ITEM 1 - APPLICATIONS FOR LEAVE OF ABSENCE
REPORT IN
BRIEF
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Reason For Report
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To allow tendering of apologies for Councillors not
present.
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Policy Implications
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Nil
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Budget Implications
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Nil
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Area of Responsibility
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GOVERNANCE - Procedural
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Annexures
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Nil
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File Number
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\My Workspace\Business Paper Report Directory\Working
Reports InfoCouncil 2010 - 218260
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General Manager's REPORT
A call for apologies is to be made.
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Recommendation
THAT any apologies tendered be
accepted and the necessary leave of absence be granted.
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ITEM 2 - DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
REPORT IN
BRIEF
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Reason For Report
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To allow an opportunity for Councillors to declare an
interest in any items to be determined at this meeting.
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Policy Implications
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Nil
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Budget Implications
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Nil
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Area of Responsibility
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GOVERNANCE - Procedural
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Annexures
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Nil
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File Number
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\My Workspace\Business Paper Report Directory\Working
Reports InfoCouncil 2010 - 218261
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General Manager's REPORT
A call for declarations of interest.
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Recommendation
THAT the Declarations of Interest be noted.
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ITEM 3 - DECLARATIONS OF POLITICAL DONATIONS
REPORT IN
BRIEF
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Reason For Report
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To allow an opportunity for Councillors to declare any
political donations received.
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Policy Implications
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Nil
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Budget Implications
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Nil
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Area of Responsibility
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GOVERNANCE - Procedural
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Annexures
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Nil
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File Number
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\My Workspace\Business Paper Report Directory\Working
Reports InfoCouncil 2010 - 218262
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General Manager's REPORT
A call for Political Donations.
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Recommendation
THAT any Political Donations be noted.
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ITEM
4 - MAYORAL MINUTE
REPORT IN
BRIEF
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Reason For Report
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Mayoral Minute regarding the
Queensland Floods and increase in Rural Fire Service Contributions for
Council's consideration
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Policy Implications
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Nil
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Budget Implications
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Yes -
potential major impact on budget due to increase in RFS contributions
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Area of Responsibility
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Governance
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Annexures
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1. RFS Contribution Increases.pdf
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File Number
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\My Workspace\Business Paper
Report Directory\Working Reports InfoCouncil 2011 - 217712
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General Manager's REPORT
The Mayor has provided the
following report for Council’s consideration.
MAYORAL MINUTE
Councillors, I wish to submit the
following Mayoral Minute in relation to two matters being:
1. Queensland floods
2. Rural Fire Service
extraordinary increase in contributions
Queensland Floods
Councillors would be acutely
aware of the disastrous floods that have swept through Queensland during
December and January and, more particularly, the unfortunate loss of
lives. The situation in Queensland certainly puts into perspective the
damage and inconvenience that we have suffered right across the Cabonne area.
When we experienced the impact of
major flooding in Molong and Eugowra in 2005, the then Mayor, John Farr,
launched The Mayor’s Flood Appeal which saw some $211,969.35 donated,
which included some $59,000 from Council’s throughout NSW. This
amount includes a donation of $928.42 received late 2006 which has been held in
trust and is available for distribution.
In Queensland’s time of
need I believe it appropriate for Cabonne Council to consider a donation to the
Flood Appeal and believe that an amount of $2,000, which would include the late
donation unallocated in Trust, would be appropriate. It would also seem
appropriate to invite other Councils to consider a similar donation.
Council staff in the Molong and
Cudal offices are also making donations through their monthly Muffy Day charity
event and staff BBQ.
The Local Government Association
of Queensland (LGAQ), through the LGSA has advised that the best way for
individuals, families and businesses to help affected communities is by making
a financial donation to the Premiers Flood Appeal.
Rural Fire Service – Extraordinary
Increase in Contributions
Council has received preliminary
advice from the Rural Fire Service of an extraordinary increase in the
contributions for:
a) 2010/2011 (retrospective increase)
b) 2011/2012
For Council’s information
the allocation in the 2010/2011 budget for contributions for the Rural Fire
Service amounted to $152,031 and was advised to the RFS in August 2010.
Consideration of the estimates resulted in the RFS advising Council that the
allocation had increased to $156,432.
