An update from the most recent Council Meeting that took place on 18 July 2023.
More information is available at 2023 Council Meeting Agendas and Minutes.
Planning Activity Update and Delegate Decisions including Planning Scheme Amendment Update – June 2023
The report provided Council with an update on:
- The status of planning permit applications and trends in planning approvals in Brimbank in June 2023
- Decisions made under delegated authority in June 2023 regarding planning permit applications and other matters
- The status of current Planning Scheme Amendments at 30 June 2023.
In June 2023 Council made 76 planning determinations, 23 subdivision determinations and 81 new planning permit applications were received. The value of development for these applications is $28.8 million.
No planning appeals were determined by the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) over this period. At the end of June 2023, there were 13 appeals lodged at VCAT that had not yet been determined. This is one less that at the end of June 2022.
The Minister for Planning also approved Brimbank Planning Scheme Amendment C237 to extend interim heritage controls that apply to the Grand Junction Estate and Matthews Hill Precinct until 31 May 2024.
Planning Compliance Activity Report – 1 April to 30 June 2023
This report showed:
- Council’s Planning Compliance Unit received 120 new requests for service between 1 April and 30 June 2023.
- The number of requests received was higher than the previous quarter when 107 requests were received.
- 108 requests were resolved by Officers during the quarter.
- The most common requests received related to contravention of planning permit conditions, which accounted for 29 per cent of the total requests
- Display of signage without a planning permit (23 per cent) and home-based business (13 per cent) were the next most common requests received.
- Council issued 40 Planning Infringement Notices during this period. These related to:
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- Buildings and works without a valid planning permit
- Failure to comply with planning permit conditions
- Use of the land without a valid planning permit
- Use of a residential property as a brothel
- Use of a commercial property as a brothel
- Erection and display of real estate signage in breach of the Planning Scheme.
Heritage Advisory Committee Update
Council received an update on the Heritage Advisory Committee and adopted the revised draft Brimbank Heritage Advisory Committee Terms of Reference (TOR), at the July Council meeting.
Council sought expressions of interest to join the Heritage Advisory Committee over four weeks in 2023. This closed on 27 April 2023, and no applications were received.
The 2022 TOR allows for seven community members in addition to the Council representative, two senior Council officers and the Brimbank Heritage advisor. Under the 2022 TOR there are three community member vacancies for the Brimbank Heritage Advisory Committee. This membership structure impacts on the ability of the Committee to function when there are meeting apologies.
The revised draft Brimbank Heritage Advisory Committee TOR means that the Committee can meet with as little as two community members along with the Council Representative and Brimbank Heritage Advisor.
It was also noted that further recruitment of members to the Brimbank Heritage Advisory Committee will be reported to Council.
Return of Supplementary Valuations 2022/2023
Council adopted the Supplementary Valuations made by the Valuer General’s appointed Valuer, in line with section 13DF of the Valuation of Land Act 1960.
These valuations are completed for rating purposes.
Supplementary valuations are a statutory requirement under the Valuation Act.
The supplementary valuations must be set at market levels attainable as at the last General Valuation, which was 1 January 2022.
Return of General Valuation 2022/2023
Council adopted the return of the General Valuation 2023 for all rateable and non-rateable properties made by the Valuer-General, in line with the Valuation of Land Act 1960 for the purposes of the Local Government Act 2020.
It is a statutory requirement, under the Valuation Act, to conduct an annual General Valuation and the valuations will be used to set the rates for the 2023/24 Financial Year.
Governance Report July 2023
Council considered a summary of recent Governance activity. This included a report on the exercise of delegated authority, Councillor Representatives and delegates reports from committees and records of informal meetings of Councillors.
In addition Council also:
- Endorsed the draft Place Naming Policy, to be released for community consultation and agreed to receive a further report providing a summary of submissions received and a final draft Place Naming Policy for consideration
- Adopted the Privacy and Health Information Policy
- Noted the Minutes of Audit and Risk Committee Meeting No. 135 held on 26 May 2023
- Approved the remuneration increase of Audit and Risk Committee Chair and Independent Members
- Noted and endorsed Council’s Submission to the Infrastructure Investment Program Strategic Review, and noted it had been submitted by officers to the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts. and
- Noted the Submission to the Parliamentary Inquiry into the Regulation of Gambling and Liquor Harm caused by Gambling
Draft Sports Facility Development Plan 2023 Update
Council endorsed the draft Sports Facility Development Plan 2023 for community consultation and invites written submissions.
The draft Plan 2023 provides a comprehensive and up to date account of the sport participation and facility needs of the Brimbank community over the next 10 years.
It explores ways to create quality sport and recreation facilities and aims to give people of all ages, abilities and genders every opportunity to participate in their chosen activities.
Renaming Sydenham Park Update
Council endorsed the proposed consultation process required to rename Sydenham Park.
At a Council Meeting in July 2022, Council considered a Notice of Motion that proposed changing the name of Sydenham Park to an appropriate Aboriginal name suggested by local Aboriginal groups.
Council is working with Wurundjeri Woi-Wurrung Cultural Heritage Aboriginal Corporation and the Victorian Government (Geographic Names Victoria) to understand requirements and establish a compliant consultation strategy.
Later in the year Council will be asked to endorse community engagement regarding the selection of suitable names.
It is expected that consultation methods will include Council’s Your Say platform, Brimbank Community Panel and submissions from the community.
Council consulted with three Melbourne-based Councils in early 2023 to identify best practice approaches and realistic timeframes based on their comparable traditional owner naming activities.
Council’s Place Naming Policy is currently under revision to ensure alignment with updated naming rules set by Geographic Names Victoria in late 2022.
Notices of Motion
At the Council Meeting on 18 July 2023, five Notices of Motion were carried:
- Ongoing funding for Victorian Responsible Gambling Foundation – raised by Cr Virginia Tachos
- Review of Kindergarten Central Registration and Enrolment Policy – raised by Cr Virginia Tachos
- Vietnamese Bilingual Kinder Program in Brimbank – raised by Cr Thuy Dang
- School provision planning in Derrimut – raised by Cr Thomas O’Reilly
- Public meetings – raised by Cr Maria Kerr
