South West Rocks and Crescent Head stand out in a packed agenda
Published on 14 March 2024
Among the agenda items for consideration by Council will be a presentation from Kempsey Shire School Leaders to Councillors, South West Rocks building height amendments, Crescent Head Foreshore Community Advisory group terms of reference and expression of interest, the Road Safety Strategy, and a re-prioritisation of unsealed roads.
You can register to speak to Councillors at the Public Forum on Monday 18 March. The meeting is only held if there are registered speakers.
The Ordinary Meeting will be held at the Kempsey Shire Council Chambers from 9am on Tuesday 19 March.
You can view the full March 2024 agenda and business papers at Council meeting agendas & minutes.
The meeting will be live-streamed via Council's YouTube page and on the Kempsey Shire Council website.
Presentation by school leaders
Kempsey Shire School Leaders will present to Councillors at the March meeting, as suggested by Cr Ring at last year's October meeting.
Earlier in the month, Councillors and School Leaders met to workshop perspectives, ideas and aspirations from the perspective of the young people. At the upcoming meeting, the School Leaders will use the insights from the workshop in their presentation to Councillors.
South West Rocks Building Height amendment
The next step in planning for South West Rocks is being considered, with Council being asked to send proposed building heights to the Minister for adoption.
Council will be asked to consider progressing the change to building heights in South West Rocks to align with the adopted South West Rocks Structure Plan.
The change involves amending the Kempsey Local Environment Plan (KLEP 2013).
The NSW Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure are the authority in this matter, with the Minister's delegate to make the final decision.
The land covered by the building height change proposal consists of various land use zones and sizes, but all have been identified as not currently having a regulated building height under the KLEP 2013.
Bringing in height limits for South West Rocks will not negatively impact potential housing in the area, with adequate areas put aside for residential development across the Shire to meet projected housing demand.
For more information and context, please see item 10.2 in the Business Papers.
Crescent Head Foreshore Community Advisory Group and Crown Lands progress
It is proposed that the golf course lease will be renewed and a market value rent negotiated after more than 1200 people gave feedback on the Crown Lands Plan of Management.
Councillors requested at the September 2023 meeting that the Foreshore Revitalisation project, including planning for the Crescent Head Foreshore, be put on hold until the Draft Council Crown Land Plan of Management was finalised.
With community consultation on the Plan of Management now finished, it is recommended that Council note the strong community support for the 21-year renewal of the Country Club lease, that Council allows direct negotiation with the Crescent Head Country Club for the 21-year lease at an independently valued market rent, and to remove the Crescent Head Country Club lease from the Advisory Group terms of reference.
Crescent Head Holiday Park is excluded from the proposed terms of reference for the advisory group, and the revised Master Plan for the Holiday Park, which includes updated designs for the cabins, safari tents, and reception/residence areas, will be on public exhibition in March and April 2024.
Finally, Council will be asked to endorse the Crescent Head Foreshore Community Advisory Group Terms of Reference and Expression of Interest for public exhibition.
For more information and context, please see item 10.3 in the Business Papers.
Road Safety Strategy
Road safety across the Kempsey Shire is set to improve, with Council asked to endorse the Road Safety Strategy 2023-2024, prepared in partnership with Transport for NSW, and in consultation with the community.
Council are also asked to support the implementation of the plan as part of Council's future delivery and operational plans, noting opportunities for external funding of the identified actions are to be pursued through relevant state and federal government programs.
The main aim of the Strategy is to reduce road accidents and related trauma. In the five years from 2017 to 2021, 107 people were seriously injured and 14 people lost their lives on the roads in Kempsey Shire.
On average 19 serious injury crashes and 2 fatal crashes are occurring every year, which cause an immeasurable amount of grief, loss, and tragedy for our community.
The Strategy aims to achieve the Transport for NSW Road Safety Action Plan (2026) target of halving the number of road deaths on our roads and reducing the number of serious injuries by 30% by 2030.
For more information and to read the Road Safety Strategy, please see item 10.7 and attachment in the Business Papers.
Assessing the most important roads to be sealed
In response to community requests, Council staff have been reassessing the list of priority roads to be sealed using improved methods, including the ARC methodology, which uses a road safety risk assessment approach. In addition, staff have also considered other factors, including flood immunity, current and forecasted population growth, and strategic location.
Council will be asked to note that Pipers Creek Road and Spooners Avenue remain the top two priority roads, with Spooners Avenue as the top priority, and that they endorse the following list of roads in order of priority:
a. Spooners Avenue (Chain O Ponds Road to Collombatti Road)
b. Piper Creek Road (End of seal to Wirrang Drive)
c. Pipers Creek Road (Wirrang Drive to Ballengara Road)
d. Collombatti Road (Swan Lane to Hughes Access)
e. Smiths Creek Road (Crowther Drive to Crowther Drive)
f. First Lane (Gladstone Street to Smith Street)
Order of Business considered in open session
9.1. Local Traffic Committee Meeting Minutes
10.1. Presentations by School Leaders
10.2. Planning Proposal PP_2023_2105 (PP2300005) - KLEP 2013 Housekeeping Amendment -
South West Rocks Building Heights
10.3. Crescent Head Foreshore Community Advisory Group Terms of Reference and EOI
10.4. Proposed Dwelling - Marlin Circuit, Hat Head - DA2300773
10.5. Prioritisation of Sealing of Unsealed Roads
10.6. Slim Dusty Centre - Council application to become Crown Land Manager
10.7. Road Safety Strategy
10.8. Write-off of Outstanding Debt
10.9. Completion of Works on Private Land
10.10. Internal Audit Charters
10.11. Crescent Head Holiday Park - Shed Relocation
10.12. Statement of Cash and Investments - February 2024
11.1. Notice of Motion - Public Forum - Non-agenda Items
11.2. Notice of Motion - Public Forum and Question Time
11.3. Delegates Report - Social Media for Councillors
11.4. Delegates Report - Bush Fire Management Committee - 14 February 2024
12.1. Legal Matters
12.2. Audit, Risk & Improvement Committee - February 2024 Meeting Minutes and Annual
Activity Report
12.3. Land Acquistion - Lot 1 DP1263874
12.4. Confidential Mayoral Minute - General Manager's Interim Performance Review
More information
You can read the detailed agenda and reports in the business papers.
You can view the meeting on Council's YouTube page.