Wallsend Aged Care

Here's a copy of my Notice of Motion supporting the Wallsend community.

NOTICE OF MOTION: WALLSEND AGED CARE FACILITY

COUNCILLOR: M OSBORNE

MOTION

That Newcastle City Council:

1. congratulates the community of Wallsend for their steadfast defence of public health facilities in their area

2. supports the community campaign to keep the Wallsend Aged Care facility as a publicly owned and operated health facility

3. writes to the NSW Premier, Nathan Rees and to the NSW Minister for Health, Carmel Tebbut, urging the NSW Government to retain Wallsend Aged Care as a public sector facility, with copies to the NSW Leader of the Opposition, Barry O'Farrell, and to the NSW Shadow Minister for Health, Jillian Skinner.

4. arranges a visit by councillors to the community picket line, as a gesture of support for the community campaign, and to discuss with campaign participants how council might further assist them in their campaign.

BACKGROUND

Councillors will be aware that members of the Wallsend community have initiated a grassroots community campaign (including an ongoing picket-line) to save the Wallsend Aged Care facility from privatisation by the NSW government.

The Wallsend Aged Care facility is the largest care centre of its kind in the Hunter Valley and provides essential, high quality nursing care for extreme-need cases, including for young people with rare and special illnesses that are not accommodated in local private nursing care facilities.

The proposed privatisation of the facility would place both the quality and scope of the current service at risk.

The site and buildings also occupy a special place in the Wallsend community.

The land on which the facility is located was donated to the community by the Newcastle Wallsend Mining Company, and the hospital was built with money raised by miners.

The current facility was established after the controversial closure of Wallsend Hospital in 1991, which stimulated a long term community picket that ended in 1993.

Earlier this year, a petition with more than 10,000 signatures supporting the current community campaign was tabled in the NSW parliament. The NSW Legislative Council has recently voted to support keeping the facility in public hands, under the operation of the Department of Health.

This motion would establish council's general support for the community campaign, to convey this support to the NSW government, and to explore other ways that the council can support the community in this important issue.

Tate under investigation...

Mayor John Tate is being investigated over political donations.

Lord Mayor John Tate investigated

BY IAN KIRKWOOD

NEWCASTLE Lord Mayor JohnTate is being investigated by Newcastle City Council over his relationship with businessmanCon Constantine.

Council city engagement director Martin Coates confirmed lastnight that a ‘code of conduct’ investigation was under way.

The investigation is being carried out by Newcastle barrister Mark Brady, who described himself yesterday as one of a panel of practitioners hired by the council to do arm’s-length investigations.

Cr Tate said last night from Singapore, where he was on a short break, he knew a code of conduct matter was under way but he was surprised to find that members of the public were being interviewed about it.

"All that’s happened is that [council general manager] Lindy Hyam told me about a fortnight ago there was a matter to be finalised but that was about it," Cr Tate said.

He said it was ridiculous to suggest that he was influenced by any campaign donations from Mr Constantine or his companies or that he had acted in any way in breach of council procedures.

He said he was yet to be interviewed in relation to the code of conduct investigation and would be ‘having something to say’ if he was not given the chance to respond.

Maryville resident Martin Breen said he had lodged a complaint against Cr Tate over an April 21 vote that was viewed by some at the time as helping to pave the way for Mr Constantine’s proposed Maryville markets.

On that night, Cr Tate used his casting vote to allow a change to the Newcastle Local Environment Plan to be put on public display.

A plan for the markets and a draft amendment to the local environment plan have been put on display but a vote is yet to take place.

Mr Breen said he had lodged the complaint because he believed Cr Tate had previously abstained from voting on matters involving Mr Constantine and he believed he should have done so in this case.

He said regulations to the Local Government Act stated that "perceptions of a conflict of interest are as important as actual conflicts of interest".

The Herald report of the April 21 meeting said that Cr Tate had declared donations to his 2007 state election campaign from a Constantine company before using his casting vote to break a 5-5 deadlock.

Last night, Cr Tate said he voted that way in order give the public a chance to evaluate the proposal rather than have it killed off by "a handful of objectors".

Mr Constantine said he was disappointed and saddened by the accusations against the mayor.

He said the mutual business friendship would have no influence over Cr Tate’s decisions.

"Absolutely not, no way, nothing at all to do with it," Mr Constantine said.

He said Cr Tate was motivated by a desire for the future growth of Newcastle.

