JULY ORDINARY COUNCIL MEETING OUTCOMES
On Monday 26 July, Dubbo Regional Council (DRC) hosted the July Ordinary Council meeting. The below outcomes and recommendations were made:
MAYORAL MINUTE – ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF SUPERINTENDENT PETER McKENNA
Dubbo Region Mayor Stephen Lawrence thanked Orana Mid-Western Police District Commander Peter McKenna for his time in the region, recognising his work forming large proactive crime teams, a drug unit and bike squads. He also established the Aboriginal Youth Team under Walwaay Program and managed the dismantling of a major drug supply network for ice.
MAYORAL MINUTE – GREATER COLLABORATION WITH NEIGHBOURING COUNCILS
Councillors adopted the recommendation of a Mayoral Minute to work more collaboratively with neighbouring councils in the Orana and Far West to create an organisation to enable collaboration and resource sharing.
MAYORAL MINUTE – RECONCILIATION ACTION PLAN
A Mayoral Minute has requested that the CEO develop a Reconciliation Action Plan for the DRC Local Government Area (LGA), and that it be reflective of community expectations of how Council should build and encourage relationships, develop respect and opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. The request for a Reconciliation Action Plan was originally tabled in 2020 however it was delayed last year as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and its disruption to Council.
NOTICE OF MOTION: RECREATIONAL LAKE
Councillor Ryan tabled a Notice of Motion for DRC to consult with the community and consider a lake as part of the review and development of the next Integrated Planning and Reporting Cycle, noting that the concept of a large constructed lake in the Dubbo region was the subject of community interest during the previous council election campaign.
NOTICE OF MOTION: EMERGING EVENTS AND COMMUNITY EVENTS PROGRAM
Council had before it a Notice of Motion from Councillor Ryan, with two recommendations in relation to the Destination, Emerging Community Events Funding program. The first recommendation was that the assessment criteria for applications for these funds include a weighting of 20% for any cancelled events from the 2020/2021 financial year. The second recommendation was that organisers of cancelled events be invited to resubmit applications to the Emerging and Community Events programs.
NOTICE OF RESCISSION: TEMPORARY POLICY PENDING CODE OF CONDUCT PROCESS UPON THE MAYOR’S RETURN TO OFFICIAL DUTIES
A Notice of Rescission for the temporary policy mentioned above was before Councillors, from Councillors Lawrence, Ryan and Etheridge. The Notice of Rescission was adopted by Council.
REPORT: DRAFT COUNCIL POLICY – COUNCILLOR AND STAFF INTERACTION
A draft policy and associated report was presented to Councillors, emphasising the importance of this Policy which formed part of the Performance Improvement Order (PIO) issued by the Minister for Local Government Shelley Hancock. The report recommended the adoption of the Councillor and Staff Interaction Policy, subject to a minimum 28 day public exhibition period, along with the immediate implementation of a Councillor Requests Procedure.
REPORT: 2021/2022 FEES & CHARGES
Councillors adopted the recommendations of a report which highlighted the approximately 60 out of 2,000 Fees & Charges did not have a 10% GST applied to them for the 2021/2022 Financial Year. As a result, a report recommended that Council absorb the GST, which means the majority of fees impacted will see a reduction of approximately 10%. This is not required to be placed on Public Exhibition under the Local Government Act. The 2022 Statement of Revenue Policy will be amended to include the updated fees and charges.
REPORT: LOCAL PURCHASING POLICY PROGRESS REPORT 2021
Council noted the report from the Acting Corporate Procurement Specialist was presented to Councillors, highlighting the effectiveness of the Local Purchasing Policy. The report found that 71% of transactions from January 2021 – June 2021 were with local suppliers. The best results have been in lower-value goods of less than $10,000, where 64% of overall spend has been with local suppliers.
REPORT: CONSOLIDATED DUBBO REGIONAL LOCAL ENVIRONMENTAL PLAN 2021
Councillors adopted the recommendations of a report which sought to endorse the amended Planning Proposal for the draft Dubbo Regional Local Environmental Plan, to harmonise planning controls across the former Dubbo City Council and Wellington Council areas. A request will be sent to the Department of Planning, Industry and Environment for the plan to be drafted. A review of the consolidated planning controls will be carried out in 12 months’ time.
REPORT: SHORT TERM RENTAL ACCOMMODATION
Councillors considered a report from the Manager Building and Development Services in regards to short term rental accommodation, and whether removing a 180 day cap on short term rentals (such as Airbnbs) would improve the rental vacancy rate in the region. The report found that the current short term rental accommodation supply would provide up to an additional 25 residential properties. Council determined not pursue the 180 day limit for non-hosted short term residential accommodation and advise the NSW Government accordingly.
REPORT: HOUSING AVAILABILITY IN THE DUBBO REGIONAL LGA
Councillors noted a report in regards to housing availability in the Dubbo region LGA, as per a Council recommendation to prepare a report by the July Council meeting. Another report will be provided to Council regarding a work program to address dwelling diversity in the LGA at the March 2022 Council meeting. A workshop will also be conducted following the December 2021 Local Government Elections, to discuss the proposed measures contained in the report relating to Growth Planning Works program.
REPORT: 2021/2022 SEASON DATES – DUBBO REGION AQUATIC LEISURE CENTRES
Councillors considered a report, to extend the operating hours of the Aquatic Leisure Centres in Dubbo, Wellington and Geurie, following community consultation. This will have some financial implications for DRC, which should be offset by additional revenue generated as a result of cafe and waterslide takings.
REPORT: COMMUNITY BENEFIT FUND
The Community Benefit Fund recently opened applications to local community groups to apply for funding to assist with providing important community services and activities. There were 15 applications totalling a request of $178,346.93 for available monies of approximately $120,000.00. Council resolved to allocate funds to a number of community groups, totalling $74,432. Any unused funds will be allocated for the second round of funding later this year.
REPORT: 2022-2025 DISABILITY INCLUSION ACTION PLAN
Councillors adopted a report and associated 2022-2025 Disability Inclusion Action Plan, which aims to ensure the region is an accessible place to live and work. The Action Plan will now be sent to the Office of Local Government for review.
Last Edited: 17 Jul 2023