October 2024 Ordinary Meeting Highlights – Brewarrina Shire Council

October 2024 Ordinary Council Meeting Highlights

November 1, 2024 – Brewarrina Shire Council held their first Ordinary Meeting with the new term of Councillors on October 29, 2024.

Highlights of the meeting included:

Four Mile Concept Designs Endorsed

Brewarrina Shire Council’s project team presented their $1.5 million Four Mile Reserve makeover design plans during the October meeting, giving Councillors an in-depth run down on the upgrade plans, project and design principles and feedback from the community.

The concept plans were overwhelmingly supported by the community during the month-long feedback period, with 99 percent of respondents to the formal survey and across social media indicating they liked the proposed development designs.

Councillor’s followed suit of the community, and formally endorsed the plans.

The project will now move into the next phase, with detailed design underway and tender documentation being prepared. It is anticipated the project will go out to tender by the end of the year, with construction expected to begin early next year and the project to be completed in April 2025 (pending weather and material availability).

Christmas Closures and Concessional Leave Days for Indoor Staff

Brewarrina Shire Council’s offices, including Service NSW, the library and the Shire Depot, will close for the Christmas and New Year period from midday Friday December 20, 2024, re-opening at 9am on Monday January 6, 2025.

Council’s request to allocate seven concessional leave days to indoor staff during the Christmas and New Year period was also endorsed by Councillors.

In lieu of overtime pay throughout the year, it is Council policy and tradition to grant indoor staff additional time off during the festive closure period, with full pay. Outdoor staff are not entitled for the concessional leave days as they are eligible for overtime pay and also receive additional paid hours across the fortnight (76 hours per fortnight, compared to 70 hour per fortnight for indoor staff).

Domestic Leave Policy

Councillors have approved the adoption of Council’s new Domestic Leave Policy, which has been developed to support employees experiencing domestic violence by providing paid leave, and flexible support arrangements and services.

The new policy aligns with current legislation and re-affirms Council’s commitment to the wellbeing and safety of its employees by providing a formal approach and guidance for managers on how to handle these very sensitive matters.

Full details of the new policy can be found in the October Business Papers.

Mayor, Deputy Mayor and General Manager Formal Delegations Adopted

In what is standard policy, Brewarrina Shire Council’s new recently elected Mayor, Tommy Stanton, and Deputy Mayor, Vivian Slack-Smith, as well the General Manager David Kirby’s Delegations of Authority were formally adopted by Council after Councillors endorsed the policies. The updated policy also outlined the incorporation of recent legislative changes under the NSW Local Government Act 1993 and related regulations.

Full details on the formal Delegation of Authority policy can be found in the October Business Papers.

Council Committee Name Changes

At the Extraordinary Meeting of Council on October 9, 2024, Councillors formally resolved to change both the Plant Committee and Tourism and Cultural Committee names to the Technical Service Committee and Economic Development and Culture Committee.

With the changing needs of the community and Council’s strategic objectives, it was recommended that these committees be renamed to more accurately represent their broader responsibilities and contributions.

Councillors endorsed the recommendation, with the committees now formally named the Technical Services Committee and the Economic Development and Cultural Committee. Updates were also made to the terms of reference for each of the committees.

Roads Update

Work is progressing on the Goodooga Road widening project, with 3.5 kilometres expected to be completed shortly.

Jobs Gate Road Stage 3 is currently on its final leg, with seven kilometres of road stabilised following sealing at the end of October. Crushing contractors are also working on site and supplying material for this and other projects within the Shire.

Under the Road Maintenance Council Contracts (RMCC) program, heavy patching (including flood affected areas) has been marked by Transport surveillance officer, with these works kicking off at the start of November. Culvert replacement under emergency works has also commenced on Arthur Hall VC Way (MR70). Further culvert replacement will follow.

Maintenance grading and resheeting has been completed on a number local and regional roads, including Yarrawin Road, Brenda Bukulla Road, Twin Rivers Road and Black Box Road while work is currently underway on the Narran Lake Road and Fingerpost Road.

Grants & Projects Update

Shire’s new term of Councillors were given an update on the extensive Main Street make over plan. The Main Street project is currently held up with the State Government after variations to the scope of the program needed to be made to reflect the recent Masterplan, which was created after community consultation last year. Once the variation is approved by the State Government, detailed design plans can begin.

Council was successful in securing a $75,000 grant under the NSW Regional Housing Strategic Planning Fund. The project is now underway and aims to deliver a comprehensive action plan to address housing shortages, positioning the Council strategically for seeking additional external funding support in the future.

The first activities for the $110,000 grant for an Active Transport Strategy have begun recently. The Bre/Active project aims to develop a plan to get communities across the shire more active, and make walking, cycling and moving around each of the towns and villages in the Shire easier, safer and more accessible for all. The first conversations with community members and stakeholders have begun, with an online survey and in-person engagement sessions expected to get under in November.

The September school holiday program was a huge success with over 480 children participating in a host of activities including in a vibrant Colour Run, creative workshops – including a jewellery weaving session where kids learned new skills and crafted their own unique pieces. There was also plenty of physical fun with inflatable slides and castles, providing hours of entertainment and opportunities for children to stay active. To round off the festivities, the holiday program hosted a movie night, creating a relaxed atmosphere for families to enjoy a film together under the stars. Overall, the event was well-received by the community and provided a variety of activities to keep children engaged and entertained during the school break.