April 17 2013



Minutes of the Harcourt Progress Group
Date: Wednesday  17th April, 2013
Harcourt Valley Primary School
Present:  Annette Smith (minutes) Judy Foster, Ian Foster, Kay Francis, Judy Kent, Ayron Teed, David Heath (chair), Donna McLoughlin, Kelly Aitken, JP Frappier, Vera Hemkes, Craig Watkins
Apologies: Tyrone Rice , Melva Graham
Welcome:  
Business
Action/ Who
When
Minutes


Business Arising


None arising





General Business


·         Community Plan


·         NBN – Craig reported back on his meeting today with a Liberal Party advisor – not necessarily an election issue.  Need an awareness of the issue.  The group can do very little.


·         Group formed to look at submission to council to purchase the house in the main street.
Annette, Kelly and ?

Meeting finished at  9pm


Next meeting :  Wednesday 15th May, 2013 – 7-9pm at HVPS







March 20, 2013



Minutes of the Harcourt Progress Group
Date: Wednesday  20th March, 2013
Harcourt Valley Primary School
Present:  Annette Smith (minutes) Craig Watkins (chair) Andy and Melva Graham, Kelly Aitken, JP Frappier, Judy Kent, Faye Hards, Judy and Ian Foster

Apologies:  David Heath, Tim Barber
Welcome:  Steven Hilley - MASC, Tony Gibbs -NBN co
Business
Action/ Who
When
Minutes


Business Arising


Deb Simpson – first race is in Castlemaine, calendar is still not out, hoping to have this finalised next week.


Community Conversations in Campbells Creek – Craig will try to go
Newstead Community Planning Update from Craig


General Business


·         Steven Hilley –– Transport Connections Community  Planning – Project ending in June - universal access map of transport in Harcourt – maps showing facilities that people can use, especially for people with disabilities.  Also useful for tourists.  Available to download on line. What area should be covered in such a map of Harcourt?  Issue is that Harcourt is very disjointed
Steven will bring back a draft of the map for the group to consider.

·         Tony Gibbs –corporate affairs – community relations - NBN overview presentation – whistle stop and life hacker are sites which can be used to get cheap NBN connections – subject to planning approvals the system will be live by the end of the year. Further discussion with the group about options for fibre cable instead and the impact it may have on people wishing to live in Harcourt.


·         Annette reminded everyone that  the purpose of the group is to progress Harcourt as a whole and not for individual people’s particular causes.


·         Challenge is to create a centre of Harcourt.  How to go about this?  Discussion of a community hub


·         Applefest discussion – connection to Taradale Festival – need to discuss with them
              Need additional signage in people’s paddocks, beautification of entrance of freeway at Harcourt
              Need for Marketing  of Harcourt


·         Train – a brief discussion of the possibility of getting the station opened again


·         RV dump – discussion for next meeting.


Meeting finished at  9.30pm


Next meeting :  Wednesday 17th April, 2013 – 7-9pm at HVPS


February 20, 2013



Minutes of the Harcourt Progress Group
Date: Wednesday  20th February 2013
Harcourt Valley Primary School
Present: Jarrod Coote,  Mez Woodward, Sharlene Farrugia, David Heath (chair), Melva Graham, Annette Smith (minutes), Judy Foster, Donna McMahon, JP Frappier, Kelly Aitken, Graeme Francis, Kay Francis, Brian Nunn, Andy Graham, Peter Church, Ayron Teed, Helen Grainger, Craig Watkins, Faye Hards, Ian Foster, Paul Mizzi

Apologies:  Judy Kent,  Tyrone Rice,  Robyn Miller
Welcome:  David talked about the objective of the group and a way to pull together things that are happening and finding a way to progress Harcourt
Business
Action/ Who
When
Minutes


Business Arising


·         Cycling Club – CWA to do catering, waiting on cycling club for calendar of events.  Peter Church reminded them of events already on in Harcourt


·         Bress Break out cancelled


·         Future of the tavern – Melva wrote to Abbeyfield group,  no answer. Spoke to Jock McCrae and Brett Fitzpatrick, who thinks this is a possibility, which they might be able to explore.


