Minutes of the Business and Employment Development Committee

 

 

Meeting Date:     Wednesday, 17 February 2021

Location:            Council Chambers / Microsoft Teams

Time:                   4.03pm

 

 

The following members were present:

 

Clr Patricia White

Clr John Wells

Clr Mark Kitchener – left 5.10pm

Clr John Levett – (Remotely) – left 5.20pm

Clr Nina Digiglio – (Remotely)

Mr John Lamont - Chairperson

Ms Alison Chiam

Mr David Goodman

Ms Lexie Meyer

Ms Jemma Tribe – (Remotely)

Ms Anna Finch – (Remotely)

Ms Fiona Hatcher – (Remotely)

Ms Kate Morris – (Remotely)

Ms Donna Payne – (Remotely)

Mr Paul Mitchell – (Remotely)

Mr Greg Pullen - Economic Development Manager

Mr Stephen Dunshea - Chief Executive Officer

 

Others present –

 

Kevin Voegt – Director City Performance

Robert Domm – Director City Futures – (Remotely)

Cathy Bern – Section Manager – Development Services

 

 

BE21.1       Election of Chairperson

HPERM Ref: D21/2223

Greg Pullen assumed the role of Returning Officer and called for nominations for Chairperson.

David Goodman and Jemma Tribe nominated John Lamont.

John Lamont accepted the nomination for Chairperson.

Greg Pullen called for any further nominations; no further nominations were received.

Greg Pullen declared John Lamont as Chairperson

John Lamont assumed the Chair and welcomed all members and staff to the meeting.

Recommendation

That the Committee elect a Chairperson for the period of February 2021 until the 2021 Local Government Elections ( scheduled for September 2021).

 

RESOLVED (David Goodman / Jemma Tribe)

That the Committee elect John Lamont as Chairperson for the period of February 2021 until the 2021 Local Government Elections ( scheduled for September 2021).

CARRIED

 

 

 

Apologies / Leave of Absence

 

An apology was received from Clr Gash, Tony Emery, Rob Crow and Peter Masterson.

 

 

 

Confirmation of the Minutes

RESOLVED (Clr White / David Goodman)

 

That the Minutes of the Business and Employment Development Committee held on Wednesday 04 March 2020 be confirmed.

CARRIED

 

 

 

Declarations of Interest

 

Nil

 

 

Reports

 

BE21.2       Significant Development Applications

HPERM Ref: D21/6445

Cathy Bern addressed the meeting and advised the following:

·         Since COVID-19, we were expecting a decline in development applications, however developments and the Real Estate market have been strong.

·         Happy to provide further advice outside of the meeting in relation to the development sheet.

·         The value of (larger) development applications totals $643Million

 

Recommendation (Item to be determined under delegated authority)

That the report of the Director, City Development concerning significant Development Applications be received for information.

 

RESOLVED (Clr Wells / Clr White)

That the report of the Director, City Development concerning significant Development Applications be received for information.

CARRIED

 

   

Introduction of Items as Matters of Urgency

RESOLVED (John Lamont)

That the following addendum reports be introduced as matters of urgency:

1.       BE21.3 Dine & Discover NSW

2.       BE21.4 Performance of the Shoalhaven Economy - June 2020

3.       BE21.5 Shoalhaven Export Hub

4.       BE21.6 Employment Land Development by Council - status report

5.       BE21.7 NSW Employment Lands Development Monitor

6.       BE21.8 Boost for Maritime-Related Industry Delivered at Woollamia

CARRIED

 

The Chairperson ruled the matters as ones of urgency as they relate to urgent business of the Committee and allowed their introduction.

 

 

 

Addendum Reports

 

Note: Greg Pullen – Economic Development Manager addressed the meeting and provided a presentation in relation to the Addendum Report Items.

 

BE21.3       Dine & Discover NSW

HPERM Ref: D21/57008

Greg Pullen addressed the meeting and provided the following information:

The NSW Government is launching Dine & Discover NSW in March, every NSW resident aged 18 and over will be eligible for four $25 Dine & Discover NSW vouchers worth $100 in total.

Two Dine & Discover NSW vouchers can be used for eating in at restaurants, cafes, bars, pubs and clubs, and two vouchers can be used for entertainment and recreation, including cultural institutions, live music, and arts venues.

Eligible Small Businesses:

§ cafés and restaurants (not takeaways)

§ pubs, taverns, wineries, bars and clubs

§ scenic and sightseeing transport

§ cinemas

§ museums, galleries and historic sites

§ zoos, botanic gardens, wildlife parks and nature reserves

§ performing arts operations, theatres and entertainment centres.

§ amusement, theme and water parks

§ recreational activities such as go-karting, indoor climbing, mini-golf, billiards, bowling or ice-rinks.

