Jul 23, 2025 Ordinary Council Meeting

[00:00:02]

ALL RIGHT, COUNCILORS,

[1 Civic Affirmation and Acknowledgement of Country]

COULD I CALL UPON COUNCILOR GATTS TO PROVIDE A CIVIC AFFIRMATION? YES.

THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR.

WE, THE COUNCILORS OF THE ARMADALE REGION DECLARE THAT WE WILL UNDERTAKE THE DUTIES OF THE OFFICE OF COUNCILOR IN THE BEST INTERESTS OF OUR COMMUNITY AND FAITHFULLY AND IMPARTIALLY CARRY OUT THE FUNCTIONS, POWERS, AUTHORITIES, AND DISCRETIONS VESTED IN US TO THE BEST OF OUR SKILL AND JUDGMENT.

THANK YOU, COUNCILOR GUTTERS.

AND COULD I CALL UPON COUNCILOR REDWOOD TO PROVIDE AN ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF COUNTRY? UH, YES.

UH, WE ACKNOWLEDGE THE TRADITIONAL CUSTODIANS OF THIS LAND AND PAY OUR RESPECTS TO ELDERS PAST, PRESENT, AND EMERGING.

THE DALE REGIONAL COMMUNITY PAYS TRIBUTE TO THEIR LOVE OF LAND, LOVE OF PEOPLE, AND LOVE OF CULTURE.

THANK YOU, COUNCILOR REDWOOD.

AND I'LL ASK THE GENERAL MANAGER

[2 Statement in relation to live streaming of Council Meeting]

THANK, THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR.

THIS MEETING IS BEING, UH, AUDIO AND VIDEO RECORDED AND RECORDINGS OF THE NON-CONFIDENTIAL PARTS OF THE MEETING WILL BE MADE AVAILABLE ON THE WEB ON THE WEBSITE.

NO OTHER PERSONS ARE PERMITTED TO RECORD THE MEETING, UNLESS SPECIFICALLY AUTHORIZED BY COUNCIL TO DO SO.

AND COULD ALL MOBILE PHONES BE SET TO SILENT PLEASE? THANKS, MR. MAYOR.

THANKS, MR. GENERAL MANAGER.

UH, COUNSELORS.

PLEASE

[3 Apologies and applications for leave of absence by Councillors]

THE NEXT ITEM IS DISCLOSURES OF INTEREST.

SO COUNCILORS, HAVING REVIEWED THE AGENDA, DO ANY OF YOU NEED TO DECLARE A CONFLICT OF INTEREST? ALRIGHT, WE'LL CRACK ON.

UH, ITEM 5.1.

[5 Confirmation of Minutes]

UH, THERE'S A RECOMMENDATION THAT THESE MINUTES BE TAKEN AS READ AND ACCEPTED AS TRUE.

COULD I HAVE A MOVER? THANKS.

COUNCILOR MCMICHAEL.

A SECONDER.

THANK YOU.

COUNCILOR IMAD.

COUNCILOR MCMICHAEL, ANYTHING TO SAY? NO.

THANKS COUNCILOR.

NO.

MR. MAYOR.

THANK YOU.

RIGHT.

THANK YOU, COUNCILORS.

LET'S PUT THAT TO THE VOTE.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? I'LL ACCEPT THOSE MINUTES.

THANK YOU.

I DECLARE THAT ONE CARRIED YOU UNANIMOUSLY.

UH, ITEM 7.1.

[7 Reports - General Manager's Office]

JUST IN MAKING ETHICAL DECISIONS.

COUNCIL IS BEING ASKED TO NOTE THE REPORT.

COULD I HAVE A MOVER PLEASE? THANKS.

COUNCILOR IMAD AND A SECONDER.

THANKS.

COUNCILOR GATS.

COUNCILOR IMAD, ANYTHING? NO.

MR. MAYOR.

COUNCILOR GUTTERS.

THANK YOU.

LET'S PUT THAT TO THE VOTE.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF NOTING THAT REPORT.

THANK YOU.

ITEM 7.2, THE COUNCIL ACTIONS REPORT.

UH, THIS ITEM SUMMARIZES THE ACTIONS TAKEN ON RESOLUTIONS OF COUNCIL FROM OCTOBER, 2024.

SO COUNSEL IS BEING ASKED TO NOTE THE REPORT WITH DETAILS FROM PAGE SIX OF THE AGENDA AND 34 OF THE ATTACHMENTS.

