Uncorrected YouTube transcript:
Original URL [https://www.youtube.com/live/DchpopH3oBw]
10 minutes, 46 seconds
Good evening everyone and welcome to tonight’s meeting of the Hume City Council. This meeting on Monday the 27th of July 2026 is being held at the
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council chambers at the Hume Global Learning Center in Broad Meadows as well as being livereamed on council’s website. A very warm welcome to
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councilors to officers and to all the members of the public who have joined us tonight both in the gallery and online.
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An audio recording and a video recording of tonight’s meeting will be published to council’s website within two working
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days uh of the meeting. The first item on our agenda tonight is the acknowledgement of the traditional custodians of the land. Hume City
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Council would like to acknowledge that we are meeting on country for which the members and elders of the Randere Wirang people and their ancestors have been
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owners for many thousands of years. The Randre Warang which includes the gun and will clan are the traditional owners of
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this land. Hume City Council pays respect to elders past and present and to elders from other communities who may
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have joined us here this evening. The second item on our agenda tonight is the prayer. Hume City’s religious diversity
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strengthens and enriches community life and supports the well-being of the citizens of Hume City. Hume City Council
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acknowledges the importance of spiritual life and the leadership offered by the Hume Interfaith Network which we refer
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to as the Hinn. In recognition of the religious diversity of the residents in Hume City, council has invited the Hinn
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to take responsibility for the opening prayer at our council meetings. So this evening’s prayer will be led by Reverend
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Fatuo Leatoa. Um so from the St. Andrews Uniting Church uh from Sbury. So can I
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please ask those present to please stand if you are able to for the prayer.
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Thank you madame mayor counselors officers and uh members of the gallery.
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A prayer offered on behalf of the Hume interfaith network. Let us pray. God of many names and faces. We thank you that
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you walk among us and sustain us in your embrace. As we gather today, we pray for
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whom city council, its counselors and its people. Bless the counselors with
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wisdom, insight, and unity as they serve the community especially in the times of challenge.
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Bless the people of Hume in all their rich diversity of cultures, languages, and backgrounds. May love and respect,
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understanding, and a strong sense of community continue to grow among all.
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Bless these proceedings tonight and guide all that is said and done toward the common good. For we pray in your
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many names, creator, redeemer, and sustainer, the father, the son, and the holy spirit. Amen.
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Thank you, Matt.
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Thank you, Reverend. Thank you for joining us.
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Item three on tonight’s agenda is the apologies. U Madame CEO, do we have any apologies tonight?
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Uh yes, tonight there’s an apology from councelor English.
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Thank you. Um, item four is the disclosure of conflicts of interest.
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Council’s attention is drawn to the provision of the Local Government Act 2020 and council’s governance rules in relation to the disclosure of conflicts
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of interest. Do any councilors have conflicts of interest for items on tonight’s agenda that they need to declare?
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Okay, no conflicts tonight. Thank you, councilors. Um, item five on the agenda is the congratulations and condolence motions. Councilors, are there any motions? Councelor Sherry.
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I’d like to move a condolence motion. Yeah. Thank you, Councelor Sherry.
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Thank you, Madame Mayor. I move that council through the mayor writes to the family of Mr. Jeff Hanland, former
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resident of Rox Park and long-term Selwin House volunteer to express our
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condolences at his passing on July 7th this year.
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Thank you, Councelor Sherik. Do I have a second for this one, please? Councilors.
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Councelor Gage will second that. Back to you, councelor Sherry.
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Thank you, Madame Mayor. Jeff was a dedicated volunteer for many years, teaching English to news arrivals at
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Swan House, Craigburn. He lived in Rox Park for 30 years, but left Hume about
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five years ago to go to South Bank. He was fondly remembered at his funeral on
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July 20th at Forner uh by many who knew him at in Rox Park, Craigy Burn and
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Broad Meadows, including our former mayor Jeff Porter. My condolences to his
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wife Marie, his daughter Taran, son-in-law David, and their family. Such
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a a selfless volunteer uh has left a gap. So um Valet Jeff,
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thank you councelor Sherry. Councelor Gajun, did you wish to add anything?
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Councelor Gage, I think we’re having some technical issues because we can’t hear you.
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Apologize.
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Yep, we got you. I was using Zoom before and the the the mute button and the unmute was in a different place. I apologize. Yes, I both Karen and I knew
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I should say sorry both councelor Sherry and I knew Jeff quite well through the broad broads branch of the Australian
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Labor Party which was a small dedicated a small subbranch which was um very very dedicated was a lot of a lot of activity
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from it and Jeff was one of the stalwarts of that branch that kept it going and I would say about him and everybody I know who who knew Jeff would
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day. I don’t think he’d ever met a kinder or more considerate man. He he was absolutely beautifully kind. The
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sort of person that nobody ever knew him to say a bad word about anybody even so even people who who deserve to have a bad word said about him. He always
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looked on the positive side. He was one of nature’s absolute gentlemen and he his his loss will be felt by us all. Thank you.
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Thank you councelor Gage. Any further comments from counselors?
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No. put it to the vote then all those in favor I declare that carried. Uh thank you councilors. Thank you councelor Sherry and councelian and certainly on
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behalf of council I pass on my condolences to anybody who everybody who loved and knew him. Um certainly our sincere condolences. Thank you. Any
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other motions? Uh councilors. Yes. Go to council kit.
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Thank you madam chair. I’d like to for council to note the success of the Hume women’s shelter in the transfer of land
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for the development of a women’s shelter in Hume and to to thank the developer and the community organizations involved.
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Thank you, Councelor Kurt. Do I have a second for this, please? Councilors. Councelor Gage’s happy to second that. Back to you, Council K. Yeah, thank you very much, Madam Chair.
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This is some really exciting news for our community and it’s been bubbling away under the surface probably for about 12 to 24 months now. When I was
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the mayor a couple of years ago, it came across my table that a developer within our community was interested in transferring some land to uh a women’s
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shelter to help uh provide that. And we had a group from uh New South Wales, the the women’s shelter group who have have come together and reached out to the
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Greenbell Residents Association. So Green Bell residents association brought council, the community and the developer together and we’ve had a really great
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successful outcome with the announcement just recently within the past week that the that land has now transferred over to uh the Hume community shelter,
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women’s shelter and that there is now a steering group being put in place for uh the development of that facility to give
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a place for for women in our community who are experiencing harm. And we know and it’s some really some stark statistics even at our recent uh uh
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community forum that we held with the police force that Hume is actually the LGA area with the the second highest rates of uh family violence within the
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city of Melbourne. And so there is a lot of work that uh all levels of government need to do to address this. And this is one such way that our council is working
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with not forprofits that we’re working with private developers. We’re also working with community groups to provide shelters and places for for people to be
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able to to escape that and find a place for them to to call home. So, this is a really exciting step. I wanted to acknowledge Jamie Gray for for
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transferring that land and also um the Women’s Community Shelters Australia who’ve been a part of that process and really look forward to seeing what the
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next outcomes are of it and how our council potentially might be able to support that project as well. um really exciting and uh well done to all and
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their generosity and support with this project so far. Thank you.
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Thank you councelor Kurt. Absolutely um excellent news um in the progress of that. Council Gage, you were the second. Do you wish to speak?
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Yes, I will. Um [clears throat] this is absolutely marvelous news.
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somebody I’m chair of the homelessness group and uh one of the major causes of homelessness is is family violence and
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the chief victims of family violence is usually not the men, it’s the women. Uh women put up with an awful lot in family
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violence and they need somewhere to be able to go and the the need is terrible.
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I mean, we we’re turning I mean, I think the we we can’t nobody can cope with the the number of women who are wanting to to to to get away from a violent
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relationship or violent a violent home and to to it to to even add one more shelter is is going to make a lot of difference. It’s a very interesting um
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uh way way that these are organized as well. The the the women’s community shelters, this group is actually organized as a sort of franchise where
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each one is independent, but they’ve got a formula that works and we know it’s it’s worked in every place. It’s it’s it’s been been before. And so we’re
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pretty sure it’s like opening a McDonald’s. Do you know you know you know how you’re told how to run it and and and and there’s a there’s a protocol
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which you can follow which is almost guaranteed success. Uh um it’s it’s marvelous that uh it we were having one set up now in Greenville and I’m I’m
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very glad to say that there has doesn’t seem to have been any opposition.
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Sometimes people don’t want to have any of these in my backyard but u I was quite very very pleased to find that um most people seem to be welcoming anyway.
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So it’s a really great move and uh and and I commend those involved. I attended the um the launch of this event along with several other counselors and we
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were moved to tears. Well, some of the stories we held heard there. Thank you.
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Anyway, thank you councelor Gage. Any further comments, councilors?
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Okay, put it to the vote. All those in favor? I declare that carried. Thank you, councilors. Any other items of condolence or congratulations, councilors?
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Okay, thank you everybody. We move on to item six on the agenda, which is the confirmation of the minutes. Councilors, can I have a motion to confirm the
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minutes, please? Councelor Bell will move that. I require a second, please, councilors. Councelor Watson will second that. All those in favor.
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I declare that carried. Thank you, councilors. Item seven on our agenda is public question time. We’ve received five public questions that have been submitted for this evening’s meeting.
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So, I’ll now read the question and a response will then be read by the relevant member of the executive team.
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The first and second questions are from Christina Scafurus from Gladston Park and these will have a combined response.
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So question one is why has the roll out of the purple bins been objected and question two is when will I expect to
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receive my purple bin? And the combined response to these questions will now be read by Matt Irving, director of assets
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operations and sustainability. Please, Matt.
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I thank Christina for the questions and through yourself. Um, Madame Mayor, council rejected the purple bin roll out
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at its meeting uh of 26th of May 2025 due to comm community feedback and its cost at an estimated $5.7 million
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initially for the capital cost and an ongoing annual cost of $2.9 million to continue the role continue the servicing
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of the purple bins. The report and minutes are available online. Following this decision, council joined a campaign with 38 other municipalities across
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Victoria to voice our concerns on the government’s policy position on the matter. Through this campaign, statewide
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survey by councils captured a strong cross-section of the community views and found 83% opposed the purple littered
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glass only bin. Instead, the community backs a smarter solution. 91% support expanding the con container deposit
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scheme to include glass, wine, and spirit bottles, improving recycling options without adding another bin. As a
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result, the coalition of councils is calling for the delay of the the July 27 deadline for councils to introduce a
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glass only recycling service to allow time to explore other options. Expansion of the container depos deposit scheme to
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accept wine and spirit bottles in line with other states in Australia. a review of the effectiveness of container deposit scheme and assesses against the
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usage of glass recycling service that has been rolled out by um council to date and sharing the business case on curbside glass recycling for Victoria.
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At this time, purple bins are not planned for roll out within Hume and advocacy on the matter will continue.
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Thank you for the response. The third question has come from Muhammad Ysef of Greenville and Muhammad’s question is
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the council has launched an advocacy campaign to duplicate Summitton Road.
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There is no doubt that traffic is increasing on Summitton Road and a fix is needed. My question is why this proposal was selected as opposed to
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other proposals such as the Atwood connector in brackets Barry Road extension from Pasco Val Road to Miklham Road. The response to this question will
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now be read by Sheena Frost, the chief executive officer. Please, Sheena.
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Um, and thank you for your question. In late 2025, council endorsed the prioritization of six projects and issues that would be the focus of
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council’s advocacy efforts from 2026 to 2030. This included the duplication of Michelum, Donny Brook, Sunbury, and
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Summitton roads, the redevelopment of Broad Meadows train station, and support for illegal dumping. In devising council’s advocating for a better future
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campaign, council strategically chose a small list so that all political parties are aware of matters that of aware of
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the matters that matter most to our community. These priorities were based on long-term feedback from our community. Summitton Road was chosen as
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council has been advocating for over 10 years and will not stop until the road is duplicated.
