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SUPPLEMENTARY AGENDA 1R |
Council Meeting
TUESDAY 17 MARCH 2026
7:30 PM
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Council Meeting 17 March 2026 |
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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
C0326(1) Item 43 Mayoral Minute: Farewell to Ryann Midei 3
2 Questions From Councillors
ITEM Page
C0326(1) Item 44 Questions from Councillors on Agenda Items 4
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Council Meeting 17 March 2026 |
Subject: Mayoral Minute: Farewell to Ryann Midei
From: The Mayor, Councillor Darcy Byrne
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MOTION
That Council notes the contributions of Ryann Midei, Director of Property and Major Projects during his time at Inner West Council and thanks Ryann for his work in delivering a range of key community projects.
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Background
Council farewells Ryann Midei after almost 4 years at Inner West Council.
I would like to extend my thanks on behalf of Councillors, staff and the community for the
significant contributions he has made.
During his time as a Director at Inner West Council, Ryann has worked hard to deliver outcomes for our community. He has led and been instrumental in several significant projects including the Greenway, Henson Park, Leichhardt Park Aquatic Centre, Leichhardt Oval Upgrade, Leichhardt Park Skate Park, King George Park and Richard Murden Inclusive Playgrounds. These projects form part of a much longer list of community infrastructure improvements completed during his tenure.
Ryann stepped into the role of Director Property and Major Projects in May last year, taking on responsibility for major capital initiatives, our long‑term property strategy, and the full lifecycle of our building assets, from maintenance and operations through to planning for their future.
One of Ryann’s most significant contributions has been his leadership in delivering the GreenWay, Council’s largest and most complex infrastructure project ever undertaken. This achievement will remain an enduring legacy of his time with us.
On behalf of everyone at Council, I would like to wish Ryann the very best in his future
endeavours.
Nil.
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Council Meeting 17 March 2026 |
Subject: Questions from Councillors on Agenda Items
From: Director Corporate Sharon Bowman
The Code of Meeting Practice (Clause 3.32) provides that if a councillor requests information from the General Manager about an agenda item, the information in response must also be made available to the public in a way that does not involve any discussion of the information. This means that if councillors ask questions before the meeting following their review of the agenda, we will publish the questions and our responses unless the information is already included in the agenda.
Questions on the following matters were asked and responses provided as listed below:
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ITEM NO |
SUBJECT |
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7 |
Illawarra Road Business Roundtable |
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13 |
Lewisham Placemaking Improvements Project |
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16 |
Leichhardt Park Aquatic Centre Upgrade - Monthly Project Update |
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19 |
Mandatory Reporting to Council of Reports Received from Fire & Rescue NSW for 3 Properties
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20 |
Update On Creative Town Hall Program |
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28
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Notice of Motion: Illawarra Road Traffic and Safety Concerns |
Item 7: Illawarra Road Business Roundtable
Question 1.
To what extent is the responsible directorate confident they will be able to deliver the additional activations and events requested at the roundtable with the current staffing, budget and other resourcing available?
What opportunities are there for grant funding or partnering with TfNSW or the state government to resource and deliver the Metro opening celebrations?
Response provided (by Director Community):
Referring to the report and noting the wording in the report, that “opportunities for activations and events to be explored”. Consideration of any option/s will involve potential cost and capacity for operational delivery.
It will also include any funding or partnering options.
Item 13: Lewisham Placemaking Improvements Project
Question 1.
I have some concerns about timing and budget in the Lewisham placemaking item.
We are talking about partnering with TfNSW but their construction is expected to commence in June this year with completion scheduled by late 2027. How does our timing of a draft Placemaking concept plan coming back to council in September sit with the TfNSW timeline? It seems late to be effectively coordinating our work with that of TfNSW and gaining any benefits of being aligned with their timeline.
In relation to the estimated cost to Council, are you able to provide any information about how the $530,000 figure was reached? Are you concerned that a higher sum might be necessary? Will the costs likely be spread across two financial years? And is there any likelihood that some of the things we want could be funded by TfNSW as part of their project if we work with them expeditiously for them to understand what the community wants?
