Meeting of Minutes November 2019

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7.30 P.M., TUESDAY 26th NOVEMBER 2019, AT EMERALD RSL

1. Attendance

D Bartley, E Prior, K Ockerby, B Ratcliff, L Trensky, M Farrow, J Crossland, A Deschepper, H Prior, C Prior, D Alexander-Hale, P Maloney, H Winter, R Sturley, L HUberts, K Groenveldt, R Schmidt, D Allen, M Trotter, R Jackel.

2. Apologies

Cr. L Wilmot, Cr. B Owen, Cr. J Springfield, P Cook, C Cullino, P Buoncristiani.

3. Guest Speaker: Ellen Prior, Hills Hub Place Maker

Ellen briefed the meeting on her background and new role at the Hills Hub:

Ellen is a newly-appointed Council employee and resides in Emerald

Has worked in community development roles, including local government and TAFE projects

At the Hills Hub the overall responsibility is to manage the facility and to liaise closely with the anchor tenants and all Hub users

The operations of the Hills Hub will focus on being a place of welcome based on collaboration and integration across all age groups and abilities

Coordination with the Library will also be important

Anchor tenants will move in first- U3A, Men’s Shed, Toy Library

An operations committee will be formed, taking the place of the current Advisory Group. There will also be a strategic planning group

There will not be space available for hot desks or offices for particular local interest groups

Consultation with the Worrell Reserve Committee of Management is taking place regarding use of the Reserve car park by Hills Hub users.

4. Confirmation of Minutes of the previous meeting:

The members present resolved (moved by D Allen, seconded by P Maloney) to confirm the previous Minutes.

5. Correspondence

5.1 New EVA membership applications (Vanessa Kewish, Anne Bartley, Lynne Trensky, Chris Prior, Jennifer Crossland, Nicole Lane, and Ruth Jackel):

The members present resolved (moved by D Bartley, seconded by D Allen) to approve the above membership applications.

5.2 Request for letter of support for Open Air Burning Advocacy Group (see draft letter in Agenda papers):

The author of the draft letter will be advised that the EVA will not sign the letter and forward it to the Council. The meeting noted that the Council has commenced a Review of Local Law 17- Part 5A Open Air Burning, and that interested parties may make a submission.

5.3 B Passmore - e-mail to Council re Emerald Lake Park Strategic Plan (see in Agenda papers):

The meeting noted the concerns raised in the e-mail, that it has already been sent to the Council, and that the EVA Inc. has already advised the Council of very similar concerns. D Bartley will contact Council’s Kristen Jackson regarding the non-collection of car parking fees at ELP.

The members present resolved (moved by B Ratcliff, seconded by L Trensky) to forward B Passmore’s e-mail to the Emerald Lake Park Advisory Committee.

6. Action Items

6.1 Draft Emerald Lake Precinct Strategic Plan 20-25: for comment (see Draft previously circulated):

The meeting noted that the Plan is still in draft form, that it had been discussed at the previous meeting. No further comments were made.

6.2 Puffing Billy Park – improvements

Kym Ockerby undertook to contact Mark Carter (Council Passive Reserves Team) concerning whether the previously requested improvements will be installed. D Bartley will also contact Mark Carter.

6.3 EVA Community Night – review

The following comments on the event were made:

It was difficult for some attendees to hear speakers

Some speakers were not sufficiently prepared, relying on an ad hoc approach and in some cases omitting basic information about their organisation

The date and time of the event unfortunately clashed with certain other events, but this may be unavoidable

The date for the next Community Night is proposed to be the 4th Tuesday in October 2020. D Bartley will advise the Rotary Club of the date.

7. Communications sub-committee report

P Maloney reported that he has been working on the project with Belinda Smullin and Vanessa Kewish, but that an assistant/reporter is required to support their efforts and particularly to keep the website up to date.

8. Treasurer’s Report

The current bank account balance is $8050.17. Recent payments were for the Citizen of the Year trophies, the Grub Club for catering, and the Emerald newsagency for photocopying.

