Supplementary Agenda of General Meeting

Mayoral Minute No. MM13/18

Date of Meeting: 11/07/2018

9 RECENT LOSS OF MAVIS ANDREWS - LONG TERM COMMUNITY VOLUNTEER - LISGAR GARDENS AND FAGAN PARK

On behalf of all Councillors, I would like to acknowledge the recent passing of Mavis Andrews and pay tribute to her contribution to the promotion and conservation of Lisgar Gardens and Fagan Park.

Mavis was a Friend of Lisgar Gardens for over 13 years. She supported all the activities undertaken by the group and was on the regular roster for the weekend volunteers. She was a stalwart member of the group who could always be relied upon to promote Lisgar Gardens and the Friends group.

Mavis was also a long term member of the Friends of Fagan Park. This was not surprising as she was a relative of the Fagan family and would often visit the Fagan family farm during her childhood.

Mavis meticulously looked after Netherby House as well as the gardens surrounding the house in Fagan Park. She was a passionate gardener and would at times bring plants from her home garden at Pennant Hills to supplement those at the Fagan Park. Mavis was out at Fagan Park every Tuesday to make sure everything was in order and would often take groups through the heritage area to explain the history of the site and reflect on her personal experiences. Mavis’ contribution to Fagan Park only ceased in recent months due to her declining mobility.

She was famous for making caramel slices which she would bring to meetings and functions. The Friends of Fagan Park and Council officers would be most disappointed if Mavis did not attend and bring the slice.

Mavis was a gracious lady who was very committed to her volunteer roles. She was well liked by all the other volunteers and Council officers associated with the Park.

It is understood that Mavis’ wishes were for there not to be a funeral or service but a private family only farewell.

I seek your support to formally recognise Mavis’ long standing association and commitment to the promotion and conservation of Lisgar Gardens and Fagan Park.

RECOMMENDATION

THAT Council formally extend its sincere condolences to the family and friends of Mavis Andrews and with gratitude acknowledge the exceptional service she provided to Lisgar Gardens and Fagan Park.

The Honourable Cr PHILIP RUDDOCK

Mayor

Attachments:

There are no attachments for this report.

File Reference: F2004/05879-05

Document Number: D07481101

Mayoral Minute No. MM14/18

Date of Meeting: 11/07/2018

10 REVIEW OF 10/50 VEGETATION CLEARING SCHEME

I move this Mayoral Minute calling on the NSW Government to undertake a formal review of the 10/50 vegetation clearing entitlement scheme and code of practice in response to continuing community and Councillor concern regarding the integrity of vegetation clearing bring undertaken under the 10/50 entitlement scheme, and the ongoing loss of trees in 10/50 entitlement areas that appear to have little to do with bushfire risk or hazard reduction.

The 10/50 vegetation clearing scheme commenced in August 2014 following the October 2013 bushfires which destroyed more than 200 homes in the Blue Mountains and initially applied to properties located within a 350m buffer of all bushfire prone land. This differed from the Planning for Bushfire Protection requirements which only applied to properties located within a 100m buffer of Category 1 bushfire prone land, or 30m buffer of Category 2 bushfire prone land.

The design of the 10/50 scheme provided that a formal review of the scheme was to be undertaken as soon as possible following two years of the scheme’s operation to determine whether the policy objectives remain valid and whether the terms remain appropriate for securing those objectives (Section 100S of the Rural Fires Act 1997).

In response to significant community concern that the scheme was being abused by some landholders to indiscriminately clear vegetation, in October 2014 following only two months of its operation, the NSW RFS brought forward the planned review of the scheme. At the time, even local tree loppers made front page news raising concerns about the 10/50 scheme fearing, and I quote, “10/50 will desecrate the northern district’s leafy environment” and “it’s gone too far” (https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/newslocal/tree-lopper-peter-osullivan-fears-1050-will-desecrate-the-northern-districts-leafy-environment/news-story/c010e7d038b5215ea85cdbb782b38a12)

Over 3,500 submissions were received as part of the review, and in response to ongoing community concern, changes were made at the end of November 2014 to reduce the eligibility areas so that they mirrored the areas where Planning for Bushfire Protection applied – that is properties within a 100m buffer of Category 1 bushfire prone land and within 30m buffer of Category 2 bushfire prone land. The final report into the review of the 10/50 scheme was released in August 2015 and additional changes were made in September 2015 to the 10/50 vegetation clearing code of practice in line with the reviews recommendations.

Given the formal review was commenced following only two months of the scheme’s operation, rather than two years operation as was the original intent of the legislation, it is questionable whether the review assessed the full impact of the 10/50 scheme over time.

A majority of Hornsby residents live in or near bush fire prone land. As a Council we support community opportunities to reduce bushfire hazards which are legal and lawful. Clearing undertaken under 10/50 entitlement has been undertaken, on the most part, in this spirit. However, at a time when there is ongoing removal of healthy trees under the 10/50 scheme that appear to have little to do with bushfire hazard protection, where reversing the decline in tree canopy is a key objective of the Greater Sydney Commission and where Council is seeking to plant 25,000 new trees over the next two years, it is appropriate that Council call upon the NSW Government to undertake a formal review of the 10/50 scheme.

Undertaking a review at this point after the scheme has been in operation for a number of years would allow for a thorough examination of the impact of the scheme over time, whether its policy objectives remain valid and whether the schemes terms remain appropriate for securing those objectives, and whether there have been unintended outcomes.

RECOMMENDATION

1. THAT Council write to the Minister for Emergency Services, the Minister for the Environment and local Members of Parliament calling on the NSW Government to undertake a formal review of the 10/50 vegetation clearing scheme, including;

1.1. an assessment of the effectiveness of the entitlement areas in reducing bushfire hazard to people and property.

1.2. an assessment of the impacts of the introduction of the 10/50 vegetation clearing code on tree canopy cover in entitlement areas.

1.3. an appraisal of reducing the entitlement area noting the implications of reduced canopy cover

1.4. Any unintended/unforeseen consequences on vegetation resulting from the introduction of the scheme.

2. Council present a motion for consideration at the NSW Local Government Conference calling for a formal statewide review of 10/50 vegetation clearing scheme.

The Honourable Cr PHILIP RUDDOCK

Mayor

Attachments:

There are no attachments for this report.

File Reference: F2004/06589

Document Number: D07482013