Agenda of Policy Review Committee Meeting

Council_Mark_POS_RGB 2014 MEETING CALENDAR

January 2014 - December 2014

(adopted by Council on 25/11/13)

TIME

JAN

FEB

MAR

APRIL

MAY

JUNE

JULY

AUG

SEPT

OCT

NOV

DEC

Mon

Ordinary Council Meeting

7.30pm

10&

22^?

(7.00pm)

24@

28v

26#

23 *

25@

27∞

24#+

Policy Review Committee

7.00pm

?v	Meeting at which the draft corporate planning documents (Delivery Program and Operational Plan) are endorsed for exhibition
?*	Meeting at which the draft corporate planning documents (Delivery Program and Operational Plan) are adopted
?#	Meetings at which the Operational Plan quarterly reviews (March and September) are presented
?@	Meetings at which the Delivery Program progress reports (including the Operational Plan quarterly reviews for December and June) are presented
?^	Election of Mayor/Deputy Mayor
??	Meeting at which the 2013-2014 Annual Statements are presented
?∞	Meeting at which any comments on the 2013-2014 Annual Statements are presented
?+	Meeting at which the Annual Report is presented
&	Extraordinary Meeting

- Extraordinary Meetings are held as required.

- 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 Senior Governance Officer, Glenn Schuil.

Policy Review Committee Meeting ????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????? 10 March 2014

Wianamatta Regional Park - Management of Macrofauna and Feral and Domestic Animal Strategies, Timing of Regional Park Transfer and Future Development of Central Precinct????

Compiled by:?????????????? Tony Crichton, Senior Environmental Planner

Authorised by:??????????? Paul Grimson, Strategic Planning Manager ?

Requested By:???????????? Councillor Prue Car

Outcome	We plan for our future growth
Strategy	Protect the City's natural areas, heritage and character
Service Activity	Maintain a contemporary framework of land use and contribution policies, strategies and statutory plans

Presenters:?????????????????? Terry Natt, Manager, Infrastructure Contributions Policy & Implementation - Planning & Infrastructure - St Marys Release Area

????????????????????????????????????? Tom Bagnat, Director, Metro & Mountains Branch - Office of Environment and Heritage - St Marys Release Area

????????????????????????????????????? Mike Patrick, Regional Manager, SW Region - Office of Environment and Heritage - St Marys Release Area??????

Executive Summary

At its Ordinary meeting of 3 February 2014 Council received two reports on the Wianamatta Regional Park (the Park), in relation to emu relocation, timing of the transfer of the remaining designated regional park lands to State Government, and management of feral animals.?

It was resolved that ?

???? a further report be brought back to Council on the future development of the Central Precinct

???? a further report be brought back to Council responding to questions raised by Cr Tormey regarding management of feral animals

???? Council write to both the Minister for the Environment and the Minister for Planning and Infrastructure seeking the retaining of macrofauna in the Wianamatta Regional Park and seeking the transfer of the remaining regional park lands to State Government as a priority

???? Council invite senior management from the Office of Environment and Heritage (OEH) to discuss these matters with Council.

This report responds to these matters.

Senior officers from both OEH and Planning and Infrastructure (P&I) have agreed to address tonight?s meeting and to respond to questions from Councillors.

Background

In late November 2013 OEH issued a licence to Lend Lease to allow for the relocation of emus from the Park to an emu farm on the central coast of NSW.?? On 16 December 2013 the Mayor, Clr Ross Fowler OAM wrote to the Minister for the Environment, the Hon Robyn Parker MP indicating Council?s longstanding support for the retention of emus and kangaroos on the site and requesting a delay in any further relocation of emus until Council had had the opportunity to consider the matter.

Community concern has also recently been raised regarding the management of macrofauna (emus and kangaroos) and wild or domestic dogs within the Wianamatta Regional Park, the re-location of emus from the site and delays in the transfer of the remaining lands within the Park to the State Government.? Council officers met with OEH management on 14 January 2014 to discuss these matters.

Following Council?s resolutions on 3 February 2014, a letter was sent to the Minister for the Environment requesting that a sustainable population of emus and kangaroos be retained within the WRP on a permanent basis and to the Minister for Planning and Infrastructure seeking the transfer of the remaining lands within the WRP to the State Government as a priority.

OEH held two Community Consultation Workshops on 28 January and 4 February 2014 to brief the public on macrofauna management within the WRP, the St Marys Development Agreement, the proposed land transfers to Government and the approved management plans for WRP.? The workshops were attended by the Mayor, Councillor Ross Fowler OAM, Councillor Bernard Bratusa and Council officers.

Advice provided by OEH to attendees at the close of the second workshop was as follows:

???? 25 emus will remain on-site

???? No further relocations

???? A PhD student is to be appointed by OEH to determine the sustainable number of emus that can be retained within the park in the long term

???? An executive level Project Control Group (PCG) is to be established to bring forward the transfer of the park.? It will be chaired by P&I and include OEH and Lend Lease, and

???? A tour of WRP for interested attendees at the workshops will be arranged by OEH.?

Planning Background and Planning Requirements for the Former ADI Site

Sydney Regional Environmental Plan No. 30 ? St Marys (SREP30) was gazetted in January 2001 and establishes the statutory planning framework of the site together with the other two key planning documents being St Marys Environmental Planning Strategy 2000 (EPS) and the St Marys Development Agreement 2002 (SDA).?

SREP30 also:

???? Establishes a process for land releases by the declaration of precincts as ?release areas? by the Minister

???? Requires the preparation of draft precinct plans to include proposals and detailed information and plans and strategies for the proposed development of the land, and

???? Zones the land within the site into Regional Park, Regional Open Space, Urban, Employment, Drainage, Roads and Road Widening.

