moree plains shire council 8 april 2021 strategic …

MOREE PLAINS SHIRE COUNCIL

8 APRIL 2021

STRATEGIC WORKS AND

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE MEETING

DRAFT PUBLIC MINUTES

Draft Public Minutes - Strategic Works and Community Development Committee Meeting

8 April 2021 of 13

FILE 20/4

TO: Councillors Director – Corporate Services

General Manager Director – Planning and Community Development

Director – Engineering Services

Manager – Water and Waste

Notice is hereby given that the Strategic Works and Community Development Committee Meeting will be held in the Council Chamber, the Max Centre, 30 Heber Street, Moree, on Thursday, 8 April 2021 commencing at 1:30pm.

Please note that all Council meetings are recorded and posted on Council’s website. Yours sincerely

Alan Lawrance DIRECTOR ENGINEERING SERVICES

Agenda

1. Open Meeting 2. Apologies 3. Confirmation of Minutes 4. Declarations of Interest 5. Reports

1. Application for Financial Assistance – Public Donations – Third Financial Quarter 2020/21 Year

2. Application for Financial Assistance – Community Enhancement Fund 2021.

6. Standing agenda item: a) New Questions on Notice b) Strategic Planning Proposals and Current Projects c) Inland Rail d) Special Activation Precinct Update e) Overseas Trade and Investment

7. Close meeting


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Councillors, staff and members of the public have been advised that this meeting was recorded for on-

demand audio download via Moree Plains Shire Council’s website and a person’s voice was recorded and

broadcast via this means. In certain circumstances, this meeting may have been livestreamed for viewing

and a person’s image and voice would be recorded and broadcast via this means.

Any person who attended this meeting is deemed to have consented to their image and/or voice being

webcast.

All speakers at the meeting have been advised that they should refrain from making any defamatory

comments or releasing any personal information about another individual without their consent.

Council accepts no liability for any damage that may result from defamatory comments made by any

person who attended this meeting; all liability will rest with the individual who made the comments.

This meeting was not recorded by others unless the prior written consent of Council in accordance with

Council’s Code of Meeting Practice was obtained as noted in these minutes.

Any part of this meeting that was held in closed session will not be recorded or accessible to members of

the public.


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Strategic Works and

Community Development Committee Meeting

Draft Public Minutes

8 April 2021

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. Application for Financial Assistance – Public Donations – Third Financial Quarter 2020/21 Year

....................................................................................................................................................... 7

2. Applications for Financial Assistance – Community Enhancement Fund 2021 .......................... 9


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MINUTES OF THE STRATEGIC WORKS AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE MEETING OF THE MOREE PLAINS SHIRE COUNCIL HELD IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBER, HEBER STREET, MOREE ON THURSDAY, 8 APRIL 2021, COMMENCING AT 1:32PM

AUDIO RECORDING: Audio & Webcasting Recording Declaration

Emergency Response and General Housekeeping Declaration

PRESENT: Councillors K Humphries (Mayor), K Cassells, G Chiu, G Smith, M Montgomery AM, J Crawford and J Tramby OAM.

IN ATTENDANCE:

Mr L Rodgers (General Manager), Mr A Witherby (Director Planning and Community Development), Mr A Lawrance (Temporary Director Engineering Services), and Mrs R McMillan (Road Safety Officer)

APOLOGIES:

Cr S Ritchie

21/04/01 RESOLVED: (MOVED: MONTGOMERY/ SECONDED: SMITH)

That the below apologies;

Cr S Ritchie Be accepted.

LEAVE OF ABSENCE:

NIL

MINUTES: Minutes from the Strategic Works and Community Development Committee Meeting held 11 March 2021.

21/04/02 COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION (MOVED: MONTGOMERY/ SECONDED: SMITH)

That the minutes from the Strategic Works and Community Development Committee Meeting held on Thursday, 11 March 2021 be adopted.

DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

Cr Montgomery declared a non-pecuniary interest in Report 1 as his children play for Moree

Junior Rugby Union.

Cr Cassells declared a non-pecuniary interest in Report 1 as her grandchildren play for

Moree Junior Ruby Union


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Cr Tramby declared a non-pecuniary interest in Report 2 as he is a member of the North-

West NSW National Servicemen Association.


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RECOMMENDATION

1. That, subject to the terms and conditions set out in the Council’s Public Donations Policy and any additional noted terms and conditions, the Committee consider providing financial assistance from the Unallocated Community Funding Budget to the following applicants in respect of the amount listed in the below points:

a. Catholic Parish of St Francis Xavier Moree for an amount of $3,000.00 to hold the New England & NW NSW Celebration of Philippine Independence Day.

b. Moree and District Band Inc. for an amount of $3,000.00 for Band Rejuvenation – recruitment and training.

c. Moree Junior Rugby Union Club for an amount of $3,000.00 to assist with travel and accommodation for local Representatives throughout the Central North Representative Program.

d. Pally Pullers for an amount of $3,000.00 to promote local and visitor attraction to the shire and Pallamallawa.

