The following matters were considered and endorsed at the December 2024 Council Meeting:
Adoption of Amendment C154macr ─ Council adopted Amendment C154macr with changes, and moved to submit the Amendment and an associated planning permit application to the Minister for Planning for approval.
The Amendment seeks to rezone some of the last remaining parcels of Farming Zone (FZ) land within the Malmsbury township boundary, at 1 Wills Street in Malmsbury, to Neighbourhood Residential Zone. The planning permit application seeks a nine-lot subdivision with lot sizes from 2,000 to 2,182 square metres.
Environment Group Support + Community Climate Action Grants 2024-25 ─ Council endorsed funding recommendations for successful recipients for the Environment Group Support Grant Program and Community Climate Action Grants 2024-2025.
The 2024-2025 Environment Group Support Grants enable just under $70,000 to flow through to the shire's Landcare and Friends groups across three grant categories: Group Support, Strategic Weed Partnership Program and Biolink Boost. The new Community Climate Action Grant stream is funding an additional $33,000 in grassroots climate action projects.
The new Community Climate Action grants and the Biolink Boost grant stream of the Environment Group Support Grants are co-funded in partnership with Macedon Ranges Community Enterprises (MRCE) and Community Bank Gisborne and District. MRCE will match Council's funding to the amount of $40,000.
PLN/2023/462 – Council endorsed a Notice of Decision to Grant a Permit for the subdivision of land at 104 Melton Road in Gisborne, which would enable 17 lots adjacent to an arterial road, and include removal of native vegetation and the creation of three conservation or drainage reserves.
In considering the application, Council noted a total of 10 objections received through the application process with concerns including overdevelopment, the extent of native vegetation removal proposed and a lack of pedestrian paths/connectivity. A number of these concerns are addressed within the meeting report.
Contracts to be Awarded as at December 2024 ─ Council endorsed an amended motion to defer the item for consideration to the March 2025 Council Meeting, to enable more time for Councillors to be briefed on the proposed supply panel process for commercial builders and associated delegations.
Council Meeting Dates 2025 ─ Council adopted a meeting schedule from January – December 2025, the schedule remained consistent with previous years. A Council Meeting to elect the Mayor was also scheduled for 25 November 2025 at 11am. Council also scheduled a Submitters' Delegated Meeting to be held online at 7pm on Wednesday 19 February 2025 to consider budget submissions and other matters if required.
Integration of the Municipal Public Health and Wellbeing Plan, Disability Action Plan, and Council Plan ─ Council approved that the Council Plan, Disability Action Plan and Municipal Public Health and Wellbeing Plan be integrated into a central plan for the community.
Community engagement and stakeholder consultation will be required to inform the development of these plans, with this process already underway in consideration of a refreshed Council Plan to be adopted by Council by 31 October next year (the year following a general election).
Reconciliation Plan 2024-2027 Draft update ─ Council received a progress report on the draft Reconciliation Plan 2024-2027, following further consultation with the three Macedon Ranges Traditional Owner groups: DJAARA (Dja Dja Wurrung Clans Aboriginal Corporation), Taungurung Land and Waters Council (TLaWC) and Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung Cultural Aboriginal Heritage Corporation (Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung).
