Agenda, decisions and draft minutes

Council would like to show its respect and acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of the Land, of Elders past and present on which this meeting takes place.

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

Ordinary Council meeting held 19 June 2024.

RESOLVED [38/24] (Cadwallader/Gordon) that the Minutes of the meeting held 19 June 2024 be approved as presented.

RESOLVED [38/24] (Cadwallader/Gordon) that the Minutes of the meeting held 19 June 2024 be approved as presented.

Meeting held on 17 July 2024.

RESOLVED [39/24] (Bruem/Humphrys) that the Minutes of the extraordinary meeting held 17 July 2024 be approved as presented.

RESOLVED [39/24] (Bruem/Humphrys) that the Minutes of the extraordinary meeting held 17 July 2024 be approved as presented.

Councillor Big Rob and Councillor Andrew Gordon declared a non-pecuniary interest in Agenda item 16.1 and will vacate the Council meeting for discussion and voting on that item.

RESOLVED [40/24] (Mustow/Bruem) that Council receive and note the Chair’s Minute and acknowledge the achievements of the General Manager and Staff during this term. 

RESOLVED [40/24] (Mustow/Bruem) that Council receive and note the Chair’s Minute and acknowledge the achievements of the General Manager and Staff during this term. 

Cr Sarah Ndiaye joined the meeting at 10:10am

Nil.

Nil.

RESOLVED [41/24] (Rob/Ndiaye) that the Audit, Risk and Improvement Committee Performance Review – period 2023-2024 be received and endorsed.

RESOLVED [41/24] (Rob/Ndiaye) that the Audit, Risk and Improvement Committee Performance Review – period 2023-2024 be received and endorsed.

Nil.

RESOLVED [42/24] (Rob/Lyon) that Council:

1.             Receive and note the Preliminary 2023/24 End of Year Financial Summary Report, acknowledging that it is a preliminary summary prior to end of year adjustments and audit.

2.             Approve the funds to be carried forward as detailed in Tables 2 - 5 of this report.

RESOLVED [42/24] (Rob/Lyon) that Council:

1.             Receive and note the Preliminary 2023/24 End of Year Financial Summary Report, acknowledging that it is a preliminary summary prior to end of year adjustments and audit.

2.             Approve the funds to be carried forward as detailed in Tables 2 - 5 of this report.

RESOLVED [43/24] (Rob/Cadwallader) that Council:-

1.      Receive and note the:

(a)           Attached minutes from the Audit, Risk and Improvement Committee meeting of 22 July 2024, and

(b)           Audit, Risk and Improvement Committee performance report for the period 2023-2024.

2.      Revoke the Internal Audit Charter dated 23 November 2020, and any charter revived as a result, and approve the revised Internal Audit Charter attached to this report.

RESOLVED [43/24] (Rob/Cadwallader) that Council:-

1.      Receive and note the:

(a)           Attached minutes from the Audit, Risk and Improvement Committee meeting of 22 July 2024, and

(b)           Audit, Risk and Improvement Committee performance report for the period 2023-2024.

2.      Revoke the Internal Audit Charter dated 23 November 2020, and any charter revived as a result, and approve the revised Internal Audit Charter attached to this report.

RESOLVED [44/24] (Rob/Lyon) that Council:-

1.      Receive and note the Purified Recycled Water (PRW) Investigations Report (Attachment 1).

2.     Defer further investigations into a Purified Recycled Water pilot / demonstration plant until Purified Recycled Water becomes a viable Stage 3 source option.

RESOLVED [44/24] (Rob/Lyon) that Council:-

1.      Receive and note the Purified Recycled Water (PRW) Investigations Report (Attachment 1).

2.     Defer further investigations into a Purified Recycled Water pilot / demonstration plant until Purified Recycled Water becomes a viable Stage 3 source option.

RESOLVED [45/24] (Lyon/Bruem) that Council:-

1.     Receive and note the Desalination Options Assessment Report (June 2024) (Attachment 1).

2.     Include Temporary Desalination as an option for consideration in an adaptive approach for the next revision of the Drought Management Plan.

3.     Continue to focus planning efforts on preventative measures to reduce the impact of future droughts, through additional source augmentations.

