WEBVTT

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Welcome councilors, officers, and

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members of the gallery to tonight's

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council meeting. I'm councelor Paige

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Kennett, and I have the privilege of

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being the Mayor of Knox City Council.

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Council acknowledges the Wurundjeri, Woi Wurrung,

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and Bunurong People of the Kulin Nation as

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traditional custodians of the land. And

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today we meet on the traditional lands

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of the Wurundjeri, Woi Wurrung People, and pay

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our respects to Elders both past and

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present. Our statement of commitment.

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The Knox way is characterized by service,

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integrity, community participation,

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accountability, and good governance.

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Council is committed to being responsive

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to the community and advocating to other

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governments and agencies on their

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behalf. We recognize the importance of

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local democracy and council's

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responsibility to govern well for all in

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our city. Our history is rich and in the

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spirit of the Knox tradition, let us move

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and prosper.

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We're conducting tonight's meeting in a

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hybrid format as usual. However,

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 and we have all counselors present

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in the chamber with us this evening.

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I'll start by introducing my colleagues

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and ask counselors to give a bit of a

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wave as I call out their names.

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Councilors in attendance tonight is

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councelor Susan Pearce representing

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Taylor Ward, councelor Robert Williams

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representing Dinsdale Ward, councelor

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Glen Atwell representing to Tirhatuan

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Ward, councelor Parisa Considine

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representing Fryberg Ward, councelor

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Peter Lockwood representing Baird Ward,

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Deputy Mayor Councelor Chris Duncan

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representing Collier Ward, Councelor

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Lisa Cooper representing Scott Ward and

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Councelor Meagan Baker representing

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Dobson Ward

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Joining us also in the chamber tonight

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is our chief executive officer Bruce

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Dobson, director infrastructure Grant

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Thorn interim director city

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livability Jonathan McNelly, acting

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director connected communities Nicole

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Colbine

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director customer and performance Matt

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Kelleher, chief financial officer, Yvette

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Lawkin, manager governance and risk Andrew

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Dowling and head of governance Saskia

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Wertheim and also other members of our

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governance team.

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I also acknowledge tonight we have

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former counselor and Mayor Darren

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Wallace with us in the gallery.

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Oh, sorry, Darren Pearce. I beg you

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pardon. Sorry, I mixed up my two

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Darrens.

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 and also Tony Holland, previous

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councelor and Mayor. Thank you.

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 please note that  this meeting is

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recorded and streamed live on our

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website in accordance with our live

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streaming of public meetings policy. And

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so council does not permit additional

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recordings of the meeting. Members of

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the gallery should note that you may be

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visible in the background of the live

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stream vision. Live streaming and

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recording will be suspended if this

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meeting is closed to the public to

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consider confidential business in

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accordance with section 66 of the Local

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Government Act 2020. I remind everyone

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that opinions expressed and statements

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made during this meeting are those of

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the individuals making them and not

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those of council unless set out in a

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resolution passed by council. Council

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accepts no liability for any defamatory

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remarks made during a meeting. You are

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responsible for your own comments and

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therefore may be personally liable for

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any loss or damage they cause. I would

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also ask everyone to present to remain

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quiet when others are addressing the

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meeting and remind the gallery this is a

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meeting of council and there is no

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opportunity for members of the gallery

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to participate in debate during the

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meeting and that questions only

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permissible during public question time.

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Moving on to our order of business. The

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first item is apologies and request for

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leave of absence. We have no apologies

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this evening. Does any counselor wish to

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request a leave of absence?

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No. No. Thank you. Declarations of

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conflict of interest. If there are any

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conflicts of interest to declare

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tonight, now is an opportunity to

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foreshadow that conflict. I'll ask that

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you declare your conflict in full later

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in the meeting immediately before the

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item is considered. Are there any such

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declarations?

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Yes, Councelor Cooper.

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Thank you, Mayor. I'd like to declare a

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conflict of interest for for item  8.1

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and 8.4.

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8.1 and 8.4. Thank you, councelor

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Cooper. Councelor Baker,

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I would like to foreshadow a conflict of

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interest for item 8.1. Thank you.

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Thank you, Councelor Duncan.

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I am also foreshadowing a conflict with

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item 8.1.

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Thank you.

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And any conflicts of interest on this

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side? Yes, Council Williams. Thank you

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through you, Mayor. I'd also like to

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declare a  conflict of interest on

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8.4.

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Thank you.

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Item three is confirmation of minutes.

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Is there any opposition to the minutes

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of council meeting held on Monday the

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23rd of March, 2026?

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There being no opposition, I declare the

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minutes to be confirmed.

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Item four is  presentations, petitions

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and memorials.

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There are no presentations this evening.

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There are there any petitions this

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evening?

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No. Thank you.

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 we'll now move on to the next item on

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the agenda, reports by councilors

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regarding their activities since our

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last council meeting. and I'll begin to

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my right with  councelor Baker.

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Thank you and thank you Mayor Kennett

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I attended the Kadak committee last

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month. I also attended the Ferntree Gully

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Quarry Reserve Anzac Day service and

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later a wreath  on behalf of Knox City

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Council and thank you to the organizers

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and volunteers who provided their

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service with the community to pay their

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respects.  there's also on the USA

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page that opened today for Kings Park

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master plan for the intergenerational

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playground and it is now open for

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feedback there's a number of ways to

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provide this feedback and

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information can be found on the

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council's have your say page. There's

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also a pop-up session that is planned

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for the 5th of May between 9:30 and 12

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at Canara Community House located at

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Kings Park in Upper Gully and community

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are welcome to attend this event um and

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share their feedback. Thank you.

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Thank you, Councilor Baker. Councelor

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Cooper.

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Thank you, Mayor Kennet I will

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submit a report for my attendance but I

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do just want to use this time to  let

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everybody know of an initiative that has

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 I think it commenced last Monday. So,

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Knox Council, the Victoria Police, and

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Holy Trinity Primary School are all

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partnering to improve safety for school

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children with a new school crossing

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safety camera pilot program in

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Wantirna South.

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The council launched the pilot program

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as I mentioned last Monday with safety

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cameras aimed at improving driver

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behavior to operate throughout all of

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term two at Redell Road  school

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crossing. Under the program, two so two

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safety cameras will be will monitor

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driver behavior during the busy school

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drop off and pickup times only and signs

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are in place to notify approaching

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drivers that the cameras are in use. The

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initiative aims to protect the safety of

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both school children and council staff.

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Council has about 125 school crossings

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supervisors at 92 locations across Knox.

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um and they're working hard to keep our

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school children all safe. The initiative

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came about after council was approached

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by the school and the crossing

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supervisors who raised concerns about

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driver behavior. They reported incidents

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of drivers failing to stop at the

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crossing line, driving straight through

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the crossing and queuing over the

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crossing line as well, which places

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children and staff at risk. the

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assistant principal  Andrea Dowling

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has welcomed the initiative and she said

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that they're very happy to be working

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with Knox Council and Victoria Police

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and that's  their student safety is

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their highest priority. So, I'd like to

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remind drivers to slow down in school

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zones and to stop at um these crossings

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and at the white crossing line

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especially and not to drive forward,

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please until the supervisor has

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completely um moved off the road. Thank

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you.

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Thank you, Councelor Cooper. Councelor

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Duncan.

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 thank you, Mayor  it's been a very

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very busy month I will submit a

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report from all my attendances but a

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couple I wanted to highlight at the

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end of last month I was a guest at the

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Boronia K12 open night got a personal

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invitation from Matthew Payne, who you'd

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know, Rob, from the from the Yak

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and got a tour of the college met with

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the principal there and and looking at

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all the great things that are happening

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there at the moment I'd also like

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to draw counselor's attention to a news

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article that we actually published on

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the Knox Council website today, which

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specifically featured Matthew and

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part of the work that he's doing with

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the intergenerational program that's run

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through the college and is

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supported by council where they they

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team young people up with senior

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citizens etc and establish those

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intergenerational relationships, which I

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think is a fantastic initiative. I

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also went on the youth advisory

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committee bus tour with yourself,

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councelor Williams, where we went around

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to some of the key locations

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um that the youth are concerned about

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within Knox and and highlighted some of

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the great things that we're doing. 

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one thing I also wanted to highlight for

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councilors that may or may not be aware

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of the blue tree project that's out at

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Stamford Park this is a dead tree

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that's been painted bright blue  to

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serve as a mental health and

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conversation starter  to act as a

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visual cue to hopefully remind people

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that  who are dealing with the stigma

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around  mental health that it's okay

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to speak up and this is part of a

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worldwide program. There's actually

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1,600 of these trees registered around

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the world and one of them right out at

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Stanford Park. So I thought that was the

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first time I'd heard of it which is

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great I also attended the pets in

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the park with yourself councelor Considine.

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who were judging the  was it best best

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trick and best dressed pets down at Pets

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in the park or was that yourself Paige?

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Sorry on on the same day I also 

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attended a neighbors day picnic which 

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councilors would be aware something that

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the council support for neighbors to get

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together and and and have a picnic to 

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encourage that sense of community. 

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and then Thursday before Easter, I was

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at Parliament as part of the Eastern

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Region  group of councils with with

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yourself  and the CEO to meet with

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some of the MPs both in the opposition

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and  the government and I will submit

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a more detailed  outcome of that as

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part of my report. I also wanted to

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highlight the Knox Baseball Club which

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is down at  down at Gilbert Park

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they hosted for the eighth time the

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state little league championships for

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baseball and I think this demonstrates

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 a fantastic  would you call it

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feather in the cap for the club 

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because of the confidence that 

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baseball Victoria has put in them to for

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their ability to run this tournament

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which is for the whole of Victoria which

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is fantastic  give a shout out to

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both Rob and Pete on the committee

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there. They did a great job and really

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enjoyed going for the tour around there.

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Obviously they highlighted some of the

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concerns that they have around drainage

00:11:51.600 --> 00:11:53.336
and some safety issues that are being

00:11:53.360 --> 00:11:55.176
triggered there which I have passed on

00:11:55.200 --> 00:11:57.495
to the infrastructure team and I

00:11:57.519 --> 00:11:59.576
understand we will be  pursuing that

00:11:59.600 --> 00:12:01.736
further. And then that brings me to

00:12:01.760 --> 00:12:04.760
Anzac Day where I  attended  or prior

00:12:05.519 --> 00:12:08.375
to Anzac Day sorry the  Rotary Club of

00:12:08.399 --> 00:12:11.399
of Boronia put on the school kids Anzac

00:12:12.560 --> 00:12:15.560
tribute at  was it the arboritum?

00:12:16.800 --> 00:12:19.416
That's correct love freedom  and we

00:12:19.440 --> 00:12:21.576
heard from Commander Andrew Fraser

00:12:21.600 --> 00:12:23.815
who gave a story of the AE2 submarine

00:12:23.839 --> 00:12:25.576
campaign during World War I which

00:12:25.600 --> 00:12:28.600
actually happened on Anzac Day in 1915,

00:12:28.720 --> 00:12:29.896
where they breached the straight of the

00:12:29.920 --> 00:12:31.576
Dardells which ended up being a key

00:12:31.600 --> 00:12:33.976
turning point in the war. Um, there were

00:12:34.000 --> 00:12:36.296
600 students from approximately 16 of

00:12:36.320 --> 00:12:39.016
the primary schools  in Knox 

00:12:39.040 --> 00:12:41.255
including the senior school band from

00:12:41.279 --> 00:12:43.815
St. Joseph's and the choir as well. It

00:12:43.839 --> 00:12:46.296
was a really well well organized  day

00:12:46.320 --> 00:12:48.055
and and the story of the submarine

00:12:48.079 --> 00:12:50.136
although terrifying the the kids were

00:12:50.160 --> 00:12:52.216
very very engaged in it and it's

00:12:52.240 --> 00:12:53.976
fantastic to see the youth of today

00:12:54.000 --> 00:12:57.000
still being so engaged in in  what our

00:12:57.839 --> 00:12:59.495
fallen soldiers have given to give us

00:12:59.519 --> 00:13:01.096
the freedoms that we experience in this

00:13:01.120 --> 00:13:02.536
country. So it was really really good to

00:13:02.560 --> 00:13:04.055
see the respect of those kids at that

00:13:04.079 --> 00:13:06.696
time. Then we got to Anzac Day. So I

00:13:06.720 --> 00:13:08.216
attended the dawn service with yourself

00:13:08.240 --> 00:13:10.696
where we laid a wreath at the Boronia RSL.

00:13:10.720 --> 00:13:13.416
 and then I attended the Self at Park

00:13:13.440 --> 00:13:16.296
Retirement Village with yourself  as

00:13:16.320 --> 00:13:18.375
as a guest of Chaplain Carla Evans there

00:13:18.399 --> 00:13:20.456
where we both did readings and laid laid

00:13:20.480 --> 00:13:22.536
wreaths. Had a great chat to the the

00:13:22.560 --> 00:13:24.776
residents there as well um and some of

00:13:24.800 --> 00:13:27.800
the veterans. And then last night  the

00:13:27.839 --> 00:13:29.576
highlight on the  the sporting

00:13:29.600 --> 00:13:31.255
calendar for me was the Wturner South

00:13:31.279 --> 00:13:33.336
Junior Football Club ANZAC round medal

00:13:33.360 --> 00:13:35.176
presentation. So this is something that

00:13:35.200 --> 00:13:37.656
the football club do every ANZAC day.

00:13:37.680 --> 00:13:39.576
They actually get the ANZAC logo painted

00:13:39.600 --> 00:13:41.176
on the on the ground and actually have a

00:13:41.200 --> 00:13:43.576
mini ANZAC ceremony and a minute silence

00:13:43.600 --> 00:13:45.815
before each of the games.  and then

00:13:45.839 --> 00:13:47.736
they get the opposition team to actually

00:13:47.760 --> 00:13:49.976
vote on which player of theirs they

00:13:50.000 --> 00:13:52.856
believe um show showed the greatest

00:13:52.880 --> 00:13:54.696
ANZAC spirit on the ground. So the

00:13:54.720 --> 00:13:56.216
player that not necessarily played the

00:13:56.240 --> 00:13:57.255
best, but the one that battled the

00:13:57.279 --> 00:13:59.016
hardest showed resilience, courage,

00:13:59.040 --> 00:14:01.255
determination, and teamwork. and they're

00:14:01.279 --> 00:14:02.935
awarded a medal at a presentation

00:14:02.959 --> 00:14:05.656
evening which I was there um with Lori

00:14:05.680 --> 00:14:08.296
Tucker who's a Vietnam veteran local um

00:14:08.320 --> 00:14:10.136
handing out those medals which was a

00:14:10.160 --> 00:14:12.536
fantastic evening. Um and I will submit

00:14:12.560 --> 00:14:14.216
a report for all the other stuff I did

00:14:14.240 --> 00:14:15.576
throughout the month. Thank you.

00:14:15.600 --> 00:14:17.336
Thank you councelor Duncan. Councelor

00:14:17.360 --> 00:14:18.216
Loid.

00:14:18.240 --> 00:14:21.175
Um thank you. Well, I don't have a lot

00:14:21.199 --> 00:14:22.456
to report because I had a bit of a

00:14:22.480 --> 00:14:24.136
month's holiday courtesy of the state

00:14:24.160 --> 00:14:27.096
government and there were police. Not to

00:14:27.120 --> 00:14:28.935
say it's a very isolating experience and

00:14:28.959 --> 00:14:31.495
not not very positive for mental health.

00:14:31.519 --> 00:14:33.255
If I may observe about the state, the

00:14:33.279 --> 00:14:34.776
most profitable business in Victoria

00:14:34.800 --> 00:14:37.495
right now seems to be the CFMEU.

00:14:37.519 --> 00:14:39.175
Um perhaps you should apply to them for

00:14:39.199 --> 00:14:41.815
grants to be have billions of dollars.

00:14:41.839 --> 00:14:43.495
Now the state opposition is intent on

00:14:43.519 --> 00:14:45.416
scaring people, but their leader doesn't

00:14:45.440 --> 00:14:46.935
seem to know she's a mermaid or a

00:14:46.959 --> 00:14:49.016
politician. And we also have the

00:14:49.040 --> 00:14:50.776
prospect of the orange peril coming at

00:14:50.800 --> 00:14:53.255
us over the hill like a bushfire. But

00:14:53.279 --> 00:14:56.216
apart from that

00:14:56.240 --> 00:14:57.736
um I had an experience with censorship

00:14:57.760 --> 00:15:00.375
where I submitted my words for the Knox

00:15:00.399 --> 00:15:02.935
news only to have it seriously altered.

00:15:02.959 --> 00:15:04.456
I wanted to open with the phrase do you

00:15:04.480 --> 00:15:05.896
want to send young people to crime

00:15:05.920 --> 00:15:08.776
university which is jail  cuz my topic

00:15:08.800 --> 00:15:11.495
was youth crime. Um community safety is

00:15:11.519 --> 00:15:13.016
a primary concern for all in our

00:15:13.040 --> 00:15:15.495
community. It's theme five of our

00:15:15.519 --> 00:15:17.815
council on health and well-being plan

00:15:17.839 --> 00:15:20.456
being a strong voice for safety. Um,

00:15:20.480 --> 00:15:22.615
that's what I seek to be a strong voice.

00:15:22.639 --> 00:15:24.536
Um, but I couldn't put personal opinions

00:15:24.560 --> 00:15:26.055
in which I didn't think it was a

00:15:26.079 --> 00:15:28.536
personal opinion. Um, next month this

00:15:28.560 --> 00:15:30.536
council's hosting a community safety

00:15:30.560 --> 00:15:32.375
forum which is happening course of a

00:15:32.399 --> 00:15:34.296
notice I I put up that was supported by

00:15:34.320 --> 00:15:36.296
my colleagues. We want to hear solutions

00:15:36.320 --> 00:15:38.296
from our community. Jail isn't a useful

00:15:38.320 --> 00:15:40.296
solution for youth because it teaches

00:15:40.320 --> 00:15:42.536
amiders how to be professionals. We need

00:15:42.560 --> 00:15:44.615
redirection, education, and a rebuilding

00:15:44.639 --> 00:15:47.416
of self-esteem.  as an example of that

00:15:47.440 --> 00:15:49.255
I saw years ago I had the privilege of

00:15:49.279 --> 00:15:50.696
working with a project called Leaps and

00:15:50.720 --> 00:15:53.255
Bounds which is based behind Bazewater

00:15:53.279 --> 00:15:55.255
Secondary College. It's a kids about to

00:15:55.279 --> 00:15:57.416
be expelled from high school and it

00:15:57.440 --> 00:15:59.495
worked to rebuild self-esteem, provide

00:15:59.519 --> 00:16:01.416
basic skills, trust and confidence in

00:16:01.440 --> 00:16:04.440
one another. It had an 80% success rate.

00:16:05.120 --> 00:16:07.495
So I was elected to represent Beard Ward

00:16:07.519 --> 00:16:09.255
and the Ross community. I believe I

00:16:09.279 --> 00:16:11.175
reflect my community. I speak for them

00:16:11.199 --> 00:16:14.199
and to them. Um I don't recall a council

00:16:14.639 --> 00:16:16.375
officer being elected. So I want to be

00:16:16.399 --> 00:16:18.856
that strong voice for safety. Um and I

00:16:18.880 --> 00:16:19.976
want to speak the truth to our

00:16:20.000 --> 00:16:21.896
community. We we shouldn't spin our way

00:16:21.920 --> 00:16:24.055
through council life. Should be open and

00:16:24.079 --> 00:16:25.896
honest

00:16:25.920 --> 00:16:28.296
and that's how I see it. And  thank

00:16:28.320 --> 00:16:29.896
you.

00:16:29.920 --> 00:16:32.055
Thank you councelor Lockwood council

00:16:32.079 --> 00:16:35.079
counseling. Thank you through humanit.

00:16:35.199 --> 00:16:38.199
 I attended  Knoxpit  in parks

00:16:39.120 --> 00:16:41.815
alongside with yourself  councelor

00:16:41.839 --> 00:16:43.976
Duncan  councelor Williams and

00:16:44.000 --> 00:16:46.296
councelor Pearce and thanks to everyone

00:16:46.320 --> 00:16:48.935
who was involved in organizing this

00:16:48.959 --> 00:16:51.959
event. Um I also attended the Australian

00:16:52.720 --> 00:16:55.720
Iranian Society of Victoria Roose

00:16:55.839 --> 00:16:58.839
reception at Queen's Hall Parliament of

00:16:59.199 --> 00:17:01.576
Victoria following an invitation from

00:17:01.600 --> 00:17:04.600
the Knox multicultural adi advisory

00:17:04.880 --> 00:17:07.256
committee members.  the evening

00:17:07.280 --> 00:17:10.280
attended by ministers and both federal

00:17:10.480 --> 00:17:13.480
and state MPs  centered  on the

00:17:14.640 --> 00:17:17.576
power on on the powerful theme of um

00:17:17.600 --> 00:17:20.600
resil resilience and unity highlighting

00:17:21.679 --> 00:17:24.136
the richness and strength of our

00:17:24.160 --> 00:17:27.160
multicultural community. I attended um

00:17:27.919 --> 00:17:30.919
Knox United Soccer Club Gala Day  which

00:17:31.120 --> 00:17:34.120
was fantastic celebration of local sport

00:17:34.640 --> 00:17:36.775
 teamwork and community spirit

00:17:36.799 --> 00:17:39.496
bringing together families and players.

00:17:39.520 --> 00:17:42.520
I also had the pleasure of attending the

00:17:43.200 --> 00:17:46.200
states le um little league baseball 

00:17:48.080 --> 00:17:51.080
with  with Mayor can with yourself

00:17:51.200 --> 00:17:54.200
Mayor Kennet and councelor Duncan he was

00:17:55.520 --> 00:17:58.520
there earlier before us I think  which

00:17:59.280 --> 00:18:01.655
 showcased the talent and dedication

00:18:01.679 --> 00:18:04.679
of athletes  from across the state. I

00:18:05.600 --> 00:18:08.376
also attended the Knox  multicultural

00:18:08.400 --> 00:18:11.400
advisory committee meeting. Um and  on

00:18:12.720 --> 00:18:15.336
Anzac Day, I had the honor of attending

00:18:15.360 --> 00:18:18.360
services at Waterford Valley Lakes

00:18:18.720 --> 00:18:21.720
Retirement Village and Waterford  Park

00:18:22.160 --> 00:18:25.015
Retirement Village alongside Kim Wells

00:18:25.039 --> 00:18:28.039
MP and Max Williams liberal candidate

00:18:28.160 --> 00:18:31.160
for Roville. Both services were deeply

00:18:31.360 --> 00:18:34.360
moving and filled with quiet reflection.

00:18:35.120 --> 00:18:37.256
I'm especially grateful to the residents

00:18:37.280 --> 00:18:39.736
who shared their personal stories.

00:18:39.760 --> 00:18:41.576
Listening to them was a powerful

00:18:41.600 --> 00:18:44.376
reminder that stories we remember on

00:18:44.400 --> 00:18:47.400
this day leave on in the voices and

00:18:47.919 --> 00:18:50.616
memories of those who experienced it.

00:18:50.640 --> 00:18:53.640
Their word their words showed courage,

00:18:54.080 --> 00:18:57.080
loss and strength and meant a lot to

00:18:57.360 --> 00:19:00.360
everyone there. Anzac Day is a time to

00:19:00.400 --> 00:19:03.096
honor the courage, sacrifice, and

00:19:03.120 --> 00:19:06.120
service of both those who served our

00:19:06.320 --> 00:19:08.775
nation. Because of them, believe in

00:19:08.799 --> 00:19:11.799
peace and freedom today. Let's be forget

00:19:11.840 --> 00:19:14.456
and thank you.

00:19:14.480 --> 00:19:17.480
Very well said, councelor Atwell.

00:19:19.520 --> 00:19:22.456
 thank you, Mayor.  a few quick

00:19:22.480 --> 00:19:25.480
updates from Tahhatuan Ward. Um  24th

00:19:26.160 --> 00:19:27.976
of March I attended the planning

00:19:28.000 --> 00:19:29.416
consultative committee meeting for the

00:19:29.440 --> 00:19:31.895
development application at 79  Grayson

00:19:31.919 --> 00:19:34.296
Drive in Scoresby.  Mayor chaired the

00:19:34.320 --> 00:19:35.655
meeting. The deputy Mayor was also in

00:19:35.679 --> 00:19:37.496
attendance and it was good to get it's

00:19:37.520 --> 00:19:40.520
about 20 residents I I recall um most of

00:19:41.360 --> 00:19:43.736
whom were objecting to that proposal. We

00:19:43.760 --> 00:19:45.176
had representatives of the applicant

00:19:45.200 --> 00:19:47.096
there as well.  it was a really good

00:19:47.120 --> 00:19:49.976
opportunity to  hear the views and

00:19:50.000 --> 00:19:51.895
opinions um on both sides of that

00:19:51.919 --> 00:19:54.616
proposal um and take those into

00:19:54.640 --> 00:19:56.216
consideration. So that that matter is

00:19:56.240 --> 00:19:58.456
not on our agenda tonight, but it is 

00:19:58.480 --> 00:20:00.856
coming to a future  council meeting.

00:20:00.880 --> 00:20:02.535
Um I'm continuing to receive

00:20:02.559 --> 00:20:05.496
correspondence regarding 79  Grayson

00:20:05.520 --> 00:20:08.136
Drive. So, um, , that will be back at

00:20:08.160 --> 00:20:09.736
council, , in the not too distant

00:20:09.760 --> 00:20:11.736
future, but I did want to record my

00:20:11.760 --> 00:20:14.376
attendance at that meeting. , the 26th

00:20:14.400 --> 00:20:16.056
of March, as deputy chair of your

00:20:16.080 --> 00:20:17.496
library and a board member, I attended

00:20:17.520 --> 00:20:19.256
the audit and risk advisory committee

00:20:19.280 --> 00:20:21.336
meeting. , on the 2nd of April, I had

00:20:21.360 --> 00:20:22.856
the privilege of visiting Restore

00:20:22.880 --> 00:20:24.456
Community Church in Laser Drive,

00:20:24.480 --> 00:20:26.616
Roville. I was able to meet with 

00:20:26.640 --> 00:20:28.296
Chris, the church lead, , one of the

00:20:28.320 --> 00:20:30.456
church leaders and head pastor Ronald

00:20:30.480 --> 00:20:33.015
Rodrigo.  they run restore community

00:20:33.039 --> 00:20:35.496
care which is a long-standing now I

00:20:35.520 --> 00:20:38.296
think um several years old emergency

00:20:38.320 --> 00:20:40.456
food relief program which operates

00:20:40.480 --> 00:20:42.535
Tuesdays to Thursdays and is one of many

00:20:42.559 --> 00:20:44.696
as we know operating across our

00:20:44.720 --> 00:20:47.015
community where people can call in um

00:20:47.039 --> 00:20:49.736
talk to volunteers access pantry items.

00:20:49.760 --> 00:20:52.135
 obviously growth and demand has far

00:20:52.159 --> 00:20:55.159
outstripped um they're trying to keep up

00:20:55.440 --> 00:20:57.256
with supply and have a dedicated team of

00:20:57.280 --> 00:21:00.056
volunteers that um service the restore

00:21:00.080 --> 00:21:02.456
community care community pantry. So they

00:21:02.480 --> 00:21:04.376
coordinate with our our grants team and

00:21:04.400 --> 00:21:06.856
pathways and  was able to commend them

00:21:06.880 --> 00:21:08.296
on the on the great work they're doing

00:21:08.320 --> 00:21:10.696
in helping  vulnerable members of our

00:21:10.720 --> 00:21:13.416
community.  on the 29th of March, I

00:21:13.440 --> 00:21:15.895
attended the Sharespace  Easter market

00:21:15.919 --> 00:21:17.895
at Arcadia Reserve at the first Roville

00:21:17.919 --> 00:21:20.775
Scout Hall  in Roville.  best market

00:21:20.799 --> 00:21:22.775
I think the share space has has run so

00:21:22.799 --> 00:21:24.936
far. And that's a it's a high bar. It

00:21:24.960 --> 00:21:27.015
was a fantastic turnout. Hundreds

00:21:27.039 --> 00:21:28.696
hundreds of families right before

00:21:28.720 --> 00:21:30.616
Easter. I think they said about 5,000

00:21:30.640 --> 00:21:32.135
Easter eggs were snapped up in a matter

00:21:32.159 --> 00:21:34.376
of seconds when the Easter egg hunt took

00:21:34.400 --> 00:21:36.376
off.  it was wonderful to see.

00:21:36.400 --> 00:21:39.400
Fantastic weather. so many  local sort

00:21:39.600 --> 00:21:41.256
of entrepreneurs and micro businesses

00:21:41.280 --> 00:21:43.336
that are local to Roville and and Knox

00:21:43.360 --> 00:21:45.576
that were  selling items and wares at

00:21:45.600 --> 00:21:47.816
the market. So we  shopped up a storm

00:21:47.840 --> 00:21:49.816
as we always do and and left with plenty

00:21:49.840 --> 00:21:52.456
plenty of Easter  goodies and gifts.

00:21:52.480 --> 00:21:55.480
Um on the 22nd of April, just last week,

00:21:55.679 --> 00:21:57.416
I chaired a meeting of the Knox

00:21:57.440 --> 00:21:59.336
Community Awards Evaluation Panel along

00:21:59.360 --> 00:22:01.816
with  councelor  Williams officers

00:22:01.840 --> 00:22:04.296
and we had an esteemed  panel of

00:22:04.320 --> 00:22:06.296
community representatives joining us 

00:22:06.320 --> 00:22:09.256
to  judge and nominations across

00:22:09.280 --> 00:22:10.775
volunteer of the year, community

00:22:10.799 --> 00:22:13.336
organization and event of the year 

00:22:13.360 --> 00:22:15.655
and special honor categories too. So the

00:22:15.679 --> 00:22:17.736
standard was exceedingly high and um

00:22:17.760 --> 00:22:19.256
we'll be announcing the recipients of

00:22:19.280 --> 00:22:21.096
those awards. I think it's the 20th of

00:22:21.120 --> 00:22:23.176
May, Mayor. So looking forward to that

00:22:23.200 --> 00:22:24.775
evening and acknowledging the great work

00:22:24.799 --> 00:22:27.496
that u so many volunteers and community

00:22:27.520 --> 00:22:29.736
focused people do in our community. 

00:22:29.760 --> 00:22:31.736
and just finally a roial moment that

00:22:31.760 --> 00:22:33.976
I've been waiting to mark was  the

00:22:34.000 --> 00:22:36.296
debut of Sullivan Roby for the SNM

00:22:36.320 --> 00:22:38.616
Bombers. So this time last year Sullivan

00:22:38.640 --> 00:22:41.336
Roby was a 17-year-old playing  local

00:22:41.360 --> 00:22:44.360
football for Roville Football Club um 

00:22:44.799 --> 00:22:47.096
down on Stud Road. on Saturday. He ran

00:22:47.120 --> 00:22:48.696
out for his third game with Essen

00:22:48.720 --> 00:22:50.376
Football Club on the MCG in front of

00:22:50.400 --> 00:22:52.936
almost 100,000 people.  so he was

00:22:52.960 --> 00:22:55.655
picked nine in last year's draft. Um has

00:22:55.679 --> 00:22:57.416
lived in Roville for I think all of his

00:22:57.440 --> 00:22:59.816
life almost. And I know the buzz around

00:22:59.840 --> 00:23:01.816
the Knox Junior Football Clubs this

00:23:01.840 --> 00:23:04.616
weekend was um dream big and that

00:23:04.640 --> 00:23:05.895
anything's possible. So I think

00:23:05.919 --> 00:23:08.616
Sullivan's story um is an inspiring one

00:23:08.640 --> 00:23:10.535
for all our local footballers to take

00:23:10.559 --> 00:23:13.015
note of. So a lot of hard work. He no

00:23:13.039 --> 00:23:14.535
doubt had some luck along the way. But

00:23:14.559 --> 00:23:16.936
wonderful to see Sullivan  kicking

00:23:16.960 --> 00:23:18.376
goals  for the bombers quite

00:23:18.400 --> 00:23:20.456
literally.  and I would just note the

00:23:20.480 --> 00:23:22.616
correspondence I've received  in

00:23:22.640 --> 00:23:23.976
recent weeks and again in the last

00:23:24.000 --> 00:23:25.655
couple of days regarding  the Murray

00:23:25.679 --> 00:23:27.736
Cresant  Roville planning application

00:23:27.760 --> 00:23:29.416
on the agenda tonight. So I appreciate

00:23:29.440 --> 00:23:30.936
that  feedback and insight from

00:23:30.960 --> 00:23:32.856
residents too. Thank you ma'am.

00:23:32.880 --> 00:23:35.496
Thank you councelor. Councelor Williams.

00:23:35.520 --> 00:23:37.336
Thank you through you may um another

00:23:37.360 --> 00:23:39.655
busy month in the dinar ward. A couple

00:23:39.679 --> 00:23:42.135
of things. Um we've got  the youth

00:23:42.159 --> 00:23:44.296
advisory  committee this Wednesday and

00:23:44.320 --> 00:23:45.336
we're actually going to be talking about

00:23:45.360 --> 00:23:47.416
youth crime and safety for a safer place

00:23:47.440 --> 00:23:49.015
for the youth in Knox. So pretty excited

00:23:49.039 --> 00:23:52.039
to um be part of that on  Wednesday

00:23:52.159 --> 00:23:55.096
and as councelor Duncan  mentioned we

00:23:55.120 --> 00:23:56.535
both went on a bus tour and redid the

00:23:56.559 --> 00:23:58.056
bus tour that we did when we first

00:23:58.080 --> 00:23:59.816
started in in the role and that was

00:23:59.840 --> 00:24:01.655
exciting just to be around  young

00:24:01.679 --> 00:24:04.056
people seeing some of the sites in Knox.

00:24:04.080 --> 00:24:06.216
Um, as councelor Atwell just mentioned,

00:24:06.240 --> 00:24:07.816
we're both part of the Knox community

00:24:07.840 --> 00:24:10.616
awards night the other  or the um

00:24:10.640 --> 00:24:12.296
judging night the other night and that

00:24:12.320 --> 00:24:14.535
was that was a great  session. As

00:24:14.559 --> 00:24:16.535
councelor Atwell mentioned um we've got

00:24:16.559 --> 00:24:18.775
some amazing volunteers  here in Knox

00:24:18.799 --> 00:24:21.096
and they do a really great job. It was

00:24:21.120 --> 00:24:23.655
extremely hard to  to score and make

00:24:23.679 --> 00:24:25.336
the the final call, but we've got some

00:24:25.360 --> 00:24:28.135
really great candidates um that will win

00:24:28.159 --> 00:24:29.576
those awards in a couple of weeks time.

