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5. 2023

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Dubbo Regional Council (DRC) met on Thursday 24 October 2023 at 5.30pm in the Wellington Council Chambers for the November Ordinary Council meeting. The following outcomes were made:

Councillors adopted the report of the Financial Performance Committee meeting held on 16 November 2023.

During the meeting the Draft September 2023 Quarterly Budget Review statements were noted and the next steps for the financial sustainability review were discussed. 

Councillors adopted the report of the Public Spaces Tree Committee meeting held on 1 November 2023. 

During the meeting attendees were provided an update on the Tree Preservation Order and the Public Trees – Amenity Valuation Policy. 

Councillors adopted the report of the Disability Access and Inclusion Advisory Committee meeting held on 30 October 2023. 

During the meeting attendees viewed a presentation from the Point-to-Point Transport Commission representative regarding wheelchair safety relevant to Public Transport. An update on the DRC website and software programs for non-vision disabilities was also provided as well as discussion around the Lions Park West amenities block and use of MLAK key.

Councillors adopted the report of the Infrastructure, Planning and Environment Committee meeting held on 9 November 2023 with the exception of the item regarding the New Dubbo Bridge. 

In regard to the item about the New Dubbo Bridge Council endorsed the reclassification of Bourke Street from River Street to Erskine Street from a State to a regional road following the completion of the bridge and associated works and the acceptable condition of the road prior to the finalisation of the reclassification. 

Council will also partner with Transport for NSW on the consultation process for the naming of the new bridge with Council’s preferred name for the new Dubbo Bridge to be a First Nations name relevant to the location and/or the function of the bridge such as a crossing place on a river. Council called for the resolution be the focus of the community consultation undertaken by Transport for NSW.

Councillors adopted the report from the Culture and Community Committee meeting held on 9 October 2023. 

The report of the Corporate Services Committee meeting held on 9 October 2023 was adopted by Councillors, with the exception of item CSC23/65 regarding the Financial Sustainability Review.  

The report regarding the Financial Sustainability Review was further discussed with Councillors resolving to have an Organisational Sustainability Review and Improvement Plan developed as part of the development of the 2024/2025 Operational Plan and Budget process. 

As part of the review Councillors called for the CEO to provide a report to the March 2024 meeting outlining the differences in staff levels between Dubbo Regional Council current and the number of staff employed by the former Dubbo City Council and Wellington Council on day one of the amalgamation. 

Councillors also determined that considerations of a Special Rate Variation application to the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal NSW (IPART) be deferred until 2025/2026. 

In regard to the report about E-bikes Council determined they would not progress with undertaking service delivery or a partnership in an E-bike service. An amended motion was carried with councillors removing section two of the recommendation from the Corporate Services Committee on 9 November. 

Councillors adopted the report from the Audit, Risk and Improvement Committee meeting held on 24 October 2023.

The committee received a presentation on the financial statement audit closing report from the Audit Office of NSW. 

Councillors endorsed the Draft Annual Report 2022/2023, with the finalised document to be published on Council’s website with the Office of the Local Government to be notified. 

A copy of the report will also be made available at the Dubbo Civic Administration Building the Wellington Administration Building and the Dubbo and Wellington branches of the Macquarie Regional Library. 

The annual report 2022/2023 provides a summary of the Delivery Program and Operational Plan actions including status and commentary as well as including a link to Council’s Audit Financial Statement for 2022/2023 and an overview of the major projects and services to the community delivered throughout the year. 

Councillors adopted the Quarterly Budget Review Statements and noted that Council is in a satisfactory financial position having regard to the changes herewith to the original budget. 

The quarterly review shows the current financial position estimated to be a balanced budget and was discussed at the Financial Performance Committee meeting on 16 November. 

Council endorsed the planning proposal to amend the Dubbo Regional Local Environmental Plan by reclassifying part of Burke Hill from Community Land to Operational Land. 

Council will submit the Planning Proposal to the NSW Government Department of Planning and Environment for a gateway determination. Council also resolved to be authorised as the local plan making authority. 

The reclassification comes with Council undertaking strategic land use planning activities in respect to the Central-West Urban Release Area with the planning now identifying the needs for a future public road connection from the Central-West Urban Release Area to the Mitchell Highway through Bourke Hill. To facilitate the continued planning for the public road connection part of the Bourke Hill area needed to be reclassified. 

The planning proposal will be placed on public exhibition for 28 days and require a public hearing at least 21 days after the public exhibition period. 

Council endorsed the planning proposal to amend the Dubbo Regional Local Environmental Plan 2022 for land int eh North-West Urban Release Area and will submit the proposal to the NSW Department of Planning and Environment for a Gateway Determination. 

To assist in the delivery of housing choice and diversity the planning proposal seeks to rezone land to R1 General Residential, R2 Low Density Residential, E1 Local Centre, RE1 Public Recreation and SP2 Infrastructure. 

It also proposes to amend the minimum lot size area to 175m2, 300m2, 450m2 and 600m2 and introduce dwelling density controls to ensure a mis of dwelling types and built forms are provided. The proposal also identifies land to be reserved for acquisition for future infrastructure needed for development and update maps associated with heritage item “Mount Olive”. 

In September Councillors had previously adopted the draft North-West Development Control Plan Master Plan and the draft North-West Urban Release Area Development Control Plan Stage 1. 

Council resolved to refuse a secondary dwelling at 16 Spencer Street, Dubbo. 

The proposed conversion of the existing studio into a secondary dwelling fails to comply with statutory development standards and three formal requests for further information have failed to resolve the non-compliance. 

Council resolved to provide ‘draft terms’ to the State Government Department of Planning and Environment for the Planning Agreement Offers as included the report. 

A report will also be provided to the December 2023 Council meeting which will include an amendment to the renewable Energy Benefit Framework to incorporate Battery Energy Storage Systems. 

Council determined the successful candidates for the next term of the Audit, Risk and Improvement Committee. 

Following interviews, the panel determined the chairperson will be John Walkom with committee members Tom Breen and Greg Matthews appointed. The successful candidates will serve for two years. 

Councillors noted the information contained in the report.