OUTCOMES FROM THE FEBRUARY 2025 ORDINARY COUNCIL MEETING

Council met at 5.30pm on Tuesday 25 February 2025 in Wellington for the February Ordinary Council meeting. During the meeting the following outcomes were made:

Mayoral Minutes:

WATERWAY SAFETY PROGRAM: Council noted the passing of Taonashe ‘Latroy’ Chivhaku who drowned in the Macquarie River at Sandy Beach on 3 Feb and the outpouring of community support at the vigil held at Sandy Beach. Council will discuss with the Chivhaku family regarding their desire for an appropriate memorial to Latroy at Sandy Beach. The CEO will also provide a report back to Council on appropriate safety measures that could be implemented at Sandy Beach to reduce the risk of future drowning incidents and investigate any suitable Water Safety programs that can be provided to schools in the LGA to assist with educating students in river safety and options for delivery.

COST SHIFTING ONTO LOCAL GOVERNMENT: Council will receive and note the findings of the LGNSW Cost Shifting report for the 2021/2022 financial year and place it on Council’s website so members of the community can access it until 2025. Council will also write to the Premier, NSW Treasurer and NSW Minister for Local Government seeking their urgent address of cost shifting through a combination of regulatory reform, budgetary provisions and appropriate funding. 

LGNSW Cost Shifting Report (PDF 1.4MB)

Report Summary and Highlights (PDF 2.2MB)

Information Only Matters:

MAYORAL APPOINTMENTS AND MEETINGS: Council noted the mayoral appointments and meeting for the period 25 November 2024 through to 2 February 2025, highlighting a meeting the Mayor held with hi-tech homes and the opportunity for other Councillors to be invited to meetings if possible.

MAYORAL EXPENSES - DECEMBER 2024 AND JANUARY 2025: Council noted the report which highlighted mayoral expenses for the period between 25 November 2024 and 2 February 2024.

INVESTMENT UNDER SECTION 625 OF THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT ACT - JANUARY 2025: Council noted the investments of Council as outlined in the report.

MONTHLY REPORTING SNAPSHOT FOR COUNCILLORS -DECEMBER 2024 AND JANUARY 2025: Council noted the information in the report which provides high-level snapshots for Councillors regarding Council’s Financial Performance, Facility Performance and Customer Experience Performance. Councillors highlighted the figures in the report, noting they only included the bin service pickups, but don’t include the bulky waste pickups.

SUBMISSION TO THE UPPER HOUSE INQUIRY - IMPACT OF RENEWABLE ENERGY ZONES IN NSW: Council noted the submission to the Upper House Inquiry – Impact of Renewable Energy Zones on rural and regional communities and industries in NSW.

Matters considered by committees: 

Reports of the below committees were adopted by Council:

• Report of the Audit, Risk and Improvement Committee - meeting 9 December 2024.
• Report of the Infrastructure, Planning and Environment Committee - meeting 11 February 2025.
• Report of the Culture and Community Committee - meeting 11 February 2025.
• Report of the Corporate Services Committee - meeting 11 February 2025

Except for the below items from the Corporate Services Committee where the resolutions were re-adopted as below.  

DRAFT COUNCIL POLICY – CODE OF MEETING PRACTICE – RESULTS OF PUBLIC EXHIBITION: The draft Council Policy, Code of Meeting Practice be amended to include a clause that Councillors must give their full attention to the business and proceedings of the meeting when attending by audio-visual link with a Councillor’s camera on at all times. Councillors must be visible on screen when speaking and when called upon by the chair by opening their microphone at any time during the meeting. Council will elect the mayor as the deputy chairperson for the Infrastructure, Planning and Environment Committee, Culture and Community Committee and the Corporate Services Committee.

DETERMINATION OF COUNCILLOR REPRESENTATION ON COUNCIL COMMUNITY COMMITTEES: Council deferred Councillor membership and chairperson of the community committees until the terms of reference were determined, with the terms of reference to be finalised and reported to the March Ordinary Council meeting.

Notices of Motion:

DUBBO REGIONAL COUNCIL FACILITIES FEES AND CHARGES: A report will be provided, as part of the draft budget process, outlining the existing rates, discounts and subsidies for community groups and non-profit organisations accessing Dubbo Regional Council assets and facilities.

CENTENARY DUBBO CENOTAPH: Events will be organised in conjunction with the Dubbo RSL subbranch to commemorate the Centenary of the Dubbo cenotaph which was dedicated on 25 April 1925.

CONTROL OF PEST BIRD SPECIES: A report will be presented for consideration at the April 2025 Ordinary Council Meeting detailing the role of state and local government in the management of pest bird species (pigeons and Indian Myna. The report will also look at options available for external funding for local government and community groups for control and management programs as well as options for collaborative programs with an invitation to businesses that may be developed to assist business owners in the Dubbo and Wellington CBDs.

FLUORIDATION OF DUBBO DRINKING WATER SUPPLY: A report will be provided to the May Ordinary Council meeting in regard to the fluoridation of Dubbo’s drinking water supply.

DUBBO WAR MEMORIAL CIVIC HALL: Council will submit an application to the relevant heritage authority for the inclusion of the Dubbo War Memorial Civic Hall on the NSW War Memorials Register and investigate an identity other historically significant buildings, sites or structures that may be eligible for listing on the memorials register and report back to Council with recommendations for further submissions.   

Reports from staff:

FEASIBILITY FOR A NEWELL HIGHWAY BYPASS: Council noted the report highlighting that a business case on the Newell Highway bypass was not feasible to be funded which was requested during the October 2024 resolution of Council.

TREE PRESERVATION ORDER - PROPOSED FRAMEWORK FOR TREE PRESERVATION ORDER AND RESOURCING IMPACTS: Council will not proceed with the establishment of a Tree Preservation Order for private trees and continue to work with the community to voluntary identify and include targeted private trees on the Significant Tree Register.

DUBBO REGIONAL COUNCIL STRUCTURE REVIEW: Council noted the report regarding the structure of the organisation.

DISCLOSURE OF INTEREST RETURNS - NEW COUNCIL TERM – 2024: Council noted the report and that there were no failures to lodge Disclosure of Interest Returns. The lodged returns will be placed on Council’s website, with some private information to be redacted before publishing online.

DRAFT SUBMISSION TO THE OFFICE OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT - PROPOSED CODE OF MEETING PRACTICE AND CONDUCT REFORMS: Council endorsed the draft letter to be submitted to the Office of Local Government. The Office of Local Government has issued a consultation draft of the amended Model Meeting Code and accompanying discussion paper to seek the views of the local government sector, key stakeholders and the community on the proposed amendments with submissions due by 5pm on 28 February 2025.

DECEMBER 2024 QUARTERLY BUDGET REVIEW STATEMENT: Council adopted the Quarterly Budget Review Statements as at 31 December 2024. Council noted the statement of the Responsible Accounting Officer that Council is in a satisfactory financial position, having regard to the changes herewith to the original budget.  

QUESTION ON NOTICE - IMPACT OF SECTION 22C OF THE BAIL ACT 2013: Council noted the report.

Confidential:

Last Edited: 27 Feb 2025

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