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Thank you. Then the fourth question is from Francis Evans of Dallas and the question reads, “Why is the proposed data center at 300 to 340 Barry Road,
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Campberfield being zoned within 800 meters of schools, 180 m from residential homes, 250 m from a busy
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shopping strip, and within 400 meters from the Upfield station and child care centers?” And the response to these this
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question will be read by James McNolte, acting director of planning, places, and delivery. Thank you. Thank you. And true you, Madame Mayor.
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Uh the the industrial zoning of the property is based on its historic use as an industrial site as the former Ford
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assembly factory. The proposal has been lodged by the proponent with the state government for their consideration.
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Council is not the decision maker. The state is the responsible decision-making authority. They must consider if the proposal if the proposed development is
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appropriate given the existing uses in the area and surrounding the site and the requirements of the Hume planning scheme.
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Thank you. And then there’s a further question that’s come from Francis Evans which is as the Hume City Council is included in the application process with
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which Zera DC will has applied for project June under the Victorian government development facilitation program. Will him council be able to
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appeal this decision after the closing date of July 28th? And this response will also come from James McNei, the acting director of planning, places and delivery. Please James.
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Thank you and true you again madame mayor. The application has been lodged through state govern with state government through the development facilitation pathway program. This means
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there are no pathways for third party appeals including by council. council is expected to have an opportunity to provide feedback and comments on the
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application as part of the assessment process.
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Thank you. So that is all of uh the um public questions that we had tonight. So we’ll move to item eight on our agenda
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which is the officers reports. Those members of the gallery who have registered to speak to a report listed on the agenda will be invited to do so
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prior to the matter being discussed by the councelor group. Statements made must comply with council’s governance rules. Public comments to reports listed
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on the agenda which were submitted prior to the meeting which comply with council’s governance rules will be read out by the chief executive officer prior
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to councilors discussing the applicable report. I can advise that seven public comments have been received for reports
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or notices of motion which are listed on tonight’s agenda and that there is one community member who has indicated that they would like to speak to an item in
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person. So we’ll now um move to the offic’s reports. So the first one is item 8.1. This is the Hume City Council’s 2026 social justice charter.
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And I seek a councelor to move a motion. Please councilors. Councelor Kurt.
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Yeah. Thank you, Madam Chair. I’ll move the reporters listed.
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Thank you. Do I have a second for this, please? Councilors. Councelor Gaian will second that. Back to you, Councelor K.
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Thank you very much, Madam Chair. This is a really really significant document before us tonight. It’s the adoption of the Hume City Council 2026 social
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justice charter and this year marks the 25th year of the Hume social justice charter and puts us as the first level
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of government in Australia to have introduced a social justice charter. And this uh social justice charter has been out for public consultation until the
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16th of June. and we’ve received a number of uh feedback from the community which has been incorporated into the final document. So tonight we’re being
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asked to endorse the final social justice charter and to also endorse a celebratory event which will be
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occurring on August the 29th celebrating 25 years of Hume City Council’s adoption of the social justice charter. Jesus, a
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quarter of a century, that’s a lot of time. And we’ll also be recognizing the Gary Jungworth legacy with a special oretary speech uh in celebration of
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education which was something that he was particularly passionate about in his time on council. And when people look at local governments and they look at
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different local government areas, a lot of them are famous for different things.
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The inner city council sometimes are famous for their live music. Sometimes the uh the Yara Rangers Council is famous perhaps for its wineries. Well,
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Hume City Council, we’re famous for our social justice shadow. We were the first level of government to introduce a social justice charter. We were the first level of government in Australia to introduce a bill of rights in 2004.
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And it’s left a incredible legacy for our community. It’s meant that we have had to respond to the rights of our communities to fight for our community
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and also to recognize the the needs of our community as well. And we know that our community has uh some struggles that are um upon it that other levels of
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government don’t have. And that’s why we have a social justice charter in place to be able to guide our support of the community, ensure that they have the
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rights and services that they need as well. Uh this social justice charter endorsing it here tonight. We do have of
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course a celebration which will be um on August the 29th and we wanted to uh it would be I guess remiss of me to say that the original notice of motion in
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calling this we had asked to try and get um some the speaker there, the governor general. So I know that um officers have been in contact with the governor
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general’s department and there wasn’t enough time there just to get them out to this but I don’t think that we actually had had sent a letter out to the governor general as per that notice
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of motion. So I was it would be remiss of me not to say I was a little bit disappointed with that but I I am pleased to see the the work that’s gone into this to to put that celebration
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together nonetheless. And we will have a number of community members there and a lot of work’s been going in to make sure that’s a positive speech, but one that tells us the story of how far we’ve come
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in fighting for our rights, but also how how much further we need to go to to make sure that our community doesn’t continue to uh uh fall behind the the
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rest of the Melbourne has sometimes been the story in the past. So I wanted to thank Loretta and Nada and Julie from the team as the authors of this report
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and also uh Ms. Watson as well, the manager for for her work in the consultation and also uh the different officers who are leading as well the um
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the celebratory event which will be on August the 29th. And I notice we’ve got a few members in the gallery here tonight and um I welcome you all to
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attend that event as well. So mark it down in your diaries too. Thank you.
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Thank you for that. Councelor Kurt Councelor Gage as the second for this report also you wish to speak?
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Yes, I’ll speak to this. Um people sometimes take for granted rights that they have. We often hear this well what
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have the whatever’s ever done. It becomes a bit ludicrous. We say what have they somebody or others ever done for us? What have unions ever done for
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us and so on. But here we’re relying not on people. We this is all about documents and the rule of law. And I
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think a lot of people don’t realize how important the idea of rule of law is that everybody is subject to the law and the law reigns supreme. Not and this is
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an absurd idea. It would have been considered absurd to someone like Genghis Khan. Uh you know I’m supreme.
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You know I’m in charge mate. um the idea that there there is a there’s something outside of human um out of the human the
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the a written document which is somehow is in charge of everybody is is a really
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profound idea and it’s um one of the f I won’t say this is the first one of the the the earliest of these was was Magna
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Carta and we have a copy in the parliament house and some of us who who visited Camber you may have seen this and why is it there because it’s an
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important document it it it enshrines human rights. Not many. It was most mostly about the baronss getting getting one over on the king, but it was
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inspired others. And in the 17th century, inspired uh well, the English civil war and the the the the the right of parliament over and that’s the
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collect parliament being a collective of of individuals who vote and and and agree to things and vote democratically over the rights of of a king.
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So there are a number of documents over the years where these right the some which have set out the rights of of people. Well I was going to say the
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rights of man. It was a famous book by John Lock actually the rights of man. So we have Magda Carter, we have the uh bill of rights of 1689 in Britain. Um
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another famous and well-known document is the USA Bill of Rights of the 1790s and more recently United Nations Declaration of Human Rights in 1948.
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There are many places on earth where the idea of bill of of of somebody having rights is is ludicrous, but certainly
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not here. We we both draw upon these old traditions and we’ve got our own. And it doesn’t I don’t think you could have too many statements of what your human
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rights are. So I very much uh commend this to to the chamber that we should pass this and and and u and
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have yet another document which which outlines our rights. Thank you.
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Thank you, councelor Gage. Any further contributions from the councelor group? Yes, councelor Sherry.
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Thank you, Madame Mayor. Um, on page 25, I believe, of the document, there is a a table of achievements.
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And I just want to say without the charter, without the commitment to social justice, a lot of the
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achievements probably would not have occurred, such as our first Hume Global
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Learning Center here in Broad Meadows in 2003, the Hume Jobs and Skills Task Force that
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was established by previous councils in 2012.
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uh the RTO’s weren’t doing the right thing in terms of really meeting the needs of the people here in Hume. So we
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got there and we said we can do better and there’s been a lot of job creation from that. Uh the Broad Meadow in 2013,
36:11
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the Broad Meadows Community Hub was built and it included the Dallas neighborhood house which was relocated there into a pretty good premises.
36:23
36 minutes, 23 seconds
Uh in 2014, we successfully got some social housing and an aged care precinct back over
36:32
36 minutes, 32 seconds
where the old muse was over there in um West Meadows and it’s now known as Valley Park West Meadows. Uh in my time
36:41
36 minutes, 41 seconds
on council, we reopened the town hall bred Broad Meadows and that was in 2019 and since then it is held so many events
36:51
36 minutes, 51 seconds
and it is really a treasured part of Broad Meadows.
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36 minutes, 55 seconds
uh 2024 we did the Hume gender equity and sport network and uh and we got the Hume fair
37:05
37 minutes, 5 seconds
access policy which actually is a policy which drives female participation and as
37:13
37 minutes, 13 seconds
well as participation from diverse groups in sport and because before sports pavilions were really only built
37:21
37 minutes, 21 seconds
for male players and their needs quite frankly.
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37 minutes, 25 seconds
unless it was tennis or net ball but generally it was male.
37:31
37 minutes, 31 seconds
Uh the Hume active living plan was adopted this year which further uh you
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37 minutes, 38 seconds
know narrates our commitment to provision of you know sporting facilities and recreation facilities. We
37:47
37 minutes, 47 seconds
continue to deliver aged care services and we continue to provide grants and
37:54
37 minutes, 54 seconds
scholarships for business, education and sport and often to people who need the
38:00
38 minutes
leg up to families that just need that little bit of help. So everything that
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38 minutes, 7 seconds
we do is about access and equity. So I commend this document and I thank
38:15
38 minutes, 15 seconds
councelor Kurt for you know growth and renewal in in in it. Thank you.
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38 minutes, 21 seconds
Thank you councelor Sherry. Uh councelor Bell.
38:25
38 minutes, 25 seconds
Thank you very much madame mayor. I’ll just be very quick. I think it’s really important. Um it it’s a really sad um reflection in this day and age that it
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38 minutes, 33 seconds
seems the term social justice has become a bit of a a bad word or some that people use as a tool to bludgeon uh
38:41
38 minutes, 41 seconds
people who care and concern and and have an involvement in their community. It seems to be a it seems to be used by a weapon in by some elements of our community and that is incredibly unfair.
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38 minutes, 51 seconds
So I just want to take this opportunity.
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38 minutes, 53 seconds
I know the council group and those in the room uh know exactly what we mean by social justice. But for those watching online who might uh you know want to
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39 minutes, 2 seconds
help join the battle of mis against the misinformation and the disinformation around what social justice means in the
39:10
39 minutes, 10 seconds
plan we actually have a really good u definition. Social justice simply means
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39 minutes, 16 seconds
the belief that all people have the same human rights and that these rights are respected, protected and promoted.
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39 minutes, 26 seconds
This is a commitment to the advancement of a fair and just society where every person can participate, belong and
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39 minutes, 34 seconds
realize their potential. This is also a commitment to democratic processes and social cohesion. Madame Mayor, I I think
39:43
39 minutes, 43 seconds
it is really important that this council uh this community, this city really does take pride in its championing of social
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39 minutes, 51 seconds
cohesion, of our democratic beliefs, of our commitment to standing shoulderto-shoulder with the diversity
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39 minutes, 58 seconds
that is our city. We are proudly one of the most diverse places not only in Victoria, not only in Australia, but I
40:06
40 minutes, 6 seconds
would argue on earth. 152 languages we speak more than 190 countries. There is
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40 minutes, 13 seconds
a story that we can tell of a harmonious community that is working towards a common goal and that belief that we all
40:22
40 minutes, 22 seconds
have the same common rights and obligations to one another. And so I I just would you encourage our community
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40 minutes, 29 seconds
to uh at the times when sometimes in conversations and in civil discourse uh moments are feeling darker and heading
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40 minutes, 37 seconds
in the wrong direction. Look to these documents. look to the fantastic work uh that it does and to the champions uh uh
40:45
40 minutes, 45 seconds
of these issues and these ideas and go uh be be boyed by them, be encouraged and stand up for what is an amazing
40:54
40 minutes, 54 seconds
thing that we should be incredibly proud of. But more importantly is absolutely the just and right thing to do. I’ll
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leave the contributions counselors.