The EPS 2000 indicates that the landowner will transfer land to the State Government to create a regional park and the SDA 2002 indicates that this shall occur as soon as practicable after declaration of the release area by the Minister.? This declaration occurred many years ago however the park is yet to be transferred to the State Government.

Following the declaration of the South Dunheved, Western and Central Precincts as ?release areas? by the Minister, a period of more detailed planning by Lend Lease occured, including discussion and negotiation with Council officers.? Draft precinct plans were subsequently prepared, amended in response to public exhibition and ultimately adopted.? The last two plans, the Western and Central Precinct Plans, were adopted by Council on 9 March 2009.?

At that time the ?Macrofauna Management Plan? (MFMP) and ?Feral and Domestic Animal Management Strategy? were also adopted by Council.? These plans and strategies are discussed below.

Management of Macrofauna within the Wianamatta Regional Park

Management of? macrofauna (emus and kangaroos) within the WRP is governed by the ?Macrofauna Management Plan? (MFMP).? The MFMP requires the humane management of the macrofauna population on-site including any impacts that may result from the development of the adjacent precinct lands, such as the need to relocate macrofauna within the park.

The MFMP was adopted by the former Department of Environment and Conservation on 16 March 2004, following the establishment of a working group of community members and an extensive consultation process with stakeholders.

That portion of the WRP that has been gazetted (63 ha) is owned and managed by OEH on behalf of the NSW State Government.? The remainder of the site is currently under the ownership of Lend Lease (associated companies) and the management of the park and all vegetation and macrofauna is the responsibility of Lend Lease.?

OEH oversees the granting of a licence to the current landowner, Lend Lease, to manage the macrofauna within the park and requires the preparation of an Annual Report by Lend Lease to report back on this management process.? Similarly, the recent request last November by Lend Lease to transfer emus from the site required the granting of a licence by OEH.? This license approved the relocation of two emus only.

When the land is transferred to the State Government, OEH will be solely responsible for the management of the Park and all macrofauna within it.

Management of Feral and Domestic Animals within WRP

The management of feral animals within the Park is governed by the ?Feral and Domestic Animal Management Strategy?.?

Requests for Information from Councillor Tormey

1.??? Annual data (from 2005 to 2014) regarding evidence of wild or uncontrolled dogs in the former ADI Site/proposed Wianamatta Regional Park (number of sightings and noted attacks/injuries each year).

2.??? As the responsible authority charged with overseeing the implementation of the ?Feral and Domestic Animal Management Strategy?, confirmation that OEH is satisfied with Lend Lease?s adherence to their responsibilities under the Strategy, and how this is determined.

3.??? If possible, a copy of the ?Feral and Domestic Animal Management Strategy?.

Question 1

Lend Lease has advised that feral animal management and management of domestic pets on site are ongoing and have been undertaken since 2006.? Records of sightings and captures of dogs on the former ADI site have been kept as a component of the daily management records.? Predators, including dogs and foxes, have been observed on the site since first surveyed in 2005 and numbers of each of these species of predator fluctuate from year to year.

2006-2011 ? Dog sightings were infrequent and many sightings were of domestic dogs.

2011 ? In early 2011 two different feral dogs were seen on site and in October 2011 a litter of puppies were sighted on 3 occasions.? There were no reported or documented attacks on kangaroos by dogs in 2011.

2012 ? In 2012 sporadic sightings were made of 2 adult dogs and a large litter was born on site. The pups from this litter were captured and surrendered alive to Penrith Council.? There were no reported or documented attacks on kangaroos by dogs in 2012.

2013 ? Professional dog trappers were successful in trapping and removing 8 foxes and 2 wild dogs (dingo DNA confirmed). One dog remained and he was not able to be caught. There were no reported or documented attacks on kangaroos by dogs in 2013.

2014 ? In February 2014 professional dog trappers returned to site and caught 2 foxes and no dogs. They found evidence of one wild dog on site and considered it likely that this was the same dog that was on site in 2013.? They found no evidence of threats or injury to wildlife or macrofauna from dog activities.? There was no evidence of breeding pairs or offspring or more than one dog.

Lend Lease has advised that management of the macrofauna is adapted so that potential or perceived risks to animal welfare are given the highest priority.? Monitoring and management of dogs on site is ongoing and a daily part of the implementation of the Macrofauna Management Plan in accordance with the licence conditions issued by NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service.

Question 2

OEH has stressed that as it is not yet the landowner for much of the land, it has no responsibility for overseeing the implementation of the ?Feral and Domestic Animal Management Strategy.??

Notwithstanding, as reported at the Ordinary Meeting of 3 February 2014 OEH has indicated that it is confident that Lend Lease has been taking appropriate measures to trap and remove dogs within the site including the employment of a professional dog trapper and veterinary staff for that purpose. The OEH Regional Manager has advised that he is happy to report on OEH?s understanding of the effectiveness of Lend Lease in implementing their obligations regarding feral animal control at tonight?s meeting.?

Question 3

A copy of the ?Feral and Domestic Animal Management Strategy? has been provided to Councillor Tormey by email.? In addition, Council?s Development Services Department has provided Councillor Tormey with details of development consents issued where Lend Lease has submitted a Species Impact Statement addressing both the ?Feral and Domestic Animal Strategy? and compliance with the ?Cumberland Plain Recovery Plan? in a separate memo dated 25 February 2014.

Timing of Future Transfer of the Remaining Park Lands to State Government

The St Marys (State) Development Agreement 2002 (SDA) was entered into on 13 December 2002 by the NSW State Government and the landowners and developers of the land, a joint venture comprising Comland (Federal Government) and Lend Lease Development.? This Agreement delineates the responsibilities of all parties in the provision of services and infrastructure on the site.

