That the minutes of the Ordinary Meeting held on 3 February 2021 be confirmed as a true record of that meeting, subject to the following correction of facts:

Information contained in point 4 of the resolution to item CONF 01 Fire and Rescue NSW Referrals (as shown on page 31 of the 24 February 2021 Council Agenda) stated:

“Council note that Council carries out annual inspections of properties”.

This is inaccurate. As outlined in a memo sent to Councillors on 12 February 2021, the true position is as follows:

“Council’s involvement in this process is limited to ensuring that annual fire safety statements are submitted annually, on time and certifies all services in the building”.  

On being put to the meeting the motion was declared CARRIED.

Mayoral Minute

SUBJECT:     Bicentenary Commemoration of Liverpool Pioneers’ Memorial Park

FILE REF:      056583.2021

ITEM:             MAYOR 01

This year marks the 200^th anniversary of Liverpool Pioneers’ Memorial Park.

The Memorial Park is the resting place of more than 13,000 people, with the first recorded burial taking place on 16 April 1821.

Laid to rest are the early pioneers of Liverpool – a community of colonial officials and military personnel, free settlers, convicts, and members of their families including many infants and young children who sadly died early.

The Memorial Park also contains the remains of children from local institutions including the Male Orphan School, Thomas Moore College and hundreds of pauper inmates from the Liverpool Asylum. Service personnel from World War I were also buried there as well as German and Austrian internees who died at the Holsworthy internment camp during the same period.

From 1827 the cemetery was divided into denominational sectors, the closest to Campbell Street being allocated to Anglicans, then a one-acre lot north of that for Roman Catholics in 1846 which was expanded in 1868.

A small sector along Macquarie Street, near Lachlan Lane was set aside for Wesleyans in 1863. In 1884, a small area in the north-east corner of the site, adjacent to the Hume Highway was dedicated for Presbyterians and an extension west of that (adjacent to Northumberland Street) for Catholic paupers’ burials. Non-denominational pauper and asylum inmate burials occurred between those areas and Lachlan lane, in unmarked graves.

Liverpool Pioneers’ Memorial Park closed for burials in 1958 and in October 1970 the Old Liverpool Cemetery Act authorised Liverpool City Council to convert the cemetery into a rest park. I had the honour of re-opening the park in 2010.

As the Council is aware, the ashes of former Mayors have also been interred at the Memorial Park. 

Liverpool Pioneers’ Memorial Park is an important part of Liverpool’s history and its Bicentenary should be commemorated.

RECOMMENDATION

That Council:

1.    Acknowledges the Bicentenary of Liverpool Pioneers’ Memorial Park; and

2.    Hold a civic ceremony in April 2021 to commemorate the Bicentenary of Liverpool Pioneers’ Memorial Park as part of the 2020/2021 Civic Events program.

Motion:                                 Moved: Mayor Waller            Seconded: Clr Rhodes

On being put to the meeting the motion was declared CARRIED.

Councillors voted unanimously for this motion.

COUNCIL DECISION

Motion:                                   Moved: Clr Ayyad                Seconded: Clr Hadid

That Council receive and note this report and the attached Complaints Statistics Report, which has been submitted by the Acting Internal Ombudsman to the Office of Local Government.  

On being put to the meeting the motion was declared CARRIED.

COUNCIL DECISION

Motion:                                   Moved: Clr Ayyad                Seconded: Clr Rhodes

That Council:

1.    Opt-in to the initiative from the Department of Planning, Industry & Environment (DPIE) for a new natural disaster clause to be included in the Liverpool Local Environmental Plan, State Environmental Planning Policy (Sydney Region Growth Centres) and State Environmental Planning Policy (State Significant Precincts) to also include outbuildings on the site of the dwelling or secondary dwelling;

2.   Request DPIE consider applying this clause in suitable zones subject to SEPP (Western Sydney Aerotropolis);

3.   Endorse the zones as outlined in this report to be subject to the opt-in clause; and

4.   Write to Department of Planning, Industry and Environment advising of Council’s decision.

On being put to the meeting the motion was declared CARRIED.

Councillors voted unanimously for this motion.

COUNCIL DECISION

Motion:                                   Moved: Clr Hadid                 Seconded: Clr Ayyad

1.       Endorses the submission on the draft Western Sydney Aerotropolis Precinct Plan and forwards a copy to the NSW Department of Planning, Industry and Environment and the Western Sydney Planning Partnership;

2.    Endorses the submission on the draft Western Sydney Aerotropolis Special Infrastructure Contributions Plan and forwards a copy to the NSW Department of Planning, Industry and Environment;

3.    Endorses the submission on the draft Western Sydney Place Infrastructure Compact and forwards a copy to the Greater Sydney Commission;

4.    Write to the NSW Valuer General and the Department of Planning, Industry and Environment requesting a review of land values used to set local government rates in the Western Sydney Aerotropolis, specifically for those properties that have been zoned Environment and Recreation, or identified for open space in the draft Precinct Plan that have an underlying zoning under SEPP (Western Sydney Aerotropolis) or Mixed Use, Enterprise or Agribusiness;

5.    Inform all Federal and State Members within the zone of Council’s submission and seek their support; and

6.    Request the above members stand up in Parliament and raise the issues included in Council’s submission and thank the Federal Member for Werriwa, Anne Stanley, for standing up in Parliament and supporting our local residents.

On being put to the meeting the motion was declared CARRIED.

Councillors voted unanimously for this motion.

COUNCIL DECISION

Motion:                                   Moved: Clr Rhodes              Seconded: Clr Ayyad

That Council:

1.    Notes the Gateway determination for Liverpool Local Environmental Plan 2008 (Amendment 89) and the results of public exhibition and community consultation; and

2.    Proceeds with Amendment 89 and delegates authority to the CEO (or his delegate) to liaise with the NSW Parliamentary Counsel’s Office and the Department of Planning, Industry and Environment to finalise the amendment.

