Council meeting summary: October 2025
Published on 29 October 2025
Below is a summary of some agenda items and resolutions from the October 2025 Council meeting.
Please note, planning and development decisions are not summarised and should be read in-full via the meeting agenda on council’s website here.
Mayoral Minute: Thyra Road Pine Tree
A Mayoral Minute was presented regarding the recent removal of a pine tree along Thyra Road.
The tree was removed after being identified as a safety risk due to its proximity to the road reserve and its obstruction of roadside visibility.
Through the Mayoral Minute it was acknowledged that the tree held sentimental value for the local community, having been decorated each year during the Christmas period.
Following its removal, community members requested approval to plant a replacement tree nearby, in a safer location.
Council supported this request and will proceed with planting a new tree at a more suitable site.
Draft Policies on display
The following draft governance policies were adopted:
- DRAFT Delegations of Authority (Mayor & CEO) Policy V#6
- DRAFT of the Code of Meeting Practice Policy V#6
The draft policies will be on public exhibition for a period of 28-days. These will be on council’s website in the coming week.
Adopted Policies
Council adopted the following policies, following a public display period. No submissions were received.
- The Code of Conduct (Councillors) Policy V#5
- The Code of Conduct (Council Officers) Policy V#5
- The Code of Conduct (Committees) Policy V#5
- Companion Animals Policy V#1
- Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV) Policy V#2
Unaudited Financial Statements
Council received the Unaudited Financial Statements for the period to 30 September 2025 (FY2025/26). 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 9.2.5.
Unaudited Annual Financial Statements (2024/2025)
Council received the unaudited General Purpose and Special Purpose Financial Statements for the year ending 30 June 2025 and authorised their signing by the Mayor, Deputy Mayor, CEO and Responsible Accounting Officer for lodgement with the Office of Local Government.
Council also received the draft Audit Report for 2024/2025, which presented an unmodified audit opinion on the General-Purpose Financial Statements.
The statements and summaries are available as an attachment to the Council Agenda item 9.2.6.
Audit Risk and Improvement Committee meeting
The fourth Audit, Risk and Improvement Committee (ARIC) meeting for the 2025 calendar year was held on 15 October 2025.
The agenda of this meeting was to solely to consider the DRAFT 2024-2025 Financial Statements and the 2024-2025 Audit Engagement Closing Report.
Both the External Auditors and the Audit Office presented their findings to the meeting.
Moulamein Flood Study Review adopted
Council has adopted the Moulamein Flood Study Review Final Report.
The review, developed in conjunction with VMS Engineering, provides updated information for the township following recent riverine flood events.
It includes revised hydrologic and hydraulic modelling for both riverine and overland flooding, updated floodplain mapping for various flood scenarios, and analysis of levee performance and flood hazards across the town. Importantly, the findings will inform future emergency response planning, land use controls, and community preparedness.
The adopted 2025 Moulamein Flood Study Review now supersedes the 2019 Moulamein Flood Study.
Meninya Street Precinct Plans Updated to Include Angled Parking
Murray River Council has updated the Functional Layout Plans for the Meninya Street Precinct Project to include 45-degree angled parking, reflecting strong community and business feedback.
The revised layout balances convenience with safety, accessibility, and traffic flow, while maintaining compliance with national design standards.
The project continues to progress through its detailed design phase, led by Spiire Australia Pty Ltd, and remains focused on enhancing Moama’s town centre with improved pedestrian spaces, landscaping and infrastructure upgrades.
The final draft detailed design plans will be presented to Council for adoption before being released for community consultation.
NSW Food Regulation 2025 fee changes
The NSW Food Regulation 2025 commenced on 1 September 2025, replacing the 2015 Regulation and introducing several changes to enforcement-related fees.
Key updates include:
- Improvement Notice Fee: Increased from $330 to a fixed fee of $565.
- Certificate of Clearance Fee: A new $500 fee applies for reinspections following a prohibition order.
- Other Fees: Council’s existing inspection and annual administration fees remain compliant and do not require amendment.
Council will update its Fees and Charges Policy to reflect the new prescribed amounts.
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 18 Section 355 committees that are made up of community volunteers.
The following meeting minutes were received for information this month:
- Barham School of the Arts Committee - September 2025
- Koraleigh Hall & Recreation Reserve Committee - September 2025
- Moulamein South Recreation Reserve Committee - August 2025
Wakool Memorial Hall Committee of Management AGM and elections
The Annual General Meeting of the Wakool Memorial Hall Committee of Management was held on 8 September, 2025.
General elections were held at this meeting, with advice of newly elected committee members received and endorsed by Council at its October meeting.
The Wakool Memorial Hall Committee is a Section 355 Committee of Council, tasked with overseeing the day-to-day management and operations of the local Hall.
Community Grants awarded
Council has awarded $32,240 in community grants to support a range of local projects and events through Round One of its 2025/26 Community Grants Program. Twelve community groups and not-for-profit organisations received funding, with all applications deemed to provide strong community benefit. The next round of the program will open in December 2025.
NSW Sustainable Communities Program: Rejection of funding
Council resolved to reject $1,078,164 in funding from the NSW Government’s Sustainable Communities Program (SCP).
The SCP funding program aims to minimise the social and economic impacts of Australian Government water recovery measures on Basin communities by funding investment-ready projects that can stimulate economic activity and deliver lasting community benefits.
The funding was awarded to support redevelopment works at 6 Meninya Street, the site of the old council offices.
Through a vote, Council rejected the funding on the basis that it should be awarded to projects in communities directly impacted by water buybacks.
Prior to this month’s meeting, Council had contacted the funding body to seek clarification on whether the funding could be reallocated. The correspondence explained that communities in the western part of the local government area (Moulamein, Wakool, Barham, Mathoura and Tooleybuc) are more heavily dependent on irrigated agriculture and therefore more vulnerable to water buybacks.
The funding body responded confirming that the $1,078,164 awarded under the Sustainable Communities Program Early Investment Round cannot be reallocated to another project.
In readiness for future funding rounds, council staff have already commenced work to identify suitable projects within the Greater Wakool Ward and Greater Murray Ward. Council’s Economic Development team is also supporting local community groups and stakeholders to prepare their own applications for funding when the new round opens.
Notices of Motion
Notices of motion are submitted by councillors for consideration. The following was raised at the October meeting:
- That the Murray River Council General Manager be referred to as General Manager and not Chief Executive Officer.
Discussion: Council resolved to retain the title of Chief Executive Officer, noting the extensive administrative changes required to alter existing documents and its use in current contracts.
However, the motion was changed to state that at the end of the term of the current CEO, that council consider changing the position title to General Manager.