Armidale Dumaresq Ratepayers Association Annual Report 2015

12/10/15

Inc. No. 1400461

ARMIDALE DUMARESQ RATEPAYERS ASSOCIATION INC.
Annual Report 2015
Prepared by Chairman/Public Officer Maria Hitchcock
Presented Monday, 12th October 2015 at the ADRA AGM in the Armidale Bowling Club
Chairmans Report
It is with great pleasure that I present the second Chairmans Report of this Association. 2015 has been a
very active year for our members and the next few months are likely to see some major changes. It is
possible that ADC will be forced to amalgamate with neighbouring councils which will create a much
bigger Local Government Area with many more rural roads and properties. If this goes ahead it is vital that
those residents have a voice in Councils decision-making process. Our Association has been very
disappointed with ADCs performance this year to the point where our complaints elicited an invitation for
us to request an Office of Local Government Better Practice Review. At this stage we are still waiting to
hear from the Minister but we are using every resource open to us to force change on ADC.
The year began with us assisting the Dumaresq Local Area Committee in its fight to save Dumaresq Dam.
As a result Councillors voted to upgrade the dam according to Arups recommendations. However a recent
decision to change the structure of the Dams Safety Committee means that this project may be put on hold.
As long as no action is taken the Dam will always be under threat. We will need to take some action
ourselves when the Fit for the Future decision is made. In an Express online poll, two-thirds of the people
who voted wanted the upgrade to go ahead.
We received no reply to or submission for the Rural Waste Management fee to be scrapped. Instead Council
lowered the fee to $102 and extended it to vacant houses in the country and vacant properties in town. We
feel this is a bizarre decision which we will continue to oppose.
The new Landfill continues to be swathed in mystery. We cannot get answers to any questions about this.
Council borrowed $14m which it invested for the project. We estimate that the levy (now $140 pa) must be
bringing in over $1m annually. Where is this money going? This needs some serious investigation.
Meantime some our councillors continued to support the unaffordable Civic Precinct Project, offering false
hope to those well-meaning and talented members of our community who are keen to see a new Concert
Hall built on the site of the current Library. We had the Library wars with a grand rally held in front of the
Civic Administration Building, lots of letters being sent to and fro and opinions on both sides published in a
variety of media. ADRAs position is clear. We will never support another SRV unless it is for essential
infrastructure. There are other options for a Library upgrade that need to be costed and put to the people so
that the whole community has a say. ADRA is puzzled as to why the Civic Precinct Committee is treating
this as a matter of urgency.
ADC voted not to use Roads to Recovery money for sealing new country roads. This created much anger
among our rural residents. We have asked Adam Marshall to arrange a meeting for our group when the
Minister for Roads is in the district. That has not been supported. We have also asked Adam to facilitate a
meeting with the Minister for Local Government. This has also not happened. It may be that we will have to
seek a meeting with the Leader of the Opposition in NSW if we want to get our message across.
This year we changed our constitution to bring us in line with the Victorian Association. The new rules
mean that councillors and senior council officers are not permitted to attend our meetings. They will need to
be invited as speakers. Public meetings are open to everyone and they may attend those.
Concept plans were released for Dumaresq Dam and the Airport Precinct and we invited Tim weeks to
speak to us at our August meeting.
By far the issue that caused the most concern was the new base rate system. The scheme was so damaging
1

Armidale Dumaresq Ratepayers Association Annual Report 2015

12/10/15

Inc. No. 1400461

to our community that we organised meetings with the GM and council officers, with Adam Marshall and
we held an extraordinary meeting of business people. We have made comparator charts and gathered much
evidence including Local Government Act requirements. It appears that ADC may have breached some of
these. We have written to the Shadow Ministers for the Greens, David Shoebridge and the Shadow Minister
for the Opposition, Peter Primrose. We will pursue this matter at the highest levels until an official inquiry
is started.
Council elections are less than a year away. Residents who would like to stand need to start developing a
public profile now. People will not vote for you if they do not know who you are. You do not need to
declare your candidacy until later. A good way to start is by joining our committee and learning how Local
Government works. Please do not leave it to the last minute.
I would like to take this opportunity to wish you all a very enjoyable summer and Christmas season and
look forward to working with you all in 2016.
Maria Hitchcock (Chairman/Public Officer)
1.

Membership
There are 466 members of the Armidale Dumaresq Ratepayers Association.
The majority are email members and the remainder are postal members. The
association is endeavouring to obtain the emails from postal members to assist
with communications. Members use their personal networks to communicate with
non-email members. Membership is restricted to ratepayers, leaseholders, business
people and residents having a principle residence or business within the ADC
Boundary.

2.

Committee for 2015

Chairman/Public Officer: Maria Hitchcock
Vice-Chairman: Rob Taber
Minutes Secretary: Dora Koops
Treasurer: Dale Curtis
Archivist: Margaret Gunter
Committee: Trish McRae

3.

Area
The area covered by this Association is the Armidale Dumaresq Local Government
Area.

4.

Meetings
General meetings were held on four occasions in February, April, June and August
and an Extraordinary meeting was held in September.
Committee meetings were held on five occasions in February, April, May, August
and September.
Residents were emailed to notify them of meetings and agenda items in advance.
An advertisement was placed in the newspaper for the September meeting. There
was also radio advertising for this meeting.
A delegation of residents met with Adam Marshallto discuss the rates issue.

Armidale Dumaresq Ratepayers Association Annual Report 2015

12/10/15

Inc. No. 1400461

General meetings to be held during 2015/2016.
7th December
1st February
4th April
6th June
1st August
10th October AGM
Committee meetings will be held on
30th November
25th January
21st March (Easter Monday 28th)
30th May
25th July
26th September
These dates may be varied as the need arises.
Extraordinary meetings will be called to discuss important issues that arise,
5.

