Friends of Nillumbik asked Council:

Regarding an application for a house on a small block in Watery Gully Rd, Kangaroo Ground, Friends of Nillumbik ask: What are the ‘irregularities’ referred to in relation to this application and why did it not go to the Planning and Building Committee for debate as is usual and instead a decision will be delegated to a Council officer?

The detail is indicated in the report (item 11.103/10) on tonight’s agenda.

Note: This matter was decided by a Council Officer because Ken King and ex Councillor Bo Bendtsen had rashly pre-empted a decision on this matter with injudicious comments in a public forum e.g. a previous Council meeting. The officer made the decision not to grant a permit a decision applauded by residents and Friends of Nillumbik.

Friends of Nillumbik asked Council:

Friends of Nillumbik believe that the Yarra Plenty Regional Library has had its budget of almost $2 million endorsed by Council. However, it will from January 2011 impose a $100 levy on book groups. Surely ratepayers are already paying enough and the fact that there is no levy on such services as ongoing sessions in creative writing, local history, genealogy, digital photography, Feng Shui for the home, and computer classes shows this levy to be unfair and discriminatory.

Please comment.

There was considerable debate about this matter when it was considered by the Library Board. The levy only offsets some of the costs associated with providing materials and support to the book club members. The packs provided to book club members include books specifically purchased for book club member’s use as well as notes prepared by our valuable library staff. As noted in the question, most services and materials provided by the library are free of charge. It should be noted, Council spend nearly $2 million a year on the library’s operating budget. The State Government’s contribution to library services represents only about 15 per cent of the cost of providing the services. Council has to fund the rest as well as provide and maintain the library buildings.

Friends of Nillumbik asked Council:

Friends of Nillumbik note that last year only metal waste from the hard rubbish collection was recycled. We are aware that Council included a flyer about recycling options when advising people about hard waste collection but we wonder how many people observed this and we ask if Council could increase its recycling of hard waste especially e-waste?

Council’s hard waste collection is currently underway and metal recycling and mattress recovery as part of the service. Data on quantities of these will not be available until the completion of the service. Council is also looking at ways in which the range of recycled materials and particularly e-waste can be increased and residents provided with more options for the disposal of these materials. It is also expected that Federal Government legislation will establish a recovery service for e-waste funded from a levy on imports.

This is expected to commence in August 2011.

Friends of Nillumbik asked Council:

Given that Healesville Sanctuary vets regularly see wildlife, particularly young birds, whose bones are completely malformed because of eating an unbalanced diet provided by humans, Friends of Nillumbik would like to see signs at our parks particularly near our lakes asking people not to feed bread to the birds. This is done by other municipalities (Ruffey Lake in Manningham and Ringwood Lake in Maroondah for example)

There are presently some signs provided on Council land within the municipality however if you are aware of specific sites that you feel warrant consideration please contact Council officers.

Note: Friends of Nillumbik have asked the supporter who wished to have this question put to contact the CEO with information.