Goulburn Mulwaree Council’s growth, strategy and culture director Louise Wakefield said the development application was still being assessed.

The council wants to transform the 1887 EC Manfred designed building into an $11.2 million 400-seat performance space, complete with foyer and cafe.  

The recently exhibited development application attracted 19 public submissions, including eight in support and 11 objecting, Ms Wakefield said. The latter raised concerns about parking and heritage, Mrs Wakefield said. 

Among these was a 529-signature petition organised by Goulburn Bi-Rite owner Kim Gann objecting to the DA’s lack of a parking plan and more broadly, suggestions that any part of the CBD should be closed off to traffic as part of beautification works.

Mrs Wakefield said planners had to respond to these issues before the assessment could be completed.

A recommendation will then be made to the Southern Joint Regional Planning Panel, who will decide the DA, given its monetary value. A site inspection and briefing was held on March 16.

Meantime, the council’s community services staff will shift out of the McDermott Centre into the Clinton Street office by the end of June. 

Business services manager Brendan Hollands said U3A and the Gem Society would be moved to the council’s Bourke Street depot for 12 months and possibly longer.

“We will continue to work with both groups to secure more permanent housing for their programs,” he said.

The council is firming up access to new residential subdivisions off River Street through the construction of a ring road.

The area has taken off in recent time with home construction and strong land sales. A ring road, connecting River Street with Sanctuary Drive, has been on the books since 2012. The construction, to take place in 2017/18, will be jointly funded by developer contributions and the council.

At their recent meeting councillors agreed to acquire to acquire 825 square metres of land at 24 Gilmore Street and 1432 square metres at 19 River Street as part of the work. The owners will be paid $8,535 and $37, 948 respectively in compensation, based on Valuer General valuations.

Two parcels of privately owned land will also be swapped between the parties as part of the road extension. The road will be dedicated for public use.

Owners of a Kings Way property received a shock when their water bill arrived last October.

The $1413.72 bill for the period July 18, 2016 to October 17, 2016 was way above the norm at $1413.72. It equated to a daily average usage of 319 kilolitres.

They requested a reduction in the account, at the same time asking whether council roadworks nearby could have contributed to the problem.

But water operations business services manager Marina Hollands said the roadwork took place after the billing period.

Further, there was no visible leak. 

“The meter was changed during this quarter and and there was high water use either side of its replacement, indicating it was not due to the meter,” she stated in a report.

Cr Andrew Banfield moved a compromise. He proposed that the account be based on an average across the year instead, excluding the July, 2016 quarter bill.

“I understand we have a policy but this residence has been vacant for some time with the owner doing periodic maintenance,” he said.

“There has been no indication of high water use or a leak and I think we have room in our policy to consider this (reduction).”

But Mayor Bob Kirk urged caution. He stressed that the council had so far stuck to its Water Leakage Policy.

“It’s not due to a faulty meter and it occurred after the roadwork,” he said.

“...I’ve been approached by two ratepayers over the past week with similar concerns and I’ve advised them of our policy. If you leave the lights on, you still get an electricity bill, if you leave the tap on, you still get a water bill. That’s the reality.” 

Others, including Deputy Mayor Alf Walker and Cr Peter Walker agreed. Cr Banfield’s motion was defeated and the request for a discount denied.

A not-for-profit organisation in McGuire Drive, Goulburn, also applied for leniency. In February it received a water bill for $9,051 for using 2356kl of water between October 19, 2016 and February 7, 2017. The average daily usage was 21.2kl.

A subsequent council inspection revealed a faulty float on the tank, causing water to flow through the bypass directly into stormwater. Staff advised the owner to call a plumber. They also recommended to councillors that the request for a discount be declined.

Cr Banfield reiterated his “disappointment” with the Kings Way decision.

Cr Sam Rowland also said he was prepared to exercise discretion and foreshadowed a similar motion to Cr Banfield’s previous one.

“There’s some strong subjective material before us and I speak against the (existing) motion,” he said.

But the majority of councillors upheld the policy, voting to decline the request for a discount.

Meantime, a separate report showed that Goulburn used 277 megalitres of water in February with a daily average of 9.9ML. The Highland Source was not used due to subdivision work occurring on a section of the Bowral to Goulburn pipeline.

Blue-green algae was detected at Pejar and Sooley dams in Febuary. Staff erected warning signs and implemented higher dosing at the water treatment plant.