15 May 2009
Dear Councillor,
In pursuance of the provisions of the Local Government
Act, 1993 and the Regulations thereunder, notice is hereby given that a POLICY REVIEW COMMITTEE MEETING of
Penrith City Council is to be held in the Passadena Room, Civic Centre,
Attention is directed to the statement accompanying
this notice of the business proposed to be transacted at the meeting.
Yours
faithfully
Alan Stoneham
General Manager
BUSINESS
1. LEAVE OF ABSENCE
Leave of absence has been granted to:
Councillor
Robert Ardill - 18 May 2009 to 19 May 2009 inclusive.
Councillor
Ross Fowler OAM - 18 May 2009 to 19 May 2009 inclusive.
2. APOLOGIES
3. CONFIRMATION OF MINUTES
Policy Review Committee Meeting - 27 April 2009.
4. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
Pecuniary Interest (The Act requires Councillors who
declare a pecuniary interest in an item to leave the meeting during discussion
of that item)
Non-Pecuniary Conflict of Interest – Significant and
Less than Significant (The Code of Conduct requires Councillors who declare
a significant non-pecuniary conflict of interest in an item to leave the
meeting during discussion of that item)
5. ADDRESSING THE MEETING
6. MAYORAL MINUTES
8. MASTER PROGRAM REPORTS
9. URGENT REPORTS (to be dealt with in the master program to which the
item relates)
10. CONFIDENTIAL BUSINESS
Monday 18 May 2009
table of contents
meeting calendar
confirmation of minutes
master program reports
2009 MEETING CALENDAR
February 2009 - December
2009
(adopted by Council
8/09/08 and amended by Council 6/4/09)
|
TIME |
FEB |
MAR |
APRIL |
MAY |
JUNE |
JULY |
AUG |
SEPT |
OCT |
NOV |
DEC |
Mon |
Mon |
Mon |
Mon |
Mon |
Mon |
Mon |
Mon |
Mon |
Mon |
Mon |
||
Ordinary Council Meetings |
7.30 pm |
2 |
|
6 |
4v |
|
20 |
3 |
7ü |
12 |
9 |
14 |
23 |
23 |
|
25 |
29* |
|
24 |
28^ |
|
30 |
|
||
Policy Review Committee |
7.30 pm |
|
9 |
|
|
15 |
13 |
|
14@ |
|
|
7 |
16#+ |
30@ |
27 |
18# |
|
|
17#+ |
|
19 |
16# |
|
||
Councillor Briefing / Working Party / Presentation |
7.30 pm |
9 |
2 |
|
11 |
1Y |
6 |
10 |
|
|
2 |
|
|
16< |
20< |
|
|
27 |
31 |
21 |
|
23 |
|
# Meetings at which the
Management Plan 1/4ly reviews are presented |
^ Election of Mayor/Deputy Mayor |
#+ General Manager’s
presentation – half year and end of year review |
@ Strategic Program progress
reports [only business] |
< Briefing to consider
Draft Management Plan for 2009/2010 |
ü Meeting at
which the 2008/2009 Annual Statements are presented |
v Meeting at
which the Draft Management Plan is adopted for exhibition |
Y Management
Plan Councillor Briefings/Public Forum (June) |
* Meeting at which the
Management Plan for 2009/2010 is adopted. |
|
-
Council’s Ordinary Meetings are held on a three-week
cycle where practicable.
-
Extraordinary Meetings are held as required.
-
Policy Review Meetings are held on a three-week cycle where
practicable.
-
Members of the public are invited to observe meetings of
the Council (Ordinary and Policy Review Committee). Should you wish to address
Council, please contact the Public Officer, Glenn McCarthy on 4732 7649.
OF THE POLICY REVIEW COMMITTEE
MEETING OF
ON MONDAY 27 APRIL 2009 AT 7:34PM
PRESENT
His Worship the Mayor Councillor Jim Aitken OAM, Councillors Kaylene Allison, Robert Ardill, Greg Davies, Mark Davies, Tanya Davies, Ross Fowler OAM, Ben Goldfinch, Jackie Greenow, Marko Malkoc, Karen McKeown, Kath Presdee and John Thain.
APOLOGIES |
There were no apologies. |
CONFIRMATION OF MINUTES - Policy Review Committee Meeting - 30 March 2009 |
PRC 24 RESOLVED on the MOTION of Councillor Greg Davies seconded Councillor Marko Malkoc that the minutes of the Policy Review Committee Meeting of 30 March 2009 be confirmed. |
Councillor Kevin Crameri OAM entered the meeting, the time being 7:35pm.
DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
Councillor Kevin Crameri OAM declared a Non-Pecuniary
Conflict of Interest – Less than Significant in an item to be raised in
Confidential Business as the matter indirectly concerns an
MASTER PROGRAM
REPORTS
Councillor Kevin Crameri OAM left the meeting, the time being 7:38pm.
Councillor Kevin Crameri OAM returned to the meeting, the time being 7:41pm.
Councillor Mark Davies left the meeting, the time being 7:44pm.
Councillor Mark Davies returned to the meeting, the time being 7:48pm.
