January 29 Ordinary Council Meeting notes

Oasis fees and charges

Council has endorsed free casual entry to the Oasis Regional Aquatic when temperatures are forecast to reach 41 degrees Celsius and above according to the Bureau of Meteorology the day prior.

Council has also supported a recommendation to allow a reduction in admission fees of up to 50 percent for promotional purposes.

The Mayor made the decision on 17 January 2019, in accordance with Section 226 (d) of the Local Government Act, to allow free casual entry to the pool when the temperature reached 41 degrees.

Changes to the wording in Council’s 2018-19 Fees and Charges now allows the General Manager to approve set periods where admission fees can be reduced.

2019 Mayoress Concert

The Mayoress School Spectacular Charity Concert in 2019 has been given Council support.

The Mayoress Jenny Conkey is planning a school spectacular, with the profits from this concert to go to Carevan.

Carevan is a local charity organisation focused on social and community welfare through the provision of a mobile meals service to support community members experiencing homelessness, social disadvantage and food security issues in the city.

The event will showcase talented performing arts students from Wagga Wagga high schools at the Civic Theatre on Saturday, 10 August 2019.

Financial support for the event will be included in the draft 2019-20 budget.

Proposed amendment of the Wagga Wagga Development Control Plan 2010 - advertising signage in rural areas relating to major recreation facilities

Council has supported a recommendation to amend the Wagga Wagga Development Control Plan 2010 (DCP) to provide provisions for advertising signage at a major recreation facility in a rural location.

Council is currently undertaking a review and re-write of the DCP. Due to these timeframes, an interim amendment addresses pressing issues, including the provision of advertising signage at the Harness Racing NSW racing facility at Cartwrights Hill.

The DCP amendment will go on public exhibition from 2 February 2019 to 1 March 2019, with submissions invited until 15 March 2019.

Financial performance report as at 31 December 2018

Increased maintenance on unsealed roads has been identified in Council’s financial performance report to the end of December 2018.

This increased maintenance will be funded from additional interest on investments income, which is estimated to outperform budget for the 2018/19 financial year by $562,000.

This favourable budget variation is as a result of Council’s investment portfolio balance tracking above original predictions, due mainly to the timing of a number of projects either not yet started or not as advanced as originally predicted.

Other key roads infrastructure listed in the report include:

• Farrer Road widening and reconstruction
• Glenfield Road drainage and remediation
• Holbrook Road rehabilitation

Council also committed Section 356 donations to Wagga Wagga & Region Suicide Prevention Network Inc ($90), Uranquinty Tennis Club ($90) and Doin’ it for drought affected kids charity ($245).

Deaccessioning of two artworks from the public art collection

Council has resolved to authorise the removal of two artworks from the public art collection.

The artworks #32 Peace and #34 Ziegler Avenue Park Project will be removed on the recommendation of the Public Art Advisory Panel (PAAP), which reviewed the works and found them to be aged, significantly deteriorated, and beyond their expected design life.

Stage 2 works on the Main City Levee upgrade will impact on the Peace mural, which features on the concrete levee wall in Cadell Place. The site will be assessed for any future public art opportunities after the levee upgrade works are completed.

Amendment to the Wagga Wagga LEP 2010 to reduce the minimum lot size provisions

A planning proposal to reduce the minimum lot sizes of land in an area within Springvale will now go on public exhibition before a further report is received by Council.

It is proposed lot sizes in the precinct around Lloyd Road, Plane Tree Drive and Stringybark Place are reduced from 8 hectares to 4500sqm.

Council will receive a report on the amendment to the Wagga Wagga Local Environmental Plan 2010 following the exhibition period.

Commercial waste fees

Council has resolved to adopt new fees and charges relating to the commercial waste service options provided to the community.

The two new waste service options will provide more flexibility in waste service options.

The options are:

• “Any two bin combination” for $330 per annum (additional bins available at $110 per bin, excluding upsizes)
• “Single bin only” for $165 per annum.

The new charges start from 1 February 2019.

Proposed voluntary planning agreement for environmental land associated with DA17/0572 - lot 39 Genista Place

Council has agreed to a Voluntary Planning Agreement in Genista Place, Springvale.

An offer was made to dedicate 8.33 hectares of E2 land to Council in exchange for a reduction in Section 94 developer contributions associated with the development.

The land to be dedicated to Council includes two sections of the Wiradjuri Walking Track.

The developer agreed to donate the land in exchange for the Section 94 developer contributions to be waived. The value of the land is $125,000 and the contributions due are approximately $73,955.

Green waste processing at Gregadoo Waste Management Centre

Council has accepted an offer from Davis Earthmoving & Quarrying Pty Ltd for the provision of green waste services at Gregadoo Waste Management Centre for a period of 24 months.

Civic Theatre air conditioning upgrade

Council has accepted an offer from Allstaff Airconditioning (ACT) Pty Ltd for the upgrade of air conditioning at the Civic Theatre, for the amount of $401,670 (+GST).