Council subsequently received
telephone advice on 5 January that the allocation for 2010/2011 would be in the
order of $220,000. At a meeting attended by the General Manager on
12/1/11 the amount was estimated to be increased to $226,601 which represents a
49.2% increase on Council’s budget allocation or some $74,570
extra. This increase would account for an approximate 1% rate increase
across the board in Cabonne. When it is considered that the allowable
increase for 2011/2012 is 2.8% this obviously presents some difficulty for
Council.
The bulk of the increase in
Council’s contributions appear to cover ‘Program Charges’
which relate to Head Office and Statewide expenses which, on current advice,
now amount to $2,204,227 for the Canobolas Zone (Blayney, Cabonne, Cowra and
Orange).
The increase in RFS contributions
has occurred generally across NSW, although inexplicably a small number of
Councils have received a reduction.
My concerns with the situation
are that:
1. There has been no
prior consultation by the RFS of this significant increase.
2. The retrospectivity
of the payment for 2010/2011.
3. There has been no
consideration of the ability of Councils to pay the increase.
4. The impact on
reduction of other bush fire expenses such as tankers, equipment and
maintenance expenses etc.
5. The impact on not
only the current year’s budget 2010/2011 but also the 2011/2012 and
future budgets.
6. This is a further
example of major cost shifting onto local Councils and ratepayers.
This issue is also being considered
by the LGSA who have issued an urgent circular to all Councils. A copy of
the correspondence is attached for Council’s information. Council
should note the issues raised by the Association and the actions they have
taken.
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Recommendation
THAT:
1. Council
observe a minute’s silence for the victims and their families of the
Queensland flooding.
2. Council
donate an amount of $2,000 to the Queensland Flood Relief Appeal.
3. Based on
the information currently before Council, that Council withhold any
additional Rural Fire Service contributions above the 2010/2011 budget
allocations as previously approved by Council.
4. That a
further report on the Rural Fire Service contributions be presented to
Council’s February Meeting.
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ITEM
5 - Flood and Storm Natural Disaster
2010
REPORT IN
BRIEF
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Reason For Report
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Provide Council with an interim
report on the impact the flood and storm events of December 2010 will have on
Councils Operations.
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Policy Implications
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Nil
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Budget Implications
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Natural
Disaster funding
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Area of Responsibility
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Operations
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Annexures
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Nil
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File Number
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\My Workspace\Business Paper
Report Directory\Working Reports InfoCouncil 2011 - 217839
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Director of Engineering and Technical Services'
REPORT
A NATURAL DISASTER
Council would be aware the
Minister for Emergency Services the Hon. Steve Whan MP announced Natural
Disaster Assistance for the Cabonne LGA for the flood and storm events of
December 2010.
Significant and unseasonal
rainfall during the later part of Winter and Autumn 2010 caused river systems
and catchments in the Cabonne area to become saturated resulting in a series of
flood watches in the region. From mid August to late December there were no
fewer than 20 flood events in the Cabonne area. In December alone there were
three significant events where the SES issued Major flood warnings for river
and creek systems in the Cabonne LGA.
RAINFALL CABONNE LGA
NATURAL DISASTER FUNDING
SES has advised the series of
storms and floods in December are all under the one declaration of Natural
Disaster.
With the announcement of Natural
Disaster funding council is eligible to seek financial assistance for the
restoration of public infrastructure caused by flood and storms. The RTA acts
as Treasury’s agent in managing disaster repairs to road infrastructure.
This includes Crown roads where council is engaged to carry out the work as
contractors.
Under the conditions of the
RTA’s Natural Disaster Arrangements 2008, Section 4 Provision of Funds,
council will receive:
Emergency works – 100% of
approved actual costs
Regional Roads – 100% of
assessed value of work
Local Roads – 75% of
assessed cost up to $116,000 and 100% thereafter. (Councils excess = $29,000).
Financial assistance is for
restoration of the asset to the pre-storm or flood condition and does not cover
improvements or damage due to saturation. It is likely that Council will need
to direct funds form the existing road maintenance area and the
“additional” asset renewal funds to address these. It is not intended
to redirect funds from the capital works or construction program to the flood
and storm damage repair works.
The interim damages assessment is
over $5m, however this figure is expected to increase significantly as a result
of the Boxing Day Storm.
