Notice: 2021 Annual General Meeting
Zoom: 2021 AGM and Public Meeting
Agenda:
- Apologies
- Acceptance of the Minutes of the previous AGM on 19 Nov 2020;
- Treasurer's Report: Doug Finlayson;
- Annual Report 2020-2021: Robyn Coghlan;
- Election of office-bearers: President, Vice-President, Treasurer, Secretary;
- Election of at least three ordinary committee members.
Minutes
17th Nov 2021 via ZOOM.
Present
Robyn Coghlan (Chair), John Connelly (Minutes), Darryl Seto , Doug Finlayson, Rosemary Blemings, David Kelly, Judy Kelly , Dave Wong. Imogen Featherstone (Ginninderry)
Apologies
Russ Temple , Chris Watson, Chris Emery , Louisa Arndt
Previous Minutes (2020 AGM)
Acceptance of the minutes: Proposed Darryl Seto, seconded Doug Finlayson. Accepted.
President’s Report from Robyn Coghlan (Summary of points)
- A year of monitoring the general progress of the Ginninderry Project
- Yass Valley Council approved the DA for the NSW portion.
- Ongoing issues
- WSUD Dave K is researching this
- Bushfire Risk
- We still need an update on the little eagle No report is available as yet.
A full electronic version of the report is available.
Resolution that the Presidents Report be accepted. Moved Doug Finlayson. Seconded Darryl Seto.
Treasurers Report.
Doug Finlayson provided the Treasurers report and the auditors report.
As at 30th October 2021 we have $774.49 at bank.
John Wells has again very kindly agreed to audit the accounts pro-bono.
Resolution that the Treasurers report be accepted. Moved John Connelly, Seconded Darryl Seto.
Election of Office Bearers
Robyn vacated the chair for Darryl (Public Officer) who declared all positions vacant.
There were no written nominations and all positions were nominated and accepted from the floor. (Those absent had indicated earlier that they would accept nominations.)
| Office | Nomination | Proposed | Seconded |
|---|---|---|---|
| President | Dave Kelly | Darryl Seto | Doug Finlayson |
| Vice President | Robyn Coghlan | Dave Kelly | Darryl Seto |
| Treasurer | Doug Finlayson | Darryl Seto | Robyn Coghlan |
| Secretary | John Connelly | Robyn Coghlan | Doug Finlayson |
| Committee members | Darryl Seto, Judy Kelly Rosemary Blemings. |
Dave Kelly now took the chair for our General Meeting: Discussion of Activities for 2022 and beyond.
Annual Report 2020-21
This year has been relatively quiet. It began with the approval by the NSW Government for the rezoning of land in Parkwood for residential use in July 2020. Much of this land was previously zoned for Environmental Management. This shows how easy it is for a subsequent generation to undo a former generation’s work to protect an area. The NSW and ACT Governments and the Yass Valley Shire Council have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to facilitate cross-border co-operation in providing the necessary services and infrastructure. Despite the fact that this development could not proceed without the ACT Government’s active cooperation in providing these services and infrastructure into the future, the ACT Government insists that they have no responsibility for the decision to rezone. The COVID-19 outbreak prompted the NSW Government to fast-track this development as part of its Planning System Acceleration Program, so it is likely to commence sooner than originally intended.
Communications during the year included:
1 July 2020: Submission to the Standing Committee on Justice and Community Safety for their Review of ACT emergency services responses to the 2019-20 bushfire season.
20 November 2020: Letter outlining our concerns to all MLAs, following the ACT election.
Our main activity during this financial year was to monitor developments in the Ginninderry area. Our concerns included:
- the construction of a new substation off Stockdill Drive connected to the original substation on Parkwood Road by a new power line along Stockdill Drive. The proximity of this power line to houses in the Ginninderra Estate has upset some residents. A battery is proposed on the hillside near the new substation on the slope leading down to the Molonglo River;
- the water-sustainable urban design necessary to effectively control stormwater runoff from the 46 sub-catchments, most of which drain directly down steep gullies into the Murrumbidgee River. This, together with the increasing proportion of impervious surfaces in new developments, makes erosion of these gullies more likely and control of water quality and flow more difficult. To reduce peak flows, a large number of small WSUD installations will be required for the 46 sub-catchments (with 41 ponds and wetlands), which makes monitoring and maintenance more difficult and expensive.
- bushfire management research relevant to this area which is exposed to high fire danger from dynamic fire behaviour related to the proximity of Ginninderry suburbs to the Brindabellas and the steep slopes along the Murrumbidgee River;
- research into local species, especially the Little Eagle and Rosenberg’s Monitor. To date, the Little Eagle Research Group has reached no conclusion as to whether the Little Eagle will continue to nest and forage in the Ginninderry area. The Rosenberg’s Goanna Project is examining the habits and movements of this species in the Namadgi National Park to increase understanding of its needs for survival. It has been sighted in past years in the area around Ginninderra Creek and the Falls.
GFA is also concerned about potential land release associated with the future duplication of Drake Brockman Drive. Development of this area was considered a decade ago but was withdrawn at that time. It now appears to be under reconsideration in the Western Edge investigation.
Robyn Coghlan
President,
Ginninderra Falls Association
11 November 2021
Treasurer’s Report for the Financial Year 2020-2021
The constitution of the Ginninderra Falls Association stipulates that the Association financial year ends on 30 June each year. This report sets out the accounts of the Association for the period 1 July 2020 to 30 June 2021.
The income during the financial year was derived mostly from members’ fees and a few donations. The number of financial members during the 2020-21 financial year was 13.
A statement of accounts is attached. The Association bank cheque account exists with the St George Bank (BSB 112-908; Account number 447 299 504) with five signatories (Former President, Former Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer, Public Officer), any one of whom may singly operate the account. A receipt book, cheque book and a computer file of bank statements document the Association income.
In summary, the accounts indicate the following –
| Net bank and cash assets at 1 July 2020 | $154.49 |
| Total income, 2020-21 | $620.00 |
| Total expenditure, 2020-21 | $0.00 |
| Net bank assets at 30 June 2021 | $774.49 |
The audited statement of accounts for the financial year 2020-2021 is attached.
Treasurer’s comments:
- The Association chooses to be a member of the Conservation Council of the ACT along with other likeminded associations; there is a membership fee.
- The Ginninderra Falls Association chooses to have public liability insurance if it wishes to apply for grants and conduct meetings and excursions. This is a significant cost for the Association and was reviewed during the financial year.
- The Association maintains a web site that incurs commercial administration and running costs.
- The membership fee for the financial year 2020-2021 was $35 and it is recommended this fee be retained for 2021-22 (no family membership). Those supporters dependent solely on an aged/disability/study/unemployment Government income may seek membership fee relief from the Association Treasurer (entirely in confidence).
Acknowledgements
The Association wishes to thank the following supporters:
- Individuals, including committee members, who have absorbed costs connected with the operations and administration of the Association and the promotion of the Association in the public domain.
- The Association wishes specially to thank those individuals who have made donations to the Association.
- John Wells, for auditing the Association accounts.
Signed
Douglas Finlayson
Hon. Treasurer, Ginninderra Falls Association
10 September 2021
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