4.     Note the significant cost of a Permanent Desalination plant and poor comparison to previously costed groundwater and surface water alternatives.

Include Permanent Desalination, and the learnings from the Report, as an option for consideration in the next update to Rous’s Integrated Water Cycle Management Strategy (IWCM).

RESOLVED [45/24] (Lyon/Bruem) that Council:-

1.     Receive and note the Desalination Options Assessment Report (June 2024) (Attachment 1).

2.     Include Temporary Desalination as an option for consideration in an adaptive approach for the next revision of the Drought Management Plan.

3.     Continue to focus planning efforts on preventative measures to reduce the impact of future droughts, through additional source augmentations.

4.     Note the significant cost of a Permanent Desalination plant and poor comparison to previously costed groundwater and surface water alternatives.

Include Permanent Desalination, and the learnings from the Report, as an option for consideration in the next update to Rous’s Integrated Water Cycle Management Strategy (IWCM).

RESOLVED [46/24] (Cadwallader/Bruem) that Council:-

1.      Revoke the Workplace Surveillance Policy adopted by Rous Water on 17 June 2015 and the former Richmond River County Council and Far North Coast County Council on 22 June 2015, and any policy revived as a result of the revocation; and

2.      Approve the revised Workplace Surveillance Policy attached.

RESOLVED [46/24] (Cadwallader/Bruem) that Council:-

1.      Revoke the Workplace Surveillance Policy adopted by Rous Water on 17 June 2015 and the former Richmond River County Council and Far North Coast County Council on 22 June 2015, and any policy revived as a result of the revocation; and

2.      Approve the revised Workplace Surveillance Policy attached.

RESOLVED [47/24] (Cadwallader/Humphrys) that Council:-

1.      Re-adopt the Human Resources – Employment Conditions Policy dated 20 October 2021 without change.

2.      Re-adopt the Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Policy and  Management Plan dated 19 April 2017 with updated schedule and dates.

RESOLVED [47/24] (Cadwallader/Humphrys) that Council:-

1.      Re-adopt the Human Resources – Employment Conditions Policy dated 20 October 2021 without change.

2.      Re-adopt the Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Policy and  Management Plan dated 19 April 2017 with updated schedule and dates.

RESOLVED [48/24] (Cadwallader/Bruem) that the following information reports be received and noted:

1.      Rous Regional Demand Management Plan 2023-2024: Annual report

2.      Tenders awarded by the General Manager under Delegation

3.      Temporary Water Allocation for the Nimbin supply

4.      Investments – July 2024

5.      Retail Water Customer Account Assistance

6.      Water production and usage – July 2024

7.      Retail Water Debt Write-off

8.      Delivery program | Operational plan result for year ending 30 June 2024

9.      Reports/Actions pending.

RESOLVED [48/24] (Cadwallader/Bruem) that the following information reports be received and noted:

1.      Rous Regional Demand Management Plan 2023-2024: Annual report

2.      Tenders awarded by the General Manager under Delegation

3.      Temporary Water Allocation for the Nimbin supply

4.      Investments – July 2024

5.      Retail Water Customer Account Assistance

6.      Water production and usage – July 2024

7.      Retail Water Debt Write-off

8.      Delivery program | Operational plan result for year ending 30 June 2024

9.      Reports/Actions pending.

MOVED TO CLOSED COUNCIL

RESOLVED [49/24] (Lyon/Ndiaye) that Council move into Closed Council with the press and public excluded from the meeting based on the grounds detailed below:

The meeting moved to Closed Council at 11:35am

Councillor Andrew Gordon and Councillor Big Rob left the meeting 11:35am

RESOLVED [50/24] (Cadwallader/Ndiaye) that Council receive and note the Perradenya Estate update report.

RESUME TO OPEN COUNCIL

RESOLVED [51/24] (Humphrys/Cadwallader ) that the meeting resume to Open Council.

CARRIED

The meeting reopened at 11:46am

Councillor Andrew Gordon rejoined the meeting at 11:47am

The General Manager read the meeting the following resolution.

RESOLVED [50/24] that the Council receive and note the Perradenya Estate update report.