COUNCILORS adopted the 2020-2024 Active Ageing and Inclusion Plan at the Golden Plains Shire\u2019s council meeting on Tuesday, 23 February.<\/p>\n
The document should be a framework for the Shire to approach and address the needs of older residents and those living with disability.<\/p>\n
Cr Clayton Whitfield said it has seen thorough community consultation.<\/p>\n
\u201cSome of that feedback has directly impacted the plan… in transportation, accessibility, developing programs to improve digital literacy,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI look forward to seeing this plan come to fruition over the next few years.\u201d<\/p>\n
Cr Brett Cunningham said public feedback was positive.<\/p>\n
\u201cA lot of people took the opportunity to submit their thoughts,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n Play Space nearly named<\/strong><\/p>\n The Inverleigh Play Space naming consultation process has seen Yerram Yaluk Bun receive the most votes from the community.<\/p>\n Director corporate services Phillippa O\u2019Sullivan said a total of 120 votes were submitted between December and February.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n \u201cIt comes as no surprise that the results coming back cut almost into four quarters, so there\u2019s no absolute clear and definite deciding one there,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \u201cIt will be a tough decision for council in a month\u2019s time.\u201d<\/p>\n A final decision will be made at the March meeting.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Dogs get Gurney guernsey<\/strong><\/p>\n The residents of Bannockburn address have been permitted to keep five dogs at their home for domestic animal husbandry purposes.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n The site is 4200 square metres within a low-density residential zone, with a house and outbuilding.<\/p>\n Cr Whitfield said council officers have concluded that the permit should be allowed.<\/p>\n \u201cThere 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,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \u201cThereafter, for the business to continue, it must be shown those measures required in the report are implemented to the satisfaction of the responsible authority.<\/p>\n \u201cI believe the conditions imposed on the permit allow for the business to go ahead.\u201d<\/p>\n Cr Cunningham shared concerns of some objectors surrounding \u201cexcessive noise pollution\u201d and waste.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ratepayers\u2019 finance update<\/strong><\/p>\n The Shire\u2019s total operating revenue was reported to be $36.8 million at the end of 2020.<\/p>\n Director O\u2019Sullivan said the total operating expenditure at that time was $21.1 million, with a year-to-date surplus of $15.6 million.<\/p>\n \u201cThis is $5.4 million favourable against our original budget, and $2.5 million favourable against our revised budget,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n \u201cThis 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.<\/p>\n \u201cThere 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.\u201d<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n Contracts and material costs were $775,000 lower than in the revised budgeted. Redundancy costs are also lower due to some resignations.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n