Council meetings were held Tuesday 28 March and Wednesday 26 April 2023.
March
Council Advisory Committees are a way for Council to consult with key stakeholders, seek specialist advice and enable community participation. They don’t make formal decisions, but they do provide advice to Council. Advisory Committees you can be involved in include Arts and Culture, Youth, Inclusion and Access, Positive Ageing, and Living and Learning Nillumbik.
Council is currently seeking expressions of interest from locals to join the Recreation Trails Advisory Committee for a two-year term, from June 2023 to June 2025. The committee needs volunteers who know the area well and use the vast recreation trails in a range of different ways, representing varied backgrounds, experiences, and interests.
Conservation works for Kangaroo Ground Caretaker’s Cottage were given the go ahead and Alan Marshall Reserve on Main Road is set to be expanded. A Council owned parcel of land at 1225 Main Road next to the Reserve currently has a house on it, which was leased since Council bought the property, but it is now vacant. The house has been assessed as no longer fit for purpose so there are plans to demolish it and use the land for public open space.
Council’s Risk and Safety Report for the quarter ending December 2022 and the Youth Strategy 2022-2026 Implementation Plan Year 1 Review and Year 2 Plan were submitted along with the Triennial Events and Festivals Program 2023-2026 Expression of Interest Assessment Report.
April
At the April meeting departing Youth Council members were recognised and thanked, and new members welcomed. Councillors also thanked outgoing members of the Positive Ageing Advisory Committee and welcomed ten new members. The final report of the Ageing Well in Nillumbik Action Plan 2019-2022 was also accepted.
Nillumbik has many areas not sewered, meaning wastewater needs to be managed on-site. A draft Onsite Wastewater Management Plan (OWNP) will be developed in consultation of water corporations, the community, and other stakeholders. It is open for public consultation until 28 May 2023. Building on the success of the previous Domestic Wastewater Management Plan, the OWMP 2024-2029 seeks to develop a risk management assessment for managing the ongoing wastewater requirements throughout the Shire.
Local Government now has more flexibility to deliver Citizenship ceremonies following an update to the Australian Citizenship Ceremonies Code from the Minister for Immigration, Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs. Citizenship Ceremonies, previously held on 26 January, will now be determined annually at the November Council meeting. In 2024, the Citizenship Ceremony will be held on Monday 29 January.
A Special Charge Scheme was recommended to proceed to enable road sealing for Jalna Court, Eltham, between the western boundary of 1 Jalna Court and the intersection with Sweeneys Lane, after consultation with residents. Affected property owners will be invited to join the task group and provide comments for consideration within the design process.
The Land Management Incentive Program (LMIP) offers grants to landowners for sustainable land management activities that have positive ecological outcomes, support threatened species conservation, and/or support improved and sustainable land management outcomes.
The LMIP guidelines were revised in November 2021 and included more explicitly incorporating deer control into grant eligibility criteria. A risk assessment of this high-risk activity was not included at that time but has now been completed and consequently funding for removing deer and shooting-based activities was recommended for removal. Opportunities for Council to use contractors for deer control will be considered.
Tenders were accepted for the Design and Construction of a Modular Changing Places and Toilet Facility in Alistair Knox Park, the Diamond Creek Netball Court Cover Project, and Council’s Managed Print Services.
Cr Frances Eyre, (Swipers Gully Ward) was appointed Councillor Representative to the Banyule Nillumbik Local Learning Employment Network Inc. Board.
The next Council meeting will be held on Tuesday 23 May. Council meetings are live streamed on YouTube. Find links, dates, agendas, and minutes at nillumbik.vic.gov.au/Council.
