Agenda of Planning and Consultation Committee Meeting

Planning and Consultation Committee Meeting Agenda 11 March 2025

Nillumbik Shire Council

Agenda of the Planning and Consultation Committee Meeting to be held
Tuesday 11 March 2025 commencing at 7:00 PM.

Members of the public are advised the meeting will be livestreamed and recorded and the livestream recording will be made publicly available on YouTube and Council’s website.

2. Acknowledgement of Country

The Acknowledgement of Country to be read by the Chairperson

Nillumbik Shire Council respectfully acknowledges the Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung people as the Traditional Owners of the Country on which Nillumbik is located, and we value the significance of the Wurundjeri people’s history as essential to the unique character of the shire. We pay tribute to all First Nations People living in Nillumbik, give respect to Elders past, present and future, and extend that respect to all First Nations People.

We respect the enduring strength of the Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung and acknowledge the ongoing impacts of past trauma and injustices from colonial invasion, massacres and genocide committed against First Nations People. We acknowledge that sovereignty was never ceded.

Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung people hold a deep and ongoing connection to this place. We value the distinctive place of our First Nations People in both Nillumbik and Australia’s identity; from their cultural heritage and care of the land and waterways, to their ongoing contributions in many fields including academia, agriculture, art, economics, law, sport and politics.

3. Apologies/Leave of Absence

Committee to note any apologies by Councillors not in attendance and or considers requests for any leave of absence submitted.

4. Declarations of conflict of interest

Committee members and Officers should note that any conflicts of interest should also be disclosed immediately before the relevant item.

Planning and Consultation Committee Agenda 11 March 2025

6. Officers’ reports

PCC.001/25 MAV State Motions

Item: Consultation Matter

Distribution: Public

Manager: Blaga Naumoski, Director Governance, Communications and Community Safety

Author: Megan Medhurst, Acting Manager Communications and Engagement

Summary

The Municipal Association of Victoria (MAV) State Council meets biannually to consider matters of state-wide significance. The deadline for motions to be submitted for consideration is Monday 17 March 2025.

Motions must have state-wide significance or relevance across the Victorian Local Government sector and be related to issues and initiatives that affect the livelihood and wellbeing of the Nillumbik community.

Council’s motions seek support from the MAV to advocate to the State Government to boost investment in youth mental health services, ensuring early intervention and expanded community support. It also calls for dedicated funding to upgrade ageing community facilities and public spaces for accessibility, aligning with disability standards. Additionally, increased funding is needed to improve ageing or inadequate infrastructure, particularly libraries and pools, ensuring equitable access to vital community services.

This report seeks Council endorsement of the proposed motions to be submitted to the MAV State Council.

Recommendation

That Committee (acting under delegation from Council):

1. Resolves to adopt the following four motions to the Municipal Association of Victoria’s State Council Meeting to be held on 16 May 2025:

a) ‘That the MAV calls on the Victorian Government to significantly enhance investment and increase support for youth mental health services, prioritising early intervention, accessible care, and school and community-based mental health programs. Despite existing initiatives, demand continues to outpace capacity, leaving community-based services under-resourced.’

b) ‘That the MAV advocates for the Victorian Government to establish a dedicated funding program aimed at supporting accessibility upgrades to ageing community facilities and open spaces in municipalities like Nillumbik Shire. This program should focus on:

i. Ensuring compliance with the Disability (Access to Premises – Buildings) Standards 2010 and universal design principles, including sensory considerations.

ii. Increasing the number of designated accessible parking spaces.

iii. Developing continuous accessible pathways, especially around community facilities, parks, trails, and public transport hubs.

iv. Enhancing social connection, participation, and mobility for people with disabilities.

v. Fostering more inclusive communities.’

c) ‘That the MAV calls upon the Victorian Government to commit to a review and increased funding for aging or non-existent infrastructure ensuring equitable access to essential community facilities especially libraries and pool across all municipalities.’

2. Resolves to lodge the motions and rationale (Attachment 1) to the Municipal Association of Victoria’s State Council Meeting to be held on 16 May 2025.

Attachments

1.	MAV State Council Nillumbik Shire Council motions May 2025

Discussion

1. The MAV State Council Meeting provides the opportunity for Councils to submit motions on matters of state-wide significance to the Victorian Local Government sector. MAV State Council Meetings are convened twice a year, with this year’s first event being scheduled in May.

