CASEY CITY COUNCIL

NOTICE OF INTENTION TO SELL PROPERTY

Casey City Council (Council) gives notice under section 189 of the Local Government Act 1989 (Act) of its intention to sell the property known as Lot A on PS707996E and known as 165 Evans Road, Cranbourne West (the Proposal). The property is shown on the plan below. 

The Proposal is that the property be sold by public auction.

Any person may make a submission on the Proposal under section 223 of the Act.  The closing date for submissions is Friday 10 August 2018.  All submissions will be considered in accordance with section 223 of the Act.  Submissions may be included in an agenda for a meeting of Council that will be made available to the public.

Submissions should be addressed to the Chief Executive Officer, and can be hand delivered to Council's Office at Magid Drive Narre Warren or posted to the following address:

The Chief Executive Officer

Casey City Council
PO Box 1000
NARRE WARREN VIC 3805

Any person requesting to be heard in support of his or her submission is entitled to be heard before Council (or a Committee established by Council for this purpose) or be represented by a person acting on his or her behalf, and will be notified of the time and date of the hearing.  A person must clearly state in their submission whether they, or their representatives, wish to speak at the meeting.

Please contact Ms R Legg on 9705 5200 for any further information on the proposed sale.

Steve Dalton

Acting Chief Executive Officer

 
City of Casey Mayor Cr Geoff Ablett joined the local community to officially launch the City of Casey’s new program We Are We Can We Will.

The City of Casey has launched We Are We Can We Will – a new program aimed at inspiring, encouraging and breaking down barriers to get more women and girls involved in sport and physical activity.

Council kicked off the program with a fitting launch event at Casey Stadium recently, featuring an inspirational presentation from Olympic freestyle swim champion Elka Whalan Graham and a group fitness activity delivered by former Melbourne Vixens netballer, Ashlee Howard.

City of Casey Mayor Cr Geoff Ablett said Council is committed to improving the health and wellbeing of our community.

"Through this campaign, Council aims to empower and support more women and girls to get active and get involved in sport and recreation opportunities in the local community," he said.

"While it’s widely known that being active is important for our physical and mental health, research shows that females of all ages generally have lower physical activity participation rates than males, female participation through sporting or recreational clubs is lower and women and girls generally experience more barriers preventing them from being as physically active.

"As we roll-out this program initially over the next 12 months, Council hopes to inspire, boost confidence, reduce stigma and stereotypes and address barriers to participation to support more women and girls to get active."

Through We Are We Can We Will, Council will be:

• Sharing the stories of local campaign ambassadors who are involved in sport and active recreation in a range of ways.
• Promoting a variety of local sport and recreation opportunities that exist across Casey.
• Providing learning and development opportunities that increase the skills of women and girls enabling greater involvement across all aspects of the sector.
• Hosting a summit that will bring together women and girls from across Casey to take part in workshops, roundtables, practical sessions and panel sessions.

The first education workshops, ‘Introduction to Sports Coaching Principles and Practice’, is on Wednesday 25 July at 6.30 pm at Olive Road Sports Complex, 2-81 Frawley Road, Eumemmering.

This FREE workshop is targeted at women and girls aged 16 and over who are involved in coaching junior players, who would like to know more about the fundamentals of good coaching practice. Topics covered will include how to plan motivating and fun sessions, coaching styles, giving feedback, how to structure practice and approaches to organising sessions.

For further details on how to register, as well as a range of sport and active recreation opportunities in Casey, visit www.casey.vic.gov.au/womeninsport.

Also follow the ‘City of Casey’ on Facebook for more ideas and inspiration on getting active in Casey.

We Are We Can We Will ambassadors

The City of Casey has enlisted the help of some local women and girls as campaign ambassadors to share their stories of why they love being involved in sport and recreation including Mobaraka and Kirsty profiled below:

Mobaraka
Age: 18
Main sport/activity: Football and swimming

Mobaraka is a full-time secondary student and studies part-time at Federation University.

Outside of her studies she is a youth leader for South East Community Links, where she develops and shares her passion for community and getting girls active.

She is a keen footballer and swimmer herself, manages a Narre Warren girls football team and works with young women and their families to show them the benefits of women and girls being active.

Her advice, "Get involved in the activities the community provides, to make new friends and it helps with your health and mind, breaks the gender inequality and empower other women around you."

