Summary of Council’s 11 April 2022 Ordinary Meeting
Published: 12 Apr 2022 10:20am
Support for veterans
Council agreed to receive a report detailing improvements to Council’s recruitment processes, job vacancy notifications, website, and post application support with the aim to attract veterans to apply for positions at Council.
Council also agreed to invite councils in the Riverina Joint Organisation and Canberra Joint Organisation to consider improving their own recruitment process to better attract veterans to job opportunities.
NOM-1 NOTICE OF MOTION - VETERANS EMPLOYMENT AT WAGGA WAGGA CITY COUNCIL
Morgan Street Development Application approved
Council resolved to approve a Development Application (DA) for a multi-level office and car park at 199-205 Morgan Street, Wagga Wagga and the adjacent Morgan Street road reserve, subject to conditions.
Council reached this decision following a Councillor workshop on the Morgan Street / Forsyth Street precinct.
The proposed development includes five storeys of commercial office space and six storeys of car parking accessed off Docker Street with a total of 514 parking spaces across the site, including 484 car, 20 motorcycle and 10 bicycle spaces.
RP-1 DA21/0604 - MULTI LEVEL COMMERICAL OFFICE & CAR PARK, LOT 7 DP 203835, LOT 1 DP 375748 AND LOT A DP 331461, 199-205 MORGAN STREET, WAGGA WAGGA, AND ADJACENT MORGAN STREET ROAD RESERVE
Support for Lismore library
Council agreed to donate $5,000 to the Richmond Tweed Regional Library Service to support their recovery efforts following recent flooding in the Lismore area.
RP-2 WAGGA WAGGA CITY COUNCIL FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO RICHMOND TWEED REGIONAL LIBRARY SERVICE
Net zero emissions
Council endorsed the draft Corporate Net Zero Emission 2040 Strategy to be placed on public exhibition for a period of 28 days.
Council received a further report summarising feedback and submissions, and approved 100 per cent of the budgeted savings from the Power Purchase Agreement to be allocated to the Net Zero Emission Reserve.
In response to a petition on community net zero emissions presented to Council at its 21 March 2022 meeting, Council agreed to endorse an interim community net zero emissions target of 50 per cent reduction in community emissions by 2030.
Council agreed to develop a roadmap outlining Council’s role in the community towards achieving both the 2030 and 2050 net zero emissions targets, and facilitate bi-annual forums with relevant community and business groups, and State Government agencies, to discuss the approach to community net zero emissions.
Council received and noted a report prepared in response to a Notice of Motion raised by Councillor McKinnon at the 31 January 2022 Council meeting regarding the city’s community net zero emissions target.
RP-3 CORPORATE NET ZERO EMISSIONS 2040 STRATEGY
RP-4 RESPONSE TO PETITION BY CLIMATE RESCUE OF WAGGA INC, CLIMATE ACTION WAGGA AND WAGGA WAGGA FRIDAYS FOR FUTURE ON COMMUNITY NET ZERO EMISSIONS
RP-5 RESPONSE TO NOTICE OF MOTION - COMMUNITY NET ZERO EMISSIONS TARGET
Bomen land sales update
Council received an update on the sale of lots in the Bomen industrial land subdivision adjacent to the Riverina Intermodal Freight and Logistics terminal (RIFL).
Lots in this subdivision are primarily targeted at freight and logistics operators and at related uses that may benefit from close proximity to the intermodal terminal.
While the land is under Council ownership and development works are being managed by Council, the cost of developing the land has been assisted via State Government funding under the Growing Local Economies program.
While development works are expected to be finalised in six months, the process for marketing and selling the lots is starting sooner, in response to substantial market interest.
RP-6 LAND SALES - RIFL INDUSTRIAL SUBDIVISION
Land policy updated
Following a review of the Leasing & Licensing Policy, significant amendments were made including broadening the policy to cover the acquisition and disposal of Council land.
