Council Meeting Highlights: January 2025
31 January 2025
Warren Shire’s Ordinary Council Meeting was held on Thursday 23 January 2025. Highlights from this meeting included:
VICTORIA PARK FEMALE FRIENDLY AMENITIES UPGRADE
Subgrade Earthworks including below ground plumbing and bored piers are complete. The waffle pad floor slab was concreted in December 2024. Progress has been delayed by unexpected underground service relocations and the industry shutdown over December/January. Indigenous artwork concepts for the door panels have been commissioned by an artist engaged through Warraan Widji Arts (WWA). These concept designs are the proposed final artwork for the panels.
Proposed painting on Door No 4: The Burraalga (Brolga) - common bird on Wayilwan Country
Proposed painting on Door No. 1: The guduu (Murray Cod) – the Wayilwan Nation’s waterway’s symbol
In addition, superstructure (walls & roof frames) works are expected to commence from the first week of February 2025. Completion is now expected in April 2025.
ON THE ROADS
Council is reviewing the $600,000 allocated for gravel resheeting of SR62 Buddabadah Road. Discussions are underway to potentially include sections of SR75 Pineclump Road, SR87 Cremorne Road, SR95 Gunningba Road, and SR97 Kianga-Marebone Road in the resheeting program.
WARREN LEVEE REHABILITATION PROJECT UPDATE
The Warren Levee Rehabilitation Project ($7.1M) continues to progress according to schedule. Current activities include floodgate replacement works, procurement of essential pumps and generators, and the implementation of design improvements following peer review. The project has achieved several key milestones, including the completion of revised engineering drawings and technical specifications and an environmental assessment and acquisition of NSW Fisheries Permit for riverwork operations. The project team anticipates releasing an open tender in early February 2025. Meanwhile, material procurement is advancing, with rock supplies for the levee revetment works being actively sourced from Mount Forster quarry and systematically stockpiled at the designated saleyard facility.
SEWERAGE TREATMENT PLANT
Conseth Solutions has been awarded the contract to construct a third evaporation lagoon at the Warren Sewerage Treatment Plant. These works, to commence in February 2025, will improve the efficiency of the plant and will not impact on the operation of the plant during the construction phase.
PROPOSED LAND ACQUISITION
Council has approved the acquisition of land located on the south east corner of the Industrial Access and Dubbo Street Warren for road development. The General Manager and Engineering Services will proceed with obtaining the necessary planning certificates and negotiate with landowners under the NSW Roads Act 1993 and the Land Acquisition (Just Terms Compensation) Act 1991. The acquired land will be dedicated as a public road.
COUNCIL TARGETING STORMWATER COMPLIANCE
Council is working to address illegal or incorrect stormwater connections to the sewer system identified through CCTV and smoke testing. A detailed report is being prepared, and a public awareness campaign may be launched to promote compliance, which will include guidelines on proper stormwater connections.
COUNCILLORS ATTEND LIBRARY SWITCH CONFERENCE
Councillor Pauline Serdity attended the Library SWITCH Conference in Coffs Harbour from November 12–15, alongside Librarian Erica Kearnes. The conference focused on the future of libraries, particularly the role of AI, and covered topics such as: adapting libraries to future community needs, improving customer service with virtual assistants and personalised experiences, incorporating AI while addressing its limitations, creating learning spaces for students and inclusive environments for all ages, sustainability in library technology and design, updates from NBN on broadband improvements for students and innovative programs and "pop-up" library spaces shared by other libraries. Councillor Serdity found that the key takeaways emphasised the importance of teamwork, adaptability and preparing for evolving community expectations.
COUNCIL TO RE-ADOPT LOCAL APPROVALS POLICY
Warren Shire Council is set to re-adopt its Local Approvals Policy to comply with the Local Government Act 1993. The policy, which regulates Council approvals and ensures fairness and consistency, is automatically revoked 12 months after an election unless re-adopted. Minor updates have been made to the policy, and it will be publicly exhibited for 28 days, inviting submissions for 42 days. After reviewing feedback, the Council may adopt the policy with or without changes.
The next Council Meetings will be held Thursday 27 February 2025.
-ENDS-
Enquiries:
Stephen Glen
Acting General Manager, Warren Shire Council
sg@warren.nsw.gov.au
Ph: (02) 6847 6607
Download the January 2025 Council Meeting Highlights as a PDF document.