Kirsty
Age: 38
Main sport/activity: Mountain biking and Pilates

After arriving in Australia from South Africa in 1992, Kirsty was introduced to mountain bike riding by friends. This began a lifelong passion which helped see her through some great personal challenges.

After suffering serious illness and losing her ability to ride, Kirsty was determined to overcome her health challenges and get back on the bike. It was this drive and the want to connect with other like-minded women when she moved to Melbourne that led her to start up free, introduction to mountain biking sessions for women at Lysterfield Lake.

She is passionate about offering women the opportunity to get out there and give it a go, to experience something they may not otherwise do and to make friends along the way.

Kirsty runs her own Pilates studio and believes being active isn’t just about the physical aspect or being the best.

"It offers so many benefits to a woman’s health and wellbeing, mental and emotional, friendship, joy, happiness and who knows … maybe even the discovery of new passions and places."

Her advice, "Don’t let fear stop you from stepping out of your comfort zone and trying something new and maybe a little scary. You might be pleasantly surprised at just how great it is, how strong you are and how much you actually love it!"

Olympic freestyle swim champion Elka Whalan Graham with campaign ambassadors Lianne, Mobaraka and Kirsty at the launch.

Local women and girls get active with a group fitness activity delivered by former Melbourne Vixens netballer, Ashlee Howard.

From left, City of Casey Councillor Rosalie Crestani, City of Casey Mayor Cr Geoff Ablett, Dorana Wirne from LaunchVic, Ben Jenkinson from Casey Tech School, digital strategist Judy Pridmore, Cardinia Shire Mayor Cr Collin Ross and Greg Jakob from Federation University helped launch The INNovation Crowd on Saturday.

The City of Casey has launched The INNovation Crowd, a new initiative designed to comprehensively support local startup businesses in the Casey Cardinia region.

The program was developed after Council recognised the great economic value of keeping local startup talent in the region and the need to better support them.

Council, working on behalf of the Casey Cardinia region, formed a working party made up of representatives of Federation University, Casey Tech School, industry experts and local successful startup business people to work out a solution, and so, The INNovation Crowd was born.

The program will create a platform to provide opportunities for education, collaboration and mentorship and provide a space and environment to help startups by new entrepreneurs to succeed.

City of Casey Mayor Cr Geoff Ablett was joined by Cardinia Shire Mayor Cr Collin Ross and those involved in establishing the initiative to officially launched The INNovation Crowd on Saturday 14 July, with local startups and entrepreneurs now invited to join the program.

"In recent years we have seen significant growth in business startups, and alongside that growth we have seen many support mechanisms in the form of co-working spaces, meetups, incubators and mentor networks, but unfortunately most of these supports are very Melbourne CBD centric. This means that local entrepreneurs either travel to the CBD to network and meet like-minded people, or they do it on their own," Cr Ablett said.

"The INNovation Crowd is here to change that for our region, with the vision to build a ‘place-based’ startup ecosystem that is recognised as the number one destination in the south east region for local entrepreneurs to start their journey.

"The initiative will allow startups and local entrepreneurs to gain training and mentoring from industry experts, undertake meaningful collaboration and seek real opportunities for commercialisation of their product or service."

The initiative was recently recognised by LaunchVic, a State Government body created to activate the startup economy in Victoria, which granted the Casey Cardinia Region funding to improve access and participation in the new local startup community.

"This injection of funding means that we can launch The INNovation Crowd sooner than planned, so we thank the State Government for the support," the Mayor added.

There’s some great events planned for The INN Crowd including masterclasses, mentor support programs, monthly themed training sessions, bootcamps with intensive mentoring and regular meetups.

If you’re interested in joining The INN Crowd, the first events are:

• INNovation Crowd meetup: Wednesday 8 August 2018
• Lunch and Learn: Tuesday 21 August 2018

To find out more and get involved, visit the Casey Cardinia website.

Pursuant to section 84(1) if the Local Government Act 1989 (the Act), the Mayor, Cr Geoff Ablett has called a Special Meeting of the Council of the City of Casey to be held in the Function Centre, Bunjil Place Narre Warren on Tuesday 24 July 2018 at  6.00p.m. The business to be transacted at the meeting is:

• Reading of the Prayer
• Apologies
• Declarations of Conflict of Interest
• To consider and resolve on the appointment of Chief Executive Officer.

Please note that this meeting is expected to be closed to members of the public in accordance with section 89(2)(a) of the Act.

Mayor Cr Geoff Ablett (centre) with Kellie Nagle, MAV (left) and Professor Helen Keleher. Both were guest speakers at yesterday’s launch.

