is

01:38:55.119 --> 01:38:58.119
recommended to council for noting.

01:38:58.239 --> 01:39:00.135
Thank you, councelor Kle. Councelor

01:39:00.159 --> 01:39:01.416
Young, would you like to speak to the

01:39:01.440 --> 01:39:04.440
motion? Nothing to add, Madame May.

01:39:05.280 --> 01:39:06.856
Thank you, Councelor Young. ,

01:39:06.880 --> 01:39:08.376
councilors, does anyone wish to speak

01:39:08.400 --> 01:39:10.776
against the motion?

01:39:10.800 --> 01:39:12.376
Would anyone else like to speak on the

01:39:12.400 --> 01:39:14.056
motion?

01:39:14.080 --> 01:39:15.576
And that councelor Castlate, would you

01:39:15.600 --> 01:39:17.736
like to sum up? I have nothing further

01:39:17.760 --> 01:39:20.215
to add. Thank you.

01:39:20.239 --> 01:39:22.376
There we go. Councilors, let's put this

01:39:22.400 --> 01:39:23.976
motion to the vote. All those in favor,

01:39:24.000 --> 01:39:26.056
please raise your hand. And that motion

01:39:26.080 --> 01:39:28.776
is carried unanimously.  a very big

01:39:28.800 --> 01:39:31.800
well done to our CFO tonight. Well done.

01:39:32.400 --> 01:39:35.400
Um item 10.8 is the tender 2026.4 annual

01:39:37.199 --> 01:39:39.016
contract for minor capital building

01:39:39.040 --> 01:39:41.256
renewal works. , could I please have a

01:39:41.280 --> 01:39:42.456
mover for the motion? Thank you,

01:39:42.480 --> 01:39:45.480
councelor Castlake. As printed.

01:39:46.480 --> 01:39:49.256
Yes, as printed. Thank you, Mayor.

01:39:49.280 --> 01:39:51.416
Thank you. And a second for the motion,

01:39:51.440 --> 01:39:53.416
please.

01:39:53.440 --> 01:39:56.135
Thank you, Councelor Young. [laughter]

01:39:56.159 --> 01:39:57.896
Councelor Carl Lake, I invite you to

01:39:57.920 --> 01:40:00.920
speak on the motion. Thank you. Um the

01:40:01.280 --> 01:40:04.280
this motion is to  support the

01:40:05.520 --> 01:40:08.520
recommendation of officers to appoint 

01:40:08.880 --> 01:40:11.880
a a series of tenders tenderers who have

01:40:12.560 --> 01:40:15.416
tended  for minor capital building

01:40:15.440 --> 01:40:18.440
renewal works. So um what I would just

01:40:20.000 --> 01:40:22.135
like the remarks I'd make tonight are

01:40:22.159 --> 01:40:25.159
that um the tender is for to establish a

01:40:27.119 --> 01:40:29.816
pre-qualified pool of contractors

01:40:29.840 --> 01:40:32.376
capable of delivering a broad range of

01:40:32.400 --> 01:40:35.016
minor capital works building renewal and

01:40:35.040 --> 01:40:38.040
capital works. Um the recommendation is

01:40:39.040 --> 01:40:41.175
to appoint as the selected tend

01:40:41.199 --> 01:40:44.056
tenderers as panel contractors. So

01:40:44.080 --> 01:40:45.736
having read the office's evaluation

01:40:45.760 --> 01:40:48.456
process that outlines selection criteria

01:40:48.480 --> 01:40:50.856
and me measures, scores, and rates each

01:40:50.880 --> 01:40:53.576
tender  against each of the criteria,

01:40:53.600 --> 01:40:55.576
I'm satisfied that due diligence has

01:40:55.600 --> 01:40:58.600
been met. Um thank you for the report

01:40:59.280 --> 01:41:02.280
and I'll move it.

01:41:02.480 --> 01:41:04.376
Thank you, Councelor Castake. Councelor

01:41:04.400 --> 01:41:05.655
Young, would you like to speak on the

01:41:05.679 --> 01:41:07.095
motion?

01:41:07.119 --> 01:41:09.736
Nothing further to add, Madame Mayor.

01:41:09.760 --> 01:41:11.256
Thank you, Councelor Young.  would

01:41:11.280 --> 01:41:14.280
anyone like to speak against the motion?

01:41:14.719 --> 01:41:15.976
We could drag out the meeting until the

01:41:16.000 --> 01:41:17.736
rain stops.

01:41:17.760 --> 01:41:20.760
Um, no. Anyone wish to speak on the

01:41:20.880 --> 01:41:23.256
motion? That case I'll hand back to

01:41:23.280 --> 01:41:25.095
councelor Castle Lake to sum up. Okay.

