Draft Council Policies and Plans

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Council amends its Policies from time to time. Council is required to seek community input to the proposed changes through a public exhibition period. New, or changes to, Council Policies will be included as part of this section. You are invited to inspect the draft Policies and you may wish to make a submission in writing to Bathurst Regional Council. Any submission objecting to any draft Policy must clearly state the reasons for objection. Council will exhibit the proposed amendment for a period of 28 days.

The lodging of a submission is voluntary. However, if you choose not to lodge a submission/objection in writing, your views will not be taken into account by the Council in relation to this matter. Any information that you choose to provide to Council will be used by Council to process this matter. Once lodged with Council the information you provide can be accessed by you and may also be available to third parties including other members of the public and may be included, without alteration (including names and addresses), in Council business papers.

Council amends its Policies from time to time. Council is required to seek community input to the proposed changes through a public exhibition period. New, or changes to, Council Policies will be included as part of this section. You are invited to inspect the draft Policies and you may wish to make a submission in writing to Bathurst Regional Council. Any submission objecting to any draft Policy must clearly state the reasons for objection. Council will exhibit the proposed amendment for a period of 28 days.

The lodging of a submission is voluntary. However, if you choose not to lodge a submission/objection in writing, your views will not be taken into account by the Council in relation to this matter. Any information that you choose to provide to Council will be used by Council to process this matter. Once lodged with Council the information you provide can be accessed by you and may also be available to third parties including other members of the public and may be included, without alteration (including names and addresses), in Council business papers.

  • CLOSED: This survey has concluded.

    Council's policy, Hardship Rate Relief, fulfils the statutory requirements of the Local Government Act 1993 (the Act) with respect to both the recovery of outstanding rates, annual charges and interest, and the provision of assistance to those ratepayers who are experiencing genuine financial hardship with the payment of their rates and annual charges.  A key objective is to work with ratepayers to achieve flexible alternatives to legal action where policy. In developing this policy, Council has taken into account the Debt Management and Hardship Guidelines issued under Section 23A of the Act by the Office of Local Government.

    Council acknowledges that ratepayers will, for various reasons from time to time, fail to pay rates when they become due and payable to Council. It is not the intention of cause hardship to any ratepayer through Council's recovery procedures and consideration will be given to acceptable arrangements to clear the debt prior to the end of the current financial year, where possible. Council recognises there are cases of genuine financial hardship requiring respect and compassion in special circumstances. This policy establishes guidelines for assessment of a hardship application applying the principles of fairness, integrity, confidentiality and compliance with statutory requirements. It applies to all applications for waiving, alternative payment arrangements or writing off rates, fees, annual charges and interest accrued on such debts.

    A copy of the draft Policy can be downloaded from the Document Library.

    The draft Policy is on public exhibition from Monday 20 March until Monday 17 April 2023. 

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    Council's policy "Mount Panorama Motor Racing Circuit  - Resident Access - Full Track Hire" provides guidelines to event promoters on their obligations to Council and the Mount Panorama residents, for full track closure events.

    The Policy was last reviewed in 2018.

    With the recent changes in motor sport legislation that relates to Mount Panorama, a review/update of this Policy is required.

    The Mount Panorama Motor Racing Circuit is the primary entrance road to 31 residential holdings/properties. In addition, the circuit provides access to Rydges, Bathurst Goldfields and the Bathurst Light Car Club's clubhouse.

    During full-track closures events, access to these properties is adversely affected, accordingly the Policy was developed to ensure resident access to their properties is maintained.

    In April 2022, the Mount Panorama Motor Racing Act 1989 (NSW) was repealed, and the Motor Sports Events Act 2022 (NSW) was introduced.  The introduction of this new Act and associated Regulations has instigated the need for a review of the Policy to be undertaken.

    A number of amendments have been introduced into the Draft Policy due to the changes in legislation or are minor administrtive amendements correcting an error or reflecting current practice.

    A copy of the draft Policy can be downloaded from the Document Library.

    The draft Policy is on public exhibition from Monday 20 February until Monday 20 March 2023.

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    Council is seeking feedback on the recently prepared Legionella Management Plan. The Public Health Act 2010 and the associated regulation requires Council Officers, building occupiers and building owners to take actions to prevent an outbreak of Legionnaires disease from cooling water systems. A cooling water system contains one or more cooling towers. These devices are used to circulate cooling water which, in turn, cools the air in air conditioning systems. A cooling tower reduces the temperature of water through evaporation (and is often described as an evaporative cooler). Cooling towers are typically found in large commercial buildings. The regulations do not apply to domestic premises.

