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Minutes Ordinary Council Meeting
Council Chambers, Gundagai
6:00PM, Tuesday 22nd September, 2026
Administration Centres: 1300 459 689 |
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Minutes Ordinary Council Meeting
Council Chambers, Gundagai
6:00PM, Tuesday 22nd September, 2026
Administration Centres: 1300 459 689 |
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Ordinary Council Meeting Minutes |
22 September 2026 |
MINUTES OF Cootamundra-Gundagai Regional Council
Ordinary Council
Meeting
HELD AT THE Council
Chambers, Gundagai
ON Tuesday, 22
September 2026 AT 6:02PM
PRESENT: Cr Abb McAlister (Mayor), Cr Rosalind Wight (Deputy Mayor), Cr Logan Collins, Cr Les Cooper, Cr David Graham, 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), 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
Nil
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 25 August 2026 |
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Resolution 223/2026 Moved: Cr Logan Collins Seconded: Cr Ethan Ryan That the Minutes of the Ordinary Meeting of Council held on Tuesday 25 August 2026 be confirmed as a true and correct record of the meeting. |
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5.1 Mayoral Minute - Councillor Engagements - 18 July 2026 - 14 September 2026 |
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Resolution 224/2026 Moved: Cr Les Cooper Seconded: Cr Penny Nicholson The information in the Councillor Engagements Mayoral Minute be received and noted. |
Item - 6.1 Minutes of the Demerger Transition Committee Meeting held on Tuesday 15 September 2026 was considered after the Election of Mayor and Deputy Mayor.
7 General Manager’s Report
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Resolution 225/2026 Moved: Cr Logan Collins Seconded: Cr Gil Kelly That Council: 1. Notes the report on the nominations for and election for the position of Mayor for the period to September 2028 or the demerger of the Council, whichever occurs first; 2. Determine the method of voting for the position of Mayor be by, Ordinary Ballot. 3. Proceed to hold the election for the position of Mayor for the term. |
The Mayor stood down and the Returning Officer proceeded with the election process.
The Returning Officer confirmed that one nomination had been received for the position of Mayor, namely Cr Abb McAlister. Before proceeding, the Returning Officer asked whether there were any further nominations. No further nominations were received.
The Returning Officer then declared Cr Abb McAlister as Mayor for the period to September 2028 or the demerger of the Council, whichever occurs first.
Mayor McAlister assumed the Chair.
The Mayor gave address to Council and the community.
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Resolution 226/2026 Moved: Cr Logan Collins Seconded: Cr David Graham That Council: 1. Note the report on the appointment of and procedure for the election of a Deputy Mayor; 2. Elect a Deputy Mayor from its number for the Mayoral term. 3. Pay to the Deputy Mayor, from the Mayor’s annual fee, a sum of $500 per month in recognition of such times where the Deputy Mayor acts in the office of Mayor; and 4. Hold an election for the position of Deputy Mayor on the same basis as for the Mayoral position. |
The Returning Officer confirmed that one nomination had been received for the position of Deputy Mayor, namely Cr Ethan Ryan. Before proceeding, the Returning Officer asked whether there were any further nominations. No further nominations were received.
The Returning Officer then declared Cr Ethan Ryan as Deputy Mayor for the period to September 2028 or the demerger of the Council, whichever occurs first.
At 6:10 pm, Cr Ethan Ryan left the meeting.
At 6:10 pm, Cr Abb McAlister left the meeting.
At 6:12 pm, Cr Ethan Ryan returned to the meeting.
At 6:12 pm, Cr Abb McAlister returned to the meeting.
Cr Abb McAlister addressed the Council and the community, thanking Cr Ros Wight for her service as Deputy Mayor.
Cr Ros Wight, previous Deputy Mayor, addressed Council and the community.
