|
Ordinary Council Meeting
Tuesday 20 January 2026
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ordinary Council Meeting
Tuesday 20 January 2026
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ordinary Council Meeting Minutes 20 January 2026 |
Minutes of the Ordinary Council Meeting
Held on Tuesday, 20 January 2026 at the
Parkes Council Chamber, 2 Cecile Street, Parkes
Present:
Cr Neil Westcott Councillor (Chairperson)
Cr Marg Applebee Councillor (Deputy Chair)
Cr William Jayet Councillor
Cr Ken McGrath Councillor
Cr Louise O'Leary Councillor
Cr Joy Paddison Councillor
Cr Doug Pout Councillor
Cr George Pratt Councillor
Cr Matthew Scherer Councillor
Cr Glenn Wilson Councillor
Council Officers in Attendance:
Mr Kent Boyd PSM General Manager
Mr Bikash Paudel Acting Director Infrastructure and Sustainability
Mrs Sharon Ross Acting Director Operations
Mrs Annalise Teale Director Planning and Community Services
Mr Jaco Barnard Chief Financial Officer
Mrs Veronica Shaw Manager Governance, Risk and Corporate Performance
Mrs Toni Lennane Executive and Councillor Support Coordinator (Minute Secretary)
NOTES
The meeting commenced at 3:01 pm and concluded at 4:48 pm.
|
Ordinary Council Meeting Minutes 20 January 2026 |
Order Of Business
4 Apologies and Applications for a Leave of Absence
5 Applications to Attend by Audio-Visual Link
6.1 Minutes of the Ordinary Council Meeting held on 16 December 2025
9 ADOPTION OF MULTIPLE ITEMS OF BUSINESS
9.1 Adoption of Multiple Items of Business
10.1 Parkes Elvis Festival 2026
10.2 Meetings, Functions and Events Attended by Mayor and Councillors
10.3 Coming Known Events for Mayor and Councillors.
11 Notices of Motion/Questions with Notice
14 Reports of the General Manager
14.1 Monthly Financial Reports as at 31 December 2025
14.2 Investments and Borrowings Report as at 31 December 2025
15 Reports of the Director Customer, Corporate Services and Economy
15.1 Major Projects and Current Works - Customer, Corporate Services & Economy - December 2025
15.3 Purple Flag and Special Entertainment Precint Accreditation
16 Reports of the Director Infrastructure and Sustainability
16.1 Major Projects and Current Works - Infrastructure & Sustainability - December 2025
17 Reports of the Director Operations
17.1 Major Projects and Current Works - Operations - December 2025
17.2 WaIving of Landing Fees for RA Aus Event at Parkes Regional Airport 27-29 March 2026
17.3 Fire Response Restoration (Kadina Road, Alectown) - Community Request
17.4 Part Road Closure and Sale to Adjoining Owner - Lister Lane, Bogan Gate
18 Reports of the Director Planning and Community Services
18.1 (DCPS) Quarterly Rangers Report October to December 2025
18.2 December 2025 Building Statistics Update
19.1 Purchase of Ground Water Access Licence
19.2 Regional Resilience Program (RRP) - Scope changes & Approval of Additional Funding
19.3 Doctor Retention and Attraction
20 Report of Confidential Resolutions
|
Ordinary Council Meeting Minutes 20 January 2026 |
1 Opening of Meeting
The Mayor declared the Ordinary Council Meeting of Tuesday 20 January 2026 open and welcomed Councillors, Council Officers and members of the public attending and listening to the meeting.
The Mayor advised attendees that the meeting was being recorded and streamed live on the internet, to enhance the accessibility of Council meetings to the broader Parkes Shire community, and that the recording will be archived and made available on Council’s website.
The Mayor asked that attendees ensure that mobile phones and other electronic devices were turned off or in silent mode for the duration of the meeting.
The Mayor further advised that all care would be taken to maintain privacy, however, as a visitor in the public gallery, members of the public should be aware that their presence may be recorded.
The Mayor read the following Acknowledgement of Country:
Parkes Shire Council acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of the Wiradjuri Country and recognises and respects their cultural heritage, beliefs and continuing connection with the lands and rivers of the Parkes Shire.
Council pays its respects to Elders past, present and emerging and extends this respect to all First Nations peoples in the Parkes Shire.
|
The General Manager read the Prayer: |
|
O God, Direct the way of our words and works, In accordance with Thy Will, We Pray through Jesus Christ, Our Lord.
|
|
AMEN |
4 Apologies and Applications for a Leave of Absence
Nil
5 Applications to Attend by Audio-Visual Link
Nil
|
6.1 Minutes of the Ordinary Council Meeting held on 16 December 2025 |
|
Resolved OCM 001/26 Moved: Cr William Jayet Seconded: Cr George Pratt That Ordinary Council Meeting receive and confirm the Minutes of the Ordinary Council Meeting held on Tuesday 16 December 2025 appended at Annexure A. |
The Mayor reminded Councillors and Council Officers of their obligation under Council's Code of Conduct to disclose and manage any conflicts of interest they may have in matters being considered at the meeting, and invited Councillors and Council Officers to disclose any such interests.
