|
Minutes Ordinary Council Meeting
Alby Schultz meeting Centre, Cootamundra
6:00PM, Tuesday 28th April, 2026
Administration Centres: 1300 459 689 |
|
Minutes Ordinary Council Meeting
Alby Schultz meeting Centre, Cootamundra
6:00PM, Tuesday 28th April, 2026
Administration Centres: 1300 459 689 |
|
Ordinary Council Meeting Minutes |
28 April 2026 |
MINUTES
OF Cootamundra-Gundagai Regional Council
Ordinary Council
Meeting
HELD AT THE Alby
Schultz meeting Centre, Cootamundra
ON Tuesday, 28 April
2026 AT 6:00PM
PRESENT: Cr Abb McAlister (Mayor), Cr Rosalind Wight (Deputy Mayor), Cr Logan Collins, Cr Les Cooper, Cr Gil Kelly, Cr Penny Nicholson, Cr Ethan Ryan, Cr Danyal Syed.
IN ATTENDANCE: Roger Bailey (Interim General Manager), Trevor Dando (Acting Deputy General Manager - Operations), Damian Smith (Acting Manager Finance), Linda Wiles (Manager Business), Luke Izzard (Acting Manager Sustainable Development), Craig Perrin, (Town Planner), Teresa Breslin (Executive Assistant).
The Chairperson acknowledged the Wiradjuri people who are the Traditional Custodians of the Land at which the meeting was held and paid his respects to Elders, both past and present, of the Wiradjuri Nation and extended that respect to other Aboriginal people who were present.
2 Apologies, Leave of Absence, and AUDIO-VISUAL attendance requests
|
Resolution 096/2026 Moved: Cr Logan Collins Seconded: Cr Danyal Syed Apologies from Cr David Graham be received and leave of absence granted. |
2.2 Leave of Absence
Nil
2.3 Audio-visual attendance requests
Nil
Nil
|
4.1 Minutes of the Ordinary Meeting of Council held on Tuesday 24 March 2026 |
|
Resolution 097/2026 Moved: Cr Penny Nicholson Seconded: Cr Les Cooper That the Minutes of the Ordinary Meeting of Council held on Tuesday 24 March 2026 be confirmed as a true and correct record of the meeting. |
|
5.1 Mayoral Minute - Councillor Engagements - 18 March 2026 - 18 April 2026 |
|
Resolution 098/2026 Moved: Cr Les Cooper Seconded: Cr Gil Kelly The information in the Councillor Engagements Mayoral Minute be received and noted. |
|
6.1 Minutes of the Demerger Transition Committee Meeting held on Tuesday 10 March 2026 |
|
Resolution 099/2026 Moved: Cr Ethan Ryan Seconded: Cr Rosalind Wight 1. That the Minutes of the Demerger Transition Committee Meeting held on Tuesday 10 March 2026, attached to the report, be received and noted. 2. That the Draft Minutes of the Demerger Transition Committee Meeting held on Tuesday 10 March 2026, attached to the report, be noted and the following recommendations be adopted: 2.1. That Council endorses Candidate A as Chair of the Demerger Transition Dispute resolution Panel. 2.2. That Council endorses Candidate B and Candidate F as members of the Demerger Transition Dispute Resolution Panel. 2.3. That Council endorses Candidate C as an alternative member of the Demerger Transition Dispute Resolution Panel should one of the other members not be available for any reason. 2.4. That Council: 2.4.1. Establishes the positions of: 2.4.1.1. General Manager Designate Cootamundra 2.4.1.2. General Manager Designate Gundagai 2.4.2. Seeks to employ both GMs-Designate by 30 April 2027 at the latest, initially as an award-based employee with remuneration package equivalent to that of the relevant GM position. 2.4.3. Seeks to have the Proclamation refer to the appointment of the GMs-Designate as the Interim General Manager of the Council for which they were recruited. 2.4.4. Determines that the GMs-Designate’s role will include: 2.4.4.1. Review the draft structure of the organisation for which they are recruited. 2.4.4.2. Recruit as many vacant positions as possible by 1 July 2027. 2.4.4.3. Working with the other GM-Designate and the Interim General Manager, ensure that all new staff a properly inducted and trained. 2.4.4.4. Progress the Demerger Transition Project to ensure that both successor Councils are fully operational on 1 July 2027. 