GENERAL MANAGER’S TABLED REPORT ON MATTERS FOR DETERMINATION SUBMITTED TO THE Ordinary Council Meeting TO BE HELD ON Tuesday 24 March, 2020

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

 

 

ITEM 31    CANOWINDRA INTERNATIONAL BALLOON CHALLENGE...... 2

ITEM 32    COMMUNITY FACILITATION FUND................................................. 5

Confidential Items

 

Clause 240(4) of the Local Government (General) Regulation 2005 requires Council to refer any business to be considered when the meeting is closed to the public in the Ordinary Business Paper prepared for the same meeting.  Council will discuss the following items under the terms of the Local Government Act 1993 Section 10A(2), as follows:

 

ITEM 7      CONFIRMATION OF PROJECT NOMINATIONS

Procedural (The information concerned is currently under embargo by the NSW Government and a confidentiality agreement has been signed.)   

 

ANNEXURE ITEMS

 

 


GENERAL MANAGER’S TABLED REPORT ON MATTERS FOR DETERMINATION SUBMITTED TO THE Ordinary Council Meeting TO BE HELD ON Tuesday 24 March, 2020

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ITEM 31 - CANOWINDRA INTERNATIONAL BALLOON CHALLENGE

REPORT IN BRIEF

 

Reason For Report

For Council to consider paying creditors of Canowindra Challenge Inc

Policy Implications

Nil

Budget Implications

Possible $60,000 from the Canowindra Town Improvement Reserve

IPR Linkage

2.2.1.a - Promote strategies listed in the Tourism Plan

Annexures

Nil   

File Number

\OFFICIAL RECORDS LIBRARY\ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT\REPORTING\COUNCIL REPORTS - 1107940

 

 

Recommendation

 

THAT Council provides funding of $60,000 to pay creditors of Canowindra Challenge Inc to be funded from the Canowindra Town Improvement Reserve

 

Community Engagement and Development Manager's REPORT

 

BACKGROUND

The Canowindra International Balloon Challenge is a week-long competitive hot-air ballooning event, which attracts leading international and Australian balloonists.

One of the biggest events held in the Cabonne Local Government Area, it involves a number of ballooning competitions and is highlighted by a major balloon glow and food and wine market.

Since its inception nine years ago, the Canowindra Challenge has grown to generally attract 6,000-8,000 visitors to Canowindra, as well as about 200 competitors, crews and officials, A further 200 volunteers come into town to be involved in the ballooning activities.

It contributes an estimated $1.3m to the regional economy and raises funds for many Canowindra community groups and charities, including local schools, sporting clubs, the Rural Fire Service, SES, CWA and St John Ambulance.

Cabonne Council has been a major sponsor since the Canowindra Challenge began, providing a total of $141,000 from its Events Assistance Program (EAP). This includes $20,000 per year for each of the past five years.

CURRENT SITUATION

After the event incurred losses of about $60,000 last year, Cabonne Council held extensive discussions with the organisers about how Council could provide assistance to help ensure it proceeds in 2020 and coming years, thus continuing to provide significant fiscal stimulus to Canowindra and surrounding areas.

At its Ordinary Meeting on 25 February 2020, Council resolved to place on public exhibition for 28 days its intention to provide funding of $60,000 to pay creditors of Canowindra Challenge Inc to be funded from the Canowindra Town Improvement Reserve.

Council also resolved to provide funding of $30,000 to Canowindra Challenge Inc from the 2019-20 Events Assistance Program.

Unfortunately, because of issues surrounding the coronavirus pandemic and bans on mass gathering of more than 500 people at outdoor events, organisers have been forced to cancel the 2020 Canowindra International Balloon Challenge, with the intention to bring it back in 2021.

The committee considered holding the event later in 2020 but was unable to find a date that fitted into the ballooning calendar and fell outside the fire season.

Canowindra Challenge Inc. has indicated it will repay to Council any EAP funding not already spent on arrangements for this year’s event. This is expected to be about $20,000.

The committee will now have a year to organise the 2021 Canowindra Challenge and ensure the Canowindra community benefits from the $1.3m it injects into the local economy.

However, this remains uncertain while the issue of the amount owed to creditors remains to be solved.

PUBLIC SUBMISSIONS

The 28-day public exhibition period closed on Tuesday 24 March 2020.

As of 20 March 2020, when this report was prepared, Council had received five submissions, three in support and two which objected to the proposal. Any submissions received after this date will be tabled at the Council’s March Ordinary meeting.

