Agenda of Parks and Recreation Committee Meeting

Agenda (Open Portion)

Parks and Recreation Committee Meeting

Page 4

10/1/2019

Parks and Recreation Committee Meeting (Open Portion) held Thursday, 10 January 2019 at 5:00 pm in the Lady Osborne Room, Town Hall.

COMMITTEE MEMBERS

Briscoe (Chairman)

Deputy Lord Mayor Burnet

Thomas

Ewin

Sherlock

NON-MEMBERS

Lord Mayor Reynolds

Zucco

Sexton

Denison

Harvey

Behrakis

Dutta

Apologies:

Leave of Absence:

Alderman D C Thomas.

1. Co-Option of a Committee Member in the event of a vacancy

2. Confirmation of Minutes

The minutes of the Open Portion of the Parks and Recreation Committee meeting held on Thursday, 6 December 2018, are submitted for confirming as an accurate record.

3. Consideration of Supplementary Items

Ref: Part 2, Regulation 8(6) of the Local Government (Meeting Procedures) Regulations 2015.

Recommendation

That the Committee resolve to deal with any supplementary items not appearing on the agenda, as reported by the General Manager.

4. Indications of Pecuniary and Conflicts of Interest

Ref: Part 2, Regulation 8(7) of the Local Government (Meeting Procedures) Regulations 2015.

Members of the Committee are requested to indicate where they may have any pecuniary or conflict of interest in respect to any matter appearing on the agenda, or any supplementary item to the agenda, which the committee has resolved to deal with.

5. Transfer of Agenda Items

Regulation 15 of the Local Government (Meeting Procedures) Regulations 2015.

A Committee may close a part of a meeting to the public where a matter to be discussed falls within 15(2) of the above regulations.

In the event that the committee transfer an item to the closed portion, the reasons for doing so should be stated.

Are there any items which should be transferred from this agenda to the closed portion of the agenda, or from the closed to the open portion of the agenda?

Item No. 6.2

Agenda (Open Portion)

Parks and Recreation Committee Meeting

Page 9

10/1/2019

REPORT TITLE: Queens Domain Vegetation Management Policy - Proposed Council Policy

REPORT PROVIDED BY: Program Officer Fire and Biodiversity

Program Leader Fire and Biodiversity

Group Manager Open Space

Director Parks and City Amenity

1. Report Purpose and Community Benefit

1.1. The purpose of this report is to present the proposed new Council Policy, the Queens Domain Vegetation Management Policy that provides clear guidance to direct on ground works and actively manage the vegetation of Queens Domain.

1.2. The Queens Domain Vegetation Management Policy will benefit the community through the achievement of the desired outcome to ensure the aesthetic appeal of the open landscape of Queens Domain whilst conserving its nationally significant biodiversity values.

2. Report Summary

2.1. The Queens Domain Vegetation Management Policy identifies the location of biodiversity values including flora, fauna and vegetation communities.

2.2. It provides operational priorities to meet environmental legislative obligations, maintain and protect natural values and manage threats including degradation, fragmentation and invasive species.

3. Recommendation

That a new Council Policy, ‘Queens Domain Vegetation Management Policy’ dated January 2019 and marked as Attachment A to the report, prepared to ensure the aesthetic appeal of the open landscape of Queens Domain whilst conserving nationally significant biodiversity values, be approved.

4. Background

4.1. Whilst Fire Management Plans have identified natural values, there has not been a dedicated management plan that addresses the management of natural values on Queens Domain (the Domain) since the 1996 Queens Domain Management Plan.

4.2. Despite a long history of development, the Domain retains nationally significant remnants of its once extensive grassy woodland landscape including two vegetation communities that are significantly rare:

4.2.1. Lowland Themeda triandra grasslands are listed as Critically Endangered under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act); and

4.2.2. Eucalyptus globulus forest and woodlands are listed as Threatened under the Nature Conservation Act 2002.

4.3. In addition, a number of threatened flora and fauna species under Threatened Species Protection Act 1995 are dependent upon native grasslands and grassy woodlands that occur on Queens Domain.

