Agenda, decisions and minutes

Rous County Council acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of the land upon which we work and live. We pay our respects to the Elders of the past, present and emerging and acknowledge their continuing connection to Country who will guide us on our shared journey to the future.

Council showed its respect and acknowledged the Traditional Custodians of the Land, of all Elders, on which this meeting took place.

Nil.

RESOLVED (Cadwallader/Breum) that the Minutes of the meeting held 18 October 2023 be approved as presented.

RESOLVED (Cadwallader/Bruem) that the Minutes of the meeting held 18 October 2023 be approved as presented.

RESOLVED (Cadwallader/Rob) that the Minutes of the Extraordinary meeting held 15 November 2023 be approved as presented.

RESOLVED (Cadwallader/Rob) that the Minutes of the extraordinary meeting held 15 November 2023 be approved as presented.

Nil.

Nil.

RESOLVED (Breum/Cadwallader) that Council:

1.     To reconfirm its prior position in relation to acquisition of land in the Proposed Dunoon Dam area as shown in the Attachment 1 and land of strategic interest to the Future Water Strategy 2060.

2.     The terms of such acquisition are to be in accordance with Council’s current ‘Land Management’ policy, Item 4 (Attachment 2), namely:

a.     Acquisition to be upon offer of sale by existing landowner.

b.     Meets the proposed operational need or strategic objective of the future water strategy 2060.

c.     Such acquisition costs to be calculated with due consideration to market and strategic value.

3.     Report back to Council regarding strategic land purchases for the Future Water Strategy 2060.

RESOLVED (Bruem/Cadwallader) that Council:

1.     To reconfirm its prior position in relation to acquisition of land in the Proposed Dunoon Dam area as shown in the Attachment 1 and land of strategic interest to the Future Water Strategy 2060.

2.     The terms of such acquisition are to be in accordance with Council’s current ‘Land Management’ policy, Item 4 (Attachment 2), namely:

a.     Acquisition to be upon offer of sale by existing landowner.

b.     Meets the proposed operational need or strategic objective of the future water strategy 2060.

c.     Such acquisition costs to be calculated with due consideration to market and strategic value.

3.     Report back to Council regarding strategic land purchases for the Future Water Strategy 2060.

RESOLVED (Cadwallader/Rob) that Council confirms its updated meeting schedule for 2024 as below, with meetings to be held on the third Wednesdays commencing 10.00am at the Rous County Council Administration Office on:

·        21 February

·       17 April

·       19 June

·       21 August

·       October (to be determined following 14 September LG Elections)

·       11 December

RESOLVED (Cadwallader/Rob) that Council confirms its updated meeting schedule for 2024 as below, with meetings to be held on the third Wednesdays commencing 10.00am at the Rous County Council Administration Office on:

·        21 February

·       17 April

·       19 June

·       21 August

·       October (to be determined following 14 September LG Elections)

·       11 December

RESOLVED (Rob/Cadwallader) that Council in addition to previous resolutions on the matter:

1.     Receive and note this update.

2.     Authorise the General Manager to approve access to the Lismore Levee Scheme assets by Lismore City Council (LCC) for the purposes of progressing new asset construction and renewal and upgrade work under the Northern Rivers Recovery and Resilience Program(NRRRP), subject to LCC’s written confirmation that they will assume ownership of the new, upgraded and renewed assets.

3.     Receive a further update before end of July 2024.

RESOLVED (Rob/Cadwallader) that Council in addition to previous resolutions on the matter:

1.     Receive and note this update.

2.     Authorise the General Manager to approve access to the Lismore Levee Scheme assets by Lismore City Council (LCC) for the purposes of progressing new asset construction and renewal and upgrade work under the Northern Rivers Recovery and Resilience Program(NRRRP), subject to LCC’s written confirmation that they will assume ownership of the new, upgraded and renewed assets.

3.     Receive a further update before end of July 2024.

RESOLVED (Bruem/Ndiaye) that Council adopt the following position regarding the acquisition of low-lying, high-risk rural floodplain areas:

1.     Acknowledge the challenges associated with coastal riverine floodplain land uses, particularly those relating to the lowest lying land (i.e. less than 1m above mean sea level).

2.     Write to the State Government requesting a review of current floodplain land uses and development of a long-term strategic direction on how different areas of the floodplain will be used, acknowledging all stakeholders, including First Nations, interests.

3.     This position also be referred to the State and Federal Government seeking funding.

RESOLVED (Bruem/Ndiaye) that Council adopt the following position regarding the acquisition of low-lying, high-risk rural floodplain areas:

1.     Acknowledge the challenges associated with coastal riverine floodplain land uses, particularly those relating to the lowest lying land (i.e. less than 1m above mean sea level).

2.     Write to the State Government requesting a review of current floodplain land uses and development of a long-term strategic direction on how different areas of the floodplain will be used, acknowledging all stakeholders, including First Nations, interests.

3.     This position also be referred to the State and Federal Government seeking funding.

RESOLVED (Lyon/Bruem) that Council note the report and adopt the revised Investments policy with amendments.

RESOLVED (Lyon/Bruem) that Council note this report and adopt the revised Investments policy with amendments.

RESOLVED (Cadwallader/Rob) that the following information reports be received and noted:

1.     Investments – November 2023

2.     Water production and consumption – November 2023

3.     Environmental Management System Action List Progress Update 2023

4.     Update on Bungawalbyn (East) Levee funding requests

5.     Audit Risk and Improvement Committee – meeting update

6.     Annual Model Code of Complaints Statistics

7.     Disclosure of Interest Returns 2022/23

8.     Reports/Actions pending.

RESOLVED (Cadwallader/Rob) that the following information reports be received and noted:

1.     Investments – November 2023

2.     Water production and consumption – November 2023

3.     Environmental Management System Action List Progress Update 2023

4.     Update on Bungawalbyn (East) Levee funding requests

5.     Audit Risk and Improvement Committee – meeting update

6.     Annual Model Code of Complaints Statistics

7.     Disclosure of Interest Returns 2022/23

8.     Reports/Actions pending.