On being put to the meeting the motion was declared CARRIED.

Councillors voted unanimously for this motion.

COUNCIL DECISION

Motion:                                   Moved: Clr Kaliyanda          Seconded: Clr Shelton

That Council:

1.    Receives and notes the report;

2.    Adopts the revised Draft Miller Social Infrastructure Masterplan;

3.    Commences the development of a staged Implementation Strategy; and

4.    Report back the findings of the Implementation Strategy by June 2021.

On being put to the meeting the motion was declared CARRIED.

Councillors voted unanimously for this motion.

COUNCIL DECISION

Motion:                                   Moved: Clr Hadid                 Seconded: Clr Shelton

That Council notes and receives the Biannual Progress Report which outlines the progress of Principal Activities detailed in the Delivery Program 2017-2022 and Operational Plan 2020-2021.

On being put to the meeting the motion was declared CARRIED.

COUNCIL DECISION

Motion:                                   Moved: Clr Hagarty             Seconded: Clr Kaliyanda

That:

1.    Council approves the identified budget variations in accordance with this report; and

2.    Money raised through parking revenue be put into a parking reserve, as per the Council Resolution of 27 March 2019 which stated:

That Council effective 1 July 2019 direct all revenue raised from parking meters to parking related activities.

On being put to the meeting the motion was declared CARRIED.

Councillors voted unanimously for this motion.

COUNCIL DECISION

Motion:                                   Moved: Clr Shelton             Seconded: Clr Rhodes

That Council receives and notes this report.

On being put to the meeting the motion was declared CARRIED.

COUNCIL DECISION

Motion:                                   Moved: Clr Rhodes              Seconded: Clr Kaliyanda

That Council:

1.      Endorse the five motions to be submitted to the National General Assembly as shown below:

·         Acquisition Scheme

That: 

1.    The National General Assembly request that the Federal Government investigate forward funding acquisition scheme that will enable local governments to provide infrastructure supporting the development of national assets; and

2.    The investigation of a forward funding acquisition scheme also consider funding opportunities through a value capture process or increased funds generated in the existing tax regime due to higher land values and transaction volumes associated with areas of major infrastructure delivery.

·         Community spaces/work hubs

That the National General Assembly calls on the Australian Local Government Association Board to advocate to Federal, State and Territory Governments, and other relevant authorities to develop a framework and establish a fund to support and incentivise cooperation across state and local governments, the private sector and community organisations to deliver better, integrated co-working or shared work hub options for the community.

·         City Deals

That the National General Assembly calls on the Federal Government to recommit to genuine partnership between three levels of Government in the City Deal model, and commit resources to progress stalled negotiations; reconcile real progress against planned outcomes such as in the Western Sydney City Deal; and leverage the learnings from the current City Deals to inform improved and replicable models for future Deals.

·         Pandemic safe Housing and Development

That a national consultation process be held to enable Governments at all levels, the opportunity to re-assess and implement new planning controls that will ensure the delivery of future Pandemic safe Housing and development.

·         Extension of JOB KEEPER for the Visitation Sector of Hospitality

That JOBKEEPER be reinstated for the Visitation Sector of Hospitality until Airports and State Borders are permanently open

2.    Endorse the attendance of Mayor Waller, Councillor Shelton, Councillor Hagarty, Councillor Kaliyanda and Councillor Rhodes at the Conference.

On being put to the meeting the motion was declared CARRIED.

COUNCIL DECISION

Motion:                                   Moved: Clr Hadchiti            Seconded: Clr Rhodes

That:

1.    Council note and endorse the Mayoral Direction dated 9 February 2021 attached to the report;

2.    Council enter into good faith negotiations with the owner of the subject site for the acquisition of the site and report back to Council with the outcomes;

3.    Should negotiations be successful, direct the CEO to prepare an options paper for the future use of the site including the possibility of providing a home for organisations such as, but not limited to, The City of Liverpool District Historical Society and the Australian Air League Moorebank; and

4.    Council apply the above to the property at Atkinson Street, Liverpool that Council recently placed an interim heritage on.

On being put to the meeting the motion was declared CARRIED.

COUNCIL DECISION

Motion:                                   Moved: Clr Ayyad                Seconded: Clr Shelton

That Council:

1.    Receives and notes this report; and

2.   Notes that a draft Integrated Pest Management Policy will be provided in June 2021 following completion of required consultation processes.

On being put to the meeting the motion was declared CARRIED.

COUNCIL DECISION

Motion:                                   Moved: Clr Rhodes              Seconded: Clr Hadid

That Council receives and notes the Minutes of the Liverpool Sports Committee meeting held on 26 November 2020.

On being put to the meeting the motion was declared CARRIED.

COUNCIL DECISION

Motion:                                   Moved: Clr Rhodes              Seconded: Clr Hadid

That Council:

1.    Receives and notes the Minutes of the Community Safety and Crime Prevention Advisory Committee Meeting held on 3 December 2020.

2.    Endorse the recommendations in the Minutes.

On being put to the meeting the motion was declared CARRIED.

COUNCIL DECISION

Motion:                                   Moved: Clr Rhodes              Seconded: Clr Hadid

That Council receives and notes the Minutes of the Liverpool Access Committee Meeting held on 9 December 2020.

On being put to the meeting the motion was declared CARRIED.

COUNCIL DECISION

Motion:                                   Moved: Clr Rhodes              Seconded: Clr Hadid

That Council receives and notes the Minutes of the Aboriginal Consultative Committee Meeting held on 26 November 2020.

On being put to the meeting the motion was declared CARRIED.