5. Proposal and Implementation

5.1. It is proposed the Queens Domain Vegetation Management Policy, dated January 2019 and marked as Attachment A to the report, be approved.

5.2. The Policy will guide the management of natural values on the Queens Domain and inform the development of a biodiversity action plan for the site.

6. Strategic Planning and Policy Considerations

6.1. The proposal aligns with the:

Capital City Strategic Plan 2015- 2025:

Goal 3 Environment and Natural Resources

An ecological sustainable city maintains its unique character and values our natural resources.

Strategic Objective 3.1

Strong environmental stewardship.

Action 3.2.7.:

Review and improve the city’s approach to biodiversity management.

Strategic Objective 3.3

A highly valued natural and cultural open space network.

Action 3.3.5.:

Review and improve the Council’s approach to biodiversity management.

Hobart: A community vision for our island capital

Pillar 6 Natural Environment:

Focus Area 6.1:

Our City is part of nature and nature is part of our city.

Focus Area 6.2

We are ecologically conscious, aware and empowered.

6.2.3 We feel and are empowered to make good environmental decisions.

6.2.4 We are active and aware in regenerating the ecosystems that have been harmed by human development.

Focus Area 6.3:

We value and enhance biodiverse ecosystems.

6.3.1 Hobart’s biodiversity is preserved, secure, and flourishing. Protecting and rehabilitating native wildlife, vegetation and other species is central to how we live and work.

7. Financial Implications

7.1. Funding Source and Impact on Current Year Operating Result

7.1.1. Implementation of the Queens Domain Vegetation Management Policy is within the operational budget for Fire and Biodiversity.

7.2. Impact on Future Years’ Financial Result

7.2.1. No impact.

8. Legal, Risk and Legislative Considerations

8.1. Obligations under environmental legislation including:

8.1.1. Lowland Themeda triandra grasslands are listed as Critically Endangered under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999.

8.1.2. Eucalyptus globulus forest and woodlands are listed as Threatened under the Nature Conservation Act 2002.

8.1.3. Threatened flora and fauna species under Threatened Species Protection Act 1995.

8.2. The Queens Domain is subject to the Biodiversity Protection Code within the Hobart Interim Planning Scheme 2015.

8.3. The preparation of a vegetation management agreement approved by the City of Hobart is a requirement to meet legislative obligations under the Forest Practices Act 1985/Forest Practice Regulations 2017.

9. Environmental Considerations

9.1. The purpose of the Queens Domain Vegetation Management Policy is to ensure the protection and management of natural values on Queens Domain.

10. Social and Customer Considerations

10.1. It is intended that the effective management of vegetation will maintain and enhance the aesthetic of a Victorian park landscape ideal and the conservation of the natural values of an open grassy woodland.

10.2. The Policy will not impact on the City’s management of the Soldiers Memorial Avenue.

11. Marketing and Media

11.1. As an operational document, promotion of the Queens Domain Vegetation Management Policy is not required.

12. Community and Stakeholder Engagement

12.1. Consultation with Queens Domain Network stakeholder group has been undertaken.

13. Delegation

13.1. This matter is delegated to the Council.

As signatory to this report, I certify that, pursuant to Section 55(1) of the Local Government Act 1993, I hold no interest, as referred to in Section 49 of the Local Government Act 1993, in matters contained in this report.

Elise Jeffery

Program Officer Fire and Biodiversity

John Fisher

Program Leader Fire and Biodiversity

Robert Mather

Group Manager Open Space

Glenn Doyle

Director Parks and City Amenity

Date: 2 January 2019

File Reference: F18/92947

Attachment a: Queens Domain Vegetation Management Policy ⇩

Item No. 6.3

Agenda (Open Portion)

Parks and Recreation Committee Meeting

Page 17

10/1/2019

REPORT TITLE: Queens Domain Summit Plan - Response to Petition on Motori Italia Club's Annual Hill Climb Event

REPORT PROVIDED BY: Park Planner

Senior Park Planner

Group Manager Open Space

Director Parks and City Amenity

1. Report Purpose and Community Benefit

1.1. A petition titled “Petition to allow motor sport to continue at the Hobart Queens Domain”, was received at the 3 December 2018 Council meeting. The purpose of this report is to provide a response to that petition.