Funding
Membership if the Association shall be free of charge during 2016. Funding will be
sought through donations, crowd funding and grants. The Association continues to
be given in-kind support by the Armidale Bowling club which allows us to use
meeting rooms free of charge. A financial statement is required by the Department
of Fair Trading within a month of the AGM.

6.

Bulletins and communications

Electronic bulletins are circulated to all members via email or printed and given out
via friend networks. The Bulletins contain copies of letters sent to the newspapers,
scans of letters received, copies of reports in Council Minutes, tables and other
documents. Unfortunately we have had to restrict member comments due to a
previous threat of legal action by two councillors. The Bulletins are an important
source of information regarding Council matters. They are approved by the whole
committee before being bulk mailed. Bulletins 13 to 29 were prepared by the
Chairman, Maria Hitchcock and emailed out to members. A new website was
developed (www.adratepayers.weebly.com) and the Facebook Page was taken
down.

7.

Aims and Objectives

The Associations aims and objectives were formulated and are published in each
Bulletin. They are:
Aims
1. The Armidale Dumaresq Ratepayers Associations purpose for being is to
promote public awareness of Local Government policies and to empower
ratepayers and residents to learn more about, responsibly challenge and
negotiate with Council and Councillors over ratepayer issues in an impartial and
non-partisan manner.

Armidale Dumaresq Ratepayers Association Annual Report 2015

12/10/15

Inc. No. 1400461

2. The Armidale Dumaresq Ratepayers Association strives to maintain strong
supportive links between the extended community and its elected representatives,
especially on issues that affect the sustainability and enjoyment of this unique
community and to promote and enhance the wellbeing and amenity of residents,
ratepayers, businesses, renters and visitors within the Armidale Dumaresq Council
boundary.
3. The Armidale Dumaresq Ratepayers Association exists to ensure the
correct relationship between ratepayers and residents with their elected
representatives on Council. ie The Council exists to serve the ratepayers not visaversa. This to be measured in terms of ratepayer satisfaction with their Council.
Objectives:
1. Obtaining and disseminating information on local government issues that
are relevant to the Armidale Dumaresq community as a whole;
2. Facilitating discussion on issues, and communicating the collective views
of the community to the relevant authorities, our elected representatives and to
other individuals and organisations that impact on Armidale Dumaresq;
3. Encouraging the involvement of the community in the decision-making
process of Local, State and Federal Government on issues that are particularly
relevant to Armidale Dumaresq ensuring that our significant investments (time,
money and emotions) and our rural lifestyle are protected;
4. Suggest ideas, plans and programs that will benefit the Armidale
Dumaresq community and its unique environment to become safer, stronger,
sustainable and able to prosper;
5. Promote appropriate development, equitable rating and ensure that services
and infrastructure keep pace with the communitys needs while also providing value
for money.
8.

Major issues dealt with in 2014

8.1

The Civic Precinct Project

We were successful in having the majority of councillors reject a motion to
apply for a Stronger Regions Grant for Stage 1 which included a new Library,
an underground carpark and meeting rooms. The grant requited a $ for $
contribution from Council. ADRA liaised with Councillors Murat and
Halligan in opposition to the vote. Councillor Murat showed that ADC was in
fact not eligible to apply for the grant as they needed to have their contribution
up front.

8.2

Dumaresq Dam
Our petition with 1800 names was presented to Council. 73 written
submissions were sent. Councillors voted unanimously for an upgrade. Arup
was engaged to do the Design work for the upgrade. A report was to be
released in September. New legislation changing the structure of the Dams
Safety Committee passed through State parliament in September. This has the
power to delay the project by several years.
4

Armidale Dumaresq Ratepayers Association Annual Report 2015

12/10/15

Inc. No. 1400461

8.3

New Landfill
There has been no progress reported and much secrecy surrounding this
development. ADRA needs to take it to the next level.

8.4

New Base rate system

Council moved to introduce a new base rate system which was a disaster in
the community. ADRA has called for a Better Practice Review. ADRA has
written to several parliamentarians and is pursuing this at the highest levels
until an inquiry is initiated.

8.5

Rural Waste Management Charge

Council failed to respond to our submission to scrap the unfair and discriminatory
charge and instead extended it. ADRA will continue to oppose it.

8.6 At the time of this report ADRA is unsure if an amalgamation is to take place. Once an
announcement is made ADRA will develop a plan of action.
9.

Financial Statement prepared by Dale Curtis (Treasurer)

A12 October 2015

Financial Statement
Newcastle Permanent

13/11/14 Balance

14/11/14 Armidale Bowling Club

18/11/14 Donations

Income Expenditure Balance





$526.00





Second attempt to pay for
$75.00

$30.00

21/11/14
30/11/14
27/03/15
30/04/15
6/05/15
31/05/15
2/06/15
11/08/15

NSW Fair Trading Bank Cheque

Newcastle Permanent
AOK Signs
Donations at 30/4/15 meeting
NSW Fair Trading Bank Cheque
Newcastle Permanent
D & M Hitchcock
Donations at Meeting

$53.00
$4.00
$209.00

$39.45



$25.00

$45.00
$4.00
$4.80

9/09/15 Donations at Meeting

12/10/15 New Balance

$101.75

$451.00 meeting room hire

$481.00 TM BANK:AD RatePayers
Annual Summary of
$428.00 Financial Affairs
$424.00 Bank cheque fee
$215.00 A-Frame + 2 corflute signs
$254.45
$209.45 Change of constitution
$205.45 Bank cheque fee
$200.65 Expense claim by Maria
$225.65

$181.75
donations less
$327.40 $80 hire fees

$327.40