00:24:29.600 --> 00:24:31.176
So um be excited to be there on that

00:24:31.200 --> 00:24:32.616
night as well with councelor Ratwell and

00:24:32.640 --> 00:24:35.640
the team. Um I've got the Knox City

00:24:36.159 --> 00:24:37.895
Cricket Club presentations coming up on

00:24:37.919 --> 00:24:40.376
Friday. So excited to assist them with

00:24:40.400 --> 00:24:42.456
some award presentations  as they

00:24:42.480 --> 00:24:44.936
complete their season out.  I attended

00:24:44.960 --> 00:24:47.255
the um Foothills Community Care opening

00:24:47.279 --> 00:24:49.976
in  Upway a couple of weeks ago. they

00:24:50.000 --> 00:24:52.216
opened  their new building 

00:24:52.240 --> 00:24:53.576
officially up in Upway and that was

00:24:53.600 --> 00:24:55.816
great to see Steven Barington and the

00:24:55.840 --> 00:24:57.895
team and the amazing work that they do

00:24:57.919 --> 00:24:59.655
for our community here in Knox. They're

00:24:59.679 --> 00:25:01.736
still based  out of Fentry Galley, but

00:25:01.760 --> 00:25:03.736
also what they're doing now in Upway 

00:25:03.760 --> 00:25:05.096
through their amazing efforts. So, well

00:25:05.120 --> 00:25:06.775
done to Steven and the team for what

00:25:06.799 --> 00:25:09.096
they're doing there. I attended the Knox

00:25:09.120 --> 00:25:11.255
community chess enthusiast um

00:25:11.279 --> 00:25:13.576
celebration at Knox Ozone, which was in

00:25:13.600 --> 00:25:15.176
the Dinstar award ward.  they've been

00:25:15.200 --> 00:25:17.255
around for 9 years. So well done to 

00:25:17.279 --> 00:25:19.255
the team for their amazing work in

00:25:19.279 --> 00:25:22.279
keeping um a very vital program for Knox

00:25:22.799 --> 00:25:25.416
running for 9 years here.  likewise

00:25:25.440 --> 00:25:27.416
went to pets in the park with um

00:25:27.440 --> 00:25:30.135
councelor Pearce  yourself Mayor and

00:25:30.159 --> 00:25:32.775
counselor Constidine. Um that was  an

00:25:32.799 --> 00:25:35.655
event  that we we went to see and

00:25:35.679 --> 00:25:37.655
plenty of dogs and and a lot of things

00:25:37.679 --> 00:25:38.936
happening in the park which was great to

00:25:38.960 --> 00:25:40.936
see. We enjoyed the train ride taking us

00:25:40.960 --> 00:25:42.456
from the car park to  through the

00:25:42.480 --> 00:25:43.576
oval. That was a little bit different,

00:25:43.600 --> 00:25:46.600
but  a good exercise there.  I'm

00:25:47.120 --> 00:25:48.775
excited to say that the Bazewater

00:25:48.799 --> 00:25:50.856
Library has some outdoor signage and

00:25:50.880 --> 00:25:53.015
thanks to Karen and the team  for what

00:25:53.039 --> 00:25:54.456
they've been doing there, working around

00:25:54.480 --> 00:25:57.480
signage to  highlight that the 

00:25:57.600 --> 00:25:59.176
library is in Bazewater. So that was

00:25:59.200 --> 00:26:01.176
exciting. Um I'll go and get a photo

00:26:01.200 --> 00:26:03.176
tomorrow  next to the sign. But it was

00:26:03.200 --> 00:26:05.496
it was good to see um through community

00:26:05.520 --> 00:26:08.135
advocacy to um to get a bit more signage

00:26:08.159 --> 00:26:09.816
put up for for people attending the

00:26:09.840 --> 00:26:11.816
library.  and alongside with that,

00:26:11.840 --> 00:26:13.655
McCauley Place um like to thank Grant

00:26:13.679 --> 00:26:16.216
and his team um for some important

00:26:16.240 --> 00:26:18.056
upgrades to safety in that area. So I've

00:26:18.080 --> 00:26:20.056
seen some photos today and I'll pop down

00:26:20.080 --> 00:26:21.496
there over the next few days to have a

00:26:21.520 --> 00:26:24.216
look at um what's going on there. I used

00:26:24.240 --> 00:26:26.456
to have a an office right on McCauley

00:26:26.480 --> 00:26:28.936
Place and um that's definitely been an

00:26:28.960 --> 00:26:30.296
important upgrade that's been needed for

00:26:30.320 --> 00:26:32.856
many many years for safety.  as a

00:26:32.880 --> 00:26:34.456
firefighter in the area, we've had um

00:26:34.480 --> 00:26:35.976
incidents where cars have just gone

00:26:36.000 --> 00:26:37.576
straight through and luckily haven't

00:26:37.600 --> 00:26:39.336
collected anyone on the way through. But

00:26:39.360 --> 00:26:40.696
those will improve the safety in the

00:26:40.720 --> 00:26:43.096
area. So that's really exciting. Um met

00:26:43.120 --> 00:26:46.120
with Dale Simons and Peter Mashimango

00:26:46.400 --> 00:26:48.856
from Hillsong Church recently um just to

00:26:48.880 --> 00:26:51.015
have a chat to them  around the

00:26:51.039 --> 00:26:53.895
homeless um and  concerns around the

00:26:53.919 --> 00:26:56.296
 area um and also support for our

00:26:56.320 --> 00:26:57.496
local community and just seeing what

00:26:57.520 --> 00:26:59.655
Hillsong Church can do to impact our

00:26:59.679 --> 00:27:00.775
local community. So I'm going to touch

00:27:00.799 --> 00:27:03.336
base with them again in a few weeks and

00:27:03.360 --> 00:27:05.096
um and get some further updates. They're

00:27:05.120 --> 00:27:07.895
very keen on working with Knox and um and

00:27:07.919 --> 00:27:09.336
helping work for our local community.

00:27:09.360 --> 00:27:11.576
So, it's really exciting.

00:27:11.600 --> 00:27:14.056
Um I'd like to thank councelor Pearce 

00:27:14.080 --> 00:27:15.655
for attending the Anzac Day service on

00:27:15.679 --> 00:27:17.655
my behalf. I was away for work  over

00:27:17.679 --> 00:27:19.255
the weekend, but I would like to thank

00:27:19.279 --> 00:27:20.696
councelor Pearce for attending the

00:27:20.720 --> 00:27:23.720
baywater Anzac Day  service. Um and 

00:27:25.760 --> 00:27:27.976
lucky last as cancer wall mentioned I'd

00:27:28.000 --> 00:27:29.736
like to thank those that are probably in

00:27:29.760 --> 00:27:31.336
the crowd tonight but also for the

00:27:31.360 --> 00:27:33.096
emails around Murray cresant and it's

00:27:33.120 --> 00:27:34.775
really important and thank you for your

00:27:34.799 --> 00:27:37.096
advocacy to  provide us with the

00:27:37.120 --> 00:27:38.856
understanding we need to make a decision

00:27:38.880 --> 00:27:40.456
that comes to us tonight. So thank you

00:27:40.480 --> 00:27:42.535
for reaching out and um that's what

00:27:42.559 --> 00:27:43.895
we're all here for is just the

00:27:43.919 --> 00:27:45.655
responding to our community 

00:27:45.679 --> 00:27:47.416
irrespective of it's in our ward or not.

00:27:47.440 --> 00:27:49.576
We're all um counselors for Knox and we

00:27:49.600 --> 00:27:51.096
 thank you for bringing that to our

00:27:51.120 --> 00:27:52.616
attention.

00:27:52.640 --> 00:27:54.456
Thank you, councelor Williams. Councelor

00:27:54.480 --> 00:27:57.480
Pearce,

00:27:57.919 --> 00:28:00.856
it's been a busy month in Taylor. Um, I

00:28:00.880 --> 00:28:02.375
attended Pittsum Park with my

00:28:02.399 --> 00:28:05.399
colleagues, , Councelor Williams and

00:28:05.919 --> 00:28:08.919
the may um, the Mayor Paige Kennet and

00:28:10.240 --> 00:28:13.240
Council Conine. Um, I can only say that

00:28:13.520 --> 00:28:15.976
Archie really enjoyed himself. He got a

00:28:16.000 --> 00:28:19.000
lot of pats. He misbehaved. Usual dog

00:28:19.200 --> 00:28:22.200
stuff. It was really wellrun and was

00:28:22.559 --> 00:28:25.559
well supported. On the 15th of April, I

00:28:25.760 --> 00:28:27.255
chaired the recreational leisure

00:28:27.279 --> 00:28:29.736
committee with Mayor Kennet and Deputy

00:28:29.760 --> 00:28:32.760
Mayor Duncan. Um the me meeting was

00:28:32.880 --> 00:28:35.655
conduct  was conducted

00:28:35.679 --> 00:28:38.679
and was a free exchange of ideas. um

00:28:39.039 --> 00:28:41.655
information gleamed was always important

00:28:41.679 --> 00:28:44.679
and I really commend that committee

00:28:45.279 --> 00:28:48.279
on the n because roville doesn't have a

00:28:48.320 --> 00:28:51.320
war memorial as we're the only the only

00:28:52.320 --> 00:28:54.775
electorate in no that doesn't have a war

00:28:54.799 --> 00:28:57.799
memorial practically

00:28:58.799 --> 00:29:00.616
well we're the only f state electorate

00:29:00.640 --> 00:29:03.096
that doesn't have a war memorial  on

00:29:03.120 --> 00:29:06.120
the 19th of April I attended the

00:29:07.200 --> 00:29:08.696
commemorative service for the wreath

00:29:08.720 --> 00:29:11.720
lang at basswater RSL club.

00:29:11.760 --> 00:29:13.895
The trumpeter was played by Jack from

00:29:13.919 --> 00:29:16.696
St. Joseph's College. Brilliant. It was

00:29:16.720 --> 00:29:19.015
absolutely brilliant.

00:29:19.039 --> 00:29:21.096
The service was well conducted and was

00:29:21.120 --> 00:29:23.176
very moving.

00:29:23.200 --> 00:29:25.176
On the 22nd of April, I attended the

00:29:25.200 --> 00:29:27.255
Rotary Anzac service with primary school

00:29:27.279 --> 00:29:29.416
children with Mayor Kennet and Deputy

00:29:29.440 --> 00:29:32.216
Mayor Chris Duncan and Jackson Taylor MP

00:29:32.240 --> 00:29:34.535
and the candidate for Bazeword Water

00:29:34.559 --> 00:29:36.375
Julie Buckston.

00:29:36.399 --> 00:29:38.135
The guest speaker baker was commander

00:29:38.159 --> 00:29:41.159
Andrew Fraser and like my colleague said

00:29:41.360 --> 00:29:44.360
had gave a speech on HMS AE2

00:29:46.320 --> 00:29:48.696
of World War I and what he also

00:29:48.720 --> 00:29:51.720
mentioned was about teamwork and

00:29:52.080 --> 00:29:55.080
mateship and the importance of teamwork.

00:29:55.679 --> 00:29:57.736
On the 25th of April I attended the door

00:29:57.760 --> 00:30:00.056
service with count with MP Jackson

00:30:00.080 --> 00:30:03.080
Taylor. It was a moving service attended

00:30:03.360 --> 00:30:05.736
by a large number of people. They had to

00:30:05.760 --> 00:30:08.456
actually block off the road so that

00:30:08.480 --> 00:30:11.480
everybody could was safe.

00:30:12.080 --> 00:30:13.736
It was a really moving service

00:30:13.760 --> 00:30:16.760
especially when the bag pop was playing.

00:30:17.440 --> 00:30:20.440
There was um there was also the um was

00:30:22.080 --> 00:30:24.296
also Zalt from St. George's College who

00:30:24.320 --> 00:30:26.775
played the last post and it's always

00:30:26.799 --> 00:30:28.296
moving but it's even more moving on a

00:30:28.320 --> 00:30:31.320
dawn service.

00:30:31.600 --> 00:30:33.496
In addition, I spoke to a number of

00:30:33.520 --> 00:30:35.976
residents including Mary Cresant about

00:30:36.000 --> 00:30:39.000
planning trees, footpaths, and rubbish.

00:30:39.039 --> 00:30:41.895
That's it for Taylor.

00:30:41.919 --> 00:30:44.775
Thank you, councelor Pearce. Um I will

00:30:44.799 --> 00:30:46.856
submit a report for the majority of what

00:30:46.880 --> 00:30:49.816
I um completed over the last month, but

00:30:49.840 --> 00:30:52.616
um I do want to mention just a couple of

00:30:52.640 --> 00:30:54.856
things. I um assisted council by

00:30:54.880 --> 00:30:57.496
continuous continuing our advocacy

00:30:57.520 --> 00:31:00.520
through  GSM and ERG which are two um

00:31:02.799 --> 00:31:05.176
bodies that bring other councils

00:31:05.200 --> 00:31:07.976
together and raise our local voice to

00:31:08.000 --> 00:31:11.000
state and federal members so that Knox's

00:31:12.320 --> 00:31:14.616
voice can be heard. So, I I really

00:31:14.640 --> 00:31:16.775
believe that advocacy is important for

00:31:16.799 --> 00:31:19.736
our our local area and making sure that

00:31:19.760 --> 00:31:22.760
our voice continues to be heard in those

00:31:23.039 --> 00:31:25.336
 larger conversations.

00:31:25.360 --> 00:31:28.360
Um I attended three citizenship

00:31:28.399 --> 00:31:31.096
ceremonies this month and we welcomed

00:31:31.120 --> 00:31:32.856
273

00:31:32.880 --> 00:31:35.880
new Aussies into Knox and a couple of

00:31:36.159 --> 00:31:39.159
those Aussies, new Aussies spoke to me

00:31:39.600 --> 00:31:42.296
 during the ceremony. One of them had

00:31:42.320 --> 00:31:45.320
been here for over 63 years and another

00:31:46.159 --> 00:31:49.159
over 54 years. So we have a a lot of

00:31:49.760 --> 00:31:52.760
local residents that um are going

00:31:53.120 --> 00:31:54.616
through the process of becoming an

00:31:54.640 --> 00:31:56.216
Australian when they've been here for

00:31:56.240 --> 00:31:58.216
most of their lives which I just found

00:31:58.240 --> 00:31:59.895
astounding.

00:31:59.919 --> 00:32:02.919
Um I also attended three Anzac Day 

00:32:03.519 --> 00:32:05.015
ceremonies

00:32:05.039 --> 00:32:08.039
and um each of them bringing the the

00:32:08.559 --> 00:32:11.416
same characteristics of courage and

00:32:11.440 --> 00:32:14.056
teamwork and all the things that are

00:32:14.080 --> 00:32:17.080
important to us and so they're um lovely

00:32:17.600 --> 00:32:20.600
to  witness how many people actually

00:32:20.720 --> 00:32:23.720
attend and  see value in those

00:32:23.840 --> 00:32:26.775
services. Um thank you and for the rest

00:32:26.799 --> 00:32:29.736
I will submit a report.

00:32:29.760 --> 00:32:32.760
Um moving on to our next item is number

00:32:35.200 --> 00:32:37.976
six planning matters. Reports of

00:32:38.000 --> 00:32:40.216
planning applications decided under

00:32:40.240 --> 00:32:43.176
delegation between the 1st of March 2026

00:32:43.200 --> 00:32:46.200
and 31st of March 2026. Would a

00:32:47.440 --> 00:32:50.440
counselor like to move a motion?

00:32:50.480 --> 00:32:52.296
Thank you councelor Baker. Is that the

00:32:52.320 --> 00:32:54.375
officer's recommendation? Thank you and

00:32:54.399 --> 00:32:56.616
seconded councelor Abwell. Thank you

00:32:56.640 --> 00:32:58.056
councelor Baker.

00:32:58.080 --> 00:33:00.616
Just briefly  there were 58 

00:33:00.640 --> 00:33:02.456
applications that were decided under

00:33:02.480 --> 00:33:04.535
delegation for the month of March. Thank

00:33:04.559 --> 00:33:05.416
you.

00:33:05.440 --> 00:33:07.576
Thank you councelor Baker. Council will

00:33:07.600 --> 00:33:08.696
 thank you Mayor. I wouldn't normally

00:33:08.720 --> 00:33:10.135
speak to this one. I just noticed that

00:33:10.159 --> 00:33:11.895
on page 10 of the agenda there's a

00:33:11.919 --> 00:33:14.856
reference in my ward to an application

00:33:14.880 --> 00:33:17.880
or a permit being issued for 79 Grayson

00:33:18.240 --> 00:33:19.976
Drive Soresby which was the planning

00:33:20.000 --> 00:33:22.135
application that I spoke about in my 

00:33:22.159 --> 00:33:23.655
council report. I just wanted to note

00:33:23.679 --> 00:33:26.135
that that that that is for one. Um the

00:33:26.159 --> 00:33:27.255
conversation at the planning

00:33:27.279 --> 00:33:28.696
consolidative committee meeting was

00:33:28.720 --> 00:33:31.015
about a separate planning  application

00:33:31.039 --> 00:33:32.775
that is still under consideration. So

00:33:32.799 --> 00:33:34.775
just for the purposes of the record if

00:33:34.799 --> 00:33:37.015
anyone does notice that 79 Grayson Drive

00:33:37.039 --> 00:33:39.176
is noted in there that is is obviously

00:33:39.200 --> 00:33:40.696
correct but I just thought I'd add that

00:33:40.720 --> 00:33:42.056
 explanation. Thank you.

00:33:42.080 --> 00:33:43.655
Thank you councel. Would any other

00:33:43.679 --> 00:33:46.375
counselor like to speak to the motion?

00:33:46.399 --> 00:33:48.296
No. I'll put the motion. All those in

00:33:48.320 --> 00:33:49.895
favor

00:33:49.919 --> 00:33:52.919
that motion is carried unanimously.

00:33:53.600 --> 00:33:56.600
U moving on to item 6.2 to Lorto Avenue

00:33:58.799 --> 00:34:00.936
Fernry Gully. Would a council like to

00:34:00.960 --> 00:34:01.976
move a motion?

00:34:02.000 --> 00:34:04.696
I move the recommendation. Mayor Page.

00:34:04.720 --> 00:34:06.775
Thank you, Council Lockwood. Is there a

00:34:06.799 --> 00:34:08.936
second?

00:34:08.960 --> 00:34:10.615
Thank you, Councelor Baker. Councelor

00:34:10.639 --> 00:34:11.976
Lockwood.

00:34:12.000 --> 00:34:14.216
Um well, this meets the requirements. I

00:34:14.240 --> 00:34:15.655
know some residents around there don't

00:34:15.679 --> 00:34:17.416
like it, but  it's actually in a good

00:34:17.440 --> 00:34:20.216
location right opposite the the oval and

00:34:20.240 --> 00:34:22.216
they're right next to the local shop. So

00:34:22.240 --> 00:34:24.536
um although it does seem a little bit

00:34:24.560 --> 00:34:26.456
small to be to be viable in terms of

00:34:26.480 --> 00:34:28.696
child care these days but  anyway wish

00:34:28.720 --> 00:34:31.095
them well and um commend this to my

00:34:31.119 --> 00:34:32.135
colleagues.

00:34:32.159 --> 00:34:33.815
Thank you councelor Lockwood councelor

00:34:33.839 --> 00:34:34.936
Baker.

00:34:34.960 --> 00:34:37.095
 thank you and similarly I know that

00:34:37.119 --> 00:34:39.496
there'll be residents who who are not or

00:34:39.520 --> 00:34:42.135
won't be satisfied  with this planning

00:34:42.159 --> 00:34:44.615
application. Um, I do agree it's a

00:34:44.639 --> 00:34:46.536
location that's opposite Fair Park there

00:34:46.560 --> 00:34:49.560
and the primary school is only a short

00:34:50.159 --> 00:34:52.615
walk from this application as well. Um,

00:34:52.639 --> 00:34:54.135
so I'm supportive of the office's

00:34:54.159 --> 00:34:56.135
recommendation. Thank you. Thank you,

00:34:56.159 --> 00:34:57.575
councelor Baker. Would any other

00:34:57.599 --> 00:35:00.599
counselor like to speak to the motion?

00:35:00.960 --> 00:35:03.960
No. Um,

00:35:07.119 --> 00:35:09.976
what can I ask the member of the gallery

00:35:10.000 --> 00:35:13.000
what does LDC stand for?

00:35:13.520 --> 00:35:16.296
Oh, thank you. Um

00:35:16.320 --> 00:35:19.095
well on that can can I ask a question

00:35:19.119 --> 00:35:22.119
through through the chair to um director

00:35:23.359 --> 00:35:26.359
McNal um around the question of long

00:35:26.720 --> 00:35:28.856
daycare centers and how they actually

00:35:28.880 --> 00:35:30.936
apply for a planning permit and what

00:35:30.960 --> 00:35:33.960
process you go through. Does um the

00:35:34.480 --> 00:35:36.856
amount of long daycare centers in an

00:35:36.880 --> 00:35:39.880
area come into your decision making?

00:35:41.760 --> 00:35:43.736
 through you madam chair the short

00:35:43.760 --> 00:35:46.536
answer is  no it's it's basically a

00:35:46.560 --> 00:35:47.736
commercial decision around the

00:35:47.760 --> 00:35:49.976
establishment of a a long daycare center

00:35:50.000 --> 00:35:52.856
so the number of centers isn't isn't a

00:35:52.880 --> 00:35:54.376
deciding factor on whether a planning

00:35:54.400 --> 00:35:56.776
permit should be supported or not

00:35:56.800 --> 00:35:59.800
thank you may I ask one more question is

00:36:00.000 --> 00:36:02.376
that um

00:36:02.400 --> 00:36:04.696
where does that requirement not come

00:36:04.720 --> 00:36:07.720
from

00:36:10.000 --> 00:36:11.976
how would we address that if we wanted

00:36:12.000 --> 00:36:14.055
to

00:36:14.079 --> 00:36:15.656
um

00:36:15.680 --> 00:36:17.095
it's not something that can be

00:36:17.119 --> 00:36:19.256
controlled under the through through

00:36:19.280 --> 00:36:21.976
planning regulation. Um really it is a

00:36:22.000 --> 00:36:23.656
it's a commercial decision by the

00:36:23.680 --> 00:36:26.296
providers of long dayc care centers

00:36:26.320 --> 00:36:28.696
within within the municipality. So if

00:36:28.720 --> 00:36:30.216
there's a commercial interest in them

00:36:30.240 --> 00:36:31.575
providing them and they're supported

00:36:31.599 --> 00:36:34.296
under the planning control then we can't

00:36:34.320 --> 00:36:37.320
  limit limit those users in those

00:36:37.680 --> 00:36:40.680
locations. So outside of um the planning

00:36:41.200 --> 00:36:42.856
legislation

00:36:42.880 --> 00:36:45.880
um I don't think that we've necessarily

00:36:46.240 --> 00:36:48.696
got a lever that we can pull to limit

00:36:48.720 --> 00:36:50.296
the number of long daycare centers

00:36:50.320 --> 00:36:52.616
within Knox.

00:36:52.640 --> 00:36:55.640
Thank you, Director McN.

00:36:56.480 --> 00:36:59.480
Yes. Um for those online, we've just got

00:36:59.520 --> 00:37:01.095
some members in our gallery that were

00:37:01.119 --> 00:37:03.256
asking some questions about long daycare

00:37:03.280 --> 00:37:06.280
centers.  so I hope that that has

00:37:06.320 --> 00:37:09.320
answered  your question.  I'll now

00:37:10.160 --> 00:37:13.160
put the motion. All those in favor

00:37:15.440 --> 00:37:18.440
that motion is carried unanimously.

00:37:19.359 --> 00:37:22.359
Um moving on to item 6.350 Murray

00:37:22.640 --> 00:37:24.616
Cresant Roville.

00:37:24.640 --> 00:37:26.776
Um councelor Pearce, you have circulated

00:37:26.800 --> 00:37:28.776
an alternate ahead of the meeting. Would

00:37:28.800 --> 00:37:31.800
you like to move your alternate?

00:37:34.560 --> 00:37:36.376
Thank you, councelor Pearce. I note for

00:37:36.400 --> 00:37:38.696
the benefit of the gallery, this motion

00:37:38.720 --> 00:37:40.136
is the same as the officer's

00:37:40.160 --> 00:37:42.456
recommendation with some additional

00:37:42.480 --> 00:37:45.416
points B and C. Councelor Pearce, would

00:37:45.440 --> 00:37:48.216
you like to read just those extra parts

00:37:48.240 --> 00:37:51.240
of your motion for the gallery, please?

00:37:51.359 --> 00:37:54.359
Yes, I would to note previous advocacy

00:37:55.200 --> 00:37:56.856
to the state government in relation to

00:37:56.880 --> 00:37:59.880
townhouse and lowrise code clause 55 the

00:38:00.079 --> 00:38:01.815
planning scheme includes prior

00:38:01.839 --> 00:38:03.736
submission to the department of

00:38:03.760 --> 00:38:06.216
transport and planning in relation to

00:38:06.240 --> 00:38:09.240
deemed deemed comply provision  prior

00:38:09.920 --> 00:38:11.416
submission to the state parliamentary

00:38:11.440 --> 00:38:13.176
inquiry into the Victorian planning

00:38:13.200 --> 00:38:16.200
provisions amendments VC 257 267 and 274

00:38:18.960 --> 00:38:20.696
and including discussions with local

00:38:20.720 --> 00:38:23.720
member of parliament representing Knox.

00:38:24.160 --> 00:38:26.296
C to advocate to the state government

00:38:26.320 --> 00:38:27.976
for changes in the current planning

00:38:28.000 --> 00:38:30.216
provisions to provide a reinstatement of

00:38:30.240 --> 00:38:32.536
planning controls previously approved by

00:38:32.560 --> 00:38:35.095
amendment C189

00:38:35.119 --> 00:38:38.119
Knox for Murray Cresant area.

00:38:39.839 --> 00:38:42.839
Thank you councelor Pearce.

00:38:43.760 --> 00:38:46.216
Yeah. Is there a second for that motion?

00:38:46.240 --> 00:38:48.856
Thank you councelor Williams. Councelor

00:38:48.880 --> 00:38:50.696
Pearce, would you like to speak to your

00:38:50.720 --> 00:38:52.216
alternate motion?

00:38:52.240 --> 00:38:53.896
Yes.

00:38:53.920 --> 00:38:56.696
Thank you, Madame Mayor. I put up this

00:38:56.720 --> 00:38:59.176
import this alternate to ask my fellow

00:38:59.200 --> 00:39:01.016
councilors to advocate with the planning

00:39:01.040 --> 00:39:03.176
minister to reinstate controls

00:39:03.200 --> 00:39:05.575
previously taken away from council under

00:39:05.599 --> 00:39:08.599
the townhouse and low rise code.

00:39:08.880 --> 00:39:11.880
This these code pre these codes prevent

00:39:12.640 --> 00:39:14.776
council from being able to advocate and

00:39:14.800 --> 00:39:17.575
look after the shape of our area under

00:39:17.599 --> 00:39:20.599
council control. The removal of these

00:39:20.720 --> 00:39:22.936
controls in effect prevents council from

00:39:22.960 --> 00:39:25.575
being able to protect our suburbs from

00:39:25.599 --> 00:39:27.496
overdevelopment

00:39:27.520 --> 00:39:29.656
and from state government turning our

00:39:29.680 --> 00:39:32.680
suburbs into overpop populated holes.

00:39:34.079 --> 00:39:37.079
The alternate was to alter the motion

00:39:37.280 --> 00:39:40.055
that if it the proposal is proved that

00:39:40.079 --> 00:39:41.896
we are still able to show the community

00:39:41.920 --> 00:39:44.920
that we'll fight for change. However,

00:39:45.839 --> 00:39:47.416
I want to be honest with this chamber

00:39:47.440 --> 00:39:49.575
and with the nine objectives in our

00:39:49.599 --> 00:39:52.136
community who took the time to engage in

00:39:52.160 --> 00:39:55.160
this process. I now I know our officers

00:39:56.480 --> 00:39:59.335
have told us that we have no choice.

00:39:59.359 --> 00:40:01.496
I have read their advice and respect

00:40:01.520 --> 00:40:04.376
their professionalism.

00:40:04.400 --> 00:40:07.016
But I believe council has an obligation,

00:40:07.040 --> 00:40:10.040
not just a legal one, but a moral one to

00:40:10.960 --> 00:40:13.736
put on the public record exactly what's

00:40:13.760 --> 00:40:15.815
happening here and why the community

00:40:15.839 --> 00:40:17.976
deserves better.

00:40:18.000 --> 00:40:21.000
In September 2023, Knox Council, this

00:40:21.839 --> 00:40:24.055
council, listened to the residents of

00:40:24.079 --> 00:40:26.616
Murray Cresant. They heard them. We

00:40:26.640 --> 00:40:29.640
acted. We gazetted amendment C189 Knox

00:40:31.839 --> 00:40:34.839
which gave the exact street these exact

00:40:34.880 --> 00:40:37.880
properties specific planning protections

00:40:38.240 --> 00:40:41.240
that recognize that large lots landscape

00:40:41.440 --> 00:40:44.376
character. We did the job thanks to the

00:40:44.400 --> 00:40:47.400
residents and the previous councelor for

00:40:47.520 --> 00:40:50.520
for this work. Eight months later, the

00:40:51.040 --> 00:40:54.040
state government sent amendment VC276

00:40:54.880 --> 00:40:56.776
through to delete these those

00:40:56.800 --> 00:40:58.696
protections.

00:40:58.720 --> 00:41:01.720
Not negotiate them, delete them

00:41:02.400 --> 00:41:04.616
without community consultation at the

00:41:04.640 --> 00:41:06.696
local level, without replacing with

00:41:06.720 --> 00:41:09.016
anything relevant,

00:41:09.040 --> 00:41:11.016
without so much as writing to the

00:41:11.040 --> 00:41:13.416
residents of Murray Cresant to tell them

00:41:13.440 --> 00:41:15.815
them the safeguards they had fought for

00:41:15.839 --> 00:41:18.536
were gone.

00:41:18.560 --> 00:41:21.496
That is not planning reform. That is a

00:41:21.520 --> 00:41:23.815
breach of faith with the community and

00:41:23.839 --> 00:41:26.055
that did every they did everything

00:41:26.079 --> 00:41:29.016
right. I'm not suggesting the developers

00:41:29.040 --> 00:41:31.656
did anything unlawful. They have not.

00:41:31.680 --> 00:41:34.136
Under the rules as I now stand, this

00:41:34.160 --> 00:41:37.160
application is deemed to comply. Nine

00:41:37.599 --> 00:41:40.295
doublestory town houses, three rows on a

00:41:40.319 --> 00:41:42.136
site where a family home currently

00:41:42.160 --> 00:41:44.616
stands. and under the framework of the

00:41:44.640 --> 00:41:47.095
state government has imposed on us. We

00:41:47.119 --> 00:41:49.896
were told to wave it through.

00:41:49.920 --> 00:41:52.920
I refuse to do so quietly. If council is

00:41:53.280 --> 00:41:55.976
not going to issue, if council is going

00:41:56.000 --> 00:41:58.055
to issue the permit and our legal advice

00:41:58.079 --> 00:42:01.079
tells us we ultimately must, then before

00:42:01.119 --> 00:42:04.119
we do, I want a formal refusal refusal

00:42:04.160 --> 00:42:06.776
on the on the record. I want the

00:42:06.800 --> 00:42:08.136
minister of planning to understand

00:42:08.160 --> 00:42:11.016
precisely what consequences of this

00:42:11.040 --> 00:42:13.256
decision look like from the ground level

00:42:13.280 --> 00:42:15.176
in Roville.

00:42:15.200 --> 00:42:17.416
I move for council to refuse this

00:42:17.440 --> 00:42:18.776
application the grounds that the

00:42:18.800 --> 00:42:20.456
development is inconsistent with the

00:42:20.480 --> 00:42:22.055
neighborhood character and the

00:42:22.079 --> 00:42:24.295
environmental values of Murray Cresant

00:42:24.319 --> 00:42:26.696
Roville values this this council

00:42:26.720 --> 00:42:29.720
formally recognize and protect in 2023

00:42:30.800 --> 00:42:33.095
and which the state government has since

00:42:33.119 --> 00:42:34.616
unilaterally

00:42:34.640 --> 00:42:37.640
ref removed from our planning scheme. I

00:42:37.760 --> 00:42:39.736
do so knowing the refusal may be

00:42:39.760 --> 00:42:42.696
challenged and I do so because science

00:42:42.720 --> 00:42:45.720
is not an option. Our community trusts

00:42:46.079 --> 00:42:47.575
us.

00:42:47.599 --> 00:42:50.599
We trust the planning system.

00:42:50.800 --> 00:42:53.800
The trust is broken and is not broken by

00:42:54.880 --> 00:42:57.880
anyone in this room. On this post, I'm

00:42:58.480 --> 00:43:00.536
voting to refuse the planning

00:43:00.560 --> 00:43:03.560
application. Thank you.

00:43:03.599 --> 00:43:05.656
Um, councelor Pearce, can I just clarify

00:43:05.680 --> 00:43:08.680
because the motion is for um, not for an

00:43:09.280 --> 00:43:11.095
objection

00:43:11.119 --> 00:43:13.656
that I only added those just in case, as

00:43:13.680 --> 00:43:15.736
I said at the start, it was approved. At

00:43:15.760 --> 00:43:18.136
least we had a backup plan to help

00:43:18.160 --> 00:43:21.160
support our residents. Other than that,

00:43:21.359 --> 00:43:23.736
I refused this application on those

00:43:23.760 --> 00:43:26.760
grounds that I've specified. So, I can

00:43:26.880 --> 00:43:29.880
put the put the , alternate up. It can

00:43:30.480 --> 00:43:33.480
then be refused. I don't mind.

00:43:36.319 --> 00:43:38.856
I will not approve this. I I looked at

00:43:38.880 --> 00:43:41.335
every which way to to refuse it and

00:43:41.359 --> 00:43:44.359
include these amendments and every which

00:43:44.400 --> 00:43:46.616
way I looked, I could not. So on this

00:43:46.640 --> 00:43:48.136
basis,

00:43:48.160 --> 00:43:50.536
as I said, I put it up for discussion,

00:43:50.560 --> 00:43:53.256
but I'm refusing it.

00:43:53.280 --> 00:43:56.055
Um, which I have the right to and you

00:43:56.079 --> 00:43:58.936
have the right to vote on it.

00:43:58.960 --> 00:44:01.256
 so just for clarification then

00:44:01.280 --> 00:44:03.575
council p you've put the alternate up

00:44:03.599 --> 00:44:05.416
but you will be voting against your own

00:44:05.440 --> 00:44:06.216
alternate.

00:44:06.240 --> 00:44:06.856
Yes.

00:44:06.880 --> 00:44:09.656
Okay. All right. Thank you. Um councelor

00:44:09.680 --> 00:44:11.496
Williams as second would you like to

00:44:11.520 --> 00:44:13.575
speak to the motion?

00:44:13.599 --> 00:44:16.136
Thank you through you Mayor. Um yeah

00:44:16.160 --> 00:44:18.616
what to say? We're I think every meeting

00:44:18.640 --> 00:44:21.335
we lately that we've been at we're

00:44:21.359 --> 00:44:23.016
talking about deemed to comply because

00:44:23.040 --> 00:44:25.815
of a state government that has  thrown

00:44:25.839 --> 00:44:28.456
a rule book at us from Spring Street.

00:44:28.480 --> 00:44:30.776
and telling us how to run what happens

00:44:30.800 --> 00:44:33.496
locally. I think councelor Pearce said

00:44:33.520 --> 00:44:36.520
that so well in in in this although

00:44:36.640 --> 00:44:39.640
she's going to vote against it. Um the

00:44:40.000 --> 00:44:41.496
problem is we go to VCAT this is going

00:44:41.520 --> 00:44:43.095
to cost us thousands and it's going to

00:44:43.119 --> 00:44:44.536
be thousands that we're wasting of

00:44:44.560 --> 00:44:45.976
rateayers money because we're not going

00:44:46.000 --> 00:44:48.055
to win. Um, so I want to put that on

00:44:48.079 --> 00:44:51.079
record that as much as we may or may not

00:44:51.119 --> 00:44:52.616
believe that this should go to VCAT or

00:44:52.640 --> 00:44:55.640
not, it will cost rateayers thousands

00:44:55.760 --> 00:44:58.536
and we will lose.

00:44:58.560 --> 00:45:00.216
Local decisions need to be made by

00:45:00.240 --> 00:45:02.776
locals. And we're voted in by the locals

00:45:02.800 --> 00:45:05.016
to represent the locals, not people on

00:45:05.040 --> 00:45:06.376
Spring Street sitting there in

00:45:06.400 --> 00:45:08.536
Parliament making decisions on what

00:45:08.560 --> 00:45:11.496
happens in Knox.

00:45:11.520 --> 00:45:13.176
I'm sick and tired of it to be honest.