01:41:25.119 --> 01:41:26.376
Nothing further to add. Thank you,

01:41:26.400 --> 01:41:29.256
Mayor. Okay, councilors. Um, let's put

01:41:29.280 --> 01:41:30.615
this motion to the vote. All those in

01:41:30.639 --> 01:41:32.936
favor, please raise your hand. And that

01:41:32.960 --> 01:41:35.960
motion is carried unanimously.

01:41:36.560 --> 01:41:39.256
So, we'll move on to item 10.9, another

01:41:39.280 --> 01:41:42.280
tender, tender 2026. one tree supply

01:41:43.119 --> 01:41:45.256
planting and establishment maintenance.

01:41:45.280 --> 01:41:46.695
Could I please have a mover for the

01:41:46.719 --> 01:41:49.095
motion?

01:41:49.119 --> 01:41:52.119
Councelor Jang. Thank you. As printed?

01:41:52.560 --> 01:41:54.215
Yes.

01:41:54.239 --> 01:41:56.056
Just put your microphone on.

01:41:56.080 --> 01:41:57.496
Yes, as printed.

01:41:57.520 --> 01:41:59.095
Thank you.  could we please have a

01:41:59.119 --> 01:42:00.215
second for the motion? Thank you,

01:42:00.239 --> 01:42:02.615
Councelor Rimaldo.  councelor Jiang, I

01:42:02.639 --> 01:42:04.936
invite you to speak on the motion.

01:42:04.960 --> 01:42:07.095
Thank you, Mayor. And this item relates

01:42:07.119 --> 01:42:10.119
to the appointment of  contractor for

01:42:10.159 --> 01:42:12.615
tree supply counting and establish

01:42:12.639 --> 01:42:15.639
establishment maintenance. Trees are one

01:42:16.000 --> 01:42:18.856
of the most visible and valued assets in

01:42:18.880 --> 01:42:21.576
our community. We regularly hear from

01:42:21.600 --> 01:42:23.576
residents about the trees in their

01:42:23.600 --> 01:42:26.135
streets. Some love them. Some have

01:42:26.159 --> 01:42:28.856
concerns about particular  trees or

01:42:28.880 --> 01:42:31.736
locations. But what is clear is that

01:42:31.760 --> 01:42:34.056
people care deeply about our urban

01:42:34.080 --> 01:42:35.576
forest.

01:42:35.600 --> 01:42:37.976
This contract is critical to delivering

01:42:38.000 --> 01:42:39.976
our annual planting program and

01:42:40.000 --> 01:42:42.856
supporting the long-term growth of our

01:42:42.880 --> 01:42:45.880
urban forest strategy, increasing canopy

01:42:46.000 --> 01:42:49.000
cover, improving  biodiversity and

01:42:49.920 --> 01:42:52.856
strengthening resilience to heat and

01:42:52.880 --> 01:42:55.880
climate impacts. Um so following a

01:42:56.480 --> 01:42:59.480
competitive tender process officers are

01:42:59.520 --> 01:43:02.520
recommending um the appointment of the

01:43:02.560 --> 01:43:05.175
tender who demonstrated a strong cap

01:43:05.199 --> 01:43:07.655
capability value for money

01:43:07.679 --> 01:43:10.215
sustainability outcomes and a commitment

01:43:10.239 --> 01:43:13.239
to safety. Um so I support the um

01:43:14.159 --> 01:43:16.056
recommendation. Thank you.

01:43:16.080 --> 01:43:17.816
Thank you councelor Jen. Councelor

01:43:17.840 --> 01:43:19.095
Baldo.

01:43:19.119 --> 01:43:21.576
Nothing further to add. Thank you. Would

01:43:21.600 --> 01:43:24.600
anyone like to speak against this motion

01:43:25.679 --> 01:43:27.175
which would be entirely against our

01:43:27.199 --> 01:43:29.655
urban forest strategy? Okay. Would

01:43:29.679 --> 01:43:32.679
anyone else like to speak on the motion

01:43:32.880 --> 01:43:34.456
that case? Councelor Jang, would you

01:43:34.480 --> 01:43:35.736
like to sum up?

01:43:35.760 --> 01:43:37.976
Nothing to add. Thank you.

01:43:38.000 --> 01:43:39.655
Councilors, let's put this motion to the

01:43:39.679 --> 01:43:41.336
vote. All those in favor, please raise

01:43:41.360 --> 01:43:43.655
your hands. And that motion is carried

01:43:43.679 --> 01:43:45.256
unanimously.

01:43:45.280 --> 01:43:48.135
We're now up to item 10.10, naming

01:43:48.159 --> 01:43:50.456
rights policy revision. , could I

01:43:50.480 --> 01:43:51.816
please have a mover for the motion?

