At it meeting of Monday 13 May, Hume City Council officers answered the following written questions sent in by residents…
Sunbury – CHRIS O’NEILL
What is the timeline for delivery of the Active Living Service and Infrastructure Plan?
RESPONSE: ACTING DIRECTOR CITY SERVICES & LIVING
The Active Living Service and Infrastructure Plan is due for completion by mid-2025.
CHRIS O’NEILL
Given the high demand for indoor sports courts in the Jacksons Creek Ward, as indicated by the 2021 Hume City Council indoor sports plan, what specific investments has Hume City Council made since the adoption of the plan to alleviate pressure on indoor sporting courts in the Jacksons creek ward?
List and itemise each investment and the dollar figure associated with each, only including those figures that are associated with the question.
RESPONSE: ACTING DIRECTOR CITY SERVICES & LIVING
The Indoor Sports Plan did not include recommendations for additional sports courts in the Jacksons Creek ward in the short term. It did however identify additional competition courts would be required in Sunbury by 2032.
Given this advice, all expenditure to date has been maintenance related. This supports ongoing participation however it does not alleviate growth pressures.
As part of the Active Living Service and Infrastructure plan, due for completion in mid 2025, the Indoor Sport Plan will be reviewed and updated.
PUBLIC QUESTION – LARAINE HARRISON
Since Galaxy Park, Sunbury, is regarded as an accessible/inclusive playground, could Council look at considering the inclusion of the following equipment and resources at the park to detail concerns of many parents/carers of disabled children who just want to give their kids the same enjoyment as a typical child:
• a ramp be re-built to enable a mobility challenged child access to a slide and tunnel;
• the inclusion of a disabled bathroom fitted with an adult change table and a privacy screen;
• fully fence the park to give parents/carers more confidence in managing challenged kids and
• a disability swing
This question highlights the short comings of a playground that doesn’t quite fit the “accessible/inclusive” narrative.
RESPONSE: CITY PLANNING & PLACES
Thank you for your enquiry. We appreciate receiving feedback from our community and how they use Hume’s playspaces.
To respond to your individual requests:
• Unfortunately, an accessible ramp and the length required to meet Australian Standards cannot be accommodated in the space available adjacent the play towers.
• We are endeavouring to commence a Public Toilet Strategy to help guide and provide facilities and accessible facilities at appropriate locations across the municipality.
• The playspace is not fully fenced because of the need to walk between the car park and broader reserve.
• We are happy to accommodate a disabled high back swing and have commenced discussions with our Parks team to assist us in facilitating this.
We aware of the need to provide better inclusive and accessible playgrounds which we intend to have addressed and provide direction for, in our future Playspace Strategy.
PQ1150 PUBLIC QUESTION – HALIMA
According to the United Nations human rights commission 40,000 people have been confirmed dead of which 16,000 are children. 85% of residential infrastructure in Gaza has been destroyed, residents must like us who pose no threat. The United Nations has said that atrocities in Gaza are unprecedented and is the worst humanitarian crisis in a decade.
In light of ICJ case opened in where Israel is alleged to conducting plausible genocide in the Gaza Strip, is Hume City Council considering seizing contracts with any suppliers that are contributing to human rights violations in Gaza?
RESPONSE: CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER
Council is not aware of any current suppliers that contribute to Human rights violations.
PQ1151 PUBLIC QUESTION – HALIMA
In the Council’s procurement policy, it’s states that Hume city council is committed to upholding human rights and international norms of behaviour, does Hume City Council intend to extend this to human rights violations in Gaza, who the United Nations has stated are currently going through the “worst humanitarian crisis in a decade”.
RESPONSE: CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER
Humes Procurement Policy is underpinned by the following principle. Respect for human rights, the rule of law and international norms of behaviour. This principle applies irrespective of country.
Council engages with suppliers for the provision of local government services such as grass mowing, waste services and road repairs and is not aware of any suppliers contributing to Human rights violations.
PQ1152 PUBLIC QUESTION – SUSAN IMAN
In order to potentially put pressure on Israel to stop their War crimes, why are Councillors ignoring the pleas of the diverse population that lives here and not taken the initiative to implement the BDS on behalf of the Palestinians refugees who now call Hume home?
RESPONSE: MAYOR, HUME CITY COUNCIL
Currently, there are no plans to discuss a BDS motion at Council, as no motion has been raised by a Councillor in this chamber to have the matter included on our meeting agenda for tonight.
As Mayor, I have sent letters to the Mayors and CEOs of other councils that have adopted similar BDS motions to understand their implications and outcomes.
Our Council stands in solidarity with those affected by the war in Gaza and reiterates the calls we made on the 18 December seeking an urgent humanitarian ceasefire in accordance with international law. It is imperative that all civilians regardless of nationality or religion are protected under humanitarian law.
PQ1153 PUBLIC QUESTION – SUSAN IMAN
On an Ethical and moral perspective why hasn’t council tabled and passed the motion as urgent business?
RESPONSE: CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
Thank you for your question.
Urgent business is determined in accordance with Council’s Governance Rules at section 21. A matter can only be admitted as urgent business by Council. It must also comply with the conditions in Council’s governance rules, that is: it relates to something that has arisen since the distribution of the agenda and cannot safely or conveniently be deferred until the next Council meeting.
It is my advice the community motion put forward does not meet this criteria, nor has any Councillor sought to have the item admitted as urgent business.
