Agenda
and
Business Paper
To be held on
Monday 17
October 2022
at 6.00pm
Civic Centre cnr Baylis and Morrow Streets,
Wagga Wagga NSW 2650 (PO Box 20)
P 1300 292 442
P council@wagga.nsw.gov.au
wagga.nsw.gov.au
Agenda
and
Business Paper
To be held on
Monday 17
October 2022
at 6.00pm
Civic Centre cnr Baylis and Morrow Streets,
Wagga Wagga NSW 2650 (PO Box 20)
P 1300 292 442
P council@wagga.nsw.gov.au
wagga.nsw.gov.au
NOTICE OF MEETING
The proceedings of all Council meetings in open session, including all debate and addresses by the public, are recorded (audio visual) and livestreamed on Council’s website including for the purpose of facilitating community access to meetings and accuracy of the Minutes.
In addition to webcasting council meetings, audio recordings of confidential sessions of Ordinary Meetings of Council are also recorded, but do not form part of the webcast.
WAGGA WAGGA CITY COUNCILLORS
STATEMENT OF ETHICAL OBLIGATIONS
Councillors are reminded of their Oath or Affirmation of Office made under Section 233A of the Local Government Act 1993 and their obligation under Council’s Code of Conduct to disclose and appropriately manage Conflicts of Interest.
QUORUM
The quorum for a meeting of the Council is a majority of the Councillors of the Council who hold office for the time being who are eligible to vote at the meeting.
Reports submitted to the Ordinary Meeting of Council to be held on Monday 17 October 2022.
Ordinary Meeting of Council AGENDA AND BUSINESS PAPER
Monday 17 October 2022
CLAUSE PRECIS PAGE
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF COUNTRY 3
REFLECTION 3
APOLOGIES 3
Confirmation of Minutes
CM-1 ORDINARY COUNCIL MEETING - 19 SEPTEMBER 2022 3
DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST 3
Mayoral Minutes
MM-1 MAYORAL MINUTE - ACCOUNTING TREATMENT OF RURAL FIRE SERVICE ('RED FLEET') ASSETS 4
MM-2 MAYORAL MINUTE - LATE LGNSW CONFERENCE MOTION - SUBMISSION PERIOD FOR MAJOR DEVELOPMENTS 8
Motions Of Which Due Notice Has Been Given
NOM-1 NOTICE OF MOTION - ELECTRIC VEHICLE INFRASTRUCTURE IN THE WAGGA WAGGA LGA 10
NOM-2 NOTICE OF MOTION - POST OFFICE PEOPLES BANK 12
Councillor Report
CR-1 DELEGATE REPORT - 2022 NSW ANNUAL AUSTRALIAN LOCAL GOVERNMENT WOMEN’S ASSOCIATION (ALGWA) CONFERENCE 15
CR-2 DELEGATE REPORT - TRANSPORT AND ACCESSIBILITY MASTERCLASS 18
Reports from Staff
RP-1 PROPOSED PLANNING AGREEMENT 12 BLAKE STREET WAGGA WAGGA DA19/0125 21
RP-2 DA22/0029 - PROPOSED USE OF SITE FOR TEMPORARY EVENTS (20 PER YEAR) INCLUDING ADDITIONAL PARKING AREA AND USE OF EXISTING PERGOLA, AMENITIES BLOCK AND SHIPPING CONTAINER. LOT 1 DP 829597, 85 HILLARY STREET, NORTH WAGGA, 2650 25
RP-3 DA22/0177 - ALTERATIONS AND ADDITIONS TO INCLUDE RETAIL PREMISES, LICENCED FUNCTION CENTRE AND RESTAURANT. LOT 1 DP 631019, 187 FITZMAURICE STREET, WAGGA WAGGA, NSW, 2650. 30
RP-4 DA22/0260 - CONSTRUCTION OF 3 X 2 STOREY DWELLINGS WITH DETACHED TRIPLE GARAGE AND 4 LOT COMMUNITY TITLE SUBDIVISION - LOT 8 DP 7850, 212 EDWARD ST WAGGA WAGGA NSW 2650 35
RP-5 REQUEST TO WAIVE SECTION 64 CONTRIBUTIONS AND DEVELOPMENT APPLICATION FEES FOR DA20/0724 40
RP-6 RIVERINA JOINT ORGANISATION (RIVJO) - One Organisation Options’ Paper 45
RP-7 ANNUAL FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 2021/22 71
RP-8 FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE REPORT AS AT 30 SEPTEMBER 2022 83
RP-9 REQUESTS FOR FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE 117
RP-10 DRAFT URBAN COOLING STRATEGY 126
RP-11 ALCOHOL-FREE ZONE AND PROHIBITED AREAS 130
RP-12 AMENDMENT TO WAGGA WAGGA LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA BUSH FIRE PRONE LAND MAP 135
RP-13 RENEWAL OF COMMUNITY, CULTURAL AND SPORTING LEASES AND LICENCES FOR 2023 143
RP-14 APPLICATIONS FOR SUBSIDY FOR WASTE DISPOSAL FOR CHARITABLE ORGANISATIONS 148
RP-15 CLOSED CIRCUIT TELEVISION (CCTV) POLICY (POL 058) 151
RP-16 ADOPTION OF COUNCIL POLICIES 158
RP-17 WRITTEN RETURNS OF INTEREST - COUNCILLORS AND DESIGNATED PERSONS 2022 167
RP-18 QUESTIONS WITH NOTICE 170
Committee Minutes
M-1 TRAFFIC COMMITTEE - 8 SEPTEMBER 2022 172
M-2 CONFIRMATION OF MINUTES AUDIT, RISK AND IMPROVEMENT COMMITTEE - 6 OCTOBER 2022 179
Confidential Reports
CONF-1 CONTAINER DEPOSIT SCHEME (CDS) - REFUND SHARING ARRANGEMENT 184
CONF-2 PROPOSED LICENCE AGREEMENT - PART SENIOR CITIZENS CENTRE, 204 TARCUTTA STREET, WAGGA WAGGA 185
Wagga Wagga City Council acknowledges the traditional custodians of the land, the Wiradjuri people, and pays respect to Elders past, present and future and extends our respect to all First Nations Peoples in Wagga Wagga.
We recognise and respect their cultural heritage, beliefs and continuing connection with the land and rivers. We also recognise the resilience, strength and pride of the Wiradjuri and First Nations communities
RELECTION
Councillors, let us in silence reflect upon our responsibilities to the community which we represent, and to all future generations and faithfully, and impartially, carry out the functions, powers, authorities and discretions vested in us, to the best of our skill and judgement.
CM-1 ORDINARY COUNCIL MEETING - 19 SEPTEMBER 2022
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That the Minutes of the proceedings of the Ordinary Council Meeting held on 19 September 2022 be confirmed as a true and accurate record.
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1⇩. |
Minutes - 19 September 2022 |
186 |
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Report submitted to the Ordinary Meeting of Council on Monday 17 October 2022 |
MM-1 |
MM-1 MAYORAL MINUTE - ACCOUNTING TREATMENT OF RURAL FIRE SERVICE ('RED FLEET') ASSETS
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That Council: a writes to the local State Member Dr Joe McGirr MP, the Treasurer the Hon Matt Kean MP, Minister for Emergency Services and Resilience the Hon Stephanie Cook MP and the Minister for Local Government Wendy Tuckerman MP: i Expressing Council’s objection to the NSW Government’s determination on ownership of Rural Fire Service assets; ii Advising of the impact of the Government’s position on Council finances of this accounting treatment; iii Informing that Council will not carry out RFS assets stocktakes on behalf of the NSW Government and will not record RFS assets in Wagga Wagga City Council’s financial statements; iv Calling on the NSW Government to take immediate action to permanently clear up inequities and inconsistencies around the accounting treatment of Rural Fire Service (RFS) assets by acknowledging that rural firefighting equipment is vested in, under the control of and the property of the RFS; and v Amending s119 of the Rural Fires Act 1997 so that the effect is to make it clear that RFS assets are not the property of councils. b writes to the Shadow Treasurer Daniel Mookhey MLC, the Shadow Minister for Emergency Services Jihad Dib MP, the Shadow Minister for Local Government Greg Warren MP, the Greens Spokesperson for Local Government Jamie Parker MP and the leaders of the Shooters, Fishers and Farmers, Animal Justice and One Nation parties Robert Borsak MLC, Emma Hurst MLC and Mark Latham MLC: i Advising Members of Wagga Wagga City Council’s position, including providing copies of correspondence to NSW Government Ministers; and; ii Seeking Members’ commitments to support NSW Councils’ call to amend the Rural Fires Act 1997 as set out in correspondence. c writes to the Auditor General advising: i Council will not carry out RFS stocktakes on behalf of the NSW Government, and will not record RFS assets in Wagga Wagga City Council’s financial statements, noting that the State Government’s own Local Government Accounting Code of Practice and Financial Reporting provides for councils to determine whether or not they record the RFS assets as council assets, and; ii Council strongly disagrees with the modified audit opinion expressed by the Auditor General on Wagga Wagga City Council’s 30 June 2022 General Purpose Financial Statements d promotes these messages via its digital and social media channels and via its networks. e re-affirms its complete support of and commitment to local RFS brigades noting that Wagga Wagga City Council’s action is entirely directed towards the NSW Government’s nonsensical position that rather than being owned and controlled by local brigades, RFS assets are somehow controlled by councils, which councils consider to be a cynical financial sleight of hand abdicating the NSW Government’s responsibilities at the cost of local communities. f Affirms its support to Local Government NSW (LGNSW) and requests LGNSW continue advocating on Council’s behalf to get clarification once and for all from the State Government about the accounting treatment of RFS assets |
Report
I am calling on Councillors to support the local government campaign on the financial Accounting treatment of Rural Fire Service (RFS) mobile assets known as the ‘Red Fleet’.
A long-standing dispute over the accounting treatment of the Red Fleet has come to a head with the Auditor-General’s 2021 Report on Local Government on 22 June 2022. The Audit Report reemphasises the State Government determination that RFS assets are the “property” of councils and must be recorded in Council’s financial statements with Council required to therefore absorb all depreciation costs.
The Audit Office Local Government Report has reinforced the notion that RFS mobile and other fire-fighting assets can somehow be deemed to be council assets and applies more pressure on councils and the Office of Local Government (OLG) to conform with this determination, despite the fact that councils do not have effective management or control of these assets.
Councils across the State and Local Government NSW (LGNSW) refute this determination. Councils do not have any say in the acquisition, deployment or disposal of these assets. Comparable assets held by Fire & Rescue NSW (FRNSW) and the State Emergency Service (SES) are not vested anywhere other than with the organisations that purchase, use, maintain and dispose of them.
Councils and LGNSW have also raised concerns that the requirement breaches Australian Accounting Standards. The State Government’s own Local Government Accounting Code of Accounting Practice and Financial Reporting provides for councils to determine whether to record RFS assets on their books as council assets. This position has been confirmed by the Secretary of the Department of Planning and Environment in his letter to the Auditor-General dated 7 June 2022, presented in Appendix1 on page 47 of the 2021 Local Government Audit Report.
Council notes advice from LGNSW that many councils are refusing to comply with the Auditor General’s instructions. Councils remained firm for the 2020/21 financial year, resisting pressure to record RFS assets with the majority (68), choosing not to record the RFS mobile assets in accordance with the Local Government Accounting Code. This was the same number of councils as in the 2019/20 financial year.
Wagga Wagga City Council has continued to remain firm and has not recorded the RFS mobile assets in the 2021/22 financial statements, presented to Council at this same meeting. This has resulted in the NSW Audit Office issuing a Modified Audit Opinion for the 2021/22 General Purpose Financial Statements.
LGNSW is encouraging councils to continue resisting pressure from the Audit Office and make their own determinations notwithstanding overtures that ongoing non-compliance with the Auditor General’s instructions may result in future qualified financial reports.
The latest Audit Report has made further impositions on (Council) by:
· recommending Council undertakes a stocktake of RFS assets and records the value in Council’s financial statements;
· warning that if Council does not recognise the assets it will be found non-compliant and will have a high risk finding reported; and
· calling on the NSW Department of Planning and Environment (OLG) to intervene where councils do not recognise rural firefighting equipment.
The Government’s blanket determination is not only nonsensical, it is also inconsistent with the treatment of the comparable assets of other emergency service agencies such as Fire & Rescue NSW (FRNSW) and the State Emergency Service (SES). There is no rational reason for maintaining this anomaly.
LGNSW has been advocating this position on councils’ behalf and has written to the NSW Treasurer the Hon. Matt Kean MP, Minister for Emergency Services, the Hon. Steph Cooke MP, Minister for Local Government the Hon. Wendy Tuckerman MP and the Auditor-General, Ms Margaret Crawford to express the local government sector’s strong objection to the NSW Government’s determination, applied by the Auditor-General, that RFS assets are the property of councils for accounting purposes and amend the Rural Fires Act 1997.
LGNSW has advised it will continue its advocacy efforts on councils’ behalf and is asking all affected councils in NSW to consider adopting a resolution advising the Audit Office that Council will not carry out the RFS stocktakes on behalf of the NSW Government, and will not record RFS assets on Council’s financial statements.
Financial Implications
Whilst there are no financial implications with resolving this Mayoral Minute as presented, there would however be financial implications if all councils were mandated to include RFS assets in their financial statements.
Policy and Legislation
Rural Fires Act 1997 (NSW) Section 119
Link to Strategic Plan
Community leadership and collaboration
Community satisfaction with long term planning for Wagga Wagga is increasing
Objective: Wagga Wagga has strong community leadership and a shared vision for the future
Risk Management Issues for Council
N/A
Internal / External Consultation
The NSW Audit Office have held discussions with Council staff. The Audit, Risk and Improvement Committee have discussed the financial ownership of Rural Fire Service assets in detail and support Council’s position to not record these assets in Council’s financial statements.
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Report submitted to the Ordinary Meeting of Council on Monday 17 October 2022 |
MM-2 |
MM-2 MAYORAL MINUTE - LATE LGNSW CONFERENCE MOTION - SUBMISSION PERIOD FOR MAJOR DEVELOPMENTS
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That Council put the following motion to the Local Government NSW conference commencing 23 October 2022: ‘That LGNSW advocate to the NSW state government that the current period of 28 days during which submissions must be made on state significant development and other major development projects be extended to 90 days.’ |
Report
The recent experience of coordinating and making a submission on the Inland Rail Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) highlighted the inadequacy of the 28-period given to stakeholders to complete this process.
The proponent of a complex development has no time limit within which to prepare their document. This process often takes years, and the resulting document is massive with many technical studies of supporting data.
The notion that a person impacted by the development has 28 days to read, understand, analyse and then comment on the document is absurd. It is also worth keeping in mind that most stakeholders don’t have access to experts on their own and are about pursing all of their other day to day commitments.
The stakeholder response, or lack thereof to an EIS is often referenced and used to support an argument that the response to the EIS reflects the level of community concern.
The motion proposed is aimed to firstly highlight the common view across the state of NSW that stakeholders have an inadequate period of time to comment on complex development applications.
The second aim is to ensure that the members of LGWSW gives the representative body a clear direction to lobby the NSW government for change to give stakeholders sufficient time to comment on complex development applications.
Financial Implications
N/A
Policy and Legislation
N/A
Link to Strategic Plan
Community leadership and collaboration
Objective: Wagga Wagga has strong community leadership and a shared vision for the future
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Report submitted to the Ordinary Meeting of Council on Monday 17 October 2022 |
NOM-1 |
Motions Of Which Due Notice Has Been Given
NOM-1 NOTICE OF MOTION - ELECTRIC VEHICLE INFRASTRUCTURE IN THE WAGGA WAGGA LGA
Author: Councillor Jenny McKinnon
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Summary: |
The Notice of Motion has been submitted in accordance with the Code of Meeting Practice. |
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That Council: a requests that the General Manager write to the Chief Executive Officers’ of national fuel providers and to local independent fuel retailers to request consideration of Wagga Wagga sites for electric vehicle fast charging options; b contacts relevant local businesses to encourage uptake of NSW Government funding for destination chargers in locations such as cinemas, shopping centres, and dining locales; and c requests a report outlining partnership options with fast charging companies to provide EV fast-chargers at locations in Wagga Wagga and potentially in our villages on highway locations; and |
Report
Electric Vehicles (EV) are growing in number and are a significant aspect of the future of transport. Wagga Wagga City Council must therefore plan for electric vehicle uptake and make provision for the necessary infrastructure.
Current limitations in the number of publicly available EV chargers are impacting on EV uptake. It is not unusual to see a line-up of vehicles awaiting use of the one publicly available charger in Wagga Wagga and, as EV charging takes longer than fossil-fuel refills, such waits are a disincentive for travelers going long-distances. This situation impacts on the gains Wagga Wagga could make by having EV charging available near dining and shopping locations, thus giving travelers the opportunity to spend their money in Wagga Wagga.
Given the position of Wagga Wagga on the Sturt Highway, the city is in a prime position to service the needs of travelers from Sydney to Adelaide as well as shorter journeys in-between. Ampol Australia has announced the roll out of EV infrastructure at selected sites across its national network, and other fuel companies are likely to do the same soon. The Wagga Wagga LGA must be on the front foot in showing our interest to such companies as well as encouraging local independent operators to take advantage of this developing market.
EV owners plan their journeys around the availability of charging stations, and use a range of apps to research: where chargers are located, whether they are readily available, whether they are not maintained and regularly broken down, and where there are multiple charging stations available. By providing a location with multiple chargers available, Council can provide a real incentive for EV-owner travelers to stop for re-charging in Wagga Wagga and its surrounding villages.
While it is acknowledged that Council has already done good work in this field – by partnering early with NRMA to provide an EV charging station and by investigating grant funding options for EV infrastructure – this field is moving quickly and requires some new initiatives to keep the city of Wagga Wagga and the villages in the planning sights of EV travelers.
Financial Implications
N/A
Policy and Legislation
N/A
Link to Strategic Plan
The Environment
Objective: Wagga Wagga is sustainable, liveable, and resilient to the impacts of climate change
Support and empower our community to reach 50% reduction in emissions compared to 2005 levels by 2030 and to achieve Net Zero Emissions by 2050
Risk Management Issues for Council
N/A
Internal / External Consultation
N/A
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Report submitted to the Ordinary Meeting of Council on Monday 17 October 2022 |
NOM-2 |
NOM-2 NOTICE OF MOTION - POST OFFICE PEOPLES BANK
Author: Councillor Richard Foley
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Summary: |
In light of recent bank branch closures in the Riverina and throughout regional Australia, this Council calls on the Commonwealth Government to establish a Post Office peoples bank, guaranteed by the Commonwealth, which will ensure that basic banking services are available for all Australians. |
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That Council: a supports the establishment of a Post Office peoples bank, guaranteed by the Commonwealth Government, which will ensure that basic banking services are available for all Australians b requests that the Mayor writes to all relevant Federal Ministers regarding this motion within seven (7) days |
Report
Throughout the past three decades banking services across regional Australia have been withdrawn from numerous regional centres and small rural communities. These ongoing bank closures have adversely disadvantaged and disproportionately affected these communities particularly aged members of these communities and small businesses.
The following are just some of the reasons why our regional communities need access to physical banking services:
1. Since the early 1980’s the number of bank branches across Australia has fallen by more than 60%. These closures have impacted more than 1500 communities across regional Australia leaving them with no access to bank branches.
2. Despite recent advances in technology with online banking many sectors of the population are still in great need of physical banking services including elderly persons, disabled persons, small business sector, local schools and charitable organisations.
3. Bank branch closures have been further exacerbated by the removal of ATM machines from these regional communities forcing many to travel to other towns to access cash and/or banking services. This is now the case for the people of nearby Junee who now do not have access to a Commonwealth Bank branch leaving citizens in Junee to travel to Wagga Wagga to access physical banking services.
4. There is an agenda to completely eliminate cash entirely from our society in order to lock the savings of Australians into the major big four banks forcing us all to transact electronically for everything. This is an attack on the financial privacy of all Australians.
5. Small businesses that cannot physically bank their cash are forced to keep it on their premises creating serious security risks likewise, elderly Australians end up keeping cash on their premises which is also risky.
The most straight forward and cost effective way to establish a Postal Bank is using the existing infrastructure of post offices. Australia Post has the biggest retail footprint of any business in Australia which is required and mandated by law to maintain services to all Australians. Post offices already have limited banking infrastructure via the provision of the Bank@Post service which is an agreement Australia Post has with the big four banks for serving their customers many of which they rejected by closing their bank branches. The big four banks can withdraw from this agreement at their whim.
Clearly none of the above is acceptable anymore to most Australians at a time when these big four banks are raking is massive record profits at the expense of regional Australian communities. Therefore, it seems logical that calling upon the Commonwealth Government to re-establish a public bank using the Australia Post infrastructure would be an ideal answer to provide face to face banking services to more Australians than any of the big four banks combined which collectively are continuing to withdraw these services from regional Australians.
I propose that this council endorses and supports the following motion:
1. The reduction and continuing closure of bank branches in our local regional communities has had detrimental effects to these communities.
2. The current existing commercial arrangement between the big four banks and Australia Post via Bank@Post does not provide surety or any real long term access to physical banking services to regional and rural Australians.
3. Wagga Wagga City Council supports the establishment by this Commonwealth Government, a Commonwealth Postal Savings Bank as a solid, reliable and secure way to ensure access to physical banking services for regional and rural Australians.
4. Upon the passing of this Notice of Motion that the Mayor of the City of Wagga Wagga writes to the appropriate Federal Ministers expressing our support as a council for the above three points. This correspondence is to be written and submitted within 7 days of the passing of this Notice of Motion by council on the 17 October 2022.
Financial Implications
N/A
Policy and Legislation
N/A
Link to Strategic Plan
Community leadership and collaboration
Objective: Wagga Wagga has strong community leadership and a shared vision for the future
Our leaders represent our community
Risk Management Issues for Council
N/A
Internal / External Consultation
N/A
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Report submitted to the Ordinary Meeting of Council on Monday 17 October 2022 |
CR-1 |
CR-1 DELEGATE REPORT - 2022 NSW ANNUAL AUSTRALIAN LOCAL GOVERNMENT WOMEN’S ASSOCIATION (ALGWA) CONFERENCE
Author: Councillor Jenny McKinnon
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That Council receive and note the report. |
Report
The 2022 NSW Annual Australian Local Government Women’s Association (ALGWA) Conference in Fairfield from Thursday 7 to Saturday 9 July 2022.
There was a late change to the conference program which deleted motions for voting, therefore nothing to report regarding motions.
Ellen Fanning (ABC journalist) was Master of Ceremony, and there were six speakers on the program:
· Dr Louise Mahler (PhD in Business and Masters in Organisational Psychology and Music), speaking on corporate leadership and the mind-body-voice connection.
· Dr Neryl East (PhD in Journalism and author of five books), speaking on leadership in ‘spotlight’ situations.
· Dr Jana Pittman (Medical Practitioner), speaking on surviving the peaks and troughs of a career in the public eye.
· Amanda Rose (Bachelor of Business, Master of Communications Management, Grad Cert Educational Leadership), speaking on confident leadership, conflict resolution, and relationship building via connection.
· Deb Wallace (retired Detective Superintendent, NSW Police) speaking on leadership in a male-dominated workforce; and
· Kiersten Fishburn (Deputy Secretary, Cities and Active Transport at Transport for NSW), speaking on her move to State Government leadership following a role as CEO of Liverpool Council.
In my view, all the speakers were excellent, providing inspiring content and then lively discussion in question time.