§ outdoor adventures

§ travel agencies and tours

Recommendation (Item to be determined under delegated authority)

That the Committee receive the report on the Dine & Discover NSW scheme for Small Businesses within the Shoalhaven for information.

 

RESOLVED (Clr White / Kate Morris)

That the Committee receive the report on the Dine & Discover NSW scheme for Small Businesses within the Shoalhaven for information.

CARRIED

 

 

BE21.4       Performance of the Shoalhaven Economy - June 2020

HPERM Ref: D21/57199

Greg Pullen addressed the meeting and made the following comments:

·         The Labour Market - is only showing until June 2020 as this is all the data that is available at the time of drafting the report.

·         CAPEX:

o   The current major Capital Projects by Government during the past year are:

§  Princes Highway – Bomaderry to Berry

§  Shoalhaven River Bridge Design/Construction

§  Shoalhaven Medical Precinct planning including Carpark construction.

o   Impending projects (0-5 years) include:

§  Shoalhaven Hospital upgrade

§  South Coast Rail upgrade – Toolijooa passing loop.

§  Princes Highway – Jervis Bay Rd intersection upgrade

§  Princes Highway – JB Rd to Sussex Inlet Rd – design & construction

§  Princes Highway – Milton Ulladulla bypass – design

§  Princes Highway – Lake Burrill to Batemans Bay design

·         Economic Indicators – Gross Regional Product (GRP) has increased per worker and per capita.

The Committee held a discussion, and the following points were raised:

·         The Shoalhaven was in the higher percentile for the Job Keeper recipients across Australia.

·         Some industries are keen to see the Job Keeper end, however, continuing to advocate for industries that have been affected like Travel Agents and others that have been most affected.

·         It has been identified that some businesses have found it difficult to obtain part time/casual/holiday staff.

 

Recommendation (Item to be determined under delegated authority)

That the report on the performance of the Shoalhaven Economy – June 2020, be received for information.

 

RESOLVED (John Lamont / Lexie Meyer)

That the report on the performance of the Shoalhaven Economy – June 2020, be received for information.

CARRIED

 

 

BE21.5       Shoalhaven Export Hub

HPERM Ref: D21/57231

Recommendation (Item to be determined under delegated authority)

That the report on the Shoalhaven Export Hub project be received for information.

 

RESOLVED (David Goodman / John Lamont)

That the report on the Shoalhaven Export Hub project be received for information.

CARRIED

 

 

BE21.6       Employment Land Development by Council - status report

HPERM Ref: D21/57232

Recommendation (Item to be determined under delegated authority)

That report on the Status of Council’s Employment Land projects be received for information.

 

RESOLVED (Lexie Meyer / David Goodman)

That report on the Status of Council’s Employment Land projects be received for information.

CARRIED

 

 

BE21.7       NSW Employment Lands Development Monitor

HPERM Ref: D21/57529

Recommendation (Item to be determined under delegated authority)

That the report on the Employment Lands Development Monitor, a planning tool by the NSW Government be received for information.

 

RESOLVED (David Goodman / John Lamont)

That the report on the Employment Lands Development Monitor, a planning tool by the NSW Government be received for information.

CARRIED

 

 

BE21.8       Boost for Maritime-Related Industry Delivered at Woollamia

HPERM Ref: D21/57239

Recommendation (Item to be determined under delegated authority)

That the report on recent works delivered at the Woollamia Regional Boat Ramp Precinct be received for information.

 

RESOLVED (Clr Wells / Clr Kitchener)

That the report on recent works delivered at the Woollamia Regional Boat Ramp Precinct be received for information.

CARRIED

 

 

 

GENERAL BUSINESS

 

Note: Clr Kitchener and Clr Levett left during discussion in General Business.

 

The Committee held a discussion, and the following comments were made:

 

·         Alison Chiam – Shoalhaven Arts Board Representative – Keen to apply for seed or grant funding or receive donations for infrastructure. Looking at raising funding for a Gallery

·         Fiona Hatcher – Regional Development Australia – Migration to the area has been suspended, the current intake will be those onshore residents. Making twice weekly representations to the State Government to allow more people back into Australia.

·         Stephen Dunshea – CEO – provided an update to the Committee on the new Organisational Structure of Council.

·         The Strategic Planning Working Party has been established and will look at (but not limited too) what the Shoalhaven’s position looks like in the future and what its population growth looks like.

·         Donna Payne - NSW Department of Premier & Cabinet – Some State Government Funds that have come to the Shoalhaven: Economic Recovery Fund, Bushfire Recovery. Working on the Regional Job Creation Funding application

·         Kate Morris – TAFE NSW – advised information will go out shortly in relation to an initiative for employers for staff training.

 

 

 

 

 

There being no further business, the meeting concluded, the time being 5.49pm.

 

 

Mr John Lamont

CHAIRPERSON