UH, CAN I HAVE A MOVER PLEASE? THANKS.

COUNCILOR REDWOOD AND A SECONDER COUNCILOR IMAD.

COUNCILOR REDWOOD, ANYTHING TO NOTE? NO.

COUNCILOR IMAD.

UH, A QUESTION, WELL JUST REMEMBERED, WE HAD A RESOLUTION ABOUT THE WATER QUALITY IN RA.

IS THERE ANY PROGRESS ON THAT? NEITHER YOU, MR. MAY TAKE IT OR NOTICE.

MR. YEAH, THANKS FOR THE QUESTION.

COUNCILOR, THE WATER QUALITY IN GAIRA SPECIFICALLY TO ADDRESS THE WATER QUALITY GUY OR HAVE YOU GOT A, A NOTICE OF MOTION? I HAD A MOTION AT SOME STAGE, I THINK IN NOVEMBER TO, TO GET A REPORT DONE FROM MEMORY.

I DON'T KNOW.

I HAVEN'T RECEIVED ANY FEEDBACK SINCE, SO I'M JUST WONDERING WHETHER THAT'S ONE OF THE OUTSTANDING, OR I KNEW IT WAS GONNA TAKE SOME TIME.

UM, WHAT I'LL SAY IS, CAN YOU LEAVE THAT WITH ME? ARE YOU SAYING THAT NOTICE OF MOTION AND THE UPDATE HASN'T COME THROUGH OR ARE YOU ASKING FOR THE PROGRESS? PROGRESS? OKAY.

UM, WE HAVE A SCHEDULED, UH, DISCUSSION.

UM, WELL, IT'S NOT SCHEDULED.

IT'LL BE, WILL BE SCHEDULED FOR AUGUST ON THE INTEGRATED WATER CYCLE MANAGEMENT STRATEGY.

AND, UH, WE CAN TALK ABOUT THE PLANS FOR RA IN THAT MEETING, UH, SPECIFICALLY ABOUT WATER TREATMENT AND HEWORTH.

THANKS.

OKAY.

ALRIGHT, COUNCILORS.

UH, ARE THERE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? ALL RIGHT, LET'S PUT THAT TO THE VOTE.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF NOTING THE ACTIONS REPORT.

THANK YOU.

I DECLARE THAT CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.

COUNCIL'S

[00:05:01]

DETAILS FROM PAGE EIGHT OF THE AGENDA IN 84 OF THE ATTACHMENTS, THERE IS A RECOMMENDATION ON THE SCREEN.

I HAVE A MOVER PLEASE.

THANKS, COUNCILOR IMAD.

SECONDED.

COUNCILOR REDWOOD.

COUNCILOR IMAD, ANYTHING TO SAY? YES, MR. MAYOR? PROBABLY A BIT TO SAY , UM, UH, DURING THE ELECTION CAMPAIGN, THIS WAS A HOT TOPIC AND I THINK DIRECTED SOME ATTACKS AT YOUR SALARY PACKAGE OR ALLOWANCE.

NOW, SINCE BEING ON COUNCIL AND HAVEN'T SEEN THE AMOUNT OF WORK YOU DO, MR. MAYOR, UM, IT'S A PRETTY MUCH FULL-TIME POSITION FOR YOU.

I THINK I MAY OWE YOU AN APOLOGY.

.

UM, LOOK, UM, I'VE SEEN WHAT YOU DO.

I'M PRIVY TO SOME OF THE INFORMATION ON, ON WHAT YOU'RE WORKING AND, UM, I THINK THE MONEY IS WELL DESERVED.

UNLIKE WHAT I SAID DURING THE CAMPAIGN, UM, NO ONE WOULD ACCEPT TO DO A FULL-TIME JOB FOR THAT AMOUNT OF MONEY.

AND, UH, YOU WORK FOR ARMADALE REGIONAL COUNCIL AND I'VE COME TO UNDERSTAND HOW MUCH YOU DO FOR THE REGION.

THAT BECAME APPARENT ALSO IN OUR TRIP TO CANBERRA.

I'VE HAD FEEDBACK FROM OTHER MAYORS, SO I THINK I APOLOGIZE FOR THE WAY I CARRIED ON DURING THE CAMPAIGN.

AND, UM, IN TERMS OF THE COUNCILORS PACKAGE, NOW I AM WILLING TO DO IT FOR FREE.

THAT WILL STILL BE MY POSITION.