00:45:13.200 --> 00:45:14.616
if you really want my honest opinion and

00:45:14.640 --> 00:45:16.376
I speak straight from the heart on this

00:45:16.400 --> 00:45:18.456
that yeah, honestly every meeting we're

00:45:18.480 --> 00:45:21.480
coming to where we've got residents that

00:45:21.760 --> 00:45:23.176
are raising concerns and I'd like to

00:45:23.200 --> 00:45:25.656
acknowledge Mr. Scott Wheeler um for his

00:45:25.680 --> 00:45:27.896
emails and and communication through to

00:45:27.920 --> 00:45:30.456
us all.

00:45:30.480 --> 00:45:33.176
We we we're we're hand tied. We are not

00:45:33.200 --> 00:45:34.776
meeting the needs of our local community

00:45:34.800 --> 00:45:37.016
for what we voted in for. And for that

00:45:37.040 --> 00:45:38.376
part of the service that I'm sitting

00:45:38.400 --> 00:45:41.176
here behind the seat here, I don't feel

00:45:41.200 --> 00:45:43.575
comfortable because we're not able to

00:45:43.599 --> 00:45:45.976
represent what our locals need. So, for

00:45:46.000 --> 00:45:47.736
that reason, I actually do appreciate

00:45:47.760 --> 00:45:50.760
councelor Pearce's alternative.

00:45:50.800 --> 00:45:52.776
Um although she's going to vote against

00:45:52.800 --> 00:45:54.856
it, which probably doesn't help the

00:45:54.880 --> 00:45:57.736
cause to to to run with that, but I can

00:45:57.760 --> 00:45:59.815
understand councelor Pearce's passion

00:45:59.839 --> 00:46:02.216
behind it.

00:46:02.240 --> 00:46:03.656
residents are here and I'm pretty sure

00:46:03.680 --> 00:46:05.416
there's quite a few residents here um

00:46:05.440 --> 00:46:07.736
who want to hear on this matter. We're

00:46:07.760 --> 00:46:09.095
here to listen to those people. We're

00:46:09.119 --> 00:46:10.616
here to speak up and represent those

00:46:10.640 --> 00:46:12.936
people. And I feel today along with

00:46:12.960 --> 00:46:14.456
probably every other meeting we've been

00:46:14.480 --> 00:46:17.480
to for this year alone anyway, I feel

00:46:17.839 --> 00:46:19.335
that we're letting down our community as

00:46:19.359 --> 00:46:20.776
a result of that. And that's simply not

00:46:20.800 --> 00:46:23.800
good enough in my eyes. We need to 

00:46:24.079 --> 00:46:27.079
advocate more to the state government.

00:46:27.280 --> 00:46:28.696
We need to make a stand and we need to

00:46:28.720 --> 00:46:30.216
make a very clear stand here on behalf

00:46:30.240 --> 00:46:32.055
of Knox Council what we represent and

00:46:32.079 --> 00:46:34.295
what we want to do for our residents and

00:46:34.319 --> 00:46:35.896
we need to continue to follow the

00:46:35.920 --> 00:46:37.575
advocacy through not just say it but

00:46:37.599 --> 00:46:39.095
actually follow it through and see where

00:46:39.119 --> 00:46:40.696
it's going to end up. We need to

00:46:40.720 --> 00:46:42.936
consistently chase the ministers and

00:46:42.960 --> 00:46:44.376
those responsible for making these

00:46:44.400 --> 00:46:46.536
decisions so that we get answers that we

00:46:46.560 --> 00:46:48.216
need. And we also need to advocate to

00:46:48.240 --> 00:46:51.240
MAV um and various other um councils.

00:46:51.280 --> 00:46:52.456
I'm pretty sure we're all in the same

00:46:52.480 --> 00:46:54.776
boat. So, I don't know what else to say,

00:46:54.800 --> 00:46:56.696
but it's very upsetting to to sit here

00:46:56.720 --> 00:46:58.136
as a counselor trying to represent our

00:46:58.160 --> 00:46:59.496
residents when we can't because our

00:46:59.520 --> 00:47:02.520
hands are tied.

00:47:03.200 --> 00:47:04.936
Thank you, councelor Williams. Would any

00:47:04.960 --> 00:47:06.376
other counselor like to speak to the

00:47:06.400 --> 00:47:08.936
motion?

00:47:08.960 --> 00:47:11.496
Councelor Lockwood,

00:47:11.520 --> 00:47:13.896
you're right. Um,

00:47:13.920 --> 00:47:15.815
it's a bit hard to know whether speaking

00:47:15.839 --> 00:47:18.456
for it or against it. Um, it's a very

00:47:18.480 --> 00:47:20.216
confusing thing to do to put a motion up

00:47:20.240 --> 00:47:22.295
and then speak against it.

00:47:22.319 --> 00:47:25.319
Um anyway, so I guess we're we're this

00:47:25.680 --> 00:47:28.136
is voting. The motion is to approve the

00:47:28.160 --> 00:47:30.456
development. Um I just wanted to object

00:47:30.480 --> 00:47:32.456
to Hovels. Um we don't have Hovels

00:47:32.480 --> 00:47:34.376
anywhere in Knox except perhaps where

00:47:34.400 --> 00:47:36.055
there's homeless people because we're

00:47:36.079 --> 00:47:37.896
overpop populated Hovels. I really do

00:47:37.920 --> 00:47:40.920
object to um talking down our own city.

00:47:41.760 --> 00:47:43.335
We have a great city here. All the

00:47:43.359 --> 00:47:45.416
suburbs are wonderful. Um we have great

00:47:45.440 --> 00:47:47.656
people living here. So I don't like to

00:47:47.680 --> 00:47:49.976
hear our own suburbs put down. I

00:47:50.000 --> 00:47:51.976
understand you don't like the density.

00:47:52.000 --> 00:47:54.376
Um, but we here not just to represent a

00:47:54.400 --> 00:47:55.896
small number of residents, but the whole

00:47:55.920 --> 00:47:58.295
of Knox. We have to make a decision that

00:47:58.319 --> 00:48:01.016
recognizes the whole of Knox whether or

00:48:01.040 --> 00:48:04.040
not this is in their best interest. Now,

00:48:04.560 --> 00:48:05.976
state government changed the rules on

00:48:06.000 --> 00:48:07.575
us. For sure they did. But councils have

00:48:07.599 --> 00:48:09.335
been dragging their feet for years.

00:48:09.359 --> 00:48:11.095
There's been reports going to government

00:48:11.119 --> 00:48:13.496
that I'm not sure if we notice or not

00:48:13.520 --> 00:48:15.656
over a number of years saying the

00:48:15.680 --> 00:48:18.536
biggest one of the bigger roadblocks to

00:48:18.560 --> 00:48:20.616
um development um particularly

00:48:20.640 --> 00:48:22.696
affordable housing as local councils.

00:48:22.720 --> 00:48:25.176
Now that may or may not be true. Um I

00:48:25.200 --> 00:48:26.696
know we've have arguments against that.

00:48:26.720 --> 00:48:28.616
However, it's always been it's been

00:48:28.640 --> 00:48:30.376
visible for the last several years. So

00:48:30.400 --> 00:48:32.535
it's no surprise when the state

00:48:32.559 --> 00:48:34.216
government comes up with rules to say

00:48:34.240 --> 00:48:36.136
right we're going to shortcut you guys

00:48:36.160 --> 00:48:37.815
cut back objections. We want these

00:48:37.839 --> 00:48:39.335
things proved quickly. when that's

00:48:39.359 --> 00:48:42.359
what's happened. So, we can we can win

00:48:42.640 --> 00:48:44.616
in hell what we like. I don't think it's

00:48:44.640 --> 00:48:47.640
going to change anytime soon. Um, and

00:48:48.480 --> 00:48:51.335
those and I was around perhaps more than

00:48:51.359 --> 00:48:54.359
30 years ago in 1993 for when we when we

00:48:54.559 --> 00:48:56.776
actually put these controls in place in

00:48:56.800 --> 00:48:58.936
the first place. We had the large blocks

00:48:58.960 --> 00:49:01.656
there, the one or two acre blocks. Um,

00:49:01.680 --> 00:49:04.295
and then the Murray Cresant area was an

00:49:04.319 --> 00:49:07.319
interface area. it it wasn't Murray

00:49:08.160 --> 00:49:10.295
Murray Cresant per se council was trying

00:49:10.319 --> 00:49:12.055
to protect. It was the larger blocks

00:49:12.079 --> 00:49:14.376
that they that these other these blocks

00:49:14.400 --> 00:49:16.616
surrounded and they were the ones aimed

00:49:16.640 --> 00:49:19.095
to be protected. So it's really a matter

00:49:19.119 --> 00:49:20.696
of it was always going to be a matter of

00:49:20.720 --> 00:49:23.095
time before those blocks um were

00:49:23.119 --> 00:49:25.815
redeveloped into something smaller. Um

00:49:25.839 --> 00:49:28.839
that's lasted 35 years. So um it's been

00:49:29.359 --> 00:49:32.216
as good as far as it's gone got. But 

00:49:32.240 --> 00:49:34.136
I guess it's time for change now with

00:49:34.160 --> 00:49:36.936
new laws um new planning laws, new new

00:49:36.960 --> 00:49:38.936
demand for housing. We have to meet our

00:49:38.960 --> 00:49:41.960
our housing targets and um we do so in a

00:49:42.559 --> 00:49:45.416
in a welldesigned and structured way.

00:49:45.440 --> 00:49:47.176
Yeah.

00:49:47.200 --> 00:49:49.016
Thank you, Councelor Lockwood. Councelor

00:49:49.040 --> 00:49:51.416
Cooper, thank you. I just actually have

00:49:51.440 --> 00:49:54.440
a question. So my first question is

00:49:55.520 --> 00:49:58.520
clarification. So the alternate is an

00:49:58.800 --> 00:50:01.800
alternate motion to approve the

00:50:01.920 --> 00:50:03.736
application

00:50:03.760 --> 00:50:06.760
with the added points of B and C.

00:50:07.040 --> 00:50:10.040
And if this is lost, we move to the U

00:50:11.280 --> 00:50:14.280
motion which is in the agenda.

00:50:15.119 --> 00:50:18.119
Um and that is to approve.

00:50:19.359 --> 00:50:20.776
Yes. Or any other motion

00:50:20.800 --> 00:50:22.456
or any other motion if there's one put.

00:50:22.480 --> 00:50:24.295
So at this point in time there is no

00:50:24.319 --> 00:50:26.295
motion to refuse. just at this point in

00:50:26.319 --> 00:50:27.335
time to be clear.

00:50:27.359 --> 00:50:27.736
Yes.

00:50:27.760 --> 00:50:29.896
Um and the second question that I do

00:50:29.920 --> 00:50:32.920
have is um in relation to point B and C.

00:50:34.000 --> 00:50:36.456
Um so this is the first time I've seen

00:50:36.480 --> 00:50:38.456
it like this. I would have thought that

00:50:38.480 --> 00:50:40.216
we would have a separate notice of

00:50:40.240 --> 00:50:43.240
motion as advocacy points. Um I I I

00:50:45.280 --> 00:50:48.216
don't know I've seen it attached to a

00:50:48.240 --> 00:50:51.095
like a planning application for approval

00:50:51.119 --> 00:50:54.055
by council. So through the chair if I

00:50:54.079 --> 00:50:56.055
can seek clarification from one of the

00:50:56.079 --> 00:50:59.079
officers in relation to just process um

00:50:59.760 --> 00:51:01.736
that will suffice. Thank you.

00:51:01.760 --> 00:51:03.575
Thank you councelor Cooper. I'll put

00:51:03.599 --> 00:51:06.599
that question to  director McN. Thank

00:51:07.520 --> 00:51:08.216
you.

00:51:08.240 --> 00:51:11.240
Thank you mate. Um so through through

00:51:11.359 --> 00:51:14.359
the chair um the the alternate motion

00:51:14.720 --> 00:51:17.720
was was structured in this way  at the

00:51:17.760 --> 00:51:20.136
request of council appears to put the

00:51:20.160 --> 00:51:23.160
put the motion um and  based on when

00:51:24.559 --> 00:51:26.136
the request came through there was

00:51:26.160 --> 00:51:29.016
insufficient time to prepare a notice of

00:51:29.040 --> 00:51:31.095
motion in relation to these matters and

00:51:31.119 --> 00:51:33.176
have it circulated in accordance with

00:51:33.200 --> 00:51:36.200
our current processes.

00:51:37.280 --> 00:51:39.896
Question. Thank you. So the follow-up

00:51:39.920 --> 00:51:42.295
question then is should this particular

00:51:42.319 --> 00:51:45.319
alternate be supported the the council

00:51:45.440 --> 00:51:48.440
officers can then continue on to fulfill

00:51:49.119 --> 00:51:52.055
particularly point C the advocacy point.

00:51:52.079 --> 00:51:55.079
Um and this obviously moves through

00:51:55.520 --> 00:51:57.656
the application process with the

00:51:57.680 --> 00:52:00.680
applicant as well.

00:52:00.720 --> 00:52:03.656
Yes.

00:52:03.680 --> 00:52:06.680
 well yeah um I guess um point C of

00:52:06.720 --> 00:52:09.720
the alternate is is fairly um broad in

00:52:10.160 --> 00:52:12.535
its interpretation but um we have

00:52:12.559 --> 00:52:15.335
various avenues that we can continue to

00:52:15.359 --> 00:52:17.256
 advocate in relation to the impacts

00:52:17.280 --> 00:52:19.496
from the planning reform that has that

00:52:19.520 --> 00:52:21.575
has occurred and is occurring currently.

00:52:21.599 --> 00:52:24.599
Um and and we will continue to do that

00:52:24.640 --> 00:52:27.256
as part of our um advocacy that we do

00:52:27.280 --> 00:52:29.656
with various members of parliament um

00:52:29.680 --> 00:52:31.496
and other avenues as they become

00:52:31.520 --> 00:52:33.256
available.

00:52:33.280 --> 00:52:35.736
Thank you, Director McN.

00:52:35.760 --> 00:52:37.496
Okay. Thank you. Any other councelor

00:52:37.520 --> 00:52:40.520
wish to speak to the motion?

00:52:40.800 --> 00:52:42.456
Yes, councelor Duncan.

00:52:42.480 --> 00:52:44.295
 thank you and through you, Mayor. Um

00:52:44.319 --> 00:52:45.736
I believe all of us as councils have

00:52:45.760 --> 00:52:47.256
been inundated with correspondence

00:52:47.280 --> 00:52:49.416
regarding  this property for se

00:52:49.440 --> 00:52:51.656
several weeks. , and I believe it has

00:52:51.680 --> 00:52:54.680
a history going right back to 2018, I

00:52:54.800 --> 00:52:57.176
believe. Councelor Pearce, um, I wanted

00:52:57.200 --> 00:52:59.656
to ensure ensure all our residents were

00:52:59.680 --> 00:53:01.815
well aware, um, that we'd heard the

00:53:01.839 --> 00:53:03.176
concerns that have been brought up to

00:53:03.200 --> 00:53:06.200
us. , and I personally have absolutely

00:53:06.400 --> 00:53:08.376
taken those into consideration where

00:53:08.400 --> 00:53:11.400
they're able to be considered. Um, we're

00:53:11.440 --> 00:53:13.095
also aware as councilors of the previous

00:53:13.119 --> 00:53:14.936
VCAT determinations that relate to the

00:53:14.960 --> 00:53:16.295
development of this site, but we also

00:53:16.319 --> 00:53:17.976
need to be cognizant of the goalposts

00:53:18.000 --> 00:53:20.136
being shifted since those decisions were

00:53:20.160 --> 00:53:23.160
made. , while amendment C1 189  was

00:53:24.480 --> 00:53:26.136
part of the Knox planning scheme, its

00:53:26.160 --> 00:53:28.055
practical application for multi-unit

00:53:28.079 --> 00:53:29.656
developments has been significantly

00:53:29.680 --> 00:53:32.055
impacted by the statewide townhouse and

00:53:32.079 --> 00:53:35.079
low-rise code, which is amendment VC267

00:53:35.200 --> 00:53:37.736
that took effect in March last year.

00:53:37.760 --> 00:53:39.896
This code is  has a new deems to

00:53:39.920 --> 00:53:42.136
comply pathway, essentially deleting the

00:53:42.160 --> 00:53:44.535
old neighborhood character objectives

00:53:44.559 --> 00:53:46.696
for this type of development, making it

00:53:46.720 --> 00:53:48.456
harder for council to reject a proposal

00:53:48.480 --> 00:53:50.055
based solely on it not fitting in with

00:53:50.079 --> 00:53:52.616
the street's current look. Under the new

00:53:52.640 --> 00:53:54.776
framework, where a clause 55 standards

00:53:54.800 --> 00:53:56.616
are met, the corresponding objectives

00:53:56.640 --> 00:53:59.095
are also deemed to have been met. As

00:53:59.119 --> 00:54:00.936
laid out in the report before us, this

00:54:00.960 --> 00:54:02.456
application meets the objectives and

00:54:02.480 --> 00:54:04.696
standards of clause 55 and as such it's

00:54:04.720 --> 00:54:06.616
not open to any form of discretionary

00:54:06.640 --> 00:54:09.496
assessment by council.

00:54:09.520 --> 00:54:11.496
We also as a council need to remember

00:54:11.520 --> 00:54:13.416
our role in issuing planning permits.

00:54:13.440 --> 00:54:14.856
It's actually to apply the planning

00:54:14.880 --> 00:54:16.696
scheme as it stands today under the

00:54:16.720 --> 00:54:18.696
current guidelines. And with this

00:54:18.720 --> 00:54:20.936
particular application, we have no no

00:54:20.960 --> 00:54:23.736
issue  but sorry, no option but to

00:54:23.760 --> 00:54:26.216
issue  a permit to do anything

00:54:26.240 --> 00:54:27.976
otherwise would actually be failing in

00:54:28.000 --> 00:54:30.856
our duty as a planning authority. I want

00:54:30.880 --> 00:54:32.535
to make it very clear to our residents

00:54:32.559 --> 00:54:34.376
that while we absolutely support your

00:54:34.400 --> 00:54:35.976
concerns because we also have these

00:54:36.000 --> 00:54:37.656
concerns across the whole municipality

00:54:37.680 --> 00:54:39.256
with respect to maintaining the

00:54:39.280 --> 00:54:41.416
neighborhood character of Knox, our

00:54:41.440 --> 00:54:43.016
hands are essentially tied on this

00:54:43.040 --> 00:54:46.040
matter. Um, so I'd like to  thank

00:54:46.160 --> 00:54:47.656
councelor Pearce for the alternate here

00:54:47.680 --> 00:54:50.680
for putting a an advocacy piece to it.

00:54:50.880 --> 00:54:53.095
Um, I'm a little concerned that we're

00:54:53.119 --> 00:54:55.416
moving an alternate to approved, but the

00:54:55.440 --> 00:54:56.776
good work that you're adding to it,

00:54:56.800 --> 00:54:58.295
you're actually going to speak against.

00:54:58.319 --> 00:55:00.936
So, I'm wondering if if in future where

00:55:00.960 --> 00:55:02.856
there's limited scope for council to

00:55:02.880 --> 00:55:05.416
actually alter an outcome. Um, I

00:55:05.440 --> 00:55:07.095
actually question whether it's actually

00:55:07.119 --> 00:55:09.095
worth removing the delegation and

00:55:09.119 --> 00:55:10.696
calling this up as an item cuz it's sort

00:55:10.720 --> 00:55:12.616
of like we're giving our residents false

00:55:12.640 --> 00:55:15.575
hope that we can actually make a change.

00:55:15.599 --> 00:55:17.256
, and maybe we should actually have

00:55:17.280 --> 00:55:18.616
conversations with our affected

00:55:18.640 --> 00:55:20.216
residents and discuss their concern and

00:55:20.240 --> 00:55:22.856
manage expectations rather than bringing

00:55:22.880 --> 00:55:24.456
forward a matter to council where

00:55:24.480 --> 00:55:26.055
clearly we're constrained and can't

00:55:26.079 --> 00:55:28.295
influence an outcome.

00:55:28.319 --> 00:55:30.055
Thank you, councelor Duncan. Would any

00:55:30.079 --> 00:55:31.736
other counselor like to speak to the

00:55:31.760 --> 00:55:34.055
motion? Councelor.

00:55:34.079 --> 00:55:36.696
, thank you, Mayor. Um, yeah, this is

00:55:36.720 --> 00:55:39.720
a this is a tricky one  in that our

00:55:39.760 --> 00:55:41.656
hands aren't effectively  aren't

00:55:41.680 --> 00:55:44.055
effectively tied. They are tied. The

00:55:44.079 --> 00:55:46.936
application meets the deem to comply 

00:55:46.960 --> 00:55:49.896
provisions and therefore  a permit

00:55:49.920 --> 00:55:52.295
must be issued. um either we issue the

00:55:52.319 --> 00:55:54.616
permit tonight with the conditions um

00:55:54.640 --> 00:55:56.856
that we have in the report um or it goes

00:55:56.880 --> 00:55:59.496
to VCAT for what will effectively be a

00:55:59.520 --> 00:56:02.216
rubber stamp. Um the times where we go

00:56:02.240 --> 00:56:04.295
to VCAT to see how we go to see what we

00:56:04.319 --> 00:56:06.936
might get um those times are long gone.

00:56:06.960 --> 00:56:08.856
This would be an expensive frivolous

00:56:08.880 --> 00:56:11.880
exercise. um where where I have um yeah

00:56:13.440 --> 00:56:15.335
where my issue really here is the work

00:56:15.359 --> 00:56:18.359
that went into the C89 Knox  amendment

00:56:18.720 --> 00:56:20.535
which was gazetted what 28th of

00:56:20.559 --> 00:56:23.256
September 2023

00:56:23.280 --> 00:56:26.280
um has effectively been  swept aside

00:56:26.799 --> 00:56:29.799
um those local character protections

00:56:29.839 --> 00:56:32.839
have been overridden and swept aside um

00:56:32.960 --> 00:56:34.936
and what less than two years later we've

00:56:34.960 --> 00:56:37.575
now got an application that was you know

00:56:37.599 --> 00:56:39.815
squarely inside that area that can now

00:56:39.839 --> 00:56:42.839
just be   tie our hands in a on a

00:56:43.760 --> 00:56:46.616
deemed to comply basis um that operates

00:56:46.640 --> 00:56:49.016
outside those local controls and and

00:56:49.040 --> 00:56:51.176
that was a substantial body of work um

00:56:51.200 --> 00:56:53.176
as the report outlines. It was years of

00:56:53.200 --> 00:56:55.496
work. We made all the submissions we had

00:56:55.520 --> 00:56:57.496
to make. We did all the advocacy that we

00:56:57.520 --> 00:57:00.520
needed to do um to recognize those 33

00:57:00.960 --> 00:57:02.616
properties along Taylor's Lane, Murray,

00:57:02.640 --> 00:57:04.856
Cresant, Vista, Cresant, and Forom Court

00:57:04.880 --> 00:57:07.016
to recognize that transition and buffer

00:57:07.040 --> 00:57:09.575
to the low density  residential zone.

00:57:09.599 --> 00:57:11.736
So that is extremely extremely

00:57:11.760 --> 00:57:14.760
frustrating and um I empathize with our

00:57:15.280 --> 00:57:18.280
residents who are confused as to what 

00:57:18.880 --> 00:57:20.535
they can come and ask of their local

00:57:20.559 --> 00:57:22.535
counselors in this sort of process

00:57:22.559 --> 00:57:24.616
because it does feel like um the

00:57:24.640 --> 00:57:26.456
goalposts have shifted as a colleague

00:57:26.480 --> 00:57:29.480
has said. So um I find this 

00:57:30.000 --> 00:57:33.000
particularly  difficult and um tonight

00:57:33.119 --> 00:57:35.896
it's councelor Pearce um  in another

00:57:35.920 --> 00:57:37.656
month it will fall to another counselor.

00:57:37.680 --> 00:57:39.496
Um, I've talked about a a difficult

00:57:39.520 --> 00:57:41.256
planning matter that I've got coming up

00:57:41.280 --> 00:57:43.815
in Scoresby and um, I feel like it will

00:57:43.839 --> 00:57:45.815
be a very similar conversation for other

00:57:45.839 --> 00:57:47.176
counselors on other planning

00:57:47.200 --> 00:57:49.976
applications. Um, I don't support

00:57:50.000 --> 00:57:51.976
refusing it. I don't think we get a

00:57:52.000 --> 00:57:54.295
better result by ending up at VCAT. I

00:57:54.319 --> 00:57:56.136
think we potentially lose some of the

00:57:56.160 --> 00:57:58.216
conditions that we've got in our report

00:57:58.240 --> 00:58:01.016
um, if we go to VCAT um, and let let

00:58:01.040 --> 00:58:04.040
them decide it. So, um I think that

00:58:04.240 --> 00:58:06.376
means I'm supporting councelor Pearce's

00:58:06.400 --> 00:58:09.400
alternate motion um to to issue a

00:58:10.079 --> 00:58:12.376
planning permit, but I do so under under

00:58:12.400 --> 00:58:15.400
serious duress and and and agree with

00:58:15.440 --> 00:58:17.736
the advocacy piece that we should be

00:58:17.760 --> 00:58:20.055
making our voice heard loud and clear to

00:58:20.079 --> 00:58:22.376
the state that we want to see the local

00:58:22.400 --> 00:58:25.400
character  recognition  and the work

00:58:26.400 --> 00:58:28.616
that we did over many years and at great

00:58:28.640 --> 00:58:31.335
expense be  brought back into into

00:58:31.359 --> 00:58:33.016
scope. open consideration for these

00:58:33.040 --> 00:58:35.815
sorts of  permit applications. So,

00:58:35.839 --> 00:58:38.376
I'll support  the alternate um

00:58:38.400 --> 00:58:40.535
somewhat reluctantly and um thank

00:58:40.559 --> 00:58:43.559
councelor Pearce um for her  advocacy

00:58:44.000 --> 00:58:46.216
and and representation of of her

00:58:46.240 --> 00:58:47.896
residents  down there in Murray

00:58:47.920 --> 00:58:50.055
Cresant and  and surrounding streets.

00:58:50.079 --> 00:58:50.775
Thank you.

00:58:50.799 --> 00:58:52.616
Thank you, Councelor. Would any other

00:58:52.640 --> 00:58:55.640
counselor like to speak?

00:58:57.040 --> 00:58:59.575
No, I just  I I also want to thank

00:58:59.599 --> 00:59:01.815
councelor Pearce for your  continued

00:59:01.839 --> 00:59:04.775
ad advocacy for your residents. I also

00:59:04.799 --> 00:59:06.376
acknowledge the concerns that have been

00:59:06.400 --> 00:59:08.856
raised by residents and the email

00:59:08.880 --> 00:59:10.936
contact that all counselors have

00:59:10.960 --> 00:59:12.696
received. I acknowledge and I have read

00:59:12.720 --> 00:59:15.720
each piece of um feedback  through

00:59:16.799 --> 00:59:19.736
those emails and I understand um

00:59:19.760 --> 00:59:21.736
concerns raised around neighborhood

00:59:21.760 --> 00:59:24.055
character and particularly about the

00:59:24.079 --> 00:59:26.055
compliance with neighborhood residential

00:59:26.079 --> 00:59:29.079
zone. Um I do want to ask a question of

00:59:30.000 --> 00:59:33.000
director McNell if if if I may. Um can

00:59:33.520 --> 00:59:36.520
you please explain um how the

00:59:37.200 --> 00:59:40.200
neighborhood residential zone is applied

00:59:40.480 --> 00:59:43.480
under  clause 55 please?

00:59:45.599 --> 00:59:48.599
Thank you Mayor Kennet. Um my answer to

00:59:48.880 --> 00:59:51.880
this is is a little bit of ex expanding

00:59:51.920 --> 00:59:53.575
a bit on what councelor Duncan has

00:59:53.599 --> 00:59:56.599
already spoken to. Um so in terms of the

00:59:57.680 --> 00:59:59.335
planning controls that existed in the

00:59:59.359 --> 01:00:00.775
planning scheme that were implemented

01:00:00.799 --> 01:00:03.799
through um planning team amendment 189

01:00:04.400 --> 01:00:06.376
um those controls were specific to this

01:00:06.400 --> 01:00:08.136
location as been as has already been

01:00:08.160 --> 01:00:09.896
discussed this evening in relation to

01:00:09.920 --> 01:00:11.176
those properties that are in that

01:00:11.200 --> 01:00:13.416
transition zone between  the

01:00:13.440 --> 01:00:16.136
lowdensity residential zone and um

01:00:16.160 --> 01:00:17.976
conventional residential areas of

01:00:18.000 --> 01:00:20.295
Roville. So through the various

01:00:20.319 --> 01:00:23.319
state-led reforms um to the planning

01:00:23.520 --> 01:00:26.055
scheme through early 2025 including

01:00:26.079 --> 01:00:29.079
amendments 191 Knox VC267 and VC276.

01:00:31.280 --> 01:00:33.256
All of those controls were rolled back

01:00:33.280 --> 01:00:36.280
out of not just um NRZ9 but various

01:00:36.640 --> 01:00:39.640
other  residential zones within Knox.

01:00:40.880 --> 01:00:43.335
Um, so the former requirements that sat

01:00:43.359 --> 01:00:45.656
within NRZ 9 as a result of planning

01:00:45.680 --> 01:00:47.896
scheme amendment C189

01:00:47.920 --> 01:00:49.496
no longer exist in the planning scheme

01:00:49.520 --> 01:00:51.176
and can't be considered as part of the

01:00:51.200 --> 01:00:52.856
assessment of this or any other

01:00:52.880 --> 01:00:54.775
application in this location in this

01:00:54.799 --> 01:00:57.256
part of Knox.

01:00:57.280 --> 01:01:00.280
Thank you director McN. Um 

01:01:02.160 --> 01:01:04.616
this does pose a a challenge for us as

01:01:04.640 --> 01:01:07.640
counselors because being the um

01:01:08.799 --> 01:01:11.095
the role that counselors play in

01:01:11.119 --> 01:01:13.656
listening to residents and their

01:01:13.680 --> 01:01:15.656
concerns and then representing that at

01:01:15.680 --> 01:01:17.575
council and then not being able to play

01:01:17.599 --> 01:01:20.599
that role is um extremely challenging.

01:01:20.960 --> 01:01:22.696
Um

01:01:22.720 --> 01:01:25.256
I do also acknowledge the contact that

01:01:25.280 --> 01:01:27.736
we've had from our local state member in

01:01:27.760 --> 01:01:30.616
Roville and the role that he will um

01:01:30.640 --> 01:01:32.696
potentially be playing  through

01:01:32.720 --> 01:01:35.720
parliament in raising this issue um

01:01:35.760 --> 01:01:37.736
under the current legislation and

01:01:37.760 --> 01:01:40.760
planning framework.  council does not

01:01:41.520 --> 01:01:44.456
have a lawful position to refuse.

01:01:44.480 --> 01:01:47.480
Um I would like to add too that  I

01:01:47.839 --> 01:01:49.896
together with a number of our council

01:01:49.920 --> 01:01:51.095
officers will be meeting with the

01:01:51.119 --> 01:01:53.335
minister of planning tomorrow 

01:01:53.359 --> 01:01:55.496
fortunately. So we will be raising this

01:01:55.520 --> 01:01:58.520
issue specifically with her  so that

01:01:59.440 --> 01:02:02.440
she understands the  the local impact

01:02:02.720 --> 01:02:05.720
that those broader changes  that have

01:02:06.160 --> 01:02:08.936
been um implemented are actually having

01:02:08.960 --> 01:02:11.575
on the ground. I also encourage all

01:02:11.599 --> 01:02:13.496
residents to contact your local state

01:02:13.520 --> 01:02:15.335
member and let them know how these

01:02:15.359 --> 01:02:17.575
changes are impacting you because the

01:02:17.599 --> 01:02:19.736
more voices that are heard, the more

01:02:19.760 --> 01:02:22.216
that is understood by our state

01:02:22.240 --> 01:02:24.376
representatives.

01:02:24.400 --> 01:02:27.335
Um, and I will pass back to councelor

01:02:27.359 --> 01:02:29.016
Pierers if you would like your right of

01:02:29.040 --> 01:02:31.335
reply.

01:02:31.359 --> 01:02:33.736
Yes, madame Mayor, I would.

01:02:33.760 --> 01:02:35.575
Unfortunately, I couldn't raise a notice

01:02:35.599 --> 01:02:37.896
of motion for my advocacy points um

01:02:37.920 --> 01:02:39.815
because it was too late.

01:02:39.839 --> 01:02:41.896
That's the reason why I've done this the

01:02:41.920 --> 01:02:44.920
way it is done.

01:02:44.960 --> 01:02:47.016
I want to say that a lot of work was

01:02:47.040 --> 01:02:50.040
done to refuse to a lot of work was done

01:02:50.240 --> 01:02:53.240
to protect these blocks.

01:02:53.680 --> 01:02:56.680
Not because

01:02:57.440 --> 01:03:00.216
for any any not for a frivolous reason.

01:03:00.240 --> 01:03:02.936
These blocks needed to be protected.

01:03:02.960 --> 01:03:05.736
pushing these multi-developments into

01:03:05.760 --> 01:03:08.760
this area when we a don't have any

01:03:09.760 --> 01:03:12.760
transport, b is not an activity center

01:03:13.760 --> 01:03:16.760
near it is ridiculous. I'm sorry on a

01:03:18.000 --> 01:03:21.000
moral ground. I cannot support this

01:03:21.359 --> 01:03:23.015
application.

01:03:23.039 --> 01:03:26.039
I must it comes down to my conscience

01:03:27.039 --> 01:03:29.176
and

01:03:29.200 --> 01:03:31.176
at the end of the day I have to listen

01:03:31.200 --> 01:03:34.200
to what my residents are telling me and

01:03:34.400 --> 01:03:36.696
it's not just relatants

01:03:36.720 --> 01:03:39.335
residents in Ian Roville it's residents

01:03:39.359 --> 01:03:41.095
across Knox that have been talking to me

01:03:41.119 --> 01:03:44.119
about it so I am going to reject my

01:03:44.240 --> 01:03:46.856
alternate I know it's not a normal

01:03:46.880 --> 01:03:48.456
process

01:03:48.480 --> 01:03:51.480
but on this basis that is what I'm me

01:03:53.039 --> 01:03:56.039
and all I can do is I'm basically voting

01:03:57.039 --> 01:03:59.896
my conscience and that's what I the

01:03:59.920 --> 01:04:02.920
people of my ward put me in here to do

01:04:04.400 --> 01:04:06.216
and that's what I'm doing and I'm

01:04:06.240 --> 01:04:08.616
standing firm on that basis. Thank you,

01:04:08.640 --> 01:04:11.496
Madame May. Thank you, Councelor Pearce.

01:04:11.520 --> 01:04:14.136
Um I'll now put the motion. All those in

01:04:14.160 --> 01:04:17.160
favor of the alternate motion.

01:04:18.079 --> 01:04:20.376
All those against

01:04:20.400 --> 01:04:23.400
that motion is carried.

01:04:23.599 --> 01:04:25.095
 councelor Pearce has called a

01:04:25.119 --> 01:04:27.015
division. So I'll set that motion aside

01:04:27.039 --> 01:04:29.335
and call the motion again. All those in

01:04:29.359 --> 01:04:32.359
favor with the alternate motion.

01:04:33.119 --> 01:04:35.335
 councelor Williams, councelor Atwell,

01:04:35.359 --> 01:04:37.416
councelor Considine, councelor Kennet,

01:04:37.440 --> 01:04:39.575
councelor Low, councelor Duncan,

01:04:39.599 --> 01:04:41.815
councelor Cooper, councelor Baker. All

01:04:41.839 --> 01:04:44.055
those opposed.

01:04:44.079 --> 01:04:46.136
Councelor Pearce. That motion is

01:04:46.160 --> 01:04:49.160
carried.