"Here is a man trying to create 1200 jobs for Newcastle and we’ve got some people out there accusing him of bias."

And a word from our sponsors...

Millions now know that 350 ppm of CO2 is the most that we can safely have in the atmosphere

Saturday, was the 'World's most widespread day of political action', with more than 5,200 actions in 181 countries.

Millions of people now know that scientists say that 350 parts per million carbon dioxide is the most that we can safely have in the atmosphere. The Secretary General of the United Nations was given the first delivery of a bunch of photos from around the world. More than 19,000 photos, and many hours of video, were taken documenting the day's actions.

We did our bit on a farm near Barrington...


Meanwhile, back home in Newcastle...


People from around Newcastle and Lake Macquarie gathered at the Newcastle Foreshore Playground with their children for a giant play date as part of the largest global day of climate action ever.




The event was organised by a stay-at-home mother from Tighes Hill who isn’t an activist but is terrified of one day being asked by her sons, “Mum, why didn’t you do something when the world still had a chance?”

Mine subsidence in Newcastle

NOTICE OF MOTION: MINE SUBSIDENCE WORKING GROUP
COUNCILLOR: M OSBORNE

MOTION

That Newcastle City Council establishes a sunset working party to formulate recommendations on mitigating the impact of mine subsidence on the revitalisation of Newcastle CBD.

The working party should consist of relevant stakeholders and experts including but not limited to: Council staff, a representative from NSW Mine Subsidence Board, a representative from NSW Department of Premier and Cabinet, a representative from NSW Department of Planning, a representative from Property Council and interested Councillors.

Investigations should include:

• Existing and alternative construction methods available

• Existing and alternative funding arrangements, including both public and private sector models, and State and Federal funding

• Existing legislation and possible amendments if necessary (eg for MSB to proactively address mine subsidence risk by releasing funds to partly pay for grouting)

• Consistency regarding the time that an approved DA remains valid (eg MSB approvals are valid for 2 years whereas approvals under the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 are generally valid for 5 years)

The working party should report back to Council within 6 months with recommended methods and actions, consistent with the City Centre Plan, on which Council can either act directly and/or play an advocacy role to other spheres of government.

BACKGROUND

Mine subsidence has been identified as a key issue affecting the revitalisation of Newcastle CBD.

Newcastle is unique in the amount of old underground mine workings under our CBD. The early history of mine subsidence in NSW is dominated by references to Newcastle (see the History section on the MSB website http://www.minesub.nsw.gov.au). For Newcastle to be revitalised, our history needs to be recognised and we need a unique solution.

The NSW Mine Subsidence Board (MSB) requires the ‘grouting’ or backfilling of old underground mine workings, up to 70 metres below ground of affected sites prior to redevelopment.

The issue has been raised in submissions to various planning studies including the Newcastle City Centre Plan and the Newcastle CBD Taskforce. The summaries of the Taskforce reports were provided at the Newcastle Panthers Club meeting listing Mine Subsidence as the highest priority.

Subsequent to the CBD Taskforce, the reports prepared by the Hunter Development Corporation completely fail to address the issue.

The MSB requirements mean that grouting usually extends well beyond the footprint of the site to be developed, under public space and adjacent sites. There is currently no mechanism for cost sharing back to the first site developed if an adjacent site is subsequently developed

Grouting is expensive, including a relatively large fixed mobilisation cost, regardless of the size of the site, just to get equipment on site and set up (before any costs for drilling and materials etc). Grouting costs add to unit costs, smaller sites generally incur much higher cost per unit.

The MSB collects levies from coal mines and uses the money as compensation for damage to buildings caused by mine subsidence.

Why can’t some of the money be used to work pro-actively to prevent mine subsidence in the Newcastle CBD given its unique nature? If this requires a change to the State legislation, then it should be changed.

The viability of both commercial and residential redevelopments in the Newcastle CBD is constrained by this issue. This leads to a reduction in housing stock at the lower end of the market within the CBD and a subsequent reduction in the socio-economic residential mix in CBD. This has flow on effects for pushing development away from our CBD, leading to transport issues across the city and ongoing issues relating to the derelict look of the CBD and the functioning of the retail sector in the CBD.

Fat as Butter

The Fat As Butter event is on this Sunday, spread all over Wickham Park.

If any residents have any issues that arise as a consequence of this event, they should call the Event Hotline.