The City of Casey has launched its Family Violence Prevention Strategy to continue working towards ensuring that Casey is a city where people feel safe in their homes, neighbourhoods, in public spaces and on all modes of transport.

The Strategy was formally launched at an event on Monday 23 July and is a four-year strategic plan that identifies family violence as a significant safety issue within the municipality, and aims to provide an inclusive, safe and connected community, where Council services and facilities are driven by community needs.

City of Casey Mayor Cr Geoff Ablett said the strategy provides direction for Council and public health organisations to work together with the community to create environments that support everyone to minimise family violence.

“The City of Casey is committed to creating a safe and inclusive city where women and children are safe, respected and thriving, in an environment free from family violence,” said the Mayor.

“In March we held a forum for our community to provide their input into the direction of the strategy, which has also informed the action plan. “As the level of government closest to the community, Council must work to create healthy, safe and inclusive communities.

“For the past five years, the City of Casey has consistently had the highest number of reported family violence incidents among all Victorian municipalities. In the City of Casey alone, 4,730 family incidents were dealt with by Victoria police last year.

“Council has had a longstanding commitment to promoting gender equity and preventing family violence. We have now developed this bold and innovative Family Violence Prevention Strategy and Action Plan for our city, which demonstrates our strong commitment to the prevention of family violence in the Casey community and more broadly."

The City of Casey has chosen a new CEO to lead the municipality into an era of unprecedented growth and development.

Glenn Patterson was appointed unanimously at a Special Council Meeting on Tuesday evening.

Mr Patterson brings a wealth of experience serving as CEO at Yarra Ranges Shire Council since 2008, and previously as CEO at Baw Baw Shire Council.

City of Casey Mayor Cr Geoff Ablett said Council is excited by Mr Patterson’s vision for guiding the organisation into the future.

“Glenn’s passion, leadership and vision were clearly evident to Councillors. His extensive experience in local government and his strong commitment to community shone through,” said the Mayor.

“With more than 25 years' experience leading teams through challenging environment’s, Glenn is well qualified to ensure the organisation is able to meet the needs of a community set to grow to half a million.”

Mr Patterson said he was excited by the challenge of leading the organisation into an exciting future.

“I’m keen to build on Casey’s reputation as a leader and innovator in local government and ensure the organisation is able to meet the needs of a community growing to more than half a million residents in the next 20 years,” he said.

“I can’t wait to get stuck in and lead the organisation into an exciting future.”

Mr Patterson’s appointment follows an extensive recruitment process conducted by external firm Davidson.

Cr Ablett said it was a highly credential field of candidates and he paid tribute to the interim leadership team.

“We are blessed with a hugely talented senior leadership team at Casey who have ensured a smooth transition to new leadership. I am particularly grateful to Steve Dalton and Sheena Frost for acting as CEO.”

Mr Patterson will start in the position in mid-September.

Glenn Patterson bio

Glenn has been the Yarra Ranges Shire Council CEO since 2008, previously being the Baw Baw Shire Council CEO.

He holds a Bachelor of Business degree, Masters of Business, Accredited Level 2 Organisation Coaching and a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Glenn has 28 years senior management experience with a number of metropolitan and rural Councils, first being appointed a CEO at the Colac Otway Shire in 1998.

Served as Chief Executive of a Melbourne based property development group and owned a property related business.

Member of Procurement Australia and Yarra Ranges Tourism and is Chair of the Resilient Melbourne Metropolitan Cycling Network.

Married with two sons in their early 20’s, Glenn joins the City of Casey in September.

Mr Patterson brings with him demonstrated capacity to create a positive and progressive workplace with a culture of improvement and innovation, to achieve outstanding advocacy outcomes and to optimise service delivery to the community.

The City of Casey marked White Ribbon Day with a community event to stand strong against violence against women in the local area.

On Friday 24 November, Council hosted an event to reaffirm its stance against an issue which affects the local community on many levels – family and gender based violence.

Guest speakers included Bernie Geary OAM, a former Victorian Commissioner for Children and Young People and Victoria’s first Child Safety Commissioner, as well as two speakers from the AFL’s Ladder program – Victorian State Manager Leigh Kennedy and Karen Paxman, AFLW footballer. The ladder program aims to break the cycle of youth homelessness.

The speakers shone a light on the role that men can play in reducing family violence, and how they can help to lower the statistics which are unfortunately high in the City of Casey.

