Ann Prendergast General Manager SCHEDULE

Civic Centre, Elizabeth St, Moss Vale, NSW 2577. PO Box 141, Moss Vale. t. (02) 4868 0888 f. (02) 4869 1203

e. [email protected] ABN 49 546 344 354

File No: 100/2019

24 January 2020

Dear Councillor,

You are kindly requested to attend the Extraordinary Meeting of Wingecarribee Shire Council to be held in Council Chambers, Civic Centre, Elizabeth Street, Moss Vale on Wednesday 29 January 2020 commencing at 3.30pm.

Yours faithfully

Ann Prendergast General Manager

SCHEDULE

3.30pm Council Meeting begins

7.40pm Closed Council

Runing

EXTRAORDINARY MEETING OF COUNCIL

held in the Council Chambers, Civic Centre, Elizabeth Street, Moss Vale on Wednesday, 29 January 2020 at 3.30pm.

RUNNING SHEET

Time Item

3.30pm Opening of meeting – please remind all present that mobile phones must be switched off before the meeting and that the meeting is tape recorded and the Council Chamber now has 24 Hour Video Surveillance.

Acknowledgement of Country – Mayor T D Gair

3.32pm Opening Prayer - Pastor Paul Crossman, Mittagong Presbyterian Church

3.35pm • Apologies

• Declarations of Interest

• Mayoral Minute - Item 6.1 Acknowledgment of the RFS - Green Wattle

Creek and Morton Fires

• Council Reports

7.40pm Closed Council

8.00pm Meeting Closed

Ann Prendergast General Manager

AGENDA FOR THE EXTRAORDINARY MEETING OF COUNCIL

Wednesday 29 January 2020

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Business

1. OPENING OF THE MEETING

2. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF COUNTRY

3. PRAYER

4. APOLOGIES

Nil

5. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST ..................................................................... 1

6. MAYORAL MINUTES

6.1 Acknowledgment of the RFS – Green Wattle Creek and Morton Fires .... 2

7. GENERAL MANAGER

7.1 2019/2020 Green Wattle Creek and Morton Fires - Commonwealth Government Disaster Recovery Grant ..................................................... 4

8. CLOSED COUNCIL

Nil

9. MEETING CLOSURE



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Our Mission, Our Vision, Our Values

OUR MISSIONTo create and nurture a vibrant and diverse community growing

and working in harmony with our urban, agricultural and natural

environments

OUR VISION

OUR VALUES

Environment: ‘A community that values

and protects the natural environment

enhancing its health and diversity’

Economy: ‘A strong local economy that

encourages and provides employment,

business opportunities and tourism’

Leadership: ‘An innovative and effective

organisation with strong leadership’

People: ‘A vibrant and diverse

community living harmoniously,

supported by innovative services and

effective communication with Council’

Places: ‘Places that are safe,

maintained, accessible, sympathetic to

the built and natural environment, that

supports the needs of the community’

Integrity, trust and respect

Responsibility and accountability

Communication and teamwork

Service quality



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Council Chambers

Recording and Webcasting of Ordinary and Extraordinary Meetings of Council As required under its Code of Meeting Practice, Wingecarribee Shire Council records and webcasts the proceedings of the Council meetings and Finance Committee meetings for public viewing, with the exception of any part of the meeting that is held in closed session. Members of the public attending and speaking at these meetings will be recorded and publicly broadcast. Council does not accept liability for any defamatory, discriminatory or offensive comments that are made during the course of the meeting.

Sound recording of meetings by members of the media is permitted only for the purpose of verifying the accuracy of any report concerning such meeting. Broadcasting of any sound recording is not permitted. Video recording or live streaming is also not permitted. No member of the public is to live stream or use an audio recorder, video camera, mobile phone or any other device to make a recording of the meeting without prior permission of the Council.

The Council Chamber now has 24 Hour Video Surveillance.

Entrance

Door

Media Table

Public Public

Councillors

MayorClr Duncan Gair

General ManagerAnn Prendergast

Minute TakerMichelle Richardson



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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF COUNTRY

I would like to acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of this land and pay my respect to Elders both past and present. I would also like to extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders present here today.

APOLOGIES

Nil at time of print.

DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

101/3, 101/3.1

The provisions of Chapter 14 of the Local Government Act 1993 regulate the way in which Councillors and nominated staff of Council conduct themselves to ensure that there is no conflict between their private interests and their public trust.

The Act prescribes that where a member of Council (or a Committee of Council) has a direct or indirect financial (pecuniary) interest in a matter to be considered at a meeting of the Council (or Committee), that interest and the reasons for declaring such interest must be disclosed as soon as practicable after the start of the meeting.

As members are aware, the provisions of the Local Government Act restrict any member who has declared a pecuniary interest in any matter from participating in the discussions or voting on that matter and further require that the member vacate the Chamber.

Council‘s Code of Conduct provides that if members have a non-pecuniary conflict of interest, the nature of the conflict must be disclosed. The Code also provides for a number of ways in which a member may manage non pecuniary conflicts of interest.



MAYORAL MINUTES

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6 MAYORAL MINUTE

6.1 Acknowledgment of the RFS - Green Wattle Creek and Morton Fires

Reference: 6437/4 Report Author: Mayor T D Gair Authoriser: Link to Community Strategic Plan:

PURPOSE The purpose of this Mayoral Minute is to:

• formally recognise the two Rural Fire Service (RFS) firefighters from the Horsley Park Brigade who lost their lives at Buxton fighting the Green Wattle Creek fire on the 19 December 2020.

• acknowledge and formally thank the many volunteers who have selflessly given so much to our community in protecting and assisting the residents of our Shire during the Green Wattle Creek and Morton fires.

RECOMMENDATION

1. THAT Council offers its prayers and condolences to the family, friends and fellow brigade members of Mr Andrew O’Dwyer and Mr Geoffrey Keaton.

2. THAT Council acknowledge and formally thank all the members for the Rural Fire Service, Emergency Services and the countless volunteers and agencies that have provided protection and support to the residents of the Wingecarribee Shire during the Green Wattle Creek and Morton bushfires.

3. THAT at an appropriate time Council hold an community event to publicly recognise and thank all those who have given their time and effort in relation to the bush fire crisis.

REPORT

The Wingecaribee Shire has been affected by the biggest bush fire crisis in its history. Final numbers are yet to be confirmed. However, at this point it is expected to be in excess of forty five (45) residences and significant amount of infrastructure damage, not including outbuildings, stock , fencing and Council amenities.

The Wingecarribee Shire has recently been devastatingly impacted by two major fires, the Green Wattle Creek fire which commenced in December 2019 and Morton fire which commenced in early January 2020. These fires have caused significant loss, destruction and damage to homes, outbuildings, fences and equipment. There has also been significant loss and injury to wildlife and livestock and devastating damage to natural environment.

On 19 December 2019, two firefighters Mr Andrew O’Dwyer, 32 and Mr Geoffrey Keaton, 36 tragically lost their life while fighting the fire on Wilson Drive, Buxton. The men were



MAYORAL MINUTES

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volunteer firefighter from RFS Horsely Park Sydney. Both men were married and fathers of young children.

The extraordinary efforts of the RFS, emergency services, countless volunteers and agencies have been working since late 2019 to protect and defend our Shire as well as provide support to the communities impacted by these devastating fires. Both fires are still burning and the full impact these fires has had our Shire and residents is not yet known.

Clr Duncan Gair Mayor

ATTACHMENTS

There are no attachments to this report.



REPORT GENERAL MANAGER

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COUNCIL MATTERS

7 GENERAL MANAGER

7.1 2019/2020 Green Wattle Creek and Morton Fires - Commonwealth Government Disaster Recovery Grant

Reference: 6437/4 Report Author: Group Manager Corporate and Community Authoriser: Deputy General Manager Operations, Finance and Risk Link to Community Strategic Plan: Improve opportunities for people to ‘have their say’ and

take an active role in decision making processes that affect our Shire through diverse engagement opportunities

PURPOSE The purpose of this report is to formally advise Council of the Commonwealth Government Disaster Recovery Grant provided for councils impacted by the recent bushfires. This report also seeks Council direction on the proposed allocation of the $1 million grant received by Council in early January 2020 to provide immediate assistance to fire impacted communities in the Wingecarribee Shire.

