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 FROM THE PUBLIC

 

Question from Belinda Bernardini of Chirnside Park:

 

Does Council fly drones (registered or unregistered) over private properties in the Yarra Ranges Council area without the consent of residents and if so, can you please advise the "legal" purpose of such activity? 

 

Response from Nathan Islip, Acting Director Planning Design & Development:

 

Thank you for yourquestion, Belinda. 

Most aerial imagery used for delivering Council’s services is procured through mainstream third parties who meet all regulatory requirements, consistent with all other local governments in Victoria.  This covers all land within the municipality including private properties. 

In some instances, drones are used by Council officers to assist with inspecting difficult to access tree canopy, environmental stewardship communications onlarge scale landscapeprojects and sustainability story telling.  Drones have also been used to assist with weed mapping and deer management assessments in the Dandenong Ranges in partnership with environmental volunteer groups. 

Some companies engaged by Council may also use drones to carry out inspections of Council-owned buildings, especially rooves, or for stock image photographic purposes.   

Any drone use is guided by the requirements of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority who regulate and control the safe and appropriate use of drones in Victoria. 

 

 

 

In accordance with Rule 77 of the Governance Rules, the Mayor called for the meeting to be adjourned at 7.18pm and requested members of the public, who had not registered to speak, to leave the gallery.

 

Cr Child, Cr McAllister, Cr Eastham, Cr Skelton, Cr Todorov left the meeting at 7.18pm

Cr Heenan left the meeting (videoconference) at 7.18pm

Cr Cox and Cr Fullagar left the meeting at 7.19pm

  

In accordance with Section 66 (2)(c) of the Local Government Act 2020 and Rule 77 of the Governance Rules, the Mayor re-convened the meeting at 8.59pm with registered speakers in attendance and the gallery closed to the general public.

 

Cr Child, Cr McAllister, Cr Eastham, Cr Skelton, Cr Todorov, Cr Heenan, Cr Cox and Cr Fullagar returned to the meeting at 8.58pm

 

The meeting resumed at 8.59pm with all Councillors present.

 

 

Question from David Ricciuti of Silvan:

 

Answers to questions posed re Monbulk UDF have still not been completed and the public exhibition started in Dec. We all agreed that the info needed to be clear & questions answered for clear public info of what is proposed. When will the information be available &because it isn't, shouldn’t the exhibition be extended to allow for the delay? UDF stated there would be a community meeting with a presentation/Q&A session. There's no mention of it on the website.  

When will this & pop-up stall at a market be held? 

 

Response from Nathan Islip, Acting Director Planning Design & Development:

 

Thank you for your question, David. 

As advised in our recent phone conversations, we have followed up on your questions and have updated the project website with a new Glossary that explains many of the items you raised.   

All consultation sessions are detailed on the Council Shaping Yarra Ranges website.  This includes several drop-in sessions in the Monbulk Living and Learning Hub throughout February, and anonline webinar including Q&A options which will be recorded and uploaded to the project webpage for viewing at any time.  We have also recorded an introductory video to assist with understanding the scope and intent for the Urban Design Framework which is in the final stages of editing in preparation for uploading to the project webpage.   

Much of this information has now been publicly available for a couple of weeks, in addition to the comprehensive information and explanations within the Draft Monbulk Urban Design Framework document, and the project has been well promoted in Council’s communications channels and the local newspapers. Given the already lengthy period of community engagement, no further extensions to the consultation period are being considered. 

 

Question from Donna Kollner of Montrose:

 

Q1.Why do we need this health and wellbeing committee when we already have a health system in this country? 

Q2.Has this been a request from the people of the Yarra Ranges shire or is this coming from the United Nations initiative? 

 

Response from Jane Price, Director Communities:

 

Thank you for your question, Donna,

Council’s Health and Wellbeing Plan is a legislated plan under the Public Health and Wellbeing Act 2008. The Act requires Council’s to prepare a municipal public health and wellbeing plan every four years (following general council elections) and that plans must have regard to the State Public Health and Wellbeing Plan. 

