GENERAL MANAGER’S REPORTS TO COUNCIL MEETING TO BE HELD TUESDAY 24 MARCH 2020 INDEX RECORDING AND WEBCASTING OF MEETING ............................................... 2 ITEM NO. 1 - MAYORAL REPORT ....................................................................................... 3 ITEMS FOR DECISION ........................................................................................ 8 ITEM NO. 2 – AUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS ............................................................ 8 ITEM NO. 3 - GENERAL MANAGER MONTHLY REPORT ................................................ 11 ITEM NO. 4 – DA1-2020 – BEEF CATTLE FEEDLOT ......................................................... 18 COMMITTEE MINUTES ..................................................................................... 23 ITEM NO. 5 - TRAFFIC COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES .............................................. 23 ITEM NO. 6 – MINUTES OF THE AUSTRALIA DAY COMMITTEE GENERAL MEETING . 25 ITEM NO. 7 - NEWELL HIGHWAY TASK FORCE COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES ..... 29 ITEMS FOR INFORMATION .............................................................................. 41 ITEM NO. 8 - MONTHLY CASH & INVESTMENT REPORT – FEBRUARY 2020 ............... 41 ITEM NO. 9 – MANAGER PLANNING & ENVIRONMENT– MONTHLY REPORT.............. 45 ITEM NO. 10 – FINANCE MANAGERS REPORT – FEBRUARY 2020 ............................... 48 ITEM NO. 11 – OPERATIONS MANAGER, CONSTRUCTION – MONTHLY REPORT ..... 50 ITEM NO. 12 – OPERATIONS MANAGER - MAINTENANCE – MONTHLY REPORT ....... 53 ITEM NO. 13 – ASSET MANAGER – MONTHLY REPORT ................................................ 56 ITEM NO. 14 - MANAGER CORPORATE & COMMUNITY SERVICES – ........................... 58 MONTHLY REPORT .......................................................................................... 58 ITEM NO. 15 – MANAGER ECONOMIC AND TOURISM DEVELOPMENT – MONTHLY REPORT ............................................................................................................. 62 ITEM NO. 16 - CITIZENSHIP CEREMONY ......................................................................... 67 ITEM NO. 17 – DEVELOPMENT APPLICATIONS APPROVED UNDER DELEGATION, FEBRUARY 2020 ............................................................................................... 69 ITEM NO. 18 - BIOSECURITY / SALEYARDS / TRUCKWASH / STOCK CONTROL ......... 70 ITEM NO. 19 - WORKS IN PROGRESS 19/02/2019 TO 17/03/20 ...................................... 72 CONFIDENTIAL ITEMS ..................................................................................... 80 ITEM NO. 20 – STUDENT SCHOLARSHIPS ...................................................................... 80 This is page 1 of 82 of the General Manager’s Reports as submitted to the Ordinary Meeting of Murrumbidgee Council held Tuesday 24 March 2020. ………………………….…General Manager ……..……….………….Mayor RECORDING AND WEBCASTING OF MEETING In the spirit of open, accessible and transparent Government, Council and Committee Meetings are recorded and the audio recording is placed on Council’s website. By speaking at a Council or Committee Meeting, members of the public agree to being recorded and webcast. Murrumbidgee Council accepts no liability for any defamatory, discriminatory or offensive remarks or gestures that are made during the course of the Council or Committee Meeting. Opinions expressed or statements made by individuals are the opinions or statements of those individuals and do not imply any form of endorsement by Murrumbidgee Council. Confidential meetings of Council will not be recorded or webcast. Recordings and webcasts are protected by copyright and owned by Murrumbidgee Council. No part may be copied, recorded, reproduced or transmitted without the prior written consent of the General Manager. Any recording or webcast is not, and shall not, be taken to be an official record of Murrumbidgee Council meetings or discussion depicted therein. Only the official Minutes may be relied upon as an official record of the meeting. This is page 2 of 82 of the General Manager’s Reports as submitted to the Ordinary Meeting of Murrumbidgee Council held Tuesday 24 March 2020. ………………………….…General Manager ……..……….