Meeting Date
2nd April 2008
Meeting Opened at 7:00PM
No of Members Present     21 Names are recorded in the attendance book.
Apologies     6 Names recorded in the attendance book
Neighbourhood Watch
Police Report No report.
Guest Speakers Councillor Garry Kearny - addressee the meeting speaking on the proposed footpath from Scott Street through past the Community Centre. Garry said Council would consider the construction of the footpath from 2007/8 savings from other works within Council, however this was not assured and if possible proceeds of the sale of land at 50 Shoalhaven Heads road would also be considered. Garry spoke of the works being done on roads within the area eg Bolong Road and Coolangatta road. He then spoke about how Council deals with the growth of the Shoalhaven and reminded residents that growth was necessary to ensure commercial services and shops could be sustained.

Councillor Gareth Ward moved a vote of thanks to Councillor Kearny and then addressed the forum speaking of:
" Train travel and the need for safety - he noted that more concessions are available for residents on the Gosford line
" A Tree Management plan
" Ducks at the Swimming pool - has asked John Wells to address this
" Cultural center - running around one month behind schedule but confident it will be a good facility - will seat 933 in main set up and 200 in the mini theater - should open around 14 June 2008.

Questions were asked as to why Council was giving a discount to the Hotel developer - Councillors Ward and Kearny addressed this by saying the Hotel was necessary for the overall successful operation of the Cultural center. However if there is development on the River Haven site perhaps a hotel is not needed on the Council site. The River Have site was not proposed to be developed when Council went ahead to get a hotel built on the Council site.
Councillor Ward then reminded residents that the Local Government elections will take place on 13 September.

Minutes of Previous Meeting of 5/3/08
Read and confirmed Moved.
Seconded. (Minutes were not available for March and will be confirmed at May Meeting along with April minutes)
Business Arising Nil
Inward Correspondence No Date From Summary
1. 3/3/08 S.C.C. Re - Alcohol Exclusion Zones advising that the omission of Curtis Reserve & Memorial Park is being reviewed.
2. 9/3/08 SHSLSC Letter of appreciation from S'Heads Surf Life saving Club for donation.
3. 10/3/08 S.C.C. Advice on amendments to DCP 57 - Dual Occupancy Guidelines.
4. 10/3/08 Gareth Ward Asking for Forum's views on how Local Govt. can be reformed. LG discussion paper attached.
5. 12/3/08 S.C.C. Notice of Meetings Committees.
6. 18/3/08 S.C.C. Business Papers Committee Meetings & Extra Ordinary Meeting concerning sale of Bridge Street hotel site.
7. 18/3/08 S.C.C. Minutes of February Council Meeting.
8. 17/3/08 S.C.C. Advising that the Draft Road Strategy Plan 2007 - 2012 is now on public exhibition.
9. 20/3/08 S.C.C. Minutes of Extra Ordinary Meeting 11th March. (See article in S.C. Register Wed. 26th March)
10. 20/3/08 S.C.C. Business Paper Council Meeting 25th March.
11 17/3/08 S.C.C. Draft Road Safety Strategic Plan (70 pages) available on the Council Website.
Hard copy available if requested.

Moved: Lorraine Montgomery Seconded Trevor Aspin that incoming correspondence be accepted. Carried unanimously

Outward Correspondence
1. Nil

Treasurer's Report
The treasurer presented the report
Opening Balance - $1,920.62
Incoming $59.00
Outgoing $219.03
Statement balance $2,306.62 (Cash $173.00 unpresented cheques $719.03) $1760.59

Moved: Robyn Flack Seconded: Lorraine Montgomery that the report be accepted and expenses paid. Carried unanimously

Report of the Shoalhaven Heads Chamber of Commerce and Tourism -
Apology from Anne-Louise O'Connor - no present at meeting.

Report by Forum President Philip Armstrong
Philip confirmed that a wreath would be laid at the Anzac Day ceremony at the Memorial Park. There have been a number of contacts with Council to follow up on maintenance and future works.

. Report of Shoalhaven Heads Community Forum - Roger Tilley
Roger was an apology - Robyn Flack read the following notes from Roger to the meeting.
Items of interest arising from the Council Meeting 26th February.

Proposal for Shoalhaven City Council Newspaper.
Councillor Gareth Ward proposed that Council defer consideration of a proposal by The Mail pending further report following discussions with the South Coast Register and a potential proposal received.
This proposal was defeated in Council.

Why does the Council require its own newspaper? At what cost to the Ratepayer?

ANZAC Day Marches - 2008 Temporary Road Closures.
RESOLVED on a MOTION of Clr Ward, seconded by Clr Kerr, that permission be granted to all RSL Sub-branches located within the City of Shoalhaven for the holding of their annual ANZAC Day marches on Friday 25th April 2008 subject to conditions as set out in Council Minutes.

