Sorry, but not sorry – Golden Plains Shire council meeting briefs

FOR the first time since November 2019 Golden Plains Shire council returned to Linton for its regular meeting, held on Tuesday, 28 July.

Not that the location ultimately mattered as once again all but councillors and a handful of essential Shire staff were allowed in the room with everyone else left to tune in online and see how the beefy agenda played out.

Yet before the meeting hit the 17 item main section machinations played out as Cr Des Phelan made an apology to Cr David Evans over an incident that occurred during an in-camera section of a council meeting back in March.

“Counsellor Evans called me a hypocrite over my opinion regarding a planning decision and I responded by asking him to take his glasses off and come outside,” Cr Phelan said.

“I admit that I strongly objected to being called a hypocrite and my response may have been out of line with council code of conduct.”

However, Cr Phelan quickly moved to a defence of his record and then into a savage attack on Cr Evans’ behaviour over the current term of council.

“I’ve served as a councillor with the Grenville Shire and the Golden Plains Shire since 1979, including eight terms as mayor,” Cr Phelan said. “I’ve also been in the CFA for 36 years as a group officer.

“My integrity and honesty have been called into question and I do not accept my behaviour was in anyway hypocritical… nor does it warrant an apology.

“I’ve observed and witnessed Cr Evans over the past three-and-a-half years… acting outside the council’s code of conduct on many occasions. His misdemeanours include using…”

Cr Evans then sought to shutdown Cr Phelan via a point of order, but deputy-mayor Cr Joanne Gilbert questioned exactly what the point of order was about, without a reasonable response, Cr Phelan finished up.

“… abusive phone calls to Cr [Les] Rowe and his family and staff, verbally abusing behaviour to the CEO, he savaged the mayor,” continued Cr Phelan.

“He’s also cost the ratepayers thousands of dollars in legal opinions and in staff time chasing down rabbit burrows for him. Cr Evans has never offered an apology for any of the above threatening behaviour and unprofessional outbursts.

“I will not apologise for defending my character and reputation to a man whose own behaviour [is] regularly questionable and out of line with council standards.”

 

Taking child care of business

It can be confirmed that Kardinia Childcare Inc is the successful applicant to take over the operation of the Bannockburn Family Service Centre Long Day Care centre, a decision made during the in-camera session of April’s council meeting.

Councillors gave the okay for the CEO to begin final negotiations with Kardinia Childcare on lease terms and other issues relating to taking on the centre.

Currently the proposed lease term is over five years, with a five-year extension option, and annual rent of $184,400 in the first year, plus GST, with a four per cent increase year-on-year.

If the Shire is able to reach acceptable terms with Kardinia Childcare, it’s expected the lease will start in early 2021, later than the initial August start date that’s been moved back due to the pandemic.

Councillors will have the final call on the future of the Long Day Care centre at special meetings in late August and September.

 

Grants granted

Money under the Shire’s revamped grants program was distributed for the first time.

Sixteen community groups and organisations received just under $75,000 as part of the first round of the Community Strengthening Grants.

Successful recipients include Meredith History Interest Group, Smythesdale Community Arts, Friends of Bannockburn Bush, Inverleigh Golf Club, WRISC Family Violence Support and Rokewood/Corindhap Community Coordinators.

The Shire’s community grants program was streamlined late last year into four funding pathways.

As part of the $75,000 distributed in the first round, $33,736 went for health, wellbeing, sports and recreation projects, $15,388 for arts and culture initiatives, $18,630 for environmental projects, and $6,530 for community safety initiatives.

 

Pennies from heaven

Councillors decided to put just over $1.33 million given to the Shire by the Federal government as part of the Local Roads and Community Infrastructure Program to six shovel ready projects across the municipality.

The replacement of the Reserve Road Bridge at Rokewood is getting $700,000, the Maude Recreation Reserve/ Lookout Water Supply $15,500, female friendly change rooms at Inverleigh $177,700, as well as $240,455 for playgrounds across the Shire and $100,000 each for the Golden Plains Shire Youth Hub and Bannockburn Skate Park $100,000.

As all the projects are relying on either further funding from the State government for completion or require approval from the Feds to get underway.

In the case that any of them get knocked back the Meredith – Shelford Road widening project is next cab off the rank.

 

One up, one down, one paused

Three planning decisions came before council for a decision with varying levels of success.

A call on the subdivision of a 1.4-hectare block at 57 Tarraford Way, Batesford was deferred following Cr Evans seeking further information on the history of development in the region,

Two objections from nearby landowners relating to varying the area’s covenant were received by the Shire.

Next up was a winery and cellar door at 159 Muhlebach Road, Sutherlands Creek that got the okay.

The 130-hectare site runs along Moorabool River and attracted six objections along the lines of roads and traffic, noise and small, and potential for the site to be used for other reasons.

At the beginning of the meeting Cr Les Rowe declared an indirect conflict of interest in the Sutherlands Creek agenda item and also noted he’d neglected to do so during a councillor briefing.

Lastly the rezoning of 67 hectares south of Charlton Road, Bannockburn from farming to residential land was knocked back on the basis that the Shire was currently in the process of developing the Bannockburn Growth Plan and the site fell within that sphere.