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Item 11.4 - Attachment 2 |
Community Advisory Committee Forum Notes 18 March
2010 |
NOTES FOR THE COMMUNITY
ADVISORY COMMITTEE LGA COMMUNITY
FORUM HELD IN THE JUBILEE ROOM, TOWN HALL, CIVIC PLACE,
Phillip
Russo welcomed everyone and paid respects to the Burramatugal
people of the Darug nation and acknowledged
elders both past and present.
Chris
Bertinshaw introduced the Community Advisory Committee and stated the committee’s
aims and objectives and raised some general housekeeping items.
Phillip
Russo introduced the Service Manager Libraries,
· Parramatta has a central library
(Parramatta) and 5 branch libraries
· The library is going through a time
of change and growth due to new media information access etc
· There are a range of different activities
and programs run by the library
· Out reach to schools and daycares
· There are 4 story times at
Parramatta and all are well attended
· HSC support program
· Library lovers day
· There are author talks on the first
Tuesday of the month
· There is a well stocked HSC resource
section and the library is starting to compile other school resources
· All libraries now have WiFi
· The libraries have 81 volunteers
that assist in a variety of projects
· Computer helps
· Homework help
· Justice of the Peace
· Migrant assistance
· Cultural fairs
· Health talks - especially in Chinese-
can get over 100 people attending
· Bi lingual story time
· Don’t just carry books
· DVDs
· Talking books
· Community language sections
Discussion
How many
terminals in libraries have internet access?
All
libraries have internet access.
There
are children’s librarians is there a Youth Librarian or a Youth specific area?
Not at the
moment although this is been looked at. All libraries have a Young adult
section and
How are
your activities promoted?
Events are
promoted through the library website, signs and flyers around the libraries,
mail-out lists through schools, relevant community groups and newspaper advertisements.
Homework
Help
The main
focus of homework help is at a primary level. There are volunteer tutors and
also online tutors that can be accessed free of charge through the library
website.
Indigenous
history
Each branch
has a separate section on indigenous history.
Chris
Bertinshaw talked more about the Community Advisory Committee and emphasized
that the committee was a go between the community and Council by was of
organising forums throughout the year
where community members could voice their priorities, concerns and views
He
introduced
· Parramatta has a rich Aboriginal
history with the Burramatugal people
· Has an extensive convict past
· Was a Victorian age service centre
· Parramatta has over a 1000 heritage
listed places and buildings- the second highest concentration after the City of
Sydney
· Heritage listed building can have
changes made to them but these shouldn’t damage the heritage item.
· Council promotes conservation
through a local heritage fund
· There is a free development advisory
service that can be access through contacting Council’s Heritage Advisor. He
can give options and help with process and enquires.
· There are planning provisions that
can be made – i.e. a restaurant may be allowed in a residential zone
Discussion
How do
properties get listed and can they be unlisted?
Properties were listed as a result of a study undertaken in
1993. There was a list produced that included items of scientific, social,
aesthetic or historical significance.
To unlist an item the applicant would have to show that the
property did not have any of the above criteria. A property is not likely to be
delisted unless it is a residential property that is no longer a liveable
property.
Can a
property be delisted if it is unsafe?
It would
still have to go through the same process as described above, however Council
must be reasonable.
Phillip
Russo introduced
· State authority and local government
authority in planning issues.
· Planning concerns future plans
· Development is the implementation of
the plans.
· NSW has the most complex planning
controls in Australia
· Local Environment Plan (LEP)
· Zones areas for residential, higher
density, industrial etc
· Gives some certainty of what to
expect in any given neighbourhood.
· The state government controls what
is in the LEP with certain minimum targets that must be achieved
· Development Control Plan (DCP)
· More details at a local level
· Controls such as height, privacy,
what things look like
· Only at a Council level and the
public can make submissions
· These are currently on exhibition
and are on Council’s website and in libraries
· Exempt developments - small issues that do not need approval
· Complying developments – approval
gained from a private certifier if a certain criteria is met
· Local Developments – bulk of
applications
· JRPP- If an application is
$20K-$100K then it is assessed by a Joint Regional Planning Panel
· Department of Planning has the
authority if a development is over $100K
· Parramatta Council provides the
following:
o A font counter
advisor, a phone service and a pre-lodgement service.
o An online tracking of development applications
Discussion
The LEP
and DCP are complex documents, are there people available to help explain?
The Council
makes an effort to assist: Information is available on the Council website and
a great deal of interest has been shown from the community., There have also been
road shows around the LGA to help explain and answer questions regarding the
LEP. There is someone on-duty to talk to, either by phone or in person through front
counter enquires.
State
Government control
The draft
plan goes to the state government (the Department of Planning) for its approval
before it can be placed on public exhibition. The Department made significant
changes regarding draft conservation areas in Epping and lower density housing
in Granville. The process is strictly regulated through the Environmental
Planning and Assessment Act. The Department of Planning generally gives reasons
for amendments made to draft LEP’s but is not obliged to.
What
changes have there been from the last LEP?
There were
some minor or major changes. The existing LEP was gazetted in 2001 and there
have been changes in growth, especially in relation to the concentration around
public transport.
What
impact do Mom and Dad submissions have?
Most
submissions are from mom and dads. Sometimes streets or groups get together and
submit petitions to Council. There do influence Councillors, and Council alerts
them about making submissions but Council can’t comment on the impact they have
on State Government decisions.
How long
does the LEP process take and is it taken into consideration when assessing
development applications?
The process
of changing an LEP can be very long and as such it does have some status as a
draft document. How much weight it is given when assessing development
applications depends on what process/stage the draft is in. If it is a new
draft then it might not have a lot of weight, if it has been on public
exhibition and is just waiting for State Government approval, then it might
have a lot more weight.
Can
zones be changed?
The same
process is undertaken to rezone a single area. It would be quicker as it is
only one area, but it is the same process of public exhibition etc as the LEP.
Developers
with conflicts of interest
Anyone that
submits a development application has to lodge a return on any political
donations they may have made and their relation to a development.
Other Discussion
How did
people hear about tonight’s Community Forum,?
Through
flyer, wife, paper
Was the
information helpful?
Yes it was
worthwhile and informative mainly because it was topical (re LEP)
Chris
Bertinshaw asked that if the public had any other issues or concerns that the
committee should look at in the future that they contact Council or their local
Councillor.
Phillip
Russo thanked staff for their assistance and the community and committee and
hoped that this would continue to strengthen ties between the community and
Council.
The Forum closed at 8:50 pm.