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41 minutes, 9 seconds
Okay, let’s put it to the vote then. All those in favor, I declare that carried. Thank you, councilors. Uh, and certainly the the
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41 minutes, 16 seconds
list of the achievements really does speak to what social justice is all about. It’s prov being able to provide those opportunities for everybody who
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41 minutes, 23 seconds
lives um in our city and and certainly supporting them to be the best that they can be. So, thank you for your words,
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41 minutes, 30 seconds
counselors, and uh certainly um I encourage all the members of our community to come out to the event because that’s really is a celebration
41:38
41 minutes, 38 seconds
of how far we’ve come as a city and certainly acknowledging the work that there is still to do. But it would be great to have our community celebrate um
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41 minutes, 46 seconds
our city with us. So, that is the 29th of August and the details will be available on our on our website as we
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41 minutes, 52 seconds
get closer. Okay, that is the first item on our agenda. Uh 8.1. We now move to 8.2. This is the external grant
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42 minutes, 1 second
management policy and I seek councelor to move a motion. Please council. Councelor Misho.
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42 minutes, 7 seconds
Thank you madame mayor. I’ll move the report as written. Thank you.
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42 minutes, 10 seconds
Thank you councelor Micho. Do I have a second for this item please councilors.
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Councelor Kurt will second it. Back to you councelor Micho.
42:20
42 minutes, 20 seconds
Thank you madame mayor. Uh Madame Mayor, this report talks about our external grant management uh policy and sets the
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42 minutes, 29 seconds
tone for council on the way in which uh will provide its position in the application, acceptance and management
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42 minutes, 36 seconds
of external funding. Uh some rate payers and uh you know people who may be listening to this wonder what does that mean? Why would the council even uh
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42 minutes, 45 seconds
refuse external funding uh from state or federal government? Uh uh Madame May, what we have experienced in the past
42:53
42 minutes, 53 seconds
that we may have received some uh funding from state or federal government or opposition parties as an election uh
43:01
43 minutes, 1 second
campaign promise that does not align with our 4-year capital program. And of course, it puts council at a cost that
43:10
43 minutes, 10 seconds
it may have not um envisaged or it may actually put us in a budget deficit. I remember uh in the past that uh there
43:18
43 minutes, 18 seconds
was some funding promised for Broadman Stadium in Sbury. Um and that did not account for the cost of our offices and
43:26
43 minutes, 26 seconds
we had to actually uh pay for that ourselves which uh it is something that we did not account for. So what this
43:34
43 minutes, 34 seconds
policy does it actually makes some changes uh and these changes are uh it adds proactive efforts to seek budget
43:41
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and election commitments uh that any funding sort for council project is on the provisor that the project are
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43 minutes, 48 seconds
budgeted within the 4year uh program of the uh council uh projects and any
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43 minutes, 56 seconds
funding sort will also support the delivery of those projects and as council uh since we spend weeks trying
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44 minutes, 4 seconds
to actually organize and set uh the capital work program for the four years and often uh more than not sometimes uh
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44 minutes, 11 seconds
we actually hold officers and council accountable as to why certain projects are delayed or why they haven’t come to fruition. I think this is important that
44:19
44 minutes, 19 seconds
the state government and federal government as well when they come to actually provide their uh election promises and probably we’re going to see
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44 minutes, 28 seconds
many of them in the next uh few months since state elections approaching that they have to align with our goals and
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44 minutes, 35 seconds
capital work program capital works program and also our advocacy uh the shortlisted items that we want which you mentioned earlier uh which was mentioned
44:44
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earlier by our c our counselors being the duplic ation of some roads broad station and other advocacy items that
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we’ve actually sought. So I’ll leave it there uh uh madame may and I’ll allow the second to continue. Thank you.
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45 minutes, 1 second
Thank you councelor Misho. Councelor Kurt, did you wish to add?
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45 minutes, 7 seconds
Yeah, thank you very much Madam Chair and thank you to councelor Misho. It’s not a surprise to the conversations
45:14
45 minutes, 14 seconds
which have been happening across the local government sector, particularly in growth councils as well, that there are funding shortfalls for major
45:22
45 minutes, 22 seconds
infrastructure projects. And you look at facilities like uh stadium renewal, new stadiums, look at new leisure centers,
45:30
45 minutes, 30 seconds
often stretching into the tens of millions and sometimes hundreds of millions of dollars. And they’re simply projects which council does not have the
45:36
45 minutes, 36 seconds
finances or budget to undertake on our own. And so we have to be really really uh
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45 minutes, 44 seconds
conscient of that fact and be really direct in ensuring that the money that we receive are for projects that will
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45 minutes, 50 seconds
benefit our community directly and don’t uh commit our council to doing projects which we haven’t funded within our
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45 minutes, 58 seconds
capital program. So this policy has was introduced a number of years ago because some money which had come to council in the past had been for projects which
46:07
46 minutes, 7 seconds
hadn’t been in our capital program and effectively it meant that a whole rewriting of the program often uh was undertaken and it meant that some parts of our community then benefited from
46:15
46 minutes, 15 seconds
projects but then other parts of our community which hadn’t had that that project committed to it maybe might have uh had some delays for projects in their
46:23
46 minutes, 23 seconds
area. So this has been under review over the past 20 months and there has been some minor changes to this policy. And what I am pleased to see within this
46:30
46 minutes, 30 seconds
policy now is that we are going to be no longer uh with our largest projects going to be 100% funding our projects
46:37
46 minutes, 37 seconds
and then seeking capital costs from other levels of government or from private partners to offset those costs.
46:42
46 minutes, 42 seconds
And that we will actually sometimes with some projects we only part fund them and we’ll say it’s on other levels of government or other parts of society to come up with the rest of the funds to to
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46 minutes, 51 seconds
make that possible. And that’s been a really effective tool that other levels of government have used when uh approaching uh elections and approaching
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46 minutes, 59 seconds
other levels of government. I look at councils like White Horse Council with their nonawatting stadium. They they part funded that I think a third and they got a 30 $40 million commitment
47:08
47 minutes, 8 seconds
from the federal government to building their stadium there. uh whereas we in the past as a council we’ve fully funded a project and then tried to uh scrape
47:16
47 minutes, 16 seconds
back money from other levels of government which hasn’t always uh played out to our benefit because effectively if we’re going to build it anyway why would any level of government want to
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47 minutes, 23 seconds
contribute to it in the end so I am pleased to see this what I’d like to see our council do a lot more of though is actually work with the private sector and I look at a building like this where
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47 minutes, 32 seconds
we had support of philanthropic organizations we had the support of Ford Australia of uh Fairfax papers of the
47:38
47 minutes, 38 seconds
age uh newspaper as well to help build this facility. We had Vissy support as well. We built the Meadow Heights learning center. We’ve partnered as well
47:47
47 minutes, 47 seconds
uh to to build the community hubs with the Scanland Foundation. And so I think here when we’ve got projects which need support, it can’t always be relying upon
47:55
47 minutes, 55 seconds
state and federal government as well. We need to be looking to the private sector and to our corporate partners and to our philanthropic organizations to support
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48 minutes, 2 seconds
us as well. But this is a policy which is a step in the right direction. and it probably doesn’t go as far as I wanted to in every area, but um I’m pleased to
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48 minutes, 9 seconds
see those those changes put in there as well. Thank you.
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48 minutes, 13 seconds
Thank you um for the comments. Councelor Kurt, any further contributions from councils? Yeah, we’ll go to councelor Watson.
48:19
48 minutes, 19 seconds
Thank you, Madame May. Just want to reiterate um the I’ve spoken a lot in this chamber about the importance of partnerships and that we need strong
48:28
48 minutes, 28 seconds
partnerships between local, state, federal governments um to they are essential to deliver the infrastructure services and facilities that both
48:36
48 minutes, 36 seconds
established and our rapidly growing communities need. uh we excuse me by working together and sharing responsibilities through grant funding
48:45
48 minutes, 45 seconds
programs we can achieve much better outcomes for our residents and ensure communities receive the investment that they deserve. I I believe that this
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48 minutes, 52 seconds
revised policy strikes an appropriate balance between pursuing valuable funding contributions and opportunities and ma whilst also maintaining a
49:00
49 minutes
responsible financial management. I think it provides a clear framework for decision-m while ensuring council remains well positioned to advocate for
49:09
49 minutes, 9 seconds
and secure investment for our community going forward. Thank you.
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49 minutes, 13 seconds
Thank you, Councelor Watson. Any further contributions, councilors?
49:17
49 minutes, 17 seconds
Okay, let’s put it to the vote then. All those in favor, I declare that carried. Thank you, councilors.
49:24
49 minutes, 24 seconds
Item 8.3 uh on the agenda is the memorial request and seat donation for Eene Pal. I seek a counselor to move this item, please. Councelor Bell.
49:35
49 minutes, 35 seconds
Thank you very much, Madame Mayor. I’d like to move the officer’s recommendation as it’s written.
49:39
49 minutes, 39 seconds
Thank you, councelor Bell. Do I have a second of this one, please?
49:45
49 minutes, 45 seconds
Oh, sorry, Councelor Hanley. Will second that. Back to you, councelor.
49:48
49 minutes, 48 seconds
Thank you very much, Madame May. It is um one of the great pleasures of this role that we get to uh have opportunities like this and in
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49 minutes, 57 seconds
celebrating and acknowledging or at least proposing to celebrate and acknowledge uh members of our community.
50:03
50 minutes, 3 seconds
Uh for a little bit of background uh for those watching on online or on the video afterwards, uh the family of the late
50:11
50 minutes, 11 seconds
Eileen Pal uh reached out to council after there was a wish, I believe from memory in her in in her will that uh a a
50:20
50 minutes, 20 seconds
a bench be located somewhere in Sbury uh so that there would be a place for her and her fam well, not for her, but
50:28
50 minutes, 28 seconds
sorry, for her family uh to gather and to remember her uh and that that bench And a small plaque erected on that bench
50:35
50 minutes, 35 seconds
would be funded by uh the will uh in in honor of Eileen. Now Eileen has had a very long uh four decadel long
50:42
50 minutes, 42 seconds
connection to Sbury and our community and our broader city. And uh I I think this is a really nice and fitting way to
50:50
50 minutes, 50 seconds
acknowledge someone which isn’t you know more typically this council is getting up and we’re naming buildings or entire parks off someone and sometimes it’s
50:59
50 minutes, 59 seconds
these smaller opportunities uh which obviously there are many more opportunities to do such things but uh uh that are just as powerful or just as
51:08
51 minutes, 8 seconds
important. So, uh I I believe that the the plan is is we’re doing some works at Emmy Bottom Wetlands and the family is
51:17
51 minutes, 17 seconds
agreeable that that is a great location uh for a new park bench to be installed and so an additional park bench uh proposed for Amy Bottom. There’s some
51:26
51 minutes, 26 seconds
approvals that we need to go through and all being well that I’m sure uh we’ll get that done. But we do have a backup location which is of course uh the Nook
51:34
51 minutes, 34 seconds
in Sumry which is just as an amazing spot as well. So, Uh I would like to acknowledge uh Een’s family, Een herself
51:42
51 minutes, 42 seconds
uh and thank uh her and the entire family for this really wonderful way of acknowledging someone who as I said 40
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51 minutes, 51 seconds
years multiple nonfor-profit organizations was a midwife and brought that professional expertise to so many groups and organizations across our
51:59
51 minutes, 59 seconds
city. Was involved in mother’s groups, babysitting clubs, multiple birth groups. Uh she had two sets of twins. I didn’t [laughter]
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52 minutes, 7 seconds
so uh definitely experienced in the multiple birth group uh scenario and of course involved in the SR bridge club arts and craft group
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52 minutes, 16 seconds
speak to them and of of course uh made an amazing contribution across uh the broader Sbury community through sporting clubs and
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52 minutes, 24 seconds
other community groups. So as I said I think this is a great opportunity a simple one and um I commend the uh report and its recommendation to the chamber. Thank you, Councelor Bell.
