NOTICE OF Council MEETING

PUBLIC SUPPLEMENTARY

AGENDA - A

 

An Ordinary Meeting of City of Parramatta Council will be held in the Cloister Function Rooms, St Patrick's Cathedral, 1 Marist Place, Parramatta on Monday, 21 February 2022 at 6:30pm.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Brett Newman

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Council                                                                       21 February 2022

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

ITEM                                                SUBJECT             PAGE NO

 

 

9        Public Forum

9.1           PUBLIC FORUM 1: Item 13.2 - Planning Proposal, draft Development Control Plan and draft Planning Agreement for 195 Church Street, 65-79 Macquarie Street, 38 and 45 Hunter Street, Parramatta (St John's Anglican Church)......................... 3

9.2           PUBLIC FORUM 2: Item 13.2 - Planning Proposal, draft Development Control Plan and draft Planning Agreement for 195 Church Street, 65-79 Macquarie Street, 38 and 45 Hunter Street, Parramatta (St John's Anglican Church)......................... 5

14      Notices of Motion

14.1          Workforce Diversity................................ 7

15      Questions with Notice

15.1          Questions Taken on Notice from Council Meeting - 7 February 2022................... 10

 

 


Council 21 February 2022                                                                    Item 9.1

PUBLIC FORUM

ITEM NUMBER        9.1

SUBJECT                 PUBLIC FORUM 1: Item 13.2 - Planning Proposal, draft Development Control Plan and draft Planning Agreement for 195 Church Street, 65-79 Macquarie Street, 38 and 45 Hunter Street, Parramatta (St John's Anglican Church)

REFERENCE           RZ/5/2018 - D08422098       

FROM                      Rev Canon Bruce Morrison, St John’s Cathedral

 

Councillors, thank-you for the opportunity to speak. You may find it helpful to have the map on page 80 turned up as I  speak.

You have it within your power this evening, to send this Planning Proposal to exhibition and to meet the timetable set out by the Department of Planning.

Almost 5 years of work has been undertaken by us and by Council. The proposal provides for many hundreds of jobs and real economic benefit for the City of Parramatta. All of this will  come to nothing if you do not approve this proposal this evening. That decision would reverse the previous approval by   Council back in December 2019 where it was passed with a majority of 10 votes to 3.

Sending this proposal to exhibition provides both sides with options. Stopping it from moving ahead this evening provides none.

I will start with what we agree upon. We have an agreed DCP  position. The DCP recognises the evolving nature of Parramatta and the Parish while protecting St John’s Cathedral. The DCP enables a planning pathway for two outcomes; Option A - a development with the St John’s Hall removed and replaced; Option B - a development with the St John’s Hall partially retained.

We appreciate the officers’ comments that we have worked  collaboratively for this outcome.

Turning to the Voluntary Planning Agreement (VPA). We have consistently agreed on the core elements.

I.       A new civic space appropriate to the front door of a  heritage Cathedral,

II.       Public access provided in perpetuity through the site, and

III.       Provision for temporary and permanent vehicular access to 181 Church St., the QLD Arcade.

First, the New Civic Space to the West: This will function as an  extension of Parramatta Square towards Marsden St.

Our original plans had vehicular access from Macquarie St. Transport for NSW had other ideas. Vehicular access into the basement must now come off Hunter St. We are happy to reinstate the through site link from Macquarie St. to Hunter St. as originally proposed. The impact to the square in either option is minimal, and the new square remains an excellent  urban outcome.

Secondly, deed of access through the new civic space. You may not all be aware that the land around the Cathedral, including the lawns, is private property. It is owned by the Anglican Diocese of Sydney. It has been suggested that we have not come to the party in providing public benefit. On the contrary, we have encouraged public access and use of this space since 1953. This has been achieved through a deed  which will expire in less than 20 years.

We are happy to provide certainty of Public Access through the Cathedral grounds in perpetuity, via a Deed of Access. This does not require an easement. Indeed, The Parish of Parramatta has no legal power to provide an easement registered on title. The land is owned by the diocese in trust for the Parish of Parramatta. A change registered on title would require the approval of the Diocesan Synod. Such approval has not happened in 200 years.

