Council Meeting – August 2016

THE general council meeting last night was the last meeting that Michael Johnsen can attend as a Councillor and may be the last meeting for other current Councillors if they are not re-elected by voters on September 10.

Public Participation: Jane Watson, representing Max and Paula Hayne urged Councillors to approve a subdivision development application by her clients and consider the agreement between her client and the opponent of the application, which would gave the opponent at easement for water supply.

Kate Mailer on behalf of Garry Johnson argued the Councillors should ignore the contractual relationship between the applicant and opponent and only base their decision on the planning process.

Cr Johnsen Stands Down: It was the last Council meeting for Cr Michael Johnsen who took the opportunity to thank Council said he had enjoyed himself immensely and praised Mayor Bedggood, “He is an exceptional Mayor, he has the depth and breadth of his skills to lead this community and I sincerely hope he is Mayor again.”

Mayor Bedggood thanked Mr Johnsen and joked that he hoped “that didn’t breach election material standards.”

Subdivision Development: Councillor Kiwa Fisher said he recognised the number of people interested in the audience interested in the agenda item and he was “confident the right decision has been made on this occasion” which was to reject the application for the subdivision. He added that, “ongoing legal issues are properly matters for the court” and he “rejected suggestions in the submission from Jame (Watson) that we were hookwinked and I reject all of that. The reasons we rejected it are all in the paper and to suggest otherwise seems more to do with legal posturing.” The Mayor reinforced Cr Fisher’s comments and said he found some of the comments “unsettling”. The motion to reject the subdivision application was moved.

Animal Vaccinations: A motion to introduce a new fee for vaccinating impounded dogs of $20 was proposed.  Councillor Lee Watts proposed there should be a hardship policy in case it made the total costs of having an animal released from the pound untenable for some owners. The general manager, Waid Crockett, said a policy could be incorporated and placed on public exhibition. The motion was moved.

Little Sprouts: A motion was passed to donated $173 for the hire of the Merriwa School of Arts to the Merriwa Little Sprouts community reading day. Councillor Ron Campbell took the opportunity to thank the Council for supporting the initiative.

Flight Springs Road: Cr Campbell asked when Flight Springs Road was scheduled to be repaired in the Council’s work plan. Alan Fletcher, director of infrastructure for Upper Hunter Shire Council, said it would be in late September to early October.

Aberdeen Cemetery Road: Cr Lorna Driscoll asked when Segenhoe Street near the cemetery would be fixed and Mr Fletcher advised he had visited the site that morning and anticipated it would be done in six weeks.