COUNCIL DECISION

Motion:                                   Moved: Clr Rhodes              Seconded: Clr Hadid

That Council receives and notes the Minutes of the Liverpool Youth Council Meeting held on 8 December 2020.

On being put to the meeting the motion was declared CARRIED.

COUNCIL DECISION

Motion:                                   Moved: Clr Rhodes             Seconded: Clr Hadid

That Council receives and notes the Minutes of the Environment Advisory Committee Meeting held on 14 December 2020.

On being put to the meeting the motion was declared CARRIED.

Council has invested a lot of time and money working on plans for a fast transit corridor from the CBD through to Fifteenth Avenue.

Please address the following:

1.   What has the cost been to the ratepayer, including staff cost, promotional material, study tours (converting points if used to real dollars) etc?

2.   What stage is this project at?

Response

Background

Council’s vision is for the Fast Transit Corridor to be a high-quality public transport link between Liverpool CBD and the Airport/Aerotropolis.

The corridor consists of the following road links:

·   Liverpool Station along Moore Street to Hoxton Park Road.

·   Hoxton Park Road along the existing Liverpool to Parramatta transit way to Banks Road.

·   Hoxton Park Road, from Banks Road to Cowpasture Road.

·   Fifteenth Avenue, from Cowpasture Road to the Western Sydney Airport and Aerotropolis.

The corridor in its local context is shown below.

Council’s Local Strategic Planning Statement (LSPS) identifies the FAST corridor as a project of strategic significance to Council, and other strategic planning documents including the Liverpool City Centre Public Domain Plan identify the corridor.

The NSW Government, through the Western Sydney Growth Centres State Infrastructure Contribution (SIC) levy, has allocated funding for road upgrades along the following road sections:

·   Hoxton Park Road between the end of the existing Liverpool to Parramatta transit way (at Banks Road) to Cowpasture Road. 

·   Fifteenth Avenue between Cowpasture Road and Devonshire Road.

The Department of Planning, Industry and Environment (DPIE) administers SIC funding.

1.   What has the cost been to the ratepayer, including staff cost, promotional material, study tours (converting points if used to real dollars) etc?

This project is largely a SIC funded project. Council secured $4,845,500.00 in grant funding from DPIE towards the concept and detailed designs for the upgrade of the section of Fifteenth Avenue between Cowpasture Road and Devonshire Road. 

There has been general funds expenditure of $56,214.58 to date which is not claimable expenditure under the SIC funding agreement. In addition, Council utilised accumulated air points for travel which amounted to $21,037.03 (if converted into dollars).

Expenditure Summary

Total project expenditure to date = $2,025,380.34

Grant funding received to date = $2,742,500.00

2.   What stage is the project at?

TfNSW and Council have both received funding under the SIC and design investigations for the upgrade of the above-mentioned road sections is underway.

The status of the two projects are as follows:

TfNSW upgrade of Hoxton Park Road

TfNSW has completed a strategic concept design which involves road widening to provide two dedicated bus lanes along both sides of the existing four-lane road. The design was placed on public exhibition early last year. TfNSW provided a briefing to Councillors on the project.

The main project feature which attracted community submissions was the arrangement to restrict right turn movements into and out of Dorrigo Avenue. Council also raised a concern that the provision of two dedicated bus lanes as a continuation of the existing Liverpool to Parramatta transit lane would be a better arrangement should an upgrade to a mass transit system such as light rail or trackless tram be required in the future.

Council’s Fifteenth Avenue Road Upgrade

Council engaged consultants with the funding provided by DPIE to prepare an optioneering report on the corridor between Liverpool City Centre and the Airport as well as a strategic concept design for the road section between Cowpasture Road and Devonshire Road.

The optioneering report has been completed and is used as an advocacy document for the project. The report has enabled Council to advise DPIE and TfNSW on the need for a coordinated design and implementation strategy for the project’s delivery.

In response, the three agencies have funded the preparation of an Integrated Transport Corridor Plan to ensure a uniform design approach and implementation strategy can be adopted. The plan is expected to be completed in the middle of 2021.

In addition, to fulfill the commitment in the Western Sydney City Deal, TfNSW has engaged consultants to prepare delivery programs for the provision of rapid bus networks from Penrith, Liverpool and Campbelltown to Western Sydney International (Nancy-Bird Walton) Airport before it opens in 2026, and to the Western Sydney Aerotropolis. The report on this is expected to be completed in the middle of 2021. 

Project Advocacy

The advocacy to date has included representations to the Department of Planning, Industry & Environment, Transport for NSW, the Minister for Transport and Roads and meetings with senior DPIE and Transport for NSW representatives. This has enabled Council to highlight the importance of the project to DPIE and TfNSW management and both agencies have agreed to partner with Council to prepare an Integrated Transport Corridor Plan.

Please address the following:

1.   How often are the drainage channels relating to the rural/growth areas mowed/cleaned out?

Response

Drainage channel maintenance in rural and growth areas is monitored and serviced as part of the Council’s Tailout Reactive Program.  On average, depending on the area, the drains are serviced on 6 month and 12 month programs.  In addition, known problem areas are monitored on a more regular basis and headwalls in all areas are cleared daily.

Following unprecedented rain fall events in late January 2020, maintenance work was carried out on drainage channels along Bringelly Road, Fifteenth Avenue, Fourth Avenue, Fourteenth Avenue, Edmondson Avenue and Kelly Street.  

As the LGA continues to expand, the need for regular drainage channel works will increase.  City Presentation is continuously reviewing its service delivery standards to meet community expectations.

At the Council meeting of 3 February 2021, Clr Rhodes asked a follow-up question regarding design of open drainage channels without separate low-flow provisions.