RECOMMENDATION

1. THAT Council acknowledge the allocation of $1 million to Wingecarribee Shire Council through the Commonwealth Government Disaster Recovery Grant for bushfire impacted communities.

2. THAT Council acknowledge the requirement of the grant funding to develop a program of works within three (3) months (i.e. no later 9 April 2020) and report to the Office of Local Government on how the funding was spent within 12 months (i.e. no later 9 January 2021).

3. THAT Council allocate the $1 million Commonwealth Government Disaster Recovery Grant for bushfire impacted councils for the following projects and amounts specified below:

a. Waste disposal at Bargo Waste Management Centre $50,000

b. Tourism Recovery Program $75,000

c. Balmoral Park, Balmoral $100,000

d. Casburn Park, Wingello $50,000

e. Tree Removal at Balmoral, Wingello, Exeter, Wombeyan Caves Road and Manchester Square

$225,000

f. Glow Worm Glen $25,000

g. Mountain Bike Tracks at Wingello and Bundanoon $25,000

h. Roadside Entrance into Bundanoon $25,000

i. Contribution to Honour Fallen RFS Firefighters $15,000




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j. Rate Relief for Properties with Homes Completely Destroyed $300,000

k. Flora and Fauna $100,000

l. Contingency $10,000

REPORT

BACKGROUND

New South Wales and a number of other States and Territories across Australia have battled devasting bushfires since August 2019. Within New South Wales alone 46 Local Government Areas have had a Natural Disaster Declaration.

Wingecarribee Shire has been impacted by two of the major NSW fires. The first fire known as the Green Wattle Creek Fire made its first impact on the Shire on the afternoon of Thursday 19 December 2019. This event impacted on the localities of Buxton and Balmoral in the northern part of the Shire resulting in loss of property and significant disruptions in the way of road closures. This event also resulted in the death of two Rural Fire Service (RFS) firefighters on Wilson Drive who were attending to the Buxton Fire.

On Saturday 21 December 2019, a further and more devasting impact of the Green Wattle Creek Fire occurred impacting the whole of the Balmoral locality including the village area, and the northern and eastern outskirts of Hill Top and further west the localities of Bullio and High Range. The Saturday firestorm resulted in significant property losses and damage throughout the Balmoral locality including dwelling houses, outbuildings, vehicles, farming equipment, fencing as well as loss and injury to livestock and wildlife.

The second major bushfire impact on the Shire occurred on the night of Saturday 4 January 2020 when extensive ember attacks from the Currowan Fire to the south of the Shire crossed the Shoalhaven River into the Morton National Park. This fire also impacted the Village of Wingello, the eastern and southern parts of Bundanoon, the outskirts of Exeter and the locality of Meryla. The fire event named the Morton Fire resulted in significant property losses and damage in Wingello including dwelling homes, outbuildings, fencing and equipment. Similarly, houses, out buildings and fencing were destroyed in the Yuille Avenue/Evelyn Avenue area of Bundanoon. Exeter also experience property loss and damage.

On Saturday 11 January 2020, the Morton Fire resulted in further impact to property in the Penrose locality with a number of outbuildings on properties being destroyed but no loss of houses.

Damage to the Shire is still being assessed and some locations remain inaccessible. The Bullio area where it is known that property damage has been extensive, the exact numbers of lost and damaged properties is unlikely to be known for several weeks.

The full extent of the impact of the Green Wattle Creek and Morton fires on the Shire will not be known until the fires cease burning.

REPORT

Mayoral Relief Fund

On 23 December 2019, Council established a Mayoral Relief Fund to assist residents affected by the both the Green Wattle Creek and Morton fires. Council contributed $50,000 to this fund and has received $45,238 in donations from the public to date.




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As a result of the Fund Council has provided immediate financial assistance to 177 bushfire impacted families and individuals within the Shire, totalling $84,500.

As at 23 January 2020, the remaining balance of the Fund is $10,739. Further details are provided in the table below.

Commonwealth Government Disaster Recovery Grant

On 9 January 2020, the Prime Minister announced an immediate $60 million-dollar Bushfire Relief Package for 42 bushfire impacted local councils in New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia and Queensland. The identified councils were granted $1 million each and Council has received its funds.