The City as an Economy
2 Professor Phillip
O’Neill from the Urban Research Centre at |
PRC 25 RESOLVED on the MOTION of Councillor Ross
Fowler OAM seconded Councillor Mark Davies That: 1. The information contained in the report
on 2. Council write
to WSROC seeking regional dialogue on an implementation program for the
report’s key outcomes and suggest to
WSROC that it includes these outcomes as a main focus in their upcoming 3. Council thank Professor Phillip O’Neill for his presentation. 4. Council write
to the Penrith Valley Economic Development Corporation (PVEDC) with a view to
clarifying the relative roles and responsibilities of PVEDC and Council with
respect to the key outcomes of the |
The City in its Broader Context
1 City
Centres Strategy Implementation |
PRC 26 RESOLVED on the MOTION of Councillor Marko
Malkoc seconded Councillor Jackie Greenow That: 1. The information contained in the report
on City Centres Strategy
Implementation be received. 2. A City Centres Working Party be established as detailed in this report and be made up of His Worship the Mayor, Councillor Jim Aitken OAM, Councillors Greg Davies, Mark Davies, Tanya Davies, Ross Fowler OAM, Jackie Greenow and John Thain and all other available Councillors. |
Councillor Prue Guillaume entered the meeting, the time
being 8:16pm.
CoNFIDENTIAL
BUSINESS
The meeting closed to consider Confidential Business, the time being 8:21pm.
1 Presence of the Public
PRC 27 RESOLVED on the MOTION of Councillor Greg Davies seconded Councillor Marko Malkoc that the press and public be excluded from the meeting to deal with the following matter: |
|
Leadership and Organisation
2 Legal Matter -
This item has been referred to Committee of
the Whole as the report refers to advice concerning litigation, or advice that
would otherwise be privileged from production in legal proceedings on the
ground of legal professional privilege and discussion of the matter in open
meeting would be, on balance, contrary to the public interest.
RESUMPTION OF BUSINESS IN OPEN COMMITTEE
The meeting resumed at 9:35pm and the General
Manager reported that after
excluding the press and public from the meeting, the
The
General Manager reported that while in confidential session, the Committee
resolved the confidential business as follows:
CONFIDENTIAL BUSINESS
2 Legal
Matter - |
PRC 28 RESOLVED on the MOTION of Councillor Tanya
Davies seconded Councillor Ross Fowler OAM that the information contained in the report on Legal Matter - |
There being no further business the Chairperson declared the meeting closed, the time being 9:36pm.
Item Page
The City In Its Environment
1 Western Sydney Regional Illegal Dumping (RID) Squad
The City Supported by
Infrastructure
2 Future Footpath Delivery Program
Leadership and Organisation
URGENT
3 Council's Response to the Federal Government's Jobs Fund Program
THIS PAGE HAS BEEN LEFT BLANK INTENTIONALLY
The
City in its Broader Context
There were no reports under this Master Program when the Business Paper was compiled
THIS PAGE HAS BEEN LEFT BLANK INTENTIONALLY
The
There were no reports under this Master Program when the Business Paper was compiled
THIS PAGE HAS BEEN LEFT BLANK INTENTIONALLY
The
City In Its Environment
Item Page
1 Western Sydney Regional Illegal Dumping (RID) Squad
18
May 2009 |
|
The City in its Environment |
|
The City in its Environment
1 |
|
|
Compiled by: Barry
Ryan, Waste and Community Protection Manager
Authorised by: Barry Ryan, Waste and Community Protection
Manager
Strategic Program Term Achievement: Council’s
planning policies, land use, regulatory controls and asset management practices
enhance the visual amenity of the City.
Critical Action: Develop and implement compliance and
regulatory programs to protect the visual amenity of the City.
Presenters: Barry Ryan - PCC - RID Squad
Purpose:
To provide Councillors with a
presentation on the
Background
The Western Sydney RID
Squad was formed in 1999, as a response to the growing problem of the illegal
dumping of waste. The RID Squad is a
partnership between the State Government and local councils aimed at addressing
the illegal dumping of waste material throughout
Penrith City Council has hosted the RID Squad since its conception and
in 2002 Council took over management of the project. A formal agreement with the project partners
has been developed to project manage the Squad in accordance with a Service
Specification. The current agreement is
due to conclude on 30 June 2009.
Each participating council has agreed to participate in the RID Squad pursuant to Section 355 of the Local Government Act 1993 and enter into the Strategic Alliance to carry out the project.
The Department of Environment and Climate Change provides significant funding to the project to assist in offsetting operational costs. In 2009/2010 DECC will provide $58,551 per Council to the project (total of $351,306).
In any given year the RID Squad has issued between $100,000 - $150,000
in penalty infringement notices. Fine
income is used to offset the costs of maintaining the RID Squad project. Each Council will be required to contribute
$58,551 to support the operation of the RID Squad in 2009/2010 (In addition to
the DECC contribution).
Penrith Council’s contribution has been budgeted for in the current
Operational Plan process.
The RID Squad Committee has confirmed that Penrith Council is the most
appropriate Council to continue management of the RID Squad, given the satisfactory
performance to date and logistic issues should the RID Squad be transferred to
another Council. To manage the RID Squad, Penrith Council charges a project
management fee ($55,077 in 2009/2010).
Each participating Council has delegated the authority to employees of
the RID Squad, employed by Penrith City Council, the necessary rights, powers
and authorities that the RID Squad staff require to undertake their work within
the respective Council area.
Current
Situation
The Western Sydney RID Squad is unique in that staff employed by one Council operate across the six local government areas, providing a service that would otherwise not be able to be afforded by a single local Council.
