Highlights from the 25 February 29 Ordinary Council Meeting

Business papers: https://meetings.wagga.nsw.gov.au/

Council to establish Crime Prevention Working Group

Council will immediately take steps to establish a Crime Prevention Working Group to improve communication and actions towards community safety and reduce crime in the Wagga Wagga area.

A report will be presented to a future Council meeting with a proposed Terms of Reference, membership and confirmation of support for the initiative from key agencies.

It’s hoped that over time the group will have a positive effect on community and business confidence. The group is also an opportunity for Council to increase partnerships and support, and strengthen the link between Council and community safety and crime prevention organisations.

Council will write to all NSW Government election candidates to seek a commitment on what resources they will commit to the region if elected before the 11 March Council meeting.

• RP-10 CRIME PREVENTION WORKING GROUP

Support to reduce lot sizes in Tatton and Lake Albert to increase residential land for development

Council has supported two planning proposal to reduce lot sizes in Tatton and Lake Albert, which will make more residential land available for development.

Wagga Wagga has been targeted by the NSW Government to grow to a population of 100,000 by 2040 – a 2 per cent growth rate that will require 14,000 homes.

Wagga Wagga City Council is currently in the process of developing a number of strategies to promote and support growth across the city in line with the Premier’s Priority to grow Wagga’s population to 100,000 by 2036.

One of the planning proposals will rezone land at Plumpton Road and Brindabella Drive and reduce minimum lot sizes. The other will reduce lot sizes at Vincent Road and Kooringal Road.

Planning proposals will now be prepared and submitted to the Department of Planning and Environment for gateway determination. Council will also receive a further report if submissions are received during the exhibition period.

• RP-3 PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO THE WAGGA WAGGA LOCAL ENVIRONMENTAL PLAN 2010 -REZONING OF 53PLUMPTON ROAD AND 108 BRINDABELLA DRIVE, TATTON
• RP-4 PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO THE WAGGA WAGGA LOCAL ENVIRONMENTAL PLAN 2010 TO REDUCE THE MINIMUM LOT SIZE PROVISIONS APPLICABLE TO 6 VINCENT ROAD AND 531 KOORIGAL ROAD, LAKE ALBERT

Support for removal of height restrictions at Sturt Street development

Council has tonight supported a planning proposal that would remove height provisions for a development at Sturt Street.

If the height of the development was limited to 25 metres (seven storeys), the design of the building would be bulky and not consistent with the future vision of the Riverside precinct.

The removal of the height provision will enable the design of the development to be revised to 41 metres (12 storeys), which will redistribute the bulk of the building and reduce overshadowing.

A planning proposal will be prepared and submitted to the Department of Planning and Environment for gateway determination. Council will also receive a further report if submissions are received during the exhibition period.

Council will address issues such as height restrictions in its CBD Master Plan, which will present a vision and planning framework to guide growth and revitalise the city centre to stimulate economic activity.

• RP2 -PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO THE WAGGA WAGGA LOCAL ENVIRONMENTAL PLAN 2010 -LEP18/0013 -REMOVAL OF HEIGHT PROVISIONS FOR LOT 12 DP1237398, 11 STURT STREET

Council accepts $14.4M grant for Bomen intermodal hub infrastructure

Council has accepted a NSW Government funding offer of $14.4M to develop a rail master siding at the Riverina Intermodal Freight & Logistics (RiFL) Hub.

In August 2018, it was announced the state would provide the funding for the 5.8km rail master siding.

The NSW Government enter the caretaker period on 1 March 2019 ahead of the state election and tonight’s resolution allows Council to access the funding should it be made available over the next week.

The rail siding and associated infrastructure will become ARTC assets once complete. Complementary infrastructure, including the intermodal freight terminal, hardstand and access roads will be constructed under an agreement between Council and Visy to further leverage the investment.

• RP-13 RIVERINA INTERMODAL FREIGHT & LOGISTICS HUB (RIFL) - RAIL MASTER SIDING GRANT FUNDING OFFER

No increase to airport fees while facility review takes place

Council has officially placed a freeze on Airport Passenger Charges and the General Aviation Landing Charges for the 2019/20 financial year while the planned review of the Wagga Wagga Airport is undertaken.

At the February meeting of the Airport Advisory Committee Meeting, committee members discussed a 1.9 per cent increase in line with the consumer price index. Following the discussions, Council management said fees would remain the same in 2019/20 until the full review of the airport fees and operations was completed.

• RP-6 AIRPORT FEES AND CHARGES

Council makes donations to Easter event and local church

Council tonight approved donations for an Easter community event and the Wagga Wagga Baptist Church.

Southern Cross Austereo had the hire fees for the Victory Memorial Gardens waived ($80) to hold an Easter egg hunt, with about 8000 chocolate eggs to be hidden for local children/

Waste fees ($250) for the Wagga Wagga Baptists Facilities Inc were waived to assist in the church’s annual monster garage sale event.

Council will also write to the Office of Local Government and submit a motion to the 2019 LGNSW conference calling for a review of assessments for Section 356 applications to allow for greater flexibility and reduction in costs for councils.

• RP-5 FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE REPORT AS AT 31 JANUARY 2019

Cr Braid OAM to attend 2019 Australian Local Government Women’s Association conference

Councillor Yvonne Braid OAM will represent Council at the 2019 Australian Local Government Women’s Association conference in April at Casula.

The annual conference is an opportunity to come together and engage in learning and networking that will assist in personal and professional development.

• RP-9 2019 AUSTRALIAN LOCAL GOVERNMENT WOMEN'S ASSOCIATION ANNUAL CONFERENCE