Response provided (by Director Property and Major Projects):
Council officers have had a number of meetings with TfNSW where they have explained in some detail the scope of works they are proposing to deliver at Lewisham, with construction works anticipated to commence in late June and proceed through to late 2027. The construction timeframe stretches over a long period due to the limited and staggered opportunities they have for construction in the rail corridor. They have recently advised that the timing of the streetscape construction works in the public domain are planned to follow the station works.
Council has a clear opportunity in the immediate future to advise what we have heard from our community engagement and seek TfNSW consideration of changes to their external works outside the station particularly in the Railway terrace and Victoria Street areas. The intention is that there will need to be careful coordination to separate works to be delivered by TfNSW from works to be delivered by Council at the construction stage.
There are a number of matters raised in the Council engagement that fall beyond the current scope of Lewisham Station works which require further discussion. These include active transport improvements (wider footpath on Railway Terrace and pedestrian crossing on Old Canterbury Road) and measures to slow vehicles on Railway Terrace as outlined in the report and the subject of the next round of investigations.
In terms of Council’s design works, it is anticipated that a draft Lewisham Station Precinct Concept Plan will be reported to Council in September and exhibited in October with the outcomes of the exhibition reported by December 2026. This plan will identify works to be constructed by Council on local roads for delivery. Council will then prepare detail design plans for works on local streets including Victoria Street and commit the works to construction in the first half of 2027 which will sync with the TfNSW current timeline.
It is anticipated that $80,000 is required to complete the concept design in FY2627, with construction budget of $450,000 in FY2728.
Question 2.
Specifically, regarding council's financial contribution, can you please advise if $530,000 is anticipated to be the total amount for both planning and capital works? And if so, how has that figure been reached?
For e.g. is it based on anticipated costings of the total works outlined in the report for council to explore? Is it dependent on a TfNSW contribution?
Regarding timing, is council's timeframe dependent on TfNSW's schedule of works? My read is that council's works would commence shortly after completion of TfNSW works - is that correct/required? Is there any reason why works couldn't occur concurrently to minimise disruption?
Response provided (by Director Property and Major Projects):
Regarding Council’s financial contribution, $80,000 is required to complete the concept and detail design. These funds will include design investigation of proposals on State Roads (Railway Terrace and Old Canterbury Rd) that fall beyond the scope of works included in the TfNSW Station works but are works that Council could advocate for TfNSW to fund. This design funding will also identify works to local streets that can be constructed using $450,000 of Council funds, in areas like Victoria Street and adjacent local streets. It is anticipated any additional works to Old Canterbury Road and Railway Terrace will be the subject of advocacy for TfNSW to fund their construction. As such the overall works (Council + TfNSW), is more than noted, and we are just confirming Council funding. The $450,000 is based upon initial high-level estimates based on the engagement.
Council officers have had a number of meetings with TfNSW where it has been explained in some detail the scope of works to be delivered under their Safe Accessible Transport Program at Lewisham, with construction works anticipated to commence in late June 2026 and proceed through to late 2027. The station works construction timeframe stretches over a long period due to the limited and staggered opportunities they have for construction in the rail corridor. They have recently advised that the timing of the streetscape construction works in the public domain are planned to follow the station works. It is anticipated that there will need to be careful coordination to separate works to be delivered by TfNSW from works to be delivered by Council at the construction stage.
It is anticipated that a draft Lewisham Station Precinct Concept Plan will be reported to Council in September and exhibited in October with the outcomes of the exhibition reported by December 2026. This plan will identify works to be constructed by Council on local roads for delivery. Council will then prepare detail design plans for works on local streets including Victoria Street and commit the works to construction in the first half of 2027 which will sync with the TfNSW current timeline. An updated cost plan will be undertaken on the detailed design and reported to Council.
