End of Term and 20 year vision on Council’s November Agenda

Kempsey Shire Council

council meeting infographic

The next Ordinary Council meeting will be held in Council Chambers from 9am on Tuesday 16 November.

The meeting will be live streamed via Council’s YouTube page and on the Kempsey Shire Council website.

For a full outline of the meeting and the discussion points, please refer to the Agenda and Business Papers.

Please note that, under the NSW Government’s current COVID-19 restrictions, only vaccinated people may attend the public forum and council meeting. You will need to check in with a QR code and show proof of vaccination when you arrive.

Planning Proposal, South West Rocks

The site this planning proposal refers to comprises a 12.3 hectare portion of Lot 35 DP 1214499 located at South West Rocks which adjoins the golf course and sewage treatment plant to the west and National Park along the western boundary.

At the Ordinary Council Meeting of 3 February 2009 a planning proposal to rezone the land known as “Saltwater” (which included the subject lot) from rural and environmental zoning to residential and environmental zoning to enable future residential subdivision was considered. Council resolved that the LEP amendment proceed except for the portion of land now under consideration, which was deemed a ‘Deferred Area’ under the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 (the Act). The site remains undeveloped.

Keiley Hunter Town Planning on behalf of SW Rocks Development have submitted a planning proposal to rezone 12.3 hectares of the site to General Residential with 500m2 minimum lot size and to allow additional permitted uses of recreation facilities and tourist and visitor accomodation exceeding the 8.5m building height standard. They requested a rezoning review by the Dpeartment of Planning, Industry & Environment (DPIE).

On 15 October 2021 DPIE advised Council of the outcome of a rezoning review which said the proposal has strategic merit and warrants further investigation about its development potential under the Gateway process.

Council has to decide whether it wishes to be the Planning Proposal Authority for this proposal.

End of Term Report

In accordance with the Local Government Act, an End of Term report must be tabled at the last meeting of the outgoing Council and is incorporated into the corresponding year’s Annual Report.

This report provides a summary of Council’s key achievements over the last five years and demonstrates, through the strategic focus areas of being healthy, wealthy, safe, and connected, the progress made for the Macleay Valley community, under the leadership of the outgoing Council.

Community Strategic Plan review

The Community Strategic Plan is prepared by Council but captures the community’s long-term aspirations and priorities for shaping the future of the Shire beyond Council’s authority. The final document is a pivotal governance tool that sits at the peak of Council’s strategic planning framework and provides over-arching direction for the organisation to align delivery of programs, services and investment.

Council will consider a report on the Community Strategic Plan that provides insight into the engagement undertaken and outlines the direction of the 20-year-plan entitled Your Future 2042, including an updated vision statement and key themes.

Your future 2042 reflects the opinions, values, and aspirational desires of our wide and diverse community, based on a meticulous and skilled analysis interpretation of survey data, legislation, and best practice. A detailed assessment of extensive community engagement over the last two years, alongside a review of legislative changes, has enabled the development of this revised and updated Community Strategic Plan. Council are being asked to place the document on public exhibition independent of the 2021 local government elections to allow all residents an opportunity to read and comment on this whole of community plan.

Presentation of Annual Financial Statements

The external audit of the financial statements for the year ended 30 June 2021 is now complete, with an unmodified audit opinion having been issued. The Local Government Act, 1993 requires that Council hold a public meeting for the purpose of considering the annual financial statements together with the auditor’s report. These are now presented for Council’s consideration.

Reports

The full list of reports being considered in open session is as follows:

  • 9.1 CHANGE TO THE ORDER OF BUSINESS
  • 9.2 PLANNING PROPOSAL PART LOT 35 DP1214499 SOUTH WEST ROCKS

/Public Release. View in full here.