Margot Giblin
Ruzicka’s prediction a fortnight ago was right. Councilors’ ‘to-ing and fro-ing’ continues leaving only seven attending this meeting. One councilor out of the room for any reason rendered this week’s council meeting inquorate. Where an absolute majority was needed for a motion to succeed it took only one dissenter to kill it. The winner was the Northern Pacific Sea Star which will be free to breed without check in the Derwent Estuary at least until enough councillors can attend a full meeting to resolve whether to help fund its eradication program. The spawning season began in July.
Hobart City Council
Open Meeting
Monday 28 July 08
5pm
Councilors Present: Deputy Mayor Eva Ruzicka, Peter Sexton, Philip Cocker, Bill Harvey, Elise Archer, John Freeman, Darlene Haigh.
Leave of Absence: Mayor Rob Valentine, Marti Zucco, Jeff Briscoe, Ron Christie, Helen Burnet.
From the Chair Ruzicka presented a petition from 1,025 people objecting to the Blinking Billy Point public sculpture.
Some Agenda Items
167 Macquarie St. Hobart – Hotel Alterations. Unanimous approval.
8 Aberdeen St. Glebe – Home Occupation (Taxi Business Office) There was some discussion over neighbours’ concerns about the number of taxis parked in a residential street. The Development and Environmental Services Committee (DESC) had recommended refusal because the use was not considered to be a home occupation, the proposed use would be inconsistent with the Statement of Desired Future Character of the area and because it was a development of a non-residential use not necessary to serve local residents.
Freeman argued that it might be preferable to approve the application on condition that no taxis are parked at the address.
Given the present lack of evidence in relation to that particular issue Council would ‘be done’ if it went to appeal, he said.
Officer advice was that an extension until mid September had already been granted. Only Haigh dissented from the decision to defer this item.
1 Crisp St. Sandy Bay – House and Front Fence. Approved with Cocker and Ruzicka voting no.
483 Huon Rd. South Hobart – Parking Area Upgrade. Unanimous approval.
Basement of 18 Magnet Court, Sandy Bay – Alterations, partial Change of Use to Unlisted Use (Internet and Internet Gaming Lounge) and Signage. Unanimous approval.
2 Mona St. Battery Point – Deck Extension. Unanimous approval.
Northern Pacific Seastar – Derwent Estuary Hotspot Project. Debate centred on whether Council’s consideration of offering up to $10,000 to an eradication project was dependent on the Commonwealth and State Governments financial commitment.
Unable to support the motion without clarification of this Sexton was also concerned that the final decision should be made with more councillors present. Without his support, and requiring an absolute majority for approval, it was agreed to defer the item until there was a fully attended council meeting.
Applications Approved Under the Building Regulations 2004 and Building Act 2000.
During the period 1 June 08 to 30 June 08, 86 permits were issued to the value of $10,714,261.
For the same period in 07 there were 34 permits issued to the value of $4,000,490.
In the twelve months ending 30 June 08, 800 permits were issued to the value of $197,764,481.
In the twelve months ending 30 June 07, 399 permits were issued to the value of $78,942,554.
Haigh noted that these figures demonstrated that Hobart was bucking the trend seen elsewhere. While the State Government often criticised the Hobart City Council for not getting things done, she said, it was clear that Council acted in the best interests of the city.
Princes Park Plantings – Promotional Support of the National Breast Cancer Foundation. It was unanimously agreed that approval be granted for the Council to plant out one of the park’s garden beds in pink and white petunias to represent the Breast Cancer ‘Pink Ribbon’ Logo in October 08.
St David’s Cathedral Conservation Appeal. The sum of $300,000 over a three year period will be donated by Council with the source of funding to be from the Heritage Account in the first instance, otherwise from unexpended operating surpluses.
There was general support for this allocation of funds with Haigh noting that St Marys Cathedral might be next to ask for help. While some might query such expenditure, asking ‘what about the poor?’, Haigh felt that it is often the poor who gain their strength from the church, as demonstrated in places like Spain and Singapore.