Project staff can operate individually, in pairs, or as a team, to tackle specific waste dumping issues in an area, thereby providing a service to the community that otherwise would not be able to be provided by an individual Council.
In mid 2006, the Western Sydney RID Squad was highly
commended in the Efficiency Improvement category at the National Awards for
Local Government, run by the Australian Government’s Department of Transport
and Regional Services. This category was
chosen, as it best reflects the contribution of the Squad to reducing the cost
of providing regulatory services to project member Councils in
The Western Sydney RID
Squad is a deterrent program, utilising an autonomous team of specialised
investigation officers, targeting the illegal disposal of waste throughout
Significant outcomes of the RID Squad project include:
· It has provided member councils with a significant resource without all the inherent costs
· Each council is provided with the ability (which occurs during specific operations) to target a specific area or /issue with all staff of the Squad
· The community has benefited from the reduction of illegal dumping
· The community has also benefited through cost savings derived from the sharing of RID project and staff resources
· Illegally dumped waste that has been successfully tracked to a responsible person or company is required to be removed by that person or company, thereby saving the community the costs of removal and disposal of the waste
· The RID Squad have issued a total of over $1,000,000 in fines since the commencement of operation
The nature of illegally dumped waste in the Penrith Local Government Area has changed considerably over the past five years. Whilst there are fewer incidents of the illegal dumping of significant amounts of waste, there are still a considerable number of incidents on a minor scale; i.e., 0.5-5 tonnes of waste, particularly in bushland areas.
Some strategies have further reduced this level of dumping, including the placement of gates on fire trails, fencing of some areas, and increased patrols and enforcement.
Various strategies are used by the staff of the RID Squad to identify illegal dumping sites and offenders, including aerial surveillance using helicopters.
A presentation will be made to provide Council with an overview of the RID Squad and recent incidents investigated.
Strategic
Council is currently a signatory to a strategic alliance agreement with
the five other Councils and the Department of Environment and Climate Change to
co-operate in the running of the RID Squad.
This agreement lapses on 30 June 2009, and a new agreement for a term of
3 years with an option of a further 3 years has been developed and will need to
be signed.
The current agreement identifies each party’s responsibility in regard
to co-operation, delegation of authority, role of the Management Committee,
role of the Project Manager and employment of staff. The agreement also provides for an exit
strategy on conclusion of the project. The
new agreement does not significantly vary from the existing agreement.
Acting Financial Services
Manager’s Comment
Council’s contribution of $58,600 to the Western Sydney RID Squad has
been provided for in the 2009-10 Operational Plan. This contribution will be funded by the DECC
Waste Performance Incentive Payments.
Given that the operational costs of the RID Squad are substantially
subsidised by DECC and this structure allows for economies of scale to be
achieved, Council’s contribution is significantly lower than would otherwise be
required to fund this type of activity independently.
That: 1. The information contained in the report
and the presentation on the Western
Sydney Regional Illegal Dumping (RID) Squad be received. 2. The General Manager be authorised to sign the Western Sydney Regional
Illegal Dumping (RID) Squad Strategic Alliance Agreement. |
There are no attachments for this report.
The
City as an Economy
There were no reports under this Master Program when the Business Paper was compiled
THIS PAGE HAS BEEN LEFT BLANK INTENTIONALLY
The
City Supported by Infrastructure
Item Page
2 Future Footpath Delivery Program
18
May 2009 |
|
The City Supported by
Infrastructure |
|
The City Supported by
Infrastructure
2 |
Future
Footpath Delivery Program |
|
Compiled by: Hans
Meijer, Acting Parks Construction and Maintenance Manager
Gowry Gowrythasan,
Andrew Moore, Acting
Financial Services Manager
Authorised by: Wayne Mitchell, Group Manager - City
Infrastructure
Strategic Program Term Achievement: A
plan is being implemented for bus shelters, cycleways and footpath networks
having regard for the access, health and recreational needs of the community.
Critical Action: Develop and implement footpath, cycleway and
bus shelter programs, incorporating recommendations from the PLAN Study and
identify the recurrent maintenance costs and funding sources.
Presenters: Hans Meijer - City Works -
Future Footpath Delivery Strategy
Purpose:
To present the draft Future
Footpath Delivery Program which incorporates identified missing links within
the existing network. The report recommends that the draft Footpath Delivery
Program be adopted.
Background
Council adopted a 10 year Pedestrian Access & Mobility Plan (PAMP) - Footpath Improvement Program in 2001 to guide the provision of pedestrian facilities in the City. The objectives of the Plan were:
· To facilitate improvements in the level of pedestrian access and priority, particularly in areas of high demand;
· To provide links with other transport services to achieve an integrated network of facilities;
· To ensure that pedestrian facilities are appropriate and relevant to the surrounding land use and user groups;
· To improve pedestrian safety and amenity in the City;
· To increase community use of pedestrian facilities and promote walking as a viable alternative for shorter trips, and hence reduce car dependency;
· To facilitate the integration of walking into the transport system as a legitimate transport mode in its own right.
The program was based on providing a footpath on at least one side of all local streets where pedestrian conflict would be unacceptable, and where a strong pedestrian desire line exists. The footpath paving program was prioritised according to evaluation criteria that was included in the Plan. A total score was determined by conducting a site visit and weighting a score against the criteria.
