Saturday 28 July 2007

Please comment ...

Hi I am asking for your opinion/feedback as residents and ratepayers.

Recently I received a letter from staff advising me of Amendment No. 75 to TPS No.6, this amendment is "... Modify the boundary of the Local Open Space Reserve on Towncentre Drive, Thornlie and rezone a portion of Lot 9005 Towncentre Drive, Thornlie from "Residential R30" and "District Centre" to "Residential R80".

Firstly I would like to say that it is ridiculous to propose a R80 zone in this area, but I will discuss this matter at a later date.

My first concern is the amendment to modify the boundary, I say NO, but then again it has already happened!!

We have houses being built, and houses already built on land currently zoned as Local Open Space, how can this be, you ask? I would like to hear your opinion on this, either by commenting on this post, or send me an email to webyter@gmail.com.

I would like to note that the meetings of 13th April 1999 and 13th July 1999, give a partial answer to how this situation has occurred, and I hope that you will take the time to look into this matter and advise me of your thoughts.

The main point I am trying to point out is that we the public are being asked to comment on this amendment to modify the boundary, after the event, and no it is not a simple mapping error that needs to be corrected, the minutes I have previously mentioned clearly point this out.

I look forward to hearing your spin on this situation, would you be interested in signing a petition to stop the rezoning?

peter evans

Contact your Councillors ...

You can find contact information here

Remember each and every councilor represents you ... so take the time and contact them

Minutes of Meeting ...

the minutes of the meeting on 24th July
can be found here

Sunday 22 July 2007

Ordinary Council Meeting - 24th July 2007

AGENDA SUMMARY

12. MINUTES OF COMMITTEE MEETINGS
12.1 SAFE CITY TASK FORCE COMMITTEE
12.2 BUSH FIRE BRIGADE ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING MINUTES

13. REPORTS
13.1 CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER’S REPORT
13.2 COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
13.3 CORPORATE SERVICES
13.3.1 PAYMENT OF ACCOUNTS
13.3.2 FINANCIAL ACTIVITY STATEMENT
S
– JUNE 2007 13.4 INFRASTRUCTURE
13.4.1 TENDER 11/2007
- SUPPLY AND LAY OF HOT ASPHALT ROAD SURFACING
13.4.2 MADDINGTON UNDERGROUND POWER PROJECT
13.4.3 PARKS AND LEISURE AUSTRALIA

– 2007 NATIONAL CONFERENCE “A PIVOTAL ROLE”
13.5 PLANNING AND SUSTAINABILITY
13.5.1 PROPOSED LIFTING OF URBAN DEFERMENT
UNDER THE METROPOLITAN REGION SCHEME AND
PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO TOWN PLANNING SCHEME NO. 6

– LOTS 2, 14, 15, 32, 33 AND 34 PHILLIP STREET AND
LOTS 3, 4, 7 AND 8 RIVER AVENUE, MADDINGTON
13.5.2 PROPOSED MODIFICATION TO SOUTHERN RIVER
PRECINCT 2 OUTLINE DEVELOPMENT PLAN

13.5.3 REQUESTED AMENDMENT TO CONDITION OF PLANNING APPROVAL FOR SHOWROOMS
- 1509 (LOT 10) AND 1525 (LOT 74) ALBANY HIGHWAY AND
20 (LOT 75) WIMBLEDON STREET, BECKENHAM
13.5.4 DEVELOPMENT APPLICATION – PROPOSED RESIDENTIAL
BUILDING
– 2310 (LOT 4) ALBANY HIGHWAY, GOSNELLS
13.5.5 DEVELOPMENT APPLICATION – COMMERCIAL VEHICLE PARKING
– 40 (LOT 106) STANILAND STREET, ORANGE GROVE
13.5.6 ROAD DEDICATION AND RATIONALISATION
OF LAND ADMINISTRATION ARRANGEMENTS

– RESERVE 30539 AND LOT 0 REDE STREET, GOSNELLS
13.5.7 SOUTHERN REGIONS COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP FORUM
PINJARRA, WESTERN AUSTRALIA – 8-10 AUGUST 2007
13.5.8 LOCAL GOVERNMENT SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
CONFERENCE 2007
MELBOURNE – 11-12 SEPTEMBER 2007
13.6 GOVERNANCE
13.6.1 PERTH AIRPORTS MUNICIPALITIES GROUP
- MEMBERSHIP

which can be found here

Wednesday 18 July 2007

No public meeting ...