    Legionnaires disease is a serious condition, and therefore it is important that cooling water systems are well managed to protect public health. The statutory requirements in NSW are consistent with those in other states.

    The Legionella Management Plan outlines the obligations of each of the key stakeholders (Council, building occupiers and building owners) in an easy to read reference document. Council is seeking feedback from the community on the Legionella Management Plan.

    The draft Policy is on exhibition from Monday 22 November to Monday 20 December 2021

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    Council is seeking feedback on its draft Food premises inspection Policy.

    Council staff have prepared a new draft Policy “Food Premises Inspection” to formalise Council’s food inspection program.  The objective of the new draft Policy is to promote compliance with the legislative provisions of NSW food regulation consistent with the objects of the Act; and have a risk-based approach to compliance and enforcement activities through adoption of a graduated and proportionate response to legislative non-compliance. 

    The draft Policy will replace the “Compliance and Enforcement:  Food Safety” Policy that has been rescinded. 

    The draft Food premises inspection Policy is provided in the document library and is on public exhibition from 2 October 2023 to 31 October 2023. 

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    Council is seeking feedback on its draft Advertising signs in public areas Policy.

    Council adopted the Policy “Advertising signs in public areas” at its meeting held 16 August 2017.  The aim of the Policy is to ensure that signs erected or displayed in the Bathurst Region are appropriate to their location and function and do not diminish the visual amenity, aesthetic, heritage significance and character of the locality or detract from the appearance of buildings and places.  It also aims to ensure that movable signs are permitted to be displayed only within a clearly defined policy context and that their numbers, location and appearance will not cause problems of obstruction and visual intrusion in public places. 

    It is proposed the Policy be amended to include: 

    1. updating applicable legislation;updating terminology used; 
    2. bringing clearances in line with Council’s Footpath Restaurant Policy; 
    3. adding new headings; and 
    4. providing an option to renew the approval for a two year period.  Currently the Policy provides for a one year approval. 

    The draft Advertising signs in public areas Policy is provided in the document library and is on public exhibition from 2 October 2023 to 31 October 2023. 

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    Council is seeking feedback on its Footpath Restaurants Policy.

    Council adopted the Policy “Footpath Restaurants” at its meeting held 2 October 2019.  The aim of the Policy is to establish guidelines for the commercial use of public footpaths for outdoor dining. 

    It is proposed the Policy be amended to include: 

    1. updating applicable legislation; 
    2. updating terminology used; 
    3. providing an option to renew the approval for a two year period.  Currently the Policy provides for a one year approval. 

    The draft Footpath Restaurants Policy is provided in the document library and is on public exhibition from 2 October 2023 to 31 October 2023.

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    Council is seeking feedback on its Swimming Pool Inspection Policy.

    Under the Swimming Pool Act Council must develop and adopt a program for the inspection of swimming pools in its area to ensure compliance with the Act.

    The Policy deals with issues such as:

    •  The inspection of residential properties at point of sale or lease
    • The inspection of properties used for tourist visitor accommodation
    • The charging of fees for undertaking inspections.

     The adopted approach of this Policy, therefore, is to: 

    1.  Limit the inspections to those where there is a statutory obligation to do so, that is: 
      1. Commencing 29 March 2016 (or such other time that may be specified by the Department of Local Government, Council will undertake inspections (where requested to do so) at the point of sale/point of lease. 
      2. Commencing 29 March 2014, Council will undertake inspections (where requested to do so) of all tourist and visitor accommodation or more than 2 dwellings  
    2. Continue to investigate swimming pools that do not comply with the applicable standards.  Where swimming pools do not comply, rectification will be required and a swimming pool compliance certificate issued. 
    3. Periodically review the inspection regime to determine the number of inspections being undertaken on an annual basis. 
    4. Charge the full fee as allowed for under the Swimming Pools Regulation for the carrying out of inspections. 

    The draft Swimming Pool Inspections Policy is provided in the document library and is on public exhibition from 3 July 2023 to 31 July 2023.  

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    The Contaminated Land Policy (the Policy) describes how Council will keep relevant records regarding potentially contaminating activities and potentially contaminated land, provide information to interested parties and make decisions regarding activities on contaminated land in the Bathurst Regional Council local government area.  

    The Policy provides a single document which explains the broader statutory framework for managing contaminated land in NSW. It does not create obligations on landholders which exceed the requirements within the legislation. Contaminated Land is primarily managed through the Contaminated Land Management Act 1997 and the Environmental, Planning and Assessment Act 1979.  

