your local voice

Bob Sutherland welcomed the public and members of the Committee to the 1999 AGM. The AGM was advertised in The Valley View on 25 May 1999. Under section 15(3) page 11 of the WCCC constitution a quorum was present and the chair declared the meeting open.

Gary Caitcheon, Marion Kossatz, Mrs A Earnshaw, Sue Galvin, Ken Galvin, Jocelyn Murphy.

The minutes were distributed to all attendees.. The minutes were adopted with one spelling correction. The motion was that the minutes were a true record on the previous AGM; moved David Clinch; seconded Jeff Carl

A question was asked regarding bank account fees - the account is still without fees.

This fiscal year 1998/1999 has seen a full quota of issues being raised. Some of these were new and some were perennial issues which arise again and again.

Our biggest meeting for the year was the ordinary meeting which discussed the possible replacement of the present Woden police station with a "shopfront" station located within the new Woden Plaza shopping centre. Over a hundred people turned up to express an opinion and there was considerable opposition to the plan to replace the police station with a shopfront. In the end the Government could not reach agreement with the shopping centre owners and now the Government is considering co-locating all the emergency services in one new building in Woden.

Another important meeting was the ordinary meeting which discussed the future of the Phillip swimming pool complex. Despite extensive publicity only 20 people turned up which may indicate that this issue is no longer a high priority for Weston Creek people. Evidence given at the meeting was contradictory with some people saying that the pool is not well maintained and others saying that they are happy with the situation as it is. The Minister attending the meeting offered to have the Government consider making some capital expenditure to improve the pool at Phillip but it is my view that such expenditure is not warranted and would not be in the best interests of Weston Creek. I have written to Gary Humphries MLA and Brendan Smyth MLA from the Government and Ted Quinlan MLA from the Opposition with these views. We should get some replies to these letters shortly.

At the invitation of the ACT Government the Community Council made a submission on the ACT Budget. Among the items raised was a request for continued funding of the Community Council (granted); the decision to build a new library in Gungahlin and the a request to replace mercury vapour street lighting with sodium vapour street lighting. The Government replies were in Budget paper No 3. As far as the library in Gungahlin was concerned the reply was that the ACT Library would be expanding its Internet service and introducing a book pick-up service for a fee. In other words Gungahlin, even at its present stage of development, is a much higher priority than Weston Creek. My failure to make any impression on the Government on this issue is more than a sufficient reason that I should resign from my position as Chairman.

The reply on the lighting issue was that people preferred mercury vapour street lighting to sodium vapour (probably true) and that mercury lighting was cheaper than sodium (probably not true). This reply lacks the needed detail and is wrong in one particular and I believe the Community Council should point this out to the Government. I am currently seeking input from Mt Stromlo Observatory to help find all the facts and prepare a correct reply.

During the year we also made submissions on the Inquiry into ACT Shops; the location of a proposed ACT prison; and on ACT Land and Planning Advisory Committees (LAPACS).

In conjunction with other Community Councils we assisted with deliberations on a Planning the ACT Together (PACTS) new guidelines for future development in the ACT; with a deputation to the Minister for Urban Services on the location of the proposed Gungahlin Drive; and with regular meetings with the Chief Minister's Department.

During the year we maintained our regular columns in the Valley View and Southside Chronicle newspapers. This publicity helps us keep in touch with our members. We also maintained our regular schedule of letter box drops to keep residents of Weston Creek informed of our activities. To publicise the Annual General Meeting we sent out nearly 400 letters to people who have indicated in the past that they are interested in our activities.

During the year substantial progress was made with three projects on which the Community Council had some input. These were the current re-development of Trenerry Street (which is nearly finished) and the Sukyo Mahikari headquarters in Holder (to be officially opened in July) and the Duffy stormwater augmentation works. Another project on which we made little input this past year but which has now nearly reached completion is the Grant Cameron Centre which has turned out to be a great asset for our district.

Current development projects include the Weston Creek Youth facility and further improvements to the car parks in the Group Centre. The ACT Government has promised further progress on these works in 1999/2000.

