November Council Meeting News Report

Published on 21 November 2024

Domain EV charging site.jpg
Council Meeting News Report 

Bathurst Regional Council held an Ordinary Council Meeting on 20 November 2024.  Below is a media release collation from this month’s business papers.  

8.2.6 Proposal from NRMA for EV Fast Charging in Domain Car Park 

Council has agreed in principle to enter into a licence agreement from NRMA for the installation and operation of electric vehicle (EV) fast charging infrastructure at the Domain Car Park on Stanley Street, Bathurst. 

Mayor Cr Robert Taylor noted the introduction of additional EV chargers in the CBD puts Bathurst on the map as a desirable, future-focused destination. 

"Having an effective and established EV network ensures that our city doesn’t miss out on visitation from the rapidly growing cohort of electric vehicle owners. 

“It is important we continue to provide fast charging options for local electric vehicle owners as EV purchase rates only continue to rise” he said.  

8.3.7 Annual Financial Statements 2024 

Council’s Auditors, the Audit Office of NSW, have completed their audit of Bathurst Regional Council’s Financial Statements for the year ended 30 June 2024. 

The high-level audit summary is as follows: 

  • Council’s financial position in 2023-24 has improved by 4.3% from 2022-23’s position - returning to a surplus position of $24 million from last year’s deficit of $550,000. 

  • The surplus was achieved mainly due to:

- increases in grant income of $16 million (44% increase over 2023), 

- reductions in expenditure in response to financial sustainability issues,and

- Council found that its assets (such as roads and pipes) are lasting longer than anticipated. Due to this, the cost of these assets is now being spread out over a longer period of time. As a result, the amount of depreciation (the annual expense for the decrease in value) has gone down by $7 million. 

  • As part of this improved position, Council has met 4 of the 6 Office of Local Government financial benchmarks (performance measures) and improved positioning on 5 of the 6 benchmarks.  

  • Council’s net operating result, excluding capital grants and land sales, increased from -$18.2million (2023) to -$9.2 million (2024). 

  • At 30 June 2024, Council had $73.8 million invested, $70.8 million of which are restricted for specific purposes such as Water, Sewer and Developer Contributions for future works. Council’s unrestricted cash position improved by $2.8 million over 2023. 

  • As foreshadowed in Council’s Quarterly Business Reviews, due to the slow uptake of land sales, Council has borrowed funds from the Sewer Fund to the General Fund to cover the construction costs associated with the Windy 1100 estate.  

  • These funds amounted to $25 million and are set to be borrowed over 5 years at 4.35%, in accordance with the Minister’s approval granted on 11 June 2024.   

  • Council was aware of the looming cashflow issue and took steps to mitigate the issue by arranging this loan. 

In accordance with Section 420 of the Local Government Act, the public is invited to make submissions on the Audited Financial Statements until 4 pm on Friday, 29 November 2024. 

For the full Council report, please visit:  

8.3.11 Challenge Bathurst 2023 – Economic Impact Assessment 

As part of the 2023 Challenge Bathurst event, Council commissioned MI Global Partners to undertake an economic impact assessment of this event.  

This level of assessment is the first that has been undertaken for this event since its inception in 2016. 

The assessment was collected through a post-event online survey and yielded an approximate 20% response rate. 

A summary of the results is as follows: 

(i) 5,479 total unique attendees. Unique attendees are the total number of people who attended the event, excluding multiple visits.  

(ii) 2,380 in-scope visitors. These are attendees of the event, who reside at least 40km outside of Bathurst and have indicated that the event was one of the main reasons for their travel.  

(iii) 8,817 bed nights. Estimated by the total number of nights requiring stay over the course of the event.  

(iv) $213 average spend per person per day (overnight blended).  

(v) $2.12m+ total direct economic impact to NSW.  

(vi) $1.95m direct economic impact to the Bathurst Region.  

(vii) $174k direct economic impact to broader NSW (outside of the Bathurst Region). 

In addition to the event-specific data, respondents were asked about their “tourism” activities whilst they were in the Bathurst Region. Of the respondents that completed the survey;  

- 39% went shopping whilst in the Region;  

- 29% attended the National Motor Racing Museum;  

- 6% attended “other” tourism attractions;  

- 4% attended the Bathurst Rail Museum;  

- 3% visited a Winery and/or Distillery. 

With regards to an assessment of satisfaction, 95% of the respondents provided a satisfaction rating of 7 out of 10, or higher, for the event, and a net promoter score of +75. This is an exceptional outcome as it highlights the highly engaged enthusiasts this event brings. 

8.5.2 2024/25 Rural Village Improvement Program 

The 2024/2025 Rural Village Improvement Program’s $20,000 funding distribution has been planned to fund important community initiatives across our region’s local villages, including: 

  • $2,500 allocated to Hill End & District Volunteer Bushfire Brigade for the refurbishment of three current picnic tables and to assist the construction of an awning over one table in the Hill End village. 

  • $2,500 allocated to Trunkey Creek Progress Association for the purchase and placement of two aluminium table settings under an awning at the sports ground. 

  • $1,250 allocated to Sofala Progress Association Inc for the painting of the Sofala Memorial Hall veranda railing and to place signage at free camping sites. 

Bathurst Regional Council instituted a Rural Village Improvement Program in 2005/2006 to facilitate the long-term viability of the villages in the Council area. The program is based on the premise of horizontal equity – “the provision of public facilities each of a similar grade” to villages across the local government area.  

The current programs allocation, in accordance with Council’s 2024/2025 Annual Operating Plan and Budget, is $20,000. The $20,000 is equitably split between each eligible village. 

Since the program’s introduction, Council has made contributions to the villages of Hill End, Rockley, Sofala, Trunkey Creek, Wattle Flat, Sunny Corner, Yetholme and now Peel in improving the infrastructure available to their residents. Over $1,250,000 has been provided through this program during the last eighteen years. 

8.5.3 Bathurst Regional Youth Council – Attendance at Youth Council Conference  

Three of the Bathurst Regional Youth Councillors were provided the opportunity to attend a three-day NSW Youth Council Conference, hosted by The City of Canterbury Bankstown, Fairfield City Council and Liverpool City Council, from Friday 11 to Sunday 13 October 2024 at Western Sydney University.  

The Conference offered a packed program relating to the Conference theme: “Our Diversity Unites Us”.  

During the Conference, the Youth Councillors had the opportunity to network with one hundred other young people from metropolitan and regional Youth Councils and Youth Groups. 

The Youth Councillors in attendance will relay their experiences to Bathurst Regional Youth Council as an opportunity to incorporate their learnings into future initiatives. 

Funding for this item is contained in the existing budget. Financial assistance was provided by Canterbury, Fairfield and Liverpool Councils for accommodation and meals as part of the grant funding to run the event. 

 

 

 

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