Agenda item

In accordance with Chapter 3, Rules 57 and 59, of the Governance Rules developed by Council in accordance with section 60 of the Local Government Act 2020.

In accordance with Chapter 3, Rules 57 and 59, of the Governance Rules developed by Council in accordance with section 60 of the Local Government Act 2020.

 

QUESTION 1

Jenny Matthews, a resident of Lilydale, asked: 

Has the new Yarra Ranges Health and Wellbeing advisory committee been selected to be unbiased and representative of a wide range of community opinions and experiences, or were members selected because they are supportive and agreeable to council decisions and plans?

Please include the following five points in your answer:

- Why the Health and Wellbeing advisory Committee’s Terms of Reference seem geared towards selecting a committee who agrees to support council’s existing Health and Wellbeing Plans and support decisions of the council, and support council officers in the development of new plans.

- Whether it’s possible within the scope of the Terms of Reference for a committee member to object, disagree or disapprove of any council decision or any part of the Health and Wellbeing plans.

- Whether it’s possible within the scope of the Terms of Reference that a committee member could abstain from supporting the council on implementing the current Health and Wellbeing Plan 2021-2025, some of which is based on outdated science predictions.

- If during the selection process, committee members were asked to reveal their current vaccination status, please advise if there is at least one appointed committee member who isn’t covid vaccinated, who could be representative and understanding of the growing number of vaccine hesitant people in the Yarra Ranges community.

- Include whether the new Health and Wellbeing advisory committee will be involved democratically in their meetings in the draft development of future Yarra Ranges Health and Wellbeing plans.

 

Jane Price, Director Communities: 

Thank you for your question, Jenny. 

The Health and Wellbeing Advisory Committee has been established to:

·                ensure there is a localised community voice to Council for people with an interest in community health and wellbeing in Yarra Ranges;

·                assist in the consultative process and provide feedback on Council processes, policies, and supporting Council’s decision making with regard to health and wellbeing; and

·                monitor the progress of objectives under the Health and Wellbeing Plan, and support the four-yearly development of a new Health and Wellbeing Plan

Committee members are actively encouraged to provide their views and input, influence and advocate on Council processes, projects, plans and strategies, however this committee is not a decision making body for Council.

During the selection process, committee members were not asked to provide current vaccination status.

In 2025, Local Government is required to prepare a new municipal public health and wellbeing plan in which the Health and Wellbeing Advisory Committee will be invited to provide input, as well as the broader Yarra Ranges community. In addition, the easiest way to get involved and make a difference is by visiting our Shaping Yarra Ranges - https://shaping.yarraranges.vic.gov.au/  pages and ‘Having your say’ on a range of different projects.

 

 

 

 

 

QUESTION 2

Jenny Matthews, a resident of Lilydale, asked: 

Over the last few years many people within the Yarra Ranges have become sick and tired of government departments, bureaucrats and committees overreaching into their daily lives, under the guise of health.  Many people including myself, who were not previously interested in bureaucracy, now want to stand up and participate democratically in local governance decisions which affect our friends and families and our community.

How can the people of our community, who are not part of the newly selected Health and Wellbeing advisory committee have their voices heard and participate democratically in council decision making, especially being involved in the implementation of the current Yarra Ranges Health and Wellbeing Plan 2021-2025 and the process of drafting future Health and Wellbeing Plans?

 

Jane Price, Director Communities: 

Thank you for your question, Jenny.

Community members who are not members of Council advisory committees can still have their say, this can occur through the Shaping Yarra Ranges page of Council’s website or by attending deliberate community engagement events facilitated by Council, as well as directly to Council Officers and Councillors.

The Public Health and Wellbeing Act specifies what must be included in a municipal public health and wellbeing plan, including the involvement of people in the local community in the development, implementation and evaluation of the public health and wellbeing plan. This will include both the advisory committees of Council and broader community engagement opportunities.

 

QUESTION 3

Brent Grogan, a resident of Monbulk, asked: 

My question is, in the business papers 10.2 and 10.3 at the 14th February council meeting there is a section that states: CONFIDENTIALITY

This item is to be considered at a Council meeting that is open to the public.

Seeing this meeting was shut down and the public ejected from the rest of the meeting, how can a motion be put on this, seconded, and passed when clearly that the discussion wasn’t open to the public.

 

Andrew Hilson, Director Communities: 

Thank you for your question, Brent.

The entire 14^th February 2023 Council meeting was conducted in Council’s Lilydale Civic Centre with a full public gallery of approximately 150 people. The meeting was also live streamed on Council’s website.

