Lane Cove Council December 2022 Meeting

The Lane Cove Council December 2022 Meeting will be held on Thursday, 8 December 2022.

Listed below are the agenda items for the meeting.

Have Your Say – Be Part of the Process

Residents can write to Councillors on any agenda item or issue. The email address that will reach all Councillors is: [email protected].

Notices of Motion

Notice of Motion – Abolish Nuclear Weapons Cities Appeal   

Councillors Andrew Zbik, Kathy Bryla and David Roenfeldt are moving a motion that Lane Cove Council endorses the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons Cities Appeal, and to endorse the following statement:

“Lane Cove Council is deeply concerned about the grave threat that nuclear weapons pose to communities throughout the world. We firmly believe that our residents have the right to live in a world free from this threat. Any use of nuclear weapons, whether deliberate or accidental, would have catastrophic, far‐reaching and long‐lasting consequences for people and the environment.”

In addition Lane Cove Council

• Write to the Federal Minister of Foreign Affairs and the Federal Attorney General requesting that Australia signs and ratifies the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons by the United Nations in 2017, without delay.
• Confirms that as of the 11th November 2022 Council did not hold any investments in companies or securities issuers that were exposed to the creation of nuclear weapons.
• Council resolves to provide instructions to its investment advisers to not recommended in the future any investments in companies, securities issuers or the like that have an exposure to the creation of nuclear weapons

Notice of Motion – Implementation of Resolution Tracker 

Councillor Merri Southwood is moving a motion that Council investigate the implementation of resolution tracking tools to be incorporated into Council’s website design to provide detail of the stages of implementation of Council Resolutions.

In June 2019 ITC wrote an article about how Lane Cove Council was refusing to make their processes more transparent.  ITC Noted:

“If you’ve tried to follow up on the progress of a Lane Cove Council Resolution, you will know that it’s a frustrating experience.  Lane Cove Council acknowledges that there is no central repository listing Council Resolutions and providing status updates.  There is also no mechanism for searching previous resolutions or recommendations made by Lane Cove Council.   Lane Cove Council also acknowledges that given the wide range of information located on Council’s website, navigation of Council’s website can be challenging.

Lane Cove residents therefore have a challenging website, no mechanism for researching items previously discussed by Lane Cove Council and no mechanism for tracking updates on Lane Cove Council resolutions.  Is this transparency? ”  Read more here.

If Lane Cove Council endorses this motion, a resolution trackeer will provide greater transparency to Lane Cove residents and hopefully, they will be able to search resolutions to see what is outstanding.

Notice of Motion – Lane Cove Home Energy and Water Makeover Program

A proposal that Lane Cove Council investigate the feasibility, potential scope and cost of developing a home energy and water makeover program for Lane Cove.

Notice of Motion – Opposing Bus Privatisation in Lane Cove   

Councillor Rochelle Flood has tabled a motion that expresses concerns about the negative impact of bus privatisation in Lane Cove.

In January this year, Busways took over the region 7 buses (including those servicing Lane Cove). While assurances were given at the time of the take-over, that the outsourcing of the bus routes would not result in diminished services, it has become apparent that services are suffering.

Residents are reporting significant delays and extensive service cancellations, including routes into and from the city – through to Lane Cove West. In September, the NSW Legislative Council Inquiry into the privatisation of bus services, handed down its report. This report found the privatisation of bus services had “created an incentive for private companies to sacrifice the needs of more vulnerable people in order to cut costs”. The privatisation has also resulted in “more limited service delivery, higher costs for passengers and worse pay and conditions for bus drivers.”

Submissions made to the inquiry detail the impact of the privatisation on region 7, including decreased and cancelled services, alongside staffing shortages on buses (resulting from worsening employment conditions following privatisation). Importantly, this committee inquiry handed down a recommendation, calling on the NSW Government to consider reversing the privatisation of contract regions 6, 7, 8, and 9.

Councillor Flood is proposing Lane Cove Council:

1.   Write to the NSW Minister for Transport, David Elliott, and Member for Lane Cove, Anthony Roberts:-

a.   Expressing concerns about the negative impact of bus privatisation in Lane Cove on services for residents; and

b.   Endorsing the recommendation of the Legislative Council Inquiry into bus privatisation, to reverse the privatisation of Sydney metropolitan busses (including region 7).

2.   Establish a reporting mechanism on the council website for local residents to lodge complaints about cancelled and/or significantly delayed bus services in Lane Cove. Collate this information to share with Transport for NSW, the transport minister and other relevant stakeholders.

