WEBVTT 00:00:-01.-265 --> 00:00:07.206 Good evening everyone. You may remain seated whilst we welcome the mayor of the City of Melton Councillor Lara Carli. 00:00:26.161 --> 00:00:31.767 Good evening everyone and welcome. Please stand for the opening prayer 00:00:31.800 --> 00:00:36.505 and the reconciliation statement. Almighty God, we humbly beseech 00:00:36.538 --> 00:00:40.108 thee to vouchsafe thy blessing upon this Council. Direct and prosperous 00:00:40.142 --> 00:00:45.547 deliberations to the advancement of thy glory and the welfare of the 00:00:45.580 --> 00:00:49.184 people whom we serve. Amen. Melton City Council acknowledges that the 00:00:49.217 --> 00:00:53.221 land it now occupies has a history that began with the indigenous 00:00:53.255 --> 00:00:56.658 occupants. The Kulin Nation Council pays its respects to the Kulin 00:00:56.691 --> 00:01:02.615 Nation people and their elders and descendants, past and present. Please be seated. 00:01:15.477 --> 00:01:20.315 I'd like to welcome everyone to Melton City Council tonight's 00:01:20.348 --> 00:01:24.085 Council meeting for Monday, the 23rd of March 2026 is being 00:01:24.119 --> 00:01:27.823 conducted in person in the Council chamber and is also being streamed 00:01:27.856 --> 00:01:32.627 live via council's website. We thank everyone attending in the 00:01:32.661 --> 00:01:36.665 gallery and we thank those joining our live stream. This meeting will 00:01:36.698 --> 00:01:39.768 be held in accordance with the Local Government Act 2020 and 00:01:39.801 --> 00:01:45.040 council's governance rules, and a bookmarked recording of the meeting 00:01:45.073 --> 00:01:48.410 will be made available on council's website in the coming days. Viewers 00:01:48.443 --> 00:01:53.548 and listeners should note the Council is the copyright owner of 00:01:53.582 --> 00:01:58.587 the live stream. Notwithstanding anything appearing on council's 00:01:58.620 --> 00:02:02.791 website, any recording, copying or other use of of the live stream is 00:02:02.824 --> 00:02:06.728 strictly prohibited and would infringe council's copyright. We 00:02:06.761 --> 00:02:13.368 also remind members of the gallery to refrain from taking photos or 00:02:13.401 --> 00:02:16.705 making a recording of any kind, unless invited to do so. Okay 00:02:16.738 --> 00:02:20.742 councillors, we now move to item two, which is apologies and leave 00:02:20.775 --> 00:02:24.246 of absence. I will now confirm with the Melton City Council's Chief 00:02:24.279 --> 00:02:28.149 Executive Officer, Roslyn Wai, if there are any apologies or requests 00:02:28.183 --> 00:02:31.753 for leave of absence for this evening's meeting. Madam mayor, we 00:02:31.786 --> 00:02:38.226 have received a request from Councillor Vandenberg for a leave 00:02:38.260 --> 00:02:42.497 of absence from this evening, 23rd March 2026 to 13 April 2026, 00:02:42.530 --> 00:02:46.201 inclusive. Thank you, Miss Wei. Councillors, we will require a 00:02:46.234 --> 00:02:50.338 resolution regarding Councillor Vandenberg request for a leave of 00:02:50.372 --> 00:02:54.910 absence. Do I have a Councillor to move the recommendation? Councillor 00:02:54.943 --> 00:02:59.381 Shannon. Thanks. Madam mayor, I'd like to move the Councillor 00:02:59.414 --> 00:03:02.250 Vandenberg request for leave for the period 23rd of March 2026 to 00:03:02.284 --> 00:03:05.353 the 13th of April 2026, inclusive. Be granted. Thank you. Councillor 00:03:05.387 --> 00:03:08.657 Shannon. Do I have a seconder? Councillor Verdon. Happy to second 00:03:08.690 --> 00:03:13.428 that, Madam Mayor. Thank you. Councillor Verdon does any 00:03:13.461 --> 00:03:17.732 Councillor have any questions or seek clarification? If not, I'll 00:03:17.766 --> 00:03:22.203 put it to the vote. All those in favour please raise your hand. I 00:03:22.237 --> 00:03:25.573 declare the motion carried unanimously. Thank you. Councillors, 00:03:25.607 --> 00:03:31.146 item three is changes to the order of business. There are no changes 00:03:31.179 --> 00:03:36.785 to the order of business this evening. Item four A deputations. 00:03:36.818 --> 00:03:40.221 There are no deputations to be heard tonight. Item five is 00:03:40.255 --> 00:03:44.225 declaration of any pecuniary interest. Other interest or 00:03:44.259 --> 00:03:49.164 conflict of interest of any Councillor. Councillors pursuant to 00:03:49.197 --> 00:03:52.667 part six, Division two of the Local Government Act 2020 and Council's 00:03:52.701 --> 00:03:56.271 governance rules, we must declare any general conflict of interest or 00:03:56.304 --> 00:04:00.275 material conflict of interest we have in any of the matters being 00:04:00.308 --> 00:04:03.812 considered at tonight's meeting. In addition to declaring the nature 00:04:03.845 --> 00:04:07.816 and type of any conflicts of interest immediately prior to the 00:04:07.849 --> 00:04:12.454 relevant item in the agenda being heard. Provision has also been made 00:04:12.487 --> 00:04:18.326 at this point in the agenda for declarations of interest to be made. 00:04:18.360 --> 00:04:23.131 Do any councillors have an interest that they wish to declare? And I'll 00:04:23.164 --> 00:04:26.501 take that silence as a no. Councillors. Item six is adoption 00:04:26.534 --> 00:04:31.339 and confirmation of minutes of previous meetings. Do I have a 00:04:31.373 --> 00:04:34.075 Councillor to move a motion? Councillor Abboushi thanks Madam 00:04:34.109 --> 00:04:38.213 Mayor, I'd like to move that. The minutes of the meeting of Council 00:04:38.246 --> 00:04:41.082 held on 23rd February 2026 be confirmed as a true and correct 00:04:41.116 --> 00:04:45.220 record. Thanks, Madam Mayor. Thank you. Councillor Abboushi. Do I have 00:04:45.253 --> 00:04:50.325 a Councillor to second? Councillor Verdon. Happy to second that, madam 00:04:50.358 --> 00:04:54.396 Mayor. Thank you. Councillor Verdon does any Councillor seek any 00:04:54.429 --> 00:04:59.067 clarification? If not, I'll put it to the vote. All those in favour, 00:04:59.100 --> 00:05:07.208 please raise your hand. I declare the motion carried unanimously. 00:05:07.242 --> 00:05:09.444 Thank you. Councillors. Item seven is summary of informal meetings of 00:05:09.477 --> 00:05:15.116 councillors. There is a recommendation in the agenda. Do I 00:05:15.150 --> 00:05:19.120 have a Councillor to move a motion? Councillor Ramsey. Thank you, Madam 00:05:19.154 --> 00:05:26.428 Mayor. I move that the summaries of informal meetings of councillors 00:05:26.461 --> 00:05:31.433 dated the 9th of February 2026, the 23rd of February 2026 and the 2nd 00:05:31.466 --> 00:05:36.071 of March 2026. Providers appendices 1 to 3, respectively to this report 00:05:36.104 --> 00:05:39.340 be received and noted. Thank you. Councillor Ramsey. Do I have a 00:05:39.374 --> 00:05:42.510 Councillor to second the recommendation? Councillor Zada. 00:05:42.544 --> 00:05:48.016 Thank you, Madam Mayor. I'll second that. Thank you. Thank you. 00:05:48.049 --> 00:05:51.186 Councillor Zada does any Councillor wish to speak on the motion? 00:05:51.219 --> 00:05:55.123 Councillor Shannon apologies Madam mayor. I didn't mean to bring this 00:05:55.156 --> 00:05:58.693 up earlier. It's just a tiny little mistake. If we could just fix it on 00:05:58.726 --> 00:06:04.332 page 14, we've got the briefing of councillors. Opened at 618 and 00:06:04.365 --> 00:06:07.635 closed at 655. I don't think it was that quick. So there's probably 00:06:07.669 --> 00:06:11.172 just one digit that needs to be changed in there. Thank you, Madam 00:06:11.206 --> 00:06:15.343 Mayor. That is for a briefing. It's a pre briefing before the chamber 00:06:15.376 --> 00:06:18.813 meeting, I believe. Was it is that all it was? Okay. Well, it's not a 00:06:18.847 --> 00:06:23.017 problem. Oh, good. Thank you. Councillor Shannon. Elise. I'm 00:06:23.051 --> 00:06:27.222 reading. Thank you. Councillor Shannon. Thank you. Councillor 00:06:27.255 --> 00:06:31.159 Majdlik councillors. I do have item seven. The recommendation has been 00:06:31.192 --> 00:06:35.163 moved by Councillor Ramsey, seconded by Councillor Zada. I will 00:06:35.196 --> 00:06:41.069 now put it to the vote. All those in favour, please raise your hand. 00:06:41.102 --> 00:06:44.606 I declare the motion carried unanimously. Correspondence in wood 00:06:44.639 --> 00:06:48.743 is item eight. Councillors, we have received one parliamentary letter 00:06:48.776 --> 00:06:54.649 to response to a notice of motion to be tabled this evening. Do I 00:06:54.682 --> 00:06:57.519 have a Councillor to move a motion? Councillor Zada. Thank you, Madam 00:06:57.552 --> 00:06:59.587 Mayor. I'd like to move the recommendation that Council receive 00:06:59.621 --> 00:07:02.490 and note the following parliamentarian and departmental 00:07:02.524 --> 00:07:07.162 letter received by the mayor in response to notices of motion 00:07:07.195 --> 00:07:10.798 provided in appendix one to this report. One The Honourable Gabriel 00:07:10.832 --> 00:07:16.237 Williams MP, Minister for Transport, Infrastructure Response to Notice 00:07:16.271 --> 00:07:19.741 of Motion 984. Thank you. Councillor Zada do I have a 00:07:19.774 --> 00:07:25.547 seconder? Councillor Majdlik happy to second that, Madam Mayor. Thank 00:07:25.580 --> 00:07:29.484 you. Councillor Majdlik does any Councillor wish to speak on the 00:07:29.517 --> 00:07:33.721 recommendation if. Councillor Zada. Thank you madam mayor I just wanted 00:07:33.755 --> 00:07:37.392 to highlight to the residents just watching online because I know this 00:07:37.425 --> 00:07:40.662 is a quite intense topic, that there is a section here which 00:07:40.695 --> 00:07:43.698 states that the roads will be in contact with Council and to refer 00:07:43.731 --> 00:07:46.801 to sorry with Council officers shortly to provide planning update 00:07:46.834 --> 00:07:50.705 on the freeway upgrade. I just want to highlight that point. Thank you, 00:07:50.738 --> 00:07:55.109 Madam Mayor. Thank you. Councillor Zada okay councillors, I'll now put 00:07:55.143 --> 00:07:59.447 it to the vote. Move by Councillor Zada seconded by Councillor Majdlik. 00:07:59.480 --> 00:08:03.685 All those in favour, please raise your hand. I declare the motion 00:08:03.718 --> 00:08:06.521 carried unanimously. Item nine. Councillors, this petition and 00:08:06.554 --> 00:08:11.259 joint letters. There is one petition included in the agenda 00:08:11.292 --> 00:08:16.297 that has been received prior to this meeting. The petition contains 00:08:16.331 --> 00:08:20.235 79 signatories and requests Council to install a pedestrian crossing on 00:08:20.268 --> 00:08:24.505 Tranquille Road to Cross from Woodley Lifestyle Community to Home 00:08:24.539 --> 00:08:27.709 Co Woodley Shops and medical services in accordance with 00:08:27.742 --> 00:08:33.514 council's governance rules, a petition will be referred to the 00:08:33.548 --> 00:08:37.485 CEO who will advise the lead petitioner of the outcome. Okay, 00:08:37.518 --> 00:08:43.291 item ten is resumption of debate or other business carried over from a 00:08:43.324 --> 00:08:46.494 previous meeting. There is no business carried over. Item 11 00:08:46.527 --> 00:08:50.498 public Question Time. Miss Wei, have we received any public 00:08:50.531 --> 00:08:54.769 questions? We have. Madam mayor, we have 15 public questions to be read 00:08:54.802 --> 00:08:59.173 out this evening. The first public question is from Li Zhang and it 00:08:59.207 --> 00:09:04.212 reads why is there no long term plan to improve the reserve area 00:09:04.245 --> 00:09:07.915 and garden beds between Mimosa Way, Arbour Boulevard and Westwood Drive, 00:09:07.949 --> 00:09:11.386 Burnside Heights, and the response from Neil Whiteside Director of 00:09:11.419 --> 00:09:15.523 City Delivery Council, manages a mix of both active open spaces such 00:09:15.556 --> 00:09:19.694 as parks and playgrounds, and passive open spaces such as grassy 00:09:19.727 --> 00:09:23.998 reserves. Both play a vital role in providing our community with access 00:09:24.032 --> 00:09:27.502 to active and passive open space. The sites you are referring to are 00:09:27.535 --> 00:09:30.438 not planned for further development at this time. Council will be in 00:09:30.471 --> 00:09:33.374 contact with you to arrange a site meeting to discuss any 00:09:33.408 --> 00:09:36.978 opportunities for improved maintenance. We have a second 00:09:37.011 --> 00:09:41.249 question from Li Zhang and it reads what criteria or policy settings 00:09:41.282 --> 00:09:44.786 does Council use to decide whether a reserve garden bed should be 00:09:44.819 --> 00:09:48.156 redesigned or upgraded, and how do these apply to the garden bed 00:09:48.189 --> 00:09:51.459 between Mimosa Way, Arbour Boulevard and Westwood Drive, and 00:09:51.492 --> 00:09:55.797 the response again from the Director of City Delivery. The type 00:09:55.830 --> 00:09:59.300 of open space, i.e. whether active or passive, the use of the site and 00:09:59.334 --> 00:10:02.904 the suitability of existing plants are criteria that are used to 00:10:02.937 --> 00:10:06.641 determine whether garden beds are redesigned or upgraded. Council 00:10:06.674 --> 00:10:09.811 will be in contact with you to discuss your ideas of how these 00:10:09.844 --> 00:10:12.814 garden beds may be improved. Our third question this evening is from 00:10:12.847 --> 00:10:17.552 Gary Singh, and it reads what immediate action will the Council 00:10:17.585 --> 00:10:21.189 take to prevent illegal parking at the intersections of Aria Boulevard, 00:10:21.222 --> 00:10:26.194 Mandalay Parade, Sarah Way, Goldsworthy Drive, Goldsworthy 00:10:26.227 --> 00:10:30.298 Drive, Merriwa and Miro Way, Orbis Avenue. Given the ongoing safety 00:10:30.331 --> 00:10:34.202 risks and lack of enforcement, despite my multiple reports and the 00:10:34.235 --> 00:10:38.473 response from the Director of City Delivery Council's Community Safety, 00:10:38.506 --> 00:10:42.744 parking officers are actively patrolling this area and have 00:10:42.777 --> 00:10:46.080 issued 55 parking infringement notices since January this year. 00:10:46.114 --> 00:10:50.785 The area will continue to be monitored for illegal parking and 00:10:50.818 --> 00:10:58.426 enforcement will be undertaken as required. Our next question is from 00:10:58.459 --> 00:11:01.829 Vijay Bedi and it reads Will there be a fenced dog park in Mount 00:11:01.863 --> 00:11:06.367 Atkinson Truganina with separate sections for small slash old dog 00:11:06.401 --> 00:11:10.138 and big dogs? We travel one hour both ways to Williams Landing to 00:11:10.171 --> 00:11:14.409 enjoy a safer dog park and the response from Sam Romaszko director, 00:11:14.442 --> 00:11:18.146 city Futures Council is currently exploring opportunities to provide 00:11:18.179 --> 00:11:21.315 new dog off leash areas throughout the city, including the Mount 00:11:21.349 --> 00:11:24.252 Atkinson area. Council will be engaging with the community in the 00:11:24.285 --> 00:11:27.889 coming months in relation to dog off leash areas, including seeking 00:11:27.922 --> 00:11:34.262 community feedback on the designs of the upgraded and new dog off 00:11:34.295 --> 00:11:38.699 leash areas. We have a second question from Vijay and it reads 00:11:38.733 --> 00:11:42.537 when are we expecting a convenience store at Mount Atkinson Truganina 00:11:42.570 --> 00:11:46.441 travelling an hour at a time for shopping, exclamation mark, 00:11:46.474 --> 00:11:50.278 exclamation mark and the response from the Director of City Futures. 