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52 minutes, 34 seconds
Councelor Hanley, as a seconder, do you wish to add?
52:37
52 minutes, 37 seconds
Thank you, Madame Mayor, and thank you, Councelor Bell, for those um really lovely words. Um I just like to uh offer
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52 minutes, 44 seconds
my condolences to Alen’s family, uh Eileen, sorry. Um and acknowledge her amazing contribution to our community.
52:51
52 minutes, 51 seconds
Um this is a really lovely way to um to commemorate her and um I hope that when her family visit Emu Bottom or well
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52 minutes, 58 seconds
hopefully all the nook um that they can really feel proud of um the contribution that their mother made to our wonderful town.
53:05
53 minutes, 5 seconds
Thank you very much councelor Hamley. Any further contributions councilors?
53:09
53 minutes, 9 seconds
Let’s put it to the vote. All those in favor I declare that carried. Thank you councilors. Um item 8.4 Four is the
53:18
53 minutes, 18 seconds
response to one of our notice of of motion from councelor Hamley in relation to carbon and biodiversity credit market opportunities and costs and I seek
53:27
53 minutes, 27 seconds
councelor to move a motion for this one please. Councelor Hamley.
53:32
53 minutes, 32 seconds
Thank you madame mayor. I’d like to move the motion as written.
53:34
53 minutes, 34 seconds
Thank you councelor Hamley. Do I have a second for this? Councelor Gage will second it. Back to you councelor Hamley.
53:42
53 minutes, 42 seconds
Thank you madam mayor. Um firstly I would like to acknowledge the work of council officers for investigating this
53:49
53 minutes, 49 seconds
um really thoroughly. So this was a notice of motion that um I put up uh a little while ago to um explore what opportunities could exist out there in
53:57
53 minutes, 57 seconds
um carbon and biodiversity markets to hopefully you know potentially generate some revenue off of our incredibly vast and wonderful um natural spaces that we
54:05
54 minutes, 5 seconds
have through our wonderful city. Um so it’s um it was a very novel idea um one that hadn’t been implemented by
54:13
54 minutes, 13 seconds
other councils or considered more broadly um apparently even by the people who created the carbon offset schemes.
54:19
54 minutes, 19 seconds
So uh because of that it hasn’t been made available to any uh local governments as of yet. Um but this does
54:25
54 minutes, 25 seconds
offer some more opportunities anyway. So um so these things are incredibly complex.
54:32
54 minutes, 32 seconds
It’s still an emerging um largely an emerging area and they’re highly regulated and um typically sort of these
54:39
54 minutes, 39 seconds
projects are only financially viable um for very large scale projects. So carbon credit generation generally requires uh
54:47
54 minutes, 47 seconds
land parcels of over 50 hectares um strong vegetation reestablishment prospects and canopy cover over 20% um
54:55
54 minutes, 55 seconds
to offset the fixed reporting and auditing costs. So [snorts] these um programs are still very bureaucratic um and so there’s a few barriers there um
55:03
55 minutes, 3 seconds
but officers did a really great job of looking into um all of these details and um pulling together this report. So this
55:11
55 minutes, 11 seconds
doesn’t mean that we should step away from um looking into things to do with reveation, urban greening and you know better biodiversity outcomes for our
55:19
55 minutes, 19 seconds
city. So these are really important um for climate action, for resilience um and protecting and conserving our
55:26
55 minutes, 26 seconds
beautiful natural environments. So, while there’s some challenges in us being able to access these um at this
55:34
55 minutes, 34 seconds
point of time, um there’s still some more opportunities for us. And I really like that um officers have included the the recommendation here to um to write
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55 minutes, 43 seconds
to other levels of government um to look at ways that we could potentially um you know, they could develop something that we could access in the future, which
55:50
55 minutes, 50 seconds
would be really beneficial not only to us but uh other councils all across the country.
55:56
55 minutes, 56 seconds
So, at the moment, um, officers looking at our, um, carbon emissions profile, um, it looks like we’re on track to need
56:03
56 minutes, 3 seconds
to purchase carbon credits in order to meet our own 2030 carbon neutral target.
56:08
56 minutes, 8 seconds
Um, so, and that’s probably not going to be possible until we look at things like methane flaring um, out of the SRE
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56 minutes, 15 seconds
landfill, which is a major contribution to our um, uh, carbon emissions in our city. So, um, so we’ve still got a
56:23
56 minutes, 23 seconds
little bit of work to do, um, to look at how we’re going to be able to reach our own 2030 targets, but hopefully if we can convince the other levels of government to come on board and make
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56 minutes, 31 seconds
some tweaks to the current systems, hopefully this will be something that’s available to us in the future.
56:39
56 minutes, 39 seconds
Thank you. Thank you, Councelor Hamley. Councelor Gage, do you wish to add?
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56 minutes, 44 seconds
Yes, I’ll add this to to my support to this. This is a totally win-win um notice of motion and and I I I when
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56 minutes, 52 seconds
councelor [clears throat] sorry when when it was first raised I I I said that I I wish I’d thought of it.
57:01
57 minutes, 1 second
It was such a clever idea. Anyway, the um it’s it’s great because it both as as as um councelor Hamley has pointed out helps conserve our natural environment.
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57 minutes, 12 seconds
uh encourages people to to to to conserve and and improve our natural environment and if it works it we will give scooters some more income as well.
57:20
57 minutes, 20 seconds
So we get paid to do good works and what’s wrong with that? And it comes at a time this this um this notice of
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57 minutes, 29 seconds
motion this motion comes to us just at a time when the federal government is looking at expanding the um carbon price
57:37
57 minutes, 37 seconds
idea actually because it people may not have realized this. I didn’t realize it myself. the carbon price um system doesn’t apply to electricity generators
57:45
57 minutes, 45 seconds
and that yeah we we are increasingly moving to electricity and electricity generates 35% of the carbon. So and even some one or two liberals are coming in
57:54
57 minutes, 54 seconds
favor of that one. So it’s great. So um overall this is a terrific idea and and it’s to be very much commended and recommended. Thank you.
58:03
58 minutes, 3 seconds
Thank you councelor Gagein. Any further contributions councilors?
58:08
58 minutes, 8 seconds
Let’s put it to the vote. All those in favor? I declare that carried. Thank you, councilors. Um, item 8.5. This is also a response to a notice of motion.
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58 minutes, 19 seconds
This one’s from councelor Bell and it relates to Canterbury Hills Estate Truck movements and I refer to Councelor Bell to move a motion, please.
58:28
58 minutes, 28 seconds
Thank you very much, Madame Mayor. I’d like to move uh the recommendation as written.
58:33
58 minutes, 33 seconds
Thank you, Councelor Bell. Do I have a second for this item, please? Councilors.
58:38
58 minutes, 38 seconds
Councelor Watson will second it. Back to you, Councelor Bell.
58:41
58 minutes, 41 seconds
Thank you very much, Madame Mayor. Um, I’m absolutely pleased uh to move this report this evening, which comes back to council following a notice of motion I
58:48
58 minutes, 48 seconds
brought forward uh last year. I want to say about this time last year, but uh in response to the significant concerns
58:55
58 minutes, 55 seconds
raised uh by local residents in Sbury and more specifically in Canterbury Hills Estate. At the time, residents quite rightly expected council to do
59:04
59 minutes, 4 seconds
everything within its power to investigate the matter at hand, enforce our planning scheme where possible, and provide confidence that their concerns
59:12
59 minutes, 12 seconds
were being taken seriously. Having read this report, I’m satisfied that our officers have diligently exercised every
59:20
59 minutes, 20 seconds
power available to them under the current legislative framework. The report in front of us tonight demonstrates that officers pursued
59:27
59 minutes, 27 seconds
enforcement action through the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal. They successfully obtained enforcement orders
59:34
59 minutes, 34 seconds
to stop uh the absolutely unacceptable behavior and activity that was having such a significant impact on residents
59:41
59 minutes, 41 seconds
and our broader community and have continued to work towards a longterm compliance outcome.
59:48
59 minutes, 48 seconds
Most importantly, Madame May, the immediate impacts once those orders were achieved have ceased. Ultimately though,
59:56
59 minutes, 56 seconds
Madame Mayor, my notice of motion wasn’t simply and specifically just about the one site. It also asked us and our
1:00:03
1 hour, 3 seconds
officers to reflect on whether there were lessons that we could learn from this experience, whether our processes could be improved and whether there were
1:00:11
1 hour, 11 seconds
changes that we should advocate for to better equip councils in the future.
1:00:17
1 hour, 17 seconds
I’m pleased to see this report identifies opportunities to better explain planning process investigations to the community and recommends the
1:00:25
1 hour, 25 seconds
required advocacy to the state government for stronger and more practical enforcement powers. In many ways, this report is particularly
1:00:33
1 hour, 33 seconds
timely. As many in Sumry would know, uh there is a planning and compliance and illegal dumping has once again become a
1:00:42
1 hour, 42 seconds
significant topic of conversation in Sri and Bullah. And following another matter that is currently being investigated by our officers.
1:00:50
1 hour, 50 seconds
While that situation, I would argue, is different to the Canterbury Hills situation, it is understandably generated strong community interest and concern.
1:01:00
1 hour, 1 minute
I have been assured by our officers that the current matter is being treated seriously and that they are undertaking the appropriate investigations under the
1:01:07
1 hour, 1 minute, 7 seconds
powers available to them and working where they can with the occupiers, landholders, and other relevant enforcement agencies where they can.
1:01:16
1 hour, 1 minute, 16 seconds
Unfortunately though, Madame May, I have to speak. Over recent days, we’ve also seen a degree of commentary and frankly
1:01:23
1 hour, 1 minute, 23 seconds
some rage baiting from people who ought to know better. I’ll say this really clearly and this report makes it abundantly clear that while we do every
1:01:32
1 hour, 1 minute, 32 seconds
single thing that we can, our officers do everything that they can under the powers and legislation available to
1:01:39
1 hour, 1 minute, 39 seconds
them, planning investigations are legal processes. They are not social media competitions. Our officers have an
1:01:48
1 hour, 1 minute, 48 seconds
obligation to investigate ma matters thoroughly, fairly, and within the law.
1:01:53
1 hour, 1 minute, 53 seconds
They deserve the opportunity to do exactly that without misinformation or unrealistic expectations undermining the
1:02:00
1 hour, 2 minutes
absolutely important public confidence in their work or exposing our officers to risks which are simply not acceptable
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where communities can become frustrated and I get that and I absolutely agree.
