councilors would you please be
upstanding for our declaration
we the councilors of the City of
Ballarat declare that we will carry out
our duties in the best interest of the
community and through Collective
leadership maintain the highest
standards of good governance we
respectfully acknowledge the Wada Wurrong
and Dja Dja Wurrung people the
traditional custodians of the land and
we'd like to welcome members of the
public in the gallery this evening and
also to those that are joining us online
please be seated councilors
councilors we have one apology for
absence that is from councilor Harris
someone please move the apology thanks
councilor Hargreaves secondary councilor
McIntosh hello all in favour
motion is carried councilors is there
any disclosure of interest for any of
the items on the agenda this evening
if there are none item four matters
arising from the minutes councilors
if there are non-confirmation of minutes
so in the move that the minutes move
counselor Coates secondary Council
Moloney discussion councilors
put motion in favour the minutes
are carried
councilors we have a condolence motion I'm
happy to move from the chair with the
recent passing of former councilor
Neville Greenbank and the City of
Ballarat mourns the recent passing a
former City of Ballarat councilor
Neville Greenbank
Neville was a well-known and much
respected member of the Ballarat
Community with involvement in many
Community groups and organizations
Neville was a Ballarat counselor for the
Alfred Ward from 1999 to 2002 and prior
to this a council with the former Shire of
Rippon I believe he may also been chair
of the Rippon Shire
we certainly pass on our sympathies to
his family to see this very sad time and
we remember his passing for the Ballarat
Community with great fondness could I
have a second before the condolence
motion please Council Johnson
any other Council wishing to speak to
the motion not put the motion all those
in favour
motion is carried
okay councils that takes us to public
question time which we will now start
and we'll start with those questions
that have been submitted
online the first question is from
Ms Linda Zabel who is not attending so
as the governance office to please
read out the question
thank you and through Mr Mayor the
question is as follows
TDC ? prioritizes Mount Cley's
Community safety in decision making for
Ballarat gold mines tsf-4 particularly
in relation to rising dust contaminants
we understand the decision is to be
expedited by Council yet Council says e
double r is in charge
since they permitted the original work
plan variation the EPA says e r r is in
charge but e double r says when it comes
to dust EPA is in charge we'll cancel
insist on a double es to resolve this
conflict as director Robertson
you Mr Mayor and thank you for the
question doctors about the EPA were a
referral for the work plan variation and
required conditions to be included as
part of the process
including mitigation measures in
relation to dust for the statutory
endorse work plan variation at this
point city of Ballarat has not completed
a detailed assessment of the application
before us
thank you director the next question is
from Dr Dora Pierce who is not attending
so that will be read out
thank you and through you Mr Mayor the
question is as follows the residential
suburb of Mount clear borders on
tinworth Avenue as does Ballarat gold
mines mining license min 484712
can the city of Ballarat Council explain
why Clause
52.09-7 of the Ballarat planning scheme
3 necessitated that quote 1500
individual notices to Residents and
surrounds a close quote within the 500
meters of the proposed tailing Dam in
Whitehall Scully be provided since EPA
recommended a minimum separation
distance of 250 meters or 500 meters
since gold mining dust contains
respirable crystalline silica
director Robertson three Mr Mayor and
thank you Dr Pierce for the question I
need to clarify that the Clause Dr
Pierce refers to is does not set the
parameters for public notice this Clause
relates to um
extractive Industries but it sets out
the requirements for notice for the
sensitive uses within proximity to those
extractive Industries so for example
if we had an application
to subdivide or construct a building for
accommodation or a Child Care Center or
an education center or a hospital that
was within the extractive industry area
they would be required to give notice to
the extractive industry and any land
which is within 500 meters of the land
that is the extractive industry
we have to apply this parameter I think
what Dr Pierce is seeking is to
understand the extent of public notice
and how it's determined and in this case
with the existing use the prescribed
distance becomes discretionary in this
case notice went to approximately 1500
residents in the adjoining and
surrounding area signs were placed on
site and in the newspaper and the
application remains undecided so any
member of the community may make a
submission right up until the matter is
decided thank you
director our next question is from Mr
Michael Knowles who I believe is
attending
this evening Mr Knowles if you would
please come forward and tell us your
suburb where you reside and then ask
your question
thank you my name is Michael Knowles I
live in Mount clear thank you my first
question
please advise the time and location
of the proposed Community consultation
meeting
to address objections and discuss the
future of the Ballarat gold mine thank
you Mr Knowles director Robertson
through you Mr Mayor and thank you for
the question Mr dolls
um invites for the consultation session
for submitters to the application will
be sent out
uh once a date and time has been
determined we currently do not have the
information we require or that we have
committed to to go to community
consultation so as soon as we have that
we will schedule a community
consultation session
in a moment
will the above Community consultation
meeting
be open to the public
or restricted only to those residents
lodging objections to the award of a
permit to establish a new mine tailing
stand
director Robinson three Mr Mr Knowles
it's usual that we would give notice to
submitters only but the consultation
session is open to all members of the
community we would just ask that you
register and when the time comes we will
make the time available on our on our
website
and ask that other members of the
community as Word of Mouth let people
know but as I said generally we give
notice to those who have submitted
because that's who we know who we will
be interested and then if it's a
community session and someone hasn't put
a submission in they're welcome but they
need to register
um thank you thank you just before I
take your question councilor Taylor the
CEO maybe for the benefit of the gallery
to talk about a discussion you had with
Borough goldfields in terms of
documentation we're waiting on
through you Mr Mayor and and thank you
for the question it's worth
understanding at the moment we're
waiting on the health impact assessment
that's been requested of of the mine the
mine are in the process of preparing
that we don't believe any consultation
session until that document is provided
we'll be able to provide the answers to
to the community so we believe that's a
vital piece of information to be able to
have the most open robust conversation
and understanding of of the tailing
stand
thank you cancer Tyler
thank you Mr Mayor um uh I just know we
we do have and it's great to have
residents come out each council meeting
to discuss this issue the most important
thing is probably we can highlight
tonight is that uh please if you have
concerns and want to do a submission
even get a submission into the planning
process so the questions tonight the
concern is they're documented from the
council meeting but they're actually not
documented as part of the planning
process if that makes sense they're two
separate things so it's really important
that happens a question probably has
been
answered but it was going to be around
when
as an indicated time frame we might see
a health impact assessment and when we
may see a consultation take place
councilor Taylor we've had an indication
that the hia is imminent so
um as soon as we receive that let's
let's say we received it within the next
two weeks we would certainly schedule
the community consultation to follow
shortly after with a suitable period of
notice so
okay
okay next question is from is Annie
Trello who I believe is also attending
this evening please come forward Mr law
and if you could please tell us the
suburb where you live hello I'm from
Mount Clare thank you
um I I am deeply concerned about the
potential construction of a further
tailing stem in our community in Mount
clear
um the failure of the Cadia mines
tailing Dam in New South Wales as
reported in the national news on Monday
has underscored the potential risks and
devastating failings associated with
such such structures particularly when
they are situated near residential zones
it is essential to prioritize the safety
and well-being of our community and any
decision regarding the Dam's
construction should be based on thorough
research expert analysis and
consideration of community feedback
given the severity of Acadia mine
incident will Ballarat city council
please reassess the proposed plan for
the new tailing stand director Robertson
through Mr Mayor and Mr law this is an
application that is still under
consideration by the city and no
determination has been made so there is
no need to reassess and in fact we await
the information to do a detailed
assessment of the application thank you
the next question from Mr James trelaw
who I believe is attending with us
again if you could please tell us where
you reside Mr Trello good evening
everyone uh Mount Clare also thank you
uh so kevia gold mines tailings down
failure in New South Wales hit national
news this week this is impacted upwards
of a thousand residents including
children living within a 15 kilometer
radius of the dam blood tests and water
tank tests are revealed heavy metals and
carcinogenic pollutants linked to the
failed Dam as a mount clear resident I'm
shocked that there's a serious proposal
of a fourth tailings Dam connected to
the valarek gold mine and only 150
meters from residence homes can the
Ballarat city council commit to the
safety of the mount clear Community with
an EES
thank you director Robertson
through you Mr Mayor and thank you for
the question Mr Taylor
statutory endorsement has previously
been provided to the work plan variation
by Earth resource regulation which
included consultation with other
agencies such as the department of
environment land water and planning now
known as Department of Transport and
planning and environment protection
authority these authorities do not did
not raise any objections to the proposal
and have included conditions that form
part of the work plan statutory
endorsement based on the previous review
of the work plan by relevant authorities
which by way of statutory endorsement
has considered the thresholds for
requiring an environmental effects
statement
so officers remain of the view that the
threshold for requiring an ESS has not
been met that means not met in terms of
needing an EES
notwithstanding this I have to remind
you that the application is currently
under an assessment
thank you Mr troll question sorry uh Mr
trillo I just want to double check the
cardiom mine tailing stem was a while
ago just curious as there have been
recent news I couldn't find anything in
relation to it so I just wanted to see
there was a collapsed uh wall
um and uh so it hit the national news on
Monday
um and yeah there's been upwards of a
thousand residents who've had blood
tests tank water tests
uh pretty concerning results sometimes
three times the level of what is being
safe with Castle engines included as
well so yeah that's uh why I'm kind of
concerned
thank you Mr Trello thank you
the next question is from Ms Joan brick
who is not attending and that question
will be read out
thank you and through you Mr Mayor the
question is as follows is the council
prepared to agree to allowing belmaine
gold to build an additional surface
tailings Dam which in the present day is
an Antiquated and Dangerous Method of
dealing with tailings in the middle of a
community already showing the presence
of arsenic dust around Homes located
near the area of the present surface
dams
director Robertson
to Marin thanks Ms brick for the
question
um it is important it's the line that I
will keep saying to these questions this
application is still under assessment
and no decision has been made at this
time
will be read out
thank you and three Mr Mayor the
question is as follows
were an environmental effects statement
or an EPA Works approval and license
required for the tsf-1 being the tailing
storage facility one and tsf2 or their
merger into tsf3 if not why not
director Robertson thank you Mr Mayor
and thank you Miss Hendricks for their
question advice regarding the proposal
in place for tailing storage facility
one and two will need to be sought from
Earth resource regulation as the
appropriate as the approvals you have
mentioned are for overseen through them
the site operates under a mining license
and prior to applying to the planning
permit for the new tailing storage
facility
tsf3 statutory endorsement of a work
plan variation was provided by err err
are responsible for the issuing of
licenses and work plans
as part of the work plan variation
process
um
sorry as part of the work plan variation
process external agencies such as the
EPA and Department of environment land
water and planning now do dtp were
engaged thank you
director
Jenny's from Miss Patrick cook I believe
is attending
please come forward Mr cook and tell us
the suburb where you live
never just ask that people speak or
probably move closer to the microphone
it's hard for the gallery to hear so
good news
I live in Ballarat East thank you
is Council aware that sections of
spirogrand Reserve are being regularly
mowed and cleared by a nearby resident
who I believe is also a council employee
in contravention of council's 2007
Sparrow ground vegetation management
plan and what action would be taken to
put an end to this
thank you Mr cook unfortunately director
weatherall is not well so I'll have the
response read out
on her behalf thank you and thank you