City of Casey Deputy Mayor Cr Amanda Stapledon welcomed the community to the event, and urged everyone to model appropriate and respectful behaviour, and stand up in the fight against family violence.

“Right now, the City of Casey has a consistently higher rate of family violence incidents per 100,000 in comparison to the Southern Metropolitan Region of Melbourne, and to Victoria overall,” she said.

“We are here to stand against this type of violence, and to speak out when we see it happening in our community, so we can all act together to ensure this doesn’t continue to happen.

“There isn’t an easy fix – nor is it one small part of the community that is affected.

“The issue is generational, it is across all ages, cultures and ethnicities, and we as a community must confront it head on.”

The community event was held in the Bunjil Place Plaza, with ‘The Locker Room’ a major feature of the event. The Locker Room is an interactive exhibit which uses art to provoke thought and stimulate conversation about family violence.

Cr Stapledon said this event was about calling on the men of Casey.

 “Today is about calling out sexist behaviour, it is about ensuring that men who want to commit acts of violence against women do not feel validated or supported by other men,” she said.

“It’s also about supporting those who experience violence, including young people, who through no fault of their own, are damaged by the acts of family violence.”

The City of Casey has just endorsed its first Family Violence Prevention Strategy and a three-year action plan which will now undergo community consultation to obtain feedback about Council’s approach. Council will soon employ its first Family Violence Prevention Officer, who will be tasked with implementing this bold plan within the community.
Council also installed street banners and flags across Casey in the lead up to White Ribbon Day to further demonstrate Council’s stance against family violence.

If you would like to sign the White Ribbon pledge or find out more information, visit the White Ribbon Australia website.

NOTICE OF AN APPLICATION

FOR A PLANNING PERMIT

This can be done during office hours and is free of charge.

Any person who may be affected by the granting of the permit may object or make other submissions to the Responsible Authority.

An objection must be made to the Responsible Authority in writing to,

Manager Planning, P.O. Box 1000, Narre Warren 3805

or adminplanning@casey.vic.gov.au)

*          include the reasons for the objection, and

*          state how the objector would be affected.

The Responsible Authority must make a copy of every objection available at its office for any person to inspect during office hours free of charge until the end of the period during which an application may be made for review of a decision on the application.

If you object, the Responsible Authority will tell you its decision.

The City of Casey was proud to acknowledge the hark work of some of Casey’s residents at the 2018 Casey Volunteer Awards last Friday night. From left are; Volunteer from Casey North Community Information Support Service (CNCISS) Graham Dodd, Michelle and Kerrigan La-Brooy, Janet Sirinyan from CNCISS, Dot O’Neil and Elaine Turner from Transit Soup Kitchen and Food Support, Lana Scholten and Raymond Rickards.

The City of Casey held the 2018 Casey Volunteer Awards on Friday evening where it recognised the hard work of both individuals and organisations throughout Casey.

Raymond Rickards was announced as the recipient of the 2018 Casey Individual Volunteer Award on Friday 27 July, for his long-standing commitments with the CFA.

Mr Rickards, who is also a member of the Hampton Park Men’s Shed, has volunteered for more than 57 years and has held several positions within the CFA.

He also facilitated the Fire Safe Kid’s Program; delivering this service into schools, kindergartens and child care centres throughout Hampton Park.

Lana Scholten received the Casey Young Volunteer Award for her commitment to Pearcedale Girl Guides and Guides Australia. Through this, she has coordinated weekly meetings, as well as camps and special events for seven to 15-year-olds.

The Casey Volunteering Pair Award was received by Kerrigan and Michelle La-Brooy, for the support they provide to homeless and disadvantaged residents. The husband and wife duo run a church, a food pantry, an opportunity shop, a children’s talent academy and an annual community event.

To continue the high calibre of award recipients, Transit Soup Kitchen and Food Support were announced as recipients of the 2018 Casey Volunteer Group Award. The 98 committed volunteers that make up this group provide nutritious meals, friendship and support, to those who are marginalised within the broader Narre Warren community.

Finally, the 2018 Casey Volunteer Organisation Award was presented to Casey North Community Information Support Service (CNCISS). Well known throughout Casey, CNCISS provide information and crisis support for residents living in the northern half of the municipality.

The Casey Volunteer Awards acknowledge outstanding voluntary service from Casey residents.

This year, Council received a record number of nominations since the awards program began in 2000.

City of Casey Mayor Cr Geoff Ablett said the volunteer awards play an important role in recognising the selfless work that makes the City of Casey such a liveable city.