00:11:50.311 --> 00:11:54.215 There are two proposed local convenience centres in Mount 00:11:54.248 --> 00:11:58.119 Atkinson. They are to be located at the corner of Nile Drive and Clara 00:11:58.152 --> 00:12:00.822 Avenue and Altair's Drive and Hartley Street. Council understands 00:12:00.855 --> 00:12:09.764 from the developer that both of these will be under construction 00:12:09.797 --> 00:12:14.535 later this year. Our next question is from Rahul Perumal and I hope I 00:12:14.569 --> 00:12:18.172 pronounced that okay. And it reads, how does the Council justify 00:12:18.206 --> 00:12:21.108 continuing to collect full rates from Rockbank residents from 00:12:21.142 --> 00:12:26.180 several years, when none of the planned community facilities have 00:12:26.214 --> 00:12:29.650 been delivered since the Rockbank PSP was approved in 2016? And the 00:12:29.684 --> 00:12:32.553 response from Liz Rowland, our Chief financial officer. Rates 00:12:32.587 --> 00:12:35.756 collected contribute to the funding of services and infrastructure 00:12:35.790 --> 00:12:39.126 across the city, which is available for all residents. Council remains 00:12:39.160 --> 00:12:45.633 committed to delivering the planned facilities in Rockbank. Our second 00:12:45.666 --> 00:12:49.570 question from Raul. Peru Mandala is, as per Council records, what is the 00:12:49.604 --> 00:12:53.140 current population of Rockbank and how much more population is 00:12:53.174 --> 00:12:57.178 required to expedite the delivery of sports precinct and community 00:12:57.211 --> 00:13:01.148 centre and the response from Troy Scoble Director of City Life. Thank 00:13:01.182 --> 00:13:05.353 you. According to profile ID, the current population of Rockbank is 00:13:05.386 --> 00:13:08.656 approximately 8900 people. The Rockbank East Active Open Space 00:13:08.689 --> 00:13:12.493 Reserve is a current project in planning, with construction 00:13:12.527 --> 00:13:16.731 estimated to commence in 2028. The Rockbank East Community Centre is 00:13:16.764 --> 00:13:19.400 planned for delivery in 2028. This delivery timeline is planned in 00:13:19.433 --> 00:13:23.638 partnership with the Victorian Government to ensure that delivery 00:13:23.671 --> 00:13:29.410 demand is consistent with the best start, best life reform agenda. Our 00:13:29.443 --> 00:13:33.481 next question is from Rakesh Adari and it reads what step does Council 00:13:33.514 --> 00:13:38.119 take to ensure that subdivision approvals prioritise the long term 00:13:38.152 --> 00:13:42.056 liveability of residents, including adequate street capacity, parking 00:13:42.089 --> 00:13:45.626 and infrastructure, rather than simply meeting minimum development 00:13:45.660 --> 00:13:48.396 standards? And the response from the Director of City Futures, 00:13:48.429 --> 00:13:52.199 precinct structure plans and the Melbourne Planning Scheme outline 00:13:52.233 --> 00:13:55.436 the minimum standards for street designs within the city. These 00:13:55.469 --> 00:13:58.706 standards are consistent across Victoria and developers are 00:13:58.739 --> 00:14:03.077 required to comply with the standards to council's satisfaction. 00:14:03.110 --> 00:14:08.049 A second question from Rakesh Adari and it reads the following question 00:14:08.082 --> 00:14:11.552 relates to the Grandview estate. What monitoring actions has Council 00:14:11.586 --> 00:14:16.257 undertaken to assess developer traffic congestion, a legal 00:14:16.290 --> 00:14:19.427 shortcut use and parking pressures off street congestion in the estate, 00:14:19.460 --> 00:14:22.964 including the number of reports received, patrols conducted or 00:14:22.997 --> 00:14:27.068 traffic studies completed and the response from Director of City 00:14:27.101 --> 00:14:30.037 Delivery Council monitors traffic and parking issues, both 00:14:30.071 --> 00:14:33.441 proactively through council's community safety parking officers 00:14:33.474 --> 00:14:37.979 and reactively through customer requests received from community 00:14:38.012 --> 00:14:42.249 members in the Grandview Estate. 25 customer requests have been lodged 00:14:42.283 --> 00:14:45.686 to date, including ten relating to speed investigations, 11 to road 00:14:45.720 --> 00:14:48.656 safety and four for other traffic or parking matters. The estate 00:14:48.689 --> 00:14:53.661 currently has two access points to Greggs Road, one of which is 00:14:53.694 --> 00:14:58.165 Signalised. Our next question this evening is from Winona Capper, and 00:14:58.199 --> 00:15:01.836 it reads Can Council clearly outline which specific authority is 00:15:01.869 --> 00:15:05.239 responsible for the pedestrian crossing and footpath misalignment 00:15:05.272 --> 00:15:09.143 at the train tracks on Mount Cottrell Road Thornhill Park, and 00:15:09.176 --> 00:15:13.047 what formal actions Council has taken to escalate this identified 00:15:13.080 --> 00:15:16.384 safety risk to the relevant state authority and developer, and the 00:15:16.417 --> 00:15:19.687 response from the Director of City Delivery. The Victorian Government, 00:15:19.720 --> 00:15:22.723 through the Department of Transport and Planning and the Rail Operator 00:15:22.757 --> 00:15:26.727 V line, are the responsible authorities for infrastructure 00:15:26.761 --> 00:15:29.664 within the rail corridor, including pedestrian gates and crossings. 00:15:29.697 --> 00:15:32.667 Council has been advocating to the responsible authorities for 00:15:32.700 --> 00:15:36.370 additional pedestrian gates at Mount Cottrell Road as an interim 00:15:36.404 --> 00:15:40.441 safety measure, while longer term level crossing removal identified 00:15:40.474 --> 00:15:47.381 in the precinct structure plans remains unfunded and unprogrammed. 00:15:47.415 --> 00:15:51.352 A second question from Weena and it reads given that the Unison Road 00:15:51.385 --> 00:15:55.790 Strathisla area is effectively isolated from essential amenities 00:15:55.823 --> 00:15:59.994 such as shops, schools, childcare and parks due to the lack of 00:16:00.027 --> 00:16:03.531 footpaths and safe pedestrian links on Mount Cottrell Road and the 00:16:03.564 --> 00:16:07.501 misaligned train crossing. What responsibility does Council accept 00:16:07.535 --> 00:16:11.439 in advocating for a coordinated solution, and what actions and 00:16:11.472 --> 00:16:14.041 timelines are in place to address these? And the response from the 00:16:14.075 --> 00:16:17.545 Director of City Futures Council has been advocating to the 00:16:17.578 --> 00:16:20.414 responsible authorities for additional pedestrian gates at 00:16:20.448 --> 00:16:24.151 Mount Cottrell Road as an interim safety measure, whilst long term 00:16:24.185 --> 00:16:28.456 level crossing removal identified in the precinct structure plans 00:16:28.489 --> 00:16:32.093 remains unfunded and unprogrammed. Additionally, as development occurs 00:16:32.126 --> 00:16:35.629 within the area, Council seeks to ensure the provision of necessary 00:16:35.663 --> 00:16:39.533 infrastructure, including footpaths and safe pedestrian links. Our next 00:16:39.567 --> 00:16:45.072 question is from Satish Antony and it reads according to the current 00:16:45.106 --> 00:16:47.942 budget, $655,000 was allotted for the Hopkins Road Bridge over 00:16:47.975 --> 00:16:51.145 Kororoit Creek. Could you please provide an update on the current 00:16:51.178 --> 00:16:55.182 stage of the project and its projected completion date, and the 00:16:55.216 --> 00:16:58.419 response from the Director of City Delivery? The Hopkins Road Bridge 00:16:58.452 --> 00:17:01.522 project is progressing through the design and approval phase, noting 00:17:01.555 --> 00:17:04.492 the approvals include service authority approvals and cultural 00:17:04.525 --> 00:17:07.261 heritage requirements. The approvals process includes 00:17:07.294 --> 00:17:11.599 completing cultural heritage salvage works, which are currently 00:17:11.632 --> 00:17:14.568 anticipated to be completed by the end of 2027, subject to the 00:17:14.602 --> 00:17:19.540 finalisation of the approvals process. Project is anticipated to 00:17:19.573 --> 00:17:22.777 begin in 2028 and expected to take approximately 18 to 24 months. A 00:17:22.810 --> 00:17:27.915 second question from Satish Antony and it reads according to the 00:17:27.948 --> 00:17:31.285 current budget, $655,000 was allotted for the Sinclair Road 00:17:31.318 --> 00:17:34.622 Bridge over Kororoit Creek. Could you please provide an update on the 00:17:34.655 --> 00:17:37.892 current project stage and its estimated completion date, and the 00:17:37.925 --> 00:17:40.327 response again from the Director of City Delivery. The Sinclair's Road 00:17:40.361 --> 00:17:43.731 Bridge project is progressing through the design and approval 00:17:43.764 --> 00:17:46.600 phase, noting the approvals include service authority approvals and 00:17:46.634 --> 00:17:50.204 cultural heritage requirements. The timing of the construction of 00:17:50.237 --> 00:17:54.141 Sinclair's Road Bridge is currently under review. Given traffic 00:17:54.175 --> 00:17:57.812 analysis identified that the construction cannot occur until the 00:17:57.845 --> 00:18:01.882 Hopkins Road Bridge's operational due to the unacceptable detour 00:18:01.916 --> 00:18:07.488 impacts. Our next question this evening is from David O'Connor, and 00:18:07.521 --> 00:18:10.958 it reads as at. As of 22nd March 2026, the most recent Notice of 00:18:10.991 --> 00:18:17.364 Motion register published on council's website is only current 00:18:17.398 --> 00:18:21.068 to June 2025 and includes entries up to notice of motion 980. Given 00:18:21.101 --> 00:18:24.171 the importance of transparency and timely access to Council 00:18:24.205 --> 00:18:28.309 information, my question is will Council commit to updating the 00:18:28.342 --> 00:18:32.146 Notice of Motion Register on a more regular and timely basis to ensure 00:18:32.179 --> 00:18:36.116 the community has access to current and accurate records of motions 00:18:36.150 --> 00:18:38.686 being completed and the response from Emily Keogh Head of Governance. 00:18:38.719 --> 00:18:41.522 Thank you. Through you, Madam Mayor, Council officers are currently in 00:18:41.555 --> 00:18:44.592 the process of updating the Notices of Motion Register, which is 00:18:44.625 --> 00:18:48.062 published on council's website, and this will be available for viewing 00:18:48.095 --> 00:18:51.632 by the end of this month. Thank you. We have a second question from 00:18:51.665 --> 00:18:55.269 David O'Connor and it reads, Will Council acknowledge that service 00:18:55.302 --> 00:18:58.572 catchment misalignment regarding the Commonwealth Home Support 00:18:58.606 --> 00:19:02.376 Program is affecting multiple communities across the City of 00:19:02.409 --> 00:19:06.080 Melton, including Diggers Rest, and commit to broadening its advocacy 00:19:06.113 --> 00:19:09.516 to state and federal governments to address these inconsistencies 00:19:09.550 --> 00:19:12.720 wherever they occur within the municipality and the response from 00:19:12.753 --> 00:19:16.390 the Director of City Life, addressing the needs for service 00:19:16.423 --> 00:19:21.462 delivery regions to be aligned with Council boundaries is already 00:19:21.495 --> 00:19:24.365 included in council's advocacy priorities. These were endorsed at 00:19:24.398 --> 00:19:27.268 the 27th of October 2025 meeting of Council. Madam mayor, that 00:19:27.301 --> 00:19:33.140 concludes public questions for this evening. Thank you, Ms Wai and 00:19:33.173 --> 00:19:38.746 thank you to our community members for your questions. Okay, 00:19:38.779 --> 00:19:45.019 councillors, we now move to item 12 presentation of Staff reports. 12.1 00:19:45.052 --> 00:19:50.591 Finance report for period ended the 31st of December 2025. This report 00:19:50.624 --> 00:19:53.360 will be presented by Liz Rowland, Chief Financial Officer. Thank you. 00:19:53.394 --> 00:19:57.431 Through you, Madam Mayor. The purpose of this report is to 00:19:57.464 --> 00:20:00.134 provide Council with the finance report for the second quarter ended 00:20:00.167 --> 00:20:02.603 31st of December 2025, in accordance with section 97 of the 00:20:02.636 --> 00:20:05.639 Local Government Act, 2020, the Audit and Risk Committee reviewed 00:20:05.673 --> 00:20:09.443 the December quarter financial report out of session in March 2026, 00:20:09.476 --> 00:20:13.080 with no changes required following the review. Council is tracking 00:20:13.113 --> 00:20:16.083 well for the first half of this financial year and is in a positive 00:20:16.116 --> 00:20:18.519 position that sets up Council for the remainder of the financial year 00:20:18.552 --> 00:20:24.258 to pay for and deliver services and capital investment. The community 00:20:24.291 --> 00:20:27.728 needs the operating surplus as at 31st of December 2025, is 218.7 00:20:27.761 --> 00:20:30.764 million, which is ahead of the operating surplus budget of 207.8 00:20:30.798 --> 00:20:33.767 million. As the fastest growing region in Australia, the financial 00:20:33.801 --> 00:20:36.670 figures continue to include developer contributions and capital 00:20:36.704 --> 00:20:40.307 grants to build these important future facilities in the region. In 00:20:40.341 --> 00:20:42.643 the first six months, Council received 103 million in developer 00:20:42.676 --> 00:20:47.181 contributions to build these important facilities like childcare 00:20:47.214 --> 00:20:51.185 and community centres, roads, ovals, parks and open spaces. Most of this 00:20:51.218 --> 00:20:53.787 money can only be used for these purposes. The City of Melton 00:20:53.821 --> 00:20:56.824 remains in a financially sustainable, sustainable position 00:20:56.857 --> 00:21:01.161 to continue delivering quality services and programs for our 00:21:01.195 --> 00:21:09.436 community. Thank you. Does any Councillor require any 00:21:09.470 --> 00:21:13.774 clarification in regards to item 12.1? If not, do I have a mover? 00:21:13.807 --> 00:21:19.279 Councillor Morris. Thank you, Madam Mayor. Happy to move the 00:21:19.313 --> 00:21:25.352 recommendation that Council. One note the 2025 2026 Financial report 00:21:25.386 --> 00:21:31.125 for the six months ended 31st of December 2025, contained at 00:21:31.158 --> 00:21:36.063 appendix one and two. Note as the end of the second quarter. As per 00:21:36.096 --> 00:21:41.468 section 97, three of the Local Government Act 2020, the Chief 00:21:41.502 --> 00:21:45.739 Executive Officer is of the opinion that a revised budget is not 00:21:45.773 --> 00:21:49.843 required. However, impacts to the financial forecast will continue to 00:21:49.877 --> 00:21:54.415 be monitored closely. Thank you, Madam Mayor. Thank you. Councillor 00:21:54.448 --> 00:21:58.118 Morris do I have a Councillor to second? Councillor Ramsey I'd like 00:21:58.152 --> 00:22:04.525 to second that, Madam Mayor. Thank you. Councillor Ramsey does any 00:22:04.558 --> 00:22:08.328 Council wish to speak on the motion? Councillor Morris thanks madam 00:22:08.362 --> 00:22:13.167 mayor. It's great to see that we're well on track and well positioned 00:22:13.200 --> 00:22:18.539 to continue our capital delivery program for the remainder of the 00:22:18.572 --> 00:22:23.010 financial year, providing over more than 100 services to our community. 