Council meeting summary: March 2025
Published on 26 March 2025
Below is a summary of some agenda items and resolutions from the March 2025 Council meeting.
Resolutions relating to confidential items can be found in the meeting minutes, generally available no later than 48 hours after the meeting.
Motion to increase Financial Assistance Grants
Council have resolved to submit a motion to the 2025 National General Assembly (NGA) of the Australian Local Government Association (ALGA).
Specifically, the motion states: ‘That the Federal Government restore Financial Assistance Grants to 1 percent of Commonwealth taxation revenue immediately and to 1.5% of Commonwealth taxation revenue by 2030.’
The value of Financial Assistance Grants provided to local government has declined over the past three decades from around 1 percent of Commonwealth taxation revenue to around 0.5 percent.
What this means for Murray River Council is a reduction in funding totalling $10 million each year. A reduction in funding of this size cannot be recovered from ratepayers alone.Council has trimmed services and significantly increased productivity over the years but still records an annual deficit of around $9 million which can only result in a huge underspend on infrastructure upgrades and replacement (Depreciation).
If the situation continues, the shortfall in infrastructure spend will snowball due to inflation and create the need, at some point, for a massive catch up which is the reason for the recommended increase in local government’s share of Commonwealth taxation revenue.
The CEO, Councillors Campbell, Pappin and Berryman, will all be attending the conference, to be held in Canberra in June.
Council endorses Community Engagement Strategy
Council has endorsed its Community Engagement Strategy 2024, which includes the Community Participation Plan. Initially approved for public exhibition at the December 2024 Council meeting, the strategy aims to enhance communication and feedback between Council and the community.
As part of the Integrated Planning and Reporting (IP&R) Framework, the strategy provides a structured approach to community engagement in service delivery and future planning. Additionally, under the Environmental Planning & Assessment Act 1979, Council must develop a Community Participation Plan to outline mandatory and optional community involvement in planning matters, including minimum exhibition periods.
To streamline engagement, Council has combined these documents into a single strategy, ensuring a coordinated and consistent approach across all functions. This formalised process will help Council effectively inform and consult the community on both high-level strategies and everyday planning decisions.
Updated draft Procurement Policy adopted
Council has endorsed an updated draft Procurement Policy, which will be open for public review for a 28-day period. The policy, last reviewed in 2021, undergoes a four-year review cycle. Updates address identified gaps and opportunities to improve procurement outcomes that align with Council’s strategic goals.
Revisions were informed by benchmarking against other councils, legislative requirements, governance principles, and best industry practices. The draft policy integrates with Council’s new e-procurement system (launching by June 2025), streamlining processes and reducing administrative burdens. Suppliers will be encouraged to join prequalified lists to maintain up-to-date credentials.
To support implementation, the Procurement Team, alongside the Projects and Economic Development teams, will host supplier ‘drop-in’ sessions at various Council locations. These sessions will help suppliers navigate the registration and tendering process, understand Council’s expectations, and provide feedback.
Draft Delivery Program 2025-29 adopted
Council’s draft Delivery Program 2025-29 has been adopted for public exhibition.
The Delivery Program (DP) is our four-year plan for implementing the actions identified within the Community Strategic Plan (CSP) - our 10-year roadmap that outlines the community's goals for the area and the key strategies needed to achieve them.
Last updated in 2021/22, the DP must be reviewed after every ordinary council election. With elections held in September 2024, we have worked with our newly elected council to refresh the DP, ready for implementation in the 2025/2026 year.
This updated Delivery Program 2025-2029 represents an extension of the 2022-26 DP. Not only does it build on the strategies and action-plans previously developed, along with creating a few new ones, but it also has a large focus on business-as-usual activities, operation and maintenance activities, renewals and new asset requirements along with following through with community requests that fall within Council’s scope.
Representation at ANZAC services
Council resolved to send Councillor representatives to ANZAC Day Services in the towns of Barham/Koondrook, Mathoura, Moama, Moulamein, Piangil/Tooleybuc, Wakool and Echuca on Friday 25 April 2025, and a lay a wreath on behalf of the Murray River Council community.
