AT the October sitting of Latrobe City Council (held Monday, October 26), all councillors were present to discuss items from town planning schemes to council’s submission to projects and inquiries.
This meeting was supposed to be the one before the Mayor and Deputy Mayor elections, however, due to councillor unavailability, the date has been changed.
Secretary of Friends of Latrobe Water (FLOW), Tracey Anton, spoke during public participation on Latrobe City Council’s submission to Environment Effects Statement for the Hazelwood Rehabilitation Project. She mostly approved of council’s submission, but highlighted some points for consideration, including that council considers reforming the water act.
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Animals in council facility policy
CR Steph Morgan (Yallourn Ward) moved this motion, with Cr Adele Pugsley (Moe) seconding.
This motion was to endorse the Animals in Council Facilities Policy 2026. The policy provides clarity around what is considered an assistance animal and what animals are allowed in council buildings to ensure safety and uphold hygiene standards.
Cr Morgan spoke to the motion.
“I think it’s really important that we as a council provide clarity to the community about what is and isn’t allowed in our facilities,” she said.
Cr Morgan also spoke about how the clear set of guidelines will be referred to by council staff and rules effectively communicated to visitors.
The policy recognises the legal rights of individuals with disabilities. Cr Pugsley also endorsed the policy, saying it strikes a balance between “accessibility, community expectations and workplace safety.”
The Animals in Council Facilities Policy 2026 will be made available on the council website. The motion was carried unanimously.
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Authorisation of council officer
COUNCILLORS unanimously moved a motion to authorise Tara Membery as the Planning Compliance Officer.
This will allow her to perform her role in accordance with planning powers and functions of council.
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Standing in the hall of fame
A MOTION moved by Cr Dale Harriman (Loy Yang) and seconded by Cr Rob Moffatt (Morwell) was to discuss the establishment of the Latrobe City Sporting Hall of Fame.
The hall of fame would be a location to physically recognise sporting achievements from Latrobe Valley locals.
Cr Harriman explained that during the 2006 Commonwealth Games, basketball matches were held in Traralgon. Off the back of that event, it was determined that council would recognise local “outstanding elite athletes”, and those who support them every four years, in line with the Commonwealth Games. Cr Harriman explained that those who are recognised have either played at an elite level and have retired for at least five years or have undertaken administration, coaching, or support service work within a sport in Latrobe City. Recipients are currently awarded certificates and recognised during Australia Day celebrations in line with the Commonwealth Games.
“We highlight them, we congratulate them and then their plaques go into storage because there’s nowhere for them to go,” Cr Harriman said.
Cr Harriman stressed the need to find a place to put the plaques that recognises “outstanding service to a sport” and perhaps more importantly, “the fact that they’ve come from Latrobe City”.
Cr Moffatt suggested that the plaque placements need to be in a location that relates to the specific sport. For example, if a swimmer was recognised, the plaque should be placed at a local swimming facility. Cr David Barnes (Boola Boola) suggested duplicating the plaques, so there’s a dedicated area where all the plaques are placed, and then a plaque placed in the area relevant to the sport. Cr Pugsley and Cr Joanne Campbell (Jeeralang) spoke about their support for the motion.
Things for consideration include estimated capital and operational costs, potential location and delivery models, advantages and disadvantages, and any other considerations including strategic, operational and financial.
Council requested that the briefing report was received before June 30, 2027.
The motion was put to a vote and carried unanimously.
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Election deferred
A MOTION to defer the Mayor and Deputy Mayor election was carried by eight out of nine councillors.
Cr Leanne Potter (Budgeree) was the sole opposing vote.
The election was scheduled to be held on November 9, however, to make allowance for all councillors to be present, a motion was moved to defer the election a week later to November 16.
The Mayor and Deputy Mayor elections are held every 12 months and councillors are made aware of the date months in advance.
Cr Moffatt would be the only exception due to his election into council starting in August (he replaced Tracie Lund, who stepped down due to personal reasons).
Cr Potter argued that the Mayor and Deputy Mayor election should be one of the most important dates in a councillors diary, and not one that deserves a last-minute shuffle.
“If we shift the most significant meeting of our calendar, we’re telling the community that our dates are all negotiable … that’s not great governance,” she said.
Cr Potter raised the option of electronic attendance as an alternative for councillor’s who can’t be physically present, something that has been utilised previously.
“Life does pop up,” Cr Pugsley said, explaining that she has previously had to rearrange her calendar due to significant family and life events.
Cr Pugsley acknowledged the option of using technology to be virtually present, but said the election is an important one that deserves everyone to be physically present.
“If we can get the maximum of councillors in the actual room, then it’ll … set the tone for the right decision making,” she said.
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Annual report
EACH year, an annual report is to be presented in a meeting open to the public for approval by October 31.
In the report is an account of operations and audited performance and financial statements and auditors reports on each statement.
The report shows that council has advanced the council plan 2025-29 across strategic directions.
Cr Potter said the results are “worth celebrating”.
She highlighted events like the International Rose Garden Festival, Shred Fest, Volunteers Expo, Children’s Expo and the Business Festival as occasions that “brought people together, supported local traders and showed the energy of our community”.
The completion of the Kay Street Multilevel Carpark was also highlighted as a facility that provided extra car spaces and accessibility for workers, businesses and the community in Traralgon’s CBD. Another highlight was council’s planning team who issued nearly 300 permits. Around 95 per cent of these permit decisions were made within the statutory timeframes, one of the highest in Victoria.
“For people building homes and business here, that means they can do that with certainty and confidence,” Cr Potter said.
Contributing to tidy towns, council conducted 824 illegal dumping removals, responded to 344 graffiti complaints, conducted proactive hotspot inspections, peak season maintenance and maintenance of around 760 hectares of open spaces.
Looking out for the youngest in the community, council saw the first 15 hours of three-year-old kindergarten service operate in Latrobe City. A total of 474 children were enrolled in this program, and 646 enrolled in the four-year-old program. This translated to an 87 per cent participation rate across Latrobe City services. Arts and culture were supported. Gippsland Performing Arts Centre and Latrobe Performing Arts Centre held more than 259 shows, with 52,458 tickets sold.
Cr Potter extended thanks to all involved in creating the report.
Cr Moffatt highlighted the 44,000 calls answered by council’s call centre, resealing of roads and 25,000 flights from Latrobe Regional Airport.
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Acknowledgements
Cr Campbell highlighted local swimming coach, Brian Ford, who became a life member of Swimming Victoria.
Cr Harriman attended the Municipal Association of Victoria (MAV) dinner last month and congratulated Mayor Sharon Gibson, who was made a Mayor Emeritus.
Mayor Gibson (Newborough) congratulated Cr Harriman for 15 years of service and Cr Darren Howe (Tyers) for 10 years of service to Latrobe City Council.
Mayor Gibson also acknowledged the MAV State Council meeting, where five motions were taken with the lowest support percentage being 92 per cent.