Lynn Trensky suggested that the EVA Inc. consider supporting the development of an Emerald business and retail services mapping project.

9. Council report (see Kym Ockerby’s reports for October and November in the Agenda papers)

Kym Ockerby advised that:

the Council’s website now has a new “Connecting Cardinia” platform for community engagement purposes, replacing the old “Have Your Say” section of the website

the Council is offering grant applications information sessions in December 2019. Details can be found on the Council website

the Council will review a proposal that a “satellite Council office” be established within the Hills Hub.

The members present resolved (moved by D Bartley, seconded by P Maloney) that EVA Inc. supports the proposal for a “satellite Council office” to be established within the Hills Hub.

10. General Business

10.1 EVA structure, meetings format and schedule

The members present resolved (moved by D Bartley, seconded by D Allen)

that

1. the EVA Inc. will hold its Annual General Meeting in May 2020

2. until the Annual General Meeting, the members of the former Emerald Village Committee at the time of its dissolution will constitute the EVA Inc. Committee of Management

3. EVA Inc. meetings until the Annual General Meeting consist first of a General Meeting, with selected guest speakers, to be followed immediately by a Management Committee meeting, and

4. the future meetings format and schedule will be reviewed at the Annual General Meeting in May 2020.

10.2 EVA communications: Proposal for an EVA Communications and Electronic Media Policy (see Draft in Agenda papers)

Members are requested to review the Draft Proposal and be ready to discuss it at the next meeting.

10.3 Graffiti in Emerald

Members are advised that graffiti attacks should be reported to the Council.

10.4 Solar Panels in Emerald

Members may see the new solar panels information sign which has been installed outside the Community House.

10.5 Emerald Business Group – Christmas decorations

Lynn Trensky reported that the Group will put up decorations in the shopping areas. The Men’s Shed has supplied some items. Buskers will be performing in the streets.

10.6 Twilight Market and Carols by the Lake

The Market will be held on 6th December, in Puffing Billy Park.

Carols by the Lake will take place on 13th December, at Emerald Lake Park.

11. Date and time of next meeting

The next meeting will be on Tuesday 2th January 2020, at 7.30 p.m. at the RSL.

There will not be a meeting in December 2019.

Minutes of Meeting September 2019

7.30 P.M. TUESDAY 24th SEPTEMBER 2019, AT EMERALD RSL

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1. Attendance: d Bartley, R Schmidt, K Groenfeld, D Allen, D Alexander-Hale, H Prior, P Maloney, H Winter, Cr. J Springfield, C Cullino, H Jensen.

2. Apologies: B Ratcliff, L Huberts, R Sturley, P Buoncristiani, J Davies, M Jackson, Beatrice Eadie, Cr. L Wilmot, Cr. B Owen, K Ockerby.

3. Guest Speaker: Harry Jensen - Upper Beaconsfield Bushfire Fuel Management Project (see project summary in Agenda papers)

H Jensen presented the case for the Fuel management proposal:

Changes as detailed on the chart in the project summary are proposed

The current 3 burn-off days per week are insufficient. Bad weather and work commitments sometimes restrict use of these days

Larger properties have fuel reduction needs greater than smaller or residential blocks

Prohibition of burn-offs in July is proposed, to be consistent with the current Yarra Ranges Council regulation.

Cr. Springfield noted that the Council provides a number of green waste drop-off days, as per the Council website, and that the proposal will be reviewed by the Council.

4. Confirmation of Minutes of the previous meeting: it was resolved to approve the previous Minutes (moved by P Maloney, seconded by D Bartley).

5. Correspondence

New EVA membership applications: it was resolved to approve the applications of Claude Cullino and Andrew Bowles (moved by D Bartley, seconded by H Winter).

Draft Emerald Lake Precinct Strategic Plan 20-25 -for comment (see copy in Agenda papers): Cr. Springfield advised that comments on the Draft may be submitted via the Council’s website. C Cullino noted that the proposed Plan should be amended to include specific measures for determining the success of the Plan.

