Council Meeting Highlights January 2024
29 January 2024
Warren Shire Council would like to recognise the valuable contributions of Councillor Ron Higgins, who passed away on 16 January 2024. Cr Higgins was a Councillor with Warren Shire from 2016-2024 and a valued staff member of Warren Shire Council from 1987 – 2013, with over 25 years’ service. We take this opportunity to acknowledge his service to the Warren Shire community.
Warren Shire’s Ordinary Council Meeting was held on Thursday 25 January 2024. Highlights from this meeting included:
CLOSED COUNCIL - UPGRADING OF SWIMMING POOL AMENITIES AND FACILITIES
Warren Shire Council has accepted a tender from Precinct Commercial Pty Ltd, to the value of $1,089,888.58 (excluding GST), to upgrade amenities and facilities at the Warren War Memorial Swimming Pool.
Council had previously received $856,903.00 (excluding GST) under the NSW Government’s Stronger Country Communities Fund Round 5, to upgrade the amenities, change rooms, canteen, and club house facilities at the pool complex.
Council will contribute $336,699.72 from its Infrastructure Improvement and Replacement Fund to cover the funding gap and a final rescoped Design and Specification and works program will be presented to the Sporting Facilities Committee for concurrence prior to its implementation.
It is anticipated these upgrade works will begin in early April 2024 and are expected to be completed by September 2024 in preparation for the next swimming season.
NEW TOURIST INFORMATION OFFICER
A newly appointed Tourist Information Officer has commenced to support the development of tourism and visitor services in Warren Shire.
Together with the Economic Development and Visitation Manager, the Tourist Information Officer will oversee management of Warren Shire’s Visitor Information Centre from Monday to Friday, with volunteers continuing to provide support on weekends or for coverage periods throughout the week, when required.
Council is continuing its recruitment drive for volunteers to support visitor information services in Warren Shire, with anyone interested encouraged to visit Council’s website.
DESTINATION MACQUARIE MARSHES
Destination Macquarie Marshes workshops to progress the development of a detailed Destination Macquarie Marshes Strategy and Action Plan are scheduled to commence in February 2024. Workshops will be facilitated by the Economic Development and Visitation Manager, with the aim of creating an updated Action Plan for review and adoption, prior to inviting new membership to the Destination Macquarie Marshes Taskforce. The Action Plan is anticipated to be completed by May 2024.
REGIONAL DROUGHT RESILIENCE PLAN PROGRAM
Following adoption of the Regional Drought Resilience Project Plan provided by the Far Northwest Joint Organisation of Councils, Warren Shire will join seven Local Government Areas (LGA)’s in the Western Plains Economic Region: Cobar, Bourke, Brewarrina, Walgett, Coonamble, Warren, and Bogan, in commencing specific drought resilience planning activities from 29 January 2024.
The NSW Model for Regional Drought Resilience Planning involves neighbouring Councils working together to develop Regional Drought Resilience Plans; taking learnings from previous droughts and planning for future droughts.
The planning process will give a voice to local farmers, communities, and industries to develop a plan with localised, realistic, and achievable actions to prepare for drought.
Find out more on Council’s website.
CANCELLATION SEPTEMBER 2024 COUNCIL MEETING
Warren Shire Council has resolved not to hold its September 2024 Ordinary Meeting on its proposed date of 26 September 2024, due to the timing of the NSW Local Government election results being released.
With local government elections scheduled for Saturday 14 September 2024, Council will instead hold an Extraordinary Meeting on Thursday 10 October 2024, to ensure all election results have been finalised and a new Council has been elected.
2024/2025 OPERATIONAL PLAN & ESTIMATES TIMETABLE
The following timetable has been endorsed by Warren Shire Council in the lead-up to adoption of its 2024/2025 Operational Plan and Estimates:
- Wednesday 13 March 2024: Last day for Estimates to be returned to the Finance and Administration Department.
- Wednesday 3 April 2024: MANEX to finalise the Draft 2024/2025 Operational Plan and Estimates.
- Wednesday 17 April 2024 at 4.00pm: A Councillor workshop will be held to go through the Draft 2024/2025 Operational Plan & Estimates before the April 2024 Council Meeting.
- Wednesday 24 April 2024: Present the Draft 2024/2025 Operational Plan & Estimates to Council for recommendation for public exhibition.
- Wednesday 1 May 2024: Advertise the Draft 2024/2025 Operational Plan & Estimates for public comment.
- Thursday 30 May 2024 by 4.00pm: Final day for public comment on the Draft 2024/2025 Operational Plan & Estimates.
- Thursday 27 June 2024: Adoption of the 2024/2025 Operational Plan & Estimates by Council.
GRANT APPLICATIONS
Warren Shire Council is currently awaiting notification on the following grant applications submitted to the Crown Reserves Improvement Fund Program 2023/24:
- $825,000 to enable a racecourse irrigation upgrade to enhance sustainability by delivering water efficiency to optimise value and community enjoyment. This upgrade will also enhance Council's ability to work towards environmentally sustainable practices and eliminate manual handling issues for staff during watering activities.
