Agenda of Parks and Recreation Committee Meeting

Agenda (Open Portion)

Parks and Recreation Committee Meeting

Page 5

19/5/2022

Parks and Recreation Committee Meeting (Open Portion) held Thursday, 19 May 2022 at 5:15 pm in the Council Chamber, Town Hall.

This meeting of the Parks and Recreation Committee is held in accordance with a Notice issued by the Premier on 3 April 2020 under section 18 of the COVID-19 Disease Emergency (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2020.

The title Chief Executive Officer is a term of reference for the General Manager as appointed by Council pursuant s.61 of the Local Government Act 1993 (Tas).

COMMITTEE MEMBERS

Alderman J R Briscoe (Chairman)

Deputy Lord Mayor Councillor H Burnet

Alderman D C Thomas

Councillor J Fox

Councillor Dr Z E Sherlock

NON-MEMBERS

Lord Mayor Councillor A M Reynolds

Alderman M Zucco

Alderman Dr P T Sexton

Councillor W F Harvey

Alderman S Behrakis

Councillor M S C Dutta

Councillor W N S Coats

Apologies:

Leave of Absence: Nil.

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 Wednesday, 13 April 2022, 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 Chief Executive Officer.

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. 6.1

Agenda (Open Portion)

Parks and Recreation Committee Meeting

Page 16

19/5/2022

REPORT TITLE: Nature Strip Policy

REPORT PROVIDED BY: Program Leader Parks and Reserves

Manager Bushland Biodiversity and Waterways

Director City Life

1. Report Purpose and Community Benefit

1.1. The purpose of this report is to respond in detail to a question without notice put at the City Infrastructure Committee.

Question:

1) What is the process for seeking permission to create a nature strip garden?

2) Does the Council have a brochure outlining the process and what council resources are available to assist?

3) How many or what percentage of nature strips is the Council currently caring for?

1.2. As a result of this question endorsement of a Nature Strip policy is sought.

2. Report Summary

2.1. The Hobart City Council currently undertakes mowing of nature strip across the city where residents do not cut the nature strip adjacent to their property.

2.2. The current program is split into an urban program which receives four (4) cuts per year during the growing season.

2.3. The current cost of mowing the nature strips is $394,212. The current contract expires in January 2023.

2.4. Approximately 19% of all rateable properties in Hobart have a grass nature strip. Some residents do choose to mow the nature strip adjoining their property.

2.5. Taking into account the residents that maintain the grassed nature strip. This leaves approximately 16.9% of rateable properties within the municipality of Hobart who receive this mowing service.

2.6. The service is funded by all rateable properties which means that 83% of properties do not receive this service.

2.7. The Council receives complaints each year and often gets requested to increase this service. If this service was to increase to meet complainant’s expectations it would result in significant increases in rates to all property owners including those that do not receive this service.

2.8. It is proposed that a new policy be introduced that encourages property owners to recognise the value of nature strips and to take pride in maintaining them.

2.9. This policy allows the City of Hobart to focus on its responsibility for the maintenance of road verges and increase the amenity value and presentation of the City of Hobart as a capital city.

2.10. A Special Circumstances Nature Strip Mowing Service will be provided for those unable to maintain the nature strip adjoining their property for legitimate reasons.

2.11. Assistance be provided for by council for residents to transition to maintaining their own nature strip. This will include loaming and reseeding, providing plants and removal of invasive weeds.

2.12. Guidelines for alternate treatment of nature strips will be developed including landscaping of nature strips and food gardens on nature strips as well as a list of suitable plants and trees that meet the Street Tree Strategy which do not impact upon underground and overhead services.

2.13. A once per year cut will remain for all unkempt nature strips to provide for bushfire protection. This will be undertaken at the commencement of the season and be completed by December in the same timeframe sued for the fuel break program.

2.14. It is expected that significant savings will arise at the end of the transition to the new policy through reduction in the ongoing maintenance of nature strips however an additional $30,000 will be required to transition to the new policy in the 2022/23 financial year and for two more years to enable the physical upgrading of nature strips.

2.15. A promotional campaign for the new policy will require an additional $10,000 for one year in the 2022-23 financial year to ensure all residents are aware of the policy and support.

2.16. An additional $16,000 will be required by the Nursery in 2022-23 and for two more years for the supply of plants for residents who wish to make their nature strip into a garden rather than lawn.

2.17. It is expected that the transition to a new treatment of nature strips will provide an increasingly significant saving to Council in the out years through a reduction in contracted mowing of urban nature strips and the completion of the upgrading of nature strips in the transition to the new policy.

3. Recommendation

That:

1. The Nature Strip Policy, marked as attachment A to this report, be endorsed by the Council and implemented in January 2023.