·         Craig to contact the Council re BBQ facilities etc  at ANA hall. This might be included on the last lot of funding, organised through the Harcourt Reference group.  Ayron explained the purpose of the Reference group.  Need to clarify amount of money – think it is $240000, Suggested people come to the Reference Group meeting on Monday night. Craig suggested that using granite might be a feature to use and trade on it as something unique.  Throw in some extra design elements. Possibility of Men’s Shed idea to be developed


·         Oak Forest – Landcare ideas – Map showing the Hancocks lease area 500 HA circulated. Reverts to Crown Land as unallocated land.   Oak forest is at the end of Market street.  Possibility of a community group managing all or part of this area.  It is already damaged and it could be used for the damaging activities, such as horse riding, motor bikes etc. as well as redeveloping and regenerating the area.
·         As a community are we willing to manage this area.  Suggested that any work should done now while things are not settled.
·         Annette talked about the school’s management of crown land and suggested it is a great opportunity for the group
·         Question about legal liability – a decision will need to be made about this shortly
·         Landcare quite happy to participate in some management of the Oak forest but not on their own.  Landcare would give some support.
·         Jarrod spoke of the possibility of taking some land or all of it.  Authority needs to be passed on to a group.  
·         Oak forest is under resourced and needs work. 
·         Landcare is doing some additional work already
Annette to contact DSE regarding management of crown land.  Mainly an envelope around the Oak Forest.

·         The Core :How often do we produce the Core in its printed form and distribute it. Suggested once a month.  Kelly is creating this from the blog


General Business


Sharlene Farrugia- Community Planning
Coming together to draft a community plan, discuss ways of going about developing a plan
Need clarification of status of reference group and desire of this group to be the main representative for Harcourt community
What is the view of the Shire about this?
Distribution of Taradale Plan
Need to have a day to develop the plan  Presentation of plan is up to the group.
Plan needs to be done by the end of March, possibility of an extension to do this.  This most likely would be a day workshop.
Invitation to  the community conversations program on 27th March
Concern about timeline for Community Planning Day –need to seek an extension for planning
Suggested that we allocate a time from each meeting to do some planning. Allocate half a meeting next time. This was eventually the consensus of the group.
Council consultation processes need to be explored further.


Regional Arts Grant
Introduction of Mez Woodward, who explained how to go about applying for a grant
A significant amount of money is available as a grant to do projects in the Arts area
Looking at regional arts small towns grants.  Must have a connection to the Arts.
Suggestion  Use the unique nature of Harcourt – apples – to create a sculpture
First step -  is what do we need as a community, grant money is about social inclusion, self supporting and sustainable communities. – planning for this could come out of the Community plan. Don’t leap into design until you have worked out what you want.
Sharlene will ask the Arts officer of council to speak with the group about grant applications

NBN tower
Judy Foster spoke about the planned NBN towers to go in Harcourt. Concern about the positioning of the towers and the health effects of the towers. 
Objectors to the towers can speak to council about this.
Craig spoke of the reasons for NBN towers – cost is a factor.
Positioning of the towers could be such that it has minimal effect on landholders.
Judy has someone coming to talk about the radio pulses tomorrow.
Discussion of value of towers in our community
Loss of amenity is the main way in which to fight against this.  Battle needs to be taken to the council meeting next Tuesday at Elphinstone.
Need to find someone to talk about what NBN means for Harcourt.

Judy will email the group about the council meeting

Railway Station
The mysterious meeting for the Railway station – Andy, Melva and Ayron attended. A long term project – what are the mechanics of this?


Role of Council
Invite council officers as needed.
There is a concern about what the Master Plan involves.  Can we have someone talk about this.  Should we do our own plan first?
What involvement should Tim Barber have in this group?  Ayron has invited him to the last two meetings – no response.


Coliban Water
Report on the pipe system by Craig.  There is nothing in writing and need to keep in mind there are some concerns.


Chairperson for next meeting
Craig to chair the next meeting


Meeting finished at  8.55pm


Next meeting :  Wednesday 20th March, 2013 – 7-9pm at HVPS