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GOLDSWORTHY RESERVE NEW PLAYGROUND A large new nature based play space will be built on Goldsworthy Reserve. The City is seeking ideas from the public to help design and create a unique playground
BATTLE WON: Councillor Heather Wellington has won a long legal fight against Surf Coast Shire. 193865 Picture: REBECCA HOSKING
for the community of Corio and Norlane. The playspace will be a sub-regional facility,
Corio Customer Service, Corio Shopping Centre, Corner Bacchus Marsh and Purnell
Cr wins fight on ‘secrecy’
Roads open Monday to Friday between 9.00am and 5.00pm.
By Natalee Kerr
similar size to others like Gateway sanctuary and Kingston Park playgrounds. The main idea behind the playground is nature based play' meaning' using natural play elements and landscape as playground, which includes gardens, trees, hills, open lawn, mud flats, sand, tree houses etc. Help us create this space by completing the survey and please comment on the concept drawings and video. The concept is for discussion purposes. To have your say go to our website www.geelongaustralia.com.au/yoursay or visit our
NOTICE OF AN APPLICATION FOR PLANNING PERMIT The land affected by the application is located at: 35-37 Conran Drive, Ocean Grove The application is for a permit to: Vary the Restriction to Alter the Registered Restrictive Envelope on PS348656C. The applicant for the permit is: Smith Land Surveyors Pty Ltd The application reference number is: PP-825-2019 You may look at the application and any documents that support the application at: • •
The City's website www.geelongaustralia.com.au/advertisedplanning Brougham Street Customer Service, 100 Brougham Street, Geelong Monday to Friday - 8.00am to 5.00pm
The application can be viewed during office hours and is free of charge. Any person who may be affected by the granting of the permit may object or make other submissions to the Responsible Authority. An objection must: •
be sent to the Responsible Authority in writing
•
include the reasons for the objection
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state how the objector would be affected
The responsible authority must make a copy of every objection available at its office for any person to inspect during office hours free of charge until the end of the period during which an application may be made for review of a decision on the application. The Responsible Authority will not decide on the application before Friday 13 December 2019. If you object, the Responsible Authority will advise you of its decision.
HAVE YOUR SAY geelongindy.com.au
Have your say and help us make decisions that reflect the best interests of our diverse community. www.geelongaustralia.com.au/ yoursay
A councillor has won a 14-month battle against Surf Coast Shire to release a “secret” planning document. Heather Wellington is set to air the document after the state’s planning tribunal last week ordered the shire to release it to her. Cr Wellington labelled the ruling a “victory” for transparency and accountability. “I took this stand to expose the current culture of secrecy at Surf Coast Shire and the lengths the shire will go to keep ratepayers in the dark,” she said. The shire spent a “disgraceful amount” of ratepayers’ money on lawyers” during the saga, as Cr Wellington paid “thousands of dollars” for her own legal fees, she said. The document relates to an email regarding a planning permit application for a helicopter landing site at Freshwater Creek. The permit applicant, Timothy Metcalf, sent the email to the shire on the same day council was scheduled to make a decision on the application, the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) heard. The shire previously reported Cr Wellington to the Local Government Inspectorate, alleging her request for two documents relating to the matter was a misuse of her position as a councillor. The inspectorate later cleared her of any wrongdoing for seeking the documents through Freedom of Information (FoI). The Victorian Information Commissioner granted Cr Wellington access to one document, but withheld another because it contained personal information and information provided in confidence. Cr Wellington had access to the second document since April 2018 but refrained from releasing it due to advice from a senior shire officer that it was confidential, VCAT heard. “The shire has tried every trick in the book to keep this document secret,” she said. “They fought tooth and nail at the all-day VCAT hearing in early September, raising a multitude of legal arguments why access to the document should be refused, some of the points patently absurd.” But VCAT rejected the shire's arguments last Wednesday and ordered it release the document to Cr Wellington within 28 days. The shire argued Cr Wellington’s motives for obtaining the information were “not commendable”, but VCAT senior member Jonathan Smithers determined there was “no basis” for the claims. “The implication which seems to arise...is that release of this document might cause angst
MP backs win A state politician has backed councillor Heather Wellington’s fight to publicly air documents regarding a planning decision. Western Victoria MP Bev McArthur supported VCAT’s recent ruling to allow the councillor to release an email sent to Surf Coast Shire about plans for a helicopter site. Mrs McArthur commended Cr Wellington’s “perseverance” against what she described as “considerable hurdles and obstacles”. “Local governments, like all forms of government, should be accountable and transparent,” she said. “Cr Wellington was merely attempting to uphold these principles, yet she was met with intense obfuscation, investigation and antagonism.” Mrs McArthur said Cr Wellington acted in the “best interests of her ratepayers”. “Surf Coast Shire wasted excessive amounts of ratepayers’ money fighting Cr Wellington over the release of documents that naturally should have been publicly available,” she said. “This ratepayer money should have been spent on essential shire services or not spent at all.” between objectors and council planning staff,” he said. “(But) misunderstandings are best dealt with by greater transparency, rather than less. “It would be contrary to the public interest if information relevant to the proper administration of the planning process was withheld.” VCAT previously approved a permit for the use of the helicopter landing site but the “legality” of its construction was yet to be determined, Mr Smithers said. “It may be that there is an unresolved issue in the circumstances here,” he said. “A permit for use has been obtained but the issue of whether a permit for development of the site was required remains unclear.” Surf Coast Shire "recognised" VCAT's decision but declined to detail its reasons for denying Cr Wellington the document or legal costs involved. “Council’s decision not to release the document was consistent with specialist legal advice and a subsequent review by the Information Commissioner," a spokesperson said.
Friday, 29 November, 2019
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