"This years’ volunteers represent all sectors of volunteering in the Casey community, which is a testament to how our municipality is growing with people participating and connecting," he said.

"There is no shortage of people willing to volunteer in Casey, and I would like to take this opportunity to thank you all for providing these essential services to our community."

For more information visit the Casey Volunteer Awards.

The City of Casey has adopted the Casey Fields Master Plan, which outlines how Council plans to bring the precinct to full development over the next 20 years through a range of improvements and new facilities.

Some of the exciting projects Council plans to bring to fruition include the development of regional soccer and netball precincts, creation of a five-kilometre fitness trail, dog-friendly space and new park and expansion of the Regional Playspace.

City of Casey Mayor Cr Geoff Ablett said Council looked forward to further enhancing Casey Fields into the future.

"Casey Fields is already the premier regional sport, recreation and play precinct in Melbourne’s south-east, known widely for its size and success in providing such a diverse mix of quality facilities for a range of sports and recreation opportunities," he said.

"This Master Plan will guide the development, renewal and management of the precinct over the next 20 years, including the 21 hectares of undeveloped land set aside for future sporting facility development.

"Casey Fields provides important infrastructure to support its tenant clubs and has enabled key partnerships with elite sporting teams, Melbourne Football Club and the Melbourne Stars.

"As well as servicing local sporting clubs, Casey Fields also hosts regional, state and national competitions, AFL Women’s and AFL preseason matches, Women’s Big Bash League games, major events such as the Melbourne Stars Family Day, and huge numbers of school carnivals every year.

"As we further expand and enhance the site, Council looks forward to what other exciting opportunities might be possible. Our plans to create a regional soccer precinct at the site form an integral part of Team 11, the official bid of Melbourne’s south-east to bring an A-League and W-League club to the region, with Casey Fields proposed as the training and administration base."

The Mayor added that Council has received positive support and excitement from local residents and state sporting associations for the Master Plan and its future implementation.

"Council is committed to ensuring full development of Casey Fields and looks forward to delivering key projects to ensure it reaches its potential," Cr Ablett said.

"With Casey’s population tipped to exceed 500,000 by 2041, Casey Fields will be an integral part of meeting the sporting and recreational needs of our growing community in the future and ensuring we have facilities that support pathways for Casey athletes to reach the heights of their chosen sport.

"I encourage the community to check out the Casey Fields Master Plan and see what Council has in store for the region’s premier sporting precinct."

View the Casey Fields Master Plan.

City of Casey Councillors were joined by Minister for Police Lisa Neville yesterday afternoon, to officially unveil safety upgrades to Webb Street in Narre Warren.

City of Casey Mayor Cr Geoff Ablett revealed a plaque to honour the safety enhancements, which had been undertaken in the area over the last 12 months.

The $405,000 project, ‘Connecting our Village – Revitalise Narre Warren’, involved significant safety upgrades to Webb Street, including:

• The installation of new public toilets
• Redesigned landscaping
• Improved and additional lighting
• New benches and seating

Cr Ablett thanked the State Government for its $250,000 contribution through the Victorian Government’s Community Crime Prevention Program, and said he hoped the improved amenity of the area will give both traders and residents an increased sense of community safety.

Council also contributed $155,000 to the community project.

“Increased incidents of anti-social behaviour in Webb Street such as acts of graffiti, alcohol consumption, public toilet misuse and damage to property, lights and signage has left local traders and residents with the perception that their community isn’t safe,” said the Mayor.

“This project has taken heed of these concerns, providing environmental and infrastructure improvements to encourage a sense of ownership for the rightful users of this space - the local residents and traders.”

The Mayor said it was Council’s priority to ensure that its residents felt safe in their community.

“The environment plays a significant role in influencing resident’s perceptions of safety, and Council would like Webb Street to impart a feeling of safety and become a valued public space for the entire community,” he said.

“I hope these upgrades instill a further sense of connectedness for our local residents to their community, support the viability of our local businesses, and allow for enhanced social activity throughout the area."

NOTICE OF AN APPLICATION

FOR A PLANNING PERMIT

This can be done during office hours and is free of charge.

Any person who may be affected by the granting of the permit may object or make other submissions to the Responsible Authority.

An objection must be made to the Responsible Authority in writing to,

 Manager Planning, P.O. Box 1000, Narre Warren 3805 or adminplanning@casey.vic.gov.au

*          include the reasons for the objection, and

*          state how the objector would be affected.

