2023 Annual General Meeting

When: 6:00pm, Thursday 19 Oct 2023

Where: Old Cook Primary School, Templeton St Cook (Companion House Blg)

Notice: 2023 Annual General Meeting

Formal AGM Business:

1. Apologies.
2. Minutes of the last meeting.
3. Presidents Annual Report. ∇
4. Treasurers report. ∇
5. Election of office bearers for 2023-24. ∇
6. Summary of committee work.

AGM Minutes

Present: David Kelly (DK - president), Rosemary Blemings (RB), Robyn Coghlan (RC -vice president), John Connelly (secretary), Doug Finlayson, Darryl Seto (DS - web master), Judy Kelly, Jennie Jackson, Michelle Jackson, John Jackson

Apologies: Dave Wong, Chris Watson

Minutes of the last meeting: RC moved that they be accepted, seconded by DS, all agreed.

Presidents Annual Report: DK reported on the following matters see separate report.

1. Updated ACT Planning Bill and new Territory plan
2. West Belconnen Green Waste Facility
3. Biodiversity Certification Report on Parkwood Development.
4. NSW Biodiversity Conservation Act Review
5. Ginninderry’s Riverside Park development
6. Interaction with the EDO

RB moved that the report be accepted, seconded by RC, all agreed.

Treasurers report: Main expenses were

1. Donation to the EDO.
2. Membership of the Cons Council.
3. Website expenses.

Moved Jennie Jackson, Seconded John Jackson.

Discussion of history of GFA for the benefit of the Jacksons.

Election of office bearers for 2022-23: In the absence of any additional candidates, the following were returned as committee members.

President: David Kelly

Vice President: Robyn Coghlan

Secretary: John Connelly

Committee member and publicity officer: Darryl Seto

Committee member: Judy Kelly.

Committee member: Michelle Jackson.

Treasurer: to be filled later.

Discussion of future activities for GFA

Dave K. Work to get the Ginninderra Falls area included added to the Ginninderry Conservation Corridor. All areas of the Conservation Corridor in NSW are not currently being managed by the Conservation Trust.

Jennie J. What steps do we have to take to achieve this?

John J. Have the ACT bought the blocks in NSW?

Dave K. Three of the blocks are reported to have been bought by Ginninderry. It seems definite that the Shaw / Armitage and Fleming / Moore blocks have been bought. We have definite information that Hyles has not sold his block. We have to assume in that instance that the Scibberra block has also been sold to Ginninderry.

Doug Finlayson. Ginninderry is playing the long game. They are prepared to wait. Development of the NSW section is not scheduled to occur until after 2030.

Meeting closed 6:50 pm.

Ginninderra Falls Asoc President’s Report 2022-3

ACT Planning Bill and new Territory Plan

Numerous groups made submissions on this bill, but environmental issues need to be highlighted. In our submission, we said that the new bill gives too much discretion to the minister and the chief planner. Outcomes-focussed assessment is too vague, and gives developers too much freedom. The emphasis is on approving developments, with a token gesture to endangered species, not on preserving and enhancing the natural environment with all its species and ecosystems.

EPBC non-compliance

We realized early this year that Ginninderry had not fulfilled its federal environmental approval conditions. The main issue is that the Conservation Corridor was not reserved in full (including Ginninderra Falls) within two years of the approval, i.e. by September 2019, and a management plan was not prepared for the entire area. We have written to ACT and federal environment ministers to alert them to this error, and to ask them to take action to correct it, with no response. Land has been rezoned appropriately, but this is not sufficient to guarantee preservation in perpetuity, as required. We will contact the media for publicity.

New West Belconnen Green Waste Facility

A temporary facility is to be built south of Drake-Brockman Drive, so that Ginninderry can develop the existing site for housing. We objected to this because the site is unsuitable due to its steep slope in rugged terrain, and will facilitate spread of weeds into nearby bushland and sediment into the Molonglo. It is also a waste of public money to build a temporary facility.

Biodiversity Certification Assessment Report to NSW government for Parkwood development.

Development approval for the NSW part of Ginninderry requires the developer to submit a report, and to seek public comment. We mentioned the EPBC non-compliance of the development, and the effects of neighboring urban areas on natural areas and drainage channels. Key’s Matchstick grasshopper is a species in the area listed as endangered in NSW since the EPBC approval process in 2017. It is not clear whether this has been considered properly.

NSW Biodiversity Conservation Act Review

This act is reviewed every 5 years. Our submission highlighted the inability of the process to identify and protect areas of high biodiversity and scenic value such as Ginninderra Falls.

Ginninderry’s Riverside Park

We made a submission on the development application, claiming that a building of 1000 sq. meters with parking for 63 vehicles and buses is inappropriate for the Murrumbidgee’s banks, since throughout the ACT there are no major building developments close to the river. The natural ambience of the river must be preserved, and passive recreation would be compatible with this, but not such a development.

Environmental Defenders Office

EDO has continued to support us in our campaign, and we made a donation to them. Frances Bradshaw has left the ACT office and is being replaced by Isobel Brinin.

The Future:

The Federal Government’s Green Wall St bill will be contentious, and needs to be opposed.

The New federal Environment bill is likely to sound good, but will probably lack teeth, just like the old one.

The Western Edge Investigation is ongoing, and if development proceeds, there will be many environmental issues to consider, especially its effect on the Murrumbidgee valley.

David Kelly
President
Ginninderra Falls Association

Treasurer's Report for the Financial Year 2022-2023

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 2020 to 30 June 2021.

The income during the financial year was derived mostly from members' fees and a few donations. The number of financial members during the 2022-23 financial year was 10.

A special request for donations was made so that we could donate to the Environmental Defenders Office, as a contribution toward the cost of their services.

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.

In summary, the accounts indicate the following –

Auditing of the accounts has been done by Rachel Blemings.

Treasurer's comments:

• The Association chooses to be a member of the Conservation Council of the ACT along with other like­ minded associations; there is a membership fee.
• The Ginninderra Falls Association chooses not to have public liability insurance, but this could be reinstated if public events are to be held.
• The Association maintains a web site that incurs commercial administration and running costs.
• The membership fee for the financial year 2022-2023 was $35 and it is recommended this fee be retained for 2023-24 (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).

Acknowledgements

The Association wishes to thank the following supporters:

• 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.
• The Environmental Defenders Office, for their legal advice about the Ginninderry development.

Signed

Judy Kelly
Hon. Treasurer, Ginninderra Falls Association

15 October 2023