THE council's annual general meeting will be held this Thursday, December 13, in the New Norfolk Courthouse at 6pm. I encourage all interested residents and ratepayers to download a copy of the annual report from the council website here, or to obtain a hardcopy from the council chambers.
The AGM is your opportunity to ask questions about the council's activities over the last financial year and to propose motions from the floor - which if carried by the members of the public present, must then be considered at the next council meeting.
The December council meeting will follow the AGM at 6.30pm. I do hope you can join us for one or both meetings. If you would like to know more about how council meetings operate, please get in touch.
Sunday, December 9, 2012
October questions
THESE are the questions without notice I asked at the October council meeting held at Granton, and the answers received.
Mr Mayor, can we start community forums at a later time, such as 6.30pm, to encourage greater public participation?
The mayor took the question on notice.
Mr Mayor, will you make inquiries of the relevant authorities regarding the future of the historic Watch House at Granton and its ongoing maintenance?
The mayor advised that he would pursue the matter.
Mr Mayor, can you update us on the search for tunnels beneath Willow Court?
The mayor advised that the Hon. David Llewellyn had been researching the matter in the state archives and had found historical references to the tunnel dating to 1834. The mayor said he would liaise with the new licensee of the Bush Inn Hotel and a member of the public who had seen the tunnel beneath the hotel.
Mr Mayor, what decisions were made about fencing at last week's meeting of the Willow Court Conservation Special Committee?
The mayor advised that he would answer the question in closed committee.
Mr Mayor, why has nothing been done to acknowledge our four local Olympians in the two months since their return home?
The mayor advised that he had invited one of the Olympians to participate in the recent Rally for Respect but they were unable to attend.
Mr Mayor, can we start community forums at a later time, such as 6.30pm, to encourage greater public participation?
The mayor took the question on notice.
Mr Mayor, will you make inquiries of the relevant authorities regarding the future of the historic Watch House at Granton and its ongoing maintenance?
The mayor advised that he would pursue the matter.
Mr Mayor, can you update us on the search for tunnels beneath Willow Court?
The mayor advised that the Hon. David Llewellyn had been researching the matter in the state archives and had found historical references to the tunnel dating to 1834. The mayor said he would liaise with the new licensee of the Bush Inn Hotel and a member of the public who had seen the tunnel beneath the hotel.
Mr Mayor, what decisions were made about fencing at last week's meeting of the Willow Court Conservation Special Committee?
The mayor advised that he would answer the question in closed committee.
Mr Mayor, why has nothing been done to acknowledge our four local Olympians in the two months since their return home?
The mayor advised that he had invited one of the Olympians to participate in the recent Rally for Respect but they were unable to attend.
November advertisement
FOLLOWING is my most recent councillor update, published in the Derwent Valley Gazette a fortnight ago.
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| Click to enlarge |
Friday, November 9, 2012
Severe storm warning for New Norfolk
UPDATE: New Norfolk warning cancelled at 2.50pm
www.bom.gov.au
themercury.com.au
abc.net.au/news/tas/
newsnn.net
Australian Government Bureau of Meteorology
Tasmanian Regional Office
TOP PRIORITY FOR IMMEDIATE BROADCAST
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
for DESTRUCTIVE WIND, HEAVY RAINFALL, LARGE HAILSTONES and TORNADOES
For people in the Upper Derwent Valley and parts of the South East and Midlands Forecast Districts. Issued at 11am Friday, 9 November 2012.
THIS INCLUDES A TORNADO WARNING.
Severe thunderstorms are likely to produce destructive winds, heavy rainfall that may lead to flash flooding, large hailstones and tornadoes in the warning area over the next several hours. Locations which may be affected include New Norfolk, Oatlands and Richmond.
The State Emergency Service advises that people should:
* Move your car under cover.
* Avoid driving, walking or riding through flood waters.
* Seek shelter, preferably indoors and never under trees.
* Avoid using the telephone during a thunderstorm.
* Beware of fallen trees and powerlines.
* For emergency assistance contact the SES on 13 25 00.
The next warning is due to be issued by 2pm.
Warnings are also available through TV and Radio broadcasts, the Bureau's website at www.bom.gov.au or call 1300 659 216.
www.bom.gov.au
themercury.com.au
abc.net.au/news/tas/
newsnn.net
Australian Government Bureau of Meteorology
Tasmanian Regional Office
TOP PRIORITY FOR IMMEDIATE BROADCAST
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
for DESTRUCTIVE WIND, HEAVY RAINFALL, LARGE HAILSTONES and TORNADOES
For people in the Upper Derwent Valley and parts of the South East and Midlands Forecast Districts. Issued at 11am Friday, 9 November 2012.
THIS INCLUDES A TORNADO WARNING.
Severe thunderstorms are likely to produce destructive winds, heavy rainfall that may lead to flash flooding, large hailstones and tornadoes in the warning area over the next several hours. Locations which may be affected include New Norfolk, Oatlands and Richmond.
The State Emergency Service advises that people should:
* Move your car under cover.
* Avoid driving, walking or riding through flood waters.
* Seek shelter, preferably indoors and never under trees.
* Avoid using the telephone during a thunderstorm.
* Beware of fallen trees and powerlines.
* For emergency assistance contact the SES on 13 25 00.
The next warning is due to be issued by 2pm.
