August Council Meeting News Report
Published on 21 August 2025
Bathurst Regional Council held an Ordinary Council Meeting on 20 August 2025. Below is a media release collation from the meeting’s business papers.
8.1 POTENTIAL IMPACTS FROM RENEWABLE ENERGY PROJECTS
Council has requested that a report be prepared on the potential impacts from renewable Energy Projects, addressing possible concerns including but not limited to;
• Heavy vehicle effects from transportation of infrastructure
• Impact on alternative routes for heavy vehicles
• Procurement of water supply
• Pressure on our health system
• Potential strain on sewage and waste management systems
• Housing and demand on rental accommodation
• Council staffing requirements to resource these developments
• Decommissioning of each turbine in the future
• Rural sensitivity of visual impact
• Worker accommodation camps
These are significant projects and whilst Council is not the determining authority, the impact on the Local Government Area is of concern to Council as well as the community.
8.2 STATE SIGNIFICANT DEVELOPMENTS – RENEWABLE PROJECTS
Councils across Regional NSW, including Bathurst, are increasingly managing multiple State Significant Developments relating to renewable energy projects. These projects may present opportunities for the State, but they are also placing substantial strain on local Councils, communities and essential services.
The current framework for assessing, consulting on and managing the impacts of these developments is inadequate. Councils are often given just 28 days to respond to Environmental Impact Statements, many exceeding 10,000 pages. Worker accommodation has placed upward pressure on local housing markets, while alternative worker camps create significant demands on water, sewerage, waste, health and policing services.
Local industries reliant on transport face restrictions and losses due to prolonged road closures, and there is an absence of clear guidelines on decommissioning renewable infrastructure at the end of its life cycle which poses long-term environmental, financial and community risks. Without enforceable obligations, councils and communities are left vulnerable to costs and liabilities.
Council has endorsed the motion on State Significant Developments for submission to the 2025 LGNSW Annual Conference, requesting that LGNSW call on the NSW Government to work together to establish clear and enforceable guidelines for State Significant Development renewable projects. Similar requests of this nature have also been submitted by Lithgow, Oberon and Blayney Councils. Other Councils may submit similar or slightly different versions of this motion for consideration at the LGNSW conference.
9.1.3 DEVELOPMENT APPLICATION NO. 2025/120 – ALTERATIONS AND ADDITIONS TO EXISTING COMMERCIAL BUILDING AND ELEVEN RESIDENTIAL APARTMENTS (SHOP TOP HOUSING) AT 82 GEORGE STREET, BATHURST. APPLICANT: MR A MENCINSKY. OWNER: CABINATE PTY LTD
Council has received a Development Application (DA) for alterations and additions to an existing commercial building and eleven residential apartments (shop top housing) at 82 George Street, Bathurst. The building is commonly referred to as the “Scotts Centre”. The site itself is 1129.068m² and has frontage to George Street, Church Street and Parrish Lane.
In accordance with the Community Participation Plan 2019, the Development Application was advertised and notified to adjoining property owners from 16 June 2025 to 30 June 2025.
The proposal involves redevelopment of the existing two-storey commercial building on the site. This redevelopment includes:
• Eleven residential apartments across the existing first floor (6 apartments) and proposed second floor (5 apartments).
• Replacement of some existing ground floor commercial and arcade spaces with eleven onsite car parking spaces accessed from Parrish Lane (10 spaces) and Church Street (1 space).
• A lift, compliant staircases and improved internal circulation.
• Cosmetic upgrade to all external elevations of the existing building.
Plans of proposed development, Statement of Environmental Effects, Heritage Impact Statement, Traffic and Parking Assessment, and the Preliminary Structural Engineering Feasibility Report can be found in the full Council Report, linked at the end of this article.
