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Balranald Shire Council

Minutes– Ordinary Meeting – 24th June 2015. ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………

This is of the Minutes of the Ordinary Monthly Meeting of Balranald Shire Council held in the Council Chambers Market Street Balranald on Wednesday 24th June 2015.




Minutes of the Ordinary Meeting of the Balranald Shire Council held in the Council Chambers, Market Street, Balranald on Wednesday 24

th June

2015, commencing at 5pm. PRESENT: Cr L Byron (Mayor), Cr A Purtill (Deputy Mayor),

Cr J Mannix, Cr L Cooke, Cr T Jolliffe, Cr S O’Halloran, Cr K Barnes and Cr E Campbell. General Manager Aaron Drenovski, Director Corporate & Community Development Elizabeth White, Director Infrastructure & Development John Stevenson and Finance Co-Ordinator Theresa Boyd were also in attendance.

APOLOGIES: Nil

DISCLOSURE OF INTERESTS Nil

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

Calendar of Events May - June

June

24 Council

July

1 Balranald Beautification Committee Meeting

2 Joint meeting with Wakool Shire Council

7 Euston Beautification & Tourism Committee Meeting

7 Tourism Committee Meeting

21 Council




CONFIRMATION OF MINUTES Recommendation: That: “The minutes of the Ordinary Meeting of Council held on Tuesday 19th May 2015 copies having previously been circulated to each Councillor be taken as read and confirmed.” “The minutes of the Confidential Meeting of council held on Tuesday 19th May 2015 copies having previously been circulated to each Councillor be taken as read and confirmed.”

06.15.3477 RESOLVED on the motion of Crs Jolliffe and Mannix that the minutes

of the Ordinary and Confidential Meetings of Council held on Tuesday 19th May 2015 be accepted.

PRESENTATION/DELEGATIONS Presentation from Erin Lenon regarding Environmental Watering in the region. Presentation from Mr Ray Roberts – Cristal Mining




MAYORAL MINUTE/REPORT

26/5/2015 GM - Aaron Drenovski, DID - John Stevenson, and myself met with Central Darling Shire to discuss Wool Track Funding and sealing the Balranald/Ivanhoe Road. RMS requested for a meeting, this has been organised.

27/5/2015 Crs O’Halloran, Cooke, GM, DID and myself attended the Region

3, Murray Darling Association Meeting in Theatre Royal. 27/5/2015 Interagency Expo, great turn out of agencies of Balranald Shire

area, was just a pity not many community members came along. 31/5/2015 GM, Cr O’Halloran’s wife Sue, and myself travelled to Cobar 1/6/2015 Western Division midterm meeting 9 out 11 councils were

represented, along with Kevin Humphries (member for Barwon). Fit for the Future, Innovation Fund for Investigation of Service delivery was discussed.

2/6/2015 Euston Beautification Committee Meeting in Euston. 3/6/2015 GM and I travelled to Narrandera for Finance Meeting. 4/6/2015 Financial issues in Local Government – Depreciation and Risk

Management. 11/6/2015 Emergency Management Meeting in Balranald 14/6/2015 Crs Purtill, O’Halloran, GM and I travelled to Canberra for Local

Government National General Assembly. 15/6/2015 NGA had discussions with Drum Muster personnel, seems like we

haven’t been receiving our monies. 16/6/2015 Crs Purtill, O’Halloran, GM and I met with Chairperson and CEO of

Murray Darling Basin Authority. 16/6/2015 Crs O’Halloran, GM and I met with Dominic Lane, ACT Emergency

Services Agency Commissioner. 16/6/2015 The four of us along with other councils in Minister Susan Ley’s

electorate met in her office for general discussions particularly West primary Health Network. (Went for a meal with Hay, Deniliquin, Griffith which cost $29,000, our share was $7,500) just a reminder to everyone to check their receipts before signing.

18/6/2015 Euston Schools 150 year celebration meeting (September this

year). 19/6/2015 GM, DID and I met with David Eastbourne to discuss the military

trail.




06.15.3478 RESOLVED on the motion of Crs Mannix and Purtill that the Mayoral Report be accepted.

COMMITTEE REPORTS FOR ADOPTION

MINUTES FROM THE BALRANALD SHIRE COUNCIL CULTURAL COMMITTEE MEETING HELD AT THE COUNCIL CHAMBERS OF BALRANALD ON MONDAY MAY 11th 2015 COMMENCING AT 11.05AM. PRESENT: Jan Lawler (Chair), Margaret Butler, Sue Balshaw, Cr Alan Purtill, Cr Steve O’Halloran, Director Corporate and Community Development, Elizabeth White, and Cherie Murphy (minutes). APOLOGIES: Doreen Greenham. The minutes of the Meeting held on Monday March 23rd 2015 were read and accepted. Moved Margaret Butler Seconded Jan Lawler BUSINESS ARISING: Jan advised of a correction to the March minutes, being the Annual General Meeting of South West Arts board will be held at 10.00am on 30 May at Bishops Lodge, Hay (previously advised the meeting was to be held on 29 May at Goolgowie). Movies during School holidays Sue queried the outcome of the movies over the School break. Elizabeth advised that they were well received and popular although felt that more patronage was needed to break even. The General Manager is, however, looking at holding more movie sessions during the upcoming school holidays (26 June – 13 July). Elizabeth believes that additional advertising (over a longer period) may see more attend in the future, including in to the schools for their newsletters, advertising on social media, and in the Balranald section of The Guardian. Elizabeth further advised that Council needs to be licensed to hold each movie and this comes at a cost, hence not breaking even on these occasions. Council also sold chips, lollies and drinks at each session. Music night – There are no outcomes (at this time) from this query (Cr Elaine Campbell was an apology). Grand Piano for the Theatre Royal – Margaret Butler is still trying to source funding for a grand piano for the Theatre Royal and raised the idea of holding a variety concert to assist in the purchase of a piano. Margaret is positive that there is enough local talent in Balranald and surrounds to hold such a concert, with many talented people, such as vocalists, bands, skits, poets.




Margaret has spoken to John at the hospital and he is a very talented man. John would be pleased to be the compere for such a show. Margaret believes that people would come to this type of event, and would hope Council waive the hire fees for the Theatre Hall. Elizabeth advised that the Cultural Committee would need to submit a request to Council to waive the fees, and didn’t see it being an issue. Sue had concerns regarding the weather and temperamental Grand pianos. Margaret advised that there would be no issues, however the piano would need to have a cover made for it and a water system set up to control the humidity in the building. Elizabeth queried the cost of a Grand piano, and Margaret advised it would be about $30,000. Alan Purtill suggested the Cultural committee organise and work with a co-op committee to organise and run the variety concert. NEW BUSINESS: Variety Concert Elizabeth queried a time frame or date the committee would like to hold the concert. Jan suggested the same weekend as the 5 Rivers Festival. Sue advised that there are too many people over committed now with the 5 Rivers Festival and there is so much on now, it will be hard to co-ordinate / fit in. Steve suggested that a committee needs to be established now to start organising such an event. Steve is keen to help, and suggested advertising in the next newsletter etc. Jan suggested that a “whole town survey” be sent out to audit the skills and talents of the locals:

Singers

Dancers

Poetry

Entertainers etc

Alan agreed that there are many talented locals, and suggested Margaret speak with her contacts, such as Hutch Lawrie, Doreen Greenham, John Curran etc and invite these people to the next Cultural Committee meeting to organise to set up a committee for the variety concert. All in agreeance. Round Table Discussions Steve said we need to (continue to) push for artists. Balranald Council is leading the way with cultural activities in the Shire, with comments from other Shires during a strategic planning meeting in Deniliquin recently. Balranald is a supportive Council, making a difference and other Shires are envious of our efforts.




Jan thanked Council for its continuous support, including the latest advert Council submitted in The Guardian newspaper advertising David Eastburn’s Independence of New Guinea display. Margaret Butler agreed, “The Town has a soul and needs to be fed”. Alan suggested a separate meeting for the Variety concert. Elizabeth agreed and requested after hours. Sue requested a change of Cultural committee meeting time to 5pm as morning meetings are hard for those working to make it. All voted. Committee agreed by consensus to the 5pm commencement time. Steve advised Cr. Jolliffe was advised of a Grand piano that may be available. Committee asked if Elizabeth could contact Cr Jolliffe at a convenient time to learn if this is the case. Sue – the David Eastburn Independence of New Guinea exhibition has been well received. Jan – there is a new picture hanging system in place at Gallery – much easier. Jan queried with Elizabeth if there is a ‘General Cultural allocation’ in the budget. She is hoping to secure a curator on an as-needs basis, possibly through South West Arts and possible funding from other areas. Elizabeth explained that there is no general allocation as such, and that there are separate budget line items for The Gallery, Museum, Gaol, Wintong School. Elizabeth advised that the committee would need to write to Council before March 2016 with costings to Council for future budget for the things they wish to see for the committee. NEXT MEETING: 13th July 2015 at the Council Chambers commencing at 5pm. MEETING CLOSED: There being no further business the discussions was declared closed at 11.50am. Recommendation: that the report be noted.

06.15.3479 RESOLVED on the motion of Crs Purtill and Jolliffe that the Committee

report be noted.




MINUTES OF THE BALRANALD SHIRE COUNCIL TOURISM COMMITTEE MEETING HELD IN THE BALRANALD BUSINESS CENTRE BOARDROOM ON TUESDAY 14th MAY 2015, COMMENCING AT 3.00PM TOURISM STATEGY WORKSHOP 1 1. PRESENT: Cr Steve O’Halloran, Cr Jeff Mannix, Elizabeth White

(Director of Corporate & Community Development), Connie Mallet

(Tourism Coordinator), Simone Carmichael, Peter Lawler, Sue

O’Halloran, Shirley Matarazzo, Silvana Keating, Jo Pedler.

2. APOLOGIES: Mayor Leigh Byron, Cr Ken Barnes (Chairman), Myrtle Matarazzo, Dinitee Haskard, Jo Gorman, Ken Spinks, Linda Nelson, Wayne Whitby

3. BRIEF OVERVIEW OF TOURISM STRATEGY PLAN OUTLINE:

The Tourism Coordinator went through the Tourism Strategy and provided a brief overview of the following:

Industry & Market Findings & Implications on Strategy

Industry Statistics at National, State, Regional & Local levels

Tourism Audit of each of the destination areas within the Shire

Tourism Audit of all the Shire’s Attractions, Accommodations, Eateries & Facilities (Recreational & Other tourism related facilities

4. CURRENT TRENDS FOR BALRANALD

The Tourism Coordinator went through all the current visitation and market trends regarding Balranald

The April Tourism Report’s statistics was provided to highlight the trends

5. TOURISM STRATEGY PLAN – STRATEGIC IMPERATIVES

By way of a summary of the KEY IMPERATIVES of the Tourism Strategy Plan the Tourism Coordinator put together Strategic Imperatives document which she went through with the committee. This included the following:

Strategic Objectives – The 4 Key Objectives against which all the plan’s strategies are allocated

Desired Outcomes of the of the Strategies

The key Marketing Imperatives

The key Branding & Positioning Imperatives

Tourism Experience Categories & Attractions Matrix

Accommodation, Retail, Services & Facilities Matrix

Recommended Target Markets

Visitor Information Services – Key Objectives

Product & Market Development Imperatives

Key Marketing Mediums




6. RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE WORKSHOP

Tourism Coordinator proposed that a new Tourism Logo to align with new branding initiative be considered (Refer to Strategic Imperatives Document – Section 4). She provided an example of what the proposed logo

The committee accepted the recommendation of a new logo but made a few suggestions of edits to be made to the proposed logo

The Tourism Coordinator said that she will have the proposed logo amended and the updated version would be presented to the Committee at the next Workshop

A recommendation was also made by the committee that the “star ratings” made against eateries and accommodation venues in the Tourism Audit be taken out and just general comments are made about the findings re service and product quality.

7. CLOSURE:

The meeting closed at 7.15pm 8. NEXT MEETING: Due to the fact that the committee had yet to work

through the Plan’s Strategies, the committee members present decided on the following date for Workshop 2: June 2nd from 10.00am – 4.00pm

Recommendation that Council accept the minutes of the Tourism Committee Meeting held on Tuesday 14th May 2015 and adopt the recommendations contained therein.

06.15.3480 RESOLVED on the motion of Crs Jolliffe and Mannix that the Committee report be noted.




MINUTES OF THE COMMUNITY SAFETY PRECINCT MEETING, HELD IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBERS ON TUESDAY 26th MAY 2015, COMMENCING AT 2.00PM. PRESENT: Acting Inspector Trent Swinton (Chair) (Deniliquin Police), Cr Steve O’Halloran, Scott Smith (Tooleybuc Hotel), June Crawford (Shamrock Hotel), Wally Johnson (Presbyterian Clergy), Robyn Johnson (Mallee Family Care) Sergeant Narelle Tucker (Balranald Police), Cr Lynda Cooke, Paul Hadlow (Balranald Rescue Squad), Vicki Barnes (Kyalite Pub) and John Jackson. APOLOGIES: Dylan Walsh (Balranald Club Motel), Cr Jeff Mannix, Cr Leigh Byron, Aaron Drenovski (Balranald Shire) Inspector Steve Worthington (Deniliquin Police) and Super Intendant Paul Condon. Previous Minutes were accepted by Robyn Johnson and seconded by Sgt Narelle Tucker. BUSINESS ARISING FROM PREVIOUS MINUTES: There was no business arising from previous minutes, Cr Steve O’Halloran commented on the PowerPoint presentation of police statistics from last meeting was well presented. POLICE STATISTICS AND UPDATE: Acting Inspector Trent Swinton mentioned statistics of most of the crimes in the streets are alcohol related at the moment. Narelle had asked licensees to attend the meeting to discuss. Acting Inspector suggested for a licensee accord to be put back on the agenda. June advised that an accord would be beneficial, therefore if a person is barred from one licensed premises they should be barred from all. Acting Inspector suggested all licensees work together to determine banning period. Call a meeting with all, discuss and issue banning notice. Matthew Pollock could assist with commencing the accord. Wayne stated he could do the accord as long as everyone is in agreeance with him. Sgt Tucker suggested that she arrange a meeting in a months’ time for all licensed places attend and Matt Pollock be invited to address the accord. Places to be included Balranald Football Club, Balranald IGA, Ex-Servicemen’s Club, Shamrock Hotel, Homebush Hotel and Kyalite Hotel. Robberies Police have spoken to a young person involved in the robberies, since this theft crime has all but ceased. There was not enough evidence to be charged.




