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Minutes Ordinary Council Meeting
Council Chambers, Gundagai
6:00PM, Tuesday 26th May, 2026
Administration Centres: 1300 459 689 |
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Minutes Ordinary Council Meeting
Council Chambers, Gundagai
6:00PM, Tuesday 26th May, 2026
Administration Centres: 1300 459 689 |
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Ordinary Council Meeting Minutes |
26 May 2026 |
MINUTES OF Cootamundra-Gundagai Regional Council
Ordinary Council
Meeting
HELD AT THE Council
Chambers, Gundagai
ON Tuesday, 26 May
2026 AT 6:00PM
PRESENT: Cr Abb McAlister (Mayor), Cr Rosalind Wight (Deputy Mayor), Cr Logan Collins, Cr Les Cooper, Cr David Graham, 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), Greg Ewings (Acting Manager Regional Services Gundagai), 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
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Resolution 128/2026 Moved: Cr Ethan Ryan Seconded: Cr Logan Collins That the apology received from Cr Kelly be accepted and leave of absence granted. |
2.2 Leave of Absence
Nil
2.3 Audio-visual attendance requests
Nil
Nil
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4.1 Minutes of the Ordinary Meeting of Council held on Tuesday 28 April 2026 |
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Resolution 129/2026 Moved: Cr Penny Nicholson Seconded: Cr Les Cooper That the Minutes of the Ordinary Meeting of Council held on Tuesday 28 April 2026 be confirmed as a true and correct record of the meeting. |
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5.1 Mayoral Minute - Councillor Engagements - 17 April 2026 - 17 May 2026 |
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Resolution 130/2026 Moved: Cr David Graham Seconded: Cr Logan Collins The information in the Councillor Engagements Mayoral Minute be received and noted. |
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5.2 Mayoral Minute - Support for the Community Service Obligation on banks to fund face-to-face banking in regional Australia – Regional Banking Investment Alliance |
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Resolution 131/2026 Moved: Cr David Graham Seconded: Cr Danyal Syed That Council: 1. Formally endorse the obligation on banks to fund face-to-face banking in regional Australia campaign led by the Regional Banking Investment Alliance and include council logo on RBIA materials. 2. Advocate to the Commonwealth Government to legislate a cost sharing model for banks to fund regional face-to-face banking services. 3. Continue to leverage Council’s existing advocacy platforms to amplify the campaign. |
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Resolution 132/2026 Moved: Cr Logan Collins Seconded: Cr Rosalind Wight That Council note the attendance of Councillor Collins to the 2026 NSW Local Roads Congress on 1 June 2026. |
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7.1.2 ALGA 2026 National Local Roads and Transport Congress - 25-26 August 2026 |
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Resolution 133/2026 Moved: Cr Abb McAlister Seconded: Cr David Graham The attendance of Councillor Cooper and one (1) appropriate staff member, at the Australian Local Government Association 2026 National Local Roads and Transport Congress from 25-26 August 2026, be endorsed. |
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Resolution 134/2026 Moved: Cr Rosalind Wight Seconded: Cr Ethan Ryan 1. Council determine the Councillors annual fee effective 1st July, 2026 to be $19,590. 2. Council determine the Mayors annual fee effective 1st July, 2026 to be $42,030. 3. Consistent with resolution 173/2022 Council continue to support superannuation contribution payments for Councillors, subject to individual Councillors nominating an eligible superannuation account, thus enabling superannuation payments to commence. |
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7.2.1 Delivery Program - Operational Plan Quarterly Progress Report |
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Resolution 135/2026 Moved: Cr Penny Nicholson Seconded: Cr Les Cooper The Delivery Program incorporating the Operational Plan 2025/2026, quarterly progress report, for Quarter 3 – (January to March), attached to the report, be received and noted. |
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Resolution 136/2026 Moved: Cr Logan Collins Seconded: Cr Danyal Syed That the following s.355 Committee Meeting minutes, attached to the report be received and noted: 1. The Minutes of the Heritage Centre Management s.355 committee meeting dated 13 April 2026. 2. The Minutes of the Cootamundra Showground Users s.355 committee meeting dated 15 April 2026. 3. The Minutes of the Muttama Creek Regeneration Group s.355 committee meeting dated 20 April 2026. |
Cr Wight acknowledged the passing of, and paid tribute to Jackie Vincent OAM.