for the question Patrick and also
acknowledge that we received a question
in a similar Vein from Mr Headley
Thompson and in accordance with the
governance rules that that question will
be provided as a singular response
because I have the same question
inside
the the city of Ballarat has previously
been in contact with the Department of
energy environment and climate action
regarding the status of the crane land
parcel and the history and the
understanding of the licenses that exist
across the reserve the city of railroad
is continuing to work through all
ongoing maintenance practices across the
reserve to ensure any works are being
completed in line with accepted
practices and procedures to assist with
the clear guidance and management of
this Reserve I can advise that we have
had a practical ecology who developed
the 2007 vegetation management plan
complete two site assessments of
spirogram Reserve during 2022 the first
visit in May and again during September
shortly 2022 they have been working on
the updated draft vegetation management
plan which will be finalized shortly
this updated plan has the purpose of
reviewing and documenting the ongoing
Bushland management works being
undertaken through the reserve and to
present all of the vegetation data in a
document that can be used to guide
ongoing management thank you
thank you Mr cook
your next question is from Mrs Margaret
Beacham who is not attending and that
question will be read out
thank you and three Mr Mayor the
question is as follows I and many others
I speak to would like to know why the
council continues to run a program of
spraying with frog friendly glyphosate I
have rung the council and been told this
is what is being sprayed everywhere even
in our Bluestone gutters which drain to
our drinking water this product has been
banned in many countries and is a known
carcinogenic
thank you Miss beecham for the question
and the answer from director of
Wetherill will be read out
and again you thank you for the question
the response is the glyphosate products
used by City Ballarat are selected for
use like glimac 360. due to the minimal
risk they pose to the environment in
waterways these products are practically
non-toxic to fish and Aquatic
invertebrates and are not harmful to
birds regular worksite audits are
completed focusing on supervision of
staff and contractors to ensure they are
utilizing the chemicals as per the safe
operation procedures and material safety
data sheets and consideration of whether
chemical application is applied whilst
being careful of the environment to Sure
ensure all chemicals are properly
selected and correctly used
thank you the second question
has anyone on Council looked at the data
readily available about this product if
not why not and the response the city of
Ballarat is continuing to consider and
trial alternative chemicals treatments
and application methods to control weeds
across their municipality where
practical and continue to seek advice of
the relevant authorities regarding the
use of glyphosate products
thank you Ms becham for the questions
the next question is from Mr Joe Boyne
who is attending this evening
thank you Mr born if you please tell us
your suburb of residence
thank you Mr Mayor I live in invermay
thank you
first question I'm looking at the city's
draft budget in relation to the city's
net zero emissions plan of last year
I don't see money for seriously
implementing The Net Zero plan key areas
of action namely NetZero homes NetZero
businesses Net Zero new developments and
Net Zero transport
is the council honestly budgeting to
achieve Net Zero by 2030. thank you Mr
Boyne and the response is from director
weatherall and that will be read out
through the mayor and thank you Mr Bowen
for your question
um the city of Ballarat is committed to
climate action the budget includes
funding to support a climate Action
Program which is focused on climate
adaption corporate emissions reduction
and Community emissions reduction
climate action programs proposed for
2324 include the following the continued
rollout of on-site solar on Council
facilities participation in City switch
program accelerating office-based
businesses to Net Zero promotion of
local offsetting activities support of
energy upgrades by landlords and tenants
the port for pop-up pocket Gardens
improving food security
sustainability incentive scheme pilot
which will provide Financial incentives
for sustainable technology performance
and waste reduction this can have the
added benefit of reducing costs cutting
carbon emissions and increasing the
value of the property implementation of
environmentally sustainable design in
council's buildings and infrastructure
implementation of environmentally
sustainable design for new planning
applications
a reusable nappy period and Sanitary
products rebate for residents a compost
bin worm farm repaint for residents
trialing of electric vehicles in Council
Fleet a program of circular economy
initiatives that will increase the
number of products that are reused
locally and to support the development
of local recycling processing and
remanufacturing by using more recycled
materials in the city of Ballarat
projects and environmental
sustainability investment in education
and events
thank you Mr May thank you and the
second question
Under The Heading of environmental
sustainability the draft budget talks of
investing in key initiatives to reduce
carbon emissions
Ballarat has declared a climate
emergency so a significant proportion of
the budget should be addressing the
emergency
where is the emergency budget for
reducing emissions in Council activities
and director herzlow if you would mind
reading the response through the mayor
and thank you again for your question Mr
Boyd so besides the initiatives already
mentioned other initiatives include the
urban Forest program which is the
planning of 1515 trees over the 23-24
planning season in nature strips and
reserves in addition 200 to 300 trees
will be planted via customer requests
and over 2 000 tube stock trees shrubs
and understory implants we planted along
our waterways walking tracks and nature
Reserves
biodiversity we'll have funding to
support the nature stewards program and
further development of the biodiversity
strategy development including 125 000
for a biodiversity values and connection
study which will list map and quantify
environmental assets across the city and
Define and prove the viability of larger
scale across borders biolink study that
identifies priority landscape scale
connections integrated Water Management
we'll have projects to increase the
volume of alternative Water Supplies
while the dedicated budget for climate
Action Program is 210 000 much of the
work that will be undertaken is working
with internal Council departments and
Community organizations to encourage and
facilitate emissions Productions through
the use of their individual budgets
thank you Mr me thank you director who's
the thank you Mr one for your questions
this evening
the next question is from Mr Ashley
Williams who I believe is attending
is Ashley with us this evening
if not we'll read Ashley's
question
thank you and through you Mr Mayor the
question is as follows is this Council
currently or considering using
ratepayers money to fund either the yes
or no vote campaigns regarding the
upcoming The Voice Federal referendum
thank you for the question Mr Williamson
at present the city of Ballarat Council
doesn't have an opinion either way on
the issue
the next oh sorry councilor Johnson
thank you Mr Mayor uh
I thought I might Express an uh opinion
on this one which is I would like to see
Ballarat Council leave it to individual
residents and ratepayers to make up
their mind
there is the possibility that it could
come before council with a council or
notice of motion or similar and based on
previous experience with similar public
votes the debating of items like that
within this environment
creates
uh
more division than is necessary and I
think I think it would be a really
really poor idea to have it put out
um
in this forum as to where the council
form a yes or no opinion because you're
going to get people really strongly on
either side coming in submitting to
council as to their thoughts I think we
should be leaving it to Residents and
ratepayers to make up their mind for
themselves thank you councilor Johnson
councilor McIntosh
um Mr Mayor um just to follow on from
councilor Johnson's comments on this
item I guess looking at that question
the question was are we going to spend
rape hire money on that particular item
and to be respectful of Mr Williams's
question I think that's something that
needs to be considered as well when when
we have these items come to a council
chamber that whether they be state or
federal issues
it seems to me that the question is
about is this the right place and is the
rate pay a dollar the right money to be
spent or is there a better place for it
so I was just really probably
elaborating a little bit more on an
answer to a question who specifically
asked about ratepayer money being spent
on this debate thank you councilor
McIntosh my response in terms of not
having a position is that the nine
councilors have not had a discussion as
yet at a briefing or anything else so we
don't have a position by the way but all
of that will be taken into consideration
when Council laws have an opportunity to
discuss how they wish to handle the
situation so
forward to that discussion the next
question will be from is from Mr Greg
Stewart who is not attending but will be
read out
thank you and three Mr Mayor the
question is as follows is the design
view review panel still in operation and
if so were the bakery Hill Bridge Mall
Redevelopment plans referred to the
design review panel for comment and if
not why not
director Robertson
three Mr Mayor and thanks Mr Stewart for
the question
um
We're The Bridge Mall Redevelopment is
concerned this was presented to the
office of Victorian government architect
on two occasions
the ovga was used to provide the design
advice on this project as it actually
preceded the formation of the Ballarat
design review panel
and
and for Mr Stewart
when will a report be presented to
Council on the success or otherwise of
the design review panel it it having
been approved by Council for a trial
period of one year only
director Robertson
through Mr Mayor and again thank you for
the question Mr Stewart to put some
context
um
I think it was December 21 when Council
approved the design review panel by the
time a panel was appointed or a
panelists were appointed and we had our
first
item before the panel we're probably
sitting at about 14 months now so we
proposed to put a report to Council in
July August at the latest allowing for a
briefing to councilors
thank you director Robertson councilor
McIntosh uh through you Mr Mayor um to
the director just in regards to the
design review panel or maybe it's one
for the CEO I'm not sure your call is to
the way you respond to this the design
review panel I think is a wonderful
introduction for our city as we're
growing and the purpose of it is to
ensure that we have got expert advice
that really understand our local
environment as we've seen in in some of
these major projects there's been
external Consultants that have been
appointed to do the work and and I guess
it makes a lot of sense that someone
would ask about how we've used the
design review panel in the Bridge Mall
project it's a significant project it
means a lot to our future it also means
a lot about our history and Heritage and
how we best reflect so I'm wondering
um Mr Mayor maybe through the CEO is
there a way that we can Ensure sure that
we use the expertise for the purpose
that we've given it
um to make sure that there is a really
good reflection of our design and
character that's on the ground from the
people that we've chosen to give us that
advice and feedback understand the
timelines are different but there I
would imagine that even with the Bridge
Mall project there's still going to be a
lot of finer detail that we haven't even
considered yet we've looked at the the
broad plans but have we looked at the
detail thank you councilor McIntosh and
if I just ask members of the gallery to
turn phones to silent or vibration if
you don't mind thank you Mr director
Robertson through you Mr Marin thank you
for the question Council Macintosh so
the the purpose of the design review
panel when we receive an application we
draw on the expertise from that panel
whether it be Heritage or um or or any
other form of urban designer or any
other expert for that matter so this is
a this is an unpaid
panel I think only the chair is paid and
so it's an unpair unpaid panel who do
review and provide genuine input to
planning applications or pre-application
developments this information is
provided through the planning process
and it often informs us that we do need
detailed context we'll either seek that
from the applicant
or if we feel that we need to justify
that ourselves we'll reach out and and
engage a consultant in the in respect to
the design review panel if we were to
ask a panelist to actually do the
consultancy work they would do it
through the same process and we would go
out through a expression of Interest or
a governance process to engage them to
do the contracted work to respond to it
so it's not the role of the design
review panel to provide expertise in
terms of a long report it's their job to
assess it and provide recommendations
that we then provide on if we don't have
it in-house to an external consultant to
prepare for us thanks
cancel back in touch follow-up follow
-up so really my question was is there
an opportunity for us to be able to use
that Forum with the work that we're
doing on the Bridge Mall
director Robertson
um so we've weld down the path with the
Bridge Mall uh through you Mr Mayor to
councilor McIntosh well down the path
they're about to break ground with the
design detailed design that has already
been agreed and submitted with the
tender process so it's unlikely that we
would run this through the design panel
again because we have a Tinder the
tinderer who's about to start works in
the coming weeks so there would be no
need for us to review any of the
detailed design through that
I just wondered I missed it did you
answer the question is the design review
panel still operating now even though