Traffic Operations have been operating nationwide targeting heavy vehicles. They are in there second week now. There have only been a minor percentage of drivers not complying with driving hours and load limitations. Malicious Damage has significantly decreased, almost ceased in the area. Drug Detections – there have been minor results in the town. Wally Johnson commended the local police for their actions regarding crimes in the area. Police Staff Acting Inspector mentioned there is a policing vacancy, Senior Constable Position in Euston. This has been advertised and closes Monday 1st June 2015. There have been 2 extremely interested and to date 1 application has been received. They are working on hopefully having the position filled to commence late July or early August. Constable Kylie Weekley is on maternity leave until late January 2016, leaving Balranald one staff member short. Cr O’Halloran mentioned that he heard about the car that was stolen in Balranald on the radio with Swan Hill Police news, asked why not Balranald police news. Sgt Tucker replied that the local police had not spoken to media and couldn’t explain how they got such news. Cr O’Halloran also mentioned about 2 individuals harassing shop owners and people in the street. He rang to report to police, was put through to radio and was told no one on duty. Acting Inspector stated that Balranald will never be a manned station 7 days per week 24 hours a day. He also said that when you ring our station, if it is unmanned you will be diverted through to radio. The job will be logged on to a computer and will be checked by police and they will call you back. Highway patrol officers can and will help local police officers when needed. Cr O’Halloran also mentioned how big the area is for our local police, and asked whether there is anything that can be done to have more police to this area. Sgt Tucker replied with staffing is assessed by the number of jobs and callouts they receive. Inspector Swinton suggested Council make representations through Mr Adrian Picolli requesting further staffing for our area. Cr O’Halloran also asked whether across border issues had been resolved. Special constables on borders can go across the border to assist, but can’t bring the person back into NSW to be charged.




Cr Cooke asked , “Who can close down a licensed premises, as in a hotel?” “Would I be correct in saying an Inspector or above?” Acting Inspector Swinton’s reply was, “ That use to be the law, unless it’s been changed. He then said, “Actually, I believe it is a Superintendent or above, and it would have to be pretty extreme circumstances”. Paul Hadlow mentioned that fireworks had been happening on occasions. It was also mentioned that there was some young people with mental health issues, intimidating or frightening, in particular elderly people in the street. Sgt Tucker mentioned if you are feeling intimidated or frightened by these people, you should still call police and the persons can be moved on. Inspector Swinton reported that the Balranald police had removed squatters from the Nimmie Caira project just out of Balranald with success. NEXT MEETING: The next meeting will be held 28th July 2015. CLOSURE: There being no further business the meeting closed at 3.10pm Recommendation that the report be received.

06.15.3481 RESOLVED on the motion of Crs Mannix and Campbell that the Committee report be noted.




REPORT OF THE MEETING OF BALRANALD SHIRE COUNCIL RETIREMENT HOSTEL COMMITTEE HELD AT THE BIDGEE HAVEN HOSTEL ON MONDAY 1st JUNE 2015 COMMENCING AT 5.02 PM PRESENT: Cr Steve O’Halloran Cr Linda Cooke (Chair), Cr Elaine Campbell, Cheryl McFarlane, Tendai Makaripe (Hostel Co-ordinator) and Elizabeth White (Director of Corporate & Community Development). APOLOGIES: Helen Edmonds, Aaron Drenovski (General Manager) CORRESPONDENCE: Nil. CONFIRMATION OF MINUTES RESOLVED on the motion of Crs Cooke & Campbell that the Minutes of Monday 13th April 2015 be accepted. DIRECTOR OF CORPORATE SERVICES REPORT: DCCD advised committee that Tendai Makaripe has been appointed as Hostel Co-Ordinator as of Monday 25 May 2015. Committee passed on their congratulations to Tendai. COORDINATORS REPORT: 1) Unannounced Assessment on 28 April 2015 Outcome of audit shows:

a. quality improvement has increased b. increased need for staff education

2) Staff education is ongoing and will be closely monitored by the

Coordinator Manual handling training is now up to date. Coordinator

has negotiated with a physio therapist to assist with manual handling

training as necessary at no cost to Council.

3) Food Audit completed on 6 May. Result was an ‘A’, although the

auditor was concerned with the kitchen surfaces. Coordinator advised

that alterations to the kitchen will be completed with the upgrade.

Auditor was happy with that response; however, he indicated that it

needs to be completed prior to next audit, in May 2016.

4) The dishwasher is not operating as it should. Coordinator is in

discussions with supplier regarding this issue.

5) Case Conferences with Residents – Coordinator advises that “end of

life” requirements are not fully set in place for the residents. This is

something she intends to rectify, but will take time as there is a need

for more than one family member (including power of attorney) to be

on-site when this is occurring.




6) Residents are happy with the current changes occurring. This is a

sensitive area to manage, as upsetting residents is not what

coordinator wants to do.

7) DCCD commented that Coordinator is making headway with ‘small

steps’ and too many changes too soon will cause more angst than

necessary.

8) New linen service is being investigated by the Coordinator. Towel and

soap dispensers have been installed in all residents’ rooms. Fresh

towels are now being provided on a daily basis.

9) During accreditation recently, the auditor noted that milk containers

filled with sand were being used as door stops. This has now been

rectified with proper stops / wedges.

The Coordinator has implemented having two staff members on per shift. These changes are aligned with the current budget for Hostel salaries. This is working well, and alleviates issues such as safety for residents and staff. The Coordinator is investigating the use of disposable serviettes. Cr Campbell advised that many aged care units use the ‘dentist’ style disposable bibs with a rubber attachment around residents’ necks - this may be a good option. The Coordinator advises that there are a number evidence based issues that need to be changed, and these changes will be implemented slowly to avoid upsetting residents as well as staff.

BUSINESS ARISING: 1) Respite Care – presently there are two rooms empty. One is a single

and the other is a double room. It would be preferable to have a

couple occupy the double room, but would not hold back a single

person being accepted to occupy that room if there was a need.

Presently Balranald Hostel doesn’t have ‘proper’ respite care, although

have received a few phone calls requesting assistance for people to

come into the Hostel on respite.

Cr Campbell enquired as to the process of accepting a new resident for

the Hostel. Cr Campbell voiced her concern that the process seems to

be too time consuming and hard for those wishing to enter the Hostel.

DCCD advised that there is a process including ACAT assessment and

assets assessment. ACAT process includes assessment of needs of

incoming resident; ie. Low or high care level, and once the assessment

has been completed, proposed resident meets with the Hostel

Coordinator to determine whether the Hostel can accommodate their

care needs.




Cr O’Halloran was concerned about who determines who enters the

Hostel and didn’t want locals to miss out if ACAT can fill the rooms with

anyone. Cr O’Halloran said we need to work with the locals.

DCCD advised that once the above process was complete the General

Manager and herself determines who will come into the Hostel, taking

into consideration advice from the Coordinator.

DCCD and coordinator have been in consultation to produce information packs/booklets to supply those interested in entering the Hostel. They recently visited the Wentworth Aged Care facility and advised that this is a very well run facility. They also have a comprehensive information pack, and (Balranald) Council is progressing towards these information packs. Cr O’Halloran is concerned over the current negative talk about the Hostel, and it seems the locals have lost pride of this establishment. DCCD commented that the decision to enter the Hostel is not easy, they are essentially losing their full independence, and that is sometimes hard to give up.

2) Housing of Hostel Bus/ gate issue – the gate issue has been rectified.

Cr O’Halloran stated that the bus needs to be housed undercover.

Coordinator advised that Ray Mitchell, Councils Health & Development

Officer had inspected the shelter and advised that the shelter is too low

and the height will need to be raised to accommodate the bus

DCCD will follow up with HDO.

3) Bidgee Haven Manor Units - Cr O’Halloran asked what the rental cost

the staff members that are occupying 2 of these units are paying.

DCCD advised that the staff pay $150 per week in rent.

Cr O’Halloran further asked if Council is in a position to fill these units,

and that he feels they need to make it clear (to the Coordinator) as a

committee that she has secure accommodation during her tenure.

DCCD advised that as the Coordinator is no longer temporary and has

been appointed, if it is the wish of the committee, then it can be

minuted.

ACS Review – DCCD advises that she has not received the report back as yet, and as she was on leave last week, will follow up with ACS this week.




4) Curtain and Carpet Replacement – DCCD advised committee that

Staff and Coordinator had input with colours, curtains have been

ordered and a 50% deposit has been paid. DCCD will follow up to find

out when they will be installed.

DCCD advised that she had sourced two quotes for carpet, and is sourcing an additional quote for flowtex carpet as viewed at the Wentworth Aged Care Facility. DCCD remarked that the CEO at Murray House (Wentworth) is very competent and a wealth of knowledge in this industry, having previously been CEO of Mildura Aged Care and Chafey House, also in Mildura. “He knows what works and what doesn’t and the visit by our Coordinator and I was well worth the trip”.

5) Coordinators report - Cr O’Halloran requested a copy of the

Coordinators report be provided to committee prior to the beginning of

each Hostel meeting, to have the opportunity to scan over and make

notes so as to not hold up the meeting.

The Coordinator advised that this will occur at future meetings. She apologised, advising that at this meeting she only had dot point notes and was elaborating on these.

OTHER BUSINESS: Questions without notice 1. Bus Sign – Coordinator to follow up on signage for the bus. Council

staff to assist with names of sign writers in Swan Hill.

2. Cr O’Halloran requested information on when the carpet installation

will occur. DCCD advised as soon as the quotes have been received

and accepted.

3. Cr O’Halloran would like the committee to formally acknowledge

Tendai Makaripe’s appointment as Hostel Coordinator. The Committee

wish Tendai good luck. There are a few challenges to overcome, but

no doubt Tendai will do well.

Tendai acknowledged the committee and thanked them for their support.

4. Cr O’Halloran recommended the gardens be re-instated.

Coordinator advised that the sprinkler system has been installed in the

ceiling and hopes the garden refurbishment will be finalised soon after

that.




5. Cr Campbell asked about fire drills and queried if the staff know how to

complete a fire drill? Coordinator advised that Council needs to look

at a new system, as the current one is not working well, and staff will

be trained once the new system is up and running.

6. Cr Cooke queried the $120,000 costing and where the funds are

coming from for the sprinkler system.

DCCD advised that $60,000 is from general funds and $60,000 from Hostel funds. Originally the $60,000 coming from the general funds was to be funded via grant monies, but the grant want not secured. This extra $60,000 will need to be shown as a loan to the Hostel from Council.

7. Cr O’Halloran asked if the existing kitchen will be changed.

DCCD advised that the existing kitchen is too small and needs to be

more central, and yes, it will be altered.

8. Coordinator asked if the new plan includes automatic doors.

DCCD advised that the current Tender that has been accepted is for

design purpose only, and Council / Staff will have input after the

design has been submitted.

9. Coordinator commented that it would be great to secure some

additional volunteers for the residents and extra or variety in activities.

DCCD advised Council can advertise for additional volunteers for

Hostel activities in the next newsletter.

10. Cr O’Halloran suggested an open day for the locals to visit and view

the Hostel. Council could possibly contact the school to give a

performance to the residents. This may also help ongoing local

confidence in the Hostel and its operations.

Meeting closed 6.17 p.m. NEXT MEETING: Monday 3rd August. Recommendation: That Council receive and note the minutes

06.15.3482 RESOLVED on the motion of Crs Cooke and Jolliffe that the Committee report be noted.




MINUTES OF THE BALRANALD SHIRE EUSTON BEAUTIFICATION & TOURISM MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE MEETING HELD AT EUSTON COURTHOUSE ON TUESDAY 2ND JUNE 2015 COMMENCING AT 9:00AM PRESENT: Mayor Leigh Byron, Cr Ken Barnes (Chair), Mrs Bev Harbinson and John Stevenson DID. APOLOGIES: Mrs Maureen Pupillo, Mrs Edna Price, Mrs Vicki Barnes, Mrs Vivienne McMahon and Mr Barry Watts. As there was no quorum a discussion took place. 1. Bev H noted the need to include the relocation and modification

of the Medley Art Park History Board in conjunction with other

aspects at a future site meeting. It was unanimously agreed that

the next meeting will be held at the Medley Art Park as the artist

will be present.

2. Chairman Ken B commented on the need to do further minor

works to the paddle steamer profile cut panel. DID to investigate

embellishing the sign with some additional metal attachments.

Opinions will be sought from the artist at the next meeting.

3. Chairman Ken B mentioned that a Mildura recycling outlet are

producing wave seats for sale. DID to make contact.

4. Bev H indicated that a leak remains in the courthouse roof in one

area. DID to attend asap.

5. Mayor L Byron raised the subject of establishing gardens at the

roundabout and/or motifs of fish or the like. DID to report back to

a later meeting with plans for a proposal.

6. Chairman Ken B raised the need to revitalise the cemetery

garden plaque as per Cenotaph plaques. DID to action.

7. General discussion on ongoing Courthouse improvement plans.

DID to report to next meeting on the next stage. DID also advised

the group of the draft budget which was tabled.

8. Mayor L Byron noted the fact that town entrance signs may be

able to be revitalised with a simple clean down. DID to action.

9. Chairman Ken B also raised the need for directional walkway

signage off Cary St indicating the route to the Robinvale Walkway




via the subdivision. A mud map was suggested to be

incorporated in the sign. DID to action.

10. Question on the future of the former Caltex service station site.

DID to approach Coffey Environmental to learn of land owners

intentions to make the site more presentable.

