Council Meeting Highlights: December 2024
10 December 2024
Warren Shire’s Ordinary Council Meeting was held on Thursday 05 December 2024. Highlights from this meeting included:
COUNCIL DELEGATES ATTEND 2024 LGNSW CONFERENCE
Council delegates, including the Mayor, Deputy Mayor, Councillor Bob McKay and the General Manager, attended the 2024 LGNSW Annual Conference in Tamworth from November 17-19. The conference, themed "One Voice for Councils," saw over 900 delegates gather to discuss issues affecting local government. Warren Shire Council submitted two motions on natural disaster support, successfully negotiating with Lake Macquarie City Council to have a motion passed urging the NSW Government to cover disaster-related costs, particularly debris removal and levee operations. The conference covered over 110 motions, shaping the LGNSW Policy Platform for the year ahead. The 2025 Conference will be held in Penrith 23rd – 25th November 2025. Appropriate accommodation arrangements have been put in place.
DESIGN CONCEPT ACCEPTED FOR VICTORIA PARK FEMALE FRIENDLY AMENITIES
Peter Mackay from Warraan Widji Arts has been selected to create original Aboriginal artwork for the Victoria Park Precinct New Amenities for Female Participants (VPPNAFFP) project. Mackay's concept designs were the only submission received through the Expression of Interest process, which was advertised on multiple platforms. The artwork will feature six doors, including five totem designs, with a sixth piece to be determined by the artist. The portrait paintings will use signage in Wayilwan language and the artwork will be protected by a durable, non-sacrificial system. Final designs will be submitted for committee review.
ROAD STABILISING TENDER AWARD DETERMINED
Warren Shire Council is set to award the REGPRO272425 Provision of Road Stabilising contract to the tenderers providing the best value, following a thorough evaluation process. The contract will run from January 1, 2025, to December 31, 2026, with an option for a 12-month extension based on performance. This tender was part of a regional procurement initiative involving multiple councils. Fourteen tenders were received, and the evaluation criteria included price, quality assurance, safety, sustainability, and previous experience. All submissions met the necessary requirements, and the selected contractors demonstrated a strong track record. This contract will ensure ongoing road maintenance and improvements across the Shire, supporting the community's infrastructure needs.
ON THE ROADS
The Milawa Road Construction Project is almost finished, with just the line marking and final seal left to complete after the Christmas break. Heavy patching on SH11 – Oxley Highway will resume next week, weather permitting. Cleaning of 22 culverts on the Oxley Highway started on November 25, 2024. On the SR58 – Nevertire-Bogan Road, 5.7 km of road has been sealed, and 2.3 km is still under construction.
Flood damage repairs on Carinda Road have covered 10,500 square metres across 8 locations. The Marthaguy Creek Bridge is nearly finished, and work on the Newe Park Bridge will begin soon. Inspections for the 2024-25 Guardrail Replacement Program are complete, and maintenance grading has been wrapped up on several roads, including SR9, SR28, SR38, and SR79. Road patching has also been carried out on a number of roads across the region.
$1M IN FLOOD REIMBURSEMENTS
Council reported a total unclaimed amount of $4,455,125.34 for flood recovery works. With $1 million provided by a special restoration grant, the amount currently to be reimbursed by Transport for NSW is $1,078,564.91. Council staff are working diligently to get these funds paid as soon as possible.
PROGRESS ON LEP REVIEW AND AMENDMENT
Council has endorsed the amended Planning Proposal for submission to the Department of Planning for Gateway determination. The proposal includes provisions for small and large-scale projects, alongside temporary and transient worker accommodation in agricultural and residential zones. This modification follows feedback from the October 2024 meeting, addressing housing shortages and supporting local development. The proposal has been reviewed with input from stakeholders and is progressing with no financial impact beyond the consultant’s budgeted cost.
WORKS PROGRESS REPORT
The construction of the Ewenmar Waste Transfer Station is nearing completion and is expected to be ready for use soon. Work on the Animal Shelter Replacement is progressing, with the slab already poured. At the Warren Sporting & Cultural Complex, new gym equipment has been updated, including the purchase of a squat rack and the replacement of dumbbells and weight plates/bags. Lastly, the installation of a roller shutter door and a laser-cut sponsorship sign for the Victoria Oval Park permanent scoreboard is currently in progress and expected to be completed soon.
COUNCIL UNDERGOING COMMUNITY CONSULTATION ON VANDALISED PENCIL PINES
The pencil pine trees along Burton Street at Macquarie Park have suffered vandalism, with three trees potentially unsalvageable. Council is seeking community input to determine if the trees hold significance before deciding on a course of action. Replacement pines may be difficult to source at the desired maturity and could be costly. Replacing the pines with a different tree species is also under consideration.
COUNCIL ENDORSES IP&R FRAMEWORK ACTION PLAN AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT PLAN
Warren Shire Council has endorsed the Integrated Planning and Reporting (IP&R) Framework Action Plan and approved the Community Engagement Plan. These plans outline the steps for creating key documents, including the Four-Year Delivery Program (2025-2026 to 2028-2029) and the 2025/2026 Annual Operational Plan. The Community Engagement Plan aims to gather community input to inform these plans, in line with Council’s engagement strategy.
FINAL REPORT FOR REGIONAL DROUGHT RESILIENCE PLAN PRESENTED
The final report for the Regional Drought Resilience Plan (RDRP) for Warren, Bogan and Coonamble Shires was presented. The plan, developed in collaboration with the Far North West Joint Organisation and CSIRO, is now complete, with final updates incorporated. It will soon be submitted for Ministerial approval, marking a key step in improving drought resilience across the region.
CHRISTMAS CLOSURE ANNOUNCEMENT
Council will close the Office, Service NSW Agency, Library, and Works Depot from Close of Business December 24, 2024, reopening on January 2, 2025.
The next Council Meeting will be held Thursday 23 January 2025.
-ENDS-
Enquiries:
Stephen Glen
Acting General Manager, Warren Shire Council
sg@warren.nsw.gov.auPh: 0418 432 730