We have the opportunity to seize this moment as the next chapter of Parramatta and the Parish is written. It would be a tragedy if in 20 years’ time, when existing arrangements come  to an end, people look back and say that February 2022 was a missed opportunity.

Thirdly, the provision of vehicular access to Queensland arcade. It was actually Council that first approached St. John’s in 2017 regarding this access. We have tried to assist with the provision of access for vehicles to Queensland Arcade. It needs to be born in mind that this is an issue which really has nothing  to do with St. John’s or our development proposal.

Nevertheless, we are prepared to provide 6m from our property, along the railway line, for a permanent vehicular access to Queensland Arcade. We have also agreed to temporary access for Queensland Arcade over our land. This will encumber the use of our land, while Council seeks to resolve a safety issue that has nothing to do with our proposed  development. I reiterate - we will provide temporary vehicular access for third parties across our land. We do however need to put a limit on timing to ensure that this does not permanently encumber our land due to inaction of other parties. Providing access during construction and allowing cars through the new civic space would be untenable for anyone including Council. The permanent access solution will come as part of the redevelopment of 45 Hunter St.

Other matters of landscaping upgrade and maintenance responsibility of the civic space being undertaken by the parish can easily be accommodated as you will note from our correspondence.

Finally, there is a plaque on the wall of the Cathedral which says “To mark the co-operation of the Church and City in giving Beauty and Rest. 15 November 1953”. We sincerely hope to continue that co-operation.

Thank you for your time this evening. We would be happy to   answer any questions.

 

 

STAFF RESPONSE

No staff response provided.

 

 

 

Attachments:

There are no attachments for this report.

 


Council 21 February 2022                                                                    Item 9.2

PUBLIC FORUM

ITEM NUMBER        9.2

SUBJECT                 PUBLIC FORUM 2: Item 13.2 - Planning Proposal, draft Development Control Plan and draft Planning Agreement for 195 Church Street, 65-79 Macquarie Street, 38 and 45 Hunter Street, Parramatta (St John's Anglican Church)

REFERENCE           RZ/5/2018 - D08422153        

FROM                      Cheryl Bates, Chair Parramatta Regional Branch, National    Trust of Australia (NSW)

 

I would like to make a number of comments on this Planning Proposal, draft Development Control Plan and draft Planning Agreement for St John's Cathedral.

First, I do not understand why it is necessary to have such a complicated and confusing set of recommendations for this item. Surely, the Councillors and the community would be better placed to know what is going to happen with this Planning Proposal if Council consideration was deferred until after the deadline in the report of 28 February 2022.

 

Second, my reading of the report suggests that the demolition of the heritage item is being balanced against the provision of additional “public purposes” through a Planning Agreement. At present and the reason for the complicated recommendations is that the applicant has not provided sufficient “public purposes” to justify the demolition of the Parish Hall. In my view, this approach is absurd. The demolition of a heritage item should be based on whether the heritage item still maintains its level of significance and not whether a significant historical feature of the City of Parramatta can be traded off for some street art or some other “public purpose” simply because it is convenient for a developer to do so.

I refer to the comments from the Department of Planning when the matter was referred to them - letter dated 8 September 2020: (page 122 Business Paper):

“There has been no strong evidence provided to allow the proposed removal of St Johns Parish Church Hall from the heritage schedule of Parramatta Local Environment Plan 2011. Inconsistency between the heritage advise presented within the planning proposal introduced enough uncertainty regarding the merit of delisting these items. The merit of conserving the buildings should be assessed through the development application process when there is greater certainty for the built form and options for a variety of development outcomes can be analysed and considered.”

 

It cannot be accepted that the provision of some “public purposes” by the applicant is a meaningful response to this comment from the Department.

 

A further letter dated 8 September 2020 also from the Department states (page 124, Business Paper):

1.     Prior to public exhibition, Council is to amend the planning proposal and supporting documentation as follows:

(b) all references regarding the removal of St John’s Parish Hall as an item of local heritage are to be removed.

