GOLDEN Plains Shire councillors knocked back a motion brought by Cr Les Rowe during their regular meeting on Tuesday night calling for the municipality not to sell land near Bannockburn\u2019s recreation precinct.<\/p>\n
The 3.5-hectare plot was deemed surplus during council\u2019s March 2021 meeting with the aim of rezoning the land and selling for residential development.<\/p>\n
Cr Rowe argued the space would be better-suited served for recreational purposes.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis land still presents, I think, a great opportunity for years to come an area where additional sporting facilities could be built,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cGiven the rate of growth in our Shire and the future demand we constantly learn of, it\u2019s now time we deem this land as necessary for future planning.\u201d<\/p>\n
The motion was foreshadowed with question time submissions from five community members.<\/p>\n
Director of infrastructure and environment Phil Josipovic said the land was deemed not suited for sporting facilities during the 2021 meeting.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe work undertaken for the Bannockburn Growth Plan indicated a need for at least two football ovals and netball courts as a result of growth across the Bannockburn area,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThese could not be accommodated at the recreation precinct.\u201d<\/p>\n
Cr Helena Kirby voted against the motion, and said the fate of the land is still to be decided with input from the community.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re not going to make this decision now,\u201d she said. \u201cThe Minister [for Planning] is going to go out.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s going to ask the community what they want, if they want to see some housing, little housing or no housing.\u201d<\/p>\n
The site has also been noted for its potential in the State Government\u2019s Big Housing Build program.<\/p>\n
The motion failed with Crs Ian Getsom and Rowe voting in favour of it.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Funding decided<\/strong><\/p>\n Councillors signed off on projects to be funded through phase four of the Federal Government\u2019s Local Roads and Community Infrastructure program.<\/p>\n More than $1.3 million was allocated to projects including fencing at Linton Recreation Reserve, upgrades to Inverleigh Golf Club septic system and Sebastopol-Smythesdale Road as well as overall drainage improvements.<\/p>\n Cr Gavin Gamble called for an amendment that would have seen $150,000 taken from the drainage allocation, arguing the municipality needed to put more into weather preparedness.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s important also to try and be pre-emptive with these weather events and climate that is changing,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \u201cWe should be allocating resources to issues such as fire readiness with all the extra growth caused by the recent rain events and also related issues such as environmental weeds.<\/p>\n \u201cThat relates also to more care of our roads in terms of access to safe exit roads.\u201d<\/p>\n The amendment failed with Cr Clayton Whitfield saying \u201cit illustrates the tough decisions that do go on in the background as to what gets put in and what can\u2019t make the list.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Cash needed for upgrade<\/strong><\/p>\n With $1.5 million already promised by the State Government for upgrades to the Don Wallace Reserve oval at Teesdale, councillors voted to submit a grant application for further funds.<\/p>\n The submission would grant the municipality up to $250,000 from Sport and Recreation Victoria\u2019s Country Football and Netball Program to help complete the project.<\/p>\n The grant funding is set to be leveraged by a $300,000 contribution from the municipality.<\/p>\n Planned upgrades include new female changerooms and a reduced oval size, with Cr Kirby saying the works will complement Teesdale\u2019s growth.<\/p>\n \u201cThey have a population of 3500 people who reside in Teesdale and it\u2019s likely to increase to 5000 by 2040,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s imperative as a council that we\u2019re on the right foot, we\u2019re looking to the future and we need to get these old buildings upgraded, certain things replaced like new lighting or new roadways.<\/p>\n \u201cThis is the type of money we need. We\u2019ve got to have big dollars to make good improvements in our recreation facilities.\u201d<\/p>\n Tree plan open for feedback<\/p>\n The municipality\u2019s draft tree protection and management policy is set to go out for public exhibition.<\/p>\n The policy will be open for community input for four weeks and is set to guide the municipality\u2019s strategy in dealing with trees in the region.<\/p>\n Updates to the current Tree Management Policy such as a more comprehensive framework were recommended following a 2019 audit.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Bridge revival<\/strong><\/p>\n An additional $60,000 is being pulled from the municipality\u2019s budget to fund bridge works for stages four and five of the Meredith-Shelford Road reconstruction project.<\/p>\n The original tender for stage four and five works was approved by council in July, 2022 at a cost of more than $1.5 million, funded from two Federal Government roads and infrastructure grants.<\/p>\n The extra $60,000 is to be taken from the Roads and Recovery program, and will include widening the bridge to match the road width.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Personal payments reviewed<\/strong><\/p>\n Cr Rowe came under scrutiny during council\u2019s expense and attendance report for a late submission of more than $500 in travel claims.<\/p>\n In accordance with policy, reports are to be lodged quarterly with councillors required to submit their personal expenses within 14 days after each period.<\/p>\n With the previous quarter having ended on Saturday, 13 December, Cr Rowe submitted his report at the last minute on Saturday, 14 January.<\/p>\n Cr Owen Sharkey said he was disappointed with the report, saying the listing of Cr Rowe\u2019s claims were \u201cexcessive and unnecessary.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAll the claims have been within policy and submitted on time,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \u201cThe current policy we have allows the claims to be made within the 14 days. In this case, Cr Rowe has made a submission within the 14th day.<\/p>\n \u201cIt doesn\u2019t sit well with me that this has come into the public realm like this.\u201d<\/p>\n Cr Kirby supported the motion, saying Cr Rowe should be reimbursed given his service to the community.<\/p>\n Cr Whitfield suggested a future call for review on the expenditure policy regarding submission timeframes, particularly over the Christmas holiday period.<\/p>\n The motion was passed, with Cr Sharkey voting against.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n