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7.2.3 Authority to affix the common seal of council - Riverina Regional Library Deed of Agreement |
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Resolution 137/2026 Moved: Cr Ethan Ryan Seconded: Cr David Graham Authority be granted to the Mayor and Interim General Manager to affix the common seal of Council and sign the Riverina Regional Library (RRL) Deed of Agreement for the period 1 July 2026 to 30 June 2030. |
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7.2.4 Delegates for Riverina Regional Library Advisory Committee |
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Resolution 138/2026 Moved: Cr Ethan Ryan Seconded: Cr David Graham That Council: 1. Accept Cr Wights notice to be removed as delegate from the Riverina Regional Library Advisory Committee. 2. Appoints Cr Ryan as the Councillor delegate to the Committee in accordance with section C, Clause 7.2 of the RRL Deed of Agreement. 3. Appoints both Library Managers from Cootamundra and Gundagai as delegates to the Riverina Regional Library Advisory Committee, with the understanding that only one delegate may exercise a vote at Committee meetings. |
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Resolution 139/2026 Moved: Cr Les Cooper Seconded: Cr David Graham That the Finance Update report for the month of April 2026, be noted. |
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Resolution 140/2026 Moved: Cr Les Cooper Seconded: Cr David Graham The Restricted Cash Reconciliation report for the period ending 30 April 2026, be received and noted. |
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Resolution 141/2026 Moved: Cr Logan Collins Seconded: Cr Ethan Ryan The report detailing Council Cash and Investments as at 30th April 2026, be noted. |
Nil
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Resolution 142/2026 Moved: Cr Rosalind Wight Seconded: Cr Les Cooper That the Cootamundra Engineering Report for the month of April 2026 be noted. |
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Resolution 143/2026 Moved: Cr David Graham Seconded: Cr Penny Nicholson That Council: 1. Endorse the 2026/2027 Plant Replacement Program. 2. Endorse the 2026/2027 Plant Replacement Budget of $2,000,000 gross purchase, $696,000 asset disposals, resulting in net capital purchase of $1,304,000. 3. Authorise the advance ordering of plant given the significant lead times expected, subject to endorsement of the 2026/27 budget. |
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Resolution 144/2026 Moved: Cr Penny Nicholson Seconded: Cr Rosalind Wight That the Gundagai Engineering Report for the month of April 2026 be noted. |
7.7 Regional Services Gundagai
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Resolution 145/2026 Moved: Cr Ethan Ryan Seconded: Cr Logan Collins That the Gundagai Regional Services report for the month of April 2026 be noted. |
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Moved: Cr Penny Nicholson Seconded: Cr David Graham That Council: 1. Notes the report on the Prince Alfred Bridge Timbers stored at the Gundagai Waste Site. 2. Offers for sale the timbers located in the Group One Pile as one lot on a as is where is basis through an Expression of Interest process. |
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Seconded: Cr Logan Collins 1. That a Working Party comprising the three (3) Gundagai Councillors and relevant Council staff be established to consider the Prince Alfred Bridge Timbers and provide a report back to Council. 2. That, upon the sale of the timber, the proceeds be placed into a restricted reserve fund for future use on projects and initiatives benefiting the Gundagai community. On being PUT the Amendment became the MOTION |
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Resolution 146/2026 Moved: Cr Abb McAlister Seconded: Cr Logan Collins 1. That a Working Party comprising three (3) Gundagai Councillors and relevant Council staff be established to consider the Prince Alfred Bridge Timbers and provide a report back to Council. 2. That, upon the sale of the timber, the proceeds be placed into a restricted reserve fund for future use on projects and initiatives benefiting the Gundagai community. |
