Council Meeting Snapshot - Wednesday 3 April 2024

Council Meeting Snapshot - Wednesday 3 April 2024

Published on 03 April 2024

To keep our community up to date with key Council decisions, outcomes and plans; here is a snapshot summary from Council’s Wednesday 3 April Council Meeting.          

Planning and Development PLA0193/23 - 2 Balmoral Street, Warragul

Council moved an alternate recommendation to issue a refusal to grant a planning permit for Planning Application PLA0193/23 (2 Balmoral Street, Warragul) subject to the following grounds:

The proposal provides insufficient car parking on the subject site in accordance with clause 52.06 of the Baw Baw Planning Scheme leading to additional on-street car parking which contributes to traffic and road safety concerns in Balmoral Street and O'Dowds Road. The proposal does not respect the neighbourhood character of the area with specific regard to: a. the excessively high roof pitch of the proposed building; b. the loss of mature trees and the impact to retained trees all of which contribute to the streetscape character of the area; and c. the extent of car parking across the frontage of the site reducing the availability of meaningful landscaping and tree planting opportunities across the frontage to O'Dowds Road. The proposed number of children for the child care centre is excessive and contributes to the inability of all required car parking to be allocated on the subject site, balancing the need to provide adequate building coverage and outdoor play space whilst responding to both the topography of the site and presence of mature vegetation. Community Infrastructure  Aquatic & Leisure Services Contract (Variation for Stadium Operations at Warragul Leisure Centre)

Council endorsed the variation to include the operations of the new stadium expansion space at Warragul Leisure Centre as part of Contract 21711CT Management and Operation of Baw Baw Aquatic and Leisure Services.

Council delegated authority to the Chief Executive Officer to sign the Contract variation documents and execute the variation of Contract 21711CT Management and Operation of Baw Baw Aquatic and Leisure Services.

Governance and Information Services Apex Picnic Area and Lookout Renaming

Council endorsed the name 'Little Charli's Picnic Area and Lookout' to replace the current name of 'Apex Picnic Area and Lookout'.

Council will commence a period of public consultation from Friday 5 April 2024 to Monday 6 May 2024.

Future use of 12 George Street, Warragul

Council moved an alternate recommendation to; 

Issue a temporary lease Agreement to Scope to maintain its use of the premises at 12 George Street Warragul until 30 June 2025 in recognition of its longstanding occupation of the site:  Continue, during this time, to work with both Scope organisation and parents of the Scope Warragul clients to either sign a long term lease for the site or find a suitable premises elsewhere, and; Bring a report to Council by 3 July 2024 outlining the costs associated with a refurbishment of the site. S11A Instrument of Appointment and Authorisation under the Planning and Environment Act 1987

Council, in the exercise of the powers conferred by section 147 (4) of the Planning and Environment Act 1987, section 224 of the Local Government Act 1989 and section 313 of the Local Government Act 2020, resolve that:

The members of Council staff referred to in the instrument be appointed and authorised as set out in the instrument; The instrument comes into force immediately the common seal of Council is affixed to the instrument, and remains in force until Council determines to vary or revoke it; and; In accordance with Council's Governance Rules, the instrument be signed and sealed.  General Business Item BMX Track Warragul

This General Business Motion calls for a report be brought back to Council outlining the strategy of BMX sports in Warragul, and the feasibility of re-introducing starting gates at the BMX track. 

Notices of Rescission Notice of Rescission - Place and Feature Naming Policy

A notice of rescission was lodged in respect to the ‘Draft Place and Feature Naming Policy’ that was considered at the Council Meeting on 6 March 2024

In accordance with Council’s Governance Rules, this rescission motion was considered at the Council on 3 April 2024.

The rescission motion was lost. 

Mayoral Minute

Mayor McCabe used the Mayoral Minute to speak to human decency and treating people with respect, noting that not all disrespect led to violence against women, but all violence against women started with disrespect.

Mayor McCabe invited all to champion gender equality, men and women, and call it out. Unfortunately in 2024 we still have huge gaps to address in gender equality. Cr McCabe said that is treating people fairly was important, she encouraged those watching to consider running for Council in October 2024.

Baw Baw Shire Council Council Meetings are open to the public and are held at the West Gippsland Arts Centre.

Council Meetings will be held on the first Wednesday of the month and commence at 1.00pm for a 6 month trial period.

Following the conclusion of the trial on 30 June 2024, Council will either revert back to twice-monthly Council Meetings at 5.30pm or resolve to continue once-monthly Council Meetings.

All Council meetings will be live-streamed, and archived recordings will be available on the Council website for viewing.

The agenda for the next meeting will be available online the Friday prior to the meeting.