27 January council meeting wrap-up

Highlights of the January 27 Council Meeting Activating the region Council unanimously supported Mayor Coupland’s vision for the Armidale region to grow jobs by 4000 by 2040 and 1000 in the next five years. Central to the mayor’s plan is to develop a jobs growth strategy based on catalyst projects. Council will now identify the region building infrastructure and catalyst job growth projects that provide a platform for future success and advocate for support through the state and federal governments. 

Councillors will come together to hold an elected members Strategic Planning and Jobs Growth Summit in February to determine council’s vision for the Armidale region and inform the necessary next steps required to realise that vision.

Mayor Coupland’s Mayoral Minute is available in full on the council website within the agenda for the 27 January council meeting.

Homelessness and affordable housing on the ARC agenda Council will submit a motion to the LGNSW 2022 Conference requesting the “LGNSW lobby the NSW government on the issue of homelessness and affordable housing in regional areas and ensure funding measures and stimulus mechanisms are activated to keep affordable housing supply at pace with regional economic development.”

Peak conference attendance  The LGNSW Conference is an annual policy-making event for NSW general-purpose councils. It is the pre-eminent event of the Local Government year where local councillors come together to share ideas and debate issues that shape the way we are governed. Mayor Sam Coupland, Deputy Mayor Todd Redwood and Cr Debra O’Brien will be attending.

Councillor Expenses and Facilities Policy  The Councillor Expenses and Facilities Policy is now on public exhibition for comments from the community

Within the first 12 months of each term of a council, the council must adopt a policy concerning the payment of expenses incurred or to be incurred to all councillors. Visit yoursay.armidale.nsw.gov.au to view the policy.

Councillors get up-to-speed on being a councillor Newly elected councillors are undertaking a professional development program. Guidelines are provided by the Office of Local Government to develop and deliver induction training and ongoing professional development activities for the mayor and councillors. The induction process provides the newly elected representative body with the necessary information to successfully undertake their roles as councillors.

Crown Roads to council ownership Council will be submitting an application to Crown Lands for the transfer of ownership of Lucas Lane and Imbandja Lane. Council currently includes these unsealed roads in its regular grading program however due to the current ownership by the Crown council has not committed funding for capital upgrades for drainage structures which are in a dilapidated condition and present a risk to the road user.

Legacy project nearing completion One of the largest projects being undertaken by Council in 2021-2022 is the stabilisation of the Dumaresq Dam wall. The wall was identified by Dam Safety NSW as not meeting current safety standards and at risk of failure during an extreme flooding event, posing a threat to people downstream. It is due to be completed by March 2022.

Council entered into an agreement with the NSW Government for each party to fund fifty percent of the project costs. 

Estimated savings of $451,434 in the non-construction component of the project have occurred. However it became apparent last year that there would be an increase of $1,725,206 in the construction component, resulting in an overall estimated cost increase of $1,273,772 over the original total project budget of $8,100,000. Council was aware and had allowed for a contingency but not included this is the overall purchase order approved.

Council has approved an increase in the purchase order for the construction contractor, Leed Engineering and Constructions to cover the known cost increase of $1,273,772 to enable the completion of the project plus an additional contingency in the event of further unexpected issues.

Exit plumbed concrete dam walls are difficult structures to determine in advance, exactly what it will cost to upgrade. 

Actioning Community Plan initiatives The mayor and the general manager will further develop a new Community Plan – Key Pillar Working Group alternative to traditional council committees and present another report to the February council meeting.

The working group framework seeks to pilot a model for 18 months that will enhance the former committee structure to provide improved community outcomes and align those to the key pillars that will emerge from the reviewed Community Plan.

Closed session resolutions Tenders have been accepted on the following projects: •Sunwest Constructions Pty Ltd of $427,657.10 inc. GST ($388,780 exc. GST) for the demolition and construction of an amenities building at Guyra Showground •Home Green Pty Ltd of $185,494.90 inc. GST to design and construct a turn-key LED lighting installation to the Lynches Road Netball Courts, Armidale. •Bedrule Pty Ltd T/A TOBCO of $394,537.00 incl. GST for the construction of airside stormwater upgrades at Armidale Regional Airport •Roadwork Industries Pty Ltd for $2,611,448.40 Incl. GST to complete the bitumen resealing and asphalt resurfacing program at various locations across the ARC LGA

Old Armidale Court House Council continues to investigate its options in having the Old Armidale Court House vested in the control of council and will be requesting and extension of one year to consider the offer.  Given the strict non-disclosure agreements in place council is unable at this time to elaborate any further.

We want your thoughts… To see what’s currently on public exhibition and to have your say on the important issues affecting the region, visit yoursay.armidale.nsw.gov.au

Published on 02 Feb 2022