Indigo Council will tonight discuss communication with new owners of the old Beechworth Gaol, improving tourism services, online streaming of meetings and climate change policy.
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Reporter Shana Morgan will be tweeting and posting at the council meeting from 6.30pm. Follow her @shana_morgan.
The full agenda is at the bottom of this page.
8.09pm: That’s all for tonight! Thanks for following along.
8.06pm: Cr Gaffney will receive an award as an Emeritus Mayor, for serving three terms as a mayor. Cr Murdoch will also be awarded for long service.
8.03pm: Cr Teissl has requested an extra song on the piano accordion at his last meeting next month.
7.44pm: Cr Teissl’s next motion is to disband the Beechworth Gaol Advisory Committee to allow the Beechworth community members who purchased the property to get on with their affairs without hindrance. There was plenty of debate at the committee’s last meeting three weeks ago.
Cr Gaffney, a member of the committee, was the only councillor against the motion. He raised concerns about not knowing who was involved in the consortium. “A lot of people wonder why the spokesperson is so secretive.”
Cr O’Connor, also on the committee, supported the closure and will resign from the committee, but only after settlement is finalised. Said it was “outrageous” to demand the names of the people involved in the investment. “That’s right outside the scope of this community.” Cr Gaffney then accused her of making a personal attack on him.
Cr Murdoch is against the practice of councillors having to make decisions on the spot, from a “notice of motion” such as Cr Teissl’s motion on the gaol.
In the end the motion passes 5-2 – Cr Gaffney and Cr Murdoch were against,
7.38pm: Cr Emmerick Teissl has moved a motion tat Indigo Shire Council live stream its monthly Ordinary Council Meetings. He spoke to The Border Mail’s Anthony Bunn on the issue this week.
Motion for this council to support the move was carried unanimously.
7.35pm: Indigo Council is now part of the Climate Change Adaptation Action Plans. Cr O’Connor: “It will stand this council in good stead to deal with the very serious issue of climate change.”
They will also take a pledge: ““Working together, we pledge to play our part and take action on climate change for Victoria, our country and our planet.”
7.31pm: “I think it’s good council is keeping an eye on private enterprise” – Cr Gaffney is talking about the Cue Spring water extraction, but makes no secret he’s alluding to the old Beechworth gaol issue to come up later in the night.
7.24pm: Next up is the controversial visitor services review. You can read our previous coverage of tourism operators’ demands for a focus on heritage and concerns over visitor information centres.
The council has proposed to develop a new three-year tourism strategy, and set up an industry working group and run digital workshops to help accommodation providers with the website’s booking system.
Cr Barbara Murdoch wants a report to come back to the council every three months.
Cr Bernard Gaffney has congratulated the community on doing what the community wanted - listening to them. About 120 responses to the plan were considered.
7.16pm: Cr Jenny O’Connor has defended claims in an email that she used council funds for political purposes during a refugee homestay weekend in Beechworth and make a “vitriolic attack” members of the public. “This allegation is untrue … I have taken legal advice and am considering my options.”
7.08pm: Watering system from Barnawartha roundabout has been removed, Jonathan Riley has claimed the removal damaged the road and material dumped by the road. Infrastructure services director Ian Elliett says watering system removed because it was not in use and was costing money, but does not know about where it was dumped.
6.59pm: Another budget question. Does Indigo plan to reduce staff salaries? Smith says operating costs in latest budget has been passed within 2.5 per cent rate cap, but knows further reductions will be needed next year. Decision will be made with next elected council.
6.54pm: Does the council have plans to cut costs and reduce a $3.8m debt, following Alpine Shire’s lead? Gerry Smith says Indigo in a healthier financial position: “Each council is different … it’s not apples and apples.” Says council is being careful with finances.
6.48pm: Public question time to start the meeting. CEO Gerry Smith says there have been two expressions of interest for the old Beechworth rail station, but cannot say any more.
6.39pm: Cr Peter Croucher has played the national anthem on his piano accordion for the second-last time before he steps down from the role, which means it’s time for the meeting to begin.
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