ITC has been compiling this information and providing it to Busways and Anthony Roberts’s Office but is it time consuming and ITC understands other local councils have been more proactive in relation to Busways cancellation of buses.

Notice of Motion – Car Free Sunday 

Councillors Kathy Bryla; David Roenfeldt and Andrew Zbik are moving a notice of Motion recommending Lane Cove Council research the approach of instigating a car-free day in Lane Cove in September 2023.

Air pollutant emissions from vehicles are a major factor in respiratory illness, cardiovascular disease and even cancer, with poor air quality causing an estimated 3.5 million premature deaths a year worldwide. According to the Climate Council, transport is Australia’s third largest source of greenhouse gas emissions, with cars accounting for around half of the country’s transport emissions. Every year, on the 22nd of September the world marks Car Free Day, to mark the importance of a clean environment. On this day people are encouraged to not drive just by themselves in their cars and instead use public transport, join a carpool, ride a bicycle or walk.

The Notice of Motion is requesting

1.   Lane Cove Council research the approach of instigating car free day in September 2023; and

2.   Council to include in the agenda at the Council Operational and Planning workshop in February 2023.

ITC published an article about Car Free Sundays in 2019 and noted:

“The Lane Cove Sustainably Action Group has mooted a car free Sunday for many years. Car Free Sundays are popular in Europe (particularly in the Netherlands where cycling is a real alternative).

Car Free Sundays have been popular in Europe. While no authority has the power to stop people from using their car, most councils that are involved in car free Sunday actively promote and encourage people to not use their car.”

Like the Lane Cove Rotary Fair (always the second Sunday in October), the areas that would be targeted as Car Free would be Longueville Road and Burns Bay Road.  Local Business would be encouraged to take over the roads. Hunters Hill has a sort of car free day when they use to stage their very popular Hunters Hill Street Feast.”

Read our article here.

Notice of Motion – Car Boot Community Market 

Councillor Kathy Bryla is proposing this Notice of Motion which asks Council to investigate the viability and logistics of holding a quarterly “car boot market” in a Council space.

The aim is for communities to work towards a circular economy, where recycling and waste reduction becomes our normal. These markets encourage communities to sell unwanted goods rather than sending them to landfill or placing the strain on charity organisations who end up sending oversupply to landfill offshore. It is becoming a popular marketplace with communities in Avalon, Narrabeen, Riverwood and Lismore.

Lane Cove Council investigate the viability and logistics of holding a quarterly “car boot market” in a Council space;

2.   Council to add to the agenda to the Council Operational and Planning workshop in February 2023 budget; and

3.   Council to present final report and results to a Council Ordinary Meeting in the first quarter 2023 or as otherwise agreed at the Operational and Planning workshop.

Years ago, there was a car boot sale held in the Lane Cove West Public School Grounds (before the synthetic grass was installed).  It was very popular and given that 56% of Lane Cove residents live in apartments where it is hard to hold garage sales, this is a great idea.

Notice of Motion – Soft Plastic Waste Solution

This Notice of Motion recommends Council investigate a soft plastic recycling program.  Due to the collapse of the Redcycle programme, it is now impossible to recycle soft plastics in Lane Cove.  Read more here.

For a number of years REDCYCLE have been contracted to Coles and Woolworths to provide soft plastic collection until early November. Australia leads the world in plastic use with an average of almost 3000 pieces per person each year (Australian National Data). We must continue to advocate for the illumination of single use plastic but in the meantime since the close of REDCYCLE’s contract with the major supermarkets, find options to save soft plastic waste from landfill. There are smaller recycling programs one of which is Curby (Curbyit.com) which operates in four councils in NSW: Central Coast, Willoughby, Mosman and City of Newcastle. In addition, Hornsby and Albury council have made arrangements for recycling their soft use plastic, Hornsby at a drop off point at The Thornleigh Community Recycling Centre for their residents and Albury in a trial with Halfwaste (https://halvewaste.com.au/ soft-plastic-trial/).

Councillors Kennedy and Bryla are requesting

1.   Council contact Curby to discuss Lane Cove council adopting soft plastic recycling with their program;

2.   Council contact Hornsby and Albury councils to discuss how they have organised soft plastic recycling options for their community;

3.   Council review our soft plastic recycling options as researched in items 1 and 2 above and our single use plastic illumination strategy and place as an item agenda for discussion when updating the 2023/24 Delivery and Operation plan in February next year; and

4.   Council report back to the February 2023 Council Meeting in regard to the findings from items 1 and 2 above.

Notice of Motion – Bushland Trees Illegal Poisoning and Removal

This Notice of Motion aims to address the escalation in the number and severity of bushland trees being killed in Lane Cove.

