WEBVTT

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Good evening everyone. I'm councelor

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Kirsten Langford, Mayor of Whitehorse

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City Council and I welcome all who have

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joined this council meeting both in

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person and online. Last Friday, Whitehorse

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City Council was proud to co-host along

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three eastern region councils, a special

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event for local businesses featuring

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nationally recognized demographer and

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social commentator Bernard Salt. Bernard

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spoke about the importance of

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understanding demographic trends because

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when you understand the numbers, you

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gain valuable insight into what's

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happening into our communities today and

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where we're headed to tomorrow. It was

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an informative session that gave our

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local businesses and the broader

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community practical ideas of how to help

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them plan for the future. Now for a bit

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of housekeeping. Council live streams

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council meetings and while all care is

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taken to maintain privacy,

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someone attending the meeting in the

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public gallery may be recorded or appear

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in the live stream. A copy of the live

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stream will be available for viewing on

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the council's website within 48 hours.

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We kindly advise that audio, video, and

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photographic recording is not permitted

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within council chambers unless prior

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approval has been granted by the

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council. And there is only one person

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here tonight who has been granted that

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approval. Thank you for your

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cooperation.

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I will now formally open this council

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meeting and will recite the opening and

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the acknowledgement of country. Please

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stand if you're able to.

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We give thanks,O God, for the

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Men and Women of the past whose generous

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devotion to the common good has been the

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making of our City. Grant that our

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generation may build worthily on the

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foundations that we have laid. Direct

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our minds to all that we plan and

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determine that is for the wellbeing of

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our City. Amen.

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Whitehorse City Council acknowledges the

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Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung people of the Kolin Nation

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as the Traditional Owners of the land

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that we are meeting on. We pay our

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respects to their Elders past, present

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and future and emerging and to

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Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders from

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communities that may be present today.

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Please be seated.

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 I would now like to

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introduce our counselors commencing

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commencing with counselors on my left.

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Deputy Mayor, Councelor Kieran Simpson.

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Good evening, Mayor. Good evening all.

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Great to be here tonight.

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Councelor Andrew Davenport.

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Good evening. Welcome.

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Councelor Jarrod Gunn.

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Good evening, Mayor. Good evening all.

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Welcome.

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Councelor Daniel Griffiths.

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Good evening all. Welcome.

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Councelor Hayley Weller.

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Good evening and welcome.

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Councelor Peter Allan.

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Good evening and welcome.

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Councelor Jason Martin.

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Hello everyone and welcome as well.

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Thank you.

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Councelor Prue Cutts. Good evening

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everyone and welcome.

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Councelor Ben Stennett.

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Good evening everyone. Welcome.

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And councelor Blair Barker.

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Good evening Mayor and good evening to

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everyone else.

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We're also joined by CEO and senior

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officers. I will commence with the chief

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executive officer Simon Mc Millan.

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Hello everyone and welcome.

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We also have Jeff Green, the director of

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city development. Steven White, the

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director of infrastructure and s

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sustainability. Lisa Letic the

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director of community life. Stuart Cann

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the director of corporate services.

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Siobhan O'Sullivan executive manager of

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futures and technology. Fran Nolan

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manager of communications advocacy and

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investment. Vivian Felano the manager

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of integrity and performance and

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members of the governance and IT teams.

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I will now note any apologies and seek a

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motion to accept any leave of absence

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requests.

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As there are none, we will move on to

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item three. I now call for any

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disclosures of interests. Are there any

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disclosures? If declared, I will require

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councils and officers to disclose their

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interests and the nature of that

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interest.

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Seeing as there are no disclosures, we

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will move on to the next item.

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Item four, confirmation of minutes. We

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will now move the confirmation of

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minutes. Councilors, I'm seeking a mover

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to confirm the minutes for the council

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meeting held on the 22nd of June 2026.

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Happy to move. Mayor

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councelor Cutts second.

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Second.

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Councelor Weller.  does the

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mover wish to speak? Second.

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No, mayor

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any other counselors?

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I now put the motion. All those in

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favor?

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Passed unanimously.

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Item five, urgent business. Councilors,

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are there any items of urgent business

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this evening?

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As there are no matters of urgent

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business, we will now move on to the

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next item.

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Item six, request to speak. We have no

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requests to speak listed for this

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evening and we will move on to the next

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item. Item seven, public question time.

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We have two public questions this

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evening from the one submitter. The

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questions are from Kevin Earl Box Hill.

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The questions will be read out and

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responded to by Jeff Green, the director

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of city development. Jeff, could you

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please come to the lecturn and address

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these questions?

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Thank you, Mayor. First question, the

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Young Street road closure was opened

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this month. Is the new footpath DDA

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compliant and why is the new ramp into

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3 Young street on council land when

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there is room for it on 820 Whitehorse

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land under a canopy? Through you, Mayor.

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The new Young Street footpath is not

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fully DDA compliant due to significant

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physical constraints at the site. There

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is an approximate 2.2 meter change in

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level between Fairbank Lane and 

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Whitehorse Road and achieving a fully

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compliant path would have required

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extensive switchback ramps and

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substantial excavation.

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This was not feasible because of the

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limited space available and the presence

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of extensive underground services. The

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design therefore sought to provide the

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best possible pedestrian connection and

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accessibility outcome within these

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constraints. The pathway was located on

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council land because the alternative

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alignment on adjacent private land was

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not considered practical given the site

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levels and its proximity to the building

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entrance.

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Question two, with the council car park

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on the corner of Elgar Road and Whitehorse

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 Road now being closed for 14

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months, what is its timeline on

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reopening? Is it council policy to

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upgrade all the council car parks to the

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same standard as 837 Whitehorse Road through

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your Mayor? Council officers are

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currently investigating options for car

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parking at the site on the corner of

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Elgar and Whitehorse Roads. For it to be open

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for use, it needs to be updated to

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ensure the surface is serviceable,

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parking areas are well delineated, and

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the area is safe for users. It is

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expected that works to enable the area

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to be used for parking will be

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undertaken this financial year. Thank

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you, Mayor. Thank you, Jeff.

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Item eight, petitions. We have no

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petitions listed for this evening and we

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will move on to the next item. Item

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seven, notice of motion. We have no

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notice of motions listed this evening

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and we will move on to the next item.

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Item 10, council reports. Councilors, we

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will now move on to council reports. I

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would like to take a moment here to

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request that before each item is called

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tonight, councilors, allow me to finish

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announcing the item title and formally

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call from mover before contributing.

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Thank you.

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Item 10.1 2026 2027 community grants

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recommendation report. Could I have a

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counselor move the item?

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Move.

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Thank you, councelor Weller. Is there a

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second?

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Second, Madam Mayor.

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Councelor Allen. Councelor Weller.

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Thank you, Mayor. I'm pleased to move

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this report. One of the best parts of

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this role is seeing the incredible work

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our local organizations do. As the

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report notes, 103 community

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organizations are recommended to receive

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support through the community grants

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program and discounts for 2026 to date.

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These groups are the heartbeat of Whitehorse

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 From women's community support to

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youth film making to food security

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projects to innovative sustainability

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work like the Mega Mile Precinct Group

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and Eastern Emergency Relief Network's

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mattress recovery pilot. This is our

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first full year under the revised

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community grants and discounts policy

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which strengthens accessibility and

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transparency and brings in an

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outcomesbased approach. As the report

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says, it ensures decisions are

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evidence-based, transparent, and free

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from conflicts of interest. We received

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154 applications across all categories

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and these projects are expected to

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benefit more than $146,000

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people. We're being asked to endorse

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$314,894

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in cash allocations with another $32,310

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set aside for future micro fund rounds.

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The micro fund stream is already proving

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its value. It's simple, responsive, and

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ideal for smaller organizations or those

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experiencing financial need. With grants

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capped at $1,000, delegating approval

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for rounds two and three to the director

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community life is a practical low-risk

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step that will speed things up for the

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community. The report also recommends

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$15,056

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in tip voucher discounts and notes

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$410,191

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in venue hire discounts already approved

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for 2026.

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Vital support for volunteerrun groups

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managing tight operational budgets. I

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also want to acknowledge the huge effort

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from officers. More than 337 people

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receive support through information

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sessions, workshops, one-on-one health,

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and translated materials. That's what

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good local government looks like.

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Reducing barriers and helping every

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group participate confidently.

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Overall, this program reflects strong

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governance, alignment with BEGO

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recommendations, and a rigorous

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assessment framework. These allocations

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will support connection, inclusion,

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creativity, well-being, and resilience.

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The qualities that make Whitehorse such a

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vibrant community. For these reasons,

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I'm pleased to support the

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recommendation. Thank you,

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Councilor Allan.

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Thank you, Madame Mayor as we know,

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this is more than just an administrative

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 routine administrative item  we

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are voting really for on the lifeblood

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of our local community groups. Whether

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it is a local  sporting club  or an

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arts initiative or a vital social

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support service. These grants directly

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empower the volunteers and grassroot

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organizations that make our city the

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vibrant and caring place that it is.

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When we look at at the core of the

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community grants and discounts policy,

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we are reminded that our funding

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decisions must address tangible

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community needs.  passing this motion

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ensures that our funding is allocated

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equitably, transparently, and

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strategically. It means backing our

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local neighborhood houses, our toy

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libraries, and our emergency relief

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networks. It ensures that the funds

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reach exactly where they are needed most

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aligning seamlessly with the overarching

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objectives of the integrated  council

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plan. By supporting these initiatives,

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we are actively fostering social

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inclusion, cohesion, and respect with

00:12:04.640 --> 00:12:07.576
every corner of Whitehorse. I also want

00:12:07.600 --> 00:12:09.176
to acknowledge the hard work of the

00:12:09.200 --> 00:12:11.495
governance team and officers and the

00:12:11.519 --> 00:12:13.736
community members who have refined the

00:12:13.760 --> 00:12:15.255
community grants guidelines ensuring

00:12:15.279 --> 00:12:17.656
that the applications and assessment

00:12:17.680 --> 00:12:20.680
process  remain rigorous and fair. 

00:12:21.680 --> 00:12:23.976
to the community organizations who will

00:12:24.000 --> 00:12:25.896
benefit from these grants, thank you for

00:12:25.920 --> 00:12:28.536
all for the tireless and hard work that

00:12:28.560 --> 00:12:31.176
you do. You are the ones who run the

00:12:31.200 --> 00:12:33.896
programs and keep our seniors connected,

00:12:33.920 --> 00:12:35.976
our young people engaged, our

00:12:36.000 --> 00:12:38.456
neighborhood  neighborhoods 

00:12:38.480 --> 00:12:41.255
resilient. This council hears you,

00:12:41.279 --> 00:12:44.279
values you and proudly stands with you.

00:12:45.120 --> 00:12:48.120
 I urge everybody here tonight to to

00:12:48.160 --> 00:12:51.096
support the  recommendation and let's

00:12:51.120 --> 00:12:52.696
get it done and get that the funds out

00:12:52.720 --> 00:12:54.776
to the community as quickly as possible.

00:12:54.800 --> 00:12:57.800
And just in closing, um I I there was a

00:12:58.560 --> 00:13:00.935
couple of  well there was particularly

00:13:00.959 --> 00:13:03.959
one group that to me that um should have

00:13:04.079 --> 00:13:06.536
got it but anyway they didn't. So and I

00:13:06.560 --> 00:13:09.416
think we should also look at the amount

00:13:09.440 --> 00:13:10.856
obviously it was it was a budget

00:13:10.880 --> 00:13:12.856
constraint amongst other things and

00:13:12.880 --> 00:13:14.136
scoring and all that sort of thing. I

00:13:14.160 --> 00:13:17.160
acknowledge that but  perhaps next

00:13:17.680 --> 00:13:19.576
budget round I I'll just foreshadow that

00:13:19.600 --> 00:13:21.416
I'll be looking for an increase most

00:13:21.440 --> 00:13:24.440
definitely in the   funding for the

00:13:24.560 --> 00:13:26.136
 cash grants. We'll just see how that

00:13:26.160 --> 00:13:29.160
goes down  in the future. But anyway,

00:13:29.279 --> 00:13:31.495
 all I can say is thank you very much

00:13:31.519 --> 00:13:33.416
for everybody concerned. It's been a

00:13:33.440 --> 00:13:36.216
great process and I commend the 

00:13:36.240 --> 00:13:38.856
motion to council. Thank you.

00:13:38.880 --> 00:13:41.176
Thank you councelor Allen. Are there any

00:13:41.200 --> 00:13:43.976
further speakers to the motion?

00:13:44.000 --> 00:13:44.856
Yes, Mayor.

00:13:44.880 --> 00:13:46.296
Councilor Barker.

00:13:46.320 --> 00:13:46.536
Yeah,

00:13:46.560 --> 00:13:48.456
I'd like to congratulate the director

00:13:48.480 --> 00:13:50.216
of city life, Miss Letic, and the

00:13:50.240 --> 00:13:51.896
governance team. There's been

00:13:51.920 --> 00:13:54.536
significant change to this project um in

00:13:54.560 --> 00:13:56.935
terms of the way the grants and the the

00:13:56.959 --> 00:13:59.959
guidelines for them and I suppose the

00:14:00.240 --> 00:14:02.615
surveillance that goes into this

00:14:02.639 --> 00:14:05.495
project. There are people that um have

00:14:05.519 --> 00:14:07.175
been funded for many years that are no

00:14:07.199 --> 00:14:08.615
longer there. I think it was an artists

00:14:08.639 --> 00:14:10.696
in schools program that we're not able

00:14:10.720 --> 00:14:12.296
to support any longer because it doesn't

00:14:12.320 --> 00:14:14.856
fit the guidelines with the Vego and

00:14:14.880 --> 00:14:17.016
some of the activities that have gone on

00:14:17.040 --> 00:14:20.040
in dare I say other jurisdictions um in

00:14:20.240 --> 00:14:22.856
our great state and that we have been

00:14:22.880 --> 00:14:25.336
able to develop it having had this

00:14:25.360 --> 00:14:27.495
embedded in our organization for such a

00:14:27.519 --> 00:14:29.255
long time. It's a credit to the teams

00:14:29.279 --> 00:14:30.856
that have done it because that work is

00:14:30.880 --> 00:14:33.416
not easy to do. also make the point of

00:14:33.440 --> 00:14:35.495
the 300 plus thousand dollars that's

00:14:35.519 --> 00:14:37.255
money that we've compulsionally acquired

00:14:37.279 --> 00:14:39.896
off other people. So to the groups that

00:14:39.920 --> 00:14:41.416
are receiving that money, please spend

00:14:41.440 --> 00:14:43.576
it wisely and I know that myself and

00:14:43.600 --> 00:14:45.736
other counselors very much look forward

00:14:45.760 --> 00:14:48.760
to  experiencing um exactly what you

00:14:49.120 --> 00:14:50.856
spend that money on. So be sure that

00:14:50.880 --> 00:14:52.696
we'll be along to  see that it's being

00:14:52.720 --> 00:14:54.375
spent very wisely and I know that you

00:14:54.399 --> 00:14:57.016
will spend it wisely.

00:14:57.040 --> 00:14:58.536
Thank you councelor Barker. Are there

00:14:58.560 --> 00:15:01.336
any further speakers?

00:15:01.360 --> 00:15:02.536
Given that there are no further

00:15:02.560 --> 00:15:05.495
speakers, I will now put the motion.

00:15:05.519 --> 00:15:08.055
Please keep your hands in up as I call

00:15:08.079 --> 00:15:11.016
your name. All those in favor?

00:15:11.040 --> 00:15:14.040
Pass unanimously.

00:15:15.700 --> 00:15:16.375

00:15:16.399 --> 00:15:19.399
Item 10.2, fence dog park technical

00:15:20.079 --> 00:15:22.296
report adoption. Could I have a

00:15:22.320 --> 00:15:24.136
counselor move the item?

00:15:24.160 --> 00:15:25.416
Happy to move there.

00:15:25.440 --> 00:15:26.935
Thank you, councelor Stennet. And

00:15:26.959 --> 00:15:28.536
second. Second, Mayor

00:15:28.560 --> 00:15:30.776
council Weller, councelor Stennet.

00:15:30.800 --> 00:15:33.016
Thank you, Mayor.  during the last

00:15:33.040 --> 00:15:35.656
council election, I spoke about 

00:15:35.680 --> 00:15:37.736
getting back to basics, listening to our

00:15:37.760 --> 00:15:39.175
community, and delivering practical

00:15:39.199 --> 00:15:41.336
improvements that make everyday life

00:15:41.360 --> 00:15:43.815
better for our residents.

00:15:43.839 --> 00:15:46.456
This report is exactly that. It responds

00:15:46.480 --> 00:15:48.935
to demonstrated community demand while

00:15:48.959 --> 00:15:50.696
providing council with a sensible

00:15:50.720 --> 00:15:53.255
framework for making future decisions

00:15:53.279 --> 00:15:55.576
based on evidence.

00:15:55.600 --> 00:15:58.600
This report does not decide where fenced

00:15:59.040 --> 00:16:02.040
dog parks will be located. What it does

00:16:02.399 --> 00:16:03.896
do is provide council with a

00:16:03.920 --> 00:16:05.735
wellressearched evidence-based framework

00:16:05.759 --> 00:16:07.416
for making those decisions in the

00:16:07.440 --> 00:16:09.815
future. Whitehorse currently has more

00:16:09.839 --> 00:16:12.696
than 30 off leash areas. Yet, we remain

00:16:12.720 --> 00:16:14.456
one of the few metropolitan councils

00:16:14.480 --> 00:16:17.096
without a dedicated fence dog park.

00:16:17.120 --> 00:16:19.815
Meanwhile, our population continues to

00:16:19.839 --> 00:16:22.055
grow. Housing density is increasing and

00:16:22.079 --> 00:16:23.656
more residents are living in apartments

00:16:23.680 --> 00:16:26.055
and smaller properties where secure

00:16:26.079 --> 00:16:28.456
exercise spaces for dogs become

00:16:28.480 --> 00:16:31.016
increasingly important. Our community

00:16:31.040 --> 00:16:33.576
has spoken clearly. Almost 400 people

00:16:33.600 --> 00:16:36.055
participated in the consultation with

00:16:36.079 --> 00:16:38.375
78% supporting the recommendation for

00:16:38.399 --> 00:16:40.375
three large defense dog parks across our

00:16:40.399 --> 00:16:42.935
municipality. That is a significant

00:16:42.959 --> 00:16:45.416
level of community support. Importantly,

00:16:45.440 --> 00:16:47.576
this report also recognizes the

00:16:47.600 --> 00:16:50.136
challenges we currently face. Many of

00:16:50.160 --> 00:16:52.296
our sporting reserves serve two

00:16:52.320 --> 00:16:55.320
purposes. They host a organized sport

00:16:55.360 --> 00:16:58.360
during competition hours and off le and

00:16:58.639 --> 00:17:01.639
and um sometimes off leash dogs even

00:17:01.920 --> 00:17:03.175
even though they're not meant to some of

00:17:03.199 --> 00:17:05.415
them at other times.

00:17:05.439 --> 00:17:07.576
While shared use has worked in many

00:17:07.600 --> 00:17:09.576
locations, there are sites where ongoing

00:17:09.600 --> 00:17:11.175
conflicts continue between sporting

00:17:11.199 --> 00:17:14.136
clubs and dog owners such as  in my

00:17:14.160 --> 00:17:17.160
local area at Walker Park. Damage to

00:17:17.280 --> 00:17:19.175
playing surfaces, safety concerns, and

00:17:19.199 --> 00:17:20.856
maintenance costs have become recurring

00:17:20.880 --> 00:17:23.415
issues. Dedicated fence dog parks offer

00:17:23.439 --> 00:17:25.256
an opportunity to reduce these conflicts

00:17:25.280 --> 00:17:27.336
while giving dog owners a safe and

00:17:27.360 --> 00:17:29.736
secure place to exercise their pets.

00:17:29.760 --> 00:17:32.535
Now, I also appreciate the report

00:17:32.559 --> 00:17:34.535
doesn't adopt a one-sizefits-all

00:17:34.559 --> 00:17:36.296
approach. It establishes clear site

00:17:36.320 --> 00:17:38.136
selection criteria, environmental

00:17:38.160 --> 00:17:39.576
considerations, accessibility

00:17:39.600 --> 00:17:41.976
requirements, and community consultation

00:17:42.000 --> 00:17:45.000
before any future park proceeds. Every

00:17:45.039 --> 00:17:47.176
proposed location will still come back

00:17:47.200 --> 00:17:49.655
to council for consideration and further

00:17:49.679 --> 00:17:51.655
community engagement. And I know some

00:17:51.679 --> 00:17:53.736
people will be concerned about the cost,

00:17:53.760 --> 00:17:56.535
but tonight we are not committing to

00:17:56.559 --> 00:17:58.535
constructing parks. We are simply

00:17:58.559 --> 00:18:00.936
adopting the strategic framework. Future

00:18:00.960 --> 00:18:02.775
projects would still require detailed

00:18:02.799 --> 00:18:05.256
design, funding decisions, and community

00:18:05.280 --> 00:18:07.655
consultation before any construction

00:18:07.679 --> 00:18:10.679
occurs. This report provides us sensible

00:18:11.360 --> 00:18:13.976
long-term planning rather than reacting

00:18:14.000 --> 00:18:17.000
to individual requests as they arise.

00:18:17.039 --> 00:18:19.176
This isn't about promising a dog park

00:18:19.200 --> 00:18:22.056
tomorrow. It's about putting in the

00:18:22.080 --> 00:18:24.056
place of strategic planning so that when

00:18:24.080 --> 00:18:26.136
investment decisions are made, they are

00:18:26.160 --> 00:18:28.376
transparent, equitable, and based on

00:18:28.400 --> 00:18:30.696
community need. And that's exactly the

00:18:30.720 --> 00:18:32.696
approach that that I committed at the

00:18:32.720 --> 00:18:35.256
last election. For those reasons, I'm

00:18:35.280 --> 00:18:38.280
happy to support the recommendation.

00:18:38.960 --> 00:18:40.696
Thank you, Councelor Sten. Councelor

00:18:40.720 --> 00:18:41.256
Weller.

00:18:41.280 --> 00:18:43.976
Thank you, Mayor. I'm happy to second

00:18:44.000 --> 00:18:46.376
this report. It gives us a clear

00:18:46.400 --> 00:18:48.775
evidence-based way to plan and manage

00:18:48.799 --> 00:18:51.496
fenced dog parks in Whitehorse, and it

00:18:51.520 --> 00:18:53.895
follows through on the open space

00:18:53.919 --> 00:18:56.456
strategy 2025.

00:18:56.480 --> 00:18:58.616
Right now, as the report says, White

00:18:58.640 --> 00:19:01.496
Horse currently provides 32 designated

00:19:01.520 --> 00:19:04.520
offle areas. However, there are no

00:19:04.559 --> 00:19:06.936
dedicated fence dog parks within the

00:19:06.960 --> 00:19:09.816
municipality. With more people living in

00:19:09.840 --> 00:19:12.136
higher density housing and relying on

00:19:12.160 --> 00:19:14.775
local parks, the need for safe enclosed

00:19:14.799 --> 00:19:17.799
spaces is only going to grow. I also

00:19:18.160 --> 00:19:20.296
support the initiative to review our

00:19:20.320 --> 00:19:23.320
offle areas. In my view, every offled

00:19:23.600 --> 00:19:26.056
space should come with the basics. good

00:19:26.080 --> 00:19:29.080
signage, bins and bag dispensers, water,

00:19:29.360 --> 00:19:31.655
seating, and shade, so they work well

00:19:31.679 --> 00:19:34.679
for everyone. Community feedback was

00:19:34.720 --> 00:19:37.720
really strong. We had 396 survey

00:19:38.320 --> 00:19:41.320
responses, and 78% of respondents

00:19:41.440 --> 00:19:43.496
supported the provision of three

00:19:43.520 --> 00:19:46.056
large-scale fence dog parks. That's a

00:19:46.080 --> 00:19:48.696
pretty strong message. We also know

00:19:48.720 --> 00:19:50.696
fence dog parks will help reduce the

00:19:50.720 --> 00:19:53.176
ongoing issues we see at shared youth

00:19:53.200 --> 00:19:55.736
sports fields like Morton Park,

00:19:55.760 --> 00:19:57.576
something many of us hear about

00:19:57.600 --> 00:19:59.576
regularly from both dog owners and

00:19:59.600 --> 00:20:02.535
sporting clubs. This report doesn't lock

00:20:02.559 --> 00:20:05.559
us into specific sites today. It gives

00:20:05.679 --> 00:20:08.296
us the criteria, the design principles,

00:20:08.320 --> 00:20:10.775
and the operational guidance so future

00:20:10.799 --> 00:20:12.616
decisions are transparent and

00:20:12.640 --> 00:20:14.856
consistent. And it leaves room for

00:20:14.880 --> 00:20:17.336
partnerships and community-led ideas,

00:20:17.360 --> 00:20:20.296
too. Adopting this tonight means we can

00:20:20.320 --> 00:20:22.856
get on with the next step, proper site

00:20:22.880 --> 00:20:24.856
assessment, more engagement, and

00:20:24.880 --> 00:20:27.256
thoughtful planning. I'm optimistic

00:20:27.280 --> 00:20:29.176
we'll find good locations that are

00:20:29.200 --> 00:20:31.816
accessible, sustainable, and wellused.

00:20:31.840 --> 00:20:33.655
For these reasons, I'm pleased to

00:20:33.679 --> 00:20:36.535
support the recommendation.

00:20:36.559 --> 00:20:38.616
Thank you, Council Weller. Are there any

00:20:38.640 --> 00:20:39.895
further speakers to the motion?

00:20:39.919 --> 00:20:40.456
Yes, ma'am.

00:20:40.480 --> 00:20:41.655
Councelor Cuts.