Another motion was put forward at the meeting on 13th April 1999 which was "...That prior to Council approving any development proposal in any part of the subject area Council consult wih landowners to the area by holding public meeting in relation to the location of the Public Open Space ..." which sounds like a good thing, but ...

at the meeting of 13th July that motion was revoked, that is dropped, because "...That in light of further advice by staff outling the staus of development of the Towncentre Drive Reserve, Resolution 223 of the Ordinary Council Meeting held 13 April 1999, which reads ... be revoked"

seems that "... as it is considered that this reserve is almost fully developed ..." there was no need to have a meeting about it, the reserve is the existing reserve the one that does not actually exist anymore, the developers have cut into and built onto this reserve so back then we did not need to have a public meeting because the reserve was made but since then it has been cut back, and now we are asked to comment ...

check out the minutes for 13th July 1999 here

Tuesday 17 July 2007

The answer lies in the meeting of 1999 ...

"...It is therefore proposed that the portion of Lot Pt 11 currently reserved as Public Open Space be zoned to Residential “B” (R30) in accordance with the surrounding land in order to remove the boundaries between zones and thus provide flexibility in the ultimate subdivision design. The area finally set aside for recreation purposes shall then be reserved when the subdivision has occurred.

In this regard it shall be noted that the normal subdivisional process is for land vested with the local authority for recreation purposes to be reserved by way of an omnibus amendment to the Scheme after the subdivision has occurred and thus the precise boundaries of the recreation reserve defined. The above would in no way relinquish the developer from the obligation to provide the normal public open space land area..."

from the minutes of the meeting in 1999

So way back then it was decided that the boundaries would be defined once the development had occurred, they would change the zoning of the area, meanwhile we are given the opportunity to comment, after the event? Well to bad if I was to say "no don't do it, it will kill the lake and wildlife will disappear", but wait it has, what is the point, the developer was given license to develop and use whatever portion they deemed necessary, now the development is right on top of the lake/drain, there is no buffer zone around it and the damage is done!

This amendment is really just about the zoning of the R80 section, the modifying of the boundary of the Local Open Space has been done, it's too late to comment on that.

Dying environment ...




What was just two years ago a lush lake/drain now is a dying drain, with the road now right up to the western side of the water, reeds are dying and wildlife is rarely seen, but at least we are being given the chance to comment on the boundary change, a bit late don't you think!

Modify the boundary ...



Amendment No. 75 to the Town Planning Scheme No. 6 starts off with "...modify the boundary of the Local Open Space Reserve on Towncentre Drive", but as you can see from the picture above, the boundary has already been moved, and building is well under way, yet we are being asked to comment on this, why, for what reason, the developer has already "modified the boundary" the answer lies in the minutes of the meeting held back in 1999!!!

More info supplied ...

Today we received another letter from COG council regarding the Amendment No. 75 to Town Planning Scheme No. 6, seems that several residents (myself included) have contacted the City to point out difficulty understanding the previous correspondence, this time some colour print outs of the existing and proposed zoning under the heading of "Map Amendment" have been supplied (these maps can be found by following the link below).

More info can be found on the COG site here

Soon to be zoned R80


The above pic is the section of Lot 9005 that the developers want rezoned to R80, in the background you can see the recently completed stage of the shopping center, in the foreground you can see the school bus stop, which is the only regular transport that passes this location, there is no regular bus service, only a couple of feeder services about 1km away, and their are no railway stations, unless the Thornlie Spur is suddenly diverted here?
This area should not justify rezoning to R80, yet the developers will probably get the Council's rubber stamp on this part of the amendment, no matter what public comment they receive.
The development will probably increase my houses value, so why should I care if they build here, after all I don't live directly opposite, and no houses actually front the land so why not...

Seeking public comment


We recently received a letter in the mail from the COG council concerning "... Amendment No. 75 to Town Planning Sceme No. 6 - modify the boundry of the Local Open Space Reserve on Towncentre Drive, Thornlie and rezone a portion of Lot 9005 Towncentre Drive, Thornlie from "Residential R30: and "District Centre" to "Residential R80" and asking for public comment."

Wednesday 11 July 2007

Updated Question Time and Statements

COG has updated it's Question time and Statement forms and the guidelines

these can be found here

Question Time for the Public at Council Meetings

Council Policy 5.4.21 titled “Question Time and Public Statements at Council Meetings” has been developed to provide an orderly process for the receipt of questions and public statements at Council Meetings and to ensure members of the public are afforded equal and fair opportunity to participate in the good governance of the district.

In accordance with Item 6 of Ordinary Council Meeting Agendas titled “Question Time for the Public and the Receiving of Public Statements”, a period of fifteen (15) minutes is allocated for questions with a further period of fifteen (15) minutes provided for statements from members of the public. To ensure an equal and fair opportunity is provided to address Council, a period of three (3) minutes per speaker will be allowed.

The person's speaking right is to be exercised prior to any matter which requires a decision to be made at the meeting.

Questions and statements are to be –

1. Presented in writing on the relevant form to the Chief Executive Officer prior to commencement of the meeting; and
2. Clear and concise.

Question Time

Please click here to access the prescribed “Question Time” form (available in Word or PDF format).

