September 10 Ordinary Council Meeting notes

Read the business paper and report attachments

Tatton Drain – Installation of a temporary construction

Council has endorsed a temporary construction across the Tatton drain to assist in redirecting additional stormwater to Lake Albert.

Council is currently seeking funding for the Tatton Drain Project, which has been designed and costed at about $1M.

The temporary measure is expected to cost $52,000 and will create a pond to redirect water into Lake Albert during storm events.

At a recent meeting of the Lake Albert Improvement Committee, Council staff advised redirecting stormwater flows into the lake could add more nutrient to the existing water supply and thus exasperate the blue-green algae problem within the lake. Community members acknowledged this issue, but considered the greater need was for water inflow to the lake.

Civic Theatre Master Plan - grant application

The next stage of the Civic Theatre Master Plan is moving ahead following the major refurbishment completed earlier this year.

Council tonight endorsed an application to the 2018-19 round of the NSW Regional Cultural Fund for almost $870,000.

The second stage would see the refurbishment of the Basement Theatre, including an accessible foyer space, lift and accessible toilet, new seats, acoustic ceiling titles and more.

The funding would also be used to develop detailed plan and design for the third stage of the Civic Theatre Master Plan.

Stage three would transform the theatre into a contemporary multidiscipline

performing arts centre, with a new 300 seat thrust theatre and 120 seat flat floor studio/rehearsal space in addition to existing 491 seat proscenium arch theatre and the Basement Theatre improvements.

Gender equity report

Wagga Wagga City Council will partner with Wagga Women’s Health Centre on a community-wide project aimed at reducing the incidence of domestic violence in Wagga Wagga.

The centre has received $1.2M in funding from the NSW Government’s Domestic and Family Violence Innovation Fund to make the Wagga Wagga Gender Equity Project possible.

Proposed update to Council's Revenue & Pricing Policy 2018/19 - Waste Services

Proposed updates to Council’s waste services fees and charges to will be placed on exhibition from 15 September until 13 October.

The changes are designed to make it easier for community members and businesses to adapt the kerbside waste service to their specific needs.

Included are additional general waste services for businesses such as preschools and nursing homes; and additional bins for large families or people with medical needs.

To view the proposed updates and make a submission during the exhibition period, visit www.wagga.nsw.gov.au/public.

Support for table tennis facility at Henwood Park

Council tonight voted to provide in principle support for Table Tennis Wagga Wagga’s plan to grow the sport in the city.

Table Tennis Wagga Wagga is currently operating out of the Jim Elphick Tennis

Centre building, limiting the club to a maximum of five tables.

The club has identified space near the Henwood Park Tennis Club to construct a table tennis centre with space for 12 tables.

With Council’s in principle support, the club can now submit funding applications.  Council staff will provide assistance to Table Tennis Wagga Wagga during the planning stage of the project.

Section 356 donation requests - September 2018

Council will donate more than $2000 to four local community groups.

The Wagga Wagga RSL Sub Branch requested $1446 for road closures at this year’s Remembrance Day commemorations, while hire fees for Uranquinty Oval were waived for the Uranquinty Progress Association’s annual village garage sale.

Hire fees were waived for the Wollundry Lagoon as part of the Wagga Wagga NAIDOC Committee’s Wawi Festival, and also for the Riverina Medical & Dental Aboriginal Corporation’s NSW Aboriginal Knockout Health Challenge.

The challenge will be held over 10 weeks at the Glenfield Community Centre aimed at promoting healthy lifestyle choices within the Wagga Wagga Aboriginal community.

Mayoral Minute - Debrief from the Annual RAF Memorial Ceremony in Hamont-Achel, Belgium

Scott Cochrane has described he and Stuart Meiklejohn’s trip to Belgium where he represented the city at the annual RAF Memorial Ceremony.

Mr Cochrane was endorsed by Councillors to attend the diamond anniversary event in the municipality of Hamont-Achel.

The ceremony was to commemorate the courage of the fallen airmen who gave their lives in WWII, including Robert Bruce Meiklejohn who is known locally as “the man from Wagga who saved our town” for his heroic actions during the war.

Notice of Motion - Access and affordability for SES volunteers at the Oasis Aquatic Centre

Council will explore ways to make it easier SES volunteers to utilise the Oasis Aquatic Centre following a Notice of Motion from Councillor Dan Hayes.

Cr Hayes noted SES volunteers are required to maintain a certain level of swimming fitness and ability and as they are volunteers, access to waterways to practice and train to maintain their fitness and ability can be cost restrictive.

A report will be presented to Council in the future, which will look at improving access and affordability.

Election process - Mayor and Deputy Mayor 2018- 2020

The election of the Mayor and Deputy Mayor will take place at the 24 September Council Meeting.

Councillors Greg Conkey OAM and Dallas Tout have served as Mayor and Deputy Mayor respectively since the September 2016 election.

Under the Local Government Act, the Mayor is to be elected to a two-year term. A Deputy Mayor can serve a one-year term, but Council opted to also make the Deputy Mayor term two years to align with Mayoral term.