 Cabonne Council :
Future Directions Forum
Council held a Strategic Planning / Future Directions Forum on 10 and 11 November 2008, the purpose of which were to
a. Allow input from the new Councillors into the future directions of Council
b. Identify Councillors issues to be addressed during the current term of Council including LEP, Waste Management, Community Consultation, Water etc.
c. To provide background information and input into Council’s Long Term Strategic Plan – “Cabonne Community Plan 2025
d. To provide initial input for the 2009/10 Draft Budget and Management Plan
 e. To explain the linkages with and understanding of Cabonne Council’s role in inter-governmental relations including CENTROC, E-Division, Local Government and Shires Association, ALGA, WBC, State and Federal Government.
Mr John Kleem was appointed as an Independent Facilitator for the two day Workshop. Following extensive input from Councillors, a wide range of matters were listed for discussion and from this, Council identified eight key strategic priorities. These priorities were then workshopped and following an assessment process were identified in the following order
1. Communication (115)
2. Resources (dollar and human) (100)
3. LEP (91)
4. Economic Development (87)
5. Water (72)
6. Environment (57)
7. WBC Alliance (27)
8. Amalgamations/Maintenance of Local Governance (23)
Workshops and the Way Forward At the Future Directions Forum, it was agreed that a number of workshops would be necessary to enable Councillors and staff to gain sufficient information on which to make sound decisions and determine the most appropriate way forward. Accordingly, workshops were identified and are being held in relation to
• Communication
• Resources/Finance
• Economic Development
• LEP
Staff have been requested to prepare reports and suggested actions in relation to Water, Local Governance, Environment, and WBC Alliance.
Specialists:
Cabonne Council specialises in Rural and Village management: It must
adhere to a policy of looking after the interest of its own rate
payers first. We seem to have taken our eye off the ball on a number
of issues and we must be prepared to listen and represent.
Roads:
There are 3 Types of Roads:
Shire Roads (Council Funded Roads) eg: Boree Lane, Waldergrove
Road.
State Roads (State Funded Roads) eg: Escort Way, Regional Funded
roads eg: Burrendong Way,
Cargo Road, Mt Canobolas
Federal Roads (Federal Funded Roads) Mitchell Highway.
During the last four years a number of Shire Roads (Council Funded
Roads) were sealed eg. Boree Lane, Bradleys Road, etc...
Cargo and Canobolas
Road:
Our Council is currently doing an audit of Cargo Road and Canobolas Road
(State Funded Road). The works and costings is complete and Our Roads
and Traffic Safety Officer has also just completed an audit. This report
will now come to council and i have already indicated to a number of
MLCs’ with their support we will be visiting the Roads Minister pre
Budget November 08.
Waldergrove Road:
Waldergrove Road is in the 2/3 year of councils 5 year plan to be
tarred.
I also tend to keep addressing the other shire roads.
Rates:
It is my belief that Council should never vary from Rate Pegging.
An example, Dubbo has asked for a greater amount, or do you want be
one of the highest rating Councils in country NSW like the “tag“
associated with Orange City Council.
The Hub:
The HUB is a cost to all our Ratepayers not just the Molong base of
our ratepayers. Our Council has done the right thing. Those
Councillors that supported recent motions to have a total review of
our own needs and requirements must be congratulated. It is all
about representing our ratepayers with their interest foremost.
I want OCC to know that I do not support their 3A application at the
current site.
To allow 1 man to overturn a court decision is like a Malignant
cancer cell being placed in our democracy. It makes a mockery of it.
If the judge got it wrong appeal, Part 3A has been available since
1st August 2005. We have left the door open for OCC for
alternatives.
The abnormal figures about our tips! My calculations alone give us
20 / 30 years.
Our Council now has a waste expert that can address the issues
(compaction, Recycling, Third Bin option, Restoration, Transfer
centres etc).
I want Cabonne Council to lead on this issue.
 Water:
Our
Council is working strongly with neighbouring Councils on the NSW
Government water reform.
Water is
our biggest issue to emerge in the last 5 years. What population can
we sustain and at what water level use? Our council must take steps
to find these answers out. Although Orange City Council may own Lake
Canobolas it is a designated and gazetted Recreation area and yes
they are entitled to harvest water from the land they own, the same
as any Landholder. The Lake is also gazetted as part of Molong Water
Supply Catchment.
The
Molong Creek Catchment affects Canobolas, Towac, Nashdale, Hiefer
Station Creek, Borenore, Molong Water Supply Dam, Upper Belgravia,
Bamboola, Molong, Larras
Lee and Cumnock.
I whole heartedly support
Lake Rowlands and will be looking address Cumnock and Yeoval Water.
What Orange City Council
does about their future water supplies is entirely up to their
ratepayers on election day in September 08 if some can have vision.
Rural Subdivision:
The
joint Rural and Industrial Strategy is a step in the right
direction. The strategy needs to address the issues of: the right to
farm, Controlled and Location of residential Lifestyle Blocks, The
abolition of concessional blocks as we knew them (they were abused
and not used for their intent,) Recognition of “Off Farm” income,
Minimum Lot Sizes.
It must work with and
promote best practices in Alternative Energy, Water usage, Waste
Management etc.
The strategy need not be
rushed, there are numerous questions to ask about various identified
land uses and questions of diligence.
Waste Collection:
Our
Council must act on its surveys about waste collection or it is not
adhering to its Community Consultation Progress.
Tourism:
“The Farm gate” eg wines,
fruit, vegetables, Iconic sites (Ophir, Escort Rock, Borenore Caves
Mt Canobolas etc) Historical sites both indigenous and Settlement
are all issues as our population gets greater, more active and
mobile. It is our Councils duty to promote these and other
activities to support its rate payers. It creates income and
employment.
We
should also have a vision for our culture locally (Sheepdogs,
Marsden Wool, Fairbridge Farm, Pears, etc).
 W.B.C.
Alliance: (Wellington, Blayney & Cabonne Councils)
The most important step of the Alliance over the past 4 years has
been to just recently appoint a Project Officer to help and achieve
the Goals set out below. If these goals are not achieved it should
be disbanded.
GOALS OF THE WBC ALLIANCE:
• To reduce cost to member Councils by aggregating the demand for
goods and services by joint procurement
• To reduce cost to member Councils by sharing knowledge, skills and
methods
•
To increase services to member Councils be accessing larger amounts
of grant funds on a sub-regional basis
• To facilitate staff development and retention by offering
opportunities for staff across member Councils
• To increase the employment opportunities within member Co8uncils
by supporting apprenticeships and traineeships with the WBC Councils
• To demonstrate tangible benefits of the Alliance
• To increase community benefit through lobbying and advocacy
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