it's 14 months since it's still
operating even though that report's
coming through
Robertson
the design review panel is still
operating
thank you for the clarification councils
we have still a couple of questions that
were submitted that we'll need a motion
to extend question time for at least
another period move counselor Hargrave
secondary Council Macintosh all those in
favor
motion is carried and next uh question
is from Mr Philip McClelland who I
believe is attending please come forward
Mr McClelland and tell us the suburb
where you remember I am I'm the
basketball Ballarat thank you I'm not
going to ask a question I'm going to
start if I'm going to start when I first
put my complaint in was 2018 on the 19th
of October
I work night shift and Terry uh Denmark
was in charge I showed him the photos
which you've got and he said that needs
a complete makeover
the second time I came here was the last
council meeting before lockdown which
was
March 2020
I gave a photo to councilor Mark Harris
counselor Ben Taylor was there and he
said some work needs to be done
then when to tune lockdown I put five
five envelopes in your letter box it had
all the roads on them everything like
that
and then this then hang on I've got it
Mr McClellan if you could come to your
question no question is
I've got a I've got a way to outcome the
question I've got a letter Stadium I
for 14th of December
a letter from Miss Bridget World stating
that the roads in Sebastopol we started
to be fixed Boys in January we're in
September now
and last time I came here it cost me two
hundred dollars to have my bike fixed
and I'd like Chancellor Dess Hudson to
have a look at Dana Street then have a
look at gerawee corner yarrow Wing sale
Street you've got a photo of that what
you've done is you've just put a patch a
patch over a patch over a patch over a
patch you've made a mold and we'll hit
that tomorrow what right do I have I'm
just I'm just gonna ask a question my
question is when are you going to fix
the road it just cost me 725 dollars
appreciate your question I appreciate
that you've been
here
ask questions about its end road
maintenance we will take your question
of what and I will go out and inspect
those sites and happy to have our
officers do a further review but
Mr Montgomery has a response site
specific I believe and Bill but it's
gonna it's gonna be too late I'll tell
you what I'm gonna
you've asked Mr McClellan
foreign
but you've asked the question and we're
waiting to give you an answer
Mr Montgomery thank you for the question
Mr McClelland um I can inform that since
October 1 2022 council's road
maintenance division has completed 175
jobs in the suburb of Sebastopol
including work such as filling potholes
line marking signage replacement Ash L
patching shoulder repair drainage and
footpath works as you've been mentioned
in correspondence recently there are
some additional Road works that take
place in Yara Street and Rubicon Street
as part of this financial Year's major
patch program these works are expected
to take place next week weather
dependent but again thank you for the
question
thank you thank you Mr McClelland we
have another question from a Wally
awanowski who I believe is with us this
evening Mr wineski please come forward
and if you'd please tell us your suburb
of residence I do have some photos that
I just want to share around so people
will know what I'm talking about
thank you
I live in windaroo and just moved a
little closer to the microphone if you
wouldn't mind
I would like to bring to the attention
of the councilors the issues we had
trying to save a 160 year old staircase
in the old Union hotel building
and how we nearly lost a very important
piece of Ballarat history forever
I will explain the situation and ask a
question at the end
it's a long story which time won't
commit but basically the stair
balustrades were about 15 minutes for
the current building regulations
it was well within could you just please
come forward to the oh
my train if you don't mind we've moved
the seat forward
oh
um do you want me to start at the
beginning if you had a mind I had
trouble picking up look I'll just start
at the beginning on I apologize uh I
would like to bring to the attention of
the councilors the issues we had trying
to save a 160 year old staircase in the
old Union hotel building which is down
at 11 sturt Street and how we nearly
lost a very important piece of Ballarat
history forever
I will explain the situation and ask a
question at the end
it's a long story and time won't permit
but basically the stair balustrads were
about 15 millimeters too low for the
current building regulations
it was well within the regulations when
it was built and only recently I think
about 1992 or thereabouts when the
regulations changed that it was not the
standard height which is one meter
previous to that it was the Imperial
feet and inches
and uh and winter chains to metric
that they settled on a one meter
balustrade height and that was the the
regulated height
and and it finished up being about 15
millimeters too low
um
we engaged three stair building
companies to offer a solution but
because the construction of the stairs
with its three-dimensional curves at the
corners the only solution was to
demolish the existing stair balustrads
and build new ones with straight 90
degree corners
they all said there was no way they can
rebuild them as they are but they could
160 years ago with basic hand tools but
we wanted to save this beautiful 160
year old staircase for the future
generations of Ballarat
we approached the Heritage committees
but they had no idea how to help
there were two councilors that tried
very hard to help us but they were
limited as to what they could do
we engaged Wendy Jacobs the Heritage
architect to offer a solution but other
than a major reconstruction
the stake of the staircase there was no
solution
we decided to go to the Victorian
building a building a
Authority appeals board to see if we
could get an exemption for the staircase
and but it was a very expensive but it
was very expensive in getting a positive
outcome was not very likely
we engaged Michael Morrow a solicitor
and he did an excellent job on getting
all the documents together
but the cost was escalating because we
had to hire a Melbourne Barrister at
four thousand dollars of an hour or
whatever it was and
and
to represent us and there was really no
wind in sight because each time we
that they put up barriers we jumped the
hurdles and then they put more barriers
we jumped them and then it was it seemed
no into the uh
um
leeway yeah I do need you to come to
your question yeah okay uh look uh
Ballarat Pride herself on its wonderful
Heritage yet it has nothing in place to
help people like us to save other
important pieces of Heritage scattered
around Ballarat mostly unseen but is
nevertheless very important for the
history of Ballarat
could the council or the councilors put
in place a mechanism with the relatively
large resources of the council where
people like us who want to preserve the
dwindling Heritage assets of Ballarat
giving given every help and guidance for
a positive outcome okay so thank you Mr
I would ask again might ask the director
to comment but we may also
take the definitive answer on notice or
the main part of the question but I will
give you some advice from the director
through you Mr Mayor and thank you for
the question and bringing the matter to
our attention
um I um I will take it on notice because
I'd like to understand the context if
it's a National Trust of Australia
building and if there is a Heritage
protection either local or state level
particularly at state level you'll have
some internal controls so I'd like to
take it on notice so I can do a detailed
assessment and come back with some
advices to what position Council can
have in assisting
that you can always just add that the
facade is uh it's Heritage listed
but the interior isn't yeah and to me
the staircase is the heart of the
building
and and the outside is is important but
without the heart of the building the
staircase in its original design and you
know it sort of would lose most of uh
most of its appeal I I should imagine
and I think that
potentially around your question when
it's that ask of what can council do
is it potential to explore a whether
it's a whether it's some type of program
that can assist in the preservation of
of assets historical assets and I think
that is a broader discussion and for the
director to
take the question or notice and have
some sort of then provide further
information back to council or group but
also to yourself as well but I think
that is the challenge of what we can
develop that assists for situations
where this might occur councilor Eddie
ah thank you Mr Mayor and thank you very
much for that explanation and background
to what's obviously a frustrating and
challenging situation and I'd certainly
support not only the technical formal
structural response but
um a Layman's Common Sense response that
actually helps people who just need some
direction I know that's complicated in
trying to balance the two but I really
think sometimes we've got to get some
practicality into being able to help in
situations like this before people spend
a lot of money and wear themselves out
to be honest just doing something that
they shouldn't have to do a lot so I'd
really support us having a figure thank
you agreed councilor McIntosh
thanks Mr Mayor and I do agree with
councilor Eddie's comments on this one
and I am very familiar with this
particular issue because the ivanovskies
did come to me early in the five-year
time frame when they started working
with the city of Ballarat to try and
rectify this and I am aware that I've
brought this up fairly recently as well
with Council laws and officers as an
exact example
of some of the challenges that we're
having as a city
um I guess the couple of things that
really concerned me with this and they
are the things that I've put to this
Council Law Group and previous Council
law groups
are they these simple little challenges
and you're right counts already
sometimes there might be some really
simple and smart ways forward for 1.5
centimeters this staircase built in 1863
which as our councilors can see on here
and is a National Trust of Australia
building with a lovely park at the front
recognizing that and the direction from
our office and over the five years
through
very high level lawyers and the likes
still advised for demolition of this
very important part of our history the
Union Bank only the third set of shops
just up from Bridge Mall
the sad thing for me is someone spent
five years working on this it was a
young chap that bought it possibly the
ivanovsky's son and I think that's
really hard for us to be doing that to
our young people and the great
opportunity that there could be if we
were able to fix our upper levels so I
wonder if we could actually I know the
officers are very aware of this
particular example I know they're aware
of the detail of it and and the process
and the outcome was a yellow plastic
sticker at the top of the stairs and the
bottom of the stairs saying it was built
to code back in 1863 and and they didn't
have to get rid of the staircase but the
ivanovskis had to have five years of
trauma of Torment of concern funding and
process
um
makes my belly turn at the moment even
talking about it I wonder if we could
have this come to the council assembly
with maybe some ways to deal with we
know we've got many other places like
this in our CBD can we have the officers
look at a better way so that we can
have some simple steps
to be able to answer some of these
challenges of simple conflict between
Imperial measurements and today's
measurements that's really what this is
about but yet we stuck to the rules
and this was the consequence so can we
look at a way that comes to assembly we
can then bring it to the chamber with a
better pathway
thank you Council McIntosh and I think
that's what director Robertson is
suggesting by taking the the question on
notice thank you Mr owenowski for your
question and we will have some
information come back to you as well I
have another question from Irene who may
be attending in the gallery this evening
doesn't look like it if there are none
is there any other questions from the
gallery
thank you we'll move on to the next item
in the agenda councils which is
petitions in relation to the proposed
power core electoral substation we have
a submission from Miss Jenny Patterson
who I believe is attending this evening
Ms Patterson if you'd like to come
forward and please tell us your name and
suburb well I know your name but you're
somewhere where you reside my suburb is
gone Point thank you and my name's Mrs
Jenny Patterson thank you
good evening my name is Jenny Patterson
and I reside at 12 Vita Street Golden
point and have done so for 42 years my
neighbors and I first became aware in
early 2023 that there was activity at
203 York Street when we saw soil being
tested after making inquiries of our
local politicians who in their term made
inquiries on our behalf power calls sent
some of their people out to survey the
neighborhood regarding any concerns
about a proposed substation
uh power core came in the middle of the
day and surveyed 12 people lots of
people were not home or simply didn't
answer the door and had no previous
warning or confirmation that anything
was even planned for the site two women
from Power Corps came to our house told
me they had to negotiate with a
landowner to build a substation in
Torquay that included beautification and
Shrubbery or trees my husband and I went
to have a look at that substation which
included a green colorbond fence
approximately twice my heart so
approximately 10 feet I don't know what
that is in meters it did little to cover
up how huge and ugly and how much it
looked like a prison with lights on at
all hours it was placed in a back street
well out of town and would not attract
graffiti unlike our area we also had a
look at the two substations in Ballarat
and one castlemaine none of these
substations are near housing I'll share
the same concerns as everyone who lives
in our tight-knit neighbor area noise
light as that effect on the pennyweight
park creek and Galley as well as the
devaluation of our properties but I also
question the safety how can a substation
