Category 2 Motions for Consideration by the Executive
The motions covered in this section have been judged to be category 2 motions because they are covered by the existing Policy Statements, covered by Conference resolutions from recent years and/or covered by considerable recent representations, lobbying or submissions; or because they did not meet the criteria of being of national, state or regional significance.
The Executive considered these motions and has resolved how to proceed on each of the motions as set out under ‘Executive resolution’
Services
96 - Willoughby*NATIONAL DISABILITY INSURANCE SCHEME
That the Local Government Association support the call for the introduction of a National Disability Insurance Scheme.
Note from Council:
- The number of people with a disability is increasing and the number of people willing and able to provide unpaid care is falling. This means the cost to government is expected to escalate dramatically in the future.
- A National Disability Insurance Scheme would provide people with a disability and their families and carers with the regular care, support, therapy and equipment they need. As a Medicare-type scheme, it would provide a secure and consistent pool of funds for these services and support.
- The scheme would reframe support as investment rather than charity. Timely interventions, appropriate aids and equipment, training and development would become investment in individual capacity rather than welfare. The scheme would therefore lead to more positive results for people with a disability, their families and carers as well as being fiscally responsible.
- It would be fair, efficient and effective. It would focus on early intervention and delivering those supports which produce the best long term outcomes. It would maximise opportunities for independence, participation and productivity.
- It would be individualised and person-centred. Support would be based on the choices of person with a disability and their family.
- All Australians would benefit from this scheme because disability can affect anyone, anytime. Everyone will benefit from building a more inclusive, more diverse community.
Comment: This motion is an initiative the LGA has been active on since 2010. It is covered by Conference resolutions and covered by representations. The NSW and Australian Governments are aware of our position as this initiative moves into the pilot phase.
Executive resolution: That further representations be made if the necessity arises.
97 - Ashfield*POLICY DEALING WITH DEVELOPMENT ASSESSMENT
That the Local Government Association calls upon the State Government to develop a policy dealing with respect to development assessment that requires the State to:
- To develop policy guidelines to promote "best practice" development assessment modelswhich provide for an appropriate balance between "tick the box" simple complyingdevelopment types and merit based assessments for proposals that will have moresubstantial environmental impacts.
- Review the type of development applications that are dealt with at State level with the aimof restoring accountability and transparency to the planning assessment process, tomaximisepublic involvement at the grass roots level and to ensure the perception of probity.
- Provide federal funding to implement a single on-line computerised developmentapplication lodgement and tracking and determination system (similar to that adopted inthe UnitedKingdom).
- Prepare model planning legislation which can be adopted by all States so that theregulatory environment is standardised.
Note from Council:
Efficient development assessment is essential and "code based assessment" has its merits. However, larger developments can have significant environmental impacts and, if code based assessment systems are to be used, the codes themselves need to be very specific about expected urban design outcomes. This may mean a "pattern book" approach is needed to avoid "bland" development outcomes. The Codes themselves should also respond to the character of the area & community views as expressed in Council long term strategic plans and development objectives expressed Council's planning documents. Merit assessment processes should be retained for developments that are "different" or will have significant environmental impacts that may need to be individually managed.
There is a current trend to "de - politicise" the development assessment and associated decision making process by referring decisions to panels.. However a balance needs to be reached in order that the community continues to have a meaningful role through its elected representatives in the assessment process. This means engaging the community "up-front' and ideally allowing Councils to approve development applications without referral to (less accountable) Panels (referral to a Panel would only occur if an application is to be refused or is delayed by a Council for an extended period).
The United Kingdom has a single planning portal to allow lodgment of development applications online. Australia should have the same facility with variations to allow for differences in legislation between States. The advantages are obvious - electronic lodgement is a "user friendly" process and allows for statistical data to be easily collected. It also permits the development assessment process to be monitored on line. Community knowledge/participation is also enhanced by allowing people to view plans and comment on proposals online.
Comment: These issues have been directly addressed in the Associations’ submission to the NSW Planning System Review- Green Paper. Section 9 offers an Alternative Assessment Framework suggested by the Association that integrates state planning development standards and local guidelines in the one place.
Executive resolution: That further representations be made at the White Paper stage of the Planning System Review if required.
Infrastructure
98 - Armidale Dumaresq *ACCESS TO KINGSFORDSMITHAIRPORT BY REGIONAL AIR SERVICES
That the Local Government and Shires Associations strongly support the retention of the current regional access to KingsfordSmithAirport.
Note from Council:
On 18 July 2012 Armidale Dumaresq Council coordinated a meeting of Southern New England Mayors with the State and Federal Local Members, to discuss the future of Armidale Regional air services into KingstonSmithAirport, Sydney.
