Late Items Agenda of Council - Tuesday, 14 June 2022

Council 14 June 2022 Item 14.1

NOTICE OF MOTION

ITEM NUMBER 14.1

SUBJECT Mosquito Awareness Campaign and Action Plan

REFERENCE F2022/00105 - D08550924

FROM Councillor Darley

MOTION

(a) That Council develop a mosquito action plan, in conjunction with NSW Health and Parramatta River Catchment Group, over the 2022/23 financial year, with components to be piloted this coming mozzie season (October to April 2022) and full roll out next financial year.

(b) Further, that the Mosquito Action Plan include, but not limited to, the following components:

- awareness and education campaign for residents, business owners, schools and childcare centres

- training of Council contact centre, and other relevant, staff to properly handle enquiries and complaints about mosquitoes

- audits of local schools and childcare centres to make sure they aren't mozzie friendly environments

- continuation of Councils participation in the NSW Arbovirus Surveillance Program and possible extension to other surveillance sites, such as Camellia.

BACKGROUND

1. Mosquitoes have been part of life in the Parramatta LGA for as long as anyone can remember. While thankfully it's very rare for locals to become infected with a mosquito borne disease in our city, mozzies are a great nuisance to hundreds of thousands of residents, workers and visitors wanting to enjoy being outdoors in our city during mozzie season (October to April each year). The impact of mozzies is particularly felt by families, with it being common for children to have an allergic reaction to mosquito bites and then get secondary infections from scratching the bite welts.

2. The Parramatta River Catchment holds the NSW record for the most number of saltmarsh mosquitoes collected in a single trap, as part of the NSW Arbovirus Surveillance Program. Close to 30,000 saltmarsh mozzies were trapped in Silverwater, along Duck River near where it joins Parramatta River, in February 2020. City of Parramatta also holds the record for the most Australian Backyard Mosquitoes trapped as part of the NSW Arbovirus Surveillance Program. A total of 605 Australian Backyard Mosquitoes were trapped at the same spot in Silverwater in January this year. These freshwater mosquitoes aren't found breeding in mangroves and other wetland habitats along the river, instead they love water holding containers in backyards.

3. City of Parramatta has a history of working to reduce the impact of mosquitoes on our community. Following strong community outcry over mozzies in the 1990's, the then Parramatta City Council established a Mosquito Working Party. The founding members included Parramatta City Council, Ryde City Council, NSW Health, University of Sydney and Westmead Hospital. For years the Working Party advocated to the NSW Government and implemented measures to reduce the mosquito population and impact on residents and visitors across the Parramatta LGA and surrounding areas, including the introduction of regular spraying over the wetlands at Sydney Olympic Park, which continues today.

4. Fast forward 30 years and the number of people living along Parramatta River has grown by about 50%. This growth in people, along with the impact of the associated urban development on our natural environment, has been perfect for mozzies and means they continue to be a major pest for our community. But the work to minimise the impacts of mozzies hasn't kept pace.

5. In October 2019, local resident Cindy Brown started an online petition asking for Parramatta and Ryde Councils to take steps to reduce the mosquito population. It was supported by close to 500 residents. In early 2020, a paper petition was started so this could be presented to City of Parramatta Council but then covid hit and it was never completed nor presented to Council.

6. This motion seeks to continue the work of former Parramatta City Council Alderman Greg McKay, who chaired the Mosquito Working Party for most of its existence, and support residents and visitors to stay safe from mozzies.

Kellie Darley

Councillor

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, CITY ASSETS & OPERATIONS RESPONSE

7. Currently Council has no active program to control mosquitos within the Parramatta Local Government Area (LGA). Council’s involvement is limited to a surveillance program in partnership with Westmead Entomology that aims to detect the early presence of any viruses (such as Barmah Forest, Stratford, and Edge Hill) in the mosquito populations across the LGA. Council currently takes a reactive approach to general mosquito complaints.

8. Mosquito are a known nuisance along the Parramatta River corridor and given the projected wet conditions leading into spring a more proactive approach to mosquito control is supported.