1.2. The community benefit from retaining the annual Domain Hillclimb event is the continuation of a 15-year use of the Queens Domain that was provided for in the draft Queens Domain Summit Plan 2018.

2. Report Summary

2.1. The earlier draft of the then proposed Queens Domain Summit Plan proposed, amongst other initiatives, the investigation of the installation of speed humps on the Upper Domain Road to facilitate general traffic calming, with this investigation to form part of the Queens Domain Traffic Management Plan, being developed for presentation to the Council in 2019.

2.2. During community engagement in the development of the Draft Queens Domain Summit Plan, the Club Motori Italia sought to have this investigation consider the use of removable (rather than permanent) speed humps that would allow for continued use of the Road for the Club’s annual Domain Hillclimb event.

2.3. On the 20 August 2018, the Council resolved to approve the Summit Plan subject to an amendment to disallow use of the site for Club Motori Italia’s Domain Hillclimb and motor club events:

‘The proposed changes to the draft plan to accommodate the Club Motori Italia Club’s Annual Hillclimb event to the Summit not be approved and motor club events not be approved in the future as the activity is not consistent with the values of the Queens Domain Summit Plan’.

2.4. After notification of this decision, Club Motori Italia collated a petition of 1,845 signatures requesting the Council to reconsider its decision and to allow the annual Hillclimb event to continue and therefore, as previously recommended in the Draft Summit Plan, investigate the installation removable speed humps, rather than permanent infrastructure.

2.5. The Plan was written to protect and conserve the values of the Domain Summit area whilst improving the public facilities and increasing public use of the area.

It is argued that the installation of removable speed humps would not compromise the values of the Domain Summit area, given strict controls that have been established for previous events.

2.6. In accordance with Section 18 of the Local Government (Meeting Procedures) Regulations 2015, the recommendation below seeks to overturn part of a previous Council decision resolved prior to the recent ordinary local government elections.

Should the Council endorse the recommendation below, implementation of the Summit Plan will proceed accordingly, the petitioners advised and wider communications will be undertaken.

3. Recommendation

That:

1. In respect to the Council decision of 20 August 2018 in relation to the endorsement of the Queens Domain Summit Plan 2018, the Council overturn part of its decision of 20 August 2018 and rescind the following clause:

‘1(i) The proposed changes to the draft plan to accommodate the Club Motori Italia Club’s Annual Hillclimb event to the Summit not be approved and motor club events not be approved in the future as the activity is not consistent with the values of the Queens Domain Summit Plan’.

2. The petitioners be advised of the Council decision and wider communication be undertaken accordingly.

4. Background

4.1. Following community engagement in mid-2018, the Council, at its meeting held on 20 August 2018, resolved the following:

That: 1. The Queens Domain Summit Plan 2018 as notated as Attachment A to item 6.2 of the Open Parks and Recreation Committee agenda of 9 August 2018 be approved, as amended by the following:

(i). The proposed changes to the draft plan to accommodate the Club Motori Italia Club’s Annual Hill Climb event to the Summit not be approved and motor club events not be approved in the future as the activity is not consistent with the values of the Queens Domain Summit Plan.

2. Officers investigate the possibility of lowering the speed limit on the Summit Road.

3. Respondents be notified of the Council’s decision and the key amendments to the Summit Plan.

4. The final Queens Domain Summit Plan will be made publically available through the City’s website and other platforms.

5. Implementation of the Queens Domain Summit Plan be undertaken at a cost of $1.2M as allocated in the Capex Program ($900,000) and $300,000 from the Queens Domain Parking Fund.

4.2. The Summit Plan (refer Attachment A) amongst other initiatives, proposed the investigation of the installation of speed humps on the Upper Domain Road to facilitate general traffic calming, with this investigation to form part of a Queens Domain Traffic Management Plan being developed for presentation to the Council later in 2019.

