ITEM 1 - APPLICATIONS FOR LEAVE OF ABSENCE
REPORT IN BRIEF
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Reason For Report |
To allow tendering of apologies for councillors not present. |
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Policy Implications |
Nil |
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Budget Implications |
Nil |
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IPR Linkage |
1.2.2.1a - Facilitate Council and standing committee meeting processes. |
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Annexures |
Nil |
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File Number |
\OFFICIAL RECORDS LIBRARY\GOVERNANCE\COUNCIL MEETINGS\COUNCIL - COUNCILLORS LEAVE OF ABSENCE - 1646795 |
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THAT any apologies tendered be accepted and the necessary leave of absence be granted.
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General Manager's REPORT
A call for apologies is to be made.
ITEM 2 - DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
REPORT IN BRIEF
|
Reason For Report |
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 |
Nil |
|
Budget Implications |
Nil |
|
IPR Linkage |
1.2.2.1a - Facilitate Council and standing committee meeting processes. |
|
Annexures |
Nil |
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File Number |
\OFFICIAL RECORDS LIBRARY\GOVERNANCE\COUNCIL MEETINGS\COUNCIL – COUNCILLORS AND STAFF DECLARATION OF INTEREST – 2024 - 1646801 |
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THAT the Declarations of Interest be noted.
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General Manager's REPORT
A call for Declarations of Interest.
ITEM 3 - DECLARATIONS OF POLITICAL DONATION
REPORT IN BRIEF
|
Reason For Report |
To allow for an opportunity for Councillors to declare any Political Donation received. |
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Policy Implications |
Nil |
|
Budget Implications |
Nil |
|
IPR Linkage |
1.2.2.1a - Facilitate Council and standing committee meeting processes. |
|
Annexures |
Nil |
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File Number |
\OFFICIAL RECORDS LIBRARY\GOVERNANCE\COUNCIL MEETINGS\COUNCIL - COUNCILLORS DECLARATION OF POLITICAL DONATIONS - 1646807 |
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THAT any political donations be noted.
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General Manager's REPORT
A call for declarations of any political donations.
ITEM 4 - MINING & ENERGY RELATED COUNCILS
REPORT IN BRIEF
|
Reason For Report |
For the information of the committee. |
|
Policy Implications |
Nil |
|
Budget Implications |
Nil |
|
IPR Linkage |
1.2.2.1a - Facilitate Council and standing committee meeting processes. |
|
Annexures |
1. MERC Ordinary Meeting Draft Minutes 8th December 2023⇩ 2. Draft Minutes Annual General Meeting 8th December 2023⇩ 3. MERC Executive Committee Meeting Minutes 7 Dec 23⇩ 4. Delegates Report Ordinary Meeting 8th December 2023⇩ |
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File Number |
\OFFICIAL RECORDS LIBRARY\GOVERNMENT RELATIONS\LOCAL AND REGIONAL LIAISON\ASSOCIATION OF MINING AND ENERGY RELATED COUNCILS - 1663255 |
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THAT the information contained in the report be noted.
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Deputy General Manager - Cabonne Services REPORT
On 8 December 2023, Clr Batten and Deputy General Manager Cabonne Services, Heather Nicholls attended the Mining & Energy Related Committee meeting. The minutes of the December 2023 meeting of the Mining & Energy Related Councils meeting are attached for the information of the committee.
Also attached is the following;
1. Draft Minutes of the Annual General Meeting held on 8 December 2023;
2. Draft minutes of the Annual General Meeting held on 8 December 2023;
3. Minutes of the Executive Committee Meeting held on 7 December 2023;
4. Delegates report from the Ordinary Meeting held on 8 December 2023
REPORT IN BRIEF
|
Reason For Report |
To present proposed Electrify Cabonne Program for endorsement. |
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Policy Implications |
Nil |
|
Budget Implications |
Nil |
|
IPR Linkage |
1.3.2.1a - Implement the adopted actions from Council's Renewable Energy Action Plan (REAP). |
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Annexures |
Nil |
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File Number |
\OFFICIAL RECORDS LIBRARY\ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT\PLANNING\RENEWABLE ENERGY ACTION PLAN - 1665879 |
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THAT the Committee endorse the development of the Electrify Cabonne program.
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Department Leader - Innovation & Technology's REPORT
Council has for a number of years had a Renewable Energy Action Plan, as well has had input into the development of an Emissions Reduction Plan and an Electric Vehicle (EV) Transition Plan. A common component of these plans is council’s use of electricity, either the generation of renewable energy, the efficiency of its use or, in the case of the EV Transition Plan, the infrastructure required to support future increases in demand at specific locations.