Fat as Butter Event Hotline: 0410 204 203

If any residents see any graffiti incidents, they should call the Graffiti Hotline.

NCC Graffiti Hotline: 1800 223 840

All complaints will be logged, responded to or distributed to the appropriate authority for response.

Newcastle Council's website has a Frequently Asked Questions section about Fat As Butter, though it doesn't seem to have been updated in a long while.

See earlier information I've posted here and here.

Democracy diminished...

In June this year, Newcastle councillors voted to be an “open and transparent organisation that engages the community and encourages participation in Council matters.”

This week, Newcastle councillors were presented with proposals that – if adopted – will confirm Newcastle as one of the least open and transparent councils in the state.

Proposed changes to Newcastle council’s Code of Meeting Practice and Code of Conduct would entrench a rising community perception that the Council is democratically dysfunctional.

Current media attention is understandably focused on proposed restrictions to councillors speaking to the media, but the proposed changes go much deeper than this.
The new draft Code of Meeting Practice formalises that Council workshops will continue to be held behind closed doors, away from the view of the public and the media.

These workshops, held outside the open meetings provisions of the Local Government Act, are not new in Newcastle, but they've never been used on the current scale. I’m still awaiting an answer from the General Manager on the exact number of topics discussed in the past year, but I reckon 100 wouldn’t be much short of the mark.

If many of the topics discussed at these closed workshops were on the agenda of an official council meeting, they wouldn’t qualify as legitimately confidential under the Act, and the meetings couldn’t lawfully be closed to the public and the media. The workshops provide a way to sidestep these legal restrictions.

The only reason for having these secret workshops is the desire of some councillors and council staff to discuss matters away from the public view. My attempts to make these workshops open to the public have been opposed by most councillors. The public has a right to know what is happening in these workshops and what topics are being discussed.

How this is open or transparent and how it engages the community and encourages participation is not apparent to me.

Proposed changes to the Code of Conduct would further stifle the flow of information from councillors to the community.

The most insidious proposed change is the introduction of a new category of “sensitive information”. As currently defined, this would include any information that a councillor might be given by memo or email, or during discussions at a secret workshop. Under the proposed change, a councillor could only provide such information to the community or the media if specifically authorised by the General Manager. This directly fetters the statutory role of a councillor “to facilitate communication between the council and the community”, and hands monopoly control over the flow of information on council matters to an unelected council officer. Such a fettering of an elected representative’s role would not only be a major step backward for local democracy and the community right-to-know, but may even be illegal.

This same repressive, anti-democratic approach is evident in new sections seeking to impose restrictions on councillors speaking to the media. Similar restrictions would apply to councillors using online media, such as blogs. As a councillor, I've maintained a blog for many years, as a means of conveying information about council matters to the community.

No argument has been advanced for these proposed changes, other than vague, unsubstantiated claims in the council report that they “reflect industry best practice”.

Recently, the Local Government Act was changed to clarify that a council is a “body politic”, rather than a “body corporate”. A key distinguishing feature of a body politic is that it is democratic institution elected by and accountable to the community of citizens. As a body politic, a council is part of our system of democratic government, and not simply part of a “corporate business”. We don't refer to other spheres of government as a “corporate business”. The citizens that a council serves are more than merely “customers”, and the mission of democratic governance and public policy is not the same as the mission of private enterprise or corporate management.

Democracy is diminished when elected councillors start to see themselves as more in partnership with council staff than with the community. Democracy is diminished when elected councillors think they have a greater duty to stop the community from observing the discussion of the policies of council than in facilitating community involvement and knowledge about what is going on in local government.

In this year when we are celebrating 150 years of local government in Newcastle, the credibility of Council's claim to be an open and transparent organisation that engages the community and encourages participation is on the line.

Prince comes to the party

Supporting Blog Action Day on climate change...

The Googlers have done it again

Google has built a site where you “explore the potential impacts of climate change on our planet Earth and find out about possible solutions for adaptation and mitigation, ahead of the UN’s climate conference in Copenhagen in December.”

They’ve got a Google Earth mashup and an introductory video featuring Al Gore which I've included below.

Well worth checking out - as someone once said: "do yourself a favour!"



Supporting Blog Action Day on climate change...

The clock is ticking Kevin Rudd...

Supporting Blog Action Day on climate change...

Stop the Ruddy dithering

The latest science says that we should be targeting an average concentration for atmospheric CO2 of less than 350 ppm if we want to avoid dangerous climate change.