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Resolution 147/2026 Moved: Cr Penny Nicholson Seconded: Cr Les Cooper 1. That the 2026 Waste Service Review be received and noted. 2. That the following Waste Services Initiatives identified in the 2026 Waste Review be adopted: 2.1. Retain external contracting arrangements for transfer station servicing in the short term and prepare separate request for Tender for the Transfer Station service and the Burra Road servicing. 2.2. Continue investigation into alternative waste transfer improvements including on-site compaction methods, transport and processing models including joining the SWRWMG Haulage by walking floor trailer model to improve cost efficiency. 2.3. Undertake a comprehensive financial review of Council’s waste services, including long-term sustainability and reserve funding requirements. 2.4. Investigate the proposal to introduce an appropriate Waste awareness campaign. 2.5. Undertake investigation the potential for providing an appropriate annual bulky waste service model for pensioners and disadvantaged residents within the kerbside collection areas. 2.6. Continue with capital needs as detailed in the 2026 Waste Review and the 2020-2030 Waste Strategy action plan as detailed below: 2.6.1. Site Fencing Gundagai - 850mtrs at $50.00 per metre $42,500. 2.6.2. Site Groundwater Bores Gundagai- Installation of Groundwater bores $20,000. 2.6.3. Site Security Improvements Gundagai – Installation of Solar and Battery system and additional CCTV Cameras - $22,000. 2.6.4. Provision of a new site Amenities and weighbridge – Estimated $340,000. 2.6.5. Purchase of High Reach Loader unit for the site – Estimated $160,000. |
7.8 Regional Services Cootamundra
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Resolution 148/2026 Moved: Cr Les Cooper Seconded: Cr Rosalind Wight The Cootamundra Regional Services Report for the month of April 2026 be noted. |
8 Motion of which Notice has been Given
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8.1 Notice of Motion of Rescission - RES 122/2026 Audio-Visual Link Access Granted |
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Resolution 149/2026 Moved: Cr Ethan Ryan Seconded: Cr Les Cooper That the following resolution carried at the Council Meeting held on 28 April 2026 in relation to Resolution number 122/2026 be rescinded: 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. |
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9.1 Question with Notice - Cr Wight - Fuel Expenditure in the Budget |
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Resolution 150/2026 Moved: Cr Rosalind Wight Seconded: Cr Ethan Ryan The response to the Question with Notice regarding Fuel Expenditure in the Budget, be noted. |
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9.2 Question with Notice - Cr Wight - Gundagai Waste Facility |
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Resolution 151/2026 Moved: Cr Rosalind Wight Seconded: Cr Logan Collins The response to the Question with Notice regarding the Gundagai Waste Facility, be noted. |
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9.3 Question with Notice - Cr Wight - Cootamundra Saleyards RES 074/2024 |
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Resolution 152/2026 Moved: Cr Rosalind Wight Seconded: Cr David Graham The response to the Question with Notice on the Cootamundra Saleyards RES 074/2024 report be noted. |
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Resolution 153/2026 Moved: Cr Les Cooper Seconded: Cr Ethan Ryan 1. Council entered Closed Council at 7:48pm. 2. Items 10.2, 10.3, 10.4 and 10.5 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, 10.4 and 10.5 be withheld from the press and public. |
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Resolution 154/2026 Moved: Cr Logan Collins Seconded: Cr Rosalind Wight That the confidential information in the Human Resources report be noted. |
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Resolution 155/2026 Moved: Cr Penny Nicholson Seconded: Cr Les Cooper That Council: 1. Approves the hardship application for Assessment No. 11022274, 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 June 2026 to 30 November 2026, provided the ratepayer complies with that payment arrangement for the duration of that period. |
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Resolution 156/2026 Moved: Cr Rosalind Wight Seconded: Cr Logan Collins The response to the Question with Notice regarding New Soil, be noted. |
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10.5 Question with Notice - Cr Wight - Dongas at the Cootamundra Abattoirs |
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Resolution 157/2026 Moved: Cr Logan Collins Seconded: Cr Ethan Ryan The response to the Question with Notice regarding Dongas at the Cootamundra Abattoirs, be noted. |
Resumption of Open Council Meeting
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Resolution 158/2026 Moved: Cr Ethan Ryan Seconded: Cr Les Cooper That the Open Council meeting resume at 8:18pm |
Announcement of Closed Council Resolutions
Note: The Interim General Manager announced the resolutions made in Closed Council.
The Meeting closed at 8.20pm.
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CHAIRPERSON |
GENERAL MANAGER |