2.4.4.5. Working with the other GM-Designate and the Interim General Manager, finalise the draft IP&R and other plans and policies for the Council for which they are recruited. 2.4.4.6. Assist the CGRC Interim GM as required to ensure the continued operation of CGRC and the smooth transition to the new organisations. 2.5. That Council, to facilitate the recruitment of the two GMs-Designate: 2.5.1. Establishes two Committees of Council, being: 2.5.1.1. GM Cootamundra Recruitment Committee, comprising Councillors Wight, Kelly, Ryan, Collins, Cooper and Syed. 2.5.1.2. GM Gundagai Recruitment Committee, comprising Councillors McAllister, Graham and Nicholson. 2.5.2. Requires the Committees to follow the Guidelines for the Appointment and Oversight of General Managers issued under Section 23a of the Local Government Act 1993. 2.5.3. Authorises each Committee to: 2.5.3.1. Elect the Committee Chair. 2.5.3.2. Appoint a recruitment agency to assist with the recruitment process for each successor Council. 2.5.3.3. Select the preferred candidate for each successor Council for referral to Council for formal appointment. 2.6. That Council: 2.6.1. Approves the methodology for allocating Council’s reserves detailed in the report for item 5.1.3 in the Demerger Transition Committee Business Paper for its 15 April 2026 meeting. 2.6.2. Authorises the engagement of a contractor, selected by the Interim General Manager and the Demerger Transition Manager, to undertake the work of splitting the reserves according to the approved methodology so that the successor council reserves can be provided to the consultant engaged to prepare the updated Financial Sustainability Plan. 2.6.3. Consistent with Council’s adopted Restricted Assets Policy, establishes a reserve to retain the Financial Assistance Grants (FAGs) paid in advance with the reserve plus interest to carry forward to the actual year for which the FAGs were paid. 2.6.4. Acknowledges that the reserve established in part 2.6.3 above will further reduce the cash available for Council’s internally restricted reserves. 2.6.5. Acknowledges that it is possible that the division of an Externally Restricted Reserves may result in one of the proposed successor Councils having a negative balance requiring that Council to borrow to repay the other successor Council. 2.6.6. Acknowledges that Council’s Internally Restricted Reserves are not fully cash backed and require the balances of all such reserves to be reduced on a pro rata basis to the reserves are fully cash backed. 2.6.7. Requires that the organisation record all future reserve transactions so that the successor council reserve balances are accurately known on 30 June 2027. |
Nil
|
7.2.1 Draft 2026-30 Delivery Program and Draft 2026/27 Operational Plan and Associated Documents |
|
Resolution 100/2026 Moved: Cr Danyal Syed Seconded: Cr Logan Collins 1. Council resolve that the 2026-2030 Draft Delivery Program, inclusive of the Draft 2026/27 - 2029/30 Operating budget and the Draft 2026/27 Long Term Financial Plan, be placed on public exhibition for a period of 28 days. 2. Council resolve that the Draft 2026/27 Operational Plan, inclusive of the Draft 2027 Revenue Policy, Draft 2027 Operating Budget and Draft 2027 Capital Works Budget, be placed on public exhibition for a period of 28 days. 3. A further report be submitted to the ordinary meeting of Council scheduled to be held 23 June 2026, to consider submissions received, if any, during the Public Exhibition period, and to formally adopt the 2026-2030 Delivery Program and 2026/27 Operational Plan. |
|
7.2.2 Audit, Risk and Improvement Committee (ARIC) Meeting 5 March 2026 |
|
Resolution 101/2026 Moved: Cr Penny Nicholson Seconded: Cr Les Cooper That Council notes the minutes of the Audit, Risk and Improvement Committee (ARIC) Meeting Minutes held on 5 March 2026. |
|