That is the amount that was in the atmosphere in 1987, a few years before the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro.

Our current level is...

In 2008, the average concentration for atmospheric CO2 (Mauna Loa Observatory) was 385.57 parts per million (ppm). Based on CO2 measurements made so far, we know that the 2009 average for atmospheric CO2 is more than 387 ppm. (The seasonally-adjusted level atmospheric CO2 was 387.65 ppm in August 2009, and 388.00 ppm in September 2009.)

And yet Kevin Rudd and Penny Wong are still happy to play cat-and-mouse games with Malcolm Turnbull.

Supporting Blog Action Day on climate change...

The invisible hand of God

It was reported in the Guardian on Tuesday that Dr Rowan Williams, head of the Church of England, told an audience to pressure their governments to act on climate change.

"We need to keep up pressure on national governments; there are questions only they can answer about the investment of national resources. We need equally to keep up pressure on ourselves and to learn how to work better as civic agents."

Earlier this year Williams said that God was not a "safety net" that would guarantee a happy ending and that human pillaging of the world's resources meant the planet was facing a "whole range of doomsday prospects" that exceeded the results of global warming.

Humanity faced being "choked, drowned or starved" by its own stupidity, he said, and he compared those who challenged the reality of climate change to the courtiers who flattered King Canute, until he proved he could not command the waves by going to the seashore and trying to do so. "Rhetoric, as King Canute demonstrated, does not turn back rising waters," said Williams in a lecture in March.

What does well-known climate denier Catholic Archbishop Pell say to that?

Some of the hysteric and extreme claims about global warming are also a symptom of pagan emptiness, of Western fear when confronted by the immense and basically uncontrollable forces of nature. Belief in a benign God who is master of the universe has a steadying psychological effect, although it is no guarantee of Utopia, no guarantee that the continuing climate and geographic changes will be benign. In the past pagans sacrificed animals and even humans in vain attempts to placate capricious and cruel gods. Today they demand a reduction in carbon dioxide emissions.

Supporting Blog Action Day on climate change...

The gag provisions

In today's Newcastle Herald...

Newcastle councillors slam 'gag' policy as censorship attempt

BY JACQUI JONES CIVIC REPORTER

CIVIC leaders have slammed a new policy governing their conduct, saying it amounts to censorship because of a "gag provision" restraining comments made to the media.

Councillor Michael Osborne fears that Newcastle City Council's proposed revisions to its code of conduct will inhibit elected representatives' communication with the community.

"It's a gag provision," he said.

"It's trying to fetter the role of councillors."

Most councillors voted last night to put the draft code on public exhibition for 28 days.

Cr Osborne and colleagues Aaron Buman and Mike King did not support the decision.

Many councillors, including those who voted to seek public comment, had concerns about some provisions, especially a section on talking to the media.

The rules state that councillors are free to make personal statements to the media, but warns this must not include criticism of council officials, and suggests any criticism of the council's decisions would damage its credibility and unity.

The proposed code also dictates that councillors must give the administration's media officer a copy of statements given to the media.

"I think it's gagging us," Cr Buman said.

"And if I reflect back to the last council and its performance I spoke out a lot of the time about a lot of the decisions I was in the minority about.

"I wanted the general public to know how I felt."

Cr Nuatali Nelmes also expressed concern.

"I think it does need to be changed because I don't necessarily think the intention is censorship," she said.

"But I think when it's in black and white like that, that could be the end result."

Lord Mayor John Tate said he was comfortable with the rules.

"It doesn't fetter councillors' rights," he said.

Consultant Kath Roach told last night's council meeting that some provisions were based on the Department of Local Government's model code, but others were not.

A council spokeswoman said general manager Lindy Hyam declined to comment.

Secret meetings enshrined

Tonight Council considered a new Code of Meeting Practice and a new Code of Conduct and, among others things, signalled its intention to enshrine secret meetings.

Here's the minutes of the meeting...

GOVERNANCE
ITEM-89 CCL 13/10/09 - CODE OF MEETING PRACTICE
MOTION: (COUNCILLORS S SHARPE/N NELMES)
That Council resolve to place the draft Code on public exhibition for a period of 42 days and that the notice of public exhibition also specify a period of 42 days, from the
commencement of the public exhibition, during which submissions may be made. In moving the motion Councillor Sharpe proposed to include in the exhibited documentation an alternative prayer that was submitted by Councillor Jackson:

We, the Councillors and Staff of the City of Newcastle, humbly recognise the responsibility placed upon us by the people of Newcastle to work together for the peace, order and good government of this great city, and we resolve to perform our duty with honour and integrity. I now ask you all to remain standing and, in silence, to pray or reflect on our responsibilities to the people of Newcastle.

