Title HUON D'entrecasteaux BOUNDARY ADJUSTMENT
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Title HUON D’ENTRECASTEAUX BOUNDARY ADJUSTMENT COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT SUMMARY Agenda Number 15.043/16* Strategic Plan Reference 4.3 File Reference 25/17 Author Regional Development Coordinator Responsible Officer Communications Officer Reporting Brief General Manager presenting a report from the Regional Development Coordinator on the Huon D’Entrecasteaux boundary adjustment community engagement summary. Background In May 2016, by way of Council resolution 13.008/16, the Council resolved as follows: That: a) Council notes it has received the report on the review of boundary adjustments and their economic implications from Bruce Felmingham Consulting. b) Council immediately writes to State Government and Kingborough Council to begin discussions around the M1 option as highlighted in the report. c) Council immediately begins work on public consultation d) Public consultation begins as of 1 July 2016 and that during that process option M1 be referred to as the Huon D’Entrecasteaux Option. Following this, at the June 2016 Council meeting and by resolution number 15.021/15, council endorsed the Community Engagement Plan for Huon D’Entrecasteaux Option. The engagement plan activities have been completed and the results are summarised in this report. Report In accordance with the Council endorsed community engagement plan the engagement commenced on 1 July 2016 and continued for a period of 6 weeks. The community were advised of the engagement process by way of advertisements in the • Huon News • Cygnet/Channel Classifieds • Dover Classifieds This is PAGE - 1030 / 2016 of the MINUTES for the Ordinary Meeting of Huon Valley Council held on 28 September 2016 Surveys were made available via electronic media as well as in hard copy in the following venues: • Cygnet Library • Huon Valley Council Customer Reception • Franklin Post Office • Geeveston Visitor Centre • Southgate Shopping Centre – Dover Copies of the survey and associated media are included in the Attachments to the Reports. Background information was provided prior to the questions and is included in the Attachments to the Reports. The questions asked in the survey were as follows: Question One: Do you want us to continue to investigate the feasibility of a boundary adjustment that expands the Huon Valley municipal area to include Margate South, the Channel and Bruny Island? Question Two: Please enter your postcode An additional comments box was also included which provided space for entering 250 characters. The on-line version of the survey was structured to ensure that one response per IP address only was allowed. This was to ensure that that a fair response was received without the possibility of `loading’ of one preference over another. However, IP blocking software does exist which may be used inappropriately to enable an IP address to respond to the survey multiple times. It is noted that the survey was tested from a number of computers and devices which all indicated that multiple responses to the survey were not possible. A total of 387 responses to the survey were received. This included • 352 completed online • 35 hard copies completed The responses are included in the Attachments to the Reports. Of these 7 were incomplete surveys and 2 contained non existent postcodes and therefore do not form part of the summary. Council received 5 emails from 2 residents (0.01% of the Huon Valley population) raising concerns in relation to the process of the community engagement. These have not been included in the summary of the results as they are beyond the survey questions and did not relate to them. Correspondence was also received from the Friends of North Bruny Island. This is included in the Attachments to the Reports. The following is a breakdown of the responses by municipal area. A detailed breakdown is included in the Attachments in the Reports. This is PAGE - 1031 / 2016 of the MINUTES for the Ordinary Meeting of Huon Valley Council held on 28 September 2016 Total No. Yes No YES NO Responses Kingborough 57 100 157 36% 64% Huon Valley 73 141 214 34% 66% Other Areas 4 3 7 57% 43% Combined 134 244 378 35% 65% This is a response rate of 1.41% of the Huon Valley population and 0.46% of the Kingborough municipal area population. Any use of the data from this survey should take into careful consideration this low response rate. The results of the survey indicate that in both municipal areas approximately 65% of respondents do not want Council to continue to investigate the feasibility of a boundary adjustment that expands the Huon Valley municipal area to include Margate South, the Channel and Bruny Island? The results indicate that those respondents in more central locations, such as the 7109 postcode – Huonville