even be considered backed onto 70 year
old weatherboard homes in 2015 in
Torquay Woolworths had to be evacuated
after a substation down there was
sparking risking a fire substations are
also a magnet for lightning strikes
there have already been at least three
serious strikes in close proximity to my
house in the time I've lived there one
strike hitting a house and blowing up
their gas meter one strike hitting just
above the houses will that will back
onto this power station if it's built
blowing phones off the wall and shorting
out appliances
the parcel of land was apparently
purchased by the SEC for the purpose of
building a substation over 60 years ago
surely that is a lifetime ago probably
no one is even around that remembers
that that happened
the majority of this area would have
just been paddocks in that time we
believe power of course should be
building their facility on the outskirts
of town away from housing
I would also like out that power core
have taught us they will inform us of
any developments this has not proved to
be so they have only taught us the bare
minimum details after being questioned
about their intent
I would like to see the land used as a
recreational space Ballarat East is
sadly lacking in recreational areas
other than pennyweight Park
I also have concerns about EMF as a
person who's married to someone that has
early stage leukemia that is a great
deal of concern to me and also the soil
erosion that will occur during
construction if this goes ahead thank
you Mrs Patterson for attending in your
submission this evening thank you thank
you the next submitter is Mr Adrian
James who is not attending but that
submission will be read out
thank you Mr Montgomery
thank you and presentation is as follows
my name is Adrian James and I'm a
resident of golden point for the past 11
years I purchased this property so that
my son and I could have a place to call
home
during that time there has never been
any sign of a substation being developed
on the property on York Street which
would be visible directly from my front
door and window this was never mentioned
to me during the purchase process of my
property this may be an error on behalf
of my conveyancer or the fact that there
was no records for him to find my
concern for the subsidization include
the following the environmental impact
that a substation will have on the creek
system that encompasses the area the
Flora and Fauna that have grown to call
this area home over the decades that
this this lot has remained empty the
substation is planned for a residential
Zone that has seen constant development
increasing the density of the people
that live in the area the health and
safety impacts that the substation will
cause to locals property prices will be
negatively impact impacted
the lack of social responsibility the
power core is demonstrating perplexes me
I'm sure there is enough land in
industrial locations like the entry to
Ballarat or our past or out past Lucas
that would benefit the fit this
requirement better than the middle of a
neighborhood where wires husbands
children's mums dads grandmothers and
grandfathers call home power course
should donate the land to the city of
Ballarat so a continuation of
pennyweight Park can be made not destroy
our beautiful neighborhood as a
ratepayer of the city of Ballarat I
implore you to make a stand and do what
you can to prevent a neighborhood being
turned into a place where nobody wants
to live
thank you Mr James for the submission
our next submitter is Ms Marg Turner who
is also not attending and that will be
read out
thank you the presentation is as follows
Mr Mayor I'm a resident of the Ballarat
City and have been in my current house
for nearly 12 years
we were told when we bought it that the
paddock behind us will not be built upon
because of the being a floodway
we asked the question because of the
dilapidated sign that say on The Paddock
stating six and we could not read
anymore as it was covered in graffiti
our concerns are Health electromagnetic
field property drop vandals graffiti
Etc impact on Wildlife impacts on people
walking their dogs noise including
humming invasion of privacy with all the
cameras
to sum it up I am very much opposed to
having a substation at my back door
because that is how close it will feel
thank you Miss Turner and the final
submitter is from Mr Robert Walker who
is also not attending and will be read
out
thank you Mr Mayor the presentation is
as follows to who this is meant for
regards to substation and land beside
York Street my concerns are how close it
will be to homeowners in Lata Street
there is enough noise from the power
lines along the creek on the callow
Street and frosty nights there are
plenty of better sites between Warren
Heap and Main Road that don't have
houses anywhere near them
thank you Mr Walker for that submission
councilors there is an officer
recommendation in the petition is
someone happy to move
at councilor move councilor Johnson
secondary Council second Council
McIntosh councilor Johnson
thank you Mr Mayor I have to say I agree
with the sentiment expressed in the
petition I think it's uh less than ideal
location if we consider the current uh
one of the two current substations which
is located in Norman Street just looking
at the uh
what's around it Residential Properties
uh quite a way off you've got widespan
sheds grain Tech it's opposite Selkirk
stadium and other sporting grounds and
then on the other side of the highway
you've got CDC Butler at
uh I I think that substations are an
eyesore certainly we need them as our
city continues to grow but I don't think
that this is an appropriate location
and I think we should be doing all that
we can to encourage
a choice of a different site
thank you councilman sorry councilor
Johnson cancer Macintosh there's the
second uh thanks very much Mr Mayor I
absolutely agree with councilor Johnson
and um absolutely feel for those people
in the community that are very concerned
and being very much impacted by this
particular proposal a substation goes
with all of the concerns that have been
put to us
the conversations around even
electromagnetic concerns health and so
on many might question there is also
much evidence there that raises alarm
Bells and as councilor Johnson talked
about positioning of such a station
there could be a better site I
understand that our officers would give
the feedback that you know this is not
our decision-making space that there is
zoning here that disallows us from
making a decision in this Council
chamber
however
I read the sign behind you Mr Mayor and
it says that we declare that we'll carry
out our duties in the best interests of
our community and through Collective
leadership we'll maintain the higher
standards of good governance and to me
this is the opportunity for us to be
that voice on behalf of our community
and what can we do about the zoning what
can we do to protect the health and
wellness of these people that live in
this area
some people could suggest all sorts of
things about these questions concerns
and debates and they may even suggest
that some people could be extremist in
these views but what I see is a
concerned bunch of our community that
need our voice
and I would ask through you Mr Mayor in
seconding this accepting the petition
that we as a council group can send a
very strong message letter however that
is best received with the biggest layer
of strength that we can possibly put
through it expressing the concerns of
the community is this the right place is
there a better place and what can we do
not what can't we do what can we do as a
council or group to make a difference in
this situation
Tyler
thank you Mr Mayor and probably have a a
bit more of a question around this and
understand the passion by the two
councilors involved in in this item but
we actually don't have a position
which is a bit of a concern in that
we're actually delegating the
responsibility to the CEO to then
consider and respond consider and
respond in what way that's probably the
big question so I don't know whether
there is an option for this to come back
to assembly or whether we need to write
that in this or whether we can do that
separately but
um you know we we can see the concerns
that are there we understand the
planning implications that are involved
in council's responsibilities but we've
got no action on what to do and what to
give the CEO in this process so I'm sure
probably Mr CEO whether you wanted to
comment in any way around what steps do
we need to do to probably formulate a
position to give you guidance on what to
do Council Tyler and having read the
recommendation and hearing the comments
from both councilor Johnson and Council
McIntosh felt the same that if there was
to be a view of council then potentially
there needed to be an extra dot point
that the CEO would seek guidance from
Council it via a briefing to look at
what that response would be or any
advocacy that could be done on behalf of
the residents
um Mr CEO it through through you Mr
Mayor and thank you councilor Taylor for
that uh for that question uh officers be
more than happy to bring it to a
briefing to have a conversation around
what might be the the options available
to council to be able to send that
message to to power core should that be
for sure should that be a view and we
can go from there thank you Mr Sierra so
with the consent of the Mover and
seconder potentially add
0.4.3 that the CEO provide a briefing to
councilors
to seek a position of advocacy that
could be done on behalf of residents
if that meets with the Mover and
seconder
thank you Mr Mayor
I guess I'd like to get a sense from
councilors as to whether you consider a
briefing necessary or whether from the
location it's provided and what we can
see surrounding that location
compared to the other sites is enough
justification or enough information
already that would be preferable if
point if 4.3 was that the CEO
uh provide a letter detailing council's
position rather than
the need for an additional briefing at
the moment though we don't have the
council position all we're doing is
accepting the petition we've heard the
submission so we need a mechanism to
form a position ultimately
uh to be more specific specific Mr Mayor
I guess that in accepting the petition
we can also form a position that we
either do or don't support
The Proposal the governance rules are
saying that we can only receive the
submission and refer to the CEO so I
think the CEO understands how we intent
got it and then that will come to us so
they're the governance rules that we
have to adhere to councilor McIntosh uh
through you Mr Mayor if the Mover of the
motion is comfortable to accept the 4.3
as you suggested and I would be
comfortable to second that and the
reason that I say that is time matters
as well that's another month before we
have another council meeting whether
this actually a fine space on the next
agenda I'm not sure and then do we find
ourselves in a position that we're too
late so I I would really like to think
that we could follow through with a 4.3
that allows us to have a conversation
our next assembly meeting and we can get
the right advice with a very uh prompt
time frame from the CEO for the best way
forward it's not us
Mr Montgomery to explain the governance
process
thank you and three Mr Mayor in relation
to a petition the governance rules are
outlined at 3.74 that it's actually only
motions that can be considered for a
petition is to receive it and either
that and or refer it to the CEO for
consideration or a third point that
could be referred to the CEO for a
report to a future council meeting they
are your three options
so the Mover and the
second is happy for that to be a future
report that's the intention of the
emotion if everyone's clear on that is
there any other Council wishing to speak
for the motion against emotion
I'll put the emotional eyes in favor
against the motion is carried thank you
councilors and hopefully though the
submitters have understood that process
that your submissions tonight be taken
on board and a report will come back to
Council for us to then look at advocacy
opportunities on your behalf from that
thank you
councilors item eight is the chief
executive officer report there is a
council there sorry there is a
recommendation in the council agenda
move councilor McIntosh the second
councilor coach councilor McIntosh
uh
I always have a great deal of confidence
in standing at to speak to the CEO's
report and I know it's one of those that
we could very easily just all support
and move on to the next item there's
always a lot in our Council agendas to
speak to but I find the work of council
so impactful and so important on behalf
of our community and there's always such
very important information within the
CEO's report for us to speak to and
especially when it's referring to the
draft budget
and you know there's a number of items
in there that we have all as a group of
councilors supported over a number of
years and and it's very exciting to see
great big huge steps forward and with
our local investment on on Heritage
buildings and opportunities for our
community to perform like there is with
the works at Her Majesty's theater and
it's so important that we recognize our
arts and in previous years and terms of
council as you would know there very
well know Mr Mayor we've been great
supporters of sporting opportunities and
we've created some wonderful
Pathways and calendars that have ensured
all of the ovals and all of the
different sporting facilities are
gaining a significant and coordinated
effort and that homage piece of works is
going to take us a long way in
establishing something similar in not
just Performing Arts but Visual Arts and
and I think we need the facilities great
to be able to have a great plan and
let's hope as we move through these
processes of delivering through our
budget and the work of our CEO that we
can see similar patterns of planning
that really do reflect that really
important work in the Arts field I know
that Ballarat Library redevelopment's
going along nicely a number of
councilors got along to have a look at
where that's at we've talked about very
briefly tonight the Bridge Mall develop
Redevelopment and we all know that's the
best community hubs really important one
the one that I just wanted to uh
hesitate on for a moment is the airport