00:22:23.043 --> 00:22:29.149 It's important that we continue to achieve the right balance between 00:22:29.183 --> 00:22:34.354 addressing what our community needs and the growing priorities, whilst 00:22:34.388 --> 00:22:41.295 still maintaining strong financial sustainability. We went into the 00:22:41.328 --> 00:22:45.999 financial year with an ambitious capital works programme of 225.8 00:22:46.033 --> 00:22:50.270 million, budgeted for one of the largest of any local government, 00:22:50.304 --> 00:22:54.875 and it's great to see that many of these wonderful projects are well 00:22:54.908 --> 00:23:00.347 underway and have already been completed. These include road 00:23:00.380 --> 00:23:05.385 upgrades, leisure and community facilities, park upgrades and open 00:23:05.419 --> 00:23:10.057 space and streetscape improvements. We're focused on delivering the 00:23:10.090 --> 00:23:15.429 things that our growing city needs, and it's fantastic to see that 00:23:15.462 --> 00:23:19.333 these major projects are also progressing. The Community Services 00:23:19.366 --> 00:23:24.438 building in Cobblebank and the Aquatic and Leisure Centre in 00:23:24.471 --> 00:23:29.309 Fraser Rise, and they're well placed and on track for delivery. 00:23:29.343 --> 00:23:33.714 Our services continue to support our growing and diverse community, 00:23:33.747 --> 00:23:38.085 and I thank everyone involved in their delivery for making the 00:23:38.118 --> 00:23:42.156 difference in the lives of our residents. And thank you to Council 00:23:42.189 --> 00:23:45.692 officers for providing this update, and I look forward to seeing what 00:23:45.726 --> 00:23:50.130 the second half of this year brings. Thanks, Madam Mayor. Thank you. 00:23:50.164 --> 00:23:54.635 Councillor Morris does any other Councillor wish to speak? If not, 00:23:54.668 --> 00:23:59.339 I'll put it to the vote. All those in favour, please raise your hand. 00:23:59.373 --> 00:24:05.078 I declare the motion carried unanimously. Thank you. Councillors. 00:24:05.112 --> 00:24:09.683 Item 12.2 is drawdown of budgeted borrowings. This report will be 00:24:09.716 --> 00:24:13.120 presented by Liz Rowland, chief Financial Officer Thank you, Madam 00:24:13.153 --> 00:24:16.590 Mayor. The purpose of this report is to seek Council approval to 00:24:16.623 --> 00:24:21.028 enter into a loan facility agreement with Treasury Corporation 00:24:21.061 --> 00:24:23.764 Victoria and draw down $25.7 million in borrowings. This is in 00:24:23.797 --> 00:24:26.700 alignment with the borrowings approved in the adopted 2526 00:24:26.733 --> 00:24:29.670 Council budget to support the delivery of two major capital 00:24:29.703 --> 00:24:35.609 projects Cobblebank Community Services Hub and Plumpton Aquatic 00:24:35.642 --> 00:24:42.549 Leisure Centre. Thank you. Does any Councillor require any further 00:24:42.583 --> 00:24:45.419 clarification? If not, do I have a mover? Councillor Shannon. Thanks 00:24:45.452 --> 00:24:49.389 madam mayor, I'd like to move the Council. One resolves to enter into 00:24:49.423 --> 00:24:54.728 a loan facility agreement with Treasury Corporation of Victoria. 00:24:54.761 --> 00:24:59.666 Two notes that borrowings of 25.7 million are included in the adopted 00:24:59.700 --> 00:25:05.205 2526 budget and long term financial plan. Three approves the drawdown 00:25:05.239 --> 00:25:09.409 of 25.7 million under the TCV loan facility, and four authorises the 00:25:09.443 --> 00:25:13.513 Chief Executive Officer to execute all required documentation and 00:25:13.547 --> 00:25:17.084 notices of drawing associated with the borrowing. Thank you. 00:25:17.117 --> 00:25:20.554 Councillor Shannon. Do I have a Councillor to second the motion? 00:25:20.587 --> 00:25:25.926 Councillor Zada to second that. Madam mayor, thank you. Councillor 00:25:25.959 --> 00:25:29.463 Zada does any Councillor wish to speak on the motion? Councillor 00:25:29.496 --> 00:25:32.666 Abboushi thanks madam mayor. Actually sorry. Councillor Abboushi 00:25:32.699 --> 00:25:35.736 before I allow you to speak, I will just ask if Councillor Shannon as a 00:25:35.769 --> 00:25:38.538 mover wishes to speak first. My apologies. Councillor Shannon. 00:25:38.572 --> 00:25:42.242 That's okay, Madam Mayor. No problems. Thank you. Councillor 00:25:42.276 --> 00:25:48.415 Shannon. Councillor Zada is the seconder. Do you wish to speak? No 00:25:48.448 --> 00:25:52.452 thanks ma'am. I'm just going to make a just a short statement that 00:25:52.486 --> 00:25:57.524 it's good to see Council being good stewards of our ratepayers money in 00:25:57.557 --> 00:26:00.360 terms of using our cash reserves to continue to grow our investments so 00:26:00.394 --> 00:26:03.563 that we can better service our community. I just want our 00:26:03.597 --> 00:26:09.069 community to know that this isn't because clearly, if you've read the 00:26:09.102 --> 00:26:13.040 reports, we're not. We're not desperate for, for, for money, but 00:26:13.073 --> 00:26:15.642 we're using it in a way that's going to maximise ongoing 00:26:15.676 --> 00:26:18.312 investment in the community. And it's good to see that Council are 00:26:18.345 --> 00:26:21.415 being good stewards of our ratepayers money. Thanks, Madam 00:26:21.448 --> 00:26:26.386 Mayor. Thank you. Councillor Abboushi does any other Councillor 00:26:26.420 --> 00:26:31.458 wish to speak? If not, I'll put it to the vote. All those in favour, 00:26:31.491 --> 00:26:36.697 please raise your hand. I declare the motion carried unanimously. 00:26:36.730 --> 00:26:42.235 Thank you. Councillors, item 12.3 is submission of M.ab motion at MAV 00:26:42.269 --> 00:26:46.173 State Council 2026. Allocation of Growth Areas infrastructure 00:26:46.206 --> 00:26:48.775 contribution. This report will be presented by Emily Keogh Head of 00:26:48.809 --> 00:26:52.546 Governance. Thank you. Through you, Madam Mayor. This report recommends 00:26:52.579 --> 00:26:56.450 that Council submits a motion to the Municipal Association of 00:26:56.483 --> 00:27:01.555 Victoria's State Council meeting being held on Friday, the 29th of 00:27:01.588 --> 00:27:04.758 May, 2026 to call for joint advocacy to review the growth areas 00:27:04.791 --> 00:27:08.729 infrastructure contribution known as Gaec and windfall gains tax, 00:27:08.762 --> 00:27:12.632 with an allocation of funding to the local government area where it 00:27:12.666 --> 00:27:18.839 is collected. Thank you, Madam Mayor. Thank you. Is there any 00:27:18.872 --> 00:27:23.643 Councillor who seeks any further clarification? If not, do I have a 00:27:23.677 --> 00:27:26.913 mover? Councillor Zada thank you, Madam Mayor. I'd like to move the 00:27:26.947 --> 00:27:32.219 recommendation as noted in the report. Thank you. Councillor Zada 00:27:32.252 --> 00:27:37.324 do I have a seconder? Councillor Majdlik happy to second that. Madam 00:27:37.357 --> 00:27:41.828 mayor. Thank you. Councillor Majdlik does any Councillor wish to 00:27:41.862 --> 00:27:45.899 speak on the motion? Okay. Councillor Zada is a mover. Would 00:27:45.932 --> 00:27:48.668 you like to speak first? Yes. Thank you madam mayor. Delivery for the 00:27:48.702 --> 00:27:52.105 for delivery. Community infrastructure is essential, but 00:27:52.139 --> 00:27:55.308 Council's can't meet these needs on their own, especially with rate 00:27:55.342 --> 00:28:00.247 capping, inflation and a challenging economic environment. 00:28:00.280 --> 00:28:03.550 The City of Melton has has been set a target of 109,000 new homes under 00:28:03.583 --> 00:28:07.154 the Victorian Government's plan for Victoria meeting. This demand 00:28:07.187 --> 00:28:11.425 requires strong support from all levels of government. Over the next 00:28:11.458 --> 00:28:16.797 ten years, our community will need new open space precincts, libraries 00:28:16.830 --> 00:28:19.366 and leisure and aquatic facilities. Councils cannot deliver this alone. 00:28:19.399 --> 00:28:23.603 A shared funding approach between local, state and federal 00:28:23.637 --> 00:28:28.008 governments is essential, and it is a view that is also supported by 00:28:28.041 --> 00:28:32.145 Infrastructure Victoria. We believe that growth area, infrastructure 00:28:32.179 --> 00:28:35.816 contribution or Gaec funding should be reinvested into our rapidly 00:28:35.849 --> 00:28:39.486 growing community to support roads, libraries, parks and essential 00:28:39.519 --> 00:28:43.089 services. We want to see a guaranteed share of gaec and a 00:28:43.123 --> 00:28:46.126 windfall gains tax funding back into our local government area, 00:28:46.159 --> 00:28:51.097 where it is collected to help deliver critical community and 00:28:51.131 --> 00:28:54.267 transport infrastructure. A sector wide approach through the MAV will 00:28:54.301 --> 00:28:57.838 strengthen advocacy for this change, and I look forward to the motion 00:28:57.871 --> 00:29:00.841 being considered at their State Council next month. Thank you, 00:29:00.874 --> 00:29:04.444 thank you. Councillor Zada Councillor Majdlik is the seconder. 00:29:04.478 --> 00:29:16.223 Would you like to speak? Thank you, Madam Mayor. I think the graph on 00:29:16.256 --> 00:29:23.430 page 48 speaks for itself. Where? Where there's a difference here of 00:29:23.463 --> 00:29:28.401 164.988 million as a shortfall. I think it's only fair if the tax is 00:29:28.435 --> 00:29:35.041 collected from the area. It should be back invested back into the area. 00:29:35.075 --> 00:29:40.280 I hope the MAV take this on board and I wish our MAV delegate all the 00:29:40.313 --> 00:29:44.084 very best in in this motion, because anyone that we can get to 00:29:44.117 --> 00:29:47.754 help us advocate for our community and what's best for our community 00:29:47.787 --> 00:29:53.026 is, is a positive thing going forward. So I commend the officers 00:29:53.059 --> 00:29:56.429 for this. But I also, I'm sure Councillor Zada will will be quite 00:29:56.463 --> 00:29:59.633 successful in getting this over the line with the MAV State Council. 00:29:59.666 --> 00:30:04.304 Thank you, Madam Mayor. Thank you. Councillor Majdlik, I Councillor 00:30:04.337 --> 00:30:07.741 Ramsey you indicated that you wish to speak or. Councillor Verdon. I 00:30:07.774 --> 00:30:10.810 know your hands went up kind of at the same time, so. Councillor 00:30:10.844 --> 00:30:15.115 Verdon. Thanks Madam mayor, through you just I'd like to speak to this 00:30:15.148 --> 00:30:18.585 motion. I think from my perspective, whilst I do appreciate and respect 00:30:18.618 --> 00:30:21.555 my colleagues here in the fact that we do need to ask for more funding 00:30:21.588 --> 00:30:23.723 support from the state government with regards to our infrastructure 00:30:23.757 --> 00:30:27.761 needs, particularly those intergenerational needs. I don't 00:30:27.794 --> 00:30:31.498 feel that the report adequately unpacks exactly what the game is 00:30:31.531 --> 00:30:35.435 for. The state government also requires to deliver a significant 00:30:35.468 --> 00:30:38.605 amount of infrastructure for our community, using that Gaec comments 00:30:38.638 --> 00:30:42.375 to say that the money hasn't been transparently reported on the 00:30:42.409 --> 00:30:45.312 website. We wouldn't have where the money is and what it needs to be 00:30:45.345 --> 00:30:47.681 spent on. If the state government wasn't transparent and to read 00:30:47.714 --> 00:30:50.850 directly from the website. This money's for new railway stations 00:30:50.884 --> 00:30:53.453 and associated works, new bus exchanges, future transport 00:30:53.486 --> 00:30:56.189 corridors, bus services for the first five years of operation, 00:30:56.222 --> 00:30:59.826 associated infrastructure, public transport such as car parking and 00:30:59.859 --> 00:31:01.962 access and access. Building new communities funds comes out of it 00:31:01.995 --> 00:31:04.598 as well, which is primary and secondary government schools, 00:31:04.631 --> 00:31:07.434 something we desperately need here. Another educational facility, state 00:31:07.467 --> 00:31:10.670 emergency services facilities like fire stations and ambulances, 00:31:10.704 --> 00:31:14.007 health, community wellbeing and family prevention facilities. 00:31:14.040 --> 00:31:16.476 Justice facilities including courts and police stations. Open space 00:31:16.509 --> 00:31:21.047 improvements, walking and cycling, regional level sporting and 00:31:21.081 --> 00:31:23.216 recreational facilities. Now my concern is that if we support a 00:31:23.249 --> 00:31:26.186 motion like this, we cripple the state government's ability to 00:31:26.219 --> 00:31:29.189 invest in our community. I'm all for calling for additional funding, 00:31:29.222 --> 00:31:32.292 but it can't be through Gaec and for that reason I won't be 00:31:32.325 --> 00:31:34.661 supporting the motion. Thank you. Sorry, Councillor Verdon, I will 00:31:34.694 --> 00:31:39.499 have to clarify, are you voting against this? If we're entering 00:31:39.532 --> 00:31:41.735 into debate, you are going to vote against this one here. It was my 00:31:41.768 --> 00:31:44.771 statement on the report basically saying that it hasn't fully 00:31:44.804 --> 00:31:47.807 addressed. I just need to know whether or not you'll be supporting 00:31:47.841 --> 00:31:51.711 it, because if not, we have to enter into won't be supporting the 00:31:51.745 --> 00:31:55.115 motion as put. Okay, so we enter into debate. Sure. Thank you, 00:31:55.148 --> 00:31:57.250 Councillor Vernon. Councillors, we have now entered into debate. 00:31:57.283 --> 00:32:03.323 Councillor Ramsey you have indicated that you wish to speak 00:32:03.356 --> 00:32:10.664 with the greatest respect to my fellow Councillor. 420 million 00:32:10.697 --> 00:32:17.570 nearly 421 million was collected from the City of Melton, 255 was 00:32:17.604 --> 00:32:25.211 pledged. As Councillor Majdlik pointed out, $165 million is still 00:32:25.245 --> 00:32:29.249 there awaiting their sitting on this money. Our Caroline Springs 00:32:29.282 --> 00:32:34.988 police stations closed. We've got five trucks that need replacing to 00:32:35.021 --> 00:32:40.060 go through the examples that my fellow colleague was mentioning, 00:32:40.093 --> 00:32:45.065 there's huge shortfalls there. Yes, I know, but there's also shortfalls 00:32:45.098 --> 00:32:50.036 in us being able to deliver what we need to deliver as a Council for 00:32:50.070 --> 00:32:56.342 our growth corridor, which we're part of our municipality. People 00:32:56.376 --> 00:33:02.082 are striving to come here. They need a lot of services being laid 00:33:02.115 --> 00:33:07.053 out. We're not an inbuilt inbuilt Council like the Maribyrnong and 00:33:07.087 --> 00:33:13.093 the Moonee Valleys and such. We're still deploying lots of different 00:33:13.126 --> 00:33:17.097 infrastructure. And if you listen to the report that was just had was 00:33:17.130 --> 00:33:23.336 we've done a very good job in budgeting for our community, and 00:33:23.369 --> 00:33:30.076 we're delivering a great budget at over $200 million, just to to keep 00:33:30.110 --> 00:33:32.712 in pace with what our community expects. But we need the state. And 00:33:32.746 --> 00:33:38.251 in time, state and federal government have come in partnership 00:33:38.284 --> 00:33:41.721 and we're grateful for that. But we need a lot, lot more. Thank you, 00:33:41.755 --> 00:33:46.760 Madam Mayor. Thank you. Councillor Ramsey does any other Councillor 00:33:46.793 --> 00:33:49.162 wish to speak? Councillor Shannon thanks madam mayor, I think. 