Shoalhaven Heads Land Survey - Results.
A notice of motion was given that the item be referred to the Council Property Steering Committee.
Subsequently -
a) The Committee recommended that Council NOT proceed with the sale of Council property in Shoalhaven Heads except for 50 Shoalhaven Heads Road.
b) Council thank Shoalhaven heads Community Forum for its involvement and valued contribution in community consultation with regards to the recent survey.
c) The proceeds of the sale of 50 Shoalhaven heads Road be spent in Shoalhaven Heads on necessary infrastructure.

Linked with this is an item of business - Footpath, Shoalhaven Heads with a recommendation that funds for a footpath linking Shoalhaven Heads Community Centre with Scott Street be funded by savings in the 2007
Footpath Program.
A Notice of Motion was also made By Clr. Ward about our concerns over the years about the lack of easy access from Scott Street to the shops.

Surely if funds cannot be found from the Footpath Program the proceeds from the sale of 50 Shoalhaven Heads Road should ensure that this project can be carried out without delay. Subject to the Minutes of the Council Meeting 25th March being released the outcome is not known and the Notice of Motion will not be dealt with until the April Meeting.

Mobi Mats.
With regard to "Mobi Mats" I am NOT satisfied that the Mobi Mat installed at the Surf Club has any advantages for disabled persons as the sand on either side of the mat becomes eroded leaving a narrow ridge where the mat stabilises the sand. The mats are simply TOO narrow! The mat at the Surf Club is not long enough to afford access to the firmer sand off the dune. As Council is intending to adopt the mats throughout the Shoalhaven I feel that a letter needs to be written raising these concerns. Holiday Haven Managers are now able to permit pets in the Parks at their discretion during off peak periods. Now awaiting confirmation of the minutes of the Council Meeting 25th March.

Council Land "Hotel Site" Bridge Road. Monday 3rd March.
a) Council has agreed to sell 9,517 m2 at an increased discounted price of $990,000 to Huscorp subject to Huscorp's agreement that in the event of no hotel being constructed and Council not enforcing the buyback options, then full market valuations (agreed by the parties at the time) would be payable.

b) Council agree in principle to the use of the internal roads on the Council Administrative Centre site to service the whole of the Huscorp development subject to further detailed assessment during the DA assessment period and a further report to determine the legal mechanism for the access.

I would like Councillor Gareth Ward to explain why Council has apparently dealt more than favourably with Huscorp!

Bushcare Report:
River Rd group is having recent plantings vandalised. These natives are necessary to stabilise the riverbank and council and volunteers are sympathetic to present views and outlooks from neighbouring properties when re-planting. A planting morning is arranged for Wed 30th April. Contact Lynne Gilchrist for details 44487903.
Shoalhaven Heads group have been checking leonotis and turkey rhubarb re-growth near the viewing platform, and will check the school for asparagus fern on Tues 15th & 22nd April at 8:00am. Contact Ruth Cave 44447143.
The Golfers group are checking for re-growth and clearing lantana and turkey rhubarb on Wed 1st, 15th & 29th April. Contact Noel Schneider 44487680.
Coolangatta Mountain group will meet at the end of Roxborough Rd on Sat 5th and Sun 20th April at 1:00pm. Contact Mike Cunningham 0418297436.
Council is providing training in GPS mapping to help us co-ordinate our bushcare efforts in the Northern Shoalhaven.

Noel Schneider
S/heads Golfers Bushcare Co-ordinator

Shoalhaven Heads Community Centre report
Trevor Aspin advised that the broken glass was fixed and then broken again - although this has not been a common occurrence. Trevor encouraged residents to use the Community Centre for gatherings.

General Business
1 Greg Montgomery is continuing to work with the Mens Shed to research the Myna Bird traps. The birds are proving very intelligent and difficult to trap.
2 Moved R Flack seconded Ruth Cave that we write to Council regarding the Mobi Mats which are to facilitate access for people over the sand to the beach. The mat at the main beach has proved effective however it requires maintenance of the edges and the run off from the shower is draining over the mat. Carried unanimously.
3 Mike James addressed the meeting and confirmed that the Nowra District Bendigo Bank would open as sufficient pledges were received. The bank will open in 6-8 weeks. The milestone of pledges of $800k was achieved but can be taken up to $1million. Mike thanked the residents of Shoalhaven Heads who pledged funds and said he would be working hard to get some representation - eg an ATM in the Heads.
4 The raffle was won by Gerry Van Tussenbroek
5 Meeting Closed at 08:25 pm Next Meeting 07 May 2008

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