At the Tweed Shire Council meeting from October 23, most items were passed unanimously.
Notable exceptions with differing votes were around NSW Labor’s planned overhaul of the planning act, and updating the Code of Meeting Practice (Model) Policy.
Issues addressed included development applications, roadworks, adoptions of committee meetings, financials and questions with notice.
As Mayor Chris Cherry was absent for around half the meeting, deputy mayor Reece Byrne stepped in.
Telecom facility approved
Councillors voted unanimously for an amended Development Application (DA22/0088.01) for a telecommunications facility at 1126 Pottsville Road, Pottsville.
It was approved subject to staff’s recommended amendments to conditions, and includes a planning agreement ‘as outlined in the attached letter of offer’.
Cudgen Lakes Sand Quarry mod objection
Councillors unanimously supported staff’s objection to a modification of the existing Cudgen Lakes Sand Quarry, owned and operated by Gales-Kingscliff Pty Ltd. Council’s submission will ‘be forwarded to the Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure as a final submission’.
Bogangar rezoning request denied
A Planning Proposal to rezone Lot 1 DP 818394 Clothiers Creek Road, Bogangar, to facilitate a dwelling house and apply conservation zoning was rejected by all councillors. Cr Rhiannon Brinsmead declared a non pecuniary, significant interest, and did not vote for the item.
The applicant was advised about a Rezoning Review pathway.
Community assets licence fee review extended
Councillors unanimously voted to provide the general manager with an extension of Council’s licence agreements with all tenants impacted by the review.
Temporary access over Council owned land deferred
A request for a 12-month extension of the temporary access licence to MAAS Commercial Developments Pty Ltd over Council owned operational land at Parkes Drive, Tweed Heads West was deferred by councillors ‘in order to receive a report on verification of the developments current compliance with the conditions of consent’.
Cr James Owen declared a pecuniary interest owing to a ‘employment matter’ and did not vote. Those voting for the deferment were Cr Reece Byrnes (Deputy Mayor), Cr Meredith Dennis, and Cr Nola Firth, while Crs Rhiannon Brinsmead and Kimberly Hone voted against.
Council proposes to sell interest in aged care units
Councillors unanimously voted to advertise its intention to dispose of Council’s part interest in 15 Margret Street, Tweed Heads.
The staff report reads, ‘The property consists of eight self-contained units, which were constructed following the grant in 1992 of joint funding to the then Department of Housing and Council for an aged persons housing project under the then Local Government and Community Housing Program’.
Staff say the property is jointly owned by NSW Land and Housing Corporation (LAHC). LAHC is the majority landowner.
Justification for the sale was there was ‘little value to Council in retaining the 1/5th ownership of the property, and that the property should be transferred to LAHC/Homes NSW to own entirely.’
‘If LAHC/Homes NSW were to own the property in its entirety, then they could more easily lease it to Northern Rivers Housing. This is because Council’s written consent to any leasing arrangement would not be required. Council officers propose to dispose of Council’s 1/5th interest to Homes NSW’.
Homes NSW invited to present to councillors
Councillors unanimously voted to invite Homes NSW ‘to present to Councillors on their model of where they place housing, what type of housing they are choosing and are they in line with Tweed Shire’s Strategies and community expectations’.
The motion was penned by Councillor Kimberly Hone. She wrote in the agenda, ‘Recently there has been State Significant developments of multiple story unit-style affordable and/or social housing projects in built up areas of the Tweed that are attracting large amounts of negative feedback from the surrounding community’.
‘Owing to the State Significance of these projects, council has little say in their initiation and implementation and these projects are not obligated to meet current council planning policies. I want to ensure that the appropriate community consultation has been undertaken and that the state governments approach to the housing crisis is balanced, appropriate and safe for tenants and local residents’.
Murwillumbah District Hospital supported
Councillors unanimously voted to support ‘the community’s campaign to retain all current facilities and services at Murwillumbah District Hospital’.
