Council meeting highlights: Ordinary Council Meeting
Published on 31 October 2022
Please see below for highlights of the final determinations made at tonight’s Ordinary Council meeting. The full agenda and reports are available at meeting agendas and minutes. The stream of tonight’s meeting will be available online at lakemac.com.au within 48 hours.
Mayoral Minute: Young Endeavour Youth Scheme
Council approved $3950 in funding through Council’s Donations Program for a Young Endeavour Youth Scheme scholarship to a young Lake Macquarie resident for a voyage in 2023.
Lake Macquarie Mayor Kay Fraser said the Young Endeavour Youth Scheme delivers enormous benefit to both young participants and their communities.
“Research shows that the Young Endeavour Youth Scheme has a long-lasting positive impact on participants, building social capital in the community by increasing trust, cooperation and tolerance,” Cr Fraser said.
“The experience translates over time into more enduring social skills as self-control, goal achievement, and a positive outlook, bringing broader benefits to the community as well as to the individual.”
Mayoral Minute: Lake Macquarie City – a growing hub for innovative business and industry
Council noted the significant increase in the number of jobs in Lake Macquarie, thanked existing businesses for the work they do and will signal to future and aspiring businesses and investors that the city is a vibrant and dynamic place where opportunities are plentiful and new industries are welcome.
Lake Macquarie Mayor Kay Fraser said the city was emerging as a “true regional powerhouse” with more than 7000 additional jobs created since 2016.
“Lake Macquarie is home to more than 13,000 businesses – that’s one business for every 16 people living in our city,” Cr Fraser said.
“Those businesses employ 69,000 full-time equivalent workers, contributing $22 billion to the NSW economy and accounting for more than 20 per cent of the Hunter Region’s total business output.
“I am proud of the robust state of Lake Macquarie’s economy and I’m excited about where we are headed.
“We must work with industry, other levels of government and key partners to ensure we build on the momentum of recent years and continue to foster new opportunities in growth industries that will provide the jobs of the future.”
Disclosures by Councillors and designated persons returns – pecuniary interests for the period 1 July 2021 to 30 June 2022
Council noted the tabling of disclosures by Councillors and designated persons returns for the period 1 July 2021 to 30 June 2022.
Investment report – September 2022
Council received and noted a report identifying all money Council has invested under section 625 of the Local Government Act 1993.
Financial statements for the year ended 30 June 2022
Council adopted the financial statements for the year ended 30 June 2022 and accompanying notes, and authorised the presentation of Council’s audited financial statements to the public at 3.30pm on Monday 7 November in the Committee Room at Council’s Administration Building on Main Road, Speers Point.
12 and 12A Robey Road, Coal Point – Alterations and additions to dwelling house and two into two lot subdivision
Council endorsed a development standard variation providing a maximum height of 9.45m, exceeding the 8.5m development standard by 955mm or 11.2 per cent, and approved DA/1157/2021 for alterations and additions to an existing dwelling house and a two into two lot subdivision at 12 and 12A Robey Road, Coal Point, subject to conditions of consent.
Lake Macquarie City Council Annual Report 2021-2022
Council endorsed the Lake Macquarie City Council Annual Report 2021-2022.
Lake Macquarie Mayor Kay Fraser said she was proud of what Council had achieved in 2021-2022.
“Despite the challenges of the last 12 months, we’ve taken significant steps towards our goal of making Lake Mac better for everyone,” Cr Fraser said.
“We’ve delivered major capital works like The Weir Bridge and the new Multi-Arts Pavilion, mima at Speers Point Park, undertaken important planning to help the city cater for projected growth, and continued to promote healthy lifestyles across Lake Mac through outdoor facilities like the amazing new playground at Thomas H Halton Park at Croudace Bay, the new skate park at Bernie Goodwin Memorial Reserve at Morriset and programs like our Over 55s events and activities.”
Code of Meeting Practice for adoption
Council rescinded the existing Code of Meeting Practice and Petitions Policy, and adopted a revised Code of Meeting Practice incorporating the Petitions Policy.
Public exhibition of the draft Dogs in Open Space Strategy and the draft Dogs in Open Space Policy
Council will exhibit the draft Dogs in Open Space Strategy, supporting documents and revised draft policy, and receive a further report detailing feedback received during exhibition and any proposed changes to these documents.
Event Funding Program 2022-2023 Round Two
Council will fund 31 applications totalling $98,693 as part of the Event Funding Program 2022-2023 Round Two.
Recommendations of the Traffic Facilities and Road Safety Committee – October 2022
Council will install ‘No Stopping’ line restrictions at the intersection of Preston Place and Portland Drive, Cameron Park, and a one-way restriction on Lawson Road, Macquarie Hills, and approved the line marking plan for Patrick Drive, Cooranbong.
Notice of Motion: Restoration of seawall at Reid’s Reserve, Swansea Heads
Council will write to the Minister NSW Maritime Infrastructure Delivery Office to request a commitment in writing that the NSW Government fund the restoration of the seawall at Reid’s Reserve, Swansea Heads, that the seawall be constructed to a height that prevents overtopping the existing height of Lucy’s Breakwall, and that there is a commitment by the NSW Government to remove or encapsulate any hazardous materials, including exposed asbestos on site as a result of the coastal erosion that has occurred due to the integrity of the seawall being compromised.
Business without notice: Participate in review of rate peg methodology submission process and acknowledge the immediate significant inflationary financial impacts identified
Council will make a submission to the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal (IPART) on the review of the rate peg methodology and request as part of the submission that a population growth factor continue to be included for communities that experience significant population growth and the need to deliver additional services and infrastructure.
Council will also write to the NSW Minister and Shadow Minister for Local Government and IPART to highlight the financial impact that inflation and other cost increases are currently having and are forecast to have on Council’s one-year Operational Plan, four-year Delivery Program and 10-year Long-term Financial Plan, and request an immediate collaborative approach be taken to resolve the significant financial issues identified given the unprecedented economic environment and rising costs across the economy.