November meeting to discuss recruitment for new GM and airport

Published on 21 November 2024

The upcoming November Council meeting has a packed agenda, including kicking off the recruitment process for the new General Manager, a feasibility review for the Kempsey airport, approval for the Community Grants Program to award grants to the successful applicants, a request to adopt the Lower Macleay Flood Risk Management Study and Plan, and a proposal to introduce fees and charges for Kempsey Shire Council electric vehicle charging stations.

You can register to speak to Councillors at the Public Forum on Monday 25 November. 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 26 November.

You can view the full November 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.  

Begin recruitment process for new General Manager

In a Mayoral Minute, Mayor Kinne Ring will commence the recruitment process for a new General Manager after Mr Craig Milburn's notice of resignation on 28 October 2024. The Mayoral Minute thanks Mr Milburn for his exemplary leadership of Kempsey Shire Council through unprecedented challenges and acknowledges his significant contributions in his 30-year local government career. 

In the Mayoral Minute, it will be proposed that the title will be changed from General Manager to Chief Executive Officer, consistent with Port Macquarie Hastings and Coffs Harbour Councils, that Stephen Mitchell, Director Corporate & Commercial, will be appointed as acting Chief Executive Officer until the new CEO is appointed, and that the recruitment process begins immediately.

The task of recruitment will be given to a selection panel consisting of the Mayor, Deputy Mayor, another Councillor, who will be elected in this meeting, and a suitably qualified person independent of Council.

The future of Kempsey Airport

A Kempsey Airport Feasibility Review was commissioned by Kempsey Shire Council to review data, usage and capability requirements of the airport, as well as consulting aeromedical and emergency response providers, government authorities, as well as private and commercial airport users.

The report concludes that Kempsey airport plays a critical role in emergency and disaster response, and because of this, recommends that Council commits to the continued operation of the Kempsey airport. The report also acknowledges that Council has a binding agreement with the Federal Government to operate the Airport, as well as long term leases with tenants, and, in the absence of other options to run the airport, Council is left to manage the Airport for our region.

The airport is likely to continue operating at a loss, like the other regional airports who do not have regular passenger services or flight training movements. However, significant savings are forecast for 2025-26. These are largely the result of the installation of the airport wildlife fence, which is due to be finalised by the end of 2024. The fence will reduce the risk of wildlife on the runway, significantly reducing the regularity of serviceability and pre-flight inspections for aeromedical flights and the associated staff costs. The new fence also releases additional land for grazing leases, further reducing maintenance costs and generating a small lease revenue.

All options will continue to be explored to minimise the future burden on ratepayers, including:

• opportunities to outsource the operations through lease, sale or transfer to government agency (noting the June 2019 resolutions of Council regarding the Noise Management Plan and quadruple bottom line assessment procedures for flight training)
• opportunities to increase revenue, including commercial hangar developments and alternative land use on adjoining land
• operational cost savings
• apply for additional grant funding, including through the Disaster Ready Fund
• advocate for additional disaster and emergency funding from the State Government.

Community Grants Program

The first round of the Kempsey Shire Council 2024-25 Community Grants Program has completed, and Council will be asked to grant a total amount of $58,133.85 to a total of 21 successful applicants across six categories, including:

• Community Projects
• Environment
• Sporting
• Creative Macleay
• Festive Micro Grant
• Seniors Festival Micro Grant

The 2024-25 Community Grants Program has been delivered in a way that was fair, transparent, and accountable in a way to minimise any conflicts of interest. The recommendations for funding have been made through a competitive application process with the recommended applicants having met the Community Grants Program’s eligibility criteria.

Request to adopt the Lower Macleay Flood Risk Management Study and Plan

After being on exhibition for 28 days in August/September 2024, Council will be asked to adopt the Draft Lower Macleay Flood Risk Management Study and Plan.

The document was created in collaboration with a Flood Risk Reference Group, as well as offering the broader community opportunities to participate.

The Flood Risk Management Study and Plan identifies and prioritises a series of risk reduction measures, including planning and engineering solutions, with the aim of reducing the impact of flooding events on the Lower Macleay community.

Electric vehicle charging fees and charges 

The community was consulted in August over a proposal to introduce fees and charges for the current and future electric vehicle (EV) charging stations that have been installed by Kempsey Shire Council. 

Two EV chargers have been installed in the Kempsey Shire using grant funding: one at the Slim Dusty Centre and one at Back Creek, South West Rocks. Another EV charger will soon be installed at the Dunghutti-Ngaku Aboriginal Art Gallery car park in South Kempsey, also using grant funding.

Up until now, these EV chargers have been free to use. However, it is proposed that Council adopts an EV charging fee, as demand is increasing, and charging people to use the stations is a more financially sustainable approach for Council. It is recommended that users are charged at $0.25/kWh. This rate will be reviewed annually as part of the fees and charges review that is adopted by Council each year.

Order of Business to be considered in open session

8.1. General Manager Recruitment

8.2. Freedom of the Shire

10.1. Presentation of Financial Statements

10.2. Corporate Performance Report - Quarter 1 2024-25

10.3. Kempsey Airport Feasibility Review

10.4. Community Grants Program

10.5. Adoption - Lower Macleay Flood Risk Management Study and Plan

10.6. Kempsey Development Control Plan 2013 - Chapter E4 - Yarrahapinni Land Release Area

10.7. Fire Safety - 85-87 West Street, South Kempsey

10.8. Annual Report and State of Our Shire Report

10.9. Electric Vehicle Charging Fees and Charges - Community Consultation

10.10. Northern Regional Planning Panel - Membership Update

10.11. Crescent Head Community Advisory Group - Killick Creek Foreshore Inclusion to ToR

10.12. Delegation of Authority to the General Manager

10.13. Acting General Manager Appointment

10.14. Code of Conduct Complaint Statistics

10.15. Statement of Cash and Investments - October 2024

11.1. Notice of Motion - Vegetation Policy

11.2. Notice of Motion - Wigayi Cultural Park

12.1. Legal Matters

12.2. Audit, Risk & Improvement Committee Meeting Minutes - 23 October 2024

More information

You can read the detailed agenda and reports in the business papers. 

You can view the meeting on Council's YouTube page.