Updated Policies
Council resolved to adopt the following updated policies to be placed on public display:
- Draft Fraud and Corruption Control Policy V#3
- Draft Community Financial Assistance Policy V#4
The policies will be available on council’s website in the coming week.
Unaudited Financial Statements
Council received the Unaudited Financial Statements for the period to 28 February 2025 (FY2024/25). This monthly reporting practice by the Finance Team is not a regulatory requirement but is provided to ensure transparency and in keeping with financial reporting best practice.
The statements and summary are available as an attachment to the Council Agenda item 9.2.3.
New draft Data Breach Policy
Council has adopted a draft Data Breach Policy for public exhibition in response to evolving cyber security risks and legislative changes.
Under Part 6A of the Privacy and Personal Information Protection Act 1998 (PPIP Act), the NSW Mandatory Notification of Data Breach (MNDB) scheme requires Councils to notify the NSW Privacy Commissioner and affected individuals of eligible data breaches involving personal information. While the scheme applies only to personal data, Council acknowledges the importance of applying similar protections to other sensitive information.
The draft Data Breach Policy establishes a structured approach for managing data breaches, ensuring timely response, mitigation of potential harm, and compliance with regulatory obligations. This proactive approach also helps safeguard Council’s reputation in privacy protection and data security.
Audit, Risk and Improvement Committee (ARIC) Meeting minutes
Council received the Minutes of the Audit, Risk and Improvement Committee (ARIC) Meeting held on March 3, 2025. The following resolutions were noted:
- That the 2023–2024 Audit Management Letter is noted and the actions placed in the Audit Actions spreadsheet.
- That the Audit Committee receive and note the final 30 June 2024 Financial Statements (Audited).
- That the Audit Committee receive and note the period ending 31 January 2025 Financial Statements (Unaudited).
- That Audit Committee receive and note the Annual Engagement Plan 2025.
- That the interim Internal Audit Report on the Schedule of Fees be noted.
- That the ARIC Meeting Timetable and Schedule for the 2025 be updated as required.
- That the Committee endorses the recommended changes to the Corporate Credit Card Policy.
- That the Fraud and Corruption Control Policy and Framework were noted.
Minutes can be viewed in full via the Council agenda, item 9.2.4.
Town levee program of works - internal funding reallocation
Murray River Council has approved the reallocation of $50,000 from capital to operational expenditure for town levee operational activities.
In the 2024/25 budget, Council allocated $532,000 in capital funds for levee works based on a post-2022 flood condition assessment. However, capital funds cannot be used for operational activities, prompting the need for this reallocation.
The $50,000 will support:
- Levee Owner’s Manual updates
- Testing of flood infrastructure and training
- Flood gate installation and testing
- Updating flood manuals and procedures to enhance emergency preparedness
This funding shift has no impact on external funding sources or Council’s overall budget. It will help ensure council-managed levees—spanning over 28km and made up of earthen, concrete, and temporary structures—remain effective in protecting townships and properties from flooding.
Appointment of Community Grants Assessment Panel
Council has appointed Councillors Hurn, Gorey and Berryman to the Murray River Council Community Grants Program Assessment Panel.
Council runs two rounds of the Community Grants Program each financial year, allocating $30,000 to each round.
The grants are competitive in nature; therefore, it is necessary that Council form an assessment panel to review the grant applications and make recommendations in relation to which applications should be funded and to what amount.
The latest round closes on April 7, with assessment taking place soon after.
Community Financial Assistance Program Framework
Council has adopted the Community Financial Assistance Program Framework (FY26) to guide the distribution of funding across five categories:
- Annual Allocations – Support for community events, programs, swimming pools, and in-kind fee waivers.
- Community Grants Program – Funding for local projects and initiatives.
- Quick Response Grants – Small-scale, urgent funding support.
- Local Heritage Fund – Assistance for heritage preservation.
- Disability, Access, and Participation Grants – Supporting inclusion in sports, arts, and cultural activities.
This framework provides clear eligibility criteria, assessment processes, and funding requirements, enabling the seamless distribution of financial assistance upon receipt of invoices. By adopting this framework, Council ensures a transparent, structured approach to financial assistance while reducing the need for case-by-case approvals.