Clause 11.3 of that Agreement states that as soon as possible after the ?Commencement Date,? Part A of the Regional Park, being the great majority of the Park area, must be transferred to the State Government as Regional Park free of any encumbrances and affectations.? The ?Commencement Date? was the date when the first precinct was declared as a release area by the Minister for Planning, which was March 2001.

Council has for many years urged that the transfer be carried out as a priority and is disappointed that to date only 63 ha has been transferred to OEH as regional park ? all of this land being located in the Blacktown Council LGA east of the Ropes Crossing suburb.

At the Community Workshop held on 28 January and 3 February 2014, the P&I spokesman indicated that the delay in transfer of lands to the State Government was regrettable.? It was indicated that at the time the Agreement was written, it was not fully appreciated that easements would need to be created, designs prepared and works constructed prior to the transfer of the land to the State Government.? The implementation of this matter has proved to be complex and difficult.

At the Community Workshop it was announced that an executive level Project Control Group (PCG) was to be established to bring forward the transfer of the park.? It will be chaired by P&I and include OEH and Lend Lease.? OEH has indicated to Council in recent meetings that they are working to a timeline that will allow the transfer of the Park to be completed by the end of 2014.?? Clause 11.10 of the Agreement states that following the transfer of Wianamatta Regional Park to the Minister for the Environment, the land will be managed as a regional park under the National Parks & Wildlife Act 1974.

Future Development of the Central Precinct

The Policy Review Committee Meeting held on 9 March 2004 resolved to adopt the Western and Central Precinct Plans.? To date the landowner Lend Lease has concentrated on the development of the Western Precinct (Jordan Springs) and there has been no lodgement or approval of either subdivisions or buildings for the Central Precinct.?

The Central Precinct has an area of 133 ha including 95 ha of urban zoned land and 38 ha of employment zoned land.? It is proposed that the urban zoned land within the Central Precinct will provide 970 dwellings and house 2,500 people.? A copy of the Central Precinct Framework Plan is appended to this report.? Lend Lease is currently working on the more detailed planning of the Central Precinct in advance of the submission of initial development applications.? Should that work suggest the need for any substantive change to the adopted Precinct Plan, this would be reported for Council?s consideration.

The first stage of development of the Central Precinct will be the filling of the eastern portion of the precinct as outlined in SREP30 and the adopted Central Precinct Plan.? A development application for filling of the land is expected to be lodged with Council soon.? Lend Lease has indicated that it plans to carry out filling operations and subdivision of the precinct simultaneously.? It is anticipated that filling of the land will be completed over an 18 month period.

Lend Lease has indicated that the timeframe for the subdivision works and lot sales in Central Precinct will be 12 months from July 2015 to June 2016.? It is estimated that the east-west road linking Jordan Springs to Central Precinct will also be constructed within the 2015-16 Financial Year to provide access to the Central Precinct.? Lend Lease have been unable to provide any timeframe for the construction of the road linking Central Precinct to Ropes Crossing and are yet to make a commitment to the construction of this road.?

Initial residents to the precinct will be housed from approximately January 2017 and development of the Central Precinct is anticipated to be concluded in 2021.

Wianamatta Regional Park

The two key Plans governing the management of the Wianamatta Regional Park (WRP) are the WRP Plan of Management (PoM) and the Wianamatta Regional Park Masterplan.

Wianamatta Regional Park Plan of Management

The Wianamatta Regional Park (WRP) covers an area of 900 ha, which includes 565 ha in the Penrith LGA.?? Stage 1 of the WRP (63 ha) was announced in March 2007 and gazetted in March 2008.???

The PoM was adopted on 15 February 2011.? The PoM applies to all areas zoned for the WRP.? The developer is obligated to manage all future regional park areas not yet transferred to the OEH in accordance with the adopted PoM.? Other areas in the former ADI site, such as the ?Secret Garden?, are zoned as Regional Park and may, in future, be considered for addition to the regional park once management and safety issues have been addressed.

The PoM provides the framework for the management of the park and lists the management principles and objectives, key park values and threats to park values and visitor opportunities.? The Plan established five management zones including (see map at Attachment 1):

Zone 1: includes most of the significant bushland areas in the park listed on the Register of the National Estate for its conservation and heritage significance;

Zone 2: includes land listed on the Register of the National Estate for its cultural significance;

Zone 3: includes land in the park that has been identified as important riparian habitat;

Zone 4: includes a limited access area and contains large populations of a number of threatened plant species and endangered vegetation communities that are not widely distributed across the park.

The PoM indicates that the Park will provide excellent opportunities for low-impact recreation that is sympathetic to the protection of the natural and cultural heritage of the Park, particularly walking and cycling.? There will be opportunities to provide picnic and other visitor facilities in selected areas.

Appropriate activities in the Park

The PoM lists the following as appropriate activities and makes the following comments:

Bushwalking

Bushwalking will allow visitors to explore and appreciate the natural and cultural heritage within the Park.

Orienteering and Rogaining

Orienteering and rogaining activities will be considered by OEH subject to prior environmental assessment.

Picnicking

Small-scale picnic shelters and benches will be provided in appropriate areas within the Park.? More detailed planning will determine the type and location of Park facilities to provide visitor enjoyment but minimise the impact of the visitors on the Park?s values.

Cycling

Cycling opportunities will be provided on managed trails.

Commercial tourism

Tours and other commercial activities within the Park can increase visitor opportunities to participate in nature-based activities and guided activities may also provide opportunities to interpret and promote the natural and cultural heritage of the Park.

Commercial operators are required to have a lease or a licence with the Department, while organised non-commercial groups are required to have consent.

Inappropriate activities

Camping

Camping is not considered an appropriate activity in the Park due to the lack of suitable areas and the conflicts with other uses.

Dog walking

Dog walking is not permitted as this would create an unacceptable and unnecessary threat to native animals.

