For the final City of Ballarat council meeting of the year, mayor Cr Daniel Moloney ran through a list of the municipality\u2019s achievements and projects for 2020.<\/p>\n
Touching on the annual report, Cr Moloney said he was proud of the way that Ballarat had approached the last 12 months.<\/p>\n
\u201c2020 has been one of the more challenging and difficult years of our time,\u201d he said. \u201cI\u2019m proud as a Ballaratarian and proud of the way our community brought itself together during this ongoing challenge.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m proud to present this annual report that reflects our approach to these changes and challenges and details how we\u2019ve continued to deliver our core services.\u201d<\/p>\n
In moving the motion, former mayor Cr Ben Taylor said while the year started out business as usual, it turned out to be one that hopefully will never happen again.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe had COVID hit and that was tough and on top of that we had to terminate the CEO\u2026 and then working through and adapting to the needs of community throughout COVID,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t think the report puts all of that it in\u2026 but It was a pretty frantic and big year and it\u2019s great to see as an organisation we\u2019re in a really good position for the next annual report and coming into the council plan for this new council.\u201d<\/p>\n
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New terms for emergency committee<\/strong><\/p>\n Although the City of Ballarat\u2019s Municipal Emergency Management Planning Committee had formerly operated under the control of council, last night\u2019s meeting sought to de-establish the group in its current form.<\/p>\n Although council were responsible for chairing, organising and maintaining the MEMPC, a motion to authorise the CEO establish a new committee was moved.<\/p>\n With the aim of identifying hazards and risk reduction planning, the current MEMPC was made up of municipal emergency management staff and emergency agencies.<\/p>\n Due to legislative changes, MEMPC moved from council\u2019s responsibility to that of the committee members.<\/p>\n Although the motion moved, Cr Samantha McIntosh said she was concerned about the lack of emergency fire services available to those within the region.<\/p>\n \u201cIt puts our region, locally and afield at a great deal of challenge and loss,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n \u201cOur firefighting capability has been limited or diminished\u2026 we\u2019ve already experienced the significant changes with the helicopters being placed in Moorabbin and Essendon and then with this change in officers only being available after 1pm.<\/p>\n \u201cOnce this new version of committee gets activated, we need to make sure that they\u2019re very aware of the significant concerns that our broader region and our local community have and the impacts that has further on the state.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Planning framework gets green light<\/strong><\/p>\n Under the Local Government Act 2020, council moved to adopt integrated strategic plan as is required by all Victorian municipalities.<\/p>\n As supported by five principles of community engagement, strategic planning, financial management, public transparency and service performance, councilors moved to adopt the new integrated plan.<\/p>\n In moving the mothing Cr Belinda Coates said thanks to the widespread community consultation done prior to the plan, council was in a good place to move in and execute it.<\/p>\n \u201cIt is a positive direction to build on,\u201d she said. \u201cIt\u2019s a requirement of the new Local Government Act but I think Ballarat\u2019s in a good position to fully address that.\u201d<\/p>\n As seconder Cr McIntosh said adopting this approach is a great way to move forward.<\/p>\n \u201cMaking sure that we have highlighted those five supporting principles\u2026 I know our community will have great confidence knowing that that\u2019s way that our council is considering our strategic planning,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n New cell at tip<\/strong><\/p>\n The contract to build a new cell at the Ballarat Regional Landfill site just outside of Smythesdale has been awarded.<\/p>\n Although seven other tenders were received, council moved to award Goldsmith Civil Engineering the job for a total tendered price of just over $4.46 million.<\/p>\n To clear up concerns about the overall cost of the project, director of infrastructure and environment Bridget Weatherall said they were confident they have value for money.<\/p>\n \u201cThe range of tenders were up to around $10 million so this quoted price for around $4.46 million… and we are confident in the capabilities of Goldsmith Civil Engineering,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n \u201cEach cell is quite different in its construction and volume and time that it\u2019s built.<\/p>\n \u201cThe last cell was constructed to provide two years of air space so basically it could accommodate two years of materials, the EPA has given us approval to build a cell that will provide five years of air space so that\u2019s the reason for the disparity.\u201d<\/p>\n Cr Taylor moved the motion saying rubbish disposal is something we have to do it really well.<\/p>\n \u201cWe want a better circular economy but this is what we have to deal with in dealing with the landfill in making sure we have the space available,\u201d he said. \u201cIt is frustrating that this is a cost, but this is a cost that we have to deal with.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n