9. Details of Council’s current approach are discussed below:

The Arbovirus Mosquito Monitoring Program

The Arbovirus Mosquito Monitoring Program involves several Councils across NSW setting traps to collect mosquitoes, which are subsequently identified and tested for the presence of arboviral (mosquito virus) activity e.g., Ross River, Japanese Encephalitis, Barmah Forest, Edge Forest, Stratford, Kunjin and Murray Valley Encephalitis viruses. This is done so that the emergence of any of these viruses in the local mosquito population can be detected early and subsequent health interventions and/or public health education messages can be made at the earliest point.

Council participation

Each week during the season (December to May), participants are required to:

· Set up traps prior to sunset in locations chosen for their proximity to mosquito breeding areas and reservoir host activity; source and install dry ice baits or CO2 cylinder mosquito traps; and remove the traps after sunrise the following day.

· Collect mosquito traps and return mosquitoes to Institute for Clinical Pathology and Medical Research (ICPMR) at Westmead (mosquitoes must be alive in order to extract virus).

· Westmead entomology then analyse the mosquitoes and record species and numbers and test for presence of any virus.

Council has participated in this program annually since 2018.

Below are the current trapping locations that Council staff are responsible for (there are others in SOPA area and near Duck Creek that SOPA and NSW Health maintain respectively).

Eric Primrose Reserve Rydalmere

George Kendall Riverside Park, Ermington

The good news is that the surveillance program has indicated very low levels of virus in the local population and no recordings of Ross River virus in recent years. This work is coordinated by Council’s Environmental Health team.

General Mosquito Complaints

Council’s Environmental Health Compliance team as well as the Rangers team are responsible for investigating and resolving complaints that relate to nuisance mosquito activity within the LGA. Situations where this may arise include poorly maintained domestic swimming pools, excessive waste accumulation on private properties and overgrown vegetation on private properties. These matters are investigated, and action taken as appropriate to ensure that the conditions that are contributing to the nuisance mosquito problem are resolved.

In addition to this Council provides advice to residents about the appropriate steps they can take to protect themselves from potential nuisance and/or harm from mosquitoes as per the below:

· Limiting any potential breeding sites, i.e., water in pot plants, bird baths, containers, any other water holding receptacle.

· Keeping swimming pools clean and appropriately always treated.

· Ensuring all windows and doors are fitted with fly screens.

· Wearing loose fitting long sleeve tops and long pants when outdoors.

· Using an insect repellent that contains DEET on the body and underneath beds, behind furniture and other dark places before dusk.

· Using plant-based Citronella candles or mosquito coils in outdoor areas near the home.

· Avoiding mosquito prone areas at dawn and dusk when mosquito activity is at its highest.

Mosquito Spraying

The major river estuary wetland located within Newington Nature Reserve, opposite George Kendall Riverside Park, is helicopter sprayed 11 times a year by Sydney Olympic Park Authority. Treatment of the wetlands involves the application of a biological mosquito larvicide known as Bti. It is a nature-based product and impacts the target species of mosquito at a specific stage of larval development. The larvicide is known to be safe to people, pets and the environment, and treatments are monitored by the University of Sydney's Department of Medical Entomology. While this treatment will not eliminate mosquitos, it does reduce mosquitos within the precinct. SOPA also use physical control mechanisms such as the construction of drainage lines to facilitate greater tidal flushing of wetland areas to reduce mosquito numbers.

It costs SOPA approximately $110,000 per annum to undertake the helicopter program that has been on-going under an EPA approval since 1998. There current insurances and approvals limit the program to SOPA controlled lands.

Land and river ownership would be a major impediment from Council to undertake a similar treatment along Duck River and the Parramatta River. The river itself and associated wetlands are owned by Transport for NSW/ Roads and Maritime. Wetlands also occur on the Shell industrial site. Adjoining ownership is generally industrial with Council having very little land ownership adjacent to the river.

FINANCIAL AND RESOURCE IMPLICATIONS

10. There is no capacity within existing staff levels to develop an action plan and run an extensive education campaign and audits for mosquitos. This proposal would require an Education Officer Position to be established for 2 days a week over an initial 2-year period with an associated small operational budget. Staff resource at a Grade 9 would equate to $44,610 with a $10,000 operational budget. The total budget General Revenue annual increase would be $54,600. Additional mosquito monitoring can be funded under existing resources and budgets.

