| 16/09/24 |
Will Cardamone |
What is the number of residents in the Hawdon Ward area? |
Census 2021 data indicates that there were 15,832 resident in Hawdon Ward. |
18/09/24 |
Resilient & Connected Communities |
| 25/09/24 |
Mary O'Kane |
With regards to A frames, can I clarify something please? I have permission from the store manager to stand outside the entrance of Aldi on the corner of Oriel Rd and Bell Street at some times. At these times, I set up with an A frame but I do not walk around with it. Do I need a permit for this? |
An A-frame permit is not required if the A-frame will be placed within the private title boundary. A permit will be required if the A-frame goes beyond the property boundary and on to public property. |
25/09/24 |
Governance & Integrity |
| 25/09/24 |
Wendy Palliser |
Regarding the petition of residences in Heidelberg Heights that Council separated to go into the submission made by me to the C172 Melbourne Panel. I believe this petition should still be heard at the Council meeting when it comes back to council after the elections for their decision. The residences are still very strong about this outcome and what it will mean for this area. It is the democratic right for their petition to be heard. Please advise if you have heard from the Panel regarding the recommendations and that the petition is legally rightful of residences to be heard when it comes back to council for the decision. |
Under Council’s Governance Rules a petition in relation to any statutory matter, such as a planning scheme amendment under the Planning and Environment Act 1987, is not tabled as a petition to a Council meeting, rather is received as a submission to this process. The specific Governance Rule is 69 Petitions – Part (9) as follows: If a petition relates to a ‘planning matter’ or a ‘statutory matter’ which is the subject of a public submissions process in accordance with the relevant legislation, the petition will be treated as a joint submission in relation to the ‘planning matter’ or the ‘statutory matter’ ... Statutory Matters - (subject to separate submission process) (Planning) - Matters under the Planning and Environment Act 1987 ...The petition was included and reported to Council along with all the other submissions made to the Planning Scheme Amendment C172 as part of Council’s consideration of the amendment at its Ordinary Meeting on 20 May 2024. In accordance with our Statutory Obligations, the Panel Report will be made available to the public on our website on 30 September 2024. As we are in the Election Caretaker Period, the Panel Report will not be reported back to Council until after the election has been declared. Council will receive a report in relation to the Panel Report and will in due course have to make a decision whether to proceed with the amendment and if so in what form. These processes will happen at a public Council meeting. |
26/09/24 |
City Development |
| 30/09/24 |
Wendy Palliser |
Redevelopment of the Ivanhoe Water Tank site was recently posted on the Shaping Banyule site, displaying Craig Landon as Mayor, who has not been with Council for 4 years. This does not have dates, can be misinterpreted and was associated with the Bell Street development. |
The Shaping Banyule web page found here, Shaping Banyule Ivanhoe Water Tank, in which we are assuming you are referring to, references the Open Space Plan 2016–2031 in the document library. This includes a message from the former Mayor Craig Langdon on page 2. Please note that The Open Space Plan is a 15-year plan that was adopted by Council in 2016 and continues to be in force. There is no requirement for Council to take down pictures stemming back to this date, or previous councillors, who are current candidates. We do not agree that this publication could be associated with the Bell Street Development or influence voters in the 2024 election. |
02/10/24 |
Advocacy, Communication, Engagement & Performance |
| 16/09/24 |
Alicia Curry |
Could you please provide a landscape plan and any arborist report done for any part of 44 to 72 Turnham Ave, Rosanna, from before Woolworths time? For example, from when it was designed for council use and also for the library grounds. |
There were no landscape plans or arborist reports contained within records recalled from off-site storage. After an extensive search, a site plan for 44 Turnham Avenue was supplied, along with photographs of the Rosanna Squash Courts. The site plan and photographs were emailed to each candidate. |
14/10/24 |
Planning, Building & Executive Office |
| 16/10/24 |
Matt Wood |
Is it possible please to obtain a status report regarding the Banyule Theatre site at 10 Buckingham Drive Heidelberg? Specifically interested in any current dialogue or strategy between council and the State Government on the future use of the site above. I understand the site has been transferred from the Department of Education to the Department of Treasury & Finance. This might suggest the wheels are in motion to dissolve the site. I’d like to understand this and promote some action on it sooner rather than later. |
As published in Council’s 6-month Advocacy Report fact sheet in July 2024, it is noted that:
- Banyule Theatre is identified as a new advocacy priority of Council.
- Officers wrote to the State Government in April requesting Council use of the site as a community meeting space.
- The Department of Education undertook an education provision review to see if there is any identified need for the site for any primary, secondary, specialist and early childhood provision. No need was identified.
- The Department of Education advised Council in early May 2024 that they would consult with Viewbank Secondary College about future alternative use of Banyule Theatre. We understand that this is still underway.
