ORANGE CITY COUNCIL

Infrastructure Policy Committee

 

Agenda

 

5 September 2017

 

 

Notice is hereby given, in accordance with the provisions of the Local Government Act 1993 that a Infrastructure Policy Committee meeting of ORANGE CITY COUNCIL will be held in the Council Chamber, Civic Centre, Byng Street, Orange on Tuesday, 5 September 2017.

 

 

Garry Styles

General Manager

 

For apologies please contact Michelle Catlin on 6393 8246.

    

 


Infrastructure Policy Committee                                                     5 September 2017

Agenda

  

1                Introduction.. 3

1.1            Declaration of pecuniary interests, significant non-pecuniary interests and less than significant non-pecuniary interests. 3

2                Committee Minutes. 4

2.1            Minutes of the City of Orange Traffic Committee - 11 July 2017. 4

3                General Reports. 8

3.1            Current Works. 8

3.2            Recreational use of Gosling Creek Dam, Spring Creek Dam and Suma Park Dam   16

 


Infrastructure Policy Committee                                                     5 September 2017

1       Introduction

1.1     Declaration of pecuniary interests, significant non-pecuniary interests and less than significant non-pecuniary interests

The provisions of Chapter 14 of the Local Government Act, 1993 (the Act) regulate the way in which Councillors and designated staff of Council conduct themselves to ensure that there is no conflict between their private interests and their public role.

The Act prescribes that where a member of Council (or a Committee of Council) has a direct or indirect financial (pecuniary) interest in a matter to be considered at a meeting of the Council (or Committee), that interest must be disclosed as soon as practicable after the start of the meeting and the reasons given for declaring such interest.

As members are aware, the provisions of the Local Government Act restrict any member who has declared a pecuniary interest in any matter from participating in the discussion or voting on that matter, and requires that member to vacate the Chamber.

Council’s Code of Conduct provides that if members have a non-pecuniary conflict of interest, the nature of the conflict must be disclosed. The Code of Conduct also provides for a number of ways in which a member may manage non pecuniary conflicts of interest.

Recommendation

It is recommended that Committee Members now disclose any conflicts of interest in matters under consideration by the Infrastructure Policy Committee at this meeting.

 


Infrastructure Policy Committee                                                     5 September 2017

 

 

2       Committee Minutes

2.1     Minutes of the City of Orange Traffic Committee - 11 July 2017

TRIM REFERENCE:        2017/1786

AUTHOR:                       Chris Devitt, Director Technical Services    

 

 

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

The City of Orange Traffic Committee met on 8 August 2017 and the recommendations from that meeting are presented to the Infrastructure Policy Committee for adoption.

Link To Delivery/OPerational Plan

The recommendation in this report relates to the Delivery/Operational Plan strategy “15.1 Our Environment – Maintain and renew traffic and transport infrastructure assets and services as specified within the Asset Management Plan at agreed levels of service”.

Financial Implications

The signage changes can be funded from the existing budget.

Policy and Governance Implications

Nil

 

Recommendation

That the recommendations made by the City of Orange Traffic Committee at its meeting held on 8 August 2017 be adopted.

 

further considerations

Consideration has been given to the recommendation’s impact on Council’s service delivery; image and reputation; political; environmental; health and safety; employees; stakeholders and project management; and no further implications or risks have been identified.

SUPPORTING INFORMATION

The Committee recommends No Stopping signs be installed on the south west corner of the intersection of Churchill Avenue and Glenroi Avenue, 10 metres from the corner.

It is also recommended that Council support the list of 2018-2018 Federal Blackspot nominations.

Attachments

1        Minutes of the Meeting of the City of Orange Traffic Committee held on 8 August 2017

 



ORANGE CITY COUNCIL

 

MINUTES OF THE

City of Orange Traffic Committee

HELD IN Councillors Workroom, Civic Centre, Byng Street, Orange

ON 8 August 2017

COMMENCING AT 9.02am


 1      Introduction

Attendance

Cr R Turner (Chairperson), Mr David Vant, Sgt Mark Hevers, Mr Geoff Lewis, Manager Development Assessments, Commercial and Emergency Services Manager, Road Safety Officer, Works Manager, Manager Engineering Services, Strategic Design & Planning Engineer, Divisional Administration Officer

 

1.1     Apologies and Leave of Absence

 

1.2     Acknowledgement of Country

 

1.3     Declaration of pecuniary interests, significant non-pecuniary interests and less than significant non-pecuniary interests

Nil

2       Previous Minutes

RESOLVED                                                                                            Cr R Turner/Mr D Vant

That the Minutes of the Meeting of the City of Orange Traffic Committee held on 11 July 2017 (copies of which were circulated to all members) be and are hereby confirmed as a true and accurate record of the proceedings of the City of Orange Traffic Committee meeting held on 11 July 2017.

 

** Manager Development Assessments and Sgt Mark Hevers arrived at the meeting with the time being 9.05am


 

3       General Reports

3.1     Churchill Avenue/Glenroi Avenue

TRIM Reference:        2017/1691

Recommendation                                                                          Mr G Lewis/Cr R Turner

That Council install No Stopping signs on the south west corner of the intersection of Churchill Avenue and Glenroi Avenue 10 metres from the corner.

 

 

 

3.2     Brass Celebration March 2018

TRIM Reference:        2017/1690

Recommendation                                                                           Mr D Vant/Cr R Turner

That the Conditional Approval for the 2018 Brass Celebration March be endorsed subject to compliance with the attached conditions.

 

 

 

3.3     2018 Orange Cycle Club Races

TRIM Reference:        2017/1689

Recommendation                                                                           Cr R Turner/Mr D Vant

That the Conditional Approval for the 2018 Orange Cycle Club Races be endorsed subject to compliance with the attached conditions.

 

 

 

MATTER ARISING

RECOMMENDATION                                                                           Cr R Turner/Mr D Vant

That Council write to Blayney and Cabonne Councils suggesting they install cyclist warning signs on routes used extensively by cyclists.

 

 


 

 

3.4     2018 - 2019 Federal Blackspot Nominations

TRIM Reference:        2017/1746

Recommendation                                                                          Cr R Turner/Mr G Lewis

That Council supports the 2018 - 2019 Federal Blackspot nominations as follows:

 

Project

Site

Description

Crashes

Treatment

Cost

BCR

9

123

Anson/Warrendine

2

Roundabout

$300,000

Proactive

54

133

Peisley/Phillip

3

Move Give ways forward

$100,000

6.51

16

132

Hill/Matthews

5

Roundabout

$600,000

3.79

21

137

Anson/Matthews

4

Raise intersection

$200,000

2.8

55

137

Endsleigh Ave, Churchill to Franklin

6

Non Skid Seal

$135,000

7.3

58

178

Forest Road (6.2-6.5km) at Hiney Rd

2

Lower Crest

$300,000

Proactive

60

180

Leeds/Margaret

3

Seagull

$100,000

1.22

66

194

Lords/Franklin

3

Move Give ways and thresholds

$140,000

7.8

553

783

Forest Road (12.2-13.1km) between Spring Terrace and Gander Rd

3

Widen pavement

$300,000

Proactive

69

197

Gardiner and Cecil

3

Non Skid Seal

$30,000

9.54

70

198

Woodward and Wentworth

6

Roundabout

$550,000

4

 80

216

McLachlan/March

6

Roundabout

$370,000

3.27



 

GENERAL BUSINESS - Matters raised on behalf of the State Member for Orange

1          Pedestrian safety at James Sheahan High School

The Committee noted that Council and Roads & Maritime Services are working on a solution to this problem and are meeting with representatives of the school.

2          Pedestrian crossing safety at roundabouts, in particular the roundabout on Peisley Street near the Railway Station

It was noted that mid-block pedestrian refuges have been installed at some locations around the Central Business District to allow pedestrians to cross more safely than at roundabouts.

The Meeting Closed at 9.46 AM.

  


Infrastructure Policy Committee                                                     5 September 2017

 

 

3       General Reports

3.1     Current Works

TRIM REFERENCE:        2017/1879

AUTHOR:                       Chris Devitt, Director Technical Services    

 

 

EXECUTIVE Summary

The purpose of this report is to update Council on construction and maintenance works which have been carried out since the last current works report to Council.

Link To Delivery/OPerational Plan

The recommendation in this report relates to the Delivery/Operational Plan strategy “14.1 Our Environment – Design and construct new infrastructure assets as specified with the Asset Management Plan to agreed levels of service”.

Financial Implications

Nil

Policy and Governance Implications

Nil

 

Recommendation

That the information provided in the report on Current Works be acknowledged.

 

further considerations

Consideration has been given to the recommendation’s impact on Council’s service delivery; image and reputation; political; environmental; health and safety; employees; stakeholders and project management; and no further implications or risks have been identified.

SUPPORTING INFORMATION

Road Maintenance

Gravel road grading activities continued with the following roads being addressed:

·        Shepherds Lane

·        Dane Lane

·        Louis Lane

·        Walker Lane

·        McLean Lane

·        Stairs Road

·        Bulgas Road

·        Phillip Street

Pothole patching crews undertook programmed repairs and responded to customer requests across the rural and urban areas.

Road Upgrading

Clergate Road

The contractor on Clergate Road has encountered a significant amount of unsuitable subgrade material causing a delay in the road construction at the Northern end whilst the poor quality soils are replaced or improved through the addition of lime. Due to the depth of excavation required, it was necessary to restrict traffic to one lane and utilise portable traffic signals outside of normal working times. There have been no reports of faults with these signals to date.

Works have also been progressing on street light installation and the remaining drainage pipe system.

CONCRETE AND DRAINAGE

New Works

Footpath construction

New 2.5m wide shared paths were constructed on Ploughmans Lane from the existing wetland path down to Cargo Road. Further works will continue to provide a safe link to the north side of Coronation Drive including a pedestrian refuge.

Footpath Rehabilitation

Footpath rehabilitation works commenced on Lords Place between Moulder Street and Torpy Street.

Footpath Maintenance

Footpath maintenance works including isolated slab replacement, concrete grinding and step filling were undertaken on:

·        McLachlan Street

·        Anson Street

·        Dalton Street

·        Leeds Parade

·        Peisley Street

·        Algona Crescent

·        Turquoise Way

WATER MAINTENANCE

New Water Services

·        Two 20mm water services at 59 Cecil Road

·        Wentworth Golf Club - 25mm service

·        20mm water service at Grace Rise

·        20mm water service in Connemara Drive

·        10 Scott Place

·        4 Grace Rise

·        80mm fire service at 174 Lords Place

Water Service Renewals

·        83 Nile Street

·        85 Nile Street

Construction

·        Water main upgrade on Clergate Road

 


Category

July 2016 – June 2017

July 2017

Leaking meters

496

31

Faulty meters (incorrect readings)

145

0

No supply

52

4

Water pressure complaints

33

2

Meter box/lid replacements

62

2

Water quality

51

5

Service break

11

1

Service leak

47

8

Main break

76

3

Main leak

288

50

Valve leak

12

4

Hydrant leak

59

8

Total Water Requests

1332

118

WATER STORAGE

Water Storage Levels

 

Location

Date

Level Below Spillway (mm)

% of Capacity

Suma Park Dam

21 August 2017

2777

77.34

Spring Creek Dam

21 August 2017

233

94.67

Gosling Creek Dam

21 August 2017

400

88.54

Lake Canobolas

21 August 2017

13

99.61

 

Water Consumption

Average daily water consumption during the week ending 17 August 2017 was 169 litres per person per day.

Water Quality

Water samples are collected as a component of the Orange City Council’s Drinking Water Quality Monitoring Program which forms part of the NSW Health requirements. Samples are collected regularly and sent to a National Association of Testing Authorities (NATA) accredited laboratory for analysis. Samples collected in July 2017 complied with the Australian Drinking Water Guidelines, 2011.

Blue-green algae concentrations in Suma Park Dam have been at amber levels since last reported in Current Works. Actions, including ongoing monitoring, continue to be implemented in accordance with Council’s Algae Management Plan.

Recycled water managed by Council is operated through implementation of Council’s Recycled Water Management System, which includes consideration of treated effluent and the dual water scheme in Ploughmans Valley/North Orange.

SEWER MAINTENANCE

 

Category

July 2016 – June 2017

July 2017

Sewer blockages

359

34

Odour

11

5

Overflows

139

16

Total Sewer Requests

509

55

 

Sewer Reconstructions

·        76 Prince Street

CENTRAL TABLELANDS REGIONAL WATER SECURITY PROJECT – Orange To Carcoar Pipeline

The project is within budget and on time with the expected date of completion by June 2018.

A summary of the Orange to Carcoar pipeline progress is below.

Section 1: Blayney to Millthorpe – 11493m

6,095m of pipeline has been completed. The remaining 5,398m is currently under construction.

Section 2: Spring Hill Reservoir to Millthorpe Reservoir – 8550m

8,200m of pipeline has been completed. The remaining 350m is currently under construction.

Section 3a: Orange Airport to Spring Hill Reservoir – 4058m

This section is complete.

Section 3b: Orange Airport to Spring Creek Filter – 7948m

This section is complete

Section 4: Spring Creek Filter to Icely Road Filter – 5535m

This section is complete.

Section 5a: Backhouse spur – 2835m

2,760m of pipeline has been completed. The remaining 75m will be completed shortly.


 

Section 5b: Carcoar to Blayney – 13,890m

3,000m of pipeline has been completed. The remaining 10,890m is currently under construction.

Section 5c: Carcoar Filtration Plant to Carcoar – 6,948m

952m of pipeline has been completed. The remaining 5,996m is currently under construction.

Pump station 1 – Spring Creek Filter

Construction of Pump Station 1 has commenced with the building floor and walls complete. The roof is currently under construction.

Pump station 2 – Plumb St Blayney

Construction of Pump station 2 has just commenced.

Pump station 3 – Carcoar Filtration Plant

Construction of Pump station 2 has commenced with the floor complete.

Chlorine boosters – 6 locations

Construction of the chlorine boosters has not commenced.

East Orange Booster Zone

Works have not commenced on the East Orange Booster Zone.

Spring Hill to Orange effluent pipeline – 10000m

6,000m of pipeline has been completed. The remaining 4,000m is currently under construction.

FOREST ROAD RAIL BRIDGE DUPLICATION

The tender for the construction contract closed on the 16 August 2017. Three conforming Tenders were received. The tenders are currently being evaluated.

Aquatic Centre Attendance

 

 

 

 

 

May 2017

June 2017

July 2017

Adult

462

460

537

Concession

377

341

291

Child

475

462

604

Child Under 5

162

134

146

Family

27

20

40

School

152

28

19

Swipe Entries

2,354

2,175

2,039

Adult Multi Pass

26

28

21

Child/Concession Multi Pass

30

29

40

Carnival Spectators

302

256

0

Fitness Passport

1,536

1,617

1,585

Shower

66

32

5

Non Swimmers

203

113

0

Aqua Aerobics

53

38

30

Swim Assessment

 

 

1

Total

6,225

5,733

5,358

AIRPORT PASSENGER NUMBERS

Passenger numbers for July 2017 were 5,491 compared with 4,130 during the same month in 2016.

 

 

Airport Energy Usage

Energy used at the airport during July 2017 was 26,663.24 kWh at a cost to Council of $4,647.33.


 

ENERGY USE

The following information is sourced from E21, Council’s energy software.

Wednesday 23 August 2017

 

  


Infrastructure Policy Committee                                                     5 September 2017

 

 

3.2     Recreational use of Gosling Creek Dam, Spring Creek Dam and Suma Park Dam

TRIM REFERENCE:        2017/1883

AUTHOR:                       Wayne Beatty, Water and Sewerage Strategic Manager    

 

 

EXECUTIVE Summary

Council, at its Infrastructure Policy Committee Meeting of 6 June 2017 resolved as follows:

3.4     Recreational use of Gosling Creek, Spring Creek and Suma Park Dams

TRIM Reference:        2017/783

RESOLVED - 17/229                                                                              Cr J Davis/Cr J Hamling

1     That the July 1996 Gosling Creek Reservoir Plan of Management be updated in accordance with the Local Government Act, 1993 and the Crown Lands Act 1989, with the aim of including additional water-based activities such as swimming and non-motorised boating on Gosling Creek Reservoir, as well as additional land-based activities to enable the site to achieve its full recreational potential by September 2018.

2     That the recreational use of Spring Creek Reservoir and Suma Park Dam be considered by Council after the implementation of recreational use at Gosling Creek Dam.

3     That a report on the timeline and actions to be finalised to allow recreational use of Spring Creek Reservoir and Suma Park Dam be provided to Council within three months.

 

This report is an update on the status of these recommendations. It outlines the key issues that Council needs to take into consideration in developing a city-wide Recreational Waters Strategy. It is intended that this strategy will assess the water use recreational needs of Orange and make recommendations to Council on a way forward with this project.

Link To Delivery/OPerational Plan

The recommendation in this report relates to the Delivery/Operational Plan strategy “15.2 Our Environment – Operate, maintain, renew and upgrade water, sewer and stormwater infrastructure assets and services as specified within the Asset Management Plans at agreed levels of service”.

Financial Implications

This project has not been identified in the current Delivery/Operational Plan or 2017/18 – 2026/27 Long Term Financial Plan.

Consideration will need to be given to how a Recreational Water Strategy could be staged and funded.

Policy and Governance Implications

Nil

 

Recommendation

That Council develop a Recreational Water Strategy for the City of Orange.

 

further considerations

Consideration has been given to the recommendation’s impact on Council’s service delivery; image and reputation; political; environmental; health and safety; employees; stakeholders and project management; and no further implications or risks have been identified.

 

Service Delivery

Drinking water quality, security of drinking water supply assets

Image and Reputation

Tourism/economic benefit

Political

Project funding and impact on Council’s Long Term Financial Plan

Environmental

Wildlife and wildlife habitat management, preservation of historic sites in the area, introduction of weeds or exotic plants, introduction of vermin and exotic animals, foreshore erosion, litter and heightened risk of bushfires.

Health and Safety

Legal and public liability, water quality health risks to users

Employees

Additional skilled staff resources and operational costs

Stakeholders

Orange residents, external/regional users (including sporting clubs), Federal and State Government Approvals Authorities/Regulators

Projects

Project requires high level strategic planning which has not yet been undertaken. This includes land acquisition and infrastructure considerations and detailed cost estimates.

SUPPORTING INFORMATION

Council staff are currently investigating all of the key issues that need to be addressed when introducing recreational use on to its drinking water storages. Depending on the type of use that Council may wish to pursue, these issues will be addressed differently, with different infrastructure and operational requirements for the facility.

Managing risk in Recreational Water

The National Health and Medical Research Council’s (NHMRC) 2008 Guidelines for Managing Risks in Recreational Water classifies recreational activities by the degree of water contact as described below:

·     Primary contact — activity in which the whole body or the face and trunk are frequently immersed or the face is frequently wet by spray, and where it is likely that some water will be swallowed or inhaled, or come into contact with ears, nasal passages, mucous membranes or cuts in the skin (such as swimming)

·     Secondary contact — activity in which only the limbs are regularly wet and in which greater contact (including swallowing water) is unusual (such as non-motorised boating (canoeing, kayaking, sailing, fishing, wading), and including occasional and inadvertent immersion through slipping

·     Aesthetic uses — activity in which there is normally no contact with water (e.g. angling from shore), or where water is incidental to the activity (e.g. bushwalking/orienteering, bird watching, picnicking, mountain biking)

Infrastructure requirements for all three classifications are outlined in this report.

Gosling Creek Reserve

The process for introducing aquatic activities, swimming and non-powered boating onto Gosling Creek Dam this summer is well underway.

Gosling Creek Reserve is predominately Crown Land (70% of the land/water mass of the Reserve is Crown Land) under the care and control of the ‘Brandy Corner Reserve Trust’ (Council) and the remaining 30% is community land (Council); as such Council must develop a draft Plan of Management compliant with Crown Lands requirements.

Following Council’s resolution, a letter formally requesting the Minister for Lands and Forestry, the Hon Paul Toole MP, to approve the Trust (Council) to develop a new Plan of Management for Gosling Creek Reserve to include, within the purpose of the Reserve, Public Recreation – aquatic activities; swimming and non-powered watercraft access within and upon the reservoir, was sent. Council received notification from the Minister, on 9 August 2017, granting approval for the preparation of a Draft Plan of Management by the Trust (Council) under section 112 of the Crown Lands Act 1989.

Staff commenced writing a draft Plan of Management in July 2017 and it is anticipated that the draft Plan of Management will be placed on public exhibition for 28 days, as required by Crown Lands Act 1989, in early September 2017. Following a review of submissions any amendments or additions will be made to the draft Plan of Management (PoM) for Council’s consideration before forwarding the draft PoM and all comments received during the public exhibition period to the Minister for adoption, amendment or revocation.

Suma Park Dam and Spring Creek Reservoir

Key considerations

The following risks are key issues to consider if Council were to introduce recreational activities onto either Spring Creek or Suma Park Dam:

·     Impact on drinking water quality – The Australian Drinking Water Guidelines (ADWG 2011) is the authoritative document for drinking water management in Australia. It contains information about management of drinking water systems from catchment to consumer. The second guiding principle of the ADWG highlights the importance of protecting water sources:

 

‘Protection of water sources and treatment are of paramount importance and must never be compromised’

The NHMRC are now considering the introduction of additional requirements in a pending guideline review that will be used to determine the appropriate treatment process to address the source water risk. Recreational use of the water body is one of the risk considerations. Unprotected catchments may require a higher level of treatment in order to provide a safe drinking water supply. The Orange drinking water supply catchment would be considered an unprotected catchment and, as such, additional treatment upgrades may be necessary unless catchment management practices can be improved. Water treatment cost implications (potential treatment plant upgrades) may need to be considered if water-based recreational activities are introduced to Council’s drinking water storages.

·     Potential health impact on recreational users – As mentioned earlier, recreational use on dams should follow the Guidelines for Managing Risks in Recreational Water (NHMRC 2008). Although not mandatory, following these guidelines ensures recreational water environments are managed as safely as possible. The potential impacts of water quality, water temperature and blue green algae should be considered

·     Legal and Public Liability – duty of care to persons using the water storage (potential hazards associated with access to dam wall, hazards above and below the water)

·     Public use impacts of foreshore erosion introducing sediment into the water storage

·     Wildlife and wildlife habitat management

·     Changes in system ecology

·     Increased risk of fire

·     Security of drinking water supply assets

Other issues to consider include:

·     Land acquisition requirements

·     Water storage levels

·     Impacts on adjoining neighbours – e.g. noise

Required infrastructure

Depending on the type of use, there are cost and resourcing implications in managing all of the risks and infrastructure requirements. Infrastructure requirements need to be funded and other risks mitigated by operational practices and procedures.

Depending on the type of use, infrastructure requirements include:

Aesthetic uses (Bushwalking/biking)

·     Bike/bush walking paths

·     Non-vehicle access routes

·     Toilet facilities

·     Rubbish bins

·     Signage; and

·     Fencing

Biking may also require appropriate car parking and road access.

Secondary contact (Non-motorised boating (canoeing, kayaking, sailing)/picnicking)

Infrastructure requirements in addition to requirements for aesthetic uses:

·     Access road(s)

·     Car parking

·     Access/launch points to water body; and

·     Barbeques

Primary contact (Swimming/fishing)

Infrastructure requirements in addition to requirements for secondary contact

·     Marker buoys

·     Bike/ bush walking paths

·     Non-vehicle access routes

·     Toilet/change room facilities

·     Fencing

·     Rubbish bins

·     Signage

·     Covered areas

·     Cleared areas

·     Drinking water for users

·     Fish cleaning areas

·     Beach areas

Operational management

The potential costs associated with the operational management of recreational activities could include:

·     Additional drinking water treatment processes

·     Management of access to water storages

·     Maintenance and rehabilitation of infrastructure to support the recreational activities

·     Monitoring of water quality and recreational users

·     Policing of recreational users

Timeframe for approvals, development and implementation

At this early stage, it is difficult to estimate a timeframe for the delivery of such a project given its complexity and key issues that will need to be considered.

It is worth noting, however, the timeframe for the implementation of Rowing Training for Kinross Wolaroi School on Spring Creek Reservoir. In order to gain approval to undertake this Rowing Training on the Reservoir, the Plan of Management was prepared and adopted by Council in June 2001 after which Kinross Wolaroi School lodged a Development Application to construct a Boatshed and Pontoon Jetty for Council approval.


 

The consent and approvals process to enable Kinross Wolaroi School to use the Reservoir for Rowing Training commenced in August 1999. From this date, it took over five years before Kinross Wolaroi School actually commenced Rowing Training on the Reservoir. The timeline is outlined below for Council’s information:

·    August 1999 – Commence Plan of Management development

·    June 2001 – Plan of Management adopted by Council

·    June 2002 – Development Application lodged for facility (Boatshed and Pontoon Jetty) and approved with consent to operate

·    July 2002 – the Central West Environment Group took both Kinross Wolaroi School and Orange City Council to the NSW Land and Environment Court.

·    May 2003 – NSW Land and Environment Court decision in favour of Kinross Wolaroi School and Orange City Council

·    May 2004 – Orange City Council and Kinross Wolaroi School entered into a Licence to use Spring Creek Dam as a Rowing Facility

·    December 2004 – Rowing Training commenced

Cost estimates

In order to give Council an appreciation of the infrastructure and operational costs to implement recreational use onto Spring Creek Reservoir or Suma Park Dam, the following information is relevant for Gosling Creek Reserve.

·    Infrastructure costs $950,000 which includes the following:

Concept masterplan design

Toilet facilities

Picnic tables, shelters and BBQs

Pathways and boardwalks 

Playground

Signage

Landscaping trees shrubs features

Fencing

Pontoon/jetty fishing access; and

Beach access

 

·     Operational costs   $90,000 per annum

The infrastructure and operational costs to introduce recreational use onto either Spring Creek Reservoir or Suma Park Dam would be considerably higher due to the relative size of these facilities and associated infrastructure requirements (including land acquisition costs). It could be expected that Council may need to commit between $5m – $10m into this project in the medium to long term with annual operational costs in the order of $500,000.


 

Recreational Waters Strategy

Investigations to date have revealed that introducing recreation onto Spring Creek Reservoir and Suma Park Dam is a complex, lengthy and costly exercise for Council to embark on. The issues that have been identified in this report need to be addressed by further developing a Recreational Waters Strategy and Masterplan for all of Council’s water storages which can subsequently be implemented or staged over a number of years.