11. The meeting adjourned to the exterior of the building to view

some maintenance aspects required. DID to action.

There being no further discussion the meeting closed at 10:15am. Next Meeting to be held at 9am on Tuesday 7th July 2015 at Medley Art Park. Recommendation that the report be noted.

06.15.3483 RESOLVED on the motion of Crs Barnes and Purtill that the Committee report be noted.




MINUTES OF THE BALRANALD SHIRE COUNCIL TOURISM COMMITTEE MEETING HELD IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBERS ON TUESDAY 2nd JUNE 2015, COMMENCING AT 10.00AM TOURISM STATEGY WORKSHOP 2 1. PRESENT: Aaron Drenovski (General Manager), Cr Ken Barnes

(Chairman) Cr Steve O’Halloran, Elizabeth White (Director of

Corporate & Community Development), Connie Mallet (Tourism

Coordinator), Simone Carmichael, Peter Lawler, Sue O’Halloran

2. APOLOGIES: Mayor Leigh Byron, Myrtle Matarazzo, Dinitee Haskard, Jo Gorman, Ken Spinks, Linda Nelson, Wayne Whitby, Cr Jeff Mannix, Shirley Matarazzo, Silvana Keating, Jo Pedler

3. SUMMARY OF WORKSHOP 1 The Tourism Coordinator gave a summary of the topics covered in Workshop 1 which included:

Overview of the Plan’s Findings & Tourism Audit

Current trends for Balranald

Working through the Plan’s Strategic Imperatives

4. PROPOSED NEW TOURISM LOGO

At the previous Workshop the Tourism Coordinator proposed that a new Tourism Logo to align with new branding initiative be considered). She provided an example of the design of the proposed logo

The committee accepted the recommendation of a new logo but made a few suggestions of edits to be made to the proposed logo

The Tourism Coordinator said that she will have the proposed logo amended and the updated version would be presented to the Committee at the next Workshop

The Tourism Coordinator presented the edited logo as shown:

Sue O’Halloran moved to have the new logo adopted

The motion was seconded by Peter Lawler

The new Tourism Logo was unanimously adopted by the Tourism Committee




5. WORKING THROUGH THE TOURISM PLAN’S STRATEGIES: The Tourism Coordinator went through each of the 4 STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES against which a series of Strategies were allocated. The Objectives were as follows:

OBJECTIVE 1: To build Tourism capacity within the Balranald Shire

15 Strategies were presented and discussed

All strategies were accepted by the Committee

OBJECTIVE 2: To develop an integrated marketing effort that drives visitation to the region, increases visitor numbers, converts travellers to overnight stayers & increases the economic yield from tourism across the Shire.

21 Strategies were presented and discussed

All strategies were accepted by the Committee

OBJECTIVE 3: To improve presentation, facilities & infrastructure thereby adding value to our tourism offerings, helping to motivate travellers to stop and enhance visitors’ experience Although there were a number of items/facilities/infrastructure identified in the Plan, focus was given to the following items:

Signage (in and around and outside of Balranald)

The Bird Trail

The Old Gaol

Lake Benanee

It was also noted that although many of the items listed here were not part of the Tourism budget, nevertheless regular communication and meetings with the Infrastructure and Facilities department were necessary to ensure that all items that have an impact on tourism be addressed

OBJECTIVE 4: To deliver exceptions Visitor Services that will motivate visitors to return and to spread and share their positive experience with others As we ran out of time to address Objective 4 in the workshop the strategies (Visitor Information Centre Services & Strategies &The Discovery Centre Strategies) were given to members to take home and read and to provide feedback to Tourism Coordinator within the week.




6. RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE WORKSHOP

It was recommended that consideration be given to the Caltex Roadhouse on the Highway as members felt the motel rooms needed sprucing

An additional number of services were provided to the Tourism Coordinator by Sue O’Halloran to add to the list of services outlined in the Plan for tourists

Identify towns/areas outside of Balranald that require signs pointing to Balranald for Mungo NP

It was suggested that a lit-up sign similar to that of the Central School be investigated/considered for the Discovery Centre

In discussing developing tourism capacity within the town, it was suggested that a “Suggestion Box” be present in the retail, eateries and motel businesses. The committee felt that this would help operators to read what customers/visitors had to say.

It was suggested that we explore the possibility of funding a boat for the river – look at licencing requirements etc.

When discussing opening hours it was suggested that the Chemist had to close for an hour due to laws that doors could not be opened if a Chemist was not present on the premises. It was recommended that we investigate this further.

It was suggested that we investigate whether Balranald has a Tourism Town status. Many members felt that this was predominantly a Victorian status, however it will be investigated further.

It was suggested that an prominent Indigenous member of the community be represented on the Tourism Committee as the strategy plan recommends that we build and develop Aboriginal Tourism within the Shire

Tourism Coordinator suggested that we regularly seek for grants to support our Tourism development strategies. She suggested that weekly time is allocated from her schedule to identify funding opportunities and that as a committee we should look at putting together potential projects that can then be aligned to relevant funding opportunities.

7. ADOPTION OF THE TOURISM STRATEGY PLAN BY THE COMMITTEE

The Director of Corporate and Community Development asked whether the committee would adopt the Tourism Strategy Plan

Peter Lawler moved to have the Plan adopted

The motion was seconded by Mon Carmichael

The new Tourism Logo was unanimously adopted by the Tourism Committee




8. ALLOCATON OF THE $5,000 BUDGETED FOR THE COMMITTEE TO USE AT THEIR DISCRETION

The Director of Corporate & Community Development recommended that the Committee decide how they wish to spend the $5,000 budget allocation in the 2014/15 budget to use at their discretion

It was unanimously agreed that this would fund 2 town entry signs promoting the Discovery Centre

9. CLOSURE: The meeting closed at 4.15pm

10. NEXT MEETING: Back to our regular monthly meetings in July. First Tuesday of the month being Tuesday 7th July.

Recommendation that the report be noted.

06.15.3484 RESOLVED on the motion of Crs Barnes and Jolliffe that the Committee report be noted.




MINUTES FROM THE BALRANALD SHIRE COUNCIL CARAVAN PARK COMMITTEE MEETING HELD AT THE BALRANALD SHIRE COUNCIL CARAVAN PARK ON WEDNESDAY 3rd JUNE 2015 COMMENCING AT 2PM PRESENT: Mayor Leigh Bryon, General Manager Aaron Drenovski, Cr Jeff Mannix (Chair), Cr Elaine Campbell, Cr Trevor Jolliffe, Cr Steve O’Halloran. APOLOGIES: Director Corporate & Community Development Mrs Elizabeth White BUSINESS ARISING FROM PREVIOUS MINUTES: 1. Men’s Shower Block

Bench seats in shower block needs to be replaced with steel shelves. (4 Men’s and 3 Ladies.) Doors in shower cubicles are peeling from water. Silicone is coming away from shower, and water in behind. Take backing off and place aluminium underneath. Matt to arrange for equipment and do the works himself. Council will reimburse costs.

2. Cabins Dee to arrange quotes for standard cabins and Aaron to arrange for quotes from SiloStay type cabin made and delivered to Balranald.

3. Grass Area

Level and top dress grassed area at back of park to accommodate more powered sites, has been commenced. Council staff have left and will commence again in 3 weeks. It was decided to have Dave Chaston level out and tidy up the area where they had started and sow some lawn seeds or plant grass runners. Matt will action.

After the five rivers festival we will have to have the remaining grass area levelled and top dressed.

4. Rotunda

Matt & Dee still waiting for quote from BBQ’s are us for the outdoor BBQ.

GENERAL BUSINESS 1. Lease

Contract requires Council write to Matt and Dee Jess offering them the continuation of the lease for a further 2 years. Aaron to action.




2. Cabins There were discussions about the purchase of additional cabins. Aaron to investigate grant some funding opportunities for the purchase of new cabins, and report back to committee.

3. Telstra Lines Aaron to arrange for Telstra to disconnect the line at the residence (50 201798) in Caravan Park as the current line affects the phone diversions. Phone numbers 03 50201321 and 03 50201798. Technician to check with Dee or Matt prior to disconnecting, to ensure internet, eftpos, fax and phone will still work after disconnection.

4. Security Doors Dee & Matt to arrange the purchase of 7 new security doors for Cabins 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 at Bunnings for $139.00 each. Council will reimburse the cost.

5. Electric Blankets Dee to purchase electric blankets - 6 queen and 4 double and Council will reimburse costs. Dee and Matt will need to arrange for the electrician to check and tag all electrical items with a chord and tag at their costs.

6. Staining of Cabin Decks Aaron to investigate the purchase of oil from Men’s Shed and store the surplus at Caravan Park until weather is suitable to complete.

7. Shade for Standard Ensuite Cabins Dee had received one quote from Mildura for approximately $30,000 for shade structures to be erected over 6 cabins. Dee is to arrange another quote and bring back to the committee.

8. Stone for Cabin Parking Areas Matt requested a small truck load of white stone to be delivered to the parking area in front of Cabins 9 and 10. Aaron to check the order of last delivery and arrange Wayne to have delivered.

9. Outdoor Chairs Dee asked who supplies the outdoor furniture, a discussion went around, and the committee agreed Council would supply the outdoor chairs. Dee agreed to purchase the chairs locally and ensure they are approved for with 150kg weight capacity.




10. Pool Cover Dee & Matt asked whether they could purchase a cover for the pool during the winter months. The committee agreed Council will supply the cover with Matt ordering the correct one.

11. Balranald Central School – 150 year anniversary

General discussion took place regarding the 150 year anniversary and

for the possible need for additional powered and non-powered sites at

Greenham Park to be available should the caravan park be full. As

per the report to the May Council meeting Matt and Dee are happy to

take the bookings should the need arise.

12. Questions

Matt enquired about the free RV parking areas, at the pool car park, Discovery Centre and Lake Benanee. He feels that it is making a difference with the tenants in his park and feels Euston Caravan Park would be suffering because of the free parks. Aaron will clarify whether both RV’s and Caravans can park in the free parks, or whether it should be just RV’s. Council will also check guidelines of free parking and RV accreditation.

NEXT MEETING: The next meeting will be called once quotes have been received for the next accommodation unit. CLOSURE: Meeting concluded at 3.30pm. Recommendation that the report be noted.

06.15.3485 RESOLVED on the motion of Crs Jolliffe and Campbell that the Committee report be noted.




MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF THE BALRANALD

BEAUTIFICATION COMMITTEE HELD AT THE COUNCIL

CHAMBERS, ON 3RD

JUNE 2015, COMMENCING AT 7:00PM

PRESENT: Cr Steven O’Halloran, Gaye Renfrey, Vicki Burke, Greg Camin, Mary Grisdale, Karen Norfolk and DID John Stevenson. APOLOGIES: Cr Jeff Mannix, Cr Elaine Campbell, Marg Vanzanten and Jill Bath. Business arising from the Minutes 1. General discussion on the Greenham Park Entrance Beautification. It

was decided that the three formal raised gardens would be planted out initially with surrounds and plantings at the toilet block to follow (six or seven trees required).

2. The Committee discussed the opportunity to design a small motif which they would affix to hardware on project sites as an indication of their involvement in town beautification. Unanimously agreed.

3. General discussion on selecting some advanced tress from the species included in the April minutes in order that late winter / early spring planting can commence in River Street and to the Heritage Park northern boundary.

General Business: 1. Cr S O’Halloran raised the possible opportunity for the Committee to

seek a grant opportunity towards Heritage park improvements from the Nimmie Caira development. Council to explore the opportunities.

2. DID to liaise with Bidgee Haven staff to ensure that Glimmer garden is restored following the installation of water mains.

3. DID to clarify the likely cover and protection of Committee members as volunteers during project working bees.

4. Cr S O’Halloran raised the need to restrict vehicles from parking partially on the footpath in Mayall St to access the diesel pumps at the Caltex service site. DID to approach the service station / Caltex on the matter.

5. Miscellaneous items to be attended to:

Dead tree to be removed – Bank St at Church St

Driveways to be further reinstated over new water mains in Malcolm St

Congratulation tendered to Council by residents of Malcolm St on the installation of a new filtered water line. A great project delivered in a timely manner. There being no further business the meeting closed at 7.50pm.




Next Meeting: Wednesday 1st July 2015 at 7pm at the Council Chambers. Recommendation that the report be noted.

06.15.3486 RESOLVED on the motion of Crs Jolliffe and Campbell that the Committee report be noted.

06.15.3487 RESOLVED on the motion of Crs Mannix and O’Halloran that the

meeting adjourn at 7pm for 30 minutes for dinner. COMMITTEE & OTHER REPORTS FOR INFORMATION

DELEGATES REPORTS

Cr Purtill – Local Government National General Assembly Cr Cooke – Murray Darling Basin Authority Cr Jolliffe – WRMWAG Cr O’Halloran – Local Government National General Assembly - Seniors Ball, held in Club Auditorium on Wednesday

Afternoon.

NOTICES OF MOTION/RESCISSION

GENERAL MANAGER’S REPORTS (Incorporating all Staff Reports)




Corporate and Community Development Division C - 1 STATEMENT OF FUNDS File number: 85

Reporting Officer: Elizabeth White Director of Corporate and Community Development Operational Plan Objective: Pillar Six: Our Leadership – a community that values and fosters leadership, lifelong learning, innovation and good governance

Officer Recommendation: For information

06.15.3488 RESOLVED on the motion of Crs Jolliffe and Mannix that the report be

received.

Purpose of Report Funds Report for the Month Ending 31st May 2015

Investment Held: Bankwest 500,000

Bendigo 1,000,000 NAB 1,000,000 Westpac 1,500,000

4,000,000

FUNDS HELD Investment Bank Combined Restricted Balance General 2,400,000 926,490 3,326,490 909,992 2,416,498 DWM 0 78,086 78,086 28,000 50,086 Water 100,000 438,374 538,374 91,585 446,789 Sewer 1,500,000 316,688 1,816,688 1,619,979 196,709

Total 4,000,000 1,759,638 5,759,638 2,649,556 3,110,082

For Councillor’s information: Council has significant roads related expenditure in June 2015, a result of re-seals done in late April and May. This accounts for the large bank balance for General Fund at the end of May 2015.