4.3. The Summit Plan presented to the Council responded to feedback from the Club Motori Italia seeking the installation of ‘removable’ speed humps that would then allow the annual Domain Hillclimb motor race, run by the Club since 2002, to continue.

4.3.1. Club Motori Italia’s annual Domain Hillclimb event has proven to be well run in the past with strict controls established with no evidence that the event has led to excessive ‘hooning’ throughout the year as a result.

4.4. However, the Council resolved to amend the Plan to disallow use of the site for Club Motori Italia’s Domain Hillclimb event or other motor club events, as extracted below:

Petition

4.5. After notification of the August 2018 Council decision, Club Motori Italia collated a petition of 1,845 signatures requesting the Council to reconsider its decision and to allow the annual Hillclimb event to continue. Specifically, the petition sought the following:

• Install removable (rather than fixed) speed humps on the Upper Domain Road (from the crossroads to the summit),

• Allow for the opening of the boom gates on the summit loop for events,

• Allow for approval of motorsport events at the Domain, as they have been a part of the history of the Domain for 70 years.

5. Proposal and Implementation

5.1. It is proposed that the Council overturn part of its decision of 20 August 2018, and rescind the following clause:

5.2. Should the Council endorse the recommendation, implementation of the Summit Plan will proceed accordingly, the petitioners advised and wider communications will be undertaken.

6. Strategic Planning and Policy Considerations

6.1. The Queens Domain Summit Plan aligns with the;

Capital City Strategic Plan 2015-2025:

Strategic Objective 2.2

A people focussed city with well-designed and well managed urban and recreational spaces

Action 2.2.2: Develop, manage and maintain the city’s urban spaces infrastructure.

Strategic Objective 3.3

A highly valued natural and cultural open space network.

Action 3.3.2: Implement park-based management and master plans.

Strategic Objective 5.4

An engaged civic culture where people feel part of the decision making.

Action 5.4.1: Implement best practice community engagement across the organisation.

6.2. Queens Domain Master Plan

The Summit Plan is in accordance with Queens Domain Master Plan recommendations.

7. Financial Implications

7.1. Funding Source and Impact on Current Year Operating Result

7.1.1. The latest cost estimate for the implementation of the Summit Plan is $1.2M

7.1.2. It is anticipated that the removable speed humps will come at a lesser cost than permanent ones.

7.1.3. It is noted that the current estimates indicate that funding for the works at the Lower Summit and TasWater Twin Reservoirs are beyond the allocated project budget. As such Officers will continue to investigate external funding opportunities to implement this part of the project.

7.2. Impact on Future Years’ Financial Result

7.2.1. A total of $1.2M is available for the implementation of the Summit Plan, comprising $900,000 from the Capex program and $300,000 from the Domain Parking Fund.

7.2.2. It is noted that funding for the project is allocated in the Capex program from three years commencing 2018-19. For efficiency of implementation and to allow adequate time to obtain approvals, it is recommended that works be undertaken in 2019-2020 and the Capex Program be amended as necessary

7.3. Asset Related Implications

7.3.1. The implementation of the Master Plan will reinvigorate the aged facilities currently located at the Queens Domain Summit.

8. Legal, Risk and Legislative Considerations

8.1. Implementation of the Queens Domain Summit Plan 2018 will be undertaken in accordance with planning approvals, environmental management requirements and Australian Standards.

8.2. In accordance with Section 18 of the Local Government (Meeting Procedures) Regulations 2015, the recommendation seeks to overturn part of a previous Council decision.

8.2.1. As the matter arises from a Council decision resolved prior to the recent ordinary local government elections, an absolute majority decision of the Council is not required to overturn that part of the previous decision.

8.2.2. The Council decision to amend the Draft Summit Plan was communicated to those who lodged submissions in the development of the Summit Plan and to the wider public.

Should the Council resolve to overturn the decision, implementation of the Summit Plan will proceed and stakeholders advised accordingly.