At the time of announcing this Grant the government acknowledged that the cost of rebuilding people’s lives, and homes and communities will cost significantly more than the received $1 million. This initial grant is seen as the beginning in helping with the repair and rebuilding process. Funding is to be spent on projects and activities that Council deem essential for the recovery and renewal of their communities, including:

• Rebuilding damaged or destroyed council assets such as key local roads, bridges, and community facilities;

• Employing additional local staff to take on specialist recovery or planning roles to help coordinate and plan the rebuilding effort;

• Hosting new public activities and events to bring communities together and attract visitors back to affected regions; and

• Immediate maintenance and repairs to relief and evacuation centres. To meet the requirements of this Grant councils are required to develop a program of works within three months and report to the Office of Local Government (OLG) on how the funding




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was spent within 12 months. The letter from OLG regarding this funding is included in Attachment 1. In addition to the Commonwealth Government Disaster Recovery Grant, the Commonwealth and State governments have flagged that a number of other grants and relief packages will be provided to assist the bushfire impacted communities. This includes bushfire support for small businesses, tourism recovery package, NSW disaster relief grants and NSW rural assistance grants. Proposal for the Allocation of the Grant Funds

To assist in the development of the Council’s program of works the impacted communities in Shire were invited to attend two community meetings. The first in Bundanoon held on Monday 20 January and the second in Hill Top held on Tuesday 21 January 2020 to discuss local priorities for the Commonwealth Government Disaster Recovery Grant.

While the need to ensure the safety of their communities was of primary concern for those attending the meetings, a range of priorities were raised relating to:

• Trees and vegetation

• Infrastructure

• Economic development and tourism

• Waste

• Wildlife

• Private property

• Council policies and plans

• Additional staffing needs for Council to assist with recovery of the communities.

Following the community meetings, the priorities of the bushfire impacted communities, as outlined in Attachment 2, were considered at a Councillor Briefing Session held on Wednesday 22 January 2020. When considering priorities and how to allocate the $1 million grant funding attention was also given to other financial support which will be available to assist fire affected residents, community and council assets and facilities, and local businesses which will be provided through other mechanisms such as Commonwealth Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements, NSW Disaster Assistance Arrangements and other agencies.

It should also be noted that on 22 January 2020 Service NSW launched a Bushfire Customer Care service to assist bushfire impacted individuals and businesses in accessing assistance being offered local government, NSW State Government and Federal Government. More information is available at https://www.service.nsw.gov.au/campaign/bushfire-customer-care-service

The funding allocations outlined in the table below aim to provide immediate assistance for the repair and rebuilding of the communities most impacted by the Green Wattle Creek and Morton fires consistent with identified community priorities. It is proposed that the $1M funding be allocated as follows:

https://www.service.nsw.gov.au/campaign/bushfire-customer-care-service




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Project/Activity – Renewal and Recovery of Bushfire Impacted Communities

Amount Allocated

Waste Disposal at Bargo Waste Management Centre

Free disposal for Wingecarribee residents in Balmoral and Buxton at the

Bargo Waste Management Centre for general items which were burnt or

water damaged or refrigerated food items which have spoiled from power

outages.

$50,000

Tourism Recovery Campaign

Implementation of a bushfire recovery public relations and media campaign to generate tourism and business activity for the Shire.

$75,000

Balmoral Park, Balmoral

Establishment of an informal passive recreation area.

$100,000

Casburn Park, Wingello

Beautification works and installation of park furniture.

$50,000

Tree Removal

Removal of trees which have no ecological or cultural significant value that pose a future fire risk in the following areas:

▪ Balmoral $50,000

▪ Wingello $25,000

▪ Exeter $25,000

▪ Wombeyan Caves Road $75,000

▪ Manchester Square $50,000

Glow Worm Glen

Restoration of bushfire damaged walking track.

$25,000

Mountain Bike Tracks at Wingello and Bundanoon

Repair and restoration of Mountain Bike Tracks at Wingello and Bundanoon subject to investigation of fire damage.

$25,000

Roadside Entrance into Bundanoon

Removal of trees and vegetation that pose a potential fire risk and general clean up.

