Council Meeting highlights – Wednesday 13 October
Wingecarribee Shire Council’s Ordinary Meeting of Wednesday 13 October began with a Minute by Council’s Interim Administrator Mr Viv May.
Within the Minute Mr May congratulated everyone responsible for this year’s Tulip Time celebrations, in particular Council’s Open Spaces Team responsible for the planting of 120,000 bulbs. He also acknowledged the announcement of an additional $9.1 million in funding by the Member for Wollondilly Nathaniel Smith towards the opening of the Buxton to Colo Vale Loop Line. This project is expected to deliver many benefits to the Shire and thanked the State Member for his advocacy in bringing this project to the region.
Mr May advised that following representation to the State Government, $4.1 million in funding initially allocated towards the now scrapped Station Street Upgrade Project would not be re-allocated. The Interim Administrator’s Minute also detailed progress towards the possible inclusion of a Local Emergency Operation Centre within the Moss Vale Civic Centre and ongoing discussions around a permanent water tank in Balmoral.
The General Manager followed by providing an update regarding the recently launched Public Inquiry and explained how members of the public could make a submission. Both the Interim Administrator and General Manager advised they intended on making submissions.
The draft 2020/21 Annual Financial Statements were provided at the meeting. As of 30 June 2021, Council’s net asset position was $1.9 billion and its overall cash and investments had grown to $192.4 million. Council’s loan liability is $23.7 million and an operating deficit was reported for the year.
Council also adopted a recommendation to place the draft Review of Environmental Factors for the proposed upgrade of the Bowral Sewage Treatment Plant online. As this is a significant project which will deliver many positive benefits a community information session will be organised in the next month to provide further details.
An independent review of the Domestic Waste Levy has confirmed that there are enough funds to continue as a free service until 2022/23 to the community. The service will begin in 2022 and move to a bi-annual service in 2024.
The Moss Vale Bypass project reached another milestone, with the awarding of the design tender for Stage 1 of the project to the MU Group. This Bypass will assist in moving heavy vehicles away from the Moss Vale Town Centre. Funding for the design of Stage 1 of the Bypass will be provided by Transport for New South Wales following support from the Member for Goulburn, Wendy Tuckerman.