COUNCIL MEETING REPORT
At the Palerang Council Meeting held on Bungendore last Thursday a majority of councillors voted to leave the 'Bungendore Strategy and Structure Plan' in limbo, rejecting the findings of the Walsh Report which recommended limiting development in Bungendore.
The Bungendore Land Use Strategy and Structure Plan was prepared for Council by P & A Walsh Consulting Pty Ltd. The Report had been commissioned by Council at the request of a group Bungendore developers who agreed to pay for the report. So far only one developer has paid his invoice, and the ratepayers are $81,000 out of pocket.
"The Bungendore Strategy indicated a potential total of 1500 dwellings within the existing zone boundaries, which was consistent with Council's estimate prepared for the Bungendore Water Management strategy report of April 2007."
The business paper stated "Because of the limitations of the water supply and the fact that the water supply can be utilised by development within the current zone boundaries, the Bungendore Strategy notes that additional greenfield residential land does not need to be provided in the current review of the LEP."
"The strategy provides for the continued growth of Bungendore while protecting its existing environment and character."
There were several speakers for and against the Plan - those that accepted that there is a water problem in Bungendore and those that didn't.
Christine Wallace spoke to support the study saying it was "nonsense for people to continually come to this chamber, and we have heard them today, arguing that there is no water problem."
Mr Noel Ashman also noted that the plan was "prudent, promotes community equity, and complies with the constraints of the Sydney Canberra Corridor strategy."
Developer Mr Duncan Osborne however said the Walsh report was not completed as it failed to "consider a range of options for growth."
Mr Greg Nye questioned where the 500 available blocks referred to in the report were within the village, and said the "big lie of the shortage of water is just not true."
Mr Alex Brinkmeyer also urged Council to show where the available blocks are and questioned the new 1000 sqm minimum lot size. He said there was a "need to develop the old village to cater for the sewer to [the development at] Trucking Yard Lane."
Cr Crozier urged that as "We are 50% of the way through the LEP, and as we get closer to some parts we will get closer to bits that have a bearing on it. It would be inappropriate to deal with it now."
Cr Turley said "How can we not adopt it. I've heard criticism that it doesn't contain any middle ground, but I disagree. It's not a growth study - it's a strategy. It's not just about expanding Bungendore further. We have already expanded. Population projections are forecasts - not targets or goals."
Cr Goonan said that "We can rezone later but that is backtracking. I don't discount that water is an issue. I think it is a serious issue."
Cr Marjason was happy to second the motion, saying "there's always the furphy about the water. It's been proved over and over again but seems to keep raising its' head."
Mayor Walter Raynolds said "my study of economics at school and this report are opposites. There's a fundamental lack of understanding of supply and demand. If you restrict greenfield development you ...force the market of old Bungendore up."
Cr Raynold's argued that "Just as in Braidwood, since the heritage stopped development...it has forced the price of a 3 bedroom villa up to $540,000."
Cr Moore countered that "planning is different. That's why we ask the staff who we pay and people like Peter Walsh."
"The last thing we want to do is allow for development when we don't have the water. We can review it later."
"To say it is a furphy and not an issue, in this day and age...it's our survival" said Cr Moore.
Planner John Wright said that not passing the recommendation "will delay the endorsement of the Department of Planning and it delays the provision of certainty that a future rezoning may be acceptable."
Cr Cockram also added "I can't believe we still get arguments about water. See this National Geographic article [on water]? You could hardly say it is left wing propaganda." "This report is a good safeguard to the community" said Cockram.
Cr Crozier's Motion to "note the strategy and leave it to lie on the table until consideration of the LEP", was supported by Crs Raynolds, Bransdon, Goonan and Marjason. Crs Turley, Moore and Cockram voted against the motion. Cr Graham was absent.
Ironically, the next item on the agenda was a motion to approve Council's application for a $200,000 Strengthening Basin Communities Water Planning Grant.
"The program provides funding assistance of up to $200 000 to local government bodies located in the Murray Darling Basin to systematically assess the risks and implications associated with climate change, with particular focus on water availability, and then review existing plans to take account of these risks and implications. The program also allows council to develop community wide plans for a future with less water as well as strategically plan for investment in water saving initiatives that meets the needs of communities now and in the future."
The motion was passed quickly and unanimously.
Later Councillors voted to increase their Fees for 2010/11 following the determination by the Local Government Remuneration Tribunal.
From 1 July 2010: Councillors will receive $9,570 per annum and the Mayor will receive $20,890 per annum (additional fee).
The vote was evenly split with Crs Goonan, Turley, Moore and Cockram against and Crs Crozier, Marjason, Bransdon and Raynolds for, but was carried on the Mayors Vote. "I will go for the status quo, which is going for the maximum" said the Mayor.
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