Advice to Derwent Valley Council

AT Thursday night's council meeting I made the following statement: "I wish to advise the council that I appeared before the Standards Panel of the Local Government Association yesterday, in relation to Mr Ian Brown's appeal against the recent determination of his Code of Conduct complaint made against me. I am advised that a finding may be reached next week."

During the hearing, Mr Brown expressed his concern that it had been incorrectly stated on this blog that he was a resident of Ridson Vale or Clarendon Vale, when in fact he had never lived at either of those places. I apologised for the error and advised that the information had been sourced from Mr Brown's correspondence which listed a Clarendon Vale postal address.

Comments will not be published until this matter is concluded.

Agenda for October meeting

YESTERDAY'S mail brought a very interesting council agenda for the October meeting this Thursday and I imagine there will be more than a few onlookers in the public gallery. You are welcome to join them - the meeting starts at 6.30pm. There is an opportunity for public questions and statements at the start of the meeting. It's advisable to get there early to fill in the simple form and hand it to the deputy general manager.

There are two items of some disappointment. In Motions on Notice, Cr Jim Elliott proposes that the council should cease the advertising of its monthly "workshops". Cr Elliott does not state whether it is his intention to move these workshops back behind closed doors, or simply to stop advertising them. If the idea is simply to save money, that could be achieved by listing the monthly meeting and monthly workshop in the one advertisement. I regret that because I am employed by the newspaper where the council does its advertising, I will not be able to take part in the debate on this topic.

Equally disappointing, and contrary to assurances received in the last fortnight, is that community concerns about the access road for a new subdivision at Molesworth seem not to have been heard. Building an expensive road and bridge to connect with Molesworth Rd makes no sense when the safest and most obvious option is to connect directly with the Lyell Highway. If the highway cannot cope with one additional entry on a reasonably straight stretch at Sorell Creek, what has the State Government achieved with its $14 million worth of "improvements"?

Also on the agenda is a briefing by Home and Community Care co-ordinator Julie Triffett; a proposal to investigate the employment of a regional development officer; community grants for 2010/11; and a closed meeting to discuss a solid waste collection service contract.

Latest advertisement - October

BELOW is my latest councillor update, published in last week's issue of the Derwent Valley Gazette.

Shaw claims New Norfolk Classic

BALLARAT cyclist Patrick Shaw, 24, was first across the line this afternoon and claimed victory in the second annual Launceston to New Norfolk Classic. The event was sponsored by the Derwent Valley Council and New Norfolk Business Alliance and Mayor Martyn Evans was on hand to congratulate the winners. A reception was held afterwards at the Junction Motel.

Strategic planning

EACH Thursday night for about a month, your councillors have been meeting to develop a new strategic plan. This is a legal requirement of the Local Government Act, although little legislative guidance is provided on what such plans must contain. What we are working on is actually our council's fourth strategic plan and it is intended to map the road ahead for the next five years.

In principle, our new strategic plan is going to be a "plain English" document. It will be only a few pages in length and it will include realistic, achievable goals. What I am hoping for is a plan that can be easily displayed in poster format, and that these posters will be displayed in the council chamber to provide a constant reminder of the strategy we wish to follow. I would like to see similar posters displayed in public places from time to time. My council colleagues appear to share these thoughts and we are looking forward to presenting a draft for public consultation in the near future.

New president for Maydena association

HAVING missed last month's annual general meeting of the Maydena Community Association, it was good to catch up with some of the local news at the monthly meeting earlier tonight. In particular, congratulations go to Lynne Graham on her election as president of the community association, taking over from Piers Hooper who was elected vice-president. Lynne is continuing in her previous role as secretary in addition to her new responsibility. Tim Parkes remains public officer of the association and Derek Whitwell was re-elected to the treasurer's job. Congratulations one and all.

Federal election - how we voted in the Valley

THE Australian Electoral Commission has made available the provisional polling place figures from Saturday's Federal Election. Results from local polling booths follow.

BRONTE
NOYES, Lucas (Secular Party of Australia) 2     
HUTCHINSON, Eric Russell (Liberal) 31    
ADAMS, Dick (Australian Labor Party) 38 
CASSIDY, Karen Frances (Australian Greens) 7
(Informal 9)

DROMEDARY
NOYES, Lucas 4
HUTCHINSON, Eric 85
ADAMS, Dick 200
CASSIDY, Karen 49
(Informal 18)

ELLENDALE
NOYES, Lucas 3
HUTCHINSON, Eric 59
ADAMS, Dick 61
CASSIDY, Karen 36
(Informal 6)

GLENORA
NOYES, Lucas 3
HUTCHINSON, Eric 47
ADAMS, Dick 119
CASSIDY, Karen 28
(Informal 7)

GRANTON
NOYES, Lucas 7
HUTCHINSON, Eric 125
ADAMS, Dick 226
CASSIDY, Karen 69
(Informal 15)

GRETNA
NOYES, Lucas 5
HUTCHINSON, Eric 67
ADAMS, Dick 81
CASSIDY, Karen 25
(Informal 11)

HAMILTON
NOYES, Lucas 1
HUTCHINSON, Eric 48
ADAMS, Dick 58
CASSIDY, Karen 19
(Informal 5)

LACHLAN
NOYES, Lucas 5
HUTCHINSON, Eric 71
ADAMS, Dick 217
CASSIDY, Karen 100
(Informal 19)

MAGRA
NOYES, Lucas 6
HUTCHINSON, Eric 122
ADAMS, Dick 318
CASSIDY, Karen 44
(Informal 43)

MAYDENA
NOYES, Lucas 3
HUTCHINSON, Eric 30
ADAMS, Dick 84
CASSIDY, Karen 29
(Informal 15)

MOLESWORTH
NOYES, Lucas 5
HUTCHINSON, Eric 106
ADAMS, Dick 120
CASSIDY, Karen 77
(Informal 14)

NEW NORFOLK
NOYES, Lucas 36
HUTCHINSON, Eric 402
ADAMS, Dick 1,059
CASSIDY, Karen 27
(Informal 111)

NEW NORFOLK NORTH
NOYES, Lucas 24
HUTCHINSON, Eric 254
ADAMS, Dick 866
CASSIDY, Karen 116
(Informal 113)

OUSE
NOYES, Lucas 7
HUTCHINSON, Eric 80
ADAMS, Dick 92
CASSIDY, Karen 16
(Informal 13)

WESTERWAY
NOYES, Lucas 4
HUTCHINSON, Eric 62
ADAMS, Dick 96
CASSIDY, Karen 33
(Informal 9)