01:04:52.799 --> 01:04:55.799
 we now move on to item seven, public

01:04:56.079 --> 01:04:58.936
question time. Council allocates 30

01:04:58.960 --> 01:05:00.616
minutes to consider questions from the

01:05:00.640 --> 01:05:02.136
community. I'd like to take this

01:05:02.160 --> 01:05:04.055
opportunity to remind everyone that

01:05:04.079 --> 01:05:05.896
public question time is not your only

01:05:05.920 --> 01:05:08.616
opportunity to engage with council. If

01:05:08.640 --> 01:05:10.456
you have questions, I encourage you to

01:05:10.480 --> 01:05:12.376
consider contacting council through our

01:05:12.400 --> 01:05:14.696
usual channels, including through our

01:05:14.720 --> 01:05:16.936
customer service team or via our

01:05:16.960 --> 01:05:19.095
website. I would also encourage everyone

01:05:19.119 --> 01:05:22.119
to make use of our have your say page to

01:05:22.400 --> 01:05:23.976
access information about current

01:05:24.000 --> 01:05:26.216
projects and to submit questions or

01:05:26.240 --> 01:05:29.015
provide feedback on them. Our protocols

01:05:29.039 --> 01:05:30.936
for submitting and considering public

01:05:30.960 --> 01:05:32.696
questions are set out in council's

01:05:32.720 --> 01:05:34.856
governance rules, which include an

01:05:34.880 --> 01:05:36.936
opportunity for submitters to lodge a

01:05:36.960 --> 01:05:38.856
maximum of two questions and for

01:05:38.880 --> 01:05:40.535
submitters to speak to their questions

01:05:40.559 --> 01:05:43.559
for up to 2 minutes. Before we move to

01:05:43.599 --> 01:05:45.335
questions, I'll note for submitters that

01:05:45.359 --> 01:05:48.216
copies of your questions as submitted

01:05:48.240 --> 01:05:50.376
have been circulated to counselors in

01:05:50.400 --> 01:05:53.015
full, inclusive of any commentary or

01:05:53.039 --> 01:05:55.815
background material provided. or remind

01:05:55.839 --> 01:05:57.335
submitters too that this is an

01:05:57.359 --> 01:05:59.736
opportunity to introduce your questions

01:05:59.760 --> 01:06:01.575
you have already submitted and not an

01:06:01.599 --> 01:06:04.055
opportunity to participate in debate or

01:06:04.079 --> 01:06:05.976
an opportunity to change or add to your

01:06:06.000 --> 01:06:07.335
questions that have already been

01:06:07.359 --> 01:06:08.856
submitted.

01:06:08.880 --> 01:06:11.335
By choosing to participate, submitters

01:06:11.359 --> 01:06:13.256
acknowledge that your name, submissions,

01:06:13.280 --> 01:06:15.656
and your images are being captured and

01:06:15.680 --> 01:06:17.896
may be broadcast on the live stream and

01:06:17.920 --> 01:06:20.136
recording. I also remind you that you're

01:06:20.160 --> 01:06:22.856
personally liable  sorry personally

01:06:22.880 --> 01:06:24.616
responsible for your own comments and

01:06:24.640 --> 01:06:26.696
therefore may be personally liable for

01:06:26.720 --> 01:06:29.176
any loss or damage they may cause. I

01:06:29.200 --> 01:06:31.815
would also ask that respect be afforded

01:06:31.839 --> 01:06:34.295
to all participants and that the gallery

01:06:34.319 --> 01:06:35.976
remained silent while people are

01:06:36.000 --> 01:06:38.856
speaking. We'll now move on to our

01:06:38.880 --> 01:06:41.015
questions.

01:06:41.039 --> 01:06:44.039
 we've got question one from Kirsten.

01:06:45.039 --> 01:06:46.856
Kirsten, are you in the gallery this

01:06:46.880 --> 01:06:49.335
evening with us?

01:06:49.359 --> 01:06:52.359
No. Um, I will read the question

01:06:53.520 --> 01:06:56.520
here.

01:06:59.520 --> 01:07:02.520
Yes.

01:07:38.400 --> 01:07:39.656
Sorry, I was just getting some

01:07:39.680 --> 01:07:42.055
clarification um because Kirsten's not

01:07:42.079 --> 01:07:44.696
in the gallery with us this evening. 

01:07:44.720 --> 01:07:47.416
her question was around  council

01:07:47.440 --> 01:07:49.656
marking the start of Islamic Ramadan on

01:07:49.680 --> 01:07:52.680
the 18th of February  on Facebook and

01:07:53.440 --> 01:07:55.496
council had promoted and acknowledge

01:07:55.520 --> 01:07:58.055
Ramadan multiple times in recent years.

01:07:58.079 --> 01:08:01.079
So her two questions were can counselors

01:08:01.599 --> 01:08:04.055
explain how the decision to repeatedly

01:08:04.079 --> 01:08:06.376
ignore Lent and regularly spotlight

01:08:06.400 --> 01:08:08.535
Ramadan was made and the second question

01:08:08.559 --> 01:08:11.335
was does council intend on spotlighting

01:08:11.359 --> 01:08:14.359
Christian Lent in future? If so, when?

01:08:15.119 --> 01:08:18.119
Um, if I may, , put this question to

01:08:19.679 --> 01:08:22.456
acting director connected communities.

01:08:22.480 --> 01:08:25.480
, Nicole Coline. Thank you.

01:08:26.480 --> 01:08:28.616
Thanks, Mayor through you and, ,

01:08:28.640 --> 01:08:31.016
thanks for the question. So, I believe a

01:08:31.040 --> 01:08:33.655
previous email, um, has gone back to

01:08:33.679 --> 01:08:36.679
Kirsten. , so no city council is proud

01:08:36.719 --> 01:08:38.856
to serve a diverse and inclusive

01:08:38.880 --> 01:08:40.856
community with people from many

01:08:40.880 --> 01:08:43.096
cultural, faith backgrounds.

01:08:43.120 --> 01:08:45.496
Council is committed to recognizing and

01:08:45.520 --> 01:08:48.376
celebrating this diversity in a way that

01:08:48.400 --> 01:08:51.255
is respectful and balanced. There are

01:08:51.279 --> 01:08:53.175
many religious and cultural occasions

01:08:53.199 --> 01:08:54.856
that are important to different members

01:08:54.880 --> 01:08:57.416
of our community throughout the year.

01:08:57.440 --> 01:08:59.496
While we acknowledge the significance of

01:08:59.520 --> 01:09:02.135
these occasions, it is not feasible for

01:09:02.159 --> 01:09:04.135
council to individually promote

01:09:04.159 --> 01:09:06.135
everyone.

01:09:06.159 --> 01:09:08.616
Instead, our approach is to ensure our

01:09:08.640 --> 01:09:11.175
communications and activities reflect

01:09:11.199 --> 01:09:14.056
the broad diversity of our community in

01:09:14.080 --> 01:09:16.775
an inclusive and considered way. This

01:09:16.799 --> 01:09:19.255
includes recognizing a range of cultural

01:09:19.279 --> 01:09:21.496
and faith-based activities across the

01:09:21.520 --> 01:09:24.295
year, as well as supporting initiatives

01:09:24.319 --> 01:09:26.295
that bring people together, such as

01:09:26.319 --> 01:09:28.295
multiffaith events and community

01:09:28.319 --> 01:09:29.976
celebrations.

01:09:30.000 --> 01:09:32.295
In relation to Christian occasions

01:09:32.319 --> 01:09:34.456
specifically, council has shared

01:09:34.480 --> 01:09:37.480
messages and supported events such as

01:09:37.920 --> 01:09:40.920
Knox carols which includes an interfaith

01:09:41.120 --> 01:09:44.120
message, prayer,  a meril Christmas

01:09:44.239 --> 01:09:47.096
message and an Easter post. We remain

01:09:47.120 --> 01:09:49.335
committed to fostering a community where

01:09:49.359 --> 01:09:51.896
all people feel respected, included, and

01:09:51.920 --> 01:09:54.920
represented. Thank you.

01:09:54.960 --> 01:09:57.960
Thank you, Nicole.

01:09:59.520 --> 01:10:02.520
, we've got question two from Darren

01:10:02.560 --> 01:10:04.215
Pearce.

01:10:04.239 --> 01:10:07.239
I'll read your question. Um, Mr. Pearce

01:10:07.920 --> 01:10:10.856
um before proposing to cut the pensioner

01:10:10.880 --> 01:10:13.880
rate rebate in the 2627 draft budget,

01:10:14.800 --> 01:10:17.800
did council quantify its internal

01:10:18.080 --> 01:10:21.080
corporate services overhead costs? And

01:10:21.440 --> 01:10:23.816
what is the total annual salary cost of

01:10:23.840 --> 01:10:25.655
the chief executive officer, five

01:10:25.679 --> 01:10:28.056
directors, chief financial officer, and

01:10:28.080 --> 01:10:30.376
all managers who report directly to them

01:10:30.400 --> 01:10:33.400
in 2020 2025 and 26? You have two

01:10:34.560 --> 01:10:35.896
minutes to speak to your question, Mr.

01:10:35.920 --> 01:10:38.296
Thank you, Mayor Kennet and councilors.

01:10:38.320 --> 01:10:39.896
As you're well aware, I've sat in that

01:10:39.920 --> 01:10:42.215
chair and I know how the budget process

01:10:42.239 --> 01:10:44.536
works intimately.

01:10:44.560 --> 01:10:46.456
Tonight, my questions are about one

01:10:46.480 --> 01:10:49.480
decision in the draft budget proposal to

01:10:49.920 --> 01:10:52.920
cut the pension rebate by 25%.

01:10:53.520 --> 01:10:56.520
Saving 250,000 a year.

01:10:57.199 --> 01:10:59.175
Before that decision was made, I believe

01:10:59.199 --> 01:11:01.576
rate payers deserve to know what was

01:11:01.600 --> 01:11:04.600
looked at first. So I looked I used my

01:11:05.600 --> 01:11:08.536
AI platform to analyze council's own

01:11:08.560 --> 01:11:11.416
budget from for 2526.

01:11:11.440 --> 01:11:14.440
It took a matter of minutes.

01:11:15.360 --> 01:11:18.360
Knox Council spends $34 million running

01:11:18.800 --> 01:11:21.096
its corporate overhead,

01:11:21.120 --> 01:11:24.120
IT, finance, HR, governance, strategy,

01:11:24.159 --> 01:11:27.159
risk, procurement, customer service.

01:11:27.679 --> 01:11:30.679
On top of that, for 2024 estimate, Knox

01:11:32.320 --> 01:11:35.320
Council spends 350,000 a year on a whole

01:11:35.600 --> 01:11:37.496
range of external organization

01:11:37.520 --> 01:11:40.296
memberships, internal

01:11:40.320 --> 01:11:43.320
 discretionary committees.

01:11:44.960 --> 01:11:47.256
I'm not here to say that the spending is

01:11:47.280 --> 01:11:50.280
wrong. I'm here to ask whether it was

01:11:51.040 --> 01:11:53.655
seriously examined before pensioners

01:11:53.679 --> 01:11:56.679
were asked to take wear a cut.

01:11:56.960 --> 01:11:59.096
I also like to point out it's a written

01:11:59.120 --> 01:12:02.120
fact that multiple councilors

01:12:02.400 --> 01:12:04.456
supported retaining the pension a rebate

01:12:04.480 --> 01:12:07.175
at the last election and had their

01:12:07.199 --> 01:12:10.199
material back to basics.

01:12:10.719 --> 01:12:12.296
That's the background of my two

01:12:12.320 --> 01:12:14.776
questions.

01:12:14.800 --> 01:12:17.800
Thank you Mr. Pearce.  I'll put that

01:12:18.400 --> 01:12:21.400
 question to our CEO. Thank you Bruce.

01:12:22.560 --> 01:12:23.896
Thank you mayer. Thanks for your

01:12:23.920 --> 01:12:25.896
question Darren. I know that you've

01:12:25.920 --> 01:12:27.736
referred to two questions. The Mayor has

01:12:27.760 --> 01:12:29.576
read one. Would you like me to address

01:12:29.600 --> 01:12:31.096
both of them at once?

01:12:31.120 --> 01:12:34.120
Okay. And perhaps then just for clarity,

01:12:34.159 --> 01:12:36.135
the the second question was how many

01:12:36.159 --> 01:12:38.215
formal service reviews did the strategy

01:12:38.239 --> 01:12:41.239
and performance team complete in 2023 24

01:12:42.320 --> 01:12:43.976
and what was the total dollar value of

01:12:44.000 --> 01:12:46.376
savings those services reviews delivered

01:12:46.400 --> 01:12:47.896
to rate payers. So I'll cover both of

01:12:47.920 --> 01:12:50.856
those in in my response. Um, so just by

01:12:50.880 --> 01:12:53.336
way of context and responding to some of

01:12:53.360 --> 01:12:55.256
those introductory comments, um, before

01:12:55.280 --> 01:12:57.016
turning to your specific questions, I

01:12:57.040 --> 01:12:59.655
can advise council does indeed look hard

01:12:59.679 --> 01:13:02.296
at its costs on a continual basis and

01:13:02.320 --> 01:13:04.695
focuses, , on this each year as part

01:13:04.719 --> 01:13:07.336
of its budget process. , this is done

01:13:07.360 --> 01:13:10.360
as part of good business practice and is

01:13:10.480 --> 01:13:12.056
more than important more important than

01:13:12.080 --> 01:13:14.856
ever in a rate cap environment. Over the

01:13:14.880 --> 01:13:17.880
past the last four budgets, council has

01:13:18.159 --> 01:13:20.376
achieved cumulative operational savings

01:13:20.400 --> 01:13:23.400
of $7.4 million peranom and this has

01:13:23.760 --> 01:13:25.016
been achieved through improved

01:13:25.040 --> 01:13:27.655
efficiencies, reduced costs, adjustments

01:13:27.679 --> 01:13:29.655
to user charges were appropriate and

01:13:29.679 --> 01:13:32.679
some updates to service levels.

01:13:32.719 --> 01:13:34.456
Responding to your first question

01:13:34.480 --> 01:13:37.480
specifically,  councilors  yes

01:13:37.600 --> 01:13:39.416
indeed had information on all parts of

01:13:39.440 --> 01:13:41.496
the budget including those relating to

01:13:41.520 --> 01:13:44.520
internal corporate services. The total

01:13:44.719 --> 01:13:46.936
annual salary cost of the forementioned

01:13:46.960 --> 01:13:49.960
group is expected to be around $5.6

01:13:50.080 --> 01:13:53.080
million in the 202526

01:13:53.199 --> 01:13:55.655
year.  these costs are reviewed based

01:13:55.679 --> 01:13:57.496
on benchmarking and market conditions

01:13:57.520 --> 01:14:00.056
and represent around 7% of council's

01:14:00.080 --> 01:14:02.776
total employee costs.

01:14:02.800 --> 01:14:04.856
 in relation to your  second

01:14:04.880 --> 01:14:07.880
question around um service reviews and

01:14:07.920 --> 01:14:10.920
the strategy and performance service 

01:14:11.520 --> 01:14:13.896
that service um strategy and performance

01:14:13.920 --> 01:14:15.655
comprises a number of functions that

01:14:15.679 --> 01:14:17.816
includes supporting the development of

01:14:17.840 --> 01:14:19.256
the council on health and well-being

01:14:19.280 --> 01:14:22.056
plan and associated annual plans,

01:14:22.080 --> 01:14:23.976
quarterly and annual reporting to

01:14:24.000 --> 01:14:26.776
council, oversight of  the portfolio

01:14:26.800 --> 01:14:29.256
of projects that are underway,  change

01:14:29.280 --> 01:14:30.936
management and customer experience

01:14:30.960 --> 01:14:33.736
support  leading service reviews and

01:14:33.760 --> 01:14:36.616
service planning processes is just a

01:14:36.640 --> 01:14:39.096
part of this services role.  but it's

01:14:39.120 --> 01:14:41.096
one that has been key to realizing those

01:14:41.120 --> 01:14:43.816
operational savings over the last 

01:14:43.840 --> 01:14:45.576
four budget cycles that I mentioned

01:14:45.600 --> 01:14:48.600
earlier.  in 2023 24 specifically 

01:14:50.480 --> 01:14:52.616
service reviews included reviewing

01:14:52.640 --> 01:14:54.695
council's occasional care and youth

01:14:54.719 --> 01:14:57.096
counseling services with those specific

01:14:57.120 --> 01:14:58.936
reviews delivering savings of around

01:14:58.960 --> 01:15:01.896
$300,000 peranom.

01:15:01.920 --> 01:15:04.456
Thank you.

01:15:04.480 --> 01:15:07.480
Thank you, Bruce. Um, we will go to

01:15:07.520 --> 01:15:10.520
question three now. , Ashley,

01:15:11.360 --> 01:15:13.256
I will read your question and then

01:15:13.280 --> 01:15:15.016
you'll have two minutes to speak to your

01:15:15.040 --> 01:15:16.616
question.

01:15:16.640 --> 01:15:19.175
Could

01:15:19.199 --> 01:15:20.936
 I'll read your question, Ashley, and

01:15:20.960 --> 01:15:22.456
then you'll have two minutes to speak to

01:15:22.480 --> 01:15:24.135
your question because your reading of

01:15:24.159 --> 01:15:25.816
the question is included in your two

01:15:25.840 --> 01:15:27.816
minutes question time. No, it wasn't

01:15:27.840 --> 01:15:30.840
going to be

01:15:31.360 --> 01:15:33.175
 it will be included in the two

01:15:33.199 --> 01:15:35.655
minutes of the question time. So would

01:15:35.679 --> 01:15:37.096
you if I read the question for you,

01:15:37.120 --> 01:15:39.096
you'll have two minutes to speak.

01:15:39.120 --> 01:15:42.120
Yes, you can leave without

01:15:44.719 --> 01:15:47.175
Okay, I'll I'll I'll  read your

01:15:47.199 --> 01:15:48.856
question now. Could you please tell us

01:15:48.880 --> 01:15:51.496
the cost of council stated engaging

01:15:51.520 --> 01:15:54.056
trainers to run free or lowcost dog

01:15:54.080 --> 01:15:57.080
training of the lowcost dog desexing of

01:15:58.960 --> 01:16:01.816
investigate noise recording tools of

01:16:01.840 --> 01:16:04.776
extra bin locations waste bags and

01:16:04.800 --> 01:16:07.800
promote the use of dog waste composters.

01:16:08.159 --> 01:16:10.936
Investigate proactive dog programs.

01:16:10.960 --> 01:16:13.336
Develop a written decision-making

01:16:13.360 --> 01:16:15.816
process for offending dogs. making,

01:16:15.840 --> 01:16:17.655
printing, distributing information

01:16:17.679 --> 01:16:20.536
booklets for attack investigations.

01:16:20.560 --> 01:16:22.695
Making, printing, distributing sessions

01:16:22.719 --> 01:16:25.016
of run education campaigns with the

01:16:25.040 --> 01:16:27.896
biodiversity team on semi-owned cats.

01:16:27.920 --> 01:16:29.976
Printing, distributing sessions of

01:16:30.000 --> 01:16:32.215
promote Victorian government cat

01:16:32.239 --> 01:16:35.239
programs and cat containment messaging,

01:16:35.360 --> 01:16:38.056
ongoing physical park patrols, officer

01:16:38.080 --> 01:16:40.456
door knocks, outdoor property searches,

01:16:40.480 --> 01:16:43.480
searching animal sale transfers

01:16:43.679 --> 01:16:46.215
separately. also estimating officer paid

01:16:46.239 --> 01:16:48.936
time to be spent on each action. You

01:16:48.960 --> 01:16:50.215
have two minutes to speak to your

01:16:50.239 --> 01:16:53.239
question.

01:16:54.480 --> 01:16:57.480
Animal surrender charge $146

01:16:58.640 --> 01:17:00.776
lightly leads to abandoned cats and

01:17:00.800 --> 01:17:03.800
kittens. We rescued a very thin cat from

01:17:03.840 --> 01:17:06.456
a neighbor's chicken coupe. Knox dogs

01:17:06.480 --> 01:17:08.296
have an off leash order running through

01:17:08.320 --> 01:17:11.320
300 public parks plus four dog parks.

01:17:11.679 --> 01:17:14.616
Registered cats receive nothing.

01:17:14.640 --> 01:17:16.695
Knocks action spending on dog training

01:17:16.719 --> 01:17:19.256
and dog dissexing, but says no money for

01:17:19.280 --> 01:17:21.655
cats, giving more to overprivileged

01:17:21.679 --> 01:17:23.736
majority, further depriving

01:17:23.760 --> 01:17:26.760
underprivileged minority. Curfews punish

01:17:27.199 --> 01:17:30.199
owned cats, worsening the 90% of

01:17:30.400 --> 01:17:33.175
impounded cats with no owner to contain

01:17:33.199 --> 01:17:36.199
them. This costs Casey Council 1.383

01:17:37.600 --> 01:17:40.600
million annually and fails. Science

01:17:40.719 --> 01:17:43.256
shows that only intensive targeted cat

01:17:43.280 --> 01:17:46.280
dexing works and this is absent from all

01:17:46.560 --> 01:17:49.560
Knox plans. Inactioning the only cat

01:17:49.679 --> 01:17:52.679
dexing proven to work. Impounding cats

01:17:53.120 --> 01:17:56.120
cost Knox more than to dex those cats.

01:17:56.640 --> 01:17:59.496
Knox dogs have actions at expenditure.

01:17:59.520 --> 01:18:01.816
Community CAP program has been in a

01:18:01.840 --> 01:18:04.840
action to paper report or to general

01:18:05.120 --> 01:18:07.976
dissexing that fails, not the science

01:18:08.000 --> 01:18:10.215
proven intensive targeted free

01:18:10.239 --> 01:18:13.239
dissexing. We had to go outside Knox to

01:18:13.840 --> 01:18:16.616
save the young stray after workers told

01:18:16.640 --> 01:18:19.175
us of animal aids mass euthanasia of

01:18:19.199 --> 01:18:22.199
timid cats. Now this home scaredy-cat

01:18:22.560 --> 01:18:24.776
sleeps in his owner's bed at night

01:18:24.800 --> 01:18:27.800
played cat music being well loved. Most

01:18:28.640 --> 01:18:31.640
Knox cats are deprived of homes. Renters

01:18:32.000 --> 01:18:33.496
and the elderly are further

01:18:33.520 --> 01:18:35.016
marginalized.

01:18:35.040 --> 01:18:37.576
Knox has no action to distribute

01:18:37.600 --> 01:18:39.655
scientific evidence from the Australian

01:18:39.679 --> 01:18:42.616
Pet Welfare Foundation. Facts have

01:18:42.640 --> 01:18:44.856
declared preamble and collateral and

01:18:44.880 --> 01:18:47.880
deleted from February minutes. Corporate

01:18:47.920 --> 01:18:50.920
bullying hurts lives. A felines and

01:18:51.040 --> 01:18:54.040
females collateral damage. Punishing

01:18:54.159 --> 01:18:57.159
costs much more than saving lives.

01:18:59.920 --> 01:19:01.336
Thank you, Ashley. I'll put that

01:19:01.360 --> 01:19:04.360
question to Director McN.

01:19:05.520 --> 01:19:07.655
Thank you, McKenna. , and thank you,

01:19:07.679 --> 01:19:09.336
Ashley, for taking the time to put that

01:19:09.360 --> 01:19:11.816
question  to council regarding the

01:19:11.840 --> 01:19:14.215
cost associated with the listed domestic

01:19:14.239 --> 01:19:16.135
animal management plan actions and

01:19:16.159 --> 01:19:18.376
related activities. Um, I apologize if

01:19:18.400 --> 01:19:19.576
this question goes for a little while,

01:19:19.600 --> 01:19:21.016
but there was quite a bit of content to

01:19:21.040 --> 01:19:22.376
get through.

01:19:22.400 --> 01:19:24.376
So council notes that a number of the

01:19:24.400 --> 01:19:26.135
items referenced are either not

01:19:26.159 --> 01:19:28.456
standalone funded activities or are

01:19:28.480 --> 01:19:30.376
intended to be delivered within existing

01:19:30.400 --> 01:19:32.376
operational resources rather than

01:19:32.400 --> 01:19:35.256
through separately costed programs. In

01:19:35.280 --> 01:19:36.695
relation to dog training act

01:19:36.719 --> 01:19:38.856
initiatives, this is a planned future

01:19:38.880 --> 01:19:41.336
program and costs are not yet determined

01:19:41.360 --> 01:19:43.175
and will be subject to future provider

01:19:43.199 --> 01:19:44.695
discussions through a procurement

01:19:44.719 --> 01:19:46.936
process.

01:19:46.960 --> 01:19:49.655
with with regards desexing support.

01:19:49.679 --> 01:19:51.896
Council currently allocates $4,000

01:19:51.920 --> 01:19:53.976
annually to assist with desexing for

01:19:54.000 --> 01:19:56.456
vulnerable and disadvantaged pet owners.

01:19:56.480 --> 01:19:57.976
Council will look at extending this

01:19:58.000 --> 01:19:59.976
program through partnerships and grants

01:20:00.000 --> 01:20:02.215
as well as additional funding subject to

01:20:02.239 --> 01:20:04.936
council approval. Council is also

01:20:04.960 --> 01:20:07.336
investigating the delivery of cat desex

01:20:07.360 --> 01:20:10.360
a cat desexing day in June.

01:20:11.120 --> 01:20:12.695
This initiative will help gauge

01:20:12.719 --> 01:20:14.776
community uptake and assess demand and

01:20:14.800 --> 01:20:17.096
better to better understand associated

01:20:17.120 --> 01:20:19.896
costs and enable more informed planning

01:20:19.920 --> 01:20:22.920
and scoping of a future program.

01:20:23.280 --> 01:20:26.280
With regards noise monitoring devices,

01:20:26.480 --> 01:20:28.296
council currently utilizes this

01:20:28.320 --> 01:20:30.456
technology on an as neededs basis for

01:20:30.480 --> 01:20:32.215
significant nuisance barking dog

01:20:32.239 --> 01:20:34.536
complaints. An increased roll out of

01:20:34.560 --> 01:20:36.456
this technology will be explored as part

01:20:36.480 --> 01:20:38.536
of improving existing complaint

01:20:38.560 --> 01:20:40.056
processes,

01:20:40.080 --> 01:20:41.576
and it is expected that it will be

01:20:41.600 --> 01:20:43.016
managed within current operational

01:20:43.040 --> 01:20:46.040
budgets. Estimated costs for full-time

01:20:46.159 --> 01:20:48.135
use of this technology is approximately

01:20:48.159 --> 01:20:50.856
$1,300 a month.

01:20:50.880 --> 01:20:53.336
Bin waste, bins, waste bags, and

01:20:53.360 --> 01:20:56.215
composting. Options relating to bins and

01:20:56.239 --> 01:20:58.215
waste bag provision in council reserves

01:20:58.239 --> 01:21:00.056
will be investigated.

01:21:00.080 --> 01:21:01.976
This work will involve the relevant

01:21:02.000 --> 01:21:03.976
council departments assessing scope and

01:21:04.000 --> 01:21:07.000
feasibility for locations. Any future

01:21:07.520 --> 01:21:09.256
expansion or roll out will be the

01:21:09.280 --> 01:21:11.816
subject of council approval or for

01:21:11.840 --> 01:21:14.215
further funding. Initial investigations

01:21:14.239 --> 01:21:16.456
into the installation of bag dispensers

01:21:16.480 --> 01:21:19.480
range between $800 and $1,700 per

01:21:19.600 --> 01:21:21.976
location. Annual supply costs of

01:21:22.000 --> 01:21:25.000
approximately $600 per location along

01:21:25.120 --> 01:21:28.056
with associated labor costs. A program

01:21:28.080 --> 01:21:29.976
of this nature is currently unfunded and

01:21:30.000 --> 01:21:32.616
would require consideration through f

01:21:32.640 --> 01:21:35.256
future budget processes. Council

01:21:35.280 --> 01:21:37.096
actively promotes pet composting

01:21:37.120 --> 01:21:38.936
initiatives within the community through

01:21:38.960 --> 01:21:41.016
its council events. This includes

01:21:41.040 --> 01:21:42.695
raising awareness of pet waste

01:21:42.719 --> 01:21:44.776
composting as well as promoting the

01:21:44.800 --> 01:21:47.800
ENOPET poo composting system.

01:21:48.159 --> 01:21:50.296
Knox residents can currently purchase

01:21:50.320 --> 01:21:53.320
this system at a at a a discounted rate

01:21:54.080 --> 01:21:56.936
and it's currently available for $40

01:21:56.960 --> 01:21:59.655
supporting more sustainable disposal of

01:21:59.679 --> 01:22:02.215
dog and cat waste.

01:22:02.239 --> 01:22:03.976
Funding currently allows for the

01:22:04.000 --> 01:22:05.976
investigation of dog related complaints

01:22:06.000 --> 01:22:08.695
that are reported to council.

01:22:08.719 --> 01:22:11.096
Any program delivery costs associated

01:22:11.120 --> 01:22:13.416
with an expanded proactive program are

01:22:13.440 --> 01:22:14.695
yet to be determined and will be

01:22:14.719 --> 01:22:17.719
factored into future budget processes.

01:22:18.000 --> 01:22:19.576
With regards to the decision-making

01:22:19.600 --> 01:22:21.896
framework for dog related incidents,

01:22:21.920 --> 01:22:24.856
this is a proced procedural procedural

01:22:24.880 --> 01:22:27.016
action and is to be developed internally

01:22:27.040 --> 01:22:28.615
as part of standard operational

01:22:28.639 --> 01:22:30.536
responsibilities.

01:22:30.560 --> 01:22:32.536
Education programs relating to dog

01:22:32.560 --> 01:22:34.695
attack information, semi-owned cats, and

01:22:34.719 --> 01:22:36.056
the promotion of the Victorian

01:22:36.080 --> 01:22:37.816
government cat programs and cat

01:22:37.840 --> 01:22:39.976
containment messaging.

01:22:40.000 --> 01:22:41.896
Targeted information for affected

01:22:41.920 --> 01:22:44.456
parties produced and distributed within

01:22:44.480 --> 01:22:47.175
existing resources. Development of new

01:22:47.199 --> 01:22:48.856
material will be funded through the

01:22:48.880 --> 01:22:50.776
existing promotional material budget

01:22:50.800 --> 01:22:53.496
allocated within the community laws um

01:22:53.520 --> 01:22:56.520
budget of $12,000 in the 2526 financial

01:22:57.440 --> 01:23:00.135
year and subject to CPI increases in

01:23:00.159 --> 01:23:02.695
further budgets. in relation to

01:23:02.719 --> 01:23:04.856
compliance activities. These programs

01:23:04.880 --> 01:23:07.880
are ongoing  and form part of the the

01:23:08.400 --> 01:23:10.456
ongoing community laws function within

01:23:10.480 --> 01:23:12.856
council. Um and these programs are

01:23:12.880 --> 01:23:14.456
resourced through existing labor

01:23:14.480 --> 01:23:15.976
budgets.

01:23:16.000 --> 01:23:17.896
Finally, in relation to staff time, the

01:23:17.920 --> 01:23:19.576
majority of these actions are embedded

01:23:19.600 --> 01:23:20.936
within existing roles and

01:23:20.960 --> 01:23:23.336
responsibilities. Accordingly, council

01:23:23.360 --> 01:23:25.175
does not separately itemize officer

01:23:25.199 --> 01:23:28.056
hours for each individual activity.

01:23:28.080 --> 01:23:30.776
Um any significant expansion of services

01:23:30.800 --> 01:23:33.800
or programs arising from in from

01:23:34.239 --> 01:23:36.215
investigations would be subject to

01:23:36.239 --> 01:23:38.296
future reporting including associated

01:23:38.320 --> 01:23:40.536
resource requirements. When new or

01:23:40.560 --> 01:23:42.296
expanded initiatives are proposed,

01:23:42.320 --> 01:23:44.856
detailed costings and staff resourcing

01:23:44.880 --> 01:23:46.456
implications will be presented to

01:23:46.480 --> 01:23:48.296
council for consideration as part of the

01:23:48.320 --> 01:23:51.096
normal budget development process.

01:23:51.120 --> 01:23:53.175
Thank you, Director McNell. We'll move

01:23:53.199 --> 01:23:55.976
on to question four. Is Laura here with

01:23:56.000 --> 01:23:59.000
us in the gallery?

01:23:59.760 --> 01:24:02.760
No, I will read Lor's question. Knox

01:24:03.280 --> 01:24:06.280
budgets animal surrender charge of $146

01:24:06.880 --> 01:24:09.880
per animal. Please can you tell us where

01:24:10.159 --> 01:24:12.936
or on what the money collected is being

01:24:12.960 --> 01:24:15.816
spent? Um, Director McNell, I'll put

01:24:15.840 --> 01:24:17.976
that question to you, please.

01:24:18.000 --> 01:24:20.936
Thank you, Met.

01:24:20.960 --> 01:24:23.655
 the surrender fee contributes towards

01:24:23.679 --> 01:24:25.816
the cost charged by council's pound for

01:24:25.840 --> 01:24:27.816
accepting and caring of animals that are

01:24:27.840 --> 01:24:30.695
surrendered to Knox. The fee charged by

01:24:30.719 --> 01:24:33.496
the animal aid is currently $210 per

01:24:33.520 --> 01:24:36.520
animal. The $146 fee does not fully

01:24:38.000 --> 01:24:40.135
cover this amount and council absorbs

01:24:40.159 --> 01:24:42.776
the remaining costs. In addition, there

01:24:42.800 --> 01:24:44.615
are further expenses associated with

01:24:44.639 --> 01:24:46.695
surrender of animals such as officer

01:24:46.719 --> 01:24:48.536
time and resources required to collect

01:24:48.560 --> 01:24:50.376
or transport animals to the pound

01:24:50.400 --> 01:24:52.456
facility. It's also important to

01:24:52.480 --> 01:24:54.615
recognize that the fee is not only about

01:24:54.639 --> 01:24:57.016
cost recovery. Surrendering surrendering

01:24:57.040 --> 01:24:59.096
a pet is a significant decision and

01:24:59.120 --> 01:25:01.096
council aims to ensure it is carefully

01:25:01.120 --> 01:25:03.736
considered by pet owners. The fee helps

01:25:03.760 --> 01:25:05.896
discourage impulsive surrenders and

01:25:05.920 --> 01:25:07.736
encourages owners to explore other

01:25:07.760 --> 01:25:10.376
options first. Where possible, we

01:25:10.400 --> 01:25:12.536
encourage residents to seek support

01:25:12.560 --> 01:25:14.776
before surrendering their pet. This may

01:25:14.800 --> 01:25:17.800
include speaking with their vet, contact

01:25:17.840 --> 01:25:19.736
rescue groups, or reaching out to animal

01:25:19.760 --> 01:25:22.215
aid council's pound provider who may be

01:25:22.239 --> 01:25:24.296
able to provide assistance or advice to

01:25:24.320 --> 01:25:27.320
help owners keep their pet or consider

01:25:27.520 --> 01:25:30.520
alternative rehoming pathways. Our aim

01:25:30.800 --> 01:25:32.856
is to support responsible pet ownership

01:25:32.880 --> 01:25:34.376
while ensuring animals receive

01:25:34.400 --> 01:25:36.615
appropriate care and council resources

01:25:36.639 --> 01:25:39.496
are used responsibly.

01:25:39.520 --> 01:25:42.135
Thank you, Director McNally. , as that

01:25:42.159 --> 01:25:44.856
concludes our public questions that we

01:25:44.880 --> 01:25:47.336
have received, that  concludes public

01:25:47.360 --> 01:25:49.655
question time. We've been going for 90

01:25:49.679 --> 01:25:51.496
minutes now, so I'd like to propose that

01:25:51.520 --> 01:25:53.256
we have a 10-minute break. Would a

01:25:53.280 --> 01:25:54.776
counselor like to move a motion? Thank

01:25:54.800 --> 01:25:57.655
you, Councelor Williams.

01:25:57.679 --> 01:26:00.679
, sorry.

01:26:03.600 --> 01:26:06.600
today.

01:26:13.120 --> 01:26:15.096
Can I ask your name, please?

