Agenda of Nowra CBD Revitalisation Strategy Committee

Nowra CBD Revitalisation Strategy Committee – Wednesday 04 August 2021

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Membership

Mr James Caldwell - Chairperson

Clr Jo Gash

Clr Patricia White

Clr John Wells

Mr Paul Keech or delegate

Mr Robert Domm or delegate

Mr Scott Baxter

Mr Brendan Goddard

Mr George Parker

Mr Wesley Hindmarch

Ms Alison Henry

Mr Christopher Williamson

Ms Catherine Shields

Non-voting members

All other Councillors

Quorum – Eight (8) members

Role

Note: Tasks in relation to 1.4 will not be undertaken by Councillors

For the purpose of this Terms of Reference, Councils annual Capital Works Budget which is defined as any Special Rate on the CBD (currently $500,000) plus any top up funding (such as grants or loans obtained by council or other council budgetary allocations) that Council provides to deliver a project initiated by Special Rate Funding.

Note: Any other Capital Works Funding in excess of $100,000 within the CBD will be discussed with the Committee prior to expenditure of funding.

1.1. Recommend to Council possible refinement of, and improvements to, the Nowra CBD Revitalisation Strategy as the committee considers appropriate.

1.2. Develop a list of projects (with estimated costings) for Council to consider priorities over a rolling three year time frame, that will assist in achieving the ten elements of the Nowra CBD Revitalisation Strategy. The list is to be presented to an Ordinary Meeting of Council in February each year, and thus adopted by the Council.

1.3. Make a formal submission to Council’s annual capital works budget as it relates to the Nowra CBD, in accordance with Council’s budgeting process.

1.4. Monitor the expenditure of Council’s annual capital works budget as it relates to the Nowra CBD, in particular;

1.4.1. Approving design plans and specifications at the preliminary concept stage and prior to the detailed drafting and then at final approval stage.

1.4.2. In cases where the General Manager (or delegate) determines that capital works within the Nowra CBD, will be tendered out, the Committee Chair (or delegate) will approve the tender documentation before tenders are advertised.

1.4.3. The Committee Chair and delegate are to participate on tender evaluation panels for capital expenditure in the Nowra CBD.

1.4.4. Assign a Project Steering Working Group to endorse the payment of progress claims and endorse the approval of variations, for capital expenditure in the Nowra CBD.

1.4.5. In the case where Council staff undertake substantial capital expenditure (greater than $150,000) in the Nowra CBD, the Committee will receive a report outlining progress (including expenditure updates) and plans at each of the Committee’s Meetings.

1.5. Act as a communication conduit between Council and the CBD stakeholders in respect to the ten elements within the Nowra CBD Revitalisation Strategy and approved Capital Works within the Nowra CBD with reasonable support from Council, at Council’s expense, as determined by the General Manager.

1.6. Assist Council in advocating to the community the adopted list of projects that seek to deliver on the ten elements of the CBD Revitalisation Strategy.

1.7. Provide a report to Council each quarter outlining the year to date expenditure of Council’s annual capital works budget as it relates to the Nowra CBD and present a report to an Ordinary Meeting of Council in August each year that explains the capital expenditure and any non-expenditure, for the previous financial year.

1.8. Consult with relevant stakeholders as needed.

Delegated Authority

1. To expend the funds allocated by Council annually from the Business – Nowra subcategory (currently $500,000) to the CBD Nowra Revitalisation Strategy Committee, as the committee deems appropriate in accordance with objectives of the Nowra CBD Strategic Plan.

2. To establish Working Groups as deemed appropriate.

3. To promote the advantages of the CBD inside and outside the Local Government area, including making press releases and promoting the Nowra CBD Revitalisation Strategy and its projects.

4. Council will provide “in-kind” support to the committee in relation to

a. Project Design and Documentation

b. Facilitation of meetings

c. Preparation of reports for the Committee consideration

Nowra Revitalisation Committee - Sub/Working Groups

	Events / Christmas Promotions	Infrastructure (including Wayfinding signs)	Writers / Historic Walk	Mural Proposal – Bonnie Greene	Banners / Perm Lighting	Logo / Communications	Architectural Ideas Comp
James Caldwell (Chair)	Yes	Yes	Yes		Yes	Yes	Yes
Clr Gash	Yes				Yes
Clr White	Yes				Yes		Yes
Clr Wells						Yes	Yes
Wesley Hindmarch		Yes		Yes		Yes	Yes
Scott Baxter		Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Brendan Goddard		Yes				Yes	Yes
George Parker	Yes
Alison Henry	Yes
Christopher Williamson
Catherine Shields
Robert Domm			Yes				Yes or Rep
Paul Keech		Yes			Yes
SCC Contact (Director / Rep)	Kate Crowe	TBC	Gordon Clark		TBC	Kate Crowe

