December 17 Council meeting notes

MAYORAL MINUTE - HIGH SPEED RAIL NETWORK ACCESS

Council will lobby the State and Federal Government to ensure Wagga Wagga is included in any high-speed rail network access being planned for NSW.

The NSW Government has announced a $4.6M investigation into the delivery of a high-speed rail network which would see the south western route service to Goulburn and Canberra.

Council agreed that not incorporating Wagga Wagga and Albury in the initial planning for high speed rail would be imprudent for many reasons including:

• It counters the NSW Government’s 20-year economic vision to support Wagga and Albury to grow to 100,000 people
• It is inconsistent with the 2056 Future Strategy, developed by Transport for NSW in consultation with regional and metropolitan stakeholders
• It is inconsistent with the Federal Government’s high speed rail network, which incorporates Wagga Wagga and Albury-Wodonga as hubs on the network

NOTICE OF MOTION - WAGGA APP

Council has agreed to investigate options in developing an app or web-based application for the City of Wagga Wagga.

The application would provide a single reference point for residents and visitors to use as a one-stop-shop for all things Wagga Wagga.

The app could include events in the city, feature major attractions, online services such as requests and rates, Council updates, works and bin night information.

A report will now be prepared to go to Council.

ORGANISATION STRUCTURE

Council has agreed to endorse an organisational restructure to include a new directorate which will harness the city’s growth opportunities into the future.

Council will establish a new Regional Activation Directorate with a focus on developing and implementing economic opportunities and growth initiatives that will establish Wagga Wagga as a future focused, thriving, and recognised regional hub.

In 2016 Council undertook a major organisational restructure. One of the major implications of this restructure was the removal of the Commercial and Economic Development Directorate (CEDD).

The organisation has been operating without the Commercial Development Directorate and a Director for approximately 18 months. This directorate will now be removed from the structure and the funding for the director role will be transferred to the new Regional Activation Director position.

PARKING FINE CONCESSIONS

Council has resolved to opt in to a new State Government framework to allow councils to reduce the value of 52 level 2 parking fines from $112 down to $80

The lower fines become effective from 1 September 2019.

The fines proposed to be reduced represent approximately 45% of the revenue from total parking fines issued over the past 12 months. The proposed reduction from $112 to $80 represents a 28% decrease in the value of those fines, which will impact on current and future budgets.

SALE OF LAND FOR UNPAID RATES - RESULTS OF PUBLIC AUCTION

Council has been advised a Sale of Land for Unpaid Rates Auction was held on 17 November 2018.

Six properties (7 lots) were submitted to the sale with $9500 recovered from 5 lots, leaving a net write-off of $31,224.12 in outstanding rates and charges.

SEWER AND STORMWATER INFRASTRUCTURE IN GOBBAGOMBALIN

Development is starting on the zoned land to the north of Harris Road in Gobbagombalin and Council has endorsed the construction of storm water and sewer infrastructure in the area.

This development has the potential to provide an additional 761 lots for the city. To support the development, sewer and stormwater infrastructure is required to be delivered by November 2019.

The total cost of the stormwater infrastructure is estimated to be $2.6M and the total estimated cost of the sewer infrastructure is approximately $805,000.

BOLTON PARK MASTER PLAN

A draft Master Plan for the complete redevelopment of the Bolton Park Precinct has been endorsed by Council to go on public exhibition and invite public submissions towards developing a final plan. Feedback on the draft plan will form part of a report to go back to Council for proposed adoption.

The Master Plan is an estimated $65M project over the lifetime of the plan. In order for the Final Master Plan to be implemented, grant funding along with other stakeholder funding will have to be secured following the development of detailed business cases.

It is envisaged the upgrade of the facility will be to a standard that enables it to cater for elite level sporting events and allow for the future growth of the city.

PETITION - DOG OFF-LEASH AREA

Council has received a petition requesting it to designate an area at Wiradjuri Reserve as an off-leash dog area. This request times with a current review by staff for additional off-leash areas, as a response to a growing city.

Part of Explorer Park, Boorooma is also proposed as designated off-leash area.

Council has agreed to place the proposal to declare three locations as dog off-leash areas on public exhibition and to consider a further report.

PETITION - CHURCH STREET PARKING TIME LIMITS

Council has resolved to endorse the installation of a 37-metre length, two-hour timed parking on the eastern side of Church Street, adjacent to 14-20 Church Street.

A petition was received by Council in respect to a request address ambulatory and in-home medical requirements of the residents of the BaptistCare Watermark facility.

Observations in Church Street revealed that the parking bays in this area are generally occupied on an all-day basis, Monday to Friday, by people who work in the area.

A report to Council said it is important to keep some parking spaces close to Watermark available for use by care and health service providers who visit on a daily basis.

THE RIVERINA ANGLICAN COLLEGE SEWER CONNECTION

Council has approved the provision of a sewer connection point to enable The Riverina Anglican College to connect to the existing Council sewer network. Council will need to construct a sewer main extension to provide a connection point for the school, at an estimated cost of $80,000.

RESCISSION - MURRUMBIDGEE MUSIC MUSTER EVENT 2019

Council has been notified that the Murrumbidgee Music Muster event to be held 30 March 2019 has been cancelled. Given this notification, Council rescinded the 26 November 2018 resolution to sponsor this event for the amount of $30,000.

The $30,000 was allocated back into the 2018/19 Major Event Sponsorship budget line.

PROPOSED COMPULSORY ACQUISITION OF EASEMENTS FOR PUBLIC ACCESS AND RIGHT OF ACCESS IN DP1246382 WITHIN LOT 272 DP 757249 AT NARRUNG STREET, WAGGA

Council has resolved to proceed with the compulsory acquisition of an easement for the Wiradjuri Walking Track together with an interim licensing arrangement to permit community access to the track whilst the acquisition is concluded.

PROPOSED LICENCE AGREEMENT - OASIS CAFÉ

Council has agreed to enter into a one-year licence agreement with Daniel and Jillian Russell, trading as the Russell Elite Group, for the operation of the Oasis Café.

RFT2019-02 OASIS RETILING REMEDIAL BUILDING WORKS NEGOTIATIONS

Council has accepted an offer for retiling remedial building works at the Oasis Regional Aquatic Centre. Council will now move to enter into a contract with CM Morgan & MA Morgan & ML Morgan for the amount of $811,000(+gst) to complete the works.

RFT2019-18 ADULT ACCESSIBLE CHANGE ROOM STAGE 2

Council has agreed to accept the offer of Adaptive Trading Pty Ltd for the construction of two adult accessible change rooms in the Wagga CBD. Council will now move to enter into a contract with Adaptive Trading for the amount of $252,832(+gst) for the project.

The construction of the change rooms will be in the Bangayarra Walkway in Baylis Street and the Rest Centre in Morrow Street.