The Responsible Authority must make a copy of every objection available at its office for any person to inspect during office hours free of charge until the end of the period during which an application may be made for review of a decision on the application.

If you object, the Responsible Authority will tell you its decision.

Casey Aquatic and Recreation Centre (ARC) has been accredited with Life Saving Victoria’s (LSV’s) prized Platinum Pool award which recognises facilities that provide outstanding levels of safety.

To achieve the award, Casey ARC had to undertake a rigorous series of assessments to ensure it met all of LSV’s criteria for the accreditation.

City of Casey Mayor Cr Geoff Ablett said Casey ARC is now one of just 21 Victorian aquatic facilities that currently hold the accreditation.

"This is a great achievement and Council congratulates our facility manager YMCA Victoria for their outstanding work to help achieve this accreditation," Cr Ablett said.

"Council is committed to providing quality sports, recreation and aquatic infrastructure to support our residents to be active and healthy, and it’s integral that these facilities can be enjoyed safely."

LSV General Manager - Public Training and Pool Safety, Andy Dennis, said the award is a way of recognising those facilities that have attained the highest level of safety requirements and standards.

"The award is similar to accrediting a lifesaver, and therefore facilities must undergo a thorough assessment of their skills and performance and attain a high standard throughout," Mr Dennis said.

"We are very selective when awarding Platinum Pool accreditation. LSV must be satisfied that exemplary levels of aquatic safety are being achieved and constantly maintained before the award is issued."

Included in the award is an industry leading Pool Safety Assessment, a six-monthly assessment on implementation, mystery guest visits and adherence to the best practice ‘Watch Around Water’ child supervision program.

Facilities who have qualified for the Platinum Pool award are certified and provided with internal materials within the facility. The accreditation is valid for twelve months and forms an important component of the overall safety planning and continual improvement strategy.

The City of Casey has launched a new online tool designed to support Casey residents during the process of building a new home.

In an Australian Council first, Casey’s new ‘Build a House’ platform is equipped with all the tricks of the trade and information about the many steps involved in building a new house.

Both new and experienced home builders are encouraged to check out the website, which details the stages of building a home; including understanding your finances, locating land, locking in a builder and getting construction started.

City of Casey Mayor Cr Geoff Ablett said that with so many new residents coming to Casey every year, it’s important to have tools such as these to ensure residents have everything they need right at their doorstep.

“Not only can the build and design of a new home be daunting, but sometimes it’s just as hard to decide where to live depending what your lifestyle requires,” he said.

“This Casey first initiative provides information that will allow home builders to make a well-informed choice when determining where in Casey they will choose to live, while also providing useful advice on key stages involved in building a home.”

The website lists eight key milestones, including:

• Understanding your finances
• Your location and lifestyle
• Finding your land
• Choosing a house
• Locking in a builder
• Signing the contract
• Under construction
• Moving in

There are also various checklists that residents can use to ensure they’re on the right track.

Cr Ablett said there isn’t any other tool available to Casey residents that combines the information in the same way as this website.

“Council has pooled information from the Government, the building industry and community services to guide a new homebuilder throughout their experience, while also providing relevant information relating to Casey.

“You’re not just building a house, you’re building a home.We encourage potential residents to use this new platform to get to know what your local community has to offer and what you can look forward to as a Casey resident.”

The Build a House platform can be found at buildahouse.casey.vic.gov.au.

The City of Casey has outperformed the state-wide averages in the 2018 Customer Satisfaction Survey, with Council again receiving its best score for Customer Service.

Casey’s overall performance score of 61 remained unchanged from the 2017 result. Council scored well above the state average in all six categories, with performance in five out of six categories improving or remaining stable compared to Casey’s own results last year.

Art Centres and Libraries ranked as the top performing area with 73 per cent of respondents giving it a very good or good score.

Recreational Facilities also rated high, with seven in ten Casey residents rating Council’s performance in the area as very good or good. In addition, the area of Waste Management saw Casey rated highly with eight in ten residents also evaluating Council’s performance in this area as very good or good.

City of Casey Mayor Cr Geoff Ablett said the results are encouraging particularly considering that Council did not experience any significant decline in ratings in the past year and is performing significantly higher than the average rates for the outer suburban Council group and state-wide Council’s in many areas.

"This year we also saw an exceptional increase in satisfaction in the areas of Art Centres and Libraries, and I have no doubt this is as a result of opening our magnificent new community arts and cultural precinct Bunjil Place in October last year", said the Mayor.

