When: 6:30pm, Thursday 21 Nov 2024
Note that this meeting will start immediately after the Special General Meeting to amend our constitution.
Where: Online
Notice: 2024 Annual General Meeting
Formal AGM Business:
- Apologies.
- Minutes of the last meeting.
- President's Annual Report.
- Treasurer's report.
- Election of office bearers for 2024-25.
- Summary of committee work.
Minutes
Present: David Kelly (DK - president), Rosemary Blemings (RB), Robyn Coghlan (RC -vice president), John Connelly (secretary), Darryl Seto ( web master), Judy Kelly, Karen Yaldren, Ava Lyons.
Apologies Dave Wong
Minutes of the last meeting:
Updated to record that we made a donation of $350.00 to the EDO.
Darryl moved that they be accepted, seconded by Rosemary, all agreed
Presidents Annual Report: DK reported on the following matters see separate report.
- We met Joe Clay, and corresponded with other politicians re Ginninderry EPBC non-compliance
- The Strathnairn School was approved in September, after objections from Chris Watson over the lack of recreational
- We made a submission on the Parkwood Biodiversity Certification Assessment, in July 2023
- We updated our pamphlet with more relevant illustrations and contact info
- We joined with Voices of West Belconnen at a Public Meeting August, to draw attention to the falls during the ACT election campaign. We also had TV and radio coverage
- New Bushfire mapping of VLS by Sharples was available to Emergency Services in Sep 2024
Darryl moved that the report be accepted, seconded by Rosemary
Treasurers report:
GFA Annual Financial Report 2023-4
Opening Balance | $1,524.49 | |
Deposit | $280 | membership fees |
Expenses | $75 | Con. Council membership |
Closing Balance | $1,729.56 |
Balance at 21-11-2024 $1,774.56
Moved John , Seconded Judy Kelly
Election of office bearers for 2022-23: In the absence of any additional candidates, the following were returned as committee members.
President: David Kelly
Vice President: Robyn Coghlan
Secretary: John Connelly
Treasurer: Judy Kelly
Committee member and public officer: Darryl Seto
Committee member: Karen Yaldren
Committee member: Ava Lyons
Committee member Rosemary Blemings.
Discussion of current GFA activities
Ava , Karen: Both expressed concern regarding the proposed sale of the Falls area. Karen has organised a tour of the Falls for Friday 22nd Nov 2024. They are both very concerned about the future of the Falls area especially if it is bought by private enterprise. Their view is that it should be resumed by Government (either NSW or Federal and be preserved under some kind of National Park , Conservation Reserve.
Dave. GFA has been lobbying for this to happen. Our original 2011 proposal to NSW Govt was that the Falls and a considerable area to the north on both sides of the Murrumbidgee River be declared a National Park. However at the time NSW Parks replied that 1) the area was too small for a National Park 2) They did not have the funds to create such and Park
Judy. We have had a very low key response to our communications regarding non-compliance with EPBC requirements. Federal Dept of environment said they are still working on getting compliance in spite of the fact that it was due in 2019
Darryl. NSW and ACT Govts have an MOU regarding moving the ACT border to include all the land south of Ginninderra Creek into the ACT. He noted this will complicate 1) the sale of the land as all land within the ACT is leasehold and 2) The zoning of the land will have to be changed to conform to ACT zoning regulations.
Dave. The new ACT assembly may be more responsive to lobbying as it is no longer a Labor- Greens Government. With the Greens outside the government the Assemby may be more responsive to community lobbying
GENERAL DISCUSSION of future possible development near the Falls area. Preferred outcome would be a passive enjoyment of nature area. We definitely do not want to see Disneyland type of development or any high end Tourist accommodation development.
Meeting closed 6:45 pm.
President's Annual Report.
We met Joe Clay, and corresponded with other politicians re Ginninderry EPBC non-compliance. No-one seemed concerned, and Ginninderry staff said that they planned to add the falls to the reserve some day, but there is no rush.
The Strathnairn School was approved in September, after objections from Chris Watson over the lack of recreational space.
Ginninderry’s Riverside Pavilion was rejected by Planning in July 2024, after the Commissioner for the Environment said that the size was inappropriate, and its asset protection zone would overlap with the riparian zone.
Various people commented on the Parkwood Biodiversity Certification Assessment, in July 2023, and it was approved on 26th July 2024. This enables development applications in the NSW part of Ginninderry. Criticisms included fire danger, tree removal, runoff and the effect of development on the reserve. No changes were made to the report as a result of submissions.
We updated our pamphlet with more relevant illustrations and contact info.
We joined with Voices of West Belconnen at a Public Meeting August, to draw attention to the falls during the ACT election campaign. We also had TV and radio coverage.
The proposed Wallaroo solar Farm across the border from Dunlop will change the area significantly from rural to semi-industrial, but may not affect Ginninderra Creek much. The NSW government did not originally consult ACT residents. But the media associated it with the Falls issue, because they’re both in or near West Belconnen.
The Temporary Green Waste facility was approved with conditions: clarification of its temporary nature and government ownership (not Canberra Sand and Gravel), installation of a leachate collection and wastewater retainment system.
New Bushfire mapping of VLS by Sharples was available to Emergency Services in Sep 2024, but may not be available to the public.
New Ginninderry walking tracks were opened in May 2024. This enables the condition of the land and the extent of weeds to be seen.
There is Inadequate water quality reporting for the reserve. Measurements are quarterly, in streams below development, and not published. Data after significant rain events is needed.
Dave Kelly
Treasurer's report.
Opening Balance | $1,524.49 | |
Deposit | $280.00 | membership fees |
Expenses | $75.00 | Con. Council membership |
Closing Balance | $1,729.56 | |
Balance at 21-11-2024 | $1,774.56 |
Attachment | Size |
---|---|
AGM Minutes | 80.85 KB |
GFA President's Report 2023-4.pdf | 47.53 KB |
GFA Annual Financial Report 2023-4.pdf | 41.87 KB |
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