Sexton supported the motion wholeheartedly with the proviso that there be an annual report on the use of Council funds in relation to the benefits both to the organization and to Council.
This should focus the minds of the recipients, annually, on accountability , he said.
161-177 Murray St. Hobart – Patrol of Three Hour Parking Area.
A contractual agreement will be entered into with Harvey Norman Limited. Council will enforce the three hour parking in the private car park with income generated from the issuing of infringements to be retained by Council.
Salamanca Market. Two items relating to Salamanca Market (Casual Sites and Artist/Producer Incubator Sites) could not be dealt with as Councilor Harvey, in leaving the Chamber due to a conflict of interest, left the meeting inquorate.
Tender – Beer Provider for the Taste Festival. Sexton, for the Community Development Committee, said there could not have been a more thorough process before choosing J Boag & Son Brewing Ltd for the exclusive provision of bottled beer at the 08/09 Taste. The Cascade Beverage Company will be provided with the first right of refusal to be the soft drink sponsor (non-exclusivity rights).
Proposed Southern Tasmanian Water and Sewerage Corporation – Appointment of Owners’ Representatives. Report.
In bringing his colleagues up to date Sexton (a proxy representative) referred to both a tight time frame and a lack of final decisions. These related to the appointment of a Common Chair, Common Directors, processes for appointing regional directors, processes for signing off by Councils and communication between Owner Representatives and the board. On whether proxies should attend Owner Representative meetings Sexton argued that including proxies would bring the number of individuals involved up from three to six. As all of them are there to represent all Councils he felt this would increase the likelihood of acceptable outcomes.
Councilor Harvey introduced two new motions for which notice had been given.
The first related to the Derwent Estuary Program and asked that Council acknowledge the work done by the Derwent Estuary Program (DEP) to restore the Derwent to health following decades of industrial pollution.
Further he asked that Council exercise its duty of care to Hobart citizens by requesting that the DEP provide an independent report into the potential impacts on the health of the Derwent and Hobart from dredging of contaminated sediments in Ralphs Bay as a consequence of the proposed Walker Corporation Project.
Harvey argued that improvements in the Derwent had been largely as a result of leaving things alone and letting the sediment be still and sink. He flagged the potential for this to change with the proposed activity in Ralphs Bay which would, he said, affect Hobart given the water movement involved.
Freeman said this was ‘none of our business’ and that the matter of Ralphs Bay was currently before the RPDC.
‘Why should we busy ourselves with this idea promulgated by the latest Green addition to Council. It is highly political’.
Elise Archer agreed with Freeman and added her concern with the expression ‘duty of care’ in the motion, which she couldn’t support.
Sexton referred to the usual practice of asking for a report on new matters brought to Council, lack of clarity about what the report would be on and the fact that the matter was already before the RPDC.
Ruzicka felt a report would address the question of duty of care and advised Harvey to consult with the General Manager before bringing new items to Council.
The motion was lost with Ruzicka, Harvey and Cocker supporting it and Haigh, Freeman, Sexton and Archer voting No.
Harvey’s second motion was for Development Applications to be required to provide a Construction and Demolition Waste Management Plan.
Harvey pointed out the twin benefits of recycling and extending the life (9 yrs) of the McRobies Gully tip site.
This motion received unanimous support.
Comment
Ruzicka’s prediction a fortnight ago was right. Councilors’ ‘to-ing and fro-ing’ continues leaving only seven attending this meeting. One councilor out of the room for any reason rendered this week’s council meeting inquorate.
Where an absolute majority was needed for a motion to succeed it took only one dissenter to kill it.
The winner was the Northern Pacific Sea Star which will be free to breed without check in the Derwent Estuary at least until enough councillors can attend a full meeting to resolve whether to help fund its eradication program.
The spawning season began in July.