Report All investments shown have been made in accordance with Section 625 of the Local Government Act 1993, the regulations and council’s investment policy.

Bank Reconciliation Balance B/F From Previous Month

675,691

ADD Receipts for Month: Admin

10,662 Caravan Park

32,187

Debtors

52,726 Discovery Centre Sales

4,510

Grants - FAG / R2R / RMS

1,719,100 Hostel

7,007

Interest

17,481 Rates & Water

271,781

Sundry - DA/603/149/Pound Release/Truck Wash

38,577 2,154,030

LESS Payments for the Month: Admin

15,034 ATO / BAS

38,306

CAPEx - Disc Centre/Netball Courts / Lions Toilets

73,611

Caravan Park

23,152 Communication

3,769

Councillors

9,124 Fleet Expenses

4,873

Freight

1,953 Fuel

30,680

Hostel

20,035 Hostel Bond [Nield]

105,664

Insurance

28,834 IT Expense – H’ware/Software

8,610

Lease

25,351 Payroll

272,504

Power

22,827 R&M / Parks & Gardens

64,835

Roads

206,702 Discovery Centre Stock

2,815

Sundry - Library / Men’s shed / Cleaning

10,210

Discovery Centre Cost of Goods

2,706 Water

95,261

Youth Week

3,228 1,070,083

Cash Book Balance as at End of Month

1,759,638

Less Outstanding Deposits as at end of Month

-32,201

Plus Unpresented Cheques as at end of Month

146,472

Bank Balance as at End of Month

1,873,909




C - 2 RATES SUMMARY MAY 2015 File number: 85 Reporting Officer: Elizabeth White Director of Corporate and Community Development Operational Plan Objective: Pillar Six: Our Leadership – a community that values and fosters leadership, lifelong learning, innovation and good governance.

Officer Recommendation:

For information

06.15.3489 RESOLVED on the motion of Crs Cooke and Purtill that the report be received.

Purpose of Report To provide Council with a summary of rates collections and outstanding amounts.

Report As at 31st May 2015, Council has a total of $312,451 outstanding in Rates and Annual Charges. $101,404 (or 32%) relates to 2013-14 and prior, and the remaining balance of $211,047 relates to the 2014-15 levy.

The Summary of Arrears for 2013-14 and prior clearly shows an increasing decline in rates collections over the last 3-4 years with the outstanding balance increasing at a rate of 10-12% per year. Council is currently working closely with “Outstanding Collections”, a debt collection firm that specialises in the collection of local government revenue; specifically rates and annual charges.

The Rates and Annual Charges Outstanding Ratio, as per the Financial Statements, concentrates on the percentage [%] outstanding of the current year levy. In the past few years, the rates have been 14.50% for 2012, 17.61% for 2013 and 13.49% in 2014. The expectation for 2015 is 9-10% which indicates a proactive approach to the collection of current levies, and brings council within the “Local Government Benchmark” of 10%.




For the current financial year, and as at 31st May 2015:- 5% of rate payers are yet to pay their 1st instalment 6% of rate payers are yet to pay their 2nd instalment 7% of rate payers are yet to pay their 3rd instalment and 20% of rate payers are due to pay their 4th instalment

Summary of Arrears 2013-14 & Prior % Value 2013-14

38% 38,851

2012-13

28% 28,193 2011-12

15% 14,924

2010-11

7% 7,546 Habitual Non Payers with payment agreements 2009-10

6% 5,927 Habitual Non Payers with payment agreements

2008-09 & Prior

6% 5,963 Habitual Non Payers with payment agreements Total 101,404 32% of overall outstanding




C – 3 COUNCILLORS AND MAYORAL FEES File number: 85 Reporting Officer: Elizabeth White Director of Corporate and Community Development Operational Plan Objective: Pillar Six: Our Leadership – a community that values and fosters leadership, lifelong learning, innovation and good governance

Officer Recommendation: That Council adopt the 2.5% increase in Mayor and Councillor Fees for the 2015/2016 financial year.

06.15.3490 RESOLVED on the motion of Crs Cooke and Campbell that the report be received.

Purpose of Report The purpose of this report is to inform the Council what Councillor and Mayoral fees are payable for the new financial year. Background The Remuneration Tribunal determines what fees each category of Council must pay their respective Councillors and Mayor each year. The Tribunal also undertakes a fundamental review of the categories of Councillor and Mayoral officers in accordance with the section 239 of the Act. Each year the review has regard to issues raised in submissions received from the Local Government and Shires Associations and individual Councils, as well as advice received from the Department of Local Government. The Tribunal also considers the finding of previous reviews and considers the relative merits of a number of alternate models. This year, after taking into account all the factors as well as the views of the Assessors, the Tribunal considered that an increase in fees of 2.5% was appropriate and found that there was no strong case to significantly alter the current categories of Councillor and Mayoral offices or to move individual Councils between categories. The Balranald Shire Council has remained a “Rural 77” category. Discussion Pursuant to section 241 of the Local government Act, 1993 the fees payable to Councillors and the Mayor are as Follows:

Minimum Maximum

Financial Year 2015 2016 Inc. % 2015 2016 Inc. %

Councillors 8,130 8,330 2.5% 10,740 11,010 2.5%

Mayor [Note 1] 8,640 8,860 2.5% 23,440 24,030 2.5%




Note 1: This fee must be paid in addition to the fee paid to the Mayor/Chairperson as a Councillor/Member (s.249 (2)). It should be noted that in the past Balranald Shire Council has adopted the maximum rate for its councillors as shown below.

Councillor

Fee Mayor's

Fee Total

2015-16 No

Councillor Value

2015-16 Value

2014-15 % Inc.

Councillors 11,010

11,010 7 77,070 75,180 2.5%

Mayor 11,010 24,030 35,040 1 35,040 34,180 2.5%

The overall increase in fees equates to $2,750.00. The increase is supported in the Draft Operational Plan for 2015.2016

Financial Implication As per Draft Documents

Legislative Implication NSW Local Government Act 1993 Sec. 405 (4)

Policy Implication Nil

Attachments Nil




C4 – RATES & CHARGES FOR 2015/2016 File number: 156 Reporting Officer: Director of Corporate & Community Development Operational Plan Objective: Pillar 6: Our Leadership 6.3.2 – Provide good Governance, prudent financial management and effective support services for all its activities.

Officer Recommendation: that whereas public notice has been given by advertisement published in The Guardian newspaper on 20 May 2015, of the preparation of the Draft Operational Plan in relation to the Council’s activities for the 2015/16 financial year and whereas such Draft Operational Plan has been publicly exhibited for not less than 28 days and whereas the ordinary rates do not exceed in the aggregate the permitted increase, the ordinary rates and special rates and the charges detailed hereafter be and hereby are made for the financial year commencing 1 July 2015

06.15.3491 RESOLVED on the motion of Crs Jolliffe and Mannix that the report be received. Purpose of Report To formally make and levy Rates & Annual Charges for 2015/2016 Report Council is required to make and levy its ordinary rates and annual charges for each year on land in the Balranald Shire area. The resolutions required to be adopted for this purpose are detailed in the below recommendations. Recommendation (i) a FARMLAND – GENERAL rate of zero point zero zero three six three four (0.003634) cents in the dollar on the land value of all rateable land in the area which has been categorised by the Council as Farmland General with dominant use being generally cropping or grazing over significant land area pursuant to Section 515 of the Local Government Act 1993, subject to a base amount of three hundred and thirteen dollars ($313) in respect of each separate parcel with the base amount producing eleven point four two percent (11.42%) of the total amount of the rate levy for the Farmland General rate sub-category; and




(ii) a FARMLAND – OTHER RURAL rate of zero point zero zero two eight six one (0.002861) cents in the dollar on the land value of all rateable land in the area which has been categorised by the Council as Farmland Other Rural to have low intensity of land use and a low economic benefit pursuant to Section 515 of the Local Government Act 1993, subject to a base amount of one hundred and forty seven dollars ($147) in respect of each separate parcel with the base amount producing forty two point zero nine percent (42.09%) of the total amount of the rate levy for the Farmland Other Rural rate sub-category; and (iii) a FARMLAND – INTENSE rate of zero point zero zero six eight three four (0.006834) cents in the dollar on the land value of all rateable land in the area which has been categorised by the Council as Farmland Intense to have medium to high intensity of land use and an intermediate to major economic benefit pursuant to Section 515 of the Local Government Act 1993, subject to a base amount of three hundred and thirty dollars ($330.00) in respect of each separate parcel with the base amount producing twenty nine point three two percent (29.32%) of the total amount of the rate levy for the Farmland Intense rate sub-category; and (iv) a RESIDENTIAL – BALRANALD rate of zero point zero zero three nine three five (0.003935) cents in the dollar on the land value of all rateable land in the centre of the population being the Balranald Village Zone, being land which has been sub-categorised by the Council as Balranald Residential pursuant to Section 516 and 529 of the Local Government Act 1993, subject to a base amount of one hundred and thirty five dollars ($135.00) in respect of each separate parcel with the base amount producing forty seven point four eight percent (47.48%) of the total amount of the rate levy for the Residential Balranald rate sub-category; and (v) a RESIDENTIAL – EUSTON rate of zero point zero zero two nine six five (0.002965) cents in the dollar on the land value of all rateable land in the centre of the population being the Euston Village Zone, being land which has been sub-categorised by the Council as Euston Residential pursuant to Section 516 and 529 of the Local Government Act 1993, subject to a base amount of one hundred and thirty one dollars ($131.00) in respect of each separate parcel with the base amount producing forty eight point three two percent (48.32%) of the total amount of the rate levy for the Residential Euston rate sub-category; and (vi) a RESIDENTIAL – GENERAL rate of zero point zero zero four six nine five (0.004695) cents in the dollar on the land value of all rateable land used for residential purposes and not located within the Balranald and Euston Village Zones, being land which has been sub-categorised by the Council as Residential General pursuant to Section 516 and 529 of the Local Government Act 1993, subject to a base amount of eighty nine dollars ($89.00) in respect of each separate parcel with the base amount




producing forty eight point eight five percent (48.85%) of the total amount of the rate levy for the Residential General rate sub-category; and (vii) a BUSINESS – BALRANALD rate of zero point zero two four two five zero (0.024250) cents in the dollar on the land value of all rateable land in the Balranald Business Area, being land which has been sub-categorised by the Council as Business Balranald pursuant to Section 518 and 529 of the Local Government Act 1993, subject to a base amount of three hundred and twenty six dollars ($326.00) in respect of each separate parcel with the base amount producing twenty four point four nine percent (24.49%) of the total amount of the rate levy for the Business Balranald rate sub-category; and (viii) a BUSINESS – EUSTON rate of zero point zero one seven five four four (0.017544) cents in the dollar on the land value of all rateable land in the Euston Business Area, being land which has been sub-categorised by the Council as Business Euston pursuant to Section 518 and 529 of the Local Government Act 1993, subject to a base amount of three hundred and twenty six dollars ($326.00) in respect of each separate parcel with the base amount producing thirteen point zero eight percent (13.08%) of the total amount of the rate levy for the Business Euston rate sub-category; and (ix) a BUSINESS – MINING rate of zero point zero zero seven five six four (0.007564) cents in the dollar on the land value of all rateable land in the area which has been sub-categorised by the Council as Business Mining (excluding mineral sands extraction) pursuant to Section 515 and 529 of the Local Government Act 1993, subject to a base amount of one hundred and forty dollars ($140.00) in respect of each separate parcel with the base amount producing thirty-eight point four one percent (38.41%) of the total amount of the rate levy for the Business Mining rate sub-category; and (x) a BUSINESS – RURAL rate of zero point zero two zero zero one nine (0.020019) cents in the dollar on the land value of all rateable land outside of any of the Shires Residential Village Zones, being land which has been sub-categorised by the Council as Business Rural pursuant to Section 515 and 529 of the Local Government Act 1993, subject to a base amount of one hundred and three dollars ($103.00) in respect of each separate parcel with the base amount producing thirty seven point seven four percent (37.74%) of the total amount of the rate levy for the Business Rural rate sub-category; and (xi) a BALRANALD RAW WATER fixed annual access charge for each property having access to the Balranald Raw Water Supply System, and a EUSTON RAW WATER fixed annual access charge for each property having access to the Euston Raw Water Supply System:




all calculated in accordance with the following scale, subject to the proviso that where a property has more than one connection each connection shall be charged separately:

Connection Size

Annual Charge

Usage Charges (per KL)

Tariff 1 52 cents/kl For the first

600kl/annum. Tariff 2

Above 600kl Per annum 78

cents/kl

20 mm connection $ 198.00




50 mm connection $ 1,237.00



(xiii) a BALRANALD FILTERED WATER fixed annual access charge for each property having access to the Balranald Filtered Water Supply System and a EUSTON FILTERED WATER fixed annual access charge for each property having access to the Euston Filtered Water Supply System: all calculated in accordance with the following scale, subject to the proviso that where a property has more than one connection each connection shall be charged separately:

(xiv) a BALRANALD DOMESTIC SEWERAGE fixed annual access charge for each Residential Property having access to the Balranald Sewerage reticulation mains, and a EUSTON DOMESTIC SEWERAGE fixed annual access charge for each Residential Property having access to the Euston Sewerage reticulation mains; such charges being calculated in accordance with the following scale based on the size of the potable (filtered) water supply connection to the property, subject to the proviso that where a property has more than one sewer connection each connection shall be charged separately and provided further that in the event a residential property having access to the Balranald and Euston Sewerage Reticulation Mains only has a raw water connection the following scale of charges shall apply accordingly:

Connection Size

Annual Charge


Tariff 1 94 cents/kl For the first

600kl/annum. Tariff 2

Above 600kl Per annum 141 cents/kl











Connection Size Annual Charge







100mm connection $ 6,727.00

(xv) a BALRANALD COMMERCIAL SEWERAGE fixed annual access charge for each Non-Residential Property having access to the Balranald Sewerage reticulation mains, and a EUSTON COMMERCIAL SEWERAGE fixed annual access charge for each Non-Residential Property having access to the Euston Sewerage reticulation mains such charges being calculated in accordance with the following scale based on the size of the potable (filtered) water supply connection to the property, subject to the proviso that where a property has more than one sewer connection each connection shall be charged separately and provided further that in the event a non-residential property connected to the Balranald and Euston Sewerage Reticulation mains only has a raw water connection the Domestic Sewerage Charge shall apply.

