Minutes for the October GCC meeting featuring ACT Chief Minister Jon Stanhope and the 2007 Annual General Meeting:

Written by Kevin Cox
Sunday, 21st October 2007

Minutes of General  Meeting held 10th October, 2007 - 7:30:

Gungahlin Community Council Inc
Minutes of General  Meeting held 10th October, 2007
Venue: Palmerston Community Centre
The meeting commenced at 7.30 pm, with President Alan Kerlin in the Chair.

Present: Jennifer Daly, Janet McKinney, Evelyn Greaves, Eleanor Bates, Glenys and John Goff, Roma Hosking, Steve Cross, Peter Lowe, Jonathan Reynolds, Jeremy Morrow, Paul O'Donnell, Craig tarrant, Luke Bosher, Ian Ruecroft, Ross Hinksman, Jacqui Burke MLA, Kevin Cox, Alan Kerlin

Apologies: John Kelly

Visiting Speaker:
The President welcomed Jon Stanhope Chief Minster and members of the ACT bureaucracy, David Dawes (Deputy Chief Executive, Chief Minister's Office), Stephen Gianakis (ACTPLA planner), Gordon Lowe (Development Manager, LDA), and John Robertson (CEO, LDA) to the meeting.

The proceedings were recorded and a complete video transcript is available on the GCC website and YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=BDB0561E22BA9238

These meeting notes summarise the topics in the meeting. First Jon Stanhope outlined some pertinent areas:

• Commercial Land Release
• Public Service ACTTAB in Gungahlin
• Educational infrastructure developments
• Recreation and sporting fields - gave commitment to release land for a service station on Flemington Road
• Child Car Centres - gave commitment to release land for a child care centre at Harrison
• Residential land release doubling to 3,200 with releases in Ford, Franklin, Bonner and
  Crace over the next two years - advised extension of Nurdurr Drive to Gungahlin Drive would be seriously considered
• Casey plans will soon be available for discussion
• Business Park Development

The meeting was then thrown open to discussion and some questions involved the following. Jon Stanhope left the meeting around 8:30 pm.
Discussion and questions on commercial land releases with an aim of increasing employment opportunities. There was general concern that the concept plan displayed for the Business Park on Gozzard Street was underutilising the scare available land, and that it would be better to leave the land vacant rather than "waste" it on 1/2 storey commercial uses.

Land release issues were discussed including the problem of too much land being released so causing all property prices to fall but enough land being released to allow people to buy off the block plan. In the short term an increase in the number of ballots but enforcement of the development rules associated with buildings and time.

Also discussed:

• Transport issues including traffic on Majura Lane
• Epic park and ride - ACTPLA are planning a park'n'ride at the intersection of Flemington and Wells Station Roads - concern expressed that this would not capture the interstate commuters as well as using EPIC parking, which is already there/built
• Flemington Drive traffic around and through the town centre
• Gungahlin Drive problems
• Parking at community housing projects and the police station, skinny streets not allowing parking
• Housing affordability
• Gold Creek Homestead development.

The meeting requested the government update their long term plans for Gungahlin including showing where employment sites will be located. David Dawes will come back to February GCC meeting with staff to to discuss developments and revisit the town centre concept planning.

The meeting was closed and the government representatives left.

Minutes of the AGM starting at 9pm

The meeting was chaired by Alan Kerlin.

Roma Hosking moved seconded by Kevin Cox that the minutes of the previous AGM be accepted as a true and accurate report - accepted.

Janet McKinney moved seconded by Ian Ruecroft that the Audit report be accepted - passed.
The audit report was unqualified. The financial position of the GCC showed a net profit for 2006-07 of $8952.61, increasing the total equity to $21,934.02. Key income was Gunsmoke advertising $30,207.83, Hall rentals $20,123,13 and Grants $9331.82.

Alan Kerlin then presented the Presidents Report, including:

• Thanked outgoing executive members for their contributions to GCC and the community: Ian and Sally Ruecroft, Roma Hosking, Jillian Williams, Barry Dee.
• Discussed strategies for GCC's future, including focus on the internet as a medium to reach more residents and to project a professional image to those we are lobbying.

The chair was then handed over to Roma Hosking and members of the GCC Executive for 2007-08 were voted on, with the following outcomes:

• President: Alan Kerlin moved John Kelly seconded Roma Hosking
• Vice President: Jonathon Reynolds moved Ian Ruecroft seconded Kevin Cox
• Treasurer: John Kelly moved Alan Kerlin seconded Kevin Cox
• Public Officer: Kevin Cox moved Ian Ruecroft seconded Jonathon Reynolds
• Executive (Gunsmoke Editor): Janet McKinney moved Evelyn Greaves seconded Roma Hosking
• Executive: Evelyn Greaves moved Roma Hosking seconded Kevin Cox
• Executive (Website Administrator): Boni David moved Kevin Cox seconded Ian Ruecroft

The Secretary position remains vacant.
 
The meeting concluded at 10 pm.