Record of Public Forum

held at Council Chambers, Bega commencing at

12 noon on Wednesday, 31 March 2021

Leanne Barnes

General Manager

Public Forum Agenda

31 March 2021

Public Forum

4.1       Public Forum Submissions Recieved.......................................................................... 3   

4.1.  Public Forum Submissions Recieved

Deputations for the Public Forum of 31 March 2021 were received and circulated to Councillors.

Mayor, Russell Fitzpatrick

Public Forum

Held on Wednesday 31 March 2021 at 12:00 noon

Council Chambers, Biamanga Room, Bega

Present: Cr Russell Fitzpatrick Mayor Cr Liz Seckold, Deputy Mayor Cr Tony Allen Cr Robyn Bain Cr Jo Dodds Cr Cathy Griff Cr Mitchell Nadin

In Attendance: General Manager, Ms Leanne Barnes Director, Assets and Operations, Mr Anthony McMahon Director,  Community, Environment and Planning, Dr Alice Howe Director, Business and Governance, Ms Iliada Bolton Project Lead – Recovery, Rebuilding and Resilience, Mr Chris Horsburgh Manager, Communication and Events, Ms Emily Harrison Minute Secretary, Mrs Bec Jones

Statement of Commencement of Live Streaming

The Mayor made an announcement about live streaming requirements noting that:

Public Forums are recorded and live streamed to the Internet for public viewing.

The recording will be archived and made available on Council’s website www.begavalley.nsw.gov.au.

Acknowledgement of Traditional Custodians of Bega Valley Shire

The Mayor commenced by acknowledging, on behalf of Bega Valley Shire Council, the Traditional Custodians of the lands and waters of the Shire, the people of Yuin nation, to show respect to elders past and present.

Apologies

There were no apologies.

Public Forum Addresses

The following requests were heard regarding:

Item 11.2 Risk to residents due to the significant degradation of Woodlands Lane, Bald Hills - update

FOR
	Name	Rep	Method	Comment
1	Mr Robert Crewe	Self	Face to Face	Confirm that residents are happy for current developer contributions to be allocated for design work and for council to advocate to the NSW Government to fund proposed the proposed upgrade to Woodlands Lane and Bridge.
2	Mr Stephen Dobbie	Self	Face to Face	1. To provide Council with an update on the status of the condition of Woodlands Lane following the recent rain situation. 2. To advise Council on a recent vehicle incident on Woodlands Lane. 3. To provide Council with the residents' support of the recommendations contained in the meeting agenda. 4. With the most recent storms, to seek advice from Council whether any emergency funding has been provided by State government which Council could apply for, on our behalf. We need some emergency restoration while waiting the 4 years or so for a proper fix to the road. 5. To seek advice from Council as to, apart from the two programs mentioned by Councillors (Fixing Country Bridges program and Fixing Country Roads program), what other grants are available, for residents to begin lobbying State Government for. 6. To seek confirmation from Council that Woodlands Lane will be added to the list of roads in the "roads package" referred to in the  2019.08.15 Mayoral letter, referred to in the report. 7. To seek a further meeting with Anthony McMahon once Council advises us of other available grants and we have had a chance to understand them. 8. To seek assistance with the provision of a No Through Road/Private Road sign to be installed at the entrance to Woodlands Lane as discussed with Council at the meeting on 24 February 2021.
3	Ms Karen Palacios	Self	Face to Face	Further degradation of Woodlands Lane after heavy rainfall.   Any emergency funding / grants that can be applied for?

Item 11.6 Cuttagee Bridge Funding

FOR
	Name	Rep	Method	Comment
1	Dr Frances Perkins	Far South Coast Branch of the National Trust	Face to Face	I've read the staff report on Cuttagee Bridge in more detail and confirm that I will essentially speak in support of the staff's recommendation on this issue. National Trust NSW is sending a letter to Council opposing demolition of the Cuttagee Bridge and noting Council has not followed required public consultation processes. I will speak to this letter. I will forward this letter as soon as my copy arrives (attached). This is my authority to represent the National Trust NSW.
AGAINST
	Name	Rep	Method	Comment
1	Ms Hannah Dunn	Self	Face to Face	Heritage listed bridge, compliance with environmental issues and coastal management act, indigenous heritage issues (if no indigenous speaker).
2	Mr Bruce Leaver	Self	Face to Face	The integrity of the BVS economy largely depends on tourism. A successful regional tourism destinations is one that presents its unique and outstanding point of difference. For this region it is its stunning coastal landscapes and its natural and cultural heritage. Actions that degrade that distinctive brand must be strongly resisted to protect the value of the future tourism economy. Failure will see the region become one of a crowd in NSW's poorly preserved and insensitivly developed coastal zone. The Cuttagee coastal vista is arguably the most beautiful and charming natural and cultural heritage drive site from Sydney to Melbourne. It must be preserved at all costs. The cost of maintaining the heritage bridge is an investment in the future tourism economy. Successful brands don't die overnight. They die through a thousand cuts. A view over developed, ugly structures, subdivision of key landscapes and destruction of heritage places.
3	Ms Sheena Boughen	Self	Face to Face	As above - including why showing respect to our community would bring a solution to the problem of lack of funds to maintain Cuttagee Bridge as a wooden heritage iconic bridge. Why does it matter so much to 9000 people who have signed to keep the bridge as is? What are the options that might not yet be imagined or considered? Thank you

A point of order was called by Cr Nadin regarding relevance of the deputation to the recommendation.

An extension for 2 minutes was granted to Ms Dunn.

An extension for 2 minutes was granted to Mr Leaver.

An extension for 2 minutes was granted to Ms Boughen.

The Public Forum session closed at 12:58pm.

The recording of the Public Forum is available on Council’s website:

http://webcast.begavalley.nsw.gov.au/archive.php

Attachments

1⇩.         Mr Stephen Dobbie - Photographs

2⇩.         Ms Hannah Dunn - Speakers Notes

3⇩.         Dr Frances Perkins - National Trust Letter

4⇩.         Dr Frances Perkins - National Trust Submission

Public Forum	31 March 2021
Item 4.1 - Attachment 1	Mr Stephen Dobbie - Photographs

Public Forum	31 March 2021
Item 4.1 - Attachment 2	Ms Hannah Dunn - Speakers Notes

Public Forum	31 March 2021
Item 4.1 - Attachment 3	Dr Frances Perkins - National Trust Letter

Public Forum	31 March 2021
Item 4.1 - Attachment 4	Dr Frances Perkins - National Trust Submission