The state government childcare centre funding to be rolled out shortly.

The Department of Education has been working with local government representatives to ensure the NSW Government’s $82 million funding package for council-run childcare centres is rolled out and payments made efficiently to best meet the needs of service providers.

NSW was the first State to bridge the funding gap for council-run early childhood services.

This new model of funding and its design and therefore delivery will take time. Clarification from the Commonwealth on aspects of the JobKeeper model and how that would impact council childcare centres was also required before finalising the model.

Payments for the first three-month period will be made as a one-off lump sum in June. Payments will be backdated to April 6. This simple and practical solution was worked through with representatives from local government.

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Clr Saville asked a series of questions about The Concourse.

 ANSWERS

1. All 12 tenancies at The Concourse are tenanted.
2. In the past 12 months only one tenant (Terrazza) has left upon the expiry of their lease. The tenancy has been re-leased.
3. The income for The Concourse has been affected by vacancies; rent free periods associated with incentives for new tenants and more recently the Covid-19 pandemic. The reduction of income compared to the original 2019/2020 estimates is approximately $933k. The $933k is comprised of:

3.1. First quarter adjustment – $587k. This was reported to Council as part of the Quarter 1 budget review at its 11 November 2019 meeting. This amount is a combination of vacancies at that time and rent free period for shop 2. Council was advised of the rent free period for Shop 2 at its meeting on 10 February 2020.

3.2. Third quarter adjustment – Covid-19 rental waivers – $258k. This was reported to Council at its extraordinary meeting of the 30 March 2020, and forms part of Council’s Business Support Plan.

3.3. Third quarter adjustment – rent free periods for Shops 1 and 2 – $88k. Council was advised of the rent free period for Shop 2 at its meeting of the 10 February 2020. The adjustment will be be incorporated into the third quarterly budget review report for Council’s consideration.

4. The adjustment of The Concourse income was reported to Council in the First Quarterly

Budget Review report tabled at the Council meeting held on 11 November 2019. The

extraordinary Council meeting on 30 March 2020 also foreshadowed estimates of the income loss due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

5. There is currently one tenancy at The Concourse in arrears that Council is pursuing under legal means.

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Casual staff: Clr. Coppock asked a question about the impact of COVID-19 on Council’s casual staff workforce.

The answer provided was:

1. Casual staff at closed sites were provided with a letter setting out that due to the closure of their site or service, as a result of Government directed closures, Willoughby Council was unable to provide any shifts at the current time and that when this changed we hoped they would re-join Willoughby. A two week special payment based on average shifts was also provided to them at the discretion of the CEO. The letter extended access to Council’s Employee Assistance Program and provided links to financial and job support packages.

Council is not an eligible employer for JobKeeper subsidies.

2. No staff have been terminated due to COVID-19. 156 casual staff were issued with a no shifts letter.

3. The following is the list of location and number of casuals provided no shift letters

• Willoughby Leisure Centre 86
• Library 27
• Dougherty Centre 12
• Media, Marketing and Events 11
• Willoughby Park Centre 7
• Youth Services 7
• Environment/Open Space 4
• Zenith Theatre 2

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Extend Chatswood Mall to Archer St: Clr. Wright has moved the following motion –

 That Council receive a report from officers for the July Council meeting of a strategy, including budget impacts, by which Council could look at extending the Chatswood Mall from Anderson St to Archer St.

 Officer’s comments: Extending the pedestrian Mall in Victoria Avenue between Anderson and Archer Streets requires consideration of a number of factors. These include the impacts of the proposed Mall upon traffic flows through the CDB and beyond, including public transport, emergency vehicles and pedestrians; the capacity for the CBD to accommodate further expansion of food premises in the near future and desired urban design outcomes. It is not possible to meet the request within the Notice of Motion by July as the project is more complex than a simple road closure and is unfunded in 2019/20. Officers are also trying to ascertain the impact of government closures on Council’s revenues and 2020/21 budget; the subject of future briefings to Council. Another consideration is that this section of Victoria Avenue is currently being consulted upon in the Draft Integrated Transport Strategy. It would be appropriate to finalise and receive that consultation prior to proceeding with any further concepts or projects.

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Clr. Saville proposed the following motion:

That Willoughby City Council officers bring back a report to council to discuss feasibility of introducing ‘cultural burns’ as part of bushfire management within the LGA. The report should include discussion regarding relevance, risks and potential benefits from introduction of cultural burns to the LGA.

It should also outline funding, training and resources required to implement these practices locally.

Background – ‘Cultural burning’ as distinct from ‘ hazard reduction’ ‘back burning’. Cultural burning: much of this fire was lit by Indigenous Australians who lit small fires as they moved around. This helped them hunt for food, clear pathways and regenerate the bush.

Officer’s comments – Council has been planning and implementing ecological burning practices in conjunction with hazard reduction prescribed burning in bushland reserves for many years. Based on the principle of burning relatively small areas in a mosaic pattern and carefully considering and optimizing vegetation and landform, this work shares many of the principles of ‘cultural burning’. Council’s work conforms to the Regional Bush Fire Management Plan and is co-ordinated by Fire and Rescue NSW.

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Little atheletics

Rotary athletics field: Drat master plan for public exhibition.

Chatswood Rotary Memorial Athletic Field opened in 1967 with contributions from the Rotary Club of Chatswood. The site is geographically constrained by Mowbray Road (south), Epping Road bridge (west), the Mowbray Park bushland (east) and the Lane Cover River (north). The site does not have a current Master Plan.

The key features of the draft Master Plan are:

• Retention of the grass athletic track and throwing facilities
• A new long jump / triple jump / pole vault facility
• A new all-weather rubber surface six lane 110m straight track
• New fixed outdoor exercise equipment
• Improved access into and through the park by new footpaths
• Upgraded picnic area
• Replacement of the three buildings into a single structure

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Council recently updated its tennis courts strategy. You can view the full report in Council’s agenda papers for the meeting of 11 May 2020.

Council owned courts are located at:

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Council’s draft affordable housing policy is to proceed to public exhibition for comment.

There is a detailed report in the Council agenda papers for the meeting of 11 May 2020.

Access Council meeting papers

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This policy is to proceed to exhibition.

The policy includes:

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The aim of this scheme is to minimise the impact of tree loss on private land, a replacement and offset planting program was proposed as part of the Vegetation Management Policy and Vegetation Management Guidelines.

A replacement tree ratio of 3:1 is required to assist in the reinstatement of the City’s tree canopy. This program will help balance the need for reasonable development and landowners’ expectations against the loss of amenity and gradual loss of tree canopy cover throughout the Willoughby Local Government Area.

The offset planting requirements will apply when there is insufficient space to accommodate replacement trees on private property and will require the applicant to enter into a Deed of Agreement with Council for the planting of replacement trees on public land.

Officer’s proposed that Council: Approve the offset fees for the Tree Offset Planting Scheme as originally exhibited at $2,000 per tree, with a concession fee of $400 to eligible applicants.

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To become or renew as a member of CWWPA before March 30, direct deposit $10* with your name in the reference field to BSB: 032090 Acct: 548083 & complete our Membership Application.  *Non-refundable subject to meeting membership criteria.