A BEEFY meeting agenda greeted councillors, attendees, and those watching last week’s regular Cabonne Council meeting online.
No less than 32 separate agenda items were up for discussion, with councillors and municipal staff powering through the list in about 75 minutes.
Cr Marlene Nash was granted a leave of absence by her fellow council members and not present for the meeting.
One key issue on the agenda was an application for alterations and additions to the Gundamain feedlot at Eugowra.
The works will involve expanding the facility and adding covered enclosures for animal welfare.
Cr Jamie Jones raised issues with things like heavy vehicle transport and hauling manure across unsealed roads.
Municipal staff said the applicant is only permitted to use specified sealed roads, and that a heavy haulage contribution plan is part of the development.
Ultimately all councillors present approved the application, with Cr Andrew Pull out of the room after declaring a conflict of interest.
Who’s going where?
Cabonne councillors are off to a range of events across the state.
Mayor Cr Kevin Beatty, Cr Jones, and Cr Kathryn O’Ryan were nominated to attend the Local Government NSW Annual Conference, with Cr Jenny Weaver placed on standby.
Their attendance could cause a change in meeting dates later in the year.
Cr Nash, in her capacity as chair of the infrastructure transport committee, is off to National Local Roads Transform Infrastructure Congress
Cr Beatty said he can’t go to the Australian Road Safety Conference and a replacement is being sought.
Finally, Cr Pull is off to the Local Government NSW Water Management Conference.
Money rolled over
Unspent money from the previous financial year’s budget were rolled forward for three key projects.
They include a $21 million contract for Peak Road that’s taking 18 to 24 months to complete, $21 million in disaster recovery betterment projects, and a $10 million community assets program.
Municipal staff confirmed the projects are all on track.
“There’s a significant figure involved in this and it’s due to the fact that we’ve had some very large grants with the work to be rolled out over a couple of years,” Cr Beatty said.
What’s been happening
During his Mayoral Minute section of the meeting, Cr Beatty took the opportunity to acknowledge a range of recent happenings within the Shire.
First up was an award for Cr Pull for his recent RLNSW community volunteer award, also acknowledged
Cr Weaver also used the section to acknowledge Canowindra High School students for catering a Lions changeover dinner
“Tammy Nash and her students from the home ec department catered for the changeover dinner,” she said.
“There were young people from year 11 and year 12, and they did the most magnificent job, the food was wonderful and they did it so professionally, so I’d just like to congratulate them.”
Cr Peter Batten used the chance provided by the Mayoral Minute to mention both the success of the Back to Buckinbah festival, the ribbon-cutting event that symbolically united Yeoval.
Disaster cash concerns
During an additional Mayoral Minute section Cr Beatty raised issues with possible changes to an increase to triggers in disaster funding from high tiers of Government.
Currently the monetary damage amount is set at $300,000 but Cr Beatty said “there was talk” the limit could be raised to $2.7 million.
“Some of that disaster funding that we got prior to the major flood in ‘22, we wouldn’t get declarations on them and we would be out of pocket for council.”
Cr Andrew Rawson suggested a 50/50 split on disaster be managed to lessen the burden on local government.
Cr Jones said local Federal MP Andrew Gee should be approached for support on helping deal with the issue.
“This will result … in basically councils either having to take out loans to repair essential infrastructure or not be able to restore community assets,” he said.
Mayors get together
A third Mayoral Minute saw Cr Beatty report back from his time at the Country Mayors Association conference in Ballina.
“This was quite a significant little conference we went to in that we had access to Minister (Jenny) Aitchison and Minister (Janelle) Safin,” he said.
“We all know how busy Ms Aitchison is at the moment and the pressure she’s under Great Western Highway.
“But she took the time to speak with us and it was quite valuable to discuss with her roads that confront us, but in particular two of our roads that are being considered by our roads committee and the community has seen reports for maintenance which have been Lake Canobolas Road especially.”
Groups supported
Three community groups were approved for municipal grants.
Okayed for cash were the Cumnock Community Family Funday via the Cumnock Progress Association for $5000.
The NSW Rural Doctors Network are set for $300 for the 2026 Rural GP VMO Conference in Canowindra.
Finally, GrowMolong Inc was approved for slightly more than $2600 for the Molong silo art project.
However, the money came with some conditions, stemming from the fact the group was undertaking action in the Land and Environment Court against Cabonne Council.
The ultimate outcome was to approve a $2,603.65 donation, cancel the $17,250 Molong silo’s parking bay design project from the 2026/27 capital works program, and redirect the funds to cover the council’s legal expenses.