The motion also ‘Notes that in recent years the hospital has been downgraded without community and staff consultation, and the Local Health District have acknowledged that their approach to those events was unsatisfactory to all stakeholders involved’.
Councillors also oppose ‘any downgrading, closure, or reduction in facilities or services at Murwillumbah District Hospital’.
Letters are to be sent to local and state MPs and Tracey Maisey, Chief Executive Northern NSW Local Health District, calling for: ‘A clear commitment to maintain Murwillumbah District Hospital at the current level with no downgrading, closure, or reduction in facilities or services; The public release of any short or long-term plans for Murwillumbah District Hospital; and a firm commitment to community consultation on any decisions made with respect to Murwillumbah District Hospital facilities and services’.
Putting names to Council communications
Councillors unanimously voted to require ‘all official written correspondence from Tweed Shire Council to be signed off by a named officer, including their position title and relevant contact details, unless anonymity is required’.
The General Manager has also been directed ‘to update communication guideline and staff procedures to reflect this requirement’.
Local Impacts of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Amendment (Planning System Reforms) Bill 2025
‘Sweeping changes’ proposed to the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979’ by NSW Labor prompted the majority of councillors to adopt a motion raising concerns of the impact it could have on Tweed Council – and all NSW councils.
Put forward by Cr Nola Firth, her motion outlines impacts and will see a letter written to relevant ministers and the premier expressing the concerns.
Cr Firth’s motion says the reform, ‘introduces a new assessment category (“targeted development assessment”) that makes it unlawful to consider environmental impacts, site suitability, and public interest’.
It also ‘restricts assessment of cumulative and indirect impacts of a development such as traffic and roads; and removes the requirement to consult with the Environment Department before making an environmental planning instrument that would adversely affect critical habitat or threatened species, populations or ecological communities, or their habitats.
She says the bill requires only ‘significant’ impacts to be taken into account when the term ‘significant’ is not defined and therefore open to debate and ‘centralises planning powers in new state-led authorities by: removing direct contact with state departments, abolishing regional panels and decreasing opportunity for community consultation and individualised conditions on development approvals. The change decreases transparency and opportunity for independent review and for adaptation to local conditions’.
Councils will be required, she says, ‘to assess variations to complying developments within the extremely short time frame of ten days after which time the variation will be automatically approved’.
Those who voted for were Cr Chris Cherry (Mayor), Crs Reece Byrnes (Deputy Mayor), Meredith Dennis, and Nola Firth.
Those against were Crs Rhiannon Brinsmead, Kimberly Hone, and James Owen.
Repairs to Greenhills to provide safe secure housing for vulnerable women
Councillors unanimously voted to pursue ‘as a matter of urgency an outcome that provides housing for women suffering from homelessness and/or family violence at the old Greenhills Nursing Home, while retaining as many rooms as possible on the site.’
Staff have been asked to seek government funding for repairs ‘to make it habitable’ which needs to be ‘achieved within six months as it has sat vacant for far too long’.
Code of Meeting Practice (Model) Policy
With all NSW councils being required to adopt a new Code of Meeting Practice (Model) Policy, Tweed councillors thrashed the issue through, with an amended motion by Cr Reece Byrnes being adopted.
Notable changes to the policy include: ‘Each Councillor may submit up to two Notices of Motion (NoMs) per meeting’; Questions with notice shall be limited to one question per Councillor per Council meeting, and be limited to 100 words or less and be succinct and without argument in the format of the question.
The policy will go on public exhibition for a period 28 days with submissions to be received for a period of 42 days.
Those voting for were Cr Chris Cherry (Mayor), Cr Reece Byrnes (Deputy Mayor), Cr Meredith Dennis, Cr Nola Firth
Against were Crs Rhiannon Brinsmead, Kimberly Hone, and James Owen.
Not all items were covered in the roundup – to see the full agenda minutes, visit the Tweed Council website.
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