Venue…Riverview Office , Kippax 2:00-3:00
Present GFA. David Maxwell, Chris Watson, John Connelly , Doug Finlayson , Brian Rhynehart, Darryl Seto.,
Introduction
Meeting is presented as just as a list of semi-verbatim comments. Sorry Vena, I still think this is the best way to present the meeting as it preserves the general tone of the meeting rather than me trying to summarise it. I have inserted a few comments section in italics which are just my thoughts, other present may have different view.
I thought Chris did an excellent job of guiding the meeting along to cover most of the relevant topic.
MEETING.
Chris opens the meeting. Gives a broad overview of National Parks in the ACT emphasising particularly the current push by NPA ACT for a northern rim National Park.
Chris. To David. "put us in the picture".
David gives good overview of the history and current status of the whole project.
Following on from the Nov 12-14 "design Forum" the input from that forum was included in an updated plan, which is being further refined by the various (43) consultants. At the completion of that process the plan will be lodged for approval with both the Act and NSW authorities at about the same time. He expects both plans to be lodged "Late April-late May 2014" and thinks that the approval process will take 12-18 months.
He emphasises that there will be ample opportunity during that approval process for public submissions regarding the plans. The plans will be on public exhibition with a set statutory period for the public to make submissions.
Planning acceptance process.
David said "LDA is the manager for ACT" but he also said "Simon Corbell" is the Minister in ACT who will vet the application. . From David’s explanation it I was not totally clear to what the situation is in NSW. I thought that Yass Valley Council was the relevant authority in NSW but he seemed to indicate that Yass Valley Council would say "Oh this is too big for us" and would pass it direct to NSW Planning. He mentioned a Sam Haddad?? who is part of minister Brad Hazzards department.
Comment
I think we need to clarify the situation for NSW . Why does it get referred upwards from Yass Valley Council? If it remains with Yass Valley Council we have much more opportunity for input as we can directly lobby Council members. Maybe we can talk to the EDO to get details of the process. From previous experience with Yarrowluma Shire Council getting totally on top of required process is important. We can then say "you have not followed due process here… you need to do this or that". That tends to put them on the back foot and give us the ability to significantly influence the course of events.
David. gave a firm commitment "When we lodge with NSW we will convene a further meeting with GFA to brief.:
Chris. Raises the issue of membership of the cross border committee and getting access to the deliberations of that committee. Mentions that we have received several letters (Yass Valley Council , Ann King , ) indicating that we should work with that committee on any issues we have.
David. "I will raise issue of GFA input at the next meeting of the committee" He indicated that Dan Stewart LDA is chair of the Committee. Significantly he nearly always referred to them as "my client" I thought deliberately emphasising that relationship.
Doug gave the example of the Majura Parkway committee and how stakeholders ther have very good opportunity for input. David responded that the "People and Places" committee is the forum for that sort of input, "he was very comfortable with the concept."
Comment.
Most of the time David referred to the LDA as "my client". I felt he was deliberately emphasing that the relationship was one where he had been asked by LDA to produce a planning document for the development. I felt he wanted it to like the LDA came to him and said "we have this amazing plan for development along the Murrumbidgee can you do a planning assessment for us". This of course is the direct opposite of what actually happened where Riverview said "we have this amazing plan for development along the Murrumbidgee we will do all the planning for you". This means he can always say "I have to consult my client in regards to any release of the deliberations of the committee"
Conservation Trust.
David. Two consultants are looking at the situation regarding the Falls area. Expands on where the trust will get its funding. Important the trust has "ongoing funding" so as to be viable in the longer term. It should have funding from a range of sources. He mentioned 1) Levy (per house??) from the development. 2) Redirection of funding that TAMS have to spend anyway to the trust.
Doug. We both want a high value asset for the community.
Chris worries that the trust may go bankrupt.
David. 4-5Million will be available to manage the NSW section. "Move in powers " will be put in place to cover any collapse of the trust. Discussion of who will have move in powers. Not sure what the result was.
Darryl. "How will insurance for the Falls area work, this has been the stumbling block in the past. " David. David Marshall and Geoff Butler will include consideration of that in their "Tourism" report. In part it comes down to putting "good infrastructure " in place. Also Janet McKay?? Another tourism consultant is looking at that. He indicated that David Marshall and Geoff Butler will likely come up with a "gold plated" solution. Janet McKay is more practical.
Conservation Corridor.
Chris emphasised the need for the corridor to be quite wide.
David. Consultants will be asked to better define the corridor in the final plan which goes in for submission and that will allow much better public comment.
Chris. Emphasises that besides the wide corridor , space needs to be set aside for the associated infrastructure which must not intrude on the corridor.
David. "Convention Centre will likely be located between the Upper and Lower Falls."
Land Ownership.
Chris. Quarry is not compatible with the Park. What is to be done.
David. "there will need to be tough negotiations regarding the quarry". Once the rezoning has gone ahead "we will have something to trade". He seemed to think that at that stage "Hyles will be in a weak position".
Comment
David’s comment here suggest to me that they are having a hard time negotiating with the Hyles. David seems to be of the opinion that once the area of the quarry is rezoned "urban" making the quarry a prohibited development then Riverview will be able to put the screws on the Hyles to shut it down.
Not sure I agree. , Hyles will not lightly give up the quarry or sell their land cheap. They own the land they can just sit tight. They could say "thank you very much for that beaut planning document we will undertake all the development".
At the moment although they are inside the E3 zone they are able to keep mining by "prior use" conditions in the YLEP, eg the quarry was already approved before the E3 (E7) was put in place in 1986. Not sure how the "prior use" thing would play out if the land is zoned urban..
Brian raises the issue of Manny’s track. Not sure what the issue there was.
Membership of Cross Border Committee.
Chris. "When do we get involved with the LDA committee?. Will we be able to get copies of the minute.?"
David. Copies of the Committee minutes will be made public when the plan is on public exhibition"
Darryl "are any other stakeholders represented on the Committee." David. "No"
David. Boundaries of the Strathnairn precinct will be adjusted but there will be no loss of land to them.
ACTION. John to e-mail David "like to present at a future date.
Chris mentions liasing with Anthony Evans at Queanbeyan. David is aware of Anthony Evans. .
Other land in the area. Biological species studies etc.
David. "Manny’s land is not in any of our plans. However his side of the creek is important."
Chris. NPA NSW (Kevin Evans , ?????) are definitely of the opinion that more surveys need to be done to accurately assess the biological value of the area. He suggests that ANU research students could possibly be involved in this work. Work on Manny’s section of the corridor needs to be done.
David. Mentions that archaeological heritage has already been done. Eric Martin on European settlement history and Tyrone Bell?? On the aboriginal heritage side.
David agrees more work needs to be done. Geoff Butler (their tourism consultant) has done some work along the Ginninderra Creek.　
Getting minutes of LDA Cross border committee.
Chris. Can we set up meetings with some of the other consultants.
David. Can you give me a list of those you would be interested in.
ACTION. John to e-mail David thanking him for the meeting and giving a list of consultants we would be interested to meet.
Waste / Transport.
Brian. What is planned in regard to rehabilitation of the land fill sites and the industrial areas.
David. Possibility that the tyre dump can be "mined" and that area subsequently fully rehabilitated. Possibly then used for commercial premises.
Chris. There will be much traffic to the proposed Information centre (school buses etc).
David Full transport study is underway. David Marshall is looking at all four tourist facilities (Ginnindera Falls , Straithnairn , two others ???? what are they). With a view to properly integrating them into the transport plan.
Meeting closed. 3:00pm.
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