Morning Tea Will Be Available from 9.30 Am and a Light Lunch Will Be Served at the Conclusion

Member Councils are advised that a General Meeting of the Riverina and Murray Regional Organisation of Councils (RAMROC) will be held on Wednesday 7th August 2013 in the Ian Gilbert Room at Jerilderie Shire Council at 10.00 am

Morning tea will be available from 9.30 am and a light lunch will be served at the conclusion of the meeting, at around 1.00 pm.

The RAMROC Chairman Cr Terry Hogan AM is an apology for the meeting, which will be chaired by the Deputy Chairman Cr Peter Laird.

Following lunch at around 1.30 pm, the Regional Director Department of Planning Ashley Albury and Senior Planner Erin Strong will conduct an information session for Mayors, General Managers and Planning Directors/Managers of the 10 Murray Region Councils, in relation to the draft Murray Regional Growth Plan. This session is certainly open for the Riverina region Councils to attend as well. A separate agenda will be distributed.

For catering purposes, please RSVP numbers attending to Julie Conn at Jerilderie Shire by Monday 5th August 2013 – phone 03 5886 1200, or email her at

Mayors /

Delegates: Councillors Terry Hogan, Bernard Curtin, Alice Glachan, Fred Longmire, Steve O’Halloran, Norm Brennan, Lindsay Renwick, Heather Wilton, Bill Sheaffe, Tom Weyrich, Andrew Douglas, John Dal Broi, Phillip Wells, Paul Maytom, Jenny Clarke, Peter Laird. Margaret Buntin and Peter Nunan

General

Managers Messrs Rowan Perkins, Chris Littlemore, Frank Zaknich, Bruce Corcoran, Barry Barlow, Des Bilske, Steven Pinnuck, Allen Dwyer, Craig Moffitt, Greg Murdoch, Bruce Graham, Peter Kozlowski, John Batchelor, Brett Stonestreet, Carolyn Upston, Ray Pluis, Adrian Butler and Ken Croskell.

MEETING AGENDA ITEMS

MRRR 1 APOLOGIES

MRRR 2 MINUTES OF RAMROC MEETING HELD AT JERILDERIE ON WEDNESDAY 1st MAY 2013 (pages 3 to 7)

MRRR 3 MATTERS ARISING FROM MINUTES OF 1st MAY 2013 (page 7)

MRRR 4 PRESENTATIONS (page 8)

1.  COOLAMON SHIRE – MAPPING OF REROC COUNCILS ROAD, RAIL AND TRANSPORT INFRASTRUCTURE PRIORITIES – PROPOSAL FOR RAMROC TO ADD TO REROC’s WORK AND TO DEVELOP AN OVERALL RIVERINA AND MURRAY REGIONS TRANSPORT INFRASTRUCTURE PLAN.

THE COOLAMON OFFICERS WILL BE TERREY KISS (GENERAL MANAGER), TONY O’DONOGHUE, TONY KELLY AND DANIEL SMITH

2.  PRESENTATION BY MS LINDSAY CANE - CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER OF ROYAL FAR WEST REGARDING SPECIALIST HEALTH CARE SERVICES AND FACILITIES OFFERED BY ROYAL FAR WEST AND WAYS TO WORK CLOSELY WITH COUNCILS AND COMMUNITIES.

MAYORS, COUNCILLORS AND GENERAL MANAGERS MIGHT ALSO NOTE THAT THE ROYAL FAR WEST CAREMOBILE WILL BE LOCATED OUTSIDE THE COUNCIL BUILDING AND AVAILABLE FOR INSPECTION ANYTIME FROM 8.30 AM PRIOR TO THE MEETING.

MRRR 5 EXECUTIVE OFFICERS REPORT (pages 8 to 15)

MRRR 6 RAMROC FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR YEAR ENDED 30th JUNE 2013 - SUBJECT TO AUDIT (pages 15 to 16) - see separate pdf attachment

MRRR 7 REPORTS OF WORKING GROUP MEETINGS – AS FOLLOWS (pages 17 to 27):-

7.1 RAMROC Engineers Group Meeting – 1st May 2013

7.2 RAMROC Riverina Waste Group Meeting – 29th May 2013

7.3 RAMROC Planners Group Meeting – 12th June 2013

7.4 RAMROC Integrated Planners Network Meeting – 20th June 2013

MRRR 8 GENERAL BUSINESS MATTERS (page 27)

MRRR 9 CHAIRMAN’S REPORT ON EXECUTIVE OFFICER PERFORMANCE REVIEW – MAY 2013 - (CONFIDENTIAL ITEM) – (page 27)

(Distributed as a separate attachment)