UM, BUT GIVEN THE AMOUNT OF TIME I DEDICATE FOR THE PEOPLE AND HOW MUCH I'M DOING, I AM WILLING TO DO IT.

AND THAT'S WHY I PUT MY HAND UP.

BUT I THINK I CAN'T EXPECT MY COLLEAGUES TO DO THE SAME THING FOR FREE.

WE ALL HAVE OUR, UM, CIRCUMSTANCES AND, UH, I THINK, UH, I PROBABLY MISJUDGED THE WHOLE SITUATION DURING THE CAMPAIGN.

THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR.

THANK YOU COUNCILOR IAD.

I, I'D TAKE YOUR COMMENTS IN THE, IN THE, UH, IN THE SPIRIT WITH WHICH THEY WERE OFFERED.

SO A GENUINE THANK YOU.

UM, COUNCILOR REDWOOD, YOU WERE THE SECONDER.

ANYTHING TO SAY? CAN'T OUT DO THAT MR. MAYOR? NO.

ALRIGHT.

COUNCILS ANY, ANYTHING ELSE? COUNCILOR MCMICHAEL? LOOK, I JUST, UH, THANK COUNCILOR IAD FOR HIS COMMENTS.

UM, AND, UH, UH, JUST SO THAT, UM, NOBODY SHOULD WORK FOR FREE, UM, AT ANY STAGE.

AND, UM, APPRECIATE, UH, EVERYONE'S WORK ON THE COUNCIL AND I APPRECIATE THE STAFF, UM, BEHIND THE SCENES.

UM, WHOEVER US OUT, UM, YEAH, IT'S A LOOK WE WE'RE THE REPRESENTATIVES OF, OF THE REGION AND, UM, MONEY'S TIGHT, BUT WE APPRECIATE WHAT, UM, WE ALL DO AND, UH, UH, LET'S DO GOOD WITH WHAT THE MONEY THAT WE GET.

THANKS.

THANK YOU.

ALRIGHT, COUNSELORS, LET'S PUT THIS TO THE VOTE.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR.

THANK YOU.

I DECLARE THAT CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.

UH, ITEM 7.4 IS THE PUBLIC EXHIBITION OF COUNCILOR EXPENSES AND FACILITIES POLICY.

SO THE REPORT IS INFORMING A PROPOSED UPDATE TO THE POLICY, AND THE RECOMMENDATION IS THAT THE, THE COUNCILS ENDORSE A POLICY TO GO ON PUBLIC EXHIBITION AND RECEIVE A FURTHER REPORT IF THERE ARE ANY SUBMISSIONS.

UH, IF NOT, THEN ADOPT THE POLICY.

SO DETAILS ARE FROM PAGE 11 OF THE AGENDA AND 131 OF, OF THE ATTACHMENTS.

UM, COULD I HAVE A MOVER PLEASE? THANKS.

COUNCILOR REDWOOD AND A SECONDER.

THANKS.

COUNCILLOR.

ANDRES COUNCILLOR.

REDWOOD, ANYTHING TO SAY? NO, I'VE GOT NOTHING TO SAY ABOUT THIS.

MR. MAYOR.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

COUNCILLOR ANDRES? NO.

ALRIGHT, COUNCILLORS, IF, UH, UNLESS ANYONE ELSE HAS ANYTHING FURTHER TO SAY, LET'S PUT THIS TO A VOTE.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? THANK YOU.

I DECLARE THAT CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.

UH, ITEM 8.1

[8 Reports - Finance]

UH, SORRY, THE 31ST OF MAY, 2025.

DETAILS ARE FROM PAGE 15 OF THE AGENDA AND COUNCIL IS BEING ASKED TO NOTE THE REPORTS.

COULD I HAVE A MOVER FOR RECOMMENDATION, PLEASE? THANKS.

COUNCILLOR GUTTERS.

SECONDLY, COUNCILLOR REDWOOD, COUNCILLOR GUTTERS.

ANYTHING TO SAY COUNCILLOR REDWOOD? RIGHT.

LET'S PUT THAT TO THE VOTE.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? THANK YOU.

I DECLARE THAT ONE CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.

ITEM THE NEXT ONE WE JUMP TO

[10 Reports - Corporate and Community]

[00:10:02]

SO DETAILS FROM PAGE 22 OF THE AGENDA AND 159 OF THE ATTACHMENTS.

THE RECOMMENDATION IS SEEKING ENDORSEMENT FOR PUBLIC EXHIBITION AND ADOPTION IF THERE ARE NO SUBMISSIONS RECEIVED, OTHERWISE, A FURTHER REPORT WILL BE PROVIDED.

