Council Meeting Snapshot - Wednesday 14 May 2025

Published on 14 May 2025

To keep our community up to date with key Council decisions, outcomes and plans; here is a snapshot summary from Council’s Wednesday 14 May Council Meeting.

Items for Tabling

Internal Arbitration Decision IAP 2024-30

An internal arbitration process (IAP 2024-30) has been carried out and Council is required to table the arbiter's decision and statement of reasons.

Section 147(4) of the Local Government Act 2020 states that, subject to subsection (5) which requires confidential information to be redacted from the documents, “a copy of the arbiter's decision and statement of reasons must be tabled at the next Council meeting after the Council received the copy of the arbiter's decision and statement of reasons and recorded in the minutes of the meeting.”

The respondent of this report is Cr Goss, and the arbiter has determined that Cr Goss is being suspended from the office of Councillor for a period of 21 days. This suspension commences the day after the Council Meeting at which the arbitration report is tabled, being Thursday 15 May. As the suspension is for a period of 21 days, Councillor Goss will be eligible to resume his Councillor role on Friday 6 June.

Petitions

Keep High Street Aberfeldy Bitumen Petition

A petition with 446 signatories has been submitted to Council requesting that the bitumen road in High Street, Aberfeldy, be retained.

Council received and noted this petition with 446 signatories.

Council moved to;

Report to council on this matter no later than four Council Meetings' time and;
Advise the lead petitioner of the Council Meeting date that the Officer Response will be presented.

Planning and Development

Significant Tree Register

Council noted the update on the Significant Tree Register project and the associated draft reports.

Council moved to release the draft Significant Tree Study report; draft Significant Tree Register; and draft Background Report for community consultation for a period of eight weeks from 26 May 2025 to 18 July 2025.

Community Infrastructure

Notice of Motion Response - Concept Options for a new Mountain Bike Track in Drouin

Council noted the report in response to the Notice of Motion moved by Cr Lucas at the 26 February 2025 Council Meeting.

Council endorsed the allocation of $22,000 to conduct preliminary planning and investigations into a new dirt jumps park in Drouin, including appropriate consultation and a concept design, when finalising the 2025/2026 Council Budget.

Sporting Walk of Fame - Recommendation of New Inductees

Council moved an alternate motion to defer the report to a future Council Meeting date.

Draft Carbon Emissions Reduction Plan

Council noted the completion of Council's draft Carbon Emission Reduction Plan (CERP) and the key recommendations identified in its 'Roadmap' to achieve net zero emissions and provide in principle approval of the CERP.

Council endorsed the target of 2050 to achieve net zero emissions as legislated and moved to support officers in preparing a detailed five-year action plan (2025-2030) containing information on actions, approach, timing and resourcing requirements.

Council noted the significant progress made to date on Council's emissions reduction through the successful delivery of sustainability initiatives over the past 10 years.

Strategy and Organisational Performance

Live4Life Lead Agency Agreement

Council noted the Live4Life Program progress and impact, and authorised the CEO to execute Live4ife Lead Agency Agreements.

Governance and Information Services

Tender Recommendation Report - Internal Audit

Council noted that;

CON-2024015 will be awarded to Moore Australia (Vic) Pty Ltd for the lump sum of $151,200.00 (exc. GST);
Moore Australia (Vic) Pty Ltd submission demonstrated the best value for money following an evaluation process; and,
The Chief Executive Officer will sign the contract under delegation.

General Business

Interim CEO John Bennie introduced a CEO General Business motion that, requested that Council:

Defer the report in response to the General Business Motion raised by Councillor Kingwill at the 26 February 2025 Council Meeting, regarding information about the possible retention of the Trafalgar Business Centre, to no later than the 28 May 2025 Council Meeting; and,
Note the extension of time for this report.

This motion was moved unanimously.

Baw Baw Shire Council's Council Meetings are open to the public and are held at the West Gippsland Arts Centre.

Council Meetings will commence at 5:30pm on the second Wednesday of the month, and 1:00pm on the fourth Wednesday of the month.

All Council meetings will be live-streamed, and archived recordings will be available on the Council website for viewing.

The agenda for the next meeting will be available online the Friday prior to the meeting.