00:33:49.195 --> 00:33:52.332 Councillor Verdon yes, he did rattle off some very important 00:33:52.365 --> 00:33:54.934 things, but they were all state responsibilities and we're 00:33:54.968 --> 00:33:58.505 expecting money to come back for our responsibilities as local 00:33:58.538 --> 00:34:02.709 government. If we look for page 48, where we've got. Council is seeking 00:34:02.742 --> 00:34:06.045 a review of Gache that includes a guaranteed percentage of funds 00:34:06.079 --> 00:34:08.948 directed to council's local community projects, including 00:34:08.982 --> 00:34:12.385 libraries, community centres, aquatic centres, sporting pavilions 00:34:12.418 --> 00:34:16.356 or local roads within the local government area. It is collected 00:34:16.389 --> 00:34:20.360 and it is in black and white in front of my face. $165 million 00:34:20.393 --> 00:34:26.132 short. Thank you, thank you. Councillor Shannon does any other 00:34:26.166 --> 00:34:31.805 Councillor wish to speak? Councillor Turner. Thank you madam 00:34:31.838 --> 00:34:35.875 mayor has always been a thorn in my side. Ever since we first 00:34:35.909 --> 00:34:39.746 discovered it being one of the fastest growing municipalities, not 00:34:39.779 --> 00:34:43.349 only in Victoria but in Australia. It's ridiculous that this money is 00:34:43.383 --> 00:34:47.854 being taken from our community. This is money. Money that is badly 00:34:47.887 --> 00:34:52.659 needed for the growth in our city, and I just hope that Councillor 00:34:52.692 --> 00:34:57.163 Zada gets full support from the MAV with his motion, and that we can 00:34:57.197 --> 00:35:01.201 turn this around a bit. It's ridiculous that we are paying in 00:35:01.234 --> 00:35:05.605 excess to everybody else, especially to the tune of 164 00:35:05.638 --> 00:35:10.109 million. I think it's just it's sad, but it's very painful for our 00:35:10.143 --> 00:35:16.149 residents. Thank you, Madam Mayor. Thank you. Councillor Turner does 00:35:16.182 --> 00:35:20.787 any Councillor wish to speak who hasn't spoken? Councillor Abboushi 00:35:20.820 --> 00:35:27.493 Madam mayor, it's it's not really for me. I suppose it's not really a 00:35:27.527 --> 00:35:31.097 a difficult one to understand in terms of my view that and people 00:35:31.130 --> 00:35:35.034 have already said it, that it ties back the funding back to where it 00:35:35.068 --> 00:35:42.475 was collected, if it was collected from here, should be reinvested 00:35:42.508 --> 00:35:45.745 here. And I'm maybe maybe I'm a little bit confused about what 00:35:45.778 --> 00:35:49.382 Councillor Verdon is trying to say. Whilst I believe some of the things 00:35:49.415 --> 00:35:53.253 that he read off the relevant website is important, it's also 00:35:53.286 --> 00:35:56.356 important that we've got the funding in the rate capped 00:35:56.389 --> 00:35:59.692 environment to be able to deliver for our residents, and the only way 00:35:59.726 --> 00:36:04.631 to do that is if the money was collected from the City of Melton, 00:36:04.664 --> 00:36:09.769 it should be reinvested in the City of Melton. Thank you, Councillor 00:36:09.802 --> 00:36:12.705 Abboushi. There are no further questions. I will go back to 00:36:12.739 --> 00:36:17.677 Councillor Zada. You have the right of reply. Councillor Zada. Thank 00:36:17.710 --> 00:36:21.147 you, Madam Mayor. I think we need to bring this back to what the item 00:36:21.180 --> 00:36:24.284 actually is. It's not changing. We're not changing state policy 00:36:24.317 --> 00:36:27.220 tonight. This is simply deciding whether at this Council is prepared 00:36:27.253 --> 00:36:30.523 to advocate for a fairer outcome for our community. Our residents 00:36:30.556 --> 00:36:33.359 are contributing significant funding through growth, and they 00:36:33.393 --> 00:36:37.563 are the ones dealing with the pressures of roads, facilities and 00:36:37.597 --> 00:36:41.834 services every day. Choosing to submit this motion costs us nothing, 00:36:41.868 --> 00:36:45.271 but choosing not to means we're effectively saying we're not even 00:36:45.305 --> 00:36:49.516 willing to ask the question. Advocacy is part of our job, and 00:36:49.541 --> 00:36:53.677 this is exactly the kind of issue that we should be using our voice 00:36:53.702 --> 00:36:58.895 for. At its core, this is a this is a values decision. Do we accept the 00:36:58.920 --> 00:37:02.606 status quo or do we advocate. For something better for our community? 00:37:20.728 --> 00:37:22.092 you certainly can. 00:37:22.117 --> 00:37:26.482 Councillor Zada has called for a division. Therefore, setting aside 00:37:26.507 --> 00:37:27.369 the original vote, I will put the matter to vote again. All those in 00:37:27.402 --> 00:37:32.555 favour of the motion, please raise your hand. Councillor Turner 00:37:32.673 --> 00:37:36.443 Councillor Majdlik. Councillor. Abboushi. Councillor Morris. 00:37:36.486 --> 00:37:41.657 Councillor Zada. Councillor Carli. Councillor Shannon and Councillor 00:37:41.682 --> 00:37:50.290 Ramsey. All those against. Please raise your hand. Councillor Verdon. 00:37:50.324 --> 00:37:54.561 I declare the division carried. Councillors. I have just received 00:37:54.595 --> 00:37:57.464 some information that our live streaming has stopped, so I will 00:37:57.498 --> 00:38:02.669 adjourn the meeting for just five minutes. So I will adjourn the 00:38:02.703 --> 00:38:13.322 meeting at 7:42 p.m. and we'll just wait for our live streaming to come back, and we'll commence our meeting again. Thank you 00:38:15.921 --> 00:38:19.799 Thank you for those watching online meeting again. Thank you, thank you. for your patience and also the 00:38:19.833 --> 00:38:25.171 members in the gallery. We did have some technical difficulties that we 00:38:25.205 --> 00:38:28.685 worked through, but we're all ready to go. Okay, Councillor, so I draw 00:38:28.710 --> 00:38:33.181 your attention to 12.4 proposed discontinuance and sale of part of 00:38:33.215 --> 00:38:37.360 Park Grey Court in Deeside, and this report will be presented by 00:38:37.385 --> 00:38:40.421 Emily Keogh Head of Governance. Thank you. Through you, Madam Mayor. 00:38:40.454 --> 00:38:44.759 This report recommends that Council commence the statutory process for 00:38:44.792 --> 00:38:48.496 the discontinuation of Grey Court Dean side and proposed sale of land 00:38:48.529 --> 00:38:52.466 to align the progression of Grey Court to the north, resulting in 00:38:52.500 --> 00:38:56.103 part of the road reserve known as the Court Bowl, being redundant and 00:38:56.137 --> 00:39:00.574 therefore not required to be retained by Council. Thank you, 00:39:00.608 --> 00:39:07.815 thank you. Does any Councillor require any further clarification 00:39:07.848 --> 00:39:13.287 in regards to this item? If not, do I have a mover? Councillor Ramsey. 00:39:13.321 --> 00:39:20.161 I'd like to move the recommendation that reads the Council pursuant to 00:39:20.194 --> 00:39:29.203 section 206, 207 and 223, and clause three of schedule ten of the 00:39:29.236 --> 00:39:40.314 LGA 1989. A commence the statutory process to propose to discontinue 00:39:40.348 --> 00:39:45.353 part road reserve r one on LP 149082E Grey Court Dean side be 00:39:45.386 --> 00:39:53.561 subject to the above discontinuation vest 00:39:53.594 --> 00:39:57.998 discontinuation land in Council. C direct that the accordance that in 00:39:58.032 --> 00:40:03.037 accordance with Council's Community Engagement Policy, a public notice 00:40:03.070 --> 00:40:09.477 of the proposed discontinuation be published in the Melton and Star 00:40:09.510 --> 00:40:15.516 weekly newspaper and on council's website. D convene if required, a 00:40:15.549 --> 00:40:22.656 submission Submissions hearing pursuant to section 223 of the 00:40:22.690 --> 00:40:26.494 Local Government Act, 1989 to hear from anyone who states in their 00:40:26.527 --> 00:40:30.531 submission their desire to be heard in person if required. The meeting 00:40:30.564 --> 00:40:36.437 will be conducted via video conferencing with anyone requesting 00:40:36.470 --> 00:40:45.146 to be heard in person being notified in advance of that date. 00:40:45.179 --> 00:40:50.584 And can I just say item number two, three, and four as printed in the 00:40:50.618 --> 00:40:55.089 agenda, please? Sorry, I didn't realise it was half a monologue. Oh 00:40:55.122 --> 00:41:02.062 good. Thank you. Councillor Ramsey. So councillors, item 12.4 has been 00:41:02.096 --> 00:41:06.734 moved by Councillor Ramsey. Do I have a seconder? Councillor Verdon 00:41:06.767 --> 00:41:11.405 happy to second that as Councillor Ramsey read it out. Accepting the 00:41:11.439 --> 00:41:16.243 rest as read. Thank you. Councillor Verdon does any Councillor wish to 00:41:16.277 --> 00:41:19.613 speak on the motion? If not I'll put it to the vote. All those in 00:41:19.647 --> 00:41:25.386 favour please raise your hand. I declare the motion carried 00:41:25.419 --> 00:41:29.657 unanimously. Thank you. Councillors. Item 12.5 is a proposal to lease 00:41:29.690 --> 00:41:32.893 Boronia Drive Reserve hillside. This report will be presented by 00:41:32.927 --> 00:41:35.930 Emily Keogh Head of Governance. Thank you. Through you, Madam Mayor, 00:41:35.963 --> 00:41:38.499 the purpose of this report is for Council to consider a proposed 00:41:38.532 --> 00:41:41.569 lease to India Corporation Proprietary Limited at Boronia 00:41:41.602 --> 00:41:44.405 Drive Reserve Hillside for the purpose of operating a 00:41:44.438 --> 00:41:48.209 telecommunications facility. The report recommends that the 00:41:48.242 --> 00:41:52.146 application for lease be refused based on the visual impact of the 00:41:52.179 --> 00:41:55.349 facility, and also recommends that Council engage with Indra 00:41:55.382 --> 00:41:58.519 Corporation, who have demonstrated a willingness to identify potential 00:41:58.552 --> 00:42:01.455 alternative locations in the hillside area to support the 00:42:01.489 --> 00:42:06.494 improvement of network reliability for the surrounding community. 00:42:06.527 --> 00:42:09.663 Thank you, thank you. Is there any Councillor who requires any further 00:42:09.697 --> 00:42:13.400 clarification in regards to this report? Councillor Shannon thanks, 00:42:13.434 --> 00:42:20.474 Madam Mayor. Thanks, Emily. Just a clarification. I think you just 00:42:20.508 --> 00:42:23.777 mentioned it, but it says on page 57 that other identified locations 00:42:23.811 --> 00:42:26.647 which may be more suitable and which the carrier has expressed a 00:42:26.680 --> 00:42:29.750 willingness to explore. So they're very happy just to work with 00:42:29.783 --> 00:42:32.720 Council officers and look for a more suitable site, because we do 00:42:32.753 --> 00:42:37.157 need these in our city. Through you, Madam Mayor. Yes, absolutely. 00:42:37.191 --> 00:42:41.395 Wonderful. Thank you, thank you. Councillor Shannon any other 00:42:41.428 --> 00:42:45.833 Councillor wish to speak in regards to this motion? If not, I'll put it 00:42:45.866 --> 00:42:55.509 to the vote. All those in favour, please raise your hand. I declare 00:42:55.543 --> 00:42:59.446 the motion carried unanimously. Item 12.6 is proposed. Amendment to 00:42:59.480 --> 00:43:05.786 2026 Council Meeting schedule. This report will be presented by Emily 00:43:05.819 --> 00:43:14.228 Keogh, Head of Governance. Thank you. Through you, Madam Mayor. Yeah. 00:43:14.261 --> 00:43:19.300 Did he? Yes it was. I was moved by Councillor Ramsey and oh my 00:43:19.333 --> 00:43:21.602 apologies. Oh sorry councillors. My mistake. I was looking at 00:43:21.635 --> 00:43:25.306 Councillor Ramsey inverted, but I didn't realise. Yes, that was for 00:43:25.339 --> 00:43:30.110 the previous one. So apologies councillors. Do I have a mover for 00:43:30.144 --> 00:43:34.648 item 12.5? Councillor Zada. I'd like to move that, Madam Mayor. 00:43:34.682 --> 00:43:37.851 Thank you. Councillor Zada do I have a second? Councillor Abboushi 00:43:37.885 --> 00:43:41.255 happy to second that, madam Mayor. Thank you. Councillor Abboushi does 00:43:41.288 --> 00:43:44.491 any Councillor wish to speak? Councillor Shannon but if not, I 00:43:44.525 --> 00:43:48.662 will put it to the vote and my apologies again. All those in 00:43:48.696 --> 00:43:54.868 favour, please raise your hand. I declare the motion carried 00:43:54.902 --> 00:43:58.806 unanimously. Got it right this time, councillors. Thank you. Item 12.6 00:43:58.839 --> 00:44:03.110 proposed amendment to 2026 Council Meeting schedule. This report will 00:44:03.143 --> 00:44:05.913 be presented by Emily Keogh Head of Governance. Thank you. Through you, 00:44:05.946 --> 00:44:09.083 Madam Mayor. This report recommends to Council the amendment of the 00:44:09.116 --> 00:44:13.787 adopted 2026 Council Meeting schedule to change the commencement 00:44:13.821 --> 00:44:17.458 time of scheduled Council meetings from 7 p.m. to 6 p.m. effective 00:44:17.491 --> 00:44:21.462 from the Council meeting scheduled to be held on the 27th of April, 00:44:21.495 --> 00:44:26.133 2026. Thank you, thank you. Does any Council require any further 00:44:26.166 --> 00:44:29.470 clarification in regards to this report? Do I have a mover? 00:44:29.503 --> 00:44:32.306 Councillor Morris. Thank you, Madam Mayor. I'd like to move the 00:44:32.339 --> 00:44:36.477 recommendation that Council, in accordance with its governance 00:44:36.510 --> 00:44:42.616 rules, amend the adopted 2026 Council meeting schedule to change 00:44:42.650 --> 00:44:47.254 the commencement time of scheduled Council meetings from 7 p.m. to 6 00:44:47.287 --> 00:44:51.158 p.m. effective from the Council meeting scheduled to be held on the 00:44:51.191 --> 00:44:54.628 27th of April, 2026. Thank you. Councillor Morris do I have a 00:44:54.662 --> 00:45:00.634 seconder? Councillor Ramsey happy to second that, Madam Mayor. Thank 00:45:00.668 --> 00:45:04.338 you. Councillor Ramsey does any Council wish to speak on the motion? 00:45:04.371 --> 00:45:10.177 Councillor Morris as a mover, would you like to speak first? Thank you 00:45:10.210 --> 00:45:15.716 Madam Mayor. I am very much looking forward to this move earlier. I 00:45:15.749 --> 00:45:20.521 think many of us have families and other work commitments, so I think 00:45:20.554 --> 00:45:27.394 many people may not know. Sometimes our meetings go well past 10 p.m. 00:45:27.428 --> 00:45:31.598 so hopefully this will, you know, have us finishing a bit earlier and 00:45:31.632 --> 00:45:34.568 using our brains activity a little bit better earlier on in the night. 00:45:34.601 --> 00:45:37.604 So I look forward to it. Thanks Madam Mayor. Thank you. Councillor 00:45:37.638 --> 00:45:44.378 Morris Councillor Ramsey is the seconder. Do you wish to speak? I 00:45:44.411 --> 00:45:49.416 have long waited for this item to be put on the agenda. I commend the 00:45:49.450 --> 00:45:55.456 executive and councils for actually bringing it forward an hour. I 00:45:55.489 --> 00:46:00.527 think the quicker the decisions we we do a lot of deliberating. We 00:46:00.561 --> 00:46:04.198 have a lot of time to ask officers questions and get clarification, 00:46:04.231 --> 00:46:09.403 and it's great when councillors can come into the chamber and really 00:46:09.436 --> 00:46:12.706 debate. But an earlier start means earlier home time and bedtime for 00:46:12.740 --> 00:46:15.609 the rest of us. Thank you. Councillor Ramsey Councillor Verdon 00:46:15.642 --> 00:46:18.779 you indicated you wish to speak. Thanks Madam Mayor, through you, 00:46:18.812 --> 00:46:21.749 most of the other councillors stole most of the comments I was going to 00:46:21.782 --> 00:46:24.785 make, so I'll keep this brief. I think it's really great, 00:46:24.818 --> 00:46:27.788 particularly for members of the gallery that come in, and I want to 00:46:27.821 --> 00:46:31.725 acknowledge all the members of the gallery that are here with us. 00:46:31.759 --> 00:46:34.895 Hopefully a bit of an earlier start time will be a bit easier for all 00:46:34.928 --> 00:46:37.765 of those guys as well. And we very much appreciate their attendance at 00:46:37.798 --> 00:46:40.701 all these Council meetings and their support. But also it should 00:46:40.734 --> 00:46:43.704 be a lot more family friendly time. As Councillor Morris said, for 00:46:43.737 --> 00:46:46.673 those watching online and for all of us with family commitments to 00:46:46.707 --> 00:46:48.976 get home on time. Thanks, Madam Mayor. Thank you. Councillor Verdon 00:46:49.009 --> 00:46:51.879 does any other Council wish to speak? Councillor Majdlik thank you, 00:46:51.912 --> 00:46:55.682 Madam Mayor. I just want to highlight about the some of the 00:46:55.716 --> 00:47:01.488 thoughts that made me lead to an earlier state start is the health 00:47:01.522 --> 00:47:06.693 and safety of our staff. A lot of a lot of our community don't realise 00:47:06.727 --> 00:47:11.765 that they're here very early and don't leave till very, very late, 00:47:11.799 --> 00:47:17.104 especially on a Monday. So hopefully this helps. That doesn't 00:47:17.137 --> 00:47:21.742 mean that we should talk more, but we should make more succinct 00:47:21.775 --> 00:47:25.512 decisions in the gallery and hopefully a earlier, earlier finish. 