Glenorchy City Council held its eleventh meeting for 2023 on Monday 27 November. All 10 Elected Members were present. Highlights from the meeting are as follows:
Community and Volunteer Awards
Council endorsed the continuation of an annual Community and Volunteer Awards, next scheduled for May 2024. Call for nominations will soon be made. Categories will include: Glenorchy Citizen of the Year, Glenorchy Young Citizen of the Year, Glenorchy Senior Citizen of the Year, Local Hero Award, Glenorchy Sports Achievement Award, Glenorchy Business Person of the Year and volunteer recognition.
Fire and Emergency Services Act Reform Submissions
The Tasmanian Government is reviewing its Fire and Emergency Services legislation, with a Tasmanian Fire and Emergency Services Bill out for consultation until 1 December 2023.
Council is supportive of the proposed structural changes to the TFES. However, there are several areas Council believes require further consideration. Of particular concern are the proposed changes to the funding model.
Council endorsed a submission to the Tasmanian Government providing feedback on the Tasmania Fire and Emergency Services Bill and proposed changes to the Fire Services Levy.
Proposed Speed Limit Reductions
Council endorsed a proposal to reduce speed limits in 5 locations across the municipality, for submission to the Commissioner for Transport. The roads that are recommended to be reduced from 60km/h to 50km/h are:
- Main Road, extending from Abbotsfield Road to Stony Point Drive
- Marys Hope Road, extending from Crosby Road to Berriedale Road
- Berriedale Road, from Catherine Street to Marys Hope Road
- Barossa Road, covering the section from Tolosa Street to Bimburra Road
Roads identified to be set at a permanent 40km/h include:
- Main Road within the Moonah Central Business District, encompassing the area between Amy Street and Florence Street
Submission on the Development Assessment Panel Framework Position Paper
Council endorsed a submission to the State Planning Office providing feedback on the Development Assessment Panel (DAP) Framework Position Paper that was issued in October 2023.
The government announced the preparation of new legislation to introduce independent Development Assessment Panels (DAPs) to take over some of Councils’ decision-making functions on certain development applications.
In summary, Council is not opposed to the concept of a DAP. However, this proposed model is not considered appropriate. Concerns are raised about the proposed scope and operation of a DAP, in particular:
- The proposed referral triggers are too broad and ambiguous. This contradicts the principles of depoliticisation and a proportional response. A wide net would result in additional time and complexity for otherwise straight forward applications.
- Non-mandatory referrals should be at the discretion of the planning authority, not the applicant. However, applicants should have the right to appeal this decision.
- Removing appeal rights, delaying exhibition until a recommended decision has been made and introducing Ministerial intervention are not supported. These measures would significantly undermine public confidence in the system and exacerbate controversy.
- The DAP process should align with the process for assessment of a discretionary application, not the process for a combined amendment and planning application. Essentially mirroring this process is not appropriate and is an unnecessarily complex response.
- Clarity regarding the operation of the process resulting from different trigger points is required. An ad-hoc process determined by the Minister on a case-by-case basis does not represent procedural fairness and is not supported.
State Government Budget Submission 2024 / 2025
Council endorsed its advocacy priorities as follows:
- Tolosa Park continued development as per the masterplan
- Redevelopment of 2A Anfield Street (Glenorchy War Memorial Pool)
- Glenorchy Multicultural Hub operational funding
- Youth engagement program funding
- Northern Suburbs Transit Corridor activation
Council also resolved to make a submission to the State Government budget process to seek funding for these priority projects.
Announcements by the Chair
Glenorchy War Memorial Pool
Regarding the project to review the facilities at Anfield Street in Glenorchy (the Glenorchy War Memorial Pool), the tender has now been closed with a summary report being prepared for the General Manager’s review on 30 November.
All information in relation to the Glenorchy War Memorial Pool is provided on Council’s website https://www.gcc.tas.gov.au, including the way forward in investigating options for the future of the site, including pool redevelopment and other options.
8-10 Main Rd Claremont Development Application
The application received for the development of 8 – 10 Main Road Claremont is for a combined panning scheme amendment to the existing site-specific qualification GLE-9.1 under the Tasmanian Planning Scheme – Glenorchy, specifically to allow ‘takeaway food services and drive through’ and signage to be a discretionary use in the zone rather than prohibited and for the development of a restaurant.
When the development application was lodged a substantial statutory request for further information was sent to the applicants. After several months the information request has now been satisfied and an assessment of the application is nearing completion. The application will be presented to the Glenorchy Planning Authority (GPA) meeting on 13 December 2023 at 3.30pm.
At this meeting, the GPA will decide whether to refuse the proponent’s application to amend the planning scheme, or to prepare an amendment for the consideration of the Tasmanian Planning Commission. Should the latter occur, the application would be exhibited for public comment, at which point formal representations could be submitted for consideration by the GPA and the Commission.
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/