………….Mayor ITEM NO. 1 - MAYORAL REPORT Council Meeting: 24 March 2020 Report Date: 18 March 2020 Author: Mayor File #: SC217 Approval: Mayor March has been tinged with hope and opportunity following general promising rains. Follow up will allow us the confidence to progress with plans to keep our part of the region functioning and productive. If weed growth was a key indicator, we would be assured of a bumper season. The Coleambally and surrounding community was shocked and greatly saddened by the tragic loss of Ella Painting. Our heartfelt sympathy is extended to Matt and Melissa Painting and family. Ella’s contribution to, and her exuberance for, life was truly remarkable - in her short but memorable life she made a difference and leaves an amazing legacy. We are this very moment in the grip of Corona virus uncertainty. Our job as Local Government is to disseminate information to our communities. To do this in an informed, clear and appropriate manner while maintaining calm and common sense is a challenge. Public safety is paramount. No initiative, no matter how great or out there, can be disregarded. Council is in the process of developing a Communications Kit - this Kit will be presented to Council at our Workshop prior to the March Council Meeting. Council will diligently and regularly update our communities. 5 and 6 March 2020 – Drought Support Officer Samantha Star, in conjunction with the Jerilderie and Coleambally Football and Netball Clubs saw the presentation of the “Tackle Your Feelings” Mental Health Evening/Workshop - this included a coaching Clinic and bbq, and then a workshop for players, coaches and committee. 13 March 2020 – Murrumbidgee Council hosted our 2020 International Women’s Day event, which was facilitated by our Drought Support Officer. Approximately 80 women enjoyed an enlightened and inspiring address from Dr Hannah McDougall - focusing on what you can achieve, the many journeys that allow this and the importance of education, well health, both physical and mental, and constantly challenging historical stereotypes made for an entertaining and thought provoking luncheon. Thank you to Samantha Star, Murrumbidgee Council Staff and the Colony Inn. This is page 3 of 82 of the General Manager’s Reports as submitted to the Ordinary Meeting of Murrumbidgee Council held Tuesday 24 March 2020. ………………………….…General Manager ……..……….………….Mayor Congratulations to the Coleambally Active Farmers Group, led by Joe Briggs and Jessica Burge, who have rallied their peers and fellow community members to take part in an 8 week program aimed at social engagement and exercise for a healthy body, healthy mind outlook on life Below are some meetings I have attended since the February Meeting: 26 February 2020 - RAMJO - Water Group, Berrigan Discussion around the finalisation of the RAMJO position paper. This paper will be the blue print foraAdvocacy at a local and regional level. It’s greatest challenge has been to recognise the local issues, advocate for them at a strategic level and to think of the collective need rather than the ‘just our need’. This committee is a true reflection of how RAMJO can work - its success is clearly determined by its leadership 3 March 2020 – Coleambally Pony Club, Coleambally Coleambally Pony Club invited Council to morning tea to view the work that has been completed with the Stronger Communities Fund grant money that had been made available to them. The Pony Club’s passionate key driver, Gail Habermann, not only provided morning tea but walked us through the progress that had been made. Assisting the Pony Club has been a Corrective Services Team that have made a significant contribution. Well done to this small club with a big heart, and we hope to see the facility utilised and continually upgraded into the future. 4 March 2020 - YTAG -SDLAM Water Meeting - Jerilderie David Clarke - Project Leader of the YTAG Group met with General Manager John Scarce, Justin Williams, Johann Perriera and myself to explore the idea of further progressing the development of the Jerilderie Weir as a project within the Yanco Billabong SDLAM Projects. From the small amount of intel we were able to glean, it would not be an addition, it would be a replacement with an ugly structure. It would be expensive and automated, and we would then be at the mercy of the water operators as to how it was managed or manipulated. We would need far more information and a far greater level of certainty before we moved down this path. Financially it makes no sense, environmentally and socially its positives would be negligible, and productively it would be devastating. This is page 4 of 82 of the General Manager’s Reports as submitted to the Ordinary Meeting of Murrumbidgee Council held Tuesday 24 March 2020. ………………………….…General Manager ……..……….………….Mayor 5 and 6 March 2020 – “Tackle Your Feelings” Coaching Clinic and Workshop, Jerilderie and Coleambally As alluded to earlier in my report, this program, facilitated by the AFL, was accessed promoted and made available through Murrumbidgee Council’s federally funded drought money. The numbers attending were great - its message was simple but clear, its presentations were warm and empathetic, and it created a pathway for future access if and when required. Thank you to Drought Support Officer, Samantha Star for making