Darebin Public Question Time & Submission Diary - 2024-2028

Ordinary Council Minutes - 24 March 2026

• Serena O’Meley

1. What’s the current monetary balance of the Public Open Space and Recreation Reserve?
   

2. How much of that balance is committed or budgeted to be spent in 2025–26?
   

3. Which specific projects or parks is that money currently proposed to be spent on, and how much is allocated to each?

Response From General Manager Infrastructure, Operations & Finance

1. 1. The balance of the Open Space Reserve fund at 30 June 2025 was $7.5M as reported in the 2024-25 Annual Financial Report.
   

2. The underlying assumption in the adopted budget is that the expenditure against Open

   Space levy funds matches the budgeted income of $2.77M for the year. The reconciliation of the balance will be undertaken as part of the year end audit process.
   

3. Preliminary assessment is undertaken for Open space levy eligible projects as part of the

   capital works budget development. A full reconciliation and assessment against the

   legislation is conducted at year end. In terms of specific projects or parks, um I don't have the full detailed list at hand. That level of detail I'd need to take on notice, Some of the projects that were considered eligible in the 2025-26 budget included Pitcher Park renovation, Irrigation and turf renewal at Johnson Park, Edwards Lake Play space surface renewal, DR Atkinson Play space renewal.

Serena O’Meley - Follow Up Question

Was Clement's Reserve on that list of parks where money was allocated? And can

you also explain why you're retaining such a large balance in the fund? Why would you not

spend most of that fund?

Response From General Manager Infrastructure, Operations & Finance

Clement's Reserve in our in the adopted capital works program is not budgeted for this current year. It's scheduled for a future year. Our assumption is that it would be funded through the open space levy reserve.

Serena O’Meley - Follow Up Question

My question is about what was informing your thinking about keeping so much money in in the budget. It's not to do with Clement's Reserve. It's a general question and is a follow-up

question that that should be able to be answered. There must be some decision that was made to retain that money. Why are you retaining so much money in the reserve when it can only be applied to parks and could easily be spent?

Response from the Chair

We will take that question on notice.

[NB: Submission made to item 9.8 Clements Reserve as set out at the end of this article.]

• David Taylor

3. Why is the matter of the purchase of Clements Reserve portrayed as an item that must compete with other budget priorities when Council has an Open Space Reserve Fund that enables purchase of open space that does not need to compete with any other budget priorities and that the 2025 Financial Statements indicate that over $7.5M is available in that Fund?

Response rom General Manager Infrastructure, Operations & Finance

While the Open Space Levy funds must be used for eligible purposes, there are many

priorities for improvements in parks and recreation facilities which are eligible for funding via

the Levy and which Council considers alongside acquisition opportunities.

One of the challenges that has emerged this year is that property development has slowed

down, and therefore Open Space Levy revenue has dropped. This is forecast to continue

which means Council no longer expects to be able to fund everything it was planning, and it

must consider priorities.

Ordinary Council Minutes - 15 December 2025

• Serena O’Meley

1. The Member for Preston, Nathan Lambert, has recently stated in the Victorian Parliament that Darebin Council may use its new Local Laws powers to remove the

   corroded and unsafe building frame at 1C Macartney Street, Reservoir; will Darebin Council act on this advice and exercise those powers?
   

2. At the Council meeting on 22 September 2025, I specifically asked whether Council

   was “prepared to take decisive action, including demolishing the site,” and was advised

   that no action would be taken while the site held a current permit; why was it not made

   clear at that time that Council could, under its new Local Laws, demolish the structure

   despite the permit

Response From General Manager City Sustainability & Strategy

Council acknowledges that this partially constructed property has a long history, dating back to 2009 when the original building permit was issued for three dwellings, of which only two were constructed. Between 2020 and 2023 Council has prosecuted the matter in an effort to bring the property into compliance, resulting in a Building Order being placed on the property.

A new building permit was issued on 31/07/25, requiring the removal of the existing structure as a condition. The owner must begin works within 12 months of the permit date. The structure was previously inspected and was not at that time unsafe. Council will make enquiries of the private building surveyor to ensure that the structure does not present an immediate risk to public safety.

Authorised officers of council undertook an inspection of the property on 12/12/25 and were

satisfied the property was compliant with the provisions of the Local Law. As a subordinate

document, the Local Law only comes into effect when higher legislation is silent on the

matter. The demolition of the existing frame is not subject to the provisions of the Local Law.

