Council Meeting Highlights - January 2023

27 January 2023

Council Meeting Highlights - January 2023 - Post Image

Warren Shire Highlights

January 2023


Warren Shire’s Ordinary Council Meeting was held on 25 January 2023, due to the Australia Day public holiday on Thursday 26 January 2023. Highlights from this meeting included: 

 

COMMITTEE NEWS 

  • Subject to consultation with the Warren Showground/Racecourse Committee, the Public Arts Committee has recommended a public art mural on the proposed new toilet block at the Showground/Racecourse Complex to utilise the remaining funds from the Murray Darling Basin Economic Development Round 3 Grants Program. Council has been in contact with Paint the Town Murals to prepare a quote and concept design featuring themes of campdrafting, horses and rodeo for consideration.

The Committee has also determined the selection of historic and Macquarie River themed photographs to use on the collage wraps of the Warren CBD and Lions Park toilet amenities, with the images now submitted to a graphic designer to create the concept designs.
 

  • Council’s Engineering Services Department is currently inviting expressions of interest for the management and operation of Mount Foster Quarry. Submissions close on Thursday 23 February 2023. Visit warren.nsw.gov.au/council/expressions-of-interest for further details.

 

AFFORDABLE HOUSING OPPORTUNITY

Warren Shire Council has authorised the Mayor, the Chair of the Economic Development and Promotions Committee, and the General Manager to finalise an agreement with Housing Plus for the eventual sale of up to nine vacant land lots in Gunningba Estate. 

Following a presentation at the Alliance Western Councils Meeting in March 2022, Housing Plus was engaged to discuss the possibilities for nine Council-owned vacant properties which would be suitable for the development of affordable housing in Warren.

Their proposal is being considered positively as negotiations are being finalised.

 

REACTIVATION OF VISITOR SERVICES VOLUNTEERS

With the recent appointment of the new Economic Development and Visitation Manager, Susan Balogh, the next phase of the reactivation of visitor services volunteers is soon to be underway.

As part of her new role, Susan will now assume responsibility for the management of the volunteer program, including developing updated position requirements, expectations and duties, and facilitating appropriate education and training.

Council is still inviting expressions of interest for volunteers to support the operation of the Visitor Information Centre at the Window on the Wetlands Centre Precinct. Find out more and register your interest on Council's website.


WARREN VISITOR ECONOMY REPORT AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY AND ACTION PLAN

Following the presentation of the Warren and the Visitor Economy Community Consultation Report to the Economic Development and Promotions Committee, Council is utilising the document to help determine the best strategies to promote visitors to our region. Read the full report findings on Council’s website.

The Warren Shire Economic Development Strategy and Action Plan continues to progress, with the next draft to be completed following a workshop with the Economic Development and Promotions Committee. 

A meeting was also held on 14 December 2022 to advance the establishment of the Destination Macquarie Marshes Stakeholder Group, with a report of the discussions provided to the January 2023 Council Meeting.

It is recommended that:

  • Council reform and facilitate the Destination Macquarie Marshes Taskforce and review the past Action Plan expanding the coverage and leverage of current and future resources with more collaboration through the Economic Development and Promotions Committee.
  • The Taskforce be a sub-committee of the Economic Development and Promotions Committee.
  • Council ensures that the reformed Taskforce has representation from every local government area that sees the Macquarie Marshes as an asset to their visitation, and forms a Memorandum of Understanding with each Council to support the economic development of the region.
  • Council’s representatives on the Taskforce be the Chair of the Economic Development and Promotions Committee, the General Manager, and the Economic Development and Visitation Manager.
  • The Economic Development and Visitation Manager will be responsible for facilitating the formation and operation of the Taskforce, and undertaking relevant Secretariat duties.

 

OPERATIONAL PLAN AND ESTIMATES

Council has endorsed the 2023/2024 Operational Plan and Estimates timeline, with a Councillor workshop to be held on Wednesday 12 April 2023 to review the final draft. The document will then be recommended for public exhibition at the April 2023 Council Meeting. 

 

GRANTS 

Warren Shire Council has been successful in obtaining $856,903 in funding from the Stronger Country Communities Fund Round 5 (SCCFR5) for upgrades to amenities, change rooms, kiosk and clubroom facilities at the Warren War Memorial Swimming Pool. The Hon. Sam Farraway MLC paid a visit to Warren on Sunday 15 January 2023 to meet with Mayor Milton Quigley and community members to celebrate the application’s success.

Council is continuing to await notification on numerous other grant funding applications to progress infrastructure upgrades and repairs across the Shire. 

 

CAPITAL WORKS IN PROGRESS

Major works are progressing on the Carter Oval Sporting Precinct, Warren Showground / Racecourse Upgrade and Warren Airport Upgrade, with all works scheduled for completion in 2023.

Other current infrastructure project updates include:

  • Commencement of kick rail installation at the Equestrian Arena, with all works on this landmark regional sporting facility anticipated for completion in February 2023.
  • Completion of all necessary works within the state-of-the-art Carter Oval Youth Sports Precinct Project, thanks to the allocation of $460,000 of restricted funds from the infrastructure improvement/replacement reserve. Further funding was required to cover unforeseen additional costs associated with inflation, and delays due to weather, resources and procurement, market vulnerability, the inability to fund works through further grants and underestimates in the costing.

 

ON THE ROADS

With water receding and a number of roads reopening to traffic across the Shire, crews have been able to make progress on damage repairs and standard maintenance works. Recent works include various flood damage works, shoulder grading, ripping and shaping, patching, spraying and guideposting, signs and slashing.

In addition, upcoming maintenance and rehabilitation works include: 

Gradgery Lane, Duffity Lane, Old Warren Road, Ellengerah Road, Wonbobbie Lane, Cullenburrawang Road, Gibson Way and Carinda Road.

Read the full Road Report on Council’s website.

 

UPCOMING EVENTS

  • Weekly from 2 February 2023: Sing Community Choir – Warren Chamber Music Festival. 
  • 23 February 2023: Council Meeting.

See a full list of upcoming events in Warren Shire on Council’s website.  

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