PQ1154 PUBLIC QUESTION – ATHIYA KOUSER
The Muslim community is grieving and in extreme mental health crisis due to witnessing the Genocide in Gaza, it is an important matter to Muslims. Yet our councillors are not Interested in the issues that matter to the Muslim community, which constitutes a large percentage of population in Hume.
Does our mental health matter to the Councillors?
RESPONSE: ACTING DIRECTOR CITY SERVICES & LIVING
Councillors seek to support positive mental health and wellbeing outcomes for all citizens of Hume. Mental health and wellbeing is a key priority area outlined in Council’s 2021-2025 Municipal Health and Wellbeing plan.
In the past twelve months, Council has delivered Mental Health First Aid Training for community members and local organisations, with just under 200 people completing the training. Council also delivers a range of culturally relevant, community-led programs that focus on supporting and improving mental health outcomes for our citizens.
Council will continue to work in collaboration with a range of stakeholders and service providers to support mental health projects and outcomes across Hume City.
PQ1155 PUBLIC QUESTION – ATHIYA KOUSER
Why are they so out of touch with the interests of the community?
RESPONSE: MAYOR, HUME CITY COUNCIL
In response to the ongoing war in Gaza, I want to express our heartfelt concern as a council for the immense suffering that civilians both Palestinian and Israeli are enduring. The loss of life and destruction are deeply distressing, and weacknowledge the profound impact this conflict is having on our community locally, many of whom have very close personal, family, and cultural ties to Palestine and Gaza.
Furthermore, we condemn all forms of hatred and racism including Islamohobia, which only serves to fuel division and conflict. As a Council, we are committed to fostering inclusivity and understanding within our community.
As Mayor, I have been in regular contact with our federal member, Maria Vamvakinou, to re-iterateour calls, our communities’ concerns and to speak to her.
Ms. Vamvakinou has been a strong advocate for Palestinian rights and has emphasised that individuals can present their concerns to Parliamentary Committees or subcommittees for further examination. Her office has offered themselves assistance and provide guidance to any community member who is seeking this information.
In the meantime, Hume City Council is working closely with local providers to ensure that support is available to those who have been displaced or impacted by the conflict and we remain committed to tanding with our community during these challenging times.
PQ1156 PUBLIC QUESTION – MICHAEL O’CONNOR
Why is the council continuing to ignore the terrible state of Olsen Place, Broadmeadows? The people of Broadmeadows deserve to have a public space that is clean, maintained and safe, the same as any other community.
RESPONSE – DIRECTOR CITY PLANNING & PLACES
Hume City Council is committed to enhancing the vitality and viability of the city’s activity centres through place-based planning and design. Council recognises the challenges with Olsen Place and agrees that there is much improvement needed. Officers are preparing an assessment framework and action plan for Humes established areas shopping strips, including Olsen Place. Consideration to initiatives that support private landowners in
maintaining their properties will be part of his assessment. The overall assessment will be used to inform future programs of work, both capital improvements and community development focused place activations for the area.
PQ1159 PUBLIC QUESTION – LIZ TEKTONOPOULOS
In the last 5 years our grassroots sporting club has experienced increasing growth of 109% in membership and over 700% in junior coaching, many of whom filter through to join the junior competition and adding to our already growing teams, currently at 14. How does this growth percentage compare with that of other tennis clubs in Hume, for example, Hume Tennis Centre, Craigieburn Westmeadows, Gladstone Park and Tullamarine?
RESPONSE: ACTING DIRECTOR CITY SERVICES & LIVING
Hume’s 2024 tennis club participation rates are being collated in consultation with Tennis Victoria’s registered database.
Comparable growth rates will be collated and communicated directly to all tennis clubs across Hume City by the end of May 2024.
PQ1160 PUBLIC QUESTION – LIZ TEKTONOPOULOS
As the Greenvale Tennis Club is growing, the demand for courts is increasing and our courts are showing signs of overuse, with tree roots damaging the surface, split and frayed seams, and dips where injuries can occur. Is there a documented process whereby Council prioritizes court redevelopment and/or resurfacing to clubs that are showing significant court damage, and can demonstrate high growth rates and higher court usage in comparison to clubs with less wear and tear to their surfaces?
RESPONSE: ACTING DIRECTOR CITY SERVICES & LIVING
Council engages independent specialised consultants to audit the condition of community access tennis courts, and club-based tennis courts across the City.
These audits are undertaken every four years.
This audit estimates the remaining life of the court surfaces, and guides our annual resurfacing program.
PQ1161 PUBLIC QUESTION – DANNY ELLIS
In July 2022 the residents of Jacksons Hill were provided information of Council’s plans to construct a new road connection from Yirrangan Road to Watsons Road with works proposed to commence in 2024.
What was the feedback from the residents?
RESPONSE: DIRECTOR INFRASTRUCTURE & ASSETS
The feedback received at the time was generally positive with the proposed delivery of the road connection.
PUBLIC QUESTION – DANNY ELLIS
Cultural significance is important but how many artefacts should be saved?
RESPONSE: DIRECTOR INFRASTRUCTURE & ASSETS
The road corridor from Yirrangan Road to Watsons Road has been identified as a place of cultural significance and under the current government legislation Council requires an approved Cultural Heritage Management Plan from the Registered Aboriginal Party (RAP) before any construction works can commence. This is a legislated requirement and cultural significance is not determined by Council.
Source, council minutes published 17 May 2024.