piece of works and knowing that the
state budget's out at the moment and all
of the tightening of belts that we're
hearing about which of course shouldn't
needs to happen and there are some
really important pieces of works that
we've committed to over the last decade
or more and our extension of the
north-south runway and and the
commitment that this Council and
previous councils have made to making
sure that happens is there on the table
we know that the money for Liberator
Drive equally has been put aside through
the RDV budget and we know that our
Council plans our Master plans our
feasibility studies our business plans
and cases and even the appointment of a
new manager for the airport
all surround that
the very clear knowledge and confidence
that we have that the money's even
they've liberated drive but I just
wanted to put some emphasis on that
knowing that we've got this state budget
while we're talking about our own local
Council draft budget and to make sure
that that's not played with
these things have been in the wind for a
damn long time and we need to make sure
that that Liberator Drive comes pretty
soon or we're going to have egg on our
face not for our fault because we've
done our homework we've done the hard
work and we need to make sure that that
is followed through with there's a
reason that planning goes on for a long
period of time and I'd just like to say
good on the CEO
great work by the directors Natalie and
many others throughout Council have
worked on this diligently over a long
period of time and I think we need to
keep our foot on the pedal we need to
sit right beside the CEO and make sure
that others follow through with their
commitments as well thank you councilor
McIntosh councilor Coates is the second
and get it
just to say the last item mentioned in
the CEO's report Heritage week week
Heritage Festival and pass on
thanks and congratulations to teams
involved so across events arts and
culture so um the craft lab Mining
Exchange is is amazing so all the events
team did a great job and it was great to
see such big numbers in Ballarat over
the weekend too with um not just arts
and culture and Heritage but sport as
well with the AFL so yeah pass on our
thanks fantastic thank you Council codes
any other Council wishing to speak for
the motion councilor Johnson
thank you Mr Mayor I thought I might
just highlight that our CEO was featured
in ballarat's 100 greatest sports people
in the Ballarat times was it this week
last week and I actually didn't know
that
um Evan was second in the store gift in
1997. and one of the Masters still gift
in 2017 obviously is
um much more into cycling these days but
it's fantastic to have someone who can
role model The Importance of Being fit
and healthy
at our Council so well done to you thank
you councilor Johnson now the council is
speaking for the motion sorry councilor
McIntosh you've had your I just want to
ask a question if I could please
and my question is of the CEO how much
did he lose by why did he come second
well it still hurts
100th of a second
in some moment in time they should go
back in and award Jewel
sashes but it hurts okay but
congratulations it's very worked to make
four finals is a great effort Absolutely
councils I'll put the say uh his report
all those in favor against the motion is
carried council's item nine is our
libraries and learning strategy the
first year implementation report
counselor McIntosh sorry Council coats
to move oh yeah thank you and Council to
second the motion Council Macintosh
councilor Coates
uh yes Miss Mary this report is uh just
to acknowledge the libraries and
learning strategy that we adopted last
year and this is the first year of
implementation so reporting back on that
and
um it is it is just so great to see the
amazing work that's that's being done
the libraries across the city at at
their Peak see at least 2 000 plus
people through the doors every day
they're open and that's
um people from across the community from
early years from our youngest residents
from infants right through to our our
oldest residents sorry the report
outlines the the breadth of the work
that's getting done there I love the I
love the themes how they've kept it
really simple in this strategy so Reach
Out Branch out and stand out and they
give some really great examples of the
work that's getting done
libraries really do change lives
being able to read and have literacy is
an open door to access to information
and resources and activities and I
really really love the big list of
groups that are mentioned there that
libraries are reaching out to and doing
collaboration with so um just to touch
on a on a few of them that are mentioned
there there's um
the community health headspace
um about Regional Multicultural Council
wendory Neighborhood Center about
Aboriginal and District Cooperative
wadarang Corporation Frolic LGBT iqa
plus
um
community members there are autism
Network and the list really just goes on
it's a it's a huge breadth of work that
happens and I love also I'll give one
other great example I love the um the
fact that they've mentioned in the
report there that as a recipient of Vic
Health jump start Grant there will be a
small spaces community garden at
Sebastopol Library so I think that's
such a beautiful Community project
that's happening collaboratively with
food is free as well so um having having
these kind of facilities in the
community really came to the fore during
the Pandemic those couple of years that
libraries are really one of the very few
places that are completely inclusive and
free for people to access no matter who
you are what your background is you can
you can access a library so
um very happy to receive and note the
report and the work being undertaken and
pass on our congratulations to all the
staff involved who do a fabulous job
noting the the big upgrade of Central
Library that can't come quick enough as
well
I think just here waiting thanks
councilor codes councilor McIntosh is
the second wish to speak
I can incur with everything councilor
Coates said and our libraries are so
important to our communities and we
don't need to work that one out when we
see the foot traffic that goes in them
all thousands of people every day over
the week is a mammoth number and over
the year is enormous we know that it
makes a big difference to the learnings
of our local community when our young
people old people and everyone in
between use them not just to read the
books but to go there and study to
socialize and to really experience and
be part of more opportunities there's
been art in our libraries there's been
all sorts of different activities over
time and there's even been many forums
where councils have sat in on the floor
with groups of children and read stories
to them for different themes throughout
the year so no matter what the library
and learning strategy is one that we
absolutely put right up there it's an
important part of how we operate as a
council and how we Advocate on behalf of
our community thank you councilor
McIntosh any other Council wishing to
speak for the motion
against the motion
and I'll put the motion all those in
favor
the motion is carried council's item 9.2
is the quarterly performance report
through a council wishing to move the
quarterly report move to councilor
Johnson second councilor Taylor
councilor Johnson is the Mover
you want a question
a question sorry I thought you were just
putting the light on but I do the
correct process and ask questions before
we get to the debate
um just a couple of questions if I may
it it
um we do talk about in this report about
in the favorable result of how we're
sitting at the moment and I think I've
had a few concerns by residents saying
hey we've got such a big Surplus we've
got heaps of money in the bank why you
know why do you need to make the steps
that you do in relation to well not not
getting on delivering things or putting
more money into different areas the
question is is uh you know we've got a
lot of projects we still have on the
books and I was just curious to say
where is that position at because it
seems to be constantly roll over
a year we soon be rolling over you know
tens upon tens of millions of dollars to
deliver on those projects so probably
question hopefully not how long is a
piece of string but when do you foresee
that we can start to get to the end of
those projects to then be in that
position because we've got the money
because I've got to spend it on a
project when do you see that coming down
and then what would that position
roughly be at that we have a certain
amount of money to run the business not
actually that that long banking of money
for projects you Council Tyler director
through the mayor and thank you
councilor Taylor for the question I'll
do my best um so Council currently have
an improved cash position due to two two
main factors savings is one and we've
identified those savings within this
update whereby we find a permanent
saving that we believe the funds are no
longer required for that project and
also timing changes as you've rightly
pointed out and there are timing changes
predominantly around our Capital spend
for our program in terms of when we
first thought we'd spend those funds
compared to how we're actually tracking
now at the moment in the third quarter
update the majority of the impact that
we're seeing around about 80 million
dollars is from capital projects not
being completed in the time frame that
we originally projected these funds are
still required to pay for the project
the council has committed to as you
pointed out and as per the quarterly
update before Capital before Council
where we identify major changes we'll
put those changes through and we're in a
constant process of going through
assessing the actual cost of a project
if the funds are still required and
adjusting the timing
um and we do that through the quarterly
report and also through un carryovers as
at the end of the third quarter officers
are expecting to require all the funds
that are there to pay for the capital
projects the council has committed to
importantly Council has recently aborted
contracts for a number of major tenders
for Bakery Hill the Central Library the
Airfield Alfred and Community Hub and
our Majesty's Theater which is works
progress on those major projects worth
tens of millions of dollars will reduce
the cash balance along with many other
projects currently being completed by
Council it is expected that cash balance
will reduce both by the end of 22-23 and
throughout 2324 as major projects are
completed and it's great that we've
finally got Partners to work with on
those projects and have a better sense
of when the timing of those funds will
now be expended
um throughout the year as I said and as
part of each quarterly update the
finance team works with project managers
to get their latest projected timing of
expenditure and that is then reflected
in the quarterly update based on our
best understanding at the time being
able to predict exactly when the funds
will be spent is difficult and there
will be always be timing adjustments
that'll need to be considered and
accommodated throughout the updates that
we do throughout the year and we will
have carryovers at the end of the year
timing adjustments that we're aware of
at the moment have been made throughout
this latest update and if we generally
do not require funds anymore that we're
sitting on that are held in cash Reserve
we will offer them up as savings and
suggest Council as per this quarterly
update take those and hold them for
future purposes and I would highlight
the success of that process to date
whereby council's been able to fund a
number of major cost pressures recently
due to the cost pressures on capital
projects in the economy through the
savings that we've identified and also
been able to in its draft budget avoid
any borrowings for 23.24 thank you Mr
Mayor thank you cancer Tyler uh just
another question I want to follow up
that was very detailed and very thorough
um we've actually included some planning
reports as part of this quarterly report
I know there is a briefing coming to
councils in relation to vcat decisions
but I'm just curious to see in future I
think it would be handy to list what
those applications are in the locations
in future instead of just saying we had
five unsuccessful or so on we had seven
that came or sorry six out of 11 and so
on so I think it's important that we do
that so I don't know if that's possible
through the director or through the CEO
thank you director horse through the
mayor and thank you Cass Tyler for the
question we have tried for this
quarterly reports we have put a little
bit of information on some of the
decisions that we actually have had vcat
and we'll look to expand on that in the
future but hopefully councilors can now
start to see again Improvement in that
information we're disclosing
thank you councilor Johnson is the Mover
the first one a Dorothy Dixon counselor
Taylor because there was an excellent uh
ready-made response there
uh I'll start out by expressing
gratitude to your team at Council
um
director hoisler it's such an enormous
and important part of the organization
and
um I guess a lot of the questions that
come from councilors
the
I guess what I'm trying to say is that
other parts of the organization and
their ability to deliver impacts on on
what you're presenting to us and it has
been a challenging couple of years with
covered significantly impacting on our
ability to go ahead with projects that
we've funded and then more recently
we've had issues with being able to
attract and retain employees as is
reflected in the reduced overall
employee costs which have resulted in
some savings
and difficulties in sourcing materials
and other issues in the construction
industry so
there are outside factors obviously that
have impacted on the carryovers on our
balance sheet but certainly I concur
with councilor Taylor as far as a desire
to reduce that number and certainly it
sounds like we have a good plan for that
one of the things that I was interested
in was the slightly
increased local spend
reduced local spend 56 this year versus
59 last year sorry is as something
changed
um that that you're able to give a brief
answer on once I've finished my
uh
what am I saying once I finished my
opportunity to speak presentation uh Mr
hoisler
and the other one that I wanted to query
