2022-12-12 General Committee Meeting Agenda

GENERAL COMMITTEE MEETING AGENDA                                               12 DECEMBER 2022


Council officers view the proposal by DES to undertake community and community group
consultation regarding future use of the landing ground reserve as a key component of the proposal
and is reflected in this report’s recommendations. Council officers note if trusteeship of the reserve
transfers to the State, a range of future tenure options would be available to it including leases,
permits and licences to allow existing uses to continue.
8.    Options
There are options available to Council regarding the proposal for Council to relinquish trusteeship
of the landing ground reserve. The options and opportunities and risks associated with each are
outlined below.
Option 1 – Council does not provide support for the DES proposal
Council does not support the DES request for Council to relinquish its trusteeship of the reserve.
This option involves Council formally advising DoR it objects to the DES proposal for Council to
relinquish trusteeship of Lot 7 MCH456
Opportunities
•     Strongly indicates Council’s support to retain existing sporting uses.
•     Retains Council control of the reserve.
Risks
•     Refusal to support the proposal could be viewed as not serving the greater public interest of
      the reserve transitioning to National Park.
•     Ignores the identified benefits in the DES Summary of Natural Risks Report of the landing
      ground reserve transferring to National Park.
•     Council refusal is unlikely to be supported by the State thereby damaging Council’s
      relationship and reputation with DES and the State Government.
•     Damage to Council’s long standing environmental reputation in the community.
Option 2 – Council provides support for the DES proposal
Council provides support for the DES proposal to relinquish trusteeship of the reserve with DES
undertaking consultation with the community and user groups
This option involves Council formally advising DoR it supports the DES proposal for Council to
relinquish its trusteeship of Lot 7 MCH4562 with DES undertaking community and user group
consultation to determine future use of the reserve in accordance with its formal correspondence
Opportunities
•     Confirms Council’s support for the proposal and recognises the greater public interest and
      broad community benefit posed.
•     Legal responsibility for the site and matters such as pest, fire and environmental
      management transfers to DES who have broader capability to manage the issues.
•     Reinforces Council’s reputation for protecting the environment and supporting key
      environmental outcomes.
•     Provides certainty to DES to plan and undertake its community consultation process
      regarding future use of the landing ground reserve and address issues raised in its Summary
      of Natural Values and Risks Report.
•     Maintains mutually beneficial relationships with DES and State Government.
•     Recognises existing onsite sporting group occupation of the landing ground reserve and
      supports the role of consultation to determine future use of the site.
•     Allows Council to advocate for both groups by requesting DES consider user group feedback
      when determining future use of the reserve.

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