 

Third, a “planning agreement “can be entered into to “change an environmental planning instrument” (s 7.4(1)(a) Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 (EPA Act)).  A Planning Agreement is generally used for amendments to development standards such as height and floor space ratio. It is also my understanding that the removal of a heritage item from Schedule 5 of LEP 2011 requires the same process as including a heritage item in Schedule 5. The Parramatta Regional Branch, and many others would certainly respond negatively to any advertising to remove the heritage listing for St John’s Parish Hall. It is simply not good enough to say “delist” a heritage item without the proper heritage consideration being given to its removal from Schedule 5. 

 

Fourth, Section 7.5(1) of the EPA Act requires a planning agreement to be advertised. Recommendation 1 means that the advertising will raise no concerns that would prevent the progression of the Planning Agreement. I would hope that the elected councillors would have some say in the progress of the Planning Agreement based on the community response to the advertising rather than leave that decision to council staff.

 

Fifth, and given that this matter has had sufficient time to reach a final conclusion, the Council should simply accept that no agreement has been reached and that the Planning Proposal should not proceed, as per Recommendation 3.

 

In summary, and in the words of the Department in their letter to Council dated 8 September 2020, “There still remains no strong evidence to allow the removal of St John’s Parish Hall from the heritage schedule of Parramatta Local Environmental Plan”.

 

STAFF RESPONSE

No staff response provided.

 

 

 

Attachments:

There are no attachments for this report.

 


Council 21 February 2022                                                                  Item 14.1

NOTICE OF MOTION

ITEM NUMBER        14.1

SUBJECT                 Workforce Diversity

REFERENCE           F2022/00105 - D08411342

FROM                      Deputy Lord Mayor        

 

MOTION

(a)    That Council note:

i)        The diversity within the City of Parramatta and opportunities for employment.

ii)        The growth and development opportunities in the LGA.

 

(b)    Further, that Council report on:

i)      Current known workforce diversity profile of Council workforce against current diversity profile within the LGA.

ii)     Current Traineeship and Apprenticeship programs and potential future strategies within City of Parramatta.

iii)     Current internship participation and potential opportunities for expansion.

iv)    Opportunities for Traineeship and pathways for employment for people from Indigenous background as well as people with disability.

v)     Options for Local employment targets.

vi)    Options for embedding diversity targets in contracts that council issues.

vii)    Industry benchmark for Local Government areas in diversity profile of staff.

viii)   Employment assistance/opportunities for veterans.

 

BACKGROUND

 

1.     No background information has been provided.

 

Cr Sameer Pandey

 

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, CORPORATE SERVICES RESPONSE

 

2.     At the Council Meeting of 22 November 2021, Council received a report on the NSW Veterans Strategy and noted Council officers’ commitment to update Council’s recruitment processes to include the ability for veterans to self-identify as part of any employment application.  In addition, Council officers committed to providing valuable feedback to any veteran on applications, and to include veterans as a focus area in the 2022 Diversity and Inclusion Strategy, forming a Veterans Employee Resource Group to identify key initiatives and actions to increase veteran representation in our workforce.

 

3.     In September 2021, Council’s Diversity and Inclusion Consultant commenced to develop internal strategies to focus on workforce diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI).

 

4.     A Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Strategy has been developed and endorsed by the City of Parramatta Executive Team on 23 November 2021, outlining focus areas, initiatives, and a governance model to promote workplace equity and inclusion to increase workforce diversity representation. The Strategy incorporates commitments within the LGA Community Action Plans including the First Nation’s Strategy, Disability and Inclusion Action Plan (DIAP), and Family and Domestic Violence Action Plans.

 

5.     Key initial actions outlined in the strategy include:

a)     creation of five (5) employee resource groups to develop specific supporting strategies. These are: Gender, Disability, LGBTIQ+, Multigenerational (youth/early careers) and Veterans. This will expand to include groups to focus on First Nations and Culture and Heritage in 2023.

b)     formation of a Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Executive Committee.

c)     launch of an employee Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Survey in March 2022 to capture the City of Parramatta diversity demographics and sentiments regarding the employment experience.

