The April Ordinary Meeting of Council for 2020 went ahead at the changed location of the Bannockburn Cultural Centre last night, Tuesday 28 April, with all Councillors in attendance. The meeting location was changed from the Bannockburn Shire Hall to allow greater distance between Councillors and attendees of the public meeting, and was livestreamed on Council’s YouTube channel for the first time.
Delegates Report
The meeting began with Councillors updating their colleagues and members in the public gallery or watching at home on what online events and forums they called into over the last month. Following this, Councillors moved on to two planning permits.
Planning Application P20-007
The first application was for a two lot subdivision at 27 Steddy Road, Lethbridge. The application was referred to the Council Meeting for determination because there was an objection. Having considered the application in accordance with the Low Density Residential Development Policy, Council supported the granting of the planning permit subject to conditions.
Planning Application P19-264
The second planning application was for the development of two agricultural sheds at 137 Teesdale-Inverleigh Road, Inverleigh. The proposal seeks to construct the new sheds within close proximity to two existing sheds and other infrastructure to make efficient use of these assets. The applicant presented to Councillors, and following a debate on whether to allow the construction of the sheds in a floodway, Council agreed to grant the planning permit.
Teesdale Structure Plan
Following the planning applications, Councillors then discussed the adoption of the Teesdale Structure Plan. The existing structure plan has been in place for more than 20 years, and following community consultation undertaken last year, a new 2020 Teesdale Structure Plan has been created. Following deliberation, Council agreed to exhibit a Planning Scheme Amendment to adopt the new structure plan. More details and how the community will be able to make submissions on the plan will be announced shortly.
Draft Budget 2020/21
Next, Council considered the Draft Budget for 2020/21. The budget seeks to achieve the actions and activities set out in the Council Plan by balancing the demand for services and infrastructure with the community’s capacity to pay. With the impacts of COVID-19 affecting many countries across the world, including Australia, this changing environment has required that the Draft Budget include some relief for residential and business customers, and a reduction in expenditure to assist the possible cash flow impacts from residents facing difficulty in paying rates. Council agreed to endorse the Draft Budget, following an amendment not to apply the $15 landfill rehabilitation cost to the waste management charge this year.
The Draft Budget 2020/21 will go out for consultation later this week, with public submissions to be heard in early June and then adopted by Council on 23 June 2020. The Draft Budget will be made available on Council’s website at the end of the week, and a summary will be included in the May edition of the Gazette.
Red Gum Reserve Management Plan 2019-2019
The new management plan for the reserve in Batesford was presented and was adopted by Councillors.
Renaming Teesdale Tip Road
Following public consultation on renaming Teesdale Tip Road to Lightwood Road, Council approved the new name for the road in Teesdale.
Meredith Interpretive Centre
At its February meeting, Council endorsed a proposal to lease the Meredith Interpretive Centre to local social enterprise operation CLAW Enterprises Pty Ltd. Having publically advertised the proposal, and with no submissions received, Council agreed to proceed with entering into a lease with the organisation.
Other Reports
Councillors then considered a number of other reports:
- Municipal Health and Wellbeing Plan Update
- Council Plan Implementation – Quarter Three Report
- Quarterly Finance Report
- Amending how an Acting Chief Executive Officer is appointed
- National General Assembly of Local Government
- Councillor Expenses and Meeting Attendance Report
Petition
Finally, Council formally received a petition from residents in the Maude area requesting Council prevent heavy haulage trucks from using the bridges and the roads leading to the bridges of the Moorabool Valley. Council will now prepare a report in relation to the matters raised in the petition, which will be considered at the May Ordinary Meeting of Council.
Thank you to the community members who attended the meeting in person or watched from home. The next Ordinary Meeting of Council is scheduled to take place on Tuesday 26 May, 2020 at the Bannockburn Cultural Centre.
Mayor's Video Update
Watch the video update from Mayor Cr Owen Sharkey with highlights from the April 2020 Ordinary Meeting of Council.
Watch the April 2020 Ordinary Meeting of Council
Watch the recording of the April 2020 Ordinary Meeting of Council.