LUS issues

What are the reasons to change the minimum lot size for building permission in the new draft LUS? (Mr T. Ebersoll)

Is the State Government Planning Department or Lithgow Council responsible for decision making and planning directions in the draft LUS? If it is a mix of responsibilities, what proportions apply? (PJ Grosfeld)

I live on my land at Sunny Corner Road Portland. This is all I have. I am a pensioner and have no means to build a house within 5 years - or ever. If the land rezoning comes into effect, my land will lose the value, our children will have nothing left from us, we will not be able to sell it because nobody will buy land they can’t build on. We are 3km from post office and my opinion is that land that was bought and sold as a small acreage with vision to build should stay like that irrespective of Council plans about bigger acreages and also irrespective of my financial ability to build in my lifetime. (George Kely)

The Mayor made a statement at the forum that he believes the 40 hectare minimum will stay in place and the sunset clause likely to go. Why then does the Council not make this announcement public and get on with working with the rest of the LUS and allow things to start moving in a positive direction? (Mrs J. Johnstone) 

DA’s & Council Communications

On more than 5 five occasions I have made a phone call to Council with regard to a DA. The person I needed was not available and the staff person took my number and said they would call me. On NO occasion has amy call been returned. What system will Council put in place to ensure calls are returned.? (Mr K. Bird)

With regard to DA’s would it be too much trouble for the Council to communicate to people how the STOP THE CLOCK systems works? This would maybe in turn stop people thinking that their DA’s are taking months and then in turn maybe the idea of a liason officer (as suggested by Jamie Giokaris) would be a very positive move in the future. (Mrs J. Johnstone)

Council staff do not reply to emails. Would Council at least install a process of when a ‘read receipt’ is part of the email that the staff acknowledge emails (Mr K. Fletcher)

Why is it, that large firms such as; Branston, Macquarie Geo Tech and Calare Civil are incredibly reluctant (some even refusing) to work with Lithgow Council? (Mr T. Dean) 

Heritage

Heritage Precincts, there is grave concern on how these precincts and restrictions on such, will affect property values, what is Council planning for such? (Mr J. Presbury)

Why are areas that have absolutely no heritage value involved with Heritage studies and expense to developer. Case in point an old derelect petrol station. 

Business & Industrial areas

What is the problem with the land at ADI site? I looked at purchasing some land 8 years ago and got the runaround. There seems to have been no release/development in this area. Why? What role is Council playing in getting this land sold for development? (Mrs M. Griffiths)

Is it possible for Council to develop a team that actively seek bringing medium / large business or developments to the area? (Mrs M. Griffiths)

When the question was asked as to what business the Council have bought to the area in the last 10 years, the answer was given SDRO, PAL, Emirates, ALDI, Woolworths, Thales, a Retirement village????. It appears to me that the first three of these are of State significance and the rest are simply businesses that decided they want to come here or expand. The Council have not gone out & sold our area. These are simply signing off of DA’s. the question remains what business have Council sought out in the last 10 years for our area? (Mr B. Partridge) 

General Questions

What are Council doing to plan for parking and traffic flow in the Main St area? This is a significant inhibitor to growth in the retail business area.

Do Council not have any power to ensure landlords maintain premises in an acceptable level? (eg Mort St TAFE, shop fronts at Eastern Main St) This presents a very poor image of business to prospective business, tourists and customers)

Have Council ever bothered to contact Bathurst Council to see what it is that they are doing to attract business to their area?. Whatever it is, they are successful.(Suzanne Carson)

Why doesn’t Council look further into dealing effectively with Boral to have the old cement sight cleaned up so Portland can move on?

Why isn’t there signage which supports our region as a ‘place worth spending time in’. Lithgow don’t even have the towns population listed. (Noeline Thorn)

With regard to the tourism booklet. How far afield does this magazine go? Where are the key areas that Tourism see as prospective visitors from this production. (Mrs E. Turner)

The proposed change of ‘Code of Practice" at Council meetings restricts direct access of the public to Council. What is the reason for the proposed change and which avenues are left open to have an input? (Mr T. Ebersoll)

Is there any plan to address Nepotism in Council (Mrs K. Moon)