General Manager Kent Boyd disclosed a significant non-pecuniary interest in relation to item 17.3 Fire Response Restoration (Kadina Road, Alectown) - Community Request and chose to leave the meeting and therefore not participate in debate and discussion on the matter, nor vote on the matter. The reason provided was:
“The matter relates to restoration after a bushfire. A bushfire occurred on my property. Any precedent set by resolution to Item 17.3 may have implications to the Bindogundra Fire event..”
The Mayor advised that the following late urgent items of business had been submitted by Council Officers, and invited a motion to enable the addition of the late items to the meeting agenda.
Confidential matters:
1. 19.2 - Regional Resilience Program (RRP) – Scope changes & Approval of Additional Funding.
2. 19.3 – Notice of Motion by Cr Doug Pout - Doctor Retention and Attraction
|
Resolved OCM 002/26 Moved: Cr Joy Paddison Seconded: Cr Doug Pout That Council: 1. Accept the urgent Confidential report 19.2 – Regional Resilience Program (RRP) – Scope changes & Approval of Additional Funding on the basis that this Project needs to be commenced as soon as possible but needs Council's approval for the amendment.
2. Accept the urgent Confidential report 19.3 – Notice of Motion by Cr Doug Pout – Doctor Retention and Attraction on the basis that the Term of the Lease is due to expire and the request needs to be dealt with prior to the next Council meeting on 17 February 2025. |
At 3:06 pm Cr Wilson joined the meeting.
9 ADOPTION OF MULTIPLE ITEMS OF BUSINESS
The Council may, at any time, resolve to adopt multiple items of business, as recommended in the report, byway of a single resolution. The Chairperson must list the items of business to be adopted and ask Councillors to identify any individual items of business listed by the Chairperson that they intend to vote against the recommendation made in the Business Paper, or that they wish to speak on (13.2).
|
Resolved OCM 003/26 Moved: Cr George Pratt Seconded: Cr Doug Pout That Council adopt the recommendations as listed in the Agenda for the following items and that the order of business be adjusted accordingly: 10.2 Meetings, Functions and Events Attended by Mayor and Councillors. 15.2 Request to use Peak Hill Town Improvement Funds to purchase a shipping container for storage at Lindner Oval. 17.2 Waiving of Landing Fees for RA Aus Event at Parkes Regional Airport 27-29 March 2026. 18.1 (DCPS) Quarterly Rangers Report October to December 2025. 18.2 December 2025 Building Statistics Update. |
At 3:10 pm Deputy Mayor Marg Applebee joined the meeting.
|
Resolved OCM 004/26 Moved: Cr William Jayet Seconded: Cr Doug Pout That Council: 1. Receive and note the information about the 2026 Parkes Elvis Festival. |
|
10.2 Meetings, Functions and Events Attended by Mayor and Councillors |
|
Resolved OCM 005/26 Moved: Cr George Pratt Seconded: Cr Doug Pout That Council: 1. Note the report on the Meetings functions and events attended in an official capacity, by the Mayor and Councillors during the period 13 December 2025 through to 15 January 2026. |
|
Resolved OCM 006/26 Moved: Cr Marg Applebee Seconded: Cr George Pratt That Council: 1. Note the known upcoming meetings, functions and events for the Mayor and Councillors for the period 18 January 2026 through to 17 February 2026: |
11 Notices of Motion/Questions with Notice
14 Reports of the General Manager
|
Resolved OCM 007/26 Moved: Cr Doug Pout Seconded: Cr Marg Applebee That Council: 1. Receive and note the year-to-date financial reports for the period up to 31 December 2025. |
|
14.2 Investments and Borrowings Report as at 31 December 2025 |
|
Resolved OCM 008/26 Moved: Cr Doug Pout Seconded: Cr William Jayet That Council: 1. Receive and note the Statement of Investments and Borrowings as on 31 December 2025. |
15 Reports of the Director Customer, Corporate Services and Economy
|
15.1 Major Projects and Current Works - Customer, Corporate Services & Economy - December 2025 |
|
Resolved OCM 009/26 Moved: Cr Marg Applebee Seconded: Cr George Pratt That Council: 1. Receive and note the status report of Major Projects within Parkes Shire Council's Customer, Corporate Services and Economy Directorate. |
|
15.2 Request to Use Peak Hill Town Improvement Funds to purchase a shipping container for storage at Lindner Oval. |
|
Resolved OCM 010/26 Moved: Cr George Pratt Seconded: Cr Doug Pout That Council: 1. Approve the allocation of up to $5,000 from the Peak Hill Town Improvement Fund Reserve towards the cost to supply and installation of a storage container at Lindner Oval. |
|
15.3 Purple Flag and Special Entertainment Precint Accreditation |
|
Resolved OCM 011/26 Moved: Cr William Jayet Seconded: Cr Doug Pout That Council: 1. Endorses the establishment of a Special Entertainment Precinct (SEP) within the Parkes CBD, covering the same boundary as the Community Improvement District (CID), focused on Clarinda Street and Cooke Park, bounded by Bogan Road (west), Mitchell Street (north), Jansen Lane (east), and southern streets including Grenfell, Lachlan, May, and Clarinda Streets near the railway station. 2. Commits to establishing a Special Entertainment Precinct Working Group (PWG), comprising core Council staff from Economic Development and Events, overseen by the Director Customer, Corporate Services & Economy, with flexibility to include relevant stakeholders (e.g., hospitality, retail, community representatives) as required. 3. Commits to investigating Purple Flag accreditation for the same boundary as the SEP to embed principles of safety, diversity and excellence in night-time precinct management. 4. Ask Essential Energy to maintain and conduct an audit in town regarding the lighting and a report to come back to Council. |
16 Reports of the Director Infrastructure and Sustainability
|
16.1 Major Projects and Current Works - Infrastructure & Sustainability - December 2025 |
|
Resolved OCM 012/26 Moved: Cr Marg Applebee Seconded: Cr Louise O'Leary That Council: 1. Receive and note the Infrastructure and Sustainability Major Projects and Current Works Report for December 2025, appended at Annexure A. |
17 Reports of the Director Operations
|
17.1 Major Projects and Current Works - Operations - December 2025 |
|
Resolved OCM 013/26 Moved: Cr Doug Pout Seconded: Cr Marg Applebee That Council: 1. Receive and note the Operations Major Projects and Current Works Report for December 2025, appended at Annexure A. |
|
17.2 WaIving of Landing Fees for RA Aus Event at Parkes Regional Airport 27-29 March 2026 |
|
Resolved OCM 014/26 Moved: Cr George Pratt Seconded: Cr Doug Pout That: 1. Council endorse the RA Aus Fly'n For Fun Weekend to be held on 27-29 March 2026 at Parkes Regional Airport subject to provision of appropriate insurances and approvals. 2. Council waive landing fees for all aircraft under 2 tonnes for the duration of the RA Aus Fly'n For Fun weekend of 27-29 March 2026. |
At 3:44 pm, Mayor Neil Westcott and Kent Boyd left the meeting due to a declared interest.
Deputy Mayor Marg Applebee stood in as the Chair while the Mayor was out of the room.
|
17.3 Fire Response Restoration (Kadina Road, Alectown) - Community Request |
|
Resolved OCM 015/26 Moved: Cr William Jayet Seconded: Cr Joy Paddison That: 1. Council note advice from the NSW Rural Fire Service confirming that post-fire remedial (reinstatement works) works are not eligible for funding under Section 44 arrangements and, if undertaken, would need to be considered through Council’s 2025/26 Roads Maintenance budget; and 2. Council determines if the requested reinstatement works be undertaken on an ex-gratia basis, subject to cost and potential precedent. |
At 3:49 pm, Cr Neil Westcott and Kent Boyd rejoined the meeting.
Deputy Mayor Marg Applebee stood down as the Chair now that the Mayor rejoined the meeting.
|
17.4 Part Road Closure and Sale to Adjoining Owner - Lister Lane, Bogan Gate |
|
Resolved OCM 016/26 Moved: Cr Marg Applebee Seconded: Cr William Jayet That: 1. Council endorses the partial closure of Council road, Lister Lane off Station Street, adjacent to Lot 2 DP 312345, Lot 1 DP 796911 and Lot 10 DP 667653. 2. Council approves the sale of the land to the applicant and that the General Manager and Director Operations be authorised to negotiate purchase price for the subject land. 3. All costs associated with the road closure and sale be borne by the Applicant. 4. That the seal of Council be affixed to relevant documentation if required. In Favour: Crs Neil Westcott, Marg Applebee, William Jayet, Ken McGrath, Louise O'Leary, Joy Paddison, Doug Pout and George Pratt Against: Nil Abstained: Crs Matthew Scherer and Glenn Wilson carried 8/0 |
18 Reports of the Director Planning and Community Services
|
18.1 (DCPS) Quarterly Rangers Report October to December 2025 |
|
Resolved OCM 017/26 Moved: Cr George Pratt Seconded: Cr Doug Pout That: 1. The report be noted. |
|
Resolved OCM 018/26 Moved: Cr George Pratt Seconded: Cr Doug Pout That Council: 1. Receive and note the December 2025 Building Statistics Report. |
|
Resolved OCM 019/26 Moved: Cr Doug Pout Seconded: Cr Ken McGrath That Ordinary Council Meeting: 1. Moves into Closed Session to deal with the matters below, which are classified as confidential under section 10A(2) of the Local Government Act 1993 for the reasons specified: 19.1 Purchase of Ground Water Access Licence This matter is considered to be confidential under Section 10A(2) - d(i) of the Local Government Act, and the Council is satisfied that discussion of this matter in an open meeting would, on balance, be contrary to the public interest as it deals with commercial information of a confidential nature that would, if disclosed prejudice the commercial position of the person who supplied it. Further it is considered that discussions of this matter in open Council would, on balance, be contrary to the public interest as it would prejudice Council's ability to secure the optimum outcome for the community. 19.2 Regional Resilience Program (RRP) - Scope changes & Approval of Additional Funding This matter is considered to be confidential under Section 10A(2) - d(i) of the Local Government Act, and the Council is satisfied that discussion of this matter in an open meeting would, on balance, be contrary to the public interest as it deals with commercial information of a confidential nature that would, if disclosed prejudice the commercial position of the person who supplied it. Further it is considered that discussions of this matter in open Council would, on balance, be contrary to the public interest as it would prejudice Council's ability to secure the optimum outcome for the community. 19.3 Doctor RetenTion and Attraction This matter is considered to be confidential under Section 10A(2) - b of the Local Government Act, and the Council is satisfied that discussion of this matter in an open meeting would, on balance, be contrary to the public interest as it deals with discussion in relation to the personal hardship of a resident or ratepayer. Further it is considered that discussions of this matter in open Council would, on balance, be contrary to the public interest as it would prejudice Council's ability to secure the optimum outcome for the community. 2. Exclude the media and public from the meeting on the basis that the business to be considered is classified as confidential, pursuant to 10A(1), 10(2) and 10A(3) of the Local Government Act 1993. 3. Withhold reports and correspondence relevant to the subject business be withheld from the media and public as provided by section 11(2) of the Local Government Act 1993. 4. Make public resolutions made by the Council in Closed Session after the conclusion of the Closed Session, and record such resolutions in the minutes of the Council meeting.
|
At 4:02 pm, the Meeting went into Closed Session.
|
Resolved OCM 020/26 Moved: Cr George Pratt Seconded: Cr Doug Pout That Council: 1. Note the information contained in the report; 2. Resolve to purchase the ground water access licence in accordance with this report and appropriate due diligence checks; 3. Resolve that the necessary documentation to facilitate the purchase and transfer of the water access licence be signed under the seal of Council as required. |
|
19.2 Regional Resilience Program (RRP) - Scope changes & Approval of Additional Funding |
|
Resolved OCM 021/26 Moved: Cr Marg Applebee Seconded: Cr Joy Paddison That: 1. Notes the contractor’s proposal to increase tank capacity at the New Eugowra Road Pump Station (NERPS) and the Akuna Road Pump Station (ARPS) from one (1) ML to two (2) ML. 2. Acknowledges the long‑term financial benefit of proceeding with the proposal, with estimated savings exceeding $1 million across both sites. 3. Approves the scope change from one (1) ML to two (2) ML reservoirs, for the proposed cost of $840,000. 4. Delegates authority to the General Manager (or relevant Director) to finalise contract variations and proceed with the works. |
|
Resolved OCM 022/26 Moved: Cr Doug Pout Seconded: Cr Joy Paddison That Council: 1. Acknowledge that Parkes has an ongoing shortage of GPs and that supporting the doctors and practices already here is essential if we want to keep them in town and attract new ones. 2. Note that many regional Councils in NSW already help doctors get established through things like subsidised rent, subsidised accommodation, establishment support and other practical incentives. 3. That the rent on 31 Dalton Street surgery be maintained at the current amount for 12 months after which it can be reviewed, reduced rent not to exceed 3 years. |
At 4:45 pm, the Council in Closed Session returned to Open Session.
|
Resolved OCM 023/26 Moved: Cr Marg Applebee Seconded: Cr Doug Pout That Ordinary Council Meeting: 1. Resume in Open Session and note the Mayor’s report on Confidential Resolutions.
|
20 Report of Confidential Resolutions
In accordance with clauses 14.22 and 14.23 of Council's Code of Meeting Practice, resolutions passed during a meeting, or a part of a meeting that is closed to the public must be made public by the Chairperson as soon as practicable. Such resolutions must be recorded in the publicly available minutes of the meeting.
The meeting concluded at 4:48 pm.
This is the final page of the minutes comprising 18 pages numbered 1 to 18 of the Ordinary Council Meeting held on Tuesday, 20 January 2026 and confirmed on Tuesday, 17 February 2026.
|
|
MAYOR |