Item 16: Leichhardt Park Aquatic Centre Upgrade - Monthly Project Update
Questions and responses for Item 16 are confidential as it relates to information (Section 10A(2)(c) of the Local Government Act 1993) that would, if disclosed, confer a commercial advantage on a person with whom the council is conducting (or proposes to conduct) business; AND commercial information of a confidential nature (Section 10A(2)(d)(i) of the Local Government Act 1993) that would, if disclosed prejudice the commercial position of the person who supplied it; AND commercial information of a confidential nature (Section 10A(2)(d)(ii) of the Local Government Act 1993) that would, if disclosed confer a commercial advantage on a competitor of the council.
The questions and responses have been provided to Councillor separately.
Item 19: Mandatory Reporting to Council of Reports Received from Fire & Rescue NSW for 3 Properties
Question 1.
The three FRNSW reports in this item were received on 28 & 29 January and 9 February. Schedule 5 of EP&A Act (see below) requires tabling at the "next meeting" of Council with a determination of whether Council will exercise its powers to give a fire safety order at a Council meeting held within 28 days or the next meeting after tabling of the report whichever is the later. So technically the reports should have been tabled at the meeting of 17 February, even if as late items, with a recommendation about exercise of powers to give a fire safety order at the March meeting. I think Council needs to actually make a determination as to whether to give a fire safety order in each of these cases rather than just note the report. Can we please have a chat about the wording of an amendment to achieve this.
Something I would like to understand is how council staff’s powers to issue fire safety notices as noted has been done in the reports at item 19 sit alongside the Schedule 5 requirements for a determination by Council. I’ve copied in General Counsel given this is a legal question.
17 Inspection reports by fire brigades(cf previous s 121ZD)
(1) If the Commissioner of Fire and Rescue NSW carries out an inspection of a building under section 9.32 (Fire brigades inspection powers), the Commissioner must furnish to the council of the area in which the building is located—
(a) a report of the inspection, and
(b) if of the opinion that adequate provision for fire safety has not been made concerning the building, such recommendations as to the carrying out of work or the provision of fire safety and fire-fighting equipment as the Commissioner considers appropriate.
(2) A council must—
(a) table any report and recommendations it receives under this clause at the next meeting of the council, and
(b) at any meeting of the council held within 28 days after receiving the report and recommendations or at the next meeting of the council held after the tabling of the report and recommendations, whichever is the later, determine whether it will exercise its powers to give a fire safety order.
(3) A reference in subclause (2) to a meeting of a council does not include a reference to a special meeting of the council unless the special meeting is called for the purpose of tabling any report and recommendations or making any determination referred to in that subclause.
(4) A council must give notice of a determination under this clause to the Commissioner of Fire and Rescue NSW.
Response provided (by Director Planning):
General Counsel has reviewed the schedule and section of the EP&A Act referred to and also reviewed the processes and confirmed that the process of actioning and reporting on FRNSW advice is generally in accordance with the intention of the Act and does not recommend the need for change.
Going forward however a more active officer recommendation will be included that seeks Council endorsement for the actions taken on each property included in the report.
Item 20: Update On Creative Town Hall Program
Question 1.
Of the 523 booking enquiries received in 2025, how many resulted in a booking at a council property?
Response provided (by Director Community):
Staff will investigate bookings data and provide a breakdown of booking numbers and definitions for suitability once investigation is complete.
Question 2.
The report describes the process for creative applicants who are unable to book into a town hall “due to date clashes with existing bookings or suitability”:
Response provided (by Director Community):
Staff will investigate bookings data and provide a breakdown of booking numbers and definitions for suitability once investigation is complete.
Item 28: Notice of Motion: Illawarra Road Traffic and Safety Concerns
Question 1.
Is there a way to achieve the proposed outcomes in the Notice of Motion that would allow the community to be consulted, and maybe a quicker process than going through the Local Transport Forum process?
Response provided (by Director Engineering):
Any change to traffic and parking regulation needs to pass through the Local Transport Forum for approval, so there really is no means of avoiding that step. Some decisions associated with the Local Transport Forum are delegated to staff, but the same steps are required before a decision is made, and a staff delegated decision may happen in a slightly shorter time. The Local Transport Forum process provides a means for the community to provide feedback on proposed changes.
