COMMUNITY GROUPS URGED TO APPLY NOW FOR CDSE FUNDS

The Community Development and Support Expenditure (CDSE) Scheme is now taking Category 1 grant applications for projects in the following priority areas:

• Transport,
• Men’s Services / refuge
• Health of children and being ready for school,
• Public safety
• Crisis accommodation for women
• Domestic Violence.

Funds for the CDSE scheme are provided by medium to large registered clubs. Last year registered clubs in NSW supported community and sporting groups to the tune of more than $100 million.

Applications for Category 2 grants (including sporting, cultural and other activities) are administered directly by the clubs. The closing date for applications is 4.30pm, Friday, 25 April 2008. For more details on how to apply for CDSE funding you can contact Clubs NSW on 02 9268300 or visit www.clubsnsw.com.au. Application forms are available on Kempsey Shire Council’s website at www.kempsey.nsw.gov.au.

PUBLIC EXHIBITION OF DRAFT MANAGEMENT PLAN
28 Day Exhibition Period – 9/4/08 to 6/5/08

Kempsey Shire Council is required to produce a Management Plan annually which outlines details of Council’s work and activities for the next three years and also provides a statement of Council’s revenue policy for the next twelve months.

Council’s Draft Management Plan, Budget and proposed Fees & Charges will be on public exhibition from Wednesday, 9 April 2008, until Tuesday, 6 May 2008. You are encouraged to view this document at the:

• Civic Centre in West Kempsey,
• Libraries at Kempsey, South West Rocks and Stuarts Point
• Crescent Head Country Club
• Hat Head Bowling and Recreation Club
• Bellbrook General Store and
• Willawarrin Post Office and General Store
• Frederickton Newsagency
• Smithtown General Store
• Gladstone General Store

The document is also available on Council’s website www.kempsey.nsw.gov.au.

You are invited to make comments on the Draft Management Plan in writing. Submission will be received up to 4.30pm on Tuesday, 6 May 2008, and will be considered prior to the adoption of the Management Plan at Council’s meeting on 13 May 2008. Submissions should be addressed to the General Manager, Kempsey Shire council, PO Box 3078, West Kempsey, NSW, 2440.

PUBLIC MEETING 29 APRIL- DRAFT MANAGEMENT PLAN

Residents and ratepayers are invited to attend a public meeting to discuss the various aspects of the Draft Management Plan, including service proposals, estimates of income and expenditure, rates, fees and charges to be held in the Kempsey Shire Council Chambers, Elbow Street, West Kempsey at 6.00 pm on Tuesday, 29 April 2008.

EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST FOR PROVISION OF PROPERTY DEVELOPMENT SERVICES

Expressions of Interest are invited for the provision of advice and property development services for identified parcels of surplus Council lands. Council is seeking to engage a qualified person on an hourly basis for this project.

Kempsey Shire Council has identified several parcels of surplus operational lands which may be suitable for subdivision and sale or amalgamation of lots and thence sale. Some lots require further investigation for possible future uses.

The person we are looking for will possess the following:

• Extensive experience in property management
• A thorough knowledge of land zonings and permissible uses
• An understanding of subdivision processes
• The ability to prepare business cases for the development/disposal of land assets.
• Adequate cover for Public Liability and Professional Indemnity

Expressions of Interest should include:

• The hourly rate (excluding GST) you will charge to Council
• Details of experience and qualifications
• Details of previous successful projects in this field
• Details of two (2) referees to quantify your experience

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

For further information prior to submission of Expression of Interest please contact Steve Read on 6566 3312.

Expressions of Interest must be received by 10:00am Tuesday, 6 May 2008.

Addressed to: The General Manager
Kempsey Shire Council
PO Box 3078
WEST KEMPSEY NSW 2440

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).

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”.

COMMUNITY CONSULTATION REGISTER

Council is establishing a Community Central Consultation Register so that members of our community can register their interest in participating in focus group and other consultative opportunities. All you need to do to be included is fill in a registration form and return it to Council. Forms are available from Council’s Customer First Centre, all branches of the Shire Library, or online at www.kempsey.nsw.gov.au (go to Communications, then Forms Index (Alpha), and you’ll find under ‘C’, Central Consultation Register).

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.