Item

Open and welcome to the monthly meeting at 7:35 PM by the President Les Reader

Attendance (20) and apologies (2) - as per attendance sheet

Correspondence In - Water saving research

Correspondence out – None

Business arising from the minutes: All matters moved to general business
 

President:  

• The thought of Gaming Machines coming into town is a matter of grave concern.
• Graffiti is increasing which is most disappointing. However Council will give lots of assistance to help remove and apprehend graffiti vandals. The point is do not ignore graffiti – contact the council

Treasurer’s Report: See hard copy

Councillor’s Report – Brett Owen

• The boundary between Officer and Beaconsfield has now been changed and settled
• Basket ball ring has been installed in a street in the Bowman Track Estate
• Wood Street – a concern about speeding. Speed humps being considered
• Old Coach House – this finally been sold to someone who will have a go at restoration
• Some new foot paths have been installed in Beaconsfield
• Council has asserted its right of ownership of all of Bob Burgesses Reserve
• Some work has been done on the matter of a footpath along the Beaconsfield Emerald Road
• The matter of damaged driveways was addressed
• Council seeking to establish a right hand turn facility from the old Princes Highway on
  to the new Pakenham By Pass for traffic moving in a westerly direction
  
  Question from the floor: Eastward travel on the new Pakenham By Pass is not assessable from Beaconsfield could this please be rectified?

Banner Report

• Should be to the printer this week
• Meeting felt it would be good to have something about the EGMs on the front page

Community Action Group Reports

Avenue of Honour Report:  Work continues slowly

Community Complex Advisory Committee Report:   No report this month

Neighbourhood Watch Report:    No report this month

Planning Issues Subcommittee:   

• Moved that the BPA Executive Committee take over the issues of the Planning Subcommittee

Carols By The Creek Committee:

• Seeks to have wheel chair access to Bob Burgess Reserve
• Letter of request to the Council seeking the installation of wheel chair access to the BBQ area.
• Seeks to have the BPA insurance settled in May/June each year rather than Nov.
• Executive to investigate the possibility

Beaconsfield Business Group Report:

• Beaconsfield Fair Committee is working toward a Fair later in the year. Street Scape is being worked on in consultation with Council

The Bank Committee Report:

• Up to 80 pledges in and things looking good. But we still need more pledges – so sign up if you can. Speak to Graeme Taylor if you wish to be on board
• We have come a long way and it would be a tragedy if we did not end up pulling it off. Profits will be fed back into the community; Beaconsfield will be the richer for this development

Restoration of Park Gates Project:

• Heritage Grant need to be in by the end of the month
• That the BPA formally apply for a Heritage Grant

Constitution Up Date: No report

General business

Pokies in Beaconsfield. 75 for us. 85 for Officer and 80 for Pakenham.

• Rob Porter Chair of Officer Progress Association addressed the meeting pointing out how to lodge an objection to the application for the said EGMs.
• It will be the demonstration of public opposition that will have the major affect.
• To note in our objections:
  - The application is based on the projected population not the current population of Beaconsfield/Officer.
  - The number of machines per thousand is based on the pop of the whole shire and not the pop of Beaconsfield and Office and Pakenham.
  - 10 per 1000 is the state average but here it will be 70 per 1000.
  - Gaming is lawful so the main issue is the density and the appropriateness of such Machines in an area like ours.
• The meeting was alerted to the petition that is now available for signing here at the Beaconsfield Community Complex.
• It was reported that our local member Tammy Lobato is very much on our side in this matter.
• We need to let our neighbours know that the May Road development is still on the go.
• Brett reported that the council will have the applications before them during the next month or so.

Meeting closed at 9:05 PM. Next meeting to held on Tuesday 18 March 2008