The full agenda is at the bottom of this page. 

Related: Bendigo’s biggest-spending budget ever

8.45pm: Meeting concluded, more reporting to come. 

8.19pm: The motion on the Independent Review Implementation is endorsed by all councillors except Cr Leach and Cr Cox. 

8.08pm: Councillors vote unanimously to release the biggest-spending budget in Bendigo’s history to the public for comment. 

8pm: Cr Cox generally speaks in favour of budget, though notes his objection to the amount spent on city staff. 

Cr Leach speaks at length against much of the direction of the budget. 

Leach calls more spending on foothpaths and roads less on arts and cultural events. She challenges the links between creative sector and jobs growth. 

“Since 2010 the number of people employed by creative arts and food services has actually fallen,” she says. 

7.45pm: Onto the big ticket item, the budget. 

Read a full report on the budget: Bendigo’s biggest-spending budget ever

7.40pm: Motion passed with councillors Cox and Leach voting against. 

Cr Lyons says future acting as guarantor will only put the council at risk “if the sky falls in”. 

“It’s not risk free but it’s so minimal that I support the guarantee.”

7.35pm: Cr Ruffell says she will support the motion “because I don’t see another option”.

“I’m concerned that their funding all comes down to gambling,” Cr Ruffell says.

“And there are lots rumors going around about how long they can keep doing that.

“I have deep reservations, but I see no other option but to support it.

“Building has already started… and even though I don’t want to.”

7.30pm: Cr Cox says this is “the most difficult decision” tonight and argues that the a decision be deferred until more research is done on the potential savings if council acts as a gaurantor.

“We know Bendigo Stadium board and operation performs well, since ‘89 they’ve provided basketball for Bendigo and a lot of other events.

“This particluar project has got the support of other levels of governemnt and we’re only putting in $2 million of $22 million – so that’s a very positive result for Bendigo.

“However the project has gone form $16 million to $22 million

“Cr Lyons says that if Bendigo Stadium takes out a loan and council goes guarantor there is the possibility that the banks lower interest rates.

“But we haven’t got a report in front of us detailing all that information, that’s what I’m disappointed about. 

“I personally think the process has broken down.

“We are committing future councils to an $11 million loan – but we don’t know what’s going to happen in the future.”

7.28pm: Onto move to act as guarantor to the tune of $11 million in loans for the Bendigo Stadium Limited. 

7.25pm: Councillors vote to endorse the draft MAV submission for sector consultation in relation to the proposed new Local Government (Electoral) Regulations 2016.

7.20pm: Councillors vote for the motion, except Cr Leach.

7.18pm: Cr Cox responds to Cr Leach’s comments on people from overseas coming to Bendigo.

“We can be a richer city if we have a more diverse population.

“Ten years ago we were crying out for more doctors and nurses as we had a huge shortage.

“Now we have them, and where did they come from?

“Overseas.

“Not only bring did they bring their professional skills, they also brought their culture.

7.11pm: Onto the liveability indicators. 

Cr Leach speaks at length against the motion. She questions why the number of people born overseas is regarded as a “liveabiliy indicator” and suggests volunteerism would go down if more people born overseas live in Bendigo.

7.10pm: Councillors vote unanimously to put the plan to the public for comment. 

7pm: Onto the Council Plan 2016-2017.

Cr Leach speaks against a number of items in the plan.

“My min focus is that we don't add to burden of living with rates… and that our spending on roads keeps pace with the rate of growth. 

“I don’t place much score on the livability indicators.

‘On carbon dioxide emissions  – I hope that doesn’t lead to more expensive energy measures.

“We have a lot of people on low-incomes and we can't assume they can pay to dollar for energy.

“So I don’t support many items on this plan but I do support putting it out there for comment.”

6.58pm: Item carried with councillors Ruffell and Leach voting against it.

“As Tamworth is to country music, this will make Bendigo to invention,” Cr Lyons says. 

6.54pm: Cr Williams speaks in favour of the motion, councillor Leach and Ruffell speak against the motion which would cost more than $250,000 over four years.