The criteria and its weightings were based on the following:
Table 1: Criteria and Weightings
Criteria |
Weightings |
|
Proximity to pedestrian generators and attractors (on road distance) |
Within 250m of travel 250-500m of travel >500m travel |
15 10 0 |
Estimated Traffic Volumes (2 way flow) |
6000+ vehicles per day (vpd) >2000 - <6000 vpd <2000 vpd Through Reserve/Off-Road path |
10 5 0 5 |
Nature of Predominant Users (young/aged/disabled/parents with prams) |
Yes/No |
5 or 0 |
Evidence of Wear |
Continuous worn track Discontinuous worn track Continuous slight evidence Discontinuous slight evidence No evidence |
20 15 10 5 0 |
A threshold of ten points was set to determine the projects to include in the program.
The original list with the total of 256 footpath projects was adopted in 2001 and was estimated at $6.7m. The budget was increased to $750,000 each year with a projected completion time of ten years. Additional footpath projects were added to the program each year at the request of Councillors and the community and given a priority based on the score against the criteria. A total of 107 additional projects were added on to the original list between 2001 and 2006.
A review of the program in 2006/2007 found that 81km of footpath had been completed at a cost of $3.95m. This represented 70% of the original list of projects, but with the additional requests added over the six years, there was still a further 65km remaining.
In the lead up to the 2007-08 Management Plan, Council resolved to accelerate the program by borrowing $4m over two years. This completed the balance of the program earlier than its scheduled completion in 2012-13. This accelerated program allowed Council to take advantage of economies of scale to drive down the unit rate whilst providing improved amenity for pedestrians.
It was also agreed by Council that only projects on the adopted list at the time would be completed in the last two years of the program. Further requests from the community have been collated and considered together with other information from a detailed review of missing links and future footpath needs.
Completion of the Current Footpath Improvement Program
The adopted program of priority footpath works under PAMP has now been completed. A total of 141kms of path paving has been delivered under this program. The accelerated work was based on borrowings with the funding strategy anticipating four years of minimal activity to fund the repayments.
Savings of $150,000 in the current year were reported to Council in the December review, while final details of this year’s program are still being finalised, a further $400,000 in savings are anticipated by the end of the financial year and these savings will be used to facilitate a $550,000 program in 2009-10.
Savings have been achieved primarily because of the scale of the program which has attracted good unit rates and through good project management. Careful planning of each project resulted in a high level of re-use of excavated materials within the program and other projects of Council. Additional costs for the relocation of services was also limited by the realignment of the footpaths where appropriate and through agreements with the utility companies.
Two larger projects in
Dunheved Circuit and
Future Program
Following completion of the projects identified in the 2001 PAMP, an audit of the existing footpath network in the City was undertaken to identify “missing links” for development of a future footpath paving program.
Council’s GIS Department currently have all the existing path paving network mapped. A hard copy of these maps was produced and Council’s Traffic Section conducted a desk top audit to determine if existing footpaths were linked to create a network. Following completion of the desktop audit a site inspection was conducted to rank each identified location using the same criteria as originally developed in the 2001 PAMP. The projects in the recommended list have been ranked as follows: Points 35 and above is High, points 25 and 30 are Medium, points 20 and below is Low.
Site inspections also assessed the topography and existing features to determine if a path could be physically constructed given the site constraints. Following completion of the site assessments the following criteria was used to identify projects to be considered as “missing links” for the future footpath delivery program:
1. Projects having High or Medium priority
2. Projects with a total length less than 1000m. (It was considered that projects greater in length than 1000m, were not “missing links” and were new major projects to be considered in a future PAMP
3. Site suitability, existing footway cross fall, locations of existing services.
Table 2 shows the recommended list of projects. The list is broken up into Wards and includes a ranking. It is intended that the high ranking projects will be constructed first.
Table 2: Future Footpath Program
NORTH |
||||
Street |
Location |
Suburb |
(m) |
Rank |
|
80m from |
Cranebrook |
80 |
High |
|
|
|
300 |
High |
Reserve |
|
|
175 |
High |
|
Bungalow Pde to connect Laneway |
|
215 |
High |
|
Existing Footpath to existing
Footpath (on the western side) |
Cranebrook |
200 |
High |
|
|
Cranebrook |
610 |
High |
The Kingsway |
|
St Marys |
530 |
High |
|
Ovens Dr to |
|
650 |
High |
|
|
Cranebrook |
210 |
Medium |
Reserve |
Princess St to |
Werrington |
155 |
Medium |
|
|
|
990 |
Medium |
|
|