In response to this proposed DA, Council has resolved to:
a) as the consent authority, grant consent pursuant to Section 4.16 of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 to Development Application No. 2025/120, subject to conditions able to be imposed pursuant to Section 4.17 of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979, as amended and including conditions to the effect that:
i) Prior to the issue of a Construction Certificate the developer is to submit to Council a detailed roller door design for doors facing Church Street and Parrish Lane.
ii) Prior to the issue of a Construction Certificate the developer is to submit to Council a Heritage Interpretation Plan to acknowledge the evolution of the building for display within the site.
iii) Prior to the issue of a Construction Certificate the developer is to submit to Council a Construction Management Plan.
iv) Prior to the issue of a Construction Certificate the developer is to submit to Council a detailed schedule of colours, finishes and materials.
v) Prior to the issue of a Construction Certificate the developer is to submit to Council a Signage Strategy for the overall building.
vi) Prior to the issued of a Construction Certificate the developer is to submit to Council a lighting plan for all footpath areas including George Street, Church Street and Parrish Lane.
b) support the variation to the 12.0 metre maximum height of buildings development standard pursuant to Clause 4.3 Height of building in the Bathurst Regional Local Environmental Plan 2014 and the associated Height of Buildings Map for the subject land for the construction of the proposed building;
c) notify those that made submissions of its decision; and
9.1.5 34 AND 50 BUSBY STREET PLANNING PROPOSALS - NOISE AND TRAFFIC IMPACT ASSESSMENTS
Council is in receipt of two separate Planning Proposals in relation to land at 34 Busby Street and 50 Busby Street, South Bathurst. Both planning proposals seek to rezone land, increase the permissible height of buildings, update minimum allotment provisions and insert a site-specific additional local provision clause into the Bathurst Regional Local Environmental Plan 2014.
An Independent Traffic Impact Assessment, Independent Noise Impact Assessment and associated Peer Review Reports have been prepared for the two separate Planning Proposals lodged for properties at 34 and 50 Busby Street, South Bathurst.
Council has noted the outcomes of the Peer Review and Independent Noise Impact Assessment Reports in relation to the separate Planning Proposals and requested:
Proceeding to the exhibition stage of these Planning Proposals now does not constitute a decision to support either or both Planning Proposals. The next steps include:
• Finalisation by each respective proponent of the other matters conditioned in the Gateway Determination.
• Public exhibition to enable the community to provide feedback to Council on each of the Planning Proposals.
• Referral to a range of relevant government agencies to enable them to provide feedback to Council on each of the Planning Proposals, including NSW Heritage.
• Report to Council to determine if it supports the making of each Planning Proposal. It is at this stage that Council makes the decision to support or not support the making of the final amendments to the Local Environmental Plan. The public exhibition and government referral period may inform the final Planning Proposal and the range of LEP amendments ultimately adopted by Council.
• If supported, the final Planning Proposals are referred to DPHI for the making of the LEP amendments by the NSW Minister for Planning.
• If Council makes the decision to support each Planning Proposal, Council staff will then prepare the relevant detailed planning controls under a new Development Control Plan (DCP) chapter and consider alterations to its Development Contribution Plans for contributions to road and active transport infrastructure. Draft DCP and Contribution Plans will be placed on public exhibition enabling an opportunity for further engagement with the community. Council cannot determine a development application for the development of either site under the new zoning until the DCP provisions are in place.
9.1.7 CRAGO FOUNTAIN AND LAMP STANDARDS CONSERVATION
Council received grants under the Local Roads and Community Infrastructure program for conservation works to the Machattie Park Crago Fountain and the Bathurst Street and Park lamp standards. The conservation works were coordinated by Council’s Engineering Department with heritage advice provided by the Council’s Strategic Planning team
The Crago Fountain was erected by F. Crago in 1891, marking his contribution to the community as an Alderman and Mayor in the 1890s. The fountain is an elaborate, three tiered cast iron Victorian fountain set in a circular pond surrounded by a formal gravelled path. The design features include dolphins, water birds, bullrushes and waterlily motifs.
The fountain was originally installed in ‘Brunswick green’ when it was officially opened by F. Crago in December 1891. In 1990, the colour scheme was refreshed showing a dual green and cream palette. In 2025, Council staff identified the opportunity to implement a fresh colour scheme as part of the current conservation works. Research of similar types of fountains across the world drew inspiration from the Peacock Fountain in Christchurch, New Zealand, which, while larger in scale, exhibits similar design features as the Bathurst Crago Fountain, and utilises a colour palette consistent with late Victorian colour schemes.