Connection Size

Annual Charge


15 cents/kl





(xvi) a DOMESTIC WASTE MANAGEMENT ACCESS CHARGE of thirty dollars ($30.00) per assessment for all rateable, unoccupied residential land to which the weekly collection service is available to, and a DOMESTIC WASTE MANAGEMENT SERVICE CHARGE of three hundred and five dollars ($305.00) for all assessments which are rateable occupied residential land to which the weekly collection service is available provided that where more than one weekly bin collection service is provided to a property that charge shall be three hundred and five dollars ($305.00) for each bin collection after the first.




(xviii) a COMMERCIAL WASTE MANAGEMENT SERVICE CHARGE as scheduled hereunder

Commercial & other waste management charges

Annual Charge $ per bin

Commercial Waste Management On the basis of one weekly lift per 240litre MGB (mobile garbage bin)

$ 340.00

Second and subsequent bins per weekly lift

$ 340.00

(xx) a INTEREST CHARGE ON OVERDUE RATES AND CHARGES pursuant to Section 566 of the Local Government Act 1993, set at 8.5%, the maximum rate for 2015/2016 as set by the Minister and published in the Government Gazette. (xxi) that the General Manager cause preparation and service of rate

notices for the financial year 2015/2016.

Financial Implication As per Draft Documents

Legislative Implication NSW Local Government Act 1993 Sec. 405 (4)


Attachments Nil




C5 – DRAFT OPERATIONAL PLAN 2015/2016 File number: 156 Reporting Officer: Director of Corporate & Community Development Operational Plan Objective: Pillar 6: Our Leadership 6.3.2 – Provide good Governance, prudent financial management and effective support services for all its activities. Officer Recommendation:

That the 2015/2016 Draft Operational Plan be adopted subject to any changes that are subsequently approved by Council.

06.15.3492 RESOLVED on the motion of Crs Purtill and Mannix that the report be

received and recommendation be adopted.

Cr Cooke requested her vote against the motion be recorded. 06.15.3493 RESOLVED on the motion of Crs O’Halloran and Purtill that $3000 be

put in a reserve fund for relieving doctor funds, $5000 for Art Gallery to upgrade toilet, an additional $5000 in both Balranald and Euston Beautification Committees, $20,000 towards western Division and $23000 towards Golf Club Kitchen also be included in the Budget.

Purpose of Report

To present Councils 2015/2016 Operational Plan for adoption. Report Councils 2015/2016 Draft Operational Plan has been on public Exhibition for the prescribed period and Council has received 5 submissions as listed in the table below.

Submitter Issue Current situation

Chris Midgley New Footpath In River Street

The current draft operational plan includes an amount of $35,000 for footpath construction based on an intention to construct a footpath in River Street, between Church and Dowling Streets.

Marc & Joanne Griffiths

1. Maintenance Grading- to the Hatfield – The Vale Road and

These two requests are currently accommodated within the 2014/2015




Mark & Joanne Griffiths

imp articular the Northern Section of the road which has become very rough.

2. Grid # 20 situated on Hatfield – The Vale Road is in very poor condition (old rotten timber

3. A request to include a statement in the Operational Plan “that Council lobby for mobile phone infrastructure improvements in remote areas of the Shire and particularly the Hatfield/Clare area.

Operational Plan. Council Maintenance crews will undertake grading works on this section of road when the present wet weather clears. A statement can be added to the Operational Plan to accommodate this request.

Balranald Art Gallery

Request for Council to allocate $5,000 in the 2015/2016 Operational Plan to replace the existing toilet, as this toilet is in poor condition and is posing a health and safety issue for visitors to the Gallery

No current budget allocation for this item is provided. This amount can be added to the bottom line of the budget if Council resolves in that manner.




Claire Butler Request for Council to include the following statements under infrastructure in the Operational plan

1. Council continue to lobby for improved mobile phone infrastructure throughout the Shire with priority to Schools within the shire that do not have access to mobile phone services.

2. Council lobby for a “Royalties for Regions” programme to ensure a percentage of State mining royalties are contributed back to the Shire to fund improvements and/or additional Infrastructure.

As per the request above from marc and Joan Griffiths an item under infrastructure 2.3.4 can be added to the Operational Plan. As per this request this item can be included in the Operational Plan.

Balranald Branch – Isolated Children’s Parents’ Association of NSW Inc.

Request that future sealing on the Ivanhoe Road be commenced from the Southern end to enable better access for the local families who are using this road in order to educate their children.

Councils Engineering Department has advised that the next programmed works will be at the Southern end.

Financial Implication If the request from the Balranald Art Gallery is approved by Council, this will add an extra $5,000 to Councils expenditure in 2015/2016

Legislative Implication Sec 405 (1) – (6) of the NSW Local Government Act.


Attachments Correspondence received




C – 6 REPORT ON SERVICES NSW PROPOSED CHANGES File number: AC 2.314 Reporting Officer: Director of Corporate & Community Development Operational Plan Objective: Pillar 6: Our Leadership – 6.3.2 Provide good governance, prudent financial management and effective support for all its activities.

Officer Recommendation: That Council continues negotiations with Services NSW to fully understand the implications of the new agreement & costing.

06.15.3494 RESOLVED on the motion of Crs Mannix and Jolliffe that the report be received. Purpose of the Report: To advise Council on changes to Services NSW and their Letter of Offer for a two [2] year Contract.

Report:

Council representative Theresa Boyd met with representatives David Finlayson [Manager, Alternate Channels] & Steven Issa [A/Director – Alternate Channels] on Thursday 28th May 2015 to discuss the changes currently happening within Services NSW, as well as the offer by Services NSW for the new contact which will include additional Government Access Centre Services, and cover a two year period [previous contracts have been for three [3] years].




Services currently handled by Council representatives include:

Motor Vehicle Registration Heavy Vehicle Registration Interstate Transfers Heavy Vehicle log books Licence Renewals Driver's or Rider's Licence Pensioner Rego Auto-renew Vessel Registration Penalty or Reminder Notices Licence Test Learner Driver's Licence Recreational Fishing Licence Change address with RMS Transfer rego Registration and History Notice of Disposal (Vehicle) Boating Licence

Additional services to include:

Birth, Deaths & Marriages [Processing of information only]

Senior cards [Processing of information only]

Fair Trade transactions [Processing of information only]

There is no current contract with Services NSW and Council has been working on a month by month agreement based on the old contract. Remuneration under the old contract was transaction based; each transaction is weighted depending on the type of transaction and the expected time length [in other words Council is paid for the length of time it takes to process a transaction]. For instance a transaction based on a “change of address” is easy and quick to do and would probably take several minutes, as would the issuing of a heavy vehicle log book. These types of transactions would be paid at a lesser rate per transaction than someone doing an online driving test which is easy to set up but will take staff longer to process, as would a licence renewal or a registration transfer and an interstate transfer taking the longest period in time.

According to Services NSW the amount of transactions being processed by the Balranald Agency is relatively small in comparison to other agencies with 5,786 transactions in 2012-13, 5,892 transactions in 2013-14 and an estimated 5,900 for 2014-15. Having done an analysis of the amount of transactions currently covered by the court representative in Balranald for Births, Deaths & Marriages / Senior Cards / Fair Trade, Services NSW estimate an approx. increase in transaction by 100 taking the approx. total transactions by Balranald to 6,000.

http://www.service.nsw.gov.au/transaction/renew-your-vehicle-registration

http://www.service.nsw.gov.au/transaction/renew-drivers-or-riders-licence

http://www.service.nsw.gov.au/transaction/renew-motor-vehicle-registration-pensioner

http://www.service.nsw.gov.au/transaction/renew-or-restore-vessels-registration

http://www.service.nsw.gov.au/transaction/pay-penalty-or-reminder-notice

http://www.service.nsw.gov.au/transaction/book-drivers-or-riders-licence-test

http://www.service.nsw.gov.au/transaction/apply-learner-drivers-licence

http://www.service.nsw.gov.au/transaction/apply-recreational-fishing-licence

http://www.service.nsw.gov.au/transaction/change-residential-or-mailing-address-rms-individuals

http://www.service.nsw.gov.au/transaction/transfer-your-vehicle-registration

http://www.service.nsw.gov.au/transaction/check-registration-and-history-vehicle

http://www.service.nsw.gov.au/transaction/submit-notice-disposal




Services NSW have made an offer to Council of a “Flat” Rate of $56,000 Inc. GST [Ex GST $50,900] per year for 6,000 transaction [+ / - 15%] for the next two [2] years. This equates to $8.48485 per transaction. An analysis of the last 12 months transactions completed by Council Staff has shown an average monthly payment of $4,095 per month [$49,145 per year] using a minute rate of $1.5384 [per Services NSW] and calculating an average of 5.5 minutes per transaction this equates to 5,808 transactions at $8.46143 per transaction. The analysis also brought to Councils attention that the amount of time spent working for Services NSW based on the invoicing from February 2014 to March 2015 is an average of 2,660 minutes per month or 2.75 hours per day or 11 hrs per week. Services NSW have advised that Council has the option of opening hours, however once decided it will be written into the contract which Council will then need to abide by. The current hours are 4 days a week [Tues-Fri] 9.30am to 4pm, with a lunch break of 0.75 hrs which equates to 5.75 hrs per day or 23 hrs per week. Customers visiting the office of Services NSW are spasmodic which makes it difficult to combine this work with other duties within the Council administrative department. Council might like to consider 5 days per week at reduced hours, perhaps 10am to 3pm with half hour lunch being 4.5 hrs per day or 22.5 hrs per week. This will give the community more days but also reduce the “downtime” per day for the staff member. Based on the lack of information relating to workflow crossing over from the courts in relation to Births, Deaths & Marriages / Senior Cards / Fair Trade, and the analysis above indicating a lack on increased remuneration in respect to council accepting this extra workload, it would be the officers recommendation that council continue negotiations with Services NSW.

Financial Implication Nil

Legislative Implication Nil


Attachments Nil




C – 7 COMMUNITY MEMBERSHIP OF COUNCIL COMMITTEES

File number: 25 Reporting Officer: Director of Corporate & Community Development Operational Plan Objective: Pillar 6: Our Leadership 6.3.2 – Provide good Governance, prudent financial management and effective support services for all its activities.


That Council attend a workshop to determine the Committee members.

06.15.3495 RESOLVED on the motion of Crs Mannix and Barnes that Council

attend a workshop to determine the committee members and report the outcome to the September Council Meeting. Purpose of Report To present to Council Expression of Interest received from members of the community that wish to join committees. Report Council advertised in The Guardian in January 2015, calling for Expressions of Interest for new members of Committees of Council. Common practice is to have no more than eight (8) members on each committee. Most committee structures allows for three (3) community representatives to be on the committee. If committee membership is too large, it can create an unworkable committee.

Current committee members and expressions of interest are as follows:

CULTURAL COMMITTEE To promote all aspects of the arts and the use of the Royal Theatre. Quorum - 4

Current Members include Expressions of interest in joining received from

Cr Elaine Campbell Mrs Kathy Anderson

Cr Lynda Cooke Mrs Linda Nelson

Cr Steve O’Halloran Ms Ema Serevi

Mrs Jan Lawler Mrs Robyn Davis

Mrs Doreen Greenham Ms Cynthja Pappin

Mrs Marg Butler

Mrs Michelle Mannix

Ms Sue Balshaw

Mrs Roslyn Eason




BALRANALD BEAUTIFICATION To carry out authorised voluntary works in Council reserves within allocated funds and resources and make recommendations to Council on beautification works and improvements within Balranald. Quorum - 3 Current Members include Expressions of interest in joining received from

Cr Steve O’Halloran

No expressions of interest were received to join this committee.

Cr Elaine Campbell

Cr Leigh Byron

Ms Karen Norfolk

Mrs Mary Grisdale

Mrs Gaye Renfrey

Mr Greg Camin

Mrs Vicki Burke

Mrs Jill Bath

No expressions of interest were received to join this committee. TOURISM COMMITTEE To consider matters in regard to tourism and promotion and the maintenance, improvement and management of Council owned tourism facilities for recommendation to Council. Quorum - 4 Current Members include Expressions of interest in joining received from

Ms Connie Mallet Mr German Ugarte

Cr Jeff Mannix Mrs Di Williams

Cr Lynda Cooke Mr Ian Lindsay-Field

Cr Ken Barnes Mrs Linda Nelson

Cr Steve O’Halloran Mrs Bronwyn Brougham

Cr Leigh Byron Mr Dylan Walsh

Ms Shirley Matarazzo Ms Ema Serevi

Ms Simone Carmichael Mr Paul Fenna

Ms Silvana Keating Ms Pip Stalley

Ms Dinitee Haskard Ms Jo Pedler

Ms Myrtle Matarazzo

Ms Jo Gorman

Mr Peter Lawler

Mrs Linda Nelson

Mr Ken Spinks

Mrs Sue O’Halloran

Mr Wayne Whitby




HOSTEL COMMITTEE To consider matters in regard to the development and management of the Balranald Retirement Hostel, for recommendation to Council. Quorum - 4 Current Members include Expressions of interest in joining received from

Cr Elaine Campbell Mrs Shirley Matarazzo

Cr Lynda Cooke Mrs Cheryl Mc Farland

Cr Steve O’Halloran Mrs Jill Hargreaves

Hostel Coordinator Mr Simon Coelli

Mrs Helen Edmonds

Ms Katherine Ferguson

EUSTON BEAUTIFICATION COMMITTEE To carry out authorised voluntary works in Council reserves within allocated funds and resources and make recommendations to Council on beautification works and improvements within Euston. Quorum - 5 Current Members include Expressions of interest in joining received from

Mr Barry Watts

No expressions of interest were received to join this committee.

