Friends
of Nillumbik asked Council: Could Nillumbik Shire Council please explain why its planning applications, advertising, appeals and decisions on the Council website is so out of date, and when it intends to update this site for the residents of the Shire and does the Shire still provide up to date information on the advertising of planning applications at all libraries in the Shire? Ransce Salan, General Manager Environment and Planning, responded: A check of the website just prior to the meeting revealed that the information had not been updated since late May 2011 and it will be a priority to update it as soon as possible. Friends of Nillumbik asked Council: It is noted that this Council recognizes climate change and is doing a great deal of work around this issue; however an inconsistency in this approach occurs when residents have to travel (in some instances a significant distance) by vehicle to the Shire offices to view planning applications. Has Council measured whether we are saving more emissions by not sending planning applications to residents, instead of making them drive to obtain them and could Council consider in the future sending applications by email to nearby residents, if requested, to tackle this problem? Ransce Salan, General Manager Environment and Planning, responded: Council has commenced a process to explore opportunities to place plans that it receives on the Council’s website for greater availability to the general public. Electronic lodgement of plans is currently being explored and it is hoped that significant progress will be made in these areas over the next 12 months to assist Council in further improving efficiencies and to address climate change. Friends of Nillumbik asked Council: What are Council's medium and long-term plans for green-waste? Can it be converted into energy, for example as being proposed in Sydney? Mathew Deayton, Acting General Manager Infrastructure Services, responded: Council has recently entered into a new contract through the Metropolitan Waste Management Group that will provide for development of a commercial use of the green waste in the next few years. Friends of Nillumbik asked Council: Supporters are still contacting us regarding e-waste given that this year e-waste of old televisions may reach high levels. How does Council plan to handle the sheer volume of bulky old televisions, as well as processing of the toxic metal components (lead, cadmium, mercury)? Can the valuable metals (silver and gold) be recovered for reuse? Mathew Deayton, Acting General Manager Infrastructure Services, responded: Yesterday the Product Stewardship Bill was passed in both houses of Parliament in Canberra. This bill will provide unprecedented powers to ensure that waste minimisation and recycling of obsolete televisions are mandated on a national basis. Industry efforts to collect and recycle obsolete televisions will now be facilitated through the Product Stewardship Bill which will divert thousands of televisions from landfill every year. Product Stewardship Australia is developing a process for how the service will run and how it will be funded. |