Summary: Council meeting 12 April 2023

Published on 13 April 2023

What happens at a Council meeting?

Elected representatives of the community, Councillors, come together to represent the views of the community and make strategic decisions on behalf of the community.

They are responsible for ensuring the Council operates in accordance with legislation, is financially responsible and delivering to the needs of the community within the means of the budget.

They meet regularly to make determinations on matters that impact on you and your community.

Following each meeting we provide a snapshot of the decisions that are made and the information that is tabled.

For a full outline of the meeting and the discussion points, please refer to the agenda and business papers, or listen to a recording of the meeting – that can be found here.

Items of interest - 12 April 2023 Council meeting

Items of interest  Summary 

Delivery Program and Operational Plan placed on public exhibition

The draft delivery program and operational plan, along with draft budget, fees and charges and statement of revenue policy will be placed on public exhibition for community comment for a period of 25 days following the meeting.

The operational plan sets out our commitments to the community for the 2023-24 financial year and outlines seven focus areas for the organisation over the coming 12-month period:

  • Climate actions
  • Culture
  • Customer service
  • Development assessment
  • Economic development
  • Financial sustainability
  • Local and regional roads

Financial sustainability and culture are two new focus areas for the coming year.

The 2023-2024 budget projects that Council will receive income from continuing operations of $321 million which consists of $174 million in rates and annual charges, $58 million in user charges and fees, $9 million in interest and investment revenues, $6 million in other revenues, $33 million in operating grants and contributions and $41 million received for capital works through grants and contributions.

Its operating expenditure is projected to total $307 million which includes $111 million in employee costs, $9 million in borrowing costs (interest repayments), $86 million in depreciation on community assets and $101 million in materials, contracts and other expenses.

Council will undertake a capital works program of approximately $72 million which includes $60 million on transport infrastructure assets (roads, bridges, drainage, footpaths etc). This amount includes approximately $11 million of works under the $100 million Road Program that Council is undertaking in partnership with the State Government. 

Expenditure of $15 million on sewer infrastructure and $30 million on water infrastructure is also proposed for 2023-2024. 

Council will borrow approximately $11 million to meet its share of the 2023-2024 expenditure on the $100 million Road Program. At the same time, it will reduce the principal outstanding on existing borrowings by $18 million.

On-site Wastewater Management Strategy on public exhibition

A draft On-site Wastewater Management Strategy will be placed on public exhibition for community comment following endorsement at the meeting.

The draft strategy provides a framework for assessment of on-site systems that is based on protection of public health, the environment and local industry from failing or poorly operating systems. The strategy is based on understanding the risks and likelihood as a key to optimising resources and outcomes. In taking a risk-based approach it is hoped we will be better able to manage risks and impacts of several geographically dispersed systems.

Resources will also be committed to educating the community about on-site wastewater management requirements and standards as part of an ongoing monitoring program.

NAIDOC funding allocated

 

$16,000 will be allocated to NAIDOC events to be held across the MidCoast.

This funding has come from the existing community donations budget and allows Council to support NAIDOC activities, following approval in December 2022 for a pilot NAIDOC funding program. The successful applicants were:

  • Gloucester Worimi First Peoples Aboriginal Corporation family fun day
  • Purfleet Aboriginal Lands Council event at Queen Elizabeth Park Taree
  • Forster Local Aboriginal Land Council Cabarita community day
  • Tea Gardens Hawks Nest Aboriginal Reference Group community event at Myall Park
Transport network operation

 

 Regular reporting on the operation and maintenance of the transport network began this month to provide transparency over spending on maintenance, renewal and replacement activities.

This reporting will be undertaken quarterly and expenditure closely monitored in the coming months, given the significant portion the program represents of Council’s total budget.

This is the first stage of the Roads Strategy that is currently under development and focuses on the operational budget and expenditure for Operations North and South.

Council budgeted a total of $15.1 million for the delivery of services in these areas for the 2022-23 financial year.

This reflects the prioritisation of urban road maintenance relative to other operational elements as a result of the weather conditions experienced earlier in the year.

Works planned in other areas of transport operations are being deferred to prioritise the current level of relative risk on our roads.

 

For full details of all reports please see the agenda for the meeting which can be found here.

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