Ask the Mayor Anything - August
Published on 12 August 2019
Thanks for the great response to Council's first Ask Me Anything with Mayor Darriea Turley AM! The Mayor answered 10 questions in a video response here, and the remaining questions that required a little staff research have been answered below. If this segment proves popular we’ll aim to feature one each month on Council’s Facebook and website.
Q: Daniel Cunningham - Street lighting represents between 25 and 70 per cent of any individual local government’s corporate energy consumption. Given this has council looked at LED replacements which would reduce expenditure of lighting and make our crossing safer? Also how many council buildings, bbq's, sporting venues have solar to further reduce cost to council and its rate payers?
A: Hi Daniel, we're seeking to secure funding for new lights through the Southern Lights Project, which is a joint project that aims to replace over 75,000 street lights with state-of-the-art LED lighting and smart controls technology across 42 Local Government Areas covering almost all of southern NSW. You can read more about it here: https://www.southernlightsnsw.org.au.
As far as using renewable energy at other Council locations, we're proud to say we've taken Patton Park and Sturt Park off the grid with a combination of wind and solar power. We have solar panels on the Aquatic Centre, and are aiming to install panels on Council's Admin building in the near future. We're also taking a 'smart' approach to all future projects, and ensuring renewable energy is part of all designs where possible.
Q: Indiana Shamroze- Tumes - Why did vermiculture at the rubbish dump shut down? And why do we not have recycling here?
A: The previous Council administration cited high costs as being behind the end of the partnership with Australian Vermiculture. However it did note that the business was innovative and delivering a great product, and the decision was purely a financial one.
And we do have recycling here in Broken Hill! At our waste facility we accept sorted cans, bottles, paper, flat-packed carboard, E-waste, iron and steel, green waste (up to one tonne) for free. We also accept problem household wastes such as paint, gas bottles, light globes, and car and household oil for free.
Q: Matt Lihou - Why won’t you do anything for sport in broken hill, like re sheet netball courts, norm fox complex upgrade or anything that will benefit the community instead of giving yourselfs payrises?
A: Council provides parks, ovals, and other facilities for sport and recreation, supported the creation of the annual Broken Hill Sports Awards, and in February implemented a pilot program to supplement the cost of registration for participants in junior sport.
In 2017 Council increased the Community Assistance Grants fund by $30,000, bringing the annual total of funding on offer to $128,000. Numerous sporting bodies have taken advantage of this program to fund competitions and activities, improve facilities, and purchase equipment.
Council also made significant financial contributions to both the Jubilee Oval and YMCA renovation projects, and regularly provides grant application assistance to sporting bodies looking to access Government funding streams.
The 'pay rise' you mention was actually a small increase in the Councillor rate to keep it in line with inflation.
Q: Christos Niarros - You said in an article in the Barrier Daily Truth on Friday 2nd August page 3 that historically the Kiosk cost the council $300 000 to $400 000 dollars anually! I'm sorry but that can't be true surley. My question is how and why you could allow this to happen without doing something sooner
A: You're right Christos, it's not true. That quote was actually in reference to the airport as a whole losing money, not just the kiosk. As to why action wasn't taken sooner - The Mayor mentioned in her video response to another question that the city's assets and infrastructure arguably haven't received enough attention over the last 20 years. All we can do now is try and take action moving forward to ensure the facility is not a financial burden on ratepayers.
Q: Steven Powell - I would like to ask about the future direction and the state of the current management of tourism in Broken Hill. I would also like to know why a city the size of Broken hill does not have a 24 hour fuel outlet.
A: Hi Steven, a collaborative approach is currently being taken to tourism involving Council, Destination Broken Hill, Destination NSW, and Destination Country and Outback all working together to promote Broken Hill. This is important as the process cannot be driven by Council alone, it needs buy-in from the local tourism industry to truly succeed. The outcomes from this partnership are due to be tabled at the February meeting of Council. As far as a 24-hour service station in Broken Hill, that would primarily be a matter for local businesses in that market.
Q: Anthony Lind - At $60,000 per bin, did we get value for money on the 10 new smart bins? How was this funded?
A: Hi Anthony, they actually cost around $7,000 each, and were funded through Council's Innovation Fund. They feature a cleaner and more hygienic enclosed design, a router to boost the city's free wi-fi network, a built-in extinguisher for bin fires, a trash compaction system, and sensors to alert Council staff if a bin is full or emitting unpleasant odours. They've already reduced bin pick ups in the CBD by 95%, allowing our waste team to better service other areas of the city.