Planning docs, Councillor fees and progress on a statue for Dave Sands
Published on 20 May 2025
At the May Council meeting, Councillors adopted three key planning documents: the Community Strategic Plan 2045: Your Future, the Community Engagement and Participation Strategy, and the Coastal Management Program. Mayor and Councillor fees were also set for the 2025-26 financial year, and the location of a future statue commemorating the legacy of Kempsey boxing legend Dave Sands. Two Notices of Motion were also passed, including a request for more information on what would be involved in further community engagement around possible service reductions, as well as providing the Bellbrook with more information about managing a bat colony currently inhabiting their town.
Order of Business to be considered in open session
10.1. Presentations by School Leaders - POSTPONED
10.2. Community Strategic Plan 2045: Your Future and Community Engagement and Participation
Strategy
10.3. Corporate Performance Report - Quarter 3 2024-25
10.4. Loan Borrowings - May 2025 Report
10.5. Kempsey Shire Coastal Management Program
10.6. Kempsey Airport Fly Neighbourly Agreement
10.7. Mayoral and Councillor Fees for 2025-26
10.8. Australia Day Committee - Appointment of Community Representatives
10.9. Recognition of Dave Sands
10.10. Code of Conduct
10.11. Councillor Expenses and Facilities Policy
10.12. Internal Audit Charters
10.13. Development Activity and LEP Variations - Quarterly Snapshot 3rd Quarter
10.14. Statement of Cash and Investments - April 2025
11.1. Notice of Motion - Community Engagement RE Service Reduction
11.2. Notice of Motion - Flying Fox Management
CONFIDENTIAL
12.1. Legal Matters
12.2. Audit, Risk & Improvement Committee Meeting Minutes - 9 April 2025
12.3. Oven Mountain Pumped Hydro Scheme Community Benefits Program
Community Strategic Plan 2045: Your Future and Community Engagement Participation Strategy
After completion of the public exhibition period and reviewing feedback and amendments, Councillors adopted an updated Community Strategic Plan and Community Engagement and Participation Strategy.
The Community Strategic Plan 2045: Your Future reflects the opinions, values, and aspirational desires of our wide and diverse community and provides the vision for council's 4-year delivery program and annual operations plan over the next term.
The Community Engagement and Participation Strategy sets out Council’s key principles and commitment to community engagement, as well as identifying opportunities where the community can participate in decision making.
Pages 16-23 of the Business Papers, located on the Council meeting agendas and minutes page provide a summary of the feedback received for both documents.
Mayoral Minute
Mayor Kinne Ring’s Mayoral minute asking Councillors to formally congratulate Councillor Lawrence on her appointment to the Closing the Gap Toolkit Advisory Group, was supported unanimously.
Councillors were enthusiastic in their congratulations and of the potential benefits of a Dunghutti Councillor participating and sharing her knowledge and passion in this statewide group.
Kempsey Shire Coastal Management Program
Following its public exhibition, Councillors approved the Coastal Management Program, allowing certification and unlocking 2:1 funding opportunity to implement the management actions outlined within the document.
This Coastal Management Program (CMP) outlines our strategies for managing local coastal and estuary ecosystems. This includes Killick Creek estuary at Crescent Head, Korogoro Creek estuary at Hat Head, Saltwater Creek and Lagoon at South West Rocks, and the Macleay River Estuary, including Kempsey, Stuarts Point, Fishermans Reach, and Back Creek (South West Rocks).
To read more information about community feedback and document revisions go to our Council Meeting and Agendas and download 10.5.5 CMP exhibition and comments.
Mayoral and Councillor Fees for 2025-26
After considerable discussion, Councillors set the fees for Councillors and the Mayor for the 2025-26 financial year to maximum allowed for regional rural councils ($23,220 for Councillors and $50,680 for the Mayor, an increase of around $30 per month). The discussion and decision noted that Councillors may choose to donate their fees to a community organisation of their choice.
Recognition of Dave Sands
Councillors unanimously confirmed the intended location of a memorial statue honouring Dave Sands in the Avenue of Honour area of the Verge 1 Masterplan.
Kempsey’s Dave Sands was inducted into the World Boxing Hall of Fame in 1998 and was one of three Australians to have held three national titles simultaneously. Although a natural middleweight, he held the middle, light heavy and heavyweight championships at the same time, from 1950 until his untimely death in 1952, at age 26.
Councillors acknowledged that the Sands family have been advocating for a memorial statue on Dunghutti Country for several years, and have been active in seeking funds, preparing design and engaging an artist to fulfill this vision, as well as noting that $200,000 is required to is required to build the memorial statue. t was also resolved that I Council, in collaboration with the Dave Sands family, actively advocate to Aboriginal, Sporting and Community organisations to donate funds so that the statue can be built.
Notice of Motion - Community Engagement RE Service Reduction
Councillors agreed to an amended Notice of Motion from Councillor Bain, asking that Council receive a report to the August Council meeting on what would be involved in deeper and broader engagement on potential service reductions as an alternative to a further rate increase.
Notice of Motion - Flying Fox Management
A second Notice of Motion from Councillor Bain asking that council facilitates an information/community engagement meeting to discuss concerns regarding the Bellbrook flying fox camp, was unanimously supported. It was also agreed that Council would investigate options for managing the camp and report on both to the October council meeting.
You can view the full May 2025 agenda and business papers at Council meeting agendas & minutes.
The meeting will be live-streamed via Council's YouTube page and on the Kempsey Shire Council website.
More information
You can read the detailed agenda and reports in the business papers.
You can view the meeting on Council's YouTube page.