CCC Meeting 2025-08-18

Clarence City Council Chambers, Bligh Street, 6pm

  1. Acknowledgement of Country
  2. Apologies
  3. Declarations of Interests
  4. Omnibus Items
    1. Confirmation of Minutes
    2. Mayor's Communication
    3. Council Workshops
    4. Tabling of Petitions
    5. Reports from Outside Bodies
      • Reports from Single and Joint Authorities
      • Reports from Council and Special Committees and Other Representative Bodies (Audit Panel, 25 June 2025; Cultural Creative Advisory Committee, 17 July 2025)
    6. Weekly Briefing Reports
  5. Public Question Time
    1. On Notice
      • Thomas Chick
        1. Signage Charles Darwin Trail

          I’m very pleased to see the old Charles Darwin Trail signposts in Waverly Flora Park replaced with sturdier fare. Unfortunately, some weeks later, the new posts are as-yet unadorned. When does Council intend to attach the new signage to the posts?

        2. Format of Online Form

          Is Council aware that the contact forms on their new website use an incorrect (American) phone number format, and does it intend to resolve this issue? (They have since fixed the Questions on Notice form.)

      • Janice Overett – Hard Waste

        In February 2025 Allison Ritchie submitted the survey results of her Hard Waste survey to Clarence Council, which had a high rate of Clarence residents wanting the service restored. (Caution urged re: efficacy claims about surveys posted by individual councillors)

        Many residents (41%) were also in favour of a bookable service.

        Currently, there is no service available and it makes it very hard and expensive to have large items removed, especially for the elderly and families with no trailer or other means of disposing of large unwanted items.

        1. When or (is) Council going to act of the recommendations of the survey?
        2. Will a Hard Waste service be restored?
    2. Previously Taken On Notice
      • Victor Marsh – Environmental and Ecological Reports

        Due to the unacceptable delays in the Department of State Growth’s release of reports to the community and Council in relation to the totally failed high performance training centre proposal in Charles Hand Memorial Park and Rosny Parklands, is the Council now going to pursue this matter by having their own reports done, in particular an ecological assessment of the critically endangered swift parrot habitat with its 177 tagged Tasmanian Blue Gums in these parks and its probable impact on the City Heart Plan?

        Answer: Following Councillor Hulme’s Notice of Motion at the meeting of 26 May 2025, Council has applied under the Right to Information Act 2009 (Tas.) to the Department of State Growth for information relating to the assessment of Rosny Parklands. The RTI response is due to be received from DSG within the coming week.
        In respect to Council obtaining its own reports, Council is aware of sensitive environmental values within Rosny Parklands and will obtain reports if required. Council will assess the need for reports as it progresses City Heart Plan projects, when approved by Council.

    3. Without Notice
  6. Deputations are not listed in the Agenda, largely because they arise as a result of items on it
  7. Planning Authority Matters
    1. 39 Currajong Street, Mornington – Seven classrooms and associated decking, signage, and partial demolition (educational and occasional care): Recommended for Approval
      • Another stage in the ongoing MacKillop Catholic College redevelopment. The school is replacing seven temporary classrooms in three demountable buildings near the corner of Currajong and Boondi with stronger albeit still temporary buildings. An eighth classroom in a fourth demountable is to remain in place.
      • The school plans to install the replacements over two 3-day periods after grades 11 and 12 wrap for the year.
    2. 73 Kaoota Road, Rose Bay – Two lot subdivision: Recommended for Approval
  8. Reports of Officers
    1. Asset Management
      1. Draft Coastal Access Strategy to go to consultation
    2. Governance
      1. Quarterly Report to 30 June 2025
  9. Motions on Notice
    1. Cr Mulder: Clarence Recycled Water Scheme

        That Clarence City Council urges TasWater to complete Stage 3 of the Clarence Reuse Water scheme by constructing a dam in the head waters of the Coal River

      • Mulder: “The stated aim of the Clarence Recycled Water Scheme is to recycle 100% of wastewater by 2050. The first two stages of the scheme require farm-based storage resulting in surplus capacity discharging Class B water into Barilla Rivulet.

        “A headwater dam with environmental treatment, such as the United Nations recognised Wetlands at Werribee in Victoria, would discharge Class A water into the Coal River from where it could be accessed for irrigation and other purposes. Without a headwater dam the current system is incapable of taking surplus water from the western shore that will continue to discharge into the Derwent River.”

      • CEO: “TasWater is responsible for managing the Clarence Recycled Water Scheme.

        “Council is a part owner of TasWater and is a key stakeholder with an interest in understanding how the Scheme is servicing the community and its planned improvements in the future.

        “TasWater is currently undertaking consultation on its next Price and Service Plan submission – PSP5. PSP5 sets, amongst other things, investment priorities for the next four years.

        “Strategically, TasWater indicates that it has made a commitment to increase recycled water to 100% of sewage treatment plant flows by 2050. TasWater advises that it is currently finalising master plans which demonstrate how they will progress towards achieving their corporate goal of a Healthier Environment and Water Forever.”

    2. Cr Ritchie: Future of Bellerive Oval (Ninja Stadium)

        That Council:

      1. Notes Bellerive Oval (currently named Ninja Stadium) has been identified as one of five stadiums that Stadiums Tasmania anticipates assuming responsibility for, subject to successful negotiation.
      2. Authorises the CEO to prepare relevant documentation and advice in order to host Council workshops to enable Councillors to consider matters relevant to the future of Bellerive Oval including, but not limited to:
        1. Obtaining a current valuation of Bellerive Oval by a qualified valuer, based on current market rates and Bellerive Oval’s specific characteristics.
        2. An evaluation of Bellerive Oval’s condition, functionality, and suitability for its current use - to determine if continued ownership is beneficial to Council and the community.
        3. Subject to the outcomes of points (i) and (ii) above, assess the current leasing, ownership and management model for Bellerive Oval against potential requirements, implications, risks or detriments arising from a transfer to Stadiums Tasmania.
        4. Subject to the outcomes and findings of points (i), (ii) and (iii) above, assess Bellerive Oval's value to current tenants, facility users and the broader community, including ongoing access and usage requirements and any matters of historical, social or environmental significance.
        5. Providing a proposal for the conduct of appropriate community consultation to gauge public views and address concerns about any possible ownership transfer (or other arrangement) to Stadiums Tasmania; to assist to inform any future Council decisions.
        6. Assess whether a potential transfer of ownership might impact Council's ability to provide future services, or if it will require replacement infrastructure.
        7. Within the context of the findings arising from the points above, conduct thorough due diligence to identify any potential legal issues or risks associated with any possible transfer (or other arrangement) of ownership.
        8. Identify any revenue potential from a possible ownership transfer and how it could be used to benefit the community and align with the Council's long- term financial plan and strategic objectives.
      • The explanatory notes continue on for about a page, to which the CEO responds with two short paragraphs that I read as essentially, "Woah, slow down just a little there."
  10. Councillors' Question Time
    1. Answers to Previous Questions Without Notice
      • Advertising planning applications on social media is risky, partly because of precedents regarding publisher liability for user comments, and partly because said user comments do not constitute valid representations anyway.
    2. Questions Without Notice
  11. Closed Meeting
    1. Applications for leave of absence
    2. Quotation – Rosny Bowls Club - Design and construct synthetic bowling green
    3. Committee member appointment
    4. Legal matter