An important aspect of this conference is the opportunity to meet women Councillors from across NSW, and I found it to be a valuable networking experience.
This conference alternates between Sydney and country each year. Forbes is to be the host of the NSW ALGWA Conference in 2023, and in the following year the conference will return to Sydney. I was approached about the possibility of Wagga Wagga hosting this conference in 2025 and have passed this request on through the Chief Operating Officer. This would be an excellent opportunity to showcase Wagga Wagga, so I recommend that we act on this approach as soon as possible.
Financial Implications
N/A
Policy and Legislation
Code of Meeting Practice
Councillor Expenses and Facilities Policy (POL 025)
Councillor Induction and Professional Development Policy (POL 113)
Link to Strategic Plan
Community leadership and collaboration
Objective: Wagga Wagga has strong community leadership and a shared vision for the future
Our leaders represent our community
Risk Management Issues for Council
N/A
Internal / External Consultation
N/A
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Report submitted to the Ordinary Meeting of Council on Monday 17 October 2022 |
CR-2 |
CR-2 DELEGATE REPORT - TRANSPORT AND ACCESSIBILITY MASTERCLASS
Author: Councillor Dan Hayes
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That Council receive and note report |
Report
I attended the Transport and Accessibility Masterclass by Institute of Sensible Transport on Wednesday September 14th in Sydney.
The workshop was designed for Councils as “Transport consistently rates as one of the most important issues for local communities. Local councils are responsible for managing 80% of Australia’s road network. This places Council at the forefront of transport challenges and a key driver for change. Parking, congestion and safety are all common issues voiced to local government from the community. More broadly, the transport decisions made by local government have important consequences for sustainability, urban liveability, public health and productivity. This Masterclass ties these issues together and provides practical tools for Council staff and Councillors to help make informed decisions about the future of their communities”.
The topics covered
- Strategic transport planning
- Car parking and management tools
- Transport and climate change
- Electric vehicles, charging infrastructure and zero emission transport
- Disruptive transport innovation and how local government can benefit from new transport technology
- Creating a walking and cycling friendly city
- Why land use planning is critical to achieving a more sustainable transport system
Relevance to Wagga
While the masterclass focused a significant part on Major Metropolitan areas there were three main areas that were especially relevant to Wagga’s future transport discussions.
1) EV charging infrastructure: there has been a call over the years for councils to provide EV charging infrastructure at no cost. This is ratepayers subsidising the cost of EVs for those who can afford them. Having EV charging infrastructure is an important consideration for the future of Wagga, future planning needs to regards to who funds it, where it is located, who can access it. It was also highlighted that with the increasing push to prepare for the increase in EVs in our community, it is cheaper to get it right rather than do it fast.
It was also highlighted that 90% of EV charging is done at home, therefore we need to ask who publicly available charging stations are for- passing through motorists, the opportunistic motorist (was going there anyway), and the local resident who does not have access to a charger at their home. It should be noted that switching to EVs still maintains the requirement for relying on cars as the key transport tool for our city and continues the challenge with providing parking for future years.
It is acknowledged that a report is coming to council about planning for EVs.
2) Movement and place framework: This framework allows planning to consider what is the purpose of certain areas and the best transport options. Considering two variables namely movement (is the purpose for people to travel through this area eg: arterial road) and place (is the purpose for people to gather eg: civic spaces) helps identify transport planning. These options are both continuums on different axes. This framework helps us consider areas as to whether they are designed for movement of vehicles or for people and does it get this balance right?
The workshop also highlighted that traffic is a gas in the sense that it will expand or constrict based on the amount of space it is given. This raises the focus on planning to be a model of either “predict and provide” ie: provide the level of road needed future growth vs “debate and decide” ie: decide what we want transport to look like in our city. The former involves focusing predominantly on cars which creates a cycle expanding roads to cater for it and provide more and more car parking. The latter involves looking at what we want our city and neighbourhoods to look like and advocate for a range of transport modalities, which may in fact still be relying on cars. This of course then impacts on car parking which had an interesting statistic that on average 6-8 parking spaces for each car in an urban area and that on and off street parking can account for 50% of all land use, raising the question of how sustainable is this as Wagga continues to grow?
3) Active travel + Public transport: the workshop highlighted two key points in regard to active travel and public transport. Public transport needs to be accessible, take direct routes as opposed to navigating through suburbs, be reliable, and run when people need them as opposed to running when it suits the transport provider. I am doubtful that Wagga’s limited public transport system meets the above. This of course leads to low usage.
4) Regarding active travel, this links back to the notes above about Movement and Place and how we design our streets for between servicing people or cars. The requirement for people to walk or cycle instead of driving requires the following to be met- it’s safe; it’s within a feasible distance; it’s convenient; it’s an attractive trip; and they want to do it.
Financial Implications
N/A
Policy and Legislation
N/A
Link to Strategic Plan
Community leadership and collaboration
Objective: Wagga Wagga has strong community leadership and a shared vision for the future
Our leaders represent our community
Risk Management Issues for Council
N/A
Internal / External Consultation
N/A
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Report submitted to the Ordinary Meeting of Council on Monday 17 October 2022 |
RP-1 |
RP-1 PROPOSED PLANNING AGREEMENT 12 BLAKE STREET WAGGA WAGGA DA19/0125
Author: Belinda Maclure
Executive: John Sidgwick
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Summary: |
Council has received an offer to enter into a planning agreement in relation to the development of 12 Blake Street, Wagga Wagga (DA19/0125). The offer is to provide infrastructure to improve the public realm in Blake Street in lieu of paying Section 7.12 (previously Section 94A) contributions due for the development. |
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That Council decline the offer to enter into the proposed planning agreement in relation to DA19/0125. |
Report
An offer to enter into a planning agreement with Council was received from Davtil Pty Ltd (Mr Kerry Pascoe) in relation to their development of 12 Blake Street, Wagga Wagga on 26 November 2019. The offer included the provision of public infrastructure in lieu of the Section 7.12 contributions due for the development described in DA19/0125, approved by Council resolution 19/209, determined on 24 June 2019. There have been a number of changes made to the offer. The latest offer was received on 25 March 2022.
The development described in DA19/0125 includes the demolition of an existing shed and construction of 5/6 storey mixed-use development comprising ground floor business/retail use and car parking, first floor car parking and 16 residential apartments (shop top housing) on four floors above (Notice of Determination of Development Application DA19/0125).
The proposed planning agreement includes the provision of infrastructure with the aim to improve the public realm of Blake Street in lieu of the Section 7.12 levy due in relation to the development.
The Section 7.12 levy due in relation to the development is $104,075. The cost of the infrastructure included in the proposed planning agreement is $134,000. The proposal aims to improve the public realm in Blake Street. The works proposed in the offer include:
1. Reconfiguration of street carparking from parallel to angle along both sides of the street;
2. Provision of two disabled carparking spaces on the street;
3. Installation of traffic calming devices at either end of Blake Street;
4. Removal of 11 trees from the footpath and replacement with 6 trees within the parking bays to be established along the western side of Blake Street;
5. Close off access from Blake Street to the carpark at 22 Blake Street and provide landscaping (locate an electrical substation in the carpark);
6. Upgrade of footpath along the whole of the western side of Blake Street;
7. Installation of 3 additional streetlights in the Council carpark; and
8. Installation of 4 additional streetlights in Blake Street.
The proposed planning agreement was placed on public exhibition from 9 August 2022, with submissions being accepted until 19 September 2022. Six meetings/phone calls with interested residents of Blake Street occurred during the exhibition period and Council staff visited all businesses in the street. Signs were erected in the Blake Street carpark and letters were sent to owners and residents of the wider precinct encouraging people to make a submission to Council.
Nineteen written submissions were received during this period. Six submissions received support the concept as presented and two objected it. Of the remaining submissions which highlighted support and objections to elements of the proposal, five objected to the closing of the carpark and two objected to increased traffic in Bardo Lane specifically. There was support for the angle parking, disabled parking, changes to the tree planting and the upgrade of the footpath. Two submissions suggested the infrastructure on both sides of the street should be upgraded. Three submissions suggested contributions should be paid to fund projects for the wider community.
After careful consideration of the proposal, the feedback from the community and the future vision for Blake Street and the wider city centre precinct, Council staff cannot support the closure of Blake Street entrance to the Council carpark. There are number of Council carparks in the city centre, which have rear lane and street access and the street access to these carparks is not planned to be closed in the foreseeable future. In consideration of these matters Council must take a strategic view and take into account the future land use options for the Council carpark and the need to protect these options available in the future.
Given the above, it is recommended Council declines the offer to enter into a planning agreement in relation to 12 Blake Street, Wagga Wagga (DA19/0125).
Financial Implications
The impact of this recommendation is that the Section 7.12 contributions collected for DA19/0125 will be allocated to the projects identified in the Wagga Wagga Local Infrastructure Contributions Plan 2019 – 2034.
Policy and Legislation
Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 Section 7.4
Wagga Wagga Local Infrastructure Contribution Plan 2019 – 2034
Wagga Wagga City Council Developer Infrastructure Agreements Policy POL 121
Link to Strategic Plan
The Environment
Objective: Future growth and development of Wagga Wagga is planned for in a sustainable manner
Ensure sustainable urban development
Risk Management Issues for Council
There are no significant risks with this recommendation.
Internal / External Consultation
The public exhibition of the proposed planning agreement saw a Connect Wagga website created to provide information to the community. During the period signs were erected in the Council carpark encouraging people to consider the proposal and make a written submission. All businesses in the street received a visit from Council staff and were encouraged to make a submission. Six businesses made contact with Council staff after these visits to discuss the proposal in more detail and ask questions.
Letters were sent to all land holders in a wider identified area and all residents of the street.
Nineteen written submissions were received.
The following table show the community engagement strategies used during the public exhibition period.
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Media |
Community Engagement |
Digital |
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Rates notices insert |
Direct mail |
Letterbox drop |
Council news story |
Council News advert |
Media releases |
TV/radio advertising |
One-on-one meetings |
Your Say website |
Community meetings |
Stakeholder workshops |
Drop-in sessions |
Surveys and feedback forms |
Social media |
Email newsletters |
Website |
Digital advertising |
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TIER |
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Consult |
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Involve |
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Collaborate |
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X |
X |
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X |
X |
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X |
X |
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X |
X |
X |
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1⇩. |
Blake Street Proprosed Planning Agreement Submissions Summary September 2022 |
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Report submitted to the Ordinary Meeting of Council on Monday 17 October 2022 |
RP-2 |
RP-2 DA22/0029 - PROPOSED USE OF SITE FOR TEMPORARY EVENTS (20 PER YEAR) INCLUDING ADDITIONAL PARKING AREA AND USE OF EXISTING PERGOLA, AMENITIES BLOCK AND SHIPPING CONTAINER. LOT 1 DP 829597, 85 HILLARY STREET, NORTH WAGGA, 2650
Author: Paul O’Brien
General Manager: Peter Thompson
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Summary: |
The Development Application seeks consent for the use of the site for temporary events (20 per year) including additional parking area and use of existing pergola, amenities block and shipping container at 85 Hillary Street North Wagga.
The use is permitted with consent under Clause 2.8 of the Wagga Wagga Local Environmental Plan 2010.
The application was publicly notified to adjoining and nearby property owners on two separate occasions for periods of 14 days. A total of 6 submissions were received during the first notification period and 13 during the second. Section 1.10 of the Wagga Wagga Development Control Plan 2010 requires any application that is the subject of 10 or more objections to be referred to Council for determination.
A full assessment of the application has been completed in accordance with Section 4.15 of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 including an assessment against the relevant provisions of the Local Environmental Plan 2010 and the Development Control Plan 2010 and is provided as an attachment to this report. The assessment has considered and addressed all relevant matters raised in the submissions.
Subject to the findings of the assessment, it has been recommended that the application be refused for the reasons listed below.
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It is recommended that Council refuse DA22/0029 for ‘proposed use of site for temporary events (20 per year) including additional parking area and use of existing pergola, amenities block and shipping container’ at Lot 1 DP 829597, 85 Hillary Street, North Wagga, 2650. |
Development Application Details
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Applicant |
Camilla Rocks |
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Owner |
Nicole Maree Lofts and Christopher Allen Lofts |
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Development Cost |
$175,000 |
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Development Description |
Proposed use of site for temporary events (20 per year) including additional parking area and use of existing pergola, amenities block and shipping container. |
Report
Key Issues
· Compliance with Clause 2.8 – Temporary use of Land of the Wagga Wagga Local Environmental Plan 2010.
· Impacts on surrounding residential amenity including:
o Noise
o Traffic
o Crime, safety and security impacts
o Cumulative impacts of those listed above plus odour and waste.
Assessment
· The site is zoned RU4 Primary Production Small Lots under the provisions of the WWLEP 2010.
· The temporary events would be considered a function centre by definition. Function centres are prohibited in the RU4 zone. However, under section (2) of clause 2.8 of the WWLEP 2010, a function centre can be considered on this land for a maximum period of 20 days in a 12 month period Despite any other provision of this Plan. Given the applicant has applied for 20 days the proposed use can be considered under this clause.
· The subject site contains a dwelling plus four (4) tourist and visitor accommodation cottages.
· The site is immediately surrounded by similar sized lots containing single dwellings. Wider afield there are a variety of land uses.
· The development results in adverse amenity impacts and therefore does not comply with clause 2.8(3)(b) of the WWLEP 2010.
· The structures are not temporary uses and therefore cannot be considered under clause 2.8 of the WWLEP 2010.
· The development is not in keeping with the context and setting and the site is not considered suitable for the proposed development given the impacts. The proposal is not considered to be in the public interest.
· The submissions have been addressed in the attached 4.15 report.
Having regard for the information contained in the attached Section 4.15 assessment report, it is considered that the development is not acceptable and is therefore recommended for refusal.
Reasons for Refusal
1. The development has the potential to cause adverse amenity impacts on the neighbouring properties and is therefore not considered to be in the public interest. Section 4.15(1)(e) of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979.
2. The proposed structures (pergola, amenities block and shipping container) would not be considered ‘temporary use of land’ and therefore cannot be considered under clause 2.8 of the Wagga Wagga Local Environmental Plan 2010. Section 4.15(1)(a)(i) of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979.
3. The proposal would have detrimental social and amenity effects on the land and therefore does not comply with clause 2.8(1) of the Wagga Wagga Local Environmental Plan 2010. Section 4.15(1)(a)(i) of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979.
4. The development would result in an adverse noise impact on the amenity of the neighbourhood and would therefore not comply with clause 2.8(3)(b) of the Wagga Wagga Local Environmental Plan 2010. Section 4.15(1)(a)(i) of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979.
5. The development would result in an adverse traffic impact on the amenity of the neighbourhood and would therefore not comply with clause 2.8(3)(b) of the Wagga Wagga Local Environmental Plan 2010. Section 4.15(1)(a)(i) of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979.
6. The development would result in an adverse safety and security impact on the amenity of the neighbourhood and would therefore not comply with clause 2.8(3)(b) of the Wagga Wagga Local Environmental Plan 2010. Section 4.15(1)(a)(i) of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979.
7. The cumulative impacts of noise, traffic, safety and security, odour and waste would result in an adverse impact on the amenity of the neighbourhood and would therefore not comply with clause 2.8(3)(b) of the Wagga Wagga Local Environmental Plan 2010. Section 4.15(1)(a)(i) of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979.
9. The site is not suitable for the proposed development. Environmental Plan 2010. Section 4.15(1)(c) of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979.
10. The pergola and amenity building have not appropriately addressed the safety concerns or clearance distances from the electricity infrastructure on site. Section 4.15(1)(e) of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979.
Site Location
The subject site is Lot 1 DP 829597, 85 Hillary Street, North Wagga. The land is located on the northern side of Hillary Street approximately 400m from the junction with Byrnes Road.
The site is accessed off a narrow access handle and opens up into a 2ha block to the rear. The site rises steeply from Hillary Street. As the access handle widens into the main block a shed is located immediately to the east of the driveway. The driveway continues north and services the main dwelling and four tourist and visitor accommodation villas located along the northern boundary of the site. The site contains sporadic vegetation and two transmission easements for overhead power.
The land is zoned RU4 Primary Production Small Lots. Whilst the surrounding land varies in zone from RU4 to RU1 and RU6, the immediately surrounding properties are similar small holdings with dwellings. As you move further east and south the land transitions into more traditional extensive agricultural land. Wider afield to the north is Bomen. To the west is the village of North Wagga.
Financial Implications
N/A
Policy
Wagga Wagga Local Environmental Plan 2010
Wagga Wagga Development Control Plan 2010
Link to Strategic Plan
The Environment
Objective: Future growth and development of Wagga Wagga is planned for in a sustainable manner
Ensure sustainable urban development
Risk Management Issues for Council
Refusal of the application may result in an appeal process in the Land and Environment Court which will have to be defended by Council. The recommended reasons for refusal have been fully justified within the attached s4.15 assessment report in accordance with the applicable legislation.
Approval of the application will result in a development that does not comply with the WWLEP 2010 and causes adverse amenity impacts on the neighbouring properties. Approval will likely result in ongoing complaints from neighbouring properties and potential enforcement action.
Internal / External Consultation
Full details of the consultation that was carried out as part of the development application assessment is contained in the attached s4.15 Report.
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Media |
Community Engagement |
Digital |
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Rates notices insert |
Direct mail |
Letterbox drop |
Council news story |
Council News advert |
Media releases |
TV/radio advertising |
One-on-one meetings |
Your Say website |
Community meetings |
Stakeholder workshops |
Drop-in sessions |
Surveys and feedback forms |
Social media |
Email newsletters |
Website |
Digital advertising |
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TIER |
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Consult |
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x |
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x |
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Involve |
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Collaborate |
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1. |
DA22-0029 - Section 4.15 Assessment Report - Provided under separate cover |
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2. |
DA22-0029 - Statement of Environmental Effects and Plans - Provided under separate cover |
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3. |
DA22-0029 - Event Booking Request form - Provided under separate cover |
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4. |
DA22-0029 - Event Management Plan - Provided under separate cover |
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5. |
DA22-0029 - Redacted submission 1st notification - Provided under separate cover |
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6. |
DA22-0029 - Redacted submissions 2nd notification - Provided under separate cover |
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Report submitted to the Ordinary Meeting of Council on Monday 17 October 2022 |
RP-3 |
RP-3 DA22/0177 - ALTERATIONS AND ADDITIONS TO INCLUDE RETAIL PREMISES, LICENCED FUNCTION CENTRE AND RESTAURANT. LOT 1 DP 631019, 187 FITZMAURICE STREET, WAGGA WAGGA, NSW, 2650.
Author: Paul O’Brien
General Manager: Peter Thompson
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Summary: |
The development application seeks consent for alterations and additions to the existing Knights Meats building and fitout of the additions as retail space, function centre and restaurant. The proposal includes a plan to construct part of the restaurant at first floor level over the Council footpath. The works proposed are as follows: · Extension of the ground floor to create an entrance foyer, stairs, lift, amenities, bridal room and retail tenancy · Extension of the first floor to create an entrance foyer (stairs and lift), restaurant, kitchen, function room, amenities and open deck with fireplace · Fitout of kitchen to commercial standard · Fitout of amenities · Fitout of restaurant · Fitout of function centre · Signage The application was publicly notified to adjoining and nearby property owners for a period of 14 days. A total of 5 public submissions were received during this period.
This report is presented to Council for determination. The application has been referred to Council under Section 1.11 of the Wagga Wagga Development Control Plan 2010 as the application includes a variation to a numerical control (car parking requirement) by greater than 10% and objections have been received in relation to this matter.
A full assessment of the application has been completed in accordance with Section 4.15 of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 including an assessment against the relevant provisions of the Local Environmental Plan 2010 and the Development Control Plan 2010 and is provided as an attachment to this report.
Subject to the findings of the assessment, it has been recommended that the application be approved subject to conditions. The recommended conditions have been included in an attached assessment report.
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That Council approve DA22/0177 for alterations and additions to include retail premises, licenced function centre and restaurant at Lot 1 DP 631019, 187 Fitzmaurice Street, Wagga Wagga, 2650 subject to the conditions outlined in the attached Section 4.15 Assessment Report.
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Development Application Details
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Applicant |
Camilla Rocks |
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Owner |
Vibe Corp Pty Ltd |
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Development Cost |
$1,500,000 |
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Development Description |
Alterations and additions to include retail premises, licenced function centre and restaurant. |
Report
Key Issues
· Compliance with the car parking requirements of the Wagga Wagga Development Control Plan 2010.
· Impact on the Conservation Area and the Heritage Significance of the existing building.
· Associated amenity impacts given the proximity to residential properties.
Assessment
· Under the provisions of the Wagga Wagga Local Environmental Plan 2010 (LEP 2010), the subject site is within the B3 Commercial Core zone. The development is permissible with consent.
· The proposal is consistent with the B3 objectives and other relevant provisions of the LEP 2010.
· The impacts of the development with respect to the surrounding area have been considered in full as part of the attached 4.15 report. It is satisfied that the development will not have unreasonable impacts in relation to matters including, noise, safety and security, servicing and parking.
· The development has been assessed as being generally consistent with the objectives and controls of the Wagga Wagga Development Control Plan 2010 (DCP 2010). Where variations have been sought with respect to particular controls under the DCP 2010, appropriate justification has been provided.
· Five (5) submissions were received during the notification period. The submissions have been addressed in the attached 4.15 report and do not warrant refusal of the Development Application.
Having regard for the information contained in the attached Section 4.15 assessment report, it is considered that the development is acceptable for the following reasons and recommended for approval subject to conditions.
Reasons for Approval
· The proposed development is consistent with the provisions of the Wagga Wagga Local Environmental Plan 2010;
· The proposed development is generally consistent with the objectives and controls of the Wagga Wagga Development Control Plan 2010.
· Impacts of the proposed development are acceptable and can be managed via the recommended conditions of consent.
· The site is considered suitable for the proposed development.
· For the abovementioned reasons it is considered to be in the public interest to approve this development application.
Site Location
The site, being Lot 1 DP 631019, 187 Fitzmaurice Street Central Wagga is located on the south-eastern corner of Fitzmaurice Street and Crampton Street. The site is bound by Cadell Place along its eastern boundary.
The site measures 1435m² and is flat and void of vegetation. The building has frontage to both Crampton Street and Fitzmaurice Street.
The site is mapped as bushfire prone land and is subject to inundation in a PMF event but protected by the main city levee up to and including the 1% event plus freeboard.
The site is located in the Conservation Area.
The surrounding land uses are a mix of commercial and residential with the river to the east.
Financial Implications
N/A
Policy
Wagga Wagga Local Environmental Plan 2010
Wagga Wagga Development Control Plan 2010
Link to Strategic Plan
Growing Economy
Objective: Wagga Wagga is a hub for activity
Facilitate the development of vibrant precincts
Risk Management Issues for Council
Refusal of the application may result in an appeal process in the Land and Environment Court, which will have to be defended by Council. The reasons for refusal will have to be justified and withstand scrutiny and cross examination in Court.
Approval is not considered to raise risk management issues for Council as the proposed development is generally consistent with the relevant provisions of any relevant State Environmental Planning Policy, the Wagga Wagga Local Environmental Plan 2010 and the Wagga Wagga Development Control Plan 2010.
Internal / External Consultation
Pursuant to Section 1.10 of the Wagga Wagga Development Control Plan 2010 the application was notified to surrounding properties between 19/5/22 and 2/6/22. Five (5) public submissions were received during the notification period.
