Inclusion plan approved – Golden Plains Shire council meeting briefs

COUNCILORS adopted the 2020-2024 Active Ageing and Inclusion Plan at the Golden Plains Shire’s council meeting on Tuesday, 23 February.

The document should be a framework for the Shire to approach and address the needs of older residents and those living with disability.

Cr Clayton Whitfield said it has seen thorough community consultation.

“Some of that feedback has directly impacted the plan… in transportation, accessibility, developing programs to improve digital literacy,” he said.

“I look forward to seeing this plan come to fruition over the next few years.”

Cr Brett Cunningham said public feedback was positive.

“A lot of people took the opportunity to submit their thoughts,” he said.

 

Play Space nearly named

The Inverleigh Play Space naming consultation process has seen Yerram Yaluk Bun receive the most votes from the community.

Director corporate services Phillippa O’Sullivan said a total of 120 votes were submitted between December and February.

Cr Owen Sharkey said the results were as expected, with Leigh River Park, Inverleigh Community Park, and Inverleigh Play Park also receiving a similar number of votes.

“It comes as no surprise that the results coming back cut almost into four quarters, so there’s no absolute clear and definite deciding one there,” he said.

“It will be a tough decision for council in a month’s time.”

A final decision will be made at the March meeting.

 

Dogs get Gurney guernsey

The residents of Bannockburn address have been permitted to keep five dogs at their home for domestic animal husbandry purposes.

Their proposal noted the toy poodles would be kept indoors and outdoors, within a secure area, and would be breeding up to four litters annually, with puppies distributed to new homes at eight weeks of age.

The site is 4200 square metres within a low-density residential zone, with a house and outbuilding.

Cr Whitfield said council officers have concluded that the permit should be allowed.

“There are conditions applied… that deal with noise and odour, and if there were complaints about noise and odour going forward, an acoustic engineer report would be required,” he said.

“Thereafter, for the business to continue, it must be shown those measures required in the report are implemented to the satisfaction of the responsible authority.

“I believe the conditions imposed on the permit allow for the business to go ahead.”

Cr Cunningham shared concerns of some objectors surrounding “excessive noise pollution” and waste.

 

Ratepayers’ finance update

The Shire’s total operating revenue was reported to be $36.8 million at the end of 2020.

Director O’Sullivan said the total operating expenditure at that time was $21.1 million, with a year-to-date surplus of $15.6 million.

“This is $5.4 million favourable against our original budget, and $2.5 million favourable against our revised budget,” she said.

“This is primarily due to $417,000 in hire rates and charges revenue than budgeted, due to higher levels of growth in customers than estimated, and $425,000 in operating grants carried forward from 2019-20, due to the timing of performance obligations being met after the 30th of June 2020.

“There were $330,000 lower user fees and charges due to the reduction of childcare fees, stemming from a reduction in enrolments, and also in relation to COVID-19 related closures of community centres.”

Because of public open space and development contributions, there was a higher income of $259,000, and $140,000 was linked to the Bannockburn Bowls upgrade contribution payment.

Contracts and material costs were $775,000 lower than in the revised budgeted. Redundancy costs are also lower due to some resignations.

 

Push to move Buninyong boundary

Ahead of the 2022 State election, the Shire will recommend the Victorian Electoral Commission redivide the local electorate boundaries.

Golden Plains is currently split between the Buninyong and Polwarth electorates. Director O’Sullivan said the Shire will propose to expand the Buninyong boundary to the Rokewood-Skipton Road.

“This is to incorporate the townships of Rokewood and Mannibadar, with the primary driver being these towns are more aligned with the community interest of the Buninyong electorate,” she said.

“This change will not impact on the maximum enrolled voters thresholds.”

Cr Whitfield said aligning those towns to the electorate will potentially enable more funding opportunities.

“It makes more geographical that those people associate more with Ballarat and Buninyong than they would with Bannockburn for facilities and amenities, so I think it’s a good move,” he said.

Cr Gavin Gamble said the proposal “appears eminently sensible.”

The Shire will be able to provide further feedback to the VEC in June.