01:26:15.120 --> 01:26:16.215
Ian Cameron.

01:26:16.239 --> 01:26:18.536
Ian Cameron. Thank you, Mr. Cameron.

01:26:18.560 --> 01:26:20.215
I'll just have governance check that.

01:26:20.239 --> 01:26:22.215
Sorry, I don't receive the the public

01:26:22.239 --> 01:26:24.376
question. So, I can't I can't tell you

01:26:24.400 --> 01:26:26.536
whether it has come in or not, but I'll

01:26:26.560 --> 01:26:27.736
just have governance check.

01:26:27.760 --> 01:26:29.336
Question

01:26:29.360 --> 01:26:31.016
was to ask Mr.

01:26:31.040 --> 01:26:33.736
as to why he has refused to have a

01:26:33.760 --> 01:26:36.760
meeting with me in regards to echelon

01:26:38.400 --> 01:26:40.936
company which investigates your

01:26:40.960 --> 01:26:42.936
insurance claims.

01:26:42.960 --> 01:26:44.936
One moment Mr. Mr.

01:26:44.960 --> 01:26:47.960
insurance claim and it came back with a

01:26:48.800 --> 01:26:51.800
fraudulent answer. So Peter is obviously

01:26:52.960 --> 01:26:55.960
taking away from this council.

01:27:07.920 --> 01:27:10.920
Okay. Um

01:27:12.480 --> 01:27:14.776
Okay. Um Mr. Cameron, I've got a

01:27:14.800 --> 01:27:16.296
governor searching for your question

01:27:16.320 --> 01:27:19.096
right now and Mr. Dobson has offered to

01:27:19.120 --> 01:27:21.096
speak to you  right now. So, I'll

01:27:21.120 --> 01:27:23.175
propose a 10-minute break so that we can

01:27:23.199 --> 01:27:25.175
search for your question. Mr. Dobson can

01:27:25.199 --> 01:27:27.736
have a chat with you and then we can

01:27:27.760 --> 01:27:29.096
resume.

01:27:29.120 --> 01:27:30.056
Yes.

01:27:30.080 --> 01:27:32.376
Excellent.  and I've had Council

01:27:32.400 --> 01:27:34.135
Williams and Councelor Pearce move and

01:27:34.159 --> 01:27:36.936
second. All those in favor? Thank you.

01:27:36.960 --> 01:27:38.936
That motion is carried.  we will have

01:27:38.960 --> 01:27:41.960
a 10-minute break from 8:32 to 8:42.

01:27:42.400 --> 01:27:45.400
Thank you.

01:27:46.400 --> 01:27:48.936
 thank you for your patience for the

01:27:48.960 --> 01:27:51.960
online  watches. Our next item for

01:27:53.440 --> 01:27:55.896
discussion is item eight in officers

01:27:55.920 --> 01:27:58.296
reports.

01:27:58.320 --> 01:28:01.320
Item 8.1 draft 26 27 annual budget and

01:28:02.800 --> 01:28:04.856
action plan.  we've got some

01:28:04.880 --> 01:28:06.776
foreshadowed conflicts. So I'll just run

01:28:06.800 --> 01:28:08.376
through those.  starting with

01:28:08.400 --> 01:28:10.215
councelor Cooper.

01:28:10.239 --> 01:28:13.096
Thank you Mayor Kennet. Um I would like

01:28:13.120 --> 01:28:15.655
to participate in the broader budget

01:28:15.679 --> 01:28:18.536
discussion or decision but have a

01:28:18.560 --> 01:28:21.336
conflict  with one aspect which I have

01:28:21.360 --> 01:28:23.416
informed yourself the CEO and the

01:28:23.440 --> 01:28:26.440
governance team about. Um my conflict of

01:28:26.960 --> 01:28:29.736
interest is in accordance with the local

01:28:29.760 --> 01:28:32.695
government act 2020. I, Lisa Cooper,

01:28:32.719 --> 01:28:34.615
declare that I have a general conflict

01:28:34.639 --> 01:28:37.639
of interest um on this day at this

01:28:37.840 --> 01:28:40.840
council meeting with item 8.1, the draft

01:28:41.679 --> 01:28:44.679
2026 to 27 annual budget and action

01:28:45.120 --> 01:28:47.976
plan. And the nature of my conflict of

01:28:48.000 --> 01:28:51.000
interest is I am the network manager for

01:28:51.280 --> 01:28:53.336
community houses in the outer eastern

01:28:53.360 --> 01:28:56.360
suburbs. And on page 176 of 412, Canary

01:28:58.239 --> 01:29:00.695
Community House will receive funding for

01:29:00.719 --> 01:29:03.655
refurbishment design for the kitchen.

01:29:03.679 --> 01:29:05.896
Thank you, Councelor Cooper. Councelor

01:29:05.920 --> 01:29:08.920
Baker.

01:29:09.679 --> 01:29:10.776
Thank you. And through you, Mayor

01:29:10.800 --> 01:29:13.336
Kennet. , similarly, I would like to

01:29:13.360 --> 01:29:15.576
participate in the broader budget

01:29:15.600 --> 01:29:17.256
decision, but have a conflict in one

01:29:17.280 --> 01:29:19.655
aspect which I've informed the Mayor,

01:29:19.679 --> 01:29:22.679
CEO, and governance team about. Um, and

01:29:23.600 --> 01:29:25.496
in accordance with the Local Government

01:29:25.520 --> 01:29:28.376
Act of 2020, I, Megan Baker, declared

01:29:28.400 --> 01:29:30.215
that I have a general conflict of

01:29:30.239 --> 01:29:33.016
interest for tonight's meeting , for

01:29:33.040 --> 01:29:36.040
items 8.1, the draft 2026 to 2027 annual

01:29:36.880 --> 01:29:39.175
budget and action plan. Um, and the

01:29:39.199 --> 01:29:40.936
nature of my interest is that a family

01:29:40.960 --> 01:29:42.936
member is on a governing body of a

01:29:42.960 --> 01:29:44.856
facility user who will be subject to the

01:29:44.880 --> 01:29:47.096
fees. Um, I've already become aware of

01:29:47.120 --> 01:29:48.776
this information on the finalization of

01:29:48.800 --> 01:29:51.800
the 2627 budget documents. Thank you.

01:29:51.840 --> 01:29:53.655
Thank you, councelor Baker and councelor

01:29:53.679 --> 01:29:54.776
Duncan. 

01:29:54.800 --> 01:29:56.296
yes, thank you Mayor. I too would like

01:29:56.320 --> 01:29:57.655
to participate in the broader budget

01:29:57.679 --> 01:29:59.416
discussions, but I have a conflict with

01:29:59.440 --> 01:30:01.416
one aspect  which I've informed

01:30:01.440 --> 01:30:03.976
yourself the CEO and governance about.

01:30:04.000 --> 01:30:05.655
Um, so in accordance with local

01:30:05.679 --> 01:30:07.336
government act 2020, I Christopher

01:30:07.360 --> 01:30:09.416
Duncan declare that I have a material

01:30:09.440 --> 01:30:11.816
conflict of interest  in relation to

01:30:11.840 --> 01:30:13.896
the draft budget as I am currently a

01:30:13.920 --> 01:30:15.416
member of the committee of a sporting

01:30:15.440 --> 01:30:17.576
club that utilizes a council facility

01:30:17.600 --> 01:30:19.336
and is therefore subject to the fees

01:30:19.360 --> 01:30:20.695
that are being proposed within the

01:30:20.719 --> 01:30:21.496
budget.

01:30:21.520 --> 01:30:23.496
Thank you. Councelor Duna  Duncan,

01:30:23.520 --> 01:30:25.576
I'll ask Councelor Duncan, councelor

01:30:25.600 --> 01:30:27.256
Cooper, and councelor Baker to please

01:30:27.280 --> 01:30:30.280
step out of the chamber.

01:30:31.280 --> 01:30:34.280
Councilors,

01:30:46.960 --> 01:30:49.175
given the significance of the annual

01:30:49.199 --> 01:30:51.336
budget, councelor Baker, Councelor

01:30:51.360 --> 01:30:53.416
Cooper, and Deputy Mayor Councelor

01:30:53.440 --> 01:30:55.416
Duncan have indicated they would like to

01:30:55.440 --> 01:30:57.096
participate in the broader budget

01:30:57.120 --> 01:30:59.655
discussion. As such, and in line with

01:30:59.679 --> 01:31:01.816
the conflict of interest exemptions in

01:31:01.840 --> 01:31:03.816
the Local Government Act 2020 and the

01:31:03.840 --> 01:31:05.576
Local Government Governance and

01:31:05.600 --> 01:31:08.536
Integrity Regulations 2020, I am

01:31:08.560 --> 01:31:10.215
proposing we split the motion and

01:31:10.239 --> 01:31:12.456
consider a motion to determine whether

01:31:12.480 --> 01:31:14.695
the relevant components of the budget

01:31:14.719 --> 01:31:16.615
that are creating those conflicts should

01:31:16.639 --> 01:31:19.336
be included in the draft budget. Once

01:31:19.360 --> 01:31:21.655
council has made its determination on

01:31:21.679 --> 01:31:23.976
those items, our colleagues would be

01:31:24.000 --> 01:31:25.736
able to rejoin the meeting and

01:31:25.760 --> 01:31:28.296
participate in the discussion and debate

01:31:28.320 --> 01:31:31.175
on the budget. Councilors, would someone

01:31:31.199 --> 01:31:34.199
be prepared to move the motion as shown

01:31:34.400 --> 01:31:36.936
on the screen which will pop up in just

01:31:36.960 --> 01:31:39.576
a moment?

01:31:39.600 --> 01:31:42.600
I will read that for the benefit of

01:31:42.639 --> 01:31:45.016
online and the gallery. The council

01:31:45.040 --> 01:31:46.776
resolved to include the following items

01:31:46.800 --> 01:31:49.336
in the draft 2627 annual budget and

01:31:49.360 --> 01:31:51.496
action plan. Point one, the fees and

01:31:51.520 --> 01:31:53.336
charges for use of Carrington Park

01:31:53.360 --> 01:31:55.576
leisure and multi-purpose facility as

01:31:55.600 --> 01:31:57.576
set out in the officer's report.

01:31:57.600 --> 01:32:00.600
Appendix schedule of fees and charges.

01:32:00.719 --> 01:32:03.719
Point two, an allocation of $11,000 for

01:32:04.080 --> 01:32:06.056
Canara Community House Upper Fentry

01:32:06.080 --> 01:32:08.296
Gully Kitchen Refurbishment Design as

01:32:08.320 --> 01:32:11.016
set out in the officer's report section

01:32:11.040 --> 01:32:13.096
5.22627

01:32:13.120 --> 01:32:15.016
capital budget.

01:32:15.040 --> 01:32:17.336
Is there a mover? Oh, yes, Council

01:32:17.360 --> 01:32:17.976
Williams.

01:32:18.000 --> 01:32:19.655
 through you, Mayor.  just in

01:32:19.679 --> 01:32:21.896
regards to um declarations of conflict

01:32:21.920 --> 01:32:24.695
of interest, I would probably like to

01:32:24.719 --> 01:32:27.416
propose that I um have a transparency

01:32:27.440 --> 01:32:29.896
statement in regards to the budget. And

01:32:29.920 --> 01:32:31.096
if I can proceed with that.

01:32:31.120 --> 01:32:31.655
Yes, please.

01:32:31.679 --> 01:32:33.175
So, the transparency statement that

01:32:33.199 --> 01:32:35.336
obviously um as the group officer for

01:32:35.360 --> 01:32:37.016
the Country Fire Authority out here in

01:32:37.040 --> 01:32:40.040
Knox, um we do receive cancel grant

01:32:40.800 --> 01:32:43.800
funds  as a result of this. Um not

01:32:44.560 --> 01:32:46.856
that my decisions necessarily related

01:32:46.880 --> 01:32:47.896
around that, but I'll refer to

01:32:47.920 --> 01:32:49.976
governance if that maybe might turn into

01:32:50.000 --> 01:32:52.376
perhaps a general or material conflict

01:32:52.400 --> 01:32:55.016
of interest, but I would like to put a

01:32:55.040 --> 01:32:57.416
transparency statement on file.

01:32:57.440 --> 01:33:00.440
Thank you, Councelor Williams.

01:33:04.000 --> 01:33:06.536
Yep. I believe we're we're okay to

01:33:06.560 --> 01:33:08.296
continue. Okay. All right. Thank you,

01:33:08.320 --> 01:33:10.695
Council Williams.

01:33:10.719 --> 01:33:13.719
 we just need a mover for the motion

01:33:14.320 --> 01:33:17.320
that's on on the screen, please.

01:33:19.840 --> 01:33:22.056
Thank you, councelor Atwell, and

01:33:22.080 --> 01:33:24.296
councelor Low is a seconder. Thank you.

01:33:24.320 --> 01:33:25.896
As mover, would you like to speak to the

01:33:25.920 --> 01:33:28.135
motion? Council, no. Would you like to

01:33:28.159 --> 01:33:31.159
speak to the motion? All those in favor?

01:33:32.239 --> 01:33:33.816
Thank you. That motion is carried

01:33:33.840 --> 01:33:36.376
unanimously. We'll now invite our

01:33:36.400 --> 01:33:38.615
colleagues  to rejoin the meeting

01:33:38.639 --> 01:33:41.096
before we consider the balance of this

01:33:41.120 --> 01:33:44.120
item.

01:33:58.719 --> 01:34:00.135
Councilor says, as you're just taking

01:34:00.159 --> 01:34:01.736
your seat, I'll just clarify for your

01:34:01.760 --> 01:34:03.336
benefit. The council has resolved to

01:34:03.360 --> 01:34:05.096
include in the draft budget the two

01:34:05.120 --> 01:34:07.175
items that triggered your respon 

01:34:07.199 --> 01:34:09.976
respective conflicts of interest.

01:34:10.000 --> 01:34:11.816
Councilors, we can now move to consider

01:34:11.840 --> 01:34:14.840
the entirety of the draft 2627 annual

01:34:15.440 --> 01:34:18.296
budget and action plan. Before we do so,

01:34:18.320 --> 01:34:20.456
however, officers have provided an a

01:34:20.480 --> 01:34:22.536
revised officer recommendation just to

01:34:22.560 --> 01:34:24.456
clarify the timeline in which questions

01:34:24.480 --> 01:34:27.175
may be received. The revised motion is

01:34:27.199 --> 01:34:29.096
on the screen.

01:34:29.120 --> 01:34:31.175
There it is in front of us. And the only

01:34:31.199 --> 01:34:33.256
change is to recommendation four, which

01:34:33.280 --> 01:34:35.736
now says release the suite of documents

01:34:35.760 --> 01:34:37.976
for public questions prior to their

01:34:38.000 --> 01:34:40.856
finalization and adoption.

01:34:40.880 --> 01:34:43.880
Um, as it's the  budget, I would like

01:34:44.800 --> 01:34:46.776
to be able to move the budget from the

01:34:46.800 --> 01:34:49.800
chair and thank you councelor Duncan as

01:34:51.120 --> 01:34:54.120
a seconder.

01:34:56.000 --> 01:34:58.615
 firstly, I would like to thank

01:34:58.639 --> 01:35:00.936
officers and councilors and our

01:35:00.960 --> 01:35:03.576
community for pulling together what is a

01:35:03.600 --> 01:35:05.655
a huge piece of work and tonight we

01:35:05.679 --> 01:35:08.056
consider the 26 27 draft budget for

01:35:08.080 --> 01:35:10.536
release to the community for questions.

01:35:10.560 --> 01:35:12.856
This budget is prepared in a constrained

01:35:12.880 --> 01:35:14.776
environment which I think we can all

01:35:14.800 --> 01:35:17.576
agree. Our councils are managing cost

01:35:17.600 --> 01:35:20.536
cost pressures, aging infrastructure,

01:35:20.560 --> 01:35:23.416
changing service demands and a rate

01:35:23.440 --> 01:35:26.440
capped system. Last year, the 2526

01:35:27.040 --> 01:35:30.040
budget was prepared on a 3% rate cap.

01:35:30.159 --> 01:35:32.536
This year, the proposed budget is based

01:35:32.560 --> 01:35:34.615
on a 2.75%

01:35:34.639 --> 01:35:36.615
rate cap. It's important to note that

01:35:36.639 --> 01:35:39.016
the rate cap applies to council's total

01:35:39.040 --> 01:35:41.175
rate revenue, not necessarily to each

01:35:41.199 --> 01:35:43.816
individual property. It's also important

01:35:43.840 --> 01:35:45.736
to note that the average residential

01:35:45.760 --> 01:35:48.615
rates for Knox are one of the lowest in

01:35:48.639 --> 01:35:50.695
Metro Melbourne. In fact, the fourth

01:35:50.719 --> 01:35:52.215
lowest.

01:35:52.239 --> 01:35:54.776
The budget proposes to invest 130

01:35:54.800 --> 01:35:57.016
million into services to the Lux

01:35:57.040 --> 01:36:00.040
community. It also invests 54 million in

01:36:01.360 --> 01:36:03.496
capital works, which includes 20 million

01:36:03.520 --> 01:36:05.655
in renewing and improving roads,

01:36:05.679 --> 01:36:08.679
bridges, footpaths, and shared paths.

01:36:08.960 --> 01:36:11.096
The draft budget also includes 12

01:36:11.120 --> 01:36:13.336
million for council buildings, community

01:36:13.360 --> 01:36:16.360
facilities, sports upgrades, pavilions,

01:36:16.880 --> 01:36:18.695
sport and leisure precincts and early

01:36:18.719 --> 01:36:21.719
years. It includes 10 million for new

01:36:22.000 --> 01:36:25.000
and new and  upgraded playgrounds,

01:36:25.760 --> 01:36:27.816
sports fields, tennis courts,

01:36:27.840 --> 01:36:30.695
basketball, sports, lighting and cricket

01:36:30.719 --> 01:36:33.336
facilities. And this matters because

01:36:33.360 --> 01:36:35.175
it's places where children's children

01:36:35.199 --> 01:36:37.816
children play, families gather, clubs

01:36:37.840 --> 01:36:40.840
train, volunteers serve, and seniors

01:36:41.600 --> 01:36:44.215
connect. There's also 3.2 million

01:36:44.239 --> 01:36:46.376
invested in drainage and storm water.

01:36:46.400 --> 01:36:48.456
This is also important and not always

01:36:48.480 --> 01:36:51.480
visible until it fails. There are always

01:36:51.760 --> 01:36:54.296
difficult choices to be made in budgets,

01:36:54.320 --> 01:36:56.215
both in the workplace and in the home

01:36:56.239 --> 01:36:58.456
budget. And I think we can all agree on

01:36:58.480 --> 01:37:01.480
this. I particularly want to acknowledge

01:37:02.080 --> 01:37:04.695
old residents and pensioners. The

01:37:04.719 --> 01:37:07.256
council funded pensioner rates rebate is

01:37:07.280 --> 01:37:10.280
proposed for the 2627 budget at $75 down

01:37:11.840 --> 01:37:14.840
from $100 last financial year.  I will

01:37:16.320 --> 01:37:18.856
also note this is on top of the state

01:37:18.880 --> 01:37:21.336
rates rebate.

01:37:21.360 --> 01:37:22.936
Um

01:37:22.960 --> 01:37:25.960
this is not  been a a choice that's

01:37:27.600 --> 01:37:30.600
been easy to make. Um and I but I do

01:37:30.800 --> 01:37:33.800
want to highlight a couple of points. Um

01:37:34.320 --> 01:37:37.320
council is one of 11 out of 79 Melbourne

01:37:37.440 --> 01:37:39.256
councils still offering a pensioner

01:37:39.280 --> 01:37:41.976
rebate. Some offer more and some offer

01:37:42.000 --> 01:37:45.000
less. This rebate is not offered to

01:37:45.679 --> 01:37:48.456
self-funded retirees or pensioner

01:37:48.480 --> 01:37:51.480
pensioners that rent. So I think that

01:37:52.320 --> 01:37:55.320
there's um no fair way of making this

01:37:55.360 --> 01:37:58.056
system fair in our current financial

01:37:58.080 --> 01:37:59.576
position.

01:37:59.600 --> 01:38:01.496
But I do know that council investing

01:38:01.520 --> 01:38:04.520
services for our older residents um that

01:38:04.800 --> 01:38:07.016
they do rely on including our community

01:38:07.040 --> 01:38:09.816
transport, social outings, home support,

01:38:09.840 --> 01:38:12.840
libraries and events and support seniors

01:38:13.040 --> 01:38:15.336
clubs. In fact, over $4 million is

01:38:15.360 --> 01:38:18.360
invested for our seniors.

01:38:18.719 --> 01:38:20.615
I also want to pull out a few practical

01:38:20.639 --> 01:38:22.695
community needs that are added into this

01:38:22.719 --> 01:38:25.016
budget which otherwise might not have

01:38:25.040 --> 01:38:27.576
been able to be afforded.

01:38:27.600 --> 01:38:29.175
 which include a winter shelter

01:38:29.199 --> 01:38:31.016
program and an extension to the

01:38:31.040 --> 01:38:34.040
emergency relief fund from 100,000 to

01:38:34.320 --> 01:38:37.095
150,000. Um and these actions are

01:38:37.119 --> 01:38:39.655
supporting our most vulnerable in our

01:38:39.679 --> 01:38:41.416
community and those doing it really

01:38:41.440 --> 01:38:42.936
tough.

01:38:42.960 --> 01:38:45.175
This budget isn't perfect and no budget

01:38:45.199 --> 01:38:48.199
ever is. There's always more that needs

01:38:48.639 --> 01:38:50.856
to be done and there's never enough

01:38:50.880 --> 01:38:53.175
funds to cover those things. But the

01:38:53.199 --> 01:38:55.416
test here is whether we are making

01:38:55.440 --> 01:38:58.056
responsible decisions, prioritizing

01:38:58.080 --> 01:38:59.896
essential services, and investing

01:38:59.920 --> 01:39:02.135
infrastructure wisely and listening to

01:39:02.159 --> 01:39:04.856
our community. I thank the community for

01:39:04.880 --> 01:39:06.695
their feedback throughout the budget

01:39:06.719 --> 01:39:09.256
process, which helps us sharpen our

01:39:09.280 --> 01:39:12.135
focus on what really matters.

01:39:12.159 --> 01:39:14.615
Tonight is not the final adoption. It's

01:39:14.639 --> 01:39:16.615
the next step in making the draft budget

01:39:16.639 --> 01:39:19.639
available for community questions. I

01:39:19.679 --> 01:39:22.296
support the release of the draft 2627

01:39:22.320 --> 01:39:24.376
budget and the supporting community

01:39:24.400 --> 01:39:26.695
engagement materials so residents can

01:39:26.719 --> 01:39:29.719
see what is proposed, ask questions and

01:39:29.760 --> 01:39:32.760
understand the choices before council.

01:39:33.520 --> 01:39:35.976
I'll now pass to you  councelor Duncan

01:39:36.000 --> 01:39:37.016
a second.

01:39:37.040 --> 01:39:38.776
Um I'll reserve my right at this point.

01:39:38.800 --> 01:39:39.576
Thank you ma'am.

01:39:39.600 --> 01:39:41.655
Thank you. Would any other counselor

01:39:41.679 --> 01:39:44.679
wish to speak to the motion?

01:39:44.880 --> 01:39:47.880
Yes, councelor Pearce.

01:39:48.480 --> 01:39:51.256
Madame May and fellow counselors,

01:39:51.280 --> 01:39:52.856
I support the budget going out for

01:39:52.880 --> 01:39:54.456
consultation,

01:39:54.480 --> 01:39:55.976
but

01:39:56.000 --> 01:39:58.456
I have reservations.

01:39:58.480 --> 01:40:00.056
Before us today is a budget which

01:40:00.080 --> 01:40:01.816
includes a proposal to catch the pen

01:40:01.840 --> 01:40:04.840
pensioner rate rebate from $100 to 75

01:40:06.320 --> 01:40:09.320
$25. And mate, I I want to spend the

01:40:10.400 --> 01:40:12.215
next few minutes explaining why that

01:40:12.239 --> 01:40:14.135
modest sounding number carries

01:40:14.159 --> 01:40:16.695
consequences that this council is not

01:40:16.719 --> 01:40:18.936
willing to accept.

01:40:18.960 --> 01:40:20.536
Let's start with the voice of our

01:40:20.560 --> 01:40:23.496
community. When this proposal was put to

01:40:23.520 --> 01:40:26.215
the Knox community panel, a diverse res

01:40:26.239 --> 01:40:28.615
representative group of our residents,

01:40:28.639 --> 01:40:31.639
16 out of 24 opposed it,

01:40:32.239 --> 01:40:35.239
not lukewarm, not uncertain, opposed.

01:40:36.719 --> 01:40:38.615
They cited pensions struggling with

01:40:38.639 --> 01:40:41.639
heating bills. They sid cited disability

01:40:42.159 --> 01:40:44.776
pensioners living on the edge.

01:40:44.800 --> 01:40:47.095
They sited on rising costs of groceries,

01:40:47.119 --> 01:40:50.119
utilities, and medical care.

01:40:50.239 --> 01:40:52.615
The panel was heard.

01:40:52.639 --> 01:40:55.639
Now it falls to us to listen.

01:40:56.239 --> 01:40:59.239
We were told to sit alongside councils

01:40:59.280 --> 01:41:02.280
to offer no rebates at all. What we were

01:41:02.719 --> 01:41:05.336
not told is a p that Knox pensioners face

01:41:05.360 --> 01:41:07.816
the same mortgage pressures, same power

01:41:07.840 --> 01:41:10.840
bills, the same cost of living crisis as

01:41:11.040 --> 01:41:14.040
pensioners in Daraban or Yara councils

01:41:14.480 --> 01:41:17.480
that offer $215 and $250 respectively

01:41:19.600 --> 01:41:21.896
pension rebates.

01:41:21.920 --> 01:41:24.920
The comparison is accurate.

01:41:25.760 --> 01:41:27.655
We were told that the aging population

01:41:27.679 --> 01:41:29.976
will make the rebate more expensive over

01:41:30.000 --> 01:41:32.135
over 20 years.

01:41:32.159 --> 01:41:34.536
But the aging population is precisely

01:41:34.560 --> 01:41:36.776
the reason we invest in support not

01:41:36.800 --> 01:41:39.800
withdraw it. The pent pensioners

01:41:39.840 --> 01:41:42.840
projected that neither of 2041 are the

01:41:43.600 --> 01:41:45.416
rate pays contributing to the revenue

01:41:45.440 --> 01:41:48.440
base right now.

01:41:48.800 --> 01:41:51.800
And what do we actually save?

01:41:52.320 --> 01:41:55.320
Council recovers 279,000 per year or

01:41:55.679 --> 01:41:58.679
2.79 million over a decade.

01:41:59.600 --> 01:42:02.600
We are asking for 11,500 pensioners to

01:42:03.600 --> 01:42:06.600
absorb the cut to one direct targeted

01:42:07.119 --> 01:42:09.655
financial relief of Knox that provides

01:42:09.679 --> 01:42:12.679
consistently since 2012.

01:42:13.840 --> 01:42:16.695
I've heard the arguments about the TCV

01:42:16.719 --> 01:42:18.776
and deadness covenants.

01:42:18.800 --> 01:42:20.296
It is the most serious financial

01:42:20.320 --> 01:42:23.320
argument and I respect it. But I'd ask

01:42:23.360 --> 01:42:24.936
my colleagues before you reduce the

01:42:24.960 --> 01:42:27.016
benefit the most financially v

01:42:27.040 --> 01:42:29.736
vulnerable residents have you considered

01:42:29.760 --> 01:42:31.336
other options like the reduction of

01:42:31.360 --> 01:42:34.360
services or festivals.

01:42:35.360 --> 01:42:38.056
I understand that we have given an

01:42:38.080 --> 01:42:40.376
additional 599

01:42:40.400 --> 01:42:43.400
631 additional funding to the libraries

01:42:43.679 --> 01:42:46.679
as per the request of your library and

01:42:47.440 --> 01:42:50.440
the effects on the budget.

01:42:50.560 --> 01:42:52.936
colleagues, only one of one in the

01:42:52.960 --> 01:42:55.095
metropolitan of Melbourne has moved to

01:42:55.119 --> 01:42:57.256
reduce the pensioner rebate and that's

01:42:57.280 --> 01:42:59.655
BB ballsh

01:42:59.679 --> 01:43:01.896
a regional council with fundamentally

01:43:01.920 --> 01:43:04.920
different rate base

01:43:05.360 --> 01:43:08.360
one council that is not is not a trend

01:43:10.400 --> 01:43:12.695
that is not evidence that no is out of

01:43:12.719 --> 01:43:15.719
step the evidence that most councils

01:43:15.920 --> 01:43:18.456
have looked at this question have cho

01:43:18.480 --> 01:43:21.416
chosen to hold the online. I've heard

01:43:21.440 --> 01:43:23.896
the o  the argument that Knox provides

01:43:23.920 --> 01:43:25.976
other service for pensioners ranging

01:43:26.000 --> 01:43:27.816
from community transport to housing

01:43:27.840 --> 01:43:30.840
support. But these are services are

01:43:31.040 --> 01:43:33.655
Commonwealth funded or are available to

01:43:33.679 --> 01:43:35.816
all seniors regardless of whether

01:43:35.840 --> 01:43:38.840
they're a pensioner or a homeowner.

01:43:39.360 --> 01:43:42.360
I'm moving to hold the line today.

01:43:42.400 --> 01:43:45.400
The $100 rebate is not extravagant.

01:43:46.159 --> 01:43:48.376
is deliberate long-standing signal that

01:43:48.400 --> 01:43:50.215
Knox values the people who built this

01:43:50.239 --> 01:43:52.456
municipality. That after decades of

01:43:52.480 --> 01:43:55.016
contributing to the community, a pension

01:43:55.040 --> 01:43:56.936
should not be the first to absorb the

01:43:56.960 --> 01:43:58.456
budget correction.

01:43:58.480 --> 01:44:01.256
I've only got one more paragraph. Okay.

01:44:01.280 --> 01:44:03.896
$25 may not sound much where where we

01:44:03.920 --> 01:44:06.920
sit, but for a pensioner on a fixed

01:44:07.119 --> 01:44:09.655
income managing their rates installment,

01:44:09.679 --> 01:44:12.679
choosing between heating and medication,

01:44:13.119 --> 01:44:16.119
$25 is a tank of gas. a waste

01:44:16.320 --> 01:44:19.320
prescription. Is there dignity?

01:44:20.239 --> 01:44:21.576
Thank you, Madame Mayor.

01:44:21.600 --> 01:44:23.256
Thank you, councelor Pearce. Would any

01:44:23.280 --> 01:44:25.016
other counselor like to speak? Oh, yes.

01:44:25.040 --> 01:44:26.856
Councelor Williams.

01:44:26.880 --> 01:44:28.856
Thank you through you, Mayor. Um fully

01:44:28.880 --> 01:44:31.880
support um councelor Pearce's comments

01:44:32.320 --> 01:44:34.135
on that one. Um look, I fully support

01:44:34.159 --> 01:44:36.695
the office's recommendation in that um

01:44:36.719 --> 01:44:39.016
noting that this goes and is available

01:44:39.040 --> 01:44:41.816
to the  community for consultation and

01:44:41.840 --> 01:44:43.095
for questions. And I think that's very

01:44:43.119 --> 01:44:45.175
important that we do release that to our

01:44:45.199 --> 01:44:48.135
community. This is your chance as as you

01:44:48.159 --> 01:44:49.655
said, Mayor, this is your chance as the

01:44:49.679 --> 01:44:51.816
community to be able to put up questions

01:44:51.840 --> 01:44:54.840
and this is your one chance to make um

01:44:55.440 --> 01:44:58.296
make your voice heard um in what is a

01:44:58.320 --> 01:45:01.175
$220 million budget and a very important

01:45:01.199 --> 01:45:03.816
budget for Knox. We're doing so many

01:45:03.840 --> 01:45:05.175
good things as you mentioned, Mayor.

01:45:05.199 --> 01:45:07.576
We've got the emergency relief that's um

01:45:07.600 --> 01:45:09.896
being increased and that provides an

01:45:09.920 --> 01:45:11.256
amazing service. We saw that and the

01:45:11.280 --> 01:45:13.256
uptake to that. The winter shelter

01:45:13.280 --> 01:45:14.536
program is going to be amazing and

01:45:14.560 --> 01:45:16.376
something that um I'm very fully

01:45:16.400 --> 01:45:18.856
supportive of. But we do have an aging

01:45:18.880 --> 01:45:20.695
population

01:45:20.719 --> 01:45:22.856
and we do have a vulnerable aging

01:45:22.880 --> 01:45:25.736
population here in Knox

01:45:25.760 --> 01:45:27.175
and we've decided to have a look at the

01:45:27.199 --> 01:45:30.135
pension rebate for $25.

01:45:30.159 --> 01:45:32.215
To me, having a look at the $220 million

01:45:32.239 --> 01:45:35.239
budget, that's 0.0011% 0011%

01:45:35.520 --> 01:45:37.736
of our full budget that we're going to

01:45:37.760 --> 01:45:40.760
see a saving for $250,000.

01:45:41.440 --> 01:45:43.816
My idea here is we look at discretionary

01:45:43.840 --> 01:45:46.695
spend. What can we look to cut rather

01:45:46.719 --> 01:45:48.135
than services? I don't believe we should

01:45:48.159 --> 01:45:50.215
be cutting services. Um services are

01:45:50.239 --> 01:45:51.736
important what we deliver for Knox, but

01:45:51.760 --> 01:45:53.816
discretionary spend. And I'll talk about

01:45:53.840 --> 01:45:55.256
that. We talked we all talked about

01:45:55.280 --> 01:45:56.615
going to pets in the park and those

01:45:56.639 --> 01:45:59.416
sorts of things. Are they actual

01:45:59.440 --> 01:46:01.896
programs that we need to continue if

01:46:01.920 --> 01:46:03.896
we're cutting money out of pensioners

01:46:03.920 --> 01:46:05.976
pockets?

01:46:06.000 --> 01:46:07.655
So, we look at pets in the park. We look

01:46:07.679 --> 01:46:09.496
at those sort of events. Yes, they're

01:46:09.520 --> 01:46:11.095
successful and yes, they run really well

01:46:11.119 --> 01:46:13.496
and we are doing the best we can for our

01:46:13.520 --> 01:46:15.655
community. But are those things that in

01:46:15.679 --> 01:46:17.655
times of need, especially times now

01:46:17.679 --> 01:46:19.655
where, you know, a tank of petrol, I

01:46:19.679 --> 01:46:22.296
think councelor Pearce said $25, I don't

01:46:22.320 --> 01:46:24.456
even think that would buy you a quarter

01:46:24.480 --> 01:46:26.296
of a a tank of petrol at the current

01:46:26.320 --> 01:46:28.135
stage.

01:46:28.159 --> 01:46:30.056
Do we look at reducing things like pets

01:46:30.080 --> 01:46:32.536
in the park, our other fates, our other

01:46:32.560 --> 01:46:33.816
festivals, and those sorts of things

01:46:33.840 --> 01:46:35.336
that the perhaps the community won't

01:46:35.360 --> 01:46:38.360
miss as much as the pensioners will?

01:46:38.560 --> 01:46:39.816
They're things we can bring back when

01:46:39.840 --> 01:46:41.736
our budget is flourishing and we've got

01:46:41.760 --> 01:46:43.336
more money and we're in a much better

01:46:43.360 --> 01:46:46.296
state. To me, as councelor Pearce um so

01:46:46.320 --> 01:46:49.320
eloquently said, $25 to us doesn't sound

01:46:49.600 --> 01:46:52.600
like much, but $25 between picking if

01:46:52.719 --> 01:46:54.056
you can put heating on during what's

01:46:54.080 --> 01:46:57.080
going to be a cold season or paying for

01:46:58.480 --> 01:47:01.480
an eighth of tank of your petrol in the

01:47:01.760 --> 01:47:03.256
current budget crisis that's going

01:47:03.280 --> 01:47:06.280
around, especially in our state. I think

01:47:06.320 --> 01:47:08.056
we're making a wrong mistake  decision

01:47:08.080 --> 01:47:10.456
on that. This is now the community's

01:47:10.480 --> 01:47:12.536
chance to fight back and to be able to

01:47:12.560 --> 01:47:15.256
speak to us and  and we will listen.