Werrington Downs |
650 |
Medium |
Millstream Road |
|
Werrington Downs |
560 |
Medium |
|
|
|
230 |
Medium |
|
|
Cranebrook |
400 |
Medium |
The Northern Road |
|
Llandilo |
950 |
Medium |
|
|
Emu Plains |
420 |
Medium |
Henry Lawson Av |
|
Werrington Cnty |
250 |
Medium |
|
Wrench Street to |
|
350 |
Medium |
|
|
|
260 |
Medium |
|
|
|
470 |
Medium |
|
Emerald Street to |
Emu Plains |
398 |
Medium |
|
The Crescent to |
Penrith |
370 |
Medium |
|
|
Cranebrook |
650 |
Medium |
EAST |
||||
Street |
Location |
Suburb |
(m) |
Rank |
|
|
|
325 |
High |
|
Maple Rd to |
|
250 |
High |
|
|
St Clair |
50 |
High |
Sunflower Drive |
Sandpiper Cres to |
|
45 |
High |
Swallow Drive |
|
|
190 |
High |
Reserve |
Ends of Rd |
St Clair |
40 |
High |
|
|
St Clair |
130 |
High |
|
|
|
170 |
Medium |
|
Maple Rd to |
|
260 |
Medium |
Mallee Street |
Maple Rd to |
|
200 |
Medium |
Cook Parade |
|
St Clair |
620 |
Medium |
|
|
St Clair |
165 |
Medium |
|
|
St Clair |
200 |
Medium |
|
|
St Marys |
240 |
Medium |
Shepherd Street |
|
St Marys |
450 |
Medium |
|
Pages Rd to |
St Marys |
240 |
Medium |
Reserve |
|
St Clair |
125 |
Medium |
Great |
Syd Uni entrance to existing path
near Gipps St (South Side) |
Werrington |
700 |
Medium |
|
|
St Clair |
510 |
Medium |
|
Swallow Dr to Existing Footpath |
|
285 |
Medium |
|
|
|
325 |
Medium |
|
|
St Clair |
230 |
Medium |
|
Shepherd St to |
St Marys |
400 |
Medium |
Dollin Street |
|
St Marys |
310 |
Medium |
Parkin Road |
|
St Marys |
485 |
Medium |
|
|
St Marys |
300 |
Medium |
|
|
St Marys |
190 |
Medium |
|
|
|
733 |
Medium |
|
|
Colyton |
330 |
Medium |
SOUTH |
|
|
|
|
Street |
Location |
Suburb |
(m) |
Rank |
|
School entrance to Existing
Footpath |
|
280 |
High |
The |
Caroline Chisholm to Caroline
Chisholm |
|
110 |
High |
|
Infront of |
|
100 |
High |
Batt Street |
|
Jamisontown |
450 |
High |
Batt Street |
Racecourse Rd to |
|
450 |
High |
|
|
Jamisontown |
520 |
High |
|
|
|
340 |
High |
|
|
Jamisontown |
210 |
Medium |
|
|
|
440 |
Medium |
|
|
|
450 |
Medium |
|
Outlook Ave to |
|
160 |
Medium |
Palomino Road |
|
|
970 |
Medium |
|
Existing Footpath to |
Emu Plains |
75 |
Medium |
|
|
Emu Plains |
215 |
Medium |
Wallan Avenue |
|
|
290 |
Medium |
|
Batt St to |
Jamisontown |
230 |
Medium |
Harwood Circuit |
|
Regentville |
300 |
Medium |
|
Existing Footpath to |
|
660 |
Medium |
|
|
|
470 |
Medium |
|
Batt St to |
|
400 |
Medium |
|
|
|
260 |
Medium |
|
|
|
160 |
Medium |
Government House Dr |
Water St to |
Emu Plains |
536 |
Medium |
In total there are 76 sites recommended for the program that meet the high and medium ranking as missing links. A further 142 locations with low rankings will be retained in a database for future consideration.
The following table provides a summary of the proposed future footpath program and includes cost estimates:
Table 3: Summary of Missing Footpath Link
Ward |
Total Number of Projects |
Length of the missing footpath link (lineal meters) |
Estimated Cost |
North |
24 |
10,073 |
$967,008 |
East |
29 |
8,498 |
$815,808 |
South |
23 |
8,076 |
$775,296 |
Total |
76 |
26,647 |
$2,558,112 |
In addition to the above footpath program there are other programs including the Section 94 works, Neighbourhood Renewal Programs, State Environmental Planning Policy Infrastructure (SEPPI) and the Local and District Open Space Development contribution that generate footpath construction works within the City. These other paths will be constructed for different reasons and are in addition to the yearly footpath program,
Council regularly receives requests for additional footpaths. These requests are initially assessed against the criteria and evaluated for inclusion in future programs. It is proposed to keep a record of these future requests on a database, but concentrate on the construction only of the adopted list of projects for the next five years or so. The progress of the program will be reported to Council on a biennial basis and at this point if high ranking projects have been identified they will be recommended to Council for inclusion in the program.
It must also be remembered that all footpaths are incorporated in Council’s asset management programs. As this asset base grows, additional resources will need to be committed to future repairs and maintenance. Regular inspection and maintenance of the footpath network is an important element of our risk management processes.
Acting Financial Services Manager’s Comment
The development of the 2007-08 Management Plan included a funding scenario that forward funded the completion of the current Path Paving Program by borrowing $2m in both 2007-08 and 2008-09. This strategy was able to take advantage of economies of scale and that program has now been completed. The original proposal included some potential savings resulting from this approach and foreshadowed that additional savings may also result from the tender process. It is estimated by City Works that the total savings at the end of this year will be in the order of $550,000. At the time of the strategy being determined it was acknowledged that this approach, while expediting the delivery of the program, did have a net present value cost to Council of $293,000. This strategy also committed Council to annual loan repayments of $590,000, for 10 years, and only allowed for funding of a $150,000pa program from 2009-10 to 2012-13. Council’s Long Term Model has this funding of $150,000pa continuing from 2013-14.
