Wagga City Council 24 February Ordinary Meeting

Funding push for laydown change facilities

Council has endorsed approaching the State Government requesting funding for adult laydown change facilities along NSW highways.

Council will also advocate to the National Construction Code to include laydown change facilities as a requirement at major highway service centres.

Councillors unanimously endorsed the notice of motion, put forward by the Mayor Cr Greg Conkey, to write to the State Government to request the funding.

An adult laydown facility is a purpose-built change facility that includes a height adjustable adult change table for community members living with a disability and their carers.

NOM-1 NOTICE OF MOTION - ADULT LAYDOWN CHANGE FACILITIES ALONG NSW HIGHWAYS

Ladysmith land size amendment

Council has agreed to amend minimum lot sizes for a parcel land on Tumbarumba Road, Ladysmith.

The recommendation will allow the lot size minimum to reduce from 200 hectares to 2 hectares.

RP-1 PLANNING PROPOSAL (LEP19/0007) TO AMEND THE MINIMUM LOT SIZE FOR LOT 176, TUMBARUMBA ROAD, LADYSMITH

Budget variations to 31 January

The following budget variations were approved in a report to Council:

• Council has been advised that the 2019/20 NSW State Public Library Funding for the Library Subsidy and Local Priority Funding will be $44K higher than budgeted, which will bring the total budget to $216K for the two programs. Funding is identified for the Library Services Review and Annual Science Festival.
• Additional $79K was required for the supply and installation of a back up power generator at the Alan Turner Depot. This brings the total project budget to $142K.
• Due to the requirement to fully spend Roads to Recovery (R2R) grant funding by 30 June 2020, Council will reallocate the $329K R2R funding currently on the Gregadoo Road Improvement project, to the recently completed Lake Albert Road Stage 2 project. Funding will then be re-allocated to the Gregadoo Road project.

RP-2 FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE REPORT AS AT 31 JANUARY 2020

Fees waived for community events

Council will waive various fees for community groups and events utilising Council areas and resources after receiving five financial assistance requests.

• Wagga Basketball Association: - $116, for Bolton Park basketball courts to hold a fundraiser for the family of the late Samuel McPaul.
• Wagga Mardi Gras: - $625, for the use of the Victory Memorial Gardens (2 days) and Bolton Park carpark on March 14-15.
• Wagga Seventh Day Adventist Church - $480, for the Senior Citizen Centre rooms to deliver an 8-week community education program.
• Southern Cross Austereo: 95, for the Victory Memorial Gardens on Easter Saturday to host the Triple M Easter Egg Hunt.
• Department of Communities and Justice: $1,812, for tip fees and the provision of a small truck and driver to assist with a Clean-up day to be held in Kooringal on 4 March.

RP-3 SECTION 356 FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE REQUESTS - FEBRUARY 2020

Telecommunications tower agreement

Council will enter into a licence agreement with the NSW Government Telecommunications Authority for use of a telecommunications tower located on Crown Land at Mount Flakney.

The Mount Flakney tower, of which Council is the licensee, has been identified as suitable for the Government Radio Network. The licence permits co-location of infrastructure on the tower.

RP-4 PROPOSED TELECOMMUNICATIONS TOWER LICENCE TO THE NSW GOVERNMENT TELECOMMUNICATIONS AUTHORITY

Lloyd Road project receives funding

Funding required to progress the Lloyd Road upgrade project has been approved by Council.

A detailed report to Council outlined issues which arose during the initial start of works.

Additional work required includes widening and deepening of the table drain on both sides of Lloyd Road, additional culverts across Plumpton Road and Mallee Road, formed bunding to better direct stormwater flow, and an open drainage channel from lumpton Road to Stringybark Creek across private property.

These works are estimated to cost $370K which includes land acquisition costs. The estimated cost of the project is now $1.93M.

RP-5 LLOYD ROAD REHABILITATION - ADDITIONAL FUNDING REQUEST

Capital Works budget re-set

Council’s Capital Works Program for delivery in 2019/20 is now $70.77M after councillors agreed to endorse re-setting the program budget.

As a result, $21.83M will be transferred to successive years based on their priorities for completion and available project delivery resources. Accordingly, the proposed budget for the 2020/21 Capital Works Program is $83.67M.