Warnings are also available through TV and Radio broadcasts, the Bureau's website at www.bom.gov.au or call 1300 659 216.
Thursday, October 25, 2012
Local Government Reform topics
LAST week's council meeting at Granton authorised the forming of a working group to review and make comments on the recently circulated discussion paper titled “Proposed Changes to Local Government Electoral Arrangements". Appointed to this working group were mayor Martyn Evans, deputy mayor Barry Lathey, councillors Tony Nicholson, Wayne Shoobridge, James Graham, Chris Lester, Scott Shaw and myself, and general manager Stephen Mackey.
With a request to provide feedback on the four proposals by the end of this month, the working group met this Tuesday to consider the the council's position. Present were the general manager and councillors Lathey, Nicholson, Shoobridge, Lester and myself.
The four proposals and our council's position (reached by consensus) on them were:
With a request to provide feedback on the four proposals by the end of this month, the working group met this Tuesday to consider the the council's position. Present were the general manager and councillors Lathey, Nicholson, Shoobridge, Lester and myself.
The four proposals and our council's position (reached by consensus) on them were:
- Introducing opt-in compulsory voting whereby a council may choose to make voting in local government elections compulsory within its municipal area. The Derwent Valley Council will not support this proposal. The working group's preference is compulsory voting for all councils.
- Introducing all-in, all-out elections every four years, with four-year terms for Mayors and Deputy Mayors. The Derwent Valley Council will support this proposal.
- Moving to election of Deputy Mayors "around the table" rather than by popular vote. The Derwent Valley Council will not support this proposal. The working group's preference is for mayors and deputy mayors to be elected in the same way - by popular vote.
- Banning dual representation, so that a person cannot in future hold a seat on council and in State Parliament at the same time. The Derwent Valley Council will not support this proposal. The working group's preference was that mayors and deputy mayors elected to parliament be permitted to serve out the remainder of their council term and that there be no restriction on councillors elected to parliament. My personal view is that dual representation is not ideal but should not be illegal.
Recent questions
AT the council's August council meeting I asked the following question without notice:
Mr Mayor, will Council be holding a function on the return of our Olympians?
The Mayor advised that Council will consider this matter.
At the September council meeting I asked:
Mr Acting Mayor, Can we have a clarification of the purpose of the council's advertisement seeking tenders for the installation of a power supply at Willow Court?
The General Manager answered that the advertisement was for the digging of trenches for the power supply.
Mr Acting Mayor, What will the council be doing to acknowledge the return of our local Olympians last month?
The General Manager took this question on notice. As of today, no answer has been received.
Mr Acting Mayor, Can we have a clarification of the legality of amending councillor motions on notice? On some occasions such amendments are permitted and on other occasions they are not.
The General Manager took this question on notice. As of today, no answer has been received.
Mr Acting Mayor, what payment does the council receive for the maintenance of the privately owned Woolworths car park in New Norfolk?
The General Manager said he was not aware of any payment being received.
Mr Mayor, why does the council perform maintenance of the Woolworths car park if it receives no payment for doing so?
The General Manager said this was a community service obligation.
Mr Mayor, will Council be holding a function on the return of our Olympians?
The Mayor advised that Council will consider this matter.
At the September council meeting I asked:
Mr Acting Mayor, Can we have a clarification of the purpose of the council's advertisement seeking tenders for the installation of a power supply at Willow Court?
The General Manager answered that the advertisement was for the digging of trenches for the power supply.
Mr Acting Mayor, What will the council be doing to acknowledge the return of our local Olympians last month?
The General Manager took this question on notice. As of today, no answer has been received.
Mr Acting Mayor, Can we have a clarification of the legality of amending councillor motions on notice? On some occasions such amendments are permitted and on other occasions they are not.
The General Manager took this question on notice. As of today, no answer has been received.
Mr Acting Mayor, what payment does the council receive for the maintenance of the privately owned Woolworths car park in New Norfolk?
The General Manager said he was not aware of any payment being received.
Mr Mayor, why does the council perform maintenance of the Woolworths car park if it receives no payment for doing so?
The General Manager said this was a community service obligation.
Saturday, September 15, 2012
July questions
THESE are the questions I asked at the July council meeting, and the answers received.
Mr Mayor, can you tell us about the $800,000 cheesery and restaurant recently approved in Rowbottom's Rd, Granton.
Answer: The mayor mayor took the question on notice. (As of today, no answer has been received).
Mr Mayor, who owns the Woolworths car park in New Norfolk?
Answer: The general manager advised that the car park was owned by Mr Robert Rockefeller through his company Humana or Nekon.
Mr Mayor, has the council received any communication from the Minister for Local Government regarding his proposed reforms?
The mayor advised that the council had not received any such correspondence from the minister. He further advised that he would write to the minister to ask what consultation would take place.
Mr Mayor, can you tell us about the $800,000 cheesery and restaurant recently approved in Rowbottom's Rd, Granton.
Answer: The mayor mayor took the question on notice. (As of today, no answer has been received).
Mr Mayor, who owns the Woolworths car park in New Norfolk?
Answer: The general manager advised that the car park was owned by Mr Robert Rockefeller through his company Humana or Nekon.
Mr Mayor, has the council received any communication from the Minister for Local Government regarding his proposed reforms?
The mayor advised that the council had not received any such correspondence from the minister. He further advised that he would write to the minister to ask what consultation would take place.
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