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Media |
Community Engagement |
Digital |
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Rates notices insert |
Direct mail |
Letterbox drop |
Council news story |
Council News advert |
Media releases |
TV/radio advertising |
One-on-one meetings |
Your Say website |
Community meetings |
Stakeholder workshops |
Drop-in sessions |
Surveys and feedback forms |
Social media |
Email newsletters |
Website |
Digital advertising |
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TIER |
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Consult |
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Involve |
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Collaborate |
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1. |
DA22-0177 - Section 4.15 assessment report - Provided under separate cover |
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2. |
DA22-0177 - Plans - Provided under separate cover |
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3. |
DA22-0177 - Statement of Environmental Effects - Provided under separate cover |
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4. |
DA22-0177 - Supplementary Statement of Environmental Effects - Provided under separate cover |
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5. |
DA22-0177 - Supplementary Information - Provided under separate cover |
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6. |
DA22-0177 - Acoustic Report - Provided under separate cover |
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7. |
DA22-0177 - Redacted Submissions - Provided under separate cover |
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Report submitted to the Ordinary Meeting of Council on Monday 17 October 2022 |
RP-4 |
RP-4 DA22/0260 - CONSTRUCTION OF 3 X 2 STOREY DWELLINGS WITH DETACHED TRIPLE GARAGE AND 4 LOT COMMUNITY TITLE SUBDIVISION - LOT 8 DP 7850, 212 EDWARD ST WAGGA WAGGA NSW 2650
Author: Paul O’Brien
General Manager: Peter Thompson
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Summary: |
The development application seeks consent for the construction of 3 x 2 storey dwellings with detached triple garage and 4 lot community title subdivision.
This report is presented to Council for determination. The application has been referred to Council under Section 1.11 of the Wagga Wagga Development Control Plan 2010 (DCP) as the application is for multi-dwelling housing and includes variations to more than one control.
Variations to controls are proposed in relation to the following sections of the DCP: - Section 2.2 which relates to off-street parking. - Section 9.2.2 which relates to front fence. - Section 9.3.2 which relates to total site coverage. - Section 9.3.3 which relates to minimum frontage within R3 Zone. - Section 9.4.3 which relates to privacy. - Section 9.4.4 which relates to total floor area for an outbuilding.
A full assessment of the application has been completed in accordance with Section 4.15 of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 including an assessment against the relevant provisions of the Local Environmental Plan 2010 and the Development Control Plan 2010 and is provided as an attachment to this report.
Subject to the findings of the assessment, it has been recommended that the application be approved subject to conditions. The recommended conditions have been included in an attached assessment report.
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That Council approve DA22/0260 for the construction of 3 x 2 storey dwellings with detached triple garage and 4 lot community title subdivision at 212 Edward Street, Wagga Wagga, NSW 2650 subject to the conditions outlined in the attached Section 4.15 Assessment Report.
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Development Application Details
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Applicant |
Matt Jenkins |
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Owner |
Matthew Jeremy Jenkins & Mr Paul Geoffrey Keough |
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Development Cost |
$1,140,000.00 |
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Development Description |
Construction of 3 x 2 storey dwellings with detached triple garage and 4 lot community title subdivision |
Report
Key Issues
· Compliance with the objectives of the Wagga Wagga Local Environmental Plan 2010.
· Compliance with a number of objectives and controls of the Wagga Wagga Development Control Plan 2010.
· On-site number of car parking spaces.
Assessment
· Under the provisions of the Wagga Wagga Local Environmental Plan 2010 (LEP 2010), the subject site is within the R3 Medium Density Residential zone. The development is permissible with consent.
· The proposal is generally consistent with the R3 objectives and other relevant provisions of the LEP 2010.
· The impacts of the development with respect to the surrounding residential area has been considered in full as part of the attached 4.15 report. It is satisfied that that the development will not have unreasonable impacts in relation to matters including, solar access, privacy, streetscape and carparking.
· The development has been assessed as being generally consistent with the objectives of the Wagga Wagga Development Control Plan 2010 (DCP 2010). Where variations have been sought with respect to particular controls under the DCP 2010, appropriate justification has been provided.
· No submissions were received during the notification period.
Reasons for Approval
· The proposed development is consistent with the provisions of the Wagga Wagga Local Environmental Plan 2010;
· The proposed development is generally consistent with the objectives and controls of the Wagga Wagga Development Control Plan 2010.
· Impacts of the proposed development are acceptable and can be managed via the recommended conditions of consent.
· The site is considered suitable for the proposed development.
· For the abovementioned reasons it is considered to be in the public interest to approve this development application.
Site Location
The subject site is legally known as Lot 8 DP 7850 and is identified as 212 Edward Street, Wagga Wagga. It is located on the southern side of Edward Street (the Sturt Highway) approximately 75 metres west from its intersection with Brookong Avenue.
The subject site has an area of 758.79m² and is rectangular in shape. The site currently contains a single storey dwelling and associated outbuildings however a development application was recently approved for demolition under DA22/0129.
Vehicular access to the proposed detached triple garage is via rear lane along the southern boundary. Pedestrian access is available from both Edward Street as well as from rear lane.
The locality is generally residential in character with a mix of single storey dwellings, low to medium-density residential development and multi-dwelling housing in proximity to the subject site. The subject site is within the Health and Knowledge Precinct as identified under the Health and Knowledge Precinct Master Plan, 2019. Across Edward Street from the proposed development site are mixed land uses - i.e. residential, commercial and other health related land uses.
Financial Implications
N/A
Policy
Wagga Wagga Local Environmental Plan 2010
Wagga Wagga Development Control Plan 2010
Link to Strategic Plan
The Environment
Objective: Future growth and development of Wagga Wagga is planned for in a sustainable manner
Provide for a diversity of housing that meets our needs
Risk Management Issues for Council
Refusal of the application may result in an appeal process in the Land and Environment Court, which will have to be defended by Council. The reasons for refusal will have to be justified and withstand scrutiny and cross examination in Court.
Approval is not considered to raise risk management issues for Council as the proposed development is generally consistent with the relevant provisions of any relevant State Environmental Planning Policy, the Wagga Wagga Local Environmental Plan 2010 and the Wagga Wagga Development Control Plan 2010.
Internal / External Consultation
Pursuant to Section 1.10 of the Wagga Wagga Development Control Plan 2010 the application was advertised and notified to surrounding properties between 12/08/2022 and 2/09/2022. No submissions were received during the notification period.
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Media |
Community Engagement |
Digital |
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Rates notices insert |
Direct mail |
Letterbox drop |
Council news story |
Council News advert |
Media releases |
TV/radio advertising |
One-on-one meetings |
Your Say website |
Community meetings |
Stakeholder workshops |
Drop-in sessions |
Surveys and feedback forms |
Social media |
Email newsletters |
Website |
Digital advertising |
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TIER |
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Consult |
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Involve |
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Collaborate |
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1. |
DA22/0260 - Section 4.15 Assessment Report - Provided under separate cover |
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2. |
DA22/0260 - Plans - Provided under separate cover |
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3. |
DA22/0260 - Statement of Environmental Effects - Provided under separate cover |
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Report submitted to the Ordinary Meeting of Council on Monday 17 October 2022 |
RP-5 |
RP-5 REQUEST TO WAIVE SECTION 64 CONTRIBUTIONS AND DEVELOPMENT APPLICATION FEES FOR DA20/0724
Author: Belinda Maclure
Executive: John Sidgwick
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Summary: |
A letter was received from the Opening Doors Foundation requesting Section 64 contributions and development application fees for DA20/0724, a 105-unit development at 70 Pinaroo Drive, Glenfield Park be waived.
Given the development will have an impact on Council’s sewer and stormwater network, it is recommended not to approve the request to waive Section 64 contributions. It is for this reason Council staff recommend not to support the request to waive Section 64 contributions for DA20/0724.
Development application fee income is factored into Council’s balanced budget position. Any planned income not received has a negative impact on Council’s budget and would result in the requirement to fund the reduction from another operating budget. It is for this reason that Council staff do not recommend supporting the waiver of development application fees for DA20/0724 as well as the request to waive Section 64 contributions. |
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That Council: a refuse the request to waive Section 64 Sewer and Stormwater infrastructure contributions for DA20/0724 subject to the recommendations within the report b refuse the request to waive development application fees for DA20/0724 subject to the recommendations within the report |
A letter was received from the Opening Doors Foundation requesting Section 64 sewer and stormwater contributions and development application fees for DA20/0724 be waived.
The Opening Doors Foundation is a not-for-profit entity, established in 1951 through the generosity of Mrs E.V Roberts. Opening Doors focuses on providing affordable seniors housing and disability housing on a rental basis for Wagga Wagga and surrounding districts.
The Opening Doors Foundation consists of the following Directors:
· Scott Oehm (Chairperson)
· Dr Louis Baggio MBBS(HONS.) FAFRM (RACP)
· David Bolton
· Andrea Bradley
· John Craig
· Ronald Crouch, OAM (Vice Chairperson)
· Noelene Hogan
· Robyn Miller – Director up to 18 November 2022
· Shane McMullen is the Opening Doors Foundation’s Chief Executive Officer and Company Secretary.
DA20/0724 is for the Opening Doors development of 105 units costing $29,079,600 for financially disadvantaged seniors and people with a disability. The development meets the requirements of the State Environmental Planning Policy (SEPP 2004) – Housing for Seniors and Persons with a Disability. Therefore, the development was exempt from Section 7.11 or 7.12 contributions. However, the development will have an impact on Council’s sewer and stormwater networks, so Section 64 sewer and stormwater contributions are required.
The request seeks to waive Section 64 Sewer and Stormwater contributions levied in DA20/0724. According to the Notice of Determination for this development application, $223,416 of Section 64 Sewer contributions and $140,058 of Section 64 Stormwater contributions are required (indexed to September 2022).
The request also seeks a refund, partial refund or waiver of development application fees totaling $65,004.
Financial Implications
Section 64 Sewer and Stormwater infrastructure contributions are calculated to reflect the impact of development on the networks. The Section 64 Sewer contribution relates to the increased number of toilets and the Section 64 Stormwater relates to the area of additional hardstand and therefore stormwater run off. The Section 64 contributions are allocated to fund sewer and stormwater projects in the Development Servicing Plans.
Development application fee income is factored into Council’s balanced budget position. Any planned income not received has a negative impact on Council’s budget and would result in the requirement to fund the reduction from another operating budget.
Council staff requested the most recent financial statements of the Opening Doors Foundation in order to assess the organisations financial position and performance. These statements are attached Confidentially under Separate Cover Attachment for Councillors information.
Policy and Legislation
Wagga Wagga City Council, Development Servicing Plan Sewerage Services July 2013
Wagga Wagga City Council, Development Servicing Plan Stormwater November 2007
Wagga Wagga Local Infrastructure Contributions Plan 2019 -2034
State Environmental Planning Policy (Housing for Seniors or People with a Disability) 2004.
Link to Strategic Plan
The Environment
Objective: We plan for the growth of the city
Outcome: We have sustainable urban development
Risk Management Issues for Council
Without receiving adequate sewer and stormwater funds, there would be a funding gap to maintain and renew these vital Council assets.
Should Council waive fees there is a risk that a precedent could be set, which may lead to financial shortcomings and inability for Council to pay for citywide infrastructure projects.
Waving development application fees will put Council’s balanced budget at risk.
Internal / External Consultation
Consultation has been undertaken with Council’s Finance and Development Assessment and Building Certification sections, as well as the Executive.
|
1⇩. |
Request to waive Section 64 contributions and development application fees DA20/0724 |
|
|
Report submitted to the Ordinary Meeting of Council on Monday 17 October 2022 |
RP-6 |
RP-6 RIVERINA JOINT ORGANISATION (RIVJO) - One Organisation Options’ Paper
Author: Peter Thompson
|
Summary: |
The separate boards of (REROC) and the Riverina Joint Organisation (RIVJO) have been considering the future of the two organisations, with a view to adopting a single organisation for collaboration in this region. The attached “One Organisation Options’ Paper” was developed for each Council to consider and adopt their preferred option. |
|
That Council adopts Option 3 as outlined in this report as the preferred method for regional collaboration in the Riverina. |
Report
Some years ago, Wagga Wagga City Council (WWCC) withdrew from the Riverina Eastern Organisation of Councils (REROC) as it received no benefit from the REROC activities, and it was an expense exceeding $50,000 each year. At or about the same time, WWCC advocated that a single joint organisation would be a better model. This view was not supported, and the other councils pursued the operation of both a ROC and a joint organisation.
WWCC joined the Canberra Joint Organisation (CRJO) as an associate member. About a year later, the NSW Government asked WWCC if it would join the Riverina Joint Organisation. WWCC agreed and WWCC was proclaimed a member of the Riverina Joint Organisation shortly thereafter.
More recently, the separate boards of (REROC) and the Riverina Joint Organisation (RIVJO) have been considering the future of the two organisations, with a view to adopting a single organisation for collaboration in this region.
The boards have met to discuss and develop options for the future of either or both the REROC and RIVJO. As a result, the attached “One Organisation Options’ Paper” was developed for each Council to consider.
The options for consideration of Councillors are listed below. The details of each option are in the attached paper:
1. REROC Stand Alone/JO Folds
2. JO Stand Alone/REROC goes into hiatus
3. REROC Stand Alone at the cost of the member councils - JO hosted by Wagga Wagga City at the cost of WWCC alone but operated on the basis of one council having one vote by all councils who are part of the JO
4. REROC Stand Alone/JO goes into hiatus
As per previous discussions with Councillors we have offered to operate the JO separately from REROC for a period of 2 years, free of charge. This is Option 3 outlined above. The JO’s activities would be the three core activities of advocacy, strategic planning and engagement with NSW State Government. After the initial 2 years, members would decide on future arrangements based on the success or otherwise of the proposed approach.
A copy of the letter of offer made by WWCC in relation to Option 3 is attached which explains the proposal in more detail.
The proposal which this Council has put forward, being Option 3, is recommended. Alternatively, and of the other three options listed above and in the attached documents are open for each Councillor to support.
The outcome sought from the meeting is for Councillors to determine by resolution which option they support.
Legal
WWCC would be responsible for compliance with Governance requirements of the JO if Option 3 is supported. Governance obligations would be shared if any one of the other three options is pursued.
Financial Implications
Council would be responsible for the operational costs of the JO if Option 3 is supported. This is expected to be around $50,000 in addition to the current commitment. This cost does not include staff time which is where the real advantage of WWCC hosting the JO is won from a cost perspective.
Policy and Legislation
NSW Local Government Act 1993
Link to Strategic Plan
Community leadership and collaboration
Objective: Wagga Wagga has strong community leadership and a shared vision for the future
Our leaders represent our community
Risk Management Issues for Council
JOs are the preferred consultation method for the NSW State Government. If WWCC does not actively participate in a JO it may miss out on the opportunity to have input into regional priorities and projects.
|
1⇩. |
Letter from the Mayor - One Organisation Discussions - Example |
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2⇩. |
Moving Forward: One Organisation Options’ Paper |
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|
Report submitted to the Ordinary Meeting of Council on Monday 17 October 2022 |
RP-7 |
RP-7 ANNUAL FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 2021/22
Author: Carolyn Rodney
|
Summary: |
The 2021/22 financial statements have been completed by Council staff and have recently been audited by the NSW Audit Office. |
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That Council: a note the comments from the Audit, Risk & Improvement Committee Chairperson and the recommendation to Council from the Committee regarding the 2021/22 Financial Statements b note that due to Council not having control over the Rural Fire Service assets, and therefore not recording Rural Fire Service assets in Council’s financial statements, the NSW Audit Office have expressed a Modified Audit Opinion for the 2021/22 General Purpose Financial Statements c approve the signing of the 2021/22 Financial Statements pursuant to Section 413 (2)(c) of the Local Government Act 1993 and the Local Government Code of Accounting Practice and Financial Reporting d approve the closing balances of the Internal Allocations (Reserves) as at 30 June 2022 as detailed in Note C1-3 – Restricted and allocated cash, cash equivalents and investments e receive a report on the audited financial reports and auditors report at the 21 November 2022 Council Meeting, pursuant to Section 418(1) of the Local Government Act 1993 and provide public notice accordingly |
Report
The 2021/22 Annual Financial Statements have been prepared and Council’s external auditors, NSW Audit Office have completed their audit. It is a requirement of the Local Government Act 1993 that Council prepare a statement on the General Purpose and Special Purpose Financial Reports prior to sign off by the auditor. These statements must be signed by the Mayor, one Councillor, the General Manager and the Responsible Accounting Officer.
This statement is required to be signed and included in the Financial Statements prior to the auditor providing the final audit reports. The Financial Statements together with the auditors’ reports must be forwarded to the Office of Local Government (OLG) by 31 October 2022.
The 2021/22 financial statements were presented to the Audit, Risk & Improvement Committee (ARIC) at its meeting on 6 October 2022. Council’s Financial Statements are to be reviewed by the Committee prior to presentation and sign off by Council. In relation to this, the Committee’s role under the ARIC Charter notes that the Committee responsibilities include to:
· Satisfy itself that the annual financial reports comply with applicable Australian Accounting Standards and are supported by appropriate management signoff on the statements and the adequacy of internal controls
· Review the external audit opinion, including whether appropriate actions have been taken in response to audit recommendations and adjustments
· To consider contentious financial reporting matters in conjunction with Council’s management and external auditors
· Review the processes in place designed to ensure financial information included in the annual report is consistent with the signed financial statements
· Satisfy itself that there are appropriate mechanisms in place to review and implement, where appropriate, relevant State Government reports and recommendations
· Satisfy itself that there is a performance management framework linked to organisational objectives and recommendations
The full report from the Chairperson was distributed in the Councillor Bulletin on 14 October 2022, with an extract applicable to this Report provided below for Councillors’ information:
Chair’s Report on ARIC meeting of 6 October 2022
The Audit, Risk and Improvement Committee met on 6 October to consider Council’s draft financial reports. It’s a useful exercise in that three-independent people (plus two councillors) trawl through the 100 plus pages of reports and ask questions of the auditors, accounting staff and management.
Following this process, the Committee formed the view that the draft financial statements reflect a fair view of the Council’s performance in the year to 30 June 22 and its financial position as at that date and recommended that Council approve them.
The real issue for the Committee – and for Council – is that the Auditor-General has directed the Audit Office to issue a “Modified Audit Opinion” given that the accounts do not include certain assets held by the Rural Fire Service.
The legal position is that NSW legislation vests these assets in the local council. The difficulty is that, under the applicable accounting standards – and, arguably, common sense – an entity’s assets are things over which the entity has control. Whilst Council makes a financial contribution to the RFS, it has no control over what assets are issued to the local RFS, where they are stored, how they are used, maintained and replaced.
For that reason, most NSW councils have declined to include these assets in their accounts over the years and auditors have merely noted the fact, especially since the value of the assets might be so small as to not make a difference to the accuracy of the financial reports.
Although Wagga Council’s position is understandable and defensible and shared by many other councils, this year the Auditor General has decided to make a stand and a Modified Audit Opinion has been issued for those councils which don’t include the RFS assets. This may have ramifications in terms of those councils’ ability to access loan funds or the terms under which loans can be arranged.
It is understood that the Office of Local Government is considering measures to force councils to change their stance on this issue and the matter has risen up the agenda for discussions between local government representatives and the NSW Government. The matter needs to be resolved.
…
Finally, the Committee commended the Chief Financial Officer, the Senior Financial Accountant and their staff for their professional stewardship of Council’s finances. The Council is well served in that regard.
Bryce McNair
Chair, Audit, Risk and Improvement Committee
Wagga Wagga City Council
During the ARIC Meeting, the Committee resolved the following:
That the Audit, Risk and Improvement Committee:
a receive a presentation from Council’s auditors, the NSW Audit Office
b note that due to Council determining that it does not have control over the Rural Fire Service assets, and therefore not recording Rural Fire Service assets in Council’s financial statements, the NSW Audit Office have expressed a Modified Audit Opinion for the 2021/22 General Purpose Financial Statements
c expressed the view that despite the modified audit opinion, the Financial Statements reflect a fair view of Council’s financial performance and position
d recommend that Council approve the signing of the 2021/22 Financial Statements pursuant to Section 413(2)(c) of the Local Government Act 1993 and the Local Government Code of Accounting Practice and Financial Reporting
e receive a further report from the General Manager on the status of PFAS removal in Wagga Wagga
f expressed concern regarding terms and conditions of the Wagga Wagga Airport lease and noted ongoing negotiations with the Department of Defence
The NSW Audit Office have advised Council that they will be expressing a Modified Audit Opinion on Councils 2021/22 General Purpose Financial Statements (GPFS) due to a limitation on the scope of the audit. This is due to the continued non-recognition of rural fire-fighting equipment as assets in Councils financial statements. Council has continued to maintain that they have no control over these assets and will continue to not recognise these in our Statement of Financial Position. Further information on this issue can be found in the NSW Audit Office’s draft Report on the Conduct of the Audit and Engagement Closing report, that are attached to this report.
2021/22 Financial Overview
The 2021/22 draft financial statements show total income from continuing operations of $196.25M, total expenses from continuing operations of $138.60M, resulting in a preliminary net operating surplus of $57.65M (including capital grants and contributions). The 2020/21 financial year resulted in a net operating surplus of $41.48M, with the increased net result for 2021/22 being attributable to an increase in capital grants and contributions ($16.66M).
Extract from the draft 2021/22 Financial Statements – Income Statement:
For the 2021/22 financial year, Council met the benchmark for four (4) of the six (6) performance indicators outlined within the Financial Statements. In 2020/21, Council met five (5) of the six (6) performance indicators, with Council not meeting the benchmark for Own source operating revenue ratio (>60.00%) for the 2021/22 financial year due to an increase in the value of capital grants and contributions received by Council.
Council continues to not meet the Operating performance ratio benchmark of >0.00%.
Below is an extract of the performance indicators from the draft 2021/22 financial statements.
Extract from the draft 2021/22 Financial Statements – Statement of performance measures:
|
|
30 June 2022 Balance |
30 June 2021 Balance |
Increase/ (Decrease) from prior year* |
|
Employees Leave Entitlement |
$3.454M |
$3.798M |
($0.344M) |
|
Civil Infrastructure |
$9.317M |
$9.787M |
($0.470M) |
|
Financial Assistance Grants in advance |
$8.537M |
$5.382M |
$3.155M |
|
Internal Loans |
$3.650M |
$3.022M |
$0.628M |
|
Livestock Marketing Centre |
$6.032M |
$4.447M |
$1.585M |
|
Unexpended External Loans |
$3.144M |
$2.004M |
$1.140M |
*Notes on Increases/(Decreases):
· Financial Assistance Grants in advance – $8.537M received in April 2022 for a 75% prepayment of the Financial Assistance Grant relating to the 2022/23 financial year. This prepayment commenced in the 2016/17 financial year.
· Internal Loans Reserve – Council restricted an additional $1.2M from its 2021/22 surplus result into this reserve as a potential funding source for any future projects, on top of the $1.9M in repayments from previously funded projects. Council utilised this reserve to fund the $909K Airport deficit as a result of the COVID pandemic. This reserve was also utilised to purchase the former ambulance station ($628K – to be repaid in future years) and to forward fund works at the Pomingalarna Multisport Cycling Complex ($871K).
· Livestock Marketing Centre Reserve – Council had a surplus operating result for the 2021/22 financial year for the livestock marketing centre.
· Unexpended External Loans Reserve – Council has experienced delays in delivering a number of capital projects for which external loan borrowings were undertaken to fund these works. These projects are scheduled for completion in the coming years.