Low-flow drainage systems within drainage channels allow stormwater from normal rain events to be discharged via pipes leaving the channel dry for most of the time and available for other uses e.g. passive recreation. However, due to its long-term detrimental impact on water  quality, ecology and flooding, State Government Agencies over time have discouraged the use of low-flow and hard-engineered drainage systems. Over the last ten years, State Agencies have been encouraging the naturalisation of drainage channels designed to achieve a large number of benefits including:

·     water quality improvement through progressive removal of litter and nutrients;

·     ecological restoration e.g. fish friendly waterways;

·     flood mitigation through better management of water velocity and timing resulting in reduced flood severity;

·     potential urban cooling and associated environmental improvements;

·     creating high quality and accessible public open space; and

·     improving the visual amenity as the appearance of the creek becomes more natural.

It is acknowledged, however, that there are constructed drainage channels across the LGA where not all the above benefits have been realised, with some channels requiring a more intensive maintenance regime to ensure satisfactory performance and amenity. To address the underlying design issues, Council has commissioned  a study to review performance of existing drainage channels and develop best-practice guidelines that achieves a satisfactory balance amongst the above listed attributes and outcomes.

At this stage, the draft Guidelines are anticipated to be completed in April 2021 and will be presented to the Environmental Advisory Committee (EAC) and Council for input.

Water Detention Basins Growth Areas

Please address the following:

1.   What compliance measures are being undertaken to ensure that the above are maintained?

Response

Council’s Development Engineering Team are responsible for managing compliance in relation to temporary water detention basins. Compliance action is only carried out in response to any complaints received by members of the community, or at times when development engineers observe maintenance issues upon regular physical inspections nearby.

The owner of the land (developer) is responsible for the ongoing maintenance of the onsite detention basins (OSD) at their own expense via  Section 88(F) of the Conveyancing Act 1919, as restrictions are placed on the land title for the ongoing maintenance of the basins. In the event the registered owner fails to comply with the terms of any written notice issued by Council to comply with their maintenance obligations, Council or its authorised agents may enter the land and undertake maintenance works and Council may recover associated costs from the registered proprietor.

At the Council meeting of 3 February 2021, Clr Rhodes asked a follow-up question relating to the maintenance of the water detention basins, and the production of a calendar of the maintenance for all Council parks which would include Council detention basins. Clr Rhodes asked for an update on that calendar and when it’s planned to be available on the Council website.

The maintenance of the water detention basins is on a regular 12 week service program, completed by Team Cecil Hills.   The parks maintenance programs were developed over 18 months ago and our Parks Team is about to undertake a review of all maintenance programs for our Parks and Open Spaces.  Once the programs are finalised and commissioned they will be made available on the Council website.

Developer Road Construction Growth Areas

Please address the following:

1.   What is the process of ensuring that the above are built to the correct standards?

Response

The process for ensuring that road infrastructure is constructed to the correct standards is based on the following two main objectives:

1.   Design Compliance

At this stage Council checks civil engineering drawings for compliance with relevant Australian Civil Engineering Standards. This applies to:

·    stormwater drainage

·    pavement design

·    carriageway width

·    services provision

·    earthworks

·    traffic management facilities

·    any other civil infrastructure required by the DA.

2.   Construction compliance

Council carries out critical stage compliance inspections of the works as they are being undertaken. Council also requires independent testing of works by consultant specialists (supplied by the Developer) to double check road pavements and drainage structures, for compliance with design standards.

Materials testing certificates from an accredited NATA laboratory are also requested, to ensure materials used in road and drainage construction comply with construction standards.

Materials compliance certificates and other test results are submitted to the satisfaction of council, prior to a subdivision certificate being released.

Council collects a 12-month maintenance bond to ensure the works are constructed as designed.  If at the end of the maintenance period, no major faults are evident within the road and drainage system, the bond is refunded.

Kerb Gutter and Roads Fronting Council Owned Land Growth Areas

Please address the following:

1.   What program is in place to ensure that Council constructs the above once a development and half roads are built opposite Council owned land?

Response

When considering subdivision of land opposite Council owned land, Council’s Land Development Engineers will typically request that the developer constructs the road, pavement, kerb and gutter along the frontage of Council owned land. This arrangement benefits both the developer and council, in that the developer will use the services of the contractor who is already onsite carrying out the half road along the developer’s property. In return, the developer receives a credit for developer contributions via a Works-In-Kind Agreement executed between Council and the Developer.

There are times where Council’s Land Development Engineers do not negotiate the construction of the half road fronting Council land due to existing projects or a master planning exercise (commissioned by council) seeking to redevelop council’s land e.g. significant sporting reserve/precinct. These redevelopments can sometimes change the design of the frontage of the property due to upgrades required or the provision of indented parking bays.

Council will undertake a review to identify any council owned land where the surrounding sites have been developed and the frontage road needs to be upgraded. These sites can be included on council’s works program and completed using developer contributions funding.

Please address the following:

1.   Given the Liverpool Pioneers' Memorial Park has its bi-centenary and turns two hundred this year please advise whether any commemoration plans or other form of recognition for this milestone are proposed.

 A response to this Question with Notice was to be provided in the 31 March 2021 Council Agenda, however it was dealt with earlier at this meeting during the Mayoral Minute item.   

Please address the following:

1.   Has the board walk which formed part of the developers VPA at the Paper Mill been approved for construction?

A response to this Question with Notice will be provided in the 31 March, 2021 Council Meeting Business paper.

Please address the following:

1.   Council was to introduce Service Level Agreements between departments. Has this been implemented?

A response to this Question with Notice will be provided in the 31 March, 2021 Council Meeting Business paper.

Please address the following:

1.   Council is undertaking a city-wide heritage review.  My understanding is staff have identified sites that will form part of this review.  If these sites are privately owned have the owners been notified that their property will be reviewed or will the first they know of it be when the report is presented to Council?

