Election Caretaker Period
Council moved into the Election Caretaker Period on 3 September.
Under its recently-adopted Election Caretaker Period Policy, this means that Council avoids making major decisions that might bind a new Council in the lead-up to the local government elections in October.
As a result, a smaller number of agenda items were considered by Council at its September meeting.
GCC Annual Housing Update
Glenorchy City Council adopted a Statement of Commitment on Housing in August 2020. Since then, an officer-led working group has developed an action plan to help Council to contribute to improving the housing situation for our community. The working group has an action plan and reports back to Council annually. The report identified a number of actions Council is undertaking to help boost housing stock, including identifying and selling off surplus land in a bid to boost residential housing supply in the municipality.
As a landowner, Council has identified surplus land in Glenorchy, Berriedale, Lutana, Rosetta and West Moonah, with investigations continuing into other sites. It has recently advertised residential land for sale at 5A Taree Street, Chigwell and 3 Edgar Steet, Claremont. Council properties at 119 Pitcairn Steet and 11-13 Nielson Drive, Montrose are also expected to be listed for sale in the next two months.
As a planning authority, Council granted 61 planning permits between 1 July 2021 and 30 June 2022, providing for 253 homes through multiple dwelling developments. These permits included a 55-dwelling social housing development in Allunga Rd, Chigwell, a 37-dwelling development at Branscombe Rd, Claremont, a 21-dwelling social housing development at Hopkins St, Moonah and 20 and 10-dwelling developments at Nagle Place, Glenorchy and Coleman St, Moonah.
As an advocate and partner, Council has been heavily involved in the development of the Greater Hobart Plan and has made submissions on that draft Plan and on the Homes Bill. Council is also an active participant in the Hobart City Deal, which is delivering more affordable housing in the City.
As a community services and social planning co-ordinator, Council has been actively involved in the Greater Hobart Homelessness Alliance, which brings governments, community providers and the homeless together to impact this important issue.
Over the coming twelve months Council will continue to focus its efforts where it can have the greatest impact for the development of housing options in our City.
Completion of Ministerial Directions
On 9 September 2022 Council received a letter from the current Minister for Local Government the Hon Nic Street MP accepting Council’s completion of all requirements under the Ministerial Directions. Community members will recall the former Minister for Local Government the Hon Peter Gutwein MP, in January 2018 issued a set of Ministerial Directions for the Glenorchy City Council to comply with following the preceding Board of Inquiry process. Council has now completed all directions satisfactorily as Minster Street acknowledges.
Council recognises the importance of good governance in establishing and maintaining the trust and respect of the community and is pleased to be able to demonstrate this in accordance with the Ministerial Directions over the past 4.5 years.
Child Care Services
At its August meeting Council considered a report to review council-owned childcare operations, as part of a broader review of council services.
The report was discussed by council in closed session due to some confidential aspects contained within the report.
Council resolved to continue to provide childcare at both its Berriedale and Benjafield centres and to reinvest into the services.
In the interests of transparency, at its September meeting Council resolved to move its decision on the review of the childcare services into the open minutes of the meeting and to attach the General Managers report to these minutes.
You can view the full agenda and minutes on Council’s website, via this link https://www.gcc.tas.gov.au/council/council-meetings/minutes-and-agendas/