Mrs Faye Watts

Mrs Vicki Barnes

Mrs Vivienne McMahon

Mr Jim McMahon

Mrs Edna Price

Mrs Maureen Paupillo

Mr Ron Mengler

Mrs Edna Price

Cr Leigh Byron

Cr Ken Barnes

COMMUNITY SAFETY PRECINCT COMMITTEE To provide our community with a forum to discuss strategies for reducing crime and improving safety within the Balranald Shire.

In the past, Council has included this committee in their portfolio. Advice from Superintendent Paul Condon from Deniliquin Local Area Command is that this is a committee of the NSW Police, and Council is a representative on the committee.

Financial Implication

Legislative Implication

Policy Implication

Attachments




C – 8 TOURISM REPORT - MAY 2015 File number: 771B Reporting Officer: Director of Corporate & Community Development Operational Plan Objective: Pillar 3: Our Economy – 3.2.1 Tourism

Officer Recommendation: That Council accept the May Tourism report for information

06.15.3496 RESOLVED on the motion of Crs Purtill and Mannix that the report

be received.

Purpose of Report To provide Council with a progress report on Tourism. Report Attached to this report is the Tourism Monthly Reporting Dashboard for the month of May 2015. The following is a summary of the Statistics provided in this report;

Walk-In increased by 81.26% compared to April 2014 and decreased by 25.0% compared to last month. The percentage of visitors coming from within N.S.W. in May is 44%, and has decreased by 12% from April. The largest percentage of visitors in May has been from interstate with visitors coming from VIC. S.A. QLD. W.A. and Tasmania. International visitors made up 3% of visitors coming from Germany, the USA, Canada, New Zealand and the Netherlands. Income increased by 271.65% compared to May 2014 and decreased by 1.67% compared to last month. Most popular merchandise – Food, dressings and oils was the largest seller, followed by Koala Hill Note Pads and Balranald Post Cards, Frog figurines and Prickle Downs Honey. Social Media continues to be a popular and valuable marketing medium with both the Council Facebook page and the Balranald Discovery Centre Facebook pages topping the 1280 LIKES mark over the month of May.







Attachments Tourism Monthly Reporting Dashboard




Infrastructure and Development Reports

Item I – 1 CONSTRUCTION CERTIFICATES File number: 600

Reporting Officer: Director Infrastructure and Development – John Stevenson

Operational Plan Objective: Pillar 6

Officer Recommendation: That the report be noted.

06.15.3497 RESOLVED on the motion of Crs Cooke and Barnes that the report be received. Cooke/barnes Purpose of Report To advise Council of Certificates issued under delegated authority. Report The following Construction Certificates, Complying Development Certificates, Section 68 Certificates and / or Notices of Determinations have been issued since the May 2015 meeting of Council.

Application Owner/Applicant Locality Description

CC 12/2015 Tony Ganci Sturt Highway, Euston

Motel – 20 units

with reception,

office, managers

accommodation

and storage

Financial Implication Nil.

Legislative Implication The approvals process.

Policy Implication Nil.

Attachments Nil.




ITEM I – 2 FLUORIDATION OF WATER SUPPLY File number: 850 Reporting Officer: John Stevenson, Director Infrastructure & Development Operational Plan Objective: Pillar 5 – “Our Infrastructure”

Officer Recommendation: Council note the response from NSW Health, Far West Local Health District, following Councils request and progress the matter no further.

06.15.3497 RESOLVED on the motion of Crs Purtill and O’Halloran that a

water policy for Balranald Shire Council be developed and incorporate all council water supply and use. Purpose of Report To address an agency response to Councils resolution of February 2015 following a Notice of Motion regarding chemical interactions in town water supply. Report Council has, over previous years addressed requests to consider the practicalities (or otherwise) of adding fluoride to the town water supply. Council will note that NSW Health funded the resources to equip the Balranald Water Treatment Plant to cater for the process for towns of population 1000 or more. As such, Euston did not qualify for the inclusion. Mrs Spinks has addressed Council on numerous occasions and provided literature which suggests fluoride can be a risk to the public. There remains much debate over the issue, however there is strong evidence of increased oral health resulting from fluoridated water supplies. At the ordinary meeting of July 2013 Council considered a report of the General Manager and resolved to “defer the matter until Councillors had a chance to digest the literature provided by Mrs June Spinks.” (07.13.3614). In December 2013 Council again considered the matter and resolved: “To ask the Department of Health to request for legislation to be introduced that permits only water treatment chemicals to be used in the treatment of public drinking water systems.” (12.13.3710) The Department provided a response as per the attached letter (attachment 1). In February 2015 Council resolved: “Council ask the NSW Health Department, “With regards to the Balranald drinking water supply, what studies have been conducted to show the safety of the interaction between chemicals when mixed together in water?””




The following comment contained within the attached letter (attachment 2) is highlighted for information: “There is no reason to believe that fluoride or any water treatment chemical, when used as approved by NSW Office of Water and NSW Health, would present a risk to health either individually or through interactions.” It is suggested that no further action is required.


Legislative Implication Nil.

Policy Implication Compliance with Australian Drinking Water Guidelines

Attachments 1. NSW Health Response Letter – January 2014 2. NSW Health Response Letter – May 2015




Attachment 1: NSW Health Response Letter – January 2014




Attachment 2: NSW Health Response Letter – May 2015




Item I – 3 MAINTENANCE AND CONSTRUCTION PROGRAM File number: 726 Reporting Officer: John Stevenson Director Infrastructure & Development Operational Plan Objective: Pillar 5 – Our Infrastructure

Officer Recommendation: That the report be noted.

06.15.3498 RESOLVED on the motion of Crs Mannix and Barnes that the report be noted.

Purpose of Report To provide Council with a progress report on works, since the May meeting. Report 1. Road Maintenance

Maintenance grading has commenced on Tapalin Mail Rd soon to be followed by a section on Tillara Rd.

2. Roads to Recovery Program Marma Box Creek Road Construction works have are well underway for a 1.5km extension of the road westerly from the end of the existing bitumen. A triple cell culvert has been extended and a new headwall installed. Formation earth works have now been completed with gravel being delivered to site. Completion is anticipated in the third week of June.

3. Repair Program Balranald Ivanhoe Road Construction works are advancing on a 2km extension of the sealed road southerly from the end of the existing bitumen seal at the northern end of existing gravel. Earthworks and new culvert installs have been completed. Gravel delivery has been completed and final laying is in progress. Completion is anticipated in the third week of June.




4. Reseal Program Council’s 2014/15 Reseal program commenced in late April and neared completion in late May. $1.06 Million in road reseals were carried out on a combination of urban, local and regional roads. Approximately 38km of roads were resealed in this year’s program. The primer seals on Marma Box Creek Rd and Ivanhoe Rd will be undertaken when these pavements are constructed. Two small sections of reseals will be completed on Ivanhoe Rd at the same time. Council is currently discussing the quality of work on a small section of the reseal at the Ivanhoe boundary with the contractors, Primal Surfacing. A quantity of aggregate delivered was not pre-coated prior to its use, but nevertheless used in the reseal. As a result Council is withholding payment of that section of the program pending further investigation.

5. Miscellaneous Works

Lions Park Public Toilet renovations have now been completed. Footpath from toilets to car park completed by Council staff as part of this budget.

Greenham Park entrance area beautification is being advanced with garden bed blockwork nearing completion.

Balranald Township Footpath Repairs are ongoing.

Removal of two underground disused fuel tanks at Balranald works depot was completed in the last week of May. Final soil test reports and decommissioning paperwork is pending.

Replacement of Discovery Centre carpark entrance crossover completed. This work was funded under part of the main street upgrade by RMS.

Financial Implication As per budgeted works program.


Policy Implication Rural Roads Policy.

Attachments Nil.




Balranald - Ivanhoe Road Construction




Marma Box Creek Rd

Lions Park Toilet Refurbishment




Lions Park Toilet Refurbishment (cont.)

Discovery Centre Crossover Replacement




Balranald Depot Fuel Tank Removal




Discovery Centre Garden Plantings




ITEM I – 4 REGIONAL ROADS ‘REPAIR’ PROGRAM File number: 700 Reporting Officer: John Stevenson, Director Infrastructure & Development Operational Plan Objective: Pillar 5 – “Our Infrastructure”

Officer Recommendation: Council allocate 100% of the 2015/2016 REPAIR Program funds towards the extension of the seal on MR514 easterly from the end of seal.

06.15.3499 RESOLVED on the motion of Crs Purtill and Mannix that the report be received and recommendation be adopted. Purpose of Report To reallocate the 2015/2016 REPAIR funding entirely to MR514. Report In April 2011 Council agreed to adopt a recommendation of the Works (Infrastructure and Development) Committee to vary the previous 50/50 split of funding between MR67 North and MR514 to Oxley, to 100% funds to MR67 for the extent of the four year funding program. This is depicted on the attached RMS Schedule of works REPAIR 2011-15. This shift of program was to accelerate the construction and sealing of MR67 to the Central Darling boundary. It is timely that 100% of the 2015/2016 (one year program i.e. $454,770.00) be directed to the extension of the MR514 seal easterly towards Oxley.

Financial Implication Nil. Funded under Councils Block Grant.



Attachments 2011/15 REPAIR Program Schedule of Works




Item I – 5 DA 42/2015 – PROPOSED SUBDIVISION 114 BALLANDELLA ST, BALRANALD File number: DA 42/2015 Reporting Officer: John Stevenson Director Infrastructure & Development Operational Plan Objective: Pillar 5 Our Infrastructure


Consent be granted to Peter & Jan Lawler for the subdivision of Lot A DP 154004 & Lot B DP 158340, 114 Ballandella St, via boundary realignment, subject to the following conditions: 1) The subdivision conforms strictly with the sketch plan as

submitted. 2) The concurrence of Essential Energy and Telstra. 3) Any new access driveways are to be constructed to the

satisfaction of Council, or its delegate, and at the applicants full cost.

4) This approval carries a dwelling entitlement for each lot, however it does not provide for any construction approval(s). A separate application must be made for any new structure(s) on the lot(s).

5) Application must be made for raw and filtered water metres and a sewer connection point prior to any construction approval being issued for new rear lot 2. All costs for these services is the responsibility of the developer.

6) Access to the lots through the reserve is denied.

06.15.3500 RESOLVED on the motion of Crs O’Halloran and Mannix that the

report be received and recommendation be adopted.

Purpose of Report To seek Council’s consent to the subdivision of the above two (2) lots, fronting Ballandella St, Balranald via boundary realignment. Report Application has been lodged by Mr Peter & Mrs Jan Lawler to realign the boundaries of the above two (2) lots creating a parcel around the existing dwelling, 114 Ballandella St, and a typical battle-ax allotment at the rear with a four (4) meter access and frontage to Ballandella St as per the sketches attached. The adjoining property landholders have been notified in accordance with Sect 88 of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Regulation 2000. No submissions were received. The proposed lot shapes are acceptable and resultant areas, although minimal, are within 95% of Council’s LEP (600m² RU5 Village).






Policy Implication Nil.

Attachments 1. Plan of current boundaries 2. Plan of Proposed Realigned Boundaries

Attachment 1: Plan of current Boundaries




Attachment 2: Plan of Proposed Realigned Boundaries




General Manager’s Reports

Item G – 1 BALRANALD CARAVAN PARK LEASE File Number: AC 2.383 Reporting Officer: Aaron Drenovski, General Manager Operational Plan Objective: Pillar Three: Our Economy – A community that ensures a strong and resilient economy.

Officer Recommendation: That Council enter into a further two year lease with the current Lessee of the Balranald Caravan Park in accordance with the current lease conditions, with a commencement date of 1 December 2015.

06.15.3501 RESOLVED on the motion of Crs O’Halloran and Mannix that the report

be received and recommendation be adopted.

Cr Cooke voted against the motion and asked it be recorded.

Purpose of report To consider a request to exercise the option for a 2 year lease extension. Report At the Caravan Park Committee meeting held on 3 June 2015 discussion took place regarding the extension of the current lease of the Caravan Park. It was agreed that the General Manager write to the lessee requesting if they would like to lease the premises for a further term. A letter (as per the attachment) has been received from the lessee requesting a two year extension. The current lease provides the opportunity for two further terms of 2 year extensions.

Financial Implication As per existing contract



Attachments Letter from Caravan Park Lessee




Item G - 2 MAY COUNCIL MEETING NOTICE OF MOTION ITEM

File Number: 23 Reporting Officer: Aaron Drenovski, General Manager Operational Plan Objective: Pillar Six: Our Leadership – A community that values and fosters leadership, lifelong learning, innovation and good governance.

Officer Recommendation: That no further action be taken as Council’s current Delegations of Authority provide direction for the taking of leave.

06.15.3502 RESOLVED on the motion of Crs Barnes and Campbell that the report

be received and recommendation be adopted.

Purpose of report To provide advice on Council’s current Policy regarding the taking of leave. Report At the May Council meeting the following notice of motion was put forth (and as attached): “That the General Manager, Mayor, Directors and Co-ordinators not be permitted to take any type of leave during the months of April and May which coincide with budget time of council.” Council resolved that the motion be withdrawn and staff write a policy regarding leave and present to the next Council meeting. The Council at the July 2014 Council meeting, report G-3 Delegations resolved: “to adopt the Delegations of Authority as attached in accordance with s.377 of the Local Government Act (NSW).”