 

6.     The survey will provide a benchmark for future comparisons and results will inform our focus moving forward, including action plans arising from our employee resource groups.

 

7.     Further research is required to investigate the opportunity to include local employment targets as part of our procurement practices when using third party suppliers on major contracts.

 

8.     Benchmarking against similar organisations and options to increase diversity, including traineeship, apprenticeship and internship programs, can be investigated with recommendations for future inclusion.

 

9.     Should the recommendation be adopted, a report can be provided to Council by 30 June 2022.

 

 

 

FINANCIAL AND RESOURCE IMPLICATIONS

 

10.   The requested report will require the collation and analysis of local diversity data, funding program options and benchmarking with other Councils and government bodies and can incorporate recommendations for both Council and the Local Government Area (LGA).

 

11.   The anticipated staffing cost to prepare the report is in the order of $50,000.  It is anticipated that three (3) months project effort will be required to provide the information.  There is the potential that the work will impact on staff capacity in the delivery of ongoing DEI Strategy and ERG deliverables.

 

12.   The report will identify any future financial impacts to established programs.

 

13.   The table below summarises the financial impacts on the budget arising from approval of this report.

 

 

FY 21/22

FY 22/23

FY 23/24

FY 24/25

Revenue

 

 

 

 

Internal Revenue

 

 

 

 

External Revenue

 

 

 

 

Total Revenue

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Funding Source

Nil

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating Result

 

 

 

 

External Costs

 

 

 

 

Internal Costs

$50,000

 

 

 

Depreciation

 

 

 

 

Other

 

 

 

 

Total Operating Result

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Funding Source

General Revenue

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CAPEX

 

 

 

 

CAPEX

 

 

 

 

External

 

 

 

 

Internal

 

 

 

 

Other

 

 

 

 

Total CAPEX

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sameer Pandey

Deputy Lord Mayor, Councillor

 

Fariha Chowdhury

Acting Chief Financial Officer

 

Jillian Khoo

Executive Director Corporate Services

 

Brett Newman

Chief Executive Officer

 

 

 

 

 

Attachments:

 

 


Council 21 February 2022                                                                  Item 15.1

QUESTIONS WITH NOTICE

ITEM NUMBER        15.1

SUBJECT                 Questions Taken on Notice from Council Meeting - 7 February 2022

REFERENCE           F2022/00105 - D08408534

FROM                      Governance Manager        

 

QUESTIONS TAKEN ON NOTICE FROM THE COUNCIL MEETING OF 7 FEBRUARY 2022

Item

Subject

Councillor

Question

12.4

Variations to Standards under Clause 4.6 of Parramatta LEP 2011, Auburn LEP 2010, Holroyd LEP 2013, The Hills LEP 2012, Hornsby LEP 2013

Prociv

DA/42/2021 – 55-57 Thomas Street, Parramatta:

Does this mean that they don’t have to provide open space on the ground if they provide it on the roof?

13.1

Chief Executive Officer Delegations

Darley

How many tenders under $500k were finalised in the years 2020 and 2021?

13.5

Classification of Lot 5 DP 1238944 as Operational Land

Garrard

1.   That development was finished quite a period of time ago. I know residents have actually moved in because they’ve reached out and contacted me. When was that?

2.   What is the road for? What is the purpose of it?

3.   For what? [does there have to be a condition for an access road to dedicate it back to Council]

 

 

Wearne

1.   Where is the road going to and why?

2.   Why was it perceived to be acceptable as part of a VPA as open space, if in fact there is going to be a road to [God knows] where and how big through the middle of it?

14.1

CBD Lighting Project

Garrard

1.   What is the CBD Revitalisation Program?

2.   If $300k is being dedicated, if it’s granted to the CBD lighting project, where is the other $700k going?

 

 

Wearne

1.   Where have the funds gone from the Winterlight event?

2.   Where have the funds gone from the other events?

 

BACKGROUND

 

1.     Paragraph 9.23 of Council’s Code of Meeting Practice states:

 

“Where a councillor or council employee to whom a question is put is unable to respond to the question at the meeting at which it is put, they may take it on notice and report the response to the next meeting of the Council.”