Since 2019 there has been an escalation in the number and severity of bushland trees being killed by those other than our official arborist approved council means. The impact is leaving large gaps in our natural bushland in certain locations.

One such location is the bushland at Tambourine Bay Reserve. The trees killed by unknown persons since 2019 are: 30 – 40 Pittosporum undulatum (Sweet Pittosporum), 7 Angophora costata (Sydney Red Gum), 2 Ceratopetalum gummiferum (Christmas Bush), 2 Ficus sp. (Fig Tree).

As the council team have informed me, the poisoning of these trees could negatively affect the health of the remaining trees. A concentration of dead trees compromises the structural resilience of the surrounding vegetation which makes the area more vulnerable to damage by storms.

Dead trees do not absorb excess water, nor do they provide effective windbreaks during severe weather. Sudden removal of trees, while providing opportunities for colonising species like the Omalanthus populifolius (Bleeding Heart), could adversely affect the remaining mature trees’ ability to process nutrients and minerals. Forest species have a symbiotic relationship with each other which is sometimes referred to as the ‘Wood Wide Web’. There is a good explanation of this emerging concept from the ABC at https://www.abc.net.au/news/science/ 2022-08-03/trees-and-fungi-how-they-communicate/101276836.

In the past there have also been poisonings in Manns Point, Woodford Bay Reserve, Holloway Reserve and Shell Park. These actions of tree killing are not only destructive and illegal but rob our next generations of the benefits of the nature bushland. Our council team are working hard and tirelessly to try to stop this form of vandalism but are fighting a tough battle. This motion recognises the council teams passionate and dedicated efforts to protect and save the bushland trees.

Councillor Bryla is asking

1. Lane Cove Council write to Kylea Tink, Federal Member for North Sydney, to invite her to walk through the Tambourine Bay Reserve and observe firsthand with our council team the destruction to this area. Subsequently to talk about possible federal action that could be advocated for to address the vandalism and destruction of our native bushland;
2.  Council write to Anthony Roberts, Local State Member, to invite him to walk through the Tambourine Bay Reserve and observe firsthand with our council team the destruction to this area. Subsequently write to Anthony Roberts to ask for state action to raise the fines for tree vandalism and also seek suggestions for further actions that aim to combat the vandalism of our native bushland;
3. Council to raise this concern at NSROC meeting in first quarter 2023; and
4. Council to review what will be needed to raise the profile of this issue at the Council Operational and Planning workshop in February 2023.

Notice of Motion – Operation of St Leonards South LEP Site Consolidation Clause

This Notice of Motion requests for Council to receive a report in relation to Clause 4.6(8) (cb) in the St Leonards South LEP.

Discussion

The St Leonards South Master Plan (SLS Plan) was a re-zoning proposal initiated and managed by Council.

On 20 May 2020 Council voted to adopt amendments to the Lane Cove Local Environmental Plan 2009 (LEP) to implement the SLS Plan.

Incentive Height and Floor Space Ratio (FSR) provisions were specifically included in the LEP to prevent applicants from making application for Clause 4.6 variations in respect of these controls. The incentives also include a requirement to achieve the preferred site consolidation pattern and minimum site area. Despite not being included in the LEP exhibition, the final LEP includes at Clause 4.6 (8)(cb), a provision that does not preclude an applicant from seeking a variation to minimum site area for a development.

The recent Development Application for areas 1,2 and 4, has seen the first use of this clause. It is important that the history of its inclusion, its interaction with the applicable LEP FSR control and how the provision operates in terms of assessment of any Development Application is widely understood.

That Council receive a report in relation to the history of the inclusion of Clause 4.6(8) (cb) in the LEP, its interaction with the LEP FSR and how the provision operates in terms of assessment of any Development Application.

Officer Reports for Determination

2024 Local Government Elections

A proposal that Lane Cove Council enter into an election arrangement by contract for the Electoral Commissioner to administer all elections of the Council with respect to the 2024 Local Government Elections.

Sport and Recreation Facility – December Progress Update

On 29 November 2022, Lane Cove Council lodged a Development Application for the new revised 8-court layout. The Development Application exhibition process commenced on 30 November 2022 and will continue to 13 January 2023.