DETAILS FROM PAGE 22 OF THE AGENDA AND 159 OF THE ATTACHMENTS.

CAN I HAVE A MOVER PLEASE? THANKS, COUNCILOR ENDRES.

SECONDER.

COUNCILLOR, ED COUNCILOR ENDRES.

ANYTHING TO SAY COUNCILLOR REMED? NO, MR. MAYOR.

ALRIGHT, LET'S PUT THAT TO THE VOTE.

PUT THIS ON PUBLIC EXHIBITION.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR.

THANK YOU.

I DECLARE THAT ONE CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.

WE HAVE TWO KEMPSEY

[11 Reports - Assets and Services]

UH, ITEM 11.1 IS THE KEMPSEY ROAD STATUS REPORT, WHICH IS A REGULAR, UH, REPORT WE RECEIVE WHERE COUNCIL'S BEING ASKED TO, UH, DENOTE THE INFORMATION CONTAINED WITHIN IT.

UH, DETAILS ARE FROM PAGE 25 OF THE AGENDA IN 183 OF THE ATTACHMENTS.

UH, SO CAN I HAVE A MOVER TO NOTE THAT REPORT? THANKS.

COUNCILOR TABOR AND A SECONDER COUNCILOR REDWOOD.

THANK YOU.

COUNCILOR TABOR? ANYTHING? UH, NO.

MR. MAYOR.

THANKS.

UH, COUNCILOR REDWOOD.

OKAY, LET'S PUT THAT TO THE VOTE.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF NOTING THE REPORT.

THANK YOU.

I DECLARE THAT ONE CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.

ITEM 11.2 IS THE KEMPSEY ROAD STATUS.

THAT'S NOT STATUS REPORT, IT'S JUST IN RELATION TO KEMPSEY ROAD.

IT'S AROUND INSURANCE BROKERAGE.

UH, THERE ARE A NUMBER OF POINTS HERE TO EITHER BE ENDORSED, UH, OR, OR DELEGATED.

SO WE HAVE FIVE POINTS UP THERE.

UM, COULD I HAVE A MOVER ALONG THOSE LINES PLEASE? THANKS.

COUNCILOR MCMICHAEL AND THE SECONDER COUNCILOR, REDWOOD.

COUNCILOR MCMICHAEL, ANYTHING TO SAY? OH, I THINK, UM, THIS IS A GREAT, UH, MOTION.

UM, IT ENABLED US, UM, UM, TO, UH, GET, UH, BETTER INSURANCE AND, UH, WITH A BROADER, UH, PERSPECTIVE ABOUT THE INSURANCE.

AND I THINK IT'S, UM, IT'S TERRIFIC AND I CAN END THE STAFF, UM, AND THE PEOPLE WHO'VE DONE THIS, UM, ON THEIR WORK FOR IT.

SO.

GREAT.

THANK YOU.

UH, COUNCILOR REDWOOD, IF YOU COUNCILOR MCMICHAEL, COULD YOU SWITCH OFF YOUR, UM, NO SENSIBLE, UH, RECOMMENDATIONS.

SO THANKS VERY MUCH FOR THOSE THAT PUT THAT TOGETHER, RIGHT.

COUNCILORS, LET'S PUT THIS TO A VOTE.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? THANK YOU.

I DECLARE THAT CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.

WE NOW GO TO THE COMMITTEE

[13 Committee Reports]

THIS IS IN RELATION TO MEETINGS THAT WERE HELD IN JUNE.

THE RECOMMENDATION HERE IS THAT COUNCIL NOTE, THE MEETINGS.

I ALSO NOTE THAT COUNCILOR REDWOOD IS THE CHAIR OF THE LIVABLE REGION.

COUNCILOR RES IS THE CHAIR OF THE FUTURE REGION.

UH, DETAILS HERE ARE FROM PAGE 35 OF THE AGENDA AT 190 OF THE ATTACHMENTS.

UM, UH, IT'S UP TO THE, UH, THE CHAIRS IF THEY WISH, JUST TO GIVE A, A QUICK PRICEY, BUT I'LL LEAVE THAT TO THEM.

SO, UH, CAN I MOVE? THANKS, COUNCILLOR REDWOOD AND SECONDED.

THANKS.

COUNCILLOR EDWARDS.

COUNCILOR REDWOOD, ANYTHING TO SAY? THANKS, MR. MAYOR.