was just around our vcat
decisions I noticed in the last couple
of years we've had a really good run
four out of four and seven out of seven
were upheld in council's favor and then
we've had a bit of a tricky run more
recently with 11 appeals and four of the
decisions were overturned and one had
its conditions varied so that's
54.55 of the conditions decisions rather
overturned so that might be something
that one of the other directors might be
able to provide greater Clarity on but
just interested I'm aware
that one of those was a decision of the
Council planning committee but the other
four were decisions made under
delegation by Council staff so is there
sort of a reasoning there as to why
those decisions were more likely
overturned because obviously it's a
costly process Council being taken to
vcat
and the first question was just around
the changing locals spend whether there
was a significant contract that we no
longer have
councilor Johnson director hosler
through the mayor and thank you
councilor Johnson for the question
um look large contracts and I don't have
the information at hand that we spend
with our local suppliers versus who we
spend with outside of the the reason
supplies can impact that number I'd have
to take it on notice to get you more
detail and actually find out
specifically what the difference is
thank you director
councilor Taylor is the second
uh thanks Mr Mayor there's a lot of
information there from this report and
again it is March and Meridian to May
coming into June so
um it's good and prudent to be the
position we're in uh it is also very
challenging I know we've had to make
some pretty tough decisions over the
last 12 18 months around our position
and for us now to be in a good financial
position I think we've been very prudent
and people might say we've got the money
uh what are you doing about it well the
big thing is we've actually got to spend
that money on projects that are already
been allocated but second to that is
we've also got borrowings we need to
deal with in future as well so plus
developer contributions and so on and so
on so
um what we see now when people say well
you should spend the money or borrow
more or do this do that well the problem
is what's the certainty we have at the
moment and I think clearly what we've
seen is uncertainty and we need to then
plan for that and I think this is a good
report that shows that we are planning
for it and then making good decisions
for the budget so well done thank you
counselor Taylor Council wishing to
speak against the motion
speak for the motion
I'll put the motion all those in favor
the motion is carried
council's item 9.3 is the Eureka Center
annual action report so Council wishing
to move move councilor Maloney Council
to second the motion Council McIntosh
councilor Maloney you have the floor
I'll try not to take too long unless I
miss them here but it's pretty important
I think that we acknowledge the small
But Mighty uh Team of the Eureka Center
who uh like so many other parts of the
organization and so many other parts of
the the tourism economy locally and here
are locally and around the world for
that matter have really had a tough time
over the past couple of years with with
lockdowns and travel restrictions so to
see the Eureka Center start to bounce
back
um it's uh it's great to see that a big
part of those visiting not just you know
for the museum but also for the cafe and
um gift store the um and also the uh the
Records Office as well
um a lot of those people are coming from
outside of Ballarat so 74 they're coming
from outside Ballarat so great to see I
think we all wish the numbers were
higher but we're also I guess
recognizing the fact that um it is a
Santa coming out of recovery
um this Vision I think is good for it
although
um you know my colleague councilor
McIntosh and former councilor Jim
Rinaldi were part of The Advisory Group
that started to put this Vision together
was it about five years ago I think
councilman McIntosh uh and um you know
there were some Grand plans you know
including things such as seeing the sale
return to the top of Eureka Center and
I'd love to see that I I'm also a
pragmatist I know that the current
economic Times won't allow it
necessarily but I hope it's something
that remains part of the Vision that
it's something that can be actually done
at some point in time because you know
the most significant
Australian Relic is in that building the
the Eureka flag and I think it's
important that we as custodians of that
for the short time we're here continue
to to to promote the the Democratic
institutions that underpin the Eureka
Center so thank you again to the team
councilor Maloney Council McIntosh
thanks very much Mr Mayor and yes I do
recall very much at many meetings that
both myself
councilor Maloney and also councilor and
ALDI back in the time attended to work
through
the plans and the future for the Eureka
center it's been a place that has been
cast with all sorts of challenges over
time hasn't always delivered back to our
community as as our community would
always love but what we do know is it
does reflect the history of Ballarat
significantly well and there's a lot
more that can be done it's really
important that we actually receive these
reports that we ensure that there is
progress and that we make sure that we
hold those the master plan and the ways
forward very close and I absolutely
highlight that the Mast we were told by
it was a previous group of directors
however we were told that the master
would be part of the delivery of the new
Eureka Center and it's not yet I
understand that there's all sorts of
things in in our budget eyesight that
make it difficult to deliver everything
but that was a very important iconic
piece that could be viewed from really
important Vistas around our city those
Vistas that we're protecting those
Vistas that we will continue to protect
with the really important pieces of
works that comes from our planning
department and a poll with a flag on it
is a nice thing but nowhere near what it
was intended to be in the very beginning
the the community involvement feedback
and contributions to this piece of work
were significant
the community involvement was from
people that were very knowledgeable very
engaged and very committed to this
project and and so I really do value all
of their comments I think that there was
a lot of work done the pathway I think
you might have been part of that most
recent Works Mr Mayor with the wieldy
winding gum tree pathway that reflects
all of the different countries that were
involved with the Stocker that was
Daniel
um okay sorry I know we started setting
it in place and then obviously you got
the bonus Daniel of going along and
representing our our community at such
an important event
ballarat's known so well for
our part in democracy and our
opportunity to continue with great pride
that space is really important for our
community so this Eureka Center is our
way forward
four or five times I've last month and a
bit and every time in the staff saying
there's been a really vibrant cred
coming through each day which is great
and people lining up to get in there at
the southern day which is great any
other Council speaking for the motion
councilor Johnson
thank you Mr Mayor and to Echo councilor
Maloney's sentiments just I like to
reiterate my congratulations to Anthony
Cam and his team the work you've
undertaken is impressive there were
times when I wasn't sure that it was the
best use of limited Community Resources
to continue to fund made which has now
become the Eureka Center due to the
limited scope
that the center had
but given that the center is now a
meeting place a welcoming place a
community Hub somewhere to go and eat
and drink it provides opportunities for
young families to come together for
story time and uh organizations such as
cocoa sounds provide music classes for
those same young families providing
opportunities for people to see the
center familiarize themselves with it
and increase the likelihood that they
will be returned visitors
also really pleasing to see the
increasing numbers of students who are
engaging with the center it has truly
been reimagined and I would like to
ensure that Anthony is aware that he has
the council's full support in regard to
what he's been doing
um and that we we can't wait to see the
center continue to go from strength to
strength I was pleased to hear Anthony
speaking on ABC he's has fortnightly ABC
spots to promote what's happening at the
center
and one of the other things that I
thought was fantastic is the increase in
gift shop sales so 30 which is important
because we need to encourage the
facilities similar to the Eureka Center
including the Aquatic Center and the
like to be as financially sustainable as
possible it's fantastic to offer free
entry to local residents who can show
their address on their driver's license
come on in but obviously there is a cost
to Staffing and running the center so
let's look at as many ways as we can to
ensure the center is financially
sustainable into the future by looking
at how we can attract further income
and
I was interested to see that there is 40
percent uh sorry 46 percent of people
who attend the center are there
specifically to visit the museum and as
visitors as part of the Eureka
experience and 30 to visit the cafe gift
shop or Auditorium I would love to see
the number of local residents
particularly those from surrounding
neighborhoods visiting the center as a
community Hub the Eureka story is really
really important but the more that we
attract local people in as a meeting
place rather than just some a place that
tells the Eureka story I think the more
successful it will be in the long term
and that's certainly what Anthony and
the team have been doing
thank you councilor Johnson now the
council wishing to speak for the motion
against the motion I'll put the motion
all those in favor
the motion is carried councilors nine
item 9.4 is Her Majesty's theater
delegated committee the revised
membership councilor Maloney to move
councilor McIntosh II Council Maloney
thanks uh Mr Mayor speaking of small and
mighty teams another one is the Her
Majesty's theater uh the staff
themselves there are a seriously
brilliant but so too is the the board
which is uh made up of a bunch of
volunteers from many different walks of
life
and I think I've just clocked up 10
years myself on that border a few years
initially as a community member before I
become a a counselor and councilor
McIntosh and Eileen tag team in the
chair role pretty much ever since I
think she's probably done it a few more
years than I have I think but uh it's uh
we're in that time we've come across
some really impressive people who have
given so much of their time to make one
of ballarat's most loved icons you know
really shine it's a shame it's closed
right now and it will be for maybe over
another year I suppose but it'll be for
the better in the end in the meantime we
have a board that continues to think
creatively about how we get the balance
right between uh you know low cost but
really fulfilling Community show those
in communities and not-for-profit
performances through to the commercial
buy-ins that ultimately pay for it in a
very expensive theater
to be part of this board as one of our
few delegated committees that are left I
think might even be the only one is it
the only one the only which is why the
reason why we need to actually appoint
some new members we have a couple of
people retiring uh Scott's uh Sheriff
left us a few months ago or several
months ago but still diligently takes
the minutes for us which is greater
Scott Emily
and Mary Rose McLaren left us at the
last meeting with their terms going to
come into an end so we are tonight
appointing three new people uh Kerry
Watson who is also part of our tourism
stakeholder reference group has a huge
amount of experience from the Gold Coast
and biggest efforts up there so Terry is
a local these days and sorry Kerry's a
localization does and does some great
work for us Cody green who brings some
both as a performer as well as managing
various performances his experience to
the four as well and the South Street a
pointer appointee is Andrea Brown from
from their board so I'm confident that
these people will continue to take the
board to the next place we are currently
working on goals and uh to uh to move to
the next stage of the business plan that
councilors will see in a few months time
but yeah it's a really good skills-based
board I'll leave it there and hand over
to
the other long term on that board
councilor Mac thank you councilor
Maloney councilor McIntosh
I've got a few favorite boards to be
sitting on and this is certainly one of
them supposed to have favorites Council
McIntosh I don't have a favorite sorry
but you're under you're on record now
it's a bit of a challenge when you've
got to you know share the role because I
think we both love it and and so does
the community and so do the people on
the board so again I agree with
everything that Council Maloney has just
said I totally support the work of
Council of Evan and his team and as many
of you have heard me say before this
took us probably a couple of decades to
get the financial attention that it
needed and I'm a bit of a passionate one
for Heritage I don't think you all
really know that but um this is such an
iconic place and it really sets the
scene for the rest of what we need to be
doing in our city and the fact that her
Maj sat there for so long without the
proper attention that she really
deserved is a bit of a sad State equally
it's one that I think both Council
Melania myself very very proud of to
have got it to this stage and with the
significant support and commitment from
Council over a long period of time we've
been able to secure around 20 million
dollars to do this work we need to
continue that and we will only continue
that with a good strong board and to
have someone like Carrie Watson
at our fingertips is pretty impressive
his history his knowledge his expertise
is outstanding and to have people with
that experience prepared to stand beside
us with us in an unpaid role is
impressive totally
both Cody and Andrea have committed and
contributed to the Performing Arts in a
number of different ways and and to have
a new representative from Royal South