The mover and seconder agree to include the alternative prayer into the motion.

Councillor Osborne asked mover and seconder to include two changes to the draft code of meeting practice.

1 Councillor Workshops 82.5. Proposed that clause 82.5 reads "All workshops are open… unless they are closed by prior resolution...".

2 Recording of Meetings 33.4 Proposed that clause 33.4 reads "Councillors shall be entitled to tape or make any copy of the recordings of the proceedings".

Councillor Sharpe accepted Councillor Osborne's changes into the motion.

Councillor Nelmes accepted the change to 33.4 but not to 82.5.

AMENDMENT: (COUNCILLORS M OSBORNE/S SHARPE)
That Council resolve to place the draft Code on public exhibition for a period of 42 days and that the notice of public exhibition also specify a period of 42 days, from the commencement of the public exhibition, during which submissions may be made, and including the following:

Councillor workshops Clause 82.5. Proposed that clause 82.5 reads "All workshops are open… unless they are closed by prior resolution…..".

Recording of Meetings 33.4 Proposed that clause 33.4 reads "Councillors shall be entitled to tape or make any copy of the recordings of the proceedings".

Following discussion Councillor King proposed the following amendment to Clause 12.1 (change in bold).

12.1 Any person must, on all occasions stand when addressing a Council meeting.

The mover and seconder of the motion indicated they would accept Councillor King’s amendment.

Councillor Osborne also noted that he would accept the change into the amendment.

Councillor Cook gave notice of a foreshadowed motion that being the original recommendation as moved but without the changes added by Councillor Osborne.

Councillor Nelmes asked if Councillors could receive a copy of the documents during the exhibition period that clearly identified the changes.

When putting the amendment the Lord Mayor identified that Councillor Sharpe had moved the motion and seconded the amendment.

Councillor Sharpe then withdrew his seconding of the amendment.

Councillor King indicated that he would second the amendment.

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

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

The amendment was declared defeated on the division of five votes to seven votes.

PROCEDURAL MOTION
RESOLVED: (Councillors A Buman)
The motion be put.

The motion was then put to the meeting and declared carried.

RESOLVED: (COUNCILLORS S SHARPE/N NELMES)
That Council resolve to place the draft Code on public exhibition for a period of 42 days and that the notice of public exhibition also specify a period of 42 days, from the commencement of the public exhibition, during which submissions may be made and as amended at Council 13 October, 2009:

• Exhibition of the following alternative prayer:
We, the Councillors and Staff of the City of Newcastle, humbly recognise the responsibility placed upon us by the people of Newcastle to work together for the peace, order and good government of this great city, and we resolve to perform our duty with honour and integrity. I now ask you all to remain standing and, in silence, to pray or reflect on our responsibilities to the people of Newcastle.

• Inclusion of:
Recording of Meetings 33.4 Proposed that clause 33.4 reads "Councillors shall be entitled to tape or make any copy of the recordings of the proceedings".

• Inclusion of:
12.1 Any person must on all occasions stand when addressing a Council meeting.

Councillor Osborne wished his name recorded as having voted against the motion.

ITEM-90 CCL 13/10/09 - REPORT ON CODE OF CONDUCT
AMENDMENTS
MOTION: (COUNCILLOR A BUMAN)
That the draft Code of Conduct at Attachment A be adopted as Council’s Code of Conduct.

Following brief discussion Councillor Buman withdrew the motion.

PROCEDURAL MOTION
MOTION: (Councillors M Osborne)
Council receive a public briefing and open workshop on this matter.

The procedural motion was put to the meeting and declared defeated.

MOTION: (COUNCILLORS B COOK/G BOYD)
That the draft Code of Conduct at Attachment A be adopted as Council’s Code of Conduct.

Councillor Sharpe gave notice of a foreshadowed motion to place the draft Code of Conduct on exhibition for 28 days.

Councillor Cook then withdrew the motion before the Chair in favour of the foreshadowed motion.

There was no dissent from the meeting to the motion being withdrawn.

MOTION: (COUNCILLORS S SHARPE/S CLAYDON)
Council place the draft Code of Conduct on public exhibition for 28 days.