"It’s no surprise that we saw further improvements in our results in Customer Service. More customers are using our website, email or social media to resolve their queries. We have made this a key focus across the organisation through the work undertaken to transform our top services to make them digital. This has enabled our residents to interact with Council and transact digitally anywhere, anytime and on any device.

"In addition, we have introduced concierge staff on the floor of Bunjil Place who are equipped to assist our customers as soon as they walk through the doors. Our residents can also speak with us through a variety of channels including on social media, enabling them to reach us through the channel of their choice at a time that is convenient to them.

"With the survey being conducted in February-March we didn’t see the advocacy category climb as much as we would hope as we had only just launched our Commit to Casey campaign, but I anticipate we will see the results of this advocacy work represented in next year’s results."

The City of Casey has caught six tobacco retailers selling cigarettes to minors (a person under 18 years), as part of a test purchasing program undertaken by Council’s Environmental Health Team.

These results are a substantial increase compared to previous years, with two sales recorded in 2017 and three sales in 2016.

Retailers and person’s selling tobacco to a minor who are found to be breaking the law risk receiving infringements ranging from $645 - $9,671, prosecution in a Magistrates Court and/or a fine ranging from $19,343 – $96,714 and the loss of their right to sell tobacco.

City of Casey Mayor Councillor Geoff Ablett said that Council’s Environmental Health Officers undertake routine tobacco test purchasing across the municipality, specifically targeting tobacco licenced premises and other venues to ensure strict compliance with the Tobacco Act 1987.

“It is important to build an awareness with our retailers, so they understand that not only is selling cigarettes to a minor breaking the law, but also that eight out of ten new smokers start as a child and are fifteen times more likely to die of lung cancer than non-smokers”, said the Mayor.

“All that retailers have to do to comply with the Act is to ask a person for proof of age before selling to someone.

“We were pleased to find that 13 retailers approached during the program did not sell cigarettes to minors and were compliant with the Act.”

Tobacco retailers are encouraged to review the tobacco retailers guide and resources available on the DHHS tobacco reform website to ensure they are aware of their responsibilities when selling tobacco in Victoria.

People concerned about retailers selling to minors should contact Council on 9705 5200 or the DHHS Tobacco Information Line on 1300 136 775. Information on tobacco laws is available at the Health Department website.

The Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) provide funding to Councils, via the Municipal Association of Victoria for this program.

The Tobacco Test Purchasing Program is conducted by Council’s Environmental Health Services contractor, Kernow Environmental Services P/L.

The City of Casey has successfully opposed an application for an additional 20 poker machines at the Lynbrook Tavern.

Council resolved to object to the proposal at its meeting on Tuesday 1 May, after undertaking an independent Social and Economic Impact Assessment and public consultation.

A successful application by the Lynbrook Tavern would have increased its electronic gaming machines (EGMs) from 55 to 75.

The application was officially refused following a hearing at the Victorian Commission for Gambling and Liquor Regulation on Friday 14 July.

This is the first time that Council has successfully had a poker machine application refused; a rare achievement given the challenges faced by Councils in opposing applications for new or additional EGMs under current legislation.

Council received 12 submissions from the community surrounding the Lynbrook Tavern, 10 of which objected to the proposed extra EGMs.

City of Casey Mayor Cr Geoff Ablett said this was a fantastic feat for Council due to the detrimental effect EGMs can have on a local community.

“Lynbrook, Cranbourne and Hampton Park, which would have been most impacted by the application, have some of the highest levels of social and economic disadvantage in the Casey and south-east region,” he said.

“They are also classified as ‘capped areas’, which means they’re already more susceptible to gambling harm.”

Council was supported by the Casey Residents and Ratepayers Association and the Cranbourne Information Support Service, both who provided evidence at the hearing.

Cr Ablett said that Council has a responsibility to ensure the wellbeing of the local community.

“An assessment of the EGMs proposal against Council’s Electronic Gaming Machines Strategy 2015-2020 indicated that it would compromise the objectives of this, along with key objectives of Council’s Municipal Health and Wellbeing Plan 2017-2021,” he said.

“The additional gaming machines would have caused a social detriment to the community surrounding the hotel.”

The City of Casey is reminding residents what to expect on their 2018/19 rates notice when they start to arrive in mailboxes next week.