Horse riding

Horses and associated activities have been found to cause erosion of soil and tracks, increase soil compaction and introduce weeds to the area.

Skateboarding, rollerblading and similar activities

These activities are prohibited in the Park as they could pose a risk to other Park uses and damage to Park facilities.

Wianamatta Regional Park Masterplan

The Masterplan was adopted in March 2013.

The Masterplan for the Wianamatta Regional Park is guided by the key management objectives of the PoM.? The core aims identified in the draft Masterplan include identification and protection of significant heritage items, development of visitor facilities, provision of traffic circulation, provision of access routes into and within the Park, car parking, and management of different landscape areas and boundary interfaces.? The Masterplan (see map at Attachment 2) establishes three different categories of area:

Park Zone 1 ? Primary Habitat Focus (561 ha, or 62% of the Regional Park)

? includes the alluvial woodland area and all creek corridors

? includes the Aboriginal cultural heritage zone at the confluence of South and Ropes Creeks

? generally fenced, and public access is limited to guided access.

Park Zone 2 ? Secondary Habitat Focus (163 ha, or 18% of Regional Park)

? areas that have potential to be pursued in the future for either Habitat (Zone 1) or Recreation (Zone 3)

? may be fenced to boundaries

? public access may vary here, but will generally be open to day to day pedestrian and cycle access.

Park Zone 3 ? Recreation Focus

? these areas will be pursued for a recreation focus, with potential to be used for a specific use and interpretational theme for each specific area

? will be located at key locations of the ?track? system

? key recreational facilities will be present

? public access will generally be open to day to day pedestrian and cycle access

? will fundamentally integrate habitat enhancement and conservation with recreational activities and maintain habitat and conservation qualities of the area.

Conclusion

Council welcomes the decision of the Minister for the Environment to retain a sustainable population of emus and kangaroos within the WRP on a permanent basis.? Council also welcomes the establishment by the State Government of an executive level Project Control Group (PCG) to expedite the transfer of the remaining lands within the Wianamatta Regional Park to the State Government as a priority.

RECOMMENDATION

That the information contained in the report on Wianamatta Regional Park - Management of Macrofauna and Feral and Domestic Animal Strategies, Timing of Regional Park Transfer and Future Development of Central Precinct? be received.

ATTACHMENTS/APPENDICES

1. View	Wianamatta Regional Park Plan of Management? - Management Zones	1 Page	Appendix
2. View	Wianamatta Regional Park Masterplan - Masterplan Zones	1 Page	Appendix
3. View	Central Precinct Framework Plan	1 Page	Appendix

Policy Review Committee Meeting ????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????? 10 March 2014

Western Sydney Regional Illegal Dumping (WSRID) Squad 2012-2013 Annual Report???

Compiled by:?????????????? Barry Ryan, RID Squad Co-ordinator

Authorised by:??????????? Tracy Chalk, Waste and Community Protection Manager ??

Outcome	We care for our environment
Strategy	Protect and improve our natural areas, the Nepean River and other waterways
Service Activity	Collaboratively manage illegal dumping across Western Sydney (RID Squad)

Presenters:?????????????????? Barry Ryan - Western Sydney Regional Illegal Dumping (RID) Squad ???????

Executive Summary

Penrith City Council has been a member of the Western Sydney Regional Illegal Dumping Squad since its inception in 1999 and Council currently manages the Squad on behalf on the member councils.

This report will provide an update on operational matters of the Squad and the presentation will focus on the 2012-2013 annual report highlights.

In addition, the report will comment on the Draft Strategy to Combat Illegal Dumping, developed by the NSW EPA in 2013.

Background

Penrith City Council is a member of and manages the Western Sydney Regional Illegal Dumping Squad (WSRID) on behalf of six other councils - Bankstown, Fairfield, Holroyd, Liverpool, Parramatta and The Hills.? Each council and the NSW EPA contribute funding to cover the operational expenses of the Squad.

The NSW Government?s 10-year strategic plan NSW 2021-A Plan to Make NSW Number One (NSW 2021), released in September 2011 identifies illegal dumping as a significant issue.

Goal 22 of the Plan is to protect our natural environment. The current performance report of NSW 2021 notes that:

Waste compliance campaigns have increased by 19 per cent and the Environment Protection Authority (EPA) has recorded a 9 per cent reduction in the incidence of large-scale illegal dumping detected. This represents excellent progress towards the target of reducing large-scale illegal dumping in key regions by 30 per cent by 2016.

WSRID focuses on illegal dumping of waste and employs seven Investigators, each one having a specific Local Government Area (LGA) to manage. However, the Squad can and often does work as a team on specific operations.

Each year an annual report of the Squad?s operational activities is produced and provided to member councils. The 2012-2013 annual report is attached.

Current Situation

Since inception WSRID has investigated over 27,000 cases, issued 628 clean up notices and nearly $2.5million in penalty infringement notices.

In the 2012-2013 financial year 96 penalty infringement notices were issued in the Penrith LGA for a range of offences relating to the dumping of waste and littering ($63,360 in value). The majority of these infringements were issued for the dumping of waste in isolated rural areas of the LGA.

A brief PowerPoint presentation will be provided by the WSRID Coordinator of some of the cases Investigators have actioned in the Penrith LGA in 2012-2013.

Night-time operations have been conducted in isolated rural areas (Castlereagh and Londonderry) with the support of Penrith Council Rangers. Whilst no offenders were identified, several vehicles with waste were sighted and followed out of the area, and it can only be assumed that they were preparing to dump the waste.

In 2012-2013, in conjunction with the EPA, WSRID undertook a re-branding program to review the RID logo and application/meaning to the general public. Community consultation was part of this program to determine the public?s knowledge of RID Squads, perceptions of existing and proposed logos, and whether they knew who to report illegal dumping to. The consultation revealed that knowledge in the community of the RID Squad was very low and that there was varied knowledge as to who to report illegal dumping to. Input was also sought on existing and proposed new logos.

