Wagga City Council 23 September 2019 Council meeting notes

Boorooma Emergency Services Precinct review

Council will consider its options for the proposed site of an emergency services precinct in Boorooma.

Councillor Kerry Pascoe said in a Notice of Motion he believes there may be more beneficial uses and potential financial outcomes for the vacant land which was earmarked for the precinct in June 2016.

Cr Pascoe said there may now be more suitable alternate options available.

Council will receive a report in October that provides an update to the establishment of a new precinct, and an analysis of the land including existing zones and potential alternate options.

NOM-1 NOTICE OF MOTION - EMERGENCY SERVICES PRECINCT

Council to sponsor three major events

Council will support three major events in Wagga Wagga through the Major Events, Festivals and Films Sponsorship 2019-20 fund following first round applications.

The events to be sponsored are:

• $20,000 Wagga Mardi Gras Festival.
• $15,000 MTC Rocks at the Racetrack.
• $5000 Wagga Harness Racing Club’s Group One Carnival.

Council also rescinded a resolution endorsed on 25 March 2019 to sponsor the Salty Lemon Music Festival for $15,000, and will now allocate that sponsorship to an event attraction fund.

CONF-4 MAJOR EVENTS, FESTIVALS AND FILMS SPONSORSHIP

Council to pursue AFL partnership and Wagga matches

AFL men’s and women’s matches may be played in the city early next year after Council endorsed a proposal to host a gala weekend double-header event.

Council agreed to negotiate with AFL NSW/ACT regarding a potential two-year community partnership which also includes the NSW AFL Hall of Fame dinner being hosted in the city in 2021, facility development, multicultural programs and talent carnivals.

CONF-5 SPORTING EVENT OPPORTUNITY

Energy savings study for Oasis

Council will conduct a feasibility study to investigate energy saving initiatives at the Oasis Regional Aquatic Centre.

A $80,000 budget variation for the study will consider options such as geothermal, temperature control and solar thermal whilst keeping in mind the potential future extension of the facility.

A further report will be presented to Council about the future funding and project requirements for the Oasis once the study is conducted.

Other projects included in budget variations to the end of August are:

• $271,000 of Roads to Recovery funding reallocated to the Pavement Rehabilitation Program.
• $30,000 to acquire 630sqm of land adjacent to Explorer Park for public recreation use.
• $13,000 towards the restoration of the 2WG sign in Fitzmaurice Street.

RP-1 FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE REPORT AS AT 31 AUGUST 2019

Floodplain focus on communications plan

A Communications and Engagement Plan to help keep residents informed and updated about flood mitigation in their local communities has been approved by Council.

The detailed strategy puts in place various ways to guide the communication outputs of projects related to the floodplain for the Wagga Wagga Local Government Area.

It also supports the work of both Wagga Wagga City Council and the Floodplain Risk Management Advisory Committee, which provides advice to Council on the development, implementation and delivery of actions contained in the Floodplain Risk Management Study and Plans (FRMSP).

RP-2 RESPONSE TO NOTICE OF MOTION - FLOODPLAIN RISK MANAGEMENT STUDY AND PLAN ENGAGEMENT

Lease agreement with Sunflower House

Council has entered into a licence agreement with Sunflower House Incorporated to lease a garden area next to the main facility in The Esplanade.

The agreement includes an 8 year and 2 month term starting 1 October 2019. The initial annual licence fee is $650 inc gst in accordance with Council’s adopted fees and charges.

RP-3 PROPOSED LICENCE AGREEMENT TO SUNFLOWER HOUSE INCORPORATED

Crime prevention group to include new member groups

Council has endorsed the extension of membership to the Crime Prevention Working Group to include the NSW Department of Health and the NSW Department of Education.

The Crime Prevention Working Group’s first meeting was held 26 August 2019 where the committee recommended Council extend its agency membership.

RP-4 CRIME PREVENTION WORKING GROUP EXTENSION OF AGENCY MEMBERSHIP

Vegetation management plan on exhibition

The Wagga Wagga Roadside Vegetation Management Plan will be placed on exhibition inviting public submissions for 28 days from 26 September. Council will receive another report after the exhibition period.

Wagga Wagga City Council and Lockhart Shire Council received $88,000 in joint funding to have the vegetation on priority roadside reserves assessed by qualified professionals and a Management Plan developed.

Local Government NSW has implemented a three-year program of developing assessment tools and resources for Councils to use to investigate the conservation level of roadside vegetation using a consistent methodology.

RP-5 ROADSIDE VEGETATION MANAGEMENT PLAN

Council to be represented at Tidy Towns awards

Councillor Yvonne Braid will attend the Keep NSW Beautiful Tidy Towns-Sustainable Communities Awards presentation in Cessnock from 1-3 November.

Wagga Wagga has a long-standing association with the Keep NSW Beautiful Awards, being involved from the inception of the program in 1982, and has achieved outstanding success winning numerous awards during that time.

RP-6 KEEP NSW BEAUTIFUL AWARDS PRESENTATION

Delegation Policy is adopted

Council has adopted the Delegations Policy (POL 060) following its placement on public exhibition for 28 days. No submissions were received against the policy

RP-7 DELEGATIONS POLICY - POL 060