$25,000




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Project/Activity – Renewal and Recovery of Bushfire Impacted Communities

Amount Allocated

Contribution to Honour Fallen RFS Firefighters

Contribution for a partnership with Wollondilly Shire Council to honour the firefighters who lost their lives during the Green Wattle Creek fire.

$15,000

Rate Relief for Properties with Homes Completely Destroyed

Rate relief for properties which have been completely destroyed as a result of the bushfires.

$300,000

Flora and Fauna

Restoration and regeneration of flora and fauna in bushfire impacted areas. In order to comply with the requirement to submit a program of works to the Office of Local Government within three (3) months (i.e. 9 April 2020) the Environment and Sustainability Committee will advise Council on suitable projects.

$100,000

Contingency

$10,000

TOTAL ALLOCATION $1,000,000

A detailed program of works will be developed following a Council decision on the projects and activities and the associated funding allocations. The program of works must be finalised and submitted to the Office of Local Government by 9 April 2020.

COMMUNICATION AND CONSULTATION

Community Engagement Community meetings were held in Bundanoon on Monday 20 January and Hill Top on Tuesday 21 January for both our northern and southern fire-impacted communities, to discuss local priorities and inform how the $1 million grant funding would be allocated.

Internal Communication and Consultation

Executive, Chief Financial Officer

External Communication and Consultation

Wollondilly Shire Council

SUSTAINABILITY ASSESSMENT

• Environment

There are no environmental issues in relation to this report.




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• Social

In the circumstances where so many people have been directly impacted by the bushfires across the Shire, it is important that the community continue to be consulted on the specifics of the projects adopted by Council.

• Broader Economic Implications

There are no broader economic implications in relation to this report.

• Culture

There are no cultural issues in relation to this report.

• Governance

To meet the requirements of this Grant councils are required to develop a program of works within three months and report to the Office of Local Government on how the funding was spent within 12 months.

COUNCIL BUDGET IMPLICATIONS

It is not anticipated that there will be an impact on Council’s adopted Budget 2019/20. However, should it become clear that there are impacts these will be dealt with through the Council’s Finance Committee.

RELATED COUNCIL POLICY

Not Applicable

OPTIONS

The option available to Council is to allocate the $1 million Commonwealth Government Disaster Recovery Grant for bushfire impacted councils for the following projects/activities and amounts specified below:

a. Waste disposal at Bargo Waste Management Centre $50,000

b. Tourism Recovery Program $75,000

c. Balmoral Park, Balmoral $100,000

d. Casburn Park, Wingello $50,000

e. Tree Removal at Balmoral, Wingello, Exeter, Wombeyan Caves Road, Manchester Square

$225,000

f. Glow Worm Glen $25,000

g. Mountain Bike Tracks at Wingello and Bundanoon $25,000

h. Roadside Entrance into Bundanoon $25,000

i. Contribution to Honour Fallen RFS Firefighters $15,000

j. Rate Relief for Properties with Homes Completely Destroyed $300,000

k. Flora and Fauna $100,000

l. Contingency $10,000




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CONCLUSION

Funding provided through the Commonwealth Government Disaster Recovery Grant will support Council in providing immediate assistance for the repair and rebuilding of the communities impacted by the Green Wattle Creek and Morton fires. This report provides a proposal for the allocation of the $1 million grant based on the community priorities.

ATTACHMENTS

1. Letter from Office of Local Government - Commonwealth Government Disaster Recovery Grant

2. Local Priorities Identifued at Community Meetings for the Commonwealth Government Disaster Recovery Fund

Ann Prendergast General Manager Friday 24 January 2020

AGENDA FOR THE EXTRAORDINARY MEETING OF COUNCIL Wednesday 29 January 2020


ATTACHMENT 1 Letter from Office of Local Government - Commonwealth Government Disaster Recovery Grant

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ATTACHMENT 1 Letter from Office of Local Government - Commonwealth Government Disaster Recovery Grant

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ATTACHMENT 2 Local Priorities Identifued at Community Meetings for the Commonwealth Government Disaster Recovery Fund

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Ann Prendergast General Manager Friday 24 January 2020

Documents

Ann Prendergast General Manager SCHEDULE