1:02:13
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I’ve become just as frustrated with these matters when they take what is you know for for the lay person too long to execute. It is often because the
1:02:21
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legislative framework doesn’t provide councils with timely enforcement tools that people expect us to have. That is
1:02:29
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why I particularly welcome the advocacy recommendations contained in the report tonight. If councils are expected to respond quickly to planning breaches
1:02:38
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like the one that this report uh speaks about in Canterbury Hills, then they must also be given the tools to do so.
1:02:47
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Finally, Madame Mayor, I’d like to thank the residents of Canterbury Hills for their leadership, for their patience, and their constructive engagement through what has been a lengthy process.
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And thank our planning officers for the considerable work that they have undertaken.
1:03:02
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This truly has been a mammoth opportunity. And I would like to say at this point, Madame May, that councilors have been kept up to date as is
1:03:10
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appropriate at every stage through this matter. and to my satisfaction in compliance with my notice of motion.
1:03:18
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This report demonstrates that council has listened, acted, and where we could learn from the experience and ha and is
1:03:26
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now advocating for the improvements that will benefit not only future planning and compliance matters across Hume, but I certainly hope across Victoria because
1:03:34
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these issues are far too common, not only here in Hume, not only across the growth areas of Melbourne, but far too common across our entire state as well.
1:03:44
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I thank officers, I thank councilors, and I commend the report to the chamber.
1:03:48
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Thank you, Councelor Bell. Councelor Watson.
1:03:51
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Thank you, uh, Madame Mayor. Uh, I think that’s been a great summation of the situation. Councelor Bell, um, I would like to rise, uh, not to add to that,
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but to, uh, say just a couple of quick things. One, um, the the highlighting of the lessons learned and what can we what
1:04:06
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can we do differently in the future or how can we use this experience because you’re right, these type of things, unfortunately, uh, this is not an isolated um, incident. Um, and it is
1:04:16
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really important that we through everything that we go through, we reflect, take some time to reflect and consider what we could have done better.
1:04:23
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That’s not to say that we’ve done something badly, but there’s always room for improvement. Um, how we can engage with with um with officers, how officers
1:04:32
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officers can engage with us, um, how the community can be engaged. I’d also like to thank the community for their leadership, but councelor Bell, I’d also
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like to thank you for your leadership in this particular matter. Um it is a very difficult and complex matter and it has raised uh it has raised tempers uh
1:04:47
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across the community and rightly so. Um there’s been a lot of frustration um and I thank you for your leadership in how uh you have also helped guide um us as a
1:04:57
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council through what the the lived on the ground feeling is um with this particular matter. So thank you very much.
1:05:04
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Thank you councel Watson. Any further contributions from councilors?
1:05:08
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Okay, let’s put it to the vote then. All those in favor, I declare that carried. Thank you, councilors.
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Um 8.6 is the civil construction panel award uh contract and I seek a counselor
1:05:24
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to move a motion, please. Councelor Sherry.
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Thank you, Madame Mayor. I would like to move the offic’s recommendation as written.
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Thank you, councelor Sherry. Do I have a second for this, please? Councilors.
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Councelor Bell will second it. Back to you, councelor Sherry. Thank you, Madame Mayor.
1:05:42
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The civil construction works panel as outlined in the report represents a new and more strategic approach for Hume
1:05:50
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City Council in delivering our capital works program where we have the ongoing need to contract recurring construction
1:05:59
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related works. Now we manage approximately 1,400 kilometers of roads,
1:06:06
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2,300 kilometers of curb and channel, 1,912 km kilometers of drainage and pits and
1:06:14
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culverts, over 68,000 pits and 2,000 kilometers of footpath
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and 438 uh 100,000 square meters of car parking.
1:06:32
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It’s just amazing. And there’s so much more in these hard assets, but we’ve got to renew and upgrade them all the time
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to ensure that we’re maintaining our services to the community as well as constructing new assets in the growth
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areas to meet the demands. So with this panel uh the scope of works will include
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renewal, replacement, upgrade, maintenance and some new construction.
1:07:03
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Uh and there will be a civil schedule of rates of these civil works.
1:07:09
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But as you can see there will be concrete works, foot path, curbon channel, pavement works, drainage.
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So if you read the scope of the report, a lot of it is the basic hard infrastructure in the old rates, roads
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and rubbish that uh we have always been charged with looking after. So, I’m
1:07:35
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looking forward to the execution of this report and the these contracts because I believe they will speed up the delivery
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of our projects and programs and it will save money and reduce time wastage
1:07:51
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and it will actually keep up our asset portfolio in good condition for long-term use by the community. Thank you.
1:08:01
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Thanks, Councelor Sherry. Councelor Bell, do you wish to speak? Happy to reserve my right.
1:08:06
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Thank you, Councelor Bell, for that. Any further contributions, councilors? Let’s put it to the vote then. All those in favor?
1:08:14
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I declare that carried. Thank you, councilors.
1:08:17
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Uh, next is another contract. 8.7 is the provision of programmed picked cleaning services. Do I have a counselor to move
1:08:24
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a motion? Councelor Sherry will also move that one.
1:08:27
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Thank you. I’d like to move the office’s recommendation as written. Thank you, Council Gage. I saw your hand. Are you happy to second that?
1:08:36
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Yep. There’s a a slight time delay, so your hand is a little bit slow.
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Councelor Sherry was first, but happy for you to second it. We’ll go back to Councelor Sherry now.
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Thank you, Madame Mayor. According to the report, the pit cleaning services contract improves the efficiency of our
1:08:52
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drainage network by shifting maintenance from a reactive cycle to a proactive
1:08:59
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planned program of pit cleaning. Now, this might sound as dry as dust, very boring, but it’s actually if if your
1:09:08
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drainage network shuts down, you’ll know it in this city. And pits are really important.
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Uh look, we’ll reduce blockages and you know emergency events can really wreak havoc
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across our extensive drainage system which is more than 2 thou 2,000 kilometers of drains and so many pits
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which I’ve outlined in the previous report.
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So blockages will be prevented before they occur by regular cleaning of rubbish, litter and other debris.
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Reactive maintenance requests will be reduced as that a proactive approach is
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expected. So we’re going to go in and prevent the problem before it builds up. Well, our contractors will anyway.
1:10:01
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Highrisk locations will be prioritized.
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So pits located at low points in the road network where storm water naturally collects,
1:10:14
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pits in areas with a greater risk of flooding if drainage capacity is reduced
1:10:21
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and uh regular clearing as a preventative measure. So what I’m excited about is that better asset
1:10:30
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information will be obtained. CR contractors will inspect each pit,
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record defects and expected they will be collecting digital images. So they will
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be actively participating in updating our asset management framework.
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So, I’m really happy about this because our asset management uh needs to go into the 21st century.
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So in summary uh by regularly cleaning and inspecting pits, preventing blockages,
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reducing flooding risks and emergency callouts and enabling more strategic management of the drainage system
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through you know at asset data capture of about our assets. I
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believe that this is a great step forward and I ask councilors to support this office’s recommendation to look
1:11:33
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forward and I’m I’m looking forward to the results from the execution of this uh report. Thank you.
1:11:41
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Thank you very much councelor Sherry. Um councelor Gajun, do you wish to um add?
1:11:47
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Yes, I do. Um this is the subject which uh is but perhaps very boring to an awful lot of people but I find fascinating. I remember
1:11:56
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As a very small boy, we had a drain outside where we used to live. And regularly the local council, the ons council was in England, used to come
1:12:04
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around with a big truck with with tanks on the back and suck out whatever guns was in there, which was usually dark
1:12:12
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brown uh in those days. There were still plenty of um horses um using the uh the roads as as their bathrooms in effect.
1:12:22
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And this used to block up the drains.
1:12:24
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And uh and it was fascinating to see that the the washing that out and then replacing the the the dark brown water with with some fresh looking white
1:12:32
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slightly bluish tinge water. I think it must have had something in it to to help sanitize the drains. Um so I I remember doing as I say when I was about four or
1:12:40
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five years old and so I had some understanding of drains even at that stage and drains falls into that um category of things rates roads and
1:12:49
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rubbish that councelor Sherry’s already referred to the unglamorous size of council but the very important part uh for those who are not aware of it
1:12:57
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there’s two classes of waste water that we have um needs to be dealt with there’s a soil um soil waste which is
1:13:05
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what goes down your toilet and sink and that needs to go to a sewage treatment plant and the waste water which is what goes down drain drain holes in the in
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the street or in pavements and off your roof and so on. And that just needs to be um in effect returned to rivers or or
1:13:21
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or soaked away and going into the water table. Um, and I’ve certainly had a lot of complaints from residents of my of my
1:13:30
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woodlands ward, which has got quite a few trees in there, of drains being blocked up. And up until now, we we’ve
1:13:37
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had a reactive strategy of of, okay, somebody rings up, says, “My drain is blocked.” And we’ve all seen this when we’re driving around the street and the
1:13:45
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um there’s a big puddle after a rainstorm because the drain is blocked.
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the the the the rain has washed too many leaves down into the into the drain and blocked it up and so we have to call it out. So I’m very pleased as as is
1:13:57
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councelor Sherry that we’re now moving to a proactive approach of regular maintenance and I always prefer the idea of regular maintenance than reactive
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maintenance. It’s it’s better to fix your roof before it actually starts leaking and it’s better to fix your drains before they they get blocked up
1:14:14
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because before they before they get blocked they are partially blocked. So you give a bit of a clear out now and again you regularly inspect them and then you can you keep a record of those
1:14:22
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like uh some of my res the residents in my ward um regularly get their drains blocked because that’s the way the the the leaves blow. So these drains like
1:14:32
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this will receive more more attention as part of the scheme. So this is all all a wonderful a wonderful new approach and I
1:14:39
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think will not only pro work out cheaper in the long run but also give much better service. So I thank you for that and I recommend this to everybody.
1:14:50
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Thank you councelor Gage. Certainly showing your age with your comments there. But in any case, any further contributions from councilors?
1:14:58
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Let’s put it to the vote then. All those in favor? I declare that carried. Thank you councilors.
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Uh next is item 8.8. Uh this is another contract which is for the provision of reactive drainage maintenance services.
1:15:13
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Do I have a council to move this? Councelor Bell will move this. Yes, I will.
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Thank you, Councelor Bell. Do I have a seconder? Councelor Sher is happy to second it. Back to you, Councelor Bell.
1:15:22
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Thank you very much, Madame Mayor. Um, I am, uh, I’m pleased, absolutely pleased to be moving this recommendation. Uh,
1:15:30
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tonight, this is the third of three significant infrastructure and maintenance contracts uh, that council has considered this evening. While each
1:15:38
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deals with a different service, together they paint a really clear picture of what local government for me is all about. The civil construction panel, the
1:15:47
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program pit cleaning services, and now uh and and this reactive drainage maintenance panel are all about ensuring
1:15:54
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that council has the capability to maintain the infrastructure our residents rely on every single day.
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These reports may not, as my colleagues have said, may not be the most exciting items on our agenda tonight, but they are some of the most important.
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Residents regularly tell me that they want council to focus on the basics.
1:16:14
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They want safe roads. They want quality footpaths. They want functioning drainage. They want us to maintain the assets we’ve already paid for before
1:16:22
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moving on to the next big thing. This contract helps deliver exactly that. Our municipality is responsible for an
1:16:30
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enormous drainage network. As we’ve heard, more than 2,000 kilometers of drainage infrastructure, 54,000 roadside pits and drainage assets with a
1:16:39
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replacement value exceeding $800 million. Looking after an asset network of that size requires experienced
1:16:46
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contractors who can respond quickly, particularly during severe weather events.