 

STAFF RESPONSE

 

Item 12.4 – Variations to Standards under Clause 4.6 of Parramatta LEP 2011, Auburn LEP 2010, Holroyd LEP 2013, The Hills LEP 2012, Hornsby LEP 2013

 

During discussion on the motion moved by Councillor Esber, Councillor Prociv asked a question in relation to 55-57 Thomas Street, Parramatta:

 

Does this mean that they don’t have to provide open space on the ground if they provide it on the roof?

 

Executive Director City Planning & Design Response

 

The largest portion of the communal open space is located on the roof top, being 230m2 and there is a smaller section of communal open space located at ground level, being approximately 100m2.

 

Item 13.1 – Chief Executive Officer Delegations

 

Question from Councillor Darley

 

During discussion on the motion by Councillor Pandey, Councillor Darley asked the following question:

 

How many tenders under $500k were finalised in the years 2020 and 2021?

 

Executive Director Corporate Services Response

 

In 2020 there were 6 tenders finalised under $500k

In 2021 there were 3 tenders finalised under $500k

 

Item 13.5 – Classification of Lot 5 DP 1238944 as Operational Land

 

Questions from Councillor Garrard

 

During discussion on the motion by Councillor Prociv, Councillor Garrard asked the following questions:

 

1.     That development was finished quite a period of time ago. I know residents have actually moved in because they’ve reached out and contacted me. When was that?

2.     What is the road for? What is the purpose of it?

3.     For what? [does there have to be a condition for an access road to dedicate it back to Council]

 

During discussion on the Amendment by Councillor Garrard, Councillor Wearne asked the following questions:

 

4.     Where is the road going to and why?

5.     Why was it perceived to be acceptable as part of a VPA as open space, if in fact there is going to be a road to [God knows] where and how big through the middle of it?

 

Executive Director Property & Place Response

 

1.     An Interim Occupation Certificate was issued on 25 January 2022 for 35 and 39 East Street.

2.     The road acts as a service lane. A service lane is a small road usually created to allow access to the back of a building or retail shop. The proposed lane in this instance will provide access to the rear of the heritage buildings in the area.

3.     The Parramatta DCP 2011 makes provision for the road.

4.     The service lane goes between Cowper St and East St. The proposed lane in this instance will provide access to the rear of the heritage buildings in the area.

5.     The service lane goes between Cowper St and East St and is to the eastern side of the park.

 

Item 14.1 – CBD Lighting Project

 

Questions from Councillor Garrard and Wearne

 

During discussion on the motion by Councillor Garrard, Councillor Garrard asked the following questions:

 

1.      What is the CBD Revitalisation Program?

 

2.      If $300k is being dedicated, if it’s granted to the CBD lighting project, where is the other $700k going?

 

Councillor Wearne asked the following questions:

 

1.      Where have the funds gone from the Winterlight event?

 

2.      Where have the funds gone from the other events?

 

Executive Director City Engagement & Experience Response

 

1.       The CBD Revitalisation Program is a State Government funded program for eligible Councils, businesses and cultural institutions to run activations and events to engage their local communities and attract visitors.  The funding available under the program is from $250,000 to $1 million.  Applications opened for application on 17 December 2021 and closed on 17 January 2022.  The outcome of the grant application will be announced on 16 February 2022.

 

2.       Council has applied for $1 million grant under the CBD Revitalisation Program to deliver 5 programs:

 

Concert series on the rooftop of Eat Street car park

$175,000

Activation in the Stadium precinct in collaboration with Venues Live

$250,000

CBD Lighting Program (details provided below)

$225,000

Harris Park Precinct Activation

$250,000

Marketing

$100,000

Total

$1,000,000

 

CBD Lighting Program:

 

The CBD Lighting Program has incurred $225,000 to date, for the installation and lighting displays at River Foreshore, Parramatta Square and Centenary Square from November 2021 to January 2022.  To keep the lights on for another 3 months the cost is $90,000 as per the table below.  Due to the successful feedback of the Lighting Program an additional $135,000 has been suggested for additional lighting sites.  Details of the costs relating to the extension are as follows:

 

Keeping the lights on at River Foreshore, Parramatta Square and Centenary Square from February 2022 to May 2022 at $10,000 per month, per site ($10,000 x 3 sites x 3 months = $90,000)

$90,000

New sites: Philip St, Eat Street Car Park Rooftop and Prince Alfred Square - Installation and running costs for 4 weeks in March, when Parramatta Nights event is on.