Submissions received as of 20 March 2020 and a summary of their comments are as follows:

 

Name

Comment

1

D. Rygate

Supports Council proposal. It is important local groups and businesses are not left out of pocket as a result of issues experienced by CCI.

2

G. Beath

As President of the Canowindra Showground and Racecourse Land Manager (CSRLM) supports Council’s proposal in strongest terms. Significant debt owed to CSRLM places its viability at risk and threatens ongoing provision of community facilities that are important to Canowindra’s economy, including squash, team penning, golf, pony club, trotting and dance classes.

3

M. Barker

Supports proposal as community groups have been severely impacted by the outstanding debts, particularly the amount owed to CSRLM. This could mean the loss of showground facilities to the public. User groups include golf club, pony club, trotting club, Canowindra Show Society, tractor pull, team penning and dance classes. Showground also used by local farm organisations for field days and ram sales. Losing the showground facilities would have major impact on Canowindra’s social and economic welfare. Although not a traditional use of the Canowindra Town Improvement Reserve, in this case it would provide more benefit than being spent on footpaths and or other minor improvements around town.

4

D. White

Objects to Council meeting this debt. Organisers need to be responsible for the debt. If our business owed the same amount, we wouldn’t be bailed out.

The money could be better spent on improvements in South Canowindra

Over the years, locals have been cut out of attending because of the ticket prices. Event was great at first when it was the Canowindra people, but it became too “citified” and they wanted more money.

5

C. Beaumont

Previous committee should be responsible for meeting debts. Number of visitors and economic impact exaggerated, and event is not really wanted by a majority of the community.

Balloonists block roads and land on properties without permission. Crews travel through properties and leave gates open.

Balloon glow is too weather dependent and twice in past three years had to be altered or shortened because of unsuitable winds.

 

A post was placed prominently on Council’s Facebook page and was viewed by 1,081 with five likes and no adverse comments.

 

ITEM 32 - COMMUNITY FACILITATION FUND

REPORT IN BRIEF

 

Reason For Report

To report on proposed expenditure under the Community Facilitation Fund (CFF).

Policy Implications

Nil

Budget Implications

Within existing budget allocation

IPR Linkage

3.3.5.a. Review community need for new and upgraded facilities

Annexures

Nil   

File Number

\OFFICIAL RECORDS LIBRARY\GRANTS AND SUBSIDIES\PROGRAMS\COMMUNITY FACILITATION FUND - 1106786

 

 

Recommendation

 

THAT Council approve expenditure from the Community Facilitation Fund for the following projects:

 

1.   Contribution of $5,860.50 to the Eugowra Steering Committee for development of a town masterplan.

 

2.   Contribution of $5,000 from the CFF and a further $5,000 from the Canowindra Town Improvement Reserve to the Canowindra Business and Progress Association for the development of a town masterplan.

 

 

Community Engagement and Development Manager's REPORT

 

Council adopted guidelines for the Community Facilitation Fund (CFF) in March 2015.  The CFF was created for smaller community projects not originally included in Council’s budget, to be allocated at the discretion of the Mayor and Deputy Mayor.

 

The guidelines for the CFF are as follows:

 

1.   Projects where no existing vote for the works has been allocated or the vote is insufficient to complete the project.

 

2.   Recipients must be community based not-for-profit groups.

 

3.   Mayor and Deputy Mayor to jointly approve funds (with the General Manager as proxy if one is not available).

 

4.   Allocation of funds to be reported to the next available Council meeting.

 

5.   Limit of $3,000 per allocation unless other approved by Council.

 

This month, Council has received two requests for contributions exceeding the discretionary approval limit of $3,000. As such, the following requests are presented to Council for consideration:

 

1.   The Eugowra Steering Committee are seeking to engage the services of an appropriate consultant for the development of a town Masterplan. To facilitate this, the committee has requested a contribution from Council to the value of $5,860.50. This amount constitutes 50% of the total cost of the plan with the Eugowra Steering Committee contributing the remaining 50% of the cost from their own resources.

 

2.   The Canowindra Business and Progress Association is also seeking to engage the services of a consultant to develop the Canowindra town Masterplan however the group is not currently in a position to make a financial contribution. As the development of such a plan would provide benefit to the whole community, the Association has requested that Council underwrite the total cost for development of the plan. It is recommended that the contribution is made as follows;

 

a.   $5,000 contribution from Council from the Community Facilitation Fund.

b.   $5,000 contribution from the Canowindra Town Improvement Reserve.