CITY of Ballarat\u2019s plan to remove vegetation from near the Gong Reservoir at Buninyong Botanic Gardens took up a majority of councillors\u2019 attention during their regular meeting on Wednesday last week.<\/p>\n
The proposal, which would see nearly 60 trees removed from the dam\u2019s western embankment to allow for the reconstruction of the reservoir\u2019s wall, has been a cause for contention for many in the community.<\/p>\n
The topic saw a number of public presenters, who were split on the project with concerns around safety, environmental impact, and heritage preservation.<\/p>\n
Cr Ted Lapkin said Buninyong is a house divided.<\/p>\n
“To satisfy one faction means to infuriate the other,” he said.<\/p>\n
As such, he brought forward a motion to rescind the project from the Buninyong Botanic Gardens Landscape Masterplan and start afresh to look at new options which would retain all vegetation.<\/p>\n
Director of infrastructure and environment Bridget Wetherall confirmed that half a million dollars had already been spent on previous council reports on what to do about the Gong wall, and that suitable qualifiers had already been engaged to look at current proposals.<\/p>\n
CEO, Evan King, said the municipality would be uninsured to cover any losses should they not mitigate for any risks.<\/p>\n
Cr Ben Taylor said the work had already been done regarding the project.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe best outcome is to not to go back to the drawing board,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cGet on and do it; save the money; and get things done.\u201d<\/p>\n
Cr Lapkin\u2019s motion failed with only himself and Cr Samantha McIntosh voting in favour.<\/p>\n
Cost of living considered<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Cr Jay Morrison brought forward his own motion, with the aim of taking the current cost of living crisis into consideration during the 2025\/26 budget.<\/p>\n Whether it be through potential cost savings or through providing targeted rebates, he said it\u2019s important to take into account those doing it tough when it comes time to prioritising city spending.<\/p>\n \u201cAs a new councillor group, we understand that many in our community are feeling the pinch,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \u201cWe also recognise all levels of government must take steps to do what they can within their areas of responsibility to reduce cost of living pressures with the community and address these concerns with empathy and real action.\u201d<\/p>\n Cr Damon Saunders spoke in favour, citing factors including the increase in grocery costs and mortgage rates for many.<\/p>\n Cr Lapkin said it\u2019s important for the municipality to do what they can to \u201cdeal with economic policies imposed on us from above.\u201d<\/p>\n Cr Morrison\u2019s motion passed unanimously.<\/p>\n Bin collection debated<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n The question of waste collection frequency also proved a time-consuming topic for councillors, who discussed the service options between regular household waste, and food organics and garden organics, or FOGO.<\/p>\n A survey was undertaken in March, 2023 wherein 45 per cent voted for fortnightly FOGO and weekly waste pickup, while 40 per cent voted for the opposite.<\/p>\n Cr Tess Morgan brought forward a motion for council to adopt the latter option.<\/p>\n She said a similar practice has already been achieved by other regional municipalities like Hepburn and Bendigo. people to use the bins,\u201d she said. Cr Saunders spoke against the motion, and said he didn\u2019t want council contributing to potential illegal dumping and waste as a result of the decision.<\/p>\n Cr Morrison spoke for the motion, and said recent landfill levy increases to 150 per cent, as well as the expected capping of the Ballarat Regional\u00a0Landfill by 2040 were strong incentives.<\/p>\n The implementation of FOGO for local councils is a State Government mandate to be actioned by 2027.<\/p>\n Mr King said the municipality is looking to acquire land in the Ballarat West Employment Zone to build a dedicated recycling facility, while a funding application for $37 million through the Regional Recycling Fund has been submitted.<\/p>\n Cr Morgan\u2019s motion failed with herself, and Crs Morrison, Taylor, and Des Hudson voting in favour, and Crs Lapkin, McIntosh, Saunders, Tracey Hargreaves, and Jim Rinaldi voting against.<\/p>\n Cr Lapkin introduced a motion to retain weekly waste pickup and have FOGO waste collected fortnightly.<\/p>\n \u201cThis report is an example of yes-ministerism in pursuit of an ideological policy agenda that sacrifices the will of residents at the altar of progressive virtue signalling,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n The motion passed with the same councillors voting for and against as before.<\/p>\n Cr Morrison said he was disappointed at the decision, which he says is \u201cdoing nothing\u201d to ameliorate rate increases, cost of living pressures, and waste charges.<\/p>\n
\n\u201cWe don\u2019t have to guess. We know because councils have gone ahead and done this before us. The option of weekly FOGO actually causes<\/p>\n
\n\u201cBecause of that, that huge amount of waste that\u2019s no longer going to landfill, it has a cost, and it\u2019s approximately $7.3 million over 10 years.\u201d<\/p>\n