2019 Annual General Meeting Minutes
Present
Robyn Coghlan (Chair), John Connelly (Minutes) Darryl Seto, Carole Finlayson, Doug Finlayson, Rosemary Blemings, Russ Temple, David Wong, David Kelly, Judy Kelly, Chris Watson, Dierk Von Behrens, Rosemary Von Beherens, George Villafor.
Apologies
Shirley Gourgaud.
Previous Minutes (2018 AGM)
Acceptance of the minutes: Proposed Dave Kelly, seconded Carole Finlayson. Accepted.
President’s Report
- Formally thanks Doug Finlayson for all the work that he has put into summarising the Worboys Report. Producing a number of reports of varying amount of detail.
- Provides a review of all the variations to the Ginninderry NSW zoning proposal which were made by the Yass Valley Council as a result of public comment. Particularily clarifying the situation concerning “concessional “ lots of the Fleming-Moore land. This concessional lot is only to allow for the existing dwelling, where 3-5Ha surrounding it with river frontage are allowed.
Full “Presidents report” is available as a separate document.
Comments on the report.
Doug mentions the very productive meeting with EDO (Wed 30th Nov 2019) where Steph Booker went through all the variations made by the Yass Valley Council.
John. Moves resolution commending the President Robyn Coghlan on all the work she has undertaken during the year. Seconded Darryl Seto.
Darryl. Moves resolution thanking Ian Trapnell for all the excellent work he has done on producing his set of graphics. Seconded John Connelly. Accepted.
Resolution that the President's Report be accepted. Moved Doug Finlayson. Seconded Darry Seto.
Treasurers Report.
Doug Finlayson provided the Treasurers report as a powerpoint presentation. Thanks the auditor John Wells for once again providing auditing services at no cost to GFA.
Resolution that the Treasurers report be accepted. Moved Chris Watson, Seconded Dave Kelly.
Election of Office Bearers
Robyn vacated the chair for Darryl (Public Officer) who declared all positions vacant.
There were no written nominations and all positions were nominated and accepted from the floor. (Those absent had indicated earlier that they would accept nominations.)
| Office | Nomination | Proposed | Seconded |
|---|---|---|---|
| President | Robyn Coghlan | Darryl Seto | Doug Finlayson |
| Vice President | Dave Kelly | Darryl Seto | Robyn Coghlan |
| Treasurer | Doug Finlayson | Darryl Seto | Chris Watson |
| Secretary | John Connelly | Robyn Coghlan | Doug Finlayson |
| Committee members | Darryl Seto, Judy Kelly, Chris Watson |
Robyn resumed the chair.
Other business
Resolution – That this 2019 Annual General Meeting of the Ginninderra Falls Association expresses its great appreciation of the help, support, advice and analysis given to the Association by the ACT Environmental Defenders Office over the last few years. Thank you. Moved Doug Finlayson, Seconded Dierk Von Behrens
Chris comments on the 7 points in the Yass Valley Shire Council minutes for 23rd October 2019.
Meeting Closed
The meeting was closed at 7:30 pm.