Minutes of the Nowra CBD Revitalisation Strategy Committee

Meeting Date: Wednesday, 9 June 2021

Location: Council Chambers, City Administrative Centre, Bridge Road, Nowra

Time: 4.14pm

The following members were present:

Mr James Caldwell - Chairperson

Clr Joanna Gash

Clr Patricia White

Clr John Wells

Mr Paul Keech - Director City Services – arrived 4.42pm

Mr Robert Domm - Director City Futures

Mr George Parker

Ms Alison Henry – (Remotely)

Ms Catherine Shields

Others present:

Clr Amanda Findley (Remotely)

Gordon Clark – Strategic Planning Manager

Micaiah Tipton – Manager Design Services

Kate Selig – Tourism & Investment Specialist

1. Apologies / Leave of Absence

Apologies received from Scott Baxter

2. Confirmation of the Minutes

RESOLVED (Clr White / Robert Domm)

That the Minutes of the Nowra CBD Revitalisation Strategy Committee held on Wednesday 12 May 2021 be confirmed.

CARRIED

3. Declarations of Interest

Nil

Reports

CBD21.12 Committee Actions Report for Ongoing/Completed Items

HPERM Ref: D21/168629

Recommendation (Item to be determined under delegated authority)

That the:

1. Outstanding/Ongoing Action report be received for information;

2. Following completed items in the Action List attached to the report be removed from the listing:

a. CBD21.6 – Additional Item – Nowra By Night Promotions Budget

b. CBD21.10 – Additional Item – Walkaround

c. CBD20.24 - Additional Item - Alcohol Prohibited / Free Area - Laneways off Egans Lane & Stewart Pl Car Park - Investigation - Nowra CBD Revitalisation Strategy Committee

RESOLVED (Clr Wells / Clr White)

That the:

1. Outstanding/Ongoing Action report be received for information;

2. Following completed items in the Action List attached to the report be removed from the listing:

a. CBD21.6 – Additional Item – Nowra By Night Promotions Budget

b. CBD21.10 – Additional Item – Walkaround

c. CBD20.24 - Additional Item - Alcohol Prohibited / Free Area - Laneways off Egans Lane & Stewart Pl Car Park - Investigation - Nowra CBD Revitalisation Strategy Committee

CARRIED

CBD21.13 Proposed Membership - Stockland Nowra

HPERM Ref: D21/173039

Note: Paul Keech – Director City Services arrived during discussion at 4.42pm.

Recommendation

That the Terms of Reference for the Nowra CBD Revitalisation Strategy Committee be amended to include a dedicated position for a representative of Stockland Nowra.

Note: the Recommendation from the Report on the Agenda was not accepted. Mayor Findley addressed the meeting to speak in favour of this item.

The following suggestions were made:

· Stockland apply in writing for membership of the CBD Revitalisation Strategy.

· That the Terms of Reference for the Nowra CBD Revitalisation Strategy Committee be amended to include a dedicated position for a representative of Stockland Nowra.

· Stockland be treated in the same manner as other interested applicants or groups whenever a vacancy arises.

RESOLVED (Clr White / Catherine Shields)

That the Committee receive a further report in relation to the rates paid by Stockland and the rates paid by the members of the Nowra CBD Ratepayers Association, and discuss the matter further at the next meeting.

CARRIED

Note: Clr Findley left the meeting 5.05pm

CBD21.14 Nowra CBD Historical Walk Interpretive Signage Project - Finalisation and Outcomes

HPERM Ref: D19/444798

The Committee held a discussion in relation to this matter and Members thanked staff for the detailed report.

Recommendation (Item to be determined under delegated authority)

That the Committee receive the report for information and consider future opportunities to build on the current Nowra CBD Historical Walk.

RESOLVED (Clr White / Robert Domm)

That:

1. The Committee receive the report for information and consider future opportunities to build on the current Nowra CBD Historical Walk.

2. The Working Group continue to investigate future options following September 2021 Election and this report be refence for the Group

CARRIED

CBD21.15 Investigation - Alcohol Free Areas - Egans Lane & Stewart Place Car Park - Nowra CBD (MIN20.902)

HPERM Ref: D21/181311

The Committee held a discussion in relation to this matter and a map of the proposed Alcohol Prohibited Area (highlighted in purple) was included, the following comments were made:

· The Car Parks in Stewarts Place and Egans Lane are Alcohol Free Zones

· It was confirmed that the Committee can hire Council Rangers for Events

· Police Officers are the Enforcement Officers in relation to the confiscation of alcohol. Council can make applications to the Police Commissioner for employees of council to be authorised as Enforcement Officers. There is a concern for staff safety in relation to anti-social behaviour and hostile situations.

