14 April Ordinary Council Meeting summary

A vacant block of land in Wagga Wagga’s Central Business District has been approved for a new six-storey building development.

Council tonight approved an application for a mixed use development on the corner of Baylis Street and the Sturt Highway (Edward Street) – a former service station site which has been vacant for many years.

The $15.52M project at 7-9 Baylis Street will include 104 hotel rooms (four floors), ground floor commercial spaces and car parking, and one complete floor of carparking.

The application was approved subject to conditions outlined in Section 4.15 of the assessment report.

RP-1 DA19/0257 - SIX STOREY MIXED USE DEVELOPMENT, GROUND FLOOR COMMERCIALAND CAR PARKING, ONE FLOOR OF CAR PARKING AND FOUR FLOORS OF HOTEL ROOMS

Budget support for community food program

Council tonight agreed to establish a $10,000 budget to support the community support program where Council is working in partnership with relevant agencies to support those in need during the COVID-19 pandemic.

A Mayoral Minute to provide an immediate cash flow for the establishment of this community initiative was unanimously supported by Councillors present.

Council, working in partnership with agencies, have formed an approach whereby Council staff will fill a void of labour and provide delivery of meals to the community. More than 126 Council staff have indicated their willingness to help in various roles.

CareVan will be the lead agency in the preparation and cooking of the meals. The funds are to be applied to purchasing food and supplies to cook meals. Agencies will then be invoiced by Council for the cost of the meals.

Anglicare has also indicated it will provide $5,000 to go towards the cost of purchasing food for CareVan to prepare meals. This will be paid to Council for management throughout this initiative.

MAYORAL MINUTE - COMMUNITY SUPPORT PROGRAM

Move to end Chinese relations

A Councillor’s recommendation to discontinue the city’s various relations with the People’s Republic of China (PRC) was carried tonight on the casting vote of the Acting Chair.

The report by Cr Paul Funnell, which included calling for Wagga Wagga to end its Sister City agreements with Kunming, was passed on Cr Tim Koschel’s casting vote after voting was tied 3-3.

Crs Funnell, Yvonne Braid and Koschel voted for the motion, with Crs Rod Kendall, Vanessa Keenan and Dan Hayes against it.

Crs Dallas Tout and Kerry Pascoe declared an interest in the report and vacated the room, taking no part in the debate or vote.

CR-1 COUNCILLOR REPORT - SISTER CITY RELATIONSHIPS

Extended public exhibition for DCP amendment

A draft amendment to the Wagga Wagga Development Control Plan for mixed use development has been approved to go on public exhibition for a minimum of three months.

The extended public exhibition period is to allow the community adequate opportunity to review and respond amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

The General Manager will have the discretion to extend the exhibition period beyond three months.

At its ordinary meeting on 16 December 2019, Council adopted changes to the Wagga Wagga Local Environmental Plan 2010 that reclassifies land located on Morgan, Murray and Forsyth Streets from ‘community’ to ‘operational’ and rezones land from RE1 Public Recreation and R1 General Residential to B4 Mixed Use.

The consideration of floor space ratio and height of building amendments were deferred to be considered alongside an amendment to the Wagga Wagga Development Control Plan 2010.

Council will receive a report addressing any submissions following the exhibition period.

RP-2 DRAFT WAGGA WAGGA DEVELOPMENT CONTROL PLAN AMENDMENT TO SECTION 10 FOR MIXED USE DEVELOPMENT

Land values applied to new rating year

Council has endorsed a recommendation to use the NSW Valuer General’s new land values recently determined in the Wagga Wagga LGA for all properties for the 2020/21 rating year.

Council is only permitted to increase the total rates received by all property owners by the annual IPART allowable rate peg percentage, which is 2.6% for the 2020/21 rating year.

General revaluations occur every three years. On average land values have risen approximately 26.5% in the three years since the last general revaluation.

RP-3 REVALUATION OF PROPERTY LAND VALUES FOR RATING PURPOSES

Support for community groups and clubs

Council has agreed to six requests for Section 356 financial assistance, totalling $2333.50. These are:

• Mangoplah-Cookardinia United Eastlakes Football & Netball Club $865 – Mangoplah Sportsground community licence fee ($655) and lease preparation fee ($210)
• Suicide Prevention Network $95 – Apex Park hire fee
• South Wagga Apex $250 – Wagga Beach and Wollundry Lagoon fees for Duck race and Fisherama
• Women in Business Wagga $95 – Collins Park hire fee
• Shave 4 SMRF Fundraiser $95 - Collins Park hire fee
• Wagga & Bidgee District Pony Club $865 - Community licence fee ($655) and lease preparation fee ($210)

RP-4 SECTION 356 FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE REQUESTS - MARCH 2020

New Cultural Plan outlines 10-year vision

Wagga Wagga now has a 10-year Cultural Plan, which was officially endorsed by Council tonight.

The Wagga Wagga City Council Cultural Plan 2020-30 outlines a 10-year vision and strategy for programming and infrastructure projects to support arts, culture, creative industries and heritage in Wagga Wagga.

