Council Meeting Brief - February 2020

Council Meeting Brief - February 2020

Department of Education Planning Update Yass Valley Mayor, Rowena Abbey will write to the NSW Government to request a timeline for the completion of planning for a school in Murrumbateman and the design of the Yass High School multi-purpose indoor sports centre, seeking a commitment to construction within the next two years. The Mayor will also write to the Member for Goulburn to request support to finalise the school planning design and construction processes.

Development Applications

Council resolved that a DA for a horse arena cover in McIntosh Circuit, Murrumbateman, be refused on the basis that the scale of the development is inconsistent with that of the locality and the zoning of the land. Council resolved that Conditional Development Consent be issued for a home industry (beer production only) and a residential swimming pool on Gundaroo Road following the receipt of a satisfactory waste water management report and a response from Transport NSW. Council resolved that a development application for a storage shed located to the front of a building on Lute Street, Gundaroo, be approved.

2019/20 Community Grants Council resolved to support the following four community groups with funding under the 2019/20 Community Grant Program:

Wee Jasper Community Association - $4,000 for sanding and sealing of the Wee Jasper Hall dance floor and kitchen floor. Murrumbateman Landcare Group - $3,200 for an ecological survey of the Murrumbateman Bush Cemetery. Yass Pony Club - $4,000 for the purchase of equipment. Yass Railway Heritage Centre - $2,600 for the construction of a replacement roof for a display locomotive. 

Council will hold a workshop to assist members of community organisations in the grant application writing process. Following its completion, a second round of the 2019/20 Community Grants funding program will be opened.

Swimming Pools – Free entry trial Council has recently conducted a trial of the Yass and Binalong Pools to allow free entry on days where the expected temperature was 40 degrees Celsius or above. It was resolved that the application of ‘free entry’ days be considered as part of the 2020/21 budget with some restrictions applied such as residency, a cap of 10 free days per season (with a maximum of five in any given month) and no refunds for season ticket holders. Consideration to capping season ticket prices for 2020/21 to 2019/20 will also be given in the 2020/21 budget deliberations.

Road Reserve Weed Spraying Trial Council has endorsed the rollout of a proposed road reserve priority weed spraying trial on selected roads in the LGA. The trial will be in two parts - $50,000 will be allocated from the 2019/20 roads maintenance budget to undertake an immediate but limited weed spraying trial to determine what is required to adequately address the issue of weeds, particularly following the drought. A further $200,000 will then be considered in the 2020/21 budget.

Draft Policies A draft Water Restrictions Policy and a Draft Unreasonable Conduct by Customer Policy were placed on public exhibition in November 2019. Council resolved to defer the Draft Water Restrictions Policy to a councillor’s workshop for further review. The Unreasonable Conduct by Customer Policy was adopted as exhibited.

Infrastructure Planning Priorities Council has adopted a list of new infrastructure priorities to be considered in the 2020/21 Operational Plan and Capital Works Plan. The extensive ‘wish’ list includes (in no particular order): a Council Administration Complex (including the Library and potential commercial space); Yass Memorial Pool redevelopment; Murrumbateman Community Hall; amenities at Yass Pool/Skate Park, Yass CBD and Murrumbateman; new companion animals facility; parks and playground upgrades; bike park, adventure playground and Yass River activation; Memorial Hall; and a dog park in Murrumbateman. Council hopes to allocate money from the 2020/21 budget for the preparation of ‘shovel ready’ plans for future State and Federal Government funding opportunities.

Organisational Realignment Councillors endorsed the realignment of the organisational structure of Council, with the continuation of a three divisional structure. Under this, Library and Economic Development and Tourism has been moved into the Corporate and Community Directorate. The three Directors have also been renamed as:

 Director Corporate & Community (formerly Director of Finance & Corporate Services). Director Infrastructure & Assets (formerly Director Engineering). Director Planning & Environment (formerly Director Planning).

To view the full agenda and minutes of the February Council Meeting please click here.

28 February 2020

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