Resolution 102/2026 Moved: Cr Rosalind Wight Seconded: Cr Logan Collins That Council: 1. Receive and note the following s.355 Committee Minutes: 1.1. Muttama Creek Regeneration Group s.355 Committee Meeting – 9 February 2026 1.2. Stockinbingal Ellwood’s Hall s.355 Committee Meeting – 26 February 2026 and 23 March 2026 1.3. Cootamundra Heritage Centre Management Committee s.355 Committee Meeting – 4 March 2026 1.4. Muttama Hall Management Committee s.355 Committee Meeting – 15 March 2026 2. Sends a letter of thanks and appreciation to Yvonne Forsyth for her contribution to the Cootamundra Heritage Centre s.355 Committee and the Cootamundra Community. |
|
7.2.4 Wallendbeen Memorial Hall s.355 Committee Meeting Minutes, Membership and Fees |
|
Resolution 103/2026 Moved: Cr Ethan Ryan Seconded: Cr Gil Kelly 1. The Minutes and supporting documentation of the Wallendbeen Memorial Hall s.355 Committee Annual General Meeting (AGM) and Ordinary Meeting Minutes, held on 19 March 2026, attached to the report, be received and noted. 2. The office bearers and membership of the Wallendbeen Memorial Hall s.355 Committee as listed below, be endorsed: President: Alex Baldry Vice President: Phillip McGeoch Secretary/Treasurer: Marcia Thorburn Other Members: Margaret McGeoch, Helen Worland, Toby Bassingthwaighte, Ken Thorburn, Michael Baldry, Ken Clark, Wayne Trenning, Darrell Ceeney. |
|
Resolution 104/2026 Moved: Cr Gil Kelly Seconded: Cr Ethan Ryan The Draft Records Management Policy, attached to the report, be adopted. |
|
Resolution 105/2026 Moved: Cr Les Cooper Seconded: Cr Danyal Syed That the Draft Civic Events and Ceremonial Functions Policy attached to the report be adopted. |
|
7.3.1 Loan for Extension of Water Supply to Dog on the Tucker Box Site |
|
Resolution 106/2026 Moved: Cr Penny Nicholson Seconded: Cr Rosalind Wight That authority be granted to the Interim General Manager to execute the loan agreement on behalf of Council for up to $2,533,500 to be repaid over a 10-year term limit. |
|
Resolution 107/2026 Moved: Cr Danyal Syed Seconded: Cr Les Cooper That the Finance Update report for the month of March 2026, be noted. |
|
Resolution 108/2026 Moved: Cr Ethan Ryan Seconded: Cr Logan Collins The Restricted Cash Reconciliation report for the period ending 31 March 2026, be received and noted. |
|
Resolution 109/2026 Moved: Cr Rosalind Wight Seconded: Cr Logan Collins The report detailing Council Cash and Investments as at 31st March 2026, be noted. |
|
Resolution 110/2026 Moved: Cr Ethan Ryan Seconded: Cr Penny Nicholson 1. Note that the final draft Gundagai Housing and Employment Land Strategy was publicly exhibited for a period of 28 days. 2. Note that four (4) submissions during the exhibition period, and that these submissions have been considered, investigated and incorporated where appropriate into the document presented for adoption. 3. Adopt the final Gundagai Housing and Employment Land Strategy. 4. In the event that minor errors or amendments are identified, staff are authorised to make necessary alterations, provided that the core content and recommendations of the strategy remain unchanged, allowing for its adoption. 5. Notify the Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure of the adoption. 6. Notify submitters of the outcome. |
|
Resolution 111/2026 Moved: Cr Logan Collins Seconded: Cr Les Cooper That the draft Cootamundra-Gundagai Regional Council Road Safety Action Plan 2026-2030, as attached to this report, be endorsed. |
|
Resolution 112/2026 Moved: Cr Les Cooper Seconded: Cr Ethan Ryan That the Cootamundra Engineering Report for the month of March 2026 be noted. |
|
Resolution 113/2026 Moved: Cr Logan Collins Seconded: Cr Penny Nicholson That the Gundagai Engineering Report for the month of March 2026 be noted. |
7.7 Regional Services Gundagai
|
Resolution 114/2026 Moved: Cr Penny Nicholson Seconded: Cr Gil Kelly That the Gundagai Regional Services report for the month of March 2026 be noted. |
7.8 Regional Services Cootamundra
|
Resolution 115/2026 Moved: Cr Ethan Ryan Seconded: Cr Les Cooper That the Cootamundra Regional Services Report for the month of February 2026, be noted. |
