Council approves budget

THE City of Greater Bendigo’s budget for next financial year was approved at Monday’s regular council meeting.

Cr Matthew Evans said while he felt some elements of the document’s preparation had worked well, the lack of community consultation on the budget councillors were being asked to vote on could be problematic.

“The budget process that we’ve currently undertaken remains better than previous iterations, especially when community submissions are at the start of the process,” said Cr Evans.

“It remains my preference for budgets to be put out for public comment before formal adoption. I also note that the commissioner’s valuations are to be completed in June 2023.

“The problem of the timing of this process is that it occurs after we have formally adopted the budget.

“As a matter of principle, residents and council would prefer to have this available so that we can properly align our budgets.”

Mayor Cr Andrea Metcalf said the council was not legally required to put the budget out for public comment just prior to its release, and that the council was “trialling” this method of earlier public submissions, this year.

The public was invited to share their ideas and concerns for the 2023/2024 budget late last year.

Cr Evans also revealed the municipality doesn’t yet know the cost of preparation for the Commonwealth Games, though it is hoped officers will be able to provide that information soon.

 

 

New rules for pet owners

Councillors have approved changes to local elements of the Domestic Animals Act 1994 in order to make dogs on-leash the default around the municipality, and for cats to be kept contained to their owners’ properties 24 hours a day.

The changes will come into effect in 2024 and will be accompanied by an educational campaign.

Cr Julie Sloan said while dogs off-lead has been the default within the municipality for the last 22 years, it is clear the general feeling of the public is that this is no longer adequate.

“To avoid a dog rush and a dog attack is something that I’m really looking forward to as an outcome of this recommended motion,” she said.

Feedback was sought from the community after a draft order was published in December last year, with 194 submissions received in response.

Of the respondents, 89 supported 24-hour cat containment while 30 were against, and 75 backed dogs always on leads with 15 in opposition.

Over the past six years there have been an average of 167 dog attacks and 82 dog rushes per year across City of Greater Bendigo.

 

Drain plan

A developer has been granted permission by councillors to access a portion of city-owned land for a drainage basin linked to a potential 78-lot residential plan.

Rather than creating a drainage reserve for the development within the area of private land, the developer sought to use public land for stormwater runoff which would come as a result of the new homes.

Cr David Fagg said it was “important to note” the proposed development has not yet been formally considered.

“Tonight, we are only considering whether to allow this encumbrance to go ahead and whether to authorise a CEO to carry out necessary actions,” he said.

A 28-day period for public comment was held for the public to provide input on the allocation of public land.

“My general instinct is to be against proposals in which private businesses want to use public land for their business operations,” said Cr Fagg.

Despite such reservations, Cr Fagg said he backed the application, as the land had already been reserved for drainage.

 

Development plans

Permission for a dwelling and store and a reduction in parking for development on a plot of rural land at Sebastian were refused by councillors on several grounds.

Objections included that it would permanently remove agricultural land and would not be in line with land use in the surrounding area.

Meanwhile, development plans and a planning permit for a 23-lot subdivision and formation of a reserve on Atlas Road in Junortoun have been approved, including the authority to remove native vegetation for construction purposes.

Other plans for a three-lot subdivision on McIvor Highway also in Junortoun, were rejected in part because two of the lots would sit on a floodway.

Property at 32 Myers Street may soon be the site of a 10-apartment building and medical centre, despite going over the 12-metre height limit for buildings in the area.

The building was proposed at 14.3 metres and public parking will be reduced as a result of the project, but municipal officers deemed there will still be enough parking to accommodate the anticipated number residents.

“The apartments are designed to meet the high physical support requirements of the NDIS as specialist disability accommodation,” said Cr Fagg.

“This is a difficult proposal and I think arguments could be made in both directions.

“One of the purposes of the mixed-use zone is indeed higher densities, and one of the objectives of our city-centre plan is to achieve a larger population in the city centre through higher density housing.

“My view is that the variations are acceptable in light of our overall objectives for the city centre.”

Finally in planning news, approval was given for the construction of a driveway on Floods Road at Shelbourne after the applicant appealed to the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal against council’s initial refusal, and they subsequently changed the plans to be within regulations.

 

Acting CEO okayed

The City’s director of Commonwealth Games, Andrew Cooney, was approved to be acting CEO for the municipality.

He’ll take on the role take while CEO Craig Niemann goes on 32 days leave from 3 July to 4 August.