Councillors met at 5.30pm on 13 June 2024 for the Dubbo Regional Council Standing Committees meetings. Outcomes from the standing committees will be taken to the Ordinary Council meeting on 27 June 2024 for consideration and adoption.
COMMUNITY COMMITTEES:
Reports of the below committee meetings were noted by Council during the committee meetings:
- Report of the Climate Change and Resilience Committee – 28 May 2024
- Report of the Disability Access and Inclusion Advisory Committee – 9 April 2024
- Report of the Multicultural Advisory Committee – 13 May 2024
- Report of the Audit, Risk and Improvement Committee – 3 June 2024
INFRASTRUCTURE, PLANNING AND ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE
BUILDING SUMMARY: Councillors noted the report which highlighted the total number of dwellings that were approved in May was 12 including 10 single dwellings and two other dwellings and the projected number of residentials approvals for the full financial year is 378 dwellings.
MODIFIED DEVELOPMENT APPLICATION - 33 LOT SUBDIVISION- 4L CAMP ROAD DUBBO: The Committee recommended the modified development application be refused as the application is not consistent with the requirements of the Biodiversity Conservation Act, 2016.
DEVELOPMENT APPLICATION - ROAD CLOSURE CAMPANIA ROAD, TERRAMUNGAMINE: Council noted the report and recommended it be approved at the June 2024 Ordinary Meeting of Council subject to the recommendations highlighted. The closure of the surplus portion of road will create an allotment that can be sold.
PLANNING PROPOSAL R24-003 - COUNCIL-OWNED ROAD CLOSURE AS EXEMPT DEVELOPMENT: Council recommended the endorsement of the Planning Proposal to amend the Dubbo Regional Local Environmental Plan 2022 and make the subdivision of a council-owned road for the purposes of road closure. The planning proposal will be submitted to the NSW Department of Planning Housing and Infrastructure for a Gateway Determination. Following the determination, a 10 day public exhibition period will occur before a further report is presented to Council for consideration.
CONFIDENTIAL: DRAFT PLANNING AGREEMENT - BURRENDONG WIND FARM: Council noted the current status and discussions with the developer of the Burrendong Wind Farm and will prepare a draft Planning Agreement in accordance with the terms identified. A further report will be presented to Council for consideration including the terms of the draft Planning Agreement and allocation of funding.
CULTURE AND COMMUNITY COMMITTEE:
PRESENTATION BY RUGBY NSW - OUTCOMES IN COMMUNITY FROM THEIR HUB AT FORMER DUBBO CITY BOWLING CLUB: The committee received a presentation from Rugby NSW who are currently based at the former Dubbo City Bowling Club in Wingewarra Street. The presentation highlighted the work they do for the community and the wider region, making sure their attendees have the same opportunities in this region as they would if they were in the city.
MACQUARIE REGIONAL LIBRARY QUARTERLY REPORT - JANUARY 2024 TO MARCH 2024: Council noted the performance of the Macquarie Regional Library during January 2024 to March 2024. The report included highlights from the CSU Project regarding Public Libraries and People Experiencing Homelessness, the Library Impact Research, Public Libraries National Advocacy Campaign, the Early Literacy Program, Narromine Local History Volunteer Award, Public Library Statistics, NSW Public Libraries Annual Conference and the staff development day. An increase of visitors and items loaned when compared to the same period last year was also noted.
WELLINGTON CAVES SERVICE REVIEW MANAGEMENT RESPONSE: Council recommends programs be undertaken to address 20 recommendations of the Wellington Caves Service Review. Investigations into opportunities to expand commercial, scientific and operational partnerships including funding opportunities should also be undertaken. Further investigations into the value of the Wellington Caves as a World Heritage Listing was also recommended along with an investment program to refurbish and upgrade existing infrastructure for a Voluntary Planning Agreement.
CONFIDENTIAL: TENDER FOR THE DUBBO AQUATIC LEISURE CENTRE - REFURBISHMENT AND UPGRADE OF 50 METRE POOL AND WATER SLIDE PLANT ROOM: Council noted the tender for the refurbishment and upgrade to the 50 metre Pool and water slide plant room of $1,179,200 inc GST by Hydrocare Pool Services Pty Ltd, which included an 18 week construction period, both outside the available budget and construction window. Hydrocare Pool Services Pty Ltd will be notified of the decision not to proceed, with Council to invite fresh tenders based on the same or different details. Adjustments will be made to the Aquatic Centre’s budget to reflect the decision not to proceed with the refurbishment and upgrade and a works program will be developed and undertaken to address the identified Work Health and Safety issues before the start of the 2024/2025 season in collaboration with Belgravia Leisure.
CORPORATE SERVICES COMMITTEE
MONTHLY REPORTING SNAPSHOT FOR COUNCILLORS – MAY 2024: Councillors noted the report which provides high level data, statistics and commentary.
INVESTMENT UNDER SECTION 625 OF THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT ACT - MAY 2024: Councillors noted the information contained within the report.
2024 COMMUNITY INPUT SURVEY RESULTS: Councillors noted the Community Input self-complete, opt-in online report. The opt-in survey was conducted between 28 March 2024 and 30 April 2024 to identify community priorities and the community’s overall level of satisfaction with Council performance and service delivery. From the data received 58 per cent of online residents are at least somewhat satisfied with the performance of Council over the past 12 months, compared to 81 per cent of people who undertook the phone survey.
DRAFT COUNCIL POLICY - FRAUD AND CORRUPTION PREVENTION: Councillors recommended the policy be adopted. The policy has been updated to reflect the current Council structure and follows the Fraud Control Framework of the Audit Office of NSW.
CONFIDENTIAL: PROPOSED REVISION OF LOT PRICES AT KESWICK ESTATE: Councillors recommended that an exclusive agency agreement with one real estate is entered into for a period of 12 months for the sale of the lots, following an appropriate public selection process. No increase or other changes will be made to the current pricing strategy of the lots for a period of 6 months and one buying entity is limited to owning a maximum of five lots and a contract for the sale may be settled up to and including 12 months from the contract date.
CONFIDENTIAL: DELEGATED AUTHORITY UNDER SECTION 226 OF THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT ACT 1993 TO BID FOR WATER ON THE UPPER MACQUARIE ALLUVIAL GROUNDWATER SOURCE: The Mayor used his delegated authority to grant approval to the Organisation to bid for water on the Upper Macquarie Alluvial Groundwater Source and it was noted that the water licence was subsequently purchased by the land purchaser.