01:47:15.280 --> 01:47:16.936
 it's our it's our opportunity to

01:47:16.960 --> 01:47:19.496
review a draft budget with our community

01:47:19.520 --> 01:47:22.376
and make sure it is right. But for me,

01:47:22.400 --> 01:47:24.456
let's look at discretionary spending.

01:47:24.480 --> 01:47:26.056
What can we cut out of that first rather

01:47:26.080 --> 01:47:28.376
than cutting services? And on this

01:47:28.400 --> 01:47:30.936
occasion, I know it again doesn't sound

01:47:30.960 --> 01:47:32.936
like much to us, but I think this will

01:47:32.960 --> 01:47:35.960
have a financial hurt for a 250k gain

01:47:36.960 --> 01:47:39.960
over a $220 million budget. 0.0011%

01:47:41.040 --> 01:47:43.256
of our budget

01:47:43.280 --> 01:47:45.976
for pensioners. That's my only comment

01:47:46.000 --> 01:47:47.016
on that one.

01:47:47.040 --> 01:47:48.615
Thank you, Council Williams. Would any

01:47:48.639 --> 01:47:50.215
other council like to speak to the

01:47:50.239 --> 01:47:53.016
motion? Yes, councelor.

01:47:53.040 --> 01:47:55.655
 thank you, Mayor. Um

01:47:55.679 --> 01:47:58.679
this is  our draft budget and I um I

01:47:59.520 --> 01:48:01.016
just want to note that at the outset

01:48:01.040 --> 01:48:02.776
this is the this is the start of the

01:48:02.800 --> 01:48:04.536
conversation with our community. It's

01:48:04.560 --> 01:48:07.016
the community's first chance to read the

01:48:07.040 --> 01:48:09.256
proposed budget and and ask us questions

01:48:09.280 --> 01:48:11.576
and provide provide our feedback on it.

01:48:11.600 --> 01:48:14.296
So, I am keeping a very open mind about

01:48:14.320 --> 01:48:16.536
um the budget as it is tonight cuz I'm

01:48:16.560 --> 01:48:17.736
really interested to hear what our

01:48:17.760 --> 01:48:20.056
community um has to say and has to input

01:48:20.080 --> 01:48:22.856
into  what they see  is drafted and

01:48:22.880 --> 01:48:25.576
and released for them to read. Um I

01:48:25.600 --> 01:48:27.496
think there's some there's some exciting

01:48:27.520 --> 01:48:30.456
um things in here. We do so much. Um

01:48:30.480 --> 01:48:32.776
often a lot of the the good is is lost

01:48:32.800 --> 01:48:35.095
in the many many pages of this document,

01:48:35.119 --> 01:48:37.256
but I just want to highlight a few  in

01:48:37.280 --> 01:48:39.496
my local patch that's  in the proposed

01:48:39.520 --> 01:48:41.496
 budget tonight.  it's great news

01:48:41.520 --> 01:48:44.520
for for Roville to see the um Arcadia

01:48:44.800 --> 01:48:47.016
Reserve um improvements proposed there.

01:48:47.040 --> 01:48:48.936
It's great news for the Knoxville

01:48:48.960 --> 01:48:50.776
Scouts, for Roville Primary School, for

01:48:50.800 --> 01:48:52.695
St. Simon's Primary School, for the

01:48:52.719 --> 01:48:54.615
secondary college, a really important

01:48:54.639 --> 01:48:55.976
central park there. It's great to see

01:48:56.000 --> 01:48:59.000
some um proposed improvement there. I

01:48:59.199 --> 01:49:01.496
note the new accessible parking spaces

01:49:01.520 --> 01:49:03.336
proposed for Stanford Park Homestead.

01:49:03.360 --> 01:49:05.496
That's fantastic in responding to

01:49:05.520 --> 01:49:07.736
community feedback.  in Scoresby

01:49:07.760 --> 01:49:10.695
there's a road renewal $810,000 to renew

01:49:10.719 --> 01:49:12.936
B Cresant which is a really important

01:49:12.960 --> 01:49:14.856
loop in Scoresby there off Fry Gully

01:49:14.880 --> 01:49:17.416
Road.  and great to see the Scoresby

01:49:17.440 --> 01:49:20.056
 wreck reserve the  tennis center,

01:49:20.080 --> 01:49:23.080
the footy and cricket clubs um um you

01:49:23.360 --> 01:49:26.296
know set to benefit from um some future

01:49:26.320 --> 01:49:28.376
 improvement  work and and design

01:49:28.400 --> 01:49:30.695
and feasibility. So there is there is a

01:49:30.719 --> 01:49:33.576
lot of good in here. Um

01:49:33.600 --> 01:49:36.600
 I do note the the proposed 

01:49:36.639 --> 01:49:39.095
reduction in the pensioner rebate from

01:49:39.119 --> 01:49:42.119
$100 to $75. I note that it's made

01:49:42.320 --> 01:49:44.376
within a budget  proposal that also

01:49:44.400 --> 01:49:46.536
includes an emergency relief fund of

01:49:46.560 --> 01:49:49.496
$150,000 and the winter shelter program.

01:49:49.520 --> 01:49:52.376
Um if if it's adopted as is proposed,

01:49:52.400 --> 01:49:54.776
we'll continue to fund a rebate of $75

01:49:54.800 --> 01:49:57.336
in addition to the state program um

01:49:57.360 --> 01:49:59.256
which as the Mayor has summarized, most

01:49:59.280 --> 01:50:00.776
councils do not offer that additional

01:50:00.800 --> 01:50:02.856
support. So, we are still offering

01:50:02.880 --> 01:50:04.695
additional support, but we've had to

01:50:04.719 --> 01:50:06.296
make that decision in the context of the

01:50:06.320 --> 01:50:07.976
entire draft budget that we released

01:50:08.000 --> 01:50:11.000
tonight. Um, one additional initiative

01:50:11.360 --> 01:50:12.936
which Mary's mentioned at the bottom of

01:50:12.960 --> 01:50:15.896
page 95 in yours introduction  in your

01:50:15.920 --> 01:50:17.576
introduction is that we're proposing an

01:50:17.600 --> 01:50:19.256
additional recycling collection over the

01:50:19.280 --> 01:50:20.695
Christmas New Year period to meet

01:50:20.719 --> 01:50:22.776
further community need. I think that's a

01:50:22.800 --> 01:50:24.456
real highlight of this. I think that's

01:50:24.480 --> 01:50:27.016
um council proposing to respond to the

01:50:27.040 --> 01:50:28.536
need in our community. We know our

01:50:28.560 --> 01:50:31.095
households generate I think it's two to

01:50:31.119 --> 01:50:34.119
three times more recycling volume over

01:50:34.480 --> 01:50:36.695
that festive period and I think this is

01:50:36.719 --> 01:50:38.296
a really clever initiative. One

01:50:38.320 --> 01:50:41.175
additional  blue bin pickup um over

01:50:41.199 --> 01:50:42.936
that period I think will relieve that

01:50:42.960 --> 01:50:45.175
recycling load from households and I

01:50:45.199 --> 01:50:46.456
think is something that will be really

01:50:46.480 --> 01:50:47.976
popular with our community. The

01:50:48.000 --> 01:50:49.655
challenge will be getting the word out

01:50:49.679 --> 01:50:51.256
that it's happening. it might be upon

01:50:51.280 --> 01:50:52.695
neighbors to tell each other that it's

01:50:52.719 --> 01:50:54.856
going on, but I think that's a really a

01:50:54.880 --> 01:50:56.695
a really good example of the little

01:50:56.719 --> 01:50:58.776
nuggets of of council meeting the

01:50:58.800 --> 01:51:00.456
community where it is responding to that

01:51:00.480 --> 01:51:02.856
need. So, um there's a lot in here, a

01:51:02.880 --> 01:51:04.536
lot to unpack, but I think we're at our

01:51:04.560 --> 01:51:06.296
first step and I'm really looking

01:51:06.320 --> 01:51:07.655
forward to hearing what our community

01:51:07.679 --> 01:51:09.016
has to say about the draft we've got

01:51:09.040 --> 01:51:10.376
tonight. Thank you.

01:51:10.400 --> 01:51:12.456
Thank you, councelor.

01:51:12.480 --> 01:51:15.480
Would any other counselor like to speak?

01:51:20.960 --> 01:51:22.056
Councelor Duncan.

01:51:22.080 --> 01:51:24.695
 thank you, Mayor. Um this is our

01:51:24.719 --> 01:51:26.856
second budget for us as a collective. Um

01:51:26.880 --> 01:51:29.256
and in some ways it's also a first um

01:51:29.280 --> 01:51:30.695
that we've been able to shape from the

01:51:30.719 --> 01:51:32.456
ground up with our first budget that we

01:51:32.480 --> 01:51:33.816
released last year being more of a

01:51:33.840 --> 01:51:35.736
transitional offering given a lot of the

01:51:35.760 --> 01:51:38.056
drafting and community engagement was

01:51:38.080 --> 01:51:39.976
undertaken before our appointment as

01:51:40.000 --> 01:51:42.776
councilors. Cost of living increases and

01:51:42.800 --> 01:51:44.135
increases in the number of people

01:51:44.159 --> 01:51:46.376
reaching out for and taking advantage of

01:51:46.400 --> 01:51:49.256
assistance programs and the increas

01:51:49.280 --> 01:51:51.336
increased cost shifting from other

01:51:51.360 --> 01:51:53.175
levels of government all add upward

01:51:53.199 --> 01:51:54.776
pressures to our already stretched

01:51:54.800 --> 01:51:57.416
financial position. Rate capping has

01:51:57.440 --> 01:51:58.856
again been set well below the

01:51:58.880 --> 01:52:01.095
anticipated CPI and the need for our

01:52:01.119 --> 01:52:03.416
communities is not slowing in any way

01:52:03.440 --> 01:52:05.496
again putting further pressure on us as

01:52:05.520 --> 01:52:08.520
a council to do more for less. As a

01:52:08.800 --> 01:52:10.296
collective, we understand that the

01:52:10.320 --> 01:52:11.896
changes affecting cost of living is

01:52:11.920 --> 01:52:13.336
sensitive, particularly for our

01:52:13.360 --> 01:52:15.416
pensioner community, and we acknowledge

01:52:15.440 --> 01:52:18.135
the concern being expressed. However, I

01:52:18.159 --> 01:52:19.655
believe this decision has been made with

01:52:19.679 --> 01:52:22.056
fairness, e equity, and long-term

01:52:22.080 --> 01:52:24.695
sustainability in mind. Importantly,

01:52:24.719 --> 01:52:26.695
this rebate's not being removed. It's

01:52:26.719 --> 01:52:29.016
merely being reduced. In fact, our

01:52:29.040 --> 01:52:30.936
council, as you said, Mayor, remains one

01:52:30.960 --> 01:52:32.936
of only 11 councils that still offer

01:52:32.960 --> 01:52:35.256
this additional rebate, which highlights

01:52:35.280 --> 01:52:36.856
both our ongoing commitment to

01:52:36.880 --> 01:52:39.175
supporting and and most importantly the

01:52:39.199 --> 01:52:40.776
need to ensure that the support is

01:52:40.800 --> 01:52:43.016
applied responsibly. The current

01:52:43.040 --> 01:52:44.936
structure does not apply evenly across

01:52:44.960 --> 01:52:47.960
the community, and that's not equity or

01:52:48.400 --> 01:52:50.056
equality.

01:52:50.080 --> 01:52:52.296
Pensioners also receive a subsidi other

01:52:52.320 --> 01:52:54.615
subsidized concessions including 50%

01:52:54.639 --> 01:52:57.175
rate reduction and a further $50 annual

01:52:57.199 --> 01:53:00.199
discount off the ESVF levy. And beyond

01:53:00.480 --> 01:53:02.135
this, they also benefit from a wide

01:53:02.159 --> 01:53:04.056
range of concessions on utilities,

01:53:04.080 --> 01:53:05.736
public transport, medical costs, and

01:53:05.760 --> 01:53:07.816
vehicle registrations.

01:53:07.840 --> 01:53:09.736
Many many pensioners in Knox are living

01:53:09.760 --> 01:53:11.416
in retirement villages and they already

01:53:11.440 --> 01:53:13.896
receive a further 25% reduction in

01:53:13.920 --> 01:53:15.575
council rates  through those

01:53:15.599 --> 01:53:17.896
arrangements. While pensioners who rent

01:53:17.920 --> 01:53:19.976
are not eligible for any of these rate

01:53:20.000 --> 01:53:22.215
rebates at all and we could argue that

01:53:22.239 --> 01:53:23.816
this is the group that would benefit the

01:53:23.840 --> 01:53:25.575
most from this type of assistance, but

01:53:25.599 --> 01:53:28.599
they're not eligible at all. It's also

01:53:28.719 --> 01:53:31.256
to  important to consider the broader

01:53:31.280 --> 01:53:33.575
impact. Approximately 5% of our

01:53:33.599 --> 01:53:35.256
population are directly affected and

01:53:35.280 --> 01:53:37.095
those affected this this change equates

01:53:37.119 --> 01:53:40.119
to a mere 48 cents per week.

01:53:40.480 --> 01:53:42.536
While any increase matters, this is a

01:53:42.560 --> 01:53:45.496
very very modest adjustment. If this

01:53:45.520 --> 01:53:47.575
reduction was not made, we would not be

01:53:47.599 --> 01:53:49.416
we would have to look at scaling back

01:53:49.440 --> 01:53:51.336
other important services including the

01:53:51.360 --> 01:53:53.896
emergency assistance funding funding

01:53:53.920 --> 01:53:55.655
support for local community groups and

01:53:55.679 --> 01:53:57.736
services like our library that is rep

01:53:57.760 --> 01:54:00.456
relied upon by a significantly larger

01:54:00.480 --> 01:54:02.056
proportion of residents than just our

01:54:02.080 --> 01:54:04.695
pensioners. Of the countless community

01:54:04.719 --> 01:54:06.856
members I've spoken to, the majority are

01:54:06.880 --> 01:54:09.575
supportive of this minor increase. But

01:54:09.599 --> 01:54:11.175
once they were aware of the other

01:54:11.199 --> 01:54:13.816
services that it would be funding, this

01:54:13.840 --> 01:54:15.575
is going to allow us to increase our

01:54:15.599 --> 01:54:18.599
emergency relief grant to $150,000. It's

01:54:18.719 --> 01:54:20.376
also going to allow us to acknowledge

01:54:20.400 --> 01:54:22.296
and celebrate Australia Day, which we've

01:54:22.320 --> 01:54:24.615
put the funding in there for. It's also

01:54:24.639 --> 01:54:26.056
allowing the introduction of the winter

01:54:26.080 --> 01:54:29.080
shelter program. And I'd like to inv 

01:54:29.119 --> 01:54:30.936
remind my fellow councilors that the

01:54:30.960 --> 01:54:33.256
current Christmas decoration situation,

01:54:33.280 --> 01:54:34.615
which we're looking to spend more money

01:54:34.639 --> 01:54:36.135
on, this will directly contribute to

01:54:36.159 --> 01:54:38.056
that.

01:54:38.080 --> 01:54:39.575
While as a council we remain committed

01:54:39.599 --> 01:54:41.655
to supporting those of the those of the

01:54:41.679 --> 01:54:43.736
community in need, this decision allows

01:54:43.760 --> 01:54:45.976
us to do so in a way that is far more

01:54:46.000 --> 01:54:48.296
equitable, sustainable, and ensures that

01:54:48.320 --> 01:54:49.896
we can continue delivering essential

01:54:49.920 --> 01:54:52.615
services for the entire community. I'd

01:54:52.639 --> 01:54:54.536
also like to remind councilors that

01:54:54.560 --> 01:54:56.456
we're ultimately required to act in the

01:54:56.480 --> 01:54:57.896
public interest and participate in

01:54:57.920 --> 01:55:00.615
decision-m with an open mind. As was

01:55:00.639 --> 01:55:02.615
stated earlier, some counselors may have

01:55:02.639 --> 01:55:04.135
have mentioned this in campaign

01:55:04.159 --> 01:55:06.056
material, but this doesn't this doesn't

01:55:06.080 --> 01:55:07.655
prevent a counselor from revising a

01:55:07.679 --> 01:55:09.896
previously stated position. Rather, it

01:55:09.920 --> 01:55:12.215
reflects good governance practices. The

01:55:12.239 --> 01:55:14.296
VLGA guidance clearly spelled this out

01:55:14.320 --> 01:55:16.536
to us in our mandatory training. that

01:55:16.560 --> 01:55:18.456
councilors can have pre-existing views,

01:55:18.480 --> 01:55:20.695
including election commitments, but we

01:55:20.719 --> 01:55:22.296
must not have a closed mind when we

01:55:22.320 --> 01:55:24.215
enter the chamber, and that we must be

01:55:24.239 --> 01:55:26.615
willing to genuinely consider debate,

01:55:26.639 --> 01:55:28.376
officers advice, and new information

01:55:28.400 --> 01:55:30.056
that comes to hand before we vote on an

01:55:30.080 --> 01:55:32.135
issue. So, with that, I'm happy to

01:55:32.159 --> 01:55:33.736
support the draft budget, draft budget

01:55:33.760 --> 01:55:35.496
in its current form being put to the

01:55:35.520 --> 01:55:36.856
community for further comment and

01:55:36.880 --> 01:55:37.816
question.

01:55:37.840 --> 01:55:39.655
Thank you, councelor Duncan. Would any

01:55:39.679 --> 01:55:42.679
other council like to speak?

01:55:49.040 --> 01:55:51.175
Yes, councelor Lockwood.

01:55:51.199 --> 01:55:53.416
How can I not? Um,

01:55:53.440 --> 01:55:55.496
all right. So, this is going out for

01:55:55.520 --> 01:55:57.655
consultation. This is great. I just want

01:55:57.679 --> 01:55:59.896
to make a point about the the rate cap.

01:55:59.920 --> 01:56:02.920
The rate cap 2.75% is the predicted CPI

01:56:03.840 --> 01:56:06.840
by Treasury and Finance in Victoria for

01:56:06.880 --> 01:56:09.496
the Melbourne CPI.

01:56:09.520 --> 01:56:11.896
Um, for Melbourne, the Reserve Bank is

01:56:11.920 --> 01:56:14.536
predicting 3.7%.

01:56:14.560 --> 01:56:16.376
Um, so we be could be a percentage

01:56:16.400 --> 01:56:17.976
behind. We won't know, of course, until

01:56:18.000 --> 01:56:20.376
the year happens. Um, perhaps inflation

01:56:20.400 --> 01:56:23.175
will come down. Wow, miracles. Or it

01:56:23.199 --> 01:56:26.199
might even go up. Um, if this pattern

01:56:26.239 --> 01:56:28.695
continues and we're going to be a 1% off

01:56:28.719 --> 01:56:31.016
below over the next several years,

01:56:31.040 --> 01:56:32.376
looking at what's what have we taken

01:56:32.400 --> 01:56:34.615
rates for 120 million a year. So, it's

01:56:34.639 --> 01:56:37.016
1.2 million every year. We're going

01:56:37.040 --> 01:56:39.095
backwards.  if you lose that

01:56:39.119 --> 01:56:41.736
percentage point. So that's another 1.2

01:56:41.760 --> 01:56:44.760
every year we have to find. Um so

01:56:45.360 --> 01:56:48.215
nothing static. So I'm not sure we can

01:56:48.239 --> 01:56:49.575
look forward to any time when the

01:56:49.599 --> 01:56:52.456
budget's going to be free and easy like

01:56:52.480 --> 01:56:54.456
once was in the past. We're going to be

01:56:54.480 --> 01:56:56.856
under continuing pressure because rate

01:56:56.880 --> 01:56:59.496
capping is popular. As you've noticed,

01:56:59.520 --> 01:57:00.776
local government's a bit of a whipping

01:57:00.800 --> 01:57:01.976
boy for the state government at the

01:57:02.000 --> 01:57:03.175
moment. They've told us we have plenty

01:57:03.199 --> 01:57:05.336
of money. Um they've told us we're in

01:57:05.360 --> 01:57:08.360
good financial shape. point out um

01:57:08.800 --> 01:57:11.800
auditor general  looks at it looks at

01:57:12.159 --> 01:57:13.655
the balance sheet we look look in great

01:57:13.679 --> 01:57:14.856
condition because we have all these

01:57:14.880 --> 01:57:17.175
wonderful assets of course we can't

01:57:17.199 --> 01:57:18.856
leverage them we can't we can't get any

01:57:18.880 --> 01:57:20.695
money for them so the real balance sheet

01:57:20.719 --> 01:57:23.719
is is much much tighter and auditor

01:57:24.320 --> 01:57:26.056
general has actually warned that

01:57:26.080 --> 01:57:29.080
councils in Victoria are not sustainable

01:57:29.440 --> 01:57:31.736
um we only have a few years left where

01:57:31.760 --> 01:57:34.296
we're surviving and some council will

01:57:34.320 --> 01:57:36.456
start to be under serious pressure.

01:57:36.480 --> 01:57:38.456
That's a quaint way of putting it, isn't

01:57:38.480 --> 01:57:40.695
it? Um I'll start to go broke or start

01:57:40.719 --> 01:57:42.936
to be unable to deliver services in a

01:57:42.960 --> 01:57:44.456
few years time. And that's that's the

01:57:44.480 --> 01:57:46.135
auditor general pointing that out. But

01:57:46.159 --> 01:57:48.215
the government of course sees the rosy

01:57:48.239 --> 01:57:49.816
sizes and no you got all those wonderful

01:57:49.840 --> 01:57:52.840
assets. You're well off. Um so we are

01:57:53.040 --> 01:57:55.816
not well off. So we  we are still

01:57:55.840 --> 01:57:57.976
pushing pushing it uphill with a sharp

01:57:58.000 --> 01:58:00.536
stick as we will be for the next several

01:58:00.560 --> 01:58:01.976
years. I think if we're going to look at

01:58:02.000 --> 01:58:04.376
savings to offset things like pension

01:58:04.400 --> 01:58:06.296
rebates, we need to be serious about

01:58:06.320 --> 01:58:09.320
what we think are luxuries. I mean, from

01:58:09.840 --> 01:58:11.655
my point of view, I don't like I think

01:58:11.679 --> 01:58:14.536
lats are a bridge too far. Um, we don't

01:58:14.560 --> 01:58:16.456
need to spend money on traffic calming

01:58:16.480 --> 01:58:18.215
devices. Yes, people like them or want

01:58:18.239 --> 01:58:21.239
them. Southerns hate them, but what do

01:58:21.280 --> 01:58:22.776
you balance that against? Do you balance

01:58:22.800 --> 01:58:24.695
that against welfare for children or for

01:58:24.719 --> 01:58:26.856
older people? Um, I think we're going to

01:58:26.880 --> 01:58:28.936
have to come to that over the years with

01:58:28.960 --> 01:58:30.936
this council is in terms of what it

01:58:30.960 --> 01:58:33.960
balances for what benefit  going into

01:58:34.239 --> 01:58:36.376
the future. So, yep. Okay. So, I

01:58:36.400 --> 01:58:38.615
endorsed the the draft budget. Wish you

01:58:38.639 --> 01:58:40.135
probably wish I'd had more to say in it,

01:58:40.159 --> 01:58:42.615
but anyway, such is life. Such was my

01:58:42.639 --> 01:58:45.639
life. And I commend the budget.

01:58:46.400 --> 01:58:48.135
Thank you, Council Lockwood. Would any

01:58:48.159 --> 01:58:51.159
other council like to speak?

01:58:54.960 --> 01:58:57.960
No. Okay. Um I will just finally add um

01:58:59.520 --> 01:59:01.816
well thank you for my council colleagues

01:59:01.840 --> 01:59:03.816
for what you've contributed to the

01:59:03.840 --> 01:59:06.615
discussion. I think  what our

01:59:06.639 --> 01:59:08.135
residents can take away from this

01:59:08.159 --> 01:59:09.816
discussion is that we're being honest

01:59:09.840 --> 01:59:12.135
with you and transparent about the

01:59:12.159 --> 01:59:13.816
difficult decisions that council are

01:59:13.840 --> 01:59:16.840
facing  in this budget. No  

01:59:18.560 --> 01:59:21.560
decision  has been made on this

01:59:21.599 --> 01:59:24.296
budget. This budget now comes to you for

01:59:24.320 --> 01:59:27.320
questions and um we are listening.

01:59:28.400 --> 01:59:30.856
 with that I will put the motion. All

01:59:30.880 --> 01:59:33.880
those in favor

01:59:34.960 --> 01:59:37.175
all those

01:59:37.199 --> 01:59:39.175
 that motion is carried unanimously.

01:59:39.199 --> 01:59:42.199
Thank you.

01:59:45.679 --> 01:59:48.679
The next item on the agenda is 8.2

01:59:48.880 --> 01:59:51.496
potential municipalwide outdoor dining

01:59:51.520 --> 01:59:53.416
policy. Would a council like to move a

01:59:53.440 --> 01:59:55.736
motion? Thank you, councelor Williams.

01:59:55.760 --> 01:59:58.760
And is there a second?

01:59:59.599 --> 02:00:01.575
Thank you, councelor Baker. Councelor

02:00:01.599 --> 02:00:04.536
Williams. Oh, that's a count  the

02:00:04.560 --> 02:00:05.976
officer's recommendation, just to

02:00:06.000 --> 02:00:07.575
clarify. Thank you very much.

02:00:07.599 --> 02:00:09.816
Thank you through you, Mayor. um noting

02:00:09.840 --> 02:00:11.655
a lot of homework has gone into this and

02:00:11.679 --> 02:00:13.976
thank you to um Matt Chanthy and the

02:00:14.000 --> 02:00:16.615
team for um their work in doing this and

02:00:16.639 --> 02:00:18.376
it's been something ongoing for a little

02:00:18.400 --> 02:00:20.056
while that we've heard um here at

02:00:20.080 --> 02:00:21.575
council now in regards to the outdoor

02:00:21.599 --> 02:00:23.816
dining especially some of the park lits

02:00:23.840 --> 02:00:25.816
that we had um which I believe are no

02:00:25.840 --> 02:00:28.695
longer in Knox but um  and just some

02:00:28.719 --> 02:00:31.719
review around that um I am proposing

02:00:32.960 --> 02:00:34.776
that in the in future  council

02:00:34.800 --> 02:00:37.575
meetings once we've had a time to review

02:00:37.599 --> 02:00:40.599
 this um proposal in  in full that

02:00:41.679 --> 02:00:43.575
um I'll propose that we possibly go with

02:00:43.599 --> 02:00:45.575
option two and um put up a further

02:00:45.599 --> 02:00:47.976
motion of that at some later stage. Um

02:00:48.000 --> 02:00:49.736
being that this recommendation doesn't

02:00:49.760 --> 02:00:51.976
give us the option to  go ahead with

02:00:52.000 --> 02:00:53.496
any of those options. It's more just

02:00:53.520 --> 02:00:56.520
acknowledging um and identifying that.

02:00:56.960 --> 02:00:59.736
Um I'm I'm definitely more inclined

02:00:59.760 --> 02:01:01.816
based on this report to to option two.

02:01:01.840 --> 02:01:04.456
So there's no um major change to our

02:01:04.480 --> 02:01:06.456
current process, but also allows us to

02:01:06.480 --> 02:01:09.416
update our um trading and dining um

02:01:09.440 --> 02:01:12.440
permit program um without any um direct

02:01:13.760 --> 02:01:15.416
cost as per option three, which was

02:01:15.440 --> 02:01:18.296
going to add a cost of about 48,000 to

02:01:18.320 --> 02:01:20.856
our current budget. So I'm mindful in

02:01:20.880 --> 02:01:22.936
terms of that we've just finished the

02:01:22.960 --> 02:01:25.575
bit of budget discussion and talk around

02:01:25.599 --> 02:01:28.135
um another amount there that um we have

02:01:28.159 --> 02:01:29.976
a look at this in a um slightly

02:01:30.000 --> 02:01:33.000
different way. But option two  is is

02:01:33.199 --> 02:01:34.296
something that I'd probably be putting

02:01:34.320 --> 02:01:36.215
forward to this council  in the

02:01:36.239 --> 02:01:38.376
foreseeable future that we um perhaps

02:01:38.400 --> 02:01:40.536
look at that um as one of our options.

02:01:40.560 --> 02:01:42.215
But give us some time to consider. I'd

02:01:42.239 --> 02:01:44.056
really like to say thank you for the

02:01:44.080 --> 02:01:46.135
detailed report. Um and I think outdoor

02:01:46.159 --> 02:01:48.456
dining should still be on our agenda um

02:01:48.480 --> 02:01:50.135
moving forward for businesses here in

02:01:50.159 --> 02:01:52.135
Knox.

02:01:52.159 --> 02:01:53.575
Thank you councelor Williams. Councelor

02:01:53.599 --> 02:01:56.536
Baker. Thank you Mayor Kennet.  thank

02:01:56.560 --> 02:01:58.695
you for the report and obviously not is

02:01:58.719 --> 02:02:01.655
for noting um at this point in time. Um

02:02:01.679 --> 02:02:03.736
and it is also outlining three options

02:02:03.760 --> 02:02:06.376
for consideration um in relation to

02:02:06.400 --> 02:02:08.215
managing these outdoor dining parklets

02:02:08.239 --> 02:02:10.456
and knocks. Um and they range from

02:02:10.480 --> 02:02:12.135
maintaining the current approach to

02:02:12.159 --> 02:02:15.159
developing a comprehensive policy. Um

02:02:16.239 --> 02:02:19.239
and it highlights um the the complexity

02:02:20.320 --> 02:02:22.615
um and could be you know a costly

02:02:22.639 --> 02:02:25.496
venture um to deliver safety regulations

02:02:25.520 --> 02:02:27.496
and obviously working through land

02:02:27.520 --> 02:02:29.175
ownership requirements with these

02:02:29.199 --> 02:02:32.199
parklets um which can vary from one to

02:02:32.239 --> 02:02:35.016
the next. Um the suggestions outlined in

02:02:35.040 --> 02:02:37.416
the report are for consideration. Um it

02:02:37.440 --> 02:02:40.056
includes cautious staged approaches um

02:02:40.080 --> 02:02:41.896
testing business interest and community

02:02:41.920 --> 02:02:44.215
demand um in their interest as well

02:02:44.239 --> 02:02:45.896
before committing to any substantial

02:02:45.920 --> 02:02:48.920
resources um costs and full  policy

02:02:49.280 --> 02:02:51.896
development. So likewise it's obviously

02:02:51.920 --> 02:02:54.776
as it was alluded to before by councelor

02:02:54.800 --> 02:02:57.016
Williams. It has been a topic that has

02:02:57.040 --> 02:02:59.496
been  across our desk on a few

02:02:59.520 --> 02:03:02.520
occasions now. Um and I appreciate the

02:03:03.040 --> 02:03:05.175
information that's been provided to date

02:03:05.199 --> 02:03:07.736
 with this um and that is all be

02:03:07.760 --> 02:03:09.416
supportive just of of the the report

02:03:09.440 --> 02:03:11.256
that's come. Thank you. Thank you

02:03:11.280 --> 02:03:12.615
councelor Baker. Would any other

02:03:12.639 --> 02:03:15.639
counselor like to speak to the motion?

02:03:17.040 --> 02:03:18.856
I will now put the motion. All those in

02:03:18.880 --> 02:03:21.880
favor?

02:03:22.159 --> 02:03:25.159
Thank you. That motion is carried.

02:03:26.639 --> 02:03:29.639
Moving on to item 8.3, no sport and

02:03:31.040 --> 02:03:33.655
leisure awards 2026

02:03:33.679 --> 02:03:36.679
recipients. Before I call for a mover,

02:03:36.880 --> 02:03:38.456
I'll remind councilors that we may need

02:03:38.480 --> 02:03:39.655
to close the meeting if there are

02:03:39.679 --> 02:03:41.175
detailed questions or debate about

02:03:41.199 --> 02:03:42.856
matters set out in the confidential

02:03:42.880 --> 02:03:45.880
attachments of this report. Would a

02:03:45.920 --> 02:03:47.976
counselor like to move a motion? Thank

02:03:48.000 --> 02:03:50.615
you, councelor Pearce. And is there a

02:03:50.639 --> 02:03:53.639
seconder?

02:03:55.119 --> 02:03:57.336
Councelor Atwell. Thank you, Councelor

02:03:57.360 --> 02:04:00.215
Pearce.

02:04:00.239 --> 02:04:02.456
Thank you, Madame May.

02:04:02.480 --> 02:04:05.480
I just wanted to highlight that

02:04:05.520 --> 02:04:08.456
this report and

02:04:08.480 --> 02:04:11.175
concerns the names and people voted for

02:04:11.199 --> 02:04:14.199
for leisure awards.

02:04:14.800 --> 02:04:16.296
Sorry, I'm just trying to find my notes

02:04:16.320 --> 02:04:19.320
where I just had it. I do apologize.

02:04:24.159 --> 02:04:26.856
There was a lot of work done to complete

02:04:26.880 --> 02:04:29.880
this and to v for these particular

02:04:31.199 --> 02:04:33.816
positions to be voted in.

02:04:33.840 --> 02:04:36.215
You, madame Mayor, did one meeting, I

02:04:36.239 --> 02:04:38.615
did the second. It wasn't a lot of

02:04:38.639 --> 02:04:40.695
thought was put into it. A lot of

02:04:40.719 --> 02:04:43.336
thought was done to conduct it. I'm

02:04:43.360 --> 02:04:45.496
really pleased with the awards that have

02:04:45.520 --> 02:04:48.376
been um done contained in the

02:04:48.400 --> 02:04:51.400
confidential agreement attached has all

02:04:51.440 --> 02:04:54.296
the names and that I look forward to the

02:04:54.320 --> 02:04:55.976
note when we can give the recipients

02:04:56.000 --> 02:04:57.976
their awards. Thank you madam m.

02:04:58.000 --> 02:05:00.056
Thank you councelor Pearce councel.

02:05:00.080 --> 02:05:02.215
Yeah. Any other council wish to speak to

02:05:02.239 --> 02:05:03.736
the motion?

02:05:03.760 --> 02:05:06.456
Councelor Duncan. Um to councelor

02:05:06.480 --> 02:05:08.376
Pearce's point also I also sit on the

02:05:08.400 --> 02:05:10.695
this  recreation and leisure committee

02:05:10.719 --> 02:05:13.095
and I I was part of this panel last

02:05:13.119 --> 02:05:15.575
year. So um I just like to thank you for

02:05:15.599 --> 02:05:17.336
all your efforts councelor Pearce. It is

02:05:17.360 --> 02:05:19.816
a mammoth task  having gone through it

02:05:19.840 --> 02:05:22.840
last year. Um and yeah I too am looking

02:05:23.199 --> 02:05:25.896
forward to  to the evening.  it's a

02:05:25.920 --> 02:05:28.056
great one on our calendar celebrating a

02:05:28.080 --> 02:05:29.575
achievements within our wreck and

02:05:29.599 --> 02:05:32.599
leisure um community groups. It's always

02:05:32.639 --> 02:05:33.976
been a fantastic evening and look

02:05:34.000 --> 02:05:35.575
forward to joining yourself and and the

02:05:35.599 --> 02:05:37.655
Mayor there um as part of the committee.

02:05:37.679 --> 02:05:39.256
So, thank you for all your hard work to

02:05:39.280 --> 02:05:41.736
you and to the Mayor for that.

02:05:41.760 --> 02:05:43.336
Thank you, councelor Duncan. Would any

02:05:43.360 --> 02:05:46.360
other council like to speak?

