EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST
Community Representatives on Council Committees

Council at its meeting on 11 November 2008 determined its Committees and following that meeting wishes to invite expressions of interest from community members to serve on a number of committees that have community representation.

The appointments will be made by Council and then the membership of the committees will be reviewed by Council on an annual basis.

Expressions of Interest, closing 4.30pm, Tuesday, 6 January 2009, are sought from community members to serve in a voluntary capacity on the Council Committees listed. Further information on the Committee objectives and meeting frequency can be obtained by contacting the Council officer shown.

Expressions of interest are to be addressed to the General Manager, Kempsey Shire Council, PO Box 3078, West Kempsey. People expressing interest should clearly indicate the Committee or Committees that they are interested in serving on and provide Council with a brief resume containing contact details, experience and area of interest.

REDUCE YOUR WATER BILL

The quarterly water meter readings are finished and we have found several very high reads. It is good to remember:

• Regular checks of your water meter readings can alert you to possible water leaks.
• If you live on a rural property check stock troughs to ensure they are not overflowing.
• Maintain and service all water lines on your side of the meter. Council is only responsible for damaged lines on the other side of the meter.
• Council has a path tap attached to your water meter – do not use the tap as a means to regulate supply. Council cannot accept responsibility for water consumption resulting from failure or alleged failure of a Council path tap. It is suggested you install a path tap on your side of the meter.
• Make you water meter easily accessible – remove overgrowing bushes or shrubs and do not bury the meter. This assists Council’ Staff in reading the meter in a timely manner.
  The accounts will be issued in early January 2009. Please note, water accounts are a 30 day account.

CHEMICAL SENSITIVITY REGISTER

In accordance with Council’s Policy on Chemical Sensitivity, residents within the Kempsey Shire area are asked to advise Council if they are chemically sensitive. On receipt of written notification accompanied by a Doctor’s Certificate you will be included on Council’s Chemical Sensitivity Register. Should you have any concerns or questions relating to this matter please contact Council’s Shire Services Department on 6566 3200.

PAYMENT OF RATES – DID YOU FORGET?

Ratepayers are reminded that the second rate instalment was due for payment on or before 30 November 2008. Failure to finalise the payment by the due date will result in interest charges and the possible commencement of legal action for recovery of rates due. Please note that should legal action become necessary you will be liable for all debt recovery costs in accordance with the Civil Procedures Act 2005. The only exception to this relates to those ratepayers who have been granted a “Pensioners Rebate.” Ratepayers in this category have until 31 May 2009 to finalise their account in full, however arrears on a Pensioners account must be finalised immediately and is the subject of daily interest charges.

Should you be experiencing difficulties in paying your rates, please contact Council to make a suitable arrangement for settlement of the account.

COMPLAINTS & COMPLIMENTS

Council has adopted a Complaints and Compliments Policy relating to Council Activities which aims to improve customer service and to develop a procedure to effectively and consistently manage complaints in relation to Council activities, receive compliments and present management and staff with the opportunity to:

• Provide a high level of service and satisfaction to customers who may have expressed dissatisfaction with Council
• Identify areas of Council’s services which may require improvement
• Utilise compliments to assess service delivery levels
• Strengthen public support for Council and improve its public image in the eyes of the community
• Provide a means of checking that Council is complying with the National Competition Policy

In conjunction with this Policy, Council has prepared a brochure for residents to assist them should they wish to lodge a complaint, make a suggestion or offer a compliment to staff. The brochure answers the following questions:

• what should I do if I wish to complain?
• To whom do I address my complaint?
• What happens after I make my complaint? And
• What happens if I am unhappy with the results?

Copies of this brochure are available at Council’s Customer First Centre or can be downloaded from our website – www.kempsey.nsw.gov.au.

NOTICE OF PROPOSED DEVELOPMENTS

The following applications have been received and are notified in accordance with Council’s Policy.
NOTE: Not all applications received require public notification.

The applications and plans relating to the developments to which this notice refers may be inspected at Council’s Customer First Centre, Tozer Street, West Kempsey, any time between 8.30am and 4.30pm from Monday to Friday (public holidays excepted) for the period stated above.

At anytime during which the application may be inspected, any person:
1 who has received written notice of a proposed development from Council; or
2 who owns land and who contends that his enjoyment of that land will be detrimentally affected if a proposed development is carried out; or
3 who feels that a proposed development will adversely affect the character or amenity of the surrounding area may object in writing to Council.
A person or associate of the person who makes a submission in relation to the application must make a disclosure of any reportable political donation or gift made in the previous 2 years (and up to the time the matter is determined).

The disclosure (Disclosure Statement of Political Donations and Gifts) will need to accompany the submission. A Disclosure Form and further details can be obtained from Council’s website or Customer First Centre.

If the application will need to be considered by Council, a precis of submissions received will be included in a report to Council for determination of the application. Copies of submissions may be included in the Appendices to the Business Paper unless specifically requested by the writer not to be included and the submission is clearly headed “confidential”.

PUBLIC NOTIFICATION OF DEVELOPMENT CONSENTS - ISSUED BY COUNCIL

Consent has been granted for the following applications.

A record of consents may be inspected, without charge, at the Customer First Centre of the Kempsey Shire Council, Civic Centre, Tozer Street, West Kempsey, between 8.30 am and 4.30 pm from Monday to Friday (public holidays excepted).