Cr Kirby elected acting mayor of the Golden Plains Shire – Golden Plains Shire council meeting briefs

THE April Golden Plains Shire council meeting resumed on Wednesday 23 April where Cr Helena Kirby was elected acting mayor.

The meeting held on Tuesday 22 April was suspended after councillors’ votes for the position were tied between Cr Emma Robbins and Cr Gavin Gamble.

At Wednesday’s meeting, Cr Robbins and Cr Kirby received nominations, but Cr Robbins did not accept.

“As a professional courtesy and in the interests of the business being done tonight, I’d like to withdraw my nomination,” Cr Robbins said.

As Cr Kirby was the only candidate, she became acting mayor while mayor Cr Sarah Hayden is on a leave of absence.

Notice of motion seeks to improve road safety

A NOTICE of motion to improve road safety in the Golden Plains Shire for vulnerable users was carried by councillors.

The motion was introduced by Cr Gamble and asked that council officers produce a report with recommendations for introducing pedestrian awareness and traffic-calming signage around schools and report to the council the steps required to create a road safety strategy.

It also asked for the council to write to the Department of Planning and Transport for an urgent review of speed limits and safety concerns in Teesdale and for the implementation of a pedestrian crossing in Teesdale to be prioritised.

Six-year-old Caleb Wesley was killed crossing Bannockburn-Shelford Road at Teesdale in March.

“I acknowledge the terrible tragedy in Teesdale spurred the bringing on of this notice of motion,” Cr Gamble said.

“I along with many others have been active with concerns going back to the early 2000s in this issue and recognise similar dangers in other towns.

“I believe we need to get organised and united and have our local government take a leading role in engagement and advocacy.”

Rating differential option endorsed for feedback

THE rating differential option was endorsed for community consultation by a majority of councillors.

An alternative motion was introduced by Cr Des Phelan and mostly followed the original recommendation apart from the farming differential rate.

The original recommendation suggested the farming differential rate be reduced to 80 per cent, but the alternative motion – which was carried – reduced the rate to 75 per cent.

“This is going out for consultation to the community, so people have the opportunity to comment on it and put submissions into the municipality,” Cr Phelan said.

The rating differential option also includes the municipal charge reduced to $200, farm differentials consolidated into one rate and the resident differential and business, industrial and commercial differential to remain at 100 per cent.

The business, industrial and commercial differential in Bannockburn will stay at 130 per cent while non-farm vacant land will remain at 205 per cent and non-developable land will stay at 100 per cent.

Community consultation will occur until Thursday 8 May.

An alternative motion by Cr Owen Sharkey, which sought that the differential rate for residents outside Bannockburn be reduced to 90 per cent, was not supported by a majority of councillors.

“The reason and the rationale behind that is as I have discussed in briefings, we know there is a lot of people in the Shire who constantly say Bannockburn gets everything,” he said.

“We all know and appreciate that forever Bannockburn will probably get most things we advocate for as that’s where the population is.”

Council refuses to vary restrictive covenant

COUNCILLORS refused to vary a restrictive covenant at Jesse Way, Inverleigh, allowing residents to build a small second dwelling.

Two objections were received to the application, including from the beneficiary of the covenant.

Cr Brett Cunningham supported the refusal of the variation and said landowners bought into the area knowing they could only build one dwelling.

“I’ve actually had other people that live in that area contact me and they’ve spoken to me, and they’ve told me that when they bought into this area, they bought in knowing that their house would be the only in the area,” he said.

Cr Sharkey opposed refusing to vary the covenant to allow for a second dwelling and said the character of the area had already been impacted by allowing the sale of one-acre (.5ha) and 2.5-acre (1ha) blocks.

“That element in my opinion in this estate has been lost,” he said.

“In this area, in this subdivision, we have 2.5-acre blocks which this block is, so 2.5-acres, one house.

“The one-acre blocks which neighbour these blocks, in three acres you can put three houses on it.”

Crs Robbins, Cunningham and Kirby supported the refusal to grant the variation while Crs Sharkey Gamble and Phelan voted against the refusal.

The motion was carried with the casting vote of the chair.

Road report received

A RESPONSE to Cr Sharkey’s notice of motion at the February council meeting was noted by councillors.

The report noted current independent monitoring of the council-managed road and drainage network, including the potential benefits and drawbacks of conducting a further independent review.

It found that the overall condition of the road network has improved over the past three to four years although more can always be done.

An independent road services review is estimated to cost between $60,000 and $70,000.

Petition to be considered

A PETITION from a resident in relation to the creation of an LGBTIQA+ advisory committee will be referred to the CEO for consideration and response.

The petition was submitted on 28 March and contained eight signatories.

Flood study will be sent to panel

ALL submissions regarding the Teesdale flood study will be referred to an independent planning panel.

The amendment was exhibited in February and March, and 15 submissions were received.

Frequent issues raised in submissions included the extent of the overlays, potential insurance increases and decreases in property value.

Cr Gamble declared a conflict of interest as his property is affected by the study and was not present for the discussion or vote.

Net zero target revised

THE Climate Emergency Plan annual progress report was noted and the council’s corporate net zero target was revised due to challenges with implementation.

The Climate Emergency Plan outlines the Shire’s response to climate change over a 10-year period, but the report noted that State and Federal Government support is needed to fund all relevant initiatives.

Have a say on council plan

THE draft council plan for 2025 to 2029 will be open for public submissions until Wednesday 28 May.

The plan addresses the themes of community, liveability, sustainability, prosperity and leadership and was developed with community engagement.