8 Motion of which Notice has been Given
Nil
|
Resolution 116/2026 Moved: Cr Danyal Syed Seconded: Cr Les Cooper That: 1. The response to the Question with Notice on the Cootamundra Saleyards report be noted. 2. Council seeks a Workshop with Crown Lands to discuss options for the use of the Cootamundra Saleyards. |
|
9.2 Question with Notice - Cr Wight - Standpipe in Cowcumbla Street Cootamundra |
|
Resolution 117/2026 Moved: Cr Logan Collins Seconded: Cr Ethan Ryan That the response to the Question with Notice on the standpipe in Cowcumbla Street Cootamundra be noted. |
|
Resolution 118/2026 Moved: Cr Rosalind Wight Seconded: Cr Gil Kelly That the response to the Question with Notice regarding maintenance on old section of the Cootamundra Cemetery, be noted. |
|
9.4 Question with Notice - Cr Wight - Cootamundra Staffing, Vehicle Entitlements and Fuel Costs from 1 July 2027 |
|
Resolution 119/2026 Moved: Cr Rosalind Wight Seconded: Cr Les Cooper That the response to the Question with Notice regarding Cootamundra Staffing, Vehicle Entitlements and Fuel Costs from 1 July 2027, be noted. |
|
9.5 Question with Notice - Cr Wight - Gundagai Waste Facility |
|
Resolution 120/2026 Moved: Cr Rosalind Wight Seconded: Cr Penny Nicholson That: 1. The response to the Question with Notice regarding the Gundagai Waste Facility, be noted. 2. Council schedules a site visit to the Gundagai Waste Facility and a presentation on points during the next Council Workshop. |
|
9.6 Question with Notice - Cr Wight - Councillor expenditure on Fuel |
|
Resolution 121/2026 Moved: Cr Rosalind Wight Seconded: Cr Logan Collins That the response to the Question with Notice regarding Councillor Expenditure on Fuel, be noted. |
|
Resolution 122/2026 Moved: Cr Logan Collins Seconded: Cr Gil Kelly That Councillor Wight be given provision to attend further Council Meetings and Workshops by way of audio visual link until the car issue at hand has been resolved. |
|
Resolution 123/2026 Moved: Cr Ethan Ryan Seconded: Cr Gil Kelly 1. Council entered Closed Council at 7.25pm. 2. Items 10.2, 10.3 and 10.4 be considered in closed Council at which the press and public are excluded in accordance with the applicable provisions of the Local Government Act, 1993 and related public interest reasons detailed. 3. In accordance with section 11 (2) and (3) of the Local Government Act, 1993, the reports, correspondence and other documentation relating to Items 10.2, 10.3 and 10.4 be withheld from the press and public.
|
Note: Due to technical difficulties, the livestreaming and recording of the meeting was not able to continue after the confidential session.
|
Resolution 124/2026 Moved: Cr Les Cooper Seconded: Cr Logan Collins That the confidential information in the Human Resources report be noted. |
|
Resolution 125/2026 Moved: Cr Gil Kelly Seconded: Cr Les Cooper That Council not approve hardship assistance for the owner of the property identified as assessment number 11017340. |
|
Resolution 126/2026 Moved: Cr Logan Collins Seconded: Cr Penny Nicholson That Council: 1. Approves the hardship application for Assessment No. 11027471, subject to the ratepayer entering into and maintaining a payment arrangement approved by the Interim General Manager. 2. Authorises the Interim General Manager to: (a) determine and enter into the payment arrangement with the ratepayer; and (b) write off any interest accrued for the period 1 May 2026 to 31 October 2026, provided the ratepayer complies with that payment arrangement for the duration of that period. |
Resumption of Open Council Meeting
|
Resolution 127/2026 Moved: Cr Danyal Syed Seconded: Cr Penny Nicholson That the Open Council meeting resume at 7.28pm. |
Announcement of Closed Council Resolutions
Note: The Interim General Manager announced the resolutions made in Closed Council.
The Meeting closed at 7.35pm.
|
|
|
|
CHAIRPERSON |
GENERAL MANAGER |