Glenorchy City Council held its twelfth meeting for 2023 on Monday 18 December. All 10 Elected Members were present.
Highlights from the meeting include:
Announcements by the Chair – Update on Glenorchy War Memorial Pool
The Mayor informed the meeting that Glenorchy City Council has appointed MI Global Partners to undertake an investigation into the options for the Glenorchy War Memorial Pool site, including a redeveloped pool facility, following a strongly-contested tender process.
MI Global Partners has more than 20 years’ experience working on events, sport and other projects, and has associations with firms both nationally and locally to undertake various aspects of the project.
MI Global Partners expects to have its engagement plan finalised by the middle of January 2024 and, as always, Council will keep the community informed as to the next steps of this project and how it can provide information and feedback to help determine the future of the pool site.
The Mayor also informed the meeting that Council has received a report on the local heritage values of the Glenorchy War Memorial Pool.
Heritage Tasmania has advised the pool does not contain any heritage aspects of State significance and therefore would not be included on the Tasmanian Heritage Register.
However, Council was determined to ensure the pool and its values were thoroughly understood, therefore it opted to have the site’s local heritage values assessed too.
That report has now been received and will be prepared for Council to consider. The report will also be provided to the consultants investigating options for the pool site to help inform their work. Importantly, once the report is considered by Council, it will be published on the council’s website.
Consideration of Motions from the Glenorchy City Council Annual General Meeting
Council held its Annual General Meeting (AGM) on 4 December 2023. Several motions were put by community members and carried by the majority of electors present at the meeting. Motions related to several topics:
- The Glenorchy War Memorial Pool
- Development applications related to non-residential development at 8-10 Main Road Claremont
- Composition of the Glenorchy Planning Authority
Council is required to consider motions that are passed at an AGM at the next Council meeting. Council considered each of the motions along with additional information provided by council staff.
Council Supports the State Government’s Comittment to Phasing Out Single-Use Plastics
Council received a report on options to reduce the impact of single-use and problematic plastic on our environment. The report analysed the possibility of starting a process of introducing a Single-Use Plastics By-Law, similar to the City of Hobart’s By-Law.
The City of Hobart started their process in 2016 and it took them around four years to develop and implement the By-law. Between 2016 and now, the State Government has progressed work to implement statewide legislation to manage single-use plastics. The State Government has committed to introducing legislation to ban single-use plastics by 2025.
Council believes the most efficient thing to do is to support the State Government’s objectives and wait for a statewide ban. This will ensure there is no confusion and Council will benefit from the State Government’s communication and marketing of the change when implemented in the next couple of years. Council resolved to send the State Government a letter indicating its support for their commitment to ban single-use plastics by 2025.
Managing Elected Member Conflicts of Interest
The State Government is proposing changes to legislation to clarify certain aspects of an Elected Member’s duty to manage conflicts of interest. Council was given an update on the process so far and the proposed changes, which include:
- Changes to the way conflicts of interest are classified.
- How conflicts of interest are disclosed.
- How conflicts of interest are managed.
- The future potential for proactive conflict management.
- Changes to penalties for breaching the Act.
- Possible guidance materials to assist elected members understanding their obligations and making decisions.
The proposed changes are set to bring Tasmania in line with other states and includes positive changes, like removing the distinctions between pecuniary and non-pecuniary interests. Council decided to make a submission that broadly supports the changes and seeks some clarification on certain areas.
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/