Note: This is in addition to Parramatta Nights $1.2M project costs.

$135,000

Additional cost for the CBD Lighting program - Total

$225,000

 

3.       The annual budget allocated to Winterlight is $400,000.  The event was cancelled incurring a sunk cost of $74,766.  The remaining budget was allocated to Parramatta Nights and CBD Lighting program (Council’s resolution from 25 October 2021 is included as Attachment 1).  Details are as follow:

 

Winterlight delivered in July 2021

$74,766

Expended in Q1

Parramatta Nights

$100,234

To be expended in Q4

CBD Lighting

$225,000

Expended from November to January

Total Winterlight budget

$400,000

 

 

4.       To comply with COVID public health orders, several Council’s events and city activation activities have been cancelled.  $1,092,475 was identified as savings from these cancellations, of which $567,475 has been reallocated to Parramatta Nights, $225,000 allocated to the CBD Lighting program (for November 2021 to January 2022), and $300,000 has been returned to Council to assist with achieving $15 million target efficiency saving for current financial year.  The target saving mentioned above was outlined in section 9 of the 25 October 2021 Council paper.  A copy of the resolution and report can be found at Attachment 2. 

 

5.       Further details of budget reallocation and return are provided in the tables below.

 

Reallocation to Parramatta Nights & CBD Lighting

 

Area

Event

Status

Budget

Cost

Reallocated to Parramatta Nights

Reallocated to CBD Lighting

Events

Winterlight

Cancelled

$493,000

$74,666

$100,234

$225,000

Events

New Year’s Eve

Delivered in December

$400,000

$270,000

$130,000

 

Events

Parramatta Lanes

Cancelled

$630,000

$355,859

$274,141

 

Events

Foundation Day

Cancelled

$100,000

$36,900

$63,100

 

Total fund reallocated to Parramatta Nights

$567,475

$225,000

 

Budget returned to Council

 

Area

Event

Status

Budget

Cost

Returned

Events

Lunar New Year

Delivering online

$100,000

Minimal

$100,000

Events

Australia Day

Postponed to March

$520,000

$445,000

$75,000

Civic

Australia Day VIP

Cancelled

$25,000

$0

$25,000

Civic

Seniors Christmas Party

Cancelled

$40,000

$0

$40,000

Activations

Activations Program

Reduced activities

$279,492

$219,492

$60,000

Total budget returned

$300,000

 

6.       A reconciliation detailing budget for all events is provided at Attachment 3.

 

 

 

Patricia Krzeminski

Governance Manager

 

Jennifer Concato

Executive Director City Planning and Design

 

Jillian Khoo

Executive Director Corporate Services

 

Bryan Hynes

Executive Director Property & Place

 

Carly Rogowski

Executive Director, City Engagement & Experience

 

Brett Newman

Chief Executive Officer

 

 

 

 

Attachments:

1

25 October 2021 - Item 20.4 - Council Resolution to reallocate Winterlight Budget

2 Pages

 

2

25 October 2021 - Item 12.4 - Council Report on Council's Financial Position

12 Pages

 

3

Event Budget Reconciliation

1 Page

 

 

 


Item 15.1 - Attachment 1

25 October 2021 - Item 20.4 - Council Resolution to reallocate Winterlight Budget

 

PDF Creator

PDF Creator


Item 15.1 - Attachment 2

25 October 2021 - Item 12.4 - Council Report on Council's Financial Position

 

PDF Creator

PDF Creator

PDF Creator

PDF Creator


PDF Creator

PDF Creator

PDF Creator

PDF Creator

PDF Creator

PDF Creator

PDF Creator

PDF Creator


Item 15.1 - Attachment 3

Event Budget Reconciliation

 

PDF Creator