Decisions from the September 2022 Council Meeting

Published on 27 September 2022

Snowy Valleys Council met for its Ordinary Council meeting on Thursday 15 September 2022.

Mayor Ian Chaffey said it was another interesting day at council.

“There were a number of issues discussed including the upcoming Local Government Conference and the motions we agreed to raise,” he said.

Councillors proposed a number of motions related to the Transgrid Humelink transmission project, including the long-term compensation for landholders and communities and ensuring that Transgrid contribute annually to Emergency Services Levies in the areas where infrastructure is located.

“Transgrid must understand there will be a significant impact on regional areas and people’s livelihoods”, Cr Chaffey said. 

“They need to be mindful of the impact their facilities are going to have on the ability to undergo normal farming activities and also to fight fires, and so we’ll be pursuing the idea of just compensation not only at the LG conference but also in our interactions with them at a local level,” he said.

Council meeting dates, times and locations was also a matter of keen discussion with Councillors agreeing to hold council meetings at times in other locations other than the Chambers in Tumut.

“We identified the need for council to be a little bit more inclusive in the way it goes about interacting with our community,” Cr Chaffey said.

“If we can get out there and engage with people by way of workshops and also council meetings, I think that will enhance the interactions of council and the understanding of the community and what our role is and how we engage,” he said.

The topic of Demerger was also raised again, and Mayor Chaffey said council is waiting for feedback from LG Minister Wendy Tuckerman on the way forward.

“We want to put it to bed once and for all and so we hope to be better briefed before moving forward,” he said.

“It’s been an ongoing issue for over five years now and it’s just going on for too long, we need it resolved and we’re working towards that end.”

Other notables from the meeting included:

• Allocation of $100,000 was approved to be shared by 19 local groups under the 2022/23 Community Strengthening Grants and Capital Sports Grant Programs.
• Approval was given for land to be purchased from Transport for New South Wales for the construction of the Tumut Plains Rural Fire Brigade’s Rural Fire Service shed
• The establishment of a Floodplain Risk Management Committee was deferred to the October meeting
• Approval was given to progress site investigations at Tumut’s Lockeridge Park and Richmond Park for the Evacuation/Multipurpose Centre
• The SVC 2022-2026 Disability Inclusion Action Plan and the 2022-2022 Reflect Reconciliation Action Plan were adopted
• Special event applications and other requests by way of the Local Traffic Committee were supported

Following the meeting Mayor Chaffey and Deputy Mayor Thomson chatted to camera about the discussions and decisions made, with the recording shared via facebook and posted on Council’s YouTube channel.

The meeting livestream is also available via Council’s YouTube channel and the meeting’s business papers and minutes can be found on Council’s website – www.svc.nsw.gov.au/council-meetings

The next Ordinary Meeting of Council will be held on Thursday 21 October 2022 starting at 2pm.

The agenda and business papers will be available from the SVC website or by contacting customer service one week prior to the meeting date.

-ENDS-