00:20:41.679 --> 00:20:43.976
Thank you, Mayor. So I can honestly say

00:20:44.000 --> 00:20:46.856
that in my 10 years on council there has

00:20:46.880 --> 00:20:48.936
been no issue which has been more

00:20:48.960 --> 00:20:51.736
polarizing than fence dog parks. It

00:20:51.760 --> 00:20:54.056
almost seems to be a uniquely white

00:20:54.080 --> 00:20:57.080
horse issue. So wherever it's absolutely

00:20:57.679 --> 00:21:00.135
true wherever a potential location is

00:21:00.159 --> 00:21:01.816
identified there's always one group

00:21:01.840 --> 00:21:03.976
strongly supporting it and another group

00:21:04.000 --> 00:21:06.856
strongly opposing it. One of the biggest

00:21:06.880 --> 00:21:09.655
reasons for that is until now we have

00:21:09.679 --> 00:21:11.736
never had a clear set of criteria to

00:21:11.760 --> 00:21:14.535
determine what actually makes a suitable

00:21:14.559 --> 00:21:17.496
location for a fence dog park. We

00:21:17.520 --> 00:21:19.655
proposed two sites in recent years, one

00:21:19.679 --> 00:21:21.655
in Simpson Park in my ward and another

00:21:21.679 --> 00:21:24.056
one at East Burwood Reserve. Neither

00:21:24.080 --> 00:21:25.496
proceeded because of significant

00:21:25.520 --> 00:21:27.816
community opposition. At that time,

00:21:27.840 --> 00:21:29.416
however, we did not have the benefit of

00:21:29.440 --> 00:21:31.256
this technical report to guide those

00:21:31.280 --> 00:21:33.816
decisions and that is why I welcome this

00:21:33.840 --> 00:21:36.696
report. It provides clear evidence-based

00:21:36.720 --> 00:21:38.856
criteria around matters such as land

00:21:38.880 --> 00:21:41.880
size, topography, surrounding roads,

00:21:42.400 --> 00:21:45.256
parking, access, terrain, and overall

00:21:45.280 --> 00:21:46.775
suitability.

00:21:46.799 --> 00:21:48.936
Importantly, it also confirms that

00:21:48.960 --> 00:21:51.416
underutilized land can be considered,

00:21:51.440 --> 00:21:52.856
something that was not clearly

00:21:52.880 --> 00:21:54.216
understood during the earlier

00:21:54.240 --> 00:21:55.816
discussions.

00:21:55.840 --> 00:21:58.456
I hope this report now allows us to move

00:21:58.480 --> 00:22:00.775
forward in much more objective and

00:22:00.799 --> 00:22:03.336
transparent way.

00:22:03.360 --> 00:22:05.256
While this report doesn't lock us into

00:22:05.280 --> 00:22:07.655
specific parks or areas, I do believe

00:22:07.679 --> 00:22:09.176
that there are a couple of areas, for

00:22:09.200 --> 00:22:11.816
example, H Hall Holiday Park of Mitchum

00:22:11.840 --> 00:22:13.655
Road at the back of that area there

00:22:13.679 --> 00:22:16.135
deserves serious consideration.

00:22:16.159 --> 00:22:18.535
Walk award council Stennets Ward

00:22:18.559 --> 00:22:21.176
currently has no off dog area

00:22:21.200 --> 00:22:24.200
whatsoever. Not one square cm. While my

00:22:25.280 --> 00:22:27.416
ward, Simpson Ward, has approximately 10

00:22:27.440 --> 00:22:30.216
and a half hectares of off lead space,

00:22:30.240 --> 00:22:32.296
there's a clear imbalance across our

00:22:32.320 --> 00:22:33.895
municipality.

00:22:33.919 --> 00:22:35.816
And when you also consider that Mitchum

00:22:35.840 --> 00:22:37.895
has the highest level of dog ownership

00:22:37.919 --> 00:22:40.535
in Whitehorse, the area shared with

00:22:40.559 --> 00:22:42.616
Walk Award and Sims Award, the need

00:22:42.640 --> 00:22:45.576
becomes even more compelling. Similarly,

00:22:45.600 --> 00:22:47.736
there was a petition in 2020 calling for

00:22:47.760 --> 00:22:50.216
an offle dog park in Vermont. And I

00:22:50.240 --> 00:22:52.056
previously suggested that Stevens

00:22:52.080 --> 00:22:53.816
Reserve in Vermont could also be a

00:22:53.840 --> 00:22:55.655
suitable location for assessment under

00:22:55.679 --> 00:22:58.376
these new criteria. However, we're not

00:22:58.400 --> 00:23:01.015
giving answers here, but these are some

00:23:01.039 --> 00:23:02.936
options which no doubt will be

00:23:02.960 --> 00:23:05.336
considered. White House has more than

00:23:05.360 --> 00:23:08.360
12,000 registered dogs and likely many

00:23:08.480 --> 00:23:11.480
more. As residential block sizes become

00:23:11.600 --> 00:23:13.736
smaller and our population grows, more

00:23:13.760 --> 00:23:15.895
residents rely on public open space to

00:23:15.919 --> 00:23:18.535
exercise their dogs safely. This report

00:23:18.559 --> 00:23:20.535
recognizes those changing community

00:23:20.559 --> 00:23:23.256
needs. I look forward to seeing the

00:23:23.280 --> 00:23:25.096
outcomes of the site assessments and I

00:23:25.120 --> 00:23:26.775
hope we can move forward ahead

00:23:26.799 --> 00:23:28.696
delivering our first two large fenced

00:23:28.720 --> 00:23:30.696
off dog lead parks in the near future

00:23:30.720 --> 00:23:32.936
and the third one a bit further on. But

00:23:32.960 --> 00:23:34.775
I believe these are facilities our

00:23:34.799 --> 00:23:37.096
growing community both needs and

00:23:37.120 --> 00:23:39.976
deserves. Thank you Mayor.

00:23:40.000 --> 00:23:41.976
Thank you councelor cuts. Are there any

00:23:42.000 --> 00:23:43.176
further speakers to the motion?

00:23:43.200 --> 00:23:44.135
Mayor. 
00:23:44.159 --> 00:23:45.096
Council Barker.

00:23:45.120 --> 00:23:48.120
Well thanks Mayor. fenced  off dog

00:23:48.720 --> 00:23:51.720
parks specifically for the use of dogs.

00:23:52.559 --> 00:23:55.559
Well, um I've got some real concerns

00:23:55.600 --> 00:23:57.496
with this and Mayor, you you've of

00:23:57.520 --> 00:23:59.256
course got the benefit of the SRL

00:23:59.280 --> 00:24:02.135
putting a small dog dog park into is it

00:24:02.159 --> 00:24:04.535
Vic Cresant? And  right next to

00:24:04.559 --> 00:24:06.056
neighbors in a in one of one of the

00:24:06.080 --> 00:24:07.655
nicest streets in White House and might

00:24:07.679 --> 00:24:10.056
I say good luck with that madame Mayor.

00:24:10.080 --> 00:24:12.616
Um and of course councelor cuts is

00:24:12.640 --> 00:24:14.696
absolutely right because this has been

00:24:14.720 --> 00:24:17.255
um heavily contested over the journey

00:24:17.279 --> 00:24:20.279
here in Whitehorse and um I'm

00:24:20.320 --> 00:24:21.976
particularly proud of the work that

00:24:22.000 --> 00:24:24.376
myself and um councelor Wella and former

00:24:24.400 --> 00:24:26.535
councelor railing car have done on the

00:24:26.559 --> 00:24:28.216
domestic animal management committee. I

00:24:28.240 --> 00:24:30.856
think we added another eight offly dog

00:24:30.880 --> 00:24:33.576
areas including 10. Thank you councelor.

00:24:33.600 --> 00:24:36.216
Um with a huge amount of work done by

00:24:36.240 --> 00:24:38.936
the officers in that space.

00:24:38.960 --> 00:24:41.960
Um but I have and this work is great. I

00:24:43.039 --> 00:24:44.616
particularly like the way the work was

00:24:44.640 --> 00:24:46.936
updated and and which was to to revisit

00:24:46.960 --> 00:24:49.015
some of the offle areas in the other

00:24:49.039 --> 00:24:50.775
areas that we could do that. So we have

00:24:50.799 --> 00:24:52.216
actually listened to the feedback we've

00:24:52.240 --> 00:24:54.775
got and I'm convinced that the report

00:24:54.799 --> 00:24:57.096
does its very best to ameliate some of

00:24:57.120 --> 00:25:00.120
the challenges that are inherently at

00:25:00.400 --> 00:25:03.400
risk in fenced off dog areas. I've been

00:25:04.559 --> 00:25:07.559
a large working dog owner for

00:25:08.880 --> 00:25:11.015
I don't know 40 years. It's not the same

00:25:11.039 --> 00:25:12.535
dog of course. I've had multiple

00:25:12.559 --> 00:25:15.559
versions of them. Um but certain breeds

00:25:16.640 --> 00:25:19.576
and certain dogs, some dogs are timid.

00:25:19.600 --> 00:25:21.895
You place them in a fenced area. They

00:25:21.919 --> 00:25:24.919
will get chased by more dogs that are

00:25:25.760 --> 00:25:28.056
larger with more drive. The dogs that

00:25:28.080 --> 00:25:29.655
are larger and with more drive aren't

00:25:29.679 --> 00:25:32.135
necessarily being aggressive. They just

00:25:32.159 --> 00:25:33.816
see the world is full of sheep and

00:25:33.840 --> 00:25:35.255
they're a sheep dog if you know what I

00:25:35.279 --> 00:25:38.279
mean. And unfortunately fenced off dog

00:25:38.480 --> 00:25:41.480
parks attract

00:25:42.400 --> 00:25:45.400
all sorts of issues because of that.

00:25:45.520 --> 00:25:47.895
It's not the dog's problem, it's the

00:25:47.919 --> 00:25:50.216
problem with the owners. And that's

00:25:50.240 --> 00:25:52.135
exactly the problem we've got with our

00:25:52.159 --> 00:25:55.015
shared off lead areas on footy fields

00:25:55.039 --> 00:25:57.895
and cricket ovals. It's not the dogs

00:25:57.919 --> 00:25:59.976
that are necessarily the problem. It's

00:26:00.000 --> 00:26:01.655
the people and the management of the

00:26:01.679 --> 00:26:03.496
people are the problem. And I don't

00:26:03.520 --> 00:26:06.056
think any policy can get us to the point

00:26:06.080 --> 00:26:07.976
where you engineer away people's

00:26:08.000 --> 00:26:10.775
behavioral problems with dogs. And I'm

00:26:10.799 --> 00:26:13.416
concerned that there will be a multitude

00:26:13.440 --> 00:26:15.416
of issues that could end up in liability

00:26:15.440 --> 00:26:18.440
for us. I believe in my side and the

00:26:18.480 --> 00:26:20.376
side of the city that we represent,

00:26:20.400 --> 00:26:23.096
Mayor with Councelor Allen, um the

00:26:23.120 --> 00:26:25.416
opportunities are very very thin, very

00:26:25.440 --> 00:26:27.176
thin for this sort of thing. I think

00:26:27.200 --> 00:26:28.856
probably only Dave Lane and the one that

00:26:28.880 --> 00:26:31.655
council cuts mentioned before even the

00:26:31.679 --> 00:26:34.056
vaguest possibilities and it's with that

00:26:34.080 --> 00:26:35.976
that I regret to inform you I won't be

00:26:36.000 --> 00:26:37.496
supporting it and urge you not to as

00:26:37.520 --> 00:26:40.135
well.

00:26:40.159 --> 00:26:41.576
Thank you councelor Barker. Are there

00:26:41.600 --> 00:26:44.535
any further speakers to the motion?

00:26:44.559 --> 00:26:45.576
 yes please may

00:26:45.600 --> 00:26:47.816
councelor Gun. Thank you. Just briefly,

00:26:47.840 --> 00:26:49.416
I just want to touch on I think it was

00:26:49.440 --> 00:26:51.015
very well framed by the speakers before

00:26:51.039 --> 00:26:52.535
me, so I don't want to go into too much

00:26:52.559 --> 00:26:55.496
detail, but um  the response that we

00:26:55.520 --> 00:26:58.216
got to this I think says a lot in terms

00:26:58.240 --> 00:27:00.775
of the desire for this type of activity

00:27:00.799 --> 00:27:03.799
within the city. Um in addition to that,

00:27:04.240 --> 00:27:06.775
u naturally want to engage face to face

00:27:06.799 --> 00:27:08.376
with a lot of my residents and went down

00:27:08.400 --> 00:27:10.296
to the Terraras Gone Muts, which is a

00:27:10.320 --> 00:27:11.816
lovely community group that managed

00:27:11.840 --> 00:27:14.135
their own um dog behavior within the

00:27:14.159 --> 00:27:15.895
Terrara Park vicinity. and in

00:27:15.919 --> 00:27:17.336
relationship with this with the soccer

00:27:17.360 --> 00:27:19.416
club, cricket clubs there as well.  a

00:27:19.440 --> 00:27:21.336
very communitydriven you talk about

00:27:21.360 --> 00:27:23.655
ownership  councelor Barker and 

00:27:23.679 --> 00:27:25.255
people behavior with respect to their

00:27:25.279 --> 00:27:27.496
dogs. Some great feedback from Kylie and

00:27:27.520 --> 00:27:29.416
a lot of the  the residents there just

00:27:29.440 --> 00:27:31.736
to indicate that it's not you can't

00:27:31.760 --> 00:27:34.135
legislate you cannot legislate for this

00:27:34.159 --> 00:27:36.216
is going to be fine and we can just dust

00:27:36.240 --> 00:27:38.135
our hands and go oh we've delivered. um

00:27:38.159 --> 00:27:39.655
that there's going to be an ongoing

00:27:39.679 --> 00:27:42.296
issue, ongoing um surveillance matter

00:27:42.320 --> 00:27:44.376
and an ongoing management with with

00:27:44.400 --> 00:27:46.856
whatever is is is put forward  once

00:27:46.880 --> 00:27:48.856
this  I assume will get accepted

00:27:48.880 --> 00:27:51.176
tonight. Um but it is very important

00:27:51.200 --> 00:27:53.336
that we continue to have those ongoing

00:27:53.360 --> 00:27:55.096
conversations. It's not one and done.

00:27:55.120 --> 00:27:56.856
It's not oh we've now delivered on that.

00:27:56.880 --> 00:27:58.375
Um let's move on to the next thing

00:27:58.399 --> 00:27:59.895
because it's going to keep coming back

00:27:59.919 --> 00:28:02.296
to us.  and same with the issues. This

00:28:02.320 --> 00:28:05.320
doesn't  ameliate um our concerns with

00:28:05.360 --> 00:28:07.496
sport ovals and the interplay with off

00:28:07.520 --> 00:28:09.496
lead dogs. Um that's still going to be

00:28:09.520 --> 00:28:11.176
an ongoing issue. Whether there's one,

00:28:11.200 --> 00:28:13.176
two, or three offled dog parks across

00:28:13.200 --> 00:28:15.096
the city, they are still going to be and

00:28:15.120 --> 00:28:16.775
there's still going to be the need for

00:28:16.799 --> 00:28:19.576
off leash um areas that we currently

00:28:19.600 --> 00:28:22.056
have. So,  this is not the end of the

00:28:22.080 --> 00:28:23.895
end of the road. Um but it is something

00:28:23.919 --> 00:28:25.736
that we're going to have to keep um

00:28:25.760 --> 00:28:27.176
having an interplay with this

00:28:27.200 --> 00:28:29.176
conversation moving forward. Thank you,

00:28:29.200 --> 00:28:30.456
Mayor.

00:28:30.480 --> 00:28:31.976
Thank you councelor Gun. Are there any

00:28:32.000 --> 00:28:34.056
other speakers motion? Yes, madam man.

00:28:34.080 --> 00:28:36.616
Just very very very briefly and and

00:28:36.640 --> 00:28:38.856
councelor Barker made me think ah yes

00:28:38.880 --> 00:28:41.880
there's  there's Box Hill is is you know

00:28:42.080 --> 00:28:45.080
it will be hard to try and get a   a

00:28:45.520 --> 00:28:47.576
um dog off lead park but I've got a

00:28:47.600 --> 00:28:50.600
beautiful area 7 hectares of open space

00:28:52.159 --> 00:28:55.159
that s that currently has a chimney and

00:28:56.000 --> 00:28:58.775
up there and it's and it's you know a

00:28:58.799 --> 00:29:01.799
possibility you know it's three mcgs

00:29:01.840 --> 00:29:03.576
full there well perhaps half an MCG

00:29:03.600 --> 00:29:05.736
could be  put aside there for a dog

00:29:05.760 --> 00:29:07.576
park. Just saying that, you know,

00:29:07.600 --> 00:29:09.496
there's an alternate use that  might

00:29:09.520 --> 00:29:12.135
be get some benefits. So, it is there.

00:29:12.159 --> 00:29:14.056
So, it may not be just for people. It

00:29:14.080 --> 00:29:17.080
could be for dogs, too. So, hopefully

00:29:17.120 --> 00:29:19.096
that might be taken into account if it

00:29:19.120 --> 00:29:22.120
ever comes into  public hands or our

00:29:22.559 --> 00:29:25.015
hands as as open space. It's something

00:29:25.039 --> 00:29:26.775
down the track to consider. Madame May,

00:29:26.799 --> 00:29:28.456
I'll just leave it at that. Thank you. I

00:29:28.480 --> 00:29:30.535
support the recommendation, too.

00:29:30.559 --> 00:29:32.456
Thank you, Councelor Allen. Are there

00:29:32.480 --> 00:29:34.456
any further speakers to the motion? Yes.

00:29:34.480 --> 00:29:36.135
Councelor

00:29:36.159 --> 00:29:38.296
Martin,

00:29:38.320 --> 00:29:39.736
I was waiting for you, Councelor

00:29:39.760 --> 00:29:42.216
Simpson. Um, look, I just wanted to

00:29:42.240 --> 00:29:44.135
concur with councelor Barker and

00:29:44.159 --> 00:29:46.135
councelor Gun that really a lot of the

00:29:46.159 --> 00:29:48.135
issues we have here result with the

00:29:48.159 --> 00:29:51.159
owners and it's it's um I speak to a lot

00:29:51.440 --> 00:29:53.816
of the sporting clubs and just every

00:29:53.840 --> 00:29:55.255
time they're about to have a match,

00:29:55.279 --> 00:29:56.775
they've got to go through the oval, got

00:29:56.799 --> 00:29:58.856
to clean it up and and this is this

00:29:58.880 --> 00:30:01.336
these are facilities where we have um

00:30:01.360 --> 00:30:03.816
kids playing sport, right? So um we've

00:30:03.840 --> 00:30:06.135
got to um think about the health and

00:30:06.159 --> 00:30:08.456
safety of the users of these sporting

00:30:08.480 --> 00:30:11.176
ovals. So, um I think it's a great idea

00:30:11.200 --> 00:30:12.775
that we can have these shared open

00:30:12.799 --> 00:30:15.799
spaces and and and dog owners and um can

00:30:16.240 --> 00:30:19.240
use these ovals and um and and I sort of

00:30:19.679 --> 00:30:22.056
concur with  different dogs being sort

00:30:22.080 --> 00:30:23.895
of whether it's fenced or not fenced,

00:30:23.919 --> 00:30:25.416
the big dogs will chase the little dogs

00:30:25.440 --> 00:30:27.496
around and sometimes there's a scrap and

00:30:27.520 --> 00:30:28.936
but it's important that the owners of

00:30:28.960 --> 00:30:30.936
these dogs just cuz it's it's an open

00:30:30.960 --> 00:30:32.616
area and it's free, it doesn't mean

00:30:32.640 --> 00:30:34.535
you've got to have control of your dog.

00:30:34.559 --> 00:30:36.375
So, if you can't control your dog, then

00:30:36.399 --> 00:30:37.976
you shouldn't be having it off leash.

00:30:38.000 --> 00:30:39.895
you got to be able to recall it, get it

00:30:39.919 --> 00:30:41.816
away. Um, if it's if it's going to be a

00:30:41.840 --> 00:30:43.816
nuisance, then it's it's it's it's

00:30:43.840 --> 00:30:45.416
probably not the right dog for for an

00:30:45.440 --> 00:30:48.440
off league park. So, um, I just wanted

00:30:48.640 --> 00:30:51.096
to note I just wanted to recognize the

00:30:51.120 --> 00:30:52.696
problem that the sporting clubs do have

00:30:52.720 --> 00:30:54.936
is just like every like I just hear it

00:30:54.960 --> 00:30:56.296
all the time, there's a game starting

00:30:56.320 --> 00:30:57.816
and that they've got to go through the

00:30:57.840 --> 00:30:59.496
whole oval and clean it up. So, I just

00:30:59.520 --> 00:31:01.336
wanted to acknowledge that and that is a

00:31:01.360 --> 00:31:04.360
big issue. Thank you, Mayor.

00:31:04.399 --> 00:31:06.296
Thank you, Councelor Martin. Deputy

00:31:06.320 --> 00:31:07.576
Mayor Councelor Simpson.

00:31:07.600 --> 00:31:09.336
, thank you, Mayor. Um, councelor man

00:31:09.360 --> 00:31:12.216
took a lot of my good points. Um, which

00:31:12.240 --> 00:31:13.895
is basically the troubles that the

00:31:13.919 --> 00:31:15.496
sporting clubs are currently going

00:31:15.520 --> 00:31:17.576
through. Um, you know, when I get the

00:31:17.600 --> 00:31:19.176
local footy club coming to me talking

00:31:19.200 --> 00:31:21.976
about how um, someone in the , under

00:31:22.000 --> 00:31:24.056
12elves has just slid through a

00:31:24.080 --> 00:31:26.616
wonderful pile of feal matter during a

00:31:26.640 --> 00:31:28.936
game. Um, I must admit I get a little

00:31:28.960 --> 00:31:31.960
get a bit of the heebie-jebies. um or

00:31:32.159 --> 00:31:34.375
you know again a a very young promising

00:31:34.399 --> 00:31:36.936
player has  busted her knee and she's

00:31:36.960 --> 00:31:38.696
out for the rest of the season um

00:31:38.720 --> 00:31:41.015
because of a dog hole. So um whilst I

00:31:41.039 --> 00:31:42.856
completely understand the point that

00:31:42.880 --> 00:31:45.096
councelor Barker raised about behavior

00:31:45.120 --> 00:31:47.736
and attitudes and  as already been

00:31:47.760 --> 00:31:49.655
mentioned by other speakers this is part

00:31:49.679 --> 00:31:51.895
of the ongoing journey. This is not the

00:31:51.919 --> 00:31:53.976
complete solution. This is part of the

00:31:54.000 --> 00:31:55.895
solution. Um, but I think it is a

00:31:55.919 --> 00:31:58.056
necessary part of the solution and

00:31:58.080 --> 00:31:59.816
therefore councilors, I would urge you

00:31:59.840 --> 00:32:02.616
to please support the motion.

00:32:02.640 --> 00:32:04.216
Thank you, councelor Simpson. Are there

00:32:04.240 --> 00:32:07.240
any further speakers to the motion?

00:32:08.480 --> 00:32:10.135
Um, given that there's a speaker against

00:32:10.159 --> 00:32:12.135
the motion, you have the right of reply.

00:32:12.159 --> 00:32:15.159
Council, Council Stennet.

00:32:16.080 --> 00:32:18.696
Thank you, Mayor. Um all these detailed

00:32:18.720 --> 00:32:20.535
discussions about the whatifs make me

00:32:20.559 --> 00:32:22.696
think about  somebody told me the

00:32:22.720 --> 00:32:25.096
definition of e economics which is to

00:32:25.120 --> 00:32:26.535
take something work that works in

00:32:26.559 --> 00:32:28.456
practice and wonder wonder whether it

00:32:28.480 --> 00:32:30.456
works in theory.

00:32:30.480 --> 00:32:32.616
Um I appreciate these genuine questions

00:32:32.640 --> 00:32:34.616
about how fence dog parks would operate

00:32:34.640 --> 00:32:37.416
in practice. Um we might rightly ask

00:32:37.440 --> 00:32:39.176
about fencing and parking and noise

00:32:39.200 --> 00:32:41.015
maintenance and waste disposal and

00:32:41.039 --> 00:32:42.696
responsible pet ownership and the impact

00:32:42.720 --> 00:32:45.255
on our neighbors. They're all legitimate

00:32:45.279 --> 00:32:47.655
um considerations, but the important

00:32:47.679 --> 00:32:49.416
point tonight is that we're adopting a

00:32:49.440 --> 00:32:51.096
framework that ensures those practical

00:32:51.120 --> 00:32:53.416
issues are assessed before any location

00:32:53.440 --> 00:32:55.176
is brought back to council. Each

00:32:55.200 --> 00:32:57.096
proposed site would would need to

00:32:57.120 --> 00:32:59.015
demonstrate that suitable that impacts

00:32:59.039 --> 00:33:01.096
can be managed and those community has

00:33:01.120 --> 00:33:03.416
been properly consulted. In other words,

00:33:03.440 --> 00:33:05.655
this framework is designed to answer

00:33:05.679 --> 00:33:07.255
those practical questions before any

00:33:07.279 --> 00:33:09.096
decision to proceed should be made.

00:33:09.120 --> 00:33:11.655
Another benefit of purpose-built dog

00:33:11.679 --> 00:33:13.255
parks is that they provide a more

00:33:13.279 --> 00:33:15.176
controlled environment. Features like

00:33:15.200 --> 00:33:17.096
double gated entry, separate areas where

00:33:17.120 --> 00:33:18.856
appropriate, clear rules of use and

00:33:18.880 --> 00:33:20.616
signage, all of which encourage

00:33:20.640 --> 00:33:22.775
responsible ownership and help reduce

00:33:22.799 --> 00:33:24.535
conflict conflict compared with dogs

00:33:24.559 --> 00:33:26.535
mixing in a variety of shared public

00:33:26.559 --> 00:33:29.559
spaces. Good planning isn't assuming

00:33:30.720 --> 00:33:31.976
about assuming there won't be

00:33:32.000 --> 00:33:33.416
challenges. It's about putting in place

00:33:33.440 --> 00:33:35.416
a process that identifies and manages

00:33:35.440 --> 00:33:37.816
those challenges before decisions are

00:33:37.840 --> 00:33:39.416
made. And that's exactly what this

00:33:39.440 --> 00:33:41.895
report does.

00:33:41.919 --> 00:33:44.296
Thank you, Councelor Stennet. I now put

00:33:44.320 --> 00:33:46.056
the motion. Please keep your hands up as

00:33:46.080 --> 00:33:48.936
I call your names. All those in favor,

00:33:48.960 --> 00:33:50.616
council Allen, councelor Wella,

00:33:50.640 --> 00:33:53.096
Councelor Griffith, Councelor Gun,

00:33:53.120 --> 00:33:55.416
Councelor Davenport, Councelor Simpson,

00:33:55.440 --> 00:33:57.336
Councelor Langford, Councelor Stennett,

00:33:57.360 --> 00:34:00.360
Councelor Katz, and Councelor Martin.