2. If endorsed by the Council a set of guidelines for Landscaping Nature strips and Food Gardens on Nature strips be developed.

3. A comprehensive communication plan be developed and implemented with an additional $10,000 to be allocated to the Parks and Reserves operations in the 2022-23 budget for the development of materials and advertising of the new policy.

4. Additional $30,000 be allocated to the Parks and Reserves operation budget for three years from 2022/23, for the upgrading of nature strips to assist residents to maintain them.

5. An additional $16,000 be allocated annually to the Hobart Regional Nursery Budget for additional plants to be grown to assist residents establish landscaped nature strips.

4. Background

4.1. The City of Hobart currently undertakes mowing of nature strips and road verges across the city. Where residents do not cut the nature strip adjacent to their property there has been an undefined process for the Council to take on this responsibility.

4.2. The current mowing program is split into an urban program which receives four (4) cuts per year during the growing season and the bushland program which on average receives three (3) cuts per year determined by the amount of seasonal growth. The current contract expires on the 19^th January 2023.

4.3. The works are undertaken by contractors for the City of Hobart with the current cost of mowing being $394,212.

4.4. The contract includes mowing of centre medians, roundabouts, nature strips in front of Council properties such as parks and reserves and roadsides in areas such as the Queens Domain. The cost of the program is broken down as follows.

Total budget	$394,212
Residential nature strips (69%)	$272,006
Median strips and roundabouts, (27%)	$106,437
Right of ways and walkways between streets (4%)	$15,768

The figures were calculated using Councils GIS system and are approximate.

4.5. Approximately 19% of all rateable properties in Hobart have a grass nature strip. Some residents do choose to mow the nature strip adjoining their property.

4.6. This number includes properties that request Council does not mow their nature strip and those that have mowed their nature strips prior to the contractors getting to their property.

4.7. Taking into account the residents that maintain the grassed nature strip. This leaves approximately 16.9% of rateable properties within the municipality of Hobart receive this mowing service. The service is funded by all rateable properties.

4.8. The Council receives complaints about the timing and frequency of mowing each year during spring and summer leading up to Christmas. To increase the mowing at a level acceptable to complainants would require a 2-3 weekly service over this 6-8 month period on the average growth experienced.

This would require a minimum of 19 cuts per year resulting in an increase of $1,478,295. To increase the service to a monthly cut during the growing season would see an increase to 10 cuts per year or $985,530.

4.9. A review of other Councils in Tasmania shows that they do not provide this level of service. The common expectation is that residents whose nature strip adjoins their properties maintain the nature strip as a civic duty.

Some Councils do however offer assistance for those residents that are unable to mow their nature strip for a range of reasons such as health, disability and where there is no family assistance available to them or in cases where the road verge strip is unsafe to mow.

5. Proposal and Implementation

5.1. A new policy has been drafted for endorsement by Council. This policy encourages property owners to recognise the value of nature strips and to take pride in maintaining them as a civic duty as is required in other Council areas.

5.2. This policy allows the City of Hobart to focus on its responsibility for the maintenance of road verges and laneways and increase the amenity value and presentation of the City of Hobart as a capital city.

5.3. The council will continue to maintain all centre median strips, laneways, walk ways and other nature strips that are adjoining council properties. This will include the any government road that the council is obligated to maintain under the Roads and Jetties Act 1935 and the Local Government (Highways) Act 1982.

5.4. It is intended that these are maintained 9 times during the growing season which is at a higher standard than what is currently being undertaken. This allows Council to enhance the look of the city and will also set a standard that will encourage residents to also undertake the maintenance of the nature strips.

5.5. The policy identifies that not all residents are capable of maintaining the nature strip due to a number of reason including health, disability constraints and physical safety.

5.6. A special circumstances defined in the policy a nature strip mowing service will be provided at the current level of service, 4 cuts per year.

5.7. Eligibility for the special circumstance mowing service would include people who:

· Are a resident of the City of Hobart

· Do not have anyone capable to perform the task on their behalf;

· Are physically unable permanently or temporarily to operate a lawn mower; and

· Cannot afford to engage a contractor to undertake the mowing;

Or any other discretionary reasons preventing the mowing of the nature strip, as approved by the Manager Bushland, Biodiversity and Waterways.

5.8. All recipients of this services will be required to reapply annually to reconfirm eligibility for this service. Application forms will be sent out by the Council.

5.9. It is estimated that ten to fifteen percent of eligible properties will be part of this program and an estimated cost of $60,000, costs to be reviewed annually.

5.10. The policy allows for alternate treatments of the nature strip including landscaping rather than grass and food gardens where appropriate.