EMERGENCY PROCEDURES
a) Council’s Involvement
Council’s activities are
coordinated with the SES which is the combat agency for flood and storm events.
Council’s Director of Engineering and Technical Services is the Local
Emergency Management Officer (LEMO) whose position is to assist the combat
agency in securing resources to assist in the management of the emergency.
Cabonne Council’s Disaster
Recovery Plan (Displan) describes council’s role in an emergency as
follows:
Ø Provide manpower,
plant and equipment as available and required to assist in dealing with an
incident or emergency.
Ø Promote
expenditure and support to:
o Engineers functional
services;
o Health Services
functional services;
o Environmental
Services functional services.
Ø Support recovery
operations.
Ø Provide liaison
officer/executive support to the Local Emergency Operations (LEOC) Centre and
Controller (LEOCON).
Ø Coordinate
engineering resources associated with disaster response and recovery operations.
Ø Clear and
re-establish roads and bridges.
Council staff have worked closely
with SES and other agencies involved in dealing with the many emergencies
associated with the floods and storms. Eugowra experienced three floods being
evacuated twice, causing road closure and property damage. Similarly,
Molong experienced two floods causing road closure and property damage in less
than 12 hours.
The most recent of the storms on
Boxing Day, stretched Council’s available resources to the limit and called
on all staff on the emergency contact list. The Manager of Operations posted a
list of employees who indicated availability over the Christmas period prior to
the Christmas break. All calls to Council’s emergency (after hours)
number [63923234] were dealt with by the duty officer who then assigned or
directed the request to the appropriate Overseer.
The Boxing Day storms resulted in
Major flooding of five river systems;
1. Bell River Water
over the new bridge on the Euchareena Road causing
damage to approaches and bridge infrastructure.
Damage to roads and causeways.
2. Belubula River - 5.6m Closing the Main Road to
Cowra and Eugowra
3. Mandagery River Closing the Orange to Parkes Road at
the Monument and
Flash Jacks. Damage to roads and causeways.
4. Boree Creek Flooding
of property in Cudal
5. Molong Creek Two
peaks (4.0m at 11am and 4.1m at 1am) Closure of ` Mitchell
Highway and flooding of Commercial property. Boree
Hollow Creek also flooding councils depot and
closure of local roads.
The emergency works/requests
resulting from the Boxing Day storms were handled by Councils Overseers who
were able to call on 10 employees to carryout emergency works.
The SES as the combat agency for
Flood and Storms has the overall control of operations in the response to
emergencies resulting from these events including coordination of evacuation
and welfare of effected communities.
b) Local Emergency Management Committee
The Local Emergency Management
Committee de-brief for the Boxing Day flood and storm events was held on
Thursday 13th January. The SES provided a brief overview of the
emergency stating that over 100mm of rain fell in the Orange area. There was
little warning from the BOM and flood watches were not issued in the normal early
warning timeframes.
SES have indicated a need to look
at establishing Flood Wardens for areas not covered by SES units including
Yeoval, Cumnock, and areas in the east of the shire. This may call on RFS units
to play a more formal role in flood emergencies.
Traffic control and road closures
remains a concern and need for additional resources to be found for manning
road closures. Council to look at purchasing Variable Message Boards (VMB).
Council also to discuss with RTA erection of permanent “drop-down”
flood signs for closure of the Escort Way and MR6.
SES also advised that the
Canowindra Unit had difficulty in reaching the after hours telephone no. This
may have been due to the number of calls coming through, Council to look into
the answering service and any improvements that can be made.
Community Services have concern
with establishing evacuation sites in Eugowra, would like to see the site
established in Parkes. However SES have concern with this making reference to
the 2005 floods.
NSW RFS commended on the
resources and effort in reducing flood damages in Molong, 31 personnel
assisting the SES.
In general the SES praised the
efforts of the agencies assisting in the emergency and reiterated the need to
inform people needing assistance in flood and storm events to use the SES
132500 number.
COUNCIL’S 2010/2011
WORKS PROGRAM & NATURAL DISASTER AND STORM DAMAGE REPAIR
The following information is
designed to give Councl an initial overview of the situation in addition to the
2010/2011 Works Program and Repair Works. More detailed assessment will
be carried out as staff are now returning to work and discussions commence in
earnest witht the RTA. A more detailed report will be presented to the
February Works Committee for consideration and determination by Council at its
February meeting. In the interim, it is proposed to address the Works
Program and Repair Works in a multi-faceted approach through:
· Attention
to emergency works.
