It was published: 1 year ago
- Agenda attachments July 7, 2025 (34.12 MB)
For more information and appendices for each item, view the Council Meeting Agenda above.
The below summary is unconfirmed until the Minutes of the Meeting are accepted by Council.
1. Opening Prayer & Original Custodians Statement
2. Apologies
Cr Arnott.
3. Confirmation of Minutes
That the Minutes of the Scheduled Meeting of Council held on 2 June 2025 be confirmed. (6-0)
4. Declaration by Councillors and Officers of any Conflict of Interest in any Item on the Agenda
None.
5. Mayoral Presentation
6. Public Question Time
7.1. Community Satisfaction Survey 2025
The results of the 2025 Community Satisfaction Survey are extremely positive.
On all eight core measures Council’s results are above the regional centre average and the statewide average.
Council recorded improvements in six of eight core measures assessed in the survey.
The survey, conducted over February and March each year, measures community perceptions about how Council has performed across 28 measures including eight core measures.
The most significant increase was in the “making community decisions” measure, which increased by five points.
The overall Council direction and overall performance measures were five points above the state average. More residents (58%) think Council is now generally heading in the ‘right direction’ than those who think Council is heading in the ‘wrong direction’ (33%).
The sealed local roads measure was comfortably clear of the state and regional result but fell slightly on Council’s own score in 2024. It is likely that perceptions of Council’s performance in this measure suffered because of sentiment around the poor condition of many Victorian Government roads.
The value for money measure increased by two points and was three points above the state and regional average. Waste management and customer service also increased to six and four points above the state average respectively.
Residents aged 35 to 49 years and women (index score of 58 for both) rate Council’s performance significantly higher than last year.
Residents aged 65+ years rate overall performance highest (62) while residents aged 50-64 years rate overall performance lowest (53).
Conversely, residents aged 35 to 49 years (index score of 47, down six from 2023) rated overall performance significantly lower than the average.
Along with the core measures, perceptions of council performance in numerous services were assessed. Survey respondents were asked to rate Council’s performance in a particular service and to also how important they rated the service.
The art centres and library service category continued to be a high rating category with an increase of three points to 77, followed by appearance of waste management (71) and the perennially high rating appearance of public areas (70).
Council supported the following recommendations (6-0):
1. That the 2025 Community Satisfaction Survey be received.
2. That the 2025 Community Satisfaction Survey results be placed on the Warrnambool City Council website.
7.2. Audit & Risk Committee Biannual Report: July - December 2024
A requirement within the Audit and Risk Committee Annual Workplan is to present a report on the activities of the Committee to the Council on a twice-yearly basis. The Audit and Risk Committee is a committee required to be established by legislation and requires membership of a majority of independent members with an independent chair. At Warrnambool there are three independent members including an independent chair. Councillor Blain and Councillor Walsh are Council representatives on this committee. The committee is also serviced by our independent internal audit and risk advisors, Crowe.
Council supported the following recommendations (6-0):
That Council:
1. Receive the Audit & Risk Biannual Report of Activities – July to December 2024.
2. Revoke the Audit & Risk Committee Charter 2024.
3. Adopt the attached Audit & Risk Committee Charter 2025.
7.3. Warrnambool City Council 2024 Local Government Election Report
The Victorian Electoral Commission (VEC) has submitted its formal report on the conduct of the 2024
Warrnambool City Council general election, as required under section 83 of the Local Government (Electoral) Regulations 2020. This was the first election held under Warrnambool’s new electoral structure of seven single-councillor wards and coincided with legislative changes requiring council enrolled voters to actively opt-in to vote.
The election was conducted by postal vote and saw a total enrolment of 27,069 voters. Voter turnout declined to 77.32%, with participation also down compared to the 2020 election. Four wards were contested, with 13 candidates nominating overall, while three wards were uncontested. A total of 12,057 ballot papers were admitted to the count, and the informal voting rate halved to 4.23%.