A copy of the 2021/22 Draft Financial Statements are attached to this report.
Financial Implications
Whilst this report and associated attachments show Council’s financial performance and position for the 2021/22 financial year, the adoption of this report by the Committee has no financial implications.
Policy and Legislation
Local Government Act 1993
Sections: 413 - Preparation of Financial Reports
418 - Public notice to be given of presentation of financial reports
Link to Strategic Plan
Community Leadership and Collaboration
Objective: We have strong leadership
Outcome: We are accountable and transparent
Risk Management Issues for Council
The NSW Audit Office has previously supplied Council with an interim management letter, which was discussed at the 18 August 2022 Audit, Risk & Improvement Committee Meeting. The interim management letter identified five (5) issues with one (1) rated as High, three (3) rated as Moderate and one (1) rated as Low. Council officers will undertake the actions identified in the Management Responses within the timeframes indicated.
The Management letter on the Final Phase of the Audit for the year ended 30 June 2022 will be presented to the 24 November 2022 Audit, Risk & Improvement Committee meeting and will include Councils Management responses on any issues raised.
Internal / External Consultation
The Council’s Community Engagement Strategy and IAP2 considers the community to be “any individual or group of individuals, organisation or political entity with an interest in the outcome of a decision….”
Council’s external auditors, NSW Audit Office, have liaised with Council’s Finance division, along with presenting the draft financial statements to the Audit, Risk and Improvement Committee on 6 October 2022.
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Media |
Community Engagement |
Digital |
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Rates notices insert |
Direct mail |
Letterbox drop |
Council news story |
Council News advert |
Media releases |
TV/radio advertising |
One-on-one meetings |
Your Say website |
Community meetings |
Stakeholder workshops |
Drop-in sessions |
Surveys and feedback forms |
Social media |
Email newsletters |
Website |
Digital advertising |
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TIER |
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Consult |
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|
X |
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|
|
|
X |
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||||
|
1. |
2021/22 Draft Annual Financial Statements - Provided under separate cover |
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2⇩. |
2021/22 General Purpose Financial Statements - Statement by Councillors and Management |
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3⇩. |
2021/22 Special Purpose Financial Statements - Statement by Councillors and Management |
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|
Report submitted to the Ordinary Meeting of Council on Monday 17 October 2022 |
RP-8 |
RP-8 FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE REPORT AS AT 30 SEPTEMBER 2022
Author: Carolyn Rodney
|
Summary: |
This report is for Council to consider information presented on the 2022/23 budget and Long-Term Financial Plan, and details Council’s external investments and performance as at 30 September 2022. |
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That Council: a approve the proposed 2022/23 budget variations for the month ended 30 September 2022 and note the balanced budget position as presented in this report b approve the proposed budget variations to the 2022/23 Long Term Financial Plan Capital Works Program including future year timing adjustments and new projects c note the Responsible Accounting Officer’s reports, in accordance with the Local Government (General) Regulation 2021 (Part 9 Division 3: Clause 203) that the financial position of Council is satisfactory having regard to the original estimates of income and expenditure and the recommendations made above d note the details of the external investments as at 30 September 2022 in accordance with section 625 of the Local Government Act 1993 e accept the funding offer of $358,050 from Transport for NSW for the Humula Road Blackspot works |
Wagga Wagga City Council (Council) forecasts a balanced budget position as at 30 September 2022.
The balanced budget position excludes the Wagga Wagga Airport estimated deficit result for the financial year – as previously reported to Council, any Airport deficit result will be sanctioned, and funded in the interim by General Purpose Revenue (via the Internal Loans Reserve). The deficit results will be accounted for as a liability in the Airport’s end of financial year statements and paid back to General Purpose Revenue (Internal Loans Reserve) by the Airport in future financial years.
Proposed budget variations including adjustments to the capital works program are detailed in this report for Council’s consideration and adoption.
Council has experienced a positive monthly investment performance for the month of September when compared to budget ($100,605 up on the monthly budget). This is mainly due to better than budgeted returns on Councils investment portfolio, as a result of the ongoing movement in the interest rate environment.
Key Performance Indicators
OPERATING INCOME
Total operating income is 27% of approved budget and is trending slightly above budget for the month of September 2022. An adjustment has been made to reflect the levy of rates that occurred at the start of the financial year. Excluding this adjustment, operating income received is 75% when compared to budget.
OPERATING EXPENSES
Total operating expenditure is 26% of approved budget so it is tracking slightly over budget at this stage of the financial year. This is due to the payment of annual one-off expenses such as rates and insurance.
CAPITAL INCOME
Total capital income is 7% of approved budget. It is important to note that the actual income from capital is influenced by the timing of the receipt of capital grants and contributions in relation to expenditure incurred on the projects. This income also includes the sale of property, plant and equipment.
CAPITAL EXPENDITURE
Total capital
expenditure including commitments is 26% of approved budget with some purchase
orders being raised for the full contract amounts for multi-year projects.
Excluding commitments, the total expenditure is 5% when compared to the
approved budget.
|
WAGGA WAGGA CITY COUNCIL |
|||||||
|
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT |
|||||||
|
|
ORIGINAL |
BUDGET ADJ |
APPROVED BUDGET |
YTD ACTUAL EXCL COMMT'S 2022/23 |
COMMT'S 2022/23 |
YTD ACTUAL + COMMT'S |
YTD % OF BUD |
|
Revenue |
|||||||
|
Rates & Annual Charges |
(75,524,168) |
0 |
(75,524,168) |
(18,654,746) |
0 |
(18,654,746) |
25% |
|
User Charges & Fees |
(27,844,136) |
(442,450) |
(28,286,586) |
(7,053,911) |
0 |
(7,053,911) |
25% |
|
Other Revenues |
(2,769,503) |
(202,000) |
(2,971,503) |
(768,290) |
0 |
(768,290) |
26% |
|
Operating Grants & Contributions |
(13,524,889) |
7,287,408 |
(6,237,480) |
(3,193,009) |
0 |
(3,193,009) |
51% |
|
Capital Grants & Contributions |
(36,295,253) |
(46,027,782) |
(82,323,035) |
(3,449,493) |
0 |
(3,449,493) |
4% |
|
Interest & Investment Income |
(1,828,128) |
0 |
(1,828,128) |
(1,064,923) |
0 |
(1,064,923) |
58% |
|
Other Income |
(1,406,222) |
(52,750) |
(1,458,972) |
(469,265) |
0 |
(469,265) |
32% |
|
Total Revenue |
(159,192,300) |
(39,437,574) |
(198,629,873) |
(34,653,636) |
0 |
(34,653,636) |
17% |
|
|
|||||||
|
|
|||||||
|
Expenses
|
|||||||
|
Employee Benefits & On-Costs |
51,315,412 |
0 |
51,315,412 |
11,522,213 |
0 |
11,522,213 |
22% |
|
Borrowing Costs |
3,268,989 |
0 |
3,268,989 |
614,417 |
0 |
614,417 |
19% |
|
Materials & Services |
36,542,674 |
6,633,907 |
43,176,581 |
10,707,118 |
4,015,130 |
14,722,248 |
34% |
|
Depreciation & Amortisation |
43,196,051 |
0 |
43,196,051 |
10,799,013 |
0 |
10,799,013 |
25% |
|
Other Expenses |
1,866,271 |
2,072,656 |
3,938,926 |
106,405 |
46,534 |
152,939 |
4% |
|
Total Expenses |
136,189,398 |
8,706,563 |
144,895,961 |
33,749,166 |
4,061,664 |
37,810,830 |
26% |
|
|
|||||||
|
Net Operating (Profit)/Loss |
(23,002,902) |
(30,731,011) |
(53,733,913) |
(904,470) |
4,061,664 |
3,157,194 |
|
|
|
|||||||
|
Net Operating (Profit)/Loss before Capital Grants & Contributions |
13,292,351 |
15,296,771 |
28,589,122 |
2,545,024 |
4,061,664 |
6,606,688 |
|
|
|
|||||||
|
Capital / Reserve Movements |
|||||||
|
Capital Expenditure - One Off Confirmed |
13,638,521 |
59,781,831 |
73,420,353 |
3,946,968 |
32,173,407 |
36,120,376 |
49% |
|
18,890,352 |
7,566,120 |
26,456,472 |
2,520,659 |
2,785,888 |
5,306,547 |
20% |
|
|
59,770,944 |
279,620 |
60,050,564 |
8,636 |
0 |
8,636 |
0% |
|
|
Loan Repayments |
7,571,681 |
0 |
7,571,681 |
1,642,920 |
0 |
1,642,920 |
22% |
|
New Loan Borrowings |
(17,458,537) |
(2,358,781) |
(19,817,318) |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0% |
|
Sale of Assets |
(880,181) |
(2,210,993) |
(3,091,174) |
(2,107,370) |
0 |
(2,107,370) |
68% |
|
Net Movements Reserves |
(15,333,827) |
(32,326,786) |
(47,660,613) |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0% |
|
Total Cap/Res Movements |
66,198,954 |
30,731,011 |
96,929,965 |
6,011,814 |
34,959,295 |
40,971,109 |
|
|
|
|||||||
|
|
ORIGINAL |
BUDGET ADJ |
APPROVED BUDGET |
YTD ACTUAL EXCL COMT'S 2022/23 |
COMMT'S 2022/23 |
YTD ACTUAL + COMMT'S |
YTD % OF BUD |
|
Net Result after Depreciation |
43,196,052 |
0 |
43,196,052 |
5,107,344 |
39,020,959 |
44,128,303 |
|
|
|
|||||||
|
Add back Depreciation Expense |
43,196,051 |
0 |
43,196,051 |
10,799,013 |
0 |
10,799,013 |
25% |
|
|
|||||||
|
Cash Budget (Surplus) / Deficit |
0 |
0 |
0 |
(5,691,669) |
39,020,959 |
33,329,290 |
|
Years 2-10 Long Term Financial Plan (Surplus) /Deficit
|
Description |
Budget 2023/24 |
Budget 2024/25 |
Budget 2025/26 |
Budget 2026/27 |
Budget 2027/28 |
Budget 2028/29 |
Budget 2029/30 |
Budget 2030/31 |
Budget 2031/32 |
|
Adopted Bottom Line (Surplus) / Deficit |
1,163,681 |
1,205,672 |
4,377,581 |
4,833,506 |
2,199,382 |
1,967,334 |
1,257,474 |
1,234,053 |
418,437 |
|
Adopted Bottom Line Adjustments |
27,330 |
28,547 |
43,051 |
44,342 |
45,673 |
47,042 |
48,454 |
49,907 |
51,404 |
|
Revised Bottom Line (Surplus) / Deficit |
1,191,011 |
1,234,219 |
4,420,632 |
4,877,848 |
2,245,055 |
2,014,376 |
1,305,928 |
1,283,960 |
469,841 |
2022/23 Revised Budget Result – (Surplus) / Deficit |
$’000s |
|
Original 2022/23 Budget Result as adopted by Council Total Budget Variations approved to date Budget Variations for September 2022 |
$0K $0K $0K |
|
Proposed Revised Budget result for 30 September 2022 - (Surplus) / Deficit |
$0K |
The proposed Operating and Capital Budget Variations for 30 September 2022 which affect the current 2022/23 financial year are listed below:
|
Budget Variation |
Amount |
Funding Source |
Net Impact (Fav)/ Unfav |
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|
2 – Safe and Healthy Community |
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|
Wagga Women’s Shed Roof Replacement |
$21K |
Existing Building Maintenance Budgets ($21K) |
Nil |
||
|
The replacement of the roof including asbestos removal project at the Wagga Women’s Shed Club House at the Cricket Ground Precinct is currently underway. Additional funds are now required to complete the project due to a change in the scope of works and increased contractor costs. It is proposed to fund the additional funds from existing Building Maintenance budgets. This will bring the total project budget to $53,400. Estimated Completion: 30 June 2023 Job Consolidation: 21776 |
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3 – Growing Economy |
|||||
|
NSW Small Business Month Grant |
$5K |
NSW Department of Customer Service ($5K) |
Nil |
||
|
Council has been successful in securing NSW Department of Customer Service grant funds under the NSW Small Business Month 2022 Program for the delivery of activities in partnership with the Wagga Wagga Business Chamber. Council will support the Wagga Wagga Business Chamber’s activities which include a series of podcasts focusing on key subject areas as well as a business connection event to be delivered during NSW Small Business Month in November 2022. Estimated Completion: 30 June 2023 Job Consolidation: 18905 |
|
||||
|
5 – The Environment |
|||||
|
Southern Growth Area Sewer Augmentation |
$1,400K |
Department of Planning and Environment ($1,400K) |
|
||
|
Under the Regional Housing Fund, Council has been successful in securing $1.4M to contribute towards the augmentation of sewer infrastructure to support housing development in the Southern Growth Area. Growth will result in an additional 5,500 homes across both urban release and infill and provide additional housing for the next 20-30 years. Augmentation of sewer through the funding will accelerate rezoning and availability of land for development in the Southern Growth Area and ensure housing supply is keeping up with demand. The project aligns with Council’s adopted Local Strategic Planning Statement – Wagga 2040 which is a blueprint for how and where Wagga Wagga will grow into the future. The funding will provide much needed resources for Council to deliver on key housing outcomes. Estimated Completion: 31 December 2023 Job Consolidation: 50418 |
|
||||
|
Par 3 Golf Recycled Water Supply Pipeline |
$22K |
Sewer Reserve ($22K) |
Nil |
||
|
Funds are required to provide a reliable supply of recycled water to the ‘Par 3’ site (formerly ‘Wiradjuri Golf Centre’) with the supply pipeline from the Narrung Street Sewage Treatment Plant to the golf centre. The works will include the supply and installation of pipeline/fittings and connection to power supply. It is proposed to fund the variation from the Sewer Reserve. Estimated Completion: 30 June 2023 Job Consolidation: 53500 |
|
||||
|
Humula Road Blackspot Funding |
$358K |
Transport for NSW ($358K) |
Nil |
||
|
Council has been successful in securing Transport for NSW (TfNSW) funding under the 2022/23 Australian Government Black Spot Program for the installation of retro reflective pavement markers and flexible roadside barriers on Humula Road. Estimated Completion: 31 May 2023 Job Consolidation: 21946 |
|
||||
|
Levee Floodgate Pump Augmentation |
$184K |
Resilience NSW ($169K) Stormwater Levy Reserve ($15K) |
Nil |
||
|
Council has been successful in securing State Government grant funds through Pathway 1 of the Local & Regional Risk Reduction Stream of the Disaster Risk Reduction Fund. The grant is for the work involved in determining the pump size and designs at four (4) locations of the Main City Levee. It is proposed to fund Councils required contribution to the project from the Stormwater Levy Reserve. Estimated Completion: 30 June 2023 Job Consolidation: 21960 |
|
||||
|
Bourke Street Pavement Rehabilitation |
$652K |
Transport for NSW Regional Roads Repair Grant funding ($326K) Transport for NSW Supplementary Block Grant funding ($199K) Pavement Rehab Program – unallocated TfNSW Block Grant Funding ($127K) |
Nil |
||
|
Each year Council submits an application to Transport for NSW for Regional Roads ‘Repair Program’ Grant funding which is eligible for regional roads only. Annual budgets are allocated in ‘Pending Projects’ for Supplementary Block Funding and Repair funding with no set location identified in the Long Term Financial Plan, until the funding for the specified location is approved. This year Council submitted an application for Bourke Street and have been successful in obtaining funding of $326K with Council contributing the remaining funds from Transport for NSW Supplementary Block Grant of $199K and unallocated Transport for NSW Block Grant funding on the Pavement Rehab Program of $127K. Estimated Completion: 30 June 2023 Job Consolidation:16532; Job: 21959 |
|
||||
|
|
$0K |
||||
The following 2022/23 project has been reviewed and transferred from the Pending category to the Delivery Program for completion in this financial year. There has been no change to the total budget for this project.
|
Job No. |
Project Title |
2022/23 Current Pending |
2022/23 Proposed Pending |
2022/23 Proposed Confirmed |
|
28139 |
Oasis Replace Pool Deck Grating |
$20,000 |
$0 |
$20,000 |
2022/23 Capital Works Summary
|
Approved Budget |
Proposed Movement |
Proposed Budget |
|
|
One-off |
$73,420,353 |
$1,441,000 |
$74,861,353 |
|
Recurrent |
$26,456,471 |
$525,000 |
$26,981,471 |
|
Pending |
$60,050,564 |
($619,000) |
$59,431,564 |
|
Total Capital Works |
$159,927,388 |
$1,347,000 |
$161,274,388 |
Current Restrictions
|
RESERVES SUMMARY |
|||||
|
30 SEPTEMBER 2022 |
|||||
|
|
CLOSING BALANCE 2021/22 |
ADOPTED RESERVE TRANSFERS 2022/23 |
BUDGET VARIATIONS APPROVED UP TO COUNCIL MEETING 19.9.2022 |
PROPOSED CHANGES for Council Resolution* |
BALANCE AS AT 30 SEPTEMBER 2022 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Externally Restricted |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Developer Contributions - Section 7.11 |
(31,045,478) |
7,213,679 |
3,153,478 |
|
(20,678,321) |
|
Developer Contributions - Section 7.12 |
(278,187) |
(28,179) |
0 |
|
(306,366) |
|
Developer Contributions - Stormwater Section 64 |
(7,112,864) |
(786,229) |
395,767 |
|
(7,503,326) |
|
Sewer Fund |
(32,439,399) |
673,962 |
3,771,500 |
22,000 |
(27,971,937) |
|
Solid Waste |
(24,880,735) |
7,737,392 |
1,676,784 |
|
(15,466,559) |
|
Specific Purpose Unexpended Grants & Contributions |
(4,195,951) |
0 |
4,195,951 |
|
0 |
|
SRV Levee Reserve |
(6,357,282) |
0 |
57,520 |
|
(6,299,762) |
|
Stormwater Levy |
(5,150,281) |
35,773 |
718,446 |
15,000 |
(4,381,062) |
|
Total Externally Restricted |
(111,460,179) |
14,846,399 |
13,969,446 |
37,000 |
(82,607,334) |
|
|
|
|
|||
|
Internally Restricted |
|
|
|||
|
Airport |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
0 |
|
Art Gallery |
(3,804) |
0 |
0 |
|
(3,804) |
|
Bridge Replacement |
(296,805) |
0 |
0 |
|
(296,805) |
|
Buildings |
(1,088,635) |
(23,658) |
238,578 |
|
(873,714) |
|
CCTV |
(100,843) |
30,633 |
30,000 |
|
(40,211) |
|
Cemetery |
(882,761) |
(226,784) |
61,080 |
|
(1,048,465) |
|
Civic Theatre |
(44,048) |
0 |
17,922 |
|
(26,127) |
|
Civil Infrastructure |
(9,317,219) |
1,598,454 |
630,291 |
|
(7,088,474) |
|
Community Works |
(159,648) |
140,317 |
12,555 |
|
(6,776) |
|
Council Election |
(235,385) |
(112,845) |
49,085 |
|
(299,146) |
|
Economic Development |
(419,160) |
60,000 |
349,832 |
|
(9,328) |
|
Emergency Events Reserve |
(639,548) |
(120,142) |
(275,120) |
|
(1,034,810) |
|
Employee Leave Entitlements Gen Fund |
(3,453,655) |
0 |
0 |
|
(3,453,655) |
|
Environmental Conservation |
(116,578) |
41,578 |
0 |
|
(75,000) |
|
Event Attraction |
(491,893) |
0 |
210,249 |
|
(281,644) |
|
Financial Assistance Grants in Advance |
(8,536,837) |
0 |
0 |
|
(8,536,837) |
|
Grant Co-Funding |
(500,000) |
0 |
0 |
|
(500,000) |
|
Gravel Pit Restoration |
(816,897) |
3,333 |
0 |
|
(813,564) |
|
Information Services |
(1,835,475) |
(507,158) |
133,683 |
|
(2,208,950) |
|
Insurance Variations |
(50,000) |
0 |
0 |
|
(50,000) |
|
Internal Loans |
(3,649,517) |
(201,545) |
(114,936) |
|
(3,965,998) |
|
Lake Albert Improvements |
(105,839) |
(21,366) |
0 |
|
(127,205) |
|
Library |
0 |
(171,724) |
0 |
|
(171,724) |
|
Livestock Marketing Centre |
(6,032,463) |
685,981 |
2,177,470 |
|
(3,169,012) |
|
|
CLOSING BALANCE 2021/22 |
ADOPTED RESERVE TRANSFERS 2022/23 |
BUDGET VARIATIONS APPROVED UP TO COUNCIL MEETING 19.9.2022 |
PROPOSED CHANGES for Council Resolution* |
BALANCE AS AT 30 SEPTEMBER 2022 |
|
Museum Acquisitions |
(39,378) |
10,000 |
15,000 |
|
(14,378) |
|
Net Zero Emissions |
(394,001) |
0 |
321,212 |
|
(72,790) |
|
Oasis Reserve |
(1,085,465) |
(63,900) |
665,904 |
|
(483,460) |
|
Parks & Recreation Projects |
(1,356,795) |
(33,906) |
631,822 |
|
(758,879) |
|
Parks Water |
0 |
(180,000) |
0 |
|
(180,000) |
|
Planning Legals |
(100,000) |
0 |
0 |
|
(100,000) |
|
Plant Replacement |
(4,335,819) |
(723,537) |
2,557,372 |
|
(2,501,984) |
|
Project Carryovers |
(3,098,056) |
0 |
3,098,056 |
|
0 |
|
Public Art |
(211,155) |
106,595 |
34,893 |
|
(69,667) |
|
Sister Cities |
(50,000) |
10,000 |
7,000 |
|
(33,000) |
|
Stormwater Drainage |
(158,178) |
0 |
48,000 |
|
(110,178) |
|
Strategic Real Property |
(766,176) |
0 |
69,510 |
|
(696,666) |
|
Subdivision Tree Planting |
(368,640) |
20,000 |
0 |
|
(348,640) |
|
Unexpended External Loans |
(3,143,977) |
74,744 |
2,977,245 |
|
(91,989) |
|
Workers Compensation |
(211,112) |
|
50,963 |
|
(160,149) |
|
Total Internally Restricted |
(54,095,762) |
395,070 |
13,997,664 |
0 |
(39,703,028) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total Restricted |
(165,555,941) |
15,241,469 |
27,967,110 |
37,000 |
(122,310,362) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total Unrestricted |
(11,494,000) |
0 |
0 |
0 |
(11,494,000) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total Cash, Cash Equivalents and Investments |
(177,049,941) |
15,241,469 |
27,967,110 |
37,000 |
(133,804,362) |
Investment Summary as at 30 September 2022
In accordance with Regulation 212 of the Local Government (General) Regulation 2021, details of Wagga Wagga City Council’s external investments are outlined below.
