Record of Public Forum

Held on Wednesday, 21 February 2024 - 12:00pm

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

Anthony McMahon

Chief Executive Officer

Record of Public Forum Agenda

21 February 2024

Public Forum

Held on Wednesday 21 February 2024 at 12:00pm

Council Chambers, Bega

Present: Cr Russell Fitzpatrick , Mayor Cr Cathy Griff, Deputy Mayor Cr Tony Allen Cr Mitchell Nadin Cr Helen O’Neil Cr David Porter Cr Joy Robin - Apology Cr Liz Seckold Cr Karen Wright

Copy: Chief Executive Officer, Mr Anthony McMahon Director, Assets and Operations, Mr Ian Macfarlane Director,  Community, Environment and Planning, Mrs Emily Harrison Director, Business and Governance, Mrs Iliada Bolton Manager Communications and Engagement, Ms Kellie Dodge Executive Officer (Minute Secretary), Mrs Jackie Grant

Public Forum Submissions Received

Deputations for the Public Forum of 21 February 2024 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.

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

That the apology of Cr Joy Robin be noted.

Public Forum Addresses

.     Public Forum submissions received 

FOR
	Name	Rep	Method	Comment
6	Mr James Jooste | Item 13.1 Support Native Forestry	On behalf of Australian Forest Products Association NSW	Face to Face	The native forestry industry in Southern NSW contributes $720 million in gross value to the NSW economy and employees 2,230 people in Southern NSW. It is a key driving industry for the economy on the NSW South Coast and in the Bega Valley Shire. Forestry Corporation manages 2 million hectares of multi-use state forest of which timber harvesting is one activity. Only 14 out of 10,000 trees are harvested from our public estate and from that we create materials that are critical to our economy, housing construction industry, building and transport industries as well as our agriculture, mining, energy and freight industry. The hardwood industry plays a critical role in fire management and decarbonising our economy.
9	Mr Stephen Pope | Item 13.1 Support Native Forestry	Self	Face to Face	I will talk about the importance of the native forest harvesting to the harvesting contractors their employees and the money that is put back into the local economy The work that we did as well as others in fighting fires and then helping with the clean up after the fires
12	Mr Damien Bunting | Item 13.2 Options for Private Native Forestry in RU2 zones	On behalf of South Coast Timber	Face to Face
AGAINST
	Name	Rep	Method	Comment
1	Prof Roz Hansen | Item 8.1 Affordable Housing Strategy Implementation Progress report	Self	Face to Face	I will outline the reasons why I do not support the CEOs recommendation 2 as printed in the agenda papers at the public forum.
2	Mr Michael Brosnan | Item 8.1 Affordable Housing Strategy Implementation Progress report	Self	Face to Face	I will explain why the councillors should adopt the recommendation.
3	Mr David Gallan | Item 13.1 Support Native Forestry	On behalf of Far South Coast Branch - National Parks Association (NSW) Inc.	Face to Face	Impacts on the environment and safety from the shortcomings of native forest logging.
4	Ms Harriett Swift | Item 13.1 Support Native Forestry	Self	Face to Face	I will outline reasons why the motion should be opposed. These include: - native forest logging has lost its social license; - it is a massive carbon emitter and inflicts serious damage on the climate, the environment – wildlife, water and soil; - a logged forest increases bushfire risk and severity; - far from being an economic asset to the region, without massive taxpayer subsidies it would have gone years ago.
5	Mr Peter Haggar | Item 13.1 Support Native Forestry	Self	Zoom	To discuss the role forestry in the fires in 2019/2020 and future risk of fire created logging in private or public.
7	Ms Harriett Swift | Item 13.2 Options for Private Native Forestry in RU2 zones	Self	Face to Face	Refrained from speaking to this item.
8	Ms Jenifer Lowe | Item 13.2 Options for Private Native Forestry in RU2 zones	Self	Face to Face	This claims ' certainty' for landholders, but provides no certainty at all for Aboriginal Heritage, endangered and critical wildlife, forests and bio diversity, water quality protection, or protection of waterways, banks future flooding and future environmental improvement - which will impact on humans. Forestry without consent or transparency (as occurs illegally now), may simply fast track devastated environments.
11	Ms Virginia Young |13.2 Options for Private Native Forestry in RU2 zones	On behalf of The Australian Rainforest Conservation Society, The Great Eastern Ranges Connectivity Initiative and Wilderness Australia	Face to Face	The motion is based on flawed understanding re the climate mitigation value of native forests, ignore recent scientific findings on the importance of prioritising protection and restoration of forests and new commitments made by Australia under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and the UN Convention on Biological Diversity that will result in policy change at the domestic level.

Ms Roz Hansen was granted a 2 minute extension

Mr Michael Brosnan was granted a 2 minute extension

Mr David Gallan was granted a 2 minute extension

Ms Harriett Swift was granted a 2 minute extension (Cr Nadin voted AGAINST)

Mr Peter Haggar was granted a 2 minute extension

Mr James Jooste was granted a 2 minute extension

Ms Jenifer Lowe was granted a 2 minute extension

Mr Stephen Pope was granted a 2 minute extension

Ms Virgina Young was granted a 2 minute extension

Mr Damien Bunting was granted a 2 minute extension

The Public Forum session closed at 1:56 pm.

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

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

Regards

Jackie Grant
Executive Officer | Chief Executive Officer and Mayor’s Office

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