Present at the meeting:
•Mr Tony Windsor, Member for New England
•The Hon. Richard Torbay, Member for Northern Tablelands
•Cr Peter Ducat, Mayor of Armidale Dumaresq Council
•Cr Jim Maher, Deputy Mayor of Armidale Dumaresq Council
•Cr Herman Beyersdorf, Armidale Dumaresq Council & Chair of the Economic
Development Committee:
•Cr Isabel Strutt, Mayor of Uralla Shire Council
•Cr Bill Heazlett, Mayor of Walcha Council
•Cr Hans Hietbrink, Mayor of Guyra Shire Council
•Senior management from the Councils and Mr Windsor’s office
Purpose of the meeting:
The meeting was called to discuss a range of issues relating to air services from the Armidale Regional Airport to Kingsford Smith Airport, a report from delegates attending the Australian Airports Association Regional Airports Forum held in Canberra on 21 June 2012 and the report by Deloitte-Access Economics on Australian Airports, launched at Parliament House, Canberra, on 20 June 2012.
The discussion ranged across a number of topics including security at regional airports and developments in regional air services across Australia but the focus of the meeting was around the potential financial and social implications for the region as a whole should there be any reduction in access to Kingsford Smith Airport by regional air services.
Mr Alan Harvey, Airport and Transport Operations Manager with Armidale Dumaresq Council, briefed the meeting on issues specific to ArmidaleAirport, including trends and potential threats for regional air services in NSW. Matters discussed included air traffic caps, security, changes in aeroplane production, and changes in business planning.
It was agreed that Mr Tony Windsor take up the matter with the Premier, and The Hon. Richard Torbay to similarly speak with the Hon. A. Albanese, Minister for Transport.
The meeting resolved unanimously to support the following motion, that was subsequently agreed by Armidale Dumaresq Council at a special meeting held on 30 July 2012, as under:
RECOMMENDATION:
1.That this meeting of Mayors, General Managers, State and Federal MPs, calls upon the Federal and State Government of NSW to establish a second airport in the Sydney Basin in the interests of maintaining regional access to Kingsford Smith Airport.
2.That the Local Government and Shires Associations and Country Mayors Association strongly support the retention of the current regional access to Kingsford Smith Airport.
3.That item 2 be submitted as a motion to the 2012 LGA Conference.
Comment: The Associations are currently developing a comprehensive NSW Local Government Aviation Policy Discussion Paper which will address the full range of aviation-related policy issues.
Executive resolution: That the motion be considered as part of the NSW Local Government Aviation Policy Discussion Paper currently being developed.
99 - Wagga Wagga*EQUITABLE AND INTEGRATED ACCESS TO CAPITAL CITY AIRPORTS
That the Local Government Association lobby the Federal Government to guarantee equitable and integrated access to capital city airports for regional airlines for the economic development and social and medical requirements of regional centres.
Note from Council:
People living in regional New South Wales rely on access to Sydney’s Kingsford Smith airport for many reasons including economic development, quick access to medical specialists and social events such as sporting fixtures and the arts (theatre etc). The continued growth of regional centres is dependent upon this access.
Wagga Wagga City Council is concerned that the ongoing actions of the Sydney Airport Corporation Limited (SACL) will drive regional airline operators out of SydneyAirport.
Wagga Wagga is one of the fastest growing regional cities in NSW, and with growing passenger numbers now in excess of 230,000 per year, it is vital that the existing access to SydneyAirport is maintained.
As one of the seven growing regional cities which forms Evocities, Wagga Wagga City Council is concerned that SACL may be considering further changes to their pricing which would have the effect of pushing regional aviation away from Sydney Airport.
Comment: The Associations are currently developing a comprehensive NSW Local Government Aviation Policy Discussion Paper which will address the full range of aviation-related policy issues.
Executive resolution: That the motion be considered as part of the NSW Local Government Aviation Policy Discussion Paper currently being developed.
100 - Liverpool*SYDNEY'S SECONDAIRPORT
That the Local Government Association lobby the NSW Government to acknowledge the impact that noise restrictions have on land owners surrounding the former airport site, and be proactive about removing unnecessary restrictions that are associated with the Badgerys Creek airport that is no longer proceeding.
Note from Council:
The NSW Government and the Federal Government are inconsistent in their communication regarding Sydney’s second airport. Technical reports from the government’s state that Badgerys Creek is still considered as a site for a second airport, however political commitments have been made that it will not proceed. Landowners and Local Government needs certainty on the future plans for a second airport. If the Badgerys Creek site is not proceeding as an airport, the state should be proactive about removing unnecessary restrictions from the affected properties.