11. The table below summarises the financial impacts on the budget arising from approval of this report.

	FY 21/22	FY 22/23	FY 23/24	FY 24/25
Operating Result
External Costs	Nil	Nil	Nil	Nil
Internal Costs	Nil	$44,610	$44,610	Nil
Depreciation	Nil	Nil	Nil	Nil
Other	Nil	$10,000	$10,000	Nil
Total Operating Result		$54,600	$54,600	Nil

Funding Source		General Revenue	General Revenue	Nil

CAPEX
CAPEX
External
Internal
Other
Total CAPEX	Nil	Nil	Nil	Nil

Funding Source	Nil	Nil	Nil	Nil

Kellie Darley

Councillor

John Warburton

Executive Director, City Assets & Operations

John Angilley

Chief Financial and Information Officer

Brett Newman

Chief Executive Officer

Attachments:

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Attachment 1

1 Page

Council 14 June 2022 Item 14.2

NOTICE OF MOTION

ITEM NUMBER 14.2

SUBJECT Lights on for Evening Exercise at Local Parks

REFERENCE F2022/00105 - D08550911

FROM Councillor Darley

MOTION

That a report be provided to Council on the feasibility of turning on lights at a few

suitable parks across the LGA to allow for evening exercise outside of daylight

saving time at the Council meeting on 11 July 2022.

BACKGROUND

1. During covid lockdown, City of Parramatta Council turned on lights at 22 parks across the Parramatta LGA to allow residents to exercise safely of an evening.

2. The Evening Lights for Exercise initiative was very well received as it provided important benefits to the community and now residents are asking for it to be continued.

3. This motion seeks to understand the feasibility and implications of having an ongoing program of turning on lights at some of our parks for residents to exercise of an evening outside of daylight savings time.

Kellie Darley

Councillor

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, CITY ASSETS & OPERATIONS RESPONSE

4. It is not recommended that an additional report be prepared for sports field lighting, this work is already underway. How sports field lighting is used and operated will be considered in the Sportsground Allocation Policy to be delivered to Council in the next 12 months.

5. Council’s current position is that floodlights for sportsgrounds are reserved for community sporting use. This position has been taken due to the following:

ˉ Sports field lighting is approved under a Review of Environmental Factors (REF). The REF’s stipulate that lighting will be predominantly maintained at a 50Lux lighting level during the existing span of hours for booked sporting use (32 hours), typically being 6-9 pm (Mon to Fri). Expansion of these hours are currently not approved while the fields are being actively used by organised sport. Council was able to utilise the sports field sites during lockdown as community sport was not being played.

ˉ The limitation to the use of sports field lighting is in place to reduce the impacts of light spill, traffic, and noise on surrounding residents.

ˉ There are environmental impacts on having field lighting turned on including, additional Council energy use, light pollution and impacts on nocturnal wildlife.

ˉ Council will generally receive public complaints if sports field lighting is left on and there is no sporting use on the site.

ˉ The additional use on the natural turf, particularly in winter (when grass growth is slow), adds to the wear and tear of sporting fields this impacts on field condition and useability by local sporting groups.

ˉ Sports field lighting will generally not illuminate adjacent park pathways and equipment to the correct safe level for night use.

6. Council staff are aware of the benefits of activating parks at night, particularly circuit pathways to promote walking. It is recommended that parks are lit for use using standard solar park lighting. As such we have included the lighting and/or development of new circuit pathways within several proposed park upgrades. Park lighting has been included within West-Invest grant proposals including upgrades at, Doyle Ground, Dan Mahoney Reserve, Somerville Park and George Kendall Riverside Park.

FINANCIAL AND RESOURCE IMPLICATIONS

7. A feasibility report could be undertaken under existing staff resources however would take 8 months to complete.

8. The table below summarises the financial impacts on the budget arising from approval of this report.

	FY 20/21	FY 21/22	FY 22/23	FY 23/24
Operating Result
External Costs
Internal Costs
Depreciation
Other
Total Operating Result	Nil	Nil	Nil	Nil

Funding Source	Nil	Nil	Nil	Nil

CAPEX
CAPEX
External
Internal
Other
Total CAPEX	Nil	Nil	Nil	Nil

Funding Source	Nil	Nil	Nil	Nil

Kellie Darley

Councillor

John Warburton

Executive Director, City Assets & Operations

John Angilley

Chief Financial and Information Officer

Brett Newman

Chief Executive Officer

Attachments:

There are no attachments for this report.