During the next year we have been asked to request the ACT Government for an on-road bike path for Streeton Drive between Hindmarsh Drive and the Cotter Road; to remind the Government of the need to further improve the Cotter Road between the Parkway and Streeton Drive; and the need to air condition the premises of the Weston Creek Community Service.

Current issues before the Community Council include a submission that we made to the Federal Government Inquiry into the establishment of the Co-located Defence Force Staff College. This inquiry is being conducted in June and we should know the result of our submission reasonably soon.

We will need to make a submission soon to the Electoral Commissioner requesting keeping Weston Creek as one area in any proposed change to ACT electoral boundaries.

Although it is still some time away before the next ACT election it is likely that there will have to be new boundaries. This will have to be decided sometime in the year 2000 so that it is possible that the Electoral Commission will begin calling for submissions in late 1999. It will pay us to be early. My understanding is that to balance numbers properly Weston Creek may need to go to Brindabella away from Molonglo and that part of Woden which is currently in Brindabella may be returned to Molonglo. So long as Weston Creek remains as one area this won't be a problem. In fact there might even be some advantages to that move. We should consider this problem at this meeting.

No doubt there have been some matters that I have left out and for this I apologise. I think that it is fair to say that while it seems as if there is nothing going on the reality is that there is a great deal going on.

Our special thanks are due to the management and staff of Royals Rugby Club who have gone out of their way as usual to accommodate our widely different meetings. Our association with Royals has been very valuable to us over the years and we hope that this will continue in the forthcoming and future years. My thanks are due to the people who have supported the Community Council during the year especially those who have turned up regularly and helped in other ways including going to meetings I could not attend.

MOTION: Accept the Chairman’s Report Moved Bob Sutherland; seconded Jeff Carl.

The committee of the WCCC has been very active in the past 12 months. Membership forms have been completed by approximately 50 people and 400 flyers were distributed in Weston Creek for this meeting.

The most intensive involvement was with the Cooleman Court precinct group, which moved meetings from every fortnight to each month. The presence of the WCCC on this group enabled a valuable contribution to the phase 1 construction which is nearly completed. Lobbying for phase 2 is well underway. We have been able to lobby to attract funds for the Cooleman Court upgrade, Duffy drainage improvements and the youth facility.

The youth facility debate also stretched resources but the committee was able to maintain an important input to ensure that concept and design plans came to fruition.

The e-mail connection, which was established last year, was an important improvement to our communications. The material available on the WCCC website is a significant resource.

The WCCC distributed only 1 flyer as the funds were received in late November for the current 1998/99 financial year.

In respect of funding the WCCC received a government grant on 20 November 1998 for the 98/99 financial year. A significant improvement is that the funding is for 12 months from receipt, rather than for the financial year, ie the funding can be expended until 20^th Nov 1999.

It is expected that the major expenditure will continue to be printing and distribution of flyers (approx $750 each). Other major costs will be fax and phone rental and calls.

Some committee members continued to pick up costs without reimbursement and these actions are greatly appreciated.

The WCCC currently has in the bank account $1,919 and expected costs before the end of the financial year are; Internet renewal, association lodgement form costs and phone and fax accounts. Two more flyers could be covered or we could do a fridge magnet (with sponsorship).

MOTION: Continue to meet the costs of the phone and fax rental and calls. The costs have averaged approximately $200 per year.

Moved Alan Henderson seconded Rosemary Drabsch

Mr Henderson advised that Sue Galvin had undertaken the audit for the 97/98 financial year. It is proposed that Sue undertake the 98/99 FY audit.

Moved Jeff Carl, seconded Bob Sutherland.

Bob Sutherland and committee members stepped down and the meeting was presided over by Karen Mow, a resident of Pearce. All positions were declared open and vacant. A nomination and voting process was undertaken and the outcome was:

Committee members are:

Marion Kossatz

Rosemary Drabsch

Jocelyn Murphy.

There was a brief discussion on lighting in regard of the Stromlo Observatory, possible electoral boundary changes and bus routes in Weston Creek.

Meeting finished 9.20pm

Next meeting 23^rd June 1999