Council meeting 18 August 2009

The Newcastle Consensus Statement

Here's the motion that I moved at tonight's Newcastle Council meeting and received unanimous support.

Pursuant to council’s unanimous Motion on 2 December 2008 affirming our commitment to the revitalisation of the City centre as a key strategic priority, Council now resolves:

1. to support in principle the key catalyst projects outlined in the Hunter Development Corporation Report “Newcastle City Centre Renewal – March 2009”, namely
• A retail precinct, primarily through the development proposal put forward by GPT for land around Hunter Street.
• An education precinct consisting of the consolidation of creative and performing arts faculties and the relocation of social sciences to the city centre
• A justice precinct bringing together state and federal court facilities
• A tourism precinct building on the existing conferencing and cruise ship markets
• A cultural precinct consistent with the Civic and Cultural Precinct Master Plan 2003
• Development and implementation of a Public Domain Plan for the City Centre subject to confirmation of the viability of these projects from other key players;

2. to receive a report from the General Manager detailing the items contained in the Corporation’s report which can be implemented or assisted by Council forthwith subject to this resolution and availability of funding;

3. to apply to the Major Cities Unit of the Australian Government for funding assistance to implement the recommendations of the Corporation’s report that are consistent with council's position;

4. to reaffirm its commitment to an integrated public transport system as advocated in the Lower Hunter Integrated Transport Strategy 2007, including enhanced transport links to and from the city and the development of a modern transport interchange for future growth.

Joint Regional Planning Panels

At tonight's meeting we also considered the state government's undemocratic planning panels.

MOTION: (COUNCILLORS M OSBORNE/A BUMAN)
Newcastle City Council not nominate anyone to the Joint Regional Planning Panels on the basis they are undemocratic and unreliable.

Councillor Luke then gave notice of a foreshadowed motion to call for nominations.

Councillor Claydon also gave notice of a foreshadowed motion to nominate one Councillor and one independent person with expertise in the areas stated.

Following the mover's right of reply the motion was put to the meeting and The Lord Mayor called for a division which resulted as follows:

For the Motion: The Lord Mayor, Councillors A Buman, B Cook, M Osborne
Against the Motion: Councillors G Boyd, S Claydon, T Crakanthorp, S Connell, M Jackson, M King, B Luke, N Nelmes and S Sharpe

The Lord Mayor declared the motion defeated on the division of four votes to nine votes.

Councillor Luke was then asked to move his foreshadowed motion.

MOTION: (COUNCILLORS B LUKE/S CONNELL)
Council nominates Councillor Luke and Councillor Jackson to be appointed as council members of the Hunter and Central Coast Joint Regional Planning Panels (and Councillor Sharpe as an alternate member) for the consideration of ‘regional development’ proposals and other matters within the Newcastle Local Government Area. The appointment be for 12 months from the time of appointment.

Following there being 2 speakers for and 2 against, Councillor King moved the motion be put.

PROCEDURAL MOTION
MOTION: (COUNCILLOR M KING)
The motion be put.
The motion to put the motion was put to the meeting and The Lord Mayor called for a division which resulted as follows:

For the Motion: Councillors A Buman, G Boyd, B Cook, M King, B Luke, S Connell and S Sharpe
Against the Motion: The Lord Mayor, Councillors S Claydon, T Crakanthorp, M Jackson, N Nelmes and M Osborne

The Lord Mayor declared the motion carried on the division of seven votes to six votes.

The motion was then put to the meeting and The Lord Mayor called for a division which resulted as follows:

For the Motion: Councillors A Buman, G Boyd, S Connell, B Cook, B Luke, M King and S Sharpe
Against the Motion: The Lord Mayor, Councillors S Claydon, T Crakanthorp, M Jackson, N Nelmes and M Osborne

The Lord Mayor declared the motion carried on the division of seven votes to six votes.

RESOLVED: (COUNCILLORS B LUKE/S CONNELL)
Council nominates Councillor Luke and Councillor Jackson to be appointed as council members of the Hunter and Central Coast Joint Regional Planning Panel (and Councillor Sharpe as an alternate member) for the consideration of ‘regional development’ proposals and other matters within the Newcastle LGA. The appointment be for 12 months from the time of appointment.