Councillor Buman asked Councillor Sharpe to remove Sections 37.1 – 37.8 from the document for public exhibition.

Councillor Sharpe indicated that he would remove the section as outlined.

Councillor Claydon indicated that she would not support removing the section as outlined.

Councillor Connell requested the mover and seconder to consider including provision for a councillor briefing during the 28 day exhibition period.

The mover and seconder indicated that they would accept Councillor Connell’s proposal.

The Lord Mayor noted that such briefing form a Part B to the motion.

Councillor Connell further asked that the draft Code of Conduct to be placed on exhibition not include Sections 37.4 and 37.7.

The mover indicated that would accept Councillor Connell’s further changes, however, Councillor Claydon did not accept Councillor Connell’s changes.

The Lord Mayor clarified the motion remained unchanged.

As with the previous item Councillor Nelmes requested appropriate shading and shadowing to clearly identify the model Code, old Code and new Code of Conduct.

Councillor Jackson proposed that the motion be strengthened by including the words the notice of public exhibition also specify a period of 28 days from the commencement of the public exhibition during which submissions may be made.

The mover and seconder agreed to Councillor Jackson’s change.

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 G Boyd, S Claydon, S Connell, B Cook, T Crakanthorp, M Jackson, N Nelmes and S Sharpe.
Against the motion Councillors A Buman, M King and M Osborne.

The motion was declared carried on the division of nine votes to three votes.

RESOLVED: (COUNCILLORS S SHARPE/S CLAYDON)
A Council place the draft Code of Conduct on public exhibition for 28 days. The notice of public exhibition also specify a period of 28 days from the commencement of the public exhibition during which submissions may be made.

B Provision be made for a councillor briefing during the 28 day exhibition period.

Newcastle Council: ‘democratically dysfunctional’

Newcastle Greens

MEDIA RELEASE
23 September 2009

Greens Councillor Michael Osborne today declared Newcastle Council democratically dysfunctional, after councillors voted down a Greens proposal to open secret councillor workshops to the public and the media.

“The first year of this council has seen unprecedented use of secret, behind-closed-doors sessions between councillors and council staff, held outside the requirements of the Local Government Act,” Greens councillor Michael Osborne said today.

“In many of these sessions, issues are discussed in detail and de facto decisions are made on a nod-and-a-wink, out of the view of the public and the media – exactly what the Department says should not happen in such sessions. This practice circumvents and undermines the open government provisions in the Local Government Act.

“Last night, I proposed that the council open these sessions to the public, and incorporate workshops protocol into the council’s code of meeting practice, as recommended by the Department.

“Amazingly, a majority of Independent and Labor councillors thumbed their noses at the Department’s guidelines - only Clr Mike King (Independent) and Clr Tim Crakanthorp (Labor) voted to support my proposal (Clr Mike Jackson (Labor) was absent).

“While the council mouths empty clichés about its commitment to openness and transparency, and leads the celebration of 150 years of local democracy in Newcastle, the elected council hasn’t even been prepared to observe basic democratic practices,” Clr Osborne said.

“In its first year, this council has shut down previous avenues of community input (such as Community Forums), slashed the number of publicly accessible council meetings, and increased its use of confidential sessions and informal councillor ‘briefings’.

“We haven’t seen such a closed, secretive council in Newcastle for nearly two decades.

“The public and the media are now seeing precious little information, debate or discussion in official council meetings on crucial local public policy issues, and local democracy and the public right to know are now being sacrificed in favour of secrecy.

“While some of the councillors who voted against my proposal complain about people in the community being too suspicious or negative about council, the fact is that this culture of secrecy is now the norm in the current council, and ordinary Newcastle citizens are beginning to realise this.”

Clr Osborne said that he intended to contact the Department of Local Government about his concerns, and would discuss the issue with members of the local community.

“Now that the community’s elected representatives have refused to act to protect local democracy and the public right to know, ordinary community members will have to consider what options they have to defend this,” Clr Osborne said.

“Something has to be done: people who care about democracy aren’t just going to stand by and accept this.”

Guidelines for workshops

At the Council meeting tonight, most Councillors voted down my motion to develop guidelines about workshops, including outlining the nature and purpose of the gatherings, and the circumstances in which they will be used.

Cr Tate stated during the debate that "this argument is hardly worth having" and Cr Sharpe said when he read the motion he "felt squirmish".

