Narooma food truck, recycled water at Narooma ovals and golf course, dominate council meeting

A proposed licence for a food truck adjacent to the old Narooma Visitor Information Centre was the biggest talking point at Eurobodalla Shire Council’s last general meeting for the year.

The other topics most discussed were a preliminary feasibility study into providing recycled water to Narooma’s ovals and golf course, and the public exhibition of a paper on short-term camping at Moruya Showground.

A longstanding issue of the council-owned carpark at 94 Campbell Street encroaching on the adjacent property owned by Narooma School of Arts & Soldiers War Memorial was resolved by the proposal of an easement. The $395,000 cost of granting the easement, including the construction of a retaining wall, will be borne by council. The motion was passed unanimously without discussion at the council meeting on 17 December (Tuesday).

Before the motion on the food truck was discussed, Sally Bouckley, owner and director of tourism business Southbound Escapes, addressed the councillors in the public forum.

Southbound Escapes has six businesses: e-bike hire, accommodation bookings, pop-up picnics, shuttle services at the Narooma Mountain Bike Hub, tour bookings, and The Hub cafe.

Although it is not part of her lease arrangement, she gives visitors information about what there is to see and do in Narooma, and where to eat. She takes bookings for 20 tour operators and accommodation providers in the Narooma area.

Ms Bouckley proposed a year’s licence for a food truck on the grass area on the northern side of the building because workshops on mountain bike tourism indicated that bike riders want quick, easy and healthy food. It would operate from 7 am to 2 pm, and Southbound Escapes’ outdoor seating would be available to everyone, including regular NATA Oval users, the Animal Welfare League’s Dog Training Club and the Narooma Rotary Markets.

Mayor Mat Hatcher left the council chambers because he had a conflict of interest.

Councillors Mick Johnson, Sharon Winslade and Phil Constable spoke against the motion.

Cr Johnson said the food truck was within 250 metres of other food businesses and would take up green space.

Cr Constable asked council staff if it breached the area’s management plan. Staff said it did not because it was not a permanent structure.

Cr Winslade said it did not sound like it was a mobile food van. “If it was permanent that would come under a development application (DA) and would have to provide parking,” she said. “Some shop owners are concerned. They have been denied DAs because they could not provide parking.”

Cr Constable said if the truck was in the precinct’s carpark, it would not be compliant. Council staff agreed that was the case.

“Putting it on the grass area is a way of getting around the 250 metre requirement,” he said.

The motion was defeated.

Also on the meeting’s agenda was Cr Constable’s motion for the council to conduct a preliminary feasibility study into using recycled water from Kianga sewage treatment plant for Narooma’s ovals and golf course.

Cr Constable said using recycled water for non-drinking purposes had environmental and financial benefits, and several other golf clubs in the shire used recycled water.

Councillor Rob Pollock said the motion should be deferred until council staff prepared a report based on the findings of earlier investigations into the issue. The meeting papers said a 2014 study had estimated it would cost $2.6 million to supply recycled water from Kianga to Narooma’s golf course.

Crs Schutz and Winslade wanted to see a feasibility study. Cr Pollock’s move to defer a preliminary feasibility study was deferred.

“Water use and recycling are very important for us going forward,” Cr Schutz said.

Cr Constable’s motion was passed.

Over the past 12 months council staff have investigated camping at the Moruya Showground.

That resulted in a proposal for camping for self-contained caravans and motor homes and a maximum of 18 campsites. The proposal would go on public exhibition for 28 days, commencing 28 January.

Cr Johnson asked that the motion be amended to go on public exhibition for 42 days, commencing 19 December, so visitors to Moruya could see the proposal. The amendment was carried.

Cr Pollock raised a number of issues. Kathy Arthur, council’s director community, arts and recreation services, said her staff had looked into them. She also said the Moruya Showground Committee was very supportive.

The motion to put the proposal on public exhibition was passed.