Council 14 June 2022 Item 14.4

NOTICE OF MOTION

ITEM NUMBER 14.4

SUBJECT World Pride 2023

REFERENCE F2022/00105 - D08523063

FROM Councillor Humphries

MOTION

(a) That Council note that World Pride is being conducted in Sydney between 17 February 2023 to 5 March 2023, coinciding with the annual Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras festival.

(b) That a report be prepared for Council detailing existing planning and further opportunities for Council to join the celebrations, including, but not limited to:

i. Arts and culture events

ii. Participation by Council in the World Pride/Mardi Gras Parade

iii. Any other inclusive community activities.

(c) Further, that the report detail existing work and further opportunities to celebrate the diversity of our community in regards to the LGBTIQ+ community.

BACKGROUND

1. No background was provided.

Ange Humphries

Councillor

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, COMMUNITY SERVICES RESPONSE

2. Sydney was announced as the host of WorldPride 2023 in October of 2019. The first WorldPride was hosted in Rome in 2000 and usually occurs every two years. WorldPride is a celebration of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex, queer and asexual (LGBTIQA+) communities and a movement for inclusive change at a legal and social level around the world. At the time of the announcement in 2019, Sydney WorldPride was estimated to attract 1 million visitors to Sydney and could generate an economic footprint of over $664 million.

3. Sydney WorldPride will be held between 17 February 2023 to 5 March 2023, coinciding with the annual Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Festival. The theme of Sydney WorldPride is: Gather. Dream. Amplify. The program will feature a wide range of art and cultural events, a human rights conference and parties. In addition to the Mardi Gras Parade down Oxford Street Darlinghurst on 25 February 2023, a Pride March will cross the Sydney Harbour Bridge on Sunday 5 March 2023.

4. While many of the planned official events are focused in the eastern seaboard of Sydney, Council is in discussions for a number of events that will profile the rich stories, talents and unique culture of LGBTIQA+ communities across Western Sydney. This includes an Australian premiere production by the National Theatre of Parramatta at Riverside Theatres of ‘Choirboy’, a play written by the screenwriter of Academy Award winning film, ‘Moonlight’. Parramatta Artists’ Studios will host a series of creative workshops this year to produce works to be presented at the Museum of Contemporary Art during WorldPride. The Events and Festivals team is looking at other event and activation opportunities for the City to engage in WorldPride.

5. Council is also aware of some submitted expressions of interest made by Parramatta based artists to receive financial investment from WorldPride, which is currently in the assessment phase.

6. WorldPride is a high-profile international event, and significant opportunity to profile the inclusive diversity of Greater Sydney and, particularly, the City of Parramatta. In this context, this Notice of Motion is welcome and the requested report will be able to provide more detail on opportunities to be involved. In addition, a report will be able to provide more detail on work being done throughout the year to celebrate and improve inclusion, safety and pride among our local communities.

7. Council’s community and cultural services play an important role in nurturing this inclusion and spirit of welcome. In this way, Council’s libraries, community hubs, Parramatta Artists’ Studios and Riverside Theatres have registered as Welcome Here sites, a simple project that place a sticker of welcome at the entrance to services, together with equipping staff at each location to be champions of LGBTIQA+ inclusion.

8. Such endeavours serve to highlight that the City of Parramatta is a great place to live, work, study and play. They also support efforts to have the City of Parramatta Council known as an employer of choice for LGBTIQA+ people and a workplace where all are encouraged and celebrated to be themselves at work.

FINANCIAL AND RESOURCE IMPLICATIONS

9. The requested report will be able to detail the potential costs of participation in the Mardi Gras parade and Pride March. Costs for a Council float in these events is anticipated to be considerable, so some more affordable options will also be canvassed.

10. The events referenced in this response and inclusion activities aligned with Council’s operational Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Strategy and Action Plan for the Prevention of Domestic and Family Violence are included within Council’s Operational Plan currently on exhibition. Sydney WorldPride has committed to a contribution of $30,000 to the production of ‘Choirboy’ at Riverside Theatre, for which Council has also received a Federal Government R.I.S.E funding grant. Further external funding opportunities are available to be pursued for other potential activities.