Your question might be referring to the 31^st January 2023 Council meeting which was opened but shortly thereafter was adjourned as a result of disruption from the gallery. The Mayor requested the gallery to be cleared, with the exception of those who formally registered to speak prior to the meeting. After an adjournment, that meeting then resumed and continued as scheduled, and was live-streamed via Council’s website for the public to view.

In accordance with section 66 of The Local Government Act 2020 and Rule 3 of the Governance Rules, live streaming a Council meeting or making a recording of the meeting available to the public at the conclusion of the meeting satisfies the requirement of a Council meeting to be ‘open to the public’.

 

 

 

QUESTION 4

Ian Bergwerf, a resident of Lilydale, asked: 

Given Australia is a parliamentary democracy, a growing number of people are concerned about interference from foreign organisations such as the World Economic Forum, the W.H.O & the U.N.

In light of these concerns, can council please confirm if the Urban Design Framework encompass' any of the 17 sustainable Development Goals as outlined in Plan Melbourne, which were developed by the United Nations in 2015.

I respectfully request that such response be answered a simple YES or NO reply.

 

Tammi Rose, Chief Executive Officer:

Yes, The UDF does encompass some but not all of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals, there is some further context, and I will ask Mr Gloss to respond.

Damian Closs, Acting Director Planning & Sustainable Futures:

The 17 SDGs were only published in 2015 by the United Nations but reflect the culmination of several decades of Planning research into creating cities that support thriving communities and protect our natural assets, hence it is likely there would be similarities. The two Urban Design Frameworks currently out for public consultation have been developed using best practice Planning industry standards and Planning Practice Notes published by the Department of Transport and Planning (DTP), but have not directly drawn on or referenced the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. 

 

 

QUESTION 5

Anonymous asked: 

What professional medical staff does council employ to determine that poor health is caused by any particular factor, e,g, food pollution, flouridation, vaccination etc. Does council propose employing a health department to implement it's health and wellbeing plan?

 

Jane Price, Director Communities: 

Council is not a research or medical institution, as such, Council relies on research, data and advice of peak health organisations, universities and State Government agencies. Council employs appropriately qualified health professionals to support the analysis of data/information to develop and implement the Municipal health and wellbeing plan.

 

 

QUESTION 6

John Drain, a resident of Mooroolbark, asked: 

Page 104 [of the Health and Wellbeing Plan] Where did council get the statistical information, who was surveyed and when? Can I get access to the survey data pertaining to Yarra Ranges only?

 

Jane Price, Director Communities: 

Thank you for your question, John.... Data and information that has informed the development of the Health and Wellbeing plan is listed on page 166 of the Plan under References. Most of this information is readily available and accessible online such as Census and population health data.

 

QUESTION 7

Anonymous asked: 

Given that there is bush fire risk throughout the Shire of Yarra Ranges what is Yarra Ranges Council stance on high density housing? Include which areas YR council would allow high density housing and which areas YR Council will not allow high density housing henceforth.

Please be aware that rezoning areas of the Shire of Yarra Ranges to allow high density housing in bush fire risk areas may result in loss of life in the future. There are many places that have only 1, 2 or 3 ways in or out.

 

Damian Closs, Acting Director Planning & Sustainable Futures:

Thank you for your question.

Land in Yarra Ranges that has high fire risk has a Bushfire Management Overlay applied to ensure protection measures for development are met, and to ensure that development does not proceed unless risk to life and property is managed to an acceptable level.  As set out in Clause 13.02 (Bushfire) of the Planning Scheme any land rezoning to a more sensitive use such as for housing cannot be approved if it will result in the intensification of development in an area that will result in a Bushfire Attack Level (BAL) of more than 12.5. 

Yarra Ranges Planning Scheme provides direction on where increased residential development can occur, in addition we are currently preparing a new Housing Strategy to guide future housing demand and location.  The Housing Strategy Discussion Paper available on Council’s Shaping Yarra Ranges website: https://shaping.yarraranges.vic.gov.au/housing-strategy-review  includes maps that shows that future higher density housing is to be concentrated inside the Urban Growth Boundary in established residential areas, such as Lilydale, Mooroolbark, Kilsyth and Chirnside Park.

There are strong communications put out by CFA to educate residents in Fire Prone Areas to have Fire Safety Plans that can be implemented at times of high risk to maximise their safety.

 

There were no Submissions listed on the Agenda for this meeting.