21/04/03 COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION (MOVED: HUMPHRIES / SECONDED: SMITH)

That the Committee move into the Committee of the Whole.

The Committee moved into the Committee of the Whole at the time being 1:38pm.

Cr Montgomery left the meeting. The time being 1:38pm.

21/04/04 COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION (MOVED: HUMPHRIES / SECONDED: CRAWFORD)

That the Committee move out of Committee of the Whole.

The Committee moved out of Committee of the Whole at the time being 1:52pm.

Report Title 1. Application for Financial Assistance – Public Donations – Third Financial Quarter 2020/21 Year

Report by Planning and Community Development

Contact Angus Witherby, Director Planning Economic & Community Development

Attachments No attachment

File FILE 20/276


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21/04/05 COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION (MOVED: HUMPHRIES / SECONDED: CRAWFORD) 1. That, subject to the terms and conditions set out in the Council’s Public Donations

Policy and any additional noted terms and conditions, the Committee consider providing financial assistance from the Unallocated Community Funding Budget to the following applicants in respect of the amount listed in the below points:

a. Catholic Parish of St Francis Xavier Moree for an amount of $1,000.00 to hold the New England & NW NSW Celebration of Philippine Independence Day.

b. Moree and District Band Inc. for an amount of $3,000.00 for Band Rejuvenation – recruitment and training.

c. Moree Junior Rugby Union Club for an amount of $2,000.00 to assist with travel and accommodation for local Representatives throughout the Central North Representative Program.

d. Pally Pullers for an amount of $3,000.00 to promote local and visitor attraction to the shire and Pallamallawa.

Cr Tramby left the meeting. The time being 1:53pm.


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RECOMMENDATION

1. That, subject to the terms and conditions set out in the Council’s Community Enhancement Fund Policy and any additional noted terms and conditions, the Council consider providing financial assistance from the Community Enhancement Fund to one, or more, of the following applicants:

a. Hands and Feet for an amount of $15,000 to help fund the Sensory Park and Activity Centre.

b. Moree and District Band for an amount of $7,600 to install Solar Panels on Band Hall Roof.

c. Moree on a plate for an amount of $10,000 to help fund the Moree on a Plate Food and Wine Festival.

d. North-West NSW National Serviceman Association for an amount of $10,000 to help fund an event to honour and commemorate Australian Service Personal.

21/04/06 COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION (MOVED: CRAWFORD / SECONDED: CASSELLS)

That the Committee move into the Committee of the Whole.

The Committee moved into the Committee of the Whole at the time being 1:55pm.

Cr Montgomery returned to the meeting. The time being 1:56pm.

21/04/07 COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION (MOVED: HUMPHRIES / SECONDED: SMITH)

That the Committee move out of Committee of the Whole.

The Committee moved out of Committee of the Whole at the time being 1:59pm.

Report Title 2. Applications for Financial Assistance – Community Enhancement Fund 2021

Report by Planning and Community Development

Contact Angus Witherby, Director Planning and Community Development

Attachments No attachment

File FILE 19/396


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21/04/08 COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION (MOVED: HUMPHRIES / SECONDED: CRAWFORD)

1. That, subject to the terms and conditions set out in the Council’s Community Enhancement Fund Policy and any additional noted terms and conditions, the Council consider providing financial assistance from the Community Enhancement Fund to one, or more, of the following applicants:

a) Hands and Feet for an amount of $15,000 to help fund the Sensory Park and Activity Centre.

b) North-West NSW National Serviceman Association for an amount of $10,000 to help fund an event to honour and commemorate Australian Service Personal.

Note: That Hand Feet conditions specify that other user groups can book the facilities.

Cr Tramby returned to the meeting. The time being 2:00pm.


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Questions on Notice: A formal response to all Questions on Notice will be supplied in report format at a future Committee Meeting (as per the Code of Practice). Councillor Tramby:

1. Wrote a Letter regarding concerns with upgrade to the Moree Hall Complex which was sent to staff, members of the committee and all Councillors and has not yet received a response to the letter regarding the decision that was made by staff on the particular seating which was outlined in the letter. In addition, there are concerns that funding was not allocated to paint the change rooms or replace the carpet; now advised that they have stripped the change rooms and stage to remove asbestos and there was no budget for this. They say there is contingency in the budget to do this removal however contingency is for when you have a project in the budget and it goes over. There has been a lot of money spent on items that were not in the budget.