02:05:46.560 --> 02:05:48.936
No, I will just  quickly say that I'm

02:05:48.960 --> 02:05:51.960
pleased to support this item.  this is

02:05:52.080 --> 02:05:54.056
an important way that council gets to

02:05:54.080 --> 02:05:56.215
recognize the people and volunteers in

02:05:56.239 --> 02:05:58.056
our community that are working so hard

02:05:58.080 --> 02:06:01.080
in our  wreck and leisure areas to

02:06:02.080 --> 02:06:04.695
support our community. And this year we

02:06:04.719 --> 02:06:07.016
received 54 nominations across all

02:06:07.040 --> 02:06:09.095
categories which speaks volumes to the

02:06:09.119 --> 02:06:11.336
strength of sport and leisure across

02:06:11.360 --> 02:06:14.360
Knox. I was on

02:06:14.719 --> 02:06:17.416
I was on one of the panels um and

02:06:17.440 --> 02:06:19.816
councelor Pearce was on the other and I

02:06:19.840 --> 02:06:22.056
do want to genuinely say that this was a

02:06:22.080 --> 02:06:24.615
really difficult task. The standard of

02:06:24.639 --> 02:06:27.639
applications that were received  were

02:06:27.679 --> 02:06:29.976
really strong. Um and the panel that I

02:06:30.000 --> 02:06:31.976
worked with found it a real challenge

02:06:32.000 --> 02:06:34.296
because the caliber of candidates was so

02:06:34.320 --> 02:06:36.695
high. Um, but this is a terrific

02:06:36.719 --> 02:06:39.496
challenge for Knox to have  because it

02:06:39.520 --> 02:06:40.936
shows that we aren't just building

02:06:40.960 --> 02:06:43.095
buildings, which is what we contribute,

02:06:43.119 --> 02:06:45.575
but we have a large community that's

02:06:45.599 --> 02:06:47.496
helping to build and lead and

02:06:47.520 --> 02:06:50.456
participate in the building of our

02:06:50.480 --> 02:06:53.256
community out there in Knox. Um, and

02:06:53.280 --> 02:06:54.776
that's making a real difference. So,

02:06:54.800 --> 02:06:56.215
this is a great opportunity to

02:06:56.239 --> 02:06:58.615
acknowledge those superstars in our

02:06:58.639 --> 02:07:01.639
community that are helping um, , to

02:07:01.679 --> 02:07:03.976
make sport and wreck what it is out in

02:07:04.000 --> 02:07:06.215
Knox. So I really look forward to the

02:07:06.239 --> 02:07:08.055
event on the 17th of June and

02:07:08.079 --> 02:07:10.776
celebrating not only  the winners but

02:07:10.800 --> 02:07:13.800
the finalists and all the um all the

02:07:14.000 --> 02:07:16.456
other  54

02:07:16.480 --> 02:07:19.480
um nominee nominees.

02:07:19.760 --> 02:07:21.896
 councelor Pearce, would you like your

02:07:21.920 --> 02:07:24.376
right of reply?

02:07:24.400 --> 02:07:25.896
I think it's all been said. Thank you,

02:07:25.920 --> 02:07:27.336
Madame May.

02:07:27.360 --> 02:07:29.256
Thank you. I'll put the motion. All

02:07:29.280 --> 02:07:32.135
those in favor?

02:07:32.159 --> 02:07:34.376
That motion is carried unanimously.

02:07:34.400 --> 02:07:37.400
Thank you.

02:07:39.679 --> 02:07:42.679
Okay, we'll now move on to item 8.4

02:07:43.040 --> 02:07:45.496
updated Knox community grants framework

02:07:45.520 --> 02:07:47.896
and guidelines.

02:07:47.920 --> 02:07:50.376
 just want to council Williams, you

02:07:50.400 --> 02:07:52.695
you foreshadowed a conflict.

02:07:52.719 --> 02:07:53.896
Thank you. Through you, Mayor. In

02:07:53.920 --> 02:07:55.095
accordance with local government act

02:07:55.119 --> 02:07:56.936
2020, I role Williams declare that I

02:07:56.960 --> 02:07:59.016
have a material conflict of interest for

02:07:59.040 --> 02:08:02.040
today's meeting  for 8.4 community

02:08:02.159 --> 02:08:04.135
grants. Being the group officer and

02:08:04.159 --> 02:08:06.296
member of the CFA group who receives a

02:08:06.320 --> 02:08:08.615
direct benefit from these grants, I will

02:08:08.639 --> 02:08:10.296
excuse myself from the chambers.

02:08:10.320 --> 02:08:11.816
Thank you very much, Councelor Williams

02:08:11.840 --> 02:08:14.055
and councelor Cooper.

02:08:14.079 --> 02:08:16.135
Yes, thank you Mayor. Um, in accordance

02:08:16.159 --> 02:08:18.856
with the Local Government Act 2020, I,

02:08:18.880 --> 02:08:21.016
Lisa Cooper, declare that I have a

02:08:21.040 --> 02:08:23.095
general conflict of interest on today's

02:08:23.119 --> 02:08:26.119
date. Um, for item 8.4,

02:08:27.119 --> 02:08:29.496
um, updated Knox community grants

02:08:29.520 --> 02:08:31.256
framework and guidelines and the nature

02:08:31.280 --> 02:08:33.896
of my interest is I am the network

02:08:33.920 --> 02:08:35.816
manager for community houses in the

02:08:35.840 --> 02:08:38.776
outer eastern suburbs who may apply and

02:08:38.800 --> 02:08:41.575
benefit from a future grant through this

02:08:41.599 --> 02:08:42.776
framework. Thank you.

02:08:42.800 --> 02:08:45.800
Thank you, councelor Cooper.

02:08:55.840 --> 02:08:57.496
the would counselor like to move a

02:08:57.520 --> 02:09:00.520
motion.

02:09:01.920 --> 02:09:03.736
Thank you, councelor Baker. Moving the

02:09:03.760 --> 02:09:05.416
officer's recommendation. Is there a

02:09:05.440 --> 02:09:07.496
second?

02:09:07.520 --> 02:09:09.736
Thank you, councelor Considine.

02:09:09.760 --> 02:09:10.615
Councelor Baker.

02:09:10.639 --> 02:09:13.016
Thank you. Three, Mayor Kennet.  this

02:09:13.040 --> 02:09:15.816
item  is for the Knox community grants

02:09:15.840 --> 02:09:17.496
framework and guidelines that was

02:09:17.520 --> 02:09:19.736
reviewed recently. The intent and

02:09:19.760 --> 02:09:21.256
purpose of these grants have not changed

02:09:21.280 --> 02:09:22.695
and have received a number of key

02:09:22.719 --> 02:09:25.575
updates and improvements. Um the report

02:09:25.599 --> 02:09:27.655
outlines these updated drafts and

02:09:27.679 --> 02:09:30.135
changes of the the grants guidelines

02:09:30.159 --> 02:09:31.896
framework policy and assessment panel

02:09:31.920 --> 02:09:34.376
terms of reference following the review

02:09:34.400 --> 02:09:36.456
 with the aim of improving clarity,

02:09:36.480 --> 02:09:38.536
consistency and governance without

02:09:38.560 --> 02:09:40.376
changing the program's core purpose that

02:09:40.400 --> 02:09:43.400
will support our community organizations

02:09:43.520 --> 02:09:46.520
that apply. Um the key changes include

02:09:46.639 --> 02:09:48.456
clearer eligibility and assessment

02:09:48.480 --> 02:09:50.536
processes, stronger property and

02:09:50.560 --> 02:09:52.615
accountability measures, alignment of

02:09:52.639 --> 02:09:55.639
the community  partnership fund with

02:09:55.679 --> 02:09:57.175
community development fund and the

02:09:57.199 --> 02:09:59.095
creation of a single assessment panel.

02:09:59.119 --> 02:10:00.776
Um and also introduces a service

02:10:00.800 --> 02:10:02.615
agreement for selected essential service

02:10:02.639 --> 02:10:05.095
providers to formalize expectations and

02:10:05.119 --> 02:10:07.496
ensure stable service delivery. Overall,

02:10:07.520 --> 02:10:09.095
the updates are designed to enhance

02:10:09.119 --> 02:10:11.416
transparency, simplify administration,

02:10:11.440 --> 02:10:13.016
and support the fair and equitable

02:10:13.040 --> 02:10:14.856
access to funding for the Knox community

02:10:14.880 --> 02:10:16.215
and supportive of the office's

02:10:16.239 --> 02:10:18.376
recommendation. Thank you. Thank you,

02:10:18.400 --> 02:10:21.400
Council Baker. Council Council

02:10:21.440 --> 02:10:24.440
Q3. Well, um, now councelor Baker

02:10:25.280 --> 02:10:26.695
explained everything very well. Thank

02:10:26.719 --> 02:10:28.215
you so much, and I reserve my right.

02:10:28.239 --> 02:10:28.695
Thanks.

02:10:28.719 --> 02:10:30.456
Okay. Would any other council like to

02:10:30.480 --> 02:10:33.480
speak to the motion?

02:10:36.079 --> 02:10:38.536
No.  I would just say that what I

02:10:38.560 --> 02:10:40.615
really like about this updated response

02:10:40.639 --> 02:10:42.776
to feedback received both through the

02:10:42.800 --> 02:10:44.695
groups that had been applying for grants

02:10:44.719 --> 02:10:47.336
but also  the feedback that councilors

02:10:47.360 --> 02:10:49.575
had been receiving through the process.

02:10:49.599 --> 02:10:52.135
So officers have been listening to that

02:10:52.159 --> 02:10:53.976
feedback and has incorporated that

02:10:54.000 --> 02:10:57.000
feedback through  this report and the

02:10:58.400 --> 02:11:00.695
attachments which help to facilitate

02:11:00.719 --> 02:11:03.095
those grant programs throughout the year

02:11:03.119 --> 02:11:04.615
and grants are important for our

02:11:04.639 --> 02:11:06.776
community groups but also it's really

02:11:06.800 --> 02:11:09.016
important for good governance and

02:11:09.040 --> 02:11:11.336
transparency that we're managing those

02:11:11.360 --> 02:11:13.336
public funds well. So these documents

02:11:13.360 --> 02:11:15.736
are really important. , I look forward

02:11:15.760 --> 02:11:18.215
to continuing the work to improve the

02:11:18.239 --> 02:11:20.936
process and listening to to those that

02:11:20.960 --> 02:11:22.936
are applying for for grants and how

02:11:22.960 --> 02:11:24.376
they're actually finding the process

02:11:24.400 --> 02:11:26.135
working so that we can continue to

02:11:26.159 --> 02:11:29.159
fine-tune that  to to continue the

02:11:29.199 --> 02:11:30.936
great benefits that are received for our

02:11:30.960 --> 02:11:33.256
community through this grants program.

02:11:33.280 --> 02:11:35.416
Um, I would just like to ask one

02:11:35.440 --> 02:11:38.296
question to  Director Coline if if I

02:11:38.320 --> 02:11:40.536
may. I just want to confirm that we're

02:11:40.560 --> 02:11:43.560
still supporting new and emerging groups

02:11:43.920 --> 02:11:46.920
and the um the documentation and the

02:11:47.520 --> 02:11:49.175
guidelines and the framework aren't

02:11:49.199 --> 02:11:51.336
inhibiting or providing a barrier to

02:11:51.360 --> 02:11:53.256
those new and emerging groups from

02:11:53.280 --> 02:11:56.280
applying for grant funding.

02:11:56.800 --> 02:11:59.496
Thanks for the question  through you.

02:11:59.520 --> 02:12:01.336
Yes, we're absolutely supporting new

02:12:01.360 --> 02:12:04.055
groups. the the the community grants

02:12:04.079 --> 02:12:06.055
team are always happy to meet with

02:12:06.079 --> 02:12:08.215
community groups or community members,

02:12:08.239 --> 02:12:10.376
talk to them about what grant they can

02:12:10.400 --> 02:12:12.856
apply for um and even assist them

02:12:12.880 --> 02:12:15.256
through the process or or their aquid at

02:12:15.280 --> 02:12:17.256
the other end. So, you know, a little

02:12:17.280 --> 02:12:19.896
bit of handholding can go a long way.

02:12:19.920 --> 02:12:21.655
That's that's very good to hear. Thank

02:12:21.679 --> 02:12:24.376
you, Director Coline. Um, I am very

02:12:24.400 --> 02:12:27.400
supportive of um of this update with the

02:12:27.520 --> 02:12:30.520
framework and guidelines. Um, and

02:12:31.440 --> 02:12:34.440
so I will ask councelor Baker if she

02:12:35.040 --> 02:12:36.936
would like a right for reply. No. Okay,

02:12:36.960 --> 02:12:39.960
I'll put the motion. All those in favor?

02:12:40.079 --> 02:12:42.055
That motion is carried unanimously.

02:12:42.079 --> 02:12:44.536
Thank you. I will  ask councelor

02:12:44.560 --> 02:12:46.936
Cooper and councelor Williams to return

02:12:46.960 --> 02:12:49.960
to the chamber.

02:13:02.719 --> 02:13:05.719
Sweet.

02:13:13.920 --> 02:13:16.920
Yes.

02:13:26.159 --> 02:13:29.016
The next item on the agenda is item 8.5,

02:13:29.040 --> 02:13:32.040
contract award 3693, manage service

02:13:32.560 --> 02:13:35.560
program provider for contingent labor.

02:13:36.239 --> 02:13:37.896
Before I call for a mover, I'll remind

02:13:37.920 --> 02:13:39.575
councilors that we may need to close the

02:13:39.599 --> 02:13:41.175
meeting if there are detailed questions

02:13:41.199 --> 02:13:43.655
or debate about matters set out in the

02:13:43.679 --> 02:13:45.336
confidential attachments for this

02:13:45.360 --> 02:13:47.655
report. Would a council like to move a

02:13:47.679 --> 02:13:50.679
motion?

02:13:51.199 --> 02:13:53.175
Thank you, councelor Baker, for moving

02:13:53.199 --> 02:13:55.655
the council's recommendation. , is

02:13:55.679 --> 02:13:58.055
there a seconder?

02:13:58.079 --> 02:13:59.736
Thank you, councelor Atwell. Councelor

02:13:59.760 --> 02:14:00.536
Baker,

02:14:00.560 --> 02:14:03.560
thank you. This is just  seeking um

02:14:04.719 --> 02:14:07.719
for a 12 month um term contract um where

02:14:10.320 --> 02:14:12.296
 the organization have the ability to

02:14:12.320 --> 02:14:14.776
engage labor hire personnel on a as

02:14:14.800 --> 02:14:17.095
required basis to support service

02:14:17.119 --> 02:14:19.816
continuity and address operational needs

02:14:19.840 --> 02:14:22.776
as required um in supportive of the the

02:14:22.800 --> 02:14:24.376
report. Thank you.

02:14:24.400 --> 02:14:26.695
Thank you councelor Baker. Councelor

02:14:26.719 --> 02:14:28.215
 thank you Mayor. Yes, it's an

02:14:28.239 --> 02:14:30.776
existing arrangement um which we use for

02:14:30.800 --> 02:14:32.376
short-term coverage in early years and

02:14:32.400 --> 02:14:35.400
other  service critical roles. So

02:14:35.440 --> 02:14:37.256
happy to roll this over and I note that

02:14:37.280 --> 02:14:38.856
there's also three one-year extension

02:14:38.880 --> 02:14:40.215
options. So happy to support this

02:14:40.239 --> 02:14:41.256
tonight. Thank you.

02:14:41.280 --> 02:14:43.256
Thank you councelor. Yes, councelor

02:14:43.280 --> 02:14:44.536
Pearce.

02:14:44.560 --> 02:14:46.215
I'd like a little bit more information

02:14:46.239 --> 02:14:49.239
regarding to can I forward a email to

02:14:50.800 --> 02:14:53.175
Mr. Doson to get some more details on

02:14:53.199 --> 02:14:55.736
what contracts and whereabouts this

02:14:55.760 --> 02:14:58.760
additional staffing is involved in.

02:14:58.800 --> 02:15:01.800
Thank you. Okay. Um any other counselor

02:15:03.280 --> 02:15:06.280
like to speak to the motion?

02:15:07.280 --> 02:15:10.280
Now I'll put the Oh, well I'll council

02:15:10.320 --> 02:15:11.976
Baker. No, you don't worry. You're idle

02:15:12.000 --> 02:15:13.575
for reply. Thank you.  I'll put the

02:15:13.599 --> 02:15:16.599
motion. All those in favor.

02:15:20.320 --> 02:15:23.320
Okay. and all those abstaining.

02:15:24.800 --> 02:15:26.456
, division has been called, so I'll

02:15:26.480 --> 02:15:28.135
set that motion aside and I'll put the

02:15:28.159 --> 02:15:31.095
motion again. All those in favor,

02:15:31.119 --> 02:15:33.095
councelor Baker, Councelor Cooper,

02:15:33.119 --> 02:15:36.055
Councelor Duncan, Councelor Lockwood,

02:15:36.079 --> 02:15:39.079
Councelor Kennet, Councelor Conine,

02:15:39.280 --> 02:15:42.280
Councelor Atwell, Councelor Williams.

02:15:42.400 --> 02:15:44.536
All those abstaining,

02:15:44.560 --> 02:15:47.560
councelor Pearce. Thank you.

02:15:51.760 --> 02:15:54.695
I'll move on to item 8.6, Mayor's visit

02:15:54.719 --> 02:15:57.719
to CRA with GSM.

02:15:58.320 --> 02:15:59.976
, would a council like to move a

02:16:00.000 --> 02:16:03.000
motion? Thank you, councelor Baker. Is

02:16:03.040 --> 02:16:05.496
there a second?

02:16:05.520 --> 02:16:07.256
Thank you, councelor Duncan and

02:16:07.280 --> 02:16:08.536
councelor Baker.

02:16:08.560 --> 02:16:11.175
Thank you. Um, and thank you, Mayor

02:16:11.199 --> 02:16:13.655
Kennet, for supplying this. I find this

02:16:13.679 --> 02:16:16.215
is a a really helpful tool for our

02:16:16.239 --> 02:16:19.239
community. Um for when we do go to

02:16:19.280 --> 02:16:22.280
events like this um the advocacy that

02:16:22.400 --> 02:16:24.215
you have represented council and our

02:16:24.239 --> 02:16:26.536
community with um and very insightful

02:16:26.560 --> 02:16:28.296
and very detailed. So thank you for the

02:16:28.320 --> 02:16:30.695
 information um and provides clarity

02:16:30.719 --> 02:16:32.535
of  the work that was done while

02:16:32.559 --> 02:16:34.216
you're up there. So thank you.

02:16:34.240 --> 02:16:36.216
Thank you councelor Baker. Councelor

02:16:36.240 --> 02:16:37.335
Duncan.

02:16:37.359 --> 02:16:39.016
Um yes, thank you Mayor. A very

02:16:39.040 --> 02:16:40.535
comprehensive report. It would have

02:16:40.559 --> 02:16:41.976
taken you quite a while to put all that

02:16:42.000 --> 02:16:45.000
together. Sure. Um, and this this came

02:16:45.439 --> 02:16:48.375
from a  I believe it was a resolution

02:16:48.399 --> 02:16:49.976
that you put forward, councelor Baker,

02:16:50.000 --> 02:16:52.216
that  in in order for any of us

02:16:52.240 --> 02:16:53.976
counselors to attend these types of

02:16:54.000 --> 02:16:55.495
conferences, etc., that we need to

02:16:55.519 --> 02:16:58.136
report it back to to council on what the

02:16:58.160 --> 02:17:00.136
benefit is and how that benefit directly

02:17:00.160 --> 02:17:01.575
affects our residents. So, I think

02:17:01.599 --> 02:17:02.936
that's very well summed up in your

02:17:02.960 --> 02:17:05.256
report and I appreciate you  putting

02:17:05.280 --> 02:17:07.016
that through for us and  all the

02:17:07.040 --> 02:17:09.736
advocacy that you do as part of those

02:17:09.760 --> 02:17:12.695
groups.  and then some other councils

02:17:12.719 --> 02:17:15.719
are on like ERG and we got G Smar a

02:17:16.479 --> 02:17:18.455
whole bunch of others. So um really

02:17:18.479 --> 02:17:19.976
really appreciate the work that's gone

02:17:20.000 --> 02:17:21.415
into this. So thank you.

02:17:21.439 --> 02:17:23.016
Thank you councelor Duncan. Would any

02:17:23.040 --> 02:17:24.375
other counselor like to speak to the

02:17:24.399 --> 02:17:27.016
motion?

02:17:27.040 --> 02:17:30.040
Yeah. I'll just  quickly say that this

02:17:30.160 --> 02:17:32.615
report is simply a step for transparency

02:17:32.639 --> 02:17:34.856
and accountability and I'd like to thank

02:17:34.880 --> 02:17:36.856
council for requesting the report

02:17:36.880 --> 02:17:39.176
because I think that it does help to

02:17:39.200 --> 02:17:41.096
report back to residents about what

02:17:41.120 --> 02:17:43.575
we're doing.  the purpose of the visit

02:17:43.599 --> 02:17:45.736
was about advocacy and making sure that

02:17:45.760 --> 02:17:48.136
Knox's voice was not left out of the

02:17:48.160 --> 02:17:51.016
conversation. Knox has strong sectors in

02:17:51.040 --> 02:17:52.695
manufacturing, food production,

02:17:52.719 --> 02:17:55.719
automotive, and more, representing 23%

02:17:56.000 --> 02:17:59.000
of local jobs, 900 businesses, and $9

02:17:59.359 --> 02:18:02.136
billion in economic output. The

02:18:02.160 --> 02:18:04.695
discussions with the ministers covered

02:18:04.719 --> 02:18:06.776
jobs and skills, transport,

02:18:06.800 --> 02:18:08.375
infrastructure,

02:18:08.399 --> 02:18:10.936
housing, closing close to jobs, and

02:18:10.960 --> 02:18:13.495
helping businesses to transition to net

02:18:13.519 --> 02:18:16.519
zero when and if they're ready. Um these

02:18:17.120 --> 02:18:18.856
are not areas that council can solve

02:18:18.880 --> 02:18:21.335
alone which is why this advocacy is so

02:18:21.359 --> 02:18:23.655
important.

02:18:23.679 --> 02:18:26.679
Um so I thank um council for their

02:18:26.719 --> 02:18:28.936
support in sending me. I'd also like to

02:18:28.960 --> 02:18:31.415
to note and be transparent about the

02:18:31.439 --> 02:18:34.136
costs and that was  approximately

02:18:34.160 --> 02:18:37.160
$1600 for for for me to travel up to CRA

02:18:38.639 --> 02:18:41.335
to represent Knox  for this piece of

02:18:41.359 --> 02:18:44.056
work. Um, councelor Baker, would you

02:18:44.080 --> 02:18:47.080
like to use your word of reply?

02:18:47.439 --> 02:18:49.976
Just thank you for your um, addit

02:18:50.000 --> 02:18:52.455
information as well. So, thank you.

02:18:52.479 --> 02:18:54.776
Thank you. I'll put the motion. All

02:18:54.800 --> 02:18:56.776
those in favor.

02:18:56.800 --> 02:18:58.455
Thank you. That motion is carried

02:18:58.479 --> 02:19:00.615
unanimously.

02:19:00.639 --> 02:19:02.695
Move on to item nine, supplementary

02:19:02.719 --> 02:19:04.936
items. There are no supplementary items

02:19:04.960 --> 02:19:07.096
this evening. So, we'll move on to item

02:19:07.120 --> 02:19:10.120
10, notices of motion. Item 10.1, notice

02:19:11.040 --> 02:19:14.040
of motion number 193, advocacy for

02:19:14.080 --> 02:19:15.896
Medicare rebates for registered

02:19:15.920 --> 02:19:18.295
counselors and psychotherapists.

02:19:18.319 --> 02:19:19.736
We have a notice of motion from

02:19:19.760 --> 02:19:21.575
councelor Cooper. Councelor Cooper,

02:19:21.599 --> 02:19:23.816
would you like to move your notice of

02:19:23.840 --> 02:19:26.455
motion? Thank you, Mayor. I'd like to

02:19:26.479 --> 02:19:28.695
seek leave of council to move my notice

02:19:28.719 --> 02:19:31.415
of motion with a revised  form of

02:19:31.439 --> 02:19:33.575
words, and we're going to show them up

02:19:33.599 --> 02:19:35.736
on the screen in just a moment, please.

02:19:35.760 --> 02:19:38.760
Thank you, councelor Cooper. councilors.

02:19:52.319 --> 02:19:54.455
I would propose that we accept the

02:19:54.479 --> 02:19:57.479
revised form of the motion. Are there is

02:19:58.080 --> 02:20:01.080
there anyone opposed

02:20:03.280 --> 02:20:06.280
there?

02:20:07.840 --> 02:20:10.840
Just in the red there.

02:20:33.760 --> 02:20:35.656
I'm just giving counselors a minute just

02:20:35.680 --> 02:20:37.976
to have a look at that revised

02:20:38.000 --> 02:20:41.000
motion.

02:21:00.319 --> 02:21:03.319
Yep. There being no one opposed, leave

02:21:03.600 --> 02:21:06.136
of council is given to councelor Cooper.

02:21:06.160 --> 02:21:07.576
Would you like to read the amended

02:21:07.600 --> 02:21:09.256
section of your motion for the benefit

02:21:09.280 --> 02:21:11.576
of the gallery? And I'll take that

02:21:11.600 --> 02:21:14.600
motion as moved. Sure. Thank you. Um,

02:21:15.280 --> 02:21:17.976
okay. So, the the change or the amended

02:21:18.000 --> 02:21:19.816
section actually is just to capture a

02:21:19.840 --> 02:21:22.840
little bit more detail. Um so it it

02:21:23.760 --> 02:21:26.760
reads under section one  right sorry

02:21:27.439 --> 02:21:29.016
B1

02:21:29.040 --> 02:21:32.040
right to the honorable Mark Butler MP

02:21:32.160 --> 02:21:34.375
minister for health and age care and

02:21:34.399 --> 02:21:37.399
relevant federal members for Knox um

02:21:37.520 --> 02:21:40.295
number I or letter I requesting the

02:21:40.319 --> 02:21:41.976
Commonwealth government address mental

02:21:42.000 --> 02:21:45.000
health workload workforce shortages and

02:21:45.280 --> 02:21:47.576
improve access and affordability by

02:21:47.600 --> 02:21:49.335
including registered counselors and

02:21:49.359 --> 02:21:50.776
psychotherapists.

02:21:50.800 --> 02:21:53.256
as eligible Medicare benefits scheme

02:21:53.280 --> 02:21:55.656
providers creating counseling

02:21:55.680 --> 02:21:58.216
psychotherapist provider numbers

02:21:58.240 --> 02:22:00.295
mandating their inclusion in the public

02:22:00.319 --> 02:22:03.319
health network multi-dis teams updating

02:22:04.800 --> 02:22:06.936
PHN workforce strategies to ensure

02:22:06.960 --> 02:22:08.455
registered counselors and

02:22:08.479 --> 02:22:09.976
psychotherapists

02:22:10.000 --> 02:22:12.936
are included as mental health providers

02:22:12.960 --> 02:22:15.656
allowing PHNS to refer clients directly

02:22:15.680 --> 02:22:18.375
to counselors and psychotherapists and

02:22:18.399 --> 02:22:21.256
providing PHNS with funding to deliver

02:22:21.280 --> 02:22:24.280
services via an expanded workforce

02:22:24.640 --> 02:22:26.696
including registered counselors and

02:22:26.720 --> 02:22:29.496
psychotherapists.

02:22:29.520 --> 02:22:31.816
Thank you, councelor Cooper. Just noting

02:22:31.840 --> 02:22:33.335
for the gallery, the balance of your

02:22:33.359 --> 02:22:35.896
motion is as circulated on the council's

02:22:35.920 --> 02:22:38.776
website prior to the meeting. Um I'm

02:22:38.800 --> 02:22:41.016
also happy to second this motion from

02:22:41.040 --> 02:22:43.496
the chair. Um councelor Cooper, would

02:22:43.520 --> 02:22:45.176
you like to speak to the motion?

02:22:45.200 --> 02:22:47.335
Yes, I would. Thank you. So as

02:22:47.359 --> 02:22:49.656
councilors, we have a responsibility to

02:22:49.680 --> 02:22:52.136
advocate strongly to both state and

02:22:52.160 --> 02:22:54.375
federal governments on behalf of Knox on

02:22:54.399 --> 02:22:56.455
a range of issues that extend beyond

02:22:56.479 --> 02:22:58.536
local government, particularly those

02:22:58.560 --> 02:23:01.496
that directly impact our residents. This

02:23:01.520 --> 02:23:03.656
includes pushing for legislative reform

02:23:03.680 --> 02:23:05.896
and policy change such as improvements

02:23:05.920 --> 02:23:08.536
to the Medicare benefit scheme to ensure

02:23:08.560 --> 02:23:10.776
more people can access affordable and

02:23:10.800 --> 02:23:13.496
timely mental health care through a a

02:23:13.520 --> 02:23:16.520
broader range of qualified providers.

02:23:16.720 --> 02:23:19.720
The summary of the state of Knox report

02:23:19.760 --> 02:23:22.536
which is available online makes it clear

02:23:22.560 --> 02:23:24.776
that mental health is a growing and

02:23:24.800 --> 02:23:27.335
urgent concern here in Knox.

02:23:27.359 --> 02:23:30.216
Psychological distress now affects 18%

02:23:30.240 --> 02:23:33.240
of adults in Knox which is up from 11%

02:23:33.680 --> 02:23:36.295
and is higher than the metropolitan

02:23:36.319 --> 02:23:39.319
average of 15%. We also see clear

02:23:39.760 --> 02:23:42.455
disparities with women experiencing

02:23:42.479 --> 02:23:44.536
significantly higher rates of poor

02:23:44.560 --> 02:23:45.976
mental health.

02:23:46.000 --> 02:23:48.136
At the same time, just over half of our

02:23:48.160 --> 02:23:50.056
residents are not satisfied with the

02:23:50.080 --> 02:23:52.455
support available to those in need,

02:23:52.479 --> 02:23:54.536
highlighting a gap between community

02:23:54.560 --> 02:23:57.415
expectations and the services currently

02:23:57.439 --> 02:24:00.216
accessible. As a counselor and in my

02:24:00.240 --> 02:24:02.536
role as an area manager for community

02:24:02.560 --> 02:24:05.415
houses, I see these statistics reflected

02:24:05.439 --> 02:24:08.136
in people's lives every day. Our

02:24:08.160 --> 02:24:10.216
community houses are often the first

02:24:10.240 --> 02:24:12.375
place people turn to when they are

02:24:12.399 --> 02:24:15.016
struggling with issues like isolation,

02:24:15.040 --> 02:24:17.816
financial distress or stress, sorry, and

02:24:17.840 --> 02:24:20.056
depression or other complex mental

02:24:20.080 --> 02:24:22.936
health challenges. The demand continues

02:24:22.960 --> 02:24:25.016
to grow and the system is not keeping

02:24:25.040 --> 02:24:27.816
pace. Recently, I have supported someone

02:24:27.840 --> 02:24:30.375
in our community through domestic

02:24:30.399 --> 02:24:33.096
violence, witnessing firsthand emotional

02:24:33.120 --> 02:24:36.120
and psycho  witnessing sorry firsthand

02:24:36.319 --> 02:24:39.096
the emotional and psychological toll

02:24:39.120 --> 02:24:40.856
that it takes on an individual and

02:24:40.880 --> 02:24:43.415
family. In my own life, I have

02:24:43.439 --> 02:24:46.136
experienced family divorce and roughly

02:24:46.160 --> 02:24:49.160
40 to 45% of all Australian families

02:24:49.520 --> 02:24:52.056
have experienced family divorce. And

02:24:52.080 --> 02:24:55.080
within the past eight months, we have,

02:24:55.200 --> 02:24:57.656
my family circle, have experienced the

02:24:57.680 --> 02:25:00.680
devastating loss of two teenagers within

02:25:00.960 --> 02:25:03.016
our community.

02:25:03.040 --> 02:25:05.415
These are not isolated stories. They are

02:25:05.439 --> 02:25:07.415
part of a broader pattern that is deeply

02:25:07.439 --> 02:25:09.656
affecting families across Knox. I would

02:25:09.680 --> 02:25:12.455
say the country as well. The state of

02:25:12.479 --> 02:25:15.016
Knox report identifies priority groups

02:25:15.040 --> 02:25:17.096
who are particularly vulnerable

02:25:17.120 --> 02:25:19.176
including young people, older adults,

02:25:19.200 --> 02:25:21.415
people with a disability, those

02:25:21.439 --> 02:25:23.576
experiencing homelessness and victim

02:25:23.600 --> 02:25:26.295
survivors of family violence. These are

02:25:26.319 --> 02:25:28.216
the very people we are seeing every day

02:25:28.240 --> 02:25:31.016
in our services often when they are

02:25:31.040 --> 02:25:33.896
already at crisis point. According to

02:25:33.920 --> 02:25:35.896
the health Victoria and the Australian

02:25:35.920 --> 02:25:38.920
psychological um society in Victoria and

02:25:39.439 --> 02:25:41.816
across Australia, demand for psych

02:25:41.840 --> 02:25:44.840
psychological services has increased by

02:25:45.120 --> 02:25:48.120
over 20% in recent years. Psychology

02:25:48.560 --> 02:25:51.560
wait times range from 6 to 12 weeks with

02:25:51.760 --> 02:25:54.375
many people waiting 3 to 6 months or

02:25:54.399 --> 02:25:56.856
longer, particularly for bulk billing

02:25:56.880 --> 02:25:59.016
and public services. and some services

02:25:59.040 --> 02:26:01.016
are even closing their waiting lists

02:26:01.040 --> 02:26:04.040
entirely due to demand. Nationally,

02:26:04.160 --> 02:26:06.455
Australia has around 25,000

02:26:06.479 --> 02:26:08.936
psychologists, but workforce modeling

02:26:08.960 --> 02:26:11.016
suggests a shortfall raising to an

02:26:11.040 --> 02:26:14.040
estimated 7 to 10,000 by 2038.

02:26:15.920 --> 02:26:18.375
What it tells us is the need is real. It

02:26:18.399 --> 02:26:19.896
is increasing and it's not being

02:26:19.920 --> 02:26:22.616
adequately met. The government needs to

02:26:22.640 --> 02:26:25.256
strengthen access to early affordable

02:26:25.280 --> 02:26:27.656
and local mental health support and

02:26:27.680 --> 02:26:30.136
ensure that community-based living 

02:26:30.160 --> 02:26:32.375
sorry community- based services are

02:26:32.399 --> 02:26:34.455
properly resourced

02:26:34.479 --> 02:26:37.176
um and met for the growing needs. This

02:26:37.200 --> 02:26:39.976
motion is asking for that. We also need

02:26:40.000 --> 02:26:42.056
to protect people who are seeking the

02:26:42.080 --> 02:26:44.776
support. So by recognizing counselors,

02:26:44.800 --> 02:26:46.455
fully qualified counselors and

02:26:46.479 --> 02:26:48.455
psychotherapists who are formally

02:26:48.479 --> 02:26:50.616
trained, qualified and registered with

02:26:50.640 --> 02:26:53.016
peak bodies, those who are bound by

02:26:53.040 --> 02:26:54.776
ethical standards and ongoing

02:26:54.800 --> 02:26:57.576
professional development ensures a safe,

02:26:57.600 --> 02:27:00.600
accountable, high quality of care. Clear

02:27:00.880 --> 02:27:02.936
standards and legitimate mental health

02:27:02.960 --> 02:27:05.335
referrals are also needed to distinguish

02:27:05.359 --> 02:27:08.136
these practitioners from those who are

02:27:08.160 --> 02:27:10.616
using the title of counselor or

02:27:10.640 --> 02:27:13.256
psychotherapist without appropriate

02:27:13.280 --> 02:27:14.856
qualifications.