00:47:25.546 --> 00:47:29.082 And hopefully it will help the members of the gallery as well. We 00:47:29.116 --> 00:47:34.087 thank them for coming time and time again, and especially during winter 00:47:34.121 --> 00:47:38.358 time. It can get quite late and cold. So looking forward to this 00:47:38.392 --> 00:47:42.729 change and hopefully it'll be a positive step forward. Thank you. 00:47:42.763 --> 00:47:46.333 Councillor Majdlik any other Councillor wish to speak? If not, 00:47:46.366 --> 00:47:51.605 it was moved by Councillor Morris seconded by Councillor Ramsey. All 00:47:51.638 --> 00:47:57.811 those in favour please raise your hand. I declare the motion carried 00:47:57.845 --> 00:48:00.747 unanimously. Thank you councillors. Item 12.7 is a lead West Joint 00:48:00.781 --> 00:48:04.284 Delegated Committee meeting minutes and this report will be presented 00:48:04.318 --> 00:48:07.354 by Emily Keogh Head of Governance. Thank you, Madam Mayor. Through you. 00:48:07.387 --> 00:48:10.424 The purpose of this report is to present the minutes of the lead 00:48:10.457 --> 00:48:13.260 West Joint Delegated Committee Meeting held on the 3rd of December 00:48:13.293 --> 00:48:16.964 2025, and the unconfirmed minutes of the lead West Joint Delegated 00:48:16.997 --> 00:48:21.301 Committee held on the 25th of February, 2026. Thank you. Thank 00:48:21.335 --> 00:48:27.241 you. Does any Council require any further clarification in regards to 00:48:27.274 --> 00:48:29.576 item 12.7? If not, do I have a mover? Councillor Zada. Thank you, 00:48:29.610 --> 00:48:34.214 Madam Mayor. I'd like to move the recommendation that Council. Note 00:48:34.248 --> 00:48:36.650 the minutes of the lead West Joint Delegate Committee meeting held on 00:48:36.683 --> 00:48:39.786 the 3rd of December 2025 as appendix one, and note the 00:48:39.820 --> 00:48:44.157 unconfirmed minutes of the lead West Joint Delegate Committee 00:48:44.191 --> 00:48:48.595 meeting held on the 23rd of February 2026 as appendix two. 00:48:48.629 --> 00:48:51.765 Thank you. Councillor Zada do I have a seconder? Councillor Verdon 00:48:51.798 --> 00:48:55.836 happy to second that, Madam Mayor. Thank you. Councillor Verdon does 00:48:55.869 --> 00:48:58.705 any Councillor wish to speak on the motion? Councillor Majdlik. 00:48:58.739 --> 00:49:02.576 Actually. Councillor Majdlik. I will go to Councillor Zada as a 00:49:02.609 --> 00:49:04.878 mover. Councillor Zada did you wish to speak in regards to this item? 00:49:04.912 --> 00:49:10.217 No, thank you, Madam Mayor. No. Councillor Verdon is the seconder. 00:49:10.250 --> 00:49:14.154 Do you wish to speak? No, no. Thank you, Madam Mayor. Thank you. 00:49:14.187 --> 00:49:20.594 Councillor Majdlik, can I just. Madam mayor, say a big thank you to 00:49:20.627 --> 00:49:24.731 our the former chair, our our Councillor, Doctor Zara, who was 00:49:24.765 --> 00:49:29.002 the former chair of Lead West. And judging by the minutes, I think he 00:49:29.036 --> 00:49:33.540 ran a lot tighter ship than what's happening at this present moment. 00:49:33.573 --> 00:49:38.011 But let's put that aside. I just want to thank him for his time on 00:49:38.045 --> 00:49:43.350 because in the minutes it does say that they thanked him. So I think 00:49:43.383 --> 00:49:48.355 it's the least we can do as a Council. Thank him for his 00:49:48.388 --> 00:49:53.727 diligence in what he's done to put lead West in the forefront of 00:49:53.760 --> 00:49:59.232 everyone's minds, particularly in the lead up to this election. But I 00:49:59.266 --> 00:50:03.403 also hopefully he can get back on to lead West as chair. So just 00:50:03.437 --> 00:50:09.343 putting it out there, Madam Mayor. Well done. Thank you, Councillor 00:50:09.376 --> 00:50:14.247 Majdlik any other councillors wish to speak? If not, I agree. Well 00:50:14.281 --> 00:50:17.217 done Councillor doctor Zara. Alrighty. Council has moved by 00:50:17.250 --> 00:50:21.154 Councillor Zada seconded by Councillor Verdan. I will put it to 00:50:21.188 --> 00:50:29.496 the vote. All those in favour please raise your hand. I declare 00:50:29.529 --> 00:50:33.700 the motion carried unanimously. Okay councillors, item 12.8 is the 00:50:33.734 --> 00:50:36.837 Audit and Risk Committee matters. This report will be presented by 00:50:36.870 --> 00:50:39.773 Emily Keogh Head of Governance. Thank you. Through you, Madam Mayor. 00:50:39.806 --> 00:50:41.875 The purpose of this report is to present the Council with the 00:50:41.908 --> 00:50:46.646 confirmed minutes and associated recommendations of the Audit and 00:50:46.680 --> 00:50:49.649 Risk Committee meeting, which was held on the 19th of February 2026. 00:50:49.683 --> 00:50:55.355 The report also tables the Audit and Risk Committee biannual report 00:50:55.389 --> 00:51:00.060 for the period of the October 2025 to March 2026. Thank you, thank you. 00:51:00.093 --> 00:51:06.433 Does any Councillor require any further clarification in regards to 00:51:06.466 --> 00:51:09.469 item 12.8? If not, do I have a mover? Councillor Zada. Thank you, 00:51:09.503 --> 00:51:15.642 Madam Mayor. I'd like to move the recommendation as noted in the 00:51:15.675 --> 00:51:19.112 report. Thank you. Councillor Zada do I have a seconder? Councillor 00:51:19.146 --> 00:51:25.218 Morris happy to second that. Madam Mayor. Thank you. Councillor Morris 00:51:25.252 --> 00:51:29.589 does any Councillor wish to speak on the matter? If not, I'll put it 00:51:29.623 --> 00:51:35.228 to the vote. All those in favour please raise your hand. I declare 00:51:35.262 --> 00:51:39.032 the motion carried unanimously. Item 12.9 advisory committees of 00:51:39.066 --> 00:51:43.236 Council aggregated meeting minutes. This report will be presented by 00:51:43.270 --> 00:51:49.309 Emily Keogh. Head of Governance. Madam mayor, could I move the the 00:51:49.342 --> 00:51:54.014 report and motion as put. Councillor Majdlik has moved the 00:51:54.047 --> 00:51:57.984 motion as put. Do I have a second to Councillor Abboushi? Happy to 00:51:58.018 --> 00:52:02.889 second that, madam Mayor. Thank you. Councillor Abboushi does any 00:52:02.923 --> 00:52:07.360 Councillor wish to speak? If not, I'll put it to the vote. All those 00:52:07.394 --> 00:52:12.218 in favour, please raise your hand. I declare the motion carried 00:52:12.516 --> 00:52:25.445 unanimously. Thank you councillors. Okay. Items 13 is reports from 00:52:25.479 --> 00:52:28.491 delegates appointed to other bodies and Councillor. Representations and 00:52:28.516 --> 00:52:35.523 acknowledgements. Councillors. This evening I will be going first and 00:52:35.556 --> 00:52:40.194 then I will give the floor to other councillors. I will start by just 00:52:40.228 --> 00:52:45.600 saying. We recently said goodbye to a very special member of our 00:52:45.633 --> 00:52:50.538 community, someone whose kindness and presence touched so many. 00:52:50.571 --> 00:52:55.676 Margaret Lowry was a beautiful soul whose generosity and caring nature 00:52:55.710 --> 00:53:00.781 left a lasting impression on everyone she met. She was always 00:53:00.815 --> 00:53:04.719 giving, always kind, and a true champion for our community. Many of 00:53:04.752 --> 00:53:09.323 us knew Margaret through her incredible community work and her 00:53:09.357 --> 00:53:14.395 warm, smiling face, often greeting us with a basket of poppies on 00:53:14.428 --> 00:53:19.400 Anzac Day, Remembrance Day and Vietnam Veterans Day. There are 00:53:19.433 --> 00:53:24.438 people who come into our lives and leave a lasting mark. And for me, 00:53:24.472 --> 00:53:29.510 Margaret was one of those people. Her humour, her kindness and her 00:53:29.544 --> 00:53:33.548 smile meant so much to me. I will miss her deeply, especially our 00:53:33.581 --> 00:53:39.220 messages and the many laughs we shared. My thoughts and prayers are 00:53:39.253 --> 00:53:45.092 with her husband Ian and their family during this difficult time. 00:53:45.126 --> 00:53:50.164 Thank you councillors. Apart from our Council briefings and meetings, 00:53:50.198 --> 00:53:54.202 I have attended some events so I'll just quickly go through them. 00:53:54.235 --> 00:53:58.139 Thursday 26th of February the official opening of the McPherson 00:53:58.172 --> 00:54:02.076 Park Rugby Pavilion, Rugby and Gridiron Pavilion. I just want to 00:54:02.109 --> 00:54:05.546 say well done to all the members of the clubs for the years of 00:54:05.580 --> 00:54:08.916 advocating that they have done to that, and it was great to see it 00:54:08.950 --> 00:54:13.688 finally done and for us to open that. It was a special day for 00:54:13.721 --> 00:54:18.426 obviously, councillors and Council officers and also those community 00:54:18.459 --> 00:54:24.232 group users. I had a school visit at Southern Cross Grammar, where I 00:54:24.265 --> 00:54:28.936 spoke to 54 year four students, and I just want to thank Renee and Troy 00:54:28.970 --> 00:54:34.609 for joining me and for the great work that they also do during these 00:54:34.642 --> 00:54:40.381 school visits. I also had advocacy meeting with Steve McGee and Gail 00:54:40.414 --> 00:54:44.719 Teeny specialist Hoops Victoria Gala, the opening of the vantage 00:54:44.752 --> 00:54:47.655 Bloomdale clubhouse in Diggers Rest Council forum, Council plan and 00:54:47.688 --> 00:54:51.859 budget ideas. And I just want to thank the residents who presented 00:54:51.892 --> 00:54:57.698 to us in person at the Dean Side Community Centre. Thank you so much 00:54:57.732 --> 00:55:02.169 for coming and submitting your budget ideas with us. The Merrell 00:55:02.203 --> 00:55:05.773 International Women's Day luncheon, where we celebrated all the 00:55:05.806 --> 00:55:09.610 beautiful, strong and inspiring women in our community the leaders, 00:55:09.644 --> 00:55:13.781 the carers, the mentors, the advocates and volunteers, the 00:55:13.814 --> 00:55:18.252 professionals, the moms, daughters, sisters and friends who make our 00:55:18.286 --> 00:55:22.290 community stronger every single day. We are so fortunate to be 00:55:22.323 --> 00:55:26.060 surrounded by women who lead with courage, compassion, and 00:55:26.093 --> 00:55:31.699 determination and who lift other women up. Our special guest, Bec 00:55:31.732 --> 00:55:36.137 Danaher, shared her powerful and deeply personal story about DND. 00:55:36.170 --> 00:55:39.674 Her story was incredibly moving and inspiring and what a great job she 00:55:39.707 --> 00:55:44.712 did. I don't think there was a dry eye in that room when she finished 00:55:44.745 --> 00:55:48.382 speaking. Lead West 2026 State Election Advocacy Priorities 00:55:48.416 --> 00:55:52.620 official launch event where I attended with our Deputy Mayor and 00:55:52.653 --> 00:55:56.624 once again, well done Councillor Zada on the great job that you have 00:55:56.657 --> 00:56:01.329 done on Lead West Disability Advisory Committee, Zonta 00:56:01.362 --> 00:56:04.865 International Women's Day annual dinner. Another school visit with 00:56:04.899 --> 00:56:08.669 Thornhill Park Primary School. International Women's Day 00:56:08.703 --> 00:56:13.140 celebration with ash. Ash and her team. And what a great job that 00:56:13.174 --> 00:56:17.144 they did organising that event. Arts and Culture Advisory Committee, 00:56:17.178 --> 00:56:21.449 Safe City Advisory Committee, DNC Children's and Community centre 00:56:21.482 --> 00:56:25.720 site visit where I was joined by the Deputy Mayor and Minister Lizzy 00:56:25.753 --> 00:56:29.657 Blanton and Minister Natalie Hutchins. Can't wait for that one 00:56:29.690 --> 00:56:33.627 to be open. And when we went there and had a tour, it's going it's 00:56:33.661 --> 00:56:39.166 going to look absolutely wonderful. Our budget planning day, Thai 00:56:39.200 --> 00:56:43.771 Pongal harvesting festival by seniors, the grand opening of. In 00:56:43.804 --> 00:56:48.008 Community Care pantry. And I just want to say a huge well done and 00:56:48.042 --> 00:56:51.679 thank you for having me and letting me be part of the opening. But 00:56:51.712 --> 00:56:56.484 pastors Craig and Melissa Ma and Pastor Kylie Alexander, what a 00:56:56.517 --> 00:57:00.154 great job that they have done in with that in community care pantry, 00:57:00.187 --> 00:57:04.458 helping those in need. Saint Dominic's Primary School, Harmony 00:57:04.492 --> 00:57:09.663 day Assembly Cobblebank community Services Hub topping out ceremony. 00:57:09.697 --> 00:57:14.001 That was an exciting day on on Friday for I know Council's ELT 00:57:14.034 --> 00:57:17.671 team and all the councillors and also our local federal member and 00:57:17.705 --> 00:57:23.177 state member who also then was was a great tour and we can't wait for 00:57:23.210 --> 00:57:25.980 for that to also be up and running. And you know, there is a name still 00:57:26.013 --> 00:57:29.517 to be determined, although I did call it Cobblebank Community 00:57:29.550 --> 00:57:34.488 Services Hub, but that is still happening and going through the 00:57:34.522 --> 00:57:38.125 process. And Lakeside Alive 2026. Can I just say it gets bigger and 00:57:38.159 --> 00:57:42.129 better every year? I just want to give a huge shout out to Council's 00:57:42.163 --> 00:57:45.699 events team for the wonderful job that they have done. So if you 00:57:45.733 --> 00:57:48.702 could please pass that on. Troy from I think I can speak on behalf 00:57:48.736 --> 00:57:51.872 of all councillors. It was a brilliant evening and that is it 00:57:51.906 --> 00:57:59.046 for me. Councillors. I think I've touched on everything, so I will 00:57:59.079 --> 00:58:05.419 now go to our deputy Mayor, Councillor, Doctor Zara. Apologies 00:58:05.453 --> 00:58:08.622 Madam Mayor, just finishing touches. Yeah, I'm not going to get too much 00:58:08.656 --> 00:58:12.193 detail. It's a big list on this one. But other than the briefings and 00:58:12.226 --> 00:58:14.762 the various Council meetings, we had obviously had the M a V Metro 00:58:14.795 --> 00:58:17.832 West meetings, a couple of them, which was really great. Just to 00:58:17.865 --> 00:58:21.635 speak to the other delegates. We had lead West meeting. We opened 00:58:21.669 --> 00:58:25.773 the rugby pavilion at McPherson Park Council plan and budget ideas. 