Four major projects have a budget of $42.87M for delivery in 2020/21:

• RIFL: $23.44M
• Active Travel: $ 8.7M
• Pomingalarna Cycling Complex: $5.73M
• Riverside Stage 2: $5M

RP-6 RESETTING OF CAPITAL WORKS PROGRAM FOR 2019/20 AND PROPOSED CAPITAL WORKS PROGRAM FOR 2021/30 LONG TERM FINANCIAL PLAN

New traffic committee

An influx of planning and development proposals expected due to predicted growth of Wagga Wagga has seen Council endorse the establishment of a new committee to assist in local traffic related matters.

The new City Traffic Planning Committee will assist and guide the Local Traffic Committee and Council in their decision-making process.

This is in response to a notice of motion from Cr Dan Hayes who addressed concerns with the current approach to addressing traffic management issues.

RP-7 RESPONSE TO NOTICE OF MOTION - TRAFFIC RELATED MATTERS

Wagga represented at conference

Councillor Vanessa Keenan will be the City’s representative at the ALGWA Conference in Shellharbour from 26-28 March 2020.

The Australian Local Government Women’s Association (ALGWA) NSW, is the State’s peak representative body for women who are in any way involved or interested in local government. The group aims to promote gender equality within Councils for both elected representatives and staff and encourages women to embrace challenges and be the best version of themselves.

The annual conference is an opportunity to come together and engage in learning and networking that will assist in personal and professional development. Council has participated in the ALGWA Annual Conference since 2008.

RP-8 2019 AUSTRALIAN LOCAL GOVERNMENT WOMEN'S ASSOCIATION ANNUAL CONFERENCE

Mayor to attend NGA

The Mayor Cr Greg Conkey has been endorsed to attend the National General Assembly (NGA) at the National Convention Centre in Canberra from 14-17 June 2020.

The Australian Local Government Association (ALGA) Board is calling for motions for the 2020 NGA under this year’s theme “Working Together for our Communities”.

Cr Tim Koschel will be the representative if the Mayor becomes unavailable.

RP-9 NATIONAL GENERAL ASSEMBLY - CALL FOR MOTIONS

New policy on public exhibition

The Office of Local Government NSW released a Model Councillor Induction and Professional Development Policy as part of its Councillor Induction and Professional Development Guidelines. To ensure compliance and consistency. it is proposed that Council adopt the model.

The draft Councillor Induction and Professional Development Policy (POL 113) will be placed on public exhibition for a period of 28 days from 25 February 2020 to 26 March 2020 with public submissions invited until the 11 April 2020.

RP-10 COUNCILLOR INDUCTION AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT POLICY - POL 113

Council support for Mardi Gras

Wagga City Council staff have been endorsed to represent the Council through their participation at this year’s Mardi Gras parade on 14 March.

A report to Council said that as a large employer in the community and major sponsor of the event, supporting staff demonstrates to employees and prospective employees that Council supports and celebrates diversity and inclusion in its workplace.

Council’s contribution as an employer would be a monetary contribution towards a banner, use of a Council ute to carry water and supplies, and use of the Council logo – a total cost of $480.

RP-11 WAGGA WAGGA CITY COUNCIL PARTICPATION IN MARDI GRAS 2020

Bolton Park amenities building

Council has approved a recommendation to decline all tenders for the design and construction of the Bolton Park amenities building and enter into negotiations for the project.

A new multi-purpose amenities block, between Livvi’s Place playground and the Jim Elphick Tennis Centre, is one of the first elements of the Bolton Park Master Plan.

CONF-1 RFT2020-09 BOLTON PARK AMENITIES BUILDING DESIGN & CONSTRUCT

Council internal audit services

Council has agreed to a recommendation to decline all tenders submitted for the provision of internal audit services. Council will instead progress alternative options in relation to the delivery of Internal Audit Services.

CONF-2 RFT2020-10 PROVISION OF INTERNAL AUDIT SERVICES

Internal loan from sewer fund

Council has agreed to accept amended conditions set by the Office of Local Government for an internal loan from the Sewer Fund under Section 410 of the Local Government Act 1993.

CONF-3 PROPOSED INTERNAL LOAN FROM SEWER FUND

Outstanding debt written off

Council has approved the write-off of outstanding rent of $51,533.62 for a Council-owned property in Wagga.

CONF-4 PROPOSED WRITE OFF OF UNRECOVERABLE DEBT OWED TO COUNCIL