The Delegations of Authority specify the responsibility of approving leave requests. The Mayor is delegated the responsibility for approving the General Managers application for leave as per Item 8 of the Delegations to the Mayor which states: “8. Leave – To approve applications of leave by the General Manager.” The General Manager is delegated the responsibility for approving Council employee leave as per item 8 of the Delegations to the General Manager which states: “8. Approve Leave – Approve or refuse leave for Council employees having due regard to the proper functioning of the Council and maintenance of appropriate levels of service to the public.” Legal advice has been sought from Local Government NSW regarding the ability of Council to direct when the Mayor can or cannot take leave. The advice being: “I am not of the opinion that there is provision in the Act that would allow a council to direct a Mayor to take leave.” It is suggested that the above mentioned documents provide sufficient policy direction on the taking of leave and that no further action is required.


Legislative Implication s.377 of the Local Government Act

Policy Implication Delegations of Authority currently in place

Attachments Copy of Notice of motion




Item G - 3 DISCOVERY CENTRE REPORT File number: 85 Reporting Officer: Elizabeth White Director of Corporate and Community Development Operational Plan Objective: Pillar Six: Our Leadership – a community that values and fosters leadership, lifelong learning, innovation and good governance Officer Recommendation:

For Information

06.15.3503 RESOLVED on the motion of Crs Mannix and Purtill that the report be

received.

Purpose of Report The purpose of this report is to inform the Council on the costs and revenues of the construction of the Discovery Centre Precinct Project. Discussion The funding of the new Discovery Centre was based on a $1M loan, various grants from National Parks and the Dept. of Trade & Investment as well as contributions from Balranald Inc. and the Skate Park Committee. Council also supplied contingency money transferred from the Main Street Revitalisation Program to the value of $584k in accordance with discussions with the former Director of Corporate Services (DCS). The total funds available for the project which not only covered the building and fit out costs but also car parking, a new skate park, playground, men’s shed and a display for the Nimmie Caira and all landscaping came to a total of $1,877,902. Council has expended a value of $1,837,625 towards this project resulting in a surplus balance of $40,277 which is suggested to be put back in to the Main Street Revitalisation Program for future works. The reconciliation below [Note 1] is fairly self-explanatory and shows how the expenses currently allocated, in the case of the Nimmie Caira [Note 2] there are a multitude of various expenses covering but not limited to the following:

Eagle [design / purchase and erection]

Landscaping and footpaths

Wetlands Display

Bridge & Pond

Natural features in the Interp Centre [Waterfall / Timber fit out / Timber Poles




The new centre and café have proven to be a huge success with visitors from all over the country expressing their approval on both facebook and twitter as well as in the visitors book within the centre its self. Staff are actively promoting Balranald and sales of local products and Balranald souvenirs has more than doubled in the second half of the current financial year since the opening, with sales currently at $23,645 [75% $17,700] sold since January 2015. Total sales for 2013-14 was $18,900 [against a budget of $34k] and in 2012-13 $16,900 against a budget of $28,000.

Note 1 Interpretative Centre

Balance Notes

Revenue - Loan -1,000,000.00

Revenue - Restriction Drawdown - Trf from Main Road Revitalisation -351,000.00 Per former DCS

Revenue - Contingency Restriction Drawdown - Trf from Main Road Revitalisation

-233,000.00 Per former DCS

Revenue - National Parks - Debtors invoices 2013-14 - 4281 & 4290 -10,000.00 Debtor

Revenue - Balranald Inc - Skate Park Grant -Money received 4668-1900 -26,200.00 4668-1900-0000

Revenue – Dept. of Trade & Investment - Grant Funding Stage 1 applied -150,000.00 Stage 1 Applied

Revenue - Nimmie Caira Grant - Currently being applied for -100,000.00 Stage 1 Applied

Revenue - Skate Park Committee - Inv 4573 -7,701.94 Debtor

Expenditure - Interpretative Centre – Design and fit out 505,641.26 6560-4999-0001

Expenditure - Interpretative Centre - Construction 937,562.27 6560-4999-0002

Expenditure - Interpretative Centre - Removal & Reconstruct old Vic 28,976.16 6560-4999-0006

Expenditure - Interpretative Centre - Front CarPark Construction 48,973.64 6560-4999-0007

Expenditure - Interpretative Centre - Nimmie Caira [fully funded] 96,465.74 6560-4999-0014

Expenditure - Skate Park [fully funded] 171,564.16 4668.4999-0004

Expenditure – Men’s Shed – Re-clading 48,441.16 6560-4999-0113

Balance of budget -40,277.55 Surplus

Note 2

Nimmie Caira $

Eagle [design / purchase and erection] 13,266

Landscaping and footpaths 33,574

Wetlands Display 2,380

Bridge & Pond 7,245

Natural features in the Interp Centre [Waterfall / Timber fit out / Timber Poles 40,001

Total Value 96,466

Financial Implication Within budget

Legislative Implication NA

Policy Implication NA

Attachments Nil




Item G – 4 SUMMARY OF MEETINGS File number: 25 Reporting Officer: Aaron Drenovski, General Manager Operational Plan Objective: Pillar Six: Our Leadership – a community that values and fosters leadership, lifelong learning, innovation and good governance


06.15.3504 RESOLVED on the motion of Crs Barnes and Mannix that the report be received.

Purpose of Report To advise Council of a summary of meetings held. Report The Mayor, Director Infrastructure & Development and the General Manager had a meeting with Central Darling Shire representatives at Ivanhoe on Tuesday 26 May. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss and progress the matter of obtaining the Wool track funding to complete the construction and sealing of the Balranald Ivanhoe Road. Since the meeting a letter has been forwarded to RMS and a meeting with RMS is being organised. The Mayor, Cr O’Halloran, Cr Cook and the General Manager attended the Murray Darling Association Region 3 Meeting held at the Theatre Royal on 27 May. Representatives from a number of the member Councils were present with the key matters for discussion being: update on the Murray Darling Foundation, Review of the Constitution, Fruit Fly, Water Prices 2015, Message to Cross Bench Senators, Annual General Meeting 2015, Murray Darling Basin Plan & the Kerang Lakes Bypass. The Mayor and General Manager attended the Western Division Mid Term meeting held at Cobar on Monday 1 June. Attendees from 9 of the 11 member Councils were represented. There was a lot of discussion on Fit for the future (FFF) and the development of a local government model approach to establishing a western division model. It was resolved that Western Division apply for funding from the FFF Innovation Fund for investigation of service delivery by Western Division Councils for development of a draft regional model. Kevin Humphries – Member for Barwon attended and provided a NSW Government update on FFF and answered questions from those present.




The Mayor and General Manager attended the Local Government NSW –Financial Issues in Local Government training that was provided at Narrandera on Thursday 4 June. The trainer Dennis Banicevicis is a Director of PricewaterhouseCoopers with over 30 years experience in local government finance and audit. The majority of the course focused on depreciation impacts on Council finances and how risk fits into financial management. The executive team met with Nick Butler from NSW Division of Resources & Energy on Wednesday 10 June. Nick is the community liaison officer for the department who can facilitate the organisation of meetings with the appropriate state government representatives concerning mining. The executive team and 2 Coordinators had a joint training session with Wakool Senior staff at the Euston Club on Wednesday 10 June. The Work Health & Safety training was organised by Local Government NSW and it was appreciated to have training provided within our region. The Mayor, Deputy Mayor, Councillor O’Halloran, and General Manager attended the Local Government National General Assembly held in Canberra 15-17 June. There were over 800 delegates from across the country who attended the event. The Deputy Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition were two of the key speakers at the Assembly. There were a number of facilitated discussion which focused on: Is local government a real partner? Your Council – Your Challenges, Being there for Communities. The Mayor, Deputy Mayor, Councillor O’Halloran, and General Manager met with the Chairman and CEO of the Murray Darling Basin Authority on Tuesday 16 June. Matters discussed included: Nimmie Ciara project, River Flows, Balranald Weir, Balranald Weir Fish Ladder and the Yanga Lake Weir. In the evening we had the opportunity to spend some time with Sussan Ley to discuss local matters particularly progress on the West Primary Health Network. The Mayor, Councillor O’Halloran, and General Manager had the opportunity to have a meeting on 16 June with Dominic Lane ACT Emergency Services Agency Commissioner who had previously worked in Balranald.




Attachments Nil




Item G - 5 CORRESPONDENCE File Number: 712 Reporting Officer: Aaron Drenovski, General Manager Operational Plan Objective: Pillar 1: Our People – A community that is proactive, engaged, inclusive and connected


For information

06.15.3505 RESOLVED on the motion of Crs Jolliffe and Cooke that the report be

received.

Purpose of Report To advise Council of recent correspondence of interest. Report 1. Information paper from the House of Representatives – Australian

Parliament

Thursday, 12 February 2015

Page: 713

Senator MADIGAN (Victoria) (20:09): I rise to speak tonight about a matter of national importance. It impacts our ability to feed ourselves. It goes to the heart of our rural and regional communities, not to mention our capital cities. It does not discriminate. It affects all Australians in one way or another. But you will not see much reporting on this in the major national media and you will not hear this matter discussed around kitchen tables in our metropolitan cities. Currently, this issue is under the radar in this place and the other. Done and dusted, most people would say. Nothing to see here. In the words of the new Parliamentary Secretary for the Environment, the government is committed to delivering the Murray-Darling Basin Plan in full by 2019.

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Last week, I travelled more than 3,000 kilometres and over a third of that by car. I stopped at Albury-Wodonga, Deniliquin, Barham, Koondrook, Robinvale, Mildura and Yea, which is north of Melbourne. I attended four meetings, two of them open to the public. These were well-attended and passionate get-togethers. Locals who run businesses, farmers who grow food and residents stopped what they were doing to attend. They wanted their say; they wanted to be heard. I attended meetings with irrigators and food growers, citrus and table grape growers and nut and rice producers. I toured farms and a rice production facility. I spoke directly with several hundred people throughout the week. I return here tonight with some clear and unambiguous messages about our water resources. I return with messages about the impact of the Murray-Darling Basin Plan on our fellow Australians. I return with a singular mission. I will speak of all these things later.

The basin covers 14 per cent of Australia's landmass. More than two million people live in Murray-Darling Basin across the states of Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia. The basin contains an estimated 72 per cent of Australia's total area of irrigated crops and pastures. It is one of the most important food and fibre regions in this country. According to the Murray-Darling Basin Authority, the region contains 40 per cent of Australia's farms. The value of its irrigated output is nearly $7 billion. Cotton, fruit, grapes, vegetables, rice and pasture for meat and dairy production are the main types of irrigated agriculture activities in the basin.

In 2012-13, this accounted for over 50 per cent of Australia's irrigated produce. From this area comes nearly 100 per cent of Australia's rice, 96 per cent of Australia's cotton, 75 per cent of Australia's grapes, 59 per cent of Australia's hay, 54 per cent of Australia's fruit, 52 per cent of Australia's production from sheep and livestock and 45 per cent of Australia's dairy. One message is clear: the basin is vitally important to Australia. What happens there matters to each and every one of us.

I return to this place after my all-too-fleeting visit. My first message is this: the rage that burned across the region five years ago when the MDBA released its first draft water buyback policy has not died down. It continues. People are exhausted in the basin. They feel betrayed. Many of them are up and leaving, defeated by a bureaucracy they see as politically hijacked; a bureaucracy that is not independent, despite its claims; a bureaucracy that is committed to reconfiguring Australia's food bowl in order to plan for a one-in-a-100-year drought scenario; a bureaucracy that has insufficient experience in the complexity of water systems, which some would say had previously been effectively managed by the states; a bureaucracy that is failing in its stated aims to help the environment and failing to monitor or assess its own performance in this area; a bureaucracy that is failing in its science and failing as a government body in its duty of care and commitment to social and economic outcomes; and a bureaucracy that is failing in its duty to accurately communicate concerns, submissions and input from Australians to their government.




Not only is it failing in this area but it is deliberately obfuscating messages to suit its own ends. I am talking about the Murray-Darling Basin Authority. This organisation employs more than 300 staff with an annual revenue from government coffers of $47.8 million. People in the basin are tired, they are depressed, and some of them are leaving. But, above all, they are angry at what is being done in the name of the environment by this unaccountable administration.

I visited a magnificent family farm at Deniliquin, and after 13 years of hard work putting aside land for the environment, not forced by government but of their own volition, the owners have sold and are leaving. At another property, in the one family since the 1870s, similar questions are being asked—how sustainable is it; is there a future, how long can we last? People on properties like these have survived floods, they have survived fluctuating commodity prices and they have survived an always changing agricultural environment. They have survived the changing climate; they have survived family and other traumas. But they are questioning whether they can survive the so-called Murray-Darling Basin Plan. They are fed up with talking to politicians who give them blah, blah, blah in return. They are fed up inputting to the Murray-Darling Basin Authority at so-called community consultation sessions. They say it is like talking to a bloody vacuum.

Southern Riverina Irrigators represents 1,600 food growers. They showed me their own notes from a meeting with the MDBA last September. Then they showed me what had appeared on the MDBA's own website on the same meeting. The two accounts were vastly different. The MDBA's version was a list of discussion topics including the importance of clear communication, the importance of using local knowledge, water trading prices, issues around management of the Lower Lakes and environmental watering. SRI, on the other hand, had articulated 25 concerns—complaints and suggestions that never made it any further than the meeting room, it seems. These included: can we do better with the environmental water we already have as opposed to further decimating our communities; we deserve proper engagement that recognises and acts on our concerns and issues—not tokenism; people are right on the brink; and cultural water—if we are to consider Indigenous stakeholders then we must also consider the other communities that have grown up with that water. The list goes on.




Right across the Murray Darling Basin, a considerable number of Australians feel betrayed by successive governments of all persuasions. They feel tricked by an unaccountable bureaucracy hell-bent, they say, on an unmeasurable environmental imperative. In fact, the people on the ground, the people I speak to, tell me the so-called basin plan is having the opposite effect. It is harming our environment. People expressed concern about the foundation science used by MDBA in developing the plan. They say any claimed environmental benefits are not properly measured or assessed. They say the plan's environmental, social and economic benefits are skewed. People come last. They question the so-called independence of the MDBA and the link between the plan with the long-term plan for the Coorong, Lower Lakes and the Murray mouth. Many say the Lower Lakes were always estuarine and it does not make sense to maintain them at historically high levels. They say using freshwater as a key mechanism to scour out the Murray channel to the Southern Ocean is a travesty. It is misguided, they say. It is poor science. It is a bloody waste of a hell of a lot of water that could be productively used elsewhere.