A response to this Question with Notice will be provided in the 31 March, 2021 Council Meeting Business paper.

Please address the following:

1.       Council allocated approximately $3m to the City Presentation team for the purchase of new equipment.  What machinery was purchased and how was this determined?

A response to this Question with Notice will be provided in the 31 March, 2021 Council Meeting Business paper.

Please address the following:

1.       What is the wait time as at 15 February, 2021 for a household clean up service (waste pick up)?

A response to this Question with Notice will be provided in the 31 March, 2021 Council Meeting Business paper.

Please address the following:

1.    Who is responsible for the dangerous one lane bridge on Sixth Avenue, Austral close to the intersection of Thirtieth Avenue?

A response to this Question with Notice will be provided in the 31 March, 2021 Council Meeting Business paper.

Please address the following:

1.   Twenty Sixth Ave Austral is in desperate need of resurfacing.  Is it on the program of works?

A response to this Question with Notice will be provided in the 31 March, 2021 Council Meeting Business paper.

Please address the following:

1.    Parts of Edmondson Avenue, Austral have been resurfaced.  Are there any plans to finish off the Bringelly Road end?

A response to this Question with Notice will be provided in the 31 March, 2021 Council Meeting Business paper.

Please address the following:

1.    Is there anything that stops Council from considering adding extra road lanes on Greenway Drive West Hoxton (East bound) between Cowpasture Road and Wyattville Drive?

A response to this Question with Notice will be provided in the 31 March, 2021 Council Meeting Business paper.

Please address the following:

1.    When was the last time a drive through was done to inspect the quality of roads in the rural area?

A response to this Question with Notice will be provided in the 31 March, 2021 Council Meeting Business paper.

Please address the following:

1.   Do all Council owned/managed properties have an up to date Annual Fire Safety Statement (AFSS)?

A response to this Question with Notice will be provided in the 31 March, 2021 Council Meeting Business paper.

BACKGROUND

For the last 11 years, over the St Patricks Day Period (17 March), Tourism Ireland has worked with friends of Ireland all over the globe to turn the world green. In a gesture of support for the 70+ million people around the world who claim links to the island of Ireland and to mark St Patrick’s Day, hundreds of iconic landmarks and sites in over 50 countries will again go green in March. This is helping to bring some positivity and hope at a challenging time for all.

In 2020, a number of Australian sites joined the ‘Global Greening Project’ – including the State Library of New South Wales and Town Hall in Sydney and Flinders Street Railway Station in Melbourne.

The inclusion of a Liverpool icon would be an opportunity to raise the city’s profile with Irish and international audiences and encourage new connections with Ireland. Liverpool is home to over 7,500 residents who identify with Irish heritage or ancestry.

Furthermore, Liverpool City Council is building its relationship with the Consulate General of Ireland in Sydney, by hosting an annual event at Casula Powerhouse to celebrate St Brigid’s Day in February. This event celebrates Irish heritage through spoken word and music.

NOTICE OF MOTION (Submitted by Clr Hadid)

That Council:

1.    Investigate the possibility of including a landmark – Macquarie Mall – in the Global Greening Project for 2021; and

2.    Change the colour of the lights in Macquarie Mall to green on St Patricks Day, 17 March and use the Macquarie Mall Urban Screen to highlight the Global Greening Project during the St Patrick’s Day Period.

COUNCIL DECISION

Motion:                                   Moved: Clr Hadid                 Seconded: Clr Ayyad

That Council:

1.    Investigate the possibility of including a landmark – Macquarie Mall – in the Global Greening Project for 2021; and

2.    Change the colour of the lights in Macquarie Mall to green on St Patricks Day, 17 March and use the Macquarie Mall Urban Screen to highlight the Global Greening Project during the St Patrick’s Day Period.

On being put to the meeting the motion was declared CARRIED.

Councillors voted unanimously for this motion.

BACKGROUND

The Australian Air League is a youth organisation for boys and girls aged from 8 years which encourages an interest in aviation as a career or as a hobby for the youth of Australia.

The organisation is entirely self-funding and is staffed by volunteers who give their time generously to achieve its goals. The Australian Air League has no political, racial or religious connections.

The aims and objectives of the Australian Air League include:

·       To promote and encourage the development of Aviation in the Youth of Australia

·       To promote good citizenship

·       To promote ingenuity and resourcefulness of its members

·       To develop the physical and mental abilities of its members

The Australian Air League first established the City of Liverpool Squadron in February 1961 and would meet at the Memorial School of Arts, and later at the Liverpool Public School every Tuesday Night with a weekly fee of 1 shilling.

A provisional charter for the Moorebank Squadron was issued on the 29^th April 1998.

The Moorebank Squadron has represented at various Civic events, both inside and outside the Liverpool LGA where they have assisted in the promotion of Liverpool by their outstanding performances

In 2019 the Moorebank squadron participated in the League's Annual NSW Group Ceremonial Parade when cadets honour the fallen at the Martin Place Cenotaph before marching through the Sydney CBD and finishing the afternoon with a ceremony at Pyrmont Bay Park.

The squadron at that event took out the Most Outstanding Squadron of the Year title for the third year running.

Other achievements at that event included the squadron placing in several categories, including second in Best Flag Party on the March and second in Best Drum Major.

A Moorebank Squadron leading cadet was also awarded a flying scholarship from the Royal Australian Air Force Association to continue his flying training at the league's flight centre at Camden Airport.

On December 11 2020 they held their End of Year Presentation Night at the Casula Powerhouse that was attended by many, Federal State and Local Government members, all who spoke so highly of the Squadron acknowledging that it was what might be described as an incubator for leaders in the community and good corporate citizens, who will serve Liverpool well into the future.

