Agenda of Shoalhaven Heads Estuary Taskforce

Shoalhaven Heads Estuary Taskforce

Meeting Date: Monday, 20 March, 2017

Location: Jervis Bay Rooms, City Administrative Centre, Bridge Road, Nowra

Please note: Council’s Code of Meeting Practice permits the electronic recording and broadcast of the proceedings of meetings of the Council which are open to the public. Your attendance at this meeting is taken as consent to the possibility that your image and/or voice may be recorded and broadcast to the public.

Agenda

1. Apologies

2. Confirmation of Minutes

· Shoalhaven Heads Estuary Taskforce - 12 December 2016...................................... 1

3. Declarations of Interest

4. Presentations

SH17.1........ Progress Update on Taskforce Resolutions

5. Reports

SH17.2........ Membership - Resignation from Allan Richardson and Application from Carole Cassidy........................................................................................................... 5

SH17.3........ Outcome - Representations to Local Members - Funding - Shoalhaven Heads Estuary Taskforce Objectives..................................................................................... 9

6. General Business

Minutes of the Shoalhaven Heads Estuary Taskforce

Meeting Date: Monday, 12 December 2016

Location: Jervis Bay Rooms, City Administrative Centre, Bridge Road, Nowra

Time: 4.01 pm

The following members were present:

Clr Andrew Guile – Chairperson

Clr Annette Alldrick

Clr Nina Cheyne

Bob Williamson

Mike James

Brian Allen

David Lamb

Steve Short

Phil Guy

Robyn Flack

Others present:

Clr Patricia White

Clr John Levett

Clr Bob Proudfoot

SH16.3 Address from the Mayor

Clr Findley opened the meeting and advised that the Committee will be required to elect an Acting Chairperson for the meeting of Monday 12 December 2016.

Note: Clr Findley addressed the meeting, and raised the following matters.

The Committee needs a united direction for the objective and purpose of the committee going forward.
The State Government has not provided any funding for the opening of the entrance at Shoalhaven Heads
If the Heads is opened at the wrong time there will be an impact on residents who will be at risk of flooding.
Possible ways forward are as follows:

The Committee fold as no opening of the Heads is foreseeable in the near future
The Committee re-evaluate the purpose with the assistance of staff
The Committee cease and a few of the members join the Shoalhaven Natural Resource and Floodplain Management Committee (SNRFMC)

The Committee and staff provided feedback in relation to the discussion with Clr Findley

RESOLVED (Robyn Flack / Clr Cheyne)

That Clr Alldrick be appointed as Acting Chairperson for the meeting of Monday 12 December 2016.

CARRIED

Apologies / Leave of Absence

Clr Wells, Jessica Zealand, Allan Richardson, Gerald Groom

Note: Clr Guile arrived 4.25pm assumed the Chair

Confirmation of the Minutes

RESOLVED (By consent)

That the Minutes of the Shoalhaven Heads Estuary Taskforce held on Wednesday 30 March 2016 be confirmed.

CARRIED

Declarations of Interest

Nil

Reports

SH16.1 Status update on the recommendations of the Taskforce

HPERM Ref: D16/359037

The Committee held an open discussion on their opinions of a way forward for the committee.

Clr Guile – Chairperson addressed the meeting with positive comments on what the committee has achieved thus far. However has reservations about rolling this committee into the SNRFMC.

Clr White addressed the meeting and stated that a positive way forward would be to re-evaluate the purpose of the Committee and push for future funding.

A suggestion was made that the committee could have Tourism and Economic Development input/representation into the committee.

David Lamb left the meeting at 5.15pm

Clr Cheyne left the meeting at 5.24pm

Recommendation

That

1. Council review the membership of the Shoalhaven Heads Estuary Taskforce and in particular Council staff to ensure the Taskforce has access to professional advice on matters related to tourism and economic development

2. Council in consultation with the Shoalhaven Heads Forum organise a public meeting at Shoalhaven Heads in March or April 2017 where Dr Will Glamore will present the findings of the Water Research Laboratory studies and Rafael Carvalho will present findings of his PhD research on the Shoalhaven River sediment compartment.

3. The Shoalhaven Heads Estuary Taskforce endorse the content of the brochure attached to this report for public distribution.

Recommendation (Phil Guy / Stephen Short)

That:

1. The Chair of the Committee writes to the Federal and State Local Members asking them whether or not they support the Committee to source funding of a scale that would enable the Committee to meet its objectives (below) to creative a marine environment through permanent or semi-permanent opening of the entrance at Shoalhaven Heads and report back to the Committee

a. Address the current build up of sedimentation and sand levels within the estuary.

b. Investigate the viability of options to create greater flow and movement of water within the estuary, including a Permanent Opening.

c. Update and review the Shoalhaven River Entrance Management Plan to include provisions that restore, maintain and sustain the health of the Shoalhaven Heads estuary; not just for the purpose of Flood Mitigation.

d. Ensure the objectives and actions for sustaining the Shoalhaven River within the Shoalhaven River Estuary Management Plan are effective.

e. Challenge the Healthy River Commission assertion in the Shoalhaven Estuary Management Plan (Clause: 4.3.1.2) as unacceptable to the community of Shoalhaven Heads.

f. Formulate a time lined programme of actions to achieve the above requests.

2. The Committee further consider staff representation from Tourism and Economic Development at future meetings, and further consider representation from Shoalhaven Chamber of Commerce.

