May 2020 – President Peter Clee
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Purpose of Report
 To Inform Council and community of activities and to provide the community at large with information that is important and noteworthy.
What’s been happening……
 We need to be aware that the matter of amalgamations has not gone away and there is little doubt that we will see this raise its head in the next 12 months. The council needs to continue to promote a proposal to the NTG to incorporate the area around the top of the peninsula and possibly as far west and south around the coast as Dundee Beach. It is evident that Belyuen wish to be part of Coomalie Shire. I strongly subscribe to the boundary expansion proposals developed by councillor Richmond a few years ago. We need to start a discussion with the residents of the unincorporated land and with the Larrakeyah Development Corporation who are most likely to develop the first residential estate on the old Kenbi land located near the previous Radio Australia link site.
Our council has been accumulating reserves to enable a major road maintenance program to be undertaken. This is estimated to cost approximately $2.5 million. Unfortunately, we are still well short of the amount required for this project and it is not practical to do the maintenance in two stages. Depending on when the roadworks needs to be done council will be to consider borrowings to enable the project to be completed.
TOPROC has been proactive in lobbying the political parties involved in the NT Elections that will be held in August. A list of priorities has been developed and will be discussed in open forum with the parties and candidates on 23rd April. A priority for this council is assurance of continuity of the proposed Marina Precinct. The community is also keen to see KENBI settled, although this is not really an election issue.
The NTG needs to be lobbied to ensure that the water supply for proposed LDC development carried on supplying this community with mains water.
The Commonwealth Government have asked for key infrastructure projects that can be started and completed this year. Our council have sought a grant of $2m, with a contribution by WSC of $1m to re-surface all the road surfaces at Wagait Beach. If we are successful in getting this gran it will represent a significant savings to the residents of Wagait Beach, as we would be up for the full cost at some time in the next few years.
This year is my 22nd year as an elected member on council. I foreshadow that I will be stepping down as the Council President on 30 June. This will be the last council meeting that I chair. I thank council staff, both past and present as well as Councillors both past and present for making my time as Council President such an enjoyable and productive time. Much has been achieved and this community is a very comfortable and safe place to live. The community is well placed as we move forward.
There is still much that needs to be done and I will stay on as an ordinary councillor and will be encouraging council to continue to lobby for a Community Bus Service, The Mandorah Jetty project, Settlement of the Kenbi Land Claim, additional Health Services, a development on the old Mandorah Hotel site and a long-term solution to waste disposal on the Cox Peninsula.
Where have I been ….
18th May                                             Meeting with Local Member Gary Higgins 19th May                                             Ordinary Council Meeting 21st May                                              TOPROC Meeting video conference 21st May                                              Meeting with CoD CEO 26th May                                             Weekly meeting with CEO (by telephone) 29th May                                             Local Government Disciplinary Committee meeting 1st June                                               Weekly meeting with CEO 4th June                                               LGANT Meeting for Mayors and Presidents 4th June                                               meet with LSK re KLRR 12th June                                             LGANT General Meeting 16th June                                             Weekly meeting with CEO 16th June                                             WSC Ordinary Meeting 23rd June                                             Weekly meeting with CEO 24th June                                             ABC Grass Roots 30th June                                             Weekly meeting with CEO