Valla Growth Area remains a sticking point on council

The project has been moving ahead thanks to the $8 million NSW Government grant received last year.

On-site work began on May 15 with the demolition of the existing farm house and sheds. Other recent work, as outlined in the report by project manager, Public Works Advisory, has focused on design issues as well as resolving the re-location for the fibre optic Sydney-Brisbane link and electricity with Telstra and Essential Energy.

Extensions to grant milestones have also been requested.

The next major milestone is the commencement of the design consultancy for trunk water and sewerage scheduled for September 2020.

Cr Susan Jenvey said she felt unable to support the progress report due to continued high risks flagged.

"I don't feel happy with this, for the economy, for the jobs ... when this was first announced by Melinda Pavey, there were going to be 1200 jobs ... it is hard to see how that will happen, let alone how many of them will be long term and local," Cr Jenvey said.

"Advertising for this industrial land has been going on for years but now we are looking to engage industrial sales managers, Colliers International.

"I am seeing a lot of risks and competing values."

In the report issues of timing and costs appear numerous times in the Risk Register.

For example, the engagement of Colliers International is linked to the 'high' risk tag attached to the original plan to sell the developed area as industrial land, which is how the grant funding is predicated.

The report states "the sale of this industrial land may not eventuate and 'there is no Plan B' ". Hence Colliers have been approached.

Another risk outlined was that sunset clauses in the grant funding require completion of the project by August 2021.

"However, the project may not be completed by then, especially due to delays caused by bushfires at the beginning of the project, resulting in the loss of funding.

This risk is described as 'extreme'.

The 'control action' is 'to create a project schedule to identify any areas of concern or areas of efficiencies and to request a variation to the funding bodies for a delayed completion based on the project schedule'.

Among the top three risks highlighted was 'cost escalation'. The response is that a new quantity survey must be undertaken immediately after the completion of detailed design.

The potential of the council withdrawing its support for the project either before or following the next Council election was also flagged, due to the obvious divisions in the council.

The 'solution' is to "ensure there is openness and transparency in decision-making and ensure decision-making isn't rushed, with no important decisions to be made during the (*pre-election) caretaker period.

* Council elections are now due to be held in September 2021.

Crs Jenvey, Jones and Ballangarry voted against the motion. Crs Hoban, Ainsworth and Reed supported it.

Cr John Wilson was absent.

Valla Rod Run cancelled due to COVID-19

Shoring up the shire's future landfill needs