01:43:51.840 --> 01:43:53.655
Thank you, Councelor Daniel. Are you

01:43:53.679 --> 01:43:55.496
moving the motion as printed in the

01:43:55.520 --> 01:43:56.215
agenda?

01:43:56.239 --> 01:43:57.576
Yes, as printed.

01:43:57.600 --> 01:43:59.496
Thank you. And a second for the motion,

01:43:59.520 --> 01:44:01.736
please.

01:44:01.760 --> 01:44:04.760
Thank you, Council Ragny.

01:44:05.199 --> 01:44:06.856
Council Daniel, I invite you to speak to

01:44:06.880 --> 01:44:08.936
the motion.

01:44:08.960 --> 01:44:11.256
Thank you, Mayor. I'm very pleased to

01:44:11.280 --> 01:44:13.175
move the adoption of the revised naming

01:44:13.199 --> 01:44:16.199
rights policy. Naming decisions may seem

01:44:16.239 --> 01:44:18.135
simple on the surface, but they play a

01:44:18.159 --> 01:44:20.135
significant role in shaping how our

01:44:20.159 --> 01:44:22.376
community understands place, identity,

01:44:22.400 --> 01:44:25.256
and history. The names we give to to

01:44:25.280 --> 01:44:27.496
roads, facilities, and public spaces

01:44:27.520 --> 01:44:30.215
help reflect who we are as a community,

01:44:30.239 --> 01:44:32.536
how we honor our heritage, and how

01:44:32.560 --> 01:44:35.336
people navigate and connect with Glenra.

01:44:35.360 --> 01:44:38.056
The current policy was adopted in 2024

01:44:38.080 --> 01:44:39.896
to provide a consistent framework for

01:44:39.920 --> 01:44:42.296
naming community assets. However,

01:44:42.320 --> 01:44:45.095
officers identified a key gap. While the

01:44:45.119 --> 01:44:47.016
policy addressed buildings, reserves,

01:44:47.040 --> 01:44:48.936
and facilities, it did not include

01:44:48.960 --> 01:44:51.496
guidance for naming and or renaming

01:44:51.520 --> 01:44:54.215
roads and laneways. Recent community

01:44:54.239 --> 01:44:56.056
requests highlighted the need for a

01:44:56.080 --> 01:44:58.376
clearer and more consistent approach.

01:44:58.400 --> 01:45:00.215
This revision brings those elements

01:45:00.239 --> 01:45:02.296
together into a single single

01:45:02.320 --> 01:45:04.695
comprehensive framework. And I want to

01:45:04.719 --> 01:45:06.376
say it's particularly pleasing to

01:45:06.400 --> 01:45:09.400
witness re our officers responding to

01:45:10.400 --> 01:45:12.456
community need by re reviewing and

01:45:12.480 --> 01:45:15.480
revising policies as needed. So this

01:45:15.679 --> 01:45:17.655
revision expands the policy to include

01:45:17.679 --> 01:45:19.655
road naming, strengthens governance

01:45:19.679 --> 01:45:21.736
processes, and ensures full alignment

01:45:21.760 --> 01:45:23.976
with the mandatory naming rules for

01:45:24.000 --> 01:45:27.000
places in Victoria. It also reinforces

01:45:27.360 --> 01:45:29.095
council's commitment to culturally

01:45:29.119 --> 01:45:31.175
respectful, equitable, and community

01:45:31.199 --> 01:45:33.816
focused naming practices, including

01:45:33.840 --> 01:45:36.376
recognizing traditional owners languages

01:45:36.400 --> 01:45:38.536
and promoting gender equity in naming

01:45:38.560 --> 01:45:40.135
outcomes.

01:45:40.159 --> 01:45:42.056
Importantly, the revised policy improves

01:45:42.080 --> 01:45:44.376
clarity for both staff and the community

01:45:44.400 --> 01:45:47.016
by setting transparent processes for

01:45:47.040 --> 01:45:49.416
assessing naming naming proposals,

01:45:49.440 --> 01:45:51.336
ensuring decisions support public

01:45:51.360 --> 01:45:53.655
safety, operational efficiency, and

01:45:53.679 --> 01:45:55.896
strong community connection.

01:45:55.920 --> 01:45:57.736
There are no additional financial or

01:45:57.760 --> 01:45:59.576
resource impacts associated with this

01:45:59.600 --> 01:46:01.736
update. It is essentially a governance

01:46:01.760 --> 01:46:03.816
improvement that stren strengthens

01:46:03.840 --> 01:46:05.816
consistency and clarity across our

01:46:05.840 --> 01:46:08.695
organization. I thank the officers for

01:46:08.719 --> 01:46:10.456
their work in refining this policy and

01:46:10.480 --> 01:46:12.536
recommended to councilors for adoption.