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What I particularly like about these three contracts is that they aren’t simply replacing what we already have.
1:16:57
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They’re improving on how we deliver these important services. By establishing specialist panels, council will have access to multiple experienced
1:17:06
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contractors, allowing us to improve response times, increase resilience during peak demand such as uh major rainfall events, and deliver maintenance
1:17:15
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work more effectively and efficiently and consistently across the municipality. That is a smarter way of
1:17:22
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working and ultimately it means better outcomes for our residents and rateayers.
1:17:27
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As the report outlines, this panel will improve our ability to respond to block drains, undertake required CCTV
1:17:35
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inspections, replace damaged pits, clear gross pollutant traps, and provide emergency call out 24 hours a day, 365
1:17:44
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days a year. Those are the services most people never think about it until they need them. I often speak about getting
1:17:52
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back to basics. To me, that’s not just a slogan. It’s about making sure that we continually improve the everyday services that keep our community safe,
1:18:01
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accessible, and functioning. Good local government isn’t just about building new infrastructure. It’s about finding better, smarter, and more responsive
1:18:10
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ways to look after the infrastructure we already have. Advocacy builds tomorrow’s infrastructure. Maintenance protects today’s.
1:18:20
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These three contracts demonstrate that while we continue advocating for the major projects our communities deserve, we’re equally committed to maintaining
1:18:28
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and improving the roads, footpaths, civil infrastructure, and drainage that our residents use every day. I commend the report to the chamber.
1:18:41
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Thank you for that, Councelor Bell. Councelor Sherry, do you wish to add?
1:18:44
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Uh, thank you, Madame Mayor. And I think uh councelor Bell has given an outstanding um summation of that report.
1:18:53
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I just want to say there’s approximately $400,000 in the operating budget for the
1:19:00
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contract. Um and some works will also be covered by the drainage rehabilitation program in the capital works uh budget.
1:19:09
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So, uh, it it doesn’t seem like a lot of money that has to go a long way, but, uh, it it can, I think. Thank you.
1:19:21
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Thanks, councelor Sherry. Any further contributions, councilors?
1:19:25
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Okay, let’s put it to the vote then. All those in favor? I declare that carried. Thank you, councilors.
1:19:31
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And then the final item of correspondent uh sorry the final officers report this evening is the correspondence for June
1:19:39
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2026 from uh government ministers or members of parliament and I seek a counselor to move this item please.
1:19:48
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Councelor Kurt I will move the correspondence report. Thank you.
1:19:54
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Thanks Councelor Kurt. Second for this please. Councelor Sherry will second it.
1:19:58
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Back to you councelor Kurt. Thank you very much, Madam Chair. Lots of good uh correspondence which has gone out from your office and and bits of information
1:20:07
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that we’ve received as well. And I was very interested in attachment to and what is I think a pretty honest letter which has gone uh to the honorable
1:20:14
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member, the minister for environment, Mr. Erdwan, uh discussing the issues with illegal dumping. And I know that himself as the newly appointed minister
1:20:23
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for environment, it’s something that he wants to get on top of as well. And that the the state government has made some money available. I think $5 million for
1:20:30
1 hour, 20 minutes, 30 seconds
for councils to be able to to access that funding to help with uh the removal of dumped rubbish when it occurs. And we know that in our council area, it’s
1:20:38
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about 15,000 reports of dump rubbish get reported to our council every year. And that’s about 100 which are getting reported every single day. And we simply
1:20:47
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don’t have uh enough resources and teams to be able to to deal with that. And so this letter does detail the fact that
1:20:54
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some of those grants a little bit too ownorous in being able to acquit them and they’ve only been able to get about $6,000 in one of the the grant
1:21:01
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applications. And so effectively for the effort of making that application, it doesn’t actually return uh much to council in terms of what it’s actually costing our rate payers. So, I’m sure
1:21:10
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this one will be picked up and looked at, which is very, very good. And we look forward to to seeing more stronger involvement from all levels of government and from the state government
1:21:18
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as well in addressing the blight and purge of dumped rubbish. I’d also like to point out what is probably the fastest response that we’ve ever had to
1:21:26
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a letter, which was the letter that we went out to Mr. the honorable Matt Ko about what was a pretty poor decision I think for the the government to not give
1:21:34
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uh the B family whose uh son Corporal Cameron B was one of our um locals from Gladston Park and had received the
1:21:41
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Victoria Cross posumously and they’d removed his travel entitlements and so we sent that letter out and we had that resolution. I think it was the next day that the government actually walked back
1:21:50
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from that. So, it was great to hear that our voices were heard on that. And it’s great to hear that um their involvement in being able to travel the country and
1:21:57
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support their the the story of their son and his his veteran work, but also be able to hopefully attend in the future council events when we do the the
1:22:05
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Corporal Cameron Beard Awards and uh uh other such um openings of war memorials as well. Is that the alarm for the
1:22:13
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national alarm that was announced um earlier today which went to all of our phones? No, it wasn’t. Um but the other bits of correspond I just wanted to point out was some attachments which are
1:22:21
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on attachment 11 and 12 regarding the Talarine Library both from the local member and the federal member as well.
1:22:27
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And so that was one that we discussed during our budget process and we still are trying to work out what the next stage is for the Talmarine Library but just wanted to flag again that that is
1:22:35
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the library which is the oldest in our council network. it’s about 50 years old and it’s only one single room and that there is under our library renewal plan
1:22:43
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it has been identified it probably needs to be tripled in size and so I am keen to see uh us eventually get on to the next part of what’s what I’ve heard is
1:22:50
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actually supposed to be a feasibility study and then after that as well we can actually start maybe using that uh uh that external grants policy to get a bit
1:22:58
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of money from both the state and from the federal government to to redo that library and get it up to a standard which meets a modern community there in
1:23:05
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Taline which is growing and which as a changing demographic moving into the area. But on that basis, uh we’ll commit that to the to council for the rest of
1:23:13
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the discussion. But also attachment 14 as well, which was uh should be pointed out, is the ward boundary review. And I just I was sitting here thinking, geez, I went through the headache of going
1:23:21
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through the the boundary review last council election and putting in my own submission, and now I’m reading here that we have to do another ward boundary review. And so I reckon on that one, council, I reckon we should be asking
1:23:29
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for a 12 counselor because I think we’ve already got too many residents, about 15k, they’re all looking after um 15,000 residents each. and um with how much our
1:23:36
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community is growing each year, maybe we might go to a 12th council, but we’ll see. We’ll see what what comes of that. But um interesting interesting news.
1:23:44
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Anyway, thank you.
1:23:46
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Thank you for that, Councelor Kirk. I believe the second is councelor Sherry.
1:23:51
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Thank you, Madame Mayor. Uh I just want to point out that there’s a letter from
1:23:59
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the Minister for Local Government on page 112 indicating that uh up in the leadup to
1:24:06
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the 2028 council election, there will be a ward boundary review. So, ever since
1:24:14
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I’ve been on council, there has always been boundary changes in the wards. So
1:24:21
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this will be interesting. Uh it’s because there are more than 10% of
1:24:27
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electors that are above the threshold in at least one or more wards in Hume. And
1:24:35
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uh it’s always interesting to read the submissions and you know have a look at the maps and see what they’re going to be. But it just tells me that our city
1:24:44
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is growing at a a rapid rate and uh yeah, let’s just see what the outcome
1:24:50
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will be. Uh the other one is on page 111, Upfield Soccer Club. Uh it outlines
1:24:59
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to council advocacy on their behalf. Now that the club has previously received communication through officers that
1:25:07
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portable change facilities would be installed in November uh with any delay
1:25:14
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due to procurement difficulties and we’re committed to delivering these portable change room facilities at Gibb
1:25:21
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Reserve. I have been out there several times myself. Uh they’ve been actively engaged in this throughout the process.
1:25:31
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uh master planning of Gibb reserve is an outcome of the Hume active living plan.
1:25:37
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The club president has already had initial discussions with myself and officers re the development of the Gibb
1:25:46
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reserve master plan and I’m looking forward to seeing it coming into the chamber. The outcomes of the Hume
1:25:54
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football soccer plan, aquatic and indoor sports plan uh referred to in the letter letter have been incorporated into our
1:26:03
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Hume’s active living plan which we endorsed this year and is available on our website. Thank you.
1:26:11
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Thank you for that councelor Sherry. Any further contributions? We’ll go to council Micho please.
1:26:19
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Thank you Madame May. Madame May, there are a number of reports in this uh correspondence correspondence section which are very very good particularly
1:26:27
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the illegal dumping uh of rubbish something that we always talk about. I also would like to uh talk about the
1:26:34
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upfield soccer club as I have actually when I saw this letter I make made contact with the president of the club just to see what is what is going on.
1:26:43
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This is something that obviously if you call madame mayor I spoke very strongly about because this club has not had much investment in it for many many decades
1:26:52
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and they are doing so well. Um they’ve gone to state one and now they’re at the top of letter letter and um there
1:26:59
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actually could potentially be an NPL an elite league team. Um what actually had happened I think councelor Sherry was
1:27:06
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with me at a time when we were invited and we saw a number of young girls uh they were actually changing in the
1:27:13
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corner of their canteen room and their friends holding towels and I thought to myself this is not right. Then they took
1:27:21
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me through a visit of their bathrooms and their basins were rusted and broken.
1:27:26
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So we put this in the capital works program and this was supposed to um commence in November or December of last
1:27:34
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year. This was delayed due to procurement and as far as I know that they couldn’t actually find contractors.
1:27:40
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Now that they’ve found we found contractors, the amount has actually dropped um by uh the amount has dropped
1:27:47
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because there’s permits of $100,000. And this this the president said the girls they’ve lost a number of girls from the
1:27:55
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team um because they actually can’t provide for them. And also now with the soccer strategy, um the uh premises next
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door has actually been involved and it’s just delays and delays and delays. And I kindly ask council to start this
1:28:10
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program, help this uh help this uh team or the club, sorry, with the uh the permits, the high cost of the permit fees of $100,000.
1:28:21
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that erodess a lot of the actual contribution that has been made to this uh portable change room and I hope that
1:28:28
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we see this happening in the near future in the near few months. Thank you uh Madame May u thank you for your contribution
1:28:37
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councelor Misho that certainly seems like a a pretty uh significant amount for um permit fees uh and uh for I guess
1:28:44
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everybody’s uh information I certainly have reached out to the club last month um to offer to come and visit um myself as well. So, we’ll um take that
1:28:52
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conversation offline, I think, councelor Micho, and see if we can um work through those issues. Any further contributions? Councelor Watson.
1:29:00
1 hour, 29 minutes
Thank you, uh Council, Madame Mayor.
1:29:04
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Tonight’s correspondence uh report includes three letters about my favorite topic, Donny Brook Road. Uh I would like to acknowledge and thank both the
1:29:12
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Australian and Victorian governments for their investment in both stage one and two of the Donny Brook Road upgrade.
1:29:17
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You’ll see in the report that there is two letters um uh one from the one to the federal government regarding their commitment for an additional $37.4
1:29:25
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million and one to the Victorian government for an additional contribution of $7.7 million to include stage two in the scope of works. I
1:29:34
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acknowledge that this is a significant investment in one of the most important transport corridors in our municipality.