3. Council in consultation with the Shoalhaven Heads Forum organise a public meeting at Shoalhaven Heads in March or April 2017 where Dr Will Glamore will present the findings of the Water Research Laboratory studies and Rafael Carvalho will present findings of his PhD research on the Shoalhaven River sediment compartment.

4. The Shoalhaven Heads Estuary Taskforce endorse the content of the brochure attached to this report for public distribution.

5. In light of the review of the upcoming management plan, the progress be reported to the Committee for consultation.

SH16.2 Occupancy rates - Shoalhaven Heads Tourist Holiday Park

HPERM Ref: D16/364334

Recommendation (Item to be determined under delegated authority)

That the Shoalhaven Heads Estuary Taskforce receive the Occupancy Rates – Shoalhaven Heads Tourist Holiday Park report for information.

RESOLVED (Clr Guile / Clr Alldrick)

That the report regarding Occupancy rates - Shoalhaven Heads Tourist Holiday Park be received for information.

CARRIED

There being no further business, the meeting concluded, the time being 6.23pm.

Clr Guile

CHAIRPERSON

Shoalhaven Heads Estuary Taskforce – Monday 20 March 2017

Page 5

SH17.2 Membership - Resignation from Allan Richardson and Application from Carole Cassidy

HPERM Ref: D17/59969

Group: Corporate & Community Services Group

Section: Human Resources, Governance & Customer Service

Attachments: 1. Application for membership ⇩

Purpose / Summary

To advise the Shoalhaven Heads Estuary Taskforce of:

· The resignation of Mr Allan Richardson

· An application for membership from Ms Carole Cassidy

Recommendation

That Council

1. Accept the resignation of Mr Allan Richardson

2. Write to Mr Richardson to thank him for his contribution to the Taskforce.

3. Appoint Ms Carole Cassidy as a community member of the Shoalhaven Heads Estuary Taskforce

4. Write to Ms Cassidy to notify her of her appointment and invite her to all future meetings.

Options

1. As recommended

2. The Shoalhaven Heads Estuary Taskforce adopt an alternate recommendation.

Background

Mr Richardson, who has been a community member of the Shoalhaven Heads Estuary Taskforce since its establishment in 2012, wrote to Council on 21 February 2017 advising of his resignation from the Shoalhaven Heads Estuary Taskforce. In his letter, Mr Richardson thanked Council staff and councillors for their professional, friendly, polite and courteous conduct during meetings.

Wtih the resignation of Mr Richardson there is one (1) vacant community membership position.

Council received an application for membership on the Taskforce from Ms Cassidy on 1 March 2017. A copy of the application has been attached for your information.

Community Engagement

Should Council wish to advertise the position vacated by Mr Richardson, the vacant position would be advertised in the South Coast Register and Nowra News, Councils website and facebook posts. An email seeking interest would also be sent to the Shoalhaven Heads Community Forum as well as other Shoalhaven Heads Community Groups to seek potential interested community members.

Financial Implications

There would be costs associated with advertising the vacant position in the South Coast Register and Nowra News.

Shoalhaven Heads Estuary Taskforce – Monday 20 March 2017

Page 9

SH17.3 Outcome - Representations to Local Members - Funding - Shoalhaven Heads Estuary Taskforce Objectives

HPERM Ref: D17/37183

Group: Planning & Development Services Group

Attachments: 1. Letter - Request Support & Funding - Shoalhaven Heads Taskforce ⇩

2. Response - Shoalhaven Heads Estuary Taskforce - Gareth Ward MP- ⇩

Purpose / Summary

To advise the Taskforce of the outcome (to date) of representations made to Federal and State Local Members in accordance with the following Council resolution of 20 December 2017:

“The Chair of the Shoalhaven Heads Estuary Taskforce writes to the Federal and State Local Members asking them whether or not they support the Taskforce to source funding of a scale that would enable the Taskforce to meet its objectives (below) to creative a marine environment through permanent or semi-permanent opening of the entrance at Shoalhaven Heads and report back to the Taskforce:

Recommendation (Item to be determined under delegated authority)

That the report regarding the results of representations made to Federal and State Local Members requesting support to source funding for the Shoalhaven Heads Taskforce objectives be received for information.

Options

1. The report be adopted for information as recommended.

2. The Taskforce propose an alternative recommendation.

Background

On 30 January 2017 the General Manager wrote to Shelley Hancock MP, Member for South Coast, Gareth Ward MP, Member for Kiama and Anne Sudmalis MP, Federal Member for Gilmore requesting an indication of whether or not they would support the Taskforce to source additional funding that would enable them to meet their objectives. A copy of the letter, which went to all three members is attached for information.

Council received a response from Shelley Hancock MP on 6 February stating that she considers it appropriate that this issue is given due consideration by the Member for Kiama Gareth Ward, as Shoalhaven Heads falls within the electorate of Kiama.

Gareth Ward MP responded to Council on 8 February 2017 advising that he believed this matter should be elevated to the Ministers responsible for these matters and has written to The Hon. Niall Blair MLC, Minister for Regional Water and The Hon. Gabrielle Upton MP, Minister for the Environment. In the letter Gareth Ward requested the matter be investigated and he be advised, in due course, of the government’s position.

As yet, no response has been received from Anne Sudmalis MP.