    Since the adoption of the Contaminated Land Policy in 2016, there have been several changes to associated legislation such as the Environmental, Planning and Assessment Act 1979. The Contaminated Land Policy has been updated to reflect these changes and ensure consistency with statutory guidelines. 

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    Council is seeking feedback on the Control of Open Burning Policy

    The Control of Open Burning Policy provides guidelines to the community in the application of the Protection of the Environment Operations (POEO) (Clean Air) Regulation (2021). The Policy provides a transparent framework for the management of open burning in the Bathurst Region Local Government Area and has assisted Council in mitigating the public health and environmental risks associated with unapproved or inappropriate burning of material. The Policy applies during what is known as the Open Burning Season, which is usually from 1 April to 30 September each year (but is subject to review by the NSW Rural Fire Service depending on the conditions of the season).

    Most of the recommended changes to the policy are updates to various statutes which have taken place since the last review. Further, there are some minor changes recommended to reflect the current Fire Danger Ratings used by the NSW Rural Fire Service. Council is seeking feedback from the community on the proposed changes to the policy.

    The draft Policy is on exhibition from Monday 22 November to Monday 20 December 2021

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    Council is seeking feedback on the Dangerous and Menacing Dogs Policy

    The Dangerous and Menacing Dogs Policy outlines the process for reviewing representations regarding notices of intention to declare a dog dangerous or menacing, and the risk assessment tools used to determine an appropriate regulatory response to an alleged dog attack. Dog attacks are one of the more serious matters which are investigated by Council Officers, and such incidents are very upsetting for both the alleged victims and dog owners alike. The Dangerous and Menacing Dogs Policy provides transparency to the community on the regulatory response by Council in relation to these matters, and sits alongside Council’s Enforcement Policy.

    As a part of the review, minor changes are recommended to the policy, as well as updates to the risk assessment matrices. This does not substantially change the application of the policy, but it is relevant to seek feedback from the community on the proposed changes.

    The draft Policy is on exhibition from Monday 22 November to Monday 20 December 2021

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    Thank you for your interest in this project.   Please make your submission below.

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    Councils are development regulators. But they also can be the developer, landowner, or hold a commercial interest in the land they regulate. Where councils have this dual role, an inherent conflict can arise between their interests in the development and their duty as regulators. Identifying these conflicts of interest early and finding ways to address them is crucial to good governance and allows councils to strengthen their relationship with communities and build and enhance trust. 

     The State Government made amendments to the Environmental Planning and Assessment Regulation 2021 to address conflicts of interest in council-related development.   Namely, Councils must adopt and have a policy that specifies how conflicts of interest in connection with council-related development applications will be handled. The policy must comply with the requirements in these Guidelines (section 66A).   Council must have the Policy in place by 3 April 2023.   draft Policy has been developed, based off the Model Policy produced by the NSW Department of Planning and Environment, with some alterations to cater for the Bathurst region and the developments that Council regularly undertake. 

    The draft Policy is on public exhibition from Monday 20 February until Monday 20 March 2023.

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    Council is considering a Policy to establish a framework to guide how Council enters into Planning Agreements under the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 and the Environmental Planning and Assessment Regulation 2000 in connection with the development of land in the Bathurst Region.

    A planning agreement is a voluntary agreement between a developer and Council, made in conjunction with a planning proposal or development application, where the developer is required to dedicate land free of cost, make monetary contributions, or provide any other material public benefit, to be used for or applied toward a public purpose.

    Where a Planning Agreement under the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 and the Environmental Planning and Assessment Regulation 2000 is proposed by a developer, Council will follow the principles established in the NSW Department of Planning, Industry and Environment’s Planning Agreements Practice Note (February 2021), as amended from time to time, to negotiate, enter into and administer Planning Agreements.

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  • CLOSED: This survey has concluded.

    Thank you for your interest in this project.   Please make your submission below.

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  • CLOSED: This survey has concluded.

    Thank you for your interest in this project.   Please make your submission below.

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  • CLOSED: This survey has concluded.

    Thank you for your interest in this project.   Please make your submission below.

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  • CLOSED: This survey has concluded.

    Thank you for your interest in this project.   Please make your submission below.

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  • CLOSED: This survey has concluded.

    Thank you for your interest in this project.   Please make your submission below.

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  • CLOSED: This survey has concluded.

    Thank you for your interest in this project.   Please make your submission below.

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  • CLOSED: This survey has concluded.

    Thank you for your interest in the project.   Please make your submission below.

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Page last updated: 26 Mar 2024, 12:24 PM