RAY STUBBS

EXECUTIVE OFFICER

AGENDA ITEMS ARE SET OUT ON THE FOLLOWING PAGES

MEETING GUESTS: Ms Rhondda Dickson - Chief Executive MDBA

Mrs Diana Gibbs - Board Member MDBA

Mrs Jodi Swirepik - Dir Env Management MDBA

Mr David Galeano – Manager S&E Policy MDBA

MRRR 1 - APOLOGIES: Cr Jenny Clarke – Mayor Narrandera

Mr Ray Pluis General Manager Narrandera

Mr Peter Kozlowski – General Manager Wentworth

RESOLVED that the apologies be received and accepted

(Moved Murray and seconded Albury)

WELCOME

The RAMROC Chairman Cr Terry Hogan welcomed to the meeting the Chief Executive and Officials of the Murray Darling Basin Authority.

MRRR 2 - MINUTES OF RAMROC MEETING HELD AT JERILDERIE ON 6TH MARCH 2013

RESOLVED that the Minutes of the General Meeting held 6th March 2013 be received and accepted.

(Moved Berrigan and seconded Corowa)

MRRR 3 – MATTERS ARISING FROM MINUTES OF 6TH MARCH 2013 MEETING

There were no matters arising from the Minutes of the 6th March 2013 meeting

MRRR 4 – WORSHOP WITH MURRAY DARLING BASIN AUTHORITY IN RELATION TO IMPLEMENTATION OF THE BASIN PLAN

The Chief Executive Rhondda Dickson and other MDBA officials firstly gave presentations in relation to the key implementation issues of environmental watering and social/economic impact analysis.

Jody Swirepik presented more detailed information regarding environmental watering and constraints management strategy proposals. David Galeano presented information regarding proposed actions to manage the social and economic impacts of the Basin Plan and the proposed implementation strategies.

These presentations were followed by lengthy discussion and questions of key issues raised by Councils, including the following matters:-

·  current status of Intergovernmental Agreements,

·  status of major water saving infrastructure projects by the NSW State Government,

·  progress with environmental watering efficiency projects,

·  potential impacts of environmental water delivery on landholders, communities and tourism,

·  additional Commonwealth funding and programs for further on and off farm infrastructure water efficiency works, and

·  funding for regional structural adjustment programs for impacted communities.

The workshop also discussed the importance of developing a program for regular consultation between MDBA and Councils, agricultural industries, businesses and other community organisations.

The Executive Officer advised that he would confirm in writing to MDBA a summary of the key issues discussed at the workshop and Ms Dickson undertook to address all of the matters that had been raised and to maintain regular communication with RAMROC and the region’s communities.

The Chairman thanked Ms Dickson and her team for attending the RAMROC meeting and stressed the importance of regular consultation and communication in the future.

MRRR 5 – EXECUTIVE OFFICERS REPORT

5.1 – Local Government Code of Conduct – Regional Panel of Conduct Reviewers

The Executive Officer reported that 14 Expressions of Interest had been received in relation to the appointment of a RAMROC Regional Panel of Conduct Reviewers for an ensuing four year term.

The EOIs have been assessed by a Review Panel of General Managers and the Executive Officer, and as a result ten applicants have been recommended for appointment.

RESOLVED that the following persons be appointed to the RAMROC Regional Panel of Conduct Reviewers for a four year term commencing June 2013 and that full details of the selected Expressions of Interest be provided to Member Councils to enable their formal Panel appointment resolution processes:-

1.  Peta Tumpey - Lead Conduct Reviewer - TressCox Lawyers – Sydney NSW

2.  Julie Baker-Smith – Lead Conduct Reviewer for JBSA – Melbourne Vic

3.  Graham Evans – Managing Partner O’Connell Workplace Solutions – Sydney NSW

4.  Peter Brown – Consultant – Baulkham Hills NSW

5.  Alan Bradbury – Principal Partner Bradley Allen Love Lawyers – Canberra ACT

6.  Kath Roach – Managing Director SINC Solutions – Glebe NSW

7.  John Kleem – Principal John Kleem Consulting – Cremorne NSW

8.  Timothy James Rogers – Chatswood NSW

9.  Christopher Peter Gallagher – Bateau Bay NSW

10.  Greg Wright – Principal Wright Associates – Picton NSW

(Moved Griffith and seconded Carrathool)

5.2 – Report on National Water Congress and RAMROC Chairman and EO Meetings with Deputy Premier Andrew Stoner MP, Primary Industries Ministers Katrina Hodgkinson MP and Chair/CEO of EPA Barry Buffier

Consideration was given to written and verbal reports by the Executive Officer and Chairman in relation to their attendance at the National Water Congress on 10 and 11 April 2013 and to their associated meetings with the Deputy Premier Andrew Stoner MP, the Minister for Primary Industries Katrina Hodgkinson MP and with the Chair/CEO of the Environment Protection Authority Barry Buffier.