2. Council has until midnight on 17 March 2025 to submit motions to the MAV for the
16 May 2025 State Council Meeting. The MAV Strategic Plan 2024-2027 identifies ten priority areas of focus for the next four years:

· Active local democracy

· Connected places

· Health and wellbeing

· Sustainable economy

· Future Gen

· First Peoples local government relations

· Climate and regenerative design

· Diversity, equity and inclusion

· Resilience and recovery

· Intergenerational infrastructure

3. The MAV Rules require motions be of state-wide significance to local government. Motions received and initially assessed as ‘not of state-wide significance’ will be the subject of follow-up communication with the submitting council’s designated representative, then reviewed by the MAV CEO, and finally by the MAV Board, who will determine whether the motion is submitted for State Council consideration. The Board will also determine whether motions received after the due date but prior to the circulation of Business Papers, will be included as ‘late motions’.

4. The resolutions of the MAV State Council Meeting enable issues of significance and strategic importance for the local government sector to be acted upon through a peak organisation. Endorsement at the State Council indicates an issue has state-wide support and strengthens the profile of these issues, which facilitates stronger advocacy with other levels of government.

5. Under the Rules all motions are due to be submitted by no later than midnight on Friday 17 March 2025.

6. The agenda for this meeting will be published on MAV’s website on Wednesday
16 April 2025.

Related Council decisions

7. Council has maintained a consistent commitment to advocating for community priorities by resolving to submit motions to the MAV State Council twice a year, ensuring that key issues receive sector-wide attention and support.

Options

8. Officers are seeking endorsement from Council on the proposed motions that have been identified as having state-wide significance to the sector, and that may influence the future direction of many Councils and their communities including Nillumbik Shire Council.

Council plans and policies

9. This report directly supports the achievement of the Council Plan 2021-2025 strategy:

· We maintain good governance and transparency; clearly defining and communicating the role of Councillors and Council.

· [If you require more one strategy reference – please cut and paste the additional strategy from the Council Plan 2021-2025 – otherwise please delete this line]

Access, Equity and Inclusion

10. Access, equity, and inclusion were key considerations in preparing this report and motions, ensuring that proposed initiatives address community needs, remove barriers, and promote inclusive participation for all residents.

Sustainability implications

11. The motions being considered at State Council cover a range of matters.

12. The motions being proposed in this report relate to issues that have economic, environmental, social and economic sustainability implications.

13. The motions proposed by Council have the potential to achieve worthwhile results for the Nillumbik community and the broader Victorian community.

Community engagement

14. Not applicable.

Innovation and continuous improvement

15. The proposed motions may represent continuous improvement opportunities by pursuing solutions to issues that have been identified as important to local communities across the state.

Collaboration

16. The preparation of these motions involved collaboration across multiple Council teams to ensure they align with community needs and strategic priorities. Input was sought from relevant departments, incorporating expertise in youth services, accessibility, and community infrastructure to strengthen the proposals and advocate effectively for improved funding and support.

Budget considerations

17. There are no budget implications associated with submitting motions to the MAV.

Relevant law

18. Not applicable.

Regional, state and national plans and policies

19. The MAV State Council is an important opportunity for Council to influence actions that support key priorities of the sector that are of state-wide significance.

Conflicts of interest

20. All officers involved in the preparation of this report have made a declaration that they do not have a conflict of interest in the subject matter of this report.

Cr Peter Perkins Ellis Ward (Chairperson Planning Matters)				Cr Kim Cope Sugarloaf Ward
Cr Kelly Joy Edendale Ward				Cr Kate McKay Swipers Gully Ward
Cr Naomi Joiner Bunjil Ward (Deputy Mayor)				Cr John Dumaresq (Mayor) Wingrove Ward
Emma Christensen Acting Manager Governance and Property	Blaga Naumoski Director Governance, Communications and Community Safety	Cr Grant Brooker Blue Lake Ward (Chairperson Consultation Matters)	Carl Cowie Chief Executive Officer

1.	Minutes of the Planning and Consultation Committee Meeting held on Tuesday 13 August 2024
2 .	Minutes of the Extraordinary Planning and Consultation Committee Meeting held on Tuesday 17 December 2024