Supplementary AGENDA  1R

 

Distributed on 9 February 2021

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Council Meeting

                            

TUESDAY 9 FEBRUARY 2021

 

6.30pm

 

 

   


Council Meeting

9 February 2021

 

 

 

 

MEETING AGENDA – PRECIS

SUPPLEMENTARY ITEMS

 

 

The following reports appear as late items as information required for the preparation of the reports was not available at the time of distribution of the Business Paper.

 

 

 

1          Mayoral Minutes

 

ITEM                                                                                                                                         Page

 

C0221(1) Item 24     Mayoral Minute: Dawn Fraser Baths                                                       3

C0221(1) Item 25     Mayoral Minute: Waiving of Hiring Fees for the Newtown Jets               6

C0221(1) Item 26     Mayoral Minute: Pipeline Vegetation Works                                            7

 

 

  


Council Meeting

9 February 2021

 

 

Item No:         C0221(1) Item 24

Subject:         Mayoral Minute: Dawn Fraser Baths           

From:             The Mayor, Councillor Darcy Byrne   

 

 

Motion:

 

THAT Council:

 

1.   Notes that engineering delays in supplying water to fire hydrants and sprinklers for emergency services has prevented the reopening of Dawn Fraser Baths in time for the 2020-2021 summer (See Attachment 1);

 

2.   Notes that Council had budgeted to open the Baths in time for the commencement of the summer season in October 2020 and that Council officers have estimated the cost of fully opening the pool is approximately $35,000 per month, which will not have been expended from the period October 2020 to March 2021;

 

3.   Waives the cost of entry to the Baths for two weeks after its opening as a gesture of goodwill to the community after the loss of the summer season;

 

4.   Extends the Dawn Fraser Baths swimming season until at least the end of May, noting that the Baths would otherwise be closed within a matter of weeks after opening;

 

5.   Receives a report at the March Ordinary meeting on exercise and recreation programs, community events and social activities that could be offered by Council or facilitated by community organisations at Dawn Fraser Baths throughout the autumn and winter of 2021 in order to allow for the community to make use of the restored facility throughout the year. This program is to be developed in consultation with all users of the Baths including community sports clubs. It should include consideration of use of the pool itself for water-based activities as well as the facility as a whole for non-swimming activities; and

 

6.   The cost of the two weeks’ waiver and the extended swimming season is to be funded from the 2020/2021 Operational Budget for Dawn Fraser Baths.

 

 

 

Background

 

Council’s heritage restoration of the Dawn Fraser Baths has been predicated on the project being completed in time for the 2020/21 Summer season.

 

Given the extraordinarily difficult year our community has faced in 2020 many members of the community were saddened that this timeline, which has been explicitly communicated to the community throughout the project, has not been met.

 

Due to the delay in opening of Dawn Fraser Baths it is likely that the pool will only be available for use for a very limited time in 2021, according to the current schedule.

 

 

As a gesture of goodwill to the community and to ensure the restored facility can contribute to health and wellbeing of the community throughout 2021 it is important that Council act now to plan for how the Baths can be used by local people outside of the normal summer swimming season.

 

 

 

 

ATTACHMENTS

1.

Community letter explaining the delay in reopening Dawn Fraser Baths in December 2020

  


Council Meeting

9 February 2021

 

 


Council Meeting

9 February 2021

 

 

Item No:         C0221(1) Item 25

Subject:         Mayoral Minute: Waiving of Hiring Fees for the Newtown Jets              

From:             The Mayor, Councillor Darcy Byrne   

 

 

Motion:

 

THAT Council:

 

1.   Waives ground hire fees for the Newtown Jets Football Club for three training sessions at Leichhardt Oval in February 2021; and

 

2.   Notes Council officers’ advice that the fee waiver will need to be publicly advertised.

 

 

Background

 

Since refurbishment works commenced at Henson Park, the Newtown Jets Football Club have been using the Mackey Park facilities for training and other activities.

 

Henson Park works are currently on track to be completed in time for the normal football season. The Jets have engaged with Council about the availability of Leichhardt Oval for training during February 2021.

 

Those discussions have taken place at officer level and a ground hire fee of $951.72 (incl. GST) has been quoted for that use. Appropriate limits on the nature of training activities have been agreed to ensure the Oval is in good condition for the professional Rugby League and A-league games planned.

 

In view of the difficult financial position the Club has found itself in as a result of Covid that charge is considered to be prohibitive.

 

As a local club of long standing I consider it appropriate that we give the Jets the best opportunity possible to commence the upcoming season by making Leichhardt Oval available to them for training during February. The amount to be waived by Council would be $2,885.16.

 

 

 

 

ATTACHMENTS

Nil.


Council Meeting

9 February 2021

 

 

Item No:         C0221(1) Item 26

Subject:         Mayoral Minute: Pipeline Vegetation Works            

From:             The Mayor, Councillor Darcy Byrne  

 

 

Motion:

 

THAT Council writes to the Chief Executive Officer of Ampol Australia and Viva Energy seeking an undertaking that all vegetation clearing works along the Cooks River foreshore pipeline easement will be ceased until adequate consultation with river stakeholders is undertaken and that a Vegetation Management Plan be negotiated with each riverside Council to guide future vegetation management activities.

 

 

Background

 

The Cooks River foreshore pipeline easement allows Ampol Australia and Viva Energy to run oil pipelines along the foreshore and to maintain that infrastructure.

 

Incidents have occurred previously where trees and other vegetation within the easement have been cleared with little or no regard for the impact of that activity on the very sensitive riparian ecosystems of which they are a part.

 

It is understood such activities have been undertaken recently.

 

Council has a number of very active environmental management groups working with Council to improve the health of the Cooks River system – the Mudcrabs and the Cooks River Valley Association.  Together we aim to achieve the Community Strategic Plan aims of:

 

a.         An Inner West that has a diverse and increasing urban forest that supports connected habitats for flora and fauna;

 

1.3       The community is water sensitive, with clean, swimmable waterways.

 

Council aims to preserve this essential green corridor and requests that the following actions be implemented;

 

1.   Cease all clearing work until adequate consultation with river stakeholders is undertaken and that these stakeholders are provided adequate

2.   Preparation of a Vegetation Management Plan that takes community values into consideration and fulfils requirements under the Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016, Environmental Planning & Assessment Act 1979, Vegetation SEPP 2017 and relevant Local Environment Plans (LEPs) for each riverside Council area.

 

These actions will result in greater transparency and improved vegetation management practices that will address both safety and environmental concerns and better align with the expectations of our community.

 

It is understood Viva Energy are responsible for vegetation management within the easement.

 

ATTACHMENTS

Nil.