00:58:25.806 --> 00:58:28.876 And I echo your sentiments, madam mayor was great to hear from the 00:58:28.909 --> 00:58:32.746 residents directly taking the time. I think the the highlight was the 00:58:32.780 --> 00:58:38.285 11 year old who came out and gave us his ideas for the park, which 00:58:38.319 --> 00:58:42.823 was great. I attended the iftar dinner hosted by the local state 00:58:42.857 --> 00:58:47.795 member at the foundation in Ravenhall. We had the Mayoral 00:58:47.828 --> 00:58:54.101 International Women's Day luncheon. Great event, Madam Mayor. The lead 00:58:54.134 --> 00:58:58.706 West launch of the state election advocacy was great to see MPs from 00:58:58.739 --> 00:59:02.409 all spectrums there. And just to have that honest conversation like 00:59:02.443 --> 00:59:06.213 help and this is what we need to get done. We had the Zonta 00:59:06.247 --> 00:59:08.983 International Women's Day annual dinner. Great as always, the World 00:59:09.016 --> 00:59:14.622 Day of Prayer, where I attended with Councillor Shannon Councillor 00:59:14.655 --> 00:59:19.393 Ramsey and Father Ian. Your voice top notch mate. Well done. Collaroy 00:59:19.426 --> 00:59:23.297 annual International Women's Day at office. We had the safe City 00:59:23.330 --> 00:59:25.666 advisory, the Deeside Community Centre site. Visit with yourself, 00:59:25.699 --> 00:59:30.204 as you mentioned, and the Honourable Lizzie Thorpe and 00:59:30.237 --> 00:59:35.209 Honourable Natalie Hutchins, the Asla Community iftar with Steve 00:59:35.242 --> 00:59:38.279 McGee in Ravenhall. The budget planning session, which was 00:59:38.312 --> 00:59:42.283 fantastic just to see all those ideas on the wall and just have 00:59:42.316 --> 00:59:45.386 that open conversation about where we hope our budget can get to. 00:59:45.419 --> 00:59:48.589 Obviously we can't have everything, but you know, we have a good, good 00:59:48.622 --> 00:59:54.228 chunk of it. The Cobblebank community services topping up, it 00:59:54.261 --> 00:59:57.431 was just great. The Ashta groups Magaki Shiori sorry if I 00:59:57.464 --> 01:00:00.901 mispronounced that that event in Melton, it was really great. 01:00:00.935 --> 01:00:04.305 Harmony Day and Lakeside Alive. And can I echo your sentiments again, 01:00:04.338 --> 01:00:07.675 Madam Mayor? The officers did a fantastic job. Multiple residents I 01:00:07.708 --> 01:00:11.378 spoke to just had a fantastic day and thankfully Melbourne's weather 01:00:11.412 --> 01:00:17.518 turned out for us that day. I was actually had a few umbrellas in the 01:00:17.551 --> 01:00:20.588 car just in case. So I also attended a very special event for 01:00:20.621 --> 01:00:24.124 the launch of a book called Tears and Laughter, which is a collection 01:00:24.158 --> 01:00:28.395 of works by the world renowned Lebanese author Gibran Khalil 01:00:28.429 --> 01:00:32.700 Gibran, edited by Father Rami. Our I am sorry, he was priest in my 01:00:32.733 --> 01:00:39.773 church. It was hosted by His Excellency Mr. Rami Hamad, Consul 01:00:39.807 --> 01:00:42.910 General of Lebanon in Melbourne. And what really. Got 20s Councillor. 01:00:42.943 --> 01:00:47.181 What really made the ceremony. The. The event special was. We actually 01:00:47.214 --> 01:00:51.185 had a special prayer for peace that was written by the the Lebanese 01:00:51.218 --> 01:00:55.422 Bishop when the Pope was in Lebanon, that we actually got to say 01:00:55.456 --> 01:00:59.093 together, Jewish, Muslim and Christians all together, which was 01:00:59.126 --> 01:01:02.796 fantastic. So just all praying for world peace. That's a great 01:01:02.830 --> 01:01:10.170 takeaway from that night. Thank you, Madam Mayor. Thank you. Councillor 01:01:10.204 --> 01:01:14.274 Zada Councillor Shannon. Tommy myself. Thank you, Madam Mayor. I'm 01:01:14.308 --> 01:01:17.277 going to be fast because I've got a lot to say as well. And I just want 01:01:17.311 --> 01:01:21.181 to thank you, Madam Mayor, for the beautiful tribute to Margaret Lowry. 01:01:21.215 --> 01:01:25.586 I don't need to add to that, but I agree with everything that you said 01:01:25.619 --> 01:01:28.789 and absolutely beautiful soul. And my heart is with Ian and the family. 01:01:28.822 --> 01:01:32.760 I won't do the dates, but I was at the official opening of the 01:01:32.793 --> 01:01:36.130 McPherson Park Rugby Pavilion. Rugby league union and gridiron 01:01:36.163 --> 01:01:40.234 clubs now have a much needed, amazing facility. What a great 01:01:40.267 --> 01:01:44.304 facility that is. I was at the West of Melbourne Tourism Board meeting 01:01:44.338 --> 01:01:47.541 which was held here in Melton at the Caroline Springs Library and 01:01:47.574 --> 01:01:52.279 Learning Hub. It was nice to have all the crew from the six councils 01:01:52.312 --> 01:01:55.649 out for that here in our city. I was at the Specialist Hoops 01:01:55.683 --> 01:01:59.687 Victorian Gala celebrating participants and thanking families 01:01:59.720 --> 01:02:04.224 and volunteers and sponsors. Well done Emily and team for another 01:02:04.258 --> 01:02:08.495 great night. I also attended the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community Big 01:02:08.529 --> 01:02:13.233 Iftar dinner. I always love that that the leaders from various faith 01:02:13.267 --> 01:02:17.371 groups spoke on faith and fasting, and it's always a welcoming and 01:02:17.404 --> 01:02:20.374 respectful dinner with some beautiful people. Also, I was at 01:02:20.407 --> 01:02:25.779 the Mayor's International Women's Day luncheon. Well done, Madam 01:02:25.813 --> 01:02:30.751 Mayor. And our guest speaker, Bec Danaher, was very inspiring. Lovely 01:02:30.784 --> 01:02:34.088 to hear her. That afternoon, I attended the Intercultural Advisory 01:02:34.121 --> 01:02:39.159 Committee and that was chaired by Councillor Turner. Well done. In 01:02:39.193 --> 01:02:42.396 lieu of Councillor Zada being busy elsewhere, then I was at the 01:02:42.429 --> 01:02:47.101 Disability Advisory Committee. It's nice to be the feeling when others 01:02:47.134 --> 01:02:52.139 can't go. I like being part of that committee. Always a very important 01:02:52.172 --> 01:02:56.410 committee. The. Attended the Zonta International Women's Day dinner. 01:02:56.443 --> 01:03:01.448 Guest speaker Evie Jones, woman of note Maureen Moore, both amazing 01:03:01.482 --> 01:03:05.419 women. Great to hear. Evie. She's a very funny lady and another 01:03:05.452 --> 01:03:09.423 inspiring speaker. I attended the World Day of Prayer ecumenical 01:03:09.456 --> 01:03:15.763 event. Country of focus for 2026 was Nigeria, and I was also 01:03:15.796 --> 01:03:19.500 honoured to speak at that on my visit there back in 2009, I went to 01:03:19.533 --> 01:03:22.703 the women for Women International Women's Day celebration held at 01:03:22.736 --> 01:03:27.708 Christ Church in Melton. Well done to ash and the team and also to 01:03:27.741 --> 01:03:33.447 Christchurch and the team there for hosting that as well. Another 01:03:33.480 --> 01:03:37.751 lovely Women's Day event. I was at the Safe City Advisory Committee. I 01:03:37.785 --> 01:03:41.155 did miss the budget planning session. I have was unwell for a 01:03:41.188 --> 01:03:47.494 little while, but I have had the chance to contribute my thoughts, 01:03:47.528 --> 01:03:53.667 which is great. I attended the Melton Phoenix 2026 season launch 01:03:53.700 --> 01:04:00.207 and Margaret Lawrie's funeral, which was very sad and. But it was 01:04:00.240 --> 01:04:05.179 done extremely well with with just the. The people that spoke, I think 01:04:05.212 --> 01:04:10.784 really spoke to, to all of us and the family, the Cobblebank 01:04:10.818 --> 01:04:15.355 Community Services hub named to be still put forward topping out 01:04:15.389 --> 01:04:19.226 ceremony. Excellent building. Can't wait to see that finished and 01:04:19.259 --> 01:04:22.796 finished off this month at Lakeside Alive. It was great to see the 01:04:22.830 --> 01:04:26.633 Harmony day stage as well through the day. And well done to the team 01:04:26.667 --> 01:04:33.273 that put that on. Thank you Madam Mayor. Thank you. Councillor 01:04:33.307 --> 01:04:38.579 Shannon Councillor Morris. Thank you, Madam Mayor. Some of my key 01:04:38.612 --> 01:04:44.418 highlights from this month. It was really valuable hearing directly 01:04:44.451 --> 01:04:48.722 from our residents at our community forum. It was great to hear 01:04:48.755 --> 01:04:54.528 residents share their ideas and aspirations for our growing city. 01:04:54.561 --> 01:05:01.368 And these conversations are really important and give us, as 01:05:01.401 --> 01:05:08.976 councillors, that opportunity to engage directly with our community. 01:05:09.009 --> 01:05:12.746 And help them shape the future of Melton. March also had, as many of 01:05:12.779 --> 01:05:18.218 my fellow councillors have reflected, many International 01:05:18.252 --> 01:05:24.057 Women's Day events across our city, and it was a great privilege to be 01:05:24.091 --> 01:05:29.363 a part of this year's International Women's Day event, which is always 01:05:29.396 --> 01:05:34.735 incredible. And this year's theme centred around balancing the scales. 01:05:34.768 --> 01:05:40.807 And as we continue to work to balance the scales, it continues to 01:05:40.841 --> 01:05:44.645 call on us to reflect and challenge the barriers and create 01:05:44.678 --> 01:05:49.316 opportunities that ensure that women and girls in our community 01:05:49.349 --> 01:05:54.855 are supported to lead and contribute and succeed as they do 01:05:54.888 --> 01:06:00.327 so. This month saw the return of our Council committee meetings, 01:06:00.360 --> 01:06:05.499 including the arts and Culture, Safe City and many Metropolitan 01:06:05.532 --> 01:06:11.104 Transport Forum discussions were held and these are critical spaces 01:06:11.138 --> 01:06:16.576 as well where we collaborate and advocate for the future of our city. 01:06:16.610 --> 01:06:21.248 I also attended the Volga Incivility event, which focused on 01:06:21.281 --> 01:06:25.285 the very real and growing challenges in local government. And 01:06:25.319 --> 01:06:32.693 it's a powerful reminder that the way that we lead matters and that 01:06:32.726 --> 01:06:39.266 we have a responsibility to lead by example and ensure integrity in our 01:06:39.299 --> 01:06:45.472 conduct and accountability for our actions. And creating this is is 01:06:45.505 --> 01:06:50.143 critical in civic life. And finally, I want to, yeah, just mention how 01:06:50.177 --> 01:06:55.482 great it was at Lakeside Alive over the weekend. The weather was really 01:06:55.515 --> 01:06:59.386 on our side and it was so fantastic to see so much of our community 01:06:59.419 --> 01:07:06.660 come together and enjoy a fun filled day. There were activities 01:07:06.693 --> 01:07:11.231 for all ages, great entertainment, food stalls and the Harmony day 01:07:11.264 --> 01:07:17.037 stage was my favourite. A vibrant celebration of our multicultural 01:07:17.070 --> 01:07:21.375 community and I want to say a big kerana to my Cook Islander friends 01:07:21.408 --> 01:07:26.079 from the Sounds of Polynesia group that did an incredible performance 01:07:26.113 --> 01:07:29.583 on the day. Thanks Madam Mayor. Thank you. Councillor Morris 01:07:29.616 --> 01:07:34.321 Councillor Ramsey. Thank you, Madam Mayor and the mayor and I don't 01:07:34.354 --> 01:07:39.426 compare notes before we. But have a listen to this. Since the beginning 01:07:39.459 --> 01:07:44.097 of this year, we have farewelled a number of special Melton. It's 01:07:44.131 --> 01:07:48.435 really been a rough start to 2026. They have touched our lives more 01:07:48.468 --> 01:07:52.639 than they will ever know, and we are better for knowing them. None 01:07:52.672 --> 01:07:58.445 more so than my dear friend Margaret Laurie. Margaret was 01:07:58.478 --> 01:08:03.784 everywhere except in the front of a camera lens. She'd leave that for 01:08:03.817 --> 01:08:08.221 Ian, but Margaret was the glue in our community. She supported, 01:08:08.255 --> 01:08:14.227 strengthened and shaped us all. Margaret, you made me smile every 01:08:14.261 --> 01:08:20.067 time I saw you. You made me laugh. Always. And those late night memes 01:08:20.100 --> 01:08:25.672 just touch base. I will miss you. I will miss you dearly, my dear 01:08:25.705 --> 01:08:30.077 friend. Especially your hugs. Ian said to me, you better behave. 01:08:30.110 --> 01:08:34.414 She'll be watching you, I said. Having Margaret watching over me 01:08:34.448 --> 01:08:39.252 gives me more strength. Rest in peace, my beautiful friend, until 01:08:39.286 --> 01:08:44.458 we meet again. And guess what? I didn't even start my three minutes. 01:08:44.491 --> 01:08:49.262 There you go. The official opening of McPherson Park Rugby Pavilion. 01:08:49.296 --> 01:08:53.467 Specialist Hoops Victoria Gala, the community forum. Thank you to 01:08:53.500 --> 01:08:58.472 everybody that turned out on a Sunday to talk about the Council 01:08:58.505 --> 01:09:04.311 plan and their budget ideas. Thanks heaps guys, because knowing what 01:09:04.344 --> 01:09:08.982 your views are helps us better shape our budget. The Merrell 01:09:09.015 --> 01:09:11.218 International Women's Day Luncheon 2026. Madam mayor, that was 01:09:11.251 --> 01:09:16.756 absolutely sensational. You're right. There wasn't a dry eye in 01:09:16.790 --> 01:09:21.995 the house. And the message is clear as stated by my fellow councillors, 01:09:22.028 --> 01:09:26.533 Zonta International Women's Day annual dinner. The woman of note, 01:09:26.566 --> 01:09:32.339 Maureen Moore, a great. Another lady that is the founding glue. 01:09:32.372 --> 01:09:35.575 That is the City of Melton. Absolutely sensational. We had a 01:09:35.609 --> 01:09:40.347 road opening Whitehorse and Thornhill Park, the World Prayer 01:09:40.380 --> 01:09:45.652 Day 2026, which featured Nigeria. Father Ian, you have got a 01:09:45.685 --> 01:09:51.124 beautiful voice, but my fellow Councillor. Councillor Julie 01:09:51.158 --> 01:09:57.531 Shannon absolutely led the discussion around Nigeria and that 01:09:57.564 --> 01:10:02.602 was so heartfelt, gave me a lot of food for thought. You were 01:10:02.636 --> 01:10:06.306 wonderful, safe, safe. City advisory committee, road safe. 01:10:06.339 --> 01:10:10.510 Westgate budget planning session. Saint Dominic's primary school. 