Economic Development
Advisory Group Meeting
Held on Wednesday, 24 February 2016 at
3.36pm in Council’s Boardroom
PRESENT: Tate Ryan (Acting Chair), Diane Gardiner, Chris Stewart, Yolande Presland, Eddy Dekleva,
Sandra Harlor, Blair Briggs, Monica Zadro, Jason Mikosic, Adam Gray, Wesley Folitarik with Alison
DeLaMare taking the minutes
DESCRIPTION
1.
APOLOGIES: Luke Johnson (Chair), Dr Stuart Quarmby, Gerry
Beasley, Trish Hill, Martin Cooper
2.
CONFIRMATION OF PREVIOUS MINUTES
ACTIONS FROM MEETING
The Minutes of the Economic Development Advisory Group
Meeting of 25 November 2015 were accepted.
MOVED Monica Zadro and SECONDED Eddy Dekleva
3.
BUSINESS ARISING FROM PREVIOUS MINUTES – 25 NOVEMBER 2015
Nil.
4.
ADOPT A ROAD PRESENTATION
Yolande Presland, Council’s Waste Education Officer advised 
EDAG of the “Adopt a Road Program”:



Monica Zadro advised Yolande that this has come to EDAG 
previously. Yolande replied that her area are revamping this
project.
One (1) road in Wollondilly has been adopted, Remembrance
Driveway, Tahmoor by Xstrata Coal (now Glencore). JR
Richards & Sons have enquired about adopting Bridge Street,
Picton.
An MOU is to be put together once a company adopts a road.
It was noted that a lot of people don’t understand what the
program is.
Yoland to put the MOU
together and bring back to
EDAG for their information.
Yolande to check if a
Condition can be put in,
that when you adopt a
road the road be cleaned
by Council prior to the
adoption.
Yolande Presland left the meeting at this stage
1|Page
DESCRIPTION
5.
ACTIONS FROM MEETING
OUTCOME OF REPORT TO COUNCIL ON ASSISTING AGRICULTURALISTS
AND THANKS FROM COUNCILLORS
Adam Gray and Wesley Folitarik joined the meeting at this
stage
Chris Stewart advised that Council are on a recruitment drive to
improve assessment times for DA applications. It is an ongoing
battle to recruit because there is not a huge amount of applicants
to recruit from.
Council have employed new staff:
 Wesley Folitarik, Precinct Planner dealing with Wilton Junction.
 Shari Hussein, Manager Development will commence in the
coming weeks.
 In the process of recruitment of an additional Senior Town
Planner and Senior Building Surveyor.
 Max Strassmeir, Assistant Development Assessment Planner,
a recent graduate and has commenced as a full time town
planner.
Chris Stewart advised EDAG of the recommendation from
Council’s Ordinary Meeting on 21 December 2015:PE3
Assisting Agriculturalists
1. That grant funding from the Department of Planning &
Environment be sought to undertake a Rural Lands Study to
inform Council with future strategic planning decisions.
2. That review of the Wollondilly Local Environmental Plan 2011,
include consideration of permissible land uses in rural zones,
additional exempt development provisions and amendments to
the rural boundary adjustment provisions.
3. That Council implement the process efficiencies identified in
this report including a review of current pre-lodgment services,
the manner in which requests for additional information are
communicated to the proponent and notification of draft
conditions of development consent.
4. That Council continue to review options to secure additional
resources for the Strategic Planning, Development Assessment
and Building Assessment Teams.
5. That Council thank the Rural Liaison Committee and the
Economic Development Committee.
6.
GREATER MACARTHUR INVESTIGATION AREA UPDATE
Adam Gray provided an update in regard to the Greater Macarthur
Investigation Area:



The Department of Planning put out a preliminary plan on the
Priority Precinct and required feedback.
Feedback was 83 submissions from government and
businesses and 101 from individuals from the Greater
Macarthur area.
The Department took the feedback into consideration and also
added extra land.
12,000 to a potential of around 16,600 dwellings.
2|Page
DESCRIPTION


ACTIONS FROM MEETING
Wilton Junction will be the size of Bathurst.
Development of Wilton is supported by Council. There will be a
series of small neighborhood centres which will pop up as the
local area demands. This will be complementary to our existing
towns and villages and their Centres.
Wesley Folitarik advised that:



There were two (2) reports that were compiled on the project
prepared by the Consultant for the proponents of Wilton
Junction and one (1) by a Consultant for the Department of
Planning.
They analyze retail spending. Within Wollondilly we currently
lose money because people are spending outside of the area.
There is capacity right now to absorb additional shops into the
area.
Wilton Junction’s retail areas will not impact on Picton, there is
not the same level of services that would be provided at Wilton
Junction that are not currently available in Picton or other
shopping areas in Wollondilly shire.
Chris Stewart, Adam Gray and Wesley Folitarik left the
meeting at this stage
7.
SYDNEY’S FOOD FUTURES PROJECT (SPUN & UTS INITIATIVE)
Kym Buck joined the meeting at this stage
Ally Dench provided an update in regard to Sydney’s Food Futures
Project:






Universities approach the Spun Group and want to do research
in regard to agriculture and coexistence.
Sydney’s Food Futures Project is mapping foodsheds across
the greater Sydney area, looking where poultry, dairy farms,
vegetable gardens, etc. are.
Sydney’s agriculture is in the vicinity of $4.5 billion. Sydney
stands to lose 90% of current food production, and 60% of
fresh food.
The focus is on economic housing needs, need to coexist with
agriculture.
This project has mapped where current food production is and
there is currently online maps where you can look at four (4)
different scenarios.
Workshops have been held and Wollondilly are in the lead for
this project. Wollondilly, Hawkesbury, Gosford and Liverpool
have the most to lose.
This is providing evidence that we need to protect agriculture
lands.
Ally Dench left the meeting at this stage
8.
COUNCIL UPDATE
Not provided due to Luke Johnson being an apology.
3|Page
DESCRIPTION
9.
ACTIONS FROM MEETING
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TEAM UPDATE
Diane Gardiner provided an Economic Development Team Update.
10.
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY UPDATE
Tate Ryan provided an Economic Development Strategy Update.
11.
WOLLONDILLY DISCOVERY GUIDE
The Wollondilly Discovery Guide was tabled.
12.
GENERAL BUSINESS
IlluminARTe
Kym Buck provided an update in regard to the upcoming
IlluminARTe Festival:









The Picton Chamber of Commerce are running a family fun day
in RSL Park during the day.
Midday to 9pm will be the festival.
Projections of local art works will be projected onto local
buildings.
Doubling market stalls and food vendors this year.
Sponsorships are still coming in.
Numerous Musicians will be playing throughout the day.
A Lantern parade during the evening and Workshops and
Master Classes before the event.
Digital imaging from Wollondilly Anglican College.
Family friendly fireworks show just before 9pm.
Channel 9 involved.
Highly Commend Michelle Cooke, Council’s Building Surveyor
Monica Zadro would like noted that she is a Project Manager for Chris Stewart
Derks Pet and Rural Produce and would like to highly commend Michelle Cooke
Michelle Cooke, Council’s Building Surveyor for her dealings with
their DA.
MEETING CLOSED: 5.17pm
Next Meeting: 25 May 2016
4|Page