The Chairman also reported on his subsequent attendance at a MBDA Workshop held in Canberra dealing with the development of an MDBA Constraints Management Strategy.

As a result of the meeting with Minister Hodgkinson, she has undertaken to facilitate a delegation of RAMROC and MRGC Mayors and General Managers to meet with Federal Coalition Members in Canberra, most likely at the time of the ALGA National Congress in mid June. The primary purpose of the delegation will be discuss with the Coalition Members their policies in relation to the Murray Darling Basin Plan implementation, as well as other key issues of importance to Basin communities .

RESOLVED that the reports be received and that actions as outlined by the Chairman and Executive Officer be endorsed and progressed.

(Moved Deniliquin and seconded Berrigan)

5.3 – Local Government Acts Taskforce Discussion Paper and Consultation Workshops

The Executive Officer reported on the recent release of the LG Acts Taskforce Report “A New Local Government Act for NSW” and he advised that a series of workshops have been arranged for the State, including at Wagga on 21st May and at Wentworth on 22nd May. Following the workshops, the Executive Officer will circulate a draft submission to be lodged by the closing date of 28th June 2013.

RESOLVED that the Executive Officer’s report be adopted

(Moved Carrathool and seconded Deniliquin)

5.4 – Independent Local Government Review Panel (ILGRP) Report - “Future Directions for NSW Local Government – Twenty Essential Steps”

The ILGRP has released its third progress Report entitled “Future Directions for NSW Local Government – Twenty Essential Steps”, which sets out the Panel’s latest proposals and options for LG reform and which will be used as the basis for a further round of Council and community consultation sessions, leading to the development of the Panel’s Final Report to the State Government in September 2013.

Workshops with Councils and communities in the RAMROC region are scheduled for the following locations and dates:-

·  Leeton on Tuesday 14th May 2013;

·  Deniliquin on Wednesday 15th May 2013

·  Albury (for Councils) and Corowa (for communities) on Thursday 30th May 2013.

The Executive Officer outlined a summary of the Key Proposals and Options that have been put forward in the ILGRP Report, with specific attention to the LG structural reform options for the RAMROC region, including proposed amalgamations around the three regional centres of Albury, Griffith and Deniliquin, as well as proposed multi-purpose County Councils to undertake specific regional level functions in suggested Council groupings for Upper Murray, Lower Murray and Murrumbidgee county-council areas.

RESOLVED

1.  That the Executive Officer’s report be received and noted;

2.  That Member Councils participate in the proposed workshops during May 2013 as per the schedule set out in the EOs report;

3.  That the Executive Officer be authorised to attend the workshops to provide input as required from a regional collaboration perspective;

4.  That subject to the outcomes of the regional consultation workshops, a special meeting of RAMROC be tentatively planned to be held during June 2013, to consider whether a regional submission should be made in response to the Panel’s Report;

5.  That a RAMROC meeting communiqué be released to all media sources in the Riverina and Murray regions in relation to the ILGRP Report, setting out the outcomes of the RAMROC meeting discussions.

(Moved Griffith and seconded Carrathool)

5.5 – NSW Legislative Assembly Inquiry into downstream gas supply and availability in New South Wales

Advice has been received that the NSW State and Regional Development Standing Committee is conducting an Inquiry into gas supply and availability throughout the State.

The Executive Officer reported that the absence of natural gas in some parts of the RAMROC region has for a long time been of considerable concern from both economic and social perspectives. Submissions are required to be lodged by the closing date of 31st May 2013

RESOLVED that RAMROC and Member Councils make submissions to the State and Regional Development Standing Committee and seek the strong support of the Riverina and Murray RDAs and other appropriate organisations.

(Moved Deniliquin and seconded Murrumbidgee)

5.6 - Solar Energy Exchange Initiative – Western NSW Councils Consortium

RAMROC has been requested to provide support for a proposal being developed to the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) by a consortium of some 30 Councils in Western NSW, for the construction of five medium scale solar power plants and the installation of photovoltaic (PV) infrastructure in Council buildings and facilities to generate long term energy savings and income.

RESOLVED

1.  That RAMROC support the principle of “public funding used for public benefit”;

2.  That RAMROC, in principle, support the Solar Energy eXchange Initiative (SEXI) proposal for the development of a major solar industry for the western regions of NSW;

3.  That RAMROC calls on the Federal Government, through the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA), to provide up to $200 million over five years to the SEXI Group of Councils, to allow the proposal to be established and operated.