The proposed development includes the following aspects:

• Demolition and site preparation works;

• Lot consolidation and amalgamation;

• Construction of a two (and part three-storey/mezzanine) multi-purpose sport facility comprising 6,235m2 of GFA apportioned to the following uses:

– 3,215m2 of indoor sports hall;

– 277m2 Bistro (including servery and golf display area);

– 655m2 of multipurpose space shared between 4 rooms; – 118m2 of lounge space and 56m2 of office space;

• Cut, fill, releveling and construction of lower ground parking level with 248 parking spaces, including 6 accessible parking spaces, 10 bicycle parking spaces and 16 motorbike parking spaces;

• Construction of four new outdoor multi-purpose courts (3,665m2 GFA);

• Landscaping works including tree planting.

Mayor Andrew Zbik has noted that the landscaping works include extensive tree planting, which exceeds council’s 2:1 tree replacement commitment. A total of 226 trees are proposed to be planted to compensate for canopy loss (79 trees to be removed) and enhance the biodiversity of the proposed development.

ITC note:  There is an interesting article in The Conversation about Why Saving One Mature Tree is better than planting new ones.  Read more here.

The Development Application will be assessed by The Sydney North Planning Panel.

The development application (DA147/2022) was submitted and is open for your viewing and comments until 13 January, 2023. 

If you would like to comment on the DA your written submission to [email protected] or post to Lane Cove Council, PO Box 20, Lane Cove NSW 1595; quoting DA 147/2022.

Proposed Partial Road Closure – Berry Lane

A proposal that Lane Cove Council commence undertaking Community Consultation and public notification for the partial closure of the southern end of Berry Lane.

Traffic Committee – November 2022

A proposal that Lane Cove Council adopt recommendations from the 2022 November Traffic Committee concerning line marking changes in Victoria St, No Parking on Ralston Street and other signposting changes.

Trial of On-Street Electric Vehicle Chargers

This report aims to inform Lane Cove  Council of LCC’s intention to participate in an Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) funded trial of on-street electric vehicle (EV) chargers.

The rollout of on-street chargers across the LGA will further improve accessibility to charging infrastructure for our residents and visitors alike.

The usage of GreenPower for the trial is also in line with Council’s sustainability objectives and compliments our use of 100% GreenPower and the renewable energy generated from the 438kW of solar installed on our facilities.  It is worth noting, that this local renewable generation is also considerable when compared to that of neighbouring councils such as North Sydney and Willoughby Council, who have a total installed capacity of 499kW and 400kW respectively.

Participation in the trial is at no cost to Council, with Intellihub providing nominal funding to assist with any line marking or parking signage. Parking at trial sites should be limited to 2 hours to provide adequate charge times and turnover.

Council has nominated a total of 13 sites across Lane Cove, Greenwich, St Leonards, and Lane Cove North, 7 of which have been deemed suitable:

1. 1a Phoenix St, Lane Cove
2. 11 Little Street, Lane Cove
3. 180 Longueville Road, Lane Cove
4. 83 Greenwich Road, Greenwich
5. 4 Oxley Street, St Leonards
6. Cnr Oxley and Nicholson Street, St Leonards
7. 20 Mindarie Street, Lane Cove North

Council will be suggesting additional sites for consideration prior to the final approval of sites for inclusion in the trial in early 2023

Blackman Park Skate Park Update

Convic, Lane Cove Council’s consultants, have carried out phase 1, pre-design workshops, of the investigation into the upgrade of the Blackman Park Skate Park.

The second phase, draft concept plans, is currently being prepared and will be ready for community consultation in early 2023.

Lane Cove Aquatic Leisure Centre – Aquatic and Recreation Institute Award and their recent Royal Lifesaving Australia Safety Audit.

Lane Cove Councillors are being asked to resolve to write to Bluefit and congratulate them on winning the 2022 AH Pierce Memorial Facility of the Year Award at the recent Aquatic and Recreation Institute (ARI NSW) awards, which recognises excellence across the NSW aquatic and recreation sector and also congratulate them on the recent Royal Lifesaving Australia Safety Audit result.

Replacement Dog Advisory Committee Member

Lane Cove Councillors are being asked to endorse Tanya Phillips as the community representative from the local veterinary profession.

Delegation of Authority to the General Manager

Lane Cove Council is reviewing the General Manager’s Delegations – this is required to be done within 12 months of a new council term.

Delegation of Authority During Christmas and Ordinary Council Meeting Recess

Review of Council’s Code of Conduct Policy

Schedule of Ordinary Council Meetings for 2023

Thursday 23 February 2023

Thursday 23 March 2023

Thursday 20 April 2023

Thursday 18 May 2023

Thursday 22 June 2023

Thursday 20 July 2023

Thursday 24 August 2023

Thursday 21 September 2023

Thursday 19 October 2023

Thursday 23 November 2023

Thursday 07 December 2023