Angus Witherby advised he would follow up and supply a further update. Question taken on notice.

Councillor Smith:

2. Cr Ritchie advised that there is an issue with the transformer at the town hall, need to link with

another transformer behind the PO Hotel, wanting to place the transformer in the road taking

away access and parking at the rear of the hall. Is there any information available about this?

Angus Witherby stated that what Essential Energy want in regards to the transformer is completely

unacceptable meaning there would be not truck access to the rear of the hall at all. It is suggested that

Council write a letter to the local member as a matter of urgency.

Councillor Crawford stated that Council should be contacting the Energy Ombudsman about this matter.

Cr Ritchie entered to the meeting. The time being 2:08pm.

Lester Rodgers advised that he had given a commitment to Councillor Ritchie yesterday that once an update

had been received from Essential Energy which has occurred this morning, Council should take this matter

to a higher level including the Ombudsman and/or the local member.

It was recommended as a matter of urgency that a letter to be forwarded to the Energy Ombudsman and

both the Federal and State members. A media release advising the community of the delays is also to be

issued, with a late Mayoral Minute to the Ordinary Council Meeting following.

Question taken on notice.

Councillor Montgomery:

3. Can we get an update on the condition of the Carnarvon Highway and access to Mungindi?

Alan Lawrance advised that the Carnarvon Highway is currently closed; however, we could have MR 507 Carrigan Road open as early as tomorrow or perhaps Saturday. This will give us road access to Mungindi via Boggabilla and Boomi. It was suggested that Council prepare a media release regarding the road closures and road conditions and asked that the public be patient as we are opening our roads.


8 April 2021 of 13

Councillor Smith:

4. Do you have historic data on what it would have cost to repair MR 507 after a flood before it was

sealed; can we compare that with the costs to reopen MR 507 after this Flood and with Paul Toole

here next week is it possible to show him this information to prove the long term benefit of

betterment?

Question taken on notice. Councillor Cassells:

5. With all of the road closures, what is happening with Ambulances if someone is unwell out there?

Alan Lawrance advised that everything is be air at the moment and utilising the Mungindi Airport and it is all working well, there has been no issues to date.

Councillor Ritchie:

6. Why is the Albert Street bridge still unopen?

Alan Lawrance advised that there was some movement to the far side abutment of about 150mm and that required professional assessment. We were unsure if the damage was to the structural damage to the bridge itself or if it was the abutments that were damaged. The assessment was completed this week which confirmed it was the abutments and Council will be undertaking the necessary repairs over the next few days. The bridge will reopen once the works are completed. Councillor Ritchie:

7. Is the Washpool all okay now?

Alan Lawrance advised that an inspection of the Washpool was completed yesterday. The old seal and some

of the concrete barriers have are now sitting off in the paddock. Our Council staff had that section reopen

within days.

Councillor Ritchie:

8. When are we going to move out of COVID? You can go to restaurants and get served meals with

proper crockery and cutlery, how long are we going to stay under COVID conditions?

Lester Rodgers advised that Council is bound to the current conditions by Health Orders and under they are

amended we are unable to move away from the current arrangements.

Councillor Tramby:

9. We are short of electricity at the toilet at Gurley, when is that likely to change.

Alan Lawrance advised that there had been some issues with getting the contractor to site. As a result;

Council has started the process of getting a new contractor that can complete the installation of the new

power box.

Councillor Cassells:


8 April 2021 of 13

10. The Shae Academy, we still don’t really know what is going on over there. People in the

community are not getting paid and now someone is back over there working. Who is building

that shed? We are all confused about who is running it.

Lester Rodgers advised that the lease payments are Council’s responsibly. The payment of contractors is

not Council’s responsibility after we discharged our responsibility for au spicing the first grant when they

didn’t have a CEO or board in place. It was advised that any outstanding lease funding, Finance have advised

that the payments that were due to Council for previous years have now been paid. The lease amount for

this financial year is still outstanding. The abnormally that Lester has asked to be addressed by the Shae

Academy is that the lease payments are supposed to be paid up-front. The works that are being done over

there and or payment for such are not under the care, control or management of Council.

Councillor Ritchie:

11. Had a previous Question on Notice that asked why Council paid a DA fee for the Shae Academy;

this has not yet been addressed?

Question taken on notice.

Strategic Planning Proposals and Current Project Updates

NIL

Inland Rail: NIL

Special Activation Precinct: NIL

Overseas Trade and Investment: NIL

There being no further business, the meeting closed at the time being 2:38pm

moree plains shire council 8 april 2021 strategic …

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