What do you think?

Here's who voted that we don't need to let the public know...



And, here's who voted that we do need to let the public know...



Cr Jackson was away, but stated that he supports developing the guidelines.

Council meeting 22 September 2009

At the Council meeting tonight, Councillors considered a range of issues, including placing the draft Voluntary Planning Agreements Policy, the draft Residential Development Strategy and draft Urban Renewal Corridor Guidelines on exhibition and adopting the Port Stephens Council Section 94 Plan - Inclusion of site specific cross boundary chapter for Fern Bay and Fullerton Cove.

Council also considered my Notice of Motion to ensure transparency in Council workshops. This is what happened:

ITEM-20 NOM 15/09/09 - COUNCIL WORKSHOPS
MOTION: (COUNCILLORS M OSBORNE/M KING)

Council incorporate appropriate protocols, procedures and guidelines in its Code of Meeting Practice covering the role and conduct of workshops or other similar gatherings of councillors that draw on council resources but that occur outside the provisions of sections 9 and 10 of the Local Government Act.

That these protocols, procedures and guidelines include provisions that inter alia:

a. outline the nature and purpose of such gatherings, and the circumstances in which they will be used,

b. specify that – unless otherwise determined in accordance with adopted council policies and procedures – such workshops or gatherings will normally be open to the public and the media (as observers), and will be publicly notified on the council’s website,

c. duly recognise and give appropriate priority to the public interest, the public right to know, the responsibilities of councillors to the community, and council’s commitment to openness and accountability,

d. state and reflect this council’s commitment to openness and transparency, and

e. incorporate relevant components of Part 13 (Workshops) of the Department of Local Government’s Meetings Practice Note (No.16) of November 2005, and any other relevant advice from the Department.

Councillor Sharpe gave notice of a foreshadowed motion that being that Council reaffirms its commitment to accountability and transparency and confirms it will continue to conduct workshops based on Department of Local Government guidelines.

During discussion Councillor Claydon questioned whether there was a possibility the matter could be considered as part of the review of the Code of Meeting Practice.

Councillor Osborne indicated that he could see his motion implemented by Council by including the protocol in the current review of the Code of Meeting Practice but wouldn't accept Councillor Sharpe's foreshadowed motion because the Department of Local Government Guidelines did not outline a protocol for workshops.
.
Following the mover's right of reply the motion was put to the meeting and Councillor Osborne called for a division which resulted as follows:

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

The motion was declared defeated on the division of three votes to nine votes.

Councillor Sharpe was then asked to move his foreshadowed motion.

MOTION: (COUNCILLORS S SHARPE/B COOK)
Council reaffirms its commitment to accountability and transparency and confirms it will continue to conduct workshops based on Department of Local Government guidelines.

The motion was put to the meeting and Councillor King called for a division which resulted as follows:

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

The motion was declared carried on the division of ten votes to two votes.

RESOLVED: (COUNCILLORS S SHARPE/B COOK)
Council reaffirms its commitment to accountability and transparency and confirms it will continue to conduct workshops based on Department of Local Government guidelines.

The Global Climate Wake-Up Call

Today, people met on several places over Newcastle as part of the Global Climate Wake-Up Call and sent a clear message to world leaders: Go to Copenhagen and act now on climate!

Coordinated with local people and Avaaz.org, a global web movement with a simple democratic mission: to close the gap between the world we have, and the world most people everywhere want. “Avaaz” means “Voice” in many Asian, Middle Eastern and Eastern European languages.



Thanks to Kate Ross for organising the Newcastle CBD group (pictured above), Lawrie Hallinan for organising the Tighes Hill group and Bev Henwood for organising the Adamstown group.

Fat as Butter spread through village

Special Council meeting 15 September 2009

An Ordinary Council Meeting was held on Tuesday, 15 September 2009 at the United Services Club, 55 Watt Street, Newcastle, which was the first purpose-built council chambers with the first meeting in the building occurring 125 years ago.

The meeting lasted 35 minutes (perhaps a record?) and considered a Lease of Council Owned Premises Various Beach Refreshment Kiosks on Crown Reserves, the Election of Deputy Lord Mayor, the House Numbering Policy, the Conduct Review Committee, a tender for the City Wide Floodplain Risk Management Study and Plan - Stage 2, a number of Amendments to the Newcastle LEP, the Excavation and Lining of Cell 8 at Summerhill Waste Management Centre, the Processing of Concrete, Brick, tile & Rock for the Summerhill Waste Management Centre, the Investment of Temporary Surplus Funds, Councillor's, General Manager and Senior Officers Expense Registers and the IPART Revenue Framework for Local Government Draft Report.

