14 October 2009 NEWS RELEASE
Streamlining planning process
Council has delegated further planning approval processes to its Chief Executive Officer and has received its first electronic development application as part of a strategy to streamline development approvals.
The changes coincide with the lodgement this month of Somerset's largest-ever single development application for 1,110 residential lots west of Fernvale.
Glamorgan Vale Water Board's future raised in government report
Council has written to the Glamorgan Vale Water Board requesting its views on the recommendations of the State Government's Webbe-Weller report which include the possible abolition of the Glamorgan Vale Water Board.
The Glamorgan Vale Water Board supplies around 500 properties in the southern Somerset Region with untreated river water for rural and domestic purposes.
Optus/Telstra express interest in Fernvale mobile tower site
Council will negotiate with mobile phone carriers over the use of land that it owns overlooking Fernvale which has existing approval for use as a mobile phone tower.
Council rejected tenders received for leasing the site so that negotiations can proceed to ensure the most favourable outcome for the Region. Both Optus and Telstra have expressed interest in the site.
Council lobbies for fairer share of grants
Council will lodge a submission to the Local Government Grants Commission requesting fairer funding for Council areas like Somerset with long road lengths, large numbers of dispersed small towns and growing populations.
The Grants Commission has called for a review of the way annual grants are calculated in the wake of the 2008 council amalgamations.