From this consultation a range of collateral was produced including road signage, tape to mark illegal dumping sites and letterheads.

A part of the program was changing the concept of RID (to the general public) to Report Illegal Dumping, utilising the NSW EPA hotline 131 555 as a standard (see attachment 2 of this report). This is seen as a credit to the development and operation of WSRID.

Negotiations are currently underway to form an additional two Regional Illegal Dumping Squads, one in the Sydney Region and the other in Regional NSW. These Squads may be operational by July 2014.

In early 2013 the NSW EPA developed a Draft Strategy to Combat Illegal Dumping.

The strategy focuses on:

???????? partnerships ? establishing strong and collaborative partnerships with local councils, Regional Illegal Dumping Squads, industry and the community

???????? capacity building ? providing local councils and land managers with the knowledge and skills they need to implement practical regional solutions to combat illegal dumping

???????? strategic enforcement ? detecting, investigating and prosecuting serious illegal dumping offences

???????? education ? guiding and educating industry and the community on the social, environmental and economic impacts of illegal dumping and improving community knowledge of correct disposal options

???????? community engagement ? supporting community involvement in combating illegal dumping, for example, by working with communities to identify dumping hotspots and designing and implementing dumping prevention strategies

???????? building an evidence base through data collection and analysis ? enhancing intelligence and data on illegal dumping to ensure targeted, strategic action to prevent it

The purpose of the strategy is to set out ways in which the EPA will combat illegal dumping by:

???????? taking action against people who deliberately flout the law

???????? implementing local strategies to ensure that local communities can care for their own neighbourhoods and environments

???????? minimising the harm illegal dumping causes to the environment and human health

???????? setting out five prevention mechanisms to make illegal dumping harder and less attractive ? these mechanisms will be implemented through focused tactics and actions

The strategy will direct the actions of the EPA in relation to illegal dumping and let industry, local government, public land managers and the community know what they can expect from the EPA.

The major outcomes of this strategy will be:

???????? defining the problem of illegal dumping

???????? reducing the social, environmental, health and financial impacts of illegal dumping

???????? improving compliance with the law

???????? increasing the legal disposal of asbestos

Additionally, this strategy will:

???????? increase awareness within the waste industry and the community of the social, environmental and economic impacts of illegal dumping

???????? improve community knowledge of correct disposal options to improve ways in which waste is disposed of, increased opportunities for people to look after their own neighbourhoods and environments

???????? reinforce positive behaviours to improve legitimate waste disposal practices and change negative behaviours to reduce illegal dumping

???????? increase awareness within the waste industry and of the general public about enforcement and penalties

???????? enhance the use of peers, social sanctioning and regulatory sanctioning to reduce illegal dumping and illegal landfilling

???????? make regulation more transparent

???????? discourage the local community and the industry sector from using the illegal waste industry by identifying and communicating the risks and providing guidance on how to avoid them, and increasing the competitiveness of the legal waste industry

???????? continue the improvements to deterrence measures

As a part of this strategy the NSW EPA reviewed the penalties for illegal waste dumping and amendments to the Protection of the Environment Operations Act 1997 were made, which now provides for imprisonment for up to two years for repeat offenders; i.e.,

?144AB Repeat waste offenders

(2) A person commits an offence against this section if the person is an individual who:

(a) has been convicted of a waste offence, and

(b) commits a waste offence on a separate subsequent occasion within 5 years after that conviction.

Maximum penalty: The maximum monetary penalty provided by this Act for the commission of the waste offence by an individual or imprisonment for 2 years, or both.?

As a part of the strategy the NSW EPA has recently called for Expressions of Interest for Local Government and Land Managers to apply for funding for illegal dumping education and prevention programs. An expression of interest has been lodged with the EPA by WSRID for funding for both a community education program (across the seven LGAs) and the purchase of high resolution surveillance cameras.

Should WSRID be successful in the submission of the EOI and a grant funding application is called for, a further report to Council will be provided for endorsement.

RECOMMENDATION

That:

1.???? The information contained in the report on Western Sydney Regional Illegal Dumping (WSRID) Squad 2012-2013 Annual Report be received.

2.???? The presentation by the Co-ordinator Western Sydney Regional Illegal Dumping Squad be received.

ATTACHMENTS/APPENDICES

1. View	Western Sydney RID Squad Annual Report 2012-2013	68 Pages	Attachment
2. View	RID Squad Branding	3 Pages	Attachment

???

Policy Review Committee Meeting ????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????? 10 March 2014

Draft Penrith City Centre Public Domain Technical Manual???

Compiled by:?????????????? Terry Agar, Acting Centres Co-ordinator

Authorised by:??????????? Jeni Pollard, Place Manager ??

Objective	We are healthy and share strong community spirit
Community Outcome	Encourage social connections and promote inclusion in our community
Strategic Response	Develop effective responses to the social impacts of growth, redevelopment and change

???????

Executive Summary

The Draft Penrith City Centre Public Domain Technical Manual (PDTM) specifies the standards of design, materials and finish for future street upgrades and maintenance in the City Centre.? This new manual is intended to be a generic guide that documents best practice design techniques to achieve excellence in public domain outcomes.? It covers street and footpath layouts, paving, kerb step and ramp standards, street tree standards and street furniture, such as bins, bollards and seats.?

The future redevelopment and maintenance of the centre?s public domain infrastructure requires a consistent approach with reference to a specific palette of materials and finishes to produce a high quality urban character commensurate with the status of a regional city. The proposed PDTM will support high quality and consistent outcomes for the Penrith City Centre.

The Access Committee supports the objectives of the manual, ?in principle? and will be further advised when the draft manual goes to public exhibition.

