March Council Meeting news bites

Published on 07 March 2022

Northern Grampians Shire Council held its council meeting on Monday, 7 March 2022 in person in the Perry Room in St Arnaud at 12:30pm.

First In-Person Public Question Time

It was wonderful to see the community embrace the opportunity to attend in person and to put forward to Council their questions. Northern Grampians Shire resident Ms Anne Hughes sought clarification on behalf of the Carapooee West community concerning the Wild Horses Festival operating hours, noise levels of the music at night time and the use of lights.

Mr Trenton Fithall Director of Infrastructure responded to Ms Hughes that the festival had undergone a planning assessment which determined that the event organisers had made considerable effort to ensure the event was run in a low impact manner causing minimal disturbance to nearby residents inclusive of offering to pay for alternative accommodation for them during the duration of the festival.  

At the meeting, Council resolved a number of other matters including:

Great Western Future Committee Action Plan and MOU

Council adopted the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between  Council and Great Western Future Committee (GWFC) and endorsed the annual Committee Plan. The MOU is an acknowledgement of the partnership between Council and GWFC and a basis for which all other documents and agreements between the parties can be formed. The Committee Plan will map out annual actions, activities, project leads, key partners, costs and milestones with strategic ties to the Great Western Future Plan 2014-24.

Electrical Line Clearance Management Plan 2022-23

Council adopted the annual Electrical Line Clearance Management Plan as required by the Electricity Safety Act 1998. The key objectives of the Plan are to ensure public safety, protect areas of important vegetation and minimise conflict between council managed trees and electrical lines.

Quarterly Finance Report

Council noted the Financial Report for the second quarter ended 31 December 2021 and noted that the Chief Executive Officer has advised no formal adoption of a budget revision for the current financial year is required.

Outcome of Closed Council Section

Council considered item 14.1 in camera and agreed to extend the contract C8.2019.20 for the provision of quarry products and concrete supplies for the second and final year.

Livestream link:  Northern Grampians Shire Scheduled Council Meeting - 7 March 2022