00:34:00.399 --> 00:34:03.399
All those against, Councelor Barker. I

00:34:03.679 --> 00:34:06.679
declare the motion carried.

00:34:10.173 --> 00:34:10.696

00:34:10.720 --> 00:34:13.720
10.3 response to notice of motion out of

00:34:13.839 --> 00:34:16.456
hours noise at building sites. Could I

00:34:16.480 --> 00:34:19.016
have a counselor move the motion? I'm

00:34:19.040 --> 00:34:19.895
happy to move. May

00:34:19.919 --> 00:34:21.496
councelor Stennet and a seconder.

00:34:21.520 --> 00:34:22.536
Happy to second amendment.

00:34:22.560 --> 00:34:25.095
Councelor Allen. Councelor Stennet.

00:34:25.119 --> 00:34:26.456
Thank you, Mayor. Um, during the last

00:34:26.480 --> 00:34:28.855
election campaign and since then, I've

00:34:28.879 --> 00:34:31.095
spoken to many residents who simply want

00:34:31.119 --> 00:34:32.936
council to get the basics right. And one

00:34:32.960 --> 00:34:34.696
of the issues raised repeatedly was

00:34:34.720 --> 00:34:36.855
protecting neighborhood amenity and

00:34:36.879 --> 00:34:38.696
ensuring people can enjoy their homes

00:34:38.720 --> 00:34:41.496
without unnecessary disturbance. So, but

00:34:41.520 --> 00:34:43.095
I welcome this report because it

00:34:43.119 --> 00:34:44.936
provides a realistic assessment of what

00:34:44.960 --> 00:34:47.016
council can and can't do regarding

00:34:47.040 --> 00:34:48.936
construction impacts particularly at out

00:34:48.960 --> 00:34:51.496
of hours. Residents understandably

00:34:51.520 --> 00:34:53.335
become frustrated when building works

00:34:53.359 --> 00:34:56.296
occur outside of approved hours.

00:34:56.320 --> 00:34:58.296
These complaints affect people's sleep,

00:34:58.320 --> 00:34:59.815
well-being, and enjoyment of their

00:34:59.839 --> 00:35:02.216
homes. As a ward counselor, I often

00:35:02.240 --> 00:35:04.055
receive calls from residents who aren't

00:35:04.079 --> 00:35:06.136
necessarily asking council to stop a

00:35:06.160 --> 00:35:08.376
development. They're simply asking for

00:35:08.400 --> 00:35:10.216
reasonable communication, compliance

00:35:10.240 --> 00:35:12.456
with approved hours and confidence that

00:35:12.480 --> 00:35:14.856
complaints would be acton acted upon.

00:35:14.880 --> 00:35:16.696
Residents expect us to protect

00:35:16.720 --> 00:35:18.776
neighborhood amenity wherever we can and

00:35:18.800 --> 00:35:20.296
where our powers are limited, they

00:35:20.320 --> 00:35:22.696
expect us to advocate for stronger ones.

00:35:22.720 --> 00:35:24.456
One of the key messages in this report

00:35:24.480 --> 00:35:26.296
is that much of the legislative

00:35:26.320 --> 00:35:28.136
framework is determined by the state

00:35:28.160 --> 00:35:30.376
government. Council cannot simply create

00:35:30.400 --> 00:35:32.456
new offenses or significantly increase

00:35:32.480 --> 00:35:33.896
penalties beyond what the state

00:35:33.920 --> 00:35:36.296
legislation allows. Our powers are

00:35:36.320 --> 00:35:38.216
constrained by the planning planning and

00:35:38.240 --> 00:35:39.736
environment act and the environment

00:35:39.760 --> 00:35:41.896
protection framework. But what we can do

00:35:41.920 --> 00:35:43.736
is improve the way we administer the

00:35:43.760 --> 00:35:46.055
existing system. I particularly support

00:35:46.079 --> 00:35:48.296
the recommendation around providing

00:35:48.320 --> 00:35:50.136
clearer information to builders, making

00:35:50.160 --> 00:35:52.696
permit requirements easier to understand

00:35:52.720 --> 00:35:54.776
and ensuring expectations are

00:35:54.800 --> 00:35:56.536
communicated from the very beginning of

00:35:56.560 --> 00:35:58.856
a project. Good compliance starts with

00:35:58.880 --> 00:36:01.176
good education.

00:36:01.200 --> 00:36:04.055
The report also identifies opportunities

00:36:04.079 --> 00:36:05.575
to strengthen enforcement through

00:36:05.599 --> 00:36:07.656
greater visibility of council officers

00:36:07.680 --> 00:36:10.136
and increased inspections where

00:36:10.160 --> 00:36:13.095
resources permit. Ultimately, people are

00:36:13.119 --> 00:36:14.536
more likely to comply if they know that

00:36:14.560 --> 00:36:16.856
there's an active compliance presence. I

00:36:16.880 --> 00:36:19.016
also think that it's sensible that

00:36:19.040 --> 00:36:21.256
officers have recommended reviewing the

00:36:21.280 --> 00:36:23.176
impact of new Victorian planning

00:36:23.200 --> 00:36:26.200
enforcement reforms after they commence.

00:36:26.400 --> 00:36:28.216
significant legislative changes

00:36:28.240 --> 00:36:30.055
including stronger enforcement powers

00:36:30.079 --> 00:36:32.296
and increased penalties may come into

00:36:32.320 --> 00:36:34.936
effect and it is appropriate that

00:36:34.960 --> 00:36:37.335
council assess their effectiveness

00:36:37.359 --> 00:36:39.896
before considering further changes.

00:36:39.920 --> 00:36:41.815
However, I don't think our role ends

00:36:41.839 --> 00:36:44.376
there. If experience shows that the new

00:36:44.400 --> 00:36:47.176
legislative framework still falls short

00:36:47.200 --> 00:36:49.176
of community expectations, then I

00:36:49.200 --> 00:36:50.376
believe white should work

00:36:50.400 --> 00:36:52.456
collaboratively with other metropolitan

00:36:52.480 --> 00:36:54.856
councils through organizations such as

00:36:54.880 --> 00:36:57.095
the Municipal Association Victoria to

00:36:57.119 --> 00:36:59.575
advocate for further improvements. When

00:36:59.599 --> 00:37:01.416
councils speak with a united voice, we

00:37:01.440 --> 00:37:03.256
are often far more effective in

00:37:03.280 --> 00:37:05.976
influencing state government policy than

00:37:06.000 --> 00:37:09.000
we than when we advocate individually.

00:37:09.359 --> 00:37:11.496
residents rightly expect us to stand up

00:37:11.520 --> 00:37:13.256
for their interests, which is what I

00:37:13.280 --> 00:37:15.736
promised to do at the last election.

00:37:15.760 --> 00:37:17.656
While we must operate within the

00:37:17.680 --> 00:37:20.055
legislation that exists today, we should

00:37:20.079 --> 00:37:21.736
also be prepared to advocate for

00:37:21.760 --> 00:37:24.536
legislative change where it is the best

00:37:24.560 --> 00:37:26.296
interest of our community. And for those

00:37:26.320 --> 00:37:29.320
reasons, I support the recommendations.

00:37:29.520 --> 00:37:31.656
Thank you, Council Stenate. Council

00:37:31.680 --> 00:37:32.055
Allen.

00:37:32.079 --> 00:37:33.416
Yes. Thank you, Madame May. I'd like to

00:37:33.440 --> 00:37:35.416
thank council senate for firstly 

00:37:35.440 --> 00:37:37.656
asking for the original report back in

00:37:37.680 --> 00:37:39.976
August last year and obviously  this

00:37:40.000 --> 00:37:43.000
is it  which is fantastic. Um so it

00:37:43.839 --> 00:37:46.839
it's this is a critical issue and and 

00:37:47.280 --> 00:37:49.656
it's something affecting the daily lives

00:37:49.680 --> 00:37:51.416
 and well-being of our rate payers

00:37:51.440 --> 00:37:53.656
from time to time. Our city is growing

00:37:53.680 --> 00:37:56.680
and development is inevitable clearly.

00:37:56.880 --> 00:37:58.536
But progress should never come at the

00:37:58.560 --> 00:38:01.016
expense of the community's fundamental

00:38:01.040 --> 00:38:03.736
right  to peace and quiet in their own

00:38:03.760 --> 00:38:06.216
homes. Under current guidelines, the

00:38:06.240 --> 00:38:08.216
community's expectations are often

00:38:08.240 --> 00:38:10.936
ignored entirely by non-compli

00:38:10.960 --> 00:38:13.960
non-compliant  operators. Every so

00:38:14.000 --> 00:38:16.536
often, and we're all  we all get them,

00:38:16.560 --> 00:38:18.856
emails and phone calls from exhausted

00:38:18.880 --> 00:38:21.256
residents. Um, we hear from shift

00:38:21.280 --> 00:38:23.256
workers who cannot sleep, parents

00:38:23.280 --> 00:38:25.335
struggling to get their young , kids

00:38:25.359 --> 00:38:27.335
down for a nap and elderly residents,

00:38:27.359 --> 00:38:29.416
it's mainly the elderly too that I hear

00:38:29.440 --> 00:38:31.575
from whose health is impacted by the

00:38:31.599 --> 00:38:34.296
relentless clatter of heavy machinery,

00:38:34.320 --> 00:38:37.320
generators and and site radios at 6:00

00:38:37.440 --> 00:38:39.416
a.m. on a Sunday, which has happened

00:38:39.440 --> 00:38:41.256
especially around the  the former St.

00:38:41.280 --> 00:38:44.216
Leo's College site. Um while the

00:38:44.240 --> 00:38:46.296
environmental the EPA environmental

00:38:46.320 --> 00:38:48.055
protection authority sets baseline

00:38:48.079 --> 00:38:49.896
recommendations, the reality on the

00:38:49.920 --> 00:38:52.920
ground  in our suburbs demands local

00:38:53.280 --> 00:38:56.280
action. Residents understand that

00:38:56.320 --> 00:38:58.696
building a home is noisy work, but they

00:38:58.720 --> 00:39:00.616
expect that work to happen with within

00:39:00.640 --> 00:39:03.640
reasonable standard hours.

00:39:03.839 --> 00:39:06.839
Um I feel that we don't have enough

00:39:07.200 --> 00:39:10.200
powers  and and that the current state

00:39:10.960 --> 00:39:13.575
legislation is is basically weak. So I'm

00:39:13.599 --> 00:39:15.335
hopefully the new legislation as

00:39:15.359 --> 00:39:18.359
councelor Sten has alluded to  on

00:39:18.560 --> 00:39:21.176
enforcement activity is  is is much

00:39:21.200 --> 00:39:24.200
better. Um we are not trying to halt and

00:39:25.359 --> 00:39:27.095
I I don't think in any way shape or form

00:39:27.119 --> 00:39:28.616
we are not trying to halt development

00:39:28.640 --> 00:39:31.640
but we should draw a line in the sand.

00:39:32.160 --> 00:39:33.815
Developers and builders are guests in

00:39:33.839 --> 00:39:36.055
our neighborhoods and they must respect

00:39:36.079 --> 00:39:38.776
the amenity of said neighborhoods and

00:39:38.800 --> 00:39:40.696
our residents.

00:39:40.720 --> 00:39:43.176
We are taking proactive stance to ensure

00:39:43.200 --> 00:39:45.256
that our suburbs remain livable,

00:39:45.280 --> 00:39:48.136
peaceful and respectful for for

00:39:48.160 --> 00:39:49.496
everyone. So hopefully with the

00:39:49.520 --> 00:39:52.456
education type of  scenario that that

00:39:52.480 --> 00:39:54.055
will make things just that little bit

00:39:54.079 --> 00:39:56.616
better. So commend the recommendation. I

00:39:56.640 --> 00:39:58.055
thank councelor Stennet for bringing it

00:39:58.079 --> 00:40:01.079
to us and  naturally support the 

00:40:01.119 --> 00:40:03.815
recommendation. Thank you madame may.

00:40:03.839 --> 00:40:05.656
Thank you councelor Allen. Are there any

00:40:05.680 --> 00:40:08.680
further speakers to the motion?

00:40:09.359 --> 00:40:10.456
Given that there are no further

00:40:10.480 --> 00:40:12.456
speakers, I now put the motion. Please

00:40:12.480 --> 00:40:14.616
keep your hands in the up as I call your

00:40:14.640 --> 00:40:17.575
names. All those in favor?

00:40:17.599 --> 00:40:20.599
Pass unanimously.

00:40:22.240 --> 00:40:25.240
Item 10.4, Whitehorse Twilight Markets

00:40:25.359 --> 00:40:27.656
Evaluation and Future Delivery. Can I

00:40:27.680 --> 00:40:28.856
have a council move the item?

00:40:28.880 --> 00:40:29.976
Happy to move me.

00:40:30.000 --> 00:40:31.896
Councelor Cuts and a seconder.

00:40:31.920 --> 00:40:32.856
Happy to second me.

00:40:32.880 --> 00:40:35.176
Councelor Stennet. Councelor Cuts.

00:40:35.200 --> 00:40:37.016
Thank you very much, May. I'm happy to

00:40:37.040 --> 00:40:39.416
support this recommendation. The White

00:40:39.440 --> 00:40:41.176
Horse Twilight Markets were established

00:40:41.200 --> 00:40:43.815
as a trial earlier this year across two

00:40:43.839 --> 00:40:45.896
very different activity centers. The

00:40:45.920 --> 00:40:47.815
Main Street in Box Hill and Bratannia Mall

00:40:47.839 --> 00:40:50.839
in Mitchum. At its very heart, these

00:40:51.520 --> 00:40:54.296
activations are about investing in both

00:40:54.320 --> 00:40:56.536
community connection and local economic

00:40:56.560 --> 00:40:59.016
development. And the purpose was really

00:40:59.040 --> 00:41:01.176
to activate these shopping precincts,

00:41:01.200 --> 00:41:02.936
support local businesses, and create

00:41:02.960 --> 00:41:04.776
welcoming spaces where people could come

00:41:04.800 --> 00:41:06.856
together, particularly over the summer

00:41:06.880 --> 00:41:09.016
months. The trial has clearly

00:41:09.040 --> 00:41:11.256
demonstrated that this model does work,

00:41:11.280 --> 00:41:14.280
especially at the Mitchum location.

00:41:14.640 --> 00:41:17.016
As the report highlights, both Mitchum

00:41:17.040 --> 00:41:19.335
and Box Hill had strong attendance, high

00:41:19.359 --> 00:41:21.016
levels of community satisfaction, and

00:41:21.040 --> 00:41:23.416
positive economic outcomes. and it

00:41:23.440 --> 00:41:25.095
demonstrates the value of the markets

00:41:25.119 --> 00:41:26.856
not only as community events but as

00:41:26.880 --> 00:41:29.880
genuine placemaking and activity center

00:41:30.240 --> 00:41:32.616
activation initiatives.

00:41:32.640 --> 00:41:34.536
It's also interesting to note that while

00:41:34.560 --> 00:41:36.696
the two locations achieved similar

00:41:36.720 --> 00:41:38.536
success, they did so in very different

00:41:38.560 --> 00:41:40.616
ways, Box Hill attracted a higher

00:41:40.640 --> 00:41:42.456
proportion of visitors from outside of

00:41:42.480 --> 00:41:44.295
Whitehorse, while the Mitchum area

00:41:44.319 --> 00:41:46.936
generated stronger local attendance and

00:41:46.960 --> 00:41:49.896
local spending. Importantly,

00:41:49.920 --> 00:41:51.736
the economic analysis found that the

00:41:51.760 --> 00:41:53.496
markets increased spending not only

00:41:53.520 --> 00:41:55.575
within the market itself, but also

00:41:55.599 --> 00:41:57.416
around the surrounding activities on the

00:41:57.440 --> 00:41:59.095
evenings the events were held. And this

00:41:59.119 --> 00:42:01.496
is a terrific outcome for our local

00:42:01.520 --> 00:42:04.520
businesses. The report also explains why

00:42:04.560 --> 00:42:07.416
the recommendation before us focuses on

00:42:07.440 --> 00:42:10.440
Mitchum going forward.

00:42:10.800 --> 00:42:12.776
And the reason is that the while the

00:42:12.800 --> 00:42:14.616
Boxhill markets were successful,

00:42:14.640 --> 00:42:16.856
especially the very first of the three,

00:42:16.880 --> 00:42:18.776
with the ongoing impacts of the suburban

00:42:18.800 --> 00:42:21.095
rail loop project, including anticipated

00:42:21.119 --> 00:42:24.119
loss of the previous market location,

00:42:24.720 --> 00:42:26.856
the Main Street Box Hill is no longer

00:42:26.880 --> 00:42:29.335
considered suitable for future Twilight

00:42:29.359 --> 00:42:31.335
Markets.

00:42:31.359 --> 00:42:33.496
So the recommendation before us is to

00:42:33.520 --> 00:42:35.976
proceed in the Mitchum location in

00:42:36.000 --> 00:42:39.000
Britannia Mall and to have four markets

00:42:39.520 --> 00:42:42.520
instead of three. Mitchum has over the

00:42:43.440 --> 00:42:46.055
several years experienced significant

00:42:46.079 --> 00:42:49.079
change and with probably in the last 5

00:42:49.680 --> 00:42:52.680
to 10 years we've lost all our banks,

00:42:52.960 --> 00:42:55.575
we've lost our news agent and we've lost

00:42:55.599 --> 00:42:58.536
our post office. And these were more

00:42:58.560 --> 00:43:01.176
than just businesses. They were places

00:43:01.200 --> 00:43:04.200
where people met. They stopped for a

00:43:04.240 --> 00:43:06.776
conversation and they maintain those

00:43:06.800 --> 00:43:09.800
everyday community connections.

00:43:09.839 --> 00:43:12.839
The twilight markets in Mitchum have

00:43:13.200 --> 00:43:16.055
been very integral to getting the heart

00:43:16.079 --> 00:43:19.079
actually coming back into Mitchum.

00:43:19.200 --> 00:43:21.496
And I know councelor Sten and I, we

00:43:21.520 --> 00:43:24.520
attend the three, three out of the three

00:43:25.119 --> 00:43:27.496
and it was quite an extraordinary buzz

00:43:27.520 --> 00:43:30.520
that we saw throughout the whole area.

00:43:32.240 --> 00:43:34.616
There was live music, a fantastic array

00:43:34.640 --> 00:43:36.696
of local traders. There were families

00:43:36.720 --> 00:43:39.256
enjoying dinner together, the children

00:43:39.280 --> 00:43:41.335
laughing and playing, neighbors catching

00:43:41.359 --> 00:43:43.335
up and visitors enjoying everything that

00:43:43.359 --> 00:43:45.416
Mitchum has to offer. People weren't

00:43:45.440 --> 00:43:47.656
simply passing through. They were

00:43:47.680 --> 00:43:50.536
staying and they were connecting. They

00:43:50.560 --> 00:43:51.736
were enjoying themselves. And

00:43:51.760 --> 00:43:53.335
importantly, they were supporting our

00:43:53.359 --> 00:43:55.416
local businesses. And that's exactly

00:43:55.440 --> 00:43:58.216
what successful place activation looks

00:43:58.240 --> 00:44:01.016
like. These markets have reminded people

00:44:01.040 --> 00:44:03.256
that Mitchum is not simply a place

00:44:03.280 --> 00:44:05.335
somewhere where you shop. It is

00:44:05.359 --> 00:44:07.176
somewhere to gather, celebrate, and

00:44:07.200 --> 00:44:09.256
belong. And that is why I'm particularly

00:44:09.280 --> 00:44:10.776
pleased that this recommendation

00:44:10.800 --> 00:44:12.856
expands, as I mentioned, the program

00:44:12.880 --> 00:44:15.256
from three months to four going across

00:44:15.280 --> 00:44:18.280
December, January, February, and March.

00:44:18.480 --> 00:44:21.176
Create a recognizable an annual summer

00:44:21.200 --> 00:44:22.776
program will encourage repeat

00:44:22.800 --> 00:44:25.800
visitation. It'll provide certainty for

00:44:25.839 --> 00:44:28.456
traders and continue supporting local

00:44:28.480 --> 00:44:30.536
economic activity throughout the summer

00:44:30.560 --> 00:44:32.776
months. It gives our community something

00:44:32.800 --> 00:44:35.176
to look forward to each year while

00:44:35.200 --> 00:44:38.200
strengthening Mitchum as a destination.

00:44:38.480 --> 00:44:39.896
Before I conclude, I would like to

00:44:39.920 --> 00:44:41.416
acknowledge councilors Davenport and

00:44:41.440 --> 00:44:44.055
Allen for bringing this before council.

00:44:44.079 --> 00:44:45.896
I'd also sincerely like to thank our

00:44:45.920 --> 00:44:48.055
council officers, event organizers,

00:44:48.079 --> 00:44:49.656
performers, volunteers, and local

00:44:49.680 --> 00:44:52.680
traders who's made this trial such such

00:44:52.720 --> 00:44:55.575
a success. In addition, I'd like to send

00:44:55.599 --> 00:44:58.536
a huge thank you to our local Mitchum

00:44:58.560 --> 00:45:00.776
Box Hill and wider community for embracing

00:45:00.800 --> 00:45:03.575
these twilight markets. I'm delighted to

00:45:03.599 --> 00:45:05.575
support the continuation of the Mitchum

00:45:05.599 --> 00:45:07.736
Twilight Markets and wholeheartedly

00:45:07.760 --> 00:45:10.055
commend this report to council. Thank

00:45:10.079 --> 00:45:11.416
you, Mayor.

00:45:11.440 --> 00:45:12.856
Thank you, Councelor Katz. Councelor

00:45:12.880 --> 00:45:13.335
Stennet.

00:45:13.359 --> 00:45:15.656
Thanks, Mayor. Of course, I'm delighted

00:45:15.680 --> 00:45:17.736
to support this recommendation. And one

00:45:17.760 --> 00:45:19.016
of the commitments I made during the

00:45:19.040 --> 00:45:20.936
last election was to support our local

00:45:20.960 --> 00:45:22.776
shopping strips and create opportunities

00:45:22.800 --> 00:45:25.016
that bring people back into our activity

00:45:25.040 --> 00:45:27.496
centers. The Mitchum Twilight Markets

00:45:27.520 --> 00:45:29.176
have demonstrated exactly what they can

00:45:29.200 --> 00:45:32.055
look like. It's been one of the genuine

00:45:32.079 --> 00:45:35.079
success stories of the past year. It

00:45:35.599 --> 00:45:37.656
delighted our community and showcased

00:45:37.680 --> 00:45:39.736
what is possible.

00:45:39.760 --> 00:45:41.976
More than 23,000 people attended the

00:45:42.000 --> 00:45:44.936
markets, generating almost $600,000 in

00:45:44.960 --> 00:45:47.095
additional spending while creating

00:45:47.119 --> 00:45:49.256
vibrant community spaces where families,

00:45:49.280 --> 00:45:50.856
local businesses, and visitors could

00:45:50.880 --> 00:45:53.496
come together. As someone who attended

00:45:53.520 --> 00:45:56.136
the Mitchum Twilight Markets, I saw

00:45:56.160 --> 00:45:59.160
firsthand the atmosphere it created. The

00:45:59.359 --> 00:46:01.256
markets weren't simply about retail.

00:46:01.280 --> 00:46:03.335
They activated the town center. They

00:46:03.359 --> 00:46:05.256
supported local traders. They showcased

00:46:05.280 --> 00:46:07.896
community groups. They encouraged people

00:46:07.920 --> 00:46:10.055
to spend time locally and created an

00:46:10.079 --> 00:46:12.055
enjoyable evening destination for

00:46:12.079 --> 00:46:14.616
residents. Some might ask whether the

00:46:14.640 --> 00:46:16.456
expenditures justified or whether the

00:46:16.480 --> 00:46:17.815
funding would be better directed to

00:46:17.839 --> 00:46:19.976
other business initiatives. It's a fair

00:46:20.000 --> 00:46:21.896
question. However, this isn't an

00:46:21.920 --> 00:46:24.295
eitheror proposition. These markets

00:46:24.319 --> 00:46:25.896
aren't designed to replace grants or

00:46:25.920 --> 00:46:27.896
other business support programs. They

00:46:27.920 --> 00:46:30.055
deliver something different. They bring

00:46:30.079 --> 00:46:31.896
people into our activity centers. They

00:46:31.920 --> 00:46:33.656
create community connections. they

00:46:33.680 --> 00:46:35.896
showcase local businesses. And

00:46:35.920 --> 00:46:38.055
importantly, this recommendation follows

00:46:38.079 --> 00:46:40.616
a comprehensive evaluation that found

00:46:40.640 --> 00:46:43.176
the program achieved its objectives

00:46:43.200 --> 00:46:45.896
council originally set for it. While the

00:46:45.920 --> 00:46:48.216
report honestly acknowledges there's no

00:46:48.240 --> 00:46:50.055
evidence of increased spending beyond

00:46:50.079 --> 00:46:52.295
the market days themselves, it clearly

00:46:52.319 --> 00:46:54.376
demonstrate the markets were successful

00:46:54.400 --> 00:46:56.696
in activating our town centers and

00:46:56.720 --> 00:46:58.376
supporting local businesses on those

00:46:58.400 --> 00:47:01.095
evenings. The report also explains why

00:47:01.119 --> 00:47:03.416
Mitchum has emerged as the preferred

00:47:03.440 --> 00:47:05.815
location moving forward. Strong

00:47:05.839 --> 00:47:07.575
community participation, positive

00:47:07.599 --> 00:47:10.055
stakeholder feedback, and the practical

00:47:10.079 --> 00:47:12.216
challenges created by the suburban rail

00:47:12.240 --> 00:47:14.376
loop works in Box Hill all point towards

00:47:14.400 --> 00:47:16.376
Mitchum being the right location for the

00:47:16.400 --> 00:47:18.616
next series. As the ward counselor for

00:47:18.640 --> 00:47:20.536
this part of Mitchum, I have heard

00:47:20.560 --> 00:47:22.856
overwhelmingly positive feedback. Even

00:47:22.880 --> 00:47:24.856
the last weekend when we're at Bratannia

00:47:24.880 --> 00:47:27.176
Mall, um they're still talking about it.