The purpose of this report is to seek Council?s endorsement to proceed with the process towards adopting the draft manual as a Policy of Council with the initial step of exhibiting it for public comment.

Background

The public domain is the public property or public spaces within the city centre that are available and accessible to all people to use and experience.? It comprises the totality of spaces used freely on a day-to-day basis by the public, such as streets, plazas, parks and public infrastructure.? Some aspects of privately owned spaces, such as building facades or domestic gardens, also contribute to public space.. The public domain is important in the day to day lives of people as they move around the city centre for shopping, to use services or to meet friends.

The design outcomes for developments on private property in the Penrith City Centre are currently guided and controlled by Council?s land use planning policies. However the public property within the City Centre is not subject to any specific urban design policy that controls the types of materials and infrastructure installed.? As a consequence the replacement of footpaths and public spaces may be undertaken in an ad hoc manner with no adherence to an urban design theme. Over time this has resulted in a plethora of paving types, seat, bins etc.? Council?s adopted Civic Improvement Plan 2008 (s.94 Plan) recommended that a public domain technical manual be prepared to detail the design of paving, street furniture, street tree planting and lighting to improve this situation.

The draft PDTM works with the adopted Penrith Public Domain Masterplan to provide a sound policy basis for the improvement of the City Centre?s public domain infrastructure.? The Masterplan?s focus is on the creation of street improvement concepts predominantly for specific segments of High Street and Station Street and their staging over the next decade.? The Penrith PDTM seeks to determine a policy standard for the improvement of all streets and lanes in the City Centre to a consistent standard over the coming decades as it grows and re-develops.? The plan on page 8 of the draft PDTM attached to this report show the extent of the application of its provisions to the streets and lanes of the Penrith City Centre.

It is envisaged that in the long term, both Council and developers will be building high quality public domain infrastructure to the same standard and in the process creating a unique and unified image of the public footpaths and spaces in the city centre commensurate with the status of a regional city.? Ultimately, the public domain character of the Penrith City Centre should convey an image of a dynamic, orderly, safe and accessible place where people live, play and work.? The adoption of the PDTM by Council as policy will assist in the long term achievement of these goals.

The aims of the manual are:

1.?? To clearly define new design standards for the public domain

2.?? To create consistent streetscape treatment to define the character of Penrith

3.?? To implement Council?s sustainability principles and relevant policies in the design standards and use of materials

4.?? To standardise design and construction methods through standard drawings and specifications.

The PDTM was prepared by a small interdepartmental working group of Council officers which included representatives from Public Domain Amenity & Safety, Parks, City Works, Major Projects and Place Management with the assistance of a consultant landscape architect.? The working group undertook extensive research and site inspections to select the materials to be used in the City Centre and the methods for their construction and installation. An external access consultant was engaged to review the manual and this will be discussed further in the report.

The next step is to seek Council?s endorsement to proceed with the process towards adopting the draft manual as a policy of Council with the initial step of exhibiting it for public comment.

The draft Penrith Public Domain Technical Manual is attached to this report.

Key Features of the Manual

Presently, the Penrith City Centre has a range of paving types, light poles, poles, bins, seats, tree grates, directional signage and accessibility facilities.? For example, there are over 20 different types of paving ranging from concrete, to patterned asphalt, numerous shapes and sizes of brick and concrete pavers in various patterns.? Similarly, there are at least 6 types of light poles currently in use.? Add to this the numerous different types of seats, bins and tree grates, and it is clear that the centre has an image and identity problem. Lighting in some areas of the city has also been identified as an issue.

The PDTM is a mechanism to unify the presentation of the centre?s streetscapes over time and create better urban places for people with the consistent application of specific urban design standards that reflect Penrith?s status as a regional city.?

The manual was prepared in the context of Council?s commitment to sustainability principles and a wide range of policies and plans such as the Penrith Inclusion Plan ? People with Disability 2009-13.? The experiences of other councils in the specification of standards and the use and durability of materials was also obtained in determining the draft content of the manual.? Ultimately, the design and the materials specified in the manual are of a high standard to perform in an environment that is not only exposed to the weather but must resist damage and degradation by graffiti, fire, vandalism, chemicals, bird droppings, chewing gum and constant cleaning.

The design and materials used in the public domain must perform to meet community expectations in terms of aesthetics, OH&S, accessibility and the minimisation of risk and liability claims against the Council and the community.

??????????????????

The manual provides standard details and performance criteria to be used as a guideline for the design and construction of footpaths and kerbs of streets and lanes. It also includes a standard range of street furniture, street lighting, tree pits, paving and surface treatments to ensure the continuity of all future streetscape improvements and ongoing maintenance practices in accordance with the status of the street.

The manual is intended to guide and co-ordinate the design, construction and maintenance of the public domain. It is intended to be used by:

1.?? The general public to understand the design aims and standards to be applied in a project design preparation process

2.?? Developers, service authorities and Council in preparing proposals that affect the public domain

3.?? Consent authorities assessing and approving proposed developments that affect the public domain.

The draft PDTM is not intended to be a template that is applied to every project situation.? Rather, it is a generic guide that documents design outcomes that Council is trying to achieve.?

Access Committee Referral

The draft Penrith PDTM was reported to the 8 February 2012, Access Committee meeting.? At that meeting it was reported that the draft manual had been independently assessed by an access consultant to determine its consistency with the accessibility criteria of the following legislation, standards and policies:

???? Building Code of Australia 2011

???? Disability Discrimination Act and DDA Standards

???? Australian Standards AS1428part 1 (2009),2,4.1 (2009), & related standards relevant to people with disabilities

???? Penrith Inclusion Plan ? People with Disability 2009-13

???? Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design

???? Universal Design Principles

???? Penrith City Centre Local Environmental Plan & Development Control Plan

?????????