Electrify Cabonne aims to take similar themed projects from across the three plans and look at them in a wholistic manner, to identify projects that complement each other, ensure council isn’t duplicating effort and to make sure projects such as electrical infrastructure upgrades consider the requirements of other projects.
From an emissions reduction perspective the Electrify Cabonne program would see council be 100% renewable in its electricity use, eliminating 16.3% of council’s emissions and would lay the foundation for council’s transition to a net zero vehicle fleet, whether these be electric vehicles or hydrogen, which would eventually eliminate a further 20.7% of emissions based on the baseline 2019 financial year. The energy efficiency measures would reduce council’s overall electricity consumption and allow the excess generation to offset emissions in areas that are harder to treat, such as those generated via wastewater treatment or landfill operations.
A presentation will be made at the committee meeting.
Grant Opportunity
The Federal Government through the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW), have opened a round of funding under the Community Energy Upgrades Fund. The fund will deliver $100 million over 2 funding rounds run over 3 years. The program is intended to co-fund energy efficiency and electrification upgrades for local governments to deliver reduced energy bills and emissions from local government owner and/or operated facilities. Councils can apply for a maximum of $2.5 million worth of funding with a 50/50 co-contribution. Many of the projects identified in Electrify Cabonne align with the grant guidelines and council staff are currently working through the grant requirements. Applications close April 30.
ITEM 6 - MID-SCALE SOLAR PLANT UPDATE
REPORT IN BRIEF
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Reason For Report |
To update the committee on the progress of the Mid-Scale Solar Plant. |
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Policy Implications |
Nil |
|
Budget Implications |
Nil |
|
IPR Linkage |
1.3.2.1a - Implement the adopted actions from Council's Renewable Energy Action Plan (REAP). |
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Annexures |
1. ESF Project Update March 2024⇩ |
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File Number |
\OFFICIAL RECORDS LIBRARY\ENERGY SUPPLY AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS\PLANNING\PROPOSED SOLAR ELECTRICITY PROJECT - 1665887 |
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THAT the information in this report be noted.
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Department Leader - Innovation & Technology's REPORT
Council staff continue to progress the Mid-Scale Solar plant project. A working group has been formed including council’s General Manager, Deputy General Manager – Cabonne Infrastructure, Department Leader – Innovation & Technology, Department Leader – Water Utilities and consultants Constructive Energy.
The requisite network studies and Connection Access Standard have been completed and approved by Essential Energy with the next step being to develop the Offer to Connect. The approval of the network studies marks the clearing of a potential major barrier to the completion of the project.
Council’s General Manager and Department Leader – Finance have met with a suitable lender and have secured credit approval for $4,000,000 with a variable interest rate, being variable the rate changes all the time however the last market update had the rate at 6.05%.
Council is now ready to procure the detailed design of the plant and the design of the contestable grid works required to connect the plant to the electricity grid. Council staff and Constructive Energy are currently working on developing the Request for Quotation documents for both pieces of design work.
Constructive Energy have provided a further revised project budget which is attached as an annexure to this report. Constructive Energy will also provide the committee with an update directly.
ITEM 7 - SCOPE 3 EMISSIONS REPORT
REPORT IN BRIEF
|
Reason For Report |
To present report findings to the Committee. |
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Policy Implications |
Nil |
|
Budget Implications |
Nil |
|
IPR Linkage |
1.3.2.1d - Work with other stakeholders to lead actions and initiatives in climate change for Cabonne and the region. |
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Annexures |
1. Scope 3 Emissions Report Final⇩ |
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File Number |
\OFFICIAL RECORDS LIBRARY\ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT\PLANNING\EMISSIONS REDUCTION PLAN - 1665889 |
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THAT the information in this report be noted.
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Department Leader - Innovation & Technology's REPORT
Council, through the Central NSW Joint Organisation and via funding received from the Office of Energy and Climate Change (OECC), have procured a Scope 3 Emissions Report on the 2019 financial year. The report was developed by consultants 100% Renewables with the findings largely developed by an analysis of council’s expenditure.
Scope 3 emissions are emissions generated both upstream and downstream of council’s operations and include emissions produced in the production and transport of materials and goods, emissions generated by staff commutes and emissions produced by 3rd parties in the provision of services to council. A full description is available in the report.