1:29:40
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It demonstrates recognition of the pressure pressures facing Melbourne’s northern growth areas and the urgent need for infrastructure that keeps pace
1:29:47
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with growth growth. The duplication and the construction of the bridge over the Hume will be transformative. It will improve safety, reduce cone congestion,
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and provide more reliable connections for residents, businesses, and freight operators across our city. You’ve heard me say that before. And whilst we are
1:30:04
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grateful for the funding commitment, the community is asking a very reasonable question. When will the work start? What is the construction timeline? The
1:30:13
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reality is that the growth is happening now. Families are moving into Calcalo and Donny Brook and Miklum now. Traffic congestion continues to get worse. We
1:30:22
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appreciate the announcements, the commitments, and the funding. But we want to see more than just signs on the side of the road telling us that a project is coming. We want to see works
1:30:30
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underway. We want to see the machinery on site. We want to see progress. And importantly, we want confidence that the infrastructure we need is finally going
1:30:38
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to be delivered. Every day this project is is delayed is another day that we spend less time with our families and more time sitting in traffic. It’s
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another day of frustration for local businesses, workers, residents trying to move around one of the fastest growing regions in Australia. Infrastructure
1:30:56
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should lead growth, not lag years behind it. So tonight, whilst I sincerely thank both levels of government for their investment and commitment, I also make
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the respectful but very clear request, bring this project forward and get it started. The funding is there, the need
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is there, the community support is there. We need the urgency to match the reality on the ground. We have been
1:31:19
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patient. We have advocated strongly for this project. We understand that major infrastructure projects take time, but we also know that waiting for
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construction to commence is a long time in a community growing as quickly as ours. Thank you for listening to our community. Thank you for investing in
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our future, but please let’s turn the signs into shovels and get this project underway sooner rather than later
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because we cannot afford to wait for infrastructure that we need today.
1:31:49
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Thank you, Council Watson. Any further discussion on the correspondence, councilors? Yes, we’ll go to you, councelor Overind.
1:31:56
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Thank you, Madam Mayor. Um, I’m just going to read out a couple that uh have already been mentioned. Uh, but I just want to put it back out there again with
1:32:04
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the illegal dumping um with the environment minister that um yes, the dumping of rubbish is getting worse and
1:32:12
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uh we do need help and we do need support when it comes to the rubbish being dumped. We uh have spoken previously about the uh legal dumping
1:32:20
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rebate which uh really has no effect on us and uh doesn’t really help councils in the our situation. So we do need more
1:32:27
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help when it comes to this uh problem that we are facing. Not just us, all councils are facing and uh with the growing population um in our suburbs
1:32:36
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growing rapidly, the dumping is getting worse and worse. So yes, we do need help. And the other is um in regards to the U. Minister of Veteran Affairs.
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Yeah. Thank you for uh reversing the uh decision for the Beard family. I have been to a few uh um events where they
1:32:53
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attended and they were wonderful events and getting or listening to them speak is um inspirational and inspirational
1:33:01
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for uh the younger generation growing up. So uh I think that was a a fantastic decision. So um yeah, thank you.
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Thank you councelor Overand. Uh any further contributions councilors on the correspondence?
1:33:16
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Okay, let’s put it to the vote then. All those in favor?
1:33:20
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I declare that carried. Thank you councilors.
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So that was the final um officers report for consideration this evening. So we move to item nine which is notices of
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motion. We’ve got three notices of motion uh on this evening’s agenda.
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We’ve had seven public comments received um for our notices of motion and uh one member of the gallery who has um
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indicated they wish to speak. Item uh the first notice of motion is item 9.1 no notice of motion 26-22.
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It’s come from councelor Sherry and it is in relation to data centers. U this one does have a registered speaker. So
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this is Anastasia Draionotus.
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I presume I got that wrong. But in any case, Anastasia, I can see that you are here and I invite you to uh please come forward uh and we’ll give you the opportunity to speak.
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Thank you for coming.
1:34:35
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[sighs]
1:34:36
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Hello everyone. My name is Anastasia Draanotis. I’m 30 years old, living in
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Campbellfield with my family. Uh many people don’t think much of our suburb, but it has been home to us for the last
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15 years. I come to you today because this AI data center that is proposed to be built in the empty plot where the
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Ford used to be on Barry Road. We received our certified letter on Friday the 24th of July leaving us only 4 days
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which included the weekend to so essentially two days to object to the proposal before the 28th of this month
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which is the cutoff date. The letter itself has little to no information about what this data center actually is.
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My community is of a lower socioeconomic demographic and many of our residents are elderly or English is their second language. This means they do not have
1:35:36
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the means to fully understand what is truly coming to our neighborhood. I have been reading the reports over the last two days of the proposed data center and
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educating myself on what these data centers actually are. From what I have learned, this will destroy our neighborhood and our community. I am
1:35:54
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appalled that we were not given a heads up by anyone, not even this council. The state government may be the one making
1:36:01
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the decisions. However, it should have been up to this council to inform the residents of the community. You may not have been in charge, but you were involved in the process and informed.
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And yet, the people directly affected were left in the dark. The answers that I have heard this evening from the earlier questions tell me that the
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council is washing their hands of any responsibility they have towards the people and of all accountability. This proposed six building eyesore of a data
1:36:27
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center is said to be 336 megawatt which is enough to power well over 240,000 homes. The high demand will inevitably
1:36:35
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put strain on the people’s local supply and push up energy prices that we will be paying for. The center will also
1:36:43
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store seven over 7 million lers of diesel to power their 300 backup generators for when we inevitably lose
1:36:50
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power and approximately over 800 tons of lithium ion batteries as energy stores.
1:36:56
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How is this safe so close to a residential area? The argument that this is an industrial zone is a loophole that seems to have cemented the fate of the
1:37:04
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people living right across the road. It will also be using over a billion gallons of our drinking water per day.
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There is a long list of concerns when it comes to these data centers that provide zero benefit to our community. Noise pollution, air pollution, light
1:37:19
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pollution, environmental degragation, just to list a few. And this is just one data center. There are already 40 in
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Victoria and over a hundred in all of Australia. Who is going to protect us from all of these greedy corporations
1:37:35
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that are coming from overseas to drain our land and to ruin our communities?
1:37:41
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And who is going to take responsibility for not informing the communities that will be directly affected? Thank you.
1:37:54
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Thank you, Anastasia. You appeared nervous uh certainly at the beginning, but absolutely not at the end. and we thank you for coming to speak to us. Uh
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and we’ll um we’ll we’ll try and keep in contact with you so that we can have a a further conversation about this. Um Mr.
1:38:11
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Ratherford, I believe you also wanted to um make a contribution.
1:38:18
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Actually, it’ll be short and sweet because the intention was to come and listen this evening. But what I would
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suggest that council defer a decision on data center forum this evening and I’d like to put on record that we do
1:38:33
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appreciate as an association the initiatives the council has already made on data centers. I think you’re leading
1:38:40
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the pack in in many respects. The association views is for council to arrange an information sharing meeting
1:38:48
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for residents. The request requires further discussion and consideration with council.
1:38:56
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It is not a proposal for council to interfere or be partisan in planning applications or permit arrangements.
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It’s purely an information sharing to inform the community.
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And we believe that this request is totally in accordance with council’s social justice charter which was carried
1:39:17
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unanimously this evening. We believe the deferral will allow time for further discussion with councilors and for
1:39:25
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residents to prepare their presentations to a future council meeting and we would urge your support for a deferral.
1:39:36
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Okay. Thank you, John. Uh so um not quite as uh enthusiastic applause,
1:39:43
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but certainly also some applause. It’s nice to have you in the gallery. Um it was your notice of motion, councelor Sher. So I’ll go to you to move a
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motion. Um, yeah, I just before I do that, I just would like to thank John for his considered comments and
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Anastasia for hers, but I’d also like to point out that we were as in the dark as
1:40:06
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the community when it came to this development.
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So I would like to defer the item um uh as uh so to another meeting to a future meeting of council. Thank you.
1:40:23
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Y thank you um councelor Sherry. So I I think you uh the the reasons for requesting the deferral are clear. So I’ll seek a councelor to second that.
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Councelor Ba will second it and I’ll just put that to the vote. Um, all those in favor of deferring,
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those against deferring, the deferral is carried. Um, so, uh, thank you to everybody who’s who’s come,
1:40:48
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um, to the chamber for this item. We will, um, reach out, um, throughout the week. So, um, if you could please, um,
1:40:56
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send me an email or give me a call, that would be helpful, and we can have some conversations about how we best proceed. So, but certainly, thank you for coming.
1:41:07
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I’ll wait a moment. I expect our gallery will clear out. No, no, no.
1:41:13
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Let’s move on um to the next uh notice of motion which is item 9.2.
1:41:22
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Uh this is from councelor Kurt and relates to an open platform for community submissions and ideas. I’ll go to councelor Kurt to move a motion, please.
1:41:31
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I’ll move the motion as listed. Thanks.
1:41:34
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Thank you, Councelor Kurt. Do I have a second for this one?
1:41:39
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Council Bell will second it. Back to you, Councelor Kurt.
1:41:43
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Thank you very much, Madam Chair. This is essentially a very brief notice of motion, but I think that we have responsibilities um under the local
1:41:51
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government act to consult with the community the way that we develop the budget and we have uh provisions within the local government act to have a
1:41:59
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community engagement policy and that really governs the way that we put together our budget. We do a good job in that we we go out for an extended amount
1:42:07
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of time. We’ve managed to to go out long before actually the budget’s developed to seek community ideas and submissions and uh it’s a good process that that
1:42:15
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works at the moment but we do find that uh it is the time for getting community submissions does change from year to
1:42:22
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year and it is it is sometimes hard for the community to be able to uh know when to put their their ideas forward and I
1:42:30
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you know I think of recent examples madam chair we’ve had uh a local sports club has come to us about a a
1:42:38
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an electronic scoreboard issue and uh effectively as the budget’s already been set um it might not be something which might be able to be looked at and so when they when they’re asked when when
1:42:46
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can they put that idea forward it has to be during the uh community ideas uh section and that but that’s that’s a platform which sometimes opens just for
1:42:55
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um a couple of weeks or sometimes for a month at best and it’s hard to pinpoint when exactly that does. So essentially the idea with this is to have an open
1:43:02
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platform where an idea can be submitted at any point in time. Of course, there would be a cut off for when uh the development of a budget and the
1:43:10
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finalizing of it, but having an open platform would allow us to be able to take ideas as they come to us from the community. And uh you know, potentially
1:43:18
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it could be um every month that uh the the community team does the review of the projects which are put forward and uh sees if they are ones to be done
1:43:26
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within a plan or to be referred to a future budget. So, this is just the way for us to further increase our transparency and engagement with council
1:43:34
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with uh council support. It’s something we can potentially look at um in the developing of the uh council briefing
1:43:41
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which is approaching us in the middle of August. Thanks and thank you for that. Uh councelor Kurt Councel Bell, you were the second.
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Do you wish to speak?
1:43:51
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Thank you very much. Um madame may happy to um explore the idea. understand that um there there may be limitations to
1:43:58
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systems and processes but I I think always having the opportunity to engage with the community and more opportunities is a good way to do these things is a good way of business being
1:44:07
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that open door um and and I too have uh had to engage with community groups and organizations who have kind of missed
1:44:14
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the engagement deadline by a couple of days a couple of weeks or sometimes even a couple of months going how can I contribute so if just having that open door and and then allowing officers to
1:44:23
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kind of draw a line in the and kind of once or twice a year to kind of then group them up is probably not a bad idea, but uh I’m happy to uh be informed.
1:44:32
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Thank you, Council Bell. Any further contributions, councilors?
1:44:37
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Let’s put it to the vote then. All those in favor? Those against? I declare that carried. Thank you, councilors. Uh and
1:44:45
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then the final notice of motion tonight is also from councelor Kurt and this is in relation to renaming Talarine Shopping Center the Melrose Drive shops
1:44:54
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as the Talamarine uh village item 9.3 and I’ll go to you councelor Kurt.