Ordinary Council Minutes - 24 November 2025

• Serena O’Meley

1. Will Council consider engaging Foamex to establish a polystyrene drop-off point at the Darebin Resource Recovery Centre, noting that residents currently have to drive to Coolaroo to recycle polystyrene and that Foamex can provide collection and processing for a nominal fee—significantly reducing the amount of polystyrene sent to landfill?
   

2. Reservoir Views Primary School has recently removed more than half a dozen mature

   native trees from its grounds, and if a permit was issued for this work, could Darebin

   Council explain why it was granted?

   
   

3. Darebin Council is reportedly reviewing all its Consultative Committees, including the Darebin Aboriginal Advisory Committee which has over 20 years of valued service; can Council confirm whether the committees are at risk of being abolished?

Response From General Manager Infrastructure, Operations & Finance

1. Thank you for your question, Serena. We’ve got work in progress to provide polystyrene collection services. The Darebin Resource Recovery Centre (DRRC) has already sought interest from organisations able to provide these services. We're currently at the assessment stage and we expect to start collecting at DRRC from early 2026.
   

2. Reservoir Views Primary School is located on land owned by the State Government. In some circumstances a planning permit may be required, but is not in this case. Therefore, no permit was issued by Darebin Council for this work.

   
   

   Response from General Manager City Sustainability & Strategy

   
   

3. Council is undertaking a scheduled review of its advisory committees. In June this year, Council resolved that all committees would sunset on 31 December 2025, pending the outcomes of the review. While no decisions have yet been made, Council expects to consider the review outcomes at the December Council meeting and will update current committee members in the coming weeks.

Ordinary Council Minutes - 27 October 2025

• Serena O’Meley

1. Given the efficiencies and consistency that multi-employer bargaining provides to

   employers, why is Darebin Council opposing a multi-employer agreement with seven other councils that is supported by the majority of its workforce?

   
   

2. How much money has Darebin Council spent on legal costs in opposing the ASU’s

   claim for multi-employer bargaining?

Response from General Manager Customer & Corporate

1. Darebin is one of 10 councils subjected to an application to the Fair Work Commission

   to be joined into a multi-employer enterprise agreement. Darebin is fully participating in

   this process. Darebin’s direction is informed by our people. The seven councils who

   have consented to a multi-employer bargaining process have done so after running a

   ballot and each of the seven received a result a majority of their employees supported

   that approach. Darebin ran a ballot in April and didn't get to the same outcome, which

   is why we were waiting on instructions from the Fair Work Commission. Delays in the

   process have led us to decide to run another ballot as soon as possible so we have

   certainty about how our employees want us to move forward.

   
   

2. As previously stated, Darebin is one of 10 councils responding to the application to the Fair Work Commission. Darebin is fully engaged in the process and does not oppose the application.

Ordinary Council Minutes - 27 September 2025

• Serena O’Meley

1. Given that the structure at 1c Macartney Street, Reservoir, has remained unfinished since 2010 despite multiple planning permits, including the current permit D/783/2022 expiring in October 2025, is Darebin Council prepared to take decisive action, including demolishing the site, given that all previous enforcement actions have failed?

   
   

2. Please provide the statistics for the performance indicators listed in the “Reporting” section of the Community Complaints about a Councillor Policy – from August 2023 to now - including the number of complaints received, outcomes at each stage (preliminary check, initial assessment, investigation, review), average and individual response times, and any resulting changes to services, policies, or processes?

   
   

   [Supplementary question following response from General Manager Customer & Corporate]

   
   

   I did have in that question a number of different stages that were required by the policy itself, you have answered some of them but not others, I wonder if that could be taken on notice so that each of those elements are answered? [Mayor Olaris agreed to take this on notice.]

   
   

3. Please provide details, including the addresses, of the five contaminated sites warranting investigation under the Environmental Protection Act 2017, as referenced in Item 9.1, Appendix A, page 55 of today’s Agenda.

[Governance report from 27 October 2025]

Questions Taken on Notice at the Council Meeting – 22 September 2025

Response from Acting General Manager Customer & Corporate

2. Thank you for the question, Serena. Since August 2023, there have been 15 complaints under this policy. Three complaints were resolved at the initial assessment stage, and 12 were referred to the Councillor Conduct Framework.