- The Department has not confirmed that the theatre is available at this stage.
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18/10/24 |
Community & Wellbeing |
| 15/10/24 |
Lucas Moore |
What is the current expected completion date of the Rosanna library project? Can you provide an up to date cost estimate? Can you provide a copy of the traffic management plan? Can you elaborate on the details of the deal with Woolworths? For example once the project is complete, will council own the building the library is in? Who will own the land that building is on? In the event of fire or flood, who is liable for repairs, Council or Woolworths? |
The current expected completion date of the Rosanna Library project is December 2025, for which we are contributing $9.75 million. A copy of the traffic management plan would have been approved as part of the planning and building permit process. This is unable to be provided, however, and can be inspected in person at Customer Service Level 3, 1 Flintoff Street, Greensborough via appointment with the Construction Management or Municipal Laws team. Upon completion, we will own the land and building that the Library is in. We are responsible for the Library and Woolworths for the supermarket. |
21/10/24 |
Strategic Properties & Projects |
| 15/10/24 |
Lucas Moore |
How much do you pay for parking machines and how much revenue do they generate? Who has the current supply contract and does that company have any links to any current councillors? |
Paid parking expenditure: 2023/24 = $1.257M; 2024/25 = $1.028M
Paid parking revenue 2023/24 = $1.657M; 2024/25 (budgeted) = $1.432M
Please note that these figures also include pay by phone revenue and expenditure and are not solely from paid parking machines. Further detail is available in the Council report for 18 March 2024, where Council considered a report on paid parking tender, following which we updated our paid parking services. The current parking meters ‘NG meters’ are supplied and maintained by Duncan Solutions. The current pay by phone parking service PayStay is supplied and maintained by Orikan. Council is not aware of any links between Councillors and the companies mentioned. At the Ordinary meeting of Council on 18 March 2024 where the contract was considered and subsequently adopted, a Councillor declared a general conflict of interest at this item and the reason for the declaration is noted in the minutes of the meeting. Both the Council report and minutes for 18 March 2024 are available online.
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21/10/24 |
Traffic & Transport |
| 15/10/24 |
Lucas Moore |
Can you provide any documents relating to the rumoured proposal to put the management of Darebin Creek up for tender? |
In the Officer’s report presented to Council on 30 October 2023, under the Governance section on page 5 the report explains:
Given the type of agreement and the level of funding provided to DCMC annually legal advice on the current partnership confirms there is no procurement policy exemption that would allow the current funding to continue without a full and transparent tender process. This means Council, and the partner councils, are obliged under procurement governance and probity to undertake a tender process for the delivery of the services associated with the management of the Darebin Parklands and the wider catchment related works.
Resolution (CO2023/197) includes from Minutes Ordinary Meeting Of Council 30 October 2023:
5. Advise DCMC of Council’s intention to review its contribution to the Darebin Parklands coordination division (land management). a)Nothing that the review will include the concerns raised by the community relating to proposed cessation to funding the Darebin Parklands land management division. b) Notes that the review is in line with Council’s procurement obligations as per the Local Government Act 2020.
6. Note a review of the structure and delivery of catchment management services, that considers Integrated Water Management obligations, in partnership with other LGA funding bodies during the 2024/25 financial year.
7. Request the review of the Darebin Parkland coordination division (land management) and the Creek Coordination (catchment management services) consider: a. Any decision is with the intention to improve the ecology and biodiversity values along the Darebin Creek. Banyule and the broader area. b. Provide opportunity for community input into the review.
8. Receive a report by December 2025 to present the outcomes of the structure and delivery of catchment management service and contribution options for the Darebin Parklands coordination division (land management).
The review is currently underway and a further report will be presented to us in due course. The Council report and minutes from the 30 October 2023 meeting are online. Attachments emailed to all candidates.