YEAH, JUST A VERY BRIEF UPDATE.

SO THE LIVER, UH, CUP WORKING GROUP HAS NOW FORMALLY MET AND, UH, HAVE, WE HAVE A MANDATE OF WHERE WE ARE GOING WITH THAT.

UNFORTUNATELY, OUR SECOND MEETING, UH, WAS, UH, POSTPONED CONSIDERABLY BY QANTAS, UH, WHERE MOST OF US WERE ACTUALLY ON THE AIRPLANE THAT DIDN'T LAND IN ARMADALE.

WE COULD HAVE HAD THE MEETING ON THE PLANE, I GUESS.

UH, BUT NO ONE TO TAKE THE MINUTES.

SO WE WILL, UH, WE WILL MEET ON THE 1ST OF AUGUST AGAIN FOR THE, UH, THE SECOND MEETING OF THE LIVABLE.

AND, UM, YEAH, WE'VE GOT QUITE A NUMBER OF ITEMS IN THERE.

UH, THE, THE TOPIC OF CONVERSATION FOR THE, THE, THE NEXT MEETING WILL BE ACACIA PARK AND WHAT'S GOING ON OUT THERE.

UH, SO LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT.

TERRIFIC.

THANK YOU COUNCILOR ANDREWS, UH, THANKS MR. MAYOR.

UM, THE FUTURE KEY PILLAR WORKING GROUP MET IN JUNE.

UM, EXCITING THINGS.

I'M THE NEW KID ON THE BLOCK, SO IT'S REALLY GOOD TO SEE WHAT GOES ON, UM, IN COUNCIL AND, YOU KNOW, THE THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING IN, IN ARMADALE WE'RE ALL SEEING AND LOOK FORWARD TO SOME REALLY EXCITING THINGS IN THE FUTURE.

SO.

GREAT.

THANK YOU COUNCILOR ANDREWS.

ALRIGHT, COUNCILORS, UH, LET'S PUT THIS INTO A VOTE.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF NOTING THOSE MINUTES.

THANK YOU.

I DECLARE THAT CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY, UH, COUNCILORS.

THAT BRINGS

[15 Confidential Matters (Closed Session)]

COULD I PLEASE HAVE A MOTION TO MOVE INTO CLOSED AND, UH, WE'LL ASK THE PUBLIC TO EXIT THAT PASS.

SO, UH, MOVE COUNCILOR REDWOOD.

SECOND TO COUNCILOR ROBINSON.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF MOVING.

THANK YOU.

I DECLARE THAT CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.

COUNCILS.

I WELCOME YOU BACK INTO THE OPEN SESSION

[00:15:01]

I THINK.

THANK YOU MR. MAYOR.

ONE ITEM, 15.1 IN CLOSED COUNCIL THIS EVENING, THIS AFTERNOON.

IT'S THE PLANT HIRE PANEL REFRESHMENT SLASH ONBOARDING PROCESS FOR 25 26.

RESOLVED BY COUNCIL, THAT COUNCIL ACCEPT THE RATES, EQUIPMENT, TERMS, AND CONDITIONS OF THE RECOMMENDED 21 SUPPLIES TO BE ADDED ONTO THE EXISTING PLAN.

HIRE PANEL FOR THE REMAINING TERM OF THE AGREEMENT BEING UP TO 30 JUNE, 2026.

DELEGATE AUTHORITY TO THE GENERAL MANAGER TO EXECUTE ALL DOCUMENTS IN RELATION TO THE CONTRACT APPROVAL ON EXPENDITURE TO THE LIMIT OF AVAILABLE FUNDS FUNDING.

UH, THREE.

NOTE AND ENDORSE THE ADDITIONAL VALUE PRESENTED BY CURRENT PANEL MEMBERS SUCH AS RATES, PRODUCTS, AND EQUIPMENT AT THE TIME OF TENDER.

AND FOUR, ENDORSE THE FINAL LIST OF THOSE APPOINTED PLAN HIRE PANEL TO BE MADE AVAILABLE TO SUCCESSFUL TENDERS AND PLACED ON COUNCIL'S WEBSITE FOR THE DURATION OF THE PANEL TERM.

THANKS MR. MAYOR.

THANK YOU MR. GENERAL MANAGER.

WELL COUNCILORS, IF THERE IS NO FURTHER BUSINESS, I DECLARE THE MEETING CLOSED AT 4:17 PM THANK YOU.