Following the Local Government Act reforms, and legal review, we are in the process of sunsetting this policy, which will be replaced by the Councillor Internal Dispute Resolution Procedure, as well as our community-facing Complaints Handling Policy. This policy is more effective in driving continuous improvement opportunities.

Serena’s response - “I did have in that question a number of different stages that were required by the policy itself, you have answered some of them but not others, I wonder if that could be taken on notice so that each of those elements are answered?” – confirmed question to be taken on notice by Mayor Olaris.

The CE Office has proposed dates in October to Serena to meet with the CEO to discuss her question taken on notice.

Ordinary Council Minutes - 25 August 2025

• Serena O’Meley

1. It has been seven years since Darebin Council resolved to purchase three parcels of land within Clements Reserve from VicRoads. Can Darebin Council account for the continued delays in choosing and implementing a remediation option, and purchasing the land within Clements Reserve?

   
   

2. Will the peer reviewed investigation report into the contamination in Clements Reserve, which was scheduled to be submitted to the EPA in early 2025 be made publicly available?

3. Can Darebin Council explain what, if any, impact the new Councillor Internal Dispute Resolution Procedure will have on the Community Complaints about a Councillor Policy?

   
   

Response From General Manager Infrastructure, Operations & Finance

1. Hi Serena, the stage we have just finished is a detailed site investigation, which was an EPA requirement, and we worked with the Victorian Government’s Department of Transport and Planning to complete this. As both Council and the DTP currently own part of the land we are each responsible for remediation of the parts which we own. The investigation was accepted by the EPA and the next step is assessment of remediation options and a detailed remediation action plan. When this is prepared it will be submitted to the EPA and would be implemented after that. This is taking some time however it is important that we work through each stage step by step. Council remains committed to ensuring that any actions taken are in the best longterm interest of the community and the environment. Through its adopted 2025/26 Budget, Council has committed funds for remediation works at Clements Reserve. It is possible that it may take longer than the current financial year before works start.

   
   

2. There aren’t plans to release the detailed investigation report, it has been submitted to the EPA. We do plan to keep community up to date when Council determines the remediation actions it will take.

   
   

   Response From General Manager Customer & Corporate

   
   

3. Thanks for the question about the Internal Dispute Resolution Procedure, Serena. This policy was a requirement of the Local Government Act reforms and prescribes a process for managing complaints between Councillors. The Community Complaints about a Councillor policy that you are referring to, is a policy that supports the process for the community to complain about a Councillor, there is potentially an overlap, but that assessment still needs to be done, the policy has been in operation for about two years now. It is being reviewed at the moment, and there is a revised policy that will be brought to Council in the coming months.

Ordinary Council Minutes - 28 January 2025

• Serena O’Meley

1. In 2018, the Office of Geographic Names rejected a proposed new name for Batman Park due to objections to the proposal. The Darebin Council website retains a 7 year-old commitment to continuing the process to rename the park in Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung. What steps have been taken to ensure that this takes place?

2. Darebin Council had two remediation proposals for Clements Reserve which were put

   to a vote around 2021. I understand that neither of these proposals has been deemed

   suitable by the EPA, and that this is holding up the sale of the land to Darebin Council.

   Can you please describe the EPA's expectations in relation to the remediation of the land?

   
   

Response from general Manager Infrastructure, Operations and Finance

Thanks for your question Serena.

1. Council remains committed to renaming the park. There is currently no specific timeframe for progressing this work. Council will continue to engage with the Wurrundjeri woi wurrung corporation and the Darebin community as it considers next steps and timing.

   
   

2. The EPA have advised they are open to a range of options for remediation so long as they appropriately address the risk. Work is ongoing towards Clements Reserve remediation with the Department of Transport and Planning taking the lead because they are the majority owners of the contaminated area. The investigation and options process is being taken one step at a time and it is hard to predict the timeframe precisely. Purchase of the site by Council would occur after remediation.

Ordinary Council Minutes - 16 December 2024

In response to a resident's questions about Clements Reserve, officers responded as follows:

The State Government’s Department of Transport and Planning own most of the closed off

area and we are working with them towards remediating it and reopening it. This will take

some more time. An investigation report is currently being peer reviewed by an environmental auditor to be submitted to the EPA for final review in early 2025. This will enable us to confirm next steps on site.