Rural Fire Service Strategic Planning Committee
Meeting Date: Wednesday,
26 February, 2025
Location: TEAMS
Meeting
Time: 5.30pm
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
· Rural
Fire Service Strategic Planning Committee - 27 November 2024..................... 1
3. Reports
RF25.1........ Rural Fire Service - Future Works.................................................................. 4
4. General Business
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Rural Fire
Service Strategic Planning Committee – Wednesday 26 February 2025
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Membership
Clr Selena Clancy – Chairperson
Clr Natalee Johnston
Clr Patricia White (Alternate)
Chief Executive Officer or nominee (Carey
McIntyre)
RFS Executive: Matthew Reeves
RFS Staff: Chris Palmer
Steve Thomson (Groups 1, 3 to 6)
Jenny Lawther (Group 2)
Vic Walker (Rural Fire Service Association (RFSA))
Glenn Meade (Jervis Bay Territory)
Quorum - Five (5)
Note: Any non-voting Councillor in attendance at any meeting
may act as an alternate voting member in circumstances where achievement of a
quorum is required
Objectives:
To advise Council on issues of a strategic and policy
nature relating to the operation of the Rural Fire Services having regard to
the following:
· That the core communication between brigades and Fire
Control Officer on operational issues be raised through the Group Officers
utilising the committee structure.
· All issues be raised through Fire Control so that
statutory matters can be resolved immediately.
· Policy matters raised can be referred to the Strategy
and Assets Committee through the CEO so that statutory matters can be resolved.
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That the Strategic
Planning Committee be developed as the body advising Council on Rural Fire
Service policy issues.
Minutes of the Rural Fire Service Strategic Planning Committee
Meeting Date: Wednesday,
27 November 2024
Location: TEAMS
Meeting
Time: 6.19pm
The following members
were present:
Mayor Patricia White
Cr Natalee Johnston
– Chairperson
Cr Selena Clancy
SCC Buildings & Property Services Manager: Gary George
RFS Executive Officer: Matthew Reeves
RFS Staff Representative: Chris Palmer
RFS Staff Representative: Shane wicks
Deputy Group One (1) Representative: Steve Thompson
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Apologies / Leave of
Absence
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Mr James Ruprai – CEO Shoalhaven City Council
Mr Carey McIntyre - Director City Services
Cr Selena Clancy –
Joined 5:46pm
Mr Glenn Meade – The Jervis Bay Territory Operations
Representative
Jenny Lawther – Group Two (2) Representative
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Confirmation of the
Minutes
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RESOLVED (Matthew Reeves / Chris
Palmer)
That
the Minutes of the Rural Fire Service Strategic Planning Committee held on
Wednesday 07 August 2024 be confirmed.
CARRIED
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Nil
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RF24.17 General
Business Actions - 7 August 2024
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Dangerboard Bridge
Road
ACTION:
Cr Patricia White will speak with Carey McIntyre about progressing a Grand fund
and Plan - Complete
As
an action from the last meeting – Former Cr now Mayor Patricia White
indicated that she would speak with Carey McIntyre regarding obtaining a
grant fund and plan for Dangerboard Bridge repairs.
RFS
Executive Officer Mathew Reeves advised this meeting was conducted with
Council, present were RFS Executive Officer, Mayor, Director City Services,
Manager Technical Services and Captain of Kioloa RFS.
Post
Currarong fires there has been ownership issues regarding the road. Due to
damage, it is now unpassable, as this is a tactical fire trail, it was
determined that Council would write to the minister to determine ownership of
the road for ability to access grants for repair. RFS mitigation team has
sought approval with no objections from Council and National Parks to
commence trail works. At present RFS are conducting vegetation works on the
trail.
Gary George commented
the letter has been sent to the Minister, acknowledgement of receipt received
to date, no further updates.
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Reports
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RF24.15 Proposed Meeting Dates
for 2025
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HPERM Ref: D24/486596
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Refer to Attachment
One for the report.
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RESOLVED (By consent)
That the Committee adopt the
proposed meeting dates for 2025, to be held online, as follows:
5:30pm – Wednesday 26 February
2025
5:30pm – Wednesday 28 May
2025 (to be convened if required)
5:30pm – Wednesday 27
August 2025
5:30pm – Wednesday 26
November 2025 (to be convened if required)
CARRIED
Action - Cortney
Glanville to create meeting invite for 2025 meetings and distribute prior to
Christmas closure for forward planning attendance.
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RF24.16 Rural Fire Service -
Future Works
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HPERM Ref: D24/486569
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Refer to Attachment
Two for the report.