Let us for a moment talk about money. The Murray Darling Basin Plan is widely reported to be a $12 billion project—that is twelve thousand million dollars. Ten billion dollars was allocated under the Water for the Future Program announced by former Prime Minister John Howard. Another $1.77 billion was announced by Julia Gillard, another former Prime Minister, in the Lower Lakes just before she departed public life. This was on top of previous expenditure such as $700 million for the Living Murray program; $57.7 million for the Perricoota-Koondrook Living Murray forest program, which I understand subsequently blew out to approximately $100 million; and $80 million on river redgum and woodland conversions—conversion of state forests, including Millewa forest and other forest areas, to National Park.

Just how much has been spent in recent years on the environment in the basin? I don't know, but it is obviously billions. It is interesting, indeed fascinating, what you hear when you hit the road and talk to real people. Last week a water trader told me his company had made the deal of the century. He said he had sold floodwater to the previous government for $34 million. That is right, floodwater—water the government would never actually recoup. He said it was the best deal he had ever made. It was reported in The Sydney MorningHerald, and I read from that report:

In late 2008 the Rudd and Rees governments announced they were

buying $34 million worth of water licences from Tandou to secure more

water for the environment.

However, it emerged that Tandou had hung onto its higher-yielding

licences and sold the two governments ''supplementary'' licences, which

only allow water harvesting after intermittent flood events.

The report continues:




This week Tandou's chief executive, Guy Kingwill, confirmed to

the Herald that the company had not got a drop of water from its

supplementary licences since 2002-03.

That is right. The government of the time bought $34 million worth of water on which it would probably never collect. Welcome to the brave new world of water management in Australia: big bucks and smoke screens and the Australian taxpayer forking out enormous sums of money for ill-defined, or zero, returns. One farmer told me there were 25-odd different types of water or water licences, but I have been unable to confirm this figure since my return. Whatever the truth, the whole Murray-Darling Basin Plan water situation is highly complex and certainly open to obfuscation and exploitation. People in the Murray-Darling Basin are incredulous at the wanton spending of money for no apparent social, economic or environmental benefit. They say the claimed environmental benefits are unmeasured, they say the social and economic costs are enormous and far-reaching and they say our farming sector is being destroyed. They tell me the so-called plan is not addressing a triple bottom line.

Wakool Shire is located in south-western Riverina between the two mighty rivers of the Murray and the Murrumbidgee. The local council was so concerned by the devastation caused by the so-called plan last year that it commissioned an economic impact statement. The statement paints a very clear picture. There is a direct link between water and the viability of any basin community. Farmers are leaving Wakool. Between 2001 and 2011 the population declined by 814 people or 17 per cent. This reflects a combination of changes in the farming sector, the impacts of drought on farm operations, a contraction of the timber industry and, more recently, some impacts of the first phase of the Murray-Darling Basin Plan. The statement also says that the implementation of the Murray-Darling Basin Plan could see the Wakool local government area lose 38 per cent of its water. This would see shire agricultural production decline by $25.8 million and job losses, direct and indirect, totalling 223. There would be a loss of regional wages of $11.2 million and reduced consumer spending in the Wakool local government area of $8.8 million. As a small irrigation economy, the shire has called for active consultation with its industry on any water reduction targets as well as a program to provide support to assist farm improvements and economic diversification. A summary of the Wakool report says that the impacts of the Murray-Darling Basin Plan could actually be greater. If water sales are from scattered properties—the Swiss cheese effect—the costs will be higher for the remaining fewer irrigators left to fund infrastructure maintenance. This is a complex issue. I have been visiting the Murray-Darling Basin since I was a kid, and every day I learn something new, and that learning curve increases when I travel to the area and talk to real people.




In the remaining time I have, I make these few final points: (1) the structure of the MDBA is flawed—I am told the organisation is political and not independent; (2) the real impact of the removal of water from productive use is underrated and understated by the MDBA; (3) the so-called plan only applies to regions in the basin above Lock 1 in South Australia while the supposed significant environmental benefit of the plan is below Lock 1—the Coorong, Lower Lakes and the Murray—and even that benefit is widely questioned; (4) in 2002, the Murray-Darling Basin Ministerial Council commissioned the Living Murray project. The Scientific Reference Panel said that a 1,500 gigalitre cap combined with structural, operational and water quality management could deliver a healthy working river. We must adhere to this cap.

There is not enough time tonight to cover all of these issues. I have not even begun to mention the deliberate man-made flooding and the so-called constraints management strategy. We all know the devastation of a flood from nature, but we have people who deliberately want to flood people and flood land. Communities across the basin have told me the plan must be paused for at least five years. Communities across the basin have called for a Senate inquiry into the plan. They tell me the economic and social costs will far exceed the $12 billion-plus price spent already. This week the Prime Minister, Mr Abbott, said, 'Good government starts today,' and I sincerely hope he means it. He said, 'I have listened, I have learned, I have acted.' Prime Minister, I implore you to listen to the people of the Murray-Darling Basin. Let the facts speak for themselves, then act.

The PRESIDENT: I remind honourable senators that legislation committees will meet to consider estimates, commencing on Monday, 23 February 2015 at 9 am. Program details will be published on the Senate website.

Senate adjourned at 20:28

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Item G - 6 ACTION SHEET

Reporting Officer: Aaron Drenovski, General Manager File Number: 120


06.15.3506 RESOLVED on the motion of Crs Jolliffe and Purtill that the report be

received.

Purpose of Report To bring forward for Councillors information the Action Report with actions taken on previous council resolutions.




BALRANALD SHIRE COUNCIL

ACTION SHEET

MAY 2015 MIINUTE DIRECTOR/

FILE NO SUBJECT DATE

COMPLETED COMMENTS

CURRENT STATUS

12.14.3459 DID Investigate likely future public recreation area for improvements in the Chinese Cemetery.

Consent from Crown Lands pending

12.14.3459 DID Investigate trees lifting concrete paths around the Shamrock Hotel.

5/06/2015 Undertaken

12.14.3459 DID Pursue with Armsigns regarding the historic town storyboard in Euston.

15/05/2015

Sign installed

12.14.3459 DID Arrange Tree removal around the old gaol and replacement.

Ongoing

02.15.3498 DID Prepare lease for Balranald Motocross Club.

In Progress

03.15.3511 DID Relocate Bill Trough as a planter feature. Inspect Lawn Cemetery with Greg Camin. Liaise with Greg & Mary re office front garden.

05/06/2015 05/06/2015

In Progress Undertaken Undertaken

03.15.3511 GM Works at Caravan park to be completed prior to Fishing Classic.

Completed

04.15.3536 DID Euston Roundabout, speak to RMs regarding embellishment. School Bus Signs to be erected Bertram & Taylor Roads Euston.

17/06/2015 20/06/2015

Letter sent Erected

Questions GM Review the Caravan Park Lease and arrange meeting for the renewal

Completed

DID Discovery Café, water leaking under sink and exhaust fans need to be installed.

23/05/2015

Repaired

DID Arrange for light bulbs in theatre to be changed.

20/05/2015 80% replaced waiting on elevated platform to complete

DID Correct footpath going nowhere at Discovery Centre.

Landscaping in Progress

DID Disabled toilet door at Theatre needs repairing and a disabled bar needs installing.

In Progress




05.15.3555 DID Balranald Beautification Committee Minutes Proceed with Cleaning of old gaol.

Budget consideration for repairs to old kitchen in gaol. Proceed to construct retaining wall at Greenham Park Entrance. Arrange clean-ups around the windmills. Speak with hostel staff regarding re-pruning and replanting of plants.

01/06/2015

In Progress In Progress

In Progress

Undertaken In Progress

05.15.3555 DID Euston Beautification Committee Minutes Move History board to side of Medley Park. Investigate sprinkler system options for roundabout in Euston Khaki Weed at Courthouse need investigating Attend to leak in roof above the main entrance of courthouse. Murray Terrace toilets screen installation. Entrances to Euston especially Mildura end need attention. Investigate if photos are on file. Plants need trimming. Investigate the possibility of honesty box at lake Benanee.

17/06/2015

01/06/2015 17/06/2015 10/06/2015

10/06/2015 17/06/2015

In progress

Letter sent to RMS Sprayed Installed Installed Trimming undertaken, signage to be cleaned Honesty box currently being installed.

Delegates Reports

GM Write to ANZAC Day organisers to congratulate them on a successful day.

1-06-2015




05.15.3557 GM Arrange Leave policy report for staff

Report to June meeting

05.15.3561 DCCD Put Draft Operational Plan on display for public in advertised places.

20/05/2015 Completed submissions close 17th June

05.15.3565 DID Participate in RMS Active Transport – Safety Roads program

In progress

05.15.3566 DID Arrange contract for MJ & EA Leslie for Euston Waste Depot Managers

17/06/2015 In progress

05.15.3567 DID Notify Raymond McGill of subdivision refusal

20/05/2015 Notified

05.15.3568 GM Notify Early Learning Centre of Councils donation requested.

28/05/2015 Letter Sent

05.15.3569 GM Notify CWA of Councils donation requested.

29/5/2015 Letter & cheque Sent

05.15.3570 GM Notify the School of Councils decision of anniversary weekend.

29/5/2015 Letter sent

Questions DID Liaise with RMS regarding trees on bridge.

05/06/2015 Completed




Item G - 7 QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE File Number: 030 Reporting Officer: Aaron Drenovski, General Manager

Cr Jolliffe Discovery Café has water leaking under the sink and exhaust fans are needed.

Works in progress

There is a footpath going nowhere at Discovery Centre Precinct.

Landscaping works are in progress

Cr O’Halloran Can the back of Theatre Royal be tidied up?

Final works have commenced

Cr Campbell There are some light bulbs in Theatre Royal needing attention.

Works in progress

Disabled toilet door in Theatre Royal is not closing properly and the bar beside toilet is not present.

Works in progress

Cr Cooke Can Admin staff implement a Councillor diary tab on website

No further action

Can a report of Conferences attended by staff with budget figures be written when attended?

Email sent

What would the interest be on the entire hostel loan?

Email sent

Cr Jolliffe The Caravan Parking area behind the Discovery Centre is upsetting the Caravan Parks in Shire.

noted

The trees on the bridge, are RMS cutting them down, and when?

Completed

Cr O’Halloran What is the training budget for staff?

In progress

Councillors should be notified when staff are leaving their position on Shire!

Operational

Can a motion be moved and seconded after the discussion of the report?

Email sent

Prior authorisation needs to be given prior to taking buses onto Yanga.

noted

Fees & Charges hangar charges Follow up letters to be sent to hanger occupants.

When is the toilet being put at cemetery?

Toilet has been arranged to be placed at Cemetery.




Cr Campbell What is happening with the Tip position

5 applicants were interviewed, 1 applicant has been offered the position.

Can the yard on Ivanhoe Road with trucks, trailers and rubbish be cleaned?

Letter will be sent

Cr Purtill Can Council dig out and replace dead trees on median strips around the town?

On Works Programme

Cr Cook What was the cost of shed for GMs house? And was there 3 quotes received?

Where did the money come from for new Roller door on GMs shed?

R & M Budget

Whose role has the Economic Development and when is the meeting?

General Managers, 14th July 2015

Have we got an Economic Development Plan?

Yes

What happened to the fencing around the sandpit at football ground and why was it removed?

It was removed because it was dangerous

Cr Jolliffe Residents are concerned with the dust from people driving on Swimming Bend road. Can something be done to stop the dust?

DID to arrange for screenings to be placed on roadway.

Can some focus be put on the back country roads to ensure the safety of school children being driven to school in all weather?

To be included in R2R works programme

Cr O’Halloran Also asked about the sandpit fence at Football Ground.

As above

Do all vacant shire positions get advertised?

Yes

Why haven’t the gumtrees at Discovery Centre been replaced?

In Works Programme

Can the power at Greenham Park be upgraded to provide enough power?

Quotes are being sought

Cr Campbell Visitors making appointments and speaking with GM are finding difficult! Health Council has repeatedly tried calling and making appointments regarding heated pool

Resolved – called customer and made an appointment.




ADJOURNMENT: The meeting adjourned for break at 10.10pm RESUMED: The meeting resumed at 10.15pm 06.15.3506 RESOLVED on the motion of Crs Mannix and Cooke that council go

into closed committee to discuss confidential matters.

CLOSED MEETING - CONFIDENTIAL MATTERS

06.15.3507 RESOLVED on the motion of Crs Mannix and Barnes that the meeting resume back into open council and the Mayor reported the recommendations of the closed committee.

06.15.3508 RESOLVED on the motion of Crs Mannix and Barnes that council accept

the late agenda item CC-2 Cristal Mining Rates and discuss before CG-1 General Managers Performance Review.

CC –2 CRISTAL MINING RATES File number: 624 Reporting Officer: Director of Corporate & Community Development – Complaints Co-Ordinator. Operational Plan Objective: Pillar 1: Our Leadership 6.3.2 – Provide good governance, prudent financial management and effective support services for all its activities. Reason for Confidentiality This report is CONFIDENTIAL in accordance with Section 10A (2) (e) of the Local Government Act 1993, which permits the meeting to be closed to the public and press for business relating to the following: - Information that would, if disclosed, prejudice the maintenance of law.

06.15.3509 RESOLVED on the motion of Crs Mannix and Purtill that;

1. Council advises Cristal Mining that it is within Council’s powers and functions to re-categorise land rates at appropriate times and that Council intends to proceed on the basis that the Project land will be re-categorised as ‘Business” as soon as works commence under the consent.

2. Provision of the Act apply when procuring legal advice rather than our procurement policy.

06.15.3510 RESOLVED on the motion of Crs Mannix and Barnes that staff and

General Manager be asked to leave the meeting at 10.50pm to discuss Item CG-1 - General Managers Performance Review.