Briefing of Decisions made at the Council Meeting held on 23 March at the Council Chambers
- Endorsed Council’s submission to the Minister for Local Government relating to Board of Inquiry costs and awarded Contract 2025/26-08: Ferny Hill Road Realignment to the preferred tenderer recommended by the Tender Assessment Committee, in the Closed Session portion of the Meeting.
- Confirmed the minutes from the February Council Meeting.
- Confirmed the agenda for the March Council Meeting.
- Noted answers to public questions taken on notice at the February Council Meeting; and received questions without notice from Karl Willrath – relating to Right to Information processes and records, and Scott Timmins on behalf of Branxholm Events Committee – relating to the installation of a commercial dishwasher, with both questions taken on notice.
- Received a public address from North East Tasmania Chamber of Commerce Chair – Fiona Auton, on the importance of the Rail Trail Stage 3 project to the business sector and the region.
- Noted answers to Councillor questions taken on notice at the February Council Meeting; and received questions without notice from Councillor Hughes – relating to Council’s role in the building of the Child and Family Learning Centre, and what the cost of the recent vandalism is, Councillor Chilcott – relating to whether Council has a policy on defibrillators and is there a list of locations within Dorset, and Councillor Teichmann – relating to control of European wasps in Derby, and maintenance to the Old Mine Office in Derby – which were taken on notice.
- Debated the Motion with Notice from Councillor Wendy McLennan relating to the removal of the North East Rail Trail stage 3 project from the Strategic Plan as a priority project and, as a consequence, remove it from the Annual Plan and Operational Plan, with a Procedural Motion carried to defer the item to a Workshop for further discussion.
- Received and noted a half-yearly governance update relating to the Memorandum of Understanding between Council and the Blue Derby Foundation.
- Endorsed Officer recommendation to decline a request from Dorset Renewable Industries Pty Ltd for reimbursement of invoices totalling $29,058.98, noting that the works were undertaken without Council authorisation or procurement approval, no agreement or commitment to fund the works was entered into, one invoice submitted does not relate to the rail trail works, and under legislation, responsibility for preventing drainage entering a corridor rest with the adjoining landowner unless consent has been granted by the corridor manager.
- Noted the correspondence received requesting Council to consider purchasing 75 Main Street, Derby for car parking purposes, and agreed to not undertake further investigation, negotiation or assessment in relation to this request at this time, and that any future consideration of additional land acquisition in Derby be addressed through an adopted Master Planning process or where identified as a priority within Council’s Strategic Plan, Long Term Financial Plan, Asset Management Plans or other formally adopted Council strategy.
- Agreed that Council not pursue acquisition of a Crown Land parcel of land in Emma Street, Bridport, noting that this determination has been made following consideration of the financial, operational, strategic, risk and governance implications outlined, and adopted a 12-month moratorium on the investigation, negotiation or acquisition of land not identified within Council’s Strategic Plan, Asset Plans or endorsed master planning documents, unless otherwise resolved by Council.
- Adopted new Policy No. 70 – Local Government Election Caretaker Period, which will be used during the upcoming 2026 Local Government elections.
- Approved allocation of funding via the Small Grants Fund for 2025/26 Round 2 to the Bridport Community Men’s Shed ($699) to purchase a hand pallet truck to assist members to move heavy items.
- Approved allocation of funding via the Matching Grants Fund for 2025/26 Round 2 to the Ringarooma Golf Club ($13,700) to replace an existing dilapidated unsafe shed.
- Adopted reviewed Policy No. 50 – Gifts and Benefits.
- Appointed Ms Jan Lynch as Chairperson of the Council Audit Panel, and Mr Ian Wright as Independent Member, both for a term of two years commencing 23 March 2026 and expiring on 22 March 2028.
- Noted Workshops held since the last Council Meeting, being 3 March, a Community Meet and Greet Session at Ringarooma on 11 March and an External Presentations Workshop on 17 March.
- Noted the Mayor’s calendar for the period 12 February to 18 March 2026.
- Noted the Management Team Briefing Report which included a watching brief on the Iran conflict relating to fuel supply and cost implications, and reports on Customer Service Requests, Waste Management, Regulatory Approvals and monthly report on the status of the 2025/26 Capital Works Program.
Council experienced technical difficulties with the audio / visual recording of the Meeting, which wasn’t identified until after the Meeting had closed. With no recording available for public distribution, a detailed briefing of decisions has been provided above, with minutes from the meeting available to view on Council’s website by no later than close of business this Friday, 27 March 2026. We apologise for any inconvenience this has caused, with Officers investigating the issue to ensure it does not occur again.
For further information on any of these items, please contact Mayor Rhys Beattie (0409 921 683) or General Manager, Mr John Marik (03 6352 6500).