The works that were carried out included the following:
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Damage to the structure was assessed, and repairs carried out as required including the reattachment of three herons, one set of lily pads, the repair of a cracked lily pad and reaffixing of a flower. Existing stainless-steel bolts have been replaced with a more visually appropriate bolt arrangement to complement the fountain’s historic character. Fountain waterspout lines have been descaled with two lines completely replaced using copper lines to match the existing materials.
Funding also enabled the heritage listed Bathurst CBD Street and Park Lamp Standards to be restored, as the Heritage Act 1977 requires that all state listed items are maintained.
The Bathurst CBD Lamp Standards, also known as the Bathurst Street and Park Lamps, are in the George, William, Howick, Church, Russell and Keppel Street road reserves, Machattie Park, and King’s Parade. Historic lamp standards are also located in Chifley Memorial Park, west Bathurst. There are 105 lamp standards in total, installed between 1872 and 1924. The Bathurst Lamp Standards are a major element of nineteenth and early twentieth century street ‘furniture’ that contributes to the historical character of Bathurst and represent distinctive landmarks in the CBD.
In 2023, Council completed a detailed Condition Assessment to identify the conservation and maintenance works required to the range of heritage lamp standards located in the City. With reference to the Heritage Lamp Standards Condition Assessment 2023, the following works have been carried out:
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All lamp standards within Chifley Memorial Park have been restored. Works included disassembling the lamps, retaining the original footing and main support pole. The concrete footing and base were raised to lift the lamps away from the soil to reduce future corrosion. The base and top of the lamps were sandblasted to remove paint and rust and allow for metalwork repairs to areas heavily damaged by rust. These elements were then powder coated Indian Red to match the current colour and reinstalled.
The conservation works outlined in this report were funded under the Local Roads and Community Infrastructure grant program.
9.3.2 WATER SUPPLY UPDATE
As at 5 August 2025, Chifley Dam was at 100.7%, with 30,307ML in storage. Chifley Dam had been close to capacity or overflowing for 53 months until mid-March 2025. Since mid-June the dam storage levels have returned to full capacity or overflowing.
Winburndale Dam was at 100.5% on 5 August 2025, with 1,708ML in storage.
In Bathurst, the estimated residential water usage varies from week to week but currently remains below the target for Level 6 water restrictions. Over the last 4 weeks, the average estimated water usage for Bathurst is 7.5ML/d, or 98L/per person per day.
9.4.1 NAIDOC WEEK 2025 - COLLABORATIVE ART EXHIBITION AT BATHURST MEMORIAL ENTERTAINMENT CENTRE, 8-15 JULY 2025
NAIDOC Week 2025 was held nationally from Sunday 6 July to Sunday 13 July 2025, honouring the 2025 theme ‘The Next Generation: Strength, Vision and Legacy’. In celebration of the 2025 NAIDOC Week theme, Council collaborated with 12 local schools and 4 early learning centres/pre-schools to deliver the ‘Our Faces, Our Future, Our Mob’ Exhibition at Bathurst Memorial Entertainment Centre from Tuesday 8 July – Tuesday 15 July 2025.
In preparation for the exhibition, Council’s Aboriginal Community Development Officer delivered workshops to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people from each school/centre about their identity, belonging, story lines, family connections, cultural connections and role models.
157 Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander young people aged 3-17 years, representing 21 nations (traditional countries) exhibited their portraits as part of the initiative, showcasing a powerful representation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in the Bathurst community.
An official opening event was held on Tuesday 8 July with approximately 100 community members in attendance. Throughout the week-long exhibition, approximately 120 community members visited Bathurst Memorial Entertainment Centre Wattle Foyer to view the portraits. The exhibition was also interactive for young people during the school holiday period, with 44 young people completing self-portraits to place on the visitor wall.
Media contact: Genevieve Green Media and Communications Officer