Wagga City Council 25 May Ordinary Meeting
Published: 03 Jun 2020 4:15pm
Financial assistance talks with RWCC
Wagga Wagga City Council will start negotiations with Riverina Water around alternative options of financial support from the county council.
A Mayoral Minute was brought back to Council tonight after it was deferred at the 11 May 2020 Council meeting.
A workshop was held with Councillors and representatives from Riverina Water that considered the grant of financial assistance to constituent councils as an approach to be pursued.
Council will receive a further report after the negotiations.
MM-1 MAYORAL MINUTE - RIVERINA WATER DIVIDEND
Council employee expenses
A Notice of Motion recommending Council adopts a position of no increases in salaries, wages or payments to Wagga City Councillors, contracted senior staff and all other employees for the year 2020/2021 was lost tonight. The motion put by Cr Paul Funnell was defeated 6-3 votes.
NOM-1 NOTICE OF MOTION -EMPLOYEE EXPENSES
Local government elections
A call for Council to lobby the NSW Government to request local government elections be held in September 2020 as originally scheduled (or as close as possible) was not endorsed tonight.
The September 2020 elections were postponed 12 months due to the pandemic. The Notice of Motion put by Cr Paul Funnell was lost 7-2 votes.
NOM-2 NOTICE OF MOTION -LOCAL GOVERNMENT ELECTIONS
Report on Notice of Motions
A new or amended policy which includes a timeframe for Council to receive a response to Notice of Motions and resolutions was supported by Councillors.
In his Notice of Motion (NOM), Cr Tim Koschel also recommended a register on Council’s website to keep the community informed on the date and progress of Councillors’ NOMs and resolutions.
Council will receive a report back by the end of June.
NOM-3 NOTICE OF MOTION -NOTICE OF MOTIONS
Community use of school spaces
A report on developing partnerships with schools and the Department of Education to re-open green spaces at schools that have been fenced off will be brought back to Council after it supported a Notice of Motion tonight.
Cr Dan Hayes put the motion which highlighted developing options to re-open access to open spaces to provide a benefit for community members, and further connect them to the schools.
The motion specifically named Kooringal and Mount Austin high schools.
NOM-4 NOTICE OF MOTION -ACCESS TO GREEN SPACES AT SCHOOLS
Safety at Lake Albert Road crossing
Council will also receive a report exploring options to improve pedestrian safety on the Lake Albert Road pedestrian crossing at Sacred Heart Primary School during hours outside of the school zone times.
Cr Dan Hayes in a Notice of Motion said residents have raised concerns that the pedestrian crossing is dangerous outside of school zones.
NOM-5 NOTICE OF MOTION -PEDESTRIAN CROSSING ON LAKE ALBERT ROAD
Best Street DA approved
A development application for alterations and additions to a house at 93 Best Street in Wagga Wagga has been approved by Council.
RP-1 DA19/0603 -ALTERATIONS AND ADDITIONS INCLUDING REAR EXTENSION AND GARAGE AT 93 BEST STREET, WAGGA WAGGA, LOT 17 SECTION 49 DP 759031
RivJO commitment
Council has reaffirmed its commitment to the Riverina Joint Organisation (RivJO) but has not endorsed a resolution to form a new entity being a Company Limited by Guarantee.
The RivJO Board recently resolved to transition the activities of both REROC and RivJO into a company.
RP- 2 RIVERINA JOINT ORGANISATION
Major projects highlight financial plan
Nine major projects have been named in a report to Council outlining the draft Long Term Financial Plan Capital Works Program for 2021/30. More than $94M worth of works are scheduled.
Projects include levee bank system upgrades; Airport taxiways upgrades; Eunony Bridge Road bridge replacement; Active Travel Plan; Riverside-Wagga Beach Stage 2; Pomingalarna Multisport Cycling Complex; Farrer Road and Dunns Road improvements, and upgrades; RiFL Stages 2 and 3.
The Long Term Financial Plan (LTFP) also provides an indication of the likely financial impact from the COVID-19 pandemic on Council’s 2020/21 financial year budget. The initial balanced budget position has now been adjusted to include a forecast deficit position of $4.4M.
The LTFP is one of three important draft documents Council endorsed to place on public exhibition.
