E-scooter trail period could change – City of Greater Bendigo council meeting briefs

THE City of Greater Bendigo could reconsider its twelve-month trial of e-scooters before the scheduled end date in May next year.

At the council’s August meeting on Monday, Cr Julie Sloan successfully had an additional action added to a motion to note the first quarterly update report on the trial.

Cr Sloan’s extra point was that the city carry out community consultation early next year before possibly having a motion to extend or end the trial put to the council before the scheduled end date.

Her move followed tabling of a report that revealed 4333 riders had done 13,231 trips covering about 22,745 kilometres up until mid-July, averaging between 100 and 200 trips on weekdays and from 260 to 480 on weekends.

The report said the city had received 46 complaints and inquiries, with 27 complaints about riders not using helmets, riding on footpaths and poor parking.

Cr Sloan told the meeting that police had issued 17 infringement notices so far and some residents had contacted her saying they did not support the trial.

She said while the trial should continue, compliance and saefty issues need to be addressed and adjustments made in response to community feedback.

Cr Jen Alden said the e-scooters had been used widely and few people would have failed to notice them – but often for the wrong reasons.

She had seen riders without helmets on her way to the council meeting, she said, and scooters had been left incorrectly around town.

But Cr Alden remained in favour of the trial because e-scooters improved transport options.

“I don’t want individual illegal actions to overshadow the potential usefulness of these scooters,” Cr Alden said.

Cr Margaret O’Rourke said it was only a minority who did the wrong thing

Cr David Fagg said correct use of the scooters needed to be encouraged, otherwise discontent would grow.

He said people with “doubts” about the scooters should provide their feedback as the trial continued.

The original recommendation without Cr Sloan’s addition was that the statistics, compliance data and feedback be noted, along with a possible expansion of the existing trial area before summer.

Traffic petition tabled

The council will consider a petition from residents about traffic management in part of Violet Street at a future meeting.

The petition, with 30 signatures, requested consultation with residents about car parking, traffic volumes and speeds generated by the National Hotel and possibly in future by an already-approved Guzman Y Gomez restaurant.

Petitioners called for physical works and other measures from High Street to the Mackenzie Street intersection to address safety concerns and impacts on amenity by current and future traffic.

They demanded that a preferred and costed option be in place no later than the end of November.

A recommendation that an appropriate response be prepared was carried unanimously, with Cr Sloan commenting that the petition was an example of democracy in action.

Airport plan adopted

Councillors adopted a new 10-year strategic plan to guide development of the Bendigo Airport, which includes an aim to have 200,000 people passing through the terminal by 2034.

The Bendigo Airport Strategic Plan 2024-2034 focuses on infrastructure, safe and compliant operations, products and services, and financial sustainability.

Cr O’Rourke said the airport was the envy of many regional communities.

Highlights of the plan include development of a master plan to guide investment and growth, and a “robust” expansion of aviation frequency, competition and destination choice.

Speaking after the meeting, mayor Cr Andrea Metcalf said the airport had “transformed” in a short space of time.

“Since 2017, the airport has welcomed a new runway, new emergency services infrastructure, the introduction of a daily QantasLink passenger service to and from Sydney, and a new terminal and business park,” Cr Metcalf said.

“The broader precinct also welcomed the RMIT flight training program, 19 new tenants constructed hangar facilities, and a new leasing strategy was introduced.”

No to Heathcote permit application

Permission to build a six-bedroom house and remove vegetation on a site in Bradleys Lane, Heathcote, was denied in a unanimous vote.

An officer’s report cited bushfire risk and other unacceptable site-specific environmental aspects of the application in recommending the refusal.

Cr O’Rourke said the area was heavily forested and while the issue was “a difficult one,” it would be hard to make any other decision.

Cr Fagg said he would urge the applicant to reconsider the location of the proposed house, because there was nothing wrong with its design or the area’s zoning.

Farmland ‘fragmentation’ opposed

A proposal to build a house and an outbuilding on land zoned for farming in Lockwood South was knocked back by councillors.

According to an officer’s report, the application for a site on Bendigo-Maldon Road failed to demonstrate the land would be used for a genuine and economically viable agricultural purpose that warranted a dwelling.

It would also remove land from being available for agricultural production and increase pressure for similar development, the report said.

The applicants wanted the house and outbuilding to accompany small-scale grazing activities.

Cr Alden said the house would cause fragmentation of agricultural land, and Cr Sloan agreed, saying the proposal did not comply with planning policy.

Cr O’Rourke said a house did not need to be on the site for the proposed use.

Axedale subdivision refused

Councillors voted unanimously to refuse an application to subdivide land in Brownes Lane, Axedale, into two lots.

A report to councillors said the proposal was contrary to planning policies on subdivision, rural dwellings and the Farming Zone and would create an undersized residential lot.

It represented an unacceptable outcome, the report said.

It sought to resubdivide the land with a resulting two dwellings on two lots, which was against the planning scheme, Cr Fagg said.

The application attracted six objections when it was advertised.

Cr O’Rourke did not vote, knowing some of the objectors.

Fair access policy adopted

A policy supporting better access to sporting and recreation activities throughout the municipality is now in place.

The Fair Access Policy aims to reduce barriers and address the motivation and needs of existing and potential new participants – especially women, girls and under-represented groups – to get involved in sport and recreation.

The recommendation, moved by Cr Alden, included a provision to rule an applicant or activity ineligible for consideration if they do not comply with the policy.

Cr Fagg voted against the motion because of that point, saying he otherwise supported the policy.

The component regarding ineligibility was “unnecessarily punitive,” he said, and how this would be judged was not clear.

Cr Fagg said the policy should be delayed for further information if that point was not removed.

Cr Williams also voted against the policy’s adoption.