late reports for the ordinary council meeting · an overview of the matters presented at the...

Late Reports for the Ordinary Council Meeting

Date: 29 June 2016

Location: Bellingen Shire Council Chambers

Time: 9.00am

COUNCIL ADVISES THAT ALL OR PART OF THE MEETING MAY BE AUDIO RECORDED BY COUNCIL

LATE REPORTS

ORDINARY COUNCIL 29/06/2016

LATE REPORTS

8 PLACES FOR PEOPLE ........................................................................................ 3

8.1 URUNGA SPORTS STADIUM ................................................................................. 3

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8 PLACES FOR PEOPLE

Item: 8.1

Subject: URUNGA SPORTS STADIUM

File/Index: Grants and Subsidies: Programs GA39/Sport & Recreation Facility Grants/

Presented by: Liz Jeremy, General Manager

ALIGNMENT WITH DELIVERY PROGRAM (PP) PLACES FOR PEOPLE (PP.4) We have the facilities and services needed to be a healthy and active community. (PP.4.3) There is active participation in a range of sporting and recreational pursuits. (PP.4.3.0) There is active participation in a range of sporting and recreational pursuits - Other Activities.

RECOMMENDATION 1. That Council receive and note this report 2. That Council acknowledge the work undertaken to date by the Bellinger Valley Braves

Sports Stadium Committee in relation to the proposed Indoor Multipurpose Sports Stadium for Urunga and thank them for their contribution

3. That Council note the community engagement undertaken to date in relation to the proposed Indoor Multipurpose Sports Stadium for Urunga and user group representatives be thanked for their contribution

4. That Council consider the information presented at a Workshop held in October 2015, as outlined in Attachment one to this report in order to determine whether it wishes to proceed with a whole of life feasibility study regarding the proposed Indoor Multipurpose Sports Stadium for Urunga, inclusive of options regarding siting ownership and operation, in the context of information contained within this report regarding the Council’s Community Facilities and Open Space Infrastructure Section 94 Developer Contribution Plan 2014.

5. That should Council resolve to proceed with the whole of life feasiblity study a further report be brought forward in the first instance regarding the scope of works and to address any future budget allocation.

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The purpose of this report is to formalise for Council’s consideration activities that have been undertaken in relation to a Notice of Motion regarding the proposed Indoor Multipurpose Sports Stadium for Urunga by Cr Carter in July 2015. This report outlines key issues considered by Council at a Workshop in October 2015 and two meetings held with interested parties in the first half of 2016. It also appraises Council

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with feedback from user groups in relation to the matter and sets out options for Council’s consideration in terms of moving forward. REPORT DETAIL Background On 22 July 2015 Council considered a Notice of Motion by Cr Gary Carter in relation to a proposed Indoor Multipurpose Sports Stadium for Urunga and resolved as follows: 06.005/15 (Cr Scott/Cr Klipin) That Council defer a decision on item 6.2 until a workshop is held to discuss in detail the Notice of Motion and explore a way forward following the workshop. Councillor Workshop On 14 October 2015 Councillors participated in a workshop in the matter. The purpose of the workshop was to respond to Council’s July 2015 resolution and to provide background and options for moving forward to Councillors following the Notice of Motion considered at the July 2015 Council meeting. An overview of the matters presented at the Workshop is provided at Attachment one to this report. In summary two key options and considerations were presented at the Workshop. The options presented were as follows:

1 Council determines if it wishes to consider the addition of the proposed asset

to Council’s portfolio

2 Council determines it does not wish to consider adding this proposed new

asset to its portfolio. (Note this option canvassed an alternative course of

action, as follows - Council could as Trust Manager, provided DA issues can

be met, and subject to approval from NSW Crown Lands, support a long term

lease for construction and operation of such a facility to private enterprise,

wherein Council would not own the asset but would manage a lease and

remain trustee of the land.)