00:47:27.200 --> 00:47:29.176
Positive feedback from residents and

00:47:29.200 --> 00:47:30.776
local businesses. People have told me

00:47:30.800 --> 00:47:32.856
they enjoyed seeing Mitch and busy after

00:47:32.880 --> 00:47:35.416
hours. They appreciated having families,

00:47:35.440 --> 00:47:37.896
entertainment, and community activated

00:47:37.920 --> 00:47:40.456
in this town center and makes people

00:47:40.480 --> 00:47:43.480
feel safer at night. Investment in place

00:47:43.839 --> 00:47:46.136
making isn't is more about than the

00:47:46.160 --> 00:47:47.896
immediate economic returns. It's about

00:47:47.920 --> 00:47:49.496
strengthening community connection,

00:47:49.520 --> 00:47:52.216
supporting local identity, and creating

00:47:52.240 --> 00:47:54.696
places where people genuinely enjoy

00:47:54.720 --> 00:47:57.095
spending time.

00:47:57.119 --> 00:47:59.016
For those reasons, I'm very pleased to

00:47:59.040 --> 00:48:00.536
support the recommendation and look

00:48:00.560 --> 00:48:03.016
forward to seeing another successful

00:48:03.040 --> 00:48:05.496
Twilight Market series Mitchum this

00:48:05.520 --> 00:48:08.136
coming summer. Thank you.

00:48:08.160 --> 00:48:09.575
Thank you, Councelor Senate. Could I

00:48:09.599 --> 00:48:10.856
have a further Are there any further

00:48:10.880 --> 00:48:11.815
speakers to the motion?

00:48:11.839 --> 00:48:12.536
Yes, madame may

00:48:12.560 --> 00:48:13.256
councelor Allan.

00:48:13.280 --> 00:48:14.696
Yeah, thank you, Madame May. I'd like to

00:48:14.720 --> 00:48:16.856
thank as as councelor Kutzer said,

00:48:16.880 --> 00:48:19.095
councelor Devport cuz really 

00:48:19.119 --> 00:48:21.256
councelor Devport really  started the

00:48:21.280 --> 00:48:24.280
ball rolling with the um the initi

00:48:24.319 --> 00:48:27.319
initiative of  firstly looking at 

00:48:27.440 --> 00:48:29.736
the night markets in Box Hill and then

00:48:29.760 --> 00:48:32.216
councelor Senate thought he was on a

00:48:32.240 --> 00:48:34.856
winner there and  true to his name of

00:48:34.880 --> 00:48:36.295
what he put in his election pamphlet

00:48:36.319 --> 00:48:38.456
about supporting more small business got

00:48:38.480 --> 00:48:41.095
got the mission to come along board for

00:48:41.119 --> 00:48:42.936
three down there. So well done councelor

00:48:42.960 --> 00:48:45.960
Sten. Um I'm I'm I must say that  it's

00:48:47.520 --> 00:48:49.496
it's good and you know I'm a bit happy

00:48:49.520 --> 00:48:51.256
for Bitchum but a bit sad for Box Hill

00:48:51.280 --> 00:48:53.016
because of the the circumstances that

00:48:53.040 --> 00:48:55.335
dictate the fact that we  down that

00:48:55.359 --> 00:48:57.736
end of the the  that end of the the

00:48:57.760 --> 00:49:00.055
city that we won't be having any um

00:49:00.079 --> 00:49:02.616
twilight markets  in the foreseeable

00:49:02.640 --> 00:49:04.856
future because of as has been said

00:49:04.880 --> 00:49:06.936
because of the the ramifications and the

00:49:06.960 --> 00:49:09.736
effects of the suburban rail loop 

00:49:09.760 --> 00:49:12.760
construction. So um obviously it it was

00:49:13.520 --> 00:49:15.496
a success and it and it it should it

00:49:15.520 --> 00:49:17.496
should be continued. So and I hope that

00:49:17.520 --> 00:49:20.376
 the the next four  markets in the

00:49:20.400 --> 00:49:23.016
summer months   prove to be 

00:49:23.040 --> 00:49:26.040
equally successful and if not more so.

00:49:26.319 --> 00:49:29.319
Um as far as Box Hill is concerned I I I

00:49:29.520 --> 00:49:31.896
won't um I won't give up the the fight

00:49:31.920 --> 00:49:34.295
just yet. I'll look start looking around

00:49:34.319 --> 00:49:37.319
for  alternate sites and um and

00:49:37.440 --> 00:49:40.440
perhaps something in in the in the

00:49:40.640 --> 00:49:42.456
future.  perhaps not next year, but

00:49:42.480 --> 00:49:44.136
perhaps the year year later that that

00:49:44.160 --> 00:49:45.496
that could once we know what the

00:49:45.520 --> 00:49:47.815
suburban rail loop and if that ever gets

00:49:47.839 --> 00:49:49.256
well I won't go into that but anyway

00:49:49.280 --> 00:49:51.256
we'll just we have more certainty in the

00:49:51.280 --> 00:49:54.055
next little while. So um you know one

00:49:54.079 --> 00:49:56.696
thing I did thought of and has has been

00:49:56.720 --> 00:49:58.856
suggested that and I think they used to

00:49:58.880 --> 00:50:00.776
do it back in earlier days when they had

00:50:00.800 --> 00:50:02.616
the night they had night markets

00:50:02.640 --> 00:50:04.055
actually not twilight markets but night

00:50:04.079 --> 00:50:07.079
markets  in  in Box Hill. I think it

00:50:07.280 --> 00:50:08.856
was between Station Street and Nelson

00:50:08.880 --> 00:50:11.736
Road, but they actually  cut they 

00:50:11.760 --> 00:50:14.136
closed half the road and that I mean

00:50:14.160 --> 00:50:15.896
that has been alluded to in the report.

00:50:15.920 --> 00:50:18.456
It is expensive to do that, but they had

00:50:18.480 --> 00:50:19.815
both sides, you know, they were able to

00:50:19.839 --> 00:50:22.216
have stalls down that both sides, you

00:50:22.240 --> 00:50:23.736
know, in the footpath and and and on the

00:50:23.760 --> 00:50:25.976
road with the obviously using one of the

00:50:26.000 --> 00:50:28.055
lanes as  for foot traffic and that

00:50:28.079 --> 00:50:29.416
was heavenly that was successful. I

00:50:29.440 --> 00:50:30.456
don't know why that that was stopped,

00:50:30.480 --> 00:50:32.856
but anyway, perhaps that is an alternate

00:50:32.880 --> 00:50:35.335
down the track  we we could look at.

00:50:35.359 --> 00:50:37.256
But  I think this is a fantastic

00:50:37.280 --> 00:50:39.496
initiative. Um thank you councelor

00:50:39.520 --> 00:50:41.815
Devport and let's run with it for

00:50:41.839 --> 00:50:44.376
Mitchum for now but  I won't give up

00:50:44.400 --> 00:50:47.400
on  good old  good old Box Hill. So I

00:50:48.559 --> 00:50:49.976
can commend the recommendation madame

00:50:50.000 --> 00:50:51.815
may

00:50:51.839 --> 00:50:54.376
thank you councelor Allen. Are there any

00:50:54.400 --> 00:50:55.736
further speakers to the motion?

00:50:55.760 --> 00:50:57.095
Yes may I have an amendment.

00:50:57.119 --> 00:50:58.696
Could you please explain your amendment

00:50:58.720 --> 00:51:00.535
councelor Gunn?  yeah, it's to hold

00:51:00.559 --> 00:51:03.416
fire on the  the Mitchum night markets

00:51:03.440 --> 00:51:05.496
for this point in time until a review

00:51:05.520 --> 00:51:07.575
has taken place and then potentially

00:51:07.599 --> 00:51:10.055
look to reinvigorate in future years.

00:51:10.079 --> 00:51:12.535
Just there might be other options.

00:51:12.559 --> 00:51:14.936
Thank you, Council Gun. Council Kartz,

00:51:14.960 --> 00:51:17.960
do you agree to include this amendment?

00:51:18.160 --> 00:51:20.376
No, it doesn't look like an amendment to

00:51:20.400 --> 00:51:22.696
me. I I won't be supporting this.

00:51:22.720 --> 00:51:25.720
Councelor Dennett,

00:51:26.720 --> 00:51:28.776
we now move to debate. Councelor Gun, is

00:51:28.800 --> 00:51:30.856
there someone to second I'll turn it.

00:51:30.880 --> 00:51:32.936
Thank you councelor Barker. Councelor

00:51:32.960 --> 00:51:33.575
Gun.

00:51:33.599 --> 00:51:35.176
Thanks Mayor and first I want to start

00:51:35.200 --> 00:51:36.776
by acknowledging councelor Allen and

00:51:36.800 --> 00:51:38.616
Councelor Stennet for the innovation of

00:51:38.640 --> 00:51:40.535
bringing forward this market  series

00:51:40.559 --> 00:51:43.559
throughout the 2025  2425.  it was

00:51:44.240 --> 00:51:46.216
an innovative initiative and it did

00:51:46.240 --> 00:51:48.136
bring forward new people into those two

00:51:48.160 --> 00:51:50.535
locations.  I also want to acknowledge

00:51:50.559 --> 00:51:52.055
the officers that have put forward the

00:51:52.079 --> 00:51:54.456
the report that we've received  very

00:51:54.480 --> 00:51:56.136
comprehensive review of the night

00:51:56.160 --> 00:51:58.136
markets the six night markets that took

00:51:58.160 --> 00:52:01.095
place.  as there is a service review

00:52:01.119 --> 00:52:02.535
currently underway with the economic

00:52:02.559 --> 00:52:04.295
development team I think it would be

00:52:04.319 --> 00:52:06.456
wise to potentially defer a decision on

00:52:06.480 --> 00:52:09.016
ongoing twilight night market series

00:52:09.040 --> 00:52:10.936
before it comes ingrained and

00:52:10.960 --> 00:52:12.936
expectation is that it runs every year

00:52:12.960 --> 00:52:15.416
as the norm.  inertia in local

00:52:15.440 --> 00:52:17.256
government is one of our challenges and

00:52:17.280 --> 00:52:19.335
sometimes we start things and then it

00:52:19.359 --> 00:52:21.335
gets very very hard to stop them once we

00:52:21.359 --> 00:52:23.896
get  them underway and there can well

00:52:23.920 --> 00:52:26.376
be times where that money could be diver

00:52:26.400 --> 00:52:29.176
invested elsewhere.

00:52:29.200 --> 00:52:31.256
I I think councelor um cuts actually

00:52:31.280 --> 00:52:32.456
highlighted very well. In fact,

00:52:32.480 --> 00:52:34.456
councelor Senate as well. Um in the

00:52:34.480 --> 00:52:36.216
past, we would have had local strip

00:52:36.240 --> 00:52:38.456
shops and those little local markets

00:52:38.480 --> 00:52:40.136
that would have had a post office that

00:52:40.160 --> 00:52:42.456
was the draw card to these local areas.

00:52:42.480 --> 00:52:44.936
That would have been the the the the

00:52:44.960 --> 00:52:46.456
starting point to get people to their

00:52:46.480 --> 00:52:49.095
local shops. And as we've seen, there's

00:52:49.119 --> 00:52:51.256
been an increasing closure of those type

00:52:51.280 --> 00:52:53.575
of facilities of banks and post offices.

00:52:53.599 --> 00:52:56.535
Um, and so we need to look at what else

00:52:56.559 --> 00:52:58.856
brings people to our local shops, to our

00:52:58.880 --> 00:53:00.535
local smaller strip shops in particular

00:53:00.559 --> 00:53:02.616
as well. Things like Robin Lee Avenue in

00:53:02.640 --> 00:53:05.176
Forest Hill, 7 Oaks Road in Burwood

00:53:05.200 --> 00:53:07.815
East, Morac Road Vermont South, Fulton

00:53:07.839 --> 00:53:10.376
Road in Blackburn South, Banksia Street

00:53:10.400 --> 00:53:13.016
in Burwood, Raymond Street in Blackburn

00:53:13.040 --> 00:53:16.040
North, Diana Drive in Nanowading, Arcade

00:53:16.559 --> 00:53:18.776
Road in Mont Albert North, Center Road

00:53:18.800 --> 00:53:20.776
in Vermont for instance, just to name a

00:53:20.800 --> 00:53:22.295
few.

00:53:22.319 --> 00:53:24.776
I think some of these strip shops have

00:53:24.800 --> 00:53:27.800
capacity to be greater attended um more

00:53:27.920 --> 00:53:30.136
than just four nights of the year if we

00:53:30.160 --> 00:53:31.815
will look to investing it. What brings

00:53:31.839 --> 00:53:33.496
people to these strip shops as a

00:53:33.520 --> 00:53:35.335
starting point? What gets people to go

00:53:35.359 --> 00:53:38.216
there? And maybe like a like the idea of

00:53:38.240 --> 00:53:40.136
the lost leader with supermarkets. You

00:53:40.160 --> 00:53:41.416
have some cheap milk and people come

00:53:41.440 --> 00:53:43.256
into your supermarket. Well, what gets

00:53:43.280 --> 00:53:45.335
people the initially  to go to those

00:53:45.359 --> 00:53:48.359
local um facilities, those local shops

00:53:48.400 --> 00:53:50.696
and it may well be coffee. It might be

00:53:50.720 --> 00:53:52.055
coffee shops. It could be something

00:53:52.079 --> 00:53:53.896
else. What gets people? Maybe it's local

00:53:53.920 --> 00:53:56.295
bakery. Maybe it's a particular a

00:53:56.319 --> 00:53:58.055
service that our economic development

00:53:58.079 --> 00:54:00.456
team could identify what gets people to

00:54:00.480 --> 00:54:02.535
these local shops. And I'm just mindful

00:54:02.559 --> 00:54:04.936
that if we start pouring money into

00:54:04.960 --> 00:54:07.256
initiatives before we've had a broader

00:54:07.280 --> 00:54:09.335
review about our smaller shops and not

00:54:09.359 --> 00:54:11.656
just two or three u but our smaller

00:54:11.680 --> 00:54:14.055
strip shops across the entire city. we

00:54:14.079 --> 00:54:15.815
can drive economic development across

00:54:15.839 --> 00:54:18.295
the city, not just on four nights at one

00:54:18.319 --> 00:54:21.176
location in the city. And it I'm not

00:54:21.200 --> 00:54:22.616
saying that that's not a great

00:54:22.640 --> 00:54:25.256
initiative. I do, as I said before, it

00:54:25.280 --> 00:54:26.856
was very innovative and I'm very glad

00:54:26.880 --> 00:54:29.575
that we ran them. But I don't want to um

00:54:29.599 --> 00:54:31.736
press go on continually running them

00:54:31.760 --> 00:54:33.896
year after year until we've had a look

00:54:33.920 --> 00:54:36.055
at what potential other options, what's

00:54:36.079 --> 00:54:37.575
the opportunity cost that we might be

00:54:37.599 --> 00:54:39.335
losing with the money that goes into

00:54:39.359 --> 00:54:42.136
this program moving forward.

00:54:42.160 --> 00:54:45.160
Like I said before, um this is not about

00:54:45.440 --> 00:54:48.440
saying no to the night markets moving

00:54:48.559 --> 00:54:50.295
forward. This is about saying let's hold

00:54:50.319 --> 00:54:52.776
our fire. Let's see what potentially

00:54:52.800 --> 00:54:55.095
there might be another option available.

00:54:55.119 --> 00:54:57.496
I I think also of the idea of fairness

00:54:57.520 --> 00:55:00.136
and equity with respect to our shopping

00:55:00.160 --> 00:55:01.896
centers and we do have two shopping

00:55:01.920 --> 00:55:03.896
centers in the city that pay a higher

00:55:03.920 --> 00:55:06.136
rates rating  to get additional

00:55:06.160 --> 00:55:08.376
promotion and additional um activity

00:55:08.400 --> 00:55:10.136
within those particular areas and that

00:55:10.160 --> 00:55:12.535
is not one at Britannia Mall. Those are

00:55:12.559 --> 00:55:13.976
Build Heights and that is Brenford

00:55:14.000 --> 00:55:16.776
Square. And if I were a trader and

00:55:16.800 --> 00:55:18.616
potentially in those locations, why is

00:55:18.640 --> 00:55:20.456
council spending above and beyond

00:55:20.480 --> 00:55:22.616
without additional rating um to other

00:55:22.640 --> 00:55:25.335
areas of the city when like I said a

00:55:25.359 --> 00:55:26.856
broader review of our economic

00:55:26.880 --> 00:55:28.856
development program across the board

00:55:28.880 --> 00:55:31.256
might see that investment more generally

00:55:31.280 --> 00:55:33.016
targeted investment in particular strip

00:55:33.040 --> 00:55:34.776
shops and particular shopping centers

00:55:34.800 --> 00:55:36.456
could yield greater fruit in the long

00:55:36.480 --> 00:55:39.480
term. So it's not a no.  it's not

00:55:39.599 --> 00:55:41.496
saying this is a terrible idea. It's not

00:55:41.520 --> 00:55:43.335
saying this is a waste of money. It's

00:55:43.359 --> 00:55:45.335
not saying that at all. It's saying

00:55:45.359 --> 00:55:48.216
there could be potential for other ideas

00:55:48.240 --> 00:55:50.696
that have yet to come forward and that

00:55:50.720 --> 00:55:53.496
could well be better invest investments

00:55:53.520 --> 00:55:56.216
of public funds that drive the economic

00:55:56.240 --> 00:55:58.535
dollar across our city more generally.

00:55:58.559 --> 00:55:59.815
That's all I have to say. Thank you,

00:55:59.839 --> 00:56:01.496
Mayor.

00:56:01.520 --> 00:56:03.176
Thank you, Councelor Gun. Councelor

00:56:03.200 --> 00:56:04.775
Barker.

00:56:04.799 --> 00:56:06.856
Thanks, Mayor. And I thank Councelor Gun

00:56:06.880 --> 00:56:08.856
for that really thoughtful contribution,

00:56:08.880 --> 00:56:11.880
and I'm I'm going to agree with him. Um

00:56:13.359 --> 00:56:15.016
the service review of the economic

00:56:15.040 --> 00:56:17.815
development team is ongoing and this

00:56:17.839 --> 00:56:20.216
should be part of that because economic

00:56:20.240 --> 00:56:22.936
development by its very nature is about

00:56:22.960 --> 00:56:25.176
building our economic capacity in our

00:56:25.200 --> 00:56:27.736
city not just about picking favorites. I

00:56:27.760 --> 00:56:29.256
don't doubt that these were successful

00:56:29.280 --> 00:56:30.616
events. I don't doubt that they were

00:56:30.640 --> 00:56:32.376
good value. If they weren't, I would

00:56:32.400 --> 00:56:34.856
never have supported them. But that

00:56:34.880 --> 00:56:36.535
said, I'm not sure that that's the

00:56:36.559 --> 00:56:38.616
solution going forward. And I want to

00:56:38.640 --> 00:56:40.696
take you to a couple of instances. me

00:56:40.720 --> 00:56:42.376
this part of the world, a great part of

00:56:42.400 --> 00:56:43.976
the world and it's ideal for it. We have

00:56:44.000 --> 00:56:46.535
Australia Day, we have Christmas carols,

00:56:46.559 --> 00:56:49.559
we have um spring festival, you know,

00:56:50.079 --> 00:56:51.896
there would be some some some pretty

00:56:51.920 --> 00:56:54.920
fair equity issues that councelor Gun

00:56:55.440 --> 00:56:58.136
has spoken about. And the other thing is

00:56:58.160 --> 00:57:00.136
creativity. And when I think about

00:57:00.160 --> 00:57:01.976
creativity, some of you that's follow my

00:57:02.000 --> 00:57:04.136
social media might have seen some of my

00:57:04.160 --> 00:57:06.216
commentary over the time about the use

00:57:06.240 --> 00:57:09.240
of public lighting and the um lightscape

00:57:09.359 --> 00:57:12.359
at the Botanic Gardens. It's not just a

00:57:12.960 --> 00:57:15.815
market that might make public spaces

00:57:15.839 --> 00:57:18.456
enchanting and inviting for people. you

00:57:18.480 --> 00:57:19.736
go to the center of some of those

00:57:19.760 --> 00:57:22.760
European cities in Frankfurt, Stogart,

00:57:23.200 --> 00:57:26.200
um, Bath. Um, the way they use, it might

00:57:27.359 --> 00:57:30.216
be that public lighting is the way to

00:57:30.240 --> 00:57:32.535
create foot traffic to these areas, not

00:57:32.559 --> 00:57:35.416
just about putting money into a market.

00:57:35.440 --> 00:57:37.575
That might generate five bucks of extra

00:57:37.599 --> 00:57:40.599
expenditure, but if we spend $150,000 on

00:57:40.960 --> 00:57:43.575
lighting, on lighting installations that

00:57:43.599 --> 00:57:46.599
made this area of the city enchanting,

00:57:47.359 --> 00:57:49.095
can you please stop talking, councelor

00:57:49.119 --> 00:57:50.856
cuts? It's really distracting while I'm

00:57:50.880 --> 00:57:53.095
trying to speak, but making this area

00:57:53.119 --> 00:57:55.416
really enchanting might drive foot

00:57:55.440 --> 00:57:57.575
traffic all year. Same with Box Hill.

00:57:57.599 --> 00:57:59.896
Same with Montelbert. And again, I'm not

00:57:59.920 --> 00:58:01.736
necessarily

00:58:01.760 --> 00:58:04.760
intellectually or or morally predisposed

00:58:05.119 --> 00:58:07.736
to having the government doing it. Mont

00:58:07.760 --> 00:58:09.496
Albert Cricket Club in your ward may

00:58:09.520 --> 00:58:11.095
have they've wanted their their own

00:58:11.119 --> 00:58:13.095
market for a long time to combine it

00:58:13.119 --> 00:58:16.119
with the movies under the stars. I say

00:58:16.480 --> 00:58:18.376
we should get out of the way and let the

00:58:18.400 --> 00:58:19.815
community do it because it's not just

00:58:19.839 --> 00:58:22.055
about shops. These are about community

00:58:22.079 --> 00:58:23.896
events, activating these community

00:58:23.920 --> 00:58:25.736
spaces. And that's why I don't want to

00:58:25.760 --> 00:58:28.376
presuppose what the actual outcome is

00:58:28.400 --> 00:58:30.856
because it may be that there are whole

00:58:30.880 --> 00:58:32.856
series of interventions that we could

00:58:32.880 --> 00:58:35.095
do. Think about Montalbert shops

00:58:35.119 --> 00:58:37.575
everyone about how great that could be

00:58:37.599 --> 00:58:40.055
activated with the right lighting effect

00:58:40.079 --> 00:58:42.055
and the right I don't know look at

00:58:42.079 --> 00:58:45.079
Box Hill Gardens the dumpling competition

00:58:45.119 --> 00:58:48.119
with basketball event. I don't know what

00:58:48.480 --> 00:58:50.216
the answer is, but I think we need to

00:58:50.240 --> 00:58:52.696
get some really creative input into it

00:58:52.720 --> 00:58:54.535
rather than just saying, "Oh, a night

00:58:54.559 --> 00:58:57.095
market's the answer. Let's do that." I'm

00:58:57.119 --> 00:58:59.016
saying it's too premature for that.

00:58:59.040 --> 00:59:00.936
Let's let's hold fire. Let's do the

00:59:00.960 --> 00:59:02.936
service review and think through really

00:59:02.960 --> 00:59:04.775
carefully how we can deploy the very

00:59:04.799 --> 00:59:05.976
valuable capital.

00:59:06.000 --> 00:59:08.055
Thank you, Councelor Barker. Are there

00:59:08.079 --> 00:59:10.055
any further speakers amendment?

00:59:10.079 --> 00:59:11.896
Councelor Martin.

00:59:11.920 --> 00:59:14.920
Thank you, Mayor. Um

00:59:15.359 --> 00:59:16.936
I I actually agree with a lot of things

00:59:16.960 --> 00:59:18.456
that councelor Gun said. So I was

00:59:18.480 --> 00:59:20.055
actually on the same wavelength in many

00:59:20.079 --> 00:59:22.936
ways and um and I just recently returned

00:59:22.960 --> 00:59:25.496
from two weeks holiday in Vietnam. And

00:59:25.520 --> 00:59:27.095
um if you go to Ho Chi Min City just

00:59:27.119 --> 00:59:28.775
it's amazing how these cities are lit up

00:59:28.799 --> 00:59:30.936
with their buildings. So I I can

00:59:30.960 --> 00:59:33.496
actually see that argument for spending

00:59:33.520 --> 00:59:35.496
150,000 capital on some lighting and

00:59:35.520 --> 00:59:37.016
having that last for 10 years than

00:59:37.040 --> 00:59:38.456
having a single market in one year.

00:59:38.480 --> 00:59:40.616
These are good ideas we should look at.

00:59:40.640 --> 00:59:42.376
But I'm not sure if I agree with this

00:59:42.400 --> 00:59:45.400
amendment as it sits now. I think um I

00:59:46.079 --> 00:59:47.656
do sort of acknowledge we have got a lot

00:59:47.680 --> 00:59:50.680
of other  strip shops as councelor Gun

00:59:50.799 --> 00:59:52.456
said. We've got Brenford Square. We've

00:59:52.480 --> 00:59:55.095
got Vermont South Shopping Center. Um

00:59:55.119 --> 00:59:56.456
Black Blackburn South shops. We've got

00:59:56.480 --> 00:59:57.815
the Burwood Heights shopping center that

00:59:57.839 --> 01:00:00.136
has the special rates. Um so we have got

01:00:00.160 --> 01:00:01.656
a lot of different shopping centers. So

01:00:01.680 --> 01:00:03.896
I think it we should be equitable in how

01:00:03.920 --> 01:00:05.815
we do spend the money because it should

01:00:05.839 --> 01:00:07.256
be equitable for the traders in all

01:00:07.280 --> 01:00:08.456
these different areas and it should be

01:00:08.480 --> 01:00:10.376
equitable to the residents. But we we're

01:00:10.400 --> 01:00:11.575
not going to have a market in every

01:00:11.599 --> 01:00:14.295
strip shopping center. But um if we just

01:00:14.319 --> 01:00:16.456
look at the original motion, Mitchum was

01:00:16.480 --> 01:00:18.775
chosen because it had a unique  need

01:00:18.799 --> 01:00:21.799
there where the the like forget the

01:00:21.839 --> 01:00:23.896
banks are closing and and news agents

01:00:23.920 --> 01:00:25.095
that's just happening everywhere and

01:00:25.119 --> 01:00:26.775
that's going to keep on happening. But

01:00:26.799 --> 01:00:29.575
the um the local supermarket had been

01:00:29.599 --> 01:00:32.599
sort of shut for 6 months. So for me,

01:00:32.640 --> 01:00:35.640
Mitchum was a special case. Um, so I I

01:00:36.559 --> 01:00:39.095
think it was um a good location to

01:00:39.119 --> 01:00:40.775
support it. So I was actually going to

01:00:40.799 --> 01:00:42.295
be I'll foreshadow I was going to put up

01:00:42.319 --> 01:00:44.295
an amendment just to  not keep it

01:00:44.319 --> 01:00:46.456
ongoing but keep like do it for another

01:00:46.480 --> 01:00:48.696
two years whether it's one or two. I

01:00:48.720 --> 01:00:50.775
think we should give Mitchum another go.