and surrounds, are roughly equal but the views towards “no” become more marked in the more remote postcode areas. The results of this survey, particularly given the very preliminary nature of the questions asked, and the very low response rate, need to be treated as, at best, indicative, of the community’s views. This is consistent with the purpose of the survey which was to obtain an early indication of the community’s views. It is therefore recommended that these results be used as was intended, to provide a preliminary view and to have regard to this in any future community engagement or discussions in relation to this matter. Consultations Consultation with the community was undertaken as set out in the Community Engagement Plan dated June 2016 under the guidelines of the IAP2. These guidelines can be located at www.iap2.org/ Legislative Requirements Nil Risk Implications There are a number of risks and these have been identified in the body of the report. Council Policy The Council’s Strategic Plan includes strategies: Strategy 4.3 Community Consultation: “To engage the community in a continuing conversation about the future of the Huon Valley based on mutual trust and as a genuine basis for decision making.” This is PAGE - 1032 / 2016 of the MINUTES for the Ordinary Meeting of Huon Valley Council held on 28 September 2016 Options In relation to the summary of the feedback from the survey Council has limited options. It does however, have options how it would now like to proceed in relation to this matter. This has largely previously been decided by Council by way of resolution 15.028/16*, that provides as follows: That: a) the Huon Valley Council thank Kingborough Council for the invitation and accepts their offer to resume discussions on Local Government Reform. b) the Huon Valley Council wishes to broaden the discussions to include Resource Sharing and Boundary Adjustments that will protect and enhance each Council’s service delivery and efficiency in the best interests of both Council’s and their respective communities. c) the Huon Valley Council does not support voluntary amalgamations at this time and will consider this option only after all other options have been exhausted. d) both Councils approach the State Government for funding to explore the two options detailed in (b) of this motion. As this is Council’s current position it is recommended that the survey result be considered as part of that process, noting the limitations of the data. Human Resource and Financial Implications Community engagement is absorbed within the approved budget for this project. 15.043/16* RECOMMENDATION CR WILSON CR LANGE That: a) The report on the Huon D’Entrecasteaux boundary adjustment community engagement summary be received and noted. b) The results of the survey are considered during the course of implementation of resolution 15.028/16*. AMENDMENT CR SMITH CR MACKINTOSH That: a) The report on the Huon D’Entrecasteaux boundary adjustment community engagement summary be received and noted. THE AMENDMENT WAS PUT AND LOST • Councillors Coad, Smith, Mackintosh and Lange voted for the amendment and Councillors Paul, Wilson, Heron and Ruzicka voted against the amendment. This is PAGE - 1033 / 2016 of the MINUTES for the Ordinary Meeting of Huon Valley Council held on 28 September 2016 THE MOTION WAS PUT AND CARRIED • Councillors Paul, Wilson, Heron, Ruzicka and Lange voted for the motion and Councillors Coad, Smith and Mackintosh voted against the motion. This is PAGE - 1034 / 2016 of the MINUTES for the Ordinary Meeting of Huon Valley Council held on 28 September 2016 Huon D’Entrecasteaux Boundary Adjustment Huon D’Entrecasteaux Boundary Adjustment Your views are valuable in assisting us to determine whether to Your views are valuable in assisting us to determine whether to move to the next level of analysis. move to the next level of analysis. Do you want us to continue to investigate the Do you want us to continue to investigate the YES YES feasibility of a boundary adjustment that feasibility of a boundary adjustment that expands the Huon Valley municipal area to expands the Huon Valley municipal area to NO include Margate South, the Channel and NO include Margate South, the Channel and Bruny Island? (PLEASE CIRCLE) Bruny Island? (PLEASE CIRCLE) Please enter your postcode Please enter your postcode Please provide any additional comments or feedback Please provide any additional comments or feedback ......................................................................................................................................... ......................................................................................................................................... ........................................................................................................................................