Expressions of interest (offers) are invited for the sale of the following;

One (1) 1996 Massey Ferguson 362, Rego No. VAT294, Expiry 1/04/08, SN 5726D37142, Engine No. LD312800699438A, Showing 7,476 Hrs, ROPS Air Conditioned Cab, Serviced and Maintained by Council, Machine Pick Up and Inspection at Council Works Depot.

Any successful expressions of interest will be responsible for their own transport arrangements.

Inspections can be held at Council’s Thompson Street Depot West Kempsey by appointment only. Photos can be found from our website at www.kempsey.nsw.gov.au or any queries can be directed to Carol Dean on (02) 6566 2410.

The best or any expression of interest will not necessarily be accepted.

Expressions of interest must be received by 10:00 am Tuesday, 18 March 2008.

Addressed to: The General Manager, Kempsey Shire Council
PO Box 3078, West Kempsey NSW 2440

PAYMENT OF RATES – DID YOU FORGET?

Ratepayers are reminded that the third rate instalment was due for payment on or before 28 Febuary. 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, 2008 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.

HALF DAY PUBLIC HOLIDAYS 2008

The following public half day holidays have been gazetted by the NSW Department of Industrial Relations for the Kempsey Shire Council area:-

• Wednesday afternoon, 9 April 2008 for Kempsey Show
• Thursday afternoon, 8 May 2008 for Kempsey Cup.

Local public holidays are gazetted under the Banks and Banks Holidays Act of 1912. This act requires that banks are closed on local public holidays. An appointed local holiday under the Act benefits employees who have an industrial award, agreement or contract of employment which confers a right of paid absence (or penalty rates in lieu) on the local public holiday. In the absence of such express coverage within an applicable industrial instrument, the conferring of the benefit of a local public holiday to employees is entirely within the discretion of individual employers.

COMMUNICATION IS IMPORTANT

Council provides residents and ratepayers with lots of opportunities to discover what is happening at Council. These are just some of the methods we use to communicate with you:

• Weekly ads and Mayoral Column in the local press;
• Regular media releases sent to local and regional media;
• Weekly program on Tank FM on Mondays at 10.10am;
• On-site inspections, workshops and public meetings relating to specific subjects or issues;
• Letterbox drops and mail-outs when appropriate;
• Displays at events such as the Kempsey Show;
• the production of comprehensive public documents including the Annual Report, Management Plan and the State of the Environment Report;
• Meeting agendas and minutes;
• Community Newsletters;
• Council’s email mailing list; and
• surveys.

Many Council documents are available on our website at www.kempsey.nsw.gov.au and copies of some recent documents are often available at Customer First or at Shire Library branches in Kempsey, South West Rocks, Hat Head and Stuarts Point.

You are invited to attend Council meetings and arrangements can be made for you to address Council or, if this is not convenient, think about inviting a Councillor or staff member to attend a community meeting which you are involved with. If you would like to suggest a new, different and cost effective way of communicating with us, please drop us a line at PO Box 3078, West Kempsey, fax us on 6566 3205 or email us ksc@kempsey.nsw.gov.au.

DEVELOPMENT APPLICATION PUBLIC REGISTER

Council has introduced a free Development Application Public Register online service that provides details on all applications received by Council since 1980.

This service is not designed to monitor progress on the approval of individual applications but rather to allow members of the public to ascertain basic information, such as the development application number and copies of the Development Determinations from 2006. Being able to supply such details may save you time and money in search fees when seeking further information on a particular development from Council.

The information displayed will include Application Number, Applicant Name, Application Lodgement Date, Development Description, Property Location and Determination.

You will find the online DA register on our website at www.kempsey.nsw.gov.au, go to the heading ‘Departments’, click on ‘Sustainable Development Services’, then ‘DA Register’ . If you are unsure how the service works, or if you need more detailed information, please contact Council on 65663200.

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.

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).

YOUTH ADVISORY COUNCIL – Call for nominations

Kempsey Shire Council is calling for nominations to be involved in the second term of the Macleay Valley Youth Advisory Council from 1st April 2008 to 28th February 2009.