The combination of the savings from the current program, combined with the annual allocation, allows for funding of $1m available over four years ($550,000 in 2009-10) to fund the current proposal. This level of funding would complete all high priority paths (approximately $550,000) but would leave a funding shortfall of $1.6m to complete the full program. Councillors will also be aware that the impact of the current economic climate and the increased impost in relation to the Local Government Defined Benefits Superannuation Scheme has placed significant pressure on not only the 2009-10 budget but also future budgets. No capacity currently exists to fund the $1.6m shortfall unless other services and programs are reduced accordingly. This could be assessed during the service review scheduled for 2009-10 with this program competing with other priorities for any savings identified. In addition the annual funding shortfall for the program ($100,000 in 2009-10 and $500,000 in 2010-11, 2011-12 and 2012-13) could be placed on Council’s high priority unfunded projects list for consideration in future Operational Plan processes.
In addition to these
considerations another report before Council tonight, Council’s Response to the
Federal Government’s Jobs Fund Program,
includes in its project list for endorsement of a Shared Path Project. If this project was to be successful and the
grants funds provided Council would be required to contribute matching funds to
the project. The only identified funding
option for this project would entail the redirection of a significant
proportion of next year’s allocation for Path Paving to deliver this project.
Conclusion
Council has successfully completed the Pedestrian Access and Mobility Plan- Footpath Improvement Program that was adopted in 2001. This was deliberately accelerated in 2007/2008 and completed two years earlier than originally planned. The City now has the benefit of an additional 141km of footpath and the improved pedestrian mobility as a result.
A future program of footpath works can now be advanced, subject to budget capacity, which concentrates on filling in any missing links in the existing footpath network. These projects will help to achieve the adopted objectives of the program in particular by integrating pedestrian access with other transport services and better linking the community with local facilities such as schools and parks. Footpath projects are proposed to be delivered based on the priority rankings against consistent assessment criteria. A further 26km of footpaths are proposed for adoption under this next stage of the program.
1. That the information contained in the report on draft Future Footpath Delivery Program be
received. 2. That the funding of the 2009-10 path paving program be considered in conjunction with Shared Path Project proposed as part of the grant application to the Federal Government’s Job Fund Program. 3. That a further report will be provided to Council to address funding strategies for the identified backlog. |
There are no attachments for this report.
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Leadership
and Organisation
Item Page
URGENT
3 Council's Response to the Federal Government's Jobs Fund Program
THIS PAGE HAS BEEN LEFT BLANK INTENTIONALLY
Urgent Reports
MASTER PROGRAM REPORTS
CONTENTS
Item Page
3 Council's Response to the Federal Government's Jobs Fund Program
18
May 2009 |
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Leadership and Organisation |
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Leadership and Organisation
3 |
Council's
Response to the Federal Government's Jobs Fund Program |
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Compiled by: Ray
Richardson, Grants Support Officer
Authorised by: Vicki O’Kelly, Group Manager - Finance
Strategic Program Term Achievement: Council
provides adequate resources to deliver its program and has introduced measures
to increase its capacity.
Critical Action: Maximise funding opportunities to deliver
Council’s program.
Purpose:
To advise Council of the
proposals nominated to be the subject of applications for assistance to the
Federal Government's Jobs Fund Program closing 22 May 2009. The report
recommends that the information contained in the report be received and the
schedule of projects nominated for applications to the Jobs Fund for Federal
grant funding be endorsed.
Background
The Federal Government has announced a $650 million Jobs Fund to support and create jobs and increase skills. It has three streams:
§ Local Jobs - $300 million of funding is available over two years. Funding will be available for community infrastructure projects with a focus on the promotion of environment-friendly technology and heritage. $60 million of this stream has been specifically set aside for heritage-related projects and $40 million of this stream for the construction of bike paths. (Note: funding under these quarantined components of the Local Jobs stream will not extend past 30 June 2010.) Funding for bike paths must be met on a matching dollar for dollar basis. Funding is capped at $2 million per project.
§ Get Communities Working - $200 million of funding is available over two years. Seed capital will be available for self-sustaining projects which create jobs and provide activities and services to improve community amenity. Funding is also available to provide Temporary Financial assistance to non-profit organisations whose donor base is currently under pressure due to the economic downturn. Funding is capped at $2 million per project.
§ Infrastructure Employment Projects - $150 million over two years. Projects under this stream will provide for investment in infrastructure projects which generate jobs in regions affected by the economic downturn (additional Community Infrastructure Project funding). There is no cap on individual project amounts that can be requested. Infrastructure Employment Projects will be initiated by the Australian Government. It is anticipated that these projects will be jointly funded with State and Territory and/or Local Governments.
The Jobs Fund will commence on 1 July 2009 and projects will be funded until 30 June 2011.
Funding will be in the form of one-off grants to support the delivery of innovative social or infrastructure projects which create jobs and employment opportunities in communities affected by the economic downturn, while also delivering positive environmental, heritage and social outcomes. Projects will focus on directly generating jobs for people in communities with high unemployment, a rise in unemployment or vulnerability.
The development of proposals by proponents will be an iterative process where the Departments will work with proponents where necessary to refine promising proposals.
Council has considered a range of projects under Local Jobs, including Heritage and Bike Path projects and under Get Communities Working, analysing them against the criteria for eligibility and is preparing supporting documentation on current unemployment trends, employment vulnerability and other relevant social data to support applications.