Figure 4 on page 7 of the report shows a percentage breakdown of council’s scope 3 emissions and Table 2 on page 8 shows a percentage breakdown across scopes 1, 2 & 3. Unsurprisingly given the volume of materials involved, road maintenance and construction forms a large component of Council’s scope 3 emissions accounting for 56% of scope 3 emissions and 26.39% of overall emissions. Other large emitters include non-residential building construction at 12%, and sanitary and garbage disposal at 11%.
The report can assist council’s future efforts to reduce emissions, through sustainable procurement practices and engaging with suppliers, however the scope for this is potentially limited currently due to the lack of viable and cost-effective alternatives.
ITEM 8 - ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES UPDATE REPORT
REPORT IN BRIEF
|
Reason For Report |
For the information of the committee. |
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Policy Implications |
Nil |
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Budget Implications |
Nil |
|
IPR Linkage |
3.2.1.2a - Review the Waste Management Strategy. |
|
Annexures |
1. Ranger Procedure Manual review 2024⇩ |
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File Number |
\OFFICIAL RECORDS LIBRARY\WASTE MANAGEMENT\PLANNING\WASTE MANAGEMENT PLANS - 1666740 |
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THAT the information be noted.
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Department Leader - Environmental Service's REPORT
The following report provides an overview of the services provided by the Environmental Services department of council:
Domestic Waste Contract
The following figures have been provided by council’s contractor JR Richards relating to the domestic waste service this current financial year.
These figures are comparable to the previous financial year. Although there was a decrease in waste in December.
Landfill and transfer station sites
Manildra Waste Facilities’ first dumping cell (stage one) reached 100% capacity and was covered over in early February 2024. In line with Council’s Watse Management Strategy a new cell (stage two) has been constructed and is now open for dumping.
Throughout the hotter months, two self combusting fires were recorded at both Canowindra and Manildra Waste Facilities. Canowindra’s fire was the more significant of the two consuming the whole current dumping cell. The firefighting equipment on site proved to be invaluable as staff were able to keep the fire from spreading until Rural Fire Service NSW was able to attend. Both events were recorded with EPA and reports and investigations have been completed.
Environmental Services implementation of new waste management system Cooee is in its early testing stages. This system makes collection and tracking of the data a lot more streamlined which will help immensely with reporting deadlines. This will be tested in-house and on-site over the next month to iron out any bugs and should be launched in April or May this year.
Cemeteries
Environmental Services Cemetery Maintenance Officer has been busy getting on top of our 11 active cemeteries, despite tough seasonal conditions which has proved challenging. A general works schedule has been created to inform the public roughly when in a fortnightly period their cemetery will be tended to.
Extension of the columbarium wall at Eugowra has been scheduled within the coming months. This will be a much-needed addition as there are currently only 5 available niche plots in the current setting. A contractor has also been approached to quote on construction of additional beams at Canowindra Cemetery. These works will finish off the planned Catholic portion expansion.
Ranger services
Our Ranger has been completing regular patrols around the LGA. 15 dogs have been transferred to council’s pound. 5 of those dogs have been released back to their owners, 5 have been rehomed either through council staff or agencies, 4 are currently awaiting adoption with the 5th being deemed dangerous and is awaiting its two-week holding period.
The pound continues to receive an influx of complaints about constant barking. This has been monitored closely by the ranger with only one instance of the dogs barking continuously being noted. Citronella collars have been implemented and are resolving some of the issue.
Biosecurity
The team have been busy with private property inspections throughout the LGA. There have been 269 private property inspections conducted towards our target of 350 for this financial year. These inspections have been well received and good relationships and results are being noticed.
In conjunction with Local Land Services our new 5-year Central Tablelands Strategic Weed Management Plan 2023-2027 has been released and now is in effect. This will determine what plants are described as a priority for the next 5-year period.
The Biosecurity team have also approached UGL for a few problem areas of blackberry along their rail corridors. UGL have been very prompt and receptive to this, already treating one of the problem sites at Canowindra. This partnership is a good win for Cabonne Council and should reduce the volume of complaints received around rail corridors in the LGA.
Current weeds/Actions
The biosecurity team is focusing on controlling St John’s Wort, Blackberry, Serrated Tussock, Sticky Nightshade, Coolatai Grass and Blue Heliotrope across the LGA. In coming months, the team will focus on African Boxthorn, Chilean Needle Grass, Sweet Briar and continue to focus on Blackberry while the season allows. The Biosecurity team will also be looking to hold information nights across the LGA to discuss with landholders their obligations under the Biosecurity Act 2015 and services council can offer.