The information presented was contextualized against the background information, challenges around land ownership, reserve planning requirements, potential challenges associated with the Development Assessment process as well as facility ownership and operation. In addition a detailed overview was presented relative to information that has been submitted by the Bellinger Valley Braves Sports Stadium Committee including proposed operational arrangements and a Business Plan. Commentary was also provided in the context of the importance of an independent and objective assessment of the proposal if Council is to consent to inclusion of the facility in its asset portfolio. This commentary had regard to the implications for the operation of the reserve and within that user groups, and more broadly the community in general. It also had regard for Council’s risk profile and implications in terms of its Long Term Financial Plan and Financial sustainability.

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At the conclusion of the Workshop Councillors decided that in the first instance it would be opportune to meet with the Urunga Reserve Recreation Committee which includes representatives of key user groups in order to hear and understand the views and perspective of the community with respect to the proposed Indoor Multipurpose Stadium. Community Meetings A meeting was convened with the Urunga Recreation Reserve Management Committee on 10 February 2016. In attendance were Councillors, senior staff, and representatives of the Urunga Recreation Reserve and reserve user groups including Little Athletics, Basketball, Hockey, Cricket, and Football. Detailed discussion occurred around the proposed facility, the identification of an option for an indoor stadium in Council’s Open Space and Community facilities study, the allocation of funding in Council’s Community Facilities and Open Space Infrastructure Section 94 Developer Contribution Plan 2014, issues relative to the land ownership and Development approval requirements as well as facility siting, and the potential implications for council. Perspective was provided around the issues that Council must consider including the need for an objective assessment if the proposal is to proceed and then revert to council ownership, as well as the broader implications for Council in terms of financial sustainability. User group representatives expressed their perspectives, which were varied. As part of the discussion a number of questions were contemplated (and subsequently agreed) by those present around in principle support for a stadium in Urunga, the need for consensus, commitment to further and ongoing dialog and commitment to the process of understanding the legislative and other requirements relative to the proposed facility without a prescribed outcome. As a consequence a further community meeting was arranged which occurred on 31 March 2016. This meeting was facilitated by Cr Klipin. In attendance were Councillors, senior staff and representatives of the Urunga Recreation Reserve and reserve user groups including Little Athletics, Basketball, Hockey, Cricket, and Football. Cr Klipin outlined the process and provided an introduction around the backstory to the proposal, as well as indicating that the workshop(s) being undertaken were a key step in Council’s contemplation of the matter in terms of a way forward. Detailed discussion was held around:

site history and the complexity of land ownership (including multiple reserves,

asset ownership, potential heritage issues, environmental considerations , the

responsibility of various Trusts established by the Crown, potential native title

issues etc)

the requirements of the Crown in terms of the proposal

potential challenges with the development assessment process including siting,

noise, vegetation clearing etc

funding that has been allocated within Council’s Community Facilities and Open

Space Infrastructure Section 94 Developer Contribution Plan 2014 toward the

Urunga Multipurpose Indoor Sports Stadium and the Urunga tidal swimming facility

the obligations on Council regarding such a proposal in terms of allocation of

funding and the need to ensure rigor around land ownership issues as well as

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affiliated issues such as projected facility usage, business planning, development

assessment etc

Longer term implications for council in terms of asset ownership and overall

financial sustainability

The importance of user group advice to council in order that an informed decision

could be made as to the way forward.

Analysis and options for moving forward The Bellinger Valley Braves Sports Stadium Committee have undertaken extensive work toward the establishment of an Indoor Multipurpose Sports Stadium for Urunga over many years. Extensive detail regarding this was provided with Cr Carter’s Notice of Motion to the July 2015 Council meeting and in summary included scoping the proposal, development of documentation relative to a Development Application including studies and a high level business plan. The options presented at the October 2015 Councillor Workshop set out considerations for council in terms of development assessment and ongoing operation maintenance and ownership. These considerations are summarised at Attachment one to this report. The community meetings held as a result of the Councillor Workshop have involved stakeholder engagement and resulted in key user groups corresponding with Council and formalising their position by way of correspondence which at a high level indicates support to the proposal in principal from the perspective of community and economic benefit as well as support toward the completion of a feasibility study funded from the Section 94 allocation. In so saying it should be noted that Urunga Touch Football also suggested that consideration should be given to a possible venue site within the Raleigh Industrial Estate.