6. Action Items

6.1 Emerald Lake Road – traffic management request: D Bartley advised that he has not received any feedback from the Council on the proposal for a new traffic survey. H Winter and P Maloney advised that the traffic study carried out by the Puffing Billy organisation concluded that the Discovery Centre development will generate an additional 452 vehicles per day on Emerald Lake Road, taking the daily traffic volume to approximately 2,152 vehicles per day. However, the conclusions set out in that traffic study are vague and contradictory.

6.2 Hills Hub update: the proposed opening date has been pushed back to early 2020. A meeting of the Hub Advisory Committee will be held on 2nd October.

6.3 Design of new developments in Emerald – petition proposal: D Bartley advised that the petition will address two issues -first, the need for the Council to encourage genuine compliance with the Design and Development Guidelines (DDO4), in order to preserve the character of the town, and secondly, the need for a review of the outdated Emerald District Strategy 2009. D Bartley advised that a draft of the proposed wording of the petition will be circulated with the Minutes, for comments by EVA members.

6.4 Planning Permit applications – availability of public information: it was noted that the details of publicly-advertised planning permit applications may be perused on the Council’s website. An advertised application is also required to have notices posted on the proposed development site.

6.5 Puffing Billy Park – improvements: D Bartley noted that no information has been obtained.

7. Communications sub-committee report: P Maloney reported:

the newsletter has been drafted and will soon be ready for circulation

he will organise the proposed new members of the Communications sub-Committee to apply for EVA membership and to be formally confirmed as formal sub-Committee members

he will liaise with the Emerald Community House staff regarding possible cooperation on aspects of publications.

8. Treasurer’s Report: not available.

9. Council reports:

see Kym Ockerby’s report in the Agenda papers

Cr. Springfield advised that the Council’s Beautification Grants programme is now open. Details can be found on the Council website.

10. General Business

10.1 EVA meetings format and schedule: it was resolved (moved by D Bartley, seconded by H Winter) that a sub-Committee be formed to propose changes to the structure and schedule for future EVA meetings, the members of the sub-Committee to be D Bartley, H Winter, B Ratcliff and C Cullino.

10.2 Citizen of the Year – appointment of sub-Committee: it was resolved (moved by P Maloney, seconded by D Bartley) that the membership of the sub-Committee will be D Bartley, P Maloney and H Prior.

10.3 Child Care Centre development (adjacent Police Station) – traffic management: D Bartley noted that the planning permit for the development, including traffic management requirements, has already been issued. Cr. Springfield undertook to report on the details of the approved traffic management requirements.

10.4 October 2019 EVA Community Forum: please note that this event will take the place of the October EVA meeting.

10.5 Peter Cook announced several upcoming events:

19th October - the Community Recycling Forum will be held at 7.30 at Emerald Community House Hall. Speakers will be Brad Batten, Cr. Michael Schilling and Amy Gregorevic

November 2019 – Key Month will be conducted. The aim is to collect old metal keys and padlocks via deposit containers located at sites in Emerald. Recycling proceeds will go to the Friends of the Helmeted Honeyeater, and

A “Solar Village” sign showing solar systems on Emerald businesses will soon be erected at a site in central Emerald.

11. Date and time of next meeting:

The next meeting will be the 2019 Community Forum, to be held at 7.30 p.m. at Emerald RSL.

Minutes of Meeting August 2019

EMERALD VILLAGE ASSOCIATION INC.

MINUTES
MEETING AT 7.30 P.M., TUESDAY 27th AUGUST 2019, AT EMERALD RSL

1. Attendance: J Humphries, S Torsello, J Davies, P Cook, M Mebalds, A Deschepper, B Ratcliff, R Stevenson, F Bridges, M Millers, J Catton, P Buoncristiani, M Buoncristiani, S Gregory, C Britton, S Davies, M Megarry, J van Rooijen, R Betheras, J Styling, J Osborne, P Ravenscroft, T McInerney, M Bowmaker, R Sturley, L Huberts, S Hampson, R Schmidt, C Cullino, K Champness, L Smith, R Fraser, K Burns, F Richards, H Winter, D Bartley, P Maloney, M Jackson, Cr. L Wilmot, P Benazic, D Tyson, L Donnellan, K Groenfeld and D Allen. There were others who did not sign the attendance sheet.