The Health and Wellbeing Plan sets out the strategic direction for improving health and wellbeing for all residents across the municipality, addressing local health and wellbeing issues. The Plan covers off on the roles and responsibilities of Council in upholding the rights of all members of the Yarra Ranges community to have the opportunity to maximise their health and wellbeing.  

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;  

·                monitor the progress of objectives under the Health and Wellbeing Plan, and  

·                support the four-yearly development of a new Health and Wellbeing Plan. 

The United Nations have not been involved in the development or appointment of the committee. 

 

Question from anonymous resident:

 

The Draft Monbulk Urban Design Framework seeks funding through the Victorian Government-led 20-Minute Neighbourhood Initiative (20MN).  

Is YR Council willing to only accept funding of projects through the 20MN initiative if they have a guarantee that association with the 20MN initiative will not lead to people of the YR Shire losing any essential freedoms including freedom of movement within and across the Shire of YR borders? This includes freedom of privacy including zero tracking of movements. 

 

Response from Nathan Islip, Acting Director Planning Design & Development:

 

Thank you for your question,  

Council would seek a range of funding sources to support the actions in the Draft Monbulk Urban Design Framework (UDF)in order to reduce the dependence on ratepayer funding. Many of these actions support the convenience and liveability benefits of the 20-minute city principles.  

The Victorian Charter of Human Rights sets out the basic rights, freedoms and responsibilities of all people in Victoria, and all local governments must act consistently with the human rights in the Charter.  

The Draft UDF seeks to improve movement and access for the community within the Monbulk area, but also advocates to improve public transport and cycling networks that extend well beyond Monbulk.  

The Council boundary is an abstract line on mapping systems for defining where a Council’s responsibilities start and stop, but has no physical presence apart from welcome signage and hence does not limit movement. 

Sometimes technology can be used to understand where there is congestion on a path or road network or an intersection. They can also help Council improve our services for community by using sensors to notify a Council when a bin is full or when a drain is blocked, helping to stop litter entering waterways and flooding. There is no personal information or identifying information in these ‘smart cities’ solutions, so it would not be possible to track a particular person.  

 

 

Question from anonymous resident:

 

Are the 5G Towers, that have been approved by the Yarra Ranges Council, beneficial or detrimental to the health and well-being of the community of the Shire of Yarra Ranges? Include the following details for each 5G tower within your answer: 

·                Proof of radiation analysis 

·                Proof of indemnity insurance for each mast 

·                Wattage output and timing of the radiation output 

·                Capacity of the wavelength spectrum and the currently used 

·                wavelength spectrum 

·                Capacity of the signal strength 

·                Capping on the number 

 

Response from Nathan Islip, Acting Director Planning Design & Development:

 

Thank you for your question,  

Advocacy for better telecommunications services is part of Council’s overarching priority to ensure our communities have the infrastructure they need to stay safe, well and to participate fully in work and education.  Over 98% of respondents to a 2020 Council survey relied on telecommunications service during emergencies and to access emergency information. During the 2021 June storms some community members weren’t able to call 000 which was highly distressing and dangerous. 

Under Clause 52.19 of all Victorian planning schemes, a planning permit is required to install a telecommunications facility under the Yarra Ranges Planning Scheme.  It is assessed based on its siting, location and tower design, its supporting infrastructure, and requirements for operational maintenance and access.    

Council does not have the skills, expertise or the jurisdiction to assess the wattage, output, timing of electromagnetic radiation, or the capacity of wavelength spectrum, signal strength, or the information about coverage and blackspots.  This is assessed by the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) against the ARPANSA standard, and the Telecommunications Code of Practice.   

The telecommunications provider must apply and prove to ACMA, who have the skill and expertise, how they meet the requirements of the ARPANSA standard.   Council does not require proof of indemnity insurance.   

An applicant is required to include the location of nearby towers to enable assessing possible visual clutter, however this does not extend to consideration of the cumulative impact of electromagnetic radiation. 

There is no proposal to cap the number of towers in Yarra Ranges, and each application will be considered on its planning merits against the Yarra Ranges Planning Scheme.