|
Institution |
Rating |
Closing
Balance |
Closing
Balance |
September |
September |
Investment |
Maturity |
Term |
|
At Call Accounts |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
NAB |
AA- |
470,364 |
121,360 |
2.35% |
0.06% |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
|
Rabobank |
A+ |
21 |
21 |
0.30% |
0.00% |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
|
CBA |
AA- |
8,823,972 |
4,253,408 |
2.35% |
2.26% |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
|
CBA |
AA- |
17,857,932 |
17,881,351 |
2.40% |
9.49% |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
|
Macquarie Bank |
A+ |
9,085,281 |
9,101,085 |
2.35% |
4.83% |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
|
Total At Call Accounts |
|
36,237,570 |
31,357,226 |
2.38% |
16.65% |
|
|
|
|
Short Term Deposits |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
CBA |
AA- |
2,000,000 |
2,000,000 |
2.22% |
1.06% |
20/04/2022 |
20/04/2023 |
12 |
|
CBA |
AA- |
2,000,000 |
2,000,000 |
3.68% |
1.06% |
8/06/2022 |
8/06/2023 |
12 |
|
Total Short Term Deposits |
|
4,000,000 |
4,000,000 |
2.95% |
2.12% |
|
|
|
|
Medium Term Deposits |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Auswide |
BBB |
2,000,000 |
2,000,000 |
0.85% |
1.06% |
6/10/2020 |
6/10/2022 |
24 |
|
BOQ |
BBB+ |
2,000,000 |
2,000,000 |
1.20% |
1.06% |
4/01/2022 |
4/01/2024 |
24 |
|
BOQ |
BBB+ |
1,000,000 |
1,000,000 |
3.78% |
0.53% |
1/06/2022 |
3/06/2024 |
24 |
|
Westpac |
AA- |
2,000,000 |
2,000,000 |
1.32% |
1.06% |
28/06/2021 |
29/06/2026 |
60 |
|
Westpac |
AA- |
2,000,000 |
2,000,000 |
1.80% |
1.06% |
15/11/2021 |
17/11/2025 |
48 |
|
P&N Bank |
BBB |
1,000,000 |
1,000,000 |
3.30% |
0.53% |
20/11/2018 |
21/11/2022 |
48 |
|
Bendigo-Adelaide |
BBB+ |
1,000,000 |
1,000,000 |
3.25% |
0.53% |
30/11/2018 |
30/11/2022 |
48 |
|
BoQ |
BBB+ |
1,000,000 |
1,000,000 |
2.15% |
0.53% |
8/07/2019 |
10/07/2023 |
48 |
|
Judo Bank |
BBB- |
1,000,000 |
0 |
0.00% |
0.00% |
10/09/2019 |
9/09/2022 |
36 |
|
Auswide |
BBB |
1,000,000 |
1,000,000 |
1.72% |
0.53% |
3/10/2019 |
4/10/2022 |
36 |
|
ICBC |
A |
2,000,000 |
2,000,000 |
2.03% |
1.06% |
6/11/2019 |
6/11/2024 |
60 |
|
ICBC |
A |
2,000,000 |
2,000,000 |
1.83% |
1.06% |
28/11/2019 |
28/11/2024 |
60 |
|
Judo Bank |
BBB- |
1,000,000 |
1,000,000 |
1.30% |
0.53% |
3/12/2021 |
4/12/2023 |
24 |
|
ICBC |
A |
1,000,000 |
1,000,000 |
1.75% |
0.53% |
6/01/2020 |
8/01/2024 |
48 |
|
BOQ |
BBB+ |
1,000,000 |
1,000,000 |
2.00% |
0.53% |
28/02/2020 |
28/02/2025 |
60 |
|
Police Credit Union |
NR |
1,000,000 |
1,000,000 |
2.20% |
0.53% |
1/04/2020 |
1/04/2025 |
60 |
|
ICBC |
A |
1,000,000 |
1,000,000 |
1.85% |
0.53% |
29/05/2020 |
29/05/2025 |
60 |
|
ICBC |
A |
1,000,000 |
1,000,000 |
1.86% |
0.53% |
1/06/2020 |
2/06/2025 |
60 |
|
ICBC |
A |
2,000,000 |
2,000,000 |
1.75% |
1.06% |
25/06/2020 |
25/06/2025 |
60 |
|
ICBC |
A |
2,000,000 |
2,000,000 |
1.75% |
1.06% |
25/06/2020 |
25/06/2025 |
60 |
|
ICBC |
A |
2,000,000 |
2,000,000 |
1.60% |
1.06% |
29/06/2020 |
28/06/2024 |
48 |
|
ICBC |
A |
3,000,000 |
3,000,000 |
5.07% |
1.59% |
30/06/2022 |
30/06/2027 |
60 |
|
ICBC |
A |
2,000,000 |
2,000,000 |
1.42% |
1.06% |
7/07/2020 |
8/07/2024 |
48 |
|
ICBC |
A |
2,000,000 |
2,000,000 |
1.50% |
1.06% |
17/08/2020 |
18/08/2025 |
60 |
|
BoQ |
BBB+ |
1,000,000 |
1,000,000 |
1.25% |
0.53% |
7/09/2020 |
8/09/2025 |
60 |
|
BoQ |
BBB+ |
2,000,000 |
2,000,000 |
1.25% |
1.06% |
14/09/2020 |
15/09/2025 |
60 |
|
NAB |
AA- |
1,000,000 |
1,000,000 |
0.60% |
0.53% |
14/09/2021 |
14/09/2023 |
24 |
|
AMP |
BBB |
1,000,000 |
1,000,000 |
3.30% |
0.53% |
25/05/2022 |
27/11/2023 |
18 |
|
ICBC |
A |
1,000,000 |
1,000,000 |
1.20% |
0.53% |
7/12/2020 |
8/12/2025 |
60 |
|
Warwick CU |
NR |
1,000,000 |
1,000,000 |
0.75% |
0.53% |
29/01/2021 |
30/01/2023 |
24 |
|
NAB |
AA- |
2,000,000 |
2,000,000 |
0.95% |
1.06% |
29/01/2021 |
29/01/2026 |
60 |
|
NAB |
AA- |
1,000,000 |
1,000,000 |
1.08% |
0.53% |
22/02/2021 |
20/02/2026 |
60 |
|
NAB |
AA- |
2,000,000 |
2,000,000 |
1.25% |
1.06% |
3/03/2021 |
2/03/2026 |
60 |
|
Summerland CU |
NR |
1,000,000 |
1,000,000 |
0.75% |
0.53% |
29/04/2021 |
28/04/2023 |
24 |
|
NAB |
AA- |
2,000,000 |
2,000,000 |
1.40% |
1.06% |
21/06/2021 |
19/06/2026 |
60 |
|
NAB |
AA- |
2,000,000 |
2,000,000 |
0.65% |
1.06% |
25/06/2021 |
26/06/2023 |
24 |
|
Westpac |
AA- |
2,000,000 |
2,000,000 |
1.32% |
1.06% |
25/06/2021 |
25/06/2026 |
60 |
|
ICBC |
A |
1,000,000 |
1,000,000 |
1.32% |
0.53% |
25/08/2021 |
25/08/2026 |
60 |
|
NAB |
AA- |
2,000,000 |
2,000,000 |
0.65% |
1.06% |
31/08/2021 |
31/08/2023 |
24 |
|
AMP |
BBB |
2,000,000 |
2,000,000 |
1.00% |
1.06% |
18/10/2021 |
17/10/2024 |
36 |
|
Westpac |
AA- |
2,000,000 |
2,000,000 |
1.56% |
1.06% |
30/11/2021 |
29/11/2024 |
36 |
|
Westpac |
AA- |
2,000,000 |
2,000,000 |
2.00% |
1.06% |
8/02/2022 |
10/02/2025 |
36 |
|
P&N Bank |
BBB |
2,000,000 |
2,000,000 |
2.40% |
1.06% |
9/03/2022 |
10/03/2025 |
36 |
|
P&N Bank |
BBB |
2,000,000 |
2,000,000 |
2.00% |
1.06% |
10/03/2022 |
11/03/2024 |
24 |
|
MyState |
BBB |
2,000,000 |
2,000,000 |
2.20% |
1.06% |
2/03/2022 |
3/03/2025 |
36 |
|
CBA |
AA- |
2,000,000 |
2,000,000 |
3.28% |
1.06% |
26/04/2022 |
26/04/2024 |
24 |
|
CBA |
AA- |
2,000,000 |
2,000,000 |
3.78% |
1.06% |
4/05/2022 |
6/05/2024 |
24 |
|
CBA |
AA- |
2,000,000 |
2,000,000 |
3.99% |
1.06% |
4/05/2022 |
5/05/2025 |
36 |
|
ING Bank |
A |
1,000,000 |
1,000,000 |
3.76% |
0.53% |
23/05/2022 |
23/05/2024 |
24 |
|
ICBC |
A |
2,000,000 |
2,000,000 |
3.95% |
1.06% |
6/06/2022 |
6/06/2024 |
24 |
|
Australian Unity |
BBB+ |
2,000,000 |
2,000,000 |
4.15% |
1.06% |
8/06/2022 |
11/06/2024 |
24 |
|
Suncorp |
A+ |
2,000,000 |
2,000,000 |
4.40% |
1.06% |
22/06/2022 |
14/12/2023 |
18 |
|
MyState |
BBB |
2,000,000 |
2,000,000 |
4.45% |
1.06% |
29/06/2022 |
28/06/2024 |
24 |
|
BoQ |
BBB+ |
1,000,000 |
1,000,000 |
4.50% |
0.53% |
7/07/2022 |
7/07/2025 |
36 |
|
CBA |
AA- |
1,000,000 |
1,000,000 |
4.25% |
0.53% |
12/08/2022 |
12/08/2025 |
36 |
|
P&N Bank |
BBB |
3,000,000 |
3,000,000 |
4.55% |
1.59% |
29/08/2022 |
29/08/2025 |
36 |
|
Australian Military Bank |
BBB+ |
0 |
2,000,000 |
4.55% |
1.06% |
2/09/2022 |
2/09/2025 |
36 |
|
P&N Bank |
BBB |
0 |
1,000,000 |
4.40% |
0.53% |
9/09/2022 |
9/09/2025 |
36 |
|
Total Medium Term Deposits |
|
91,000,000 |
93,000,000 |
2.34% |
49.38% |
|
|
|
|
Floating Rate Notes - Senior Debt |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Westpac |
AA- |
3,038,578 |
3,042,948 |
BBSW + 114 |
1.62% |
24/01/2019 |
24/04/2024 |
63 |
|
NAB |
AA- |
2,016,314 |
2,018,335 |
BBSW + 104 |
1.07% |
26/02/2019 |
26/02/2024 |
60 |
|
Westpac |
AA- |
2,516,264 |
2,518,199 |
BBSW + 88 |
1.34% |
16/05/2019 |
16/08/2024 |
63 |
|
Suncorp |
A+ |
1,252,881 |
1,256,437 |
BBSW + 78 |
0.67% |
30/07/2019 |
30/07/2024 |
60 |
|
ANZ |
AA- |
2,006,584 |
2,008,763 |
BBSW + 77 |
1.07% |
29/08/2019 |
29/08/2024 |
60 |
|
HSBC |
AA- |
2,514,218 |
2,502,931 |
BBSW + 83 |
1.33% |
27/09/2019 |
27/09/2024 |
60 |
|
Bank Australia |
BBB |
1,509,109 |
1,503,664 |
BBSW + 90 |
0.80% |
2/12/2019 |
2/12/2022 |
36 |
|
ANZ |
AA- |
1,508,999 |
1,510,534 |
BBSW + 76 |
0.80% |
16/01/2020 |
16/01/2025 |
60 |
|
NAB |
AA- |
2,012,774 |
2,014,281 |
BBSW + 77 |
1.07% |
21/01/2020 |
21/01/2025 |
60 |
|
Newcastle Permanent |
BBB |
1,101,001 |
1,104,410 |
BBSW + 112 |
0.59% |
4/02/2020 |
4/02/2025 |
60 |
|
Macquarie Bank |
A+ |
2,000,145 |
2,004,317 |
BBSW + 84 |
1.06% |
12/02/2020 |
12/02/2025 |
60 |
|
BOQ Covered |
AAA |
553,019 |
554,381 |
BBSW + 107 |
0.29% |
14/05/2020 |
14/05/2025 |
60 |
|
Credit Suisse |
A+ |
1,302,375 |
1,304,948 |
BBSW + 115 |
0.69% |
26/05/2020 |
26/05/2023 |
36 |
|
UBS |
A+ |
1,500,729 |
1,502,713 |
BBSW + 87 |
0.80% |
30/07/2020 |
30/07/2025 |
60 |
|
Bank of China Australia |
A |
1,502,530 |
1,504,770 |
BBSW + 78 |
0.80% |
27/10/2020 |
27/10/2023 |
36 |
|
CBA |
AA- |
1,990,453 |
1,990,266 |
BBSW + 70 |
1.06% |
14/01/2022 |
14/01/2027 |
60 |
|
Rabobank |
A+ |
1,985,587 |
1,986,106 |
BBSW + 73 |
1.05% |
27/01/2022 |
27/01/2027 |
60 |
|
Newcastle Permanent |
BBB |
980,179 |
981,317 |
BBSW + 100 |
0.52% |
10/02/2022 |
10/02/2027 |
60 |
|
NAB |
AA- |
2,382,116 |
2,380,099 |
BBSW + 72 |
1.26% |
25/02/2022 |
25/02/2027 |
60 |
|
Bendigo-Adelaide |
BBB+ |
1,656,092 |
1,649,089 |
BBSW + 98 |
0.88% |
17/03/2022 |
17/03/2025 |
36 |
|
ANZ |
AA- |
2,007,116 |
2,006,000 |
BBSW + 97 |
1.07% |
12/05/2022 |
12/05/2027 |
60 |
|
NAB |
AA- |
1,708,775 |
1,709,479 |
BBSW + 90 |
0.91% |
30/05/2022 |
30/05/2025 |
36 |
|
Suncorp |
A+ |
901,768 |
904,006 |
BBSW + 93 |
0.48% |
22/08/2022 |
22/08/2025 |
36 |
|
Total Floating Rate Notes - Senior Debt |
|
39,947,604 |
39,957,991 |
|
21.22% |
|
|
|
|
Fixed Rate Bonds |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
ING Covered |
AAA |
656,442 |
652,484 |
1.10% |
0.35% |
19/08/2021 |
19/08/2026 |
60 |
|
Northern Territory Treasury |
AA- |
3,000,000 |
3,000,000 |
1.00% |
1.59% |
24/08/2021 |
16/12/2024 |
40 |
|
Northern Territory Treasury |
AA- |
3,000,000 |
3,000,000 |
1.50% |
1.59% |
24/08/2021 |
15/12/2026 |
64 |
|
BoQ |
BBB+ |
1,713,559 |
1,694,916 |
2.10% |
0.90% |
27/10/2021 |
27/10/2026 |
60 |
|
Northern Territory Treasury |
AA- |
2,000,000 |
2,000,000 |
1.50% |
1.06% |
6/08/2021 |
15/12/2026 |
64 |
|
Northern Territory Treasury |
AA- |
1,000,000 |
1,000,000 |
1.50% |
0.53% |
14/07/2021 |
15/12/2026 |
65 |
|
Northern Territory Treasury |
AA- |
2,000,000 |
2,000,000 |
1.30% |
1.06% |
29/04/2021 |
15/06/2026 |
61 |
|
Northern Territory Treasury |
AA- |
2,000,000 |
2,000,000 |
1.00% |
1.06% |
30/11/2020 |
15/12/2025 |
60 |
|
Northern Territory Treasury |
AA- |
1,000,000 |
1,000,000 |
1.00% |
0.53% |
20/11/2020 |
15/12/2025 |
61 |
|
Northern Territory Treasury |
AA- |
2,000,000 |
2,000,000 |
1.00% |
1.06% |
21/10/2020 |
15/12/2025 |
62 |
|
Total Fixed Rate Bonds |
|
18,370,001 |
18,347,400 |
1.30% |
9.74% |
|
|
|
|
Managed Funds |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
NSW Tcorp |
NR |
1,735,273 |
1,680,290 |
-3.17% |
0.89% |
17/03/2014 |
1/09/2027 |
161 |
|
Total Managed Funds |
|
1,735,273 |
1,680,290 |
-3.17% |
0.89% |
|
|
|
|
TOTAL CASH ASSETS, CASH |
|
191,290,448 |
188,342,906 |
|
100.00% |
|
|
|
|
LESS: RIVERINA REGIONAL LIBRARY (RRL) CASH AT BANK |
|
2,880,694 |
2,839,676 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
TOTAL WWCC CASH ASSETS, CASH |
|
188,409,754 |
185,503,230 |
|
|
|
|
|
Council’s investment portfolio is dominated by Term Deposits, equating to approximately 51% of the portfolio across a broad range of counterparties. Cash equates to 17%, with Floating Rate Notes (FRNs) around 21%, fixed rate bonds around 10% and growth funds around 1% of the portfolio.
Council’s investment portfolio is well diversified in complying assets across the entire credit spectrum. It is also well diversified from a rating perspective. Credit quality is diversified and is predominately invested amongst the investment grade Authorised Deposit-Taking Institutions (ADIs) (being BBB- or higher), with a smaller allocation to unrated ADIs.
All investments are within the defined Policy limits, as outlined in the Rating Allocation chart below:
Investment Portfolio Balance
Council’s investment portfolio balance has decreased over the past month, down from $188.41M to $185.50M.
Monthly Investment Movements
Redemptions/Sales – Council redeemed the following investment security during September 2022:
|
Institution and Type |
Amount |
Investment Term |
Interest Rate |
Comments |
|
Judo Bank (BBB-) Term Deposit |
$1M |
3 years |
1.90% |
This term deposit was redeemed on maturity and funds were used to purchase a new 3-year P&N Bank term deposit (as below). |
New Investments – Council purchased the following investment securities during September 2022:
|
Institution and Type |
Amount |
Investment Term |
Interest Rate |
Comments |
|
Australian Military Bank (BBB+) Term Deposit |
$2M |
3 years |
4.55% |
The Australian Military Bank rate of 4.55% compared favourably to the rest of the market for this term. The next best rate for this term was 4.49%. |
|
P&N Bank (BBB) Term Deposit |
$1M |
3 years |
4.40% |
The P&N Bank rate of 4.40% compared favourably to the rest of the market for this term. The next best rate for this term was also 4.40%. |
Rollovers – Council did not rollover any investment securities during September 2022.
Monthly Investment Performance
Interest/growth/capital gains/(losses) for the month totalled $232,556, which compares favourably with the budget for the period of $131,951 - outperforming budget for the month by $100,605.
Council’s outperformance to budget for September is mainly due to better than budgeted returns on Councils investment portfolio. This is a result of the ongoing movements in the cash rate made by the Reserve Bank of Australia, with the latest increase in early October 2022 bringing the cash rate to 2.60% from a record low of 0.10% in April 2022. Council staff will continue to review the impacts of the interest rate movements against budget.
Over the past year, Council’s investment portfolio has returned 1.47%, outperforming the AusBond Bank Bill index by 0.96%.
* The AusBond Bank Bill Index is the leading benchmark for the Australian fixed income market. It is interpolated from the RBA Cash rate, 1 month and 3-month Bank Bill Swap rates.
Report by Responsible Accounting Officer
I hereby certify that all of the above investments have been made in accordance with the provision of Section 625 of the Local Government Act 1993 and the regulations there under, and in accordance with the Investments Policy adopted by Council on 29 November 2021.
Carolyn Rodney
Responsible Accounting Officer
Policy and Legislation
Budget variations are reported in accordance with Council’s POL 052 Budget Policy.
Investments are reported in accordance with Council’s POL 075 Investment Policy.
Local Government Act 1993
Section 625 - How may councils invest?
Local Government (General) Regulation 2021
Section 212 - Reports on council investments
Link to Strategic Plan
Community Leadership and Collaboration
Objective: We have strong leadership
Outcome: We are accountable and transparent
Risk Management Issues for Council
This report is a control mechanism that assists in addressing the following potential risks to Council:
· Loss of investment income or capital resulting from ongoing management of investments, especially during difficult economic times
· Failure to demonstrate to the community that its funds are being expended in an efficient and effective manner
Internal / External Consultation
All relevant areas within the Council have consulted with the Finance Division in relation to the budget variations listed in this report.
The Finance Division has consulted with relevant external parties to confirm Council’s investment portfolio balances.
|
1⇩. |
Capital Works Program 2022/23 to 2032/33 |
|
|
Report submitted to the Ordinary Meeting of Council on Monday 17 October 2022 |
RP-9 |
RP-9 REQUESTS FOR FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE
Author: Carolyn Rodney
|
Summary: |
Council has received three (3) fee waiver requests along with an amendment to a previous fee waived amount which are detailed for Council’s consideration. |
|
That Council: a in accordance with Section 356 of the Local Government Act 1993, provide financial assistance to the following groups: i. Riverina Conservatorium of Music – Christmas with the Con: $445.00 (Request 1) ii. Department of Communities and Justice – Kooringal Clean Up: $6,789.00 (Request 2) iii. Riverina Summer School for Strings – Grand Finale Concert: $685.00 (Request 3) iv. Cancer Council – Wagga Relay for Life: Additional $1,250.60 (Request 4) b note the proposed budget available for financial assistance requests for the remainder of the 2022/23 financial year |
Report
Three (3) Section 356 financial assistance requests are proposed for consideration at this Ordinary Council meeting, along with an amendment to a previous fee waived amount. Details of each request and the amendment are shown below:
1. Riverina Conservatorium of Music: Christmas with the Con Event - $445.00
Kylie, Publicity Officer and Concert Manager for the Riverina Conservatorium of Music in the attached requests:
The Riverina Conservatorium of Music is hosting a free community concert titled Christmas with the Con on Saturday Dec 17 2022 at the Riverside Stage Area. The concert will involve over 80 professional, advanced/senior musicians, and will feature the Riverina Youth Orchestra along with bands, choirs & soloists from the RCM.
On behalf of the Riverina Conservatorium of Music:
· I would like to apply for a fee waiver on the hire of Wagga City Council Venue – Riverside Stage Area for Saturday December 17 2022
· We are also requesting an in-kind donation of additional bins to be placed on the grassed area that is located in front of the stage area (where families/audiences will be sitting).
· Also requesting an in-kind donation for the cost of any additional cleaning of the public toilets a the Riverside Area.
The Riverina Conservatorium of Music is a not-for-profit organisation and is a registered charity.
Wagga Wagga City Council’s support of the Riverina Conservatorium of Music would be very much appreciated and will help support the RCM in providing live cultural and musical experiences for the community.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
Kind regards,
Kylie
The total cost of the event booking is $445.00, which includes a $115.00 booking fee, $220.00 additional bin charge, and a $110.00 additional toilet clean fee.
The above request aligns with Council’s Strategic Plan “We activate our community spaces to promote connectedness” – Objective: “We have opportunities to connect with others”.
The Riverina Conservatorium of Music receive an annual contribution from Council of $7,087 which was included in the Operational Plan adopted by Council at the 27 June 2022 Council meeting.
2. Department of Communities and Justice: Kooringal Clean Up - $6,789
Bree Manuatu, Client Service Office – Housing NSW (Department of Communities and Justice) in the attached requests:
Kooringal Clean Up - Request for Assistance
As you are aware, the Department of Communities and Justice (DCJ), Housing Murrumbidgee, led a community clean up in the Ashmont Housing Estate late last year. The day exceeded all expectations with the following amount of rubbish removed from the estate:
· 15.92 tonnes of rubbish
· 40 mattresses
· 1.6 tonne of scrap metal
· 21 tyres
Many residents that live in social housing estates have limited means to access waste removal options, events like this are certainly appreciated by the community and this was echoed throughout the day. I would like to acknowledge the vital importance of the Wagga Wagga City Council in making these days a success and for their ongoing support and commitment to the community. Without the Council’s support, these days would not be the success that they are.
The DCJ Housing Murrumbidgee Team are planning to hold another Community Clean-up Day on Thursday the 24th of November in the Kooringal Social Housing Estate. Similarly, to the Ashmont Clean-up day, we will providing large skip bins placed around the estate and a BBQ throughout the day.