Recommendation (Item to be determined under delegated authority)

That as a local community group, the Nowra CBD Revitalisation Strategy Committee forms a working group to progress an application, formally requesting Council to create an Alcohol Prohibited Area on land in the Egans Lane and Stewart Place Car Park precinct to supplement the existing Alcohol Free Zones, with the key tasks being:

a. Create a plan to be submitted with the formal application showing the locations requested to be made Alcohol Prohibited Area and/or Alcohol Free Zone.

b. Collect any evidence that the public use of these roads, footpaths or public parks has been compromised by consumption of alcohol in the immediate area, for example, there could be instances of malicious damage to property, littering, anti-social behaviour, or other crimes, and document this evidence accordingly.

RESOLVED (Clr White / Robert Domm)

a. Create a plan to be submitted with the formal application showing the locations requested to be made Alcohol Prohibited Area and/or Alcohol Free Zone.

CARRIED

CBD21.16 CBD21.7 - Blister Costs in Berry St Nowra & Financial Update - Nowra CBD Revitalisation Funds

HPERM Ref: D21/210329

The Committee thanked staff for the detailed report.

Recommendation (Item to be determined under delegated authority)

That the Nowra CBD Revitalisation Strategy Committee:

1. Note that the remaining budget allocated to the Nowra CBD Revitalisation Strategy Committee for the 20/21 Financial Year is $776,507. These funds will be reserved for the future expenditure in the Nowra CBD as per the committee’s deliberations.

2. Note that the cost for Council to complete the construction of the pedestrian blisters was $18,674.23 higher than the corresponding cost items in the Contractor’s tendered schedule for the Streetscape Upgrade of Berry St, Nowra between Junction St and Worrigee St (Council’s total price was $39,481.23, the average tendered amount of the unsuccessful tenderers was $74,888.50).

3. Note that through Council completing this element of the works that other additional costs associated with anticipated Contractor claims for variations and delays were avoided, as well as the impact on adjacent businesses and users of the street mitigated as much as possible.

RESOLVED (Clr White / Clr Gash)

That the Nowra CBD Revitalisation Strategy Committee:

CARRIED

General Business

CBD21.17 Verbal Report - Finance

HPERM Ref: D21/234450

Paul Keech addressed the meeting and displayed the draft budget on the screen. The Committee held a discussion in relation the Budget.

· Lighting upgrade in Junction Street could be added as a shovel ready project.

· Paul Keech and Micaiah Tipton to work through the Budget and make final amendments. Hold an informal meeting with Clr White and James Caldwell. A suggested email-meeting to confirm the Budget before submitting to Council for adoption.

· Newly appointed Project Manager, Michelle Green will be coming to you with a Project Plan.

CBD21.18 Verbal Report - Revitalising Nowra Action Plan

HPERM Ref: D21/234465

‘Your High Street’ Grant (Junction Court) – required paperwork finalised with the NSW Government and invoice issued for initial payment. Project Manager (Michelle Green) in Councils City Services Team will oversee. Fee proposals with project consultants being finalised to assist with the delivery of the project. The aim is to provide an initial project briefing to the Committee and then ongoing progress reports.

Revitalising Nowra Action Plan 2021-23 – currently reviewing the final version received from Place Score. It will need to be submitted to Council along with the second component (other Committee activities) in due course as one product.

As per the resolution from the previous meeting, fee proposal also provided by Place Score to for shorter term preparatory work/support for the plan’s implementation while the proposed ‘Place Manager’ role is resolved. Staff will review to enable a decision to be made by the Committee – this may need to be done via email.

CBD21.19 Verbal - Working Groups

HPERM Ref: D21/234498

James Caldwell advised that Council is soon going into caretaker mode and members need to be involved and more active outside of the meetings. The Sub-Groups need to be more active.

This matter be deferred to the next meeting following a catch up with staff and Chairperson.

CBD21.20 Additional Item - Frequency of Meetings - Nowra CBD

Clr White advised that in September Council will have the annual Call Meeting, following that it is suggested that the frequency of meetings increase to monthly to ensure the Committee is keeping track of all the projects.

Paul Keech suggested that the Committee meet monthly or on an as needs basis. Possible to meet monthly for the first quarter and then review. There is also potential to get the Sub-Groups working actively between meetings and then reporting to the Committee every 2 months.

There being no further business, the meeting concluded, the time being 6.00pm.

Mr James Caldwell

CHAIRPERSON

Nowra CBD Revitalisation Strategy Committee – Wednesday 04 August 2021

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CBD21.25 Report Back - Current Rates Paid - Stockland and Nowra CBD Generally

HPERM Ref: D21/299333

Department: Strategic Planning

Approver: Robert Domm, Director - City Futures

Reason for Report

Report back to the Committee in this regard.