The Federal Government
has created Local Employment Coordinators in an initial seven identified
regions across
These priority areas are:
§ Canterbury-Bankstown and south-west
§ Illawarra in
§ South-east Melbourne in
§ Ipswich-Logan in
§ Northern and western
§ South-west
§
These regions may be considered as the Federal Government’s areas of highest priority for funding, although additional regions may be added at a later date. Areas not included above are eligible to apply for funding under the Local Jobs and Get Communities Working streams.
Project eligibility
In order to be considered for funding under any of the three streams (Local Jobs, Get Communities Working and Infrastructure Employment Projects), projects must satisfy at least ONE of the FOUR target areas and meet ALL THREE gateway criteria.
Target Areas
Projects which will be considered for funding under the Jobs Fund must address at least one of the following four target areas:
a. Create jobs or retain people in jobs at risk due to the downturn
b. Build skills for the future
c. Build community infrastructure or improve community amenity which generates local jobs, or
d. Provide seed funding for social enterprises to start up, maintain or expand services, generating jobs and improving community services.
All projects must also demonstrate that the activities to be funded are clearly additional to those that would have occurred in the absence of funding under the Jobs Fund.
§ Within each of these four target areas preference will be given to projects which demonstrate one or more of the following:
§ are ready-to-start immediately
§ support, create or retain jobs
§ assist a greater number of disadvantaged job seekers including Indigenous job seekers and have a greater likelihood of achieving outcomes for those job seekers
§ are in locations that have entrenched disadvantage or are vulnerable to the economic downturn
§ involve place-based initiatives which strengthen the community
§ provide job seekers with additional skills through training which maintains a connection with the labour market or develops connections to the community
§ assist apprentices/trainees who have been made redundant to complete their apprenticeships
§ have the potential to be sustainable and provide long-term employment opportunities for job seekers in areas of high unemployment
§ provide jobs for local businesses and communities and provide opportunities for youth, while also delivering positive environmental, heritage and social outcomes
§ involve well negotiated partnerships with employment services providers, local community organisations and relevant stakeholders needed to assist job seekers
§ demonstrate stakeholder consultation and work with the local community in designing and running projects
§ include a contribution of funds, or in kind contributions to supplement the amount sought in the project proposal
§ revitalise or create new infrastructure assets for community needs or have the potential to contribute to economically viable regions.
In the case of applications for Temporary Financial Assistance proponents will need to demonstrate that the services requiring funding would not be maintained in the absence of the funding under the Jobs Fund.
To be considered for funding, those projects funded under the $60 million heritage component of the Local Jobs stream must also deliver positive heritage outcomes.
Gateway criteria
The Jobs Fund will have a common set of gateway criteria which must be met for funding under any of the three streams:
1. Projects in areas experiencing high
unemployment, a significant rise in unemployment or vulnerability
2. Projects must be viable and ready to
start
3. Funding will not extend past 2010-11.
Projects will be expected to be self sufficient and/or not require Australian
Government funding beyond 30 June 2011.
Training Management Guidelines
The NSW Government recently revised its Training Management Guidelines.
The policy and guidelines apply to all government construction projects,
including the projects delivered under the Commonwealth Government’s Economic
Stimulus Plan (in NSW). The policy aims to promote employment, training and
skills development opportunities in the construction industry at the enterprise
and project level.
Contractors seeking to work on government construction projects will be
required to develop and implement training management plans that are
appropriate to the nature, size and capacity of their enterprise and projects.
Council proposes that all contractors engaged to complete works
resourced through the Jobs Fund be required to adhere to the NSW Training
Management Guidelines – February 2009 as a way of maximising the impact of the
application of the Jobs Fund to projects in this LGA.
Current position
It is proposed that the following projects be the subject of
applications for funding by the 22 May deadline.
These projects have been selected because:
§ They offer an opportunity to partner with job providers and appropriate contractors in Penrith to employ unemployed people with appropriate skills and/or enhance the skills of people with low skills, to enhance their employment potential.
§ They offer a range of trades and unskilled labour opportunities.
§ They are longer-term projects, extending the range of job retention and creation.
§ They are an extension of projects which have already been the subject of considerable investment from Council and partners, including various State Departments and the community sector.
§ The potential partners have the resources to provide ongoing support and assistance with future employment opportunities to the people working on the projects.
Negotiations are underway with potential partners. As a result, the
detail of applications may be modified prior to submission.
Should partners for any project not be secured, no application will be
submitted for that project.
Schedule of proposed
applications to the Jobs Fund
All projects nominated fulfil the requirements of the three Gateway
Criteria and Target Areas A and B as well as a number of the priorities.
Local
Jobs
Project: Upgrades and improvements to
building assets
Responsible Manager: City Works
Manager
Council owns and operates a property portfolio of over 250 buildings
with a replacement value of over $200 million. These community assets play a
key role in the life of our City and local neighbourhoods. A Building Asset
Renewal Program is carried out annually and the latest data demonstrates that
at least $1.5 million is required annually for asset renewal works over the
next 10 years which includes addressing a backlog of works valued at $6 million.
Many City assets are ageing and there is a lot of work being done to
assess and program asset renewal needs into the future. This increased funding
is necessary to meet the backlog of asset renewal and ensure that community
facilities are provided at appropriate standards, fit for their contemporary
purpose.
Negotiations are in place to establish partnerships with employment
providers in Penrith.
