March 2024 Council Meeting wrap

Last updated on 02 April 2024

The following items were endorsed for community consultation at the March 2024 Council Meeting:

Draft Kyneton Movement Network Study ─ The next stage of this long-term study focuses on developing movement network projects in Kyneton, with a draft report providing a list of recommendations to address current issues and cater to future demands.

This includes estimating future traffic demand using a strategic transport model, and a shortlist of projects through a prioritisation process for community consultation.

This consultation was endorsed to progress separately from the Kyneton Urban Design Framework and has an extended consultation period of six weeks (2 April – 13 May), in consideration of the detailed subject matter.

Draft Lease and Licence Policy ─ Last adopted in 2017, this policy applies across all Council’s leased premises and provides clear, consistent direction on the rights and responsibilities between Council and tenants.

Inviting feedback over a four-week period (9 April – 7 May), the revised policy aims to optimise the use of Council’s premises and generate a better outcome for the whole community, through updates that make lease/licence agreements more flexible, more transparent and more equitable.

To view these consultations and provide feedback when each opens, visit the Your Say online engagement hub.

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Other matters that were endorsed at the March 2024 Council Meeting included:

Planning application – childcare centre: A Notice of Decision to Grant a Planning Permit was issued for a planning application at 22 Calthorpe Street in Gisborne, which seeks to develop a new childcare centre that would have capacity to welcome close to 150 children.

In considering and recommending to support the proposal, the officer assessment noted the principle of establishing a childcare centre in a General Residential Zone was ‘generally widely accepted’ and that the proposal would provide an essential service to support Gisborne’s residential growth.

Borrowing Policy ─ This new, functional policy helps to address a current gap in financial governance, formalising existing practices and principles that have been used to guide borrowing to date in alignment with Australian accounting standards and relevant legislation.

It recognises the importance of sound financial management and fiscal responsibility, enabling Council to undertake borrowings that ensure flexibility and risk mitigation in financial decisions.

Neighbourhood House Policy ─ Last adopted in 2018, this revised policy aims to provide clear guidelines and support positive working relationships with neighbourhood houses across the shire, of which there are currently seven.

Reviewed in consultation with the neighbourhood houses, the revised policy proposes a number of practical changes including better clarity of protocols and responsibilities, and an increase to annual Council funding ($5,000 each) available through a non-competitive application process.

Management of Unsealed Roads within Township Boundaries ─ Council’s renewed focus on the ongoing management of unsealed roads within township boundaries was noted, including dust suppression trial results and ongoing work to review the Special Charge Scheme Policy.

An extension of time was granted to 20 September 2024 to present a final report on this topic, in consideration of additional due diligence underway to support more informed recommendations.

Notice of Motion – Wildlife Trauma and Fatalities Metrics ─ At the Australian Local Government Association’s National General Assembly in July, Council will submit a motion calling on the Australian Government to include wildlife trauma and fatalities metrics in Federal road safety funding models.

This push aligns with Council considering wildlife in its recently endorsed Mobility and Road Safety Strategy, and collaborative discussions at Council’s Reducing the wildlife road toll forum last month. Council will also write to a number of relevant Federal and State Ministers advocating this point.

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Video recordings of past Council meetings are available at webcast.mrsc.vic.gov.au (generally available within two business days of a meeting).