With the consent of the Presiding Member, members of the public have the opportunity to ask questions on any relevant Council Business at Item 6.1 “Question Time” of the Agenda, provided that the person has completed the prescribed form in full and submitted it in person to the Chief Executive Officer prior to commencement of the meeting at 7.30pm or via fax to the City of Gosnells 9398 2922 prior to 4.00pm on the day of that meeting.

At Item 6.1 “Question Time” of the Agenda, the Presiding Member will announce the person’s name, at which time they are required to stand and present their question(s) to the meeting.

Supporting Policy 5.4.21 is the following guideline relating to Question Time titled “Guidelines – Question Time for the Public”:

“Question Time is not a public forum for debate and making of public statements. The time is limited to a question and answer period only and questions should be clear and concise to enable an appropriate response.

All questions are to be submitted in writing to the Chief Executive Officer, on the form determined by that officer, prior to the commencement of the meeting.

Persons wishing to ask questions will be called upon in the order in which they lodged their question form with the Chief Executive Officer or his/her delegate.

Questions are to be directed to the Presiding Member who has the right to accept, reject, respond, or nominate a relevant Officer to respond to that question.

To enable all members of the public a fair and equal opportunity to participate in Question Time each person shall be provided, in the first instance, with the opportunity to ask a maximum of two questions.

After all interested persons have posed their allotted number of questions, the Presiding Member will then, where time permits, allow members of the public to sequentially ask one further question. This process will continue until the allotted time has expired.

An extension of Question Time will only be granted where all members of the public, who have submitted their questions in the prescribed manner, have not been afforded the opportunity to ask the initial allotment of two questions.

Questions submitted at the meeting, that are not answered on the night, will be responded to in writing by the appropriate officer.”

Tuesday 10 July 2007

Budget 2007-2008: Focus on growth

City of Gosnells Mayor Patricia Morris AM JP said planning for the future while meeting the needs of today’s community remained among the toughest challenges for local governments.

"This year, the City of Gosnells has delivered a well-planned Budget that responds to continued residential growth with another comprehensive infrastructure package," she said.

"A recent independent report on the City's financial viability highlighted an urgent need to replace ageing facilities and create new infrastructure.

"The provision of quality infrastructure has been a priority for the City for several years and remains a top concern as our population is expected to grow by more than 40,000 over the next 20 years.

"About $358 million on capital expenditure for infrastructure will be required and we will continue to seek out external funding opportunities to ensure ratepayers receive value for money."

At its Budget Meeting on Tuesday 3 July, Council adopted an average rate increase of 6 per cent.

Of the increase, 2.5 per cent will be quarantined for use on infrastructure projects.
The increase will enable the City to undertake a series of major projects, including the $6.5 million Amherst Community Village, to service Canning Vale and Southern River – two of Perth's fastest growing suburbs.

Work is also being finished on the $8.5 million Harmony Fields sports and recreation complex as part of the Maddington-Kenwick urban regeneration project and work begins on the redevelopment of the City's Administration Centre.

The balance of the increase keeps pace with inflation and will help the City support a growing need for more basic demands, such as waste and recycling collection, road improvements and community services.

The Mayor said the rate rise was a vital part of securing the City’s future sustainability.

"We have been independently judged as being among the State's best managed local governments and ratepayers can be assured that they are getting top value for their rates.

"The work we are doing now will benefit not only today's ratepayers but their children and grandchildren.

"We are building for a bright future here in the City of Gosnells where a diverse and active community is growing together as we welcome many new residents and businesses to the area."

As posted on the COG Website

Mayor welcomes new CEO

Mayor Patricia Morris AM JP today welcomed the appointment of Daniel Simms as the new Chief Executive Officer of the City of Gosnells.

I am delighted to welcome Daniel Simms and very excited that the City of Gosnells has managed to attract such a high calibre executive.

“Daniel has an excellent track record and is just the man to lead the City of Gosnells as we embark on an exciting new era.

“With the Maddington-Kenwick regeneration programme, the Amherst Town Centre development in Southern River and the continuing revitalisation of the City centre just a few of the projects the City is involved in, these are very significant times in the development of this exciting and diverse community.

“The Council has a great record of top class financial management, underpinned by a commitment to strategic planning and Daniel will be able to build on this. With a strong administrative team in place the Council is well placed to continue to deliver quality local government to over 94,000 people who call the City home.”

Mr Simms is currently acting CEO at the City of Wanneroo, where he has also held positions as Director Governance and Strategy and Manager Strategy and Executive Services.

Previously Mr Simms had worked at the Shire of Dowerin, where he was Chief Executive officer, the Shire of York and the City of Kalgoorlie Boulder.

He holds a Bachelor of Applied Science and a Graduate Diploma in Business in Local Government from Deakin and is currently studying towards a Masters of Business Administration.