Several legislative reforms under the Local Government Amendment (Governance and Integrity) Act 2024 were implemented for the first time, including earlier enrolment deadlines and tighter nomination timelines. Three written complaints were received by the VEC during the election period, and no legal challenges were lodged.
Council has been invoiced $219,190.59 for election costs to date, with further minor invoices expected. The VEC met all statutory obligations, and the election process was completed in a fair and lawful manner.
Council supported the following recommendation (6-0):
That Victorian Electoral Commission’s Warrnambool City Council General Election Report for the 2024 Local Government Election be received.
7.4. Council Internal Resolution Procedure 2025
This report presents a Council Internal Resolution Procedure developed in accordance with the requirements introduced by the Local Government Amendment (Governance and Integrity) Act 2024.
The amended legislation mandates all Councillors to observe the Model Councillor Code of Conduct and requires each council to adopt a prescribed internal resolution procedure. The proposed procedure outlines how alleged breaches of the Model Code are to be managed, including access, process, responsibilities, and recordkeeping. It also ensures Council compliance with the Local Government Act 2020 and associated Regulations.
Council supported the following recommendation (6-0):
That Council adopt the attached Council Internal Resolution Procedure 2025.
7.5. Child Safety and Wellbeing Policy 2025
The Child Safe Standards are in place to:
• Promote the safety of children and young people.
• Prevent harm and abuse to children and young people.
• Ensure effective processes are in place to respond to and report all allegations of child abuse and harm.
• Encourage children and young people to “have a say” on issues that are important to them or about decisions that affect their lives.
As such, the Child Safety Policy has been reviewed as per the normal review cycle, in line with the updated Child Safety Standards.
It was presented to the Executive Management Team on 18 February 2025 for feedback and has since been presented to both the Senior Leadership Team and Staff Consultative Committee for further consultation. All feedback has been considered with the final draft re-presented to the Executive Management Team on 27 May 2025. Subsequently, a formal Gender Impact Assessment has been completed to ensure consideration has been given to any inadvertent gender impacts this Policy may have presented.
As the scope of this document includes Councillors, this policy was presented to Council for review at an informal meeting of Council in June. The policy is now presented to Council for adoption.
Council supported the following recommendations (6-0):
That Council:
1. Revoke the Child Safety and Wellbeing Policy 2021.
2. Adopt the Child Safety and Wellbeing Policy 2025.
7.6. Open Space Policy 2025
The Warrnambool City Council Open Space Policy applies to all open space under the management or ownership of Warrnambool City Council, and to private land under agreement or negotiation to become future open space.
The Warrnambool Open Space Policy expresses Council’s strategic policy in relation to the planning and delivery of open space. The policy helps implement the Warrnambool Open Space Strategy.
The Open Space Strategy 2014-2024 (OSS) is currently being reviewed. Information in this Policy will be subject to change pending the outcome of the OSS review (anticipated adoption by Council within 12 months).
Officers will review the policy for any necessary amendments once the Open Space Strategy has been renewed and adopted by Council.
In the interim, it is recommended that Council adopt the Open Space Policy 2025 as attached.
Council supported the following recommendations (6-0):
That Council:
1. Revoke the Open Space Policy 2021.
2. Adopt the Open Space Policy 2025.
7.7. GORCAPA Regional Trails Strategy 2025-2035
Great Ocean Road Coast and Parks Authority (GORCAPA) has developed a Regional Trails Strategy 2025-2035 to guide state and local government agencies in the development, maintenance and promotion of trails in the Great Ocean Road region.
The Strategy aims to build on previous investment to establish the Great Ocean Road region as one of Australia’s outstanding trail destinations.
Two significant trails in Warrnambool included are “Warrnambool Foreshore Promenade” and “Warrnambool to Port Fairy Rail Trail”.
Council supported the following recommendation (6-0):
That the GORCAPA Regional Trails Strategy 2025-2035 be received.
7.8. Planning Advisory Committee - Expressions of Interest
The Planning Advisory Committee is about to begin a new 4 year term.