In conducting this Clean-up day we are, again, seeking Council’s support for the following:
· Tip fees waived for the removal of rubbish and mattresses
· Requet for tip to remain open until 4.30pm to allow drivers to empty skips
· A truck and 2 workers to assist the community to get their bulky items to the skip bins, on Thursday 24th of November from 11am and also the following morning, Friday 25th of November to collect rubbish that was left from the previous day.
Could you please review this request, seek approval from the Council and let me know if Council can support DCJ in this event. If you have any further questions regarding this request, please don’t hesitate to call me on 0428 737 774.
Yours sincerely
Bree Manuatu
Client Service Officer - Housing NSW
The estimated cost of the requested Council assistance has been compiled by Council officers and is detailed below:
|
Item |
Cost |
Total |
|
Truck Hire & labour |
Truck usage and two employees |
$769 |
|
General Rubbish |
$255 per tonne (say 15 tonnes) |
$3,825 |
|
Mattresses |
$28 per mattress (say 50 units) |
$1,400 |
|
Tyres – Bicycle |
$13 per tyre (say 30 units) |
$390 |
|
Tyres – Passenger |
$18 per tyre (say 15 units) |
$270 |
|
Refrigerate equipment CFC removal |
$27 per fridge (say 5 units) |
$135 |
|
Total |
|
$6,789 |
The above request aligns with Council’s Strategic Plan “The Environment” – Objective: We are proactive with our waste management”
Council has provided similar assistance to the Department in the last 12 months via community clean-up days at Tolland and Ashmont.
It is proposed that Council support the above event by contributing the above assistance funded from Council’s Solid Waste Management Operations budget which can absorb the total cost estimate of $6,789 (Job Number 70138).
The Department of Communities and Justice have not received any other funding from Council in the 2021/22 financial year.
3. Riverina Summer School for Strings: Grand Finale Concert - $685.00
Jeff Donovan, President & Administrator for the Riverina Summer School of Strings in the attached requests:
Dear Mr Thompson
I am writing to request a fee waiver for the use of the Wagga Wagga Civic Theatre on Saturday 14 January 2023. The Riverina Summer School for Strings has booked the theatre on this day to hold its Grand Finale Concert which is the culmination of the week of classes that take place from 7 – 14 January.
The Riverina Summer School for Strings is a non-profit volunteer-run organisation that produces a week long residential string school for young people and adults in the second week of January every year. We draw our students extensively from Wagga Wagga and the Riverina as well as from regional NSW, Sydney, Canberra, Melbourne and Tasmania. In 2020 the 60 students and staff who visited Wagga for the week as well as 27 accompanying family, added 609 person nights to the local visitor economy.
Due to COVID-19 the RSSS has had to cancel the last two schools in 2021 and 2022 and as a result the close connection we normally have with our students has been diminished, leading to a situation where we have to rebuild our relationships and the numbers of people attending. To give the RSSS some breathing space to re-establish itself, I would like to request that the Wagga Wagga City Council waive the hire fee on the Civic Theatre for the RSSS Grand Finale on 14 January 2023.
Please let me know if this will be possible.
Yours sincerely
Jeff Donovan
President & Administrator
The total cost of the event booking is $685.00.
The above request aligns with Council’s Strategic Plan “We activate our community spaces to promote connectedness” – Objective: “We have opportunities to connect with others”.
The Summer School for Strings receive an annual contribution from Council of $2,500.00 which was included in the Operational Plan adopted by Council at the 27 June 2022 Council meeting.
4. Cancer Council: Wagga Relay for Life – Additional $1,250.60
The Cancer Council Wagga Relay for Life was scheduled to be held on the 7-8 October 2022 at Conolly Oval. The week prior to the event, unfortunately the organisers had to amend the rescheduled the event to be held at the Multi-Purpose Stadium due to inclement weather.
This event was approved by Council at the 5 September 2022 Council meeting for a fee waiver up to $2,299.40, which included hire of Conolly Oval and signage of $1,299.40, and up to a maximum of $1,000 in Gregadoo Waste Management Charges to be waived.
The use of the Multi-Purpose Stadium attracted a higher charge rate than Conolly Oval, with a difference of $1,250.60 remaining.
It is recommended that Council approve this additional $1,250.60 charge as a fee waiver.
The above request aligns with Council’s Strategic Plan “We activate our community spaces to promote connectedness” – Objective: “We have opportunities to connect with others”.
Financial Implications
|
Section 356 Budget Summary |
|
|
2022/23 Opening Budget* |
$43,528.00 |
|
Total of fee waivers approved to date |
($10,804.43) |
|
Revised Balance of Section 356 fee waiver financial assistance |
$32,993.57 |
|
1) Riverina Conservatorium of Music – Christmas with the Con |
($445.00) |
|
2) Department of Communities and Justice – Kooringal Clean Up: $6,789.00 |
Funded from the Solid Waste Operating budget |
|
3) Riverina Summer School for Strings – Grand Finale Concert |
($685.00) |
|
4) Cancer Council – Wagga Relay for Life: Additional fee waiver |
($1,250.60) |
|
Subtotal Fee Waivers included in this report proposed to be funded from the Section 356 Budget |
($2,380.60) |
|
Proposed Balance of Section 356 fee waiver financial assistance budget for the remainder of the 2022/23 Financial Year |
$30,612.97 |
Policy and Legislation
POL 078 – Financial Assistance Policy
Link to Strategic Plan
Community leadership and collaboration
Objective: Wagga Wagga has strong community leadership and a shared vision for the future
Plan long term for the future of Wagga Wagga
Risk Management Issues for Council
N/A
Internal / External Consultation
Cross Directorate consultation has been undertaken as required.
|
1⇩. |
Riverina Conservatorium of Music - Christmas with the Con: Request for Financial Assistance |
|
|
2⇩. |
Department of Communities and Justice - Kooringal Clean Up: Request for Financial Assistance |
|
|
3⇩. |
Riverina Summer School of Strings - Request for Financial Assistance |
|
|
Report submitted to the Ordinary Meeting of Council on Monday 17 October 2022 |
RP-10 |
RP-10 DRAFT URBAN COOLING STRATEGY
Author: Carly Hood
Executive: Janice Summerhayes
|
Summary: |
The draft Urban Cooling Strategy is a 30-year plan that aims to increase community health, wellbeing and resilience through planning more sustainable future developments and adapting our existing parks, open spaces, and other community infrastructure wherever possible. This report recommends placing the strategy on public exhibition and invite public submissions from the community. |
|
That Council: a endorse the draft Urban Cooling Strategy to be placed on public exhibition for a period of 28 days from 18 October 2022 and invite public submissions during that period b receive a further report following the public exhibition period: i addressing any submissions made in respect of the draft Strategy ii proposing adoption of the draft Strategy unless there are any recommended amendments deemed to be substantial and requiring a further public exhibition period |
Report
Our community is faced with the challenges of a warming climate. Long term observations and climate modelling projections indicate that the region is expected to experience an increase in temperatures and frequency of extreme heat in the coming decades. This will have an impact on:
· Human health
· Energy consumption for cooling
· Water consumption
· Local biodiversity
· Infrastructure
· Public open space amenity and usage
Increased proportions of non-natural areas (the built environment) lead to the creation of urban heat islands, a phenomenon where urban areas experience higher temperatures compared to the surrounding environment.
Consequently, an effective cooling strategy is required to protect and build resilient communities from the impact of living in a warming climate. The draft Urban Cooling Strategy has been developed through funding from the NSW Government under its ‘Increasing Resilience to Climate Change’ grant program. The Strategy aims to increase community health, wellbeing and resilience through planning more sustainable future developments and adapting our existing parks, open spaces, and other community infrastructure wherever possible.
This will enable Council and the community to:
· Plan for and create more liveable neighbourhoods in the future in line with NSW targets
· Reduce land surface temperatures in existing urban areas
· Increase urban canopy coverage on existing public and private land
· Increase the community’s awareness of urban cooling mechanisms.
The Strategy is to be reviewed within 10 years so that ongoing canopy and heat mapping can be conducted. This will allow Council to evaluate trends and results from current initiatives. This will also enable continued prioritisation of activities and incorporation of any new technologies or approaches associated with cooling urban areas.
The strategy provides Council with:
· Detailed baseline information on urban heat and vegetation cover across land use types and suburbs in the study area
· Information around priority neighbourhoods that have large populations who are more susceptible to heat related illnesses and energy poverty
· Information to inform the update of the Street Tree Strategy & Master Plan
· A list of actions for staff to implement to reduce the impacts of urban heat
· An online interactive mapping tool to guide staff in decision making and projects.
The strategy was intended to align with the draft NSW Design & Place State Environmental Planning Policy (SEPP) and the accompanying Urban Design Guidelines which included canopy targets. Given the NSW Government has decided not to proceed with the SEPP in April 2022, the draft Strategy now consists of 28 actions that Council and the community can take to help reduce the impact of increasing temperatures and heat waves on the community.
It is recommended the draft Urban Colling Strategy be placed on public exhibition for a period of 28 days from 18 October 2022 and invite public submissions during that period. During the public exhibition period community engagement will include:
· A media release to announce that the draft Urban Cooling Strategy is open for comment and how to make a submission
· Promotion in Council’s communication platforms including Council News, Sustainable Wagga Wagga e-newsletter, Sustainable Wagga Wagga Facebook page, Council Facebook page
· Promotion on local radio
· Placement on Wagga Wagga City Council’s online consultation platform- Wagga View for comment
· Government agencies, community interest and stakeholder groups will be directly notified and invited to comment
Financial Implications
The draft Strategy contains a high proportion of activities that have an existing funding source - either internal or external. Where an action is unfunded an indicative budget amount and funding source has been identified and staff will follow the standard budgeting process or grant application process to seek funding.
Policy and Legislation
The draft Strategy was developed to assist in achieving Council’s obligations under various legislation and to align with a number of key Council plans including:
· Riverina Murray Regional Plan 2036
· Community Strategic Plan 2040: Wagga View
· Wagga Wagga Local Strategic Planning Statement 2040
· Corporate Net Zero 2040 Strategy
· Recreation, Open Space & Community Strategy and Implementation Plan 2040
· Biodiversity Strategy: Maldhangilanha
Link to Strategic Plan
The Environment
Objective: Wagga Wagga is sustainable, liveable, and resilient to the impacts of climate change
Adapt to our changing climate
Risk Management Issues for Council
The draft Strategy will assist Council to manage risk by ensuring we better address our obligations under various State and Commonwealth legislation.
Internal / External Consultation
Internal stakeholder consultation included meetings with cross directorate staff along with a Councillor workshop conducted in March 2022.
Recent community surveys conducted by Council have indicated a strong community sentiment for this strategy to be developed, with the following results from the Playground Strategy and the Urban Cooling Strategy surveys including:
Playground Survey
· 405 responses + 45 facebook responses
· Additional shade was the #1 request
Urban Tree Cover Survey
· 332 responses + 90 facebook responses
· 91% said we don’t have enough trees (on private and public land)
· 93% would support greater tree density in their suburb
· 58% were willing to plant another tree in their own garden
|
|
|
Media |
Community Engagement |
Digital |
|||||||||||||
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Rates notices insert |
Direct mail |
Letterbox drop |
Council news story |
Council News advert |
Media releases |
TV/radio advertising |
One-on-one meetings |
Your Say website |
Community meetings |
Stakeholder workshops |
Drop-in sessions |
Surveys and feedback forms |
Social media |
Email newsletters |
Website |
Digital advertising |
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Draft Urban Cooling Strategy - Provided under separate cover |
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Report submitted to the Ordinary Meeting of Council on Monday 17 October 2022. RP-11
RP-11 ALCOHOL-FREE ZONE AND PROHIBITED AREAS
Author: Mark Gardiner
Executive: Janice Summerhayes
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Analysis: |
Council is responsible for declaring the Alcohol-Free Zone and Alcohol Prohibited Areas in accordance with the Local Government Act 1993. The current declared zones expire on 22 February 2023 and this report recommends placing on public exhibition the proposal to renew these areas for a further four years. |
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That Council: a support in principle the renewal of the Alcohol-Free Zone for four years from the expiry of the existing declaration on 22 February 2023 and place on public exhibition for a period of 28 days from 22 October 2022 to 21 November 2022 and invite public submissions b support in principle that the area of the proposed Alcohol-Free Zone be bounded by and include the following streets and laneways on both sides: · Travers Street (between Trail and Fitzmaurice Streets) · Fitzmaurice Street (between Travers and Sturt Streets) · Cadell Place · Tarcutta Street (between Sturt and Morrow Streets) · Morrow Street (between Tarcutta and O’Reilly Streets) · O'Reilly Street (between Morrow and Tompson Streets) · Tompson Street (between O'Reilly and Berry Streets) · Berry Street (between Tompson and Morgan Streets) · Morgan Street (between the Skate Park and Fitzhardinge Street) · Fitzhardinge Street (between Morgan and Edward Streets) · Edward Street (between Fitzhardinge and Peter Streets) · Flinders Street · Station Place · Peter Street (between Edward and Morrow Streets) · Morrow Street (between Peter Street and Ivan Jack Drive) · Ivan Jack Drive (between The Esplanade and Johnson Street) · Trail Street (between Johnson and Travers Streets) c support in principle the continued prohibition of consumption of alcohol in: · Victory Memorial Gardens and Wollundry Lagoon Amphitheatre between the hours of 10:00pm and 10:00am · Tony Ireland Park at all times and · Skate Park area at Bolton Park at all times d note the area leased to food outlets for Alfresco Dining within the Alcohol-Free Zone are excluded whilst they are open for business where they have the necessary permission to serve alcohol e invite submissions on the proposed renewal of the Alcohol-Free Zone from NSW Police Service and licensees in or near the proposed zone f consider a further report following the public exhibition and consultation period: i addressing any submission made in respect of the proposal ii outlining any amendments to the proposal considered appropriate whether as a result of the public submissions or otherwise |
Report
Alcohol-Free Zone:
The Alcohol-Free Zone (AFZ) in the Central Business District (CBD) of Wagga Wagga is due to expire on 22 February 2023. This area is established under section 644B of the Local Government Act 1993 and Council is required to consult and advertise the proposed renewal of the AFZ prior to formalising the declaration. A zone can be declared for up to a four year period.
An Alcohol-Free Zone can only be established in the following areas:
1. a public road or part of a public road
2. a public place that is a carpark or part of a carpark
At present the declaration applies to the area bounded by and including the following streets and laneways (on both sides):
· Travers Street (between Trail and Fitzmaurice Streets)
· Fitzmaurice Street (between Travers and Sturt Streets)
· Cadell Place
· Tarcutta Street (between Sturt and Morrow Streets)
· Morrow Street (between Tarcutta and O’Reilly Streets)
· O'Reilly Street (between Morrow and Tompson Streets)
· Tompson Street (between O'Reilly and Berry Streets)
· Berry Street (between Tompson and Morgan Streets)
· Morgan Street (between the Skate Park and Fitzhardinge Street)
· Fitzhardinge Street (between Morgan and Edward Streets)
· Edward Street (between Fitzhardinge and Peter Streets)
· Flinders Street
· Station Place
· Peter Street (between Edward and Morrow Streets)
· Morrow Street (between Peter Street and Ivan Jack Drive)
· Ivan Jack Drive (between The Esplanade and Johnson Street)
· Trail Street (between Johnson and Travers Streets)
Currently the areas of the footpath within this area leased to food outlets for alfresco dining where they have the necessary permission to serve alcohol are precluded from the Alcohol-Free Zone. Provision is made in the guidelines for the “Street Activities Policy” to clearly denote the area which is leased.
Alcohol Prohibited Areas:
An Alcohol Prohibited Area can be established for any public place that does not include a public road or a carpark. These areas are established under section 632A of the Local Government Act 1993 and requires the approval of the NSW Police Area Commander.
Consumption of alcohol is also currently prohibited in several park areas within the Alcohol-Free Zone and include:
· Victory Memorial Gardens and Wollundry Lagoon Amphitheatre between the hours of 10:00pm and 10:00am
· Tony Ireland Park and
· Skate Park area at Bolton Park at all times
Council has the ability to suspend or cancel the zone at any time by public notice.
The consultation process requires an advertisement to be placed calling for representations or objections to the proposal and for a copy of the proposal to be sent to the local Police and licensees in or near the proposed zone. Council must take into account any representation received.
It is the responsibility of the Police to enforce the zone, therefore, its extent must be such that this enforcement is achievable with their limited resources.
It is recommended Council agree in principle to renew the Alcohol-Free Zone and the prohibition for the consumption of alcohol in the parks identified inclusive to the area shown in the attached map.
Financial Implications
The estimated cost to update the Alcohol-Free Zone signage is $1,200 and there are funds allocated in the budget for this purpose.
Policy and Legislation
Local Government Act 1993
Link to Strategic Plan
Safe and Healthy Community
Objective: Our community feel safe
Create safe spaces and places
Risk Management Issues for Council
The Alcohol-Free Zone is intended, amongst other things to contribute toward community safety by reducing the potential for anti-social behaviour and to create an environment that minimises damage to the public infrastructure in the Central Business District.
Internal / External Consultation
NSW Police have indicated they would support the renewal of the existing alcohol-free and prohibited area zones. This proposal will be placed on public exhibition to allow submissions from members of the community.
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Community Engagement |
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Rates notices insert |
Direct mail |
Letterbox drop |
Council news story |
Council News advert |
Media releases |
TV/radio advertising |
One-on-one meetings |
Your Say website |
Community meetings |
Stakeholder workshops |
Drop-in sessions |
Surveys and feedback forms |
Social media |
Email newsletters |
Website |
Digital advertising |
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Alcohol-Free Zone Map |
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Report submitted to the Ordinary Meeting of Council on Monday 17 October 2022 |
RP-12 |
RP-12 AMENDMENT TO WAGGA WAGGA LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA BUSH FIRE PRONE LAND MAP
Author: Paul O’Brien
General Manager: Peter Thompson
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Summary: |
The purpose of this report is for Council to receive and note the revised Draft Bush Fire Prone Land Map. The draft map has been prepared by the NSW Rural Fire Service (RFS) in consultation with Council to identify areas with elevated bushfire risk within the Wagga Wagga Local Government Area, in accordance with the latest mapping guidelines and will update the current map which was implemented in 2016. |
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That Council: a receive and note the report b support the proposed changes made by the NSW Rural Fire Service in consultation with Council Staff |
Report
Introduction
The purpose of this report is for Council to receive and note the revised Draft Bush Fire Prone Land Map. The draft map will be made available to the public via Councils website while it is being reviewed and certified by the Commissioner of the NSW Rural Fire Service. There is no requirement to publicly notify/advertise the map and given Council are not the authority for the map it is not considered relevant or appropriate to ask for comment on the draft map.
The map has been prepared by the NSW Rural Fire Service (RFS) in consultation with Council to identify areas with elevated bushfire risk within the Wagga Wagga Local Government Area, in accordance with the latest mapping guidelines and will update the current map which was implemented in 2016.
Background
The Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 (EP&A Act) and the Rural Fires Act 1997 (RF Act) were amended on 1 August 2002 to enhance bush fire protection in the development assessment process. This included the requirement for the preparation of a Bush Fire Prone Land (BFPL) map identifying vegetation within Local Government Areas (LGAs) that has the potential to support a bushfire.
The identification of Bush Fire Prone Land (BFPL) in NSW is required under the Section 10.3 of the EP&A Act, which states:
“10.3 Bush fire prone land (cf previous s 146)
(1) If a bush fire risk management plan applies to land within the area of a council, the council must, within 12 months after the commencement of this section (and before the end of the period of every 5 years after the commencement)
(a) request the Commissioner of the NSW Rural Fire Service to designate land (if any) within the area that the Commissioner considers, having regard to the bush fire risk management plan, to be bush fire prone land, and
(b) must record any land so designated on a map.
(2) The Commissioner of the NSW Rural Fire Service must, if satisfied that the land designated by the Commissioner has been recorded by the council on a map, certify the map as a bush fire prone land map for the area of the council.
(2A) The Commissioner of the NSW Rural Fire Service may, in accordance with the regulations, review the designation of land on a bush fire prone land map for an area at any time after the map is certified and revise the map accordingly.
The revised map
(a) becomes the bush fire prone land map for the area on being certified by the Commissioner, and
(b) is to be provided to the council by the Commissioner.
(3) Land recorded for the time being as bush fire prone land on a bush fire prone land map for an area is bush fire prone land for the area for the purposes of this or any other Act.
(4) The bush fire prone land map for an area is to be available for public inspection during normal office hours for the council.
(5) In this section
bush fire risk management plan has the same meaning as it has in the Rural Fires Act 1997.
Note— Division 8 of Part 4 of the Rural Fires Act 1997 contains provisions relating to the carrying out of development and bush fire hazard reduction work on bush fire prone land.”
Bush Fire Prone Land (BFPL) is land that has been identified as land that can either support a bush fire or that is subject to bush fire attack. Not being identified as being bush fire prone land on the BFPL map is not a guarantee that losses from bush fires will not occur. Changes to the landscape and the environment may occur from time to time or over time and therefore the certified BFPL maps may not be a true indication of bush fire risk.
Bush fire prone land maps are certified by the Commissioner of the NSW RFS. The identification of BFPL is a trigger to consider a set of specifications for building on land identified as bush fire prone. Those specifications are outlined in a document titled “Planning for Bushfire Protection” (PBP) and the current legislated version that is adopted is PBP 2019 as well as Australian Standard 3959-2018 – Construction of buildings in bush fire prone areas.
Bush Fire Prone Land Maps are required to be reviewed at least every five years under Section 10.3 of the EP&A Act. Council is therefore required to review its maps.
A draft map was prepared by RFS and provided to Council in September 2021. To ensure that the mapping provides the best outcomes for Council and the community the map was reviewed by relevant Council Staff, the Local RFS and an accredited bush fire consultant from CR Bushfire was engaged to review the mapping. As part of that engagement the consultants were asked to determine any clear inconsistencies between the draft map, the applicable legislation and policy, as well as focus on particular areas of concern raised by Council Staff. Both internal and external (consultant and Local RFS) comments were reviewed, and recommended amendments put forward to RFS. RFS provided a revised map based on these comments. It is important to note however, that the Commissioner can make direct changes to a BFPL map at any time, as outlined in Section 10.3 of the EP&A Act, above.
Issues and comments
To assist with the preparation of BFPL maps, the NSW RFS prepared the Guide for Bush Fire Prone Land Mapping (Version 5b) (NSW Rural Fire Service 2015).
The Mapping Guideline groups vegetation types into categories based on the level of bushfire risk. The current version of the Mapping Guideline (released in 2015) has introduced a new Category 3 Vegetation which includes grasslands. The NSW RFS provided a three (3) year transition for this type of vegetation to be mapped on the BFPL map, which was from 2015-2018.
For reference, when Council adopted the 2016 map the inclusion of Grasslands was optional and Council opted not to included them. The inclusion of Grasslands is no longer optional.
Vegetation Category 1
Vegetation Category 1 is considered to be the highest risk for bush fire. It is represented as red on the BFPL map and will be given a 100 metre buffer (that is the land within 100 metres of the edge of the vegetation will also be mapped as BFPL). This vegetation category has the highest combustibility and likelihood of forming fully developed fires including heavy ember production and includes areas of forest, etc.
Vegetation Category 2
Vegetation Category 2 is considered to be a lower bush fire risk than Category 1 and Category 3 but higher than the excluded areas. It is represented as light orange on a bush fire prone land map and will be given a 30 metre buffer. It includes vegetation like rainforests and remnant vegetation.