The Committee supported the inclusion of the access consultant?s recommendations into the draft manual and requested to be advised when it would be exhibited for public comment.

Benefits and Costs

A key objective in the preparation of the manual has been to ensure that it is a tangible expression of Council?s sustainability goals including getting value for money.? The safety, durability and recyclability of materials used in the public domain are key criteria for consideration in the preparation of the PDTM.? The materials used for the pavement, and light poles are usually the most expensive elements in any street improvement project.? These elements in the PDTM have been discussed in more detail below to provide a better understanding of what will be used where and their long term benefits.

Pavers and Kerb

The creation of a uniform footpath pavement is central to creating a new aesthetic in the streets of the Penrith City Centre.? This is most easily achieved by using large format unit pavers in a regular pattern that can be removed and replaced as underground services are upgraded or damaged sections are replaced.? This uniformity cannot be achieved with concrete or asphalt laid in situ that will over time be cut up and replaced with new infill material that will create visual patchiness and disharmony as exemplified in many streets of the Penrith City Centre.

The Penrith PDTM proposes the use of large Austral Black Granite pavers and a wide profile concrete kerb on small sections of High Street and Station Streets in the core section of the Penrith City Centre.? Aesthetically, this will signify to daily users and visitors of the city centre that they have reached the heart of Penrith as reflected in the high level of maintenance amenity.? The kerb design was adopted to emulate a wide profile Bluestone (basalt) normally associated with high quality footpaths whilst reducing construction costs.? The natural black granite paving has been recently used very successfully in the re-construction of Memory Park and as well as other centres around metropolitan Sydney such as Blacktown, Castle Hill, Top Ryde and City of Sydney.

Elsewhere on the city centre streets, large dark-grey concrete pavers and a Bluestone wide profile concrete kerb are proposed as a lower cost quality alternative to black granite pavement.? It is anticipated that as the land in the city centre re-develops and intensifies, the concrete pavers will be replaced over time with Austral Black Granite pavers that have a much longer life span. Large concrete pavers have been used with great success in Liverpool, Rouse Hill and Glebe.?

All lanes are proposed to have laid in-situ concrete paths with grey oxide colouring and plain concrete kerbs.

Both the granite and concrete pavers will be laid on a reinforced concrete slab to ensure surface stability and reduce damage from service vehicles.

A significant advantage of using natural stone is the consistency in the colour and structural properties of a geologically defined material.? A major problem in the maintenance of the current assortment of pavers used in the Penrith City Centre is the sourcing of matching pavers which are often no longer manufactured. This has resulted in a growing ?patchiness? in the presentation of the street pavements. Although there is some colour variation in all natural stones, it will not be significant and satisfactory blending of new stone with old stone will be achievable.

The use of stone paving will be more expensive than the current use of in-situ formed concrete paths and kerbs, or alternative combinations of concrete kerb and asphalt, concrete kerb and brick or concrete pavers.? Australia wide the use of stone paving and kerbing has increased over the past 10-20 years due to the quality of the finish achieved in public domain projects and the sustainability attributes of the materials. Black Granite has estimated life span of over 50 years whereas concrete pavers are generally considered to have a life span of about 20 years.

Lifecycle cost analysis research into the use of granite versus concrete in the United States showed that while the initial installation costs were higher for granite, the recurring maintenance costs were lower and the life expectancy was higher.? This led to the general conclusion that the lower initial cost of using concrete was negated by granite?s durability, longevity and re-usability.

Multi Function Poles

The Penrith PDTM proposes the use of all aluminium multi-function light poles as a major vertical design element that provides high quality street and pedestrian lighting.? General street pole clutter is significantly reduced by providing an integrated infrastructure pole for mounting traffic services equipment, telecommunications, and street and parking signs. Many Australian cities have embraced the use of multifunction poles to create a new urban aesthetic that also simplifies the installation of necessary infrastructure and improves accessibility.??

Two sizes of multifunction poles are proposed.? The larger diameter pole will be used in Station Street and the central High Street business precinct.? The smaller diameter pole will be used in all other locations in the Penrith City Centre.

The larger diameter pole is designed to support traffic signals and is approved by the Roads and Maritime Services for this purpose.? These poles will need to be installed, owned and maintained by Council as Integral Electricity and the Roads and Maritime Services will not take responsibility for their maintenance and replacement. The benefits of Council owning and maintaining these poles are that they will be on their own separate metered power supply.? This independence offers future opportunities for connecting solar panels to them and feeding electricity back into the grid, controlling the time of lighting and installing the latest energy efficient lamps.

Ownership of street lighting poles will be a departure from Council?s current practice of leasing street poles from Integral Energy.? Similar to this proposal is Council?s current ownership and maintenance of lights poles in a significant number of parks and reserves.?

Aside from the up front costs of purchasing and installing the poles, there will be the ongoing maintenance costs associated with the cleaning and periodic replacement of the lamp.? Major maintenance cost savings can be achieved with the ownership of the pole and lamp.? These savings, in combination with the lower purchase cost of an aluminium pole (verses standard steel pole), the longer life and other benefits previously described, make the use of multifunctional poles far more cost effective than traditional standard galvanised steel poles.

It is envisaged that multi-function poles in the Penrith City Centre in the future will also support a broad range of other assets such as:

???? Banners (changed from ground level)

???? Security cameras

???? Pedestrian area lighting

???? Bike racks

???? General power outlets for street events

???? Solar panels

???? Parking meters

The proposed poles are made from marine grade aluminium with a clear anodised finish.? The poles have a manufacturing carbon footprint one third of that of a similar steel pole and an estimated life span of 50 or more years.? The aluminium is easy to clean and the clear anodised finish means that scratches exposing the sub-surface are less noticeable. Corrosion is negligible resulting in a durability of more than 3 times that of galvanised steel.