2. Apologies: Barry Eadie, Beatrice Eadie, D Alexander-Hale, K Gallagher, I Gallagher, T Cooper, Cr. B Owen, and Cr. J Springfield.

3. Paradise Hotel Clematis: one of the new tenants of the Hotel, Joe Durant, briefed the meeting on their plans:

The new tenants have an existing business in North Fitzroy The Paradise Hotel is a historic venue in a strong community There will be a small facelift, including lighting, furniture and painting
The TAB and public bar will remain
The dining offer will be a casual bistro style with similar pricing to current.

4. Guest Speakers: Town Planning Issues in Emerald
Peter Benazic, Cardinia Council’s General Manager Infrastructure and Environment, Debbie Tyson, Cardinia Council’s Manager Development and Compliance Services, and Luke Donnellan, Strategic Planner, addressed the meeting:

An outline of the structure of the Cardinia Planning Scheme – there are many assessment factors in considering planning permit applications, including zoning and the Design and Development Overlay (“DDO4”), which sets out a range of building development objectives attributes which are not mandatory -a flexible “should” approach, not “must”. (see DDO4 central Emerald map and statement of Design Objectives circulated with these Minutes)

A summary of questions to the guest speakers and the responses:

Are new “Tilt Slab” buildings consistent with DDO4? - the permit for the building under construction in the main street was issued in 2013, prior to the introduction of DDO4

Are 3-4 recent new buildings out of character with the town, lacking a proper sense of place? - there is a fine line between history and the present
What are the plans for elsewhere in the main street? - right now there are no current new planning applications

Is traffic a factor in assessment of main street development applications? – yes, each proposed development application has to include a traffic impact study and car parking proposals. It is noted that traffic volumes have increased since DDO4 was introduced

Why was a new building in the main street permitted to cut off views? - DDO4 sets a two-storey height limit
What can be done to strengthen the Planning Scheme? – current zonings are managed through strategic planning policies, but the Emerald District Strategy 2009 (EDS) is not a matter of simple enforcement. Changes in permitted uses and building styles may be likely, particularly in commercial areas When will the EDS be reviewed and will DDO4 be tightened? - the State government has a leading role and encourages new developments. Older strategies for other Cardinia towns are underway as a priority, plus there are some towns which lack a proper strategy. The EDS needs to be reviewed in the next couple of years. A review of EDS is likely to take two years

Will the proposal to build six residential units in Kings Road affect a historic house and also increase traffic problems? – anyone is free to object to permit applications which are advertised

How does Cardinia’s Planning Scheme differ from that of the Yarra Ranges Shire? – DDO4 is a Cardinia Shire policy, and underlying zonings will differ
Why is it difficult to protect heritage sites? – heritage controls over entire townships are rare, usually they focus on individual sites. Note that township “character” is a different matter from Heritage status

Will a review of the EDS strengthen it? – town planners have to interpret the Planning Scheme, so outcomes depend on how well it is drafted. Advertised planning applications can be objected to, and ultimately VCAT is the arbiter

Why doesn’t the new Hills Hub building have any landscaping? – note that the curtilage of the building is not yet completed Will Emerald get more widespread sewage services? – it’s up to South East Water, but the Council is advocating strongly for increases

Doesn’t the new Hills Hub building design clash with the Library building? - the Library is due for an update soon. There will be landscaping between the two buildings. There will not be direct access to the Hub from the Library
Can the Council provide details of approved planning permits in the main street? - D Tyson will try to obtain this information

Why are the design and development provisions for Puffing Billy stronger than DDO4? – this is a State government issue, Puffing Billy has its own Act of Parliament
Can the Council override VCAT? - no. An appeal to the Supreme Court may be made on a point of law

The unattractive roof of the Hills Hub building should not be visible from the main street? – noted
Is there a plan for street tree plantings in Emerald? – Peter Benazic will check and respond.