Kempsey Shire Council is calling for nominations to be involved in the second term of the Macleay Valley Youth Advisory Council from 1st April 2008 to 28th February 2009.  The Macleay Valley Youth Advisory Council is a 12 member Council of youth between the ages of 12 to 25 years.

The purpose of the Macleay Valley Youth Advisory Council (MVYAC) is an advisory committee that provides a local ‘youth voice’ in government policy and decision-making. The committee keeps Kempsey Shire Council informed on issues that are significantly important to the young people of the Kempsey Shire. It will also provide the chance to plan and hold youth events, improve personal development, and liaise with local, state and federal government bodies.

No matter whom you are, or what you do, you can put your hand up to become part of this Youth Advisory Council for Kempsey Shire. Existing members need to reapply for membership.
If you would like to nominate to be part of the ‘youth voice of the shire’ nominations forms are available on Council’s website www.kempsey.nsw.gov.au or by contacting Council’s Customer First Centre. For further information concerning the Youth Advisory Council please do not hesitate to contact Mrs Melanie Booth on telephone 6566 3221.

Nominations close on Friday, 14th March 2008 with application forms to be forwarded to Mrs Melanie Booth, Macleay Valley Youth Advisory Council Nomination, Kempsey Shire Council, PO Box 3078 West Kempsey NSW 2440 or email them to ksc@kempsey.nsw.gov.au.

APPLICATIONS CALLED FOR MENTORING PROGRAM FOR POTENTIAL COUNCILLORS

Applications are invited from residents who are eligible to be on the electoral roll for Kempsey Shire Council elections and, are interested in becoming a Councillor to take part in a Mentoring Program for Potential Councillors to be run between Monday, 7 April, and Saturday, 1 August 2008.

The criteria for a person to be included in the Kempsey Shire Council Mentoring Program are that he/she:

1. Must be a resident of Kempsey Shire or own property in the Shire and be eligible to vote in Kempsey Shire elections.
2. Must be seriously considering standing for election at the council electing on 13 September 2008.
3. Needs to be available during business hours to undertake the program.
4. Needs to be committed to all aspects of the program.
5. Must submit in writing (200 words or less) why they would like to participate in the program.

The program involves a commitment of at least 5 days over the 5 month period to attend a mentoring workshop and various other meetings to learn about how Council functions. Council meetings are held on the 2nd Tuesday of each month and the one day workshop will be held during normal business hours.

Further information on the program is available from Mayor Councillor Betty Green on 65663200 or 0427419302.

Application forms are available on Council’s website (www.kempsey.nsw.gov.au), at Council’s Customer First Centre at 22 Tozer Street; or by phoning 65 663200 and Council will arrange to fax or send you one. Completed forms can be dropped off at Customer First or faxed to 02 65 663343 or emailed to learning@kempsey.nsw.gov.au.

Applications close on Friday, 28 March, at 4.30pm and Late applications will not be considered.

ANNUAL REPORT

Please note copies of Council’s Annual Report for the 2006/07 financial year are now on display at the Kempsey Shire Library and its branches. If you would like a copy of this report they are available at the Customer First Centre. You can also access this report via Council’s website at www.kempsey@nsw.gov.au.

STAFF EXCELLENCE AWARDS

As part of its ongoing commitment to customer service excellence, Kempsey Shire Council recognises the outstanding achievements of staff members through an Award of Excellence, which is made on a quarterly basis. If you think that an individual member of Council’s staff, a team of Council workers or an entire Council Department is deserving of such an award, please consider nominating them. A nomination form is available at the Customer First reception desk at the Civic Centre in Elbow Street, West Kempsey on online at Council’s website www.kempsey.nsw.gov.au under ‘communications’, under ‘s’ in the ‘forms index’. Alternatively, phone Megan Barber on 65 663 334 and she will be happy to post one to you. Once you have completed the form drop it in to the Customer First Centre or mail it to Kempsey Shire Council, PO Box 3078, West Kempsey, 2440.