Additionally, the Murray River Council Disability, Access, and Participation Grant Program (DAPP, Program 5) has been created as an initiative under the Disability Inclusion Action Plan (DIAP) 2022–2026, adopted by Council in 2022. This grant program removes financial barriers and expands opportunities for people with disabilities to engage in sport, arts, and cultural activities.
Mathoura Retirement Village - signed delegation document
Council have received and noted a signed delegation document from the Mathoura Retirement Village Committee.
The Committee is a Section 355 committee of Council, tasked with managing the Mathoura Retirement Village which consists of 9 units designed to accommodate older residents of Mathoura.
The signed Mathoura Retirement Village delegation document acknowledges the Committee’s understanding of their roles and responsibilities.
This document will guide the committee and council and will be reviewed in 12 months’ time, as a part of the delegation review process.
Committees have often operated without a full understanding of their roles and responsibilities, particularly in areas such as Work Health and Safety, operational protocols, procurement, financial management (in accordance with the Local Government Act), and reporting. To address this, a (Committee-specific) delegation document has been developed in consultation with each committee to clarify the division of tasks and responsibilities. After each Section 355 Committee’s Annual General Meeting (AGM), the document will be reviewed and provided to the incoming committee for signing, confirming their understanding of their roles and responsibilities.
Section 355 Committee Reports
Each month, council receives meeting minutes from various Section 355 Committees.
These committees are delegated by Council to oversee the day-to-day management of facilities owned by MRC and provide advice about their ongoing upkeep. Council has 19 Section 355 committees that are made up of community volunteers.
The following meeting minutes were received for information this month:
- Barham School of Arts Meeting Minutes (February 2025)
- Caldwell Hall (February 2025)
- Moama Lions Community Village (February 2025)
Full meeting minutes can be found in agenda item 9.5.4.
Notice of motion enquiry: Development in SW REZ zone
A councillor question was raised via a notice of motion speaking to the concerns of renewable energy development (wind farms) on prime agricultural land, particularity cropping land reliant on chemical spraying. Specifically, the question read:
1. Does Council have an adopted policy regarding development within prime, productive agricultural land; and
2. Does the State Environmental Planning Policy (SEPP) Primary Production and Rural Development 2019 allow/enable development associated with the South West Renewable Energy Zone (SW Rez), particularly near Kyalite.
Council does not have a policy regarding development on prime, productive agricultural land. However, it is important to note that consent for state significant development, like renewable infrastructure projects, falls to the State.
The Southwest Renewable Energy Zone (SW Rez) was formally declared by the Minister for Energy under section 19(1) of the Electricity Infrastructure Investment Act 2020. State significant development, such as the VNI West Project, will undergo robust planning assessment from the consent authority (not Council) that will take into account the existing State Environmental Planning Policy (SEPP).
The SEPP (Primary Production and Rural Development) 2019 has several aims which include:
- To facilitate the orderly economic use and development of lands for primary production; and
- To encourage sustainable agriculture.
Notice of motion enquiry: status of Council’s gravel pits
A councillor question was raised via a notice of motion enquiring about the status of Council’s gravel pits, including details on any pits that have been closed along with the reasons for their closure.
Gravel pits across the area have generally been used to source materials for road maintenance and construction, located strategically to reduce transport costs.
An abbreviated response from the Interim Infrastructure Director follows below:
In 2024, Council was audited by the Mining Regulator. The audit results indicated that the majority of gravel pits must be closed due to the legislated requirements that Council was unable to meet.
Most of the closed pits have not been accessed for at least 5 years, and potentially over a decade. It is challenging to comply with regulations if they remain open and are not operated regularly.
The pits located in the far west of the LGA are all calcrete pits that form in sand hills, and each one is very limited in area. Most of these pits were exhausted and restored over a decade ago, leaving only slight marks on the surface
Pits can be reopened if necessary, so the closures are not entirely permanent. Council's regulatory obligations are alleviated for the pits that are closed.
Further information about the pits has been requested to assess the value of closing the pits versus utilising them to potentially alleviate future transport costs.
Full gravel pit lists and mapping can be found in the council agenda, item 10.1.