Next Steps

The purpose of this report is to seek Council?s endorsement to proceed with the process towards adopting the Draft Manual as a policy of Council.? The proposed next steps of this process area as follows:

???? Resolution of Council to exhibit the draft PDTM for public comment including advice to the Access Committee,

???? Amend draft PDTM in response to public submissions,

???? Report amended draft PDTM to Council seeking a resolution for its adoption as policy.

Conclusion

The adoption of the Penrith Public Domain Technical Manual as policy by Council will set the standard of design, materials and finish for future street upgrades and maintenance in the Penrith City Centre.? Adherence to a specific palette of materials and finishes will produce a high quality urban character commensurate with Penrith?s status of a regional city. This will form the backdrop for the interaction of people attending to daily activities.

The manual specifies two significant design elements that create a sustainable canvas upon which all other elements are placed.? The paving, both granite and concrete, will form a strong element that people associate with a well maintained and prosperous City Centre environment.? The lighting poles will form a strong vertical element that expresses confidence, safety and progress.?

Although there are challenges with adopting a higher standard of treatment for the city?s public domain, the proposed changes support Council?s sustainability goals and provide long term public benefits.

RECOMMENDATION

That:

1.???? The information contained in the report on Draft Penrith City Centre Public Domain Technical Manual be received.

2.???? The Draft Penrith City Centre Public Domain Technical Manual be placed on public exhibition for 21 days.

3.???? The members of the Access Committee be notified of the exhibition period.

ATTACHMENTS/APPENDICES

1. View

Draft Penrith Public Domain Technical Manual

73 Pages

Attachment

Policy Review Committee Meeting ????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????? 10 March 2014

Theme Park Opportunities in Penrith???

Compiled by:?????????????? Mark Broderick, Planning Projects Coordinator

Paul Page, City Marketing Supervisor

Authorised by:??????????? Paul Grimson, Strategic Planning Manager ?

Requested By:???????????? Councillor Maurice Girotto

Outcome	We are healthy and share strong community spirit
Strategy	Provide opportunities for our community to be healthy and active
Service Activity	Advocate for sport and recreation venues and services for the City

???????

Executive Summary

This report responds to a request by Councillor Girotto to consider the feasibility of a theme park to be located in the Penrith LGA for employment and tourism.?

The report outlines Council?s role in providing sport and recreation activities and facilities, Council?s adopted recreation strategies over the longer term, and current facilities and developments across the City, focusing on Penrith Lakes.?

The report concludes that the significant resources required for Council to investigate the viability of establishing a theme park would be better directed at delivering the planned recreational facilities to serve a wide range of needs across the City, encouraging commercial providers and operators to locate within the City and assisting the private sector to identify suitable sites for a theme park as the opportunity arises.

Background???????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????

Theme parks are major tourist attractions which have a significant impact on the brand image of the tourist destination in which they are located.? They are major employers, especially of young people. They bring important social and economic benefits to their local community.?

There is no doubt that it would be highly beneficial for Penrith for a quality theme park to be established in our City.? As with any major development, there are also challenges which would need to be considered as part of the overall development assessment of any theme park development application.

Theme parks are developed by the private sector and it is appropriate that the private sector take the risk on such developments.? Council?s role is to provide site suggestions and supporting information in order to encourage interested developers to develop new facilities in our City.? Council?s Corporate Communications and Marketing and Planning Departments do this on an ongoing basis while attracting investment is an important role of the Penrith Business Alliance.?

Theme parks also offer recreational benefits to local residents.? In 2002 Council undertook a study to evaluate Penrith?s recreational, cultural and other urban services and facilities and develop a strategy to meet the local community?s needs and aspirations into the future.?

The study found that the Penrith LGA has a large range of open space, recreation and cultural facilities for use by residents and visitors.? In 2004 Council adopted a Recreational and Cultural Strategy which identified strategies for better use of existing facilities as well as identifying additional recreational and cultural facilities to serve future needs for Penrith?s communities.? While ?theme parks? were not specifically identified in the study, the adopted strategy did identify Penrith Lakes as the focus for regionally based recreation activities themed around water.?

Current and Planned Facilities

Penrith already has an attractive range of outdoor and adventure activities for visitors including Penrith Whitewater Stadium, Cables Wake Park, Jet Pack Adventures at the Sydney International Regatta Centre and, soon to open, iFly, Australia?s first indoor skydiving centre.? These attractions are not only unique in Sydney, but across Australia and the world.? These experiences, packaged with major events such as the Sydney International Rowing Regatta, Defqon.1, Caravan and Camping Show and Penrith Working Truck Show, make Penrith a great place to visit.

In a few years, when Penrith Lakes is complete and fully handed over to the NSW Government, this precinct will offer unparalleled opportunities to develop further tourist attractions based around aquatic recreation.?

Conclusion

Penrith City has a diverse range of recreation facilities offering opportunities for all sectors of the community.? While a single large theme park has not been anticipated in Penrith?s recreation planning to date, specific themed facilities such as water based activities have been planned for and promoted.? Council does not have the expertise, capacity or funding to undertake a comprehensive feasibility study for a specific theme park and, given that such a facility would most likely be funded and managed as a commercial venture, it would be questionable whether there is value for money in Council entering into a complex investigation.?

It is considered that the significant resources required for Council to investigate the viability of establishing a theme park would be better directed at delivering the planned recreational facilities to serve a wide range of needs across the City, promoting Penrith to major theme park companies or consortia and assisting the private sector to identify suitable sites for a theme park/s should the opportunity arise.

RECOMMENDATION

That the information contained in the report on Theme Park Opportunities in Penrith be received.

ATTACHMENTS/APPENDICES

There are no attachments for this report. ?