Gary George provided
context discussion for the new members of the committee advising the table
attached to the report is the priority list of future works projects
nominated by the RFS. Discussed attached table is missing some budget
information as some of the projects have not yet been developed.
For further context Gary
George explained that each project listed will require an amount of seed
funding to progress, except for Lake Tabourie and Currarong stations. As
projects are funded and progress further, risk and financial implications are
managed in accordance with the project plan.
An update was provided
from a question raised by Mayor White that the DA for Lake Tabourie was set
to expire 2025, Gary George advised the DA benefited from extension and is
now set to expire 2027.
Cr Johnston raised a
question to the order of the priority list, if this is in order of priorities
or in no particular order. Matthew Reeves responded that when funding is
available that the RFS will review this list to determine what is the most
relevant and impactful project at that time. Gary George spoke to the list
being Infrastructure only projects. Matthew Reeves confirmed giving
information regarding smaller projects that the RFS have received bids for in
previous years when funding became available.
Priorities
as per Attachment Two, no further updates.
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RESOLVED (By consent)
That the Rural Fire Service
Strategic Planning Committee notes the update on the status of unfunded
capital new and renewal works projects.
CARRIED
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General
business
Basin
View Shed Update
Matthew
Reeves advised that the Basin View Shed update is almost at completion. A
contract was approved by RFS 26 November for the ramp and drainage works with
view of completion by Christmas.
Gary George commented
once works are complete Council will send an Asset Office to survey site for
addition as a new asset to the asset register.
IEMC
(Integrated Emergency Manager Centre) Training Centre Update
Matthew Reeves advised
project is coming to the end of works with the new portable building installed.
Building will consist of new kitchen, training space, lighting and pathway
upgrades.
Outstanding
Defects
Gary George received
photos of completed Huskisson RFS drainage works. Matthew Reeves voiced some
concern around the rear drainage, RFS will remove sandbags and monitor site to
determine the suitability of drainage works.
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Action
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Responsible Person
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Create meeting invite
for 2025 meetings and distribute prior to Christmas closure for forward
planning attendance.
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Cortney Glanville
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There being no further
business, the meeting concluded, the time being 6.40pm.
Clr Natalee Johnston
CHAIRPERSON
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Rural Fire
Service Strategic Planning Committee – Wednesday 26 February 2025
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RF25.1 Rural
Fire Service - Future Works
HPERM Ref: D25/70988
Department: Buildings
& Property Services
Approver: Carey
McIntyre, Director - City Services
Attachments: 1. Attachment
1 - RFS Strategic Planning Committee - Future Priorities & Works - Future
RFS Stations and Works - February 2025 ⇩
Reason for Report
The reason for this report is to review the status of
unfunded Capital Works projects.
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Recommendation (Item to be determined under delegated authority)
That
the Rural Fire Service Strategic Planning Committee notes the update on the
status of unfunded capital new and renewal works projects.
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Options
1. Accept the
recommendation as written.
Implications: Recommended – works will
continue as funded.
2. Not accept the
recommendation and draft a different recommendation.
Implications: Not Recommended – the committee
could change the agreed priorities, which may have an impact on the delivery of
the current program of works.
Background
The following projects will
remain in the Shoalhaven Strategic Capital Expenditure Program:
New Works
• Broughton
Vale / Berry
• Wandandian
Station
• Tomerong
Station
Renovation Works
• St
Georges Basin extensions
• Tabourie
Station extensions DA approved.
• Currarong
Station extensions
Refer to attachment 1 –
Future Priorities & Works.
There have been no amendments to
the priority list since the last meeting.
Bushfire Local Economic Relief
Fund (BLERF) grants were awarded for the construction of Lake Conjola RFS
Brigade extensions and the Manyana RFS Brigade new station.
Conjola RFS Brigade station was
completed as of January 2025, and the RFS have transitioned into the new
building.
The revised Deed of Variation
between NSW Government and Shoalhaven City Council has been executed for the
Manyana RFS project on 13 June 2024. A contract was awarded for construction in
November 2024, with works commencing December 2024.
There is currently no other seed funding available to
progress design of new projects or renovations.
Internal Consultations
Consultation is undertaken with Brigades and facilitated
through the RFS District Officer.
External Consultations
External consultations are undertaken in accordance with the
Development Consent process and project specific Communication Planning.
Community Consultations
Concept plans for each station extension / refurbishment
works are discussed with the relevant brigades and reviewed through regular
design review meetings with RFS delegates.
Policy Implications
All procurements activities are undertaken and reported in
accordance with Shoalhaven City Councils procurement policies and procedures.
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Rural Fire
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