01:00:50.799 --> 01:00:52.856
So for this amendment I won't be

01:00:52.880 --> 01:00:54.376
supporting this but I will foreshadow

01:00:54.400 --> 01:00:56.295
I'll be putting up another amendment.

01:00:56.319 --> 01:00:57.416
Thank you.

01:00:57.440 --> 01:00:58.775
Thank you councelor Martin. Are there

01:00:58.799 --> 01:01:00.936
any further speakers to this amendment?

01:01:00.960 --> 01:01:03.896
Mayor Council Sten a few things to say,

01:01:03.920 --> 01:01:05.095
but I just wanted to ask you a question

01:01:05.119 --> 01:01:08.119
first. Um, so council supported the

01:01:08.720 --> 01:01:11.095
original motion. Um would it be

01:01:11.119 --> 01:01:13.496
obligated to do that market every year

01:01:13.520 --> 01:01:15.416
or would it be a decision every year

01:01:15.440 --> 01:01:18.136
that could revisit during its annual

01:01:18.160 --> 01:01:21.160
budget

01:01:21.359 --> 01:01:24.359
the um podium and answer the question

01:01:29.040 --> 01:01:30.616
through you may the intention would be

01:01:30.640 --> 01:01:33.176
that it be put in this current financial

01:01:33.200 --> 01:01:35.016
year and then it would be considered

01:01:35.040 --> 01:01:37.496
each annual budget process after that.

01:01:37.520 --> 01:01:40.520
Thank you, Miss Leic.

01:01:40.880 --> 01:01:42.456
Council Senator, did you wish to speak?

01:01:42.480 --> 01:01:44.136
Yes, Mayor. So, [clears throat] ,

01:01:44.160 --> 01:01:45.656
look, I appreciate the intent behind the

01:01:45.680 --> 01:01:48.216
amendment, and I agree that council

01:01:48.240 --> 01:01:50.376
should develop a broader city-wide

01:01:50.400 --> 01:01:52.696
strategy to strengthen all of our

01:01:52.720 --> 01:01:54.055
activity centers, but I don't believe

01:01:54.079 --> 01:01:55.656
that requires us to defer this

01:01:55.680 --> 01:01:58.535
recommendation. Council has before it a

01:01:58.559 --> 01:02:00.376
comprehensive evaluation, extensive

01:02:00.400 --> 01:02:02.376
community feedback, and a balanced

01:02:02.400 --> 01:02:04.696
report from officers. Importantly, this

01:02:04.720 --> 01:02:06.376
report is transparent about both the

01:02:06.400 --> 01:02:07.656
strengths and limitations of the

01:02:07.680 --> 01:02:10.136
Twilight Markets. It acknowledges where

01:02:10.160 --> 01:02:12.055
the the program has been successful and

01:02:12.079 --> 01:02:13.736
where there's room for improvement. In

01:02:13.760 --> 01:02:15.335
my view, we have all the information we

01:02:15.359 --> 01:02:16.936
need to make it an informed decision

01:02:16.960 --> 01:02:19.256
tonight. I don't accept the suggestions

01:02:19.280 --> 01:02:20.936
that supporting this recommendation

01:02:20.960 --> 01:02:23.016
somehow means we're picking favorites.

01:02:23.040 --> 01:02:25.496
The report clearly explains why Mum's

01:02:25.520 --> 01:02:27.256
preferred location at this point in

01:02:27.280 --> 01:02:29.416
time. It reflects the success of the

01:02:29.440 --> 01:02:32.216
existing market and recognizing the

01:02:32.240 --> 01:02:33.496
practical constraints currently

01:02:33.520 --> 01:02:36.136
affecting Box Hill. It's an evidence-based

01:02:36.160 --> 01:02:38.295
decision, not preferential treatment.

01:02:38.319 --> 01:02:40.295
Future opportunities in other activity

01:02:40.319 --> 01:02:42.055
centers can and should be considered as

01:02:42.079 --> 01:02:45.079
circumstances change. I agree we need a

01:02:45.359 --> 01:02:47.095
broader vision for our activity centers,

01:02:47.119 --> 01:02:48.936
but having a strategy doesn't mean we

01:02:48.960 --> 01:02:50.775
stop delivering initiatives that have

01:02:50.799 --> 01:02:53.176
clearly already been proven successful.

01:02:53.200 --> 01:02:55.335
Good strategic planning, practical

01:02:55.359 --> 01:02:57.176
delivery should happen together and not

01:02:57.200 --> 01:02:59.815
one after the other. Residents expect us

01:02:59.839 --> 01:03:01.496
to continue planning for the future, but

01:03:01.520 --> 01:03:03.416
they also expect us to make decisions

01:03:03.440 --> 01:03:06.136
when the evidence is staring us in the

01:03:06.160 --> 01:03:09.016
face. I don't think they would expect us

01:03:09.040 --> 01:03:12.040
to delay a successful, wildly successful

01:03:12.640 --> 01:03:15.640
evaluated program simply because broader

01:03:15.680 --> 01:03:18.680
strategic plan plans are continuing.

01:03:22.000 --> 01:03:23.896
And it was successful. We set out with a

01:03:23.920 --> 01:03:26.920
trial and we I mean councelor Garn I

01:03:27.839 --> 01:03:29.736
think talked about momentum. Well, I

01:03:29.760 --> 01:03:31.575
think there's momentum and the horses

01:03:31.599 --> 01:03:34.599
bolted. Um our local community Mitchum

01:03:34.640 --> 01:03:36.936
now rightly or wrongly have the

01:03:36.960 --> 01:03:39.015
expectation. They they've seen it. We've

01:03:39.039 --> 01:03:41.575
done it. It's a we've called it a trial

01:03:41.599 --> 01:03:43.815
and it's been successful. We cannot deny

01:03:43.839 --> 01:03:45.896
that it's been successful. So I think we

01:03:45.920 --> 01:03:48.920
we stop it now. Um very serious

01:03:49.599 --> 01:03:51.815
questions would be asked. Why would we

01:03:51.839 --> 01:03:54.616
be doing that when it's been successful?

01:03:54.640 --> 01:03:56.616
Why would we be doing that if it's met

01:03:56.640 --> 01:03:59.496
all the expectations that we put before

01:03:59.520 --> 01:04:02.216
it? We've we've set the program KPIs and

01:04:02.240 --> 01:04:03.896
it's tick tick tick tick tick all the

01:04:03.920 --> 01:04:06.920
way down. Um and they would be they

01:04:07.119 --> 01:04:09.496
would be asking some questions about why

01:04:09.520 --> 01:04:11.335
why would council off why would

01:04:11.359 --> 01:04:13.095
counselors make a different decision to

01:04:13.119 --> 01:04:15.496
council offices when it's

01:04:15.520 --> 01:04:18.136
evidence-based. It makes absolute sense.

01:04:18.160 --> 01:04:19.736
It was great for the community. It's

01:04:19.760 --> 01:04:21.575
absolutely delighted our community

01:04:21.599 --> 01:04:23.815
councilors. Um it's not just had an

01:04:23.839 --> 01:04:25.896
economic impact and I know people just

01:04:25.920 --> 01:04:27.736
downplay talk about the economic impact

01:04:27.760 --> 01:04:29.496
but it's so much more than that.

01:04:29.520 --> 01:04:32.136
Placemaking is so important in Mitchum

01:04:32.160 --> 01:04:33.736
and I think this along with other

01:04:33.760 --> 01:04:35.176
initiatives should be considered. We

01:04:35.200 --> 01:04:38.136
shouldn't be just saying um get let's

01:04:38.160 --> 01:04:40.535
get rid of it because we haven't got um

01:04:40.559 --> 01:04:43.559
all these other plans right.

01:04:43.760 --> 01:04:45.176
Thank you councelor Stennet. Are there

01:04:45.200 --> 01:04:48.200
any further speakers to the amendment?

01:04:48.880 --> 01:04:51.256
Given that there's no further Sorry,

01:04:51.280 --> 01:04:52.295
councelor cuts.

01:04:52.319 --> 01:04:53.896
Thank you. I I will be speaking against

01:04:53.920 --> 01:04:56.920
this amendment. Um as councelor Sten has

01:04:57.359 --> 01:05:00.055
outlined, this is more than just

01:05:00.079 --> 01:05:02.055
economic activity. This is getting the

01:05:02.079 --> 01:05:04.456
community together, which is what good

01:05:04.480 --> 01:05:06.535
decisions of council with our economic

01:05:06.559 --> 01:05:09.176
unit is all about. It's about community

01:05:09.200 --> 01:05:11.496
connection. And I think particularly

01:05:11.520 --> 01:05:14.520
given that the um the Cole store closed

01:05:14.640 --> 01:05:16.456
and we've now got a Walworth there, a

01:05:16.480 --> 01:05:18.886
brand new Woolworth. Um that was

01:05:18.910 --> 01:05:20.775
[clears throat] 6 months where we didn't

01:05:20.799 --> 01:05:23.799
have a key store bringing people into

01:05:24.480 --> 01:05:27.256
that area and it was really important to

01:05:27.280 --> 01:05:29.575
activate that area. I agree with

01:05:29.599 --> 01:05:31.976
councelor Stennet. The community

01:05:32.000 --> 01:05:34.456
absolutely loved this event and I know

01:05:34.480 --> 01:05:36.696
we also had councelor Wella, councelor

01:05:36.720 --> 01:05:38.775
Allen and there were several other

01:05:38.799 --> 01:05:40.696
councilors coun Mayor you were there

01:05:40.720 --> 01:05:42.856
yourself. It was it was a fantastic

01:05:42.880 --> 01:05:45.880
event and I think it would be very very

01:05:46.160 --> 01:05:48.055
sad if this were not with particularly

01:05:48.079 --> 01:05:51.079
with council officer endorsement here to

01:05:51.119 --> 01:05:52.696
turn around and say no we're not doing

01:05:52.720 --> 01:05:54.775
that and I know we've got the economic

01:05:54.799 --> 01:05:57.335
development coming up for art council

01:05:57.359 --> 01:05:59.335
but if if we actually wait until after

01:05:59.359 --> 01:06:01.095
that we'll lose this opportunity this

01:06:01.119 --> 01:06:03.815
year. So given that it does come up in a

01:06:03.839 --> 01:06:06.839
yearly budget cycle, I don't support

01:06:07.599 --> 01:06:10.295
this and I seek your support of the

01:06:10.319 --> 01:06:12.535
substantive. Thank you, Mayor.

01:06:12.559 --> 01:06:14.055
Thank you, councelor Cuts. There are any

01:06:14.079 --> 01:06:16.616
further speakers to the amendment.

01:06:16.640 --> 01:06:18.136
Given there are no further speakers and

01:06:18.160 --> 01:06:20.055
you have no right of reply, councelor

01:06:20.079 --> 01:06:23.079
Gun, we now put the amendment to um

01:06:24.410 --> 01:06:24.936

01:06:24.960 --> 01:06:26.376
put the amendment, please hold your

01:06:26.400 --> 01:06:28.456
hands as I call your names. All those in

01:06:28.480 --> 01:06:31.176
favor? Councelor Griffith, councelor

01:06:31.200 --> 01:06:33.656
Gun, councelor Davenport, and councelor

01:06:33.680 --> 01:06:36.616
Barker. Those against, Council Allen,

01:06:36.640 --> 01:06:38.936
Council Weller, Council St. Simpson,

01:06:38.960 --> 01:06:41.256
Councelor Langford, Councelor Stennet,

01:06:41.280 --> 01:06:44.055
Council Cuts, and Councelor Martin. The

01:06:44.079 --> 01:06:46.616
amendment is not carried. We now return

01:06:46.640 --> 01:06:48.616
to substantive.

01:06:48.640 --> 01:06:49.095
Mayor,

01:06:49.119 --> 01:06:52.119
are there any councelor Martin?

01:06:52.559 --> 01:06:55.559
I would like to put an amendment in. Um,

01:06:55.760 --> 01:06:57.335
initially

01:06:57.359 --> 01:07:00.359
I've put it in for the 27 28 and 28 29

01:07:02.480 --> 01:07:04.456
financial years, but I'm I would like to

01:07:04.480 --> 01:07:06.055
change that just do it for one financial

01:07:06.079 --> 01:07:07.656
year. I just want to like we're in the

01:07:07.680 --> 01:07:09.256
budget process now. We're trying to give

01:07:09.280 --> 01:07:10.696
certainty to operate. The reason is

01:07:10.720 --> 01:07:12.456
we're trying to give certainty to our

01:07:12.480 --> 01:07:14.295
officers what they're doing. So I just

01:07:14.319 --> 01:07:16.775
want to put this in for one more year

01:07:16.799 --> 01:07:18.775
and then we can go from there. Thank

01:07:18.799 --> 01:07:21.335
you, Mayor.

01:07:21.359 --> 01:07:22.616
Councelor Cats, do you agree to the

01:07:22.640 --> 01:07:25.640
amendment? Um, look, no, I'll wait for

01:07:25.680 --> 01:07:28.680
the debate. May

01:07:28.960 --> 01:07:30.456
um, is there a second to councelor

01:07:30.480 --> 01:07:33.480
Martin's amendment?

01:07:33.920 --> 01:07:36.920
I'll second it for the purp.

01:07:37.920 --> 01:07:39.416
Yes, ma'am. The reason I put that

01:07:39.440 --> 01:07:42.295
amendment in is cuz for me that 4, it

01:07:42.319 --> 01:07:44.216
was open-ended. It was it was it wasn't

01:07:44.240 --> 01:07:46.216
clear. It was like ongoing. So, I think

01:07:46.240 --> 01:07:49.095
we had to provide some clarity. Um, and

01:07:49.119 --> 01:07:51.335
just just look, I grew up in Mitchon, so

01:07:51.359 --> 01:07:52.856
I' I've been going to that shopping

01:07:52.880 --> 01:07:55.095
center for 52 years, so I know it well.

01:07:55.119 --> 01:07:56.456
That's this is where I grew up. My mom

01:07:56.480 --> 01:07:59.095
used to take me there. Um, and I think

01:07:59.119 --> 01:08:00.616
we should support all of our local

01:08:00.640 --> 01:08:03.095
shopping strips. Um, there's no debate.

01:08:03.119 --> 01:08:05.815
23,000 people turned up. The community

01:08:05.839 --> 01:08:08.456
loved it. You know, the amb ambience was

01:08:08.480 --> 01:08:10.616
fantastic. Um, you know, the council

01:08:10.640 --> 01:08:12.216
office could share our activities that

01:08:12.240 --> 01:08:14.696
we're doing. We met um local residents.

01:08:14.720 --> 01:08:16.936
But the cost is it is high. Let's let's

01:08:16.960 --> 01:08:19.896
acknowledge we're spending $110,000

01:08:19.920 --> 01:08:22.295
on on four four nights. So for me, it's

01:08:22.319 --> 01:08:24.775
it is a substantial cost. So to keep it

01:08:24.799 --> 01:08:26.135
open-ended, I don't think it's the right

01:08:26.159 --> 01:08:29.096
thing to do. Um so look, let's give it

01:08:29.120 --> 01:08:31.335
another year. As I said, as per council

01:08:31.359 --> 01:08:33.815
gun, we've got lots of other um shopping

01:08:33.839 --> 01:08:36.295
centers in our community and and

01:08:36.319 --> 01:08:38.536
business is changing like banks are

01:08:38.560 --> 01:08:40.616
closing, news agents are closing. We we

01:08:40.640 --> 01:08:41.735
these are things that are just

01:08:41.759 --> 01:08:44.135
happening. So whether the solution is to

01:08:44.159 --> 01:08:46.056
have a market in each of these areas is

01:08:46.080 --> 01:08:47.896
is not we need to look at other things

01:08:47.920 --> 01:08:50.536
as well. So as per council Barker just

01:08:50.560 --> 01:08:52.856
trying to make our make sure that um

01:08:52.880 --> 01:08:54.695
what council has been doing is improving

01:08:54.719 --> 01:08:57.335
the landscaping in our in our shopping

01:08:57.359 --> 01:08:59.335
centers. So if you go to Brenford Square

01:08:59.359 --> 01:09:01.096
there's new paving there. There's new

01:09:01.120 --> 01:09:03.335
furniture. So it's more welcoming. This

01:09:03.359 --> 01:09:06.056
is what this is what um modern consumers

01:09:06.080 --> 01:09:07.896
expect. They expect to go to places that

01:09:07.920 --> 01:09:09.976
are clean. They expect places that have

01:09:10.000 --> 01:09:12.456
got toilets, drinking water, um good

01:09:12.480 --> 01:09:15.335
parking, and a safe. So, we should be

01:09:15.359 --> 01:09:17.496
looking at all those things. But, um but

01:09:17.520 --> 01:09:19.175
I do want to acknowledge that again

01:09:19.199 --> 01:09:21.735
Mitchum was a unique situation where the

01:09:21.759 --> 01:09:23.735
where the supermarket was closed for an

01:09:23.759 --> 01:09:25.655
extended period and it had a direct

01:09:25.679 --> 01:09:27.815
impact to the local the local traders in

01:09:27.839 --> 01:09:29.416
there. So, it's it's it was a bit more

01:09:29.440 --> 01:09:31.815
of a unique situation. So, in summing

01:09:31.839 --> 01:09:33.655
up, I just think it's worth we give this

01:09:33.679 --> 01:09:35.576
this market one more year and then

01:09:35.600 --> 01:09:36.856
obviously we look at all those other

01:09:36.880 --> 01:09:38.295
facets that I've just mentioned there.

01:09:38.319 --> 01:09:40.295
Thank you, Mayor.

01:09:40.319 --> 01:09:41.735
Thank you, Councelor Martin. Councelor

01:09:41.759 --> 01:09:42.695
Barker.

01:09:42.719 --> 01:09:44.215
Oh, thanks, Mayor. I second it for the

01:09:44.239 --> 01:09:46.616
purpose of the debate, but on on

01:09:46.640 --> 01:09:48.616
reflection, I can't support it. We

01:09:48.640 --> 01:09:50.295
originally supported the markets there

01:09:50.319 --> 01:09:53.096
to tie the area over with the difficulty

01:09:53.120 --> 01:09:55.416
suffered without a major supermarket. I

01:09:55.440 --> 01:09:58.440
can't continue to support funding it.

01:09:59.360 --> 01:10:00.776
Thank you, Council Barker. Are there any

01:10:00.800 --> 01:10:01.976
further speakers to the amendment?

01:10:02.000 --> 01:10:03.736
Yes, ma'am.

01:10:03.760 --> 01:10:04.776
Council Davenport.

01:10:04.800 --> 01:10:06.695
, yeah, I'm opposed to the amendment

01:10:06.719 --> 01:10:09.719
made. Um the reason is is because  if

01:10:10.719 --> 01:10:12.135
we're going to continue for an

01:10:12.159 --> 01:10:14.456
additional year, part three does it.

01:10:14.480 --> 01:10:16.856
Part four, what part four actually does

01:10:16.880 --> 01:10:19.880
is give two years of the extra twilight

01:10:20.239 --> 01:10:22.536
market. Now, I've heard what councelor

01:10:22.560 --> 01:10:25.560
Griff  councelor Gun um had to say.

01:10:27.040 --> 01:10:29.016
Once you start something and you keep it

01:10:29.040 --> 01:10:32.040
going for a couple years, it's it's it's

01:10:32.800 --> 01:10:35.175
pretty much permanent to try and get rid

01:10:35.199 --> 01:10:38.199
of that, especially after 2728. I can

01:10:39.040 --> 01:10:42.040
just see it's about 3 months out from a

01:10:43.520 --> 01:10:46.056
reelection campaign. I can just see that

01:10:46.080 --> 01:10:47.976
will be there for another 12 months and

01:10:48.000 --> 01:10:49.976
then trying to to to make a fresh

01:10:50.000 --> 01:10:53.000
decision very difficult. Um my view is

01:10:53.920 --> 01:10:56.056
that part four should be deleted in its

01:10:56.080 --> 01:10:59.080
entirety. You give it one more year by

01:10:59.199 --> 01:11:02.199
then the um the outcome of the economic

01:11:03.760 --> 01:11:06.456
development  work that we're doing

01:11:06.480 --> 01:11:09.480
will be more well known and um and can

01:11:09.840 --> 01:11:12.056
be properly considerate considered at

01:11:12.080 --> 01:11:14.135
that stage. Councilors, I urge you to

01:11:14.159 --> 01:11:16.695
vote against this amendment. And if that

01:11:16.719 --> 01:11:18.776
goes down, I'm going to move a further

01:11:18.800 --> 01:11:21.175
amendment to delete part four in its

01:11:21.199 --> 01:11:23.336
entirety. Thank you.

01:11:23.360 --> 01:11:24.616
Thank you, councelor Davenport. Are

01:11:24.640 --> 01:11:25.736
there any further speakers to the

01:11:25.760 --> 01:11:27.016
amendment?

01:11:27.040 --> 01:11:27.896
Councelor Simpson.

01:11:27.920 --> 01:11:29.576
Thank you, Mayor. Um, councilors, I

01:11:29.600 --> 01:11:32.600
listened to council guns speech very

01:11:33.360 --> 01:11:35.336
carefully and he made a lot of good

01:11:35.360 --> 01:11:38.296
points. Um, but I wasn't quite moved

01:11:38.320 --> 01:11:40.135
enough that I thought that we should got

01:11:40.159 --> 01:11:41.655
get rid of the markets for the coming

01:11:41.679 --> 01:11:43.096
year. I think some of the points that

01:11:43.120 --> 01:11:45.256
were made about the value that it adds

01:11:45.280 --> 01:11:47.655
to our community were also quite well

01:11:47.679 --> 01:11:49.976
made. Um, and following on from

01:11:50.000 --> 01:11:52.536
councelor Davenport's point, um, I think

01:11:52.560 --> 01:11:54.536
the right balance to strike counselors

01:11:54.560 --> 01:11:56.616
is actually to, , support it for the

01:11:56.640 --> 01:11:58.695
coming year, but not to incorporate it

01:11:58.719 --> 01:12:01.719
into the ongoing operating budget. So

01:12:01.760 --> 01:12:03.256
whilst I appreciate what councelor

01:12:03.280 --> 01:12:04.856
Martin is trying to do, I think the

01:12:04.880 --> 01:12:07.096
better option is , along the lines of

01:12:07.120 --> 01:12:09.256
what councelor Davenport said um, which

01:12:09.280 --> 01:12:10.856
is we should just delete point4

01:12:10.880 --> 01:12:12.936
entirely. So councils, I think we should

01:12:12.960 --> 01:12:14.936
not support this amendment. Um but we

01:12:14.960 --> 01:12:16.776
should just  do it for one more year,

01:12:16.800 --> 01:12:18.376
wait for the outcome of the service

01:12:18.400 --> 01:12:21.400
review um and then take it from there.

01:12:22.640 --> 01:12:23.976
Thank you, Councelor Simpson. Are there

01:12:24.000 --> 01:12:26.695
any further speakers the amendment?

01:12:26.719 --> 01:12:28.376
Given that there are no further speakers

01:12:28.400 --> 01:12:30.936
and you don't have the right to reply,

01:12:30.960 --> 01:12:33.175
um councelor Martin, I now put the

01:12:33.199 --> 01:12:35.096
motion. Please keep your hands up as I

01:12:35.120 --> 01:12:38.120
call your names. All those in favor?

01:12:38.400 --> 01:12:41.400
Councelor Martin. All those against.

01:12:41.679 --> 01:12:43.576
Councelor Allen, councelor Wella,

01:12:43.600 --> 01:12:46.296
councelor Griffith, councelor Gun,

01:12:46.320 --> 01:12:48.135
councelor Davenport, councelor Simpson,

01:12:48.159 --> 01:12:49.976
councelor Langford, councelor Barker,

01:12:50.000 --> 01:12:51.816
councelor Stennet, and councelor cuts.

01:12:51.840 --> 01:12:53.816
We now return to the substantive.

01:12:53.840 --> 01:12:55.976
, Mayor, I have an amendment as

01:12:56.000 --> 01:12:58.456
foreshadowed to delete part four in its

01:12:58.480 --> 01:12:59.736
entirety.

01:12:59.760 --> 01:13:01.496
Thank you, councelor Davenport.

01:13:01.520 --> 01:13:03.976
Happy to second, Mayor. Oh, sorry.

01:13:04.000 --> 01:13:06.296
Do you agree with the amendment, Council

01:13:06.320 --> 01:13:06.856
Cuts?

01:13:06.880 --> 01:13:09.880
No, ma'am. Council Stennet,

01:13:10.000 --> 01:13:12.376
we now debate the amendment. Could I

01:13:12.400 --> 01:13:13.336
have a second, please?

01:13:13.360 --> 01:13:14.215
Happy to second.

01:13:14.239 --> 01:13:15.816
Thank you, Council Simpson. Councelor

01:13:15.840 --> 01:13:16.695
Davenport.

01:13:16.719 --> 01:13:19.096
I've outlined my my views already,

01:13:19.120 --> 01:13:22.120
Mayor, so I won't repeat them again, so

01:13:22.560 --> 01:13:25.560
I'll wave my my right.

01:13:27.600 --> 01:13:29.256
, this is the right balance,

01:13:29.280 --> 01:13:30.936
councilors, between all the arguments

01:13:30.960 --> 01:13:33.096
that have been made. Please support it.

