Run-O-Waters, waste management top priorites for funding application

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Councillors at Goulburn Mulwaree Council went into committee to discuss further applications to the Bushfire Local Economic Recovery Fund for upgrades to the waste management centres and amenities in the local villages.

Councillor Peter Walker moved a resolution to go into committee, it was seconded by councillor Margaret O'Neill.

In committee, Cr Peter Walker said he had some issues regarding the structure of the way the business paper read in terms of bushfire application priorities.

"I understand that the waste management at both Goulburn and Marulan need to be looked at but I really think we need to prioritise a second access and exit at Run-O-Waters is one of the most important things we can address at this point in time," he said.

"I will be moving an amendment to say that the monies of $950,000 be prioritised to the Run-O-Waters bushfire and safety construction.

"I also have, as a discussion, a little issue with the amounts being sent out to the rural areas. I know there's another grant coming that will go across more internal Goulburn issues but I just question the Tarago landscape and amenities upgrade of $200,000 knowing full well that they are also the beneficiaries of a fairly sizable grant from Veolia, which they deserve to have but there's only so much money that can be spent in a small community.

"I'm just interested in other councillors response to whether we could look at taking the $200,000 out of Tarago because they have their money coming from Veolia and if that's the case, I would like to put out there that the $200,000 gets spent at the Rec Reserve to put powered sites. If everything turns to muck this summers, we could house people there."

Councillor O'Neill said she had an issue that the funding was focused on the rural area and very little was based in the urban areas.

"When the bushfires were on, we housed people [at the Recreation area], we did everything in the Veolia and Grace Wilson areas.

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"I look at $600,000 to do a sporting field [at Marulan] and I look at kids who play sports in Goulburn and North Park. There's nothing there for North Park.

"All of this is in the rural area and the fire was in the rural areas but the city was supporting these people at the time. I think in fairness we need to think of the urban areas."

Cr O'Neill recommended $200,000 for the soccer fields, the removal of funds from Tarago and asked general manager Warwick Bennett if there was a time limit for the money to be spent.

Mr Bennett said the money was to be spent by June 2022 but there was another federal grant to the tune of $1.5 million that could allow for further requests for funding. He also confirmed that the criteria hadn't been released.

While councillors were in committee, they amended the list of priorities for funding which included:

Councillors entered open council with the amended list of priorities to apply for the Bushfire Local Economic Recovery Grant.

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A motion to support the amended recommendation was put forward by Cr Peter Walker and Cr Carol James.

Councillor Leah Ferrara spoke against the motion as it stood.

"I'm happy with the items we've put forward but that being said, I would put item number four [North Park] at number six instead if it was lost but I will speak against this motion as it stands, in the order," she said.

Councillor Alfie Walker also spoke against the motion.

"I also agree with the idea of pushing four down to six as opposed to allocating $600,000 to the North Park management plan just inline with the view that we need to place priority with the places affected by the bushfires directly," he said.

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"I agree definitely around the application for a second access for Run-O-Waters for bushfire safety reasons, I think it's definitely a priority.

"But I disagree with point four places as a priority for $600,000 and move it down lower, below those of the rural areas."

Councillors Margaret O'Neill, Peter Walker, Sam Rowland, and Carol James for the motion.

Councillors Leah Ferrara, Alfie Walker, Andrew Banfield and Mayor Bob Kirk voted against the motion.

The vote was tied and Cr Kirk used his casting voting against the motion. The motion was lost.

An alternate motion by Cr Alfie Walker to move point four down to point six was seconded by Leah Ferrera.

Councillors Alfie Walker, Leah Ferrera, Andrew Banfield, Carole James, Sam Rowlan and Bob Kirk voted for the motion.

Councillors Peter Walker and Magaret O'Neill voted against the motion.

The motion was carried.

Below are the listed costs and projects to apply for funding:

The Bushfire Local Economic Recovery Fund is part of the State and Federal Governments funding of which $250 million is available for 48 selected governments.

Goulburn Mulwaree Council is eligible to apply.

Council's potential share could vary due to the prioritisation of bushfire impact and funding would be prioritised to support applications from areas most impacted by fires.

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