THE SECOND ordinary Council meeting of 2023 on Tuesday February 21 saw a rejection of the Latrobe Valley and Gippsland Transition Plan; acknowledgements; appointments and an amendment to benefit the Maffra Structure Plan.

Councillor Marcus McKenzie acknowledged a dinner he attended on Thursday 16 February hosted by the Gippsland Agriculture Group. Local farmers and community groups from the shires of South Gippsland, East Gippsland and Wellington were among the 140 attendees to present or see the findings from 2022’s agricultural research. Cr Mckenzie said the room was filled with collaborative and progressive people working towards a future of sustainability.

Councillor Carolyn Crossley acknowledged WorldPride and the 50th Anniversary of Pride Week in Australia.

“This is a time to reflect on just how far civil rights have progressed in the last half century,” Cr Crossely said.

Mayor Ian Bye said he had joined other councillors in attending the Municipal Association Victoria (MAV) Leadership Conference held on Friday February 10 2023. Cr Bye acknowledged the “fantastic” guest speakers at the event who discussed leadership.

“We got a lot out of this conference,” Cr Bye said.

Cr Bye also thanked MAV President David Clarke and the MAV team for an informative and engaging event.

Agenda item 12.2 saw Council agree to advise the Latrobe Valley Authority (LVA) that it does not support the draft Latrobe Valley and Gippsland Transition Plan.

The LVA was established in 2016 by the state government with a $266 million investment to help the region with the transition to renewables after the closure of the Hazelwood Power Station.

Cr McKenzie took time to explain a number of reasons why Council was opposed to the report, while noting the LVA had delivered “many benefits” for the Wellington Shire.

“In releasing a draft document that purports the plan for business and community throughout Gippsland, the LVA is duplicating much of the good work that is already underway, and is creating a confusing state government layer that seems to ignore existing strategy documents like the Gippsland Regional Plan,” Cr McKenzie said.

Cr McKenzie said it didn’t make sense for the Latrobe Valley to be in the title of the Latrobe Valley and Gippsland Transition Plan, as the area was part of Gippsland, and that splitting them was “unnecessary and divisive”.

“It’s either a (Latrobe Valley) plan, or a Gippsland plan,” he said.

Cr McKenzie also said there wasn’t much consultation between the LVA and the Wellington community, or the rest of Gippsland outside of the Latrobe Valley. He said the plan’s focus on energy policy demonstrated its main focus on the Latrobe Valley, yet the plan is supposed to be for all Gippslanders.

Cr Bye said it was an important document that the LVA needed to get right and ensure it supports all of Gippsland.

The LVA has been contacted for comment.

The next agenda item saw Council resolve to request Authorisation from the Minister for Planning to progress Amendment C118 well to a period of formal public exhibition. The statutory documentation required to accompany an application for formal Authorisation is currently being finalised.

Amendment C118 well translates the findings of the Maffra Structure Plan (April 2022) into the Wellington Planning Scheme, which will assist with managing growth and change in Maffra over the next 20 years.

The amendment applies to all land in Maffra included within the Township Boundary in the Maffra Structure Plan.

Council then looked at a proposed sale of land (road reserves) in Alberton to property owner(s), and will seek submissions after a public notice is released.

The roads abutting the owner(s) current property are unused roads, so they are seeking to purchase it from Council. At the meeting, Council approved advertising to make a public notice of this proposal.

The unused roads are Station Street between Turnbull Street and Danger Street and Orr Street between Station Street and Rankin Street. Both sections of these roads are non-maintained roads under Council’s Road Management Plan. If there are no objections, Council will consider the sale.

The last agenda item saw Council approve the appointment of the nominated community representatives to the Wellington Disability Advisory Committee, as detailed in the confidential report, ‘The Wellington Disability Advisory Committee Membership’.

The Wellington Disability Advisory Committee is formed by Council as an unincorporated advisory group operating under a Terms of Reference. Community representatives advice Council in how to improve access and inclusion for people living with or caring for someone living with a disability.

Community representatives also provide advice for Council’s Disability Action Plan, conduct site accessibility visits of Council facilities and provide advice into Council project steering groups.

The next Council meeting will take place on Tuesday March 7 at 3pm.

Wellington Shire Council meets at 3.00pm on the first Tuesday of each month and 6.00pm on the third Tuesday of each month. The meetings occur in the Council chambers at the Wellington Centre in Sale.

Meetings may be watched live or replayed on Wellington Shire Council’s YouTube Channel.