For the Record

Movement and Transport Committee abolished ❌

This seemed perverse given we have no traffic or transport director, no cycle paths, and a poor track record of advocacy with TfNSW. Purely political

Development Control Unit abolished ✔️

The DCU was moribund, having raised the number of objections to 5. Advice on alternatives promised by Director of Planning, but not yet offered

Conservation Advisory Panel minimised ❌

Membership gutted, especially Hunters Hill Trust. CAP did not meet for months, despite heritage DAs

Design Review Panel instituted ❔

There is a need for design guidance given the change the Low-Medium Rise SEPP and Gladesville Master Plan will bring - otherwise the bulk of the North Ward will transform by developers tempered only by our planning department. Design review by a panel of expert architects, landscape architects and similar professionals is one of the best and cheapest ways we can guide good outcomes. I will be proposing this as part of the suite of complimentary measures for the Planning Proposal, if supported in this by you.

Sale of Vernon St ❌

Vigorously opposed by the community, and needed to implement a foreshore walk that is in the LSPS.

Reclassification of Fairland Hall ❌

Vigorously opposed by the community in its full form, and easily rectified to satisfy community and independent expert. Animus expressed towards its continuing existence in chamber, a worrying sign.

Defend against Woolwich Marina ✔️

Council successfully defended against the expansion of Woolwich Marina in front of the Horse Paddock and Kelly’s Bush.

Approve land sales ❌

Liberal councillors have made it clear in many meetings they wish to proceed with selling council land. So far we have tried (and failed) to sell land gifted to council for public space on Vernon St, and now council proposes to sell the land from under Gladesville Occasional Child Care Centre with no plans to relocate it.

Another dozen or so ‘remnant lands’, many sizeable blocks that have been in public ownership for over 150 years, are “being investigated”.

I will continue to robustly challenge the Liberals on this neoliberal agenda, especially now that Budget repair that I have been championing is underway and already bearing fruit.

$25k for a ‘museum master plan’ ❌

This neither addressed the museum’s urgent needs, is not a strategic direction of the LSPS, and is too little for a decent scheme to be delivered.

Nevertheless council has now voted to proceed with the micro-museum, at the cost of the Town Hall stage.

Community grants underspend of $5.5k
offered up for flagpoles, and a bust ✔️

A regrettable decision to be a team player. When genuine needs arose 6 months later, the exhaustion of this budget was weaponised by the Liberals.

I amended the program to safeguard subsequent underspend and the next year it was undersubscribed and that amount ploughed into much needed youth programs… or was it?

Explore funding youth programs ✔️

My original budget of $25k to respond to actual needs was denied, and this motion watered down.

Subsequently Rev Michael came to council seeking $12,000 for urgent youth programs to address the plague of youth suicides in our area. This was reduced to $9,000 and approved - hurray for working together - but then unapproved, combined with the community grant underspend, allocated to an impossible council-run program (impossible because the programs are run on school grounds), then reallocated to the schools, then re-unallocated. On Cllr Virgara’s final motion, the final amount of $3,000 was allocated… to a council-led program.

Six months of motions were wasted on less than 0.1% of our annual $25m operating budget - all while we approved 7x as much for fruit bats, and picket fences (actually, did we ever approve that?)

Reduce Rugby Fees by $20k p.a. ✔️

Again, a regrettable decision to be a team player. The deal was done. I made sure ‘in consideration of capital contributions’ was on public record.

Reduce road spending which is the most per km of road of any nearby council ❔

Raised by me multiple times, it is unclear why with a sinking Long Term Financial position we are not doing more about this major operational cost.

Seek developer contributions ✔️

We renewed our (maximum 1%) s7.12 developer contribution and I amended the motion to require council to explore s7.11 contributions in Gladesville which at $20k per dwelling can yield more revenue to offset the costs of densification.

Council is now pursuing an increase in s7.12 contributions to 3% as an alternative.

Pass the Integrated Transport Strategy ✔️

I was intimately involved in the creation of this strategy to advocate for better transport outcomes, having written the first draft, and was proud to vote for its adoption by council.

Pass the Urban Forest Strategy ✔️

Good guidance that council needs - I ensured council developed a short-term action plan to ensure the strategy is put into motion.

Pass the Sustainability Strategy and Net Zero Plan ✔️

Despite the opposition of the Sustainability Committee chair, these were adopted. Action is essential to address the climate emergency.

Summaries of Key Proposals ❌

Council has voted down my proposal to make sure we provide a 4 page summary of key proposals by council like the IP&R framework and the Gladesville ‘Master Plan’. 400 page documents are unacceptable communication tools, and do not satisfy our own Engagement Plan / IAP2 core values like ‘information [enables] meaningful input to be made’

Open Space Connections ❔❌

Council has three times voted down my proposals for a spatial plan / open space plan to give meaning to the LSPS, address shortfalls in our negotiations, restore lost public space connections and improve public health for locals. Perhaps as this might prevent the Liberals selling land, or require their donors to remove encroachments. Both are likely.
I will continue to advocate for this needed work.

Design new pedestrian crossings ✔️

Use grant funding to develop new crossings at Garibaldi corner and Woolwich village and build an improved crossing outside HHPS.

Get Gladesville Right❔

Council resolved to go to the Department of Planning with 70m high FSR 4:1 plan for Gladesville Coles site, and has gone to the public exhibition on this. The concerns with this, particularly height and traffic (both able to be solved, if council so desires) remain.

Continue with the old LEP and DCP ❌

Despite the drafting being flawed and needing legal advice (pending), the removal of a heritage area and the major changes expected due to the Low-Mid Rise SEPP and Gladesville Master Plan, council will truck on with its old proposal.
An overhaul is needed, informed by expertise.

Adopt a new CSP and Delivery Plan ❌

With inconsistencies with the LSPS and new projects which will add to our financial challenges, the new IP&R was adopted with little debate in council nor outside it. All walking and cycling infrastructure (needed for liveable places) was dropped. Consultation may have not met its statutory requirements.