Recommendation (Item to be determined under delegated authority)

That the:

1. Report back on the current rates paid by Stockland and other owners in the Nowra CBD be received for information.

Options

1. Receive the report for information

Implications: No further action will result.

2. Request a further report

Implications: This could require additional data or information to be reported back to the Committee and / or also consider including a Stockland representative on the Committee.

Background

The Committee resolved on 9 June 2021 to:

Receive a further report in relation to the rates paid by Stockland and the rates paid by the members of the Nowra CBD Ratepayers Association and discuss the matter further at the next meeting.

This report provides more detail in this regard for the Committee’s consideration.

The resolution refers to the Nowra CBD Ratepayer’s Association, however as the membership of the Association is not known, the requested breakdown has not been provided in this report.

Both Stockland and a property owner in Nowra CBD (say Junction Street) currently pay the ‘Business Nowra’ rate.

The following table provides a high level overview of the current ‘Business Nowra’ rate that is levied on a total of 363 properties. It is possible to break this down further if needed based on ownerships.

Owner	No. Properties	Total Levies	%
Stockland	7	$117,984	7.7
Other Owners	356	$1,417,549	92.3
Totals	363	$1,535,533	100

As part of their rates, each of the 363 properties, including Stockland, effectively pay a ‘CBD levy’ amount that represents the difference between the rates charged to ratepayers in the Nowra CBD (‘Business Nowra’ area) and those that are charged if they were generally rated as ‘Business Commercial / Industrial’. As a rule, the larger the property holding the more significant the rates paid are.

Nowra CBD Revitalisation Strategy Committee – Wednesday 04 August 2021

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CBD21.26 Nowra CBD Lighting - Investigate LED Poles - Morisons Arcade

HPERM Ref: D21/306837

Department: Technical Services

Approver: Paul Keech, Director - City Services

Reason for Report

To report back to the Nowra CBD Revitalisation Strategy Committee the outcome of the investigation into retrofitting LED lighting to the existing black poles and the dim lighting in Morisons Arcade, given that this Arcade is a public thoroughfare.

Recommendation (Item to be determined under delegated authority)

That the Nowra CBD Revitalisation Strategy Committee.

1. Note for information:

a. That the sphere lights on the black poles in Junction Street are being replaced by LED lights.

b. That the private company FM Morison Pty Ltd is responsible for lighting in Morisons Arcade as proprietor of the building constructed in the airspace above the footway.

2. Request Council to investigate and enact any compliance or enforcement mechanisms available to Council that will result in improvement in the lighting levels in Morisons Arcade.

3. Attend a meeting / demonstration of higher intensity LED lights with Council staff to assess and provide feedback on the possible use of higher intensity LED lights in Junction Street.

Options

The Nowra CBD Revitalisation Strategy Committee alternatively could request Council investigate taking on the responsibility of providing lighting in Morisons arcade. To enact this option, replace or add the suggested text below into item 2 of the recommendation:

Investigate options available to Council to take over the responsibility of lighting Morisons Arcade as it is a public thoroughfare.

Background

At the Nowra CBD Revitalisation Strategy Committee held on 7 April 2021 it was resolved (CBD21.9) that staff:

1. Investigate the possibility of retrofitting LED lighting to the existing black poles; and

2. Investigate the dim lighting in Morisons Arcade, given that this Arcade is a public thoroughfare.

3. Aim to report back in June 2021.

Lighting:

The sphere lights on the existing black poles in Junction Street can be replaced by LED globes. Starting in November 2020 Council has replaced 20 faulty halogen globes with the equivalent lighting performance LED globes. The lighting in Junction Street is subject to a monthly audit with Council replacing halogen globes with LED globes as the halogen globes stop working.

A trial is currently underway with higher intensity LED globes in the Council Administrative Building carpark. These higher wattage LEDs are designed for performance lighting for places like carparks. The current lower wattage LEDs along Junction Street provide better colour rendering for the atmosphere, with less performance lighting characteristics. Council will organise a meeting with nominated CBD Revitalisation Strategy Committee members, Council’s Electrical Engineer and Council’s Lighting Contractor to demonstrate the higher intensity LED lights and seek feedback on the suitability for use in Junction Street

Dim lighting in Morisons Arcade:

Responsibility for the lighting within Morrisons Arcade resides with the private company FM Morison Pty Limited. FM Morison Pty Limited lease the airspace above Morisons Arcade from Council. The responsibility for lighting is outlined in Clause 2 of the Deed of Lease, dated 14 June 1973 with a 50 year term. The Clause states:

“That the Lessee shall provide such ceiling light as may be required by the Council to satisfactorily illuminate the access way at all times of the day and night and such light shall be installed and maintained during the lease at the expense of the Lessee.”

As such, FM Morison Pty Limited is required to pay the electricity costs associated with lighting the arcade.