Council adopted a Terms of Reference for the Committee on 7 April 2025.
Expressions of interest have been received for community representatives.
The Terms of Reference require a minimum of five (5) community representatives.
Council has received twelve (12) nominees by way of expressions of interest.
All nominees have interests and experience in relevant fields, such as architecture, engineering, planning and development.
Council supported the following recommendation (6-0):
That Council appoint the following community member nominees to the Planning Advisory
Committee for the period 7 July 2025 to 31 May 2029:
• Dominic Bushell
• Karsten Forsterling
• Fiona Golding
• Lewis Iversen
• Ross Martin
• Cameron McNeill
• Maureen Reed
• Martin Ruane
• Louise Scarborough
• Kerri-Anne Tatchell
• Bill Welsh
• Jarrod Woolstencroft
7.9. Amendment VC267 - The Townhouse and Low Rise Code
The report provides information on Amendment VC267 and the changes it will have on the way Council’s statutory planning team consider multi dwelling planning permit applications and recommends changes to the Schedule of Delegations to enable the Manager City Growth to approve permit applications with one (1) or more objection, where Clause 55 is the only permit trigger.
Council supported the following recommendations (3-3) with the Mayor using his casting vote:
That Council:
1. Note planning scheme amendment VC267 (Attachment 1).
2. Amend the schedule of delegations to include delegation to the Manager City Growth for those applications which receive one (1) or more objections AND where Clause 55 of the Warrnambool Planning Scheme is the only assessable provision AND no other permit triggers or relevant assessable criteria apply, as per the attached schedule (Attachment 2).
7.10. Acceptance of Powercor offer Wollaston Road Power Line Relocation
The North of the Merri River Developer Contributions Plan has a project known as IN01 – Relocation of High voltage power lines from an easement into the Wollaston Road reserve which is required to be delivered.
Council has received a contract offer from Powercor for the relocation over the overhead powerlines from the easement to the road reservation between 158 – 311 Wollaston Road Warrnambool. The value of the contract is $1,002,491.00 excluding GST.
Under Council’s Procurement Policy “Appendix 1 – Exemptions”, Utilities are exempted from market engagement as there is only a single provider. In this case Powercor is the only provider for this service.
The index DCP project budget is currently valued at $1,126,399.00, and the acceptance of this contract is within Council’s budget for the project.
Council supported the following recommendations (6-0):
That Council:
1. Delegate to the Chief Executive Officer the authority to enter the contract with Powercor for the relocation of the 66KV overhead power line asset between 158 – 311 Wollaston Road, Warrnambool at the cost of $1,002,491.00 ex GST.
2. Authorise the Chief Executive Officer to sign, seal and vary the contract as required.
7.11. Informal Meetings of Council Reports
Section 80A(2) of the Local Government Act 1989 required the record of an Assembly of Councillors to be reported at an ordinary Council meeting.
Assembly of Councillor Records are no longer a requirement in the Local Government Act 2020 as of 24 October 2020. However, under Council’s Governance Rules, a summary of the matters discussed at the meeting are required to be tabled at the next convenient Council meeting and recorded in the minutes of that Council meeting.
The record of the following Informal Meetings of Council are enclosed:
• Tuesday 10 June 2025.
• Monday 16 June 2025.
• Monday 23 June 2025.
Council supported the following recommendation (6-0):
That the record of the Informal Meetings of Council held on 10, 16, and 23 June 2025 be received.
7.12. Mayoral & Chief Executive Officer Council Activities - Summary Report
This report summarises Mayoral and Chief Executive Officer Council activities since the last Ordinary Meeting which particularly relate to key social, economic and environmental issues of direct relevance to the Warrnambool community.
Council supported the following recommendation (6-0):
That the Mayoral & Chief Executive Officer Council Activities – Summary Report be received.
8. Notice of Motion
9. General Business
10. Urgent Business
11. Close of Meeting