Agenda and draft minutes

We acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of the land upon which we work, live and play – their continuing connection to the land, water, sky and community on Bundjalung Country – we pay our respect to Elders past, present and emerging.

We acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of the land upon which we work, live and play – their continuing connection to the land, water, sky and community on Bundjalung Country – we pay our respect to Elders past, present and emerging.

RESOLVED [10/25] (Kreig/Humphrys) That Council accept an apology for Cr Andrew Gordon, Lismore City Council.

RESOLVED [11/25] (Ramsey/Ndiaye) That Cr Sharon Cadwallader is approved to attend the Rous County Council meeting on 16 April 2025 via audio-visual link as she is unwell and unable to attend in-person.

Ordinary Council meeting 19 February 2025

RESOLVED [12/25] (Ndiaye/Cadwallader) That the Minutes of the ordinary Council meeting held on 19 February 2025 be approved as presented.

Nil.

Nil.

Nil.

RESOLVED [13/25](Cadwallader/Hauge) That Council write to and lobby the:

1.            Hon. Janelle Saffin, MP, Minister for the North Coast;

2.            Hon. Tara Moriarty, MLC, Minister for Agriculture;  

3.            Hon. Penny Sharpe, MLC, Minister for the Environment, and

4.            Hon. Tamara Smith MP; and

to fully fund the $150M, 15-year Northern Rivers Watershed Initiative (NRWI) Program, highlighting:

a)            the early signs of the effectiveness of the $5M NRWI grant provided to Rous to administer on behalf of the region;

b)            the momentum, connections and expertise that is building within the region and stakeholders; and

c)            emphasising the devastating environmental impact of the recent blackwater event in the lower Richmond River.

Nil.

Nil.

RESOLVED [14/25] (Hauge / Ndiaye) That Council:

1.    Note the results presented in the Quarterly Budget Review Statement as at 31 March 2025 and authorise the variations to the amounts from those previously estimated; and

2.    Make representations to the Hon. Rose Jackson, MLC, Minister for Water, Housing, Homelessness, Mental Health and Youth, lobbying for support to extend the ground water safe and secure grant.

RESOLVED [15/25](Humphrys /Ndiaye) That Council:

1.            Endorse the draft Integrated Planning and Reporting Framework (incorporating the 2025/26 Budget and Statement of Revenue policy) linked in this report, for public exhibition.

2.            Note that adjustments approved at this meeting as part of the March 2025 Quarterly Budget Review Statement report will be included in the exhibited Framework.

3.            Note that if public submissions are made during the public exhibition period, a report will be furnished to Council’s June 2025 meeting, including staff comment on how the submissions have been considered, for Council to determine a position on endorsement of the Framework.

4.            Note that if no public submissions are made during the public exhibition period, the version of the draft Framework (incorporating the 2025/26 Budget and Statement of Revenue policy) placed on public exhibition, is deemed to be adopted by Council.

RESOLVED [16/25](Cadwallader/Krieg) That Council:

1.            Reappoint Andrew MacLeod as Independent Voting Member of Council’s Audit, Risk and Improvement Committee for a term of four (4) years.

2.            Note that if reappointed, this will be the final consecutive term that Andrew MacLeod will be eligible to serve as a member of the Audit, Risk and Improvement Committee.

RESOLVED [17/25](Mustow/Cadwallader) That Council:

1.            Endorse the direct engagement of the NSW Soil Conservation Service, as permitted under the Local Government Act 1993, to project manage and deliver the on-ground restoration of Bungawalbin Levee up to a value of $6.5M (excl GST).

2.            Authorise the General Manager to enter contract negotiations with the NSW Soil Conservation Service and sign the contract on behalf of Council.

Nil.

RESOLVED [18/25](Hauge/Krieg) That Council:

1.   Subject to (2) below, revoke the following:

a)    Rural Consumers Policy dated 19 November 1996 (Attachment 1),

b)    Testing Water Meters Policy dated 15 June 1994 (Attachment 2),

c)    Backflow Prevention Policy dated 20 October 2021 (Attachment 3),

d)    Things you need to know - water service connection with Rous County     Council dated September 2019 (v3.4) (Attachment 4)

e)    Headworks Charges Policy dated 16 February 2005 (Attachment 5), and

any policies revived as a result of the revocation.

2.   Publicly exhibit the Local Approvals Policy – Water Supply – Retail Customers (Attachment 6) for a period of 49 days, and:

a)               Should no significant or substantial public submissions be received:

                                      i.        The Rural Consumers Policy, Testing Water Meters Policy, Backflow Prevention Policy, Things you need to know - water service connection with Rous County Council, and Headworks Charges Policy are revoked effective 16 April 2025; and

                                     ii.        The Local Approvals Policy – Water Supply – Retail Customers is adopted effective 16 April 2025.

b)               Should any significant or substantial submissions be received, those submissions, and the proposal in relation to the revocations and adoption of the Local Approvals Policy – Water Supply – Retail Customers, be considered by Council at its next meeting.

RESOLVED [19/25] (Ndiaye/Ramsey) That Council publicly exhibit the revised draft Water Account Assistance policy (Attachment 1) and the revised draft Debt Management and Financial Hardship policy (Attachment 2) for a period of 28 days, and:

a)    Should no public submissions be received:

              i.        The Retail Water Customer Account Assistance policy dated 19 June 2024 and the Debt Management and Financial Hardship policy dated 17 August 2022 are revoked, and any policies revived as a result of the revocation, effective 16 April 2025; and

             ii.        The revised Water Account Assistance policy, revised Debt Management and Financial Hardship policy are adopted effective 16 April 2025.

b)    Should any public submissions be received, those submissions, and the proposal in relation to the revocation and adoption of the Water Account Assistance policy and the Debt Management and Financial Hardship policy be considered by Council at its next meeting.

RESOLVED [20/25](Humphrys/Ramsey) That Council adopt the policy titled ‘Fraud and Corruption Control’ dated 22 October 2019 attached to this report (with minor amendments) and in doing so revoke the previous policy and any policies revived as a result of the revocation (Attachment 2).

RESOLVED [21/25](Hauge/Cadwallader) That Council receive and note the following reports:

1.    Investments – February 2025

2.    Investments – March 2025

3.    Gallans Road – Project Update – 31 March 2025

4.    Audit Risk and Improvement Committee – meeting update

5.    Actions / Pending

Nil.

11.09am