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Actually I will not go to you councelor Kurt. I’m getting a bit of ahead of myself uh because we do have some public comments on this one. So I will actually
1:45:09
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refer to our CEO um to read those comments please. Sheena.
1:45:13
1 hour, 45 minutes, 13 seconds
Thank you madame mayor. Um the first comment is from Fran Fran Furchie and it is for the notice of motion. The comment
1:45:21
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is renaming to Talamarine Village will be a nod to the past and set the suburb apart as a community rather than just the airport. I feel this will help bring
1:45:29
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the community together and an upgrade to the shopping strip will encourage people to stop and shop and gather. The second is from Trevor Leech and in favor I
1:45:37
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thoroughly endorse this proposal. The third is from Dean Ter Road in favor.
1:45:42
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Talamarine needs to keep some of the original ways along with the new Talarine Village started many years ago and should be recognized as it used to be. I grew up in Talarine and only
1:45:51
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recently moved after 50 years. Yes, it’s a growing suburb, but let’s not change its past for the worst. The fourth is from Caroline to Road and four, I
1:46:00
1 hour, 46 minutes
strongly support councelor Kurt’s proposal to rename Tulline Shopping Center on Melrose Drive to Talarine Village. The name Tamarine Village is
1:46:08
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more than just a change in signage. It is a recognition of the area’s rich history and its enduring role as the heart of the local community.
1:46:14
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Historically, the original village of Talamarine developed around the intersection of Melrose Drive and Victoria Street during the 19th century.
1:46:21
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This precinct contained the essential services that form the social and commercial center of the district, including the post office, hotel, Methodist Church, and Talarine State
1:46:29
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School. Restoring the historic village name acknowledges this important heritage and strengthens connections between today’s communities past and present. As lifelong residents, both my
1:46:38
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elderly mother and I have witnessed how important this precinct has been to generations of local families such as ours. The name Telarine Village evokes memories of a close-knit community where
1:46:46
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people shopped locally, attended community events, and built lasting friendships. Preserving and celebrating that identity is important for both residents and future generations. For
1:46:55
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many residents, the Melrose Drive Shopping Precinct has always been much more than a shopping center. It is where neighbors meet, local businesses thrive, families gather, and community
1:47:03
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relationships are built. referring to the precinct as Talamarine Village better reflects its role as the social heart of Talamarine rather than simply a
1:47:10
1 hour, 47 minutes, 10 seconds
commercial destination. In a recent Northern Star Weekly My Place profile, I spoke about how the Melrose Drive Shops represents the heart of our community
1:47:18
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and I said it captures the village atmosphere that makes Talarine special.
1:47:21
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I described this as a place where generations of residents have met friends, supported local businesses, and maintain the strong community connections that define Talarine. These
1:47:29
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comments were made independently of the current proposal, demonstrating that the concept of a Talmarine village reflects an authentic and long-standing community identity rather than creating a new one.
1:47:38
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Officially adopting the name would recognize and celebrate the precinct’s historic ongoing role as the social center of Talarine and the article is
1:47:46
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attached to the submission. The proposed name also has practical and economic benefits. Across Melbourne, village precincts such as Turk Village,
1:47:54
1 hour, 47 minutes, 54 seconds
Fairfield Village have developed strong identities that encourage local visitation, community pride, and business activity. Talamarine Village would provide the precinct with a
1:48:02
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distinctive identity that reflects its unique history while supporting future investment and placemaking initiatives.
1:48:07
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And importantly, the proposal aligns with council’s commitment to celebrating Taline’s local identity. Recent improvements, including upgraded seating, landscaping, and lighting, have
1:48:16
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already enhanced the precinct. Restoring the historic village name complements these investments by providing a clearer sense of Tamarine’s unique character. I
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commend councelor Kurt for recognizing the historical significance of the precinct and encourage council to proceed with the consultation process.
1:48:32
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It is a meaningful and positive step that deserves the full support of Hume City Council.
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Um the next is from Peter O’Connell and is in favor. I wish to submit this comment in support of the proposal. Our family has been living in Talamarine since before the airport, freeway, and
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triangle housing development began. We remember the Talarine village name and the main post office news agent and groceryer shops. Returning the name would be a welcome addition and return
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of our community identity. We support Kurt’s proposal. John Carowana is four. It is a nice idea from councelor Kurt.
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The Tulla village name has a lovely ring to it and would mean a lot to our family who have been here since the 1950s. We would like to see the name returned.
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Thank you, Hume Council. If the shai could do an upgrade, it would be nice, too. And from Maria Duca um in favor, I agree with the idea. Please recognize us in Tala and our Heritage Hume council.
1:49:18
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Thank you. Thank you, Madam May.
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Thank you for reading those. So now I will go to councelor K to move a motion, please. Councelor Kurt.
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Thank you, Madam Chair. I’ll move the motion as listed.
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Thank you. Do I have a second for this, please? Um Yep. Council Hadad will second it. Back to you, councelor Kurt.
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Yeah. Thank you, Madam Chair. Basically, under our place names policy, a decision to consider renaming a precinct has to
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be officially raised as a motion in a council meeting. And so, effectively, the motion before us here tonight is to commence that process. And as we’ve
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heard from the community, there is long memories of the Talmarine Village and the hamlet that used to exist there on
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Buller Road extending from Essen all the way up to um the Buller Township. And it was a a village center which was um much
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admired and back in the day of the horse and cart used to be able to stop there.
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There was a couple of churches, there was a post office, there was some shops as well. And when the airport came in the 1960s, uh the big freeway was built
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up the middle of Talamarine. And uh those that that heartland was was cut away from the community. And so that Talamarine village is the old name of what the suburb of Talarine used to be.
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And returning that to the precinct would be a nice way to recognize the history of the area. um about 10 or 15 perhaps even 20 years ago I think it was
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actually the former Broad Meadows mayor Mr. Ed Hter who’d uh returned or chose the name West Meadows Village for the old Broad Meadows Township and this is a
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way for uh the Melrose Drive shops to potentially if there’s community support to to look at the the name of the shops and returning a village identity to the
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shopping precinct and uh naming changes like this you you look at precincts like uh Turk Village, Fairfield Village in
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other parts of Melbourne. they’ve really become key visitation precincts and destination hubs for for people to come and to congregate and to shop. And so
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essentially uh potentially beginning this process looking to see if there’s community support and then uh undertaking it would be uh a way to to
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make the Talmarine precinct more of a precinct that people wish to visit and and spend their time and uh invest locally as well. So with council support
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hopefully we can consider a process to do this. we can see if there’s overwhelming community support for it or not. And then potentially we can
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consider just changing a couple of signs to from what currently says Talarine Shopping Center to saying Talarine Village. Uh the place is actually not
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formally named within geographic place names Victoria. So there’s no uh costly governance procedure of doing
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this. It’s effectively just changing the name on on a couple of signs. But uh it does require a motion and support of council to undertake that and community support as well which um already there
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does seem to be quite strong community support because five six seven people have have written in about it too and having spoken with the community there was a really strong feeling about
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wanting to see um that name and that identity returned as well. So with councelor’s support hopefully we can look at that issue here tonight. Thank you.
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Thank you for that. Um councelor Kurt Council Hadad you were the second do you wish to speak? Yes, madame mayor. Um,
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RCO read one of the comments. Uh, this actually I’m not sure the second or the third. The one prior to Peter Delli
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um summarize most of what I will say. So um the request and uh the name changing
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will enhance the confusion that Maro’s drive shopping center that um had in the past when um
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airport west shopping center was confused with and then when park shopping center was built it was
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confusing and so on. Um the name of the uh the recommended going back to the toarin village it will enhance it will
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differentiate the uh from other two main shopping centers. Thank you.
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Thank you councelor Hadad. Uh any further contributions councilors?
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Okay let’s put it to the vote then. All those in favor I declare that carried. Thank you councilors.
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So that was the final uh notice of motion we had to consider tonight. So we move on to item 10, which is items to be
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tabled. There is one petition that’s listed on the agenda. So can I have a counselor move a motion to note the tableabling of this petition, please?
1:53:43
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Thank you very much, Madame Mayor. I’d like to move uh that recommendation.
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Thank you very much. Do I have a second for this, please? Councilors. Councelor Sherry will second it and we’ll put it to the vote then. All those in favor? I declare that carried. Thank you.
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Councilors, we move to item 10, which is urgent business. Madame CEO, is there any urgent business? Uh, no, there is no urgent business.
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Thank you.
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Thank you. Item 12 is the delegates reports. Councilors, does any councelor have a delegates report?
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No, I’m going to share a very quick delegates uh report. I do know that several of my councelor colleagues have already spoken and reported on the
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national general assembly of local government that was held last month. But I wanted to take the opportunity to highlight some of the important advocacy
1:54:31
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meetings that also happened while we were in Canberra alongside our CEO and head of government relations and
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advocacy who joined me for some of those meetings. So while we were in Canberra, we met with uh the ministerial staff from the Department of Infrastructure,
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Transport, Regional Development, and Local Government to discuss Hume’s key advocacy priorities. And we were able to
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provide an update on several of the um significant projects that have already been funded. So this included some
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discussions on the urban precincts and partnership program which is uh supporting the planning and revitalization of broad meadows. Those
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works um that are well underway and are progressing you know really well. Um we were able to raise our concerns
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regarding the delivery time frames for stage one and now stage two of Donny Brook Road and uh speak to the importance of progressing this critical
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infrastructure for our rapidly growing community. As we’ve already heard from councelor Watson in the correspondence tonight, uh I also met with federal
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member for Marabanong Joe Briskkey MP and the federal member for Corwell Bassam Abdo MP as part of our ongoing engagement with local federal
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representatives. These meetings are an opportunity to discuss council’s priorities uh any emerging challenges and the investment that we think is
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needed to support the communities across both the southern and northern parts of Humes. It’s very important that we continue to have those meetings uh
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regularly. Uh in addition, I also met with Senator Matt O. Sullivan uh the shadow minister for child protection and the prevention of family violence to
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discuss the urgent need for a dedicated community-led women’s shelter in Greenbar. As we all know and we’ve talked also about tonight, family
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violence continues to have a a really devastating and significant impact on the women and children across our community uh who are in these um
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situations and addressing it really does require a genuine commitment from all levels of government. So it was an important opportunity for us to take to
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advocate for the increased investment in local support services and safe accommodation options for those people in our community experiencing family
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violence. Uh it was overall a very positive meeting but certainly um the shadow minister is not in a position to
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provide any funding u for such an initiative. That’s something we’ll have to continue to work on. Um but these meetings are really a vital part of
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council’s advocacy work. They ensure that the priorities, challenges, and aspirations of our community are heard by those responsible for funding and for
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policy decisions. Uh, strong relationships with government representatives help us secure investment. They help us influence the
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outcomes and they keep Hume’s needs firmly on the agenda of those decision makers. Our advocacy may not always
1:57:18
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deliver immediate results, but every conversation, every meeting, and every relationship we build brings us one step
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closer to delivering the infrastructure, services, and support our residents need to thrive both now and in the future.
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So, they are very important conversations um that we need to continue to have. But certainly um that is my update um in addition to what was
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provided at the last meeting. Okay, so that is delegates reports done. we move on to item 13 which is the closure of
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the meeting. So I’d now like to thank the members of the public that have joined us both in person or online. We look forward to you joining us again
1:57:57
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soon. Uh but thank you and good night everybody. Safe travels home. Good night.