The draft Combined Delivery Program and Operational Plan 2020/21 and the draft Fees and Charges for the financial year 2020/21 will also be on exhibition for 28 days from 26 May.
RP-3 INTEGRATED PLANNING AND REPORTING -DRAFT LONG TERM FINANCIAL PLAN 2021/30 AND COMBINED DELIVERY PROGRAM AND OPERATIONAL PLAN 2020/21
Pandemic to impact budget
Council tonight accepted a report outlining the current indicative financial impact of COVID-19 on Council’s 2019/20 Budget.
This figure has been put at $2,877,640. With Airport and Family Day Care reserves funding portions of the net impacts, along with proposed adjustments, the General Purpose Revenue estimated deficit is reduced to $1,741,572.
It is proposed to fund this deficit once finalised at the end of the 2019/20 financial year from Council’s unrestricted cash balance.
RP-4 INDICATIVE FINANCIAL IMPACT OF COVID-19 ON COUNCIL'S 2019/20 BUDGET
Budget variations approved
Installation of Hand Sanitiser Stations
Funds ($19k) are required for the installation of hand sanitiser stations and wall mounted hand sanitiser dispensers (due to COVID-19) for when Council re-opens to the public.
Gender Equity Project
Delays to the start of The Domestic Violence (DV) Project 2650 meant grant funds for the project were not spent in timeframes required. As a result of this, the Department of Communities and Justice and Wagga Women's Health Centre have negotiated a revised timeline and milestones. This variation has resulted in a reduction in grant income of ($141K) in 2019/20 and an increase of $72K in 2020/21.
Wiradjuri Walking Trail
Council has been successful in securing grant funds ($12K) from Crown Lands for the installation of gravel on a section of the Wiradjuri Walking Trail between the river and the southern end of Gobbagombalin Bridge. These works ($22K in total) will weatherproof a 690 metre long section of the 2 metre wide trail.
Library Air Conditioning and Security Access
Funds ($22K) are required to upgrade the air conditioning in the two Community Learning Space rooms in the Library and to allow external groups access to the rooms outside of library hours.
Art Gallery Display Panels
The Art Gallery has 16 moveable walls that need replacing due to the manual handling risk they pose to staff and the public due to their weight and age ($40K).
Tarcutta Truck Stop Lighting - Energy Savings Project
It is proposed to bring forward the Tarcutta Truck Stop Lighting Energy Savings Project and transfer it from the Potential Projects List into the Capital Works Delivery Program. The funds are currently allocated in 2020/21 ($10K) and 2021/22 ($83K) and are funded from the Internal Loans Reserve which will be repaid with the future energy savings.
Stormwater Pipe Network Project
Additional funds ($94K) are required to clean and assess Council’s stormwater pipelines for approx 16.4km in various locations across the Wagga LGA.
Oasis Flooring Replacement
Replacement of the Oasis Flotex Flooring (Entrance/Office and Pool Hall Carpet) is to be brought forward due to the facility currently being closed ($42K).
Eunony Bridge Road Works
Funds are required to undertake road improvements on a 150m section of Eunony Bridge Road ($80K). The works need to be undertaken at the same time as the bridge construction to reduce the impacts on the community due to additional roadworks.
Glenoak Reservoir rehabilitation
Council will complete the rehabilitation of the area surrounding the recently completed Glenoak Reservoir ($19K).
RP-5 FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE REPORT AS AT 30 APRIL 2020
Hardship Policy amended
Council resolved to temporarily amend the operating provisions of Council’s Financial Hardship Policy POL102 to allow for a wider application and an easier process for ratepayers to apply as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
RP-6 TEMPORARY AMENDMENTS TO COUNCIL'S FINANCIAL HARDSHIP POLICY -POL 102 AND DEBT MANAGEMENT POLICY -POL 017
Request to defer contributions
A request to defer Developer Contributions-Sewerage at The Mill development on Edward Street in Wagga was not supported by Council tonight.
ILC Commercial Pty Ltd requested Council’s consideration to defer payment of their Section 64 Sewer infrastructure contributions associated with its development application.
An existing Condition of Consent requires payment of contributions prior to issue of a Construction Certificate and the proponent sought to defer this to prior to the release of the Occupation Certificate.
The contribution due at 28 November 2019 totals $349,218.98. The request is based on the financial impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.
