Avon-Midland Country Zone of the WA Local Government Association MINUTES OF THE ZONE MEETING held at the Goomalling Sport & Community Centre, Cnr Quinlan & Hoddy St, Goomalling Friday 3 May 2019 commencing at 10:05 am 1 OPENING & WELCOME The Zone President and Chair of the meeting, Cr Court, welcomed delegates and observers and introduced Cr Barry Haywood, President, Shire of Goomalling. Cr Haywood welcomed delegates to Goomalling and commented on – Like most country local governments, it has been tough going in recent times with lack of funding. New CEO, Mr Peter Bentley, has been here for 7 months. The Mortlock Sports Council has run the Goomalling Sport and Community Centre (today’s meeting venue) since it opened in 2015. The Centre has been paying its way. The kitchen is open Friday and Saturday nights to members and guests; a chef is employed. Volunteers assist in the running of the Centre with sporting clubs being paid the equivalent of a ‘wage’’ for the volunteer work done by their members. These arrangements have worked well for Goomalling. Three of the Shire office staff do a lot of work with youth in the community. The Shire was recognised in the 2018 Children’s Environment and Health Local Government Policy Awards winning the category “Young People Making a Difference in Communities” for the second consecutive year. The award showcased the successful youth event #GoomaTownFest. 2 ATTENDANCE & APOLOGIES 2.1 Attendance Delegates - Cr Gordon Houston Shire of Chittering Cr Steven Carter Shire of Dalwallinu Cr Jason Clarke Shire of Dandaragan Cr Jan Court Shire of Gingin (Zone President) Cr Barry Haywood Shire of Goomalling Cr Louise House Shire of Moora Cr Chris Antonio Shire of Northam Cr Brian Rayner Shire of Toodyay Cr Peter Macnamara Shire of Wongan-Ballidu Cr Denese Smythe Shire of York (Zone Deputy President) Observers – Mr Neil Hartley Shire of Chittering Ms Jean Knight Shire of Dalwallinu Mr Aaron Cook Shire of Gingin Mr Peter Bentley Shire of Goomalling Cr Lyn Hamilton Shire of Moora Mr Stan Scott Shire of Toodyay Mr Paul Martin Shire of York Mr Wayne Scheggia Deputy Chief Executive Officer, WALGA Mr Mark Batty Executive Manager Environment & Waste, WALGA Mr Gavin Robins Interim CEO, Wheatbelt Development Commission Ms Rebecca Kelly Wheatbelt Development Commission Robert Dew Zone Executive Officer 2.2 Apologies Cr Darren Slyns Shire of Dandaragan Cr Leslee Holmes Shire of Dandaragan Cr Ken Seymour Shire of Moora Mr Jason Whitaker Shire of Northam Cr Pauline Bantock Shire of Victoria Plains Hon Martin Aldridge MLC Member for Agricultural Region Hon Colin de Grussa MLC Member for Agricultural Region Avon-Midland Country Zone of WALGA Minutes of the Zone Meeting held 3 May 2019 Page 2 [of 13] Hon Laurie Graham MLC Member for Agricultural Region Hon Darren West MLC Member for Agricultural Region Hon Mia Davies MLA Member for Central Wheatbelt Mr Shane Love MLA Member for Moore Representative Department of Local Government, Sport & Cultural Industries Ms Mandy Walker RDA Wheatbelt Mr Cliff Simpson Road Safety Advisor, Wheatbelt North, WALGA 3 DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST There were no declarations of interest. 4 ANNOUNCEMENTS There were no announcements. 5 MINUTES 5.1 Confirmation of Minutes Minutes of the Zone Meeting held 18 March 2019 at Moora. Copies of these Minutes have been circulated to all member Councils. RECOMMENDATION That the Minutes of the Zone Meeting held on 18 March 2019, as printed and circulated, be confirmed. RESOLUTION Cr S Carter moved and Cr C Antonio seconded – That the Minutes of the Zone Meeting held on 18 March 2019, as printed and circulated, be confirmed. CARRIED 5.2 Business Arising from the Minutes (a) WA Local Government Association Honours and Awards (Item 5.2(a)) At the August meeting of the Zone the Shire of Toodyay indicated that it would submit an item for consideration by the Zone on changes to the current criteria for WALGA Honours and Awards recognising service to local government. At the last meeting the Shire has indicated that this item should be available for consideration at this meeting. Shire of Toodyay to report. Recommendation For Discussion Mr S Scott commented that the Shire of Toodyay had submitted a nomination for an elected member who had served 14 years on Council. However, it appears that the Honours Panel had determined that the elected member was not eligible as no award had been made. Mr W Scheggia advised that he would follow up on the nomination by the Shire. He commented that the Honours Panel reviews the awards and process each year. Avon-Midland Country Zone of WALGA Minutes of the Zone Meeting held 3 May 2019 Page 3 [of 13] (b) Off Road Vehicles and Local Government (Item 5.2(b)) The November meeting resolved that representatives of the WA Police Force (Commander State Traffic) and the Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries be invited to the next meeting of the Zone to speak on the issue of off-road vehicle use and consultation between the Police Force and local government. Mr Gordon MacMile, Director Strategic Coordination and Delivery, Planning and Service Delivery, Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries, has advised that he would be pleased to attend a Zone meeting to speak on off-road vehicles. Unfortunately, he has a commitment for this meeting and arrangements have been made for him to attend our June meeting. Endeavours are being made for a representative of the WA Police Force to also attend this meeting. Mr MacMile has recently been appointed as the Chair of the Off-Road Vehicle Advisory Committee. He advises that the Minister for Sport and Recreation, Hon Mick Murray MLA, and the Minister for Local Government, Hon David Templeman MLA, have indicated that they are keen for the Advisory Committee to be reactivated as soon as possible with a view to reviewing the legislation governing off-road vehicles and, as a priority, to make the registration requirements for off-road vehicles easier. The terms of office of the current members of the Committee expire 30 June 2019 and to ensure that the Committee is in place as soon as possible consideration of appointments is progressing. Mr MacMile acknowledged the Zone’s request that the local government members not be appointed until after the October 2019 local government elections. He suggested that as an alternative, arrangements be made to make sure that the terms of office for the proxies to the local government representatives do not expire in October 2019. The WA Local Government Association has advised that they have just received a request from the State Government requesting nominations for the local government representatives on the Off-Road Advisory Committee. It is likely that nominations will open on 6 May and close on 8 June 2019. The Association also advised that, as the Advisory Committee is a State Government Committee, it did not believe that it was in a position to include a requirement in the selection criteria that a nominee’s term of office not expire in October 2019. Recommendation For Noting NOTED Mr Mark Batty commented on the need for the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions to control off-road vehicles on land under its control. (c) Other No other matters were brought forward. 6 WESTERN AUSTRALIAN LOCAL GOVERNMENT ASSOCIATION BUSINESS 6.1 WALGA State Council Agenda Review of the Agenda for the State Council meeting to be held Wednesday 8 May 2019. The Agenda has been circulated by WA Local Government Association to member Councils for distribution to delegates. The Zone is able to provide comment or submit alternate recommendations to State Council for consideration. Matters for Decision 5.1 Road Safety Audit Local Government Policy Template (Page 5) WALGA Recommendation That the Road Safety Audit Local Government policy template be endorsed. Avon-Midland Country Zone of WALGA Minutes of the Zone Meeting held 3 May 2019 Page 4 [of 13] In Brief Austroads is the peak organisation of Australasian road transport and traffic agencies. Its purpose is to deliver an improved road transport system to meet current and future needs by undertaking research; and providing guidance on the design, construction and management of the road network and associated infrastructure. In February 2019 Austroads released an updated version of the Guide to Road Safety Part 6: Managing Road Safety Audits. The guide includes a road safety audit Local Government policy template, which provides a foundation for Local Governments as road managers to develop their own road safety audit policy should they elect. The road safety audit Local Government policy template is adapted from the City of Melville’s policy. The meeting recommended that the Zone support the recommendation to State Council. 5.2 ‘Preferred Model’ for Third Party Appeal Rights for Decisions Made by Development Assessment Panels (Page 13) WALGA Recommendation That WALGA: 1. Continues to advocate for the State Government to introduce Third Party Appeal Rights for decisions made by Development Assessment Panels; and 2. Endorses the ‘Preferred Model’ as the third party appeals process for decisions made by Development Assessment Panels. In Brief At the May 2018 WALGA State Council meeting, it was resolved to amend the policy position to support the introduction of Third Party Appeal Rights for decisions made by Development Assessment Panels (DAPs). State Council also resolved to further consult with members to provide more clarity on the exact details of the criteria that need to be established, before any system is implemented by the State Government. A preferred model was prepared at a workshop with members, then circulated for members to provide comment on the specific details before the 29 March 2019.