Meeting with NBC's Jeremy Smith - Fri 9Aug24

Meeting held at JFP 3:00 - 4:00PM

Present:

NBC: Jeremy Smith - Acting EM Parks & Open Spaces, Andrew Johnston- Community Liaison Coordinator

CCLF: Paula Cowan, Deb Moffatt, Mark Stack

Jeremy introduced Andrew Johnston who is preparing to take over the liaison role with CCLF from now on.

Netball

Jeremy advised that MWNA has submitted their annual strategic statement to Council that envisages among other things -

1. Addition of ground level hard surface margins (~60cm) to those existing hard surface netball courts that do not already have concrete margins. This safety measure is likely to be approved. Composition of margin is still TBD.

2. Weather protective shades on all of the 25 existing hard surface courts comprising semi-translucent waterproof shade material supported on a metal frame. This proposal is considered aspirational at this stage.

Jeremy advised that CCLF could request a copy of MWNA's statement via a GIPA request.

Ngara Pathway

Jeremy has read and personally supports our proposal for a pathway. We entered Stirgess Reserve from existing Creek circuit pathway, walked westward along the proposed route for the new path, past the garden, then rejoined the main pathway near the large sandstone block with the CCLF 2010 commemorative plaque.

Jeremy indicated that the composition of the path's surface would need to meet certain technical requirements, e.g. crushed sandstone or aggregate may not be suitable and a short boardwalk might be specified at the eastern junction of the existing and new paths. Cost is likely to be in the order of several hundreds of thousand dollars. with completion at least a year away. Nonetheless, it is Council policy to provide proper access to this type of community asset.

Weldon Oval

Jeremy advised that the AFL has been seeking expanded space for male and female change rooms. Their request to enlarge the existing club / stand building for that purpose is not supported. Instead, additional change rooms will be constructed in the Council compound area between the Weldon clubhouse and the Bowling club. Some of the ground between the stand and picket fence becomes a mudbath after rain and is to be resurfaced.

The AFL Club has been reported screening advertising with audio on the AV scoreboard which is forbidden under their permissions. Jeremy is aware of this practice and will take this up with the club.

Baseball

Jeremy explained the justification for extended wire fencing at Abbott Rd fields 4 and 5 was that safety standards for baseball (risk of spectators being injured by balls struck full force by adult players) had been revised.

Panucci Fields

Proposal for renaming of Old Reub Hudson will be opened to public submissions.