01:10:10.544 --> 01:10:15.615 Harmony. Day. Assembly. The Melton Phoenix Football Club session 01:10:15.649 --> 01:10:20.287 launched and I think every club out there should have a sing along to 01:10:20.320 --> 01:10:24.558 all the new players because that karaoke night was second to none. 01:10:24.591 --> 01:10:30.330 10s Councillor Ramsey. Only two more Cobblebank Community Services 01:10:30.363 --> 01:10:35.435 Hub, fantastic Harmony Day and Lakeside Live and I got to see the 01:10:35.468 --> 01:10:40.640 fireworks. Not in the. Using the camera and through a lens, I got to 01:10:40.674 --> 01:10:47.347 see it through families cuddling, huddled up through young kids, 01:10:47.380 --> 01:10:50.550 getting so excited, through elderly people. Their eyes glistened as the 01:10:50.584 --> 01:10:54.854 fireworks and the music and everything else went off. It was a 01:10:54.888 --> 01:11:01.161 great day, Troy and your team. Thank you Councillor Ramsey thank 01:11:01.194 --> 01:11:06.166 you Councillor Abboushi thanks madam mayor, I've attended a number 01:11:06.199 --> 01:11:08.802 of events. I'll start with. On the 1st of March, I attended the. 01:11:08.835 --> 01:11:12.138 Obviously with everyone else, the Community Budget Ideas session at 01:11:12.172 --> 01:11:16.209 Plumpton Children's Community Centre, strong turnout of residents, 01:11:16.243 --> 01:11:20.046 community leaders and local groups and it was great to hear a diverse 01:11:20.080 --> 01:11:24.050 range of grassroots ideas and priorities directly from the 01:11:24.084 --> 01:11:28.355 community, and the sessions were vital in ensuring our budget 01:11:28.388 --> 01:11:35.195 reflects real needs and aspirations across the city. I attended a 01:11:35.228 --> 01:11:38.331 chariot festival at the Murugan Temple. Inside the 11 day Chariot 01:11:38.365 --> 01:11:46.640 Festival, a major cultural and spiritual event for many Hindu 01:11:46.673 --> 01:11:51.144 families. It was attended by. It was attended by many people from 01:11:51.177 --> 01:11:55.048 across the Hindu community around Melbourne, and it was good to see 01:11:55.081 --> 01:11:57.917 families and young people and elderly come together in 01:11:57.951 --> 01:12:02.789 celebration of their faith and their culture. And I always learn 01:12:02.822 --> 01:12:08.328 every time I go there. The Merrell International Women's Day event at 01:12:08.361 --> 01:12:13.033 Richmond Estate beautifully hosted, Madam Mayor, well done and it was 01:12:13.066 --> 01:12:17.604 good to hear from Bec Danaher, the Executive Director of fight MND, 01:12:17.637 --> 01:12:22.309 who shared a compelling message of leadership and creating impact 01:12:22.342 --> 01:12:27.447 beyond oneself, which was a reminder of the incredible women 01:12:27.480 --> 01:12:30.650 who drive change across our municipality. I've attended every 01:12:30.684 --> 01:12:35.488 single International Women's Day event and I'm proud to have done 01:12:35.522 --> 01:12:39.359 that. On the 15th of March, I attended the. With yourself, Madam 01:12:39.392 --> 01:12:44.331 Mayor, the opening of the in Community Care Pantry in Ravenhall. 01:12:44.364 --> 01:12:48.702 The new pantry provide essential food relief, parcel support, 01:12:48.735 --> 01:12:53.440 practical support and parcels to provide dignity to residents who 01:12:53.473 --> 01:12:57.344 are doing it tough. I commend Pastors Craig and Melissa Maher and 01:12:57.377 --> 01:13:00.780 in Church Community Team for their compassion, their hard work and 01:13:00.814 --> 01:13:04.818 ongoing commitment to supporting vulnerable families. A great 01:13:04.851 --> 01:13:09.222 example of a community led initiative to help people. Saint 01:13:09.255 --> 01:13:14.527 Patrick's Day wishing all those who celebrate Saint Patrick's Day hope 01:13:14.561 --> 01:13:17.697 to had a great time. A day that highlights the true Irish heritage 01:13:17.731 --> 01:13:22.102 within our broader community, and I've come across a few in our 01:13:22.135 --> 01:13:26.272 community, Lakeside Live and Harmony day, which was fantastic, 01:13:26.306 --> 01:13:28.808 attended by many of the councillors and a huge thank you to our events 01:13:28.842 --> 01:13:33.313 team and volunteers for coordinating one of the most 01:13:33.346 --> 01:13:38.585 inclusive and well run events. And I think this last one was a 01:13:38.618 --> 01:13:42.589 highlight for me and my family, who attended and enjoyed the day. So 01:13:42.622 --> 01:13:45.859 congratulations to our events team for making it exceptional. The 01:13:45.892 --> 01:13:49.796 Syriac Cultural and Heritage Festival at Catholic Regional 01:13:49.829 --> 01:13:53.199 College in Saint Albans. A celebration of the Syriac rich 01:13:53.233 --> 01:13:56.669 traditions, Councillor Abboushi language, music and community 01:13:56.703 --> 01:14:01.474 spirit. Congratulations to the Australian Syriac Council for 01:14:01.508 --> 01:14:04.677 creating such a meaningful festival. Burnside Retirement Village 01:14:04.711 --> 01:14:08.648 Community fete well done Marlene Gorman and Andrew GATT and I hope 01:14:08.681 --> 01:14:12.452 for a better one, a bigger one next year, and Eid Mubarak to all those 01:14:12.485 --> 01:14:15.522 in the Islamic community in the City of Melton who celebrated aid 01:14:15.555 --> 01:14:19.192 in the last week. Thanks, Madam Mayor. Thank you. Councillor 01:14:19.225 --> 01:14:23.096 Abboushi Councillor Verdon. Thank you, Madam Mayor. Through you, I'll 01:14:23.129 --> 01:14:26.733 just quickly start the timer so I know how long I've got. I've got a 01:14:26.766 --> 01:14:30.470 bit to get through. Just quickly running through some of the events. 01:14:30.503 --> 01:14:33.373 Obviously I attended all the normal Council briefings that we did with 01:14:33.406 --> 01:14:35.809 fellow councillors, which is terrific. I attended the iftar 01:14:35.842 --> 01:14:39.512 dinner with Luka Grigorovich, which was a terrific event, bringing 01:14:39.546 --> 01:14:42.415 together community leaders to celebrate that really important 01:14:42.449 --> 01:14:45.185 festival. I went with yourself, Madam Mayor, to the avid Bloomdale 01:14:45.218 --> 01:14:47.887 Vantage Clubhouse opening, which is going to be a terrific new addition 01:14:47.921 --> 01:14:50.790 to the Diggers Rest community. I'm looking forward to seeing that 01:14:50.824 --> 01:14:53.760 activated moving forward. I was also invited to spend some time 01:14:53.793 --> 01:14:56.796 with the Consul General of Sri Lanka at another iftar dinner in 01:14:56.830 --> 01:14:59.866 Sunbury, where a lot of my residents have Melton do go and 01:14:59.899 --> 01:15:02.502 attend, which was terrific to spend some time with the Consul general 01:15:02.535 --> 01:15:06.072 there. Now we obviously had our fantastic Council budget day 01:15:06.105 --> 01:15:09.742 community submissions, which was awesome to hear from the community 01:15:09.776 --> 01:15:12.679 directly. I always get a lot out of. That. Really brings to life a lot 01:15:12.712 --> 01:15:16.716 of those submissions. I then had the opportunity, which was really 01:15:16.749 --> 01:15:19.853 terrific, to duck across to one of our neighbouring LGAs, really 01:15:19.886 --> 01:15:23.756 important events, which was the Sunfest Festival in Sunbury, and it 01:15:23.790 --> 01:15:26.793 was really lovely. I noticed Mr. Councillor Abboushi mentioned the 01:15:26.826 --> 01:15:29.896 Beechmont Winery. They had a stall at Sunfest, so it was terrific to 01:15:29.929 --> 01:15:32.499 go over and support some of our local residents, sort of spreading 01:15:32.532 --> 01:15:38.671 the love into other municipalities, which was terrific. Be responsible. 01:15:38.705 --> 01:15:41.908 Also there, which is another local Melton purveyor of goods. Hume City 01:15:41.941 --> 01:15:45.578 Council also opened up a really incredible heritage precinct called 01:15:45.612 --> 01:15:48.781 Art rise, very close to Diggers Rest. So a lot of my residents in 01:15:48.815 --> 01:15:52.719 particular will get a lot of opportunity to go and display art 01:15:52.752 --> 01:15:55.522 and do art classes there, which is terrific. I then attended the iftar 01:15:55.555 --> 01:15:58.591 dinner with a lot of my fellow councillors here. What struck me 01:15:58.625 --> 01:16:00.593 about that dinner was the fact that we brought multiple faith leaders 01:16:00.627 --> 01:16:03.763 together to really actually celebrate together, and I thought 01:16:03.796 --> 01:16:07.500 that was lovely. Of course, I attended the International Women's 01:16:07.534 --> 01:16:09.536 Luncheon again, wonderfully hosted by yourself, Madam Mayor, the Zonta 01:16:09.569 --> 01:16:12.372 Women's International Dinner, which was also terrific hearing from 01:16:12.405 --> 01:16:16.075 those incredible Zonta women and all the work they do in the 01:16:16.109 --> 01:16:19.045 community. I then attended another international women's event, which 01:16:19.078 --> 01:16:22.282 was the Kuwait Morning Tea, again with Grigorovich, which was 01:16:22.315 --> 01:16:25.385 terrific. We had our budget planning day session and then a 01:16:25.418 --> 01:16:32.659 couple of other events, the whole Milan and Conga celebration, which 01:16:32.692 --> 01:16:36.396 was terrific. The group's key event, the swearer event, the event just 01:16:36.429 --> 01:16:40.466 up here at Plumpton Melton Highway, which was terrific. And of course, 01:16:40.500 --> 01:16:43.536 all the incredible things that happen at Lakeside Alive and the 01:16:43.570 --> 01:16:46.573 integration of the Harmony day, I thought was really terrific. And I 01:16:46.606 --> 01:16:49.309 think Councillor Morris mentioned some of the incredible cultural 01:16:49.342 --> 01:16:52.378 dances and cultural performances that were performed on the day that 01:16:52.412 --> 01:16:56.282 really brought it to life, which was great. I am mindful I don't 01:16:56.316 --> 01:17:00.219 have a lot of time left, so I'm going to very quickly just say one 01:17:00.253 --> 01:17:04.691 last thing. I had the privilege of a young man that came and spoke at 01:17:04.724 --> 01:17:08.061 my children's school. At their school, things that they do, and 01:17:08.094 --> 01:17:12.265 the young boys named Harley. And this young man has been severely 01:17:12.298 --> 01:17:16.603 bullied. As a young child, I was bullied myself. Thank you. And he 01:17:16.636 --> 01:17:20.006 is actually running 60km in 30 days to raise money for bullying. I'll 01:17:20.039 --> 01:17:23.209 be sharing that on my socials so people that want to get behind 01:17:23.242 --> 01:17:26.145 young man who's only ten years old, that's rather than actually fold to 01:17:26.179 --> 01:17:28.815 the bullies, he's actually worked his way through it and he's going 01:17:28.848 --> 01:17:31.417 around to actually provide support that people that go through that 01:17:31.451 --> 01:17:34.487 horrible, horrible thing. Thanks, Madam Mayor. Thank you. Councillor 01:17:34.520 --> 01:17:39.359 Verdon Councillor Majdlik. Thank you, Madam Mayor. I try to be as 01:17:39.392 --> 01:17:42.595 quick as I can. First of all, I just want to share my deepest 01:17:42.629 --> 01:17:46.199 condolences to the family and friends of Margaret Lowry, 01:17:46.232 --> 01:17:50.803 particularly Ian, her husband. She was a well-loved member of our 01:17:50.837 --> 01:17:54.841 community and she'll be greatly missed. I attended the Harmony day 01:17:54.874 --> 01:17:58.511 celebrations and Lakeside Alive and the event and the weather were both 01:17:58.544 --> 01:18:03.216 fantastic. It was great to see the community enjoying themselves and I 01:18:03.249 --> 01:18:07.787 feel. I really feel that joining the two events provide a fantastic 01:18:07.820 --> 01:18:12.558 outcome. The entertainment was amazing from all the different 01:18:12.592 --> 01:18:16.162 multicultural groups and because I feel because it was in that 01:18:16.195 --> 01:18:19.365 prominent location, there was more people that came to watch them and 01:18:19.399 --> 01:18:22.301 support them, so that was great. The feedback from the community was 01:18:22.335 --> 01:18:27.206 positive and well done to all the staff and team that helped organise 01:18:27.240 --> 01:18:30.309 the event, Council, forum, Council plan and budget ideas. A big thanks 01:18:30.343 --> 01:18:34.180 to all the community who put in our submission. It was great to hear 01:18:34.213 --> 01:18:37.450 their ideas and suggestions. I also attended the Council of Budget 01:18:37.483 --> 01:18:41.320 Planning session with my fellow councillors, which was an 01:18:41.354 --> 01:18:44.457 informative and productive session. I attended the Disability Advisory 01:18:44.490 --> 01:18:47.694 Committee and the International Women's Day event. Great to be a 01:18:47.727 --> 01:18:52.098 part of such a positive event and to see many of our women leaders 01:18:52.131 --> 01:18:55.802 attend on the day, particularly Madam Mayor, you know, you being a 01:18:55.835 --> 01:19:00.073 leader of the community and the leader of this Council, well done 01:19:00.106 --> 01:19:04.110 to what you do and all the events that you attend and how diligent 01:19:04.143 --> 01:19:09.449 you are in making sure that our Council is in the right footing 01:19:09.482 --> 01:19:16.089 together with our CEO. So well done to you both. Thank you. I also want 01:19:16.122 --> 01:19:21.728 to I didn't attend the in church. The the food bank from Pastor Craig 01:19:21.761 --> 01:19:25.765 and Melissa. Pastor Melissa Maher. But can I just commend them for all 01:19:25.798 --> 01:19:29.535 the great work that they're doing? And I believe it's one of the first 01:19:29.569 --> 01:19:35.041 food banks in the Eastern corridor. So well done to them. I can't wait 01:19:35.074 --> 01:19:38.277 to go and visit them and see. I did visit them a while ago before they 01:19:38.311 --> 01:19:42.482 opened. So well done to them. Highly commend what they're doing 01:19:42.515 --> 01:19:46.486 for our community. And finally, I'd like to wish everyone a blessed and 01:19:46.519 --> 01:19:50.123 peaceful Easter, a cornerstone of the Christian faith, emphasising 01:19:50.156 --> 01:19:53.659 God's love and a restored relationship with him. It is the 01:19:53.693 --> 01:19:57.997 celebration of the resurrection of Jesus Christ, marking his victory 01:19:58.030 --> 01:20:02.101 over death and atonement for humanity's sin. It signifies hope, 01:20:02.135 --> 01:20:06.806 new life, and the promise of eternal salvation for believers. 01:20:06.839 --> 01:20:10.109 I'm proud to be celebrating Easter in a couple of weeks time and those 01:20:10.143 --> 01:20:13.279 who are travelling, please stay safe and thank you, Madam Mayor. 01:20:13.312 --> 01:20:17.350 That's all from me. Thank you. Councillor Majdlik Councillor 01:20:17.383 --> 01:20:21.053 Turner. Thank you, Madam Mayor. I'd also like to begin by acknowledging 01:20:21.087 --> 01:20:26.793 the passing of Margaret Laurie. What a beautiful lady. She was in 01:20:26.826 --> 01:20:30.763 such a great community. Ambassador on Thursday, 26th February, 01:20:30.797 --> 01:20:38.638 attended the opening of Macpherson's park's Rugby Pavilion, 01:20:38.671 --> 01:20:45.244 which was a good afternoon. Also attended iftar dinner hosted by 01:20:45.278 --> 01:20:49.749 Luba Gregorh Grigorovich in Ravenhall, and in February 27th 01:20:49.782 --> 01:20:56.022 with many of my fellow councillors, I attended Special Troops Victoria 01:20:56.055 --> 01:20:58.624 Gala. Emily always puts on a fantastic event. She's done such 01:20:58.658 --> 01:21:02.061 fantastic work with that group since she first started. I remember 01:21:02.094 --> 01:21:06.032 when she first started, she was fighting to get the group off the 01:21:06.065 --> 01:21:11.704 ground. She's done an amazing job. Council forum with my fellow 01:21:11.737 --> 01:21:19.745 councillors was great to hear the community's ideas and input into 01:21:19.779 --> 01:21:25.384 our budget for this year. It's only the 1st of March. The Armagh Diva 01:21:25.418 --> 01:21:30.456 Muslim Community big iftar dinner at the community hall. That was a 01:21:30.489 --> 01:21:36.262 good a good night. The mayor on International Women's Day was 01:21:36.295 --> 01:21:41.500 amazing. Good job, Madam Mayor. With Beck Danaher fighting MND talk 01:21:41.534 --> 01:21:46.739 was really good. Really enjoyed it. On the 4th of March I attended the 01:21:46.772 --> 01:21:51.711 International Women's Day lunch that was at which moon. Yep. Also 01:21:51.744 --> 01:21:56.148 on the fourth International Intercultural Advisory Committee at 01:21:56.182 --> 01:21:59.619 the community centre on the fifth of his Zonta International Women's 01:21:59.652 --> 01:22:03.222 Day was a great month for engaging with the community because March is 01:22:03.256 --> 01:22:06.592 always like that. February, end of February, beginning of March. It's 01:22:06.626 --> 01:22:10.196 always because of the weather. Everybody wants their events done 01:22:10.229 --> 01:22:15.468 at that time of year. It's just a great month to engage with the 01:22:15.501 --> 01:22:19.805 community. There was an Aussie smart kids, children's science, AI 01:22:19.839 --> 01:22:23.743 and robotics exhibition at Cobblebank Stadium on March 7th. It 01:22:23.776 --> 01:22:28.114 was amazing some of the ideas the kids had come up with and actually 01:22:28.147 --> 01:22:32.485 produced through AI. Fantastic International Women's Day 01:22:32.518 --> 01:22:36.389 celebration at Christ Church Hall, which was a great afternoon as well. 01:22:36.422 --> 01:22:41.894 Arts and Culture Committee on Tuesday 10th of March. Budget 01:22:41.928 --> 01:22:46.499 planning session of course, was a great day on the 14th. 16th of 01:22:46.532 --> 01:22:50.803 March, Milton's secondary College annual Cultural Diversity Week 01:22:50.836 --> 01:22:55.207 Assembly. That was. That was a good morning and a great night. On 01:22:55.241 --> 01:23:01.380 Thursday. The 19th of March was Melton Phoenix. The 2026 season 01:23:01.414 --> 01:23:05.251 launch. And just to round up just about 20th of March, Kabul Bank hub 01:23:05.284 --> 01:23:08.587 opening ceremony. It was great to to see it again, coming close to 01:23:08.621 --> 01:23:16.662 finishing and getting up there and actually being able to see the site 01:23:16.696 --> 01:23:22.168 from up there. Pardon? 