Eighteen community members, from towns and rural areas, attended the community meeting with the Minister for Local Government Hon. Ron Hoenig on Sunday 21st July to hear of his plans for the future of Central Darling Shire Council.

The Minister said that he would be returning the Council to a form of democracy in around March 2025. The actual date will depend on the needed changes to the Local Government Act (1993) passing through both houses of parliament.

The new model will be a mix of three elected councillors and three appointed councillors. Each of the Shires three wards will elect one councillor. The Minister will then appoint three councillors, one of whom will be the Chair with the casting vote. There will be a 10 year sunset clause on this model.

He said it had been a long process involving many discussions with the current Administrator, General Manager and Roy Butler, Member for Barwon, and that it would have been easier to leave the Shire in Administration. He said a major failing in the last elected council was that the elected councillors did not understand that they represented the whole shire, not just their little patch.

Questions and comments from the floor 

Many queried the proposed ward structure which has White Cliffs, Tilpa and Ivanhoe in one ward. Several also asked why CDSC could not be the same as most other councils in the far west and have no wards, with Councillors elected “at large”. One ratepayer pointed out that with such a small population, it would only take two families to move to force a ward boundary change. The Minister would only repeat that councillors represent all ratepayers and that to abolish the wards requires a referendum, a long and costly process under the Local Government Act.

Rural ratepayers asked why the Minister would not consider basing the shire on town based committees and take the rural area out and place it in the Unincorporated Area. The answer was “we have to operate under the Act.” To which the collective response was, “well you are already saying the Act has to be changed for the new structure anyway, so why not do away with wards and move rural into the Unincorporated Area while you are at it?” 

Non-elected councillors were the subject of many comments, especially the Chair being from this group. One ratepayer, reflecting the thoughts of many, commented that “the effect is three elected councillors can vote together, the three non-elected can vote together and then the chair who is from this group gets the casting vote. Could anyone see a problem with this ‘democratic’ model?” 

The Minister said he would not be appointing anyone until after elections were held and the quality and abilities of the elected councillors were assessed. He would then make the appointments based on what skills were considered lacking in the elected representatives. These could be either unsuccessful election candidates or from others of his choosing.

A follow up meeting, chaired by Hon. Roy Butler, M.P., was held with the group of Wilcannia, White Cliffs and rural ratepayers who have been lobbying the Minister’s office for some time. This meeting provided Roy with a reiteration of the comments raised during the public meeting and alternative structures for a return to some form of democracy.

The proposed ward boundaries for the next election

Central Darling Shire Council Meeting— 24th July 2024 

Administrator Bob Stewart made some comments on the recent visit by the Minister for Local Government Ron Hoenig where the new type of council was announced. Bob stressed that there would be no impacts on staff from the proposed, yet to be legislated, changes.

Financial Reports 

Cash at bank at the end of June was $14,648,552.81, of which all but $1,497,000 is restricted and includes $7,133,782 or 85% of the 2024-25 Financial Assistance Grant (FAG). The changes to the budget of the increase of $1.2 million in the FAG will be reported in November.

Rural Fire Service (RFS) Service Level Agreement 

The General Manger reported that the current agreement needs to be renegotiated as conditions have changed since it was signed 10 years ago.

The relationship between Local Government and the RFS is being looked at by the current NSW Public Accounts Committee inquiry and is also subject to a Private Members Bill submitted by the Member for Northern Tablelands Adam Marshall.

Under the agreement Council is responsible for purchasing, accounts receivable, fleet management, maintenance on plant, equipment and fixed assets, provides access to Council data, environmental and administration services. All direct costs are re-imbursed by the RFS, often takes many months, while Council receives $1 per year for providing the service.

The GM recognised the role of the RFS and assured them that Council will continue to support within Councils financial and resources limits until a new agreement can be reached.

Land Transfer to the Wilcannia Local Aboriginal Land Council.

Council has been talking to the WLALC for some time on the transfer, at no cost, of 17 allotments in the area known as The Mallee. This land could then be consolidated with land already owned by the WLALC. Council will ask the State Government for financial assistance to proceed with the transfer so there would be no cost to the LALC or council.

Should the transfer go ahead Council will continue to provide garbage collection services and conduct road maintenance work such as pothole repairs. Council would not take any ownership and be responsible for infrastructure renewals such as road surfacing.

Flood Plain Management Committee 

A new advisory committee which will have both local and specialist members which will discuss and advise Council across a range of matters including risk management, emergency preparedness and community engagement. The make up of the Committee will be announced at the August Council meeting. Under the Terms of Reference it will be required to meet at least 3 times a year and will be made up of the General Manager, Council staff, representatives of NSW State Government and Non-government agencies, and three (3) community members.

Roads to Recovery

Council has been allocated $8,816,030 through this program which will be received over 5 years.

The following work will be undertaken: in 2024/25 

• Adams and Wilson Streets initial seal—addresses vehicle movements around the BP depot during very wet or dry periods 
• Johnston Street and The Blocks, White Cliffs, – initial seal to combat issues during wet or dry periods 
• Lakeview and Kingfisher Avenues, Sunset Strip– new drainage pits, pipes, kerb and gutter, road reconstruction to improve drainage issues and prevent property inundation.

Central Darling Development Control Plan 2024

As no submissions were received during the 28 day Public Exhibition period, the Plan as published was adopted by the Administrator.

Some of the points in the plan which applies to new dwellings: 

• Front of any residence must have a front door and window facing the primary street frontage.
• Maximum height to the topmost roof ridge is 8.5 metres (27.88 feet) 
• No barb wire on front or side fences permitted 
• Street fencing shall be open or a combination of open panels and masonry columns to a height of 1.2 metres 
• parking for residents and visitors is calculated on the number of beds in the house.

This article appeared in the Wilcannia News, August 2024.