Record of Public Forum

Held on Wednesday, 22 May 2024 - 12:00pm

Council Chambers, Biamanga Room, Bega Valley Commemorative Civic

Anthony McMahon

Chief Executive Officer

Record of Public Forum Agenda

22 May 2024

Public Forum

Held on Wednesday 22 May 2024 at 12:00pm

Council Chambers, Biamanga Room, Bega Valley Commemorative Civic

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

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 22 May 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 apologies of Crs Mitchell Nadin and Karen Wright be noted.

Public Forum Addresses

.     Public Forum submissions received 

FOR
	Name	Rep	Method	Comment
2	Mr Damien Foley - Item 8.1 | Finalisation of Planning Proposal for Club Sapphire Merimbula	On behalf of Merimbula Imlay Bowling Club Ltd (known as Club Sapphire) - Authority received	Face to Face via zoom	As CEO of the Club, I wish to support the staff recommendation and respond to any address by objectors, should there be any.
4	Mr Hugh Pitty – Item 8.2 | Finalisation of Glebe Lagoon Flying-Fox Camp Management Plan	On behalf of Friends of Glebe Wetlands Incorporated	Face to Face via zoom	I wish to speak briefly to the point in support of the staff recommendation to acknowledge the immense amount of work that key staff have done over many months, indeed years, to make this camp management plan so thorough. I also wish to speak to the value of the staff recommendation being supported by a unanimous vote of elected Councillors.
AGAINST
	Name	Rep	Method	Comment
1	Ms Cathy Stonier - Item 8.1 | Finalisation of Planning Proposal for Club Sapphire Merimbula	Self	Face to Face via zoom	I do not support the Staff recommendation for approving the height increase from 16m to 21 metres. 1. Dangerous precedent to set & once in place will be hard for any future request for height increases above 16m to argue against. A precedent is a very hard thing to fight in court. 2. The views obtained for the previous height of 26m represented approximately 18% of "OK "views for some rooms. This was a huge argument from the Bowlo for their justification for a height of 26 metres. Now at 21meters the views are no longer an important justification for extra height so why do they need the height increase. 3. Up until now, the height of 16 meters has been well protected by Councillors in the past. It feels that Merimbula is now the sacrificial lamb on offer to help the financial woes of the Council. After the approval of the Green development in Market St. this is yet another proposal to use Merimbula as fodder. It is a privilege that we can have such a beautiful coastal village in our world & yet it appears that our people we put in place to help protect it use their position as a "RIGHT" of passage rather than a privilege.
3	Mr Myron vanderWaerden – Item 8.2 | Finalisation of Glebe Lagoon Flying-Fox Camp Management Plan	Self	Face to Face via zoom	By definition a PLAN is: - a detailed proposal for doing or achieving something. OR - an intention or decision about what one is going to do. The Glebe Lagoon Flying-Fox Camp Management Plan, in its current guise, does not meet the definition of a PLAN. There are NO specific actions with timelines, identified, there are NO sources of funding identified, the people responsible for ensuring that actions are undertaken and completed are NOT identified, NO workforce to carry out any tasks is identified.
5	Ms Ebony Millott – Item 9.4 | Request for waiver of development contribution fees	Self	Fae to Face via zoom	Outline the events in the lead up to the water main issues. Point out negligence from Council throughout the whole application and works processes.

Ms Cathy Stonier was granted a 2 minute extension

Mr Damien Foley was granted a 2 minute extension

Mr Myron vanderWaeden was granted a 2 minute extension

Ms Ebony Millott was granted a 2 minute extension

The Public Forum session closed at 12:56 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