The Diamond Jubilee of the Australian Air League arriving in the Greater Liverpool and South-West Sydney area is certainly deserving of Liverpool Council’s support particularly as we are the Home of Australia’s newest International Airport which will provide future local career opportunities for Liverpool’s youth.

I urge all Councillors to endorse this motion.

NOTICE OF MOTION (Submitted by Clr Rhodes)

That Council:

1.    Congratulate the Australian Air League Moorebank Squadron on their 60^th Year Anniversary of active service to the Liverpool and the South West Sydney Area;

2.    Support the celebration of their 60^th Year Anniversary in any means possible, including delegating to the CEO the ability to provide support (staffing etc);

3.    Provide $20,000 for the Commemoration event that they plan for Sunday 18^th July 2021 so that Liverpool City and its residents can participate in celebrating and acknowledging their achievements with them; and

4.    Investigate the opportunity for the Australian Air League Moorebank Squadron to be granted the Keys to the City as part of the Commemoration event.

COUNCIL DECISION

Motion:                                   Moved: Clr Rhodes              Seconded: Clr Hadchiti

That Council:

1.    Congratulate the Australian Air League Moorebank Squadron on their 60^th Year Anniversary of active service to the Liverpool and the South West Sydney Area;

2.    Support the celebration of their 60^th Year Anniversary in any means possible, including delegating to the CEO the ability to provide support (staffing etc);

3.    Provide the funds of $20,000 from funds which were previously budgeted for the New Zealand business event and redirect the $20,000 to the Commemoration event that they plan for Sunday 18^th July 2021, so that Liverpool City and its residents can participate in celebrating and acknowledging their achievements with them; and

4.    Investigate the opportunity for the Australian Air League Moorebank Squadron to be granted the Keys to the City as part of the Commemoration event.

On being put to the meeting the motion was declared CARRIED.

BACKGROUND

The Climate Council of Australia states as follows:

2020 was the second hottest year on record, cementing the last decade as the hottest on record globally, as climate change continues to accelerate.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has confirmed global average temperature for 2020 was +0.98C above the 20^th century average, and only 0.02C shy of the previous record set in 2016.

It’s remarkable that despite La Nina conditions, 2020 was the second hottest year on record’, said Climate Council expert Professor Will Steffen.

‘What it’s telling us is that climate change is driving very rapid warming trends and worsening the impacts of natural variability events.  This sets off yet another alarm bell to the climate change siren’, he said

Fast Facts:

-     2020 was the second hottest year globally on record – despite a cooling La Nina, whereas 2016, the hottest on record, began with a strong warming El Nino event.

-     The past decade (2011-2020) was the hottest on record (+0.82C above the 20^th century average).  This surpassed the previous decade record (2001-2010) of +0.62C.

-     The global annual temperature has increased at an average rate of 0.08C per decade since 1880 and over twice that rate (0.18C) since 1981.

-     The past seven years in the 1880-2020 record have been the hottest seven on record.

-     The 10 hottest years on record have occurred since 2005.

-     2020 marks the 44^th consecutive year (since 1977) with global land and ocean temperatures above the 20^th century average.

-     The 2020 Northern Hemisphere land and ocean surface temperature was the highest in the 141-year record at +1.28C above average.

-     2020 was the hottest year on record for Europe and Asia.

Campaigns for actions in relation to climate change have focussed on the younger generations, who have the most at stake, and local government because it is easier to find local governments who promote themselves as innovators and early and nimble movers than other levels of government and of course local government is the tier of government closest to and most likely to reflect, on a ground up basis, the wishes of the communities they represent.

The City of Darebin in Melbourne’s north was the first local government globally to declare a climate emergency (on 5 December 2016). This was followed by Hoboken in New Jersey and Berkley in California. Notable further other local government units in Australia to initially take action in this context include the City of Yarra, City of Sydney, City of Banyule and Bass Coast Shire.  Mosman Council has been preparing a Climate Strategy and Action Plan, and since 2012 the City of Yarra has been the first council in Victoria to be accredited as carbon neutral.  By July 2020 over 1,755 local government jurisdictions, across thirty countries, had declared a climate emergency, 96 of which were in Australia, representing eight million Australians.

This motion does not however call for the declaration of a climate emergency for the Liverpool Local Government Area not withstanding this region has hardly been exempt from the accelerating effects of climate change, particularly within recent memory, and many would easily consider as much to be entirely justifiable.  The reality is, and despite the overwhelming evidence previously referred to, such a motion is unlikely to be politically supported.

Instead, the motion seeks to gather together what other councils have undertaken in this space together with various policy goals of this Council to form a cohesive Climate Action Plan for Liverpool City Council which in due course will become an overarching policy document which informs a number of piecemeal statements already in existence.

NOTICE OF MOTION (Submitted by Clr Shelton)

That Council:

1.   That this Council moves towards the creation of an evolving, overarching centralised policy document styled in terms of a Climate Action Plan:

-     which draws together existing programs of this or other councils relating to: the promotion of WSUD principles; minimum tree canopy in urban developments to prevent heat sinking effects; the promotion of solar and other forms of renewal energy for private development and government buildings; the reduction of emissions from the Council fleet and equipment, and any public transport services council provides or sponsors, ensuring energy efficient building standards, ensuring energy efficient public lighting, improving infrastructure for walking and cycling; the promotion of recycling; the protection of vulnerable flora and fauna; and the general embedding of climate resilience into council strategies, and such other matters as may from time to time in the future be relevant for inclusion.

2.   This Council sets ambitious but realistic explicit goals in terms of measuring and attaining carbon neutral status for its own operations, with the intention such goals will in due course be expressed in the aforesaid Climate Action Plan.