Comment: The Associations are currently developing a comprehensive NSW Local Government Aviation Policy Discussion Paper which will address the full range of aviation-related policy issues.
Executive resolution: That the motion be considered as part of the NSW Local Government Aviation Policy Discussion Paper currently being developed.
101 - Bankstown *FUNDING FOR LOCAL ROADS ACCESSED BY HIGHER MASS LIMIT AND QUAD AXLE COMBINATION VEHICLES
That the Local Government Association calls upon the Federal and the State Governments to establish a road usage-based link between maintenance funding for local roads and access to these roads by higher mass limit (HML) and quad axle group combination of heavy vehicles.
That the introduction of any permit scheme, which is currently underway, to allow wider use of HML vehicles in NSW roads be accompanied with a pricing regime to charge operators through the use of satellite tracking systems under the Intelligent Access Program (IAP).
Note from Council:
Historically, local roads often were not built to the standard. The various design standards adopted for the regional and local road networks in NSW did not envisage and cater for the current HML vehicle loadings and their effect on pavement life.
Therefore, in many cases, these local roads will need to be either redesigned, rebuilt or upgraded. Faced with the challenge of significant asset maintenance backlog, Local Government in NSW is not currently in a position to fund this from its own resources. Unless the issue of funding for maintenance and upgrade of local roads is addressed, the HML/Quadaxles accessing regional and local roads will simply accelerate the pavement failure within short to medium term.
Comment: This motion falls within existing LGSA policy in relation to the impact of heavy vehicles and funding of local roads.
Executive resolution: Representations will continue to be made on this issue with the Minister for Roads and through the Associations’ membership of the Transport for NSW Road Freight Industry Council.
102 - CanadaBay*BOAT AND TRAILER PARKING ON PUBLIC ROADS
That the Local Government Association lobby the Minister for Roads and Maritime Services to review the regulations regarding parking of trailers in residential areas.
Note from Council:
Council has received several complaints regarding boats and trailers parking on public roads for long periods of time. Road rules currently allow registered boats and trailers to park on the street, provided they do not park in contravention to a rule parking sign.
The trailers are unsightly and have been left in place for weeks or months, causing partial blockage to local roads which have on-road cycle routes, and is dangerous for bike riders.
Council supported a submission from Woollahra Council to approach the State Member for Drummoyne, the Minister for Roads and the Premier to show support to have Regulation 200 of the NSW Road Rules (see below) changed to reflect this request.
200 Stopping on roads — heavy and long vehicles
(1) The driver of a heavy vehicle, or long vehicle, must not stop ona length of road that is not in a built-up area, except on theshoulder of the road.
Offence provision.
Note Built-up area is defined in the dictionary, and shoulder is defined inrule 12.
(2) The driver of a heavy vehicle, or long vehicle, must not stop ona length of road in a built-up area for longer than 1 hour, unlessthe driver is permitted to stop on the length of road for longer than 1 hour by information on or with a traffic control device, or under another law of this jurisdiction.
Offence provision.
Note Traffic control device and with are defined in the dictionary.
(3) In this rule:
Heavy vehicle means a vehicle with a GVM of 4.5 tonnes ormore.
Long vehicle means a vehicle that, together with any load orprojection, is 7.5 metres long, or longer.
Road does not include a road-related area, but includes anyshoulder of the road.
Council staff have been investigating methods of controlling this issue through planning controls in relation to unapproved advertising structures, with limited success.
The Traffic Committee recommended that “No Park 6.30am to 9.30am, Monday to Friday”, signage be installed, which would allow bike lanes to be clear and kept safe for the morning peak cyclists, while still allowing parking at other times.
Comment:This motion falls within existing LGSA policy and has been subject of numerous previous motions to conference.
Executive resolution: Representations will continue to be made on this issue with the Minister for Roads and through the RMS Local Government Liaison Committee
103 - Strathfield*SUPPORTING POPULATION GROWTH
That the Local Government Association petition the State Government to ensure regional governance framework for the planning and provision of key infrastructure supports sustainable population growth through the development of effective partnerships between the State representative, State agencies and local councils.
Note from Council:
Despite significant recent and planned increases in population in the Sydney metropolitan region, planning for key infrastructure, such as the need for new and or improved schools, public transport, roads, open public spaces, civic spaces and amenities have not kept pace.
Population increase has been forecast in State Government metropolitan polices and planning documents. However, resourcing for the necessary infrastructure is missing to support such increases. This is particularly critical for local councils, especially as the State’s preference for housing is higher density (medium and high density infill development) for the inner urban areas and greenfield development on the urban fringe. Both these actions by the State will increase the demand for key infrastructure in the form of regional and local community facilities, open space, schools and health services as well as public transport and roads.