City pushes camper removal – City of Greater Bendigo council meeting briefs

THE City of Greater Bendigo will request camping to be prohibited at the Huntly Lions Park, after a unanimous vote at Monday’s regular council meeting.

The Park has been used as a short-term camping ground for travellers, but in recent years has seen an uptake in campers residing for longer periods or permanently.

The issue was first raised last year following complaints about the safety and cleanliness of the park, with councillors voting at the time to leave the camping site for the time being.

Following consultation with municipal staff, the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning, Victoria Police and Haven; Home Safe, councillors voted to have the park reclassified as a general recreation and picnic area.

The City will request DELWP to remove the reservation purpose, allowing for Community Local Law to be used to move campers on. The removal of the purpose is expected to take at least four months.

Cr Jennifer Alden said there are some campers that have refused offers of other housing, so making camping at the site illegal could result in better outcomes for those using the site for accommodation.

The camping reservation purpose will also be removed at the Marong Tourist Camping Park.

 

Street-side eating to continue

Outdoor dining permits will be extended until 15 December.

It comes as from the Victorian Gambling and Casino Control Commission recently announced it will extend its temporary liquor license to the same date.

Councillors also voted to “urgently advocate” for the State Government to extend the COVIDSafe Outdoor Activation Fund completion timeline from 31 July this year to 30 June 2023, to allow the $975,000 allocated to the City be spent meaningfully.

During the outdoor dining trial, 51 businesses received permits from the municipality, extending their dining onto carparks and road spaces.

The original trial was extended until 30 April at a time when the Elvis: Direct from Graceland exhibition had not been announced, and councillors agreed ending the trial during the blockbuster exhibition would be a mistake.

Cr Alden said a long-term outdoor activation strategy will be prepared by municipal officers.

“Engagement and discussions with both traders the community around a longer-term outdoor activation strategy are vital… to assess how a reimaging of outdoor spaces… can lead to new and better outcomes for cities, their businesses and the health and wellbeing of its residents,” she said.

 

BREP gets State backing

Councillors endorsed Development Victoria as a partner for the planning phase of the Bendigo Regional Employment Precinct.

Municipal officers will undertake a “due diligence process” with DV to assess the risks associated with working with the government agency, and a memorandum of understanding between the City and development organisation will be necessary.

Councillors agreed a State Government body would be better than a private developer due to the BREP being in early planning stage, and council cannot be certain of the right development model, and the possibility of needing external funding.

DV will not compete with the private sector, and the MOU includes a clause that a partnership between the City and organisation does not infer an ongoing partnership arrangement.

The BREP is expected to cover 294 hectares of land bound by the Calder Alternative Highway, Wimmera Highway and Cemetery Road south of Marong

Cr Rod Fyffe said partnering with DV is the best result to keep the project moving along.

Councillors will be presented with a future report to confirm the recommended development model.

 

Independent review blocked

Councillors knocked back a push for an independent review of the City’s operations.

A petition signed by 55 residents called for the review, similar to the one undertaken in 2013, which $2.3 million to conduct and returned annal savings of $6.6 million.

Cr Fyffe applauded the petitioners, however said that since the 2013 review, new policies including the Local Government Act 2020 and rate capping and groups such as the audit and risk committee have improved municipal transparency, while limiting rate increases.

Cr Matthew Evans said while he supports an independent review, now is not the right time, and the City should focus on advocating for funding during the double election year.

Cr Marg O’Rourke, who played a major role in the 2013 review before being elected to public office, said much of the review process was spent cutting through a “noisy minority, and the petitioners have underestimated the cost of a new review.

“I feel it is very light on, and through my experience through my work as a consultant, this type of process suggested would be much more than $500,000,” she said.

Crs Evans and Greg Penna voted against the recommended motion to block the independent review.

 

Money for parks

Several contracts have been awarded for upgrades focused on sport and wellbeing.

Skate park design company Convic was awarded $810,000 for the construction of the Ewing Park Hub skate park.

Melton construction company Naturform were awarded just over $630,000 to build a new ramp and tower at the Lake Weeroona Play Space.

Local electrical contractor DeAraugo and Lea Electrical will undertake the Barrack Reserve lighting project.

Cr Evans welcomed new lights at the park and said the Heathcote Football Club will be “very appreciative” that they’ll be able to train under lights in Heathcote, rather than having to travel to Bendigo to practice.

Other contracts awarded include one for the civil design of the Bendigo Airport Business Park, and one for consultants for the municipal housing and neighbourhood character strategy.

 

Financial policies clarified

A new policy has been created from the previous loan guarantee and related parties policies.

Councillors agreed the old documents were similar, and the new one clarifies some financial operations of the City.

There is currently one substantial loan guarantee arrangement between the municipality and the Bendigo Stadium, worth over $50,000.

Cr O’Rourke said there are several joint funding arrangements, including with Marist and Catherine McAuley Colleges, and she expects to see more.

“Those facilities are incredible for the community, and we wouldn’t be able to fund those on our own,” she said.

“Going forward, we’re going to see, this is the way in which we will fund big projects, we’ll be looking for State and Federal Governments to partner with us, and community groups as well.”

 

City legacy represented

The Greater Bendigo Heritage Advisory Committee has been finalised for the next four-year term.

After previous committee members’ term ended, all positioned were made vacant in November last year.

It is comprised of 10 community members, one representative from the Dja Dja Wurrung Clans Aboriginal Corporation, two agency representatives and one councillor.

Councillors chose Cr David Fagg to join the committee, while one member from DELWP and Heritage Victoria will sit as the agency representatives.

The group meets bi-monthly from February to November, providing strategic advice and representation to the municipality on the cultural, Aboriginal and natural heritage of the region.