Adoption of the Traralgon Growth Areas Review has once again been deferred by Latrobe City council to a future meeting.
A Traralgon West resident speaking at Wednesday night’s council meeting raised feelings of not being properly consulted on the plan.
Council was also informed that a scientific report detailing the odour buffer to be included around Australian Paper’s Maryvale Mill, would be finalised and released soon.
Further community consultation will now be undertaken.
No jump yet on police band-wagon
Latrobe City Council has asked for more information before it weighs into the discussion about Victoria Police’s decision to cut two of its three bands.
Banyule City mayor Wayne Phillips wrote to council requesting it to show support for the bands and oppose the decision to disband the Show Band and Code One rock band.
Mayor Sandy Kam said councillors decided the information provided was insufficient to make a decision to write letters to relevant members of Parliament.
Council has requested a detailed explanation of the decision from Victoria Police Chief Commissioner Ken Lay.
Waste change concerns
Latrobe City Council has formally opposed the State Government’s proposed structure changes to the Gippsland Regional Waste Management Group, saying they “diminish” the role and input of Gippsland’s local government representatives on waste issues.
Although the GRWMG is a government body, it is legally owned by the councils it encompasses and all six Gippsland municipalities have representatives on the group’s board.
Under the proposed changes, the group would become a full government statutory authority and the councils would be able to elect only four of the eight directors, effectively leaving two Gippsland local governments without direct representation.
The government would elect the other four board members.
“Waste is the biggest line item in local government budgets and planning decisions are always tempered by local government representatives who are a lot closer to the issues,” Cr Graeme Middlemiss said.
Cr Middlemiss, who is also Latrobe City’s representative on the GRWMG, moved a motion as a matter of urgent business on Wednesday night that council advise relevant members of Parliament of its concerns and request the support of the other Gippsland councils.
