October Council Meeting News Report
Published on 16 October 2025
Bathurst Regional Council held an Ordinary Council Meeting on 15 October 2025.
Below is a media release collation from the meeting’s business papers.
8.2.3 PLANNING PROPOSAL - DURAMANA ROAD MASTER PLAN PRECINCT (EGLINTON)
At the Ordinary Meeting of Council held on 18 September 2019, Council resolved to adopt the Duramana Precinct Masterplan for strategic planning purposes and prepare a Planning Proposal in accordance with the directions outlined in that Council Report. Since 2019, Council has undertaken considerable work to increase the amount of land that can support medium density housing within the city of Bathurst, and the local demographic need for greater housing diversity and affordability has grown since that time.
Accordingly, Council staff have undertaken a review of the directions from the 2019 Council Report and identified several areas where adjustments could be made to the Draft Planning Proposal to further improve housing density and diversity outcomes within the Duramana Road Master Plan Precinct, and to ensure that the development standards remain consistent with other areas of the city. A report outlining these adjustments is available to view via the link to Council’s website below.
At yesterday’s Ordinary Council meeting, Council resolved to adopt the recommended adjustments, agreeing to:
a) prepare a Planning Proposal to amend Bathurst Regional Local Environmental Plan 2014 with respect to the Duramana Road Master Plan Precinct, inclusive of the following adjustments as outlined in the report:
b) apply a Subdivision Minimum Lot Size of 435m2 to the proposed Medium Density Housing Area.
c) extend the proposed Medium Density Housing Area onto the northern side of the future extension of Loren Street.
d) apply a Minimum Lot Size for Dual Occupancy of 870m2 to the proposed Neighbourhood Activity Centre.
e) apply a Minimum Lot Size for Dual Occupancy of 870m2 to the proposed Medium Density Housing Area.
f) apply a Minimum Lot Size for Manor Houses, Multi Dwelling Housing and Residential Flat Buildings of 700m2 to the proposed Neighbourhood Activity Centre.
g) apply a Minimum Lot Size for Manor Houses, Multi Dwelling Housing and Residential Flat Buildings of 870m2 to the proposed Medium Density Housing Area.
h) apply a Maximum Building Height of 10 metres to the proposed Neighbourhood Activity Centre.
i) submit the Planning Proposal to the NSW Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure for a Gateway Determination.
j) accept any delegations from the NSW Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure concerning this Planning Proposal.
k) place the Planning Proposal on public exhibition in accordance with the requirements of any Gateway Determination and the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979.
l) prepare an amendment to Bathurst Regional Development Control Plan 2014 and any relevant Development Contributions Plans to support the amendment to the Bathurst Regional Local Environmental Plan 2014.
8.2.5 BATHURST REGION'S VILLAGES STRATEGY 2025
As part of our ongoing commitment to the region’s villages, Council prepared the Draft Bathurst Region’s Villages Strategy (the Strategy) to guide village development and management within the Bathurst Region. The Strategy establishes objectives and actions under four goals, aligned with Council’s Community Strategic Plan:
1. Building a Strong Economy
2. Council Leadership and Collaboration
4. A Caring and Resilient Community
The Strategy has been prepared in consultation with village associations and community members, including being put on 28 days of public exhibition and discussed in a collaborative Community Workshop. It is anticipated that the Strategy will assist in focusing discussions at future village meetings and that implementation of actions under The Strategy can be monitored through the cycle of village meetings.
Following the period of public exhibition and consideration of three community submissions, Council has resolved to:
a) adopt the Bathurst Region’s Villages Strategy 2025; and
b) notify all Village Associations and those that lodged submissions of Council’s decision.
8.4.1 CEMETERY SERVICES OFFICER
The public would be aware of the NSW Government’s cemetery reforms that have resulted in the mandatory requirement for Council to now provide cemetery operations that it has not previously provided or budgeted for.
Following several months of discussions with the NSW regulatory authority, Cemeteries & Crematoria NSW, liaison with cemetery stakeholders and consultation with village communities, Council has resolved the following matters relating to the future management of the region’s rural cemeteries:
• To continue to pursue the removal of selected cemeteries from Council management, through continuing negotiations with interest groups, stakeholders and Cemeteries & Crematoria NSW, such as the Dennis Island Cemetery and Wattle Flat Catholic Cemetery.
• To establish new burial areas at 6 active cemeteries by undertaking ground survey works to try and identify whether the areas proposed for future burial opportunities are virgin ground without existing burials
• To consider construction of niche walls within active cemeteries that don’t have one currently in place.
• To employ a cemetery administration officer to oversee the management of its rural cemeteries.
• To employ a maintenance team to undertake the necessary maintenance and upkeep requirements at all of its active and inactive cemeteries.
• Undertake changes to its standard practice pertaining to burial opportunities within the active cemeteries.
The fact remains that Council has been forced by the State Government to be a cemetery operator and is now required by legislation to operate its cemeteries in a manner and level of involvement that it has never provided previously. Cemetery operations and management must be complied with regardless of whether they are active or inactive and Council does not have the staff resources to absorb the mandatory responsibilities of rural cemetery management of its 15 cemetery sites, let alone maintain its active cemeteries for continued burials.
Given Council statutory obligations, the need to commence with the resolutions of Council pertaining to the future operation and management of rural cemeteries and to meet the public expectations that active cemeteries will remain active, the direction has been taken to create the position of a Cemetery Officer within Council’s organisational structure. This has been enabled via the reallocation of resources from savings within its staff wages budget.
The creation of the Cemetery Officer position will allow the necessary time and resource to commence the urgent planning and in-depth reviews to develop appropriate cemetery management plans, policies and practices that may result in more efficient management operations and strategies that could reduce the recurrent operational costs that are currently estimated. The creation of this position will mean a reduction in services in other areas of Council, mainly Cultural/Community services at this time. The position has been funded from budget savings in that directorate as part of Council’s continued focus on its financial sustainability.
8.4.2 WATER SUPPLY UPDATE
As at 30 September 2025, Chifley Dam was at 100.1%, with 30,141ML 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 100.1% on 30 September 2025, with 1,702ML 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 7.9ML/d, or 102L/per person per day.
8.5.2 2025/2026 RURAL VILLAGE IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM
Council has approved the distribution of $18,650 in funding amongst 11 of Bathurst’s village groups and associations in Hill End, Rockley, Sofala, Trunkey Creek, Wattle Flat, Sunny Corner, Yetholme and Peel for various improvement projects and initiatives.
This funding has been provided through Council’s Rural Village Improvement Program, instituted in 2005/2006, to facilitate the long-term viability of the villages in the Bathurst Regional Council area. The program is based on the premise of horizontal equity – “the provision of public facilities each of a similar grade” to villages across the local government area. Over $1,270,000 has been provided through this program during the last eighteen years.
The Village Improvement Program, whilst an infrastructure program, has also built invaluable social capital and capacity in each village that is essential in maintaining a quality of life to attract residents and visitors alike. The social capacity, pride and respect this program has generated in each village, represents an exceptional return on investment for the dollar amount allocated over the life of the program.
Media contact: Genevieve Green Media and Communications Officer