5.11. The current mowing of nature strips is contracted until the 19^th January 2023. It is proposed that the introduction of this policy not occur until after this contract has expired.

5.12. During this time community promotion will occur and guidelines for the maintenance of nature strips will be finalised. This will also give residents the opportunity to apply and their eligibility for special consideration to be assessed for inclusion in any special circumstances mowing program.

5.13. It is proposed to assist residents transitioning to maintain their nature strips that the council provide assistance in improving the physical surface of the nature strip. This could include top dressing with loam and seed prior to the residents taking on the maintenance of the nature strip. This would require an estimated budget of $30,000 per annum for three financial years.

For residents wanting to landscape their nature strip the Council’s nursery would grow and supply suitable plants as tube stock. The cost of production for the plants will be $3.00 per tube stock plant and a limit of 20 plants per property will be applied for each approved applicant.

5.14. An allowance for 200 properties taking up the offer for plants will be allocated per year. This will be monitored and will reduce as the need declines.

5.15. Additionally properties with existing nature strip garden beds will receive assistance will also be eligible for up to 20 plants.

5.16. An allowance for 200 properties taking up the offer weed removal and plants be allocated per year.

5.17. An additional funding of $16,000 will be allocated to the Hobart Regional Nursery operating budget per year for the transition period of three years to cover the costs of supply of these plants.

5.18. A set of guidelines for residents wishing to establish food gardens on nature strips will be developed based on the current Community Gardens Policy. This will include suitable locations, set back from roadways and driveway and height restrictions for driver safety.

5.19. It is noted that not all properties will take on the responsibility of mowing their nature strips. To this end, council will undertake a once per year maintenance mowing of all unkempt nature strips at the end of the growing season each year to reduce the risk of fire hazard

5.20. It is expected that the annual mowing of unkempt nature strips may be high in the first year and then reduce over time.

5.21. Mowing of unkempt nature strips and road verges in bushland to reduce fire risk would require a budget of $30,000 in the first full year (2023/24) and then reviewed and adjusted each year.

6. Strategic Planning and Policy Considerations

6.1. The proposal is compatible with the Capital City Strategic Plan 2019-2029:

Strategic Outcome 1.2
Hobart’s cityscape reflects the heritage, culture and natural environment that make Hobart special

Strategy 1.2.6:
Develop and implement public realm design guidelines for streetscapes and public spaces that are high-quality, comfortable, vibrant, walkable and safe

Strategic Outcome 6.1:

The natural environment is part of the city and biodiversity is preserved, secure and flourishing

Strategy 6.1.3:

Protect and enhance Hobart habitats and ecosystems, in partnership with stakeholders, including wildlife corridors and waterways

Strategy 6.1.4

Protect and enhance Hobart’s biodiversity and manage invasive species.

7. Financial Implications

7.1. Funding Source and Impact on Current Year Operating Result

7.1.1. Nil, implementation will occur next financial year

7.1.2. Current contract expires next financial year

7.2. Impact on Future Years’ Financial Result

7.2.1. As a result of reallocation of money in line with this report there will be an increasing reduction on future year’s allocations to this program as nature strips are managed by residents.

7.2.2. The implementation of the new nature strip policy will result in an additional initial cost to Council for the transition of $56,000 in 2022-23, $46,000 in each of 2023-24 and 2024-25 with an expected significant saving in contracted mowing costs.

7.2.2.1. To assist residents in under taking the maintenance of the grassed nature strips and additional annual allocation of $30,000 for three financial years be allocated to the operating budget for Parks and Reserves Unit. To commence in the 2022/23 and for the three years of transition.

7.2.2.2. An annual allocation of $16,000 for the additional production of suitable plants to supply to residents to improve their nature strips. To commence in the 2022/23 operating budget for the Hobart Regional Nursery for the three years of transition

7.2.2.3. An allocation of $10,000 for the marketing and communication of the new policy be included in the Parks and Reserves operating budget for the 2022/23 financial year only.

7.2.3. It is expected that the additional costs would be fully offset from the savings in the reduction in nature strip mowing in subsequent years once the policy is fully implemented. The final saving figure is expected to be in the order of $200,000 per annum.

7.3. Asset Related Implications

7.3.1. The quality of nature strips is expected to increase. Nature strips are not considered a financial asset and therefor will not impact on operating budgets.

8. Legal, Risk and Legislative Considerations

8.1. During the development of Guidelines for the maintenance of nature strips and the Food Gardens on Nature Strips the Manager Legal and Governance will be consulted to identify any needs of residents.