· Continuation
of 2010/2011 Works Program – Capital and Construction Projects.
· Resheeting
and general repairs.
a) Natural Disaster Works Program And Recovery
Following the Ministers Natural
Disaster declaration in early December, council staff began inspection of road
and drainage infrastructure in areas affected by flood water and storms.
Council submitted an interim damages report mid December as required by the
Department of Emergency Services. However, since the Natural Disaster
declaration there has been a number of significant events in the Cabonne LGA.
Each event has caused staff to do a re-assessment of roads as well as
assessment of roads not previously affected. Inspection of the road network is
continuing and should be completed by the end of January, early February baring
further storms.
The interim damages report for
flood events of 3rd and 9th December reports an estimated
110kms of gravel roads requiring gravel re-sheeting and removal of silt from
table drains. This figure is expected to grow when assessment of the
Boxing Day storms is completed.
The priority for natural disaster
works is:
1. Continue inspection and assessment of damaged
infrastructure including roads, causeways, drainage and urban services.
2. Carryout emergency works to roads and drainage
infrastructure to restore access to isolated properties. A priority to be given
to school bus routes.
3. Reinstatement of roads and drainage infrastructure to
pre-storm/flood condition.
The emergency works and
reinstatement of drainage structures is in progress with expenditure to the
24/12/10 beingt:
Local Roads - $162,000
Regional Roads - $133,000
State Roads - $44,000
It is noted the above works does
not include re-sheeting of gravel roads with the exception of isolated areas
where reinstatement was required as emergency or access situations.
The gravel re-sheeting task is
expected to take approximately three months to complete utilising two gangs
with two graders in each gang working in tandem. The limiting factor in the
daily productivity for gravel re-sheeting is the haulage of road base.
Council’s capacity to haul material is 720 cubic metres utilising all
trucks and dogs. An additional four truck and dogs will be required (contract)
to meet the daily requirement.
(Calculations
based on a nominal 20 km haul, 6 loads per day,12 t per truck unit and density
of 2t/m3.)
Gravel re-sheeting is not
expected to commence until early February due to the areas adjacent to the road
being saturated and unsuitable for mitre and table drain works.
b) Resource Allocation And Impact On Councils Works
Program
The flood and storm events in
December and the extreme wet weather leading up to these storm events has had a
significant impact on councils resources and the scheduled works program.
Already capital works have been delayed due to either re-allocation of
resources to emergency works or unfavourable weather conditions. Council
allocated an additional $750,000 to asset renewal in October 2010 to meet the
additional work effort required to repair damage to road pavements caused by
the saturated conditions. Expenditure of the additional asset renewal
allocation is $529K ytd. The flood and storm damage works has also deferred
this activity, however it will continue when resources become available. The
RTA also allocated an additional $500,000 for rehabilitation works on the State
road network.
Major capital works that were
scheduled to start in November/December have been setback, the projects now rescheduled
for February/March include;
Ø Burrendong Way
Blackspot (Mulyan intersection)
Ø Pauls Lane
Canowindra
Ø Gaskill Street
Canowindra
Ø White Rocks Road
Council’s works program
will be re-visited and reported to the February Works Committee. An interim
works program and allocation of resources has been developed to address the
natural disaster works and allow continuation of the scheduled works program.
Capital Works – Full
construction gang
Bitumen Roads Rehabilitation
and REPAIR – Full construction gang
Natural Disaster Works
– 2 x Gravel re-sheeting gangs with additional grader for table drain
work and form-up.
Maintenance Grading
– 2 x maintenance graders.
Discussions with our WBC Alliance
partners indicate that they have also been affected by the storms and floods
and are not in a position at this time to provide additional resources.
It should be noted that contract
equipment and resources will be used as necessary to supplement Councils own
fleet and resources.
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Recommendation
THAT:
1. Council note the Natural Disaster report and approve
in principle the allocation of resources for Capital works, Bitumen Road
Rehabilitation, Natural Disaster Works and Maintenance Grading.
2. Further reports be presented to the February Works
Committee and February Ordinary Meeting.
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