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6.1 Minutes of the Demerger Transition Committee Meeting held on Tuesday 15 September 2026 |
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Resolution 227/2026 Moved: Cr Rosalind Wight Seconded: Cr Gil Kelly 1. That the Minutes of the Demerger Transition Committee Meeting held on Tuesday 15 September 2026, attached to the report, be received and noted. 2. In consideration of the Demerger Transition Committees recommendations detailed in the minutes, Council endorse the following: 2.1. That Council allocate its 2026-2027 financial year cash reserves opening balances based on the audited FY26 closing balances and distributed between the proposed successor Councils using the percentages from the Morrison Low Advisory Cash Analysis Allocation report, namely while noting that: · The Employee Leave Entitlement and Plant reserves will need to be recalculated as at 30 June 2027. · Any pre-paid Financial Assistance Grants will need to be allocated based on appropriate pro-rata basis for both the General and Roads Component.
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Resolution 228/2026 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 Ordinary Minutes of The Muttama Creek Regeneration s.355 Committee dated 12 August 2026. 2. The Annual General Meeting Minutes (inclusive of the Chairmans Report and Financial Statement 2025-2026) of the Bradman Birthplace s.355 Committee dated 19 August 2026. 3. The Office bearers and membership of the Bradman Birthplace s.355 Committee as detailed in the report be endorsed. 4. The Ordinary Minutes of the Stockinbingal Ellwood’s Hall s.355 Committee dated 24 August 2026. |
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Resolution 229/2026 Moved: Cr Penny Nicholson Seconded: Cr David Graham That the Business Continuity Management Policy attached to the report be adopted. |
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Resolution 230/2026 Moved: Cr David Graham Seconded: Cr Gil Kelly That the Finance Update report for the month of August 2026, be noted. |
At 6:22 pm, Cr Abb McAlister left the meeting.
Cr Ethan Ryan (Deputy Mayor) assumed the Chair.
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Resolution 231/2026 Moved: Cr Gil Kelly Seconded: Cr David Graham The Restricted Cash Reconciliation report for the period ending 31 August 2026, be received and noted. |
At 6:24 pm, Cr Abb McAlister returned to the meeting.
Cr Abb McAlister (Mayor) resumed the Chair.
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7.3.3 Investment Report - August 2026 |
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Resolution 232/2026 Moved: Cr Ethan Ryan Seconded: Cr Rosalind Wight The report detailing Council Cash and Investments as at 31st August 2026, be noted. |
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7.3.4 Lodgement of Financial Statements for year ended 30 June 2026 |
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Resolution 233/2026 Moved: Cr David Graham Seconded: Cr Les Cooper That: 1. The Mayor, Deputy Mayor, General Manager and Responsible Accounting Officer be delegated to sign the Statements by Council and Management for the 2026 General Purpose Financial Statements and 2026 Special Purpose Financial Statements for Cootamundra-Gundagai Regional Council. 2. The 2026 Financial Statements be referred for audit. 3. The General Manager be authorised to issue the 2026 Financial Statements upon receipt of the auditor’s report, subject to there being no material changes as result of the audit. |
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Resolution 234/2026 Moved: Cr Rosalind Wight Seconded: Cr Penny Nicholson 1. The Carry Forward Budget report be received and noted. 2. The budget variations in the report totalling $6,126,823.44 be adopted. |
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7.4.1 DA2026/085 - proposed detached shed/garage - 23 Neil McInerney Street, Gundagai |
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Resolution 235/2026 Moved: Cr Penny Nicholson Seconded: Cr Les Cooper That Council approve DA2026/85 subject to conditions of consent as outlined in the accompanying Draft Notice of Determination and authorise minor amendments to correct any errors prior to issuing the final Notice of Determination.
