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The Environment Advisory Committee is a new committee, formed to advise and assist with promoting a wider appreciation of the diversity of the Region’s living landscapes. The committee will also provide input on Council policy and strategy development on environmental matters including natural values, urban greening, sustainable development, and climate resilience.
The Environment Advisory Committee will meet quarterly on the fourth Thursday of the month from 4 pm to 6 pm, commencing February 2021, in the community rooms at Level 3, Toowoomba City Library (Corner of Victoria & Herries Streets).
Meeting dates for 2022 are as follows:
All ordinary meetings of the Environment Advisory Committee are open to the public.
Due to COVID-19 restriction and room capacity, the number of public attendees is limited to 15. Council requests that members of the public wishing to attend the meeting please RSVP by email to SPEDAdmin@tr.qld.gov.au by 5pm on Tuesday prior to the meeting.
Confirmed Meeting Minutes - Environment Advisory Committee 27 May 2021
Confirmed Meeting Minutes - Environment Advisory Committee - 26 August 2021
Meeting Minutes - Environment Advisory Committee - 25 November 2021 (Unconfirmed)
Meeting Minutes - Environment Advisory Committee - 22 March 2022 Amended
If you would like to contact the Environment Advisory Committee please email us at SPEDAdmin@tr.qld.gov.au. This email will be received by our Strategic Planning and Economic Development team who will ensure it is forwarded to the relevant committee member.
Environment Advisory Committee members bring diverse backgrounds and experience to the group. Committee members are selected for their experience and above all, an understanding of environmental matters including natural values, urban greening, sustainable development, and climate resilience.
The membership of the Environment Advisory Committee will consist of up to 18 members in total:
The Environment Advisory Committee is constituted under Section 264 of Local Government Regulation 2012, which empowers the Council to appoint advisory committees.
The Environment Advisory Committee is established for the term of the current elected Council, unless disbanded earlier by Council resolution.
(Subject to any Council resolution to the contrary, if a Committee is appointed for a particular purpose or for a limited time, the Committee is abolished and appointment of Members to the Committee is terminated upon the fulfilment of that purpose or the expiration of that time.)
The Environment Advisory Committee will provide guidance and assistance on the functions and responsibilities listed below.
The main functions of the Committee are to provide recommendations and advice to Council on the following:
(a) The Environment Advisory Committee will consist of up to 18 Members, which will include up to four Councillors one of whom shall be designated as the Chairperson by the Council. Where a Councillor cannot attend a meeting of the Committee, another person delegated by Council or by the Councillor may act as a Member of the Committee for that meeting.
(b) Membership will consist of the following:
The majority of the community members of the Environment Advisory Committee must have:
(c) Appointment will be made, on a biennial basis, after nominations have been invited in newspapers circulating in the area and on Council’s website and social media, seeking expressions of interest from residents.
(d) All Members of the Advisory Committee may vote on business before the Committee, except where the Member has a conflict of interest.
(e) If any Member of the Committee is absent from three consecutive meetings without having obtained leave of absence from the Committee, the Member's continued membership of that Committee will be referred to the Chief Executive Officer for determination.
(a) A committee member may resign at any time by way of written or emailed advice to the Chairperson.
(b) When a resignation is received, the resigning member may be replaced as follows:
Council shall appoint the Environmental Advisory Committee chair.
If the Chairperson is absent or unavailable to preside, a Member of the Advisory Committee chosen by the Members present at the Committee meeting will preside.
The Quorum of any Advisory Committee meeting will be a minimum of 51% of the membership.
The Advisory Committee may determine the dates, times and places for its meetings. Council will be responsible for providing a suitable venue.
Unless otherwise provided in these Terms of Reference, the Advisory Committee will generally adopt informal meeting procedures. Where more formal procedures are required, the procedures described in Council's Standing Orders shall apply.
The Group will be provided with a support officer from Toowoomba Regional Council, Strategic Planning and Economic Development Branch to assist in the administration of meetings.
The support staff will not be a Member of the Advisory Committee.
(a) Each Member of the Advisory Committee has a vote on each question to be decided.
(b) Voting at a meeting must be open and questions decided by a majority of the votes of the Members present however, if the votes are equal, the Member presiding has a casting vote.
(a) Where Committee Members have a conflict of interest, or could reasonably be taken to have a conflict of interest, in an issue being considered or to be considered at the meeting, the Member must declare the conflict of interest to the meeting and must not be present while the matter, or a related matter, is being considered by the Committee or otherwise take part in any decision of the Committee in relation to the matter or a related resolution.
(b) For the purposes of this clause, a Member has a conflict of interest in an issue if there is a conflict between the Member's private interest and the public interest.
(a) Meetings are to be open to the public, except where confidential matters are discussed.
(b) When the Committee proposes to close a meeting to the public, the Chair will direct all persons, other than Members of the Committee, to leave the meeting and every person will immediately comply with the direction.
(c) Non-members may, with the permission of the Chairperson, address the Advisory Committee on any item of business listed on the agenda however, a non-member will not vote on any matter at an Advisory Committee meeting.
(a) Should matters of a confidential nature be discussed at a meeting, the meeting may be closed to the public in accordance with Section 275 (1) of Local Government Regulation 2012 .
(b) A person who is or has been a Member of an Advisory Committee must not make improper use of information acquired as a Member:
The Environment Advisory Committee will submit a report (Minutes listing actions, responsibilities, timeframes and outcomes) on each of its meetings to the Chief Executive Officer, who will list any recommendations for Council’s consideration on an agenda of a meeting of a Council Committee.
Media statements will only be made by the Chairperson.
The Advisory Committee has the authority to establish special interest sub-groups and working groups as required to address specific matters identified by the Advisory Committee. These sub-groups (established under the same terms and conditions as the Advisory Committee) are to report back to the Advisory Committee.
The Council will not generally authorise payment or provide remuneration to Members of Advisory Committees however, where special circumstances exist, Council may resolve to pay remuneration, reimburse expenses and/or provide facilities to Members of Advisory Committees.
The Council will ensure that all Members of Advisory Committees are covered by appropriate insurances (e.g. voluntary workers, public indemnity).