01:13:33.120 --> 01:13:34.536
Are there any further speakers the

01:13:34.560 --> 01:13:36.776
amendment? Councelor Martin. Um, yeah, I

01:13:36.800 --> 01:13:38.376
won't be supporting it, but I just

01:13:38.400 --> 01:13:40.456
wanted to make note that look, these

01:13:40.480 --> 01:13:42.296
things aren't locked in. We we discuss

01:13:42.320 --> 01:13:44.776
these each year. So, I did find it a bit

01:13:44.800 --> 01:13:47.576
offensive to suggest that we would vote

01:13:47.600 --> 01:13:49.816
on a bud like on an event for because

01:13:49.840 --> 01:13:51.016
it's an election year. I don't think

01:13:51.040 --> 01:13:52.376
that's something I would do and I would

01:13:52.400 --> 01:13:53.816
hope it would be something that none of

01:13:53.840 --> 01:13:55.736
us would do. So, I found that a little

01:13:55.760 --> 01:13:57.496
bit offensive. Council Davenport, thank

01:13:57.520 --> 01:13:58.856
you.

01:13:58.880 --> 01:14:00.856
Thank you, Council Councelor Martin. Are

01:14:00.880 --> 01:14:02.056
there any further speakers to the

01:14:02.080 --> 01:14:04.056
amendment?

01:14:04.080 --> 01:14:05.416
Given that there are no further

01:14:05.440 --> 01:14:07.816
speakers, I will now put the motion.

01:14:07.840 --> 01:14:09.655
Please keep your hands up as I call your

01:14:09.679 --> 01:14:12.135
names. All those in favor? Councelor

01:14:12.159 --> 01:14:13.576
Griffith, Councelor Gun, Council

01:14:13.600 --> 01:14:15.336
Davenport, Councelor Simpson, and

01:14:15.360 --> 01:14:17.896
Councelor Barker. Those against, Council

01:14:17.920 --> 01:14:20.056
Allen, Councelor Weller, Councelor

01:14:20.080 --> 01:14:23.080
Langford, Councelor Stennet, Councelor

01:14:23.120 --> 01:14:24.936
Cutz, and Councelor Martin. The

01:14:24.960 --> 01:14:26.856
amendment is not carried. We now return

01:14:26.880 --> 01:14:28.856
to the substantive. Are there any

01:14:28.880 --> 01:14:31.880
further speakers as the substantive?

01:14:35.600 --> 01:14:37.336
Given that there are no further speakers

01:14:37.360 --> 01:14:40.360
and no one spoke in against, um, I now

01:14:40.880 --> 01:14:43.880
put the motion. All those in favor,

01:14:44.239 --> 01:14:45.976
councelor Allen, councelor Wella,

01:14:46.000 --> 01:14:47.655
councelor Griffith, councelor Simpson,

01:14:47.679 --> 01:14:50.456
councelor Langford, councelor Stennet,

01:14:50.480 --> 01:14:52.456
councelor Katz, and councelor Martin.

01:14:52.480 --> 01:14:54.695
Those against, councelor Gun, councelor

01:14:54.719 --> 01:14:56.616
Davenport, and councelor Barker. The

01:14:56.640 --> 01:14:59.336
motion is carried.

01:14:59.360 --> 01:15:02.360
Item 10.5 rates hardship assistance

01:15:02.560 --> 01:15:05.560
policy 2026 20 to 2030. Could I have a

01:15:06.640 --> 01:15:07.976
counselor move the item please?

01:15:08.000 --> 01:15:09.016
Happy to move Mayor.

01:15:09.040 --> 01:15:11.496
Thank you councelor Simpson and second.

01:15:11.520 --> 01:15:12.296
Happy to second Mayor.

01:15:12.320 --> 01:15:13.655
Thank you councelor Gun. Councelor

01:15:13.679 --> 01:15:14.456
Simpson.

01:15:14.480 --> 01:15:16.135
Thank you Mayor. Counselors tonight I

01:15:16.159 --> 01:15:18.296
speak in strong support of the officer

01:15:18.320 --> 01:15:19.816
recommendation to adopt the rates

01:15:19.840 --> 01:15:22.840
hardship assistance policy 2026 to 2030.

01:15:24.480 --> 01:15:26.135
At its heart this policy speaks to

01:15:26.159 --> 01:15:28.135
something fundamental. the role of local

01:15:28.159 --> 01:15:29.655
government not just being a collector of

01:15:29.679 --> 01:15:31.655
revenue but a steward of community

01:15:31.679 --> 01:15:34.376
well-being. We all understand that rates

01:15:34.400 --> 01:15:36.376
are essential. They fund the services,

01:15:36.400 --> 01:15:38.135
infrastructure, and support networks

01:15:38.159 --> 01:15:40.695
that our city relies on. The roads we

01:15:40.719 --> 01:15:42.776
drive on, the libraries our families

01:15:42.800 --> 01:15:44.856
use, and the services that support the

01:15:44.880 --> 01:15:47.256
most vulnerable in our community. But we

01:15:47.280 --> 01:15:49.496
also must recognize the simple truth.

01:15:49.520 --> 01:15:51.175
Not everyone is in the same position to

01:15:51.199 --> 01:15:53.496
pay at the same time.

01:15:53.520 --> 01:15:55.016
And I think it's pretty obvious at the

01:15:55.040 --> 01:15:56.376
moment that we are living through a cost

01:15:56.400 --> 01:15:58.135
of living crisis. And there are people

01:15:58.159 --> 01:16:00.376
out there that are struggling.

01:16:00.400 --> 01:16:01.976
And across our community, households are

01:16:02.000 --> 01:16:03.256
under pressure from rising housing

01:16:03.280 --> 01:16:06.135
costs, utilities, groceries, and other

01:16:06.159 --> 01:16:08.296
everyday expenses.

01:16:08.320 --> 01:16:10.695
And in that environment, it's my view

01:16:10.719 --> 01:16:13.016
that council has an obligation, not a

01:16:13.040 --> 01:16:15.736
choice, an obligation to our residents

01:16:15.760 --> 01:16:17.576
to provide pathways for those residents

01:16:17.600 --> 01:16:19.816
who are genuinely struggling to meet

01:16:19.840 --> 01:16:22.215
paying their rates. And this policy

01:16:22.239 --> 01:16:24.776
delivers on that obligation. What stands

01:16:24.800 --> 01:16:27.256
out to me is a shift in the approach.

01:16:27.280 --> 01:16:29.016
This policy moves us beyond a rigid

01:16:29.040 --> 01:16:30.776
compliance-based framework to a more

01:16:30.800 --> 01:16:33.016
contemporary customerfocused and

01:16:33.040 --> 01:16:35.496
compassionate model. It recognizes that

01:16:35.520 --> 01:16:37.816
hardship is not one-dimensional.

01:16:37.840 --> 01:16:40.215
Hardship can arise from a job loss,

01:16:40.239 --> 01:16:42.695
illness, family violence, or any other

01:16:42.719 --> 01:16:45.175
unexpected life events, circumstances

01:16:45.199 --> 01:16:48.199
that can affect anyone in our community.

01:16:48.320 --> 01:16:49.736
And importantly, it acknowledges that

01:16:49.760 --> 01:16:51.336
responding to hardship requires more

01:16:51.360 --> 01:16:53.896
than rules. It understands, sorry, it

01:16:53.920 --> 01:16:56.296
requires understanding, flexibility, and

01:16:56.320 --> 01:16:58.856
dignity. And this policy embeds those

01:16:58.880 --> 01:17:00.856
principles. It strengthens

01:17:00.880 --> 01:17:02.776
accessibility, ensuring residents can

01:17:02.800 --> 01:17:04.695
apply in ways that suit them, whether it

01:17:04.719 --> 01:17:07.336
be online, over the phone, or with

01:17:07.360 --> 01:17:09.655
assistance. It broadens the definition

01:17:09.679 --> 01:17:11.576
of hardship, allowing us to recognize

01:17:11.600 --> 01:17:13.896
vulnerability in all its forms, not just

01:17:13.920 --> 01:17:16.856
in financial metrics. It formalizes

01:17:16.880 --> 01:17:18.296
practical support measures such as

01:17:18.320 --> 01:17:20.776
tailored payment plans, deferrals, and

01:17:20.800 --> 01:17:22.856
the pausing of interest so residents are

01:17:22.880 --> 01:17:24.616
not punished for circumstances beyond

01:17:24.640 --> 01:17:27.496
their control. And critically, it puts

01:17:27.520 --> 01:17:29.416
engagement first, ensuring that

01:17:29.440 --> 01:17:31.896
enforcement is always the last resort,

01:17:31.920 --> 01:17:34.616
not the starting point.

01:17:34.640 --> 01:17:36.616
But what I think is just as important is

01:17:36.640 --> 01:17:39.336
about what this policy balances. Because

01:17:39.360 --> 01:17:41.175
this is not just about assistance, it is

01:17:41.199 --> 01:17:43.175
about fairness. Fairness to those

01:17:43.199 --> 01:17:45.896
experiencing hardship. Yes. but also

01:17:45.920 --> 01:17:47.496
fairness to the broader community who

01:17:47.520 --> 01:17:49.655
rely on council to managers sorry to

01:17:49.679 --> 01:17:52.215
manage its finances responsibly. And

01:17:52.239 --> 01:17:55.239
this policy recognizes that balance. It

01:17:55.360 --> 01:17:57.096
ensures rates are still collected in a

01:17:57.120 --> 01:17:58.936
way that's equitable and sustainable for

01:17:58.960 --> 01:18:00.856
the long term while treating individuals

01:18:00.880 --> 01:18:03.175
with compassion and respect. It

01:18:03.199 --> 01:18:04.776
strengthens governance, transparency,

01:18:04.800 --> 01:18:07.016
and accountability in decision-m so that

01:18:07.040 --> 01:18:09.175
support is provided consistently and

01:18:09.199 --> 01:18:10.695
appropriately.

01:18:10.719 --> 01:18:11.896
It aligns with the ministerial

01:18:11.920 --> 01:18:14.376
guidelines introduced in December 2025

01:18:14.400 --> 01:18:16.376
embedding the principles of fairness,

01:18:16.400 --> 01:18:18.056
accessibility, flexibility, and the

01:18:18.080 --> 01:18:21.080
protection of dignity and privacy. What

01:18:21.120 --> 01:18:23.496
that means in practice is this. A

01:18:23.520 --> 01:18:25.496
resident doing a tough will not be met

01:18:25.520 --> 01:18:27.256
first with penalties or enforcement.

01:18:27.280 --> 01:18:29.175
They will be met with options,

01:18:29.199 --> 01:18:32.199
understanding, and a pathway forward. It

01:18:32.400 --> 01:18:33.655
means that someone facing genuine

01:18:33.679 --> 01:18:35.175
hardship can have the opportunity to

01:18:35.199 --> 01:18:37.336
stabilize their situation, pay their

01:18:37.360 --> 01:18:39.256
rates in a way that is manageable and

01:18:39.280 --> 01:18:42.135
avoid the spiral of debt escalation.

01:18:42.159 --> 01:18:43.496
And ultimately, it means that we are

01:18:43.520 --> 01:18:45.175
helping people stay in their homes,

01:18:45.199 --> 01:18:47.256
maintain stability, and prioritize

01:18:47.280 --> 01:18:49.256
essential living costs, which benefits

01:18:49.280 --> 01:18:51.736
not just individual but our entire

01:18:51.760 --> 01:18:54.376
community. Counselors, this is good

01:18:54.400 --> 01:18:57.400
policy. This is a good policy document.

01:18:57.920 --> 01:18:59.655
It reflects best practice across the

01:18:59.679 --> 01:19:01.416
sector. It responds to contemporary

01:19:01.440 --> 01:19:03.496
challenges and most importantly reflects

01:19:03.520 --> 01:19:05.736
our values as a council because the

01:19:05.760 --> 01:19:07.016
measure of a community is not just how

01:19:07.040 --> 01:19:09.096
it functions in good times but how it

01:19:09.120 --> 01:19:11.736
supports people in difficult times. And

01:19:11.760 --> 01:19:13.655
I'd just like to quickly share a story

01:19:13.679 --> 01:19:15.175
when I was doornocking  for the

01:19:15.199 --> 01:19:17.576
council elections in 2024. I came across

01:19:17.600 --> 01:19:19.496
an individual

01:19:19.520 --> 01:19:21.336
who told me about how tough he was doing

01:19:21.360 --> 01:19:24.296
it. And to be honest, we were standing

01:19:24.320 --> 01:19:25.816
across his fence cuz he was doing a bit

01:19:25.840 --> 01:19:27.576
of gardening at the time and we're just

01:19:27.600 --> 01:19:30.296
having a chat. But that story has stuck

01:19:30.320 --> 01:19:32.056
with me. It stuck with me when I came

01:19:32.080 --> 01:19:34.776
into council. It stuck with me in my

01:19:34.800 --> 01:19:37.416
very first meetings with the CEO and our

01:19:37.440 --> 01:19:40.215
financial officers. And it stuck with me

01:19:40.239 --> 01:19:41.816
when the first question I asked was,

01:19:41.840 --> 01:19:43.096
"What are we doing about hardship

01:19:43.120 --> 01:19:45.336
policy?" [bell] This is really important

01:19:45.360 --> 01:19:47.496
to me personally

01:19:47.520 --> 01:19:49.655
because the measure of a community is

01:19:49.679 --> 01:19:51.096
how we support people in difficult

01:19:51.120 --> 01:19:53.416
times. So please support this motion

01:19:53.440 --> 01:19:55.576
tonight councilors because in a time of

01:19:55.600 --> 01:19:57.496
financial pressure for so many this

01:19:57.520 --> 01:19:59.096
policy ensures that council steps

01:19:59.120 --> 01:20:01.016
forward not just as an administrator but

01:20:01.040 --> 01:20:03.096
as a responsible compassionate and

01:20:03.120 --> 01:20:06.120
modern local government. Thank you.

01:20:06.880 --> 01:20:08.856
Thank you councelor Simpson. Councelor

01:20:08.880 --> 01:20:09.576
Gun.

01:20:09.600 --> 01:20:12.296
Thank you Mayor and brilliantly phrased

01:20:12.320 --> 01:20:14.135
 councelor Simpson. I think that's

01:20:14.159 --> 01:20:16.695
really set the pre set the the context

01:20:16.719 --> 01:20:19.016
for which we bring this policy here this

01:20:19.040 --> 01:20:21.816
evening. Um, as councelor Simpson

01:20:21.840 --> 01:20:23.576
indicated, it does align with the

01:20:23.600 --> 01:20:25.496
Victorian ministerial guidelines on

01:20:25.520 --> 01:20:27.175
rates and charges, which was recently

01:20:27.199 --> 01:20:30.199
changed  at December 2025. But I guess

01:20:31.120 --> 01:20:34.120
what I found most pleasing was how far

01:20:34.719 --> 01:20:37.016
ahead of some of those changes this

01:20:37.040 --> 01:20:40.040
council already was. Um, we have worked

01:20:40.640 --> 01:20:42.776
um to bring in some of the options that

01:20:42.800 --> 01:20:45.800
are now mandated um ahead of time. So

01:20:46.719 --> 01:20:48.776
options of payable to pay at a flexible

01:20:48.800 --> 01:20:51.800
way rather than um one lump sum or the

01:20:52.400 --> 01:20:55.336
four quarterly payments for rates.  we

01:20:55.360 --> 01:20:57.976
also again reflecting what councelor

01:20:58.000 --> 01:20:59.896
Simpson said are reflecting people where

01:20:59.920 --> 01:21:02.376
they are. Um we're not going um stick

01:21:02.400 --> 01:21:04.695
first then maybe carrot later. We are

01:21:04.719 --> 01:21:06.856
certainly working with um where

01:21:06.880 --> 01:21:09.016
residents are in terms of their hardship

01:21:09.040 --> 01:21:10.856
um treating them with such dignity and

01:21:10.880 --> 01:21:13.576
with empathy at the same time  and and

01:21:13.600 --> 01:21:15.655
not going well we still need our money.

01:21:15.679 --> 01:21:17.576
We are talking about we still want to

01:21:17.600 --> 01:21:19.496
provide the services for the city of

01:21:19.520 --> 01:21:22.456
course that is priority number one as a

01:21:22.480 --> 01:21:25.175
responsible authority but how you deal

01:21:25.199 --> 01:21:27.496
with people in hardship says a lot about

01:21:27.520 --> 01:21:29.416
your organization as much as how your

01:21:29.440 --> 01:21:31.736
balance sheet reads.  in fact I

01:21:31.760 --> 01:21:34.056
probably say it reads more so um

01:21:34.080 --> 01:21:36.695
thinking of councelor Barker's um

01:21:36.719 --> 01:21:38.376
nomination in the budget in terms of

01:21:38.400 --> 01:21:39.896
giving people the opportunity to have a

01:21:39.920 --> 01:21:41.816
a lowcost swim if they're doing it tough

01:21:41.840 --> 01:21:43.736
if they're a pensioner or a concession

01:21:43.760 --> 01:21:45.976
card holder. these things council

01:21:46.000 --> 01:21:48.056
doesn't have to do with this obviously

01:21:48.080 --> 01:21:49.736
there are a mandated requirement we were

01:21:49.760 --> 01:21:51.655
already doing a lot of those things and

01:21:51.679 --> 01:21:53.576
that's very pleasing um but this just

01:21:53.600 --> 01:21:54.936
brings us in line with broader

01:21:54.960 --> 01:21:57.416
ministerial code so firstly well done

01:21:57.440 --> 01:21:58.856
again councelor Simpson on your framing

01:21:58.880 --> 01:22:00.615
and I wholeheartedly encourage everyone

01:22:00.639 --> 01:22:03.096
to support this

01:22:03.120 --> 01:22:04.615
thank you councelor gun are there any

01:22:04.639 --> 01:22:07.175
further speakers to the motion

01:22:07.199 --> 01:22:07.976
yes

01:22:08.000 --> 01:22:09.175
councelor Griffith

01:22:09.199 --> 01:22:11.976
Mayor I I agree with everything the

01:22:12.000 --> 01:22:14.296
mover and seconder have have said so

01:22:14.320 --> 01:22:16.376
far. But there is one aspect of this

01:22:16.400 --> 01:22:19.400
policy that I found a bit challenging.

01:22:19.440 --> 01:22:22.135
Um been surprised at some of the powers

01:22:22.159 --> 01:22:24.776
that local government get bestowed upon

01:22:24.800 --> 01:22:27.800
them. And one of them is the the ability

01:22:28.239 --> 01:22:30.376
that's lifted in unfortunately in this

01:22:30.400 --> 01:22:32.936
policy as a last resort and that is that

01:22:32.960 --> 01:22:35.416
council may sell somebody's private

01:22:35.440 --> 01:22:38.440
property. I find that very challenging

01:22:38.639 --> 01:22:41.336
um to approve in a policy about rates

01:22:41.360 --> 01:22:44.056
hardship. unclear why I needed to be in

01:22:44.080 --> 01:22:47.080
this particular one. Um,

01:22:47.840 --> 01:22:49.736
despite rates being core council

01:22:49.760 --> 01:22:51.496
business, we don't often talk about

01:22:51.520 --> 01:22:54.376
rates in this chamber, setting rates,

01:22:54.400 --> 01:22:57.400
this policy. I can barely think of other

01:22:58.080 --> 01:23:01.080
occasions where rates rates come up. ,

01:23:01.520 --> 01:23:03.336
so my my concern is really about

01:23:03.360 --> 01:23:06.360
approving a policy that gives permission

01:23:07.199 --> 01:23:09.816
in a way for that last resort. I would

01:23:09.840 --> 01:23:12.840
much rather have information come to me

01:23:14.080 --> 01:23:16.536
 about  people experiencing rates

01:23:16.560 --> 01:23:19.560
hardship on a more regular basis and

01:23:20.000 --> 01:23:21.976
also if that last resort was ever to

01:23:22.000 --> 01:23:23.976
come here I'd like to look at the

01:23:24.000 --> 01:23:27.000
information provided  at at that time

01:23:28.719 --> 01:23:31.719
the policy suggests that that may or may

01:23:31.920 --> 01:23:34.376
not happen there's also a lot of

01:23:34.400 --> 01:23:37.336
discretion applied in this policy

01:23:37.360 --> 01:23:39.736
um one one example or there's a lot of

01:23:39.760 --> 01:23:42.456
council may do this or may not do that.

01:23:42.480 --> 01:23:45.096
A policy policy should have a bit more

01:23:45.120 --> 01:23:48.120
clarity in my view. One example would be

01:23:48.400 --> 01:23:51.400
the eligibility for this is for primary

01:23:52.719 --> 01:23:55.576
 occupants occupants at this primary

01:23:55.600 --> 01:23:57.336
residence. But you could have a scenario

01:23:57.360 --> 01:23:59.976
where someone can't afford to buy the

01:24:00.000 --> 01:24:01.976
house they want. They're renting in a

01:24:02.000 --> 01:24:03.736
large property. They might own a small

01:24:03.760 --> 01:24:05.256
apartment

01:24:05.280 --> 01:24:07.016
experiencing rate hardship. they

01:24:07.040 --> 01:24:09.336
wouldn't be eligible for this. Um, but

01:24:09.360 --> 01:24:11.736
then later on in the policy it says,

01:24:11.760 --> 01:24:13.496
well, maybe that's not an eligibility

01:24:13.520 --> 01:24:16.056
criteria in some circumstances. So,

01:24:16.080 --> 01:24:18.296
there's a lot of flexibility

01:24:18.320 --> 01:24:20.936
built in  as well as setting clear

01:24:20.960 --> 01:24:23.336
rules. So, I find that a bit confusing

01:24:23.360 --> 01:24:25.175
in the way it's it's currently set up.

01:24:25.199 --> 01:24:27.655
So, for those two reasons, I'll I'm

01:24:27.679 --> 01:24:29.336
speaking against the policy in its

01:24:29.360 --> 01:24:32.215
current form, but primarily the idea

01:24:32.239 --> 01:24:34.776
that council could sell someone's

01:24:34.800 --> 01:24:37.496
property. um if they haven't paid three

01:24:37.520 --> 01:24:40.056
years of rate payments

01:24:40.080 --> 01:24:41.816
and haven't engaged in the hardship

01:24:41.840 --> 01:24:44.135
assistance policy. There's a lot there

01:24:44.159 --> 01:24:46.776
are a lot of safeguards in here. But to

01:24:46.800 --> 01:24:48.695
approve this policy, I need to be

01:24:48.719 --> 01:24:51.175
convinced that every single case that

01:24:51.199 --> 01:24:53.175
comes here

01:24:53.199 --> 01:24:55.175
that no one will fall through the safety

01:24:55.199 --> 01:24:57.416
nets that this policy has in place. No

01:24:57.440 --> 01:24:59.816
one falls through the cracks. I do not

01:24:59.840 --> 01:25:02.536
want to see that last resort come to

01:25:02.560 --> 01:25:05.560
play um without having information

01:25:05.600 --> 01:25:08.600
provided to to me. Thanks ma'am. May

01:25:10.159 --> 01:25:11.000
thank you councelor Griffith.

01:25:11.024 --> 01:25:11.816
[clears throat] Council

01:25:11.840 --> 01:25:13.896
Barker may my question to the chief

01:25:13.920 --> 01:25:16.920
executive is um would council be

01:25:17.120 --> 01:25:19.896
involved in the instance of a a um

01:25:19.920 --> 01:25:22.776
compulsory disposal of a property in the

01:25:22.800 --> 01:25:25.655
instance of um delinquent rates or would

01:25:25.679 --> 01:25:27.175
that come to council? That certainly

01:25:27.199 --> 01:25:29.416
would not be delegated. Is that mine? Is

01:25:29.440 --> 01:25:30.936
that correct, Mr. McMillan?

01:25:30.960 --> 01:25:33.655
Mr. McMillan.

01:25:33.679 --> 01:25:35.816
Through you, Mayor. I believe I'll just

01:25:35.840 --> 01:25:37.576
check with C with our director of

01:25:37.600 --> 01:25:38.856
corporate

01:25:38.880 --> 01:25:41.175
cuz through our intention

01:25:41.199 --> 01:25:44.199
to bring it to council. Yeah. Yep.

01:25:45.440 --> 01:25:46.856
Could you just repeat that please, Mr.

01:25:46.880 --> 01:25:48.856
McMillan to the microphone?

01:25:48.880 --> 01:25:50.776
The intention would be to re bring that

01:25:50.800 --> 01:25:52.376
particular matter should it arise back

01:25:52.400 --> 01:25:53.816
to council.

01:25:53.840 --> 01:25:55.256
Thank you. Councelor Barker, did you

01:25:55.280 --> 01:25:58.056
wish to speak to the motion?

01:25:58.080 --> 01:25:59.175
Oh, yes ma'am. Thank you.

01:25:59.199 --> 01:26:01.016
Thank you, councelor Barker.

01:26:01.040 --> 01:26:02.615
And councelor Griffiths makes a good

01:26:02.639 --> 01:26:05.639
point. Um, hardship and delinquency

01:26:06.080 --> 01:26:09.080
um are two sides of the same coin. And

01:26:09.600 --> 01:26:11.336
there may be instances where people

01:26:11.360 --> 01:26:14.360
haven't paid rates for 20 years

01:26:14.480 --> 01:26:17.480
on a vacant block of land. Is that fair

01:26:17.679 --> 01:26:19.256
on

01:26:19.280 --> 01:26:21.496
everyone that does the right thing?

01:26:21.520 --> 01:26:23.175
That's the balance that I'm seeking. And

01:26:23.199 --> 01:26:25.336
I'm if I've heard Mr. McMillan correctly

01:26:25.360 --> 01:26:27.256
and it's on the tape that that will come

01:26:27.280 --> 01:26:28.695
back to council. I'm happy that those

01:26:28.719 --> 01:26:31.655
provisions and protections are there.

01:26:31.679 --> 01:26:33.096
Thank you councelor Barker. Are there

01:26:33.120 --> 01:26:36.120
any further speakers to the motion?

01:26:36.480 --> 01:26:37.896
Given that there are no further speakers

01:26:37.920 --> 01:26:39.336
and there was a speaker against you have

01:26:39.360 --> 01:26:41.736
the right to reply. Councelor Simpson.

01:26:41.760 --> 01:26:43.336
Thank you Mayor. And I just like to go

01:26:43.360 --> 01:26:45.336
to the point that um that councelor

01:26:45.360 --> 01:26:47.016
Griffith raised. And if we go to the

01:26:47.040 --> 01:26:50.040
actual policy on section 5.3 rates and

01:26:50.080 --> 01:26:52.135
charges recovery process on page seven

01:26:52.159 --> 01:26:53.896
of the policy and then scroll further

01:26:53.920 --> 01:26:56.920
down to  five sale of land last

01:26:57.040 --> 01:26:58.695
resort, it says as a last resort and

01:26:58.719 --> 01:27:00.456
only after all other reasonable recovery

01:27:00.480 --> 01:27:02.376
options have been exhausted. Council may

01:27:02.400 --> 01:27:04.135
commence proceedings to sell land under

01:27:04.159 --> 01:27:06.296
section 181 of the local government act.