“I’m against committing the next council for this funding for the next four years,” Cr Ruffell says.

“We can’t seem to find money to keep the pool open for winter – and yet we can find money to lock in the next council for the next four years on this one.

Cr Ruffell also derides report’s description of the Bendigo Business Council as “business leaders”.

“They don’t represent small business in Bendigo,” Cr Ruffell says. 

Over 7,500 small businesses in Bendigo aren’t members [of the BBC] – and they don’t speak for them.”

6.46pm: Cr Lyons and Cr Cox, who set up the awards and have been involved in their operations since the beginning, speak in favour of the motion. 

”The way to go forward is for it to go into a semi-professional organisation with business links and affiliates,” Cr Lyons says.

“My interest in the BIA has always been two-fold.

“It is an opportunity for people to get an idea out there.

“But also, it’s about branding our city as a home of invention.

“This will take it to another level, hopefully worldwide. 

“It’s an exciting time for the BIA… but this requires seed money.”

6.45pm: Onto a motion to outsource operations of the Bendigo Inventor Awards to the Bendigo Business Council. 

The report reads:

“The Bendigo Inventor Awards (BIA) commenced in 2010 and is about to enter its seventh year. This has been an effective method to acknowledge and showcase inventors and innovators both in the Greater Bendigo region and beyond. In 2016 the BIA Advisory Committee was focussed on shifting the BIA to a more specific segment, namely the Emergency Services sector (ES).

“This report seeks Council endorsement to fully transition the BIA to a new entity to enable the initiative of the City to reach a new, and greater, audience whilst retaining the concept of branding Bendigo as a City that acknowledges and welcomes innovation and inventions as a key economic driver.”

6.40pm: Outdoor seasonal pools interim report is tabled and unanimously acknowledged. 

6.38pm: Food Hub feasibilty study carried with only Cr Leach voting against the idea. 

6.30pm: Onto the proposed Food Hub.

Councillor James Williams talks at length in favour of the project, in which he has been heavily involved. 

“This is a phenomenon which is sweeping the world,” Cr Williams says. 

“When you travel overseasyou see it , I go to markets in Asia which attract people hand over fist.

“This is about our health and well-being, about eating fresh and eating better.” 

Cr Williams says the Food Hub coincides with a push from the community to rescue surplus food for charitable purposes, community gardens in Bendigo and Heathcote, school kitchen gardens and organic waste. 

A farmer himself, Cr Williams says nut, produce and livestock producers throughout the region will also be winners, along with the tourism sector. 

6.25pm:  Onto the first item, the second round of community grants. Councillors vote unanimously to dish out $208,065 in cash to the 72 diverse community groups. 

6.20pm: Second petition is not on the agenda. It is signed by 385 residents who support plans for off-leash dog parks in Kangaroo Flat and Eaglehawk. Councillors vote unanimously to recognise the petition. 

6.17pm: All councillors except Cr Ruffell vote to reject the petition due to the cost of keeping the pool open.

6.15pm: After councillors Mark Weragoda, Helen Leach and James Williams speak reluctantly in favour of the recommendation to reject the petition, councillor Lisa Ruffell speaks up for those who signed it. 

“I’m disappointed about what we are saying around the table tonight,” Cr Ruffell says.

“We have 105 people living in the area who want this but we’re saying to them we value cost over well-being.

“We want out community to walk, ride swim… and here we have a group of people who want to swim during winter.

“Why can’t we do a trial, we can’t we give them a go?

“I believe if we did it wouldn't just be 105 poeple using this pool, it would be a lot more people.”

6.10pm: First petition to keep Bendigo Aquatic Centre during winter.

Councillor Peter Cox says to do so would mean subsidising every swim to the tune of $54 to $109.

“When there are two other facilities available it very clearly doesn’t make a lot sense at this point in time,” Cr Cox says. 

6pm: Meeting underway, both councillors Elise Chapman and Rod Campbell are absent. 

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