11. The staff resource to prepare the response is estimated to be up to 10 hours, including conversations with external partners. This time can be accommodated within existing plans due its alignment to operational objectives.

12. The table below summarises the financial impacts on the budget arising from approval of this Notice of Motion.

	FY 20/21	FY 21/22	FY 22/23	FY 23/24
Operating Result
External Costs
Internal Costs
Depreciation
Other
Total Operating Result	Nil	Nil	Nil	Nil

Funding Source

CAPEX
CAPEX
External
Internal
Other
Total CAPEX	Nil	Nil	Nil	Nil

Funding Source

Ange Humphries

Councillor

Jon Greig

Executive Director Community Services

Carly Rogowski

Executive Director, City Engagement & Experience

John Angilley

Chief Financial and Information Officer

Brett Newman

Chief Executive Officer

Attachments:

There are no attachments for this report.

Council 14 June 2022 Item 14.7

NOTICE OF MOTION

ITEM NUMBER 14.7

SUBJECT Relocation of Willow Grove

REFERENCE F2022/00105 - D08550956

FROM Deputy Lord Mayor, Councillor Pandey

MOTION

That an update be provided, within 30 days, on the relocation of Willow Grove and the Council resolution that required Council to create a 360-degree virtual tour of Willow Grove.

BACKGROUND

1. No background was provided.

Councillor Sameer Pandey

Deputy Lord Mayor

2. As this Notice of Motion crosses four different directorates of Council, the responses have been prepared collectively between City Engagement & Experience, City Planning & Design, City Strategy and Property & Place.

Update on Relocation of Willow Grove

3. Create Infrastructure NSW have established the Willow Grove Community Reference Group (WG-CRG) for the purpose of involving the community in the identification of a future site and use for Willow Grove. Create Infrastructure NSW have identified a long list of sites for consideration by the WG-CRG, and are currently in the process of reducing this to a shortlist for broader community consultation and engagement. Due to the Confidentiality Agreement, no further details are available at this time. Create NSW will be contacting the Council Chief Executive Officer to organise a briefing on the Willow Grove relocation.

Virtual Tour and Digital Documentation of Willow Grove

4. The State Government did not approve Council permission to access Willow Grove or St George’s Terrace in order for Council staff to undertake a digitisation exercise, as resolved by Council on 22 October 2020. However, the State Government advised Council that they would be undertaking their own digitisation of these assets, with the results to be shared with Council.

5. The NSW Government, through Create NSW, have created 75 short videos digitally documenting both the exterior and interior of the Willow Grove property. The video archive has been supplied to Council (nil cost) and has been accessioned into Council’s historical archives. The video series will be publicly accessible online through Council’s Parramatta History and Heritage website by 30 June 2022.

6. Council’s Cultural Heritage Research team are currently preparing a selection of the short videos commissioned by Create NSW; a suite of five historical articles on the history of Willow Grove; and a selection of historical images from Council’s archives; all to be published on Council’s Parramatta History and Heritage website by 30 June 2022. The historical articles are titled - Willow Grove as a Hospital; Willow Grove: Elizabeth and Henry Dutton Melhuish; Willow Grove: Architecture and Design; The story of Willow Grove – 34 Phillip Street Parramatta; The story of Willow Grove – From home to private hospital.

FINANCIAL AND RESOURCE IMPLICATIONS

7. There are no financial implications associated with this Notice of Motion. The responses have been provided within existing staff resources.

8. The table below summarises the financial impacts on the budget arising from approval of this Notice of Motion.

	FY 20/21	FY 21/22	FY 22/23	FY 23/24
Operating Result
External Costs
Internal Costs
Depreciation
Other
Total Operating Result	Nil	Nil	Nil	Nil

Funding Source	Nil	Nil	Nil	Nil

CAPEX
CAPEX
External
Internal
Other
Total CAPEX	Nil	Nil	Nil	Nil

Funding Source	Nil	Nil	Nil	Nil

Sameer Pandey

Deputy Lord Mayor, Councillor Pandey

Carly Rogowski

Executive Director, City Engagement & Experience

Bryan Hynes

Executive Director Property & Place

Jennifer Concato

Executive Director City Planning and Design

John Angilley

Chief Financial and Information Officer

Brett Newman

Chief Executive Officer

Attachments:

There are no attachments for this report.