November Council meeting highlights
Published on 26 November 2024
It was a packed agenda for Councillors to get through for the November Council meeting, with the recruitment process for the new CEO to replace Craig Milburn, community management of Wigayi Cultural Park, the future of Kempsey airport, Community Grants, the draft Lower Macleay Flood Risk Management Study and Plan, and the Yarrahapinni land release were some of the items discussed.
Recruitment process for new CEO to kick off
Mayor Ring received approval from Council to begin the recruitment process to replace outgoing General Manager Craig Milburn, who will be retiring from his position from 14 December. Councillors also agreed that the title of General Manager be changed to Chief Executive Officer upon recruitment of the new person, and that an external recruitment services provider be engaged to begin the process.
The task of hiring a new CEO will be given to a selection panel consisting of the Mayor, Deputy Mayor, a Councillor, and a suitably qualified person independent of Council. Councillor Paix was voted as the Councillor representative on the panel in an open show of hands.
In a farewell speech to the General Manager, the Mayor recognised Mr Milburn's contributions to Kempsey Shire Council and Local Government more broadly over his 30-year career.
"I hope you leave knowing that you left Kempsey Shire Council in a better place than you found it. Which is the most any of us can ever hope for in our lives. Since I have known Craig, he has repeatedly said that we are “Better Together”. This was never just about council, but about all of our community. It was about bringing everyone together. Because at the end of the day, whether we have bushfires, floods or pandemics, the only thing we really have is each other."
Wigayi Cultural Park to be managed by the Aboriginal community
Councillors were asked to consider the proposal Wigayi Cultural Park be managed by Wigayi Cultural Place Incorporated (WCP.Inc). The park is Council managed and owned land, and WCP.Inc has demonstrated a willingness and a commitment to take on the management of the Park. Councillors voted unanimously to recognise the cultural and community need for self-management of Wigayi Cultural Park, and to see it is an opportunity for Council to recognise First Nations peoples right for self-management of important places and ability to generate social enterprise that overall benefits all of our communities.
WCP.Inc's vision is to enter into a long-term self-management lease agreement with Council in order to:
- create a sense of belonging and hope for all who live in the Macleay
- remind each other of how much we have in common and embrace our differences as a way to make us stronger as a community
- increase understanding of our Traditional Owners and pay respects to the wealth of knowledge they have of the region
- provide a range of activities, events and cultural practices through community development and social enterprise.
The future of Kempsey Airport assured
The continued operation of Kempsey Airport has been assured after Councillors unanimously accepted the Kempsey Airport Feasibility Review, where one of the conclusions was that Council commits to the continued operation of the Kempsey airport.
The 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, and private and commercial airport users.
The report concludes that Kempsey airport plays a critical role in emergency and disaster response, 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.
In committing to run the Airport, Council will proceed with Airport runway resurfacing, drainage and lighting upgrades project, and will look for way to reduce the project costs, through value engineering, and seek further funding, including through the Disaster Ready Fund.
Council also wants to thank airport users, government agencies and emergency response providers for their input into the review, as well as members of the community who have passionately advocated for retaining the airport as a Kempsey Shire asset.
Community Grants recipients approved
Twenty one community groups will receive grants from the first round of the Kempsey Shire Council 2024-25 Community Grants Program, with Council agreeing to grant a total amount of $58,133.85 across six categories. The grant recipients are listed below:
Community Projects Fund:
- Rotary Club of South West Rocks
- CWA South West Rocks
- CWA Kempsey
- Kempsey Families Inc
- Kempsey Tennis Club Inc
- Kempsey Pensioners League Inc
- South West Rocks Maritime Precinct Inc
Environmental Fund:
- South West Rocks Community Dune Care Group Inc
- Stuarts Point and Districts Community Organisation (SPADCO)
- Hat Head Dune Care
- Save Our Macleay River
- Big Nobby Bush Care Group
Sporting Fund:
- South West Rocks Dragon Boat Club Inc
- Macleay Valley Mountain Bike Club
- Macleay Pickleball Inc
- Willawarrin & District Horse and Pony Club
- Kempsey Rugby Union Football Club
Creative Macleay Fund:
Kempsey Eisteddfod Society
Festive Micro Grant
- Willawarrin Hall Committee
- Kempsey East P&C Association
Seniors Festival Micro Grant
Flood Risk Plan
The adoption of the Flood Risk Management Study and Plan was discussed at today's meeting, and it was decided that a decision on the Plan be deferred until the December meeting to allow Councillors to receive a briefing to help them better understand the implications of the plan.
Councillors also requested that a fact sheet be produced to help communicate to the community about the plan.
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.
The document was created in collaboration with a Flood Risk Reference Group, as well as offering the broader community opportunities to participate.
Business 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.