Agenda of Public Forum - 26 July 2023

Record of Public Forum Agenda

26 July 2023

Public Forum

Held on Wednesday 26 July 2023 at 12:08pm

Council Chambers, Biamanga Room, Bega Valley Commemorative Civic Centre, Bega

Present:

Cr Russell Fitzpatrick , Mayor

Cr Liz Seckold, Deputy Mayor

Cr Tony Allen

Cr Cathy Griff

Cr Mitchell Nadin

Cr Helen O’Neil

Cr David Porter

Cr Joy Robin

Cr Karen Wright

Copy:

Acting Chief Executive Officer, Mr Ian Macfarlane

Acting Director, Assets and Operations, Mr Alan Gundrill

Director, Community, Environment and Planning, Mrs Emily Harrison

Director, Business and Governance, Mrs Iliada Bolton

Manager Communication and Engagement, Ms Kellie Dodge

Executive Officer (Minute Secretary), Mrs Jackie Grant

Public Forum Submissions Received

Deputations for the Public Forum of 26 July 2023 were received and circulated to Councillors.

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.

Apologies

That the apology of Chief Executive Officer, Anthony McMahon be noted.

Public Forum Addresses

. Public Forum submissions received

FOR
	Name	Rep	Method	Comment
3	Mr John Walters Item 8.2 - “Village Square” Mixed Use Development - Tourist Information Centre, Health Consulting Rooms, Retail Premises and Shop Top Housing, Lots 4 and 5 DP 1134, 66-68 Princes Highway, Cobargo	On behalf of Cobargo Community Development Corporation Ltd Authority received	Face to Face via Zoom	The CCDC Limited is the applicant entity for DA 2022.366, the subject of Agenda Item 8.2, and as the Chairperson of the CCDC Limited I will present on behalf of the board the sincere request for the DA to receive a positive assessment and approval by the BVSC meeting. I will outline the many thousands of hours of unpaid work which has been undertaken by the volunteer board, the comprehensive community consultation initiatives of the CCDC Limited, and the potential impact of further delays of the DA process for this critical State and Federal Government funded bushfire recovery project for the Cobargo community.
4	Mr Ashley Dunn Item 8.2 - “Village Square” Mixed Use Development - Tourist Information Centre, Health Consulting Rooms, Retail Premises and Shop Top Housing, Lots 4 and 5 DP 1134, 66-68 Princes Highway, Cobargo	On behalf Cobargo Community Development Corporation Ltd Authority received	Face to Face via Zoom	I am the director of Dunn Hillam Architecture + Urban Design, whom have been engaged by the CCDC to design the buildings at 66-68 Princes Highway, Cobargo and prepare and lodge the DA 2022.366. I will outline the process of consultation undertaken for this project and how the CCDC and their consultants have responded to feedback received from community members and Council to date. If there are any objections from people speaking against the Council recommendation, I shall be on hand to address any questions raised by the objectors, if required.
5	Ms Catherine Forbes Item 8.2 - “Village Square” Mixed Use Development - Tourist Information Centre, Health Consulting Rooms, Retail Premises and Shop Top Housing, Lots 4 and 5 DP 1134, 66-68 Princes Highway, Cobargo	On behalf of DunnHillam Architects Authority received	Zoom	Catherine will be present via video link to respond to any heritage related questions which may arise.
AGAINST
	Name	Rep	Method	Comment
1	Mr Fraser Buchanan Item 6.- 2023 National General Assembly of Local Government Communique and Item 6.2 - Canberra Regional Joint Organisation meeting with NSW Government Ministers	Self	Zoom	I would like to express some view about some of the motions put during the National General Assembly of Local Government
2	Ms Rhonda Ayliffe Item 8.2 - “Village Square” Mixed Use Development - Tourist Information Centre, Health Consulting Rooms, Retail Premises and Shop Top Housing, Lots 4 and 5 DP 1134, 66-68 Princes Highway, Cobargo	On behalf of Cobargo Bushfire Resilience Centre Inc. Authority received	Face to Face via Zoom	The Cobargo Bushfire Resilience Centre would like to address one aspect of the Village Square DA: the (late) variation in height of the project and its potential impact on the CBRC which is the immediate southern neighbour. We will point out that the clause 4.6 variation request and recommendation is incomplete as it failed to fully address the potential impacts on the Cobargo Bushfire Resilience Centre. CBRC Inc. were not consulted in relation to the variation report. CBRC Inc. would like to see the following points included as part of any variation request report and recommendation: * impact of increased building height on our Centre's north facing solar panels (not addressed in documentation) * impact of increased building height on our Centre's passive heating features (the incomplete Dunn and Hillam modelling already indicates our Centre building will be significantly shaded by the Village Square for most of our Winter operational hours) * a key feature of the CBRC is a commemorative courtyard that has clearstory windows - these face the direction of the Village Square. The windows were designed for visitors to have a clear view of sky and for a clear pathway of sunlight to fill the space. They were designed with an understanding of the previous maximum height for buildings in Cobargo village. We suggest any recommendation to increase in height in the village includes modelling to understand if the new maximum height will impact this key feature of our Centre experience. * impact of increased height to architectural integrity of our Centre. The variation request documentation leaves out our building (our DA has been approved) in the streetscape views. There is a single diagram (which is now out of date), that is used to suggest street scape elevation - this street view indicates the Village Square in relation to our Centre. The highest section of the Village Square (now approaching 11m high) is immediately adjacent to the single height of our building. The discrepency in heights between the Village Square and the Resilience Centre is profound. Thank you for your consideration. I would note that Cobargo Bushfire Resilience Centre remain committed to and supportive of all rebuild and recovery projects. We, more than any other group, understand the complexities of undertaking this difficult task. We want to ensure that the new sections of our main street honour the past while looking to our future. Our suggestion is that, in order for Councillors to make an informed decision in this important matter, you require reports that are complete and comprehensive. Lets get this right.
6	Mr Ron Douglas Item 10.2 - Proposed New Road Name - Miriwal Lane, Merimbula	Self	Face to Face via Zoom	Presented to Council

Cr Allen declared a Non - Pecuniary conflict of interest regarding Item 8.2“Village Square” Mixed Use Development - Tourist Information Centre, Health Consulting Rooms, Retail Premises and Shop Top Housing, Lots 4 and 5 DP 1134, 66-68 Princes Highway, Cobargo, he remained in the chamber.

Mr Fraser Buchanan was granted a 2 minute extension.

Ms Rhonda Ayliffe was granted a 2 minute extension.

Mr Ashley Dunn was granted a 2 minute extension.

Mr Ron Douglas was granted a 2 minute extension.

The Public Forum session closed at 12:51 pm.

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

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

Excerpt from the Procedure 6.02.2 Code of Meeting Practice regarding the number of speakers:

4. Public Forums

4.8 No more than three (3) speakers are to speak “for” and “against” each item of business on the agenda for the Council meeting.

4.9 If more than the permitted number of speakers apply to speak “for” or “against” any item of business the CEO or their delegate may request the speakers to nominate from amongst themselves the persons who are to address the Council on the item of business. If the speakers are not able to agree on whom to nominate to address the Council, the CEO or their delegate is to determine who will address the Council at the public forum.

4.10 If more than the permitted number of speakers apply to speak “for” or “against” any item of business, the CEO or their delegate may, in consultation with the Mayor or the Mayor’s nominated Chairperson, increase the number of speakers permitted to speak on an item of business, where they are satisfied that it is necessary to do so to allow the Council to hear a full range of view on the relevant item of business.

Attachments

Nil