Council meeting wrap-up

Council’s representatives chosen for Regional Planning Panel Planning panels are independent bodies that strengthen decision making on regionally significant developments. Mayor Sam Coupland and Deputy Mayor Todd Redwood will be council’s representatives on the panel.

New strategy delivers engagement platform The Community Engagement Strategy 2021-24 outlines the methodology council will adopt when preparing to engage with the community and assist residents and other council stakeholders to understand how and when council will engage on issues that affect their future. To view the engagement strategy visit your say Armidale.

Share your views on council policies now on public exhibition A number of council polices are now on public exhibition for community input. These include the draft Ceremonial Functions and Representations Policy and the draft Councillor Expenses and Facilities Policy. To view these policies visit council’s engagement hub at your say Armidale

Rail Trail engagement summary report puts landholders’ concerns front and centre In February 2021 council resolved to apply for funding for the construction of the New England Rail Trail, a 67.5 km section of the trail from Ben Lomond to Armidale. Council facilitated targeted community engagement sessions to connect with landholders adjacent to the rail corridor and a variety of special interest groups. The summary provides an overview of stakeholders’ concerns and the actions council is taking to mitigate those concerns. 

In addition council resolved to note the concerns raised during the community engagement sessions; provide due consideration to concerns raised by stakeholders prior and during construction and ensure that the project is cost neutral to ratepayers.

Glen Innes Council has secured funding for the construction of the rail trail from Ben Lomond to Glen Innes and recently Armidale Regional Council received $5.4m from the Australian Government towards the construction from Ben Lomond to Armidale.

Autumn Festival refocuses on mall activation Council has supported the proposed changes to this year’s Autumn Festival to reinvigorate the event to focus on a celebration of autumn and stimulate activation in the Armidale mall and CBD. The event will be held on Saturday 2 April from 10am – 5pm in the Armidale mall. 

Council adopts cautious approach to proposed borrowing for major water infrastructure projects A report to authorise the borrowing of $9.77 million from NSW TCorp at a fixed rate interest period of 20 years was rejected by council in preference of a more cautious approach. The $9.77 million was to provide the fifty percent construction from council towards the Puddledock Dam Raw Water Main Upgrade and the Dumaresq Dam Wall upgrade. 

Council resolved to fund the Dumaresq Dam Wall Upgrade from the Council’s Water Fund not via borrowings; receive a further briefing on options for the Puddledock Dam Raw Water Main Upgrade; finance team to explore and report on refinancing options for all council term loans and explore the long term outlook for improving revenue in the Water Fund.

New LEP a vital tool in growing our region Council resolved unanimously to support the proposed Armidale Regional Local Environmental Plan (LEP).  The new LEP combines the former Guyra Shire LEP and Armidale Dumaresq LEP. Council will now refer the LEP package of documents to the NSW Government to seek their endorsement prior to it coming into effect.

Actioning Community Plan initiatives Council will now pilot for 18 months an alternative model to the existing committee structure of council called Community Plan – Key Pillar Working Groups (KPWG). These groups will include councillors and community groups that will resolve to improve community engagement and involvement in decision making along with the ability to influence policy direction in a more relaxed environment. A Community Plan Roundtable will be established by June 2022 and will be the reporting line for Key Pillar Working Groups with invitations to be extended to relevant community groups to be part of the roundtable process. The mayor and the general manager will now liaise with individual councillors to establish specific interest in KPWG membership and a report be presented to the March ordinary Council Meeting.

Council will still be represented as follows on statutory and other committees: •Local Area Traffic Committee – Cr McMichael •New England Weeds Authority – Crs O’Connor, Packham and Robinson •Armidale Regional Sports Council – Cr Galletly •New England Bushfire Committee – Cr Mepham •General Manager’s Performance Review Committee - Mayor, Deputy Mayor, Cr O’Brien and one other Councillor (as nominated by the General Manager).

Closed session resolutions

Waterfall Way heavy patching program Council resolved to accept the quotation submitted by Stabilcorp Pty Ltd for $387,410.26 Excl. GST for Heavy Patching Works on Waterfall Way.

Engagement of contractor for the construction of the Puddledock Dam Raw Water Main Upgrade Council resolved to accept the tender submitted by Leed Construction and Engineering of $10,547,750 Inc. GST ($9,588,864 Excl GST) for the construction of a 450mm diameter raw water supply pipeline and pumping station.

Engagement of GHD Pty Ltd - Provision of Engineering and Geotechnical Services for Kempsey Road Projects Council endorsed the Procurement Strategy for further utilisation as and when required by Council’s Kempsey Road Project Team of the Kempsey Shire Council’s arrangement with GHD Pty Ltd under RFT TQE 21/18 “Provision of Project Management and Engineering Services 2021” for the period of the contract to its expiry on 31 July 2024, or alternatively to the extended contract expiry date.

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 08 Mar 2022