If Council wishes to contemplate the proposal further it is appropriate that an objective assessment of the proposal be carried out by way of a whole of life feasibility study. The feasibility study would address a range of issues including (but not limited to) options for siting, a preliminary environmental assessment and constraints analysis, design parameters of the preferred option, costing estimates, financial feasibility and land use planning requirements, as set out by NSW Crown Lands.

In this context it is important to note that Council’s Community Facilities and Open Space Infrastructure Section 94 Developer Contribution Plan 2014 provided the mechanism to spend the following amounts of historic contributions received by Council on the following projects in Urunga:

1. Urunga Multi -Purpose Stadium (Stage 1) $300,000

2. Urunga Tidal Swimming Facility( Stage 1-Investigations) $25,000

A feasability study has been carried out in relation to the Urunga Tidal Swimming Facility utilising the Section 94 funds set aside for the purpose. Council has also sought grant funding to enable the project to proceed. Unfortunately grant funds have not been able to be secured to date. Funds relative to the Proposed Indoor Multipurpose Sports Stadium for Urunga have not been expended.

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A preliminary estimate has been obtained regarding the preparation of a feasibility study which indicates the costs would be in the order of $70 000. If Council is of the view to support the development of a whole of life feasibility study in order to come to a fully informed view about the proposal and associated options including siting and/ or ownership and address the considerations outlined at the Councillor workshop in October 2015, the study could be funded from the current Section 94 allocation. If Council is of the view not to support the feasibility study from Section 94 funds, and/or wishes to re-allocate the funding that was previously adopted for projects in the Community Facilities Section 94 Plan, it would be necessary to formally amend the Plan. This would involve the following steps:

1. Report to council in the matter in relation to the preparation of a new Community

Facilities Section 94 Plan that would incorporate the revised allocations

2. Consideration of the report by council and resolution to place the amended plan on

public exhibition. Following the public exhibition of the draft Plan the matter would

be reported back to Council to consider any submissions that were made. Council

would then need to determine whether to proceed, amend, or not proceed with the

new Plan.

3. If the new Plan was adopted by Council, notice must be given by publishing in a

newspaper within 28 days. A copy of the new Plan needs to be provided to the

Minister and the previous Plan would be repealed upon commencement of the

new one.

BUDGET IMPLICATIONS Any decision to proceed with development of a major facility should be fully informed by the issues raised in the Councillor workshop, as outlined at Attachment one to this report. Should Council resolve to prepare a feasibility study, the cost can be met from Council’s Community Facilities and Open Space Infrastructure Section 94 Developer Contribution Plan 2014. SUSTAINABILITY ASSESSMENT The development of an Indoor Multipurpose Sports Stadium at Urunga would have a range of environmental social economic financial and budgetary implications for council and the community. If Council resolves to proceed with the whole of life feasibility study contemplated within this report, a sustainability assessment would be included in the process. ENGAGEMENT The Bellingen Shire Council Community Engagement Strategy was adopted by Council at its Meeting 22 February 2012. This strategy is designed to outline the approach Bellingen Shire takes towards engaging with our community. Having regards to the Community Engagement Strategy it is considered that the actions/initiatives contained within this report are appropriately categorised as having a LEVEL 3 impact. To address the requirements of Council’s Community Engagement Strategy and the NSW Local Government Act 1993, Council carried out the following actions:

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Detailed engagement has been undertaken in relation to the current status of the proposal for an Indoor Multipurpose Sports Stadium for Urunga including liaison with other state government departments, a Councillor Workshop in October 2015 and community meetings with the Reserve management Committee and user groups in February and March 2016.

ATTACHMENTS 8.1.A Summary of issues presented to Council at a Workshop held in October 2015 8.1.B BASKETBALL - SECTION 94 8.1.C CRICKET - SECTION 94 8.1.D HOCKEY - SECTION 94 8.1.E LITTLE ATHLETICS - SECTION 94 8.1.F SOCCER - SECTION 94 8.1.G TOUCH FOOTBALL - SECTION 94

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