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Transport Assets Strategic Plan
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A Mayoral Minute has called for the creation of a Transport Assets Strategic Plan to guide our efforts to address the declining issue of our roads.
This follows the elected Council’s decision to invest an extra $7.5 million into local roads over the coming financial year.
In the minute the Mayor noted that the state of roads within the local government area has been declining for many decades and the inability to sustainably fund services and infrastructure was a key element of the decision to form MidCoast Council.
While acknowledging funds have been allocated to the regional road network since merger, the minute noted virtually nothing has been spent on the local roads network.
“As a result of the poor state of the inherited road network, subsequent limited roads funding, and three years of above-average flooding rains, the local roads network is in need of considerable and very expensive remedial work.”
The Transport Assets Strategic Plan will:
- describe the current condition of transport assets
- explain the funding since merger
- identify the backlog
- project changes in asset condition
- break amounts into operational and capital costs and describes funding source
- propose options for reverting roads to a satisfactory standard
- propose appropriate budgets
- identify funding options and timelines.
The plan is to be presented to Council in December, with a progress report in September.
It also includes amendments to the current budget and expenditure reporting format from December to be able to show budgets for maintenance, renewal and new projects.
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Capital works projects
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A report on the major capital works underway in the transport, water and waste water area provided updates on a number of the major projects underway, including:
- Northern Gateway –roundabout complete and in use, with final line marking to be completed shortly
- Farquhar Street, Wingham – reconstruction of pavement from Primrose Street to Maitland Lane to be finished this month
- Muldoon Street, Taree – work due to start in July
- Cowper Street, Taree – drainage and pavement works are continuing with traffic now open in one direction to maintain access to schools. Expected to be completed by August.
- Waitui Road, Hannam Vale – reconstruction of approximately three kilometres of road, to be completed by November 2022.
- work is underway on four sections of The Bucketts Way, and three sections of the Lakes Way.
- work is due to be completed on bridges at Caparra, Booral and Curricabbark Road over the coming months.
- work is underway on 18 separate projects to upgrade water and wastewater infrastructure across the local government area
- sewer and water mains renewal projects are also underway at a number of sites in Harrington, Smiths Lake, Hallidays Point, Hawks Nest, Forster, Manning Point, Taree South, Tuncurry, Stroud, Old Bar, Pacific Palms and more.
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Events and festival sponsorship
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Event sponsorship of $75,000 has been allocated to attract and support events that capitalise on the strengths of the region to create a vibrant and connected community.
A total of 48 applications were received for the round one funding pool. Applications to be funded under the community category included:
- Taree Open Art Exhibition
- Wingham Street Christmas Carnival
- All Abilities Kids Triathlon
- Girls Only Triathlon
- Great Lakes Art Society Open Exhibition
- Envirofair
- Stroud Road Bash n Bang
- Manning River Dragon Boat Club Regatta
- Bulahdelah Bass Bash
- Gloucester Hi Tri Challenge
- Gloucester New Year Eve
- Motorfest 2023
- Into the Wild Concert Series
- Stroud Brick and Rolling Pin Throwing Competition
- Manning Valley Cycle Club time trial weekend
- Fred Willian Skiers and Boaties Reunion
- Killabakh day in the Country
- 2022 Gloucester Tennis open
- Wingham Show
- Great Lakes Pearl Dragons – Dragon Boat Regatta
- Twin Towns Open and Junior Tennis Tournament
Applications supported under the events and festivals category included:
- Gloucester Mountain Main Tri
- Stroud rodeo and campdraft
- Taree Show
- NSW Rugby Union 7s youth state championships
- Fox Superflow mountain bike event
- Wingham wintertime rodeo
- Wingham Akoostik Festival
- Old Bar Beach Festival
- NAIDOC Week
- Lakes Trail Festival
- Wildside Adventure Race.
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Highest performing library services in NSW
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The State Library of NSW’s 2020-21 library statistics have revealed MidCoast Council Libraries are one of the highest performing library services in NSW, and all key performance metrics have risen over the previous 12 months.
In 2020-21 there were 747,291 loans from MidCoast libraries, making it the 17th ranked library service in the State for loans (while being ranked 30th for population served).
The growth in loans per capita is the largest in the State.
These results show MidCoast Council Libraries have lent more items than ever before, in a time when operating hours were reduced due to the pandemic.
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The Bight Cemetery repair program
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A report was presented on the restoration works underway at The Bight Cemetery Wingham. Since October 2021 Council has been working with the lawful interment right holders and registered parties/impacted families to undertake repairs on damaged monuments. Council has also been working with the Board of Cemeteries and Crematoria NSW since this time to allow multiple interment right holders at the cemetery.
Currently 44 of the 68 damaged monuments have been repaired, stonemasons have been engaged to repair a further eight and 10 are awaiting scope of works and quotes from stonemasons. A total of six are still awaiting an application or response from registered parties/family members. Council staff will continue to work with families to finalise the repairs.
Council continues to provide quarterly reports to Cemeteries and Crematoria NSW and will continue to report to Council on a quarterly basis. Several issues in relation to the restoration work raised by the community were addressed in the report.
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| Rural Strategy submissions
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Submissions received on elements of the draft Rural Strategy were the subject of a report to this month’s meeting. With over 400 submissions received during a 22-week consultation period, submissions have been broken into themed areas to discuss with Council.
This report dealt with the following elements: rezoning, urban release areas and the villages of Bundook, Bunyah, Markwell, Mount George and Newells Creek.
A number of recommended changes to the draft strategy were endorsed as a result of an analysis of the submissions.
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| Kolodong Development Control Plan |
A planning agreement for Kolodong Estate will be placed on public exhibition following adoption of a development control plan for the area. The planning agreement includes the funding of a roundabout on Kolodong Road / Wingham Road. The agreement would see the developer contribute 55% of the costs and allows for either party to construct the roundabout. The roundabout needs to be constructed before the release of the 27th residential lot in the development. |
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Tea Gardens Highway Service Centre Planning Proposal
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A decision was made not to progress with a planning proposal for a highway service centre at Tea Gardens on the basis it was inconsistent with a Ministerial direction, there was no evidence the development could be supported by water or sewerage services and there were significant biodiversity issues that can’t be overcome. |
| Extension of YMCA contract
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A report recommending a 12-month extension of the four aquatic centre management contracts with the YMCA (which are due to expire on 30 June) was approved. This will support a review of the management and operations of all public and community pools in the area before any new longer-term management arrangements are put in place from 1 July 2023. |
| Purchase of land
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Council resolved on the purchase of land to support road realignments and improve the use and safety of the upgraded section of Wingham Road immediately east of Cedar Party Creek Bridge. This will also allow relocation of water mains. |