David v Des: Round II – Golden Plains Shire council meeting briefs

ALL Golden Plains Shire councillors met via video conference for Tuesday’s council meeting for the first time during the pandemic.

It was the second last regular meeting before council heads into caretaker mode, and ahead of the main agenda Cr David Evans made somewhat of a reply to Cr Des Phelan’s withering strike during council’s previous meeting.

“At our last council meeting Cr Phelan made a speech that I had no choice but to reply to,” Cr Evans said.

“I entered council to address what I considered the financial mismanagement of the previous councils. During my time I have repeatedly identified these issues and exposed them to the public.

“It has been my efforts alone to expose poor financial management and I may well have inadvertently caused breaches of the code of conduct.

“It is true that I have been given three token legal letters regarding alleged code breaches. I have never been fined or suspended.

“In my opinion those letters were used to intimidate me as a councillor.”

When Cr Evans began making claims about Cr Phelan, deputy-mayor Cr Joanne Gilbert interjected with a point of order.

“If we’re going on allegations on hearsay, here and there, he said she said, I think we’ve strayed slightly off the track of the point of this message,” she said.

Cr Evans appealed to be allowed to continue his speech and was supported by Cr Helena Kirby. He was ultimately granted permission by meeting chair, mayor Cr Owen Sharkey, kind of.

“David, I appreciate your comments to start with, but I think we’re going a little bit off topic,” Cr Sharkey said. “I have asked both yourself and Cr Phelan to sort your differences out. It’s a shame the two of you can’t speak to one another.”

Cr Evans was subsequently able to further his comments and address some of the allegations made about him by Cr Phelan.

“Cr Phelan’s reference regarding me causing this council time and money with officers chasing down rabbit holes, I ask what is wrong with getting a full explanation before a decision is made?” said Cr Evans.

“Regarding Cr [Les] Rowe and my abusive phone calls to him and his family, Cr Rowe and I have worked closer than any other pair of councillors for three years.

“We were in both opinions closer than brothers, and we had the confidence to dish out on each other on numerous occasions. I have no idea where that statement of abuse to family members came from and totally deny it.”

 

Rate relief for COVID impacts

The Shire’s financial hardship policy got an update following the allocation of $100,000 during the 2020/21 budgeting process.

In addition to the existing measures, like suspending debt collection on rates and waving interest on overdue rates, the Shire is now offering a rate cut to residents who can prove they meet criteria.

Ratepayers on JobKeeper and JobSeeker can now apply for a $500 discount, while people who can show a 30 per cent reduction of income will get a $100 cut applied. Approved ratepayers can also have their rate payments suspended for 12 months.

“I’m proud to be backing the financial hardship policy,” said Cr Les Rowe. “It’s going to give a meaningful helping hand to those people in our Shire who need it the most.”

With only $100,000 set aside for the program in the current budget, meaning 200 rate payers could take advantage of the $500 measure before the current allocated funds are exhausted, director of corporate services Philippa O’Sullivan said the use of program would be reviewed monthly.

Uptake on the original hardship policy included 91 ratepayers who entered into payment plans and two on COVID-19 hardship plans. 16 applications for COVID-19 hardship were issued but not returned.

Cr Gilbert urged residents who needed financial relief to take advantage of the opportunity.

“Please apply,” she said. “Seek the assistance that we have made available.”

Upon unanimous approval of the policy, Cr Sharkey spoke about his pride in the measure.

“I think this stands as one of the best decisions of my time on council and this is one that helps those that need it the most,” he said.

 

Local law goes for feedback

Councillors approved an updated set of rules, known as Local Law No. 2, to go out for public consultation.

The changes focus on a range of issues like unsightly land, open air burning, motorbikes, shipping containers, limits on, and types of, animals that can be kept in the Shire, camping on private land, and firewood collection on council administrated roadsides.

 

No go for Hindu temple

A proposal for a Hindu temple at 79 Vaggs Road, Ross Creek in a rural living zone was rejected by the councillors.

The plan was to use the eight-hectare block that’s just over 10 kilometres from Ballarat as a site of worship seven days a week between 9am and 5pm, hosting up to 100 people at a time.

It would have seen the existing house and large and small shedding altered to add classrooms, toilets, access ramps and a kitchen. Additional site works would have included the addition of a carpark.

The applicant sought to have the decision postponed until April next year and Cr Evans moved that motion, but no other councillor supported the action, so the meeting pressed on with a decision.

All councillors but Cr Evans supported dismissing the application. Cr Evans once again said it should have been deferred in part due to issues with the history of planning decisions in the municipality.

 

Courses for horses

The masterplan for the Leighdale Equestrian Centre was given unanimous support from councillors after receiving significant community input.

The document outlines key areas for improvement including the arenas, storage at the site, the pavilion, the parking and horse float area, drainage, course drainage, signage, lighting, and fencing.

Many elements of those areas were listed as priorities for the centre.

 

Strategies adopted

After a run up as long as Paul Rifle coming in from the fence, the Shire’s Sport and Recreation Strategy was finally adopted by councillors.

Joining that document in receiving the thumbs up was the municipality’s Waste and Resource Recovery Strategy that’s also been on a lengthy journey.

Both documents had been out for community feedback.