9. Social and Customer Considerations

9.1. The aim of upgrading facilities at the Queens Domain Summit is to encourage and increase public use of the area and discourage antisocial behaviour.

9.2. Installation of removable speed humps will allow use of the summit loop road for motor sport, increasing the range of potential public uses of the area.

10. Community and Stakeholder Engagement

10.1. Stakeholder engagement for the Queens Domain Summit Plan was previously detailed in the August 2018 report. The draft Plan was made available for public submissions in April-May 2018. Eighty-nine (89) submissions were received, including three relating to traffic and roads.

10.2. Members of the Club Motori Italia wrote submissions expressing their desire to continue their Hillclimb event to the summit.

10.3. The draft Plan was amended to include ‘investigate the use of removable speed-humps’ which would allow the race to continue.

11. Delegation

11.1. This matter is delegated to Council.

Christine Corbett

Park Planner

Jill Hickie

Senior Park Planner

Robert Mather

Group Manager Open Space

Glenn Doyle

Director Parks and City Amenity

Date: 3 January 2019

File Reference: F18/153049; 2017-0097

Attachment a: Queens Domain Summit Plan 2018 ⇩

Item No. 6.4

Agenda (Open Portion)

Parks and Recreation Committee Meeting

Page 56

10/1/2019

REPORT TITLE: Cascade Estate Strategic Land Review: Advice from Carlton United Breweries

REPORT PROVIDED BY: Group Manager Open Space

Director Parks and City Amenity

1. Report Purpose and Community Benefit

1.1. This report provides recent advice from Carlton United Breweries in relation to its position on the draft 2015 Cascade Estate Strategic Land Review.

2. Report Summary

2.1. Since 2012, the City has partnered with Carlton United Breweries/Cascade in examining future management of the Cascade Estate.

2.2. At 250 hectares, the estate is the City’s largest privately owned tract of bushland. Located on the lower slopes of kunanyi/Mount Wellington, the estate is well used for walking and mountain biking and contains areas of high biodiversity, cultural and landscape values.

It is also strategically important from a bushfire management perspective bordering numerous residential properties and containing a series of north facing vegetated slopes – a key bush fire path through the City.

A range of additional land management issues exists on the estate including weed management and land degradation/erosion.

2.3. Acknowledging the importance of the estate to the City, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed in 2014 which paved the way for the draft Cascade Estate Strategic Land Review (the Review).

2.4. The Review was completed in late 2015. In early 2016 the Council endorsed the draft review for public exhibition subject to similar support being received from the CUB Board.

2.5. Since that time, the City continued to actively engage with CUB despite CUB not committing to a position on the review.

2.6. CUB has recently provided a position on the Review in its letter of 19 December (refer Attachment A). In summary CUB has stated:

2.6.1. Its commitment to the Review’s vision for the Cascade Estate;

2.6.2. Its preference for retaining the land in CUB’s ownership rather than granting parts of Estate to the City (an identified option in the Review) and pursuing arrangements and agreements with the City to “benefit the people of Hobart”;

2.6.3. It has no plans to develop any part of the Estate for residential purposes; and

2.6.4. It wishes to have further discussions in the new year on “how we may co-operate effectively on land management issues detailed in the review”.

3. Recommendation

That:

1. The Carlton United Breweries (CUB) correspondence dated 19 December 2018 detailing its position on the draft Cascade Land Review be noted.

2. CUB’s invitation to hold further discussions to progress the vision for the Estate be accepted and progressed.

3. The General Manager be authorised to conduct discussions with CUB and report back to the Council at the appropriate time.

4. The community be advised of CUB’s decision and that further discussions are to be held between the City and CUB on the future management of the Cascade Estate.

4. Delegation

4.1. The matter is delegated to the Council to determine.

Rob Mather

Robert Mather

Group Manager Open Space

Glenn Doyle

Director Parks and City Amenity

Date: 2 January 2019

File Reference: F18/150863; 70-1-19

Attachment a: CUB Cascade Land Review - Advice from CUB dated 19 December 2018 ⇩

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