Mr Simms will start as CEO at the City of Gosnells on 22 October.

As posted on the COG website

Thursday 5 July 2007

Ordinary Council Meeting - 10th July 2007

AGENDA SUMMARY

12. MINUTES OF COMMITTEE MEETINGS
12.1 CITY OF GOSNELLS HERITAGE ADVISORY
COMMITTEE MEETING – 7 JUNE 2007
12.2 CITY OF GOSNELLS ROADWISE
COMMITTEE MEETING – 6 JUNE 2007

13. REPORTS
13.1 CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER’S REPORT
13.2 COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
13.3 CORPORATE SERVICES.
13.3.1 RATING - VALUATION BASE.
13.4 INFRASTRUCTURE
13.4.1 TENDER 12/2007
- SKID STEER LOADER HIRE WITH OPERATOR
13.5 PLANNING AND SUSTAINABILITY
13.5.1 PROPOSED INITIATION OF AMENDMENT
NO. 77 TO TOWN PLANNING SCHEME NO. 6
– REZONING OF LOTS 4184 AND 4185 ALBANY HIGHWAY, BECKENHAM
TO PUBLIC PURPOSES RESERVE AND SPECIAL USE ZONE
13.5.2 FINAL ADOPTION OF MODIFICATION
TO THE SOUTHERN RIVER PRECINCT 5 OUTLINE DEVELOPMENT PLAN
– PROPOSED REMOVAL OF DESIGNATIONS “RESIDENTIAL
DENSITY GREATER THAN R20” AND “LOCAL CENTRE”
13.5.3 PROPOSED REVISED DETAILED AREA PLAN
– LOTS 1, 3, 4, 14, 23 AND 90 NICHOLSON ROAD, CANNING VALE
13.5.4 DEVELOPMENT APPLICATION
– FAST FOOD OUTLET (NOODLE BAR) – SHOP 1, 271 (LOT 101) AMHERST ROAD, CANNING VALE.
13.5.5 DEVELOPMENT APPLICATION
– ILLUMINATED PYLON SIGN – 19 (LOT 100) WILLIAM STREET, BECKENHAM
13.5.6 DEVELOPMENT APPLICATION
- REQUEST FOR RECONSIDERATION OF REFUSED DEVELOPMENT APPLICATION
- STORAGE OF VEHICLES 1915 (LOT 24) ALBANY HIGHWAY, MADDINGTON
13.5.7 PROPOSED CLOSURE OF BONEWOOD COURT, BECKENHAM
13.5.8 SWITCH YOUR THINKING
– REVISED INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY LICENCE AGREEMENT
13.6 GOVERNANCE.
13.6.1 NEGLECTED BUILDING
– 6 (LOT 21) THE CRESCENT MADDINGTON
13.6.2 NEGLECTED BUILDING
– 108 (LOT 135) WESTON STREET, MADDINGTON
13.6.3 ILLUMINATED STREET NAME SIGN
- WARTON ROAD AND RANFORD ROAD CANNING VALE
13.6.4 AUSTRALIAN BUILDING CODES BOARD
NATIONAL CONFERENCE

- SURFERS PARADISE 23 TO 26 SEPTEMBER 2007

as posted here on COG website (opens a pdf)

Ordinary Local Government Elections

Local Government elections are held every two years to elect half the compliment of Councillors who represent the local community. The next ordinary Local Government election will be held Saturday 20 October 2007.

As posted on the COG home page here

Tuesday 3 July 2007

10 minute meeting ...




Tonight was the Special Budget Meeting at the City of Gosnells, I attended with my daughter, and I am sad to say that we were the only public members in attendance.

Most people only interactive with the council on two basic levels, rubbish removal and paying of rates, and tonights meetings is when the budget is approved, and when the rate increase is announced and implemented, and yes it was announced that the rate increase would be 6%.

As this was my first budget meeting I was amazed that unlike any other council meeting, it did not start with a prayer, which when you think about it, for us as rate payers we could of done with a prayer on this night.

The only apparent problem with tonights meeting was that one of the 16 staff recommendations needed an amendment approved before they could proceed, which was promptly dealt with, and then voting was able to start on the staff recommendations, which all passed without debate.

The meeting opened at 7:30pm and the Mayor was pleased to announced the close of the meeting at 7:40pm, no questions or statements were presented by the public.

I got the feeling that if myself and my daughter were not present the meeting probably would of only taken 5 minutes, well done councilors and yes, well done staff, but wait till the ratepayers get their bills, and then the customer service people will take the blunt of the ratepayers anger, but then again the rate rise was needed...

Personally I would like to know what I'm getting for the rise, living in an established area, I guess nothing, but then again at least my bin gets emptied ...

Day one ..

the following reply was given ...

Thankyou for your enquiry. Council meetings are conducted under the provisions of the City of Gosnells Standing Orders Local Law 2003, a co...