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.