Thanks must go to Mark Metrikas, Honorary Assistant Secretary of the United Services Club for organising the special meeting.

Let's get Australia moving on solar feed in tariffs!

A feed-in tariff is a premium rate paid for electricity produced by a renewable source such as a grid connected rooftop solar system or wind turbine, usually over and above the market rate.

National gross feed in tariff programs have been established around the world, resulting in increased uptake of solar and wind power systems by home owners and businesses.

We've waited long enough for the Australian Government to act decisively - it's time to push the issue of national gross feed in tariffs; particularly after the recent Council Of Australian Governments (COAG) meeting where principles tabled were far removed from how a feed in tariff system should operate.

Fractured and inadequate state run feed in tariff systems simply aren't good enough. They do not reward system owners suitably and do not recognise the true value that grid connected solar power systems can contribute to stimulating our economy and lowering our greenhouse gas emissions. Lend your support to a gross feed in tariff program that will actually work and make Australia a leading nation in the uptake of clean, green solar power!

Sign the on-line petition here.

To the Parliament Assembled,

Re: Renewable Energy Feed In Tariffs

We, the undersigned, request that Parliament implement a nationalised, simple and uniform renewable energy gross feed in tariff of $0.80 per kWh as soon as possible, rather than relying on individual states to develop and maintain their own systems, most of which offer far below what is required to encourage the uptake of renewable energy systems.

It is crucial that Australia implement a gross feed in tariff model over a net feed in tariff scheme. A net system will only pay on surplus electricity produced, which provides little incentive for home owners and business to make the substantial investment in solar and wind power equipment.

A gross feed in tariff program should pay a minimum of 80c per kilowatt hour of electricity generation which is fair compensation for the production of clean electricity by privately funded installations. The program should operate for at least 15 years and include an initial 6 month period whereby rebates currently in place are still available to allow the solar industry time to adjust and to stimulate uptake in these troubled economic times.

This rate and commitment will give a much needed boost to investment in and uptake of technologies much cleaner than low-emissions coal, with the added benefit of generating thousands of new jobs in the clean energy sector.

Countries such as Germany, a nation with far less solar resources than Australia, have proved the effectiveness of the gross feed in tariff model for many years. Germany now has the greatest solar power capacity in the world and has generated hundreds of thousands of renewable energy sector jobs due largely to their gross feed in tariff program. Australia is lagging far behind and as a consequence, our greenhouse gas emissions are increasing.

Australia has extensive solar resources and we should be making better use of those rather than focusing energies and investment on the long term viability of environmentally destructive coal-fired power generation.. Emissions controls such as Carbon Capture and Storage require as much as 20 percent of the electricity a power plant generates and the long term safety of such processes is still unproven.

It is only with the full support of the voting public of Australia that the Government will meet its goals of lowering greenhouse gas emissions and the people are ready to play their part if given the proper support and tools to do so. It is far better, safer and more economically viable not to produce emissions in the first place, and solar energy and wind power offer proven emissions free power generation.

What we need to watch

When Newcastle installed the 'ClimateCam' it was a great step forward to highlight electricty consumption across the City.

But the 'ClimateCam' ignores all the other CO2 emissions (like those from transport) and is not in talking about the CO2 emissions from the electricity consumption. It is a 'ClimateCam' that ignores climate!

It is time for Newcastle to catch up in the game.

Newcastle should convert the 'ElectricityCam' into a true 'ClimateCam'.

A website has been launched to keep track of atmospheric CO2 globally, check it out here. Here's a model for Newcastle to use.

The world's top climate scientists say we need to get atmospheric CO2 levels to below 350 parts per million (ppm) - as I write this atmospheric CO2 levels are almost 386 ppm. All our governments need to put investments into a transition away from fossil fuel dependency and recognise that ‘business-as-usual’ and high risk technological fixes to unsustainable economic activity are not credible.

A just transition is needed to ensure that the costs of change do not fall on vulnerable workers and communities, or that failure to change falls on future generations.

Secret Dept of Housing Plans...

Tonight, the Department of Housing gave a presentation to your Council behind closed doors.

This is what they presented (you probably won't find this on the web anywhere else!)