PRESENT
Albury City:
Balranald: / Cr Kevin Mack
Frank Zaknich
Mr Aaron Drenovski
Berrigan: / Mr Rowan Perkins
Carrathool: / Cr Peter Laird
Mr Ken Murphy
Conargo: / Cr Norm Brennan
Mr Barry Barlow
Corowa: / Cr Paul Miegel
Chris Gillard
Deniliquin: / Cr Ashley Hall
Mr Des Bilske
Greater Hume: / Cr Heather Wilton
Cr Karen Schoff
Mr Steven Pinnuck
Griffith City:
Hay: / Cr John Dal Broi
Mr Brett Stonestreet
Cr Bill Sheaffe
Mr Allen Dwyer
Jerilderie: / Cr Ruth McRae
Cr Terry Hogan (RAMROC Chair)
Mr Craig Moffitt
Leeton: / Cr Paul Maytom
Ms Jackie Kruger
Murray: / Cr John Pocklington
Ms Margot Stork
Murrumbidgee: / Cr Austin Evans
Mr Kerry McMurray
Narrandera: / Apology
Urana Shire / Mr Adrian Butler
Wakool: / Apology
Wentworth: Apology
RAMROC Mr Ray Stubbs Executive Officer
MEETING GUESTS: / Ms Jennifer Weller – Chair RDA Murray
Mr Mark Ritchie – Executive Officer Riverina RDA
Ms Trudi McDonald – Regional
Co-ordinator NSW Department of Premier and Cabinet
Cr Greg Toll – National President Murray Darling Association
Mr Adrian Wells – former Regional Manager Murray Darling Association
MRRR 1 - WELCOME TO MEETING
The RAMROC Chairman Cr Terry Hogan extended a warm welcome to newly elected Mayors Cr Paul Miegel (Corowa Shire), Cr John Pocklington (Murray Shire) and Cr Ashley Hall (Deniliquin Council)
The Chairman also welcomed Councillor Karen Schoff from Greater Hume Shire, Ms Jennifer Weller Chair of RDA Murray, Mr Mark Ritchie Executive Officer of Riverina RDA, Ms Trudi McDonald Regional Co-ordinator NSW Department of Premier and Cabinet (Wagga office), Cr Greg Toll National President Murray Darling Association and Adrian Wells, former Regional Manager Murray Darling Association
MRRR 2 - APOLOGIES:
Cr Peter Nunan and Mr Peter Kozlowski – Wentworth Shire
Cr Jenny Clarke, Cr Graham Eipper and Ms Judy Charlton – Narrandera Shire
Cr Neil Gorey and Mr Bruce Graham – Wakool Shire
Cr Bernard Curtin – Berrigan Shire
Cr Leigh Byron - Balranald Shire
Cr Mick Rutledge – Hay Shire
Mr Adrian Butler – Urana Shire
RESOLVED that the apologies be received and accepted
(Moved Carrathool and seconded Murray)
MRRR 3 - MINUTES OF RAMROC MEETING HELD AT JERILDERIE ON 5TH AUGUST 2015
RESOLVED that the Minutes of the General Meeting held on 5th August 2015 be received and confirmed.
(Moved Griffith and seconded Conargo)
MRRR 4 – MATTERS ARISING FROM MINUTES OF 5TH AUGUST 2015 MEETING
Item MRRR7 - Traffic Accident Reporting
Cr Paul Maytom referred to RAMROC’s representations made to NSW Police and he advised that support has also been forthcoming from LGNSW and local Highway Patrol police.
However, at this stage, no responses have been received from the Minister for Police.
MRRR 5 – PRESENTATIONS
Item 5.1 – Ms Jennifer Weller – Chairperson RDA Murray
Jennifer provided a status report on the new RDA Board and its vision and objectives. A copy of Jennifer’s presentation will be distributed to RAMROC Councils
Item5.2 – Mr Mark Ritchie – Executive Officer Riverina RDA
Mark advised that he has recently been appointed to the position of Executive Officer and that the RDA Chairperson Diana Gibbs, Deputy Chairperson Miriam Dayhew and Board Members are now in place. Mark spoke of the importance of strong RDA and ROC/Joint Organisation collaboration.
Item 5.3 – Ms Trudi McDonald – Regional Co-ordinator Department of Premier and Cabinet
Trudi advised that she has recently been appointed to the position, which covers Councils in the RAMROC and REROC regions. She spoke specifically about the Premier’s Priorities and other State Priorities, which effectively supersede the former NSW State 2021 Plan and Regional Action Plans.