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Resolution 236/2026 Moved: Cr Danyal Syed Seconded: Cr Gil Kelly That Council defer the consideration of the report in relation to the Local Heritage Funding Allocation to the October Meeting. |
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Resolution 237/2026 Moved: Cr Logan Collins Seconded: Cr Ethan Ryan That Council: 1. Note the commencement of the NSW Statewide Community Participation Plan on 1 September 2026. 2. Note that the Statewide Community Participation Plan applies to all planning authorities in New South Wales, including Councils. 3. Repeal the Community Participation Plan - CGRC - 2019, adopted by Council on 29 October 2019. 4. Authorise the General Manager to undertake all administrative actions necessary to remove the repealed document from Council's policy register and website and replace references with the NSW Statewide Community Participation Plan. 5. Undertakes a media campaign to provide more detailed information to the community regarding the proposed changes and its key impacts locally. |
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Resolution 238/2026 Moved: Cr Les Cooper Seconded: Cr Rosalind Wight That the Cootamundra Engineering Report for the month of August 2026 be noted. |
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Resolution 239/2026 Moved: Cr Penny Nicholson Seconded: Cr Les Cooper That the Gundagai Engineering Report for the month of August 2026 be noted. |
7.7 Regional Services Gundagai
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Resolution 240/2026 Moved: Cr Penny Nicholson Seconded: Cr Ethan Ryan That the Gundagai Regional Services report for the month of August 2026 be noted. |
7.8 Regional Services Cootamundra
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Resolution 241/2026 Moved: Cr Logan Collins Seconded: Cr Ethan Ryan The Cootamundra Regional Services Report for the month of August 2026 be noted. |
8 Motion of which Notice has been Given
Nil
Nil
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Resolution 242/2026 Moved: Cr Gil Kelly Seconded: Cr Penny Nicholson 1. Items 10.2, 10.3, 10.4, 10.5, 10.6, 10.7 and 10.8 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. 2. 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, 10.5, 10.6, 10.7 and 10.8 be withheld from the press and public. Council entered Closed Council at 7:08pm. |
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Resolution 243/2026 Moved: Cr Logan Collins Seconded: Cr Ethan Ryan That the confidential information in the Human Resources report be noted. |
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Resolution 244/2026 Moved: Cr Penny Nicholson Seconded: Cr Danyal Syed That Council: 1. Approve hardship assistance for the owner of the property identified as assessment number 10038313, subject to the ratepayer entering 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 October 2026 to 31 March 2027, provided the ratepayer complies with that payment arrangement for the duration of that period. |
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Resolution 245/2026 Moved: Cr Rosalind Wight Seconded: Cr Les Cooper That Council: 1. Approve hardship assistance for the owner of the property identified as assessment number 1109510, subject to the ratepayer entering 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 October 2026 to 31 March 2027, provided the ratepayer complies with that payment arrangement for the duration of that period. |
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Resolution 246/2026 Moved: Cr Logan Collins Seconded: Cr Rosalind Wight That Council does not approve hardship assistance for the owner of the property identified as assessment number 10036010. |
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Resolution 247/2026 Moved: Cr Penny Nicholson Seconded: Cr Danyal Syed That Council: 1. Approve hardship assistance for the owner of the property identified as assessment number 11015286, subject to the ratepayer entering 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 October 2026 to 31 March 2027, provided the ratepayer complies with that payment arrangement for the duration of that period. |
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Resolution 248/2026 Moved: Cr Logan Collins Seconded: Cr Ethan Ryan That Council: 1. Approve hardship assistance for the owner of the property identified as assessment number 10003481, subject to the ratepayer entering 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 October 2026 to 31 March 2027, provided the ratepayer complies with that payment arrangement for the duration of that period. |
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10.8 Tender - Management and Operation of Council's Cootamundra Swimming Pool and Sports Stadium Facility |
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Resolution 249/2026 Moved: Cr Ethan Ryan Seconded: Cr Gil Kelly That Council: 1. Award LeisureSafe Australia Pty Ltd (ABN 55 688 001 069) the Management and Operation of the Cootamundra Memorial Swimming Pool and Sports Stadium contract for a three-year period commencing 1 November 2026 and concluding 31 October 2029 for $1,403,456.00 (ex GST). 2. Note that the contract is for a three year period with an option for a further two year period at Council’s discretion. 3. Delegate authority to the Interim General Manager to execute the contract and any associated documentation required to give effect to the tender. |
Resumption of Open Council Meeting
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Resolution 250/2026 Moved: Cr Rosalind Wight Seconded: Cr David Graham That the Open Council meeting resume at 7:27pm. |
Announcement of Closed Council Resolutions
Note: The Interim General Manager announced the resolutions made in Closed Council.
The Meeting closed at 7:30pm.
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CHAIRPERSON |
INTERIM GENERAL MANAGER |