02:27:14.880 --> 02:27:17.176
And that's because both titles counselor

02:27:17.200 --> 02:27:19.736
and psychotherapist are not currently

02:27:19.760 --> 02:27:22.760
protected titles like psychologist is.

02:27:23.520 --> 02:27:26.056
Anyone can call themselves a counselor

02:27:26.080 --> 02:27:28.856
or a psychotherapist in our community.

02:27:28.880 --> 02:27:31.415
I'm also happy to state publicly that I

02:27:31.439 --> 02:27:33.576
have no conflict of interest and nothing

02:27:33.600 --> 02:27:36.295
to gain from any potential outcome of

02:27:36.319 --> 02:27:38.536
this motion. My educational

02:27:38.560 --> 02:27:41.560
qualification and pathway is psychology

02:27:41.680 --> 02:27:43.736
where fully trained and registered

02:27:43.760 --> 02:27:46.216
psychologists are already eligible under

02:27:46.240 --> 02:27:48.936
the Medicare benefits scheme.

02:27:48.960 --> 02:27:50.536
Counselors, this is not something that

02:27:50.560 --> 02:27:52.776
takes very much resourcing either. It's

02:27:52.800 --> 02:27:54.936
a letter of advocacy as set out in this

02:27:54.960 --> 02:27:56.856
motion and it's copied to multiple

02:27:56.880 --> 02:27:59.176
people. So, I really do encourage you on

02:27:59.200 --> 02:28:01.096
behalf of our community to support this

02:28:01.120 --> 02:28:03.656
motion and I will be calling a division.

02:28:03.680 --> 02:28:06.680
Thank you. Thank you, Councelor Cooper.

02:28:06.960 --> 02:28:09.960
Um, I am supportive of this notice of

02:28:11.840 --> 02:28:14.776
motion. Um while it's not necessarily an

02:28:14.800 --> 02:28:17.800
area of um council's remitt, which I

02:28:18.240 --> 02:28:21.240
think we accept, our role as council is

02:28:22.399 --> 02:28:24.455
included in our statement of commitment.

02:28:24.479 --> 02:28:27.096
And I'll reread it for the benefit of

02:28:27.120 --> 02:28:30.120
council and our  gallery. Council is

02:28:30.479 --> 02:28:32.216
committed to being responsive to the

02:28:32.240 --> 02:28:34.056
community and advocating to other

02:28:34.080 --> 02:28:35.816
governments and agencies on their

02:28:35.840 --> 02:28:38.696
behalf. So this is a core role of

02:28:38.720 --> 02:28:41.656
council making sure that our residents

02:28:41.680 --> 02:28:43.736
voices are being heard at other levels

02:28:43.760 --> 02:28:45.816
of government and if we don't do it who

02:28:45.840 --> 02:28:47.576
will

02:28:47.600 --> 02:28:50.600
um as you  quite rightly pointed out

02:28:50.880 --> 02:28:53.256
it is simply a letter. It is not taking

02:28:53.280 --> 02:28:56.280
a huge amount of resources to do that,

02:28:56.479 --> 02:28:59.096
but it includes

02:28:59.120 --> 02:29:01.816
what is important to our residents and

02:29:01.840 --> 02:29:04.840
you've um clearly articulated some

02:29:05.200 --> 02:29:07.256
statistics that show that the need is

02:29:07.280 --> 02:29:10.280
growing um and the support to  enable

02:29:12.080 --> 02:29:15.080
those people to move through those acute

02:29:15.840 --> 02:29:18.536
 mental health issues is not there and

02:29:18.560 --> 02:29:20.936
adequate at the moment. So I I do

02:29:20.960 --> 02:29:22.375
support this notice of motion and I

02:29:22.399 --> 02:29:24.455
thank you very much for bringing that to

02:29:24.479 --> 02:29:27.479
 council.  would any other council

02:29:27.600 --> 02:29:29.496
like to speak to the motion? Thank you

02:29:29.520 --> 02:29:32.520
councelor Baker. Thank you. Um

02:29:33.120 --> 02:29:35.816
I'm also in support of this and commend

02:29:35.840 --> 02:29:38.840
councelor Cooper for raising this and I

02:29:39.280 --> 02:29:41.736
do agree that we are advocating to other

02:29:41.760 --> 02:29:43.816
levels. This is  certainly a piece

02:29:43.840 --> 02:29:46.696
that is and I agree it's not going to

02:29:46.720 --> 02:29:48.536
it's not a lot of time but I think it's

02:29:48.560 --> 02:29:50.776
a very important documentation and

02:29:50.800 --> 02:29:53.656
letter that you know we are advocating

02:29:53.680 --> 02:29:55.736
for something that is the stats are

02:29:55.760 --> 02:29:58.760
quite there  or are there um and is of

02:29:59.280 --> 02:30:01.816
growing concern. So I am supportive of

02:30:01.840 --> 02:30:04.840
this um I think it's a very important

02:30:04.960 --> 02:30:07.960
advocacy piece for our our community um

02:30:08.479 --> 02:30:10.375
and acknowledge the work that has been

02:30:10.399 --> 02:30:12.216
done to provide this. So, thank you and

02:30:12.240 --> 02:30:13.896
I'm in support of it. Thanks.

02:30:13.920 --> 02:30:15.496
Thank you, councelor Baker. Would any

02:30:15.520 --> 02:30:16.936
other council like to speak to the

02:30:16.960 --> 02:30:19.960
motion? Thank you, councelor Pearce.

02:30:20.640 --> 02:30:23.016
Madame Mayor, fellow counselors, I speak

02:30:23.040 --> 02:30:25.656
against this motion. I want to be clear.

02:30:25.680 --> 02:30:28.295
It's not being opposed that I'm opposed

02:30:28.319 --> 02:30:30.696
to better mental health outcomes for our

02:30:30.720 --> 02:30:33.720
community. Quite the opposite.

02:30:33.920 --> 02:30:36.056
Assessing affordable mental health care

02:30:36.080 --> 02:30:37.656
is one of the most important issues

02:30:37.680 --> 02:30:39.736
facing Australia today. I take it

02:30:39.760 --> 02:30:41.176
seriously.

02:30:41.200 --> 02:30:44.200
My concern is a fundamental one. This is

02:30:44.319 --> 02:30:46.856
not our lane.

02:30:46.880 --> 02:30:49.880
Knox City Council exists to deliver local

02:30:50.240 --> 02:30:52.536
government services, our roads, our

02:30:52.560 --> 02:30:55.415
parks, our waste services, our planning

02:30:55.439 --> 02:30:57.576
decisions. We are accountable to our

02:30:57.600 --> 02:30:59.496
rate payers on how we spend their money

02:30:59.520 --> 02:31:02.056
and their time. Medicare is a

02:31:02.080 --> 02:31:05.080
Commonwealth program. Medicare benefit

02:31:05.439 --> 02:31:07.016
schedule is set out in the by the

02:31:07.040 --> 02:31:09.176
federal government. Regulations for

02:31:09.200 --> 02:31:10.776
allied health professional as a matter

02:31:10.800 --> 02:31:13.656
of coal and state agencies

02:31:13.680 --> 02:31:16.680
AP I think it's ah para p r a p and the

02:31:19.680 --> 02:31:22.295
relevant peak bodies when we pass

02:31:22.319 --> 02:31:25.096
motions like this one we direct offic's

02:31:25.120 --> 02:31:27.976
time mer correspondence council

02:31:28.000 --> 02:31:30.216
resources towards lobbying on matters

02:31:30.240 --> 02:31:32.136
that sit entirely outside our

02:31:32.160 --> 02:31:34.536
jurisdiction

02:31:34.560 --> 02:31:36.455
that is time and effort instead that

02:31:36.479 --> 02:31:38.455
could be directed to generally local

02:31:38.479 --> 02:31:41.256
issues our community elected us to

02:31:41.280 --> 02:31:43.096
address.

02:31:43.120 --> 02:31:45.256
I acknowledge the intention behind the

02:31:45.280 --> 02:31:47.976
motion and I commend councelor Cooper

02:31:48.000 --> 02:31:49.736
for it.

02:31:49.760 --> 02:31:51.976
Counselors psychotherap therapists do

02:31:52.000 --> 02:31:54.616
valuable work. The gap in Medicare

02:31:54.640 --> 02:31:56.776
coverage is a real policy issue but it's

02:31:56.800 --> 02:31:59.096
a policy issue of the federal government

02:31:59.120 --> 02:32:01.256
for health minister and for the

02:32:01.280 --> 02:32:03.736
professional bo body who are far better

02:32:03.760 --> 02:32:06.696
placed far better resourced to advocate

02:32:06.720 --> 02:32:09.656
for it in no city council than no city

02:32:09.680 --> 02:32:11.496
council

02:32:11.520 --> 02:32:14.520
PAFA and CCA

02:32:15.680 --> 02:32:18.680
already have dedicated ad advocacy pro

02:32:18.800 --> 02:32:21.176
programs federal members of parliament

02:32:21.200 --> 02:32:23.896
whose job's actually to res represent

02:32:23.920 --> 02:32:25.976
their constituents on the commonwealth

02:32:26.000 --> 02:32:27.976
matters are appropriate vehicles for

02:32:28.000 --> 02:32:31.000
this kind of reform. I feel that I feel

02:32:31.359 --> 02:32:33.896
that council is strong strongly about

02:32:33.920 --> 02:32:36.216
it's not an issue of personality. It's

02:32:36.240 --> 02:32:39.240
absolutely a right absolutely up to the

02:32:39.920 --> 02:32:41.976
the member or any person to write to

02:32:42.000 --> 02:32:45.000
their federal minister as an individual

02:32:45.040 --> 02:32:47.816
not as a counselor. That is the proper

02:32:47.840 --> 02:32:49.335
channel.

02:32:49.359 --> 02:32:52.136
There is also a precedent concern here.

02:32:52.160 --> 02:32:54.696
If we pass this me motion on Medicare

02:32:54.720 --> 02:32:56.936
policy today, what would stop us

02:32:56.960 --> 02:32:59.960
weighing on in on separation

02:33:00.479 --> 02:33:02.536
settings tomorrow? Something I know

02:33:02.560 --> 02:33:05.560
quite a bit about.

02:33:05.600 --> 02:33:07.656
 just pause for a moment, please.

02:33:07.680 --> 02:33:08.936
Councelor Pearce, councelor Cooper,

02:33:08.960 --> 02:33:11.960
what's the point of order?

02:33:13.600 --> 02:33:16.136
Um I just calling a point of order

02:33:16.160 --> 02:33:18.536
because we're not passing a motion on

02:33:18.560 --> 02:33:21.560
policy. , we're just passing a motion

02:33:21.760 --> 02:33:24.760
for advocacy. Thank you.

02:33:25.120 --> 02:33:26.856
Thank you, councelor Cooper. So, that's

02:33:26.880 --> 02:33:28.776
a point of order on relevance.

02:33:28.800 --> 02:33:29.576
Yes.

02:33:29.600 --> 02:33:32.056
Yes.

02:33:32.080 --> 02:33:34.536
Um, keeping that in mind, councelor

02:33:34.560 --> 02:33:37.560
Pearce,

02:33:39.120 --> 02:33:42.120
, continue, but keeping in mind the

02:33:42.399 --> 02:33:45.335
relevance to the motion, please.

02:33:45.359 --> 02:33:47.335
We risk becoming a body that comments on

02:33:47.359 --> 02:33:48.696
everything and is accountable for

02:33:48.720 --> 02:33:50.136
nothing.

02:33:50.160 --> 02:33:52.216
Mayor and rateayers deserve counsel to

02:33:52.240 --> 02:33:54.856
be disciplined and focused. I urge my

02:33:54.880 --> 02:33:56.936
colleagues to vote against this motion,

02:33:56.960 --> 02:33:59.896
not because the cause is unworthy, but

02:33:59.920 --> 02:34:02.920
because it's not ours to own. I oppose

02:34:04.319 --> 02:34:06.295
this motion. Thank you, Madame May.

02:34:06.319 --> 02:34:08.936
Thank you, Councelor Pearce. Councelor

02:34:08.960 --> 02:34:10.936
Duncan. Oh,

02:34:10.960 --> 02:34:13.960
sorry.

02:34:14.800 --> 02:34:17.800
Councelor

02:34:19.120 --> 02:34:19.656
Duncan.

02:34:19.680 --> 02:34:21.656
Thank you. Thank Thank you, Chair. Um,

02:34:21.680 --> 02:34:23.496
I'd just like to remind councelor Pearce

02:34:23.520 --> 02:34:26.056
that our very statement of commitment as

02:34:26.080 --> 02:34:28.536
a council, which we speak about at every

02:34:28.560 --> 02:34:31.496
meeting, specifically says council is

02:34:31.520 --> 02:34:33.096
committed to being responsive to the

02:34:33.120 --> 02:34:34.936
community. And

02:34:34.960 --> 02:34:36.856
according to point of order.

02:34:36.880 --> 02:34:38.136
Yes. What's your point of order,

02:34:38.160 --> 02:34:39.096
councelor Pearce?

02:34:39.120 --> 02:34:41.256
Relevance.

02:34:41.280 --> 02:34:43.656
What is my point of saying? What have I

02:34:43.680 --> 02:34:46.056
done wrong in saying that we're sticking

02:34:46.080 --> 02:34:48.056
to our lane? That's what we're supposed

02:34:48.080 --> 02:34:51.080
to be doing.

02:34:54.479 --> 02:34:57.479
I don't think it's directly relevant.

02:34:57.680 --> 02:34:59.335
I think it's an attack on a counselor.

02:34:59.359 --> 02:35:02.359
I'm sorry. I just I have a

02:35:03.200 --> 02:35:05.576
council Pearce. This is debate. It's not

02:35:05.600 --> 02:35:08.600
a point of order. Please continue.

02:35:12.160 --> 02:35:14.776
Thank you. , thank you, Mayor. Um, as

02:35:14.800 --> 02:35:16.616
I was saying, our very statement of

02:35:16.640 --> 02:35:18.536
commitment says that council's committed

02:35:18.560 --> 02:35:20.216
to being responsive to the community,

02:35:20.240 --> 02:35:21.896
which I think this is. We've we've

02:35:21.920 --> 02:35:23.335
identified a need through councelor

02:35:23.359 --> 02:35:26.056
Cooper and to advocate for other to

02:35:26.080 --> 02:35:28.616
other governments and agencies on their

02:35:28.640 --> 02:35:31.016
behalf. This is exactly what this notice

02:35:31.040 --> 02:35:34.040
of motion does. Um, as far as staying in

02:35:34.160 --> 02:35:36.616
our in our lane, this this is exactly

02:35:36.640 --> 02:35:39.640
what our lane is. Costs to the council

02:35:39.680 --> 02:35:41.576
is very very minimal. We are asked,

02:35:41.600 --> 02:35:43.976
we're requesting officers to write a

02:35:44.000 --> 02:35:45.335
letter to the minister and I actually

02:35:45.359 --> 02:35:46.936
like that it actually says in there to

02:35:46.960 --> 02:35:49.656
the prime minister as well. Um this is

02:35:49.680 --> 02:35:51.415
absolutely what we should be doing. It's

02:35:51.439 --> 02:35:54.439
a very very lowcost high impact um

02:35:55.920 --> 02:35:58.056
advocacy that we can do and the very

02:35:58.080 --> 02:36:00.696
motion that we had regarding a a

02:36:00.720 --> 02:36:02.375
planning approval which should have gone

02:36:02.399 --> 02:36:04.776
under delegation, we had a a notice in

02:36:04.800 --> 02:36:07.800
there to advocate for things to be put

02:36:08.319 --> 02:36:11.096
back in there. So

02:36:11.120 --> 02:36:13.736
planning is in our ring and advocating

02:36:13.760 --> 02:36:14.295
is our

02:36:14.319 --> 02:36:15.976
your microphone's not on councelor

02:36:16.000 --> 02:36:17.176
Pearce.

02:36:17.200 --> 02:36:19.896
Point of order relevance. He's talking

02:36:19.920 --> 02:36:22.616
about planning which is in our scheme.

02:36:22.640 --> 02:36:25.640
Medicare rebates are not.

02:36:25.680 --> 02:36:28.616
Thank you. Councelor Peter

02:36:28.640 --> 02:36:30.776
um referring to councelor as he is

02:36:30.800 --> 02:36:32.536
improper.

02:36:32.560 --> 02:36:34.295
Thank you councelor Lockwood.

02:36:34.319 --> 02:36:37.319
My apologies. Councelor Dun Duncan is in

02:36:38.240 --> 02:36:40.696
I think is in point of order. Is that

02:36:40.720 --> 02:36:42.856
better?

02:36:42.880 --> 02:36:45.415
Your point of order was relevance.

02:36:45.439 --> 02:36:47.976
Yes. Councelor Duncan, can you please

02:36:48.000 --> 02:36:49.976
stick to the notice of motion that's on

02:36:50.000 --> 02:36:52.856
the table?

02:36:52.880 --> 02:36:55.016
Certainly. Um, I thought it was highly

02:36:55.040 --> 02:36:56.696
relevant that we'd actually spoken about

02:36:56.720 --> 02:36:58.696
that earlier in the meeting, but um,

02:36:58.720 --> 02:37:00.856
yeah, I'm absolutely supportive of this.

02:37:00.880 --> 02:37:03.576
Um, this this Yeah, I don't know what

02:37:03.600 --> 02:37:05.176
else to say in case I get caught a point

02:37:05.200 --> 02:37:07.176
of order. So, I will support this for

02:37:07.200 --> 02:37:10.136
you, Lisa or Councelor Cooper.

02:37:10.160 --> 02:37:11.576
Council Low,

02:37:11.600 --> 02:37:14.536
thank you. Um we have 160,000 residents

02:37:14.560 --> 02:37:17.016
in Knox and current stats tell us that

02:37:17.040 --> 02:37:19.816
one in five members of the population

02:37:19.840 --> 02:37:22.216
will receive will need mental health

02:37:22.240 --> 02:37:24.776
services in their lifetime.

02:37:24.800 --> 02:37:27.800
Divide 160,000 by five. Um and you've

02:37:28.240 --> 02:37:30.616
got the number of people in Knox  who

02:37:30.640 --> 02:37:32.776
need mental health services during their

02:37:32.800 --> 02:37:35.415
lives. That's um that's quite easy. 30

02:37:35.439 --> 02:37:38.439
30 over 30,000. Um

02:37:39.359 --> 02:37:42.295
our this is a local issue. It's very

02:37:42.319 --> 02:37:43.656
important to our community. Our

02:37:43.680 --> 02:37:46.056
community and council plan council and

02:37:46.080 --> 02:37:48.536
community health and do it health

02:37:48.560 --> 02:37:51.256
wellbeing plan actually has advocacy in

02:37:51.280 --> 02:37:53.415
it and health is one of the items one of

02:37:53.439 --> 02:37:56.439
the pillars of our of our council plan.

02:37:56.800 --> 02:37:59.016
So we are acting on not only not not

02:37:59.040 --> 02:38:00.696
only responding to the community but

02:38:00.720 --> 02:38:02.136
that's one of the pillars that we took

02:38:02.160 --> 02:38:05.160
in through consultation to to lobby to

02:38:05.920 --> 02:38:08.920
um advocate on their behalf and and and

02:38:09.200 --> 02:38:10.616
as many people have noticed and

02:38:10.640 --> 02:38:12.375
commented on we have had something of a

02:38:12.399 --> 02:38:14.856
mental health epidemic in Victoria um

02:38:14.880 --> 02:38:17.880
since co since the lockdowns um the

02:38:18.160 --> 02:38:19.736
reason we have such long waiting lists

02:38:19.760 --> 02:38:21.736
at the moment is there there've been

02:38:21.760 --> 02:38:23.335
heaps of people rocking up to their

02:38:23.359 --> 02:38:25.576
doctors wanting to get referrals to get

02:38:25.600 --> 02:38:28.600
put on a mental health plan um so that

02:38:28.640 --> 02:38:31.016
they can see a psychologist. It's a it's

02:38:31.040 --> 02:38:33.096
been a very busy time for psychologists,

02:38:33.120 --> 02:38:35.496
psychiatrists, and counselors and to

02:38:35.520 --> 02:38:37.176
think we cut our service out, which is

02:38:37.200 --> 02:38:40.200
more shame on us. Um so yeah, I

02:38:41.200 --> 02:38:42.696
absolutely don't see why we can't

02:38:42.720 --> 02:38:44.856
support this. It is in our lane is what

02:38:44.880 --> 02:38:47.256
we do. We advocate. There is very little

02:38:47.280 --> 02:38:50.216
we actually physically do at Knox um

02:38:50.240 --> 02:38:52.136
that is as important as advocating for

02:38:52.160 --> 02:38:53.816
the health of our residents.

02:38:53.840 --> 02:38:55.415
Thank you, Councelor Lockwood. Would any

02:38:55.439 --> 02:38:57.096
other council like to speak? Yes,

02:38:57.120 --> 02:38:58.696
councelor.

02:38:58.720 --> 02:39:01.415
Thank you, Mayor. Um, I think I mean the

02:39:01.439 --> 02:39:03.896
the scope creep or outside our line

02:39:03.920 --> 02:39:06.536
argument is a valid one, but I think the

02:39:06.560 --> 02:39:09.560
substance of this um  on balance

02:39:10.080 --> 02:39:12.936
outweighs that consideration. I mean,

02:39:12.960 --> 02:39:15.960
it's the need is inarguable in a local

02:39:16.080 --> 02:39:17.976
sense and I think the substance is there

02:39:18.000 --> 02:39:19.496
in what councelor Cooper has put

02:39:19.520 --> 02:39:22.056
together. I mean, just talking about

02:39:22.080 --> 02:39:24.056
federal advocacy, the Mayor just went to

02:39:24.080 --> 02:39:26.936
CRA. Um, and we just unanimously

02:39:26.960 --> 02:39:28.455
considered the Mayor's report back,

02:39:28.479 --> 02:39:30.295
which was all about a delegation going

02:39:30.319 --> 02:39:33.319
to CRA to advocate on federal issues. I

02:39:33.840 --> 02:39:36.056
mean, I think of the child care subsidy.

02:39:36.080 --> 02:39:39.080
I think of um aged care, there's the

02:39:39.120 --> 02:39:40.936
financial assistance grants, road to

02:39:40.960 --> 02:39:43.415
recovery, um I think I said child care,

02:39:43.439 --> 02:39:46.136
there's these are all federal policies

02:39:46.160 --> 02:39:48.136
that that intersect and interact with

02:39:48.160 --> 02:39:51.160
Knox families. Um, so that delegation

02:39:51.359 --> 02:39:52.776
and I could think of there's probably

02:39:52.800 --> 02:39:54.776
several more. So, , this is something

02:39:54.800 --> 02:39:56.776
we do all the time. Tonight, it's mental

02:39:56.800 --> 02:39:59.800
health. Um, , I see it and hear it and

02:39:59.840 --> 02:40:01.816
know it in our community as every other

02:40:01.840 --> 02:40:04.616
counselor does. Um, the cost of this, as

02:40:04.640 --> 02:40:06.375
councelor Cooper noted, it's not a big

02:40:06.399 --> 02:40:09.016
ask. Um, and that's where on balance,

02:40:09.040 --> 02:40:11.496
um, I absolutely fall on the on the side

02:40:11.520 --> 02:40:13.176
of supporting this and let's hope we get

02:40:13.200 --> 02:40:14.936
some traction with the engagement we do.

02:40:14.960 --> 02:40:17.960
and if a if if our Mayor or a future

02:40:18.000 --> 02:40:19.896
Mayor is on another delegation to CRA,

02:40:19.920 --> 02:40:21.256
this might be something we can pick up

02:40:21.280 --> 02:40:23.256
on the next trip. So, um I'll support

02:40:23.280 --> 02:40:24.455
this tonight. Thank you.

02:40:24.479 --> 02:40:25.976
Thank you, councelor. Well, councelor

02:40:26.000 --> 02:40:27.176
Williams,

02:40:27.200 --> 02:40:28.696
thank you through you, Mayor. I do have

02:40:28.720 --> 02:40:30.776
a couple of questions.  my first

02:40:30.800 --> 02:40:33.176
question is what will the direct cost be

02:40:33.200 --> 02:40:36.200
for this advoc advocacy letter?

02:40:38.000 --> 02:40:41.000
Can I put that to CEO,

02:40:41.600 --> 02:40:44.600
Mr. Dobson, please? through you Mayor.

02:40:45.040 --> 02:40:48.040
Um well the motion before you councilors

02:40:49.760 --> 02:40:52.760
um asks that we write to the minister

02:40:53.200 --> 02:40:55.976
for health and age care and it specifies

02:40:56.000 --> 02:40:58.056
the particular matters on which we would

02:40:58.080 --> 02:41:01.080
write and ask um the federal government

02:41:01.439 --> 02:41:03.816
to do things. So it would be a matter of

02:41:03.840 --> 02:41:06.696
translating to what's here into a letter

02:41:06.720 --> 02:41:09.096
and sending that to those who are on the

02:41:09.120 --> 02:41:10.776
list. I'm not sure how long that would

02:41:10.800 --> 02:41:12.696
take in terms of officer time. I don't

02:41:12.720 --> 02:41:15.720
think it would be very extensive.

02:41:16.640 --> 02:41:17.816
Councelor Williams.

02:41:17.840 --> 02:41:20.375
Yeah, thank you. Um, in terms of what

02:41:20.399 --> 02:41:21.816
councelor sort of mentioned around

02:41:21.840 --> 02:41:24.216
staying in the lane and um and sort of

02:41:24.240 --> 02:41:26.136
seeing a bit of a balance here, I guess

02:41:26.160 --> 02:41:27.576
my question and probably to councelor

02:41:27.600 --> 02:41:30.600
Cooper would be what has led um through

02:41:30.720 --> 02:41:33.720
this to cancel to um find that it needs

02:41:34.240 --> 02:41:36.776
to insert itself into  a federal

02:41:36.800 --> 02:41:39.800
health policy decision?

02:41:41.040 --> 02:41:44.040
Councelor Cooper. Um, I think when I

02:41:44.720 --> 02:41:47.720
moved the motion, everything that I

02:41:47.920 --> 02:41:50.056
said, if you're listening, would

02:41:50.080 --> 02:41:52.696
actually answer that question. So

02:41:52.720 --> 02:41:54.375
perhaps you need to listen to that

02:41:54.399 --> 02:41:55.816
again.

02:41:55.840 --> 02:41:57.576
Point of order. May that's  well out

02:41:57.600 --> 02:41:59.976
of line. I was listening and I've asked

02:42:00.000 --> 02:42:01.816
a question. I asked for a point of order

02:42:01.840 --> 02:42:04.375
on that.

02:42:04.399 --> 02:42:06.216
What's the point of order, please?

02:42:06.240 --> 02:42:07.736
Council Williams. Well, that's an attack

02:42:07.760 --> 02:42:10.216
on a counselor publicly. , and it's to

02:42:10.240 --> 02:42:12.375
do with relevance. I I listened and I've

02:42:12.399 --> 02:42:14.375
asked a question that has not been

02:42:14.399 --> 02:42:17.399
answered.

02:42:18.240 --> 02:42:21.240
Um, the question was,

02:42:23.520 --> 02:42:26.520
where did this come from? Um, I heard

02:42:28.080 --> 02:42:31.080
councelor Cooper mention through

02:42:32.240 --> 02:42:33.896
her

02:42:33.920 --> 02:42:36.920
her introduction that she had witnessed

02:42:37.280 --> 02:42:39.816
people coming through community houses

02:42:39.840 --> 02:42:42.776
needing mental health support. , she

02:42:42.800 --> 02:42:45.176
has family and friends that have been

02:42:45.200 --> 02:42:47.976
impacted recently by the loss of two

02:42:48.000 --> 02:42:49.816
teenagers. And I'm sure that there was

02:42:49.840 --> 02:42:52.840
other things in there that I have I've

02:42:53.439 --> 02:42:56.439
I have um passed over. Were was there

02:42:56.800 --> 02:42:58.216
some other information that you were

02:42:58.240 --> 02:43:00.136
after there, Council Williams?

02:43:00.160 --> 02:43:02.056
My question was what led council to

02:43:02.080 --> 02:43:03.656
insert itself into federal health

02:43:03.680 --> 02:43:06.680
policy?

02:43:07.600 --> 02:43:09.016
Not sure that's a relevant question.

02:43:09.040 --> 02:43:11.576
That wasn't the question. That wasn't

02:43:11.600 --> 02:43:12.536
the question.

02:43:12.560 --> 02:43:15.176
Um, I' I'd probably say that we're

02:43:15.200 --> 02:43:17.096
inserting ourself here because it's

02:43:17.120 --> 02:43:18.696
within our statement of commitment to

02:43:18.720 --> 02:43:21.415
advocate to other levels of government

02:43:21.439 --> 02:43:23.096
 when we hear that there is issues

02:43:23.120 --> 02:43:25.496
that are affecting our residents. Have

02:43:25.520 --> 02:43:26.776
you got another question, Councelor

02:43:26.800 --> 02:43:27.656
Williams?

02:43:27.680 --> 02:43:29.016
No, no further questions.

02:43:29.040 --> 02:43:30.696
Okay. Would any other council like to

02:43:30.720 --> 02:43:33.720
speak to the motion?

02:43:34.160 --> 02:43:35.576
Councelor Conine.

02:43:35.600 --> 02:43:38.375
Thank you to the minute, Mayor. Um, I

02:43:38.399 --> 02:43:39.976
just want to say thank you very much for

02:43:40.000 --> 02:43:42.696
bringing this motion to the council and

02:43:42.720 --> 02:43:45.720
um, I'm supportive of it 100%. Thank you

02:43:46.880 --> 02:43:49.335
and I've heard it from our community as

02:43:49.359 --> 02:43:52.359
well comm people too as well like yeah

02:43:53.279 --> 02:43:55.736
thank you very much. Thank you councelor

02:43:55.760 --> 02:43:58.760
Conine. , any other councelor have any

02:43:59.520 --> 02:44:01.656
final remarks? I think everybody's

02:44:01.680 --> 02:44:03.335
spoken. Councelor Cooper, would you like

02:44:03.359 --> 02:44:05.016
your right of reply?

02:44:05.040 --> 02:44:07.255
Yes, thank you. Um, look, I think for

02:44:07.279 --> 02:44:10.279
the purpose um of councelor Williams,

02:44:11.040 --> 02:44:13.176
I'll just run back over some of the

02:44:13.200 --> 02:44:16.136
points that I made. So, I I begun by

02:44:16.160 --> 02:44:17.896
saying that I believe that we as a

02:44:17.920 --> 02:44:19.656
council have a responsibility to

02:44:19.680 --> 02:44:22.216
advocate to both state and federal

02:44:22.240 --> 02:44:24.375
governments on behalf of this issue and

02:44:24.399 --> 02:44:25.896
other councilors have covered that it's

02:44:25.920 --> 02:44:27.496
actually in our statement of commitment

02:44:27.520 --> 02:44:28.776
as well.

02:44:28.800 --> 02:44:31.800
Um the statistics about psychological

02:44:32.240 --> 02:44:35.240
distress in adults um increasing came

02:44:36.000 --> 02:44:37.736
straight from the summary of the state

02:44:37.760 --> 02:44:40.216
of Knox report. It's a councilowned

02:44:40.240 --> 02:44:43.240
report. Um and it's got statistics in

02:44:43.600 --> 02:44:45.976
there based on our demographics here in

02:44:46.000 --> 02:44:49.000
Knox. Um I have like personally

02:44:50.720 --> 02:44:53.720
supported um residents  in 

02:44:54.720 --> 02:44:57.656
psychological distress, experiencing 

02:44:57.680 --> 02:45:00.680
domestic violence, isolation, financial

02:45:00.960 --> 02:45:03.960
distress.  and I um have seen those

02:45:04.399 --> 02:45:07.335
types of people suffering from sorry

02:45:07.359 --> 02:45:09.496
those people suffering from those types

02:45:09.520 --> 02:45:12.520
of um issues come through the um

02:45:13.840 --> 02:45:16.840
community houses as well. Um

02:45:17.600 --> 02:45:20.600
we know from um what we're seeing across

02:45:21.359 --> 02:45:24.359
the state and the country that we have

02:45:24.960 --> 02:45:27.335
very high rates of divorce. We also know

02:45:27.359 --> 02:45:30.359
that we have very um low um numbers of

02:45:33.040 --> 02:45:35.255
psychologists available to meet the

02:45:35.279 --> 02:45:38.216
growing need over the next  about 10

02:45:38.240 --> 02:45:40.536
years.  and the gap is only getting

02:45:40.560 --> 02:45:42.136
bigger over this time and that's

02:45:42.160 --> 02:45:44.536
something that the psychology sector

02:45:44.560 --> 02:45:47.176
knows very very well. Hence the reason

02:45:47.200 --> 02:45:49.896
why I begun to think, well, how can this

02:45:49.920 --> 02:45:52.920
need within our community be met? Um,

02:45:54.160 --> 02:45:56.856
and why isn't it currently being met

02:45:56.880 --> 02:45:59.880
with um professionals such as um 

02:46:00.880 --> 02:46:03.335
counselors and psychotherapists who are

02:46:03.359 --> 02:46:06.216
equally trained academically

02:46:06.240 --> 02:46:08.455
um as psychologists are and they're not

02:46:08.479 --> 02:46:11.415
recognized through the MBS. So that was

02:46:11.439 --> 02:46:13.255
probably the catalyst and then obviously

02:46:13.279 --> 02:46:15.496
the other things that I mentioned um

02:46:15.520 --> 02:46:17.896
when I moved the motion. So um I would

02:46:17.920 --> 02:46:19.335
just like to thank those who have

02:46:19.359 --> 02:46:22.359
supported the motion. I think that um we

02:46:22.800 --> 02:46:24.216
really should be getting behind our

02:46:24.240 --> 02:46:26.056
community and supporting a motion like

02:46:26.080 --> 02:46:27.896
this. Thank you. Thank you councelor

02:46:27.920 --> 02:46:30.375
Cooper. I'll put the motion all those in

02:46:30.399 --> 02:46:32.936
favor.

02:46:32.960 --> 02:46:35.960
All those against

02:46:38.479 --> 02:46:40.856
Oh. Thank you.  thanks for the

02:46:40.880 --> 02:46:43.415
reminder.  I'll I'll set that motion

02:46:43.439 --> 02:46:46.056
aside and  call the motion again. All

02:46:46.080 --> 02:46:48.696
those in favor? Councelor Baker,

02:46:48.720 --> 02:46:51.016
Councelor Cooper, Councelor Duncan,

02:46:51.040 --> 02:46:53.335
Councelor Lockwood, Councelor Kennet,

02:46:53.359 --> 02:46:56.136
Councelor Considine, Councelor Atwell.

02:46:56.160 --> 02:46:58.936
All those against Councelor Williams and

02:46:58.960 --> 02:47:01.960
Councelor Pearce. Thank you. I declare

02:47:02.080 --> 02:47:04.696
that motion carried.

02:47:04.720 --> 02:47:07.415
 item 11, urgent business. Does any

02:47:07.439 --> 02:47:09.736
counselor wish to raise a matter of

02:47:09.760 --> 02:47:12.760
urgent business?

02:47:15.120 --> 02:47:17.016
No. There being no urgent business,

02:47:17.040 --> 02:47:18.696
we'll move on to questions through the

02:47:18.720 --> 02:47:20.696
chair. Does any counselor wish to raise

02:47:20.720 --> 02:47:23.720
a question through the chair?

02:47:24.800 --> 02:47:27.800
None.  item 13 is confidential items.

02:47:28.479 --> 02:47:31.479
And as  that is our last item of

02:47:32.000 --> 02:47:34.216
business and there are no such items

02:47:34.240 --> 02:47:36.216
this evening, I can now declare the

02:47:36.240 --> 02:47:38.536
meeting closed. Thank you to our public

02:47:38.560 --> 02:47:40.696
gallery and to our viewers at home for

02:47:40.720 --> 02:47:43.720
your attendance. Good night.