10s 10s. I'll do 20 asthma group. Mata ki 01:23:22.201 --> 01:23:25.104 Chowki Harmony week celebration was amazing. Lakeside live. 01:23:25.137 --> 01:23:31.210 Congratulations to the officers for bringing everything together so 01:23:31.243 --> 01:23:36.615 well. The Harmony stage worked well and so did the main stage. And 01:23:36.649 --> 01:23:39.986 yesterday the Swearer Multi Lead and Harmony day event 2026 was also 01:23:40.019 --> 01:23:45.324 an amazing afternoon. Thank you Madam Mayor. Thank you. Councillor 01:23:45.358 --> 01:23:49.628 Turner thank you for those updates councillors. We'll now move along 01:23:49.662 --> 01:23:55.401 to item 14 which is notices of motion. And there is one notice of 01:23:55.434 --> 01:24:01.741 motion for consideration on tonight's agenda. And that's item 01:24:01.774 --> 01:24:05.344 14.1. Notice of Motion 997 Councillor Zada advocacy regarding 01:24:05.378 --> 01:24:09.515 Mount Atkinson service catchment. Madam mayor, can I raise a point of 01:24:09.548 --> 01:24:13.252 order? Sorry, Councillor Verdon can I raise a point of order before the 01:24:13.285 --> 01:24:17.256 motions read? What's your point of order? I'd like the mayor to 01:24:17.289 --> 01:24:23.195 consider as a point of order, that this motion potentially could 01:24:23.229 --> 01:24:27.666 breach 29 .3.2 in an item that's already been raised in the current 01:24:27.700 --> 01:24:31.604 term of Council, because of the significant references to G and V 01:24:31.637 --> 01:24:35.307 in which at the last Council meeting, we made a decision to not 01:24:35.341 --> 01:24:41.480 progress engaging with further G and V, and this particular motion 01:24:41.514 --> 01:24:50.689 appears to be addressing just that point. I won't be accepting the 01:24:50.723 --> 01:24:55.694 point of order Councillor Verdon it is not similar enough, and it's not 01:24:55.728 --> 01:24:58.664 substantially the same. Councillor. So taking that advice from 01:24:58.697 --> 01:25:04.703 governance, I won't be accepting your point of order. Thank you. 01:25:04.737 --> 01:25:09.408 Thank you, Madam Mayor Councillor Zada thank you, Madam Mayor. So I 01:25:09.442 --> 01:25:13.345 will be reading this notice of motion just to do it some justice, 01:25:13.379 --> 01:25:16.515 especially with the the importance that the residents have. So the 01:25:16.549 --> 01:25:19.585 motion is that Council write to the Victorian Minister for health, the 01:25:19.618 --> 01:25:23.189 Honourable Mary-Anne Thomas MP and miss Luba Gregorovich MP, member 01:25:23.222 --> 01:25:26.525 for Karoi, regarding health and disability service misalignment 01:25:26.559 --> 01:25:31.163 affecting Mount Atkinson residents and copy their correspondence to 01:25:31.197 --> 01:25:33.265 the Honourable Lizzie. Lizzie Thorpe MP, Minister for children, 01:25:33.299 --> 01:25:37.570 Minister for disability. Ingrid Stitt, MP, Minister for Mental 01:25:37.603 --> 01:25:40.706 Health, Minister for ageing, Minister for Multicultural Affairs, 01:25:40.739 --> 01:25:44.210 Minister for Prevention of Family Violence. Miss Moira Deeming MP, 01:25:44.243 --> 01:25:50.182 member for Western Metropolitan Region. Mr. David Shank MP, member 01:25:50.216 --> 01:25:54.386 for the Western Metropolitan Region. Mr. MP, member for the Western 01:25:54.420 --> 01:25:57.323 Metropolitan Region two, A outlined community concerns regarding 01:25:57.356 --> 01:26:02.361 hospital and allied health catchment allocation 01:26:02.394 --> 01:26:05.865 inconsistencies due to municipal alignment. B request clarification 01:26:05.898 --> 01:26:09.768 of formal health and disability service catchment boundaries and 01:26:09.802 --> 01:26:14.273 the administrative or digital coding processes used to determine 01:26:14.306 --> 01:26:18.210 allocation, and c seek advice on whether any review or correlative 01:26:18.244 --> 01:26:21.447 measures are being considered to ensure residents north of Boundary 01:26:21.480 --> 01:26:25.417 Road within the City of Melton are not misallocated. Due to the suburb 01:26:25.451 --> 01:26:30.122 naming conventions. Two write to the Minister of Government Services, 01:26:30.156 --> 01:26:33.659 the Honourable Senator Katy Gallagher and Miss Alice Jordan 01:26:33.692 --> 01:26:37.596 Baird MP, Federal Member for Gorton, regarding Centrelink and NDIS 01:26:37.630 --> 01:26:42.001 allocation concerns affecting Mount Atkinson residents to outline a 01:26:42.034 --> 01:26:45.538 community concerns regarding reported automatic allocation of 01:26:45.571 --> 01:26:51.043 residents to Werribee based Centrelink services due to 01:26:51.076 --> 01:26:55.014 Truganina suburb coding rather than municipal boundary Res B res 01:26:55.047 --> 01:26:58.517 reported. NDIS Local Area coordinator, Allocation, Workforce 01:26:58.551 --> 01:27:02.555 Australia and Services Australia. Issues linked to suburb naming 01:27:02.588 --> 01:27:06.725 rather than City of Melton alignment and radius from residents 01:27:06.759 --> 01:27:10.029 see request clarification on the administrative process used to 01:27:10.062 --> 01:27:14.099 determine Centrelink and NDIS servicing locations where suburb 01:27:14.133 --> 01:27:17.903 names span multiple municipalities, and whether system adjustments can 01:27:17.937 --> 01:27:21.774 be considered. Now point three there is a change to what's written, 01:27:21.807 --> 01:27:25.110 but I will read my motion and I'll explain the difference and point 01:27:25.144 --> 01:27:28.447 three write to the Victorian Minister for planning, the 01:27:28.480 --> 01:27:31.317 Honourable Sonya Kilkenny MP, in her capacity overseeing 01:27:31.350 --> 01:27:33.719 geographical names, Victoria regarding suburb designation 01:27:33.752 --> 01:27:37.389 discrepancies and copied the correspondence to Miss Luba 01:27:37.423 --> 01:27:41.360 Grigorovitch MP co-wrote a member for Kororoit, the Honourable Lizzie 01:27:41.393 --> 01:27:44.597 Thorne MP, Minister for children, Minister for disability, Ingrid 01:27:44.630 --> 01:27:47.600 Stitt, MP, Minister for Mental Health, Minister for ageing, 01:27:47.633 --> 01:27:51.136 Minister for Multicultural Affairs, Minister for Prevention of Family 01:27:51.170 --> 01:27:54.573 Violence. Miss Moira Deeming MP, member for the Western Metropolitan 01:27:54.607 --> 01:27:59.645 Region. Mr. David Shank MP, member for the Western Metropolitan Region, 01:27:59.678 --> 01:28:03.315 and Mr. Cheng Liu, member for the Western Metropolitan Region, Sue a 01:28:03.349 --> 01:28:06.552 outlined community concerns that the current Truganina suburb 01:28:06.585 --> 01:28:10.756 designation spanning multiple municipalities may be contributing 01:28:10.789 --> 01:28:15.694 to the administrative and digital misalignment, and I'll be excluding 01:28:15.728 --> 01:28:18.831 points B and C sorry, what was that last comment? Points B and C in the 01:28:18.864 --> 01:28:21.267 written motion. I won't be adding them to it, so they'll be excluded 01:28:21.300 --> 01:28:28.707 from what you've just moved. Councillor Zada. Thank you. So 01:28:28.741 --> 01:28:33.445 moved by Councillor Zada. Do I have a seconder? Councillor Shannon 01:28:33.479 --> 01:28:37.683 happy to second that Madam Mayor. Thank you. Councillor Shannon do I 01:28:37.716 --> 01:28:44.156 have any Councillor who requires further clarification in regards to 01:28:44.189 --> 01:28:47.259 this notice of motion? Do I have any Councillor who wishes to speak 01:28:47.293 --> 01:28:51.230 in this notice of motion? Councillor Zada as this is your 01:28:51.263 --> 01:28:55.501 notice of motion, you'll be able to speak. Thank you, Madam Mayor. This 01:28:55.534 --> 01:28:57.903 motion addresses a clear evidence based issue affecting residents of 01:28:57.936 --> 01:29:01.307 Mount Atkinson one that is not hypothetical, but consistently 01:29:01.340 --> 01:29:04.810 raised and well documented. Over the past month alone, more than 30 01:29:04.843 --> 01:29:08.447 letters and emails have been shared with councillors outlining real 01:29:08.480 --> 01:29:11.617 experiences of residents being misdirected to services that do not 01:29:11.650 --> 01:29:14.953 reflect where they live, pay rates or belong. This evidence has been 01:29:14.987 --> 01:29:18.123 supported by detailed mapping, travel scenarios and service 01:29:18.157 --> 01:29:22.161 comparisons, all of which point to the same conclusion. The current 01:29:22.194 --> 01:29:26.065 system isn't working. At the centre of the issues is Truganina suburb 01:29:26.098 --> 01:29:29.568 designation, which spans multiple municipalities and is being used by 01:29:29.601 --> 01:29:32.438 automated systems to allocate services. As a result, residents in 01:29:32.471 --> 01:29:36.442 the City of Melton are being directed to Irby around 25 minutes 01:29:36.475 --> 01:29:40.212 away, despite being approximately 17 minutes from the Melton services. 01:29:40.245 --> 01:29:43.649 Importantly, this motion is not about boundary changes or 01:29:43.682 --> 01:29:47.686 revisiting past decisions. It is about fixing a current practical 01:29:47.720 --> 01:29:52.091 problem, ensuring residents can access the services closest to them 01:29:52.124 --> 01:29:55.627 without being redirected by outdated administrative settings. 01:29:55.661 --> 01:29:58.864 Thank you, Madam Mayor. Thank you. Councillor Zada Councillor Shannon 01:29:58.897 --> 01:30:02.501 is the seconder. Do you wish to speak? No thanks Madam Mayor. If 01:30:02.534 --> 01:30:08.807 not, does any other Councillor wish to speak in regards to this notice 01:30:08.841 --> 01:30:14.279 of motion? Not councillors. I'll put it to the vote. All those in 01:30:14.313 --> 01:30:22.554 favour, please raise your hand. I declare the motion carried 01:30:22.588 --> 01:30:24.823 unanimously. Madam mayor, can I call for a division, please? Yes. 01:30:24.857 --> 01:30:28.694 Councillor Ramsey has called for a division. Therefore, setting aside 01:30:28.727 --> 01:30:33.065 the original vote. I will put the matter to vote again. All those in 01:30:33.098 --> 01:30:35.501 favour of the motion, please raise your hand. Councillor Turner. 01:30:35.534 --> 01:30:40.239 Councillor Majdlik. Councillor Abboushi. Councillor Morris. 01:30:40.272 --> 01:30:44.443 Councillor. Doctor. Zara Councillor Carli. Councillor Shannon. 01:30:44.476 --> 01:30:52.384 Councillor Ramsey and Councillor Verdon. I declare the division 01:30:52.418 --> 01:30:55.387 carried. Thank you councillors. Item 15 is urgent business. Ms Wai. 01:30:55.421 --> 01:30:59.024 Are there any items of urgent business for consideration this 01:30:59.057 --> 01:31:04.129 evening? Madam mayor, there are no items of urgent business this 01:31:04.163 --> 01:31:07.266 evening. Thank you. Item 16 Council's is confidential business. 01:31:07.299 --> 01:31:10.569 There are two confidential items for consideration on tonight's 01:31:10.602 --> 01:31:13.672 agenda. I'm seeking Councillor to move a motion to close the meeting 01:31:13.705 --> 01:31:18.110 to the public. Councillor Majdlik. Thank you, Madam Mayor. I'd like to 01:31:18.143 --> 01:31:21.713 move that pursuant to section 66 one and two A of the Local 01:31:21.747 --> 01:31:24.750 Government Act 2020. The meeting be closed to the public to consider 01:31:24.783 --> 01:31:28.821 the following reports that are considered to contain confidential 01:31:28.854 --> 01:31:33.725 information on the grounds provided in section three, one of the Local 01:31:33.759 --> 01:31:40.098 Government Act 2020, as indicated. 16.1 Land Acquisition Thornhill 01:31:40.132 --> 01:31:43.569 Park and 16.2 Contract Number 25 215 provision of street sweeping 01:31:43.602 --> 01:31:47.506 services as it relates to private commercial information being 01:31:47.539 --> 01:31:54.446 information provided by business, commercial or financial undertaking 01:31:54.480 --> 01:31:57.649 that I relates to Trade Secrets or II, if released, would unreasonably 01:31:57.683 --> 01:32:00.819 expose the business, commercial or financial undertaking to 01:32:00.853 --> 01:32:04.857 disadvantage. I thought I'd clarify that, Madam Mayor. Thank you. 01:32:04.890 --> 01:32:08.560 Councillor Majdlik do I have a seconder? Councillor Ramsey I'd 01:32:08.594 --> 01:32:11.563 like to second that, madam Mayor. Thank you. Councillor Ramsey I'll 01:32:11.597 --> 01:32:17.169 put it to the vote. Councillors. All those in favour, please raise 01:32:17.202 --> 01:32:21.373 your hand. I declare the motion carried unanimously. Council will 01:32:21.406 --> 01:32:25.644 now be discussing agenda items that have been deemed to be confidential 01:32:25.677 --> 01:32:29.181 under the Local Government Act 2020. It is a requirement that we close 01:32:29.214 --> 01:32:33.619 the meeting to the public. We invite those present in the gallery 01:32:33.652 --> 01:32:36.822 to depart and a holding screen will be placed for those watching online. 01:32:36.855 --> 01:32:39.725 For those who are leaving us tonight, I thank you for your 01:32:39.758 --> 01:32:43.595 attendance and we do hope you can join us for the next Council 01:32:43.629 --> 01:32:49.201 meeting, which will be held in the Council Chambers at the Melton 01:32:49.234 --> 01:32:52.170 Civic Centre on Monday, the 27th of April, 2026 at 6 p.m. I would like 01:32:52.204 --> 01:32:56.408 to remind you that tonight's meeting will be available on 01:32:56.441 --> 01:33:00.412 Council's website as a bookmark recording in a few days. For those 01:33:00.445 --> 01:33:04.383 of you who wish to stay online, I ask for your patience and we will 01:33:04.416 --> 01:33:09.705 return shortly to officially conclude tonight's meeting. Thank you 01:33:11.531 --> 01:33:15.512 Item 17 close of business. That concludes tonight's proceedings. 01:33:15.545 --> 01:33:19.683 Thank you for joining us. The next Council meeting will be held in the 01:33:19.716 --> 01:33:23.868 Council chambers at the Melton Civic Centre on Monday, the 27th of 01:33:23.893 --> 01:33:28.158 April, 2026 at 6 p.m. I would like to remind you that there will be a 01:33:28.191 --> 01:33:34.403 bookmarked recording of tonight's meeting available on Council's website in the coming days 01:33:34.428 --> 01:33:41.912 I now declare the meeting closed at 8.48pm thank you once again and have a great night