01:27:06.320 --> 01:27:08.215
This action may only occur where the

01:27:08.239 --> 01:27:09.496
amount owed exceeds three years of

01:27:09.520 --> 01:27:11.655
unpaid rates, no current payment or

01:27:11.679 --> 01:27:13.736
hardship arrangement exists, and a court

01:27:13.760 --> 01:27:15.736
order requiring payment has been

01:27:15.760 --> 01:27:17.896
obtained. This is following on from

01:27:17.920 --> 01:27:19.896
point four. Following a court judgment,

01:27:19.920 --> 01:27:21.576
council may pursue enforcement actions

01:27:21.600 --> 01:27:24.215
in line with legislation, etc., etc. And

01:27:24.239 --> 01:27:26.056
then finally, in the end of point five,

01:27:26.080 --> 01:27:27.736
it says council will not pursue a sale

01:27:27.760 --> 01:27:29.096
of land where a valid hardship

01:27:29.120 --> 01:27:31.096
assistance application is in place or

01:27:31.120 --> 01:27:32.856
where the rate payer is actively

01:27:32.880 --> 01:27:34.615
engaging with council to resolve the

01:27:34.639 --> 01:27:36.695
debt. So, it's all there in the policy

01:27:36.719 --> 01:27:38.856
counselors. Basically, the only way we

01:27:38.880 --> 01:27:41.096
could sell someone's land is if they're

01:27:41.120 --> 01:27:43.896
not actively seeking to um engage with

01:27:43.920 --> 01:27:46.376
us um with a valid hardship assistance

01:27:46.400 --> 01:27:48.376
process, which means they're not

01:27:48.400 --> 01:27:50.056
actually they may not genuinely be in

01:27:50.080 --> 01:27:51.336
hardship, they may just be thumbming

01:27:51.360 --> 01:27:53.736
their nose at us. Secondly,  we can

01:27:53.760 --> 01:27:55.655
only do it after all other options have

01:27:55.679 --> 01:27:57.816
been exhausted and after court orders

01:27:57.840 --> 01:27:59.816
have been issued, which means that 

01:27:59.840 --> 01:28:02.056
resident also gets their day in court.

01:28:02.080 --> 01:28:04.135
So, and following on from what council m

01:28:04.159 --> 01:28:06.056
 sorry, Mr. McMillan said to council

01:28:06.080 --> 01:28:08.215
Barker, um that matter would come back

01:28:08.239 --> 01:28:10.536
to us before council. So, based off the

01:28:10.560 --> 01:28:12.776
actual contents of the policy and what

01:28:12.800 --> 01:28:14.135
has been [music] debated tonight,

01:28:14.159 --> 01:28:15.816
there's absolutely no reason to support

01:28:15.840 --> 01:28:17.816
this. There's no reason to not support

01:28:17.840 --> 01:28:19.816
this policy. So, councilors, I please

01:28:19.840 --> 01:28:21.416
urge you to support the motion before

01:28:21.440 --> 01:28:23.336
us. Thank you.

01:28:23.360 --> 01:28:24.856
Thank you, Councelor Simpson. Are there

01:28:24.880 --> 01:28:26.695
any further speakers? Oh, no. Sorry. We

01:28:26.719 --> 01:28:28.776
now put the motion. Please keep your

01:28:28.800 --> 01:28:30.536
hands up if as I call your names. All

01:28:30.560 --> 01:28:33.560
those in favor coun

01:28:36.639 --> 01:28:39.639
unanimously carried.

01:28:42.639 --> 01:28:44.936
Item 10.6

01:28:44.960 --> 01:28:47.736
contract 30743

01:28:47.760 --> 01:28:50.760
and contract 30744

01:28:51.760 --> 01:28:54.760
extension provision of retail gas. Could

01:28:55.120 --> 01:28:57.096
I have a counselor move the item please?

01:28:57.120 --> 01:28:57.976
Happy to move.

01:28:58.000 --> 01:28:59.976
Thank you councelor Griffith and second.

01:29:00.000 --> 01:29:01.416
Delighted to second

01:29:01.440 --> 01:29:03.576
councelor Barker. Councelor Griffith.

01:29:03.600 --> 01:29:05.175
 thanks Mayor. Council currently

01:29:05.199 --> 01:29:08.056
sources gas for its facilities in

01:29:08.080 --> 01:29:10.376
including the aqualinks along with 34

01:29:10.400 --> 01:29:13.096
other sites through the state purchase

01:29:13.120 --> 01:29:15.816
contract with AGL sales. This is a

01:29:15.840 --> 01:29:17.655
collective buying arrangement

01:29:17.679 --> 01:29:19.256
coordinated by the department of

01:29:19.280 --> 01:29:21.336
government services.

01:29:21.360 --> 01:29:23.175
The state government has extended this

01:29:23.199 --> 01:29:26.199
contract until the end of December 2028

01:29:26.480 --> 01:29:28.615
and it's in council's clear financial

01:29:28.639 --> 01:29:31.336
interest to extend alongside it. We've

01:29:31.360 --> 01:29:33.256
already tested the open market and found

01:29:33.280 --> 01:29:35.336
that this collective arrangement offers

01:29:35.360 --> 01:29:37.175
significantly better value than we could

01:29:37.199 --> 01:29:39.336
secure alone.

01:29:39.360 --> 01:29:41.175
Extended now we're looking price

01:29:41.199 --> 01:29:44.199
certainty ahead of  at a time where

01:29:44.560 --> 01:29:46.536
global volatility continues to put

01:29:46.560 --> 01:29:49.416
pressure on energy markets.

01:29:49.440 --> 01:29:52.056
The total estimated expenditure across

01:29:52.080 --> 01:29:54.695
contracts to the end of 2028 is around

01:29:54.719 --> 01:29:57.719
two 3.2 million with actual costs

01:29:58.159 --> 01:30:00.536
depending on consumption.

01:30:00.560 --> 01:30:03.016
I would like to note that this sits

01:30:03.040 --> 01:30:05.655
alongside not against council's ongoing

01:30:05.679 --> 01:30:08.536
work to reduce gas reliance under our

01:30:08.560 --> 01:30:11.416
corporate emissions reduction plan. But

01:30:11.440 --> 01:30:13.736
until that transition is complete, we do

01:30:13.760 --> 01:30:16.760
need secure, competitively priced supply

01:30:17.280 --> 01:30:19.736
for the facilities that still depend on

01:30:19.760 --> 01:30:22.296
it. I commend the recommendation to

01:30:22.320 --> 01:30:24.135
council.

01:30:24.159 --> 01:30:25.816
Thank you, Councelor Griffith. Councelor

01:30:25.840 --> 01:30:27.175
Barker.

01:30:27.199 --> 01:30:29.496
Thanks, Mayor. And um thank Dr. Griffith

01:30:29.520 --> 01:30:32.456
for his um introduction of it. It's a

01:30:32.480 --> 01:30:34.936
good deal, but most importantly, gas is

01:30:34.960 --> 01:30:37.416
important to our city cuz I stand for

01:30:37.440 --> 01:30:40.215
warm pools, not cold pools. So if you

01:30:40.239 --> 01:30:41.816
stand for warm pools, you'll support

01:30:41.840 --> 01:30:44.215
this as well. But on a very serious

01:30:44.239 --> 01:30:46.296
note, these pools don't just provide

01:30:46.320 --> 01:30:49.256
learn to swim, which is a lifesaving

01:30:49.280 --> 01:30:51.736
skill for both the youth of our city and

01:30:51.760 --> 01:30:53.576
for some of the our adults that never

01:30:53.600 --> 01:30:56.215
had that privilege as children. It also

01:30:56.239 --> 01:30:58.856
provides important warm water therapy to

01:30:58.880 --> 01:31:01.736
people that um don't enjoy the physical

01:31:01.760 --> 01:31:03.655
health that I do. And that's why it's

01:31:03.679 --> 01:31:05.736
important that we have warm pools. So if

01:31:05.760 --> 01:31:08.376
you stand for warm pools, support the

01:31:08.400 --> 01:31:11.175
acquisition of this gas.

01:31:11.199 --> 01:31:12.695
Thank you, councelor Barker. Would

01:31:12.719 --> 01:31:14.936
anyone else like to speak to the motion?

01:31:14.960 --> 01:31:15.655
Yes, ma'am.

01:31:15.679 --> 01:31:17.976
Council Simpson.  councilors, I speak

01:31:18.000 --> 01:31:19.736
in support of the motion tonight, but

01:31:19.760 --> 01:31:21.336
there's just one item that concerns me,

01:31:21.360 --> 01:31:23.655
and that is if we are unfortunately

01:31:23.679 --> 01:31:25.416
going to be overpaying because if the

01:31:25.440 --> 01:31:27.336
domestic gas reservation scheme that the

01:31:27.360 --> 01:31:28.856
federal government is planning to

01:31:28.880 --> 01:31:31.256
introduce comes to pass, which drops the

01:31:31.280 --> 01:31:33.016
wholesale price of gas in the domestic

01:31:33.040 --> 01:31:35.655
market, we may have overpaid,  which

01:31:35.679 --> 01:31:37.096
is a bit of a concern to me. So, I don't

01:31:37.120 --> 01:31:38.376
know if there are any options in this

01:31:38.400 --> 01:31:40.456
contract to potentially look at, 

01:31:40.480 --> 01:31:43.480
renegotiating in the future, but that is

01:31:43.520 --> 01:31:44.536
something we should definitely be

01:31:44.560 --> 01:31:47.175
looking at.

01:31:47.199 --> 01:31:49.016
Thank you, Councelor Simpson. Are there

01:31:49.040 --> 01:31:52.040
any further speakers to the motion?

01:31:52.320 --> 01:31:53.896
Given there was a speaker against the

01:31:53.920 --> 01:31:55.816
motion, I give you the right of reply.

01:31:55.840 --> 01:31:58.296
Councelor Griffith,

01:31:58.320 --> 01:32:00.215
I'll I'll wave, ma'am.

01:32:00.239 --> 01:32:01.816
I'll wave my right.

01:32:01.840 --> 01:32:04.840
Thank you. Um, I now put the motion.

01:32:05.520 --> 01:32:07.096
Please keep your hands up as I call your

01:32:07.120 --> 01:32:09.496
names. All those in favor moved

01:32:09.520 --> 01:32:11.016
unanimously.

01:32:11.040 --> 01:32:14.040
We now move to item 10.7.

01:32:15.040 --> 01:32:18.040
Tender evaluation report contract 30762

01:32:20.320 --> 01:32:22.776
supply and delivery of curbside bins.

01:32:22.800 --> 01:32:24.296
Could I have a counselor and move them

01:32:24.320 --> 01:32:25.816
item?

01:32:25.840 --> 01:32:27.816
, happy to move with amendment, Mayor.

01:32:27.840 --> 01:32:29.175
And what's your amendment, councelor

01:32:29.199 --> 01:32:29.576
Barker?

01:32:29.600 --> 01:32:31.336
, it's to remove the reference to the

01:32:31.360 --> 01:32:33.096
glass bins, Mayor.

01:32:33.120 --> 01:32:34.776
Thank you, councelor Barker. Would

01:32:34.800 --> 01:32:36.695
someone like to second the motion?

01:32:36.719 --> 01:32:37.655
Happy to second, Mayor.

01:32:37.679 --> 01:32:38.856
Thank you, councelor Davenport.

01:32:38.880 --> 01:32:40.615
Councelor Barker.

01:32:40.639 --> 01:32:42.615
Thanks very much, Mayor. This is a um

01:32:42.639 --> 01:32:45.175
tender evaluation report. Um as you

01:32:45.199 --> 01:32:47.496
know, we're moving to mandatory FOGO,

01:32:47.520 --> 01:32:50.456
which is food and garden organics um

01:32:50.480 --> 01:32:53.480
service to the city, which um is going

01:32:53.520 --> 01:32:55.896
to require us to buy a bunch of extra

01:32:55.920 --> 01:32:58.695
bins for people to use as we roll out

01:32:58.719 --> 01:33:01.719
from um as we as we roll out across the

01:33:03.280 --> 01:33:06.135
city. But my amendment um does not

01:33:06.159 --> 01:33:09.159
include um a tender option two which was

01:33:10.800 --> 01:33:13.800
for the glass service. Now this city has

01:33:14.159 --> 01:33:17.159
been one of the leaders in the state of

01:33:17.280 --> 01:33:20.280
saying we're not up for a purple bin.

01:33:22.080 --> 01:33:23.896
Our city has said no and we've joined

01:33:23.920 --> 01:33:26.856
with I think is it what 45 extra other

01:33:26.880 --> 01:33:29.880
councils that say enough? No. We don't

01:33:30.080 --> 01:33:32.056
have the room for it. It's not good for

01:33:32.080 --> 01:33:33.976
the environment. We don't want extra

01:33:34.000 --> 01:33:35.816
trucks in our street and it's not

01:33:35.840 --> 01:33:38.135
efficient. Now, I've thought about this

01:33:38.159 --> 01:33:40.695
in some detail. I'm absolutely blessed

01:33:40.719 --> 01:33:42.695
to live on an 800 square meter block

01:33:42.719 --> 01:33:44.776
with a standalone home. I don't have

01:33:44.800 --> 01:33:47.736
room for a purple bin.

01:33:47.760 --> 01:33:49.736
Because the more I think about this

01:33:49.760 --> 01:33:51.175
project, which has been sort of the

01:33:51.199 --> 01:33:52.936
state government said you'll have a

01:33:52.960 --> 01:33:55.655
purple bin. People say haven't got the

01:33:55.679 --> 01:33:57.976
room for it. We don't. Why would we need

01:33:58.000 --> 01:33:59.576
the extra trucks? It's not good for the

01:33:59.600 --> 01:34:00.936
environment. It's not good for our

01:34:00.960 --> 01:34:03.096
people. This is not improving lives. The

01:34:03.120 --> 01:34:05.016
more I've thought about this, and I say

01:34:05.040 --> 01:34:06.536
this with the greatest respect to the

01:34:06.560 --> 01:34:08.536
family involved, the only people this is

01:34:08.560 --> 01:34:11.016
good for is Vusy Industries,

01:34:11.040 --> 01:34:12.615
right? Because it takes their cost out

01:34:12.639 --> 01:34:15.096
of it. And absolute respect to Jeanie

01:34:15.120 --> 01:34:17.496
and the whole Pratt family. Love them.

01:34:17.520 --> 01:34:19.816
They're very, very powerful lobbyers and

01:34:19.840 --> 01:34:21.896
they're great lobbying. But the only

01:34:21.920 --> 01:34:23.496
people that the Purple Bin is good for

01:34:23.520 --> 01:34:25.016
is Vizzy because it lowers their

01:34:25.040 --> 01:34:28.040
processing costs. Right. And I also note

01:34:28.159 --> 01:34:29.816
that the Labour Party has its major

01:34:29.840 --> 01:34:32.695
fundraiser at Raheen. They're amazing

01:34:32.719 --> 01:34:34.215
facility. I'm not suggesting any

01:34:34.239 --> 01:34:35.816
wrongdoing by the Pratt family. They're

01:34:35.840 --> 01:34:38.296
wonderful people. But this city is not

01:34:38.320 --> 01:34:40.536
going to have the purple bin. When we go

01:34:40.560 --> 01:34:42.296
to our community and say we stand with

01:34:42.320 --> 01:34:44.056
them, we're not up for the purple bin

01:34:44.080 --> 01:34:45.336
and we're not going to impose it on

01:34:45.360 --> 01:34:47.816
them. I mean it. Which is why we're not

01:34:47.840 --> 01:34:49.256
going to include any potential

01:34:49.280 --> 01:34:51.336
acquisition of purple bins. Because when

01:34:51.360 --> 01:34:53.816
this city city says we stand with our

01:34:53.840 --> 01:34:55.655
people and we're not copping the purple

01:34:55.679 --> 01:34:58.296
bins, guess what? We're not copping the

01:34:58.320 --> 01:35:01.320
purple bins. However, we will secure a

01:35:02.159 --> 01:35:04.376
very good deal on the green bins for

01:35:04.400 --> 01:35:07.175
Fogo because Fogo bins are good for our

01:35:07.199 --> 01:35:09.576
city. Foggo bins are good for the bottom

01:35:09.600 --> 01:35:11.816
line and Foggo bins improve people's

01:35:11.840 --> 01:35:13.896
lives cuz you put your your food waste

01:35:13.920 --> 01:35:15.655
in there. And I'm a great practitioner

01:35:15.679 --> 01:35:18.056
of this, man. plus a bit of garden

01:35:18.080 --> 01:35:19.655
clippings and some weeds and you put

01:35:19.679 --> 01:35:21.096
that out and it goes and it gets all

01:35:21.120 --> 01:35:23.496
minced up and it it's amazing. Then it

01:35:23.520 --> 01:35:25.655
goes to farms and goes back to Bunnings

01:35:25.679 --> 01:35:27.896
and you can buy it as overpriced potting

01:35:27.920 --> 01:35:30.296
mix. But it is good for people and it's

01:35:30.320 --> 01:35:31.576
good for the city. It's good for the

01:35:31.600 --> 01:35:33.336
climate because it lessens the methane

01:35:33.360 --> 01:35:35.496
going into it and most importantly it's

01:35:35.520 --> 01:35:37.896
cheaper than sending it to landfill and

01:35:37.920 --> 01:35:39.976
that's what this report is about. So,

01:35:40.000 --> 01:35:42.056
we're going to buy some green bins and

01:35:42.080 --> 01:35:44.135
we're going to give the CEO the approval

01:35:44.159 --> 01:35:46.536
to do that, but he's not to buy the

01:35:46.560 --> 01:35:49.560
purple bins and that's what we're doing.

01:35:49.600 --> 01:35:52.215
So, please support it. Councilors.

01:35:52.239 --> 01:35:54.776
Thank you, councelor Barker. Councelor

01:35:54.800 --> 01:35:56.135
Davenport,

01:35:56.159 --> 01:35:57.816
I've got nothing further to add.

01:35:57.840 --> 01:36:00.840
Councelor Barker, well done.

01:36:01.120 --> 01:36:02.856
Are there any further speakers to the

01:36:02.880 --> 01:36:03.256
motion?

01:36:03.280 --> 01:36:04.135
Yes, Mayor.

01:36:04.159 --> 01:36:05.016
Councelor Simpson.

01:36:05.040 --> 01:36:06.536
Thank you, Mayor. And councelor Barker,

01:36:06.560 --> 01:36:07.976
it's like you read my column in the

01:36:08.000 --> 01:36:09.736
Whitehorse News because you've just

01:36:09.760 --> 01:36:12.215
said everything that I I wrote there.

01:36:12.239 --> 01:36:13.816
And it's because I completely agree with

01:36:13.840 --> 01:36:15.256
you. The glass bin makes no sense

01:36:15.280 --> 01:36:18.135
whatsoever. And um councilors, the

01:36:18.159 --> 01:36:20.296
reason that this particular item that

01:36:20.320 --> 01:36:21.896
has been removed through the amendment

01:36:21.920 --> 01:36:24.776
was there was  basically  as a hedge

01:36:24.800 --> 01:36:27.256
in case we did have to buy  bins 

01:36:27.280 --> 01:36:29.976
because the glass bin is is legislated

01:36:30.000 --> 01:36:31.896
and there may come a point in time where

01:36:31.920 --> 01:36:34.135
we are forced to do it. Um, having said

01:36:34.159 --> 01:36:35.816
that, I am comfortable with this

01:36:35.840 --> 01:36:38.615
amendment and I fully support it because

01:36:38.639 --> 01:36:41.175
I I don't think the community would 

01:36:41.199 --> 01:36:44.135
support us  doing this. Um, and I

01:36:44.159 --> 01:36:46.376
think that the government is hearing the

01:36:46.400 --> 01:36:48.615
voices of not only of these 40 something

01:36:48.639 --> 01:36:51.256
councils  but also  those members of

01:36:51.280 --> 01:36:52.615
our community who have said quite

01:36:52.639 --> 01:36:54.215
categorically they don't want the glass

01:36:54.239 --> 01:36:56.215
bin. Um so I think this is the right

01:36:56.239 --> 01:36:57.655
approach and I wholeheartedly support

01:36:57.679 --> 01:37:00.679
it. Um please  vote for the motion.

01:37:01.440 --> 01:37:03.095
Thank you councelor Simpson. Any further

01:37:03.119 --> 01:37:04.056
speakers? The motion?

01:37:04.080 --> 01:37:05.095
Yes, please.

01:37:05.119 --> 01:37:06.056
Councelor Gun.

01:37:06.080 --> 01:37:07.816
Thank you.  I just want to reiterate

01:37:07.840 --> 01:37:10.376
what's been said.  and just  this

01:37:10.400 --> 01:37:12.376
isn't just a whim that councelor

01:37:12.400 --> 01:37:15.336
Davenport's  councelor Barker, pardon,

01:37:15.360 --> 01:37:17.496
has  decided, oh, just don't disagree

01:37:17.520 --> 01:37:19.175
with the officers. Um this has been

01:37:19.199 --> 01:37:21.016
something that we had over 5,000

01:37:21.040 --> 01:37:23.256
respondents when we went out to ask the

01:37:23.280 --> 01:37:24.936
community about our bin service late

01:37:24.960 --> 01:37:26.856
last year. Um that is not an

01:37:26.880 --> 01:37:28.856
insignificant number for a city of our

01:37:28.880 --> 01:37:31.175
size.  to have that level of support

01:37:31.199 --> 01:37:32.536
and I still hear it when I'm out door

01:37:32.560 --> 01:37:34.856
knocking. Um people are adamant they

01:37:34.880 --> 01:37:36.215
won't have it. They don't want the

01:37:36.239 --> 01:37:37.736
purple bin. There's no room for it. All

01:37:37.760 --> 01:37:40.056
the arguments that councelor Barger has

01:37:40.080 --> 01:37:43.080
 um articulated here this evening. Um

01:37:43.679 --> 01:37:46.376
so yeah, absolutely. This is the is the

01:37:46.400 --> 01:37:48.376
right message to send. Um we're not

01:37:48.400 --> 01:37:50.456
we're not equivocating. We're not maybe

01:37:50.480 --> 01:37:53.480
rainy day. We don't want it. Um thank

01:37:53.520 --> 01:37:55.736
you. That's all I have to say.

01:37:55.760 --> 01:37:57.416
Thank you, Councelor Gun. Any further

01:37:57.440 --> 01:37:59.896
speakers to the motion? Mayor

01:37:59.920 --> 01:38:00.856
Council Cuts,

01:38:00.880 --> 01:38:03.256
I I concur with this. I think we need to

01:38:03.280 --> 01:38:05.976
take out all  references to the purple

01:38:06.000 --> 01:38:08.376
bin. It's a strong statement. It tells

01:38:08.400 --> 01:38:10.215
our community we're backing ourselves

01:38:10.239 --> 01:38:12.296
rather than hedging our bets. And I

01:38:12.320 --> 01:38:14.695
think I agree with councelor Barker. So

01:38:14.719 --> 01:38:17.719
there are 35 LGAs which are actively

01:38:17.840 --> 01:38:19.336
against this and I believe there are

01:38:19.360 --> 01:38:21.416
many more than that as well. And an

01:38:21.440 --> 01:38:23.816
overall about 83% of community members

01:38:23.840 --> 01:38:25.496
strongly oppose the introduction of this

01:38:25.520 --> 01:38:27.496
and that's across the the state. I

01:38:27.520 --> 01:38:29.175
understand, you know, massive setup

01:38:29.199 --> 01:38:31.816
costs, $4 million here, which is about

01:38:31.840 --> 01:38:34.840
$27 per year for household  people,

01:38:36.400 --> 01:38:38.856
cost of living crisis, logistical

01:38:38.880 --> 01:38:41.416
issues. Now, I don't have an 800 

01:38:41.440 --> 01:38:43.736
square meter property. Mine is much much

01:38:43.760 --> 01:38:46.056
smaller than that. I live with four

01:38:46.080 --> 01:38:48.456
units on a block, and I can tell you

01:38:48.480 --> 01:38:50.456
come pick up day, which is tomorrow

01:38:50.480 --> 01:38:52.615
morning, we'll all be fighting for a

01:38:52.639 --> 01:38:54.936
spot on the on the nature strip there.

01:38:54.960 --> 01:38:56.856
and I'm trying to protect my tree which

01:38:56.880 --> 01:38:58.615
I'm trying to grow as well, my beautiful

01:38:58.639 --> 01:39:00.376
pin oak which gets knocked every time

01:39:00.400 --> 01:39:03.400
the the um trucks come past. So, so

01:39:03.600 --> 01:39:05.175
there's all of those logistical issues,

01:39:05.199 --> 01:39:07.496
but also the emissions and and and the

01:39:07.520 --> 01:39:09.416
extra traffic on our roads as well with

01:39:09.440 --> 01:39:11.496
these trucks going along picking up

01:39:11.520 --> 01:39:13.976
purple bins which aren't being put out

01:39:14.000 --> 01:39:15.736
because let's face it, I don't know

01:39:15.760 --> 01:39:17.416
about you, but I've done a bit of a bin

01:39:17.440 --> 01:39:20.440
dive lately and  really I didn't even

01:39:20.719 --> 01:39:23.719
have any one one glass piece in my bin.

01:39:24.239 --> 01:39:25.976
So, we're all using our container

01:39:26.000 --> 01:39:27.736
deposit schemes. We're giving it I'm

01:39:27.760 --> 01:39:29.655
giving it to my neighbor, my 8-year-old

01:39:29.679 --> 01:39:32.056
neighbor. He gets his 10 cents  for

01:39:32.080 --> 01:39:35.080
each of those um  containers. And  I

01:39:36.560 --> 01:39:38.456
I really think this is I really hope

01:39:38.480 --> 01:39:39.896
that the state government is listening.