01:46:12.560 --> 01:46:15.016
Thank you Mayor.

01:46:15.040 --> 01:46:16.456
Thank you councelor Daniel. Councelor

01:46:16.480 --> 01:46:17.736
Ragny would you like to speak to the

01:46:17.760 --> 01:46:18.215
motion?

01:46:18.239 --> 01:46:19.576
Thank you madame Mayor. I don't have

01:46:19.600 --> 01:46:22.135
anything further to add other than 

01:46:22.159 --> 01:46:24.776
one just echoing the the great um

01:46:24.800 --> 01:46:26.776
summary that councelor Daniel provided.

01:46:26.800 --> 01:46:28.056
Thank you.

01:46:28.080 --> 01:46:29.655
Thank you councelor Ragny.  would

01:46:29.679 --> 01:46:32.296
anyone like to speak against the motion?

01:46:32.320 --> 01:46:34.056
Would anyone else like to speak on the

01:46:34.080 --> 01:46:35.816
motion?

01:46:35.840 --> 01:46:37.256
Okay. Councelor Daniel, would you like

01:46:37.280 --> 01:46:39.256
to sum up?

01:46:39.280 --> 01:46:40.536
Nothing further to add. Thank you,

01:46:40.560 --> 01:46:41.976
Mayor.

01:46:42.000 --> 01:46:43.736
Councilors, let's put this motion to the

01:46:43.760 --> 01:46:45.496
vote. All those in favor, please raise

01:46:45.520 --> 01:46:48.376
your hand. And that motion is carried

01:46:48.400 --> 01:46:51.400
unanimously.  we're now moving on to

01:46:51.520 --> 01:46:54.296
item 11 which is urgent business.  we

01:46:54.320 --> 01:46:56.296
have none. So we'll move to item 12

01:46:56.320 --> 01:46:59.320
which is ordinary business.  12.1 is

01:46:59.679 --> 01:47:01.816
request reports from a member of council

01:47:01.840 --> 01:47:04.840
staff. Are there are none? So 12.2 right

01:47:05.920 --> 01:47:08.920
of reply. Are there any rights of reply?

01:47:09.760 --> 01:47:12.760
No. So we'll move on to item 12.3. There

01:47:13.119 --> 01:47:15.976
are no notices of motion. So we'll move

01:47:16.000 --> 01:47:18.856
on to item 12.4.

01:47:18.880 --> 01:47:21.880
There any councelor questions? No. In

01:47:21.920 --> 01:47:24.695
that case we'll move on to item 13 which

01:47:24.719 --> 01:47:27.256
is confidential items. I will now move a

01:47:27.280 --> 01:47:29.655
procedural motion that in accordance

01:47:29.679 --> 01:47:32.679
with sections 66 bracket 1 and 66

01:47:33.600 --> 01:47:35.496
bracket 2 bracket A of the local

01:47:35.520 --> 01:47:37.736
government act 2020. The meeting be

01:47:37.760 --> 01:47:39.576
closed to members of the public for

01:47:39.600 --> 01:47:41.016
consideration of the following

01:47:41.040 --> 01:47:44.040
confidential items. 13.1 is the tender

01:47:44.800 --> 01:47:46.615
2025.131

01:47:46.639 --> 01:47:49.639
parking parking service contract 

01:47:50.320 --> 01:47:52.695
which is a confidential item and 13.2

01:47:52.719 --> 01:47:54.856
two which is age care reforms as a

01:47:54.880 --> 01:47:57.880
confidential item

01:47:58.080 --> 01:48:00.376
after consider  so no we need to

01:48:00.400 --> 01:48:03.016
actually move the motion which I've done

01:48:03.040 --> 01:48:05.655
um I need a second for the motion thank

01:48:05.679 --> 01:48:08.679
you councelor Ragney um

01:48:10.639 --> 01:48:12.215
we put that motion to the vote all those

01:48:12.239 --> 01:48:13.655
in favor of supporting the procedural

01:48:13.679 --> 01:48:15.416
motion that motion is carried

01:48:15.440 --> 01:48:17.256
unanimously

01:48:17.280 --> 01:48:19.896
 thank you um so after consideration

01:48:19.920 --> 01:48:21.416
of the confidential items the meeting

01:48:21.440 --> 01:48:23.576
will be closed Thank you to all our

01:48:23.600 --> 01:48:26.296
community members um for being here in

01:48:26.320 --> 01:48:28.856
person and online.  could our members

01:48:28.880 --> 01:48:30.376
in the gallery please vacate and

01:48:30.400 --> 01:48:31.976
officers please disable the live

01:48:32.000 --> 01:48:35.000
streaming