3.   A new stream be added to Council’s grants program for Community Led Climate Action Projects.

4.   This Council wherever possible advocates in terms of the contents of this motion and supports other councils and/or local government units who have taken positive action on climate change, and further supports and joins various coalitions, networks and conferences created (or supported) by local governments addressing the issue of climate change.

5.   Advocate for state and federal governments to adopt climate targets and actions including net zero emission targets that are, at least, consistent with international standards.

COUNCIL DECISION

Motion:                                   Moved: Clr Shelton              Seconded: Clr Kaliyanda

1.    That this Council moves towards the creation of an evolving, overarching centralised policy document styled in terms of a Climate Action Plan:

-      which draws together existing programs of this or other councils relating to: the promotion of WSUD principles; minimum tree canopy in urban developments to prevent heat sinking effects; the promotion of solar and other forms of renewal energy for private development and government buildings; the reduction of emissions from the Council fleet and equipment, and any public transport services council provides or sponsors, ensuring energy efficient building standards, ensuring energy efficient public lighting, improving infrastructure for walking and cycling; the promotion of recycling; the protection of vulnerable flora and fauna; and the general embedding of climate resilience into council strategies, and such other matters as may from time to time in the future be relevant for inclusion.

2.    This Council sets ambitious but realistic explicit goals in terms of measuring and attaining carbon neutral status for its own operations, with the intention such goals will in due course be expressed in the aforesaid Climate Action Plan.

3.    A new stream be added to Council’s grants program for Community Led Climate Action Projects and funded from Government grants.

4.    This Council wherever possible advocates in terms of the contents of this motion and supports other councils and/or local government units who have taken positive action on climate change, and further supports and joins various coalitions, networks and conferences created (or supported) by local governments addressing the issue of climate change.

5.    Advocate for state and federal governments to adopt climate targets and actions including net zero emission targets that are, at least, consistent with international standards.

6.    That Council notes that a Workshop with Councillors will be held in May 2021 and that Council look at setting timeframes at that workshop.

On being put to the meeting the motion was declared CARRIED.

Clr Hadchiti  asked that his name be recorded as having voted against the motion. 

BACKGROUND

Earlier this month, the State Government announced a funding package for hardship grants of up to $5000 for businesses on the Northern Beaches following the recent Avalon COVID-19 outbreak. Funds will also be set aside to promote the Northern Beaches and encourage tourism back to the area.

During the height of the Northern Beaches outbreak, the Premier, Ministers and the media regularly made comparisons between the Northern Beaches outbreak and the outbreak in the Liverpool LGA from July last year. Despite this, there has been no comparable offer of support for Liverpool's businesses, even as many of them still struggle to recover.

The Prime Minister has said "We are all in this together" when it comes to the COVID-19 pandemic. If this is the case, then Liverpool's businesses should be offered the same opportunities as those on the Northern Beaches.

NOTICE OF MOTION (Submitted by Clr Hagarty)

That Council:

1.   establish a public awareness campaign and petition calling on the State Government to provide the same business resilience support to Liverpool and Liverpool's businesses that has been provided to the Northern Beaches.

2.   write to all local businesses in Liverpool:

o  informing them about the campaign and petition; and

o  requesting their support and signing of the petition.

3.   promote the campaign and petition including through Council's social media channels.

4.   write to local State and Federal MPs requesting their support of the campaign and signing of the petition.

5.   write to the State Government:

o  informing them about the campaign and petition; and

o  requesting Liverpool and Liverpool's businesses be offered the same support as those in the Northern Beaches, including business grants and funding to encourage our tourism economy.

COUNCIL DECISION

Motion:                                   Moved: Clr Hagarty             Seconded: Clr Kaliyanda

That Council:

1.    Establish a public awareness campaign utilising technology and a petition consisting of local businesses calling on the State Government to provide the same business resilience support to Liverpool and Liverpool's businesses that has been provided to the Northern Beaches;

2.    Promote all available funding provided by the Federal and State Government including Dine and Discover NSW vouchers; and

3.    Inform all local State and Federal Members of Parliament of the actions of Council.

On being put to the meeting the motion was declared CARRIED.

BACKGROUND

The residents of the Mulgoa Valley and Wallacia have been fighting a series of development applications against cemeteries and crematoriums in their community. They do not oppose cemeteries and crematoria, they do however, oppose the amount and scale of some of those being proposed.

In August 2017, Penrith City Council submitted a planning proposal seeking to amend their LEP to prohibit cemeteries and crematoriums within the Mulgoa Valley and Wallacia. With parts of this region falling within the Liverpool City and the Wollondilly Shire Councils, a moratorium will only be effective with all three Councils on board. Evidence of this can be seen in a recent development application, DA-1059/2020. This application seeks to turn prime agricultural and heavily flood prone land on the banks of the Nepean River into a cemetery for 775,000 burials.

Penrith's planning proposal states:

The Mulgoa Valley and Wallacia contains significant rural landscape, including agricultural qualities, cultural heritage values, scenic values and is the setting for the villages of Mulgoa and Wallacia. The establishment of cemeteries and crematoriums in this area has the potential to irreparably damage these qualities.

Let's preserve these important qualities while we still have the chance.

NOTICE OF MOTION (Submitted by Clr Hagarty)

That Council:

1.   Direct the CEO to bring to the April Council Meeting a planning proposal similar to that of Penrith City Council seeking to amend our LEP prohibiting cemeteries and crematoriums within Wallacia;

2.   Write to Wollondilly Council informing them of Penrith's planning proposal and Liverpool's proposed amendment and requesting the same; and

3.   Notes its opposition to DA-1059/2020, a proposal for the construction of a cemetery at 1290 Greendale Road, Wallacia, housing 775,000 burials.