RP-7 DA17/0663.02 -REQUEST FOR DEFERRAL OF DEVELOPER CONTRIBUTIONS -SEWERAGE -50 EDWARD ST WAGGA WAGGA NSW 2650
Plan for city’s major events
The Events Strategy and Action Plan 2020-2024 was endorsed by Council tonight.
The Plan outlines a five-year framework to guide Council in the planning, development, attraction and decision-making for events in the Wagga Wagga Local Government Area.
The draft Plan was placed on public exhibition from 22 January to 3 March 2020. During the submission period Council received 14 written submissions.
Consultation was also conducted with external stakeholders and relevant Council staff, and amendments were made to the final document
RP-8 EVENTS STRATEGY AND ACTION PLAN 2020-2024
Additional Council meeting
Council will hold an additional Ordinary Meeting of Council in September 2020, due to the postponement of the NSW Local Government Elections previously set down for 12 September 2020.
It was agreed to add the meeting, in accordance with the established practice where Council meetings are generally scheduled for the second and fourth Monday of each month. The additional meeting will be 14 September.
RP-9 14 SEPTEMBER 2020 COUNCIL MEETING
Estella Rd pedestrian safety
Council has endorsed a Traffic Committee recommendation to install a pedestrian crossing, pedestrian refuge and other relevant safety measures on Estella Road.
It also supported reducing the speed limit from 70kph to 50kph.
Council focus is on managing pedestrian safety around the new Estella school, which is currently under construction, along busy Estella Rd.
M-1 TRAFFIC COMMITTEE – MEETINGS HELD 28 APRIL 2020 AND 14 MAY 2020
Loan facility approved
Council approved the proposed loan borrowing arrangements for projects approved previously by Council to have loan borrowings as a funding source.
CONF-1 2019/20 LOAN FACILITY
RiFL Hub stages 2 & 3
A recommendation to decline all offers for the design and construction of the RIFL Hub stages 2 and 3 has been endorsed by Council.
Council has been told the General terms of Contract issued with the tender require some amendment to include provisions to provide for the rights and obligations of the parties in the COVID-19 management issues impact on delivery of the contract works.
There is also a need to further clarify tender pricing options for the delivery of some optional items to be detailed when the construction design is completed, and clarify and detail the delivery schedule to align with the agreement to lease currently being finalised with Visy Logistics Pty Ltd.
CONF-2 RFT2020-01 RIFL HUB 2 AND 3 DESIGN AND CONSTRUCT
Pump station works
Council has accepted the offer of Quay Civil Pty Ltd for the Ashmont Pump Station, Gravity Sewer and Rising Main works for their lump sum amount of $1,209,721.65 excluding GST.
CONF-3 RFT2020-15 ASHMONT PUMP STATION, SEWER AND RISING MAIN
Museum project negotiations
Council endorsed a recommendation to decline all tenders for the Museum Redevelopment Design & Construction works and begin negotiations.
Tenders submitted did not fully satisfy Council’s requirements and modifications are required before a contract can be executed, which cannot be done without entering into negotiations.
CONF-4 RFT2020-28 MUSEUM REDEVELOPMENT DESIGN & CONSTRUCTION
Projects at livestock centre
Council has accepted the offers of Proway Livestock Equipment Pty Ltd for two construction projects at the Livestock Marketing Centre.
The works include a cattle fan draft in the lump sum amount of $349,976.70 excluding GST. and the design and construction of sheep yards in the lump sum amount of $2,268,768.18 excluding GST
CONF-5 RFT2020-21 CATTLE FAN DRAFT CONSTRUCTION LMC & CONF-6 RFT2020-30 LIVESTOCK MARKETING CENTRE SHEEP YARD DESIGN & CONSTRUCTION
Tenant hardship rent reduction
Council has agreed to grant a rent reduction of $5,234.63 (excluding GST) at a central Wagga property, and waive a rent increase due on 1 June 2020, for the Leisure Company Disability Service Ltd due to COVID-19 impacts.
CONF-7 TENANT HARDSHIP
Gobbagombalin sewer easement
Approval has been given for Council to proceed towards the acquisition of a sewer easement in Harris Road, Gobbagombalin.
CONF-8 SEWER EASMENT ACQUISITION -112 HARRIS ROAD, GOBBAGOMBALIN -LOT 1 DP1253252