Ratepayers should not expect their rates notice to rise by exactly the forecast inflation rate of 2.25 per cent. Council has complied with the Victorian Governments rate cap, which applies the cap to the overall increase of applicable rates and charges Council collects. The rates and charges of properties may have increased or decreased by different percentage amounts for the following reasons:

• The valuation of the property relative to the valuation movement of other properties within the municipality.
• The inclusion of other rates and charges not covered by the Victorian Government’s rate cap.

As stipulated by the State Government, Casey undertook a general revaluation with the relevant date of 1 January 2018. Under the requirements of the Valuation of Land Act 1960, Council is required to conduct revaluations of all rateable properties every two years. From 2019, the State Government will require Council’s to revalue properties annually.

City of Casey Mayor Cr Geoff Ablett said that revaluations do not generate extra revenue for Council and are undertaken in line with the State Government Valuer-General specifications, which is a legal requirement for all Councils to comply with.

“Rates are distributed across the municipality based on the individual valuations of each property. Revaluations do not alter the dollar figure that Council raises, the total combined general rates remains the same. When the total value of all properties increases the rate in the dollar is adjusted to compensate, there is no gain for Council”, said the Mayor.

“The value placed on each property by the valuer is current and closely reflects market values (as at 1 January 2018). All valuations are reviewed taking into account the latest market evidence (sales and rents) for each type of property and each area within the municipality.

“When you receive your rates notice, it is important not to add your Capital Improved Value (CIV) and Site Value (SV) together as this is not how rates are calculated.

“Rates are calculated by multiplying the rate in the dollar by the Capital Improved Value.

“The State Revenue Office uses site values to assess land tax under the Land Tax Act 2005 and to issue land tax for the same period.” 

Residents have two months from the rate notice being issued to lodge an objection against their valuation. For further information on submitting an objection please contact Council on 9705 5200.

At its meeting on the 7^th of August 2018, Casey Council amended The Berwick South Development Plan (The Development Plan). The Development Plan covers the area bounded by O’Shea Road, Soldiers Road, Grices Road and Clyde Road that is made up of predominately residential land and the Eden Rise Shopping Centre. The Development Plan is a strategic planning document that guides the development of the area.

The amendment removed the ‘Gross Leasable Floor Area’ cap imposed on the Eden Rise Shopping centre, which restricted the area of floor space allowed to be used for commercial uses to 6,000sqm. The amendment also introduced controls to protect residential amenity.

Removing the ‘Gross Leasable Floor Area’ cap implements State Planning Policy and has come at the request of Urbis on behalf of the Pask Group (the owners of the Eden Rise Shopping Centre). Controls protecting the residential amenity have been implemented in response to community consultation.

The Development Plan can be viewed on the council website:

https://www.casey.vic.gov.au/council/policies-strategies/a-c/berwick-south-development-plan

or can be inspected in person at:

Bunjil Place, Patrick Northeast Drive, Narre Warren VIC 3085
Opening hours:
Monday - Friday: 8.30 am - 5.00 pm

Should you have any queries about the Berwick South Development Plan, please contact Council’s City Planning Department on (03) 9705 5200.

The City of Casey is undertaking a data collection project across all of its 66 services to gain a better understanding of the levels of service and satisfaction being provided.

The project will provide valuable insights into each of Council’s services and will be used to inform services planning, continuous improvement opportunities and to improve the overall customer experience.

New Focus, a specialist in customer surveying and data analysis, has been selected by Casey to undertake the survey on its behalf.

City of Casey Mayor Cr Geoff Ablett said we are wanting to hear directly from customers who have recently used our services to identify areas for improvement.

"Council is committed to designing our services with our customers in mind and want to know how the community could see us improving," said the Mayor.

"The survey will include both a mix of online and telephone surveys, with a cross representation of all Council services (both internal and external) being surveyed as part of the project.

"We are encouraging all residents who receive the survey to complete it and help Council to understand if we are meeting our customers’ expectations to inform future service improvements.

"It is anticipated the survey will take no longer than seven minutes to complete so we are hoping that people can spare us not even 10 minutes of their time to provide us with this vital feedback."

Residents who complete the survey will go in the draw to win one of three $100 Westfield gift vouchers.

A small percentage of Casey’s population may receive the survey and will be based on a recent interaction they have had with the City of Casey.

New Focus will handle personal information provided to it by Council in accordance with the Privacy and Data Protection Act 2014. Contact details provided to New Focus will only be used for the purpose of engaging with residents to seek feedback on the service they have used.