UL: “Rate wind farms as industrial”

UPPER Lachlan Council will seek the right to charge wind farm sites at the industrial/commercial rate instead of the current farmland rate.

At the urging of Cr. Malcolm Barlow, Council will approach the State Premier as a first step to making this zoning change which would see industrial rate charges levied on those areas apportioned to wind farm turbines.

At the present time the properties on which the turbines are located are rated entirely as farmland, with the property owners responsible for payment.

Cr. Barlow reported to Council on his attendance in May of the Crookwell 2/3 Wind Farm Consultative Committee.

He highlighted two major mattersd that needed follow-up: the rating situation and fire fighting.

Cr. Barlow said the developer, Union Finosa, representative had claimed that wind complexes were in effect “farms” because they harnessed a natural resource (wind) to produce electricity.

This argument had been countered by pointing out that coal-burning power stations also harnessed a natural resource to produce the same product, but they could not be called farms.

“Subsequent inquiries to the Australian Tax Office have confirmed that income from producing electricity (from whatever source) is not primary production, because agriculture is seen as producing food or fibre using soil, waste and sunshine,” Cr. Barlow stated.

“While this has some tax implications for host landholders, Council must consider whether or not the land on which turbines operate should be zoned as industrial or left as rural – and rated accordingly,” he added.

Cr. Barlow said turbine owners reaped a fortune from electricity consumers, and the host landholder also received a huge financial boost for no extra effort.

“So why should not the wider community that is impacted by the turbines also receive some benefit in the form of higher rate income to the local Council which can provide better local services?”

He urged Council to make a case to the Premier, the Department of Planning and Infrastructure, and even the Australian Tax Office to have the issue decided.

General Manager Mr. John Bell pointed out that Victorian and South Australian Councils were able to charge industrial rates to wind farms.

“But it is not an option for us – we are not allowed to,” he added.

Mayor Cr. John Shaw commented that an approach to the Premier was likely to be more effective than one to the Department of Planning.

This course will be taken, requesting the Premier to take steps to have the land on which the turbines stood be classed as industrial, not farming, and be rated accordingly.

Plans for Jerrawa Road

Plans for Jerrawa Road

Plans are in hand for 2.5 kms of Jerrawa Road to be upgraded within the next 12 to 24 months.

Director of Works Mr. Phil Newham advised last Council meeting of this – but the road’s “champion” Cr. John Searl still wasn’t happy.

Despite the road being No. 2 on Council’s local roads priority list, Cr. Searl wanted to re-open the debate on the list.

He sought to move that at Council’s July meeting Council allocate funds from the $824,000 Roads to Recovery fund to improve Jerrawa Road.

General Manager Mr. John Bell said that allocation of this funding was subject to Council’s decision.

And for Cr. Searl’s motion to be successful it would mean altering decisions already made by Council.

Mr. Newham added that the current priority set by the Councillors was that Jerrawa Road would be next in priority after work on the Gurrundah Road.

Although this was a year or two away, in the short term some work would be done on shoulders of the road on crests.

Cr. Searl persisted with his motion, but it lapsed for want of a seconder.

Council gets its money back

Council gets its money back

UPPER Lachlan Council has escaped the effects of the global financial meltdown without any loss of its investments.

The two investments initially under threat have both matured with the initial amount returned to Council.

And Council’s Finance Director, Mr. Andrew Croke, reported yesterday that only one of these failed to meet its interest obligations.

Both investments were of $500,000, and were taken out in 2006 over 7 years, maturing on June 21.

A CDO purchased from Westpac succeeded in paying the interest, but Council received no interest from the other investment.

Council therefore does not share in the multi-millions lost by other Local Government bodies in New South Wales.

Mr. Croke credited Council’s prudent financial policies which averted the massive losses incurred by other Councils who were too quick to seize on the apparent high returns to be made.

Council currently has around $15 million invested.

Mr. Croke reported to the June Council meeting that to the end of May Council had received $637,000 in interest payments for the year, which was $124,000 better than budgeted.

The average return on all investment that that point was 3.99 per cent.

UL Planning staff enlarged

UL Planning staff enlarged

THE average length of time for Upper Lachlan Council planning department to process development applications over the past twelve months was 42 days – close to the State average of 40 days.

Council’s Planning Director Mrs Tina Dodds reported this to last week’s Council meeting.

And the time taken to process the 14 applications determined in May was 36.

The subject of the planning department’s performance was again raised by Cr. John Searl, who gave notice that he would move to increase the planning staff to improve turnover of applications.

But General Manager Mr. John Bell replied that in addition to a trainee appointment announced at the May meeting, a trainee development control planner had also been added.

Cr. Searl said that while the Council had been rated as sound in its financial position, and its outlook neutral, because of its population size it was considered at risk.

“To address this risk of a negative growth in population, Council needs to be proactive in development and be an attractive Local Government area to establish new developments, both business and residential.

“An annual increase of 5 per cent would, over the next seven years, take the population of the Shire to the ten thousand mark,” Cr. Searl said.

However, in view of the new appointments Cr. Searl did not proceed with his motion.

Replacement of timber truss bridge to commence

Replacement of timber truss bridge to commence

THE Crookwell Timber Truss Bridge on Binda Road will be replaced as detailed in the Roads and Maritime Services'(RMS) Timber Truss Bridge Strategy.

A new bridge and road approaches will be built downstream of the existing bridge before the existing bridge is removed.

The project is funded as part of the NSW Government's Bridges for the Bush initiative.

RMS will begin construction of the new bridge on Friday June 28, 2013, weather permitting.

Work will be undertaken from 7am till 6pm Monday to Friday and 8am till 1 pm on Saturdays.

No work will be undertaken on Sundays.

During parts of the work, intermittent lane closures will be in place on the existing bridge.

Traffic will be able to pass the worksite under traffic control conditions.

Work onsite is expected to take around 12 months to complete, weather permitting.

Motorists are asked to use caution when travelling through the work site and to comply with all temporary signposting, speed limits and traffic control measures.

There may be noise and temporary lighting associated with these activities which will be carried out in accordance with the RMS Environmental Noise Manual.

Motorists are advised to plan their journey, allow extra travel time and obey all signs.

Further updates will be distributed to stakeholders and the community as the project progresses. If the work is significantly delayed, RMS will advise readers and residents of these changes.

RMS apologises for any inconvenience this work may cause and every effort will be made to minimise impacts.

For further information please contact (02) 4221 2414.