Project’s
estimated cost:............................ $2,500,000
Jobs
Fund Grant request:........................... $2,000,000
Penrith
City Council:..................................... $500,000
Project: Bushland Management Projects
Responsible Manager: Parks Manager
Implementation of Plans of Management for River Road, Weir Reserve, Tench Reserve and Werrington Lakes through treatment of weeds and revegetation. Council will seek to develop partnerships with appropriate organisations to develop training programs that will involve a broad spectrum of local people in skills development programs and employment opportunities through contract work.
Negotiations are in place to establish partnerships with employment
providers located in Penrith.
Project’s
estimated cost:............................ $2,008,640
Jobs
Fund Grant request:........................... $1,200,000
Council
contribution:..................................... $574,640
Other
grants:................................................. $234,000
The four identified projects build upon and
complement considerable investment in improvements already made and currently
in progress at these sites, funded by Council and by the NSW State Government.
Work at River Road Reserve complements
several past projects focussing on weed management and revegetation. It will
complement the construction of Stages 6 and 7 of the Great River Walk and
associated improvements to
Work at Weir Reserve builds upon works
undertaken for the Great River Walk and other bushland management and
improvements for the benefit of the community.
Work at Tench Reserve will complement many
years of weed management, revegetation and improvements to improve the amenity
of the site for the community.
Work at Werrington Creek complements a $2
million Urban Sustainability Program project funded for implementation of the
Ropes and South Creek Regional Open Space Strategic Management Plan.
Project:
Responsible Manager: Major Projects Manager
Description:
Construction of a 1,500m section of the GRW along
Negotiations are in place to establish partnerships with employment
providers located in Penrith.
Project’s estimated cost:........................................................ $2,214,500
Total Jobs Fund Grant Request:............................................. $1,722,000
Total Council contribution (Section 94): .................................... $344,250
Metropolitan Greenspace Program:........................................... $148,250
Cassola to PLDC
Project’s estimated cost:........................................................... $638,000
Total Jobs Fund Grant Request:................................................ $638,000
Total Council contribution: .................................................................... 0
The GRW has been
constructed south of
River Road
Project’s estimated cost:........................................................ $1,576,500
Total Jobs Fund Grant Request:............................................. $1,084,000
Total Council contribution (Section 94): .................................... $344,250
Metropolitan Greenspace Program:........................................... $148,250
Approval has been
granted for a Metropolitan Greenspace Program grant for Stage 6 (
Local
Jobs - Bike Path Projects
A requirement of this funding stream is that
Federal grant funds be expended by 30 June 2010 and that applicants contribute
50% of project costs.
Project: Shared Bike and Pedestrian Paths
Responsible Manager: City Works
Manager
Construction of three interconnected bike paths to facilitate
alternative transport options:
§ Eileen Cammack Soccer Fields
§
§ Cranebrook to Penrith CBD
Negotiations are in place to establish partnerships with employment
providers located in Penrith.
The project’s estimated cost:.................................................. $1,600,000
Jobs Fund Grant request:.......................................................... $800,000
Balance.................................................................................... $800,000
In another report to tonight’s meeting, Future Footpath Delivery Program,
additional savings from the current year’s footpath program of $400,000 have
been identified. Should this bid for the shared bike and pedestrian paths
project be successful these savings will need to be diverted to this project. The
balance of the matching Council funding of $400,000 can be provided from the 2009-10
Road Resealing/Resheeting budget.
Should this application not be approved, the funds will remain in the
originally allocated program budgets.
Local Jobs – Heritage Projects
A requirement of this funding stream is that Federal grant funds be expended by 30 June 2010.
Project: Restoration of Old Emu
Plains Post Office
Responsible Manager: Property Development Manager.
This project involves
restoration works to the Old Emu Plains Post Office on the
Negotiations are in place to establish partnerships with employment providers located in Penrith.
Project’s
estimated cost:........................................................... $679,350
Jobs Fund
Grant request:.......................................................... $595,000
Balance
(from Property Reserve)................................................ $84,350
Table 1: Summary of proposed costs, grant
requests and contributions:
Project |
Estimated Cost $ |
Jobs Fund $ |
Council $ |
Other $ |
Mgr |
Local Jobs (Maximum grant $2 million) |
|||||
Building Assets Upgrades & Improvements |
2,500,000 |
2,000,000 |
500,000 |
0 |
CWM |
Bushland Management Projects |
2,008,640 |
1,200,000 |
574,640 |
234,000 |
PCM |
|
2,214,500 |
1,722,000 |
344,250 |
148,250 |
MPM |
Sub-total
Local Jobs: |
6,723,140 |
4,922,000 |
1,418,890 |
382,250 |
|
|
|||||
Bike Paths (matching funding required) |
|||||
Shared
Paths: |
1,600,000 |
800,000 |
800,000 |
0 |
CWM |
|
|||||
Heritage Projects (Maximum grant $2 million) |
|||||
Old Emu
Plains Post Office: |
679,350 |
595,000 |
84,350 |
0 |
PDM |
|
|||||
TOTAL JOBS
FUND PROJECTS: |
9,002,490 |
6,317,000 |
2,303,240 |
382,250 |
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That: 1. The information contained in the report
on Council's Response to the
Federal Government's Jobs Fund Program be received 2. The schedule of projects nominated for applications to the Jobs Fund for Federal grant funding be endorsed. 3. That funding of $800,000, $400,000 from the Footpath Paving Program and $400,000 from the Road Resealing /Resheeting 2009-10 budgets be allocated to the Shared Bikes and Pedestrian Pathways project should the project application be successful. |