Council Meeting: August 2017

AT last night’s meeting of the Upper Hunter Shire Council the matters which drew most attention included the fate of the Gold Digger’s Arms (see: History May be Bulldozed), the development application by StoneCo for their quarry at Timor and the idea to change Australia Day.

All Councillors were in attendance at the meeting.

Public Participation

The meeting began with an unusual active public participation, with five residents speaking out about the potential destruction of a heritage building the Gold Digger’s Arms.

Bev Atkinson first spoke and questioned how the Council could ignore the strong advice of their independent heritage assessor not to destroy the building based on seven key considerations outlined in their report.

Ms Atkinson also highlighted errors in the report by Studio 2, which was paid for by the development applicant McCallum Inglis, including when the Gold Digger’s Arms was built.

Councillor Campbell asked why it had taken so long to highlight the importance of the building, to which Ms Atkinson explained it was one of several buildings in the Shire which was heritage listed and had previously been flagged as requiring further research and restoration by the Council’s own heritage committee.

Rebel Rossington spoke passionately about the importance of local heritage and questioned if the Council could tear down a heritage building in the middle of what Council had demarcated as heritage conservation area for a new shed, then what building would constitute protection?

Ms Rossington also raised concerns with increased traffic near the childcare centre, including the construction of a new shed which would require cranes and heavy machinery.

Veronica Antcliff also addressed the Council and gave a detailed account of the history of the building, which her research shows was built no later than 1849. (See: Letter: History of the Gold Digger’s Arms.)

Garry Fraser who had lived in the building described the roof of the building which is still in-tact beneath the existing tin roof, including the “beautiful old timbers which are wired together not nailed together like we do now” and implored Council not to allow the building to be torn down for a shed.

Carol Ray who is a member of the Scone and Upper Hunter Historical Society also spoke in support of the building being protected and its importance in local history.

David Casson spoke on behalf of his client StoneCo for their development application for the quarry at Timor.

Mr Casson highlighted the weight of the vehicles using the road would not increase and by allowing trucks with an extra axel to operate out of the quarry it would have less impact on the road because thee weight is more distributed.

Cr Brown asked if the proposed new class of trucks would have to adhere to the school zone restrictions already in place in the area and Mr Casson responded they would be subject to the same restrictions.

MAYORAL MINUTES

Long Service

Two Council employees were recognised for 20 years of service, Garry Brabant and Jeffrey Bush.

Mayor for a Day

The Mayor for a Day 2017 was held and the Mayor noted in jest Cr Watts’ comments that it was good to see a young woman in the chair again, to which Cr Watts’ thanked him for using the descriptor young.

Arts Upper Hunter

A presentation was made by Arts Upper Hunter on their work in the area including the upcoming Upper Hunter Arts Trail weekend on November 18 and 19.

Cr Driscoll commented that she was “glad to see you have the home of the Blue Heeler in there as Aberdeen.”

DEVELOPMENT AND ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES COMMITTEE

The development application by MacCallum Inglis to build a demolish the Gold Digger’s Arms and build a storage shed was deferred at the general Council meeting, pending more information being given to the D&E committee for further consideration. Both Cr Watts and Cr Burns declared a conflict ad did not vote on the deferral. Cr Watts declared she had a close friend who was a resident in the building and Cr Burns declared his father was part of the MacCallum Inglis.

COMMITTEE / DELEGATES REPORT

Cr Abbott said she was disappointed to see Sarah Howey had resigned from the Heritage Advisory Committee noting she had contributed a great deal to the committee and the town. The Mayor was surprised Ms Howey had resigned from the committee.

Cr Watts congratulated the Merriwa Tourism and Promotion Committee on their work and said, “it is great to see things moving in Merriwa, they are making leaps and bounds.” Cr Campbell agreed and said he looks forward to the new mural on the silos being completed

Cr Abbott drew attention to documents not being supplied to the Sustainability ad Advisory Committee, which would be rectified.

DEVELOPMENT REPORTS

Timor Quarry

Cr Fisher put forward amendments for the StoneCo company development application that the trucks are to be class 10, 7 axel vehicles with the weight of 42.5 tonnes.

Cr Watts asked if the amendments would impact any changes to truck operation during school hours, which Council staff advised it would not.

Cr Abbott said she was disappointed Jenny Vaugh had not spoken about her concerns with the development application, but said Ms Vaugh had advised her she “felt it was hopeless in coming.”

Cr Abbott further commented that Ms Vaugh’s sentiment “seems to be happening across the board on other matters as well.”

Cr Abbott also drew attention to the Council papers which stated, “the modification was referred to the NSW Roads and Maritime Services on 7 July 2017. As at that 16 August 2017 (40 days) Council had not received a response and in this regard it is taken that the RMS have no issues with the proposal.”

Cr Abbott questioned if no response could be taken as RMS approval, to which Council staff advised they had on August 17 received feedback from the RMS that they had no objection.

Cr Campbell said he had invited Ms Vaugh and her husband to be part of the community consultative committee for Timor Road.

Cr Abbott voted against the development application of StoneCo and all other Councillors voted in favour.

ENVIRONMENT/HEALTH REPORTS

Flying Fox Camp Management Plans

Cr Abbott said she supported the plan but wanted to stress that Council not consider “decimating the flying foxes as they are important pollinators like the birds and bees. I think the plan is fine, but we must not think about destroying them.”

POLICY MATTERS

Cr Abbott drew several clerical errors to the attention of Council staff in the Council policies, which were rectified.

INFRASTRUCTURE REPORTS

Waive Fees for Cassilis Community Hall

Council fees for Cassilis Community Hall were waived with Cr Campbell commenting on the community spirit during the fires.

RESPONSES TO PREVIOUS QUESTIONS

Cr Abbott noted she had not received a response to her questions relating to concerns about the size of the stalls at the stock yards for handling large cattle and low stress handling techniques for cattle. Council staff said her questions would be addressed in the next Sale Yard committee meeting.

QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE

Australia Day

Cr Abbott asked Council if they would consider their position on the date for Australia Day celebrations:

“When Yarra and Darebin Councils voted not to celebrate Australia Day on the 26th January they did not vote against Australian values. They voted against a date of dispossession and exclusion, a date which in fact does not actually have a long history as a national holiday.

The Assistant Minister for Immigration and Border Protection (the Hon. Alex Hawke), in his urging of other councils not to behave as Yarra and Darebin, is the one who is blocking the necessary debate, essential to a robust democracy. By having this discussion, ordinary Australians are doing what we have always done, and that is questioning the meaning of national symbols and re-evaluating the sort of society we wish to be part of.

We should make our commitment to Indigenous Australians more than just the acknowledgment of country that we do every meeting by starting this discussion today. To the privileged, in fact through the lens of white privilege, equality often feels like oppression. I believe we need to change the date.”

Mayor Bedggood agreed the discussion should be undertaken at a community level and the Council should reflect the sentiments of the community, but that Council should not take an “advocacy” role.

The general manager, Waid Crockett said Cr Abbott should make a notice of motion and the matter could be debated.

Related story: Editorial: Mayeight!!!

ANZAC Day – Aberdeen

Cr Fisher noted Doc Milton, who had been a key organiser in ANZAC Day commemorations in Aberdeen had stepped down and asked Council to send a letter of thanks for his efforts, which was agreed.

Cr Driscoll said Aberdeen will now become a sub-branch.