01:39:39.920 --> 01:39:41.655
And you've said, Councelor Simpson, that

01:39:41.679 --> 01:39:43.896
they are listening. Well, I want to see

01:39:43.920 --> 01:39:46.296
that they really are listening because

01:39:46.320 --> 01:39:49.320
legislation is that 1st of July next

01:39:50.000 --> 01:39:52.536
year, we will be rolling these out. So I

01:39:52.560 --> 01:39:54.695
really hope they are reconsidering this.

01:39:54.719 --> 01:39:56.376
Thank you.

01:39:56.400 --> 01:39:58.936
Thank you councelor cuts.

01:39:58.960 --> 01:40:00.615
Are there any further speakers to the

01:40:00.639 --> 01:40:02.296
motion?

01:40:02.320 --> 01:40:03.736
Given that there's no further speakers,

01:40:03.760 --> 01:40:06.760
I now put the motion. All those in favor

01:40:07.920 --> 01:40:09.496
carried unanimously, I would just like

01:40:09.520 --> 01:40:12.056
to make one comment. Please expand the

01:40:12.080 --> 01:40:14.695
container deposit scheme to include wine

01:40:14.719 --> 01:40:17.719
bottles, whiskey bottles, and jam jars.

01:40:17.840 --> 01:40:20.840
Thank you, councilors.

01:40:21.520 --> 01:40:23.496
Item 10.8,

01:40:23.520 --> 01:40:25.095
records of informal meetings of

01:40:25.119 --> 01:40:26.536
counselors. Could I have a counselor

01:40:26.560 --> 01:40:27.496
move the item?

01:40:27.520 --> 01:40:28.456
Happy to move, Mayor.

01:40:28.480 --> 01:40:30.376
Thank you, councelor Simpson and second.

01:40:30.400 --> 01:40:31.416
Happy to second, Mayor.

01:40:31.440 --> 01:40:33.175
Thank you, councelor Weller. Would you

01:40:33.199 --> 01:40:34.215
like to speak to the motion?

01:40:34.239 --> 01:40:35.576
It's all in the report. Mayor.

01:40:35.600 --> 01:40:36.695
Councelor Weller.

01:40:36.719 --> 01:40:37.496
No, Mayor.

01:40:37.520 --> 01:40:40.215
Any further speakers? Given there's no

01:40:40.239 --> 01:40:41.896
further speakers, I now put the motion.

01:40:41.920 --> 01:40:44.920
All those in favor? Carried unanimously.

01:40:46.560 --> 01:40:49.560
Item 10.9 which is a light late item

01:40:49.920 --> 01:40:52.920
native title determination application

01:40:53.199 --> 01:40:55.256
process. Could I have have a counselor

01:40:55.280 --> 01:40:58.056
move the motion please?

01:40:58.080 --> 01:40:59.016
Happy to move. Mayor

01:40:59.040 --> 01:41:00.695
thank you councelor Gun and second.

01:41:00.719 --> 01:41:01.816
Second madam may

01:41:01.840 --> 01:41:04.215
councelor Allen. Councelor Gun.

01:41:04.239 --> 01:41:06.936
Thank you Mayor.  I just speak to this

01:41:06.960 --> 01:41:08.936
item because I just want to put the

01:41:08.960 --> 01:41:11.256
clarity on the situation as well before

01:41:11.280 --> 01:41:14.280
 this  the  Herald Sun or other 

01:41:15.440 --> 01:41:17.976
reportings on the matter u take take the

01:41:18.000 --> 01:41:19.816
item further down the road than it

01:41:19.840 --> 01:41:22.056
actually is. This is a um an application

01:41:22.080 --> 01:41:24.936
on behalf of the warrior warong people

01:41:24.960 --> 01:41:27.960
 for native title over parts of the

01:41:28.000 --> 01:41:30.056
well broad swades of the city of

01:41:30.080 --> 01:41:32.936
Melbourne.  it includes um our great

01:41:32.960 --> 01:41:35.655
city, city of Whitehorse and it does

01:41:35.679 --> 01:41:38.679
not apply to many parts of the city. It

01:41:39.679 --> 01:41:42.679
applies only to crown land components of

01:41:42.880 --> 01:41:45.496
the city and there was  I don't seem

01:41:45.520 --> 01:41:48.520
to have it in front of me the um and um

01:41:48.800 --> 01:41:50.536
and councilors you'll be familiar with

01:41:50.560 --> 01:41:52.376
the attachment that was provided to us

01:41:52.400 --> 01:41:55.336
with the late  document about the the

01:41:55.360 --> 01:41:58.056
the properties or the parcels of land

01:41:58.080 --> 01:42:01.080
for which this application applies. Um

01:42:01.440 --> 01:42:03.336
the reason the motion is here before us

01:42:03.360 --> 01:42:06.215
is not in opposition. It's not in favor.

01:42:06.239 --> 01:42:09.095
It's not in any way um contesting at

01:42:09.119 --> 01:42:11.095
this point in time. It is to become a

01:42:11.119 --> 01:42:13.175
party of the application. And what that

01:42:13.199 --> 01:42:16.199
means is that if we were not to support

01:42:16.560 --> 01:42:19.416
this recommendation and this did get to

01:42:19.440 --> 01:42:21.576
the high court as a decision needed to

01:42:21.600 --> 01:42:22.936
be made and there was information

01:42:22.960 --> 01:42:25.576
presented on parts of our city, we would

01:42:25.600 --> 01:42:27.256
not be included in some of those

01:42:27.280 --> 01:42:28.536
discussions. So it's really important

01:42:28.560 --> 01:42:30.135
that we vote in favor of this

01:42:30.159 --> 01:42:32.296
recommendation here this evening  for

01:42:32.320 --> 01:42:33.736
no other reason than to make sure that

01:42:33.760 --> 01:42:36.056
we remain informed on the issue as it

01:42:36.080 --> 01:42:39.080
progresses.  it again is not the point

01:42:39.119 --> 01:42:41.896
in time for which we should be providing

01:42:41.920 --> 01:42:44.920
um arguments for or against. Um and I

01:42:45.119 --> 01:42:46.856
look at the map and I think some of that

01:42:46.880 --> 01:42:48.695
looks like it includes Bunnarong land

01:42:48.719 --> 01:42:50.776
but that's not for me to determine. 

01:42:50.800 --> 01:42:52.135
that will be for the high court to

01:42:52.159 --> 01:42:54.615
determine. So at this point in time we

01:42:54.639 --> 01:42:57.639
are just asking to be a party to this

01:42:58.239 --> 01:42:59.896
process. Thank you Mayor.

01:42:59.920 --> 01:43:01.576
Thank you councelor Gun. Councelor

01:43:01.600 --> 01:43:01.976
Allen.

01:43:02.000 --> 01:43:03.896
Yeah thank you  thank you madame

01:43:03.920 --> 01:43:06.695
Mayor.  this motion is a crucial step

01:43:06.719 --> 01:43:09.496
 forward for our municipality by

01:43:09.520 --> 01:43:11.095
addressing native title and land rights

01:43:11.119 --> 01:43:13.016
proactively. The city of white is

01:43:13.040 --> 01:43:16.040
demonstrating I believe true leadership.

01:43:16.639 --> 01:43:18.536
 we are aligning our administrative

01:43:18.560 --> 01:43:19.976
processes with the principles of

01:43:20.000 --> 01:43:22.615
justice, equity and genuine

01:43:22.639 --> 01:43:24.776
reconciliation. We should be a

01:43:24.800 --> 01:43:27.800
respondent party and participate  in

01:43:28.080 --> 01:43:30.215
the in the process as councelor Gunner

01:43:30.239 --> 01:43:32.936
said rec if I just broadly speak

01:43:32.960 --> 01:43:35.416
reconciliation is not just about words

01:43:35.440 --> 01:43:37.976
and acknowledgement of country. It

01:43:38.000 --> 01:43:40.296
requires tangible respectful engagement

01:43:40.320 --> 01:43:42.856
with First Nations people peoples

01:43:42.880 --> 01:43:45.816
regarding the very land we all share and

01:43:45.840 --> 01:43:47.976
inhabit. Native title is a fundamental

01:43:48.000 --> 01:43:50.536
recognition of the continuous connection

01:43:50.560 --> 01:43:53.095
to country. Supporting this item ensures

01:43:53.119 --> 01:43:55.655
that our local government  is taking

01:43:55.679 --> 01:43:58.679
active procedural steps to respect this

01:43:58.719 --> 01:44:01.576
legal and cultural reality. We are

01:44:01.600 --> 01:44:03.336
fostering a deeply a deeper

01:44:03.360 --> 01:44:04.695
understanding of Aboriginal and

01:44:04.719 --> 01:44:07.016
toouristrate islander histories and

01:44:07.040 --> 01:44:09.016
cultures within our community. It

01:44:09.040 --> 01:44:10.695
strengthens our partnerships with

01:44:10.719 --> 01:44:13.016
traditional owner groups, ensuring that

01:44:13.040 --> 01:44:14.536
they have a voice at the seat of the

01:44:14.560 --> 01:44:17.560
table with us  when council decisions

01:44:17.679 --> 01:44:19.336
affect local land use, cultural

01:44:19.360 --> 01:44:22.296
heritage, and public spaces.

01:44:22.320 --> 01:44:24.695
Furthermore, engaging appropriately with

01:44:24.719 --> 01:44:26.536
native title claims and agreements

01:44:26.560 --> 01:44:29.560
minimizes legal ambiguities and provides

01:44:29.920 --> 01:44:32.695
a transparent collaborative framework

01:44:32.719 --> 01:44:35.496
for the council in the future. It

01:44:35.520 --> 01:44:38.056
establishes a standard of best practice

01:44:38.080 --> 01:44:40.536
and will benefit our community for

01:44:40.560 --> 01:44:42.376
generations to come creating a

01:44:42.400 --> 01:44:44.615
municipality where indigenous heritage

01:44:44.639 --> 01:44:47.639
is respected and protected. It also says

01:44:48.159 --> 01:44:49.896
that council does not shy away from the

01:44:49.920 --> 01:44:51.496
important work of reconciliation

01:44:51.520 --> 01:44:54.135
reconciliation but rather embraces it.

01:44:54.159 --> 01:44:57.159
Voting in favor of this motion 

01:44:57.760 --> 01:44:59.816
signals to all residents both indigenous

01:44:59.840 --> 01:45:01.816
and non-indigenous that Whitehorse is

01:45:01.840 --> 01:45:04.296
an inclusive, respectful and progressive

01:45:04.320 --> 01:45:06.695
community. I commend the office report

01:45:06.719 --> 01:45:09.496
and urge my fellow councilors to support

01:45:09.520 --> 01:45:12.135
this very important item. Thank you.

01:45:12.159 --> 01:45:13.736
Thank you councelor Allen. Are there any

01:45:13.760 --> 01:45:16.215
further speakers to the motion?

01:45:16.239 --> 01:45:17.576
Given there are no further speakers,

01:45:17.600 --> 01:45:20.456
I'll now put the motion. Those in favor

01:45:20.480 --> 01:45:23.416
carried unanimously.

01:45:23.440 --> 01:45:26.296
We now move to item 11.1 councelor

01:45:26.320 --> 01:45:29.320
delegate and conference seminar reports.

01:45:29.760 --> 01:45:31.736
Reports by delegates and reports on

01:45:31.760 --> 01:45:34.296
conferences seminars attendance. I

01:45:34.320 --> 01:45:36.056
remind councils to submit your written

01:45:36.080 --> 01:45:38.215
reports and please keep your verbal

01:45:38.239 --> 01:45:41.239
reports brief.

01:45:41.440 --> 01:45:43.095
I will commence with deputy Mayor

01:45:43.119 --> 01:45:45.416
councelor Kieran Simpson.

01:45:45.440 --> 01:45:48.440
 thank you Mayor. In June, sorry I'm

01:45:48.960 --> 01:45:51.816
just getting the dates.  June 23rd to

01:45:51.840 --> 01:45:54.296
26th  this year myself along with

01:45:54.320 --> 01:45:55.736
council Davenport, councelor Griffith

01:45:55.760 --> 01:45:57.576
and yourself Mayor attended the national

01:45:57.600 --> 01:46:00.536
government assembly in CRA. Um I found a

01:46:00.560 --> 01:46:01.736
few of the sessions actually quite

01:46:01.760 --> 01:46:04.296
interesting about  how to better fill

01:46:04.320 --> 01:46:06.536
out grant applications for example so we

01:46:06.560 --> 01:46:08.536
can  have better chances of getting

01:46:08.560 --> 01:46:10.695
federal grant funding. So, um, I'm

01:46:10.719 --> 01:46:12.376
hopefully going to contribute some of

01:46:12.400 --> 01:46:15.400
those findings back to council offices.

01:46:15.600 --> 01:46:18.376
Thank you, Councelor Simpson. Councelor

01:46:18.400 --> 01:46:19.736
Andrew Davenport.

01:46:19.760 --> 01:46:22.296
Oh, thank you, , Mayor. And, , I

01:46:22.320 --> 01:46:24.376
also attended the, , national

01:46:24.400 --> 01:46:26.776
conference um for local government in

01:46:26.800 --> 01:46:29.336
CRA. Um, but I'll leave it with

01:46:29.360 --> 01:46:30.536
yourself, [clears throat] Mayor, to

01:46:30.560 --> 01:46:32.695
provide a more fullome report. Thank

01:46:32.719 --> 01:46:33.416
you.

01:46:33.440 --> 01:46:35.655
Thank you for that, Councelor Danport.

01:46:35.679 --> 01:46:36.936
Councelor Gun.

01:46:36.960 --> 01:46:39.336
Thank you, Mayor. Look, I did not attend

01:46:39.360 --> 01:46:42.360
the report the  event in CRA and I

01:46:42.560 --> 01:46:44.376
don't have any intention of attending in

01:46:44.400 --> 01:46:46.215
future either.  I don't have any

01:46:46.239 --> 01:46:48.615
report.  none of my subcommittees met

01:46:48.639 --> 01:46:49.896
during this period.

01:46:49.920 --> 01:46:52.296
Thank you councelor Gun Councelor and 

01:46:52.320 --> 01:46:53.896
councelor Davenport.

01:46:53.920 --> 01:46:56.920
Thanks for the promotion may I'll

01:46:57.760 --> 01:46:59.016
sorry that's fine.

01:46:59.040 --> 01:47:00.856
Sorry my apologies.

01:47:00.880 --> 01:47:02.456
 you just put me off councelor

01:47:02.480 --> 01:47:04.615
Davenport before. So now councelor

01:47:04.639 --> 01:47:06.856
Daniel Griffith please take the floor.

01:47:06.880 --> 01:47:08.776
Thanks. Well, I I might also save an

01:47:08.800 --> 01:47:10.776
update on the National General Assembly

01:47:10.800 --> 01:47:12.695
for you, Mayor, but I'll briefly steal

01:47:12.719 --> 01:47:14.776
your thunder in letting people know that

01:47:14.800 --> 01:47:16.936
the motion Whitehorse put forward was

01:47:16.960 --> 01:47:18.695
was carried.

01:47:18.719 --> 01:47:20.695
Thank you, Councelor Griffith. Councelor

01:47:20.719 --> 01:47:21.576
Haley Weller,

01:47:21.600 --> 01:47:22.856
nothing to report. Mayor,

01:47:22.880 --> 01:47:23.816
Council Peter Allen,

01:47:23.840 --> 01:47:25.336
nothing to report, Madame May.

01:47:25.360 --> 01:47:26.456
Councelor Jason Martin,

01:47:26.480 --> 01:47:29.016
nothing to report. Mayor,

01:47:29.040 --> 01:47:30.695
Councelor Pru Cuts,

01:47:30.719 --> 01:47:33.095
yes, thank you, Mayor. I attended with

01:47:33.119 --> 01:47:35.736
yourself at the very  beginning of our

01:47:35.760 --> 01:47:37.256
um meeting this evening. You talked

01:47:37.280 --> 01:47:38.856
about the what's next for business, the

01:47:38.880 --> 01:47:41.880
Bernard Salt um forum which was attended

01:47:41.920 --> 01:47:44.920
by councelor Allen as well. Um it was

01:47:45.280 --> 01:47:46.776
navigating today's economy and

01:47:46.800 --> 01:47:48.376
tomorrow's opportunities. It was

01:47:48.400 --> 01:47:51.095
absolutely fantastic. It was was a

01:47:51.119 --> 01:47:54.119
4-hour very good use of my time. Um

01:47:54.560 --> 01:47:57.016
Bernard Salt is a renowned demographer

01:47:57.040 --> 01:47:59.976
and a futurist and has been around for

01:48:00.000 --> 01:48:03.000
many years and he had some extraordinary

01:48:03.760 --> 01:48:05.736
statistics which he shared with us in

01:48:05.760 --> 01:48:08.536
terms of um a whole look a whole lot of

01:48:08.560 --> 01:48:11.336
things. I think Mayor you would agree um

01:48:11.360 --> 01:48:14.360
that he talked about changing our

01:48:16.239 --> 01:48:19.239
population and back in 1900 2 million

01:48:19.600 --> 01:48:21.976
billion people now we're 8 billion um

01:48:22.000 --> 01:48:24.695
and looking to have peak humanity in

01:48:24.719 --> 01:48:27.719
2075 not sure how many of us will be

01:48:28.080 --> 01:48:31.080
around then um 10 billion people then he

01:48:32.239 --> 01:48:34.536
talked about Australia being the 10th

01:48:34.560 --> 01:48:36.615
richest nation on earth per capita and

01:48:36.639 --> 01:48:39.639
he talked about what's in our trolleys

01:48:39.679 --> 01:48:41.816
when we go shopping at the supermarket

01:48:41.840 --> 01:48:44.776
and how it's changed from the 60s and

01:48:44.800 --> 01:48:47.800
the 70s when coffee became a thing. It

01:48:48.000 --> 01:48:51.000
was really really interesting and  and

01:48:51.360 --> 01:48:53.256
also he talked about going in the future

01:48:53.280 --> 01:48:55.655
in terms of age care and dis working

01:48:55.679 --> 01:48:58.296
with um as a disabled worker were going

01:48:58.320 --> 01:49:01.320
to be the fastest growing single jobs um

01:49:01.679 --> 01:49:04.679
in by 2031 census. So it was the

01:49:05.040 --> 01:49:06.776
predictions for the future were quite

01:49:06.800 --> 01:49:09.416
fascinating Mayor and um I really

01:49:09.440 --> 01:49:12.440
enjoyed the um the forum. Thank you.

01:49:12.639 --> 01:49:14.695
Thank you council cuts. Councilor Ben

01:49:14.719 --> 01:49:16.296
Stennet.

01:49:16.320 --> 01:49:17.896
Thank you Mayor. 
01:49:17.920 --> 01:49:19.416
I mean nothing to report but I think we

01:49:19.440 --> 01:49:20.856
need to have some um stricter

01:49:20.880 --> 01:49:22.536
definitions on the word seminar and

01:49:22.560 --> 01:49:25.016
brief.

01:49:25.040 --> 01:49:26.856
Thank you for your insight. Councelor

01:49:26.880 --> 01:49:28.856
Senate councelor Barker.

01:49:28.880 --> 01:49:31.416
Thanks. On the 26th of June, I attended

01:49:31.440 --> 01:49:33.736
the the animal domestic animal

01:49:33.760 --> 01:49:36.135
management um advisory committee

01:49:36.159 --> 01:49:39.159
committee meeting. It was excellent. And

01:49:39.360 --> 01:49:42.360
I'm delighted to report I have never

01:49:42.480 --> 01:49:45.480
ever attended one of those conferences

01:49:46.159 --> 01:49:49.159
at CRA and I never ever intend to attend

01:49:50.239 --> 01:49:52.615
one either. And note that it was one of

01:49:52.639 --> 01:49:54.615
my core election promises because all of

01:49:54.639 --> 01:49:57.639
my election promises are core me.

01:49:58.080 --> 01:50:01.080
Thank you for your commentary, councelor

01:50:01.119 --> 01:50:04.119
Barka. Um, I attended the Whitehorse

01:50:04.159 --> 01:50:05.976
Business Group board meeting last

01:50:06.000 --> 01:50:08.135
Thursday. I'm pleased to announce that

01:50:08.159 --> 01:50:10.296
they've got an all day seminar on

01:50:10.320 --> 01:50:13.320
business coming up soon at Box Hill

01:50:13.360 --> 01:50:15.896
Hall. Um, they're also doing very well

01:50:15.920 --> 01:50:17.496
with their networking events with an

01:50:17.520 --> 01:50:19.736
average of between 40 and 60 people

01:50:19.760 --> 01:50:21.576
attending all the networking events. So,

01:50:21.600 --> 01:50:23.576
they've really picked up their marketing

01:50:23.600 --> 01:50:25.416
and they're currently working on

01:50:25.440 --> 01:50:27.416
increasing their membership and it looks

01:50:27.440 --> 01:50:28.776
like they might have a new sponsor, but

01:50:28.800 --> 01:50:31.800
I can't announce that as yet. I also

01:50:31.920 --> 01:50:34.920
attended the Bernard Salt forum last

01:50:35.040 --> 01:50:38.040
Friday. Bernard um is  I've met him

01:50:39.920 --> 01:50:41.976
before and attended previous forums with

01:50:42.000 --> 01:50:43.256
him. He's probably one of the most

01:50:43.280 --> 01:50:46.215
insightful people in terms of what's

01:50:46.239 --> 01:50:48.456
happening with demography and future

01:50:48.480 --> 01:50:50.776
thinking going forward. I love the way

01:50:50.800 --> 01:50:53.336
he applies mathematics um to these

01:50:53.360 --> 01:50:55.816
problems that we have and delivers very

01:50:55.840 --> 01:50:58.840
very um good insight. It was a great

01:50:59.040 --> 01:51:01.336
forum and I look forward to hopefully

01:51:01.360 --> 01:51:02.856
listening to him again sometime in the

01:51:02.880 --> 01:51:05.880
future. I too attended the AWA assembly

01:51:06.080 --> 01:51:08.695
in June. Um I will not comment further

01:51:08.719 --> 01:51:10.536
except that councelor Griffith's motion

01:51:10.560 --> 01:51:12.456
did get up and well done councelor

01:51:12.480 --> 01:51:15.336
Griffith. Thank you very much everyone.

01:51:15.360 --> 01:51:17.416
I now seek a motion to receive and note

01:51:17.440 --> 01:51:18.936
these reports. Could someone please

01:51:18.960 --> 01:51:20.135
move? Happy to move here.

01:51:20.159 --> 01:51:21.496
Councelor Cuts and second.

01:51:21.520 --> 01:51:22.376
Happy to second. Mayor

01:51:22.400 --> 01:51:25.400
Councelor Simpson. I put the motion

01:51:26.080 --> 01:51:29.080
carried unanimously.

01:51:31.360 --> 01:51:33.496
Item 12, confidential. We have one

01:51:33.520 --> 01:51:36.520
confidential item tonight. 12.1 business

01:51:36.880 --> 01:51:38.776
groups funding review. I seek a move to

01:51:38.800 --> 01:51:40.135
close the meeting and consider the

01:51:40.159 --> 01:51:41.896
confidential item.

01:51:41.920 --> 01:51:42.936
So moved, Madame May.

01:51:42.960 --> 01:51:44.936
Thank you, councelor Allen. And second.

01:51:44.960 --> 01:51:45.416
Second.

01:51:45.440 --> 01:51:48.440
Councelor Weller. I now put the motion.

01:51:49.679 --> 01:51:52.679
, Councelor Allen, Councelor Weller,

01:51:54.080 --> 01:51:56.296
Councelor Devport, Councelor Simpson,

01:51:56.320 --> 01:51:59.320
Council Langford, Councelor Cuts, and

01:51:59.440 --> 01:52:01.736
Councelor Martin. Those against,

01:52:01.760 --> 01:52:04.760
Councelor Griffith, Councelor Gun,

01:52:04.880 --> 01:52:07.736
Councelor Barker, and Councelor Stennet.

01:52:07.760 --> 01:52:10.760
The motion is carried.

01:52:11.119 --> 01:52:13.816
Before the meeting finishes, I'd like to

01:52:13.840 --> 01:52:15.416
acknowledge a very special member of our

01:52:15.440 --> 01:52:17.416
Whitehorse community. On Friday

01:52:17.440 --> 01:52:19.175
evening, we celebrated a wonderful

01:52:19.199 --> 01:52:21.736
achievement with Chris being named the

01:52:21.760 --> 01:52:24.215
Victorian School Crossing Supervisor of

01:52:24.239 --> 01:52:27.095
the Year 2526.

01:52:27.119 --> 01:52:29.095
For more than 15 years, Chris has been a

01:52:29.119 --> 01:52:31.095
familiar and friendly face helping

01:52:31.119 --> 01:52:32.936
children and families safely cross the

01:52:32.960 --> 01:52:35.960
roads in Vermont, Councelor Katz's Ward.

01:52:37.199 --> 01:52:40.199
Her warmth, enthusiasm, and genuine care

01:52:40.320 --> 01:52:42.536
have made her a very much loved member

01:52:42.560 --> 01:52:45.095
of the school community. I'd also like

01:52:45.119 --> 01:52:47.575
to congratulate Frank on his nomination.

01:52:47.599 --> 01:52:49.336
And on behalf of the council, I'd

01:52:49.360 --> 01:52:52.360
sincerely thank both Chris and all of

01:52:52.400 --> 01:52:55.095
our level crossing school level crossing

01:52:55.119 --> 01:52:57.175
supervisors for the important work that

01:52:57.199 --> 01:52:59.976
you do every day to keep our children

01:53:00.000 --> 01:53:02.296
safe. Congratulations again, Chris, on

01:53:02.320 --> 01:53:05.320
this welldeserved recognition. The next

01:53:05.878 --> 01:53:08.878
[applause]

01:53:11.119 --> 01:53:12.936
The next ordinary meeting of council

01:53:12.960 --> 01:53:15.575
will be held on Monday the 3rd of August

01:53:15.599 --> 01:53:18.599
2026. I now close the public meeting at

01:53:18.719 --> 01:53:21.719
8:53 and 37 seconds to members of the

01:53:21.840 --> 01:53:24.135
public. Councilors, we will journ for 5

01:53:24.159 --> 01:53:25.496
minutes to allow the members of the

01:53:25.520 --> 01:53:27.496
public to leave the chamber. Councilors

01:53:27.520 --> 01:53:29.336
will return to discuss confidential

01:53:29.360 --> 01:53:31.736
mantis as noted earlier. Enjoy the rest

01:53:31.760 --> 01:53:34.760
of your evening and good night. Back at