Street is a really important opportunity
as well so we continue the work that's
required of us through the deed that we
were agreeing that we agreed with in the
beginning from rural South Street when
we took on the management ownership of
her majesties and with these people on
board it gives us the opportunity to
really reflect the views of the broader
community of Performing Arts of Tourism
of business and everyone else that
benefits from all of the works that go
on stage not just at her match at the
moment at um Royal at Civic Hall and and
I guess what we're learning through the
process of delivering the works at her
Maj is that there are so many other
really important and valuable stages
around Ballarat and I think that our
master plan our feasibility studies and
our future Works will extend far beyond
Her Majesty's theater with a stamp of
her majesties above the performances
that we put on across Ballarat thank you
councilor Megan's I'll show any other
Council to speak for the motion
against the motion
put the motion all those in favor
the motion is carried
council's item 9.5 is the governance
policy review is there a counselor
willing to move the the motion
any accounts are willing to move the
motion is rather procedural in nature
move council at any secondary councilor
Coates councilor Eddie
thank you councilor Eddie and councilor
Coates
uh as mentioned It's relatively
procedural it is a good improvement
though to specifically
recognize
ballarats paralympians
as well really important to do so um
great to have this in front of us and
know no further comments so the we'll
take the report as read and happy to
endorse the recommendation thank you
councilor Coates any other Council
wishing to speak for the motion
against the motion
put the motion all those in favor
counselor Taylor thank you motion is
carried
council's item 9.6 is the road naming
proposal of kanawara in Lake Gardens
there is an officer recommendation
Council of Coates is moving second
councilor Maloney Council codes
this one is is also very procedural it's
really just noting the the
recommendation or the feedback to change
change the wording from kanawara drive
to kanawara place given the type of road
that it is but just draw attention to
the fact that it is really good that
we're using traditional custodian names
and wadarang names in in place naming um
like this one so this one's really
pertinent kanawara means Black Swan so
it's very very relevant to that area and
um
where it makes a lot of sense and good
to see so really just note the
recommendation and endorse that
Council Maloney
thanks Mr Mayor this one comes under the
category of things you never thought
you'd learn as a counselor and in terms
of apparently the road entering the
Aquatic Center and Princess well Parks a
place not a drive anyway good to know
that for future reference and good to
get that corrected uh forever and as
Council coach has already very well said
uh good to see that it has a what a
wrong name uh Black Swan pretty act I've
seen plenty of black swans welding
across Gilly Street
um and uh so
um you know it ended and it's also will
be an artificial body of water there but
very appropriate
Council Maloney any other Council
speaking for the motion against the
motion I'll put the motion all those in
favor
the item is carried counselor 9.7 these
contracts approve a delegated committee
minutes again rather procedural move
counselor Taylor seconded Council
Maloney councilor Taylor
thank you this one was a long time
coming with the re-sheeting ceiling
remainder panel if I got that in the
right correct way but again it's good
that we get on there was money that was
left over as part of savings in the
original so then went to panel to get
those minor Works done means we're
getting on and delivering and uh hitting
the wet weather again so getting nervous
around where we're at and uh maybe I
think the director's there saying he
needs more money to get on and deliver
the programs I'm not sure but we need to
work through what we've got in the
budget first
thank you councilor Taylor Council
Maloney I think any other Council
speaking for the motion against the
motion I'll put the motion all those in
favor the motion is carried council is
9.8 is the section 11a and section 11b
instrument of appointment and
authorization to have a recommendation
again a procedural motion officer uh
councilor Maloney move cancer coach
second Council Maloney
cancer code snow you know the council
speaking for the motion against the
motion I'll put the motionalize in favor
the item is carried council is 9.9 is
the outstanding Question Time list that
is an attachment in the attachments so
I'm happy to move the report move cancer
Hargraves seconder to the motion
councilor Maloney any questions any
discussion
but I'll put the motion or all those in
favor
the motion is carried
okay that's the end of the officer
reports councilors item nine is notice
of motions there are nil
item 10 reports from committees
councilors there is a joint letter for
bus route along dufton streets
councilor Coates
yes I would like to note that so as
that's been received via via email and a
copy of the letter with several
signatures
um at least a couple of dozen signatures
on that one so
um so I would like us to to note that
and also if we can consider that as part
of the feedback to the bus Network
review that we're doing as well and
um it's important to note that that
particular connection does go right past
our Central Library and these are in the
main older residents who who have signed
this petition so it's a really good
example of how the public transport
network doesn't actually get people
where they need or want to go and um and
it's such such a barrier to people's
social connections as as well so it's um
it's not just that they they want or
would like to go there it's it's
actually preventing them from doing
something that is really important for
their health and well-being so if we can
note that as part of the bus Network
review as well and respond to the the
residents that have sent that through
that we've we've received it thank you
and Council McIntosh you're happy to
second that receiving of the joint
letter absolutely
um and not that just we've received that
that we've had significant conversation
over this issue for a long period of
time and it certainly does add to this
question that we've raised and raised
and raised and you've more recently sat
on the bus Network and and I probably
wouldn't say enjoyed well maybe that you
know they're nice they're great bus
drivers and and they're lovely
presented buses but that's not what it's
about as councilor Coates said this is
about People's Health and well-being
it's about their right to have access to
our facilities that we're providing to
our right players and when there's a
group of people that need to go to this
effort I guess it just highlights to us
a little bit more that it's not just us
that are ridiculously frustrated about
this system it is our community and that
sign again says that we're going to act
and carry out our best the duties in the
best interest of our community that's
what this is about so I agree it needs
to be included with the other works that
we're doing with the bus routes as well
thank you councilor McIntosh interesting
I received some information from a uni
student who's done a mini documentary in
relation to our bus
advocacy or on our local buses that will
soon be uploaded to YouTube so I'll look
I'll be interested to see her position
and take on the issues so I think that's
exciting and hope she gets a good Mark
for that project
councilors I'll I need to put that
motion that we receive the joint letter
all those in favor
it's received councilors other items of
General business and reports from
Council laws councilor McIntosh
um we've got a few little ones so bear
with me I'll be brief on each of them
the botanical gardens there's been quite
a bit of conversation following this
year's wonderful event and we
consistently have very positive feedback
as we have with Heritage weekend they're
great events and and a great team of
staff that are delivering really good
works there's been a lot of conversation
around the globe about our begonia
festival and we know that we have I
think the most outstanding begonia
collection
in the world
and I don't think I'm being extreme in
saying that but I think we might have
missed a really big opportunity in
knowing that I do recall the history of
begonia festival and the mayor of our
city having a competition with someone
in
possibly England somewhere
Bristol maybe anyway wherever it was the
competition was about growing a begonia
the size of a dinner plate
and there was such a lot of interest
around the world back then
so I think it's something that we really
should be looking at we should be proud
of the fact that we're leading the world
with this most amazing collection and I
think that we really need to have a good
look at what that could mean between now
and our next begonia Festival all of a
sudden it's on top of us and we've
missed the opportunity it's a bit too
late so I think Community conversations
are big on this they're loving it and
they're encouraging us to take it
another step so I I really do put that
through you Mr Mayor to our CEO and his
team could that please be considered and
maybe brought back to a council assembly
as to what that might look like a
challenge for the team to see if we can
grow the world's biggest
going up for next year's festival and
can we can we grow on that big well you
know maybe we already do but let's
actually have a look at what we can do
um equally the floral carpet keeps
coming up and we've seen the most
spectacular images Scouting Around on
social media in the Ballarat circuits
that come from some of those other
cities that have
um scattered to have the best collection
of begonias which I am told that we have
so I really do think we need to have a
good look at that floral carpet what can
we do in that space it may be a new
introduction of something that we used
to have that may be the same as the past
it may be an iteration of it I know
there has been iterations of it that
haven't been quite as good as what it
was once upon a time it was an event
where all of our community came together
and sat on the floor and and filled out
these colorful spaces to create a
wonderful piece of art so I think that
if we can please have look at those
couple of items and maybe as I said back
to assembly at some stage a bit of a
review on on what next began you might
look like
the north Gardens I think this I think
there was conversations in the career as
well about this we've had lots of
um
chatter around the filtering of the
water and and how our storm water
collection is working
we did a lot of work in this space
following that 2000 to 2010 drought
period and we did a lot of this work to
make sure that we had a long-term
secured supply of water coming into the
lake equally through that time we've
hosted things like the Ironman event and
we needed to know that it was a class so
that people could swim in it and at
which we have been reassured of many
times around the water trap says some
questions are they collecting
appropriately I know myself I've walked
past I know Mr CEOs received my early
morning messages on the odd occasion
when there you can tell with a bit of
smell and even visuals of of what's
coming in so the questions from the
community are how that's impacting the
health and of the wildlife and and like
users as well so I think we really need
to have another look at what's happening
in the north Gardens and how that
indigenous landscape area which is very
beautiful is working to ensure that
we've got those clear
Pathways coming into the lake
so botanical gardens with the begonia
Festival the north Gardens The Bridge
Mall playground I've seen a bit of
conversation on social media about this
one as well and I know we're about to
start doing that work
I just thought that it was worth putting
on the table those concerns that people
are having
and if there's any issues around us
delivering parts of the project that we
really do have good look and think about
the feedback that's coming from the
community
I've had a few questions coming in about
seats Garden seats and I know that we
had a simple policy up in the gardens
with little plaques on chairs wondering
if places like Miner's rest have got
that pathway available
so maybe if our officers could have a
look at that and if we can have a report
back it seems that if there are Pathways
available they're taking months and
months before there's any action
um so I'm Keen to hear a bit more about
that the brochure re Heritage the
Heritage there is the agreed Council
policy in relation to plugs and and
Street Furniture that's been adopted by
Council I understand that Mr Mayor but I
know that there's a few examples that
have come through that have taken a long
time to see delivered so I just wondered
whether we might need to have a look at
the way it works we've got the
applications have they been submitted
yes if you can maybe send me details of
who the applicants are I'm happy to have
a look at that more than happy to Mr
Mayor yes sorry Council codes
um point of order with respect Mr Mayor
um these are a lot of these are
questions rather than a report as such
weather where there's some of them and I
think some of those could be taken
individually as just a direct line in
Council McIntosh and
thank you that's fine um they are I am
reporting back to council and they are
projects that are really important to us
and do absolutely connect with the
particular portfolios that I sit on and
represent as Council the Heritage
brochure is one of those as well which I
know has been reported to council but we
just need to make sure that we've got
those sorts of documents updated and
that one was one that was actually
delivered in a beautiful manner over
Heritage weekend a wonderful event
um but again it's one that we need to
have a little look at the dates in
detail within it
um
and and the other one was that came up
earlier today the design review panel so
if through Heritage advisory committee
it might be great if they can also have
a report back rehab design review panel
is going
thank you councilman thanks very much Mr
Mayor councilor Johnson
thank you Mr Mayor I actually have a
question my impression of reports from