Vegetation Category 3
Vegetation Category 3, the new (since 2015) category, is considered to be medium bush fire risk vegetation. It is higher in bush fire risk than category 2 (and the excluded areas) but lower than Category 1. It is represented as dark orange on a Bush Fire Prone Land map and will be given a 30 metre buffer. This vegetation includes grasslands.
The inclusion of Category 3 vegetation on the BFPL map has seen a significant increase in the amount of area on the draft Wagga BFPL map that is identified as being bush fire prone. (see attached maps)
What does being mapped as BFPL mean?
As outlined above, once adopted the map becomes a legislative trigger for the consideration of bushfire impacts on new developments via Development Applications (DA’s), Complying Development Certificates (CDC’s) and Constructions Certificates (CC’s). The purpose is to ensure that new developments are appropriately designed to the level of bushfire risk they are exposed to. There are different assessment pathways depending on the type of development, however, all developments essentially are required to comply with Planning for Bush Fire Protection 2019.
If you are carrying out a subdivision on BFPL that could lawfully be used for residential or rural residential subdivision or you are carrying out what is known as Special Fire Protection Purpose (SFPP) development (which is development like schools, child care centres, hotels, seniors housing, etc.) on BFPL a “bush fire safety authority” (BFSA) is required from the NSW RFS.
Building work on BFPL must also comply with the requirements of the National Construction Code (NCC). The NCC contains the technical provisions for the design and construction of buildings. Under the Deemed to Satisfy provisions of the NCC, building work on BFPL must comply with Australian Standard 3959:2018 Construction of buildings in bushfire prone areas (AS 3959) or the National Association of Steel Framed Housing (2014) Steel Framed Construction in Bush Fire Areas (NASH Standard).
As part of the consideration of a development on BFPL, Council officers will need to undertake a bush fire attack assessment in relation to the application. There is a detailed methodology for this assessment in the PBP.
Therefore, having your land mapped as BFPL means that you must consider the PBP and the NCC requirements when planning for your development and that additional information will be required with an application for development.
Legal Implications
Section 10.3 of the EP&A Act requires councils, where a Bush Fire Risk Management Plan applies, to record a bush fire prone land map after consulting with the Commissioner of the NSW RFS. The Commissioner will designate lands to be bush fire prone within an area and, when satisfied that the lands have been recorded on a map, certify the map as the Bush Fire Prone Land map. Councils are required to make these maps available for public inspection.
Section 4.14 of the EP&A Act requires that where development of bush fire prone land occurs, the consent authority must be satisfied that the development complies with Planning for Bush Fire Protection 2019 or has consulted with the Commissioner of the NSW RFS. Complying development is permitted on bush fire prone land for the lower risk bush fire attack levels (Australian Standard 3959 BAL levels 12.5, 19, and 29). Such development is required to meet development standards complying with Planning for Bush Fire Protection 2019.
Section 100B of the Rural Fires Act 1997 requires that a Bush Fire Safety Authority is issued by the Commissioner of the NSW RFS for all residential subdivision or special fire protection purpose developments on Bush Fire Prone Land. A Bush Fire Safety Authority is issued where the Commissioner believes that the development complies with standards that provide the development with appropriate protection measures against bush fire.
Section 10.7 of the EP&A Act requires that a Council will, in the planning certificate, include advice on relevant matters affecting a parcel of land of which it may be aware. This includes Bush Fire Prone Land, as specified in Schedule 2 of Environmental Planning and Assessment Regulation 2021. The section 10.7 certificate is an important mechanism for Councils to inform people living in or looking to purchase into a bush fire prone area, that bush fire is a consideration.
Additional Information
The report was originally presented to the 5 September 2022 Council Meeting. At the meeting Council made the following resolution:
That Council defer consideration of the amendment to Wagga Wagga Local Government Area Bush Fire prone land map pending further information.
Councillors raised concerns/questions raised over how and why the agricultural land was mapped, and the consequences and potential solutions to the proximity of bushfire prone land to residential properties.
The current Guide for Bush Fire Prone Land Mapping does not clearly define what grassland is nor does it define Agriculture Perennial Annual and annual crops. When the guide was produced it provided a good basis for mapping of Bush Fire Prone Land, however over time certain deficiencies have come to light that require clarification to reduce any confusion. One of the major areas was cropping as it falls both under grassland species as well as annual and pre-annual cropping.
The NSW RFS bases what grassland is by using Ocean Shores to Desert Dunes (David Keith) book. The book clearly defines that cereal crops are classed as a grass species.
RFS also use Australian Standards (AS3959) to show that only grass which has a non-curing component is classified and as a low threat, in turn any grasslands that have a curing component are required to be mapped.
In 2013-14 NSW saw one of the biggest house loses to grassland fires, this drove the change on how we map grasslands in Bush Fire Prone Land, this also drove the change with AS3959.
Conclusion
Council is required to have a current bush fire prone land map under amendments to the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979. Council staff are satisfied that the draft map has been appropriately reviewed by relevant stakeholders and appropriately reflects bush fire prone land in the Wagga Wagga LGA.
Financial Implications
The draft BFPL map has been prepared by NSW Rural Fire Service at no cost to Council. The independent review of the draft BFPL map by the certified bushfire consultant was undertaken within Councils existing budget.
Council, once having had its Bush Fire Prone Land certified by the Commissioner of the NSW RFS, should regularly monitor and review the information to ensure currency and reliability of data depicted. Monitoring and review of the bush fire prone land should reflect required certification and approval standards within legislative timeframes (i.e. before the end of the period of every five years after the certification date of the map as outlined in section 10.3 of the EP&A Act). This process will be managed by Strategic Planning within existing budgets.
Policy and Legislation
Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979
Environmental Planning and Assessment Regulations 2021
Rural Fires Act 1997
Link to Strategic Plan
The Environment
Objective: Wagga Wagga is sustainable, liveable, and resilient to the impacts of climate change
Adapt to our changing climate
Risk Management Issues for Council
There is a requirement under the EP&A Act for Council to request the Commissioner of NSW Rural Fire Service designate land as bush fire prone and record on a designated map every 5 years. Failure to do this is a failure to discharge Council responsibilities under the EP&A Act.
Bush fire events present a great deal of risk for many properties across the Wagga LGA and NSW wide. Catastrophic fire events across NSW and Australia over recent years have shown the serious and critical need to have current mapping and policy to reduce the risk to life and property through ensuring that new developments are appropriately located and designed for the level of bush fire threat that they are exposed to.
The current mapping was implemented in 2016 and has not been updated in accordance with Rural Fire Service’s Guide for Bush Fire Prone Land Mapping (Version 5b) 2015. The adoption of a present-day bush fire prone land map will ensure that where there is an elevated bushfire risk, well defined controls for development are considered and the risk associated with bush fire events is mitigated to an acceptable level.
Failure to update the maps may result in incorrect information being provided on 10.7 Certificates, inconsistent assessment of Development Applications and Complying Development Certificates and failure to provide the most accurate and up to date information to the community.
Internal / External Consultation
Stakeholder consultation is not a requirement as the map is a NSW RFS map and not Councils.
The map was reviewed by relevant Council Staff, the Local RFS and an accredited bush fire consultant from CR Bushfire was engaged to review the mapping.
The draft map will be made available to the public via Councils website while it is being reviewed and certified by the Commissioner of the NSW Rural Fire Service.
Given Council are not the authority for the map it is not considered relevant or appropriate to ask for comment on the draft map.
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Current Bush Fire Prone Land Map - Provided under separate cover |
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2. |
Proposed Bush Fire Prone Land Map - Provided under separate cover |
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3. |
Consultant Review - Provided under separate cover |
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4. |
Guideline to Bush Fire Prone Land Mapping - Provided under separate cover |
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Fact Sheet for changes to the mapping - Provided under separate cover |
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Report submitted to the Ordinary Meeting of Council on Monday 17 October 2022 |
RP-13 |
RP-13 RENEWAL OF COMMUNITY, CULTURAL AND SPORTING LEASES AND LICENCES FOR 2023
Author: Matthew Dombrovski
Executive: John Sidgwick
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Summary: |
This report provides an update on the renewal of lease and licence agreements with sporting, cultural and community associations who occupy Council land and/or buildings which are due to expire during the 2023 calendar year. |
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That Council: a delegate authority to the General Manager or their delegate to negotiate and execute renewal of the community, cultural or sporting association lease and licence agreements as detailed in the body of this report b authorise the affixing of Council’s common seal to all relevant documents as required |
Report
Council has a portfolio of approximately 75 community, cultural and sporting association lease and licence agreements. These agreements regulate the occupation of Council owned and controlled land and building assets.
During the 2023 calendar year, the agreements listed below will expire. Renewal is recommended upon similar terms and conditions to the current agreements.
It is recommended that Council delegate authority to the General Manager or their delegate to negotiate and execute renewal of these agreements based on the following standard conditions:
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STANDARD CONDITIONS |
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Agreement duration |
Up to five years. |
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Fees |
Rent and other occupation fees as per the Council’s Fees and Charges as at the date of commencement. (Currently the Council’s minimum community rent is $765 per annum including GST). |
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Fee increases |
Rent and other occupation fees adjusted annually on the anniversary of commencement as per the Council’s Fees and Charges, or by a fixed amount of not less than 2% if the Fees and Charges policy does not apply. |
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Public Liability Insurance |
No less than $20 million with the Wagga Wagga City Council listed as an interested party. |
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Occupation Costs |
Tenant to meet costs associated with occupation of the premises including but not limited to water, gas, electricity, fire safety, sewer, and waste disposal. |
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Maintenance Responsibilities |
Tenant responsible for routine upkeep, servicing of equipment and day-to-day maintenance. The Council is responsible for works of a structural nature only (where Council buildings are occupied). |
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Preparation Fees |
As per the Council’s adopted Revenue and Pricing Policy current as at the date of commencement of the renewed agreement. The current licence preparation fee is $255 including GST. Where leases are in place, legal fees incurred for agreement preparation are reimbursed by the tenant. |
The agreements relate to Crown Land managed by Council, operational and community land as set out in the following tables:
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CROWN LAND |
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Note: All agreements over Crown Land require review by Council’s Native Title Manager in accordance with section 8.3 of the Crown Land Management Act 2016 (taking effect from 1 July 2018).
Under the legislation, Council manages Crown Land as community land under the Local Government Act 1993 and is required to give public notice of a proposal to lease or licence of land. If objecting submissions are received in relation to any proposed agreement, a further report will be submitted to Council for consideration. |
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Organisation |
Expiry Date |
Property |
Use |
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Girl Guides Association of NSW (Kooringal Girl Guides) |
30 Sep 2023 |
Part O'Halloran Park, Reserve 220046, 565A Kooringal Road, Wagga Wagga
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Land and building for Girl Guide clubhouse and associated activities |
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Kooringal Casual Childcare Centre Inc.
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31 Mar 2023 |
Part O'Halloran Park, Reserve 220046, 565 Kooringal Road, Wagga Wagga
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Land and building for community childcare centre |
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Riverina Racing Pigeon Federation Inc.
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31 Aug 2023
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Shed at Botanic Gardens, Willans Hill, Wagga Wagga
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Building for a clubhouse for meetings and associated activities with pigeon racing |
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Riverina Woodworkers Club Inc.
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30 Sep 2023
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Part of truck shed at Parks Depot, Botanic Gardens, Willans Hill, Wagga Wagga
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Buildings for a workshop and storage shed for a woodworkers clubhouse and associated activities |
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Wagga Bidgee Canoe Club Inc.
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31 Dec 2023
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Kiosk and part of the change room area at the Wagga Wagga Beach off Johnston Street, Wagga Wagga
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Part of building and lot for Canoe club clubhouse, storage and associated activities |
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Wagga Leagues Swimming Club Inc.
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30 Sep 2023
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Shed at Cabarita Park, Johnston Street, Wagga Wagga
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Building for Swimming Club clubhouse |
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COMMUNITY LAND |
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Note: Under Section 47a of the Local Government Act 1993 Council is required to give public notice of a proposal to lease or licence of land classified as community land. If objecting submissions are received in relation to any proposed agreement, a further report will be submitted to Council for consideration. |
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Organisation |
Expiry Date |
Property |
Use |
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Amy Hurd Early Learning Centre Inc. |
31 Dec 2023
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2 Kulgoa Street, Wagga Wagga
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Building and part of land parcel for a childcare centre |
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Forest Hill Community Pre School Inc.
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30 Nov 2023
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22 Fife Street, Forest Hill
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Building and part of land parcel for preschool and other associated activities |
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Hanson Construction Materials Pty Ltd
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31 Aug 2023
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Part Willans Hill, Railway Street/Beauty Point Avenue, Wagga Wagga
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Fence encroachment |
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Wagga Amateur Radio Club Inc
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30 Sep 2023
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9 Small Street, Wagga Wagga
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Building and part lot for everyday running of a Radio club and associated activities |
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Wagga Wagga Art Society (site lease only - they own building)
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31 Aug 2023
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Art studio, 11 Small Street, Wagga Wagga
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Site lease only for the land for everyday running of an Art studio and associated activities |
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Wagga Wagga Combined Hockey Association
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30 Nov 2023
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Jubilee Park Clubhouse, 344 Bourke Street, Wagga Wagga
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Part of building, part of common area for everyday running of hockey club including storage, meetings and associated activities |
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Wagga Wagga Model Railroaders Inc. (Clubhouse at Best Reserve)
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31 Aug 2023
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Part Best Reserve, 5 Veale Street, Wagga Wagga
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Building on lot for all things associated with the everyday running of a model railroaders group and associated activities |
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Wagga Wagga Touch Association Inc.
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30 Nov 2023
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Jubilee Park Clubhouse, 344 Bourke Street, Wagga Wagga
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Part of building, part of common area for everyday running of football club including storage, meetings and associated activities |
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OPERATIONAL LAND |
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Organisation |
Expiry Date |
Property |
Use |
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KU Children's Services - Kangaroo Preschool |
30 Jun 2023
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11 Marloo Crescent, Wagga Wagga
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Lease of building and land for childcare centre |
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KU Children's Services - Kookaburra Preschool |
30 Jun 2023
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82 Coleman Street, Wagga Wagga
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Lease of building and land for childcare centre |
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Lake Albert Soccer Sporting Club Inc.
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31 Jan 2023
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Corner Hume & Forrest Streets, Lake Albert
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Building and part lot for clubhouse and associated activities |
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NSW Rugby League Ltd |
31 Aug 2023
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NSW Rugby League Clubhouse, 154 Copland Street, Wagga Wagga
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Building and part lot for administration building, carparking for the holding of meetings, training sessions and associated activities |
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Playgroup NSW Inc.
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31 Jan 2023
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Corner Hume & Forrest Streets, Lake Albert
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Building and part of lot for all activities associated with running a playgroup, including meetings, training sessions and workshops |
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St John Ambulance Australia (NSW) Wagga Wagga Division |
30 Nov 2023
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Part Glenfield Community Centre, 8 Tanda Place, Glenfield
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Office room only within building for office activities |
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Wagga Wagga Netball Inc.
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30 Apr 2023
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Equex Centre, 150 Copland Street, Wagga Wagga |
Building on lot for club meetings, social activities and administration functions of a netball club |
Financial Implications
Rent and other occupation fees are charged as per Council’s adopted Fees and Charges Policy as at the date of commencement of the renewed agreement. The current minimum community fee is $765 per annum including GST. The total rent received is included in Council’s annual operating income budget.
Policy and Legislation
Acquisition, Disposal and Management of Land Policy (POL 038)
Crown Land Management Act 2016
Local Government Act 1993
Link to Strategic Plan
Safe and Healthy Community
Objective: We promote a healthy lifestyle
Outcome: We promote participation across a variety of sports and recreation
Risk Management Issues for Council
Council has responsibility for the land identified in this report and the ongoing use of this land by specified community groups is an important community service and function. Ensuring that agreements remain current and up to date is important with regard to insurance and responsibility for outgoings and maintenance.
Internal / External Consultation
Public notification of proposed agreements concerning Council community land and Crown Land managed under the Local Government Act 1993 is required as outlined below. Direct consultation with Native Title Interests and Aboriginal Land Claimants may also be required in the case of Crown Land.
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Media |
Community Engagement |
Digital |
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Rates notices insert |
Direct mail |
Letterbox drop |
Council news story |
Council News advert |
Media releases |
TV/radio advertising |
One-on-one meetings |
Your Say website |
Community meetings |
Stakeholder workshops |
Drop-in sessions |
Surveys and feedback forms |
Social media |
Email newsletters |
Website |
Digital advertising |
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TIER |
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Consult |
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Report submitted to the Ordinary Meeting of Council on Monday 17 October 2022 |
RP-14 |
RP-14 APPLICATIONS FOR SUBSIDY FOR WASTE DISPOSAL FOR CHARITABLE ORGANISATIONS
Author: John Sidgwick
General Manager: Peter Thompson
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Summary: |
This report has been prepared for applications submitted to Council by local charitable organisations, community groups and individuals seeking relief from fees for the disposal of waste at Council’s Gregadoo Waste Management Centre (GWMC) for the 2022/23 financial year, on the basis that they are providing a benefit to the community. |
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That Council endorse the Annual 2022/23 Waste Disposal Subsidy for the total amount of $1,000.00 for Sisters Housing Enterprises Inc. |
Report
Councils Financial Assistance Policy (POL 093) along with the Delivery Program and Operational Plan incorporate the specific program of Waiving of Gregadoo Waste Management Centre Fee and outlines the $10,300 budget allocation for 2022/23.
As part of this program, individuals, registered not-for-profit, non-government registered charities or community groups located in the Wagga Wagga Local Government Area are able to apply for a waiver or subsidised waste disposal fees. There are two types of waivers or subsidised waste disposal fees that may be applied for:
1. An annual waiver or reduction to a maximum value of $1,000, or
2. A waiver or fee reduction for a single, specific project up to a maximum value of $250. This may be for advertised events such as Clean-Up Australia Day or the Adopt-A-Road Program.
An advertisement was placed in regional newspapers and on Council’s website during April and May 2022 inviting applications for subsidised waste disposal fees. The Sisters Housing Enterprises Inc application was received after the advertised closing date of 31 May 2022.
The following table lists the amount of the subsidy requested:
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No. |
Name of Applicant |
Requested Subsidy $ |
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1 |
Sisters Housing Enterprises Inc |
$1,000.00 |
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Total |
$1,000.00 |
The Sisters Housing Enterprises Inc organisation is well known to Council for providing valuable charitable and social services that benefit the community of Wagga Wagga.
It is recommended to approve this application and given that there are over 150 registered charities listed in the Wagga Wagga Local Government Area, it is proposed that the remaining budget amount of $3,000.00 be retained to fund any further applications for subsidised fees that may be received during the 2022/23 financial year.
Financial Implications
An allowance of $10,300.00 for subsidised waste disposal has been made in the Solid Waste budget for 2022/23, funded from the Solid Waste Reserve. The approval of this report will leave $3,000.00 for Council to consider any further applications received for the remainder of the financial year.
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2022/23 Subsidy Budget |
$10,300.00 |
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Applications previously approved: 18 July 2022 Council meeting 8 August 2022 Council meeting 5 September 2022 Council meeting |
($5,050.00) ($ 250.00) ($1,000.00) |
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Total applications approved to date |
($6,300.00) |
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2022/23 Subsidy Budget remaining |
$ 4,000.00 |
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Recommendations for subsidy included in this report: |
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1) Sisters Housing Enterprises Inc |
($1,000.00) |
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Proposed Budget available for remainder of this financial year |
$ 3,000.00 |
Policy and Legislation
Section 356 of the Local Government Act 1993
Subsidy for Waste Disposal by Charitable Organisations & Community Groups Policy - POL 093.
Link to Strategic Plan
The Environment
Objective: We create a sustainable environment for future generations
Outcome: We are proactive with our waste management
Risk Management Issues for Council
No risk management issues were identified in respect to the provision of subsidised waste disposal fees provided they are applied as per the Policy.
Internal / External Consultation
Internal consultation with the relevant sections within Council will be undertaken to ensure the operators of the landfill and finance staff are advised of the subsidy to ensure it is applied correctly and monitored appropriately.
The applicant will be advised of the resolution of Council regarding their application for subsidised disposal fees, how the subsidy will be applied and the conditions of entry into the landfill.
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Report submitted to the Ordinary Meeting of Council on Monday 17 October 2022 |
RP-15 |
RP-15 CLOSED CIRCUIT TELEVISION (CCTV) POLICY (POL 058)
Author: Reece Hamblin
Executive: Scott Gray
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Summary: |
This report advises Council on the outcome of the public exhibition process for the draft Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV) Policy (POL 058). The Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV) Policy (POL 058) is presented to Council for endorsement, following public exhibition. |
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That Council: a note that there were no public submissions received during the exhibition period for the draft Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV) Policy (POL 058) b adopt the Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV) Policy (POL 058) |
Report
Council resolved on 8 August 2022 to place the Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV) Policy (POL 058) on public exhibition for a period of 28 days from 9 August 2022 to 5 September 2022 and invite public submissions until the 19 September 2022 on the draft Policy.
During the submission period, no public submissions were received.
It is recommended that Council adopt the Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV) Policy (POL 058) as exhibited.
Financial Implications
N/A
Policy and Legislation
Privacy Act 1988
Government Information (Public Access) Act 2009 (NSW)
Link to Strategic Plan
Community leadership and collaboration
Objective: Wagga Wagga has strong community leadership and a shared vision for the future
Plan long term for the future of Wagga Wagga
Risk Management Issues for Council
Council policies are essential to ensure transparent legal, fair and consistent decision making across the Council. They support Council in achieving its corporate objectives and provide a critical guide for staff, Councillors and other stakeholders. In the absence of effective policies there is a greater risk of inconsistency, confusion and inefficiency and can lead to non-compliance with the requirements of legislation and regulations.
Internal / External Consultation
The draft Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV) Policy (POL 058) has been reviewed internally by staff and Council’s Executive Team.
The draft policy was endorsed by Council on 8 August 2022 and placed on public exhibition for a period of 28 days from 28 days from 9 August 2022 to 5 September 2022, with submissions open until the 19 September 2022.
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Media |
Community Engagement |
Digital |
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Rates notices insert |
Direct mail |
Letterbox drop |
Council news story |
Council News advert |
Media releases |
TV/radio advertising |
One-on-one meetings |
Your Say website |
Community meetings |
Stakeholder workshops |
Drop-in sessions |
Surveys and feedback forms |
Social media |
Email newsletters |
Website |
Digital advertising |
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Consult |
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Involve |
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Collaborate |
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1⇩. |
draft Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV) Policy (POL 058) |
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Report submitted to the Ordinary Meeting of Council on Monday 17 October 2022 |
RP-16 |
RP-16 ADOPTION OF COUNCIL POLICIES
Author: Nicole Johnson
General Manager: Peter Thompson
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Summary: |
Council has in place a practice, that within 12 months of the Local Government Election, councillors are required to adopt all Council policies (reflected in the review dates which were adopted by the previous term of Council within individual policies). Over the course of the last 12 months, a review of Council’s policies has been undertaken to ensure that all policies are appropriate to the current strategic, operational and legislative environment in which Council operates. |
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That Council: a adopt the Code of Conduct and Procedures for the Administration of the Code of Conduct b adopt the list of Council policies as outlined in the body of this report c rescind the following policies: i Visitor Access to secure area of Council’s Civic Centre Policy (POL 007) ii Livestock Marketing Centre - Quality Policy (POL 063) iii Welcome to Wagga Wagga Signs Policy (POL 071) d note the ongoing review process and further consideration of identified policies outlined in the body of this report |
Report
The Policies of Council express the overarching intent of Council on matters of broad significance and provide guidance for the management of those matters. These policies have a range of instigation and review mechanisms, including legislative compliance, Office of Local Government NSW directives, Council’s strategic direction, local requirements and good practice in the various disciplines within which Council operates. Council currently has in excess of 70 policies covering a diverse range of areas.