Item 5.4 Adrian Wells – former Regional Manager Murray Darling Association
Adrian advised that due to ill health he had resigned his MDA position in September 2015 and he thanked RAMROC and Councils for the friendship and co-operation which had been extended to him during his 22 years of service. He advised that he and Owen Dunlop were continuing to undertake projects related to water, food and fibre production and natural resource management and that he would be keen to pursue the potential to partner with RAMROC on specific projects of mutual interest
MRRR 6 – FIT FOR THE FUTURE DISCUSSIONS
The meeting discussed a range of issues in relation to the current status of the Fit for the Future reform program, including the following matters:-
· IPART’S FFTF Assessments Report to Government – 16th October 2015
· Government’s call for merger proposals – due by 18TH November
· Outcomes of RAMROC Roundtable Meeting – held on 4TH November 2015
· Outcomes of Joint Pilot JOs and ROCs Meeting – held on 6TH November
· Joint Organisations – MAMJO Proposal – RAMROC submission to the Emerging Directions Paper
· Final Report of Upper House Standing Committee Inquiry
No resolutions arose from the meeting discussions
MRRR 7 – BERRIGAN SHIRE ITEM - ESSENTIAL ENERGY JOB LOSSES
Berrigan Shire submitted for discussion a letter from the NSW Branch of the Electrical Trades Union in relation to the recent announcement by Essential Energy to terminate 1400 jobs across regional NSW, with some 30 being from within the RAMROC region
RESOLVED that RAMROC make representations to Essential Energy, requesting that the established service levels be maintained for councils and communities in the region and that the support of Murray RDA, Riverina RDA and the Regional Office of NSW Premier and Cabinet be sought
(Moved Hay and seconded Jerilderie)
MRRR 8 – EXECUTIVE OFFICERS REPORT
8.1 – Commonwealth Select Committee on the Murray Darling Basin Plan
Consideration was given to the Executive Officer’s report regarding the Select Committee’s Public Hearing held at Griffith on 27th October 2015 and to the presentations made at the Hearing by the RAMROC Executive and Carrathool, Leeton and Griffith Councils
RESOLVED that the EO’s report be received and noted
(Moved Carrathool and seconded Griffith)
8.2 – Cross Border Collaboration with Murray River Group of Councils (MRGC)
The Executive Officer reported that the Chairman had attended the Annual Forum of MRGC on 28th August and that subsequently the Chair and EO had met with MRGC Councils at Wedderburn on 1st October and that agreement had been reached on draft terms of a Memorandum of Understanding to address issues of common interest, including water and food security, floodplain management, fruit fly control, regional freight transport, the Commonwealth Water Act and Murray Darling Basin Plan.
RESOLVED that the Executive Officer’s report be adopted and that RAMROC endorse the terms of the draft Memorandum of Understanding with the Murray River Group of Council
(Moved Albury and seconded Deniliquin)
8.3 – NSW Container Deposit Scheme (CDS) Legislation
The NSW Premier has confirmed the Government’s pre-election commitment to introduce Container Deposit Legislation for the recycling of drink and plastic containers by 1st July 2017. The Executive Officer advised that he is a Member of an EPA Working Group established to advise the Government on key aspects of the design and implementation of the CDS and that EPA will be distributing a full Discussion Paper for community consultation in the near future.
RESOLVED that the Executive Officer’s report be adopted
(Moved Leeton and seconded Conargo)
8.4 – Proposed Redistribution of NSW Federal Electoral Boundaries
The Australian Electoral Commission’s NSW Redistribution Committee has released proposed changes to Federal electoral boundaries and has invited objections to be lodged by 13th November 2015.
RESOLVED that RAMROC lodge a formal objection to the proposed changes, on the grounds that Griffith, Murrumbidgee, Leeton, Narrandera and a large part of Carrathool have no community of interest with the Farrer Electorate and all of those LGAs should remain as whole Council areas within the Riverina Electorate.
(Moved Murrumbidgee and seconded Leeton)
MRRR 9 - MINUTES OF RAMROC WORKING GROUP MEETINGS
The Minutes of the following Working Group meetings were submitted for information and consideration:-
9.1 RAMROC Engineers Group – 7th August 2015
9.2 RAMROC Riverina Waste Management Group – 9th September 2015
9.3 RAMROC Procurement Steering Committee – 7th October 2015
9.4 RAMROC Murray Waste Management Group – 7th October 2015
9.5 RAMROC Planners Group – 24th September 2015
RESOLVED that the Minutes of the Working Group Meetings be received and noted and that the recommendations and actions taken be endorsed.
(Moved Albury and seconded Carrathool)
MRRR 10 – GENERAL BUSINESS ITEMS
10.1 – Future Role and Functions of Regional Organisation of Councils
The Mayor of Murrumbidgee Shire Cr Austin Evans raised the issue of the future role and functions of ROCs, vis-à-vis the proposed establishment of legislated Joint Organisations during 2016.
The meeting felt that this matter can be more effectively dealt with at the February 2016 meeting, when the boundaries, role and functions of the new Joint Organisation/s covering the RAMROC region may have been finally determined.
RESOLVED that this matter be referred for further consideration at the February 2016 meeting
(Moved Greater Hume and seconded Deniliquin)
10.2 – Letter to Councils Mayors dated 11th November 2015 from Premier Mike Baird MP and Local Government Minister Paul Toole MP – re Fit for the Future
The Mayor of Leeton Shire Cr Paul Maytom referred to the terms of paragraph 5 of the letter to Mayors of 11th November, in particular the words “and the guarantee the Government has given on services, infrastructure, rates and local representation”
RESOLVED that a letter be written to the Premier and Cabinet Office and the LG Minister’s office, requesting advice as to what guarantees the Government has specifically given, and to whom such guarantees have been made
(Moved Leeton and seconded Murrumbidgee)
There being no further business, the RAMROC meeting concluded at 12.20 pm
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