Community calls for rec reserve consultation – Golden Plains Shire council meeting briefs

GOLDEN Plains Shire council’s first meeting of the year, which took place on Tuesday night, began contentiously with a packed gallery eager to see development on the proposed rezoning of Dardel Drive halted.

Taking place at the Golden Plains Civic Centre at Bannockburn, the motions regarding the potential subdividing of parts of the town’s recreation reserve were expedited for the gallery.

Though the group’s petition was submitted to council, Cr Owen Sharkey’s decision to withdraw a notice of motion requesting an information session and to publish an updated information sheet for petitioners drew complaint from the gallery.

“It was meant as an olive branch,” he said. “It wasn’t meant to create any angst or anything as such.”

The group’s petition, which contained 256 signatures, called for the municipality to put the potential sale and sub-division up of 3.5 hectares of public land on hold and to provide further community engagement on the matter.

Cr Ian Getsom said it’s important residents’ voices are hears.

“They don’t want to be told what they are doing, they want to be part,” he said. “They need to be give the opportunity to voice their concerns.

“We’re a local council, not a private developer and we need to start acting like one. We don’t own this land. The community does.”

Mayor Cr Brett Cunningham declared a conflict of interest prior to both items due to a family member opposing the development.

Delegation discussed

The question of whether to increase the financial responsibilities for the municipality’s chief executive officer in award contracts drew debate between councillors.

With the CEO’s current delegation of $450,000 and inflation to account for, Cr Les Rowe unsuccessfully attempted to let the matter lie with an alternative motion.

Following that, Cr Sharkey brought forward an alternative which would see the item pushed and the idea of forming a dedicated contract-handling subcommittee explored.

“It is a happy medium,” he said. “This is just deferring it. It’s not suggesting an increase, it’s just suggesting we look at it in a different matter.”

Cr Helena Kirby opposed the alternative in reference to a similar sub-committee that had phased out years earlier.

The motion was passed with Crs Kirby and Rowe against.

Tenders awarded

The contracts to deliver two major projects, one for the region’s infrastructure and the other for its sports offerings were awarded by council.

The first motion saw the nearly $750,000 tender to replace Bamganie’s Hendersons Road Bridge go towards developers Road and Bridge with the majority of cash received through the Federal Government.

“This will have another 100-year lifespan,” Cr Kirby said. “Without this sort of [Federal] money coming forward, there’s no way council would be able to afford to build them.”

The next motion saw the more-than-$2 million contract to develop the Inverleigh Youth Active Space awarded to LJM Construction.

Set to expand on the Yerram Yaluk Bun Play Space with the inclusion of a new skate park, pump track, basketball courts and other amenities, the project was steered by the community via the Inverleigh Progress Association.

Cr Clayton Whitfield said the project spoke to the importance of community involvement.

“[It’s] an example of what can be achieved through community engagement and participation,” he said.

“The Inverleigh Progress Association initiated this from findings in their community survey, they lobbied sitting MPs… and created the groundswell that council staff have run with.”

Constraints considered

A tightening of the belt proved a frequent topic for councillors throughout the meeting with budgetary constraints discussed with the municipality’s financial sustainability called into question.

With cost increases, and the squeeze of windfall tax, cost-shifting and inflation, Cr Whitfield brought forward an alternative motion that the municipality publicise the report and lobby for State, Federal and ministerial support.

“This report is to inform the people of Golden Plains that council is facing some financial constraints going forward and that we’ll have to find efficiencies perhaps from other income streams or by reducing spending,” he said.

The alternative motion was passed unanimously and will see the document available during an upcoming Smythesdale Country Market.

The topic of funds was further explored with Cr Sharkey saying the situation was “pretty grim” when discussing the municipality’s quarterly finance report.

Priority projects endorsed

Councillors signed off on their list of priority projects for 2024 with developments like the Growing Place Strategy, Bannockburn’s expansion, and a lack of health services and public transport listed.

Cr Kirby said the document is a great guide for state and federal members as well as for candidates when the latter government’s next election arrives.

“It’s an excellent source of information for our MPs,” she said. “It contains projects that can be funded form external sources that otherwise council could not fund.

“Election commitments are part of this project… which ensures the priorities for our community are met.”

Football offerings examined

The region’s soccer and futsal capabilities was discussed with the G21 Regional Football Strategy was endorsed by council.

Commissioned through Football Victoria, the strategy is a statewide initiative aimed at boosting regional soccer infrastructure and participation.

Options in the strategy included expanding current facilities to cater for football, or building a new recreation reserve, the latter of which Cr Kirby said wasn’t feasible.

“Council forecasts there will not be enough demand in the foreseeable future to justify new infrastructure being built in the next 10 years,” she said.

“We do have two large soccer fields in Bannockburn at the moment but other areas of the Shire just don’t have enough of a population to maintain soccer teams.”

Cr Kirby encouraged residents to express interest regarding using established facilities for football.