Supplementary Agenda of General Meeting - Wednesday, 14 September 2022

Mayoral Minute No. MM13/22

Date of Meeting: 14/09/2022

14 THE PASSING OF HER MAJESTY QUEEN ELIZABETH II

On behalf of Councillors, staff and people of Hornsby Shire, deepest condolences are extended to King Charles III and the Royal Family on the passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. We share in their great sadness and that of countless people the world over.

Queen Elizabeth II was held in warm regards by the people of Australia, who respected her deeply. As a leader, she embodied dignity, duty, grace and kindness. She lived with a deep passion and respect for the people she served. We acknowledge the immense contribution she made to the Commonwealth during her historic seventy-year reign, during which she came to Australia 16 times, visiting every state and territory.

I, myself, recall lining the streets around Hyde Park in 1954 when our new Queen visited Australia for the first time. As a young child, I could not have comprehended the significance of this young woman’s visit, or the huge impact she would make on the lives of millions of people. However, I understood that there was something incredibly special about her, as did the seven million others who came out to greet her on that first tour. These included the residents of Hornsby Shire, when the Royal Train passed through Thornleigh Station on 9 February. Collectively, we shared a great passion for our first visiting monarch.

As I stood waving that day, I neither could have foreseen that my wife Heather and I would have the honour of meeting Her Majesty several times throughout her reign, as I was elected to represent the people. First in 1973, at the opening of the Sydney Opera House, then in 1977 at Old Parliament House, and again in 2006 when we were photographed together. We cherish these memories of her as an energetic, warm and dignified woman.

Australia held a special place in Her Majesty’s heart. She came to our shores to share in our times of joy including Canberra’s Jubilee, the bicentenary of Captain James Cook sailing up the east coast of Australia, her Silver Jubilee and the Commonwealth Games.

Our Queen was also a rock in times of hardship and was a beacon of hope that our great Commonwealth has felt the warmth of for so long. She spoke at length of her admiration for Australians’ strength and resilience, especially in facing the challenges we faced over the last few years of her life including bushfires, storms and floods.

With the passing of Her Majesty, we lose not only a Queen but a mother, grandmother and great grandmother. My own family and I – my wife Heather and daughters Caitlin and Kirsty – are in awe of her unwavering example of a strong and dedicated woman who had an amazing life of public service. She remained committed to her role until the end. Though Queen Elizabeth II experienced her own challenges and difficulties, she navigated them with grace and courage, always putting her immediate and Commonwealth family first. She is a true inspiration. As my wife Heather said,

“We have lost one of the greatest women leaders and an incredible working mummy.”

As we share in the outpouring of grief around the world, we take comfort in her own words,

“Grief is the price we pay for love”.

Condolence books are in place in all Hornsby Shire Council libraries at Hornsby, Pennant Hills, Berowra and Galston during the period of mourning, and I encourage everyone to pay their respects by writing a message in one of the books.

While the end of her reign is truly the end of an era, her enormous legacy will endure for centuries.

As we enter a new chapter for our Royal Family, we anticipate the carrying forth of this great legacy by King Charles III, our new Monarch, and acknowledge the great contribution he has already made to Australia and the Commonwealth. Long live the King.

The Honourable Cr PHILIP RUDDOCK

Mayor

RECOMMENDATION

THAT Council write to His Majesty King Charles III and the Royal Family, extending the condolences of the people of Hornsby Shire, acknowledging Queen Elizabeth II’s immense contribution to Australia and the Commonwealth, and include with this formal letter the condolence books signed by the people of Hornsby Shire.

The Honourable Cr PHILIP RUDDOCK

Mayor

Attachments:

There are no attachments for this report.

File Reference: F2021/00101

Document Number: D08492072

Mayoral Minute No. MM12/22

Date of Meeting: 14/09/2022

15 VEGETATION MAPPING PLANNING PROPOSAL

Recently Council was advised by the Department of Planning and Environment that it does not support progression of Council’s Vegetation Mapping Planning Proposal. This decision should be challenged to ensure the best possible protection of tree canopy cover and we remain the “Bushland Shire”.

As Councillors are aware, the Vegetation Mapping Planning Proposal was prepared to amend the Hornsby Local Environmental Plan 2013 by mapping all vegetation communities (National, State, Regional and locally significant or common communities) plus a 10m buffer to better protect vegetation communities. The Proposal was prepared after careful consideration by Council with the intention of updating mapping and further protecting vegetation communities within the Shire. The Planning Proposal holds significant local and State strategic merit, including alignment with priorities and actions of the Hornsby Local Strategic Planning Statement, Hornsby Community Strategic Plan, North District Plan, Greater Sydney Region Plan and the Greening our City Premier’s Priority.

On 10 June 2022, the General Manager, Director Panning and Compliance and I met with Minister Roberts to discuss the importance of the Planning Proposal to protect the environmental qualities of our Shire. The Minister indicated he would further consider the objectives of the Planning Proposal to protect existing vegetation in consultation with Department officers.

It is disappointing that nearly two years after Council requested a Gateway Determination to enable exhibition of the Planning Proposal, we have been advised that it is not supported by the DPE. Reasons include that the Department does not support the broad inclusion of locally significant vegetation communities and concerns that the proposal would have significant impacts on the application of State Environmental Planning Policy (Exempt and Complying Codes) 2008.

The consideration of bushland is an integral part of the development assessment process in Hornsby Shire. It is acknowledged that there may be additional costs for the lodgement of a development application due to potential changes to the application of the Codes SEPP. However, this small cost should be balanced against the significant environmental benefits of enhancing the protection and management of bushland by ensuring the appropriate level of consideration and assessment is undertaken for all vegetation.

I am advised that where a decision not to support a Gateway determination is made by the Department and not the Minister, Council may request a review of the determination by notifying the Department within 42 days. As part of the review process, the Independent Planning Commission provides advice on whether the Gateway determination should be altered, and the Minister (or delegate) then decides to alter or refuse the Gateway determination. Given the environmental benefits of the Planning Proposal, it is appropriate that Council request a review of the determination. It would also be appropriate to request a further meeting with the Minister for Planning and other relevant State members to discuss the matter.

RECOMMENDATION

THAT:

1. Council submit a formal Gateway review request with supporting justification to the Department of Planning and Environment to seek progression of the Vegetation Mapping Planning Proposal.

2. A further meeting with the Minister for Planning and other relevant State members be requested to outline the strategic and environmental importance of the Proposal.

The Honourable Cr PHILIP RUDDOCK

Mayor

Attachments:

There are no attachments for this report.

File Reference: F2020/00021

Document Number: D08490427