Glenorchy City Council held its ninth Ordinary Council Meeting for 2024 on Monday 30 September. 8 Elected Members were present.
Highlights from the meeting include:
Announcements by the Chair
The Mayor provided several updates on important issues to the Council and community, including:
Glenorchy War Memorial Pool
The $5M in funding promised by the government during its election campaign has been confirmed in the State Budget handed down on 12 September. When the grant deed is finalised, Council are ready to go to tender for the works to repair and reopen the pool.
Council’s next open workshop will be the presentation of the business case on the pool. Don’t forget to register your interest in this session https://letstalk.gcc.tas.gov.au/open-council-workshop. You can participate in person or online.
City safety
As part of Council’s strategy to address safety issues in Glenorchy, a Community Yarn was held on 11 September. This followed a well-attended business breakfast on the same topic. At the community Yarn, Dr Zelinda Sherlock provided practical advice on how community can keep themselves safe in the event of witnessing anti-social or criminal behaviour. Community members then took the opportunity to speak about their concerns and experiences in dealing with anti-social behaviour. The next step is to host a round table discussion where key community stakeholders will be brought together to discuss solutions to these safety issues.
Youth Engagement
Council is maintaining its focus on engaging with young people who congregate in our city. Every day after school and during the school holidays the Communities Team are hosting activities on the front lawns. Council is investigating the possibility of establishing a youth hub as a place for young people to hang out and access services. In the meanwhile, the Labour Bureau or as it’s also known, Pensioner’s Building or the Old Library, on the front lawns will be activated to run Council programs, all-ages activities, and as a youth drop-in centre in the afternoons. This space will support information for community, community outreach and events.
Child and Youth Safe Organisations
Council received an update on and noted the new Youth Safe Organisation Framework, Compliance Guidance, and Community Consultation report. Council also adopted its first Safeguarding Children and Young People Policy. The Policy has been developed to help Council meet its mandated obligations under the Tasmanian Child and Youth Safe Organisations Act 2023.
B Kinder Council
Council resolved for Glenorchy City Council to become the first b kinder Council in Australia. The b kinder foundation was established in honour of 12 year old Billie Kinder who died in a tragic accident in 2016. The foundation was set up by her family to empower and inspire others through kindness, a quality that Billie consistently demonstrated. Council’s childcare centres have already integrated the b kinder program to give their children the skills to become kinder, more empathetic and compassionate. Becoming a b kinder Council is a great way for Council’s to expand on its current programs and activities to build positive pathways through kindness, compassion, empathy and belonging.
Business Updates
A monthly financial performance update for August was also provided which keeps Council up to date with regular high level financial information. Council also endorsed variations to the 2024/25 budget estimates to account for grant funding carry forwards and new grant funds.
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/