5. Confirmation of Minutes of the previous meeting: the EVA members present resolved to approve the previous Minutes (Moved by D Allen, seconded by P Maloney).

6. Correspondence

Upper Beaconsfield Bushfire Fuel Management Project – Noted. Please read the submission in the Agenda papers. The author has been invited to the September EVA meeting
Barry Eadie’s essay entitled “The Changing Face of Emerald”– Noted. (see copy in the Agenda papers)

EVA membership applications - from Wendy Muller, Ray Schmidt, Martin Mebalds, Suzanne Gregory, Chris Britton, Martin Buoncristiani, Garry McGough, Ray Spencer, E Spencer, John Humphries, Fiona Bridges, Raelene Stevenson, Lynne Huberts, Ros Sturley, Dennis Alexander-Hale, Bill Pell, Ian Gallagher and Kathy Gallagher. The applications were resolved to be accepted (moved by P Maloney, seconded by H Winter)Cardinia Shire Council - Grant for Township Committees Operational Costs. The EVA has invoiced the Council.

7. Action Items

Emerald Lake Park: land sale to Puffing Billy: the Council has agreed to sell the land for the Discovery Centre to Puffing Billy, at a market value price to be determined by the State Valuer-General. The proposal to swap for land at Puffing Billy Park in Kilvington Drive was not agreed. Discovery Centre construction works will commence very soon; the road across the lake wall will sometimes be closed. Puffing Billy will construct car parking and other improvements and will continue to contribute funds to Emerald Lake Park operations.

Fitness for purpose and safety of Emerald Lake Road: The Traffic Impact Assessment Report (dated 2/8/18) concludes that the Discovery Centre will generate up to an additional 452 vehicles per day (VPD), increasing the traffic volume along Emerald Lake Road to approximately 2,152 VPD (see page 32 of the Report).

The meeting resolved (moved by D Allen, seconded by D Bartley) that

the Council is requested to carry out and report on its own assessment of traffic volumes on Emerald Lake Road.

Hills Hub: update: Kym Ockerby advised that interviews are currently being conducted for the Hub management position, and that Tim Cooper has taken up a new position at the Council. Any enquiries related to the Hub should be directed to Kym Ockerby for the time being. A meeting of the Hills Hub Advisory Committee will be called soon.

8. Communications sub-committee update (P Maloney): P Maloney reported that the Website is up and running, Peter is acting as site moderator. The ongoing issue is the need for a constant flow of “content”.

9. Treasurer’s Report: M Jackson reported that the current bank account balance is $6896.27. The report was resolved to be accepted (moved by D Allen, seconded by P Buoncristiani).

10.Council reports: see Kym Ockerby’s report which was included in the Agenda papers. Kym also reported that following a question at the previous meeting about the Council’s resources for biodiversity management, a representative of this area of the Council is available to address a future EVA meeting.

11.General Business

Congratulation to the Emerald Men’s Shed for their donation of a generator to the Emergency Group
D Bartley reminded the Council that improvement at Puffing Billy Parl (improved seating, drinking fountain) are yet to be implemented

A public tender process is underway for construction of a building at the Pepi’s Land netball facility. It was noted that work by the Council on the structure of local netball competitions is taking place

S Hampson reported that approximately 60 messmate stringybark trees will be removed for the Emerald Lake Discovery Centre development
Petition regarding a review of the Emerald District Strategy 2009 – the meeting resolved (moved by D Bartley, seconded by D Allen) that

That a petition in the required format be submitted to the Council expressing EVA’s concerns about the inadequate architecture and urban design standards of new building,

developments in Emerald, and proposing that an early review of the Emerald District Strategy is urgently required.

12.Date and time of next meeting: Tuesday 24th September 2019.