The Cultural Plan was placed on public exhibition from 22 January to 24 February 2020. Council received 28 written submissions responding to specific recommendations contained within the document along with feedback on the document in its entirety. Consultation was also conducted during this period with external stakeholders and relevant Council staff.

The document was amended to reflect the submissions and comments received.

RP-5 CULTURAL PLAN 2020-2030

Action plan for floodplain stockpiles

Council sought further information in relation to stockpiling materials and vegetation management on the floodplain at its meeting of 25 November 2019. In response, an outline of current Council stockpiling and levees within the floodplain has been prepared in consultation with the Floodplain Risk Management Advisory Committee. This work also includes an action plan and an update in relation to vegetation management within the floodplain.

The action plan includes the following items:

• Removing 10,000m³ of waste material from the Borrow Pit to the Gregadoo Waste Management Centre (GWMC) (pending funding)
• Initiating discussions with the EPA regarding placement of some Borrow Pit material into the new borrow areas
• Rehabilitating the Borrow Pit after the Main City Levee material extraction is complete
• Removing a small amount of remaining material from the Fuller and Cooradook Stockpile sites to the GWMC
• Rehabilitating the Fuller and Cooradook sites to current standards
• Ensuring the Hampden Avenue levees comply with recommendations

In terms of vegetation management, investigations are underway and grant funding has been sought to develop a comprehensive weed and tree management program for the riparian and floodplain zones.

RP-6 RESPONSE TO NOTICE OF MOTION - STOCKPILING MATERIALS IN THE FLOODPLAIN

Raiders and NRL to return in 2021

Council has given the go-ahead to the city hosting an NRL Premiership match next year, featuring the Canberra Raiders.

Following discussions with the Raiders earlier this year, it was agreed the 2020 NRL Premiership Match scheduled to be held at McDonald’s Park would be cancelled due to the impacts of Covid-19.

Council agreed to roll forward the agreement and play the match in 2021.

It is proposed this event be held under a similar financial arrangement as Council’s 2019/2020 agreement which was forecast to achieve a cost neutral position.

RP-7 CANBERRA RAIDERS AGREEMENT

Changes to hospital precinct roads

Council has agreed to the closure of parts of Doris Roy Lane, Lewis Drive, Yabtree Street and Yathong Street within the Wagga Wagga Base Hospital grounds and the sale of land parcels created by the road closures to the NSW Health Corporation.

Under the Roads Act 1993 provisions, Council may propose closure of a public road where the road is not required for legal access, for continuity of the public road network or reasonably required for public use.

NSW Health Infrastructure advise the roads are proposed to physically remain open and trafficable by vehicles after legal closure. The legal closure of the roads as proposed removes Council as the roads authority and facilitates transfer of ownership to NSW Health.

NSW Health will manage the roads as part of their internal driveway network, including amended speed limits, introducing traffic calming measures and managing access to their site.

All costs associated with the road closure and transfer including Council’s reasonable costs, survey costs, legal costs, registration fees, valuation fees are to be borne by NSW Health.

RP-8 PROPOSED ROAD CLOSURES WITHIN THE WAGGA WAGGA BASE HOSPITAL GROUNDS

Mona Vale Bridge replacement

Council has received funding from the Department of Industrial Development, Regional Development and Finance through round four of the Bridge Renewal Program for replacement of the Mona Vale Bridge.

The Mona Vale Bridge comprises a single lane timber bridge crossing of the Kyeamba Creek at Ladysmith. The bridge represents the only access for two rural properties and is being replaced due to age and safety concerns.

Council tonight agreed to enter into a licence agreement to enable construction of the new bridge.

RP-9 PROPOSED ACCESS LICENCE FOR CONSTRUCTION OF MONA VALE BRIDGE, LADYSMITH

Tennis club land transfer

That Council authorise, in accordance with Clause 131 of the Local Government (General) Regulation 2005, to write off outstanding rates and accrued interest charges owed by the Forest Hill Tennis Club Incorporated at the date of transfer of their land to Council.

CONF-1 PROPOSED ACQUISITION OF LAND FROM THE FOREST HILL TENNIS CLUB INCORPORATED

Levee bank land acquisition

Council has endorsed paying compensation to acquire a parcel of land along Fitzmaurice Street as part of the levee bank development and associated Active Travel Plan route.

CONF-2 PROPOSED ACQUISITION OF LAND AT 167 FITZMAURICE STREET, WAGGA FOR LEVEE BANK

Supply of road pavement materials

Council has accepted the offer of three tenderers for the supply of road pavement materials. These are Rocky Point Quarries, Bald Hill Quarry Pty Ltd and Burgess Earthmoving Pty Ltd.

CONF-3 RFT2020-25 ROAD PAVEMENT MATERIAL SUPPLY

Contract for stormwater works

Council has deferred a decision to award a tender for Stormwater, Sewer Trunk Mains and Detention Basins works.

CONF-4 RFT2020-27 STORMWATER, SEWER TRUNK MAINS AND DETENTION BASINS

Supply of skid steer loaders

Council has agreed to the supply of two skid steer loaders from Capital Construction Equipment for the amount of $339,900 excluding gst.

CONF-5 RFQ2020-535 SUPPLY OF TWO SKID STEER LOADERS