Council endorsed the renamed draft Acquisition, Disposal and Management of Land Policy to be placed on public exhibition for a period of 28 days.
RP-7 ACQUISITION, DISPOSAL AND MANAGEMENT OF LAND POLICY
Relinquishment of easement
Council agreed to relinquish easement for the former proposed eastern industrial levee over property at 34 Kooringal Road, East Wagga Wagga.
RP-8 RELINQUISHMENT OF EASEMENT - 34 KOORINGAL ROAD, EAST WAGGA WAGGA
Budget variations approved
Council approved the proposed 2021/22 budget variations for the month ended 31 March 2022, and the proposed budget variations to the 2021/22 Long Term Financial Plan Capital Works Program, including future year timing adjustments and new projects.
Operating and capital budget variations for 31 March 2022 include:
- Fire Control Centre Refurbishment – $25,000
- Bagley Drive Land Acquisition – $65,000
- Cremator Brickworks Reline – $200,000
- Youth Program – We’ve got the drive! – $50,000
- Gentle Exercise Classes – $8,000
RP-9 FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE REPORT AS AT 31 MARCH 2022
Councillor superannuation
Council agreed to pay superannuation to Wagga Wagga City Councillors at the superannuation guarantee rate, noting the Local Government Amendment Bill 2021 which amends the Local Government Act 1993 to provide for councillor superannuation contributions.
Prior to the Local Government Amendment Bill 2021, as councillors were deemed to not be employees for taxation and superannuation purposes, councils were not obliged to pay superannuation contributions for councillors.
It is hoped that payment of superannuation will lead to greater interest and more nominations to serve on Council from all demographics, including women and younger people, leading to greater representation on councils by people from traditionally underrepresented demographics.
RP-10 COUNCILLORS AND MAYORAL REMUNERATION - LOCAL GOVERNMENT AMENDMENT BILL 2021
Requests for financial assistance
Council supported waiving a $105 booking fee for the Southern Cross Austereo launch of the Wagga Wagga Monopoly Board Game.
RP-11 REQUESTS FOR FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE
Council to apply for additional special variation
Council agreed to apply for a permanent Additional Special Variation (ASV) under the Local Government Act 1993 due to the significant impact from the reduced 2022/23 rate peg on Council’s general purpose rate revenue.
If the application is successful, Council will direct this additional ASV income towards Council’s future year budget deficits from the adopted 2021/22 Long Term Financial Plan.
RP-12 ADDITIONAL SPECIAL VARIATION (ASV) PROCESS FOR 2022/23
Pecuniary Interest Returns tabled
The Register of Pecuniary Interest Returns, containing current returns of Councillors, was tabled in accordance with the Wagga Wagga City Council Code of Conduct.
RP-13 COUNCILLORS' WRITTEN RETURNS OF INTEREST
Riverside food van
Council agreed to commence negotiations to enter into a licence agreement with Carlos Zeidan (King Carlos Coffee) for the operation of the Riverside food van and the exclusive right to provide food and beverage services to the precinct for a period of 3 years.
CONF-1 EXPRESSION OF INTEREST - RIVERSIDE FOOD VAN
Expression of Interest campaign for land on Cooradook Street
Council agreed to endorse an Expression of Interest campaign for the sale of Lots 186 and 187 in Deposited Plan 751422 at Cooradook Street, North Wagga Wagga.
CONF-2 EXPRESSION OF INTEREST - SALE OF LAND AT COORADOOK STREET, NORTH WAGGA WAGGA
Appointment of advisory committee members
Council appointed community representatives to the following committees:
- Australia Day Community Committee
- Floodplain Risk Management Committee
- Museum of the Riverina Community Advisory Committee
- Major Events, Festivals and Films Sponsorship Advisory Panel
- Public Art Panel.
Council also recommended the Museum of the Riverina Community Advisory Committee consider co-opting an additional member.
Further details will be provided once the successful appointees have been contacted.
CONF-3 APPOINTMENT OF ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEMBERS