Message from the Mayor: 18 August 2023

Published on 18 August 2023

Hello, I'm John Connors, the Mayor of the Dungog Shire bringing you this week's Mayoral Message.

On Monday last, Hunter Water briefed Council on their proposals with respect to the Chichester Dam. The dam has just undergone its mandatory 15-year safety review done by consultants on behalf of Hunter Water. As a result of that review, various issues have been identified and Hunter Water has a 10-year plan to carry out works to the dam. That 10-year plan is broken into two sections, 0-5 and then 5-10 years.

I understand from the briefing from Hunter Water, that it's their intention to start on the 0-5 year works as soon as possible. And then works will continue over the next 10 years to strengthen the dam in accordance with modern standards, bearing in mind that the dam has been there for 100 years and that the investigation techniques that are available to the consultants these days are far better than they were in the past. And that of course, leads to not necessarily the need at times, but the awareness that there are better methods and there are things that could be done to make the dam safer than it might be at the moment and that's the course I understand is being taken.

Also, during the week, advice was received that the operators of Martins Creek Quarry have lodged an appeal to the Land and Environment Court against the decision of the Independent Planning Commission.

Many residents will recall that earlier in the year after a hearing which was held in part at Tocal the Independent Planning Commission refused the application for development consent to significantly increase production from Martins Creek Quarry and the application also sought to take a large percentage of the product by road through the village of Patterson and down through Bolwara. So the company has now appealed that refusal, that appeal is to the Land and Environment Court. It has only just commenced and it has its first mention date before the court. This would normally involve some form of conciliation on the part of Martins Creek Quarry operators and the Independent Planning Commission. Council not being the consent authority is not a party to the proceedings at this time.

Council will seek legal advice and will consider its position probably at an Extraordinary Meeting to determine whether Council will apply to the court to become involved to intervene in the proceedings or not. That's not a matter as of right now. That would be a matter for the court to determine should Council make the decision that it wants to be involved in this appeal. So it’s early stages and Council is yet to determine what role if any it proposes to take in this aspect of the matter.

At Council’s meeting on Wednesday night, Council received with respect to the proposed Caravan Park in Dungog. Residents might recall that about 18 months ago I put a Mayoral Minute before Council, the result of which was that council called for Expressions of Interest to develop a Caravan Park within the town of Dungog. Following that call, one party was selected and then they were to proceed with a Development Application to develop a Caravan Park.

Regrettably, they carried out investigations and reported to Council from time to time, but have not proceeded with the development. They have now advised Council that it's their wish not to proceed with the development and they have withdrawn.

That's left Council in the position of again seeking interested parties that might wish to develop a Caravan Park within the town of Dungog and that's the course that Council is now embarking on

The Government, about seven or eight months ago introduced provisions into the planning regime to facilitate Agritourism to facilitate landholders utilising their land or buildings on their land for the purposes of farm stay or other Agritourism. The government has been very slow in carrying out the next step of the process. However we understand that it's now imminent, but in the meantime, landowners can carry out some forms of agritourism on land that is appropriately zoned, such as the bulk of the Shire, which is RU1 rural agricultural land. So on that land, certain development can be carried out without consent, providing it’s in compliance with the exempt and complying provisions. So if any landowners wish to pursue agritourism in any form then I urge them to make contact with Council and to seek further information before embarking on it, but bearing in mind that the rules have been significantly relaxed to enable this type of development throughout rural NSW. And there's further action imminent as well.

Looking now to the roads, the works at the entrance to Dungog on Clarence Town Road have now been sealed but further works will continue in the coming weeks near the intersection of Mary Street. Works are continuing at Duke St in Clarence Town and the road is currently closed and detours are in place there. Similarly works are continuing on Sugarloaf Rd which is anticipated will be stabilised in the coming week. Work on Durham Road at East Gresford should commence in the coming week weather permitting.

Bennett Part at Dungog work has been continuing on the car park and work is about to commence on the drainage of the oval which will result in the oval being closed to facilitate those drainage works being completed.

At Clarence Town on the Village Green work is continuing with the playground and the shade is about to be erected and the paths and the toilet block are already in place.

Bruyn Park in Dungog the solar lighting, that was the beneficiary of a grant from the State Government has been installed and I understand is now operational. Also in Dungog the trail from the showground to the common is well underway. The contractors have made it very clear what their design is and it snakes along all the way from the showground up along parallel to Short St, through the stock route and ultimately up to the common. The purpose of the trail is to facilitate not only mountain bike riders gaining access to the common from the showground or vice versa, but also horse riders or walkers. So the trail is intended to be a multi-use facility and there will be enhancements to the entrance to the showground in Louisa Street to enable ready access with appropriate bollards being in place to stop any inappropriate access. So that works continuing and will be I understand for a few weeks yet.

So with that, that's it for me for this week. So until next week, good luck and goodbye.