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7.35pm: That concludes our coverage for tonight, full wrap to come.
7.15pm: A motion to endorse a trip to China by mayor Cr O’Rourke has passed unanimously in her absence.
Cr Williams, who will accompany the mayor at his own expense, cited tourism, education and cultural exchange as reasons for supporting the trip.
“We need to be able to do business with the world and our trip to China is part of facilitating that,” he said.
7.10pm: Motion to set councillor remuneration at the maximum allowable figure up for debate, with Cr Flack having submitted a formal suggestion that he and his colleagues all receive a 10 per cent hair cut.
In speaking for the motion, Cr Metcalf said she was often asked how much she was paid as a councillor and how many hours she worked.
“The consistent response is ‘well clearly your not in the job for the money’, I agree with this but I knew this when I was running for council,” she said.
She said the allowance was not excessive but went towards recognising the work councillors did.
The motion passed with Cr Flack voting against.
6.54pm: Motion to refuse permit for a new garage on McLaren Street.
In speaking in favour of the motion Cr Metcalf cited some “outstanding examples of homes that are heritage listed in the area” including adjacent buildings of individual heritage significance.
“I won’t always agree with the heritage office ... but in this instance for me there were some alarm bells going off,” she said.
Hoskin, also speaking in favour, citing heritage concerns.
“That’s what the main object is here and it doesn’t comply as far as I’m conerned,” she said.
Motion passed.
6.48pm: Motion to grant a permit to subdivide land on Whittington Court and North Harley Street up for debate.
Cr Metlcalf addressed traffic and planning issues in supporting the motion.
“I’m not convinced the car parking arrangements are acceptable but nonetheless I’m not sure it’s fatal to the application either,” she said.
In speaking against the motion, Cr Hoskin cited parking issues,saying report was based on “false information”.
“It’s going to have serious long- term impacts on a very narrow and confined street which doesn’t have nature strips,” she said.
“I’m simply saying we don’t have all the information we need to rely on for a clear outcome in this matter.”
Speaking in favour of the motion Cr Williams said he while he shared obejctors concerns about access it was still possible to access the site with vehicles parked on the street.
“I believe the planning office has correclty assessed the concerns as raised by the objectors,” he said.
“Parking will need to be considered in the building approval process.”
The motion has passed.
6.29pm: Permit to subdivide land on Francliff Avenue into 28 lots granted.
6.28pm: Cr Metcalf moves a motion to support a recommendation to reject a proposed development on Greenwood Drive with reference to previous decicions of council and VCAT to reject previous proposals and praises the thoroughness of the report.
“I do my own research when I have a planning application in front of me and its wonderful to see we’re on the same page,” she said.
Motion passed unanimously.
6.21pm: Cr Williams moves motion to adopt Commercial Land and Activity Centre Strategy. Motion carried unanimously.
6.17pm: Cr Flack declares a conflict of interest on proposed Greenwood Drive development, while Cr O’Rourke will sit out of the vote on her trip to China.
6.15pm: Cr Emond’s report highlights the positivity of the Bendigo community.
“If we’re working together in a positive and constructive way we can do some great things,” he said.
Other highlights since the last meeting for Cr Emond included a tour of the new Bendigo Hospital and the Bendigo community Christmas lunch at the All Seasons Hotel.
6.05pm: Public question time has begun, with the first question relating to water security and the city’s 150 litre water restrictions.
“Should a doubling of Bendigo’s population to 200,000 people occur by the mid-2050s eventuate, will in a period of drought water restictions for each person ... be halved to 75 litres per day?”
Answered by mayor, Margaret O’Rourke, who said water was a top priority, but Bendigo could source water from elsewhere if needed.
“Having that water security is paramount and I’m certainly fairly confident ... that we’re well down that pathway,” she said.
6pm: The first City of Greater Bendigo regular council meeting for 2017 is under way.