12 August Council meeting notes

Read the meeting’s business papers

CONF-5 NEW YEAR'S EVE

Wagga Wagga will enjoy a New Year’s Eve fireworks display again this year after the event was given the go-ahead by the city’s councillors at their Ordinary Meeting.

The family-friendly event will return to the CBD at the Victory Memorial Gardens with one fireworks display at 9.30pm which will be the highlight of the evening.

Council will this year deliver the NYE celebration for the first time. This follows expressions of interest being sought twice from local businesses and organisations with Council offering funding of $50,000, however, there was no further commitment to take on the 2019 event.

RP-7 MOBILE FOOD VENDOR - TRADING IN PUBLIC PLACES (PARKS AND RESERVES) POLICY

Mobile food vendors are a step closer to becoming a permanent part of Wagga Wagga with a new policy placed on public exhibition.

The community can comment on the Mobile Food Vendor – Trading in Public Places Policy until 9 September. Fees and charges relating to mobile food vendors are also on public exhibition.

Nine vendors took part in a trial this year, with the majority of survey respondents supporting food trucks, coffee vans and the like across the city.

The trial has been formally extended until 29 February 2020 to allow time for the draft policy to be on public exhibition. If adopted, it will be followed by an expression of interest process to select vendors to operate in Wagga Wagga.

RP-1 EUBERTA RECREATION GROUND BORE AND IRRIGATION

Council will provide $43,425 (exc GST) to the Wagga Wagga Polocrosse Club to establish a ground bore and irrigation system at the Euberta recreation ground.

The club sees about 30 local members playing the combination of polo and lacrosse during the sport’s peak season in winter. The ground has four polocrosse fields, horse areas and yards.

The club also hosts external events such as the National Working Dog Trials and auction, Trojan Horse events, Team Yarders NSW events and Australian Barrel Horse Association events.

The funding for the bore and irrigation system follows on from Council providing the club with ride-on lawn mower last year worth about $7000.

RP-2 RIVERSIDE FOOD VENUES EOI

Council will work directly with interested businesses to lease container food venues at the Riverside precinct.

Wrapping along Wagga Wagga’s CBD, the $1M Stage 1 of the Riverside Master Plan was completed in 2014, with the $6.7M Stage 2 works to be completed by late 2020.

Stage 2 will see large spaces created that can cater for festivals, markets and other events, as well as infrastructure for pop-up shops.

Expressions of interest for three-to-four container food venues were made for the purpose of involving the successful business in the design process for Stage 2.

No submissions were made during this time, with Council now to work with businesses directly and report back to Councillors on the outcomes.

RP-3 POTENTIAL FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF A PRIMITIVE CAMPING GROUND AT LAKE ALBERT

Council will begin developing a revised plan of management for the Apex Park reserve at Lake Albert.

During the development of the plan of management, establishing a primitive camping ground, caravan park or other land uses will be considered for the crown land bordered by Nelson Drive, Plumpton Road and the Wagga Boat Club.

Council will consult with the community and stakeholders to develop the plan of management.

RP-4 OPTIONS FOR FUTURE USE - WAGGA WOMEN'S BOWLING CLUB SITE - KENT CRESCENT, WAGGA WAGGA

The former Wagga Wagga Women’s Bowling Club premises on the corner of South Parade and Shaw Street will be a bookable space for the remainder of the financial year.

The club disbanded effective on 30 June 2019, with the fees and charges to book the clubhouse to be on public exhibition from 17 August to 9 September.

Council will receive a further report regarding future use options for the site.

RP-5 DEDICATION OF PART OF LOT 1 DP585912, KANSAS DRIVE TOLLAND

A small section of land between 11 and 13 Kansas Drive, Tolland has been transferred to Council from Riverina Water.

The parcel of land is used as a pathway for residents to the Willans Hill reserve.

RP-8 2019 LOCAL GOVERNMENT NSW ANNUAL CONFERENCE - ELECTION OF DELEGATES AND MOTIONS

The Mayor and Councillors Keenan, Kendall and Braid will attend the Local Government NSW annual conference at Warwick Farm from 14 to 16 October.

Council will submit a number of motions to the conference:

• That LGNSW and member Councils advocate that the NSW Government to stop charging local Councils commercial rates for crown land for Council purposes (eg: easements) where there is a significant benefit to the community
• That LGNSW and member Councils advocate for the removal of the requirement for local councils to make announcements in the local newspaper.

A third motion will request LGNSW and member councils advocate for the better ability to manage dilapidated and condemned buildings.

NOM-1 NOTICE OF MOTION - ACTIVATION OF CBD THROUGH RESIDENTIAL ACCOMMODATION

Council will receive a report investigating allowing residential accommodation both upstairs and ground floor in the CBD.

Noting vacant shops and buildings in the CBD and changes in shopping patterns, a Notice of Motion by Councillor Funnell asked for a report on the required changes to planning provisions to expand shop-top housing to ground-level residential.

NOM-2 NOTICE OF MOTION - VOTE OF NO CONFIDENCE IN THE MAYOR

Following a Notice of Motion put forward by Councillor Funnell, a vote of no confidence in the Mayor was lost.

NOM-3 NOTICE OF MOTION - ADVOCACY PLAN

Council will develop an advocacy plan to assist addressing issues that are beyond the capacity of local government.

A report will be presented in October, outlining a draft advocacy plan that when adopted is reviewed annually in-line with Council’s Integrated Planning & Reporting (IPR) process and updated via Council resolution.

In her Notice of Motion, Councillor Keenan stated an advocacy plan will clearly lay out the priorities for the community identifying projects that Council cannot deliver alone.

NOM-4 NOTICE OF MOTION - AIRPORT PARKING

Council will receive reports on options to develop car parking at the Wagga Wagga Airport, an update on the Federal Department of Home Affairs requirements to upgrade security screening, options to redevelop the terminal to include security requirements and the growing city, and an update on the taxiway project.

The Notice of Motion was submitted by Councillor Pascoe.

CONF-2 FARRER ROAD WIDENING – ACQUISITION OF LAND

Tonight Council resolved to acquire land on the northern side of Farrer Road as another step forward in the $6M widening and upgrade project. Widening the roadside corridor will allow space for the relocation of the 1.6km existing gas main, which must be undertaken before the road upgrade can start. The gas main relocation is expected to commence in coming months.