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21/10/24 |
Parks & Natural Environment |
| 15/10/24 |
Lucas Moore |
Can you provide the cost estimated for implementing the community’s vision plan for OLC from 2022? Can you provide details of the Olympic Leisure Centre Pool Plant Replacement Program mentioned in its budget? |
The Community Vision Concept was presented to Council at its meeting on 6 February 2023, with an initial high-level cost plan of $30 million. You can access the officer report online. Given the significant changes in the economic environment since the initial cost plan was undertaken in 2022, it is highly likely this cost will have increased. The pool plant replacement program ensures that equipment and systems, required to operate Olympic Leisure's aquatic spaces, are serviced and replaced as specified in Olympic Leisure Centre's 5-year Pool Plant Condition and Maintenance Audit. The schedule of works for 12-months, July 2024 to June 2025, include: replace chlorine pump, 25m pool replace chlorine pump, spa replace hydraulic reticulation, replace electrical reticulation replace filter membrane for spa. |
21/10/24 |
Healthy & Active Communities |
| 15/10/24 |
Lucas Moore |
Have you received further information from the state government about works on the Bell Barida estate since the public consultation a few months ago? Can you provide any plans they have received relating to the site? |
Officers met with Homes Victoria and its representatives several weeks ago and were advised that the proposed plans were being prepared. We are of the understanding that Homes Vic is in the process of finalising their plans after seeking comment from the Office of the Victorian Government Architect. Its expected community consultation on the proposed plans will commence by the end of the year. |
21/10/24 |
Planning, Building & Laws |
| 15/10/24 |
Lucas Moore |
Can you provide a breakdown of income vs. expenditure per ward, including gross expenditure and capital works expenditure? |
We develop an operating budget on a whole-of-Council basis and with reference to the Council Plan priority themes. Therefore, we do not allocate income and expenditure by ward. This is in line with the entire Victorian local government sector. Each year, councils utilise the Local Government Better Practice Guide - Model Budget developed and published by the Victorian Government – Government Service Department Sector guidance: planning and reporting. We do internally reference the Capital Works Budget by ward. The majority of projects are classified as city wide. Attached is the 2024/25 Capital Works program including ward reference. Attachment emailed to all candidates. |
21/10/24 |
Corporate Services |
| 18/10/24 |
Paul Morland |
Can you confirm that there is a future allocation of funds (How much and funding provided from where?) for a Bell Street Mall Master Plan and what is the scope or how will the scope be decided (and any further available information). Secondly, what land is owned by Banyule City Council within or around the Bell Street Mall and does it have any caveats? |
- A grant of $250,000 has been obtained through the Federal Government’s Housing Support Program Stream 1 funding pool.
- The grant is to deliver a Masterplan for the Bell Street Mall and Design Guide.
High level scope to include:
- detailed site analysis, mapping, strategic policy review
- targeted stakeholder, community consultation and First Nations engagement
- issues and opportunities refinement
- develop and refine masterplan options
- preparation of draft masterplan and design guide
- consultation on draft documents
- community engagement on draft
- masterplan and design guide analysis of community engagement results and updating of draft
- final draft recommended to Council for adoption.
In relation to land owned by Banyule City Council within or around the Bell Street Mall, we own the car parks.
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22/10/24 |
City Futures |
| 22/10/24 |
Keith McLachlan |
I would be very interested to see the income per ward split between rates residential, rates commercial, other income and with the rates split by rate line item, for example kerbside. If this is available in the Budget could you direct me to the section please. |
This document provides rate income per ward(PDF, 148KB) for the 2024/2025 financial year as raised in July 2024. These figures do not include subsequent supplementary valuations, or non-mandatory waste services such as non-rateable or non-standard/additional bins. |
23/10/24 |
Corporate Services |
| 25/10/24 |
Melissa Murphy-Webster |
May I get a response to the following: what instrument was used, and on what date was the decision made to conduct the current election via postal voting rather than in-person voting? What is the minimum ballot return percentage required to proceed with the counting of votes? Additionally, what measures are in place if the ballot return falls short of this percentage? |
The voting system for all Victorian Councils is set by the Minister for Local Government in accordance with section 262 of the Local Government Act 2020. The method of voting for the 2024 Victorian Council elections is via postal vote. s262 of the Act is provided as:
262 Voting system
- The voting system to be used for general elections and by-elections is to be determined by the Minister in accordance with this section.
- Before making a determination under this section, the Minister must consider advice obtained by the Minister from the VEC.
- The Minister must determine the voting system to be used for the first general elections to be held after the commencement of section 257 within 2 months after the commencement of section 257.
- The Minister must publish a notice of the determination under subsection (3) in the Government Gazette.
- Subject to subsection (3), a change to the voting system to be used for a general election must be determined in accordance with the regulations at least 12 months before the general election to which the regulations will apply.
- A general election must be held using the voting system that applies under the most recent determination made under subsection (3) or the regulations referred to in subsection (5).
- A by-election must be held using the voting system that was used for the preceding general election.
- In this section, voting system means— (a) postal voting; or (b) attendance voting.
As per s262 (5) the Minister did not make a determination to change the voting method 12 months prior to the general election, resulting in the voting method remaining unchanged from the 2020 election, being postal. As such the date of determination was 2020 when the Local Government Act 2020 came into force.
In relation to your question regarding ballot return percentages the Victorian Electoral Commission (VEC) is the statutory body responsible for the conduct of all Victorian local government elections, as such you will need to contact the VEC on 131 832 and request to speak to the Election manager for Banyule in relation to voting count plans and ballot return percentages. It is our understanding that the voting count plan was distributed by the VEC to all candidates earlier in the week.
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25/10/04 |
Governance & Integrity |