- $96,636 to enable a compliant, accessible concourse within the Showground/ Racecourse complex, as currently the GBS Falkiner Lounge and Grandstand area does not have adequate disability access.
- $361,364 to improve perimeter fencing around the Showground/Racecourse Complex encompassing the Racecourse, Showground, Equestrian Arena, Pony Club and Country Horse Jump facilities to provide superior protection against potential kangaroo intrusion, therefore improving safety at the facility.
ON THE ROADS
January 2024 has seen restoration and maintenance works progressing across Warren Shire’s vast road network.
Recent activities have comprised heavy patching on several sections of the Oxley Highway (SH-11) including near Warren Golf Club, Industrial Access Road, and the Warren Airport. Line marking has commenced on Carinda Road, Warren Road, Collie/Trangie Road, Nevertire-Bogan Road, Victoria Oval, and other urban roads in Warren Shire.
Ongoing environmental assessment and final scoping are in progress for the Nevertire-Bogan Road Project. Guidepost work has commenced on Buckingguy Road (SR-5), Carinda Road (RR-333), and Marthaguy Road (RR-202). Grading work has commenced at Gunningbah Road (SR95). Patching has been completed at Ellengerah Road (SR-64) to address bitumen bleeding, and pothole repairs are being executed at Buckingguy Road (SR-5).
Upcoming Works: Heavy patching will continue on the Oxley Highway towards Nevertire, then onwards towards Collie. Scheduled pothole repairs are planned for Shire and Regional roads. Planning is continuing for Rehabilitation of Nevertire-Bogan Road (SR58), with a view of commencing construction by March 2024. RMCC safety and routine inspections, including guideposts and slashing, are scheduled for Regional Roads and Oxley Highway. Line marking is also slated for completion on regional and urban roads.
CAPITAL WORKS IN PROGRESS
Major works are progressing on the Carter Oval Youth Sports Precinct, Warren Showground / Racecourse Upgrade and Warren Airport Upgrade, with all works scheduled for completion in early 2024.
Current project and other works updates include:
- Foundation work for the new terminal building, as part of the Warren Airport upgrade, began in October 2023. It is anticipated that the terminal building and other related works will be completed by May 2024.
- Drainage improvement work on runway 03/21 is scheduled to begin in March 2024. This project involves installing a piped overflow line from the extended stormwater retention channel on airport land to a proposed channel on the adjacent Egelabra property.
- Installation of roof sheeting for the Modular Amenities Building at the Carter Oval Youth Sporting Precinct began on 8 January 2024. The facility is expected to be completed by April 2024.
- The Warren Shire Library Lobby Upgrade and Landscaping Works are ongoing. Lobby upgrade works are expected to be finished by early February 2024, while the landscaping works should be completed by March 2024.
- All concrete works, with the exception of the long jump pits and junior cricket pitch, at Carter Oval Youth Sports Precinct, are now complete.
- The joint amenities facility at the Showground / Racecourse is nearing completion, with female amenities opened prior to the Twilight Races in December 2023, and male amenities anticipated for completion in February 2024. An official ceremony was held for the unveiling of the mural that features on the external walls of the facility, on 12 January 2024.
- Upgrade works are continuing at the Ewenmar Waste Depot, with completion anticipated in early 2024.
- Following completion of a new amenities facility at Monkeygar Creek, Macquarie Marshes, construction of a bird viewing platform was also completed at this location in late December 2023.
COMMITTEE NEWS
Council’s MANEX Committee welcomed Council’s new Interim Roads Infrastructure Manager, Ray Egan, to Warren Shire, and noted a list of Council’s drought preparedness actions to date.
The progress of works under Council’s flood and storm damage claims was also reported.
A submission has been presented with an expanded scope of work that encompasses the Industrial Access Road (SR-91) and a claim has been officially submitted under the Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements. Simultaneously, efforts are underway to prepare further claims.
Council is currently progressing spot gravelling, shoulder grading, and gravel re-sheeting for Billybingbone Road (RR7516) and Gibson Way (SR-36). Spot gravelling is also in progress at Hatton Lane (SR-24).
The Routine Maintenance Council Contract (RMCC) for Oxley Highway (SH-11) second quarter claim has been prepared and submitted to Transport for NSW (TfNSW). Additionally, submissions for the Pothole Maintenance and Repair Program for FYI 2022-2023 & FYI 2023-204 have been appropriately forwarded.
UPCOMING EVENTS
- Thursday 22 February 2024: Next Ordinary Council Meeting.
- Saturday 2 March 2024: Annual Carp Muster.
- Sunday 3 March 2024: Clean Up Australia Day.
See a full list of upcoming events in Warren Shire on Council’s website.
-ENDS-
Download a PDF version of the January 2024 Council Meeting Highlights.