8.2. This may include the need to obtain insurance and/or occupation licences for the changing of nature strips.

8.3. The Council is obligated to comply with the Roads and Jetties Act 1935 and the Local Government (Highways) Act 1982 in development of this policy

9. Environmental Considerations

9.1. Encouraging the residents to use alternate treatments such as landscaping nature strips may have an impact on increase the cities biodiversity corridors between reserves.

9.2. This policy will assist residents in removing invasive species from nature strips reducing any future spread of invasive weeds.

10. Social and Customer Considerations

10.1. It is understood that this will be a significant change to a small percentage of residents of the city. It will call on their ‘civic duty” to present the nature strip as an extension of their current property.

10.2. At present the service provided to less than 17% of all property owners in the City and is funded by all properties. 83% of property owners in the City do not receive this service.

10.3. Overall the introduction of this policy will enhance the liveability of the City of Hobart and its presentation as the capital city.

11. Marketing and Media

11.1. If the nature strip policy is endorsed by Council an extensive marketing plan will be developed and implemented.

11.2. Brochures and other resources including guidelines and information on how to gain Councils assistance will be developed and implemented.

11.3. It is estimated that costs associated with printing and advertising this policy will require funding of $10,000

12. Community and Stakeholder Engagement

12.1. If endorsed by Council a comprehensive community engagement plan will be developed and implemented

12.2. The Principal Advisor Contract and General Procurement has been consulted regarding the current contract that is in place and the proposed new arrangements.

12.3. Consultation for the development of the new policy was undertaken with the Senior Parks Planner, Program Leader Arboriculture and Nursery and the Parks and Reserves Program officer

13. Delegation

13.1. This matter to be delegated to 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.

Peter Kerstan

Program Leader Parks and Reserves

John Fisher

Manager Bushland Biodiversity and Waterways

Neil Noye

Director City Life

Date: 29 April 2022

File Reference: F22/18335

Attachment a: Nature Strip Policy ⇩

Item No. 8.2

Agenda (Open Portion)

Parks and Recreation Committee Meeting

Page 33

19/5/2022

memorandum: Lord Mayor
Deputy lord Mayor
Elected members

New Town Sports Precinct Funding

Meeting: Parks and Recreation Committee

Meeting date: 13 April 2022

Raised by: Alderman Briscoe

Question:

In reference to the New Town Sports Precinct and its master plan, the State Government made a commitment to fund in May 2021, some works including more detailed plans to lobby the Federal Government for further funds for the $20 million project.

My understanding is that that $1million was paid to Council in August 2021 instead of the clubs.

My understanding is that these funds have not been spent and hence no detailed plans can be submitted for further funding and the resurfacing of the netball courts have not been done.

Can the Director provide an update on where the funds are and how it’s proposed to be spent?

Response:

Leading up to the May 2021 Tasmanian Government election, the State Government provided a $1 million commitment to facility improvements and planning for the New Town Sports Precinct.

No funds have yet been transferred to the Council as the Grant Deed was not supplied to the Council until 22 March 2022. The Deed was provided to the City as a specific condition of the funding arrangement by the Minister. The Deed was signed on 12 April 2022 and an invoice issued to facilitate the first payment to the Council.

A development application is pending a RFI’s which need to be completed by the Southern Tasmanian Netball Association as the applicant before it can be considered by the Council.

Detailed designs for the proposed conversion of the bowling green to two netball courts is pending the planning permit and is required before any works can be contracted.

The Grant Deed requires the funding to be expended on facility improvements and precinct planning, including:

· The conversion of a bowling green to two additional floodlit netball courts including fencing;

· Synthetic grass surrounds and sun protection on existing bowling greens; and

· Detailed precinct planning based on the New Town Sports Precinct Master Plan.

As soon as the Deed was officially provided, the Council officers responded quickly to commence the project, convening a meeting with all stakeholders on 24 March 2022 and engaging a consultant to commence initial design concepts (25 March 2022). A subsequent meeting of key stakeholders was held on 3^rd May to consider the initial design concepts and to discuss the next steps to deliver on the Grant Deed.

Officers will continue to work with all stakeholders of the facility to ensure all groups have an opportunity to provide input into how the precinct is developed for the benefit of all users and the wider community.

Neil Noye

Director City Life

Date: 5 May 2022

File Reference: F22/39438

People	We care about people – our community, our customers and colleagues.
Teamwork	We collaborate both within the organisation and with external stakeholders drawing on skills and expertise for the benefit of our community.
Focus and Direction	We have clear goals and plans to achieve sustainable social, environmental and economic outcomes for the Hobart community.
Creativity and Innovation	We embrace new approaches and continuously improve to achieve better outcomes for our community.
Accountability	We are transparent, work to high ethical and professional standards and are accountable for delivering outcomes for our community.