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A brief summary of business conducted at the City of Whyalla ordinary meeting on May 21, 2018.
PUBLIC QUESTION TIME: Mr Raj Rajamani presented questions to Council which were answered. Questions from Mr Ted Lavendar were addressed.
BUDGET AND RATES: A proposed draft budget detailing a 5% rate rise (made up of a 2.3% rise for CPI and 2.7% general rise) was tabled for approval to go to the public consultation stage. This draft budget was not to be voted on for implementation by councillors at the meeting, only to be approved as a draft to present for community consultation. After much discussion a motion was proposed by Cr Sarah Minney, and carried, to devise a revised 2018-19 draft annual business plan budget and updated long-term financial plan with a 2.5% increase in rates that would result in no budget deficit.
WORKS IN PROGRESS REPORT: This report, tabled at the meeting, was met with widespread praise from elected councillors. Some of the projects detailed in the report included City Growth Projects such as the City Entry Statements sculptures, a committee formed for the Renew Whyalla Committee and a Main Street Revitalisation Project. Other developments included an expression of interest from a company to purchase a large parcel of land north of Industry Drive within the Industry Zone. An application for a 6MW solar farm on McIntyre Road in the Industrial Estate has been received while an agreement to lease for the open space near the golf course has been signed.
JETTY PROGRESS: The final design of Whyalla’s new jetty will be completed near the end of this month. A stylish roof structure for the shelters has been proposed. The tender process for the various parts of the jetty will start in mid-June. Glass-fibre-reinforced polymer is expected to be ordered this month followed by the ordering of the concrete capping beams and decking slabs which will require a three-week curing period.
EXTINGUISHMENT OF EASEMENT: A proposal to extinguish an easement, which provides right of way over Lot 27 in DP10074 (Walker Crescent) from the Walker Crescent footpath reserve to the adjacent public utility reserve, was approved. This followed a request from the adjoining property owners.
EMPLOYEE BEHAVIOUR, VALUES AND CONDUCT POLICY: Councillors approved a move to create a new policy to address matters relating to employee general behaviour, responsibilities and relationships. Part of this includes the requirement for council employees to fulfil their commitment to serve in the best interests of the people within the community their Council represents and to discharge their duties conscientiously and to the best of their ability.
MOTIONS OF NOTICE
CULTURAL PLAN: Cr Tim Breuer moved a motion that Whyalla Council develop a cultural plan which documents and articulates our diverse cultural heritage and identifies actions which can be implemented and/or incorporated into future developments, plans and events. Carried.
UNSIGHTLY BUILDING: Cr Tom Antonio moved a motion that Council write to landowners of buildings that are unsightly, bring to their attention that this does not help the image of our city and if they could work with Council to address these issues. Carried
FUNDING THANKS: Cr Colin Carter moved a motion that Council write to Regional Development Australia Whyalla & Eyre Peninsula (RDAWEP) and Member for Grey Rowan Ramsey to thank them for the combined investment assistance given to Whyalla. Carried
MOTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE
VANDALISM: Cr Tom Antonio moved a motion to launch a specific campaign, involving local media, to create more awareness of the problem of vandalism in our community following the latest damage to trees over the weekend. It would be called Stop, Care and Report and would also encourage the community report this sort of behaviour. Carried
This a brief summary of the business conducted at the meeting. The exact minutes of the meeting will be available in the near future on the council website.