President's Report
ANNUAL REPORT 2018/19
The Ginninderra Falls Association has continued its efforts in pursuit of better planning for the proposed conservation corridor along the Murrumbidgee River and Ginninderra Creek within the Ginninderry development project. Activities associated with this involved the following:
- Submission to the ACT Inquiry into Engagement with Development Application Processes, 25 July 2018, and appearance at a related public hearing, 10 Sep 2018;
- Correspondence with relevant members of the NSW Government raising our concerns re the conservation corridor design and the extreme bushfire hazard, 27 July 2018. Response from John McVeigh 26 Nov 2018;
- Request to Ian Walker, ACT Nature Conservator, re the results of the Little Eagle research project, 30 Nov 2018. Response 18 Apr 2019;
- Meeting with Ginninderry re Stage 2, 18 Dec 2018;
- Meeting with the Environmental Defenders Office to discuss media practices, 19 Dec 2018;
- Submission on the Development Application for Stage 2 Ginninderry, 9 Jan 2019;
- FOI request re ACT grant of 50-year EIS exemption, 28 Feb 2019. Response 6 Mar 2019;
- Letter to Yvette Berry and the other four Ginninderra MLAs re the Little Eagle research, 25 Mar 2019;
- Request to the Yass Valley Mayor and Councillors that the consultation period on Parkwood rezoning be extended due to the large number of documents, 4 Apr 201. The extension was granted;
- The production of a series of informative posters and handouts by graphic designer, Ian Trapnell;
- Throughout April, GFA held fortnightly stalls at the Murrumbateman and Yass markets and a monthly one at Hall where information was provided and signatures were obtained for separate petitions, one to Yass Valley Council and one to ACT MLAs;
- Letter to Penny Sharpe re Parkwood consultation, 14 May 2019, response 26 Jun 2019;
- Submission on Parkwood Planning Proposal rezoning, 17 May 2019.
The submissions to the DA Inquiry, Stage 2 Ginninderry and Parkwood all took significant time and effort with contributions from all committee members. Considerable time was devoted to deciding what the posters designed by Ian Trapnell should include and how they could be used to best advantage.
All efforts were directed towards highlighting the need to ensure rezoning was designed:
- to protect future residents from dynamic bushfires;
- to guarantee the long-term future of the existing native flora and fauna along with their improvement as much as possible through best-practice reserve design;
- to include an adequate buffer within the conservation zone to protect the nature reserve from the negative effects of urban development; and
- to maintain good water quality in the surrounding waterways.
Robyn Coghlan
President
Ginninderra Falls Association Incorporated
Treasurer’s Report for the Financial Year 2018-2019
The constitution of the Ginninderra Falls Association stipulates that the Association financial year ends on 30 June each year. This report sets out the accounts of the Association for the period 1 July 2018 to 30 June 2019.
The income during the financial year was derived mostly from members’ fees and a few donations. The number of financial members during the 2018-19 financial year was 21, very disappointing but not unexpected.
A statement of accounts is attached. The Association bank cheque account exists with the St George Bank (BSB 112-908; Account number 447 299 504) with five signatories (Former President, Former Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer, Public Officer), any one of whom may singly operate the account. A receipt book, cheque book and a computer file of bank statements document the Association income. A record is kept of all Association supporters, whether or not they are financial members.
In summary, the accounts indicate the following –
|
Net bank and cash assets at 1 July 2018 |
$853.00 |
|
Total income, 2018-19 |
$1150.79 |
|
Total expenditure, 2018-19 |
$1826.44 |
|
Net bank assets at 30 June 2019 |
$177.35 |
The statement of accounts for the financial year 2018 to 2019 is attached.
Treasurer’s comments:
- The Association chooses to be a member of the Conservation Council of the ACT along with other likeminded associations; there is a membership fee.
- The Ginninderra Falls Association is obliged to have public liability insurance if it wishes to apply for grants and conduct meetings and excursions. This is a significant cost for the Association.
- The Association maintains a web site that incurs commercial administration and running costs.
- The membership fee for the financial year 2018-2019 was $35 and it is recommended this fee be retained for 2019-20 (no family membership). Those supporters dependent solely on an aged/disability/study/unemployment Government income may seek membership fee relief from the Association Treasurer (entirely in confidence).
- The small number of financial members continues to be a cause for concern.
Acknowledgements
The Association wishes to thank the following:
- Individuals, including committee members, who have absorbed costs connected with the operations and administration of the Association and the promotion of the Association in the public domain.
- The Association wishes specially to thank those individuals who have made donations to the Association.
- John Wells, for auditing the Association accounts (Former bank branch manager, bookkeeper Kippax Veterinary Hospital).
Signed Douglas Finlayson Hon. Treasurer,
Ginninderra Falls Association 2 July, 2019
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