committees and councilors was that yes
we can report back on committee meetings
we've gone to our events but it's also
an opportunity for items of General
business that councilors want to raise
about Community matters I think
when we start policing uh what
councilors are allowed to discuss in
this section of the meeting I think we
our role as Council has become really
watered down we've gone from having this
at the start of the meeting
to now having it at the end of the
meeting which is one thing but if we are
now going to get policed on the items
that we raise I think that that's really
inappropriate we're here to represent
our community we get a small section of
the night to raise matters of importance
that we have heard from residents and
matters of importance and I think we
should uh be entitled to do that I don't
think that's the intention councilor
Johnson sir so what what's in what's out
that's not the intention we are in
general business and that is an
opportunity to raise some of those so
other councils items of General business
councilor Hargraves
thank you Mr Mayor and I just wanted to
um speak very briefly about some about
an initiative
um a very good initiative that I have
noticed
in my counselor role but also in my
other daytime job which is as a teacher
at Mount clear College where they've
recently been rolling out the live for
Life program which I know council is
involved with as well I believe you
yourself Mr Mayor have done some of
their training I've just observed as a
teacher and done a little bit of the
training but I know that that so they're
a charity organization that basically is
rolling out all over Victoria to
um let me read properly what they do
but their mental health and mental
health education and youth Suicide
Prevention model designed specifically
for regional and Rural communities they
deliver teen and accredited youth Mental
Health First Aid training in schools and
The Wider Community they create local
Partnerships to lead conversations about
mental health that reduce stigma promote
young leaders as mental health
ambassadors and so far I believe they've
rolled this out not only at Mount clear
college but also at Ballarat Christian
College
Ballarat Clarendon College St Pat's head
spaces involved as well as the YMCA
Mount Rowan Secondary College Phoenix
College Woodman's Hill uh
and I believe they're going to continue
and just about getting to every school
in Ballarat and I just wanted to
highlight that because I think it's a
really beautiful collaboration between
Council and not only the schools but the
communities of the schools and the young
people and so they there's a certain
number of teachers in each school which
receive the training but then within key
year levels there's kids that have been
trained to have mental health first aid
which I think is just
amazing and one of the things
highlighted in the very brief training
that I did was that the difference
between
a child or probably anyone actually
saying the words I'm thinking about
hurting myself or killing myself or I'm
thinking I'm having suicidal thoughts so
the difference between someone
verbalizing that and actually you know
the people that don't verbalize it and
just go ahead and do it I think is
massive and so enabling young people to
know what sort of things to say and what
to do in those situations is huge
they're really difficult conversations
but I think a program like this just
opening up the conversation is is really
impactful and really
um you know it's it's hard dark sort of
territory and I've been in schools where
kids have taken their own lives and it's
devastating for communities and it just
reverberates for years even decades so I
just wanted to highlight some of the
Fantastic work and the willingness to to
undertake this sort of work and to have
those conversations and I think it's
really
um a really good step to empowering
school-aged kids and their teachers and
their communities to tackle this massive
issue thank you thank you councilor
hargroves and there's an enormous amount
of work that's been done and I really
want to highlight Our
Youth Services team Craig Donaldson and
Rebecca Robertson who have been the two
coordinators the city of ballarat's role
is acting as the coordinator over the
next five years of the program and this
year eight schools will roll out the
program to year eights Phoenix College
with both year eight and year ten
dollars they're delivering the program
yesterday
and next year the final three schools
will come on board
and when we launched the program the
principle of cat of Phoenix happened to
say that in her 40 years in education
this is the first time that she's seen
all schools both government independent
Catholic and private all on the same
page for the same cause and over the
next five years we will touch forty
thousand of our young people that will
be trained in Teen Mental Health First
Aid and to be confident having a
conversation with a friend when they
suspect something's not okay to use
those words that are tricky to get out
and challenging to get out are you
thinking of dying are you thinking of
killing yourself is a really powerful
conversation to teach young people to
have and then do follow-up so I was
really
um privileged to be co-facilitating
yesterday and I'll be back tomorrow
doing another session at Phoenix I've
just love the accreditation process and
being able to roll my sleeves up and
help keep young people safe in that
space so great that you've seen it as
well and seen firsthand those benefits
it's amazing yep any other counselor
wishing to raise anything
councilmake
in touch through you Mr Mayor my
apologies I did get thrown a little bit
when I was doing my presentation there
was one extra that I wanted to make sure
that I did mention in this particular
forum and and it did
um
come to light again because of the
presentation that came in the question
time at the start of council I recall in
our heritage advisory committee the last
Heritage advisory committee meeting
there was a number of questions around
the support from Heritage through
building and planning departments
and and also the focus on design
guidelines and so on
and the discussions have come up many
times as I know our Council officers are
aware of
um but that to me highlighted the
importance of these conversations that
we do have and the importance of this
particular part of our council meeting
as well it is an opportunity for
councilors to have a voice and it is an
opportunity to make sure that we're
listening to our community and that
we're reporting back to council and that
there's a recorded pathway in that
instance that was put to us this morning
that's five years that a small family
had to deal with
and putting two plastic signs up it was
the enormous expense involved and it's
not a one-off
so I encourage councilors to use this
part of our council meeting to make sure
that we can reflect what we need to
reflect and that the appropriate
pathways are being created this has been
discussed in our heritage advisory
committee meeting and I do hope that it
actually follows through with a little
further discussion there are two
policies of Council in field development
and upper level reuse that this is
particularly referring to and at the
moment while we're working on our Bridge
Mall it's very important that we get it
right we've got the wonderful works that
we're proceeding with and what we want
to know is that we have the appropriate
processes in our Council departments to
help people deliver really good work and
in this case the work was great in the
end but it was a tough Way Forward so
I'd really like to see some further work
as I did ask for earlier in the evening
on this particular issue and also for
that to come back to the Heritage
advisory committee to make sure that
that it is well addressed
I know as I said it's been talked about
a few times but we don't seem to have
nailed this particular pathway
thank you councilor McIntosh Council
ready thank you Mr Mayor look I think we
probably know some clarity on on what
reports from committees and councils is
because I took it as reports from
committees and and councils on behalf of
committees or representing that type of
organizational structure
um otherwise you know I get confused now
because if I get feedback from citizens
and rate players I'm taking it through
Civic support which I thought was the
appropriate way to generate an inquiry
login
get some things done so maybe it's up to
the mayor to get some guidelines in
there for us because
um yeah there's probably half a dozen
things I could raise tonight that
perhaps I should be raising and maybe
I'm letting the north Ward down by not
raising Matilda Street trees and this
that and the other so I think we just
need to get a bit of Clary around that
yeah thank you and that's fine Council
really there there is this part of the
of the business has often been General
business as well that is an opportunity
to raise issues that are from
constituents or from anyone historically
so that's what the it has been some
people some councils choose to do via
Civic support and other areas but even
still bring some of those concerns that
just shows activity out in in the
community
I think that's fine but I think as long
as it's consistent otherwise we could be
seen to be doing nothing
when I'm using a process which I thought
was the appropriate one that was set at
the start of this term to actually go
through a structure and get things
registered and logged and actioned I
don't like the north Ward rate Pace I
think I'm doing nothing in the north
Ward on behalf of their inquiries and
maybe I need to bring them all here
every week or every month thank you
Council Eddie
Council McIntosh um through you Mr Mayor
just to clarify I do use that pathway as
well the Civic support service this
specifically is one that does relate to
those committees this is the right place
for it and had it been dealt with
through other Pathways then I wouldn't
bring it into this space
and councilors I just wanted to raise a
couple of items myself in in general
business the state government handed
down the budget yesterday and it was
great to see that the pre-election
commitments that we were looking for
were funded in this first year the 8.4
million dollars for Maori Bush reserve
the one million dollars for the brown
Hill reserve and the 500 000 for the
continuous voices
been saying quite a bit over the time
that we are living we're in an
environment where inflation repressures
uh here and now so therefore any delay
in potentially releasing those funds
would potentially reduce what the
overall capacity would be of those
projects so it was great that those
three projects were delivered and now
it's incumbent upon us to be able to get
on and bring those projects forward and
hopefully into fruition for the benefit
of the end users that will get a great
benefit in each of those communities
where those projects will be the five
hundred thousand dollars for the
continuous voices project is matched
with 500 000 from the city of Ballarat
and we're still 500 000 short and we
continue to look at ways potentially
through the federal government that we
can get matched fundings I think this is
an absolute project of significance that
would be great for state federal and
local government to be a partner to this
particular project so we continue to do
our advocacy to the local Federal member
and trying to find what doors and what
portfolios we can then advocate for
further funds it was also pleasing to
see in the budget also the 50 million
dollars released for the Ballarat
station upgrades in terms of disability
access that's also been a long time
coming and we know that the community
the commonwealth games has been a
catalyst for those funds coming forward
which was great to see another line item
in the budget that probably wasn't of
much notice to anyone but Council
McIntosh I know you will get excited by
this particular announcement was the I
think 3.8 million dollars
in terms of Heritage and the further
funding of UNESCO projects that on
Monday the CEO and I along with the CEO
and mayor of Bendigo with Susan Fayed
and Trevor budge and then the co
independent ambassadors John Brumby and
Dennis knapthine we met with the
minister for planning Minister Kilkenny
to give her an update and to seek where
the next stages were in terms of the
furtherment of our application for the
Victorian gold fields to be listed with
UNESCO
fair to say that Minister Kilkenny is a
huge supporter very excited by the
project
the significant work across 13 local
councils the inclusion of the Reps from
some of the different indigenous
communities across those councils has
been enormous amount of work by both
Trevor and Susan and for the application
to be almost ready it'll go off to
Heritage Victoria for the next stage but
then to be
taken then to the federal government to
the appropriate Minister which is
Minister plebisek that will hopefully
then be one of the last hurdles that we
need to do in order to get onto the
UNESCO
agenda for consideration and it will sit
there for between 9 and 12 months
so there's been a lot of work happen
over the years in councilor McIntosh you
had your hands all over the project for
a long time and great work that you had
at the time and Council Maloney as well
but it's getting towards as I think
Dennis napthine said using his
um writing background but we're in the
final couple of furlongs and it's really
great to see the Finish Line rapidly
coming along and sorry Council Taylor
did I leave you out of the equation now
my apologies as well but I think there
is great excitement and I'm really proud
of the work that Susan and Trevor have
done that absolutely no
the process inside out and in terms of
the benefits across all of those
locations for the story of gold not only
just to be about gold itself but how
communities have developed and the
Legacy has been absolutely fantastic so
a couple of great announcements that
were in the budget contained in there
and for some of those projects that will
now move to the next phase I think is
really exciting for us as a city as well
councils there is no items of urgent
business that are listed there is
nothing in section 66 so the only thing
left to do is to declare the meeting
closed at 8 40 p.m and counts as we need
to reconvene in the trench room if we
could please