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

 

Kathy Ricciuti of Silvan asked;

 

Seeing that the full 26 pages of the Uluru Statement of the Heart has become public, will the council advertise the full 26 pages and not just the one page they included in their decision to support the yes vote?

Will the council reconsider its decision now that more information has been released?

How much of Yarra Ranges Council budget is allocated to supporting the yes vote?

 

 

Jane Price, Director Communities:

 

Thank you for your question, Kathy.

It is not the intention of Council to publish the supporting information for the Uluru Statement of the Heart or reconsider its support for the notion of the Uluru Statement from the Heart or make amendments to Council's current public position.

The public position is in line with Council's broader commitment and support for reconciliation. There is no budget allocated to supporting the Yes vote as Council has the view that it is not the role of local government to tell people how to Vote.

Council encourages the community to seek information from reputable channels, to form their own view and decision on how to vote in this year's referendum.

 

 

 

 

 

QUESTION 2

 

Mitchell Mazzarella of Mooroolbark asked;

 

With the council about to roll out the new FOGO system, what percentage of items placed in the current yellow recycling bins are actually ending up in landfill and how much waste does the council anticipate the FOGO system will save from going to landfill?

 

 

Kath McClusky, Director Planning and Sustainable Futures:

 

Thank you for your question Mitchell.

Audits undertaken in May 2023 showed that approximately 26 per cent, or approximately 4100 tonne of material in Yarra Ranges yellow recycling bins is contamination which is separated and sent to landfill. All other material is recycled.

When planning the FOGO service, it was originally estimated that in the first year we could see a reduction in material going to landfill by approximately 20 per cent or 6050 tonnes. However, some councils that have already introduced the FOGO services are seeing a reduction of waste to landfill by up to 50 per cent.

 

 

QUESTION 3

 

Wendy Wright of Wandin North asked;

 

What is the total dollar value of fines imposed on ratepayers/residents of the YR for breaches of local laws related to waste collection only? Please provide data for the last 2 separate financial years. Thank you

 

 

Jane Price, Director Communities:

 

Thank you for your question, Wendy.

Yarra Ranges Council takes an education first approach to many areas of our Local Laws including curb side rubbish collection.

If there are continued breaches, then infringements may occur.

In the 2021-22 financial year, one infringement under the Waste Provision of the Local Law was issued totalling $300.

In the 2022-23 financial year, one infringement under the Waste Provision of the Local Law was issued totalling $300.

 

QUESTION 4

 

Sebastian Rojas of Kilsyth asked;

 

For clarification the following question relates to Council's potential enforcement in relation to inappropriate use of rubbish and recycling bins.

Considering the context and problems outlined in the "supporting information and context" section, has the Yarra Ranges Council foreseen these problems, and how does the Council plan to prevent and mitigate them?

 

 

Kath McClusky, Director Planning and Sustainable Futures:

 

Thank you for your question, Sebastian.

Yarra Ranges Council will be implementing an extensive community education program to reduce contamination rates. Where bins are found to be grossly contaminated, Council may consider not emptying those bins and undertake the provision of further education.

To date Council isn’t undertaking enforcement by using fines for contaminated bins, our primary objective is to utilise education to drive the right behaviours. 

Should enforcement utilising fines be considered by Yarra Ranges Council in the future, proper investigations will be undertaken to determine how these circumstances would be managed.

 

QUESTION 5

 

John of Healesville asked;

 

Healesville Action Group refers to the EV charging facility in Church St. Healesville. This on street facility, reserving two parking bays exclusively for EV vehicle charging, removing them from use by other ratepayers and visitors has, we understand, been provided at no cost to the operator, Evie Networks.

If this is correct, how is Evie Networks, a NSW based commercial business, backed by a Queensland investment fund, been given this concession for a facility to occupy 2 bays. Yarra Ranges Council charges their own business ratepayers fees and charges for the use of footpath area for tables and chairs and parking bays for skip bins, based on the current rates, this facilities’ use of similar shire infrastructure, would be producing revenue to council in the order of  $6 -7,000 PA.

Our question is, when did council approve this fee exemption and what consideration was given to the inequity of the decision and will the same concessions be available to subsequent competing businesses?

 

 

Hjalmar Philipp, Director Built Environment and Infrastructure:

 

Thank you for your question John.

The Victorian Government initiated the Destination Charging Across Victoria program, with 114 chargers funded in popular tourist locations. The grant funding provided to EVIE Networks was to install the charging facility in Healesville.

Council has adopted emissions reductions targets under its Liveable Climate Plan and pursuant to the Plan is encouraging the uptake of electric vehicles within the region, supporting the community to transition to a low carbon future.   

To that end, Council has a peppercorn lease fee on the car spaces. This lease was authorised by the Director of Environment and Infrastructure.  

Future requests will be considered on a case-by-case basis, and it is not intended that Yarra Ranges will lease other EV charging sites once the industry has established itself.  

There are examples of other councils that have charged for the car park lease however these councils are typically inner city where parking is at a premium, EV uptake is highest and home charging options are the lowest. Also, these have historically been metered car parks, so a dedicated EV carpark would have resulted in lost revenue. Thanks John

 

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