COUNCIL DECISION

Motion:                                   Moved: Clr Hagarty             Seconded: Clr Hadchiti

That Council:

1.   Direct the CEO to bring to the April Council Meeting a planning proposal similar to that of Penrith City Council seeking to amend our LEP prohibiting cemeteries and crematoriums within Wallacia;

2.   Write to Wollondilly Council informing them of Penrith's planning proposal and Liverpool's proposed amendment and requesting the same; and

3.   Notes its opposition to DA-1059/2020, a proposal for the construction of a cemetery at 1290 Greendale Road, Wallacia, housing 775,000 burials.

On being put to the meeting the motion was declared CARRIED.

BACKGROUND

In 2019/2020, Liverpool Council identified that up to 48% of the red-lidded waste bins were filled with food material, or 24,860.75 tonnes. This is in addition to 16,736.69 tonnes of organic garden waste collected through the Council’s kerbside garden waste bin.

Recently, a report commissioned by Sustainability Victoria on strategies to reduce food waste identified that a lot of this food waste is unnecessary. Furthermore, the NSW EPA also identifies that wasting food also costs the community a lot of money – billions of dollars per year – as well as energy, water and other resources needed to produce food. However, one in five Australians does not have adequate access to food.

Although the Australian Government has introduced a target to halve our food waste by 2030, the NSW Government has not.

Governments, especially local governments, can play a role in reducing food waste by:

-      Supporting and educating businesses and households to reduce food waste

-      Using policy and regulatory levers to support reducing food waste

-      Monitor and report on food waste

-      Connect supply chains and sectors by fostering an environment of innovation and collaboration to reduce food waste.

Local government also has a key role to play in connecting businesses, community organisations and households.

NOTICE OF MOTION (Submitted by Clr Kaliydanda)

That Council:

1.   Provide a report on the nature of food and organic waste in Liverpool, by the June meeting of Council. The report should include:

-     The impact of the volume of Liverpool’s food and organic waste in terms of energy and water wastage.

-     The economic cost of food and organic waste in Liverpool.

-     The cost and feasibility of introducing measures such as: a community education program, specific bins for food waste.

-     Explore the feasibility of other strategies to reduce the level of food and organic waste generated in Liverpool.

2.   Identify funding opportunities and other resources to support measures to reduce Liverpool’s food waste.

3.   Write to the NSW Government to undertake a similar review to identify where and how food waste can be reduced across NSW, with a view to introducing a target or goal to halve our food and organic waste by 2030.

COUNCIL DECISION

Motion:                                   Moved: Clr Kaliyanda          Seconded: Clr Hadchiti

That Council:

1.   Provide a report on the nature of food and organic waste in Liverpool, by the June meeting of Council. The report should include:

-     The impact of the volume of Liverpool’s food and organic waste in terms of energy and water wastage.

-     The economic cost of food and organic waste in Liverpool.

-     The cost and feasibility of introducing measures such as: a community education program, specific bins for food waste.

-     Explore the feasibility of other strategies to reduce the level of food and organic waste generated in Liverpool.

2.   Identify funding opportunities and other resources to support measures to reduce Liverpool’s food waste.

3.   Write to the NSW Government to undertake a similar review to identify where and how food waste can be reduced across NSW, with a view to introducing a target or goal to halve our food and organic waste by 2030.

4.    Request a presentation from staff on food and organic waste processing in Liverpool.

On being put to the meeting the motion was declared CARRIED.

Mayor Waller advised that Council would now move into Closed Session to deal with:

·         Items CONF 01 - Companion Animals Advisory Committee Membership 2021-2023 and item CONF 02 – Tourism and CBD Committee – New Community Representative are confidential under section 10A(2)(a) of the Local Government Act 1993 because they contain personal matters concerning particular individuals (other than councillors).

·         Item CONF 03 – Question with Notice – Clr Hadchiti – Section 7/11 Contributions is confidential under section 10A(2)(c) of the Local Government Act 1993 because it contains information that would, if disclosed, confer a commercial advantage on a person with whom the Council is conducting (or proposes to conduct) business.

RECESS OF COUNCIL

Mayor Waller called a recess of Council at 8.47pm to allow members of the gallery to leave the Chambers. The meeting resumed at 8.56pm in Closed Session with all Councillors present except Clr Balloot.

During discussion of this item Clr Shelton moved the following motion:

Procedural Motion:              Moved: Clr Shelton              Seconded: Clr Hadchiti

That the motion be put. 

On being put to the meeting the motion was declared CARRIED.

COUNCIL DECISION

Motion:                                   Moved: Clr Kaliyanda          Seconded: Clr Hagarty

That Council:

1.    Endorses the community representatives detailed in this report as members of the Companion Animals Advisory Committee for 2020-2023 term; and

2.    Write to those not successful thanking them for their interest in joining the committee.

On being put to the meeting the motion was declared CARRIED.

Councillors voted unanimously for this motion.

COUNCIL DECISION

Motion:                                   Moved: Clr Hadchiti            Seconded: Clr Rhodes

That Council appoints Adrian N. Lal as an additional community representative to the Tourism and CBD Committee.

On being put to the meeting the motion was declared CARRIED.

Please address the following:

1.   Can a reconciliation be provided individually on Section 7/11 Contributions that include the suburbs of Middleton Grange and Edmondson Park providing:

·    Money collected to date;

·    Money spent to date;

·    Anticipated money yet to be collected;

·    Properties remaining to be acquired;

·    Estimated cost of those properties;

·    Strategy to acquire those properties.

Councillors noted the response provided to the question in Closed Session.

OPEN SESSION

Council moved back into Open Session at 9.40pm, Mayor Waller then read out the resolutions for CONF 01 and CONF 02 which were passed in Closed Session and noted that Councillors were provided with a response in relation to CONF 03 during discussion in Closed Session.