Code of Conduct
Council’s Code of Conduct sets the minimum standards of conduct for council officials and enhances public confidence in local government. It is prescribed by regulation to assist council officials to understand and comply with the standards of conduct that are expected of them, to enable them to fulfil their statutory duty to act honestly and exercise a reasonable degree of care and diligence.
In accordance with Section 440 (7) of the Local Government Act 1993, Council must review and adopt its Code of Conduct within 12 months after each ordinary election.
On 7 August 2020, the NSW Government released The Model Code of Conduct for Local Councils in NSW 2020 (New Model Code) and the New Code for the Administration of The Model Code of Conduct for Local Councils in NSW 2020 (New Code Procedures). Section 440 of the Act requires every council (including county councils) and joint organisation to adopt a code of conduct that incorporates the provisions of the Model Code of Conduct. This was subsequently adopted by Council on 26 October 2020, following a comprehensive review and engagement process with Councillors and staff.
The adopted Code of Conduct could also include provisions that supplement the Model Code of Conduct and that extend its application to persons that are not “council officials” for the purposes of the Model Code of Conduct, for example volunteers, contractors and members of wholly advisory committees.
In relation to the above, the application of Council’s Code of Conduct, with the exception of Parts 4 and 5, was previously extended in 2019 to include wholly advisory committees and in-house volunteers. This was achieved by amending the definitions and including an additional paragraph in the introduction. Part 7 of the Model Code of Conduct was also extended to apply to Council committee members and volunteers and the provisions modified accordingly. These changes were retained.
Since Council’s adoption of the Code of Conduct and Administrative Procedures for the Code of Conduct (as above), no further amendment or directions has been received from the Office of Local Government, nor have any local requirements been identified to amend these documents. It is therefore recommended that the Code of Conduct and Administrative Procedures for the Code of Conduct be adopted unchanged as attached.
Council Policies
Given the volume of Council policies listed below, each has not been provided as an attachment, however a link to each policy on Council’s website is provided. All Council policies can be located on Council’s website under Policies, Laws and Protocols – Council Policies.
Council policies, by their nature, are “live” documents, in that they often undergo amendment. Over the term of the Council, a number of policies will be required to be amended and reported to Council. The reasons for this range to changes to legislative requirements, Office of Local Government directives, alignment/adjustments in Council’s strategic direction, changes to operational activities or compliance requirements that alter the intent of the policy and/or may impact the community and/or have legal or financial implications. These amendments are classified as major amendments and will be tabled at an Ordinary Meeting of Council, for consideration and placing on public exhibition for consultation and engagement with the community prior to final adoption by Council.
To ensure currency, when minor changes are required the General Manager will approve these changes under their delegated authority. Minor changes include amendment to organisation position titles, policy numbering and format, updated references to legislation, or changes to the way the policy is administered or implemented that does change the policy’s intent or impact the community. These amendments are classified as minor amendments. Once approved by the General Manager, the revision table within the policy will be amended and the revised policy will be uploaded to Council’s website, with advice provided to Councillors.
As indicated, over the past 12 months, Council staff have undertaken a review of Council policies to ensure they:
· are consistent with Council’s strategic objectives, legislation and other influences e.g. Office of Local Government directives
· seek to represent the views of Council and the community
· clearly state intended outcomes
· can be effectively implemented and administered
As a result of the review process each policy was assessed and categorised into one of following areas:
a) Policies which did not require material changes i.e. were compliant, with no changes in strategic direction, industry, or State Government directives. It should be noted that all polices have been amended to reflect current position titles, correct legislation references and updated review dates, with the majority of policies to be next reviewed by September 2025 (being 12 months following the next local government general election) or sooner depending on provisions of the policy.
b) Policies which have been considered by Council and placed public exhibition in recent months, which require final adoption:
o Fraud and Corruption Control Policy (POL 100)
o Mobile Food Vendor Trading in Public Places’ Policy (POL 062)
o Investment Policy (POL 075)
c) Policies that require further review with a completion target date of 30 June 2023.
These policies are identified in the table below with an asterisk (*).
Should recommended amendments to these policies be classified as major amendments, then the policy will be presented to Council and placed on public exhibition. Please note, an initial review of these policies has been undertaken, with minor amendments as stated in (a) above being made, however a comprehensive review is still to be completed, due to upcoming legislative changes, upcoming release of model policies by the Office of Local Government or limited resources available to complete the final review.
It is proposed that, although these policies are subject to change, Council adopt these policies in their current form, so that the current Council has reviewed and adopted all policies, within the required timeframe and to ensure continuity pending such further review.
d) Policies which were identified for rescission, with a summary of reasoning provided below.
A full list of Council policies is as follows:
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Policy Number |
Policy Name |
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POL 001 |
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POL 004 |
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POL 005 |
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POL 006 |
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POL 007 |
Visitor Access to Secure Areas of Council's Civic Centre Policy Recommendation to rescind this policy |
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POL 008 |
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POL 010 |
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POL 011 |
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POL 012 |
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POL 013 |
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POL 015 |
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POL 016 |
Replacement of stolen or damaged kerbside collection bins Policy |
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POL 019 |
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POL 020 |
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POL 021 |
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POL 023 |
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POL 024 |
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POL 025 |
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POL 026 |
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POL 028 |
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POL 029 |
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POL 030 |
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POL 031 |
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POL 033 |
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POL 036 |
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POL 037 |
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POL 038 |
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POL 039 |
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POL 041 |
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POL 042 |
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POL 043 |
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POL 046 |
Processing Development Applications lodged by Councillors, Staff and individuals Policy * |
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POL 047 |
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POL 048 |
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POL 049 |
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POL 050 |
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POL 051 |
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POL 052 |
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POL 053 |
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POL 055 |
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POL 056 |
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POL 058 |
Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) Policy Subject to adoption of revised policy. |
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POL 059 |
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POL 060 |
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POL 061 |
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POL 062 |
Mobile Food Vendor - Trading in Public Places (Parks and Reserves) Policy Public exhibition period closed - pending consideration and adoption of the revised draft policy by Council in November 2022 |
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POL 063 |
Livestock Marketing Centre - Quality Policy Recommendation to rescind this policy |
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POL 064 |
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POL 071 |
Welcome to Wagga Wagga Signs Policy Recommendation to rescind this policy |
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POL 074 |
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POL 075 |
Currently on public exhibition - pending consideration and adoption of the revised draft policy by Council in November 2022 |
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POL 076 |
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POL 078 |
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POL 079 |
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POL 080 |
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POL 081 |
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POL 083 |
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POL 085 |
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POL 086 |
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POL 087 |
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POL 088 |
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POL 089 |
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POL 090 |
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POL 091 |
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POL 095 |
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POL 097 |
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POL 100 |
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POL 101 |
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POL 102 |
Financial Hardship – Payment Arrangements and Waiving of Interest Policy * |
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POL 103 |
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POL 108 |
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POL 109 |
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POL 110 |
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POL 112 |
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POL 113 |
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POL 117 |
Appointment of Organisation, Community and Individual Citizen Members to Council Committees |
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POL 121 |
Rescission of Council Policies
As a result of the review process, three (3) policies have been identified by the respective policy owners for rescission. The policies to be rescinded, together with the reasons for their proposed rescission, are outlined below:
· Livestock Marketing Centre - Quality Policy (POL 063)
The National Saleyard Quality Assurance program (NSQA) was established in 1996-97, to provide the saleyard industry a platform to meet various compliances within the livestock sector at the time and provide audited members a potential marketing advantage over non-participating facilities. As a requirement under the NSQA quality assurance program, Council adopted the Livestock Marketing Centre - Quality Policy.
The program addressed matters such as maintaining fit for purpose infrastructure and record keeping for activities including maintenance, chemical use and supplementary feed quality. With the development of relevant legislation, regulatory compliances and industry Codes of Practice, the program has widely been considered within the saleyard industry and broader sector as out-dated, irrelevant and redundant. This is highlighted by documents such as:
· Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1979 No 200
· WHS Act 2011 No 10
· Australian Animal Welfare Standards and Guidelines
· Land Transport of Livestock
· Australian Model Code of Practice for Livestock Saleyards and Lairages
In 2017, it was identified that there was little or no tangible benefit for Council to continue and therefore ceased involvement in this program.
Council’s policy references documentation under the NSQA Quality Assurance program which are no longer maintained or utilised in the day to day operations of the Livestock Marketing Centre, with requirements of the LMC to maintain records in relation to these and more is demonstrated through Councils internal requirements and record keeping protocols. Therefore, it is recommended at the Livestock Marketing Centre - Quality Policy be rescinded.
· Visitor Access to secure area of Council’s Civic Centre Policy (POL 007)
This Policy is recommended for rescission as the content is superseded by Council’s Work Health & Safety Policy and internal procedures (its content being operational in nature, thus not requiring inclusion within a separate policy).
· Welcome to Wagga Wagga Signs Policy (POL 071)
The Welcome to Wagga Wagga Signs Policy was originally developed to provide the community knowledge that Council accept bookings for signs at three locations being:
· Tarcutta Street Underpass
· Moorong Street sign (corner Moorong Street and Edward Street)
· Olympic Highway site near Bomen
The policy also provided some general conditions relating to Council’s acceptance of bookings at these specific sites. Since, development of the policy, Council has established a booking system which provides clear procedures and communication to the community on booking terms and conditions for Council facilities and Welcome to Wagga Wagga sign locations.
It is therefore recommended that the Welcome to Wagga Wagga Signs Policy be rescinded due to the outdated policy content and subsequent established procedures.
Financial Implications
N/A
Policy and Legislation
Council policies are essential to ensure transparent legal, fair and consistent decision-making across the Council. They support Council in achieving its corporate objectives and provide a critical guide for staff, Councillors and other stakeholders. In the absence of effective policies there is a greater risk of inconsistency, confusion and inefficiency.
Link to Strategic Plan
Community leadership and collaboration
Objective: Wagga Wagga City Council leads through engaged civic governance and is recognised and distinguished by its ethical decision-making, efficient management, innovation and quality customer service
Ensure transparency and accountability
Risk Management Issues for Council
No specific issues identified.
Internal / External Consultation
· Council Staff and Executive
· Audit and Risk Committee where applicable
· Office of Local Government
· Policy stakeholders
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1. |
Code of Conduct - Provided under separate cover |
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2. |
Administrative Procedure for the Code of Conduct - Provided under separate cover |
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Report submitted to the Ordinary Meeting of Council on Monday 17 October 2022 |
RP-17 |
RP-17 WRITTEN RETURNS OF INTEREST - COUNCILLORS AND DESIGNATED PERSONS 2022
Author: Ingrid Hensley
General Manager: Peter Thompson
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Summary: |
Clause 4.21 of the Model Code of Conduct requires all Councillors and Designated Staff to complete an annual Disclosure of Pecuniary Interest Return. |
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That the Register of Pecuniary Interest Returns, containing current returns of Councillors and Designated Staff for the period 1 July 2021 to 30 June 2022 be tabled in accordance with Clause 4.21 of the Model Code of Conduct. |
Report
Under Clause 4.21 of the Code of Conduct, certain council officials, namely councillors and designated persons, are required to disclose their personal interests in publicly available returns of interests. These operate as a key transparency mechanism for promoting community confidence in council decision making, whether by councillors or by staff or others under delegation.
A Pecuniary Interest is described in Clause 4.1 of the Code as “an interest that you have in a matter because of a reasonable likelihood or expectation of appreciable financial gain or loss to you or a person referred to in clause 4.3 of the Code”.
Under the Code of Conduct, general managers and executive officers must maintain a register of returns of interests and returns must be tabled at the first meeting of the council or board of the joint organisation after they are required to be lodged. Returns of interests must also be made publicly available free of charge on councils’, county councils’ and joint organisations’ websites, unless there is an overriding public interest against disclosure of the information contained in them or to do so would impose unreasonable additional costs on the council or joint organisation.
Councils must make all returns of interests publicly available in accordance with the requirements of the Government Information (Public Access) Act 2009, the Government Information (Public Access) Regulation 2009 and any guidelines issued by the NSW Information Commissioner.
The Register of Pecuniary Interest Returns is available for inspection at Council’s Civic Centre offices during ordinary business hours and will also be available on Council’s website.
All Written Returns of Interest are to be lodged with the council’s general manager who must keep a register of returns required to be made and lodged with them. A return lodged within 3 months of 30 June must be tabled at the first council meeting after the last day the return was required to be lodged, as attached to this report. A copy of the returns is also available here.
Lodgement of Written Returns of Interest was required by 30 September 2022. As at 30 September 2022, returns were received from nine (9) of nine (9) councillors and all Designated Persons as required under the Code. One (1) return is currently redacted in the attachment to this report, following assessment of a request for same.
Accordingly, Council’s register of Written Returns of Interest 2022 is tabled to this meeting of Council as prescribed by the Code.
The Office of Local Government NSW (OLG) have recently advised local councils that they will be undertaking an audit of written returns of interests lodged by councillors and designated persons.
Financial Implications
N/A
Policy and Legislation
The Wagga Wagga City Council Code of Conduct (Code of Conduct) sets out the requirements in relation to the completion and lodgement of pecuniary interest returns. Under the Code of Conduct a person must also not make and lodge a return that the person knows or ought reasonably to know is false or misleading in a material particular.
Complaints about breaches of these requirements are to be referred to the Office of Local Government (OLG) and may result in disciplinary action by the council, the Chief Executive of OLG or the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal.
The following legislation and guidelines were also considered as part of the assessment of the request for redaction:
· Government Information (Public Access) Act 2009 (GIPA Act)
· Government Information (Public Access) Regulation 2009 (GIPA Reg)
· IPC Guidelines and Information Access Guidelines
· Privacy and Personal Information Protection Act 1998 or a Health Privacy Principle under the Health Records and Information Privacy Act 2002
Link to Strategic Plan
Community Leadership and Collaboration
Objective: We have strong leadership
Outcome: We are accountable and transparent
Risk Management Issues for Council
N/A
Internal / External Consultation
N/A
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1. |
Written Returns - September 2022 - Provided under separate cover |
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Report submitted to the Ordinary Meeting of Council on Monday 17 October 2022 |
RP-18 |
Author: Scott Gray
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Summary: |
This report is to list questions with notice raised by Councillors in accordance with Council’s Code of Meeting Practice. |
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That Council receive and note the report. |
Report
The following questions with notice were received prior to the meeting, in accordance with the Code of Meeting Practice.
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A response will be provided to the Ordinary Meeting of Council on 7 November 2022. |
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Councillor J McKinnon asked what is being done to address community concerns about the ongoing level of litter pollution in Flowerdale Lagoon? |
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A response will be provided to the Ordinary Meeting of Council on 7 November 2022. |
Financial Implications
N/A
Policy and Legislation
Code of Meeting Practice
Link to Strategic Plan
Community leadership and collaboration
Objective: Our community is informed and actively engaged in decision making and problem-solving to shape the future of Wagga Wagga
Ensure our community feels heard and understood
Risk Management Issues for Council
N/A
Internal / External Consultation
N/A
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Report submitted to the Ordinary Meeting of Council on Monday 17 October 2022 |
M-1 |
M-1 TRAFFIC COMMITTEE - 8 SEPTEMBER 2022
Author: Frank Goodyer
Executive: Warren Faulkner
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Summary: |
The Local Traffic Committee met for an ordinary meeting on 8 September 2022 and considered five (5) formal reports. The Committee were unanimous with the officer recommendation for three (3) of the formal reports. The officer recommendation to approve the installation of regulatory traffic facilities on Byrnes Road, Bomen for Development Application Number 13/0219.02 as detailed on MJM Project Number 120341 Sheet C7 Issue E dated August 2022 and the installation of regulatory signs for the centre-of-road parking arrangement in Kincaid Street between Fitzmaurice Street and Trail Street as detailed on Council Plan Registration C1970 Sheet Number 004 Issue O dated 3 August 2022 did not receive the support of the Committee. The Committee have been sent the draft minutes and there has been no feedback received to date. The Minutes are attached for Councillors reference. |
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That Council: a receive the minutes of the Local Traffic Committee Meeting held on 8 September 2022 b install KEEP CLEAR pavement markings on Tarcutta street adjacent to the entry/exit driveway to the Wagga Wagga Police Station c approve the installation of regulatory traffic facilities on Byrnes Road, Bomen for Development Application Number 13/0219.02 as detailed on MJM Project Number 120341 Sheet C7 Issue E dated August 2022 d install an 18-metre length of NO PARKING zone on the southern side of Urana street across the driveway entry to the Wagga Veterinary Hospital utilising 2 x R40 signs installed five metres either side of the driveway e note that the Local Traffic Committee endorsed the installation of regulatory signs for the centre-of-road parking arrangement in Kincaid Street between Fitzmaurice Street and Trail Street as detailed on Council Plan Registration C1970 Sheet Number 004 Issue O dated 3 August 2022 f note that the Local Traffic Committee endorse the installation of road markings on Red Hill Road between Bourke Street and Glenfield Drive as detailed on Council Plan Registration Number C2159 Sheet Number 003 Issue 5 dated 1 September 2022
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Report
RP-1 Tarcutta street - KEEP CLEAR
This matter was reported to the September 2022 meeting of the Traffic Committee in response to the Police for Council to install KEEP CLEAR pavement markings to the entry/exit driveway to the Wagga Wagga Police Station.
The Committee considered and endorsed the Traffic Officers recommendations to install KEEP CLEAR pavement markings to the entry/exit driveway to the Wagga Wagga Police Station.
RP-2 Proposed intersection - Byrnes road Bomen
That Council approve the installation of regulatory traffic facilities on Byrnes Road, Bomen for Development Application Number 13/0219.02 as detailed on MJM Project Number 120341 Sheet C7 Issue E dated August 2022.
The Traffic Officers recommended to the Committee the following:
· Contact MJM and seek confirmation that the embankment on the eastern side of Byrnes road would be removed. The letter states “it is anticipated”
· TfNSW requested that the SISD be re-assessed at a speed of 90km/h due to the location and speed of vehicles likely travelling in excess of the 80km/h speed limit
· TfNSW stated that due to the intersection being a terminating street, the GIVE WAY sign was not required. It was agreed by the committee that Council could approve installation of a GIVE WAY sign over and above the standard in the interests of improved visibility and safety
The recommendation on being put to the committee was not supported. Traffic Committee have request for further advice on this matter, specifically
· SISD assessment for a speed of 90km/h
· Confirmation of the removal of the embankment on the eastern side of Byrnes Road
RP-3 NO PARKING - Urana street
The following customer request was raised for Council consideration to install an 18 metre length of NO PARKING zone on the southern side of Urana street across the driveway entry to the Wagga Veterinary Hospital utilising 2 x R40 signs installed five metres either side of the driveway.
The Committee considered and endorsed the Traffic Officers recommendations to install an 18 metre length NO PARKING zone on the southern side of Urana street across the driveway entry to the Wagga Veterinary Hospital utilising 2 x R40 signs installed five metres either side of the driveway.
RP-4 Kincaid street - Centre of road parking
The Committee supported centre of road parking but not in its current form. An alternate recommendation would be considered after investigation and presentation of an alternative concept that meets the required standard.
RP-5 RED HILL ROAD LINE MARKING ADJACENT TO JUBILEE PARK
The Committee supported the road line marking adjacent to Jubilee Park. Redhill Road between Glenfield Road and Bourke Street has recently been re-surfaced and changes to the previous were proposed to improve safety for motorists and pedestrians.
Financial Implications
There are no financial implications outside of existing Council project budgets and operating budgets for signs and line marking associated with this report.
Policy and Legislation
Transport Administration Act 1998 – Delegations to Councils, regulation of traffic
TfNSW – A guide to the delegation to Councils for the regulation of traffic
Australian Standards
Link to Strategic Plan
Community leadership and collaboration
Objective: Wagga Wagga City Council leads through engaged civic governance and is recognised and distinguished by its ethical decision-making, efficient management, innovation and quality customer service
Ensure transparency and accountability
Risk Management Issues for Council
N/A
Internal / External Consultation
As outlined in the body of the report.
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1⇩. |
Local Traffic Committee Minutes 8 September 2022 |
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Report submitted to the Ordinary Meeting of Council on Monday 17 October 2022 |
M-2 |
M-2 CONFIRMATION OF MINUTES AUDIT, RISK AND IMPROVEMENT COMMITTEE - 6 OCTOBER 2022
Author: Ingrid Hensley
General Manager: Peter Thompson
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Summary: |
The Audit, Risk and Improvement Committee (ARIC) is an advisory committee of Council. This Report seeks that Council endorse the recommendations made by the Committee at the meeting on 6 October 2022.
Those recommendations relate to the role of the Committee in providing independent assurance and assistance to Council on financial reporting, risk management, internal controls, governance, and internal and external audit and accountability responsibilities. |
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That Council endorse the recommendations contained in the minutes of the Audit, Risk and Improvement Committee Meeting held on 6 October 2022. |
Report
The minutes of the Audit, Risk and Improvement Committee Meeting held on 6 October 2022 are presented to Council for adoption.
Financial Implications
Council has granted certain authorities to the Audit, Risk and Improvement Committee within the scope of its role and responsibilities, as defined within its Charter. As an advisory committee to Council, the Audit, Risk and Improvement Committee has no authority to action items that may have a budget and/or resource implication outside of this authority unless Council resolves to adopt the recommendations.
The Committee considered the 2021/22 Financial Statements as reported separately to Council to this meeting.
Policy and Legislation
Audit, Risk and Improvement Committee Charter
Link to Strategic Plan
Community Leadership and Collaboration
Objective: We have strong leadership
Outcome: We are accountable and transparent
Risk Management Issues for Council
The Audit, Risk and Improvement Committee assists Council by monitoring its risk exposure and determining if management systems have appropriate risk management processes in place.
Internal / External Consultation
The Chairperson’s report on the Audit, Risk and Improvement Committee Meeting held on 6 October 2022, was provided in the Councillors Bulletin on 14 October 2022.
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1⇩. |
ARIC Minutes - 6 October 2022 |
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Report submitted to the Confidential Meeting of Council on Monday 17 October 2022. CONF-1
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CONF-1 CONTAINER DEPOSIT SCHEME (CDS) - REFUND SHARING ARRANGEMENT
Author: John Sidgwick
This report is CONFIDENTIAL in accordance with Section 10A(2) of the Local Government Act 1993, which permits the meeting to be closed to the public for business relating to the following: -
(d) (i) commercial information of a confidential nature that would, if disclosed, prejudice the commercial position of the person who supplied it.
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Report submitted to the Confidential Meeting of Council on Monday 17 October 2022 |
CONF-2 |
CONF-2 PROPOSED LICENCE AGREEMENT - PART SENIOR CITIZENS CENTRE, 204 TARCUTTA STREET, WAGGA WAGGA
Author: Matthew Dombrovski
Executive: John Sidgwick
This report is CONFIDENTIAL in accordance with Section 10A(2) of the Local Government Act 1993, which permits the meeting to be closed to the public for business relating to the following: -
(d) (i) commercial information of a confidential nature that would, if disclosed, prejudice the commercial position of the person who supplied it.
