Minutes of Meeting September 2019
/7.30 P.M. TUESDAY 24th SEPTEMBER 2019, AT EMERALD RSL
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.