April 2025 - Agenda

First meeting scheduled for 29th April.

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• We've heard that housing developments attract green space money, but we haven't seen any in Vacy. Where did the previous Council spend this money and is there any left? How can we retain it going forward? Answer: yes there is. It is highly regulated and has to be spend in the same community ie. Vacy. Council will work with us on the Vacy Village Vision to allocate funds where possible.  

• The new “Vacy Village” development regretfully has no pathway connectivity to the village. They are on a plan somewhere else so they were initially identified as important but were overlooked by previous Council. The kids can't walk to school. Currently they have to be driven the 800m as the roadway isn’t safe and there is no shoulder. It will compound parking issues/congestion at the school and seems wholly avoidable. How can we work together to fix this? Answer: yes it is regrettable that this was not addressed in the original plans before approval. A pathway will be considered in respect to the development funds above.

• Street lights in new developments - follow up on turning them off at least until houses are in place. Can we avoid them being present in future development? Answer: Council have dimmed the lights (waiting 100% confirmation this has been put in place). Re future development, there is often grey in respect to whether they are a mandatory safety feature. Council will get back to us on this with likelihood of it applying in future.

• What other housing developments are planned for Vacy in the next 5 years? Are any more currently underway? How will the community get more of a say in these? For instance, we would have identified the pathway issue above. Answer: This is covered in an up coming plan that includes a consultancy firm seeking community feedback. For residents to have a say it is critical that we attend, as once the draft gets passed it is difficult to change. The Council have been given a mandate to assist in providing affordable housing, and the bigger the lots the more expensive they are so it's a balance. Watch this space.

• Parking around the oval/pub - what can we do to neaten it up? Who at Council (what role) can we ask to be part of the conversation and how do we engage them? Answer: Council will get back to us after speaking internally. The footpath noted on the infrastrcture plan may not be in the Council plan which is an issue, they will confirm.

• Village green (green space between cafe and pub) - how can we work with council and satisfy compliance in order to run a structured working bee to revamp this area? Plus new welcome to Vacy sign - what are the hoops? Answer: Council will get back to us after speaking internally.

• Barking dogs - can we work together on a holistic 'better' and update on Fisher Hill Road issue. Answer: Discussions with parties to Fisher Hill Road issue ongoing (direct conversations with landholders and those impacted). Re larger picture, there is opportunity to work together on the issue holistically.

• Public Toilets - used often says RFS (every couples of minutes on the weekends). One stall is missing a lock, the street sign is 95% faded and they look tired. We understand we don't meet the metrics required for a new building (that has been explained), but how can we make them nicer simply? Also, re the ‘Great Wall of Vacy’ what are the limits of what we can do there? Answer: Toilet locks/sign to be replaced. Re mural, we'd just submit outline of the plan to Council and they'd let us know next steps. They may be minimal. 

• Any more specific feedback on the Vacy Village Vision? How do we make sure walking/riding access over the bridge gets on the grant wheel somewhere. Answer: No additional feedback and bridge issues are noted. A suspension walking bridge has been discussed previously. It's on the radar, future conversations to be had once master plan has been finalised.

• Building a Dungog Shire Community Resilience Network with the Dungog Region Community Builders team (managing the delay with the pushed back COW but making progress and aligning). Answer: Noted.

• The swing bridge in Church Street Gresford - what are the new timelines for completion and can you share any details of where it will be. Answer: There is a email list, email Council to get on it. Discussions with landholders involving land purchase for the bridge to occur soon.

• Paterson COW outcome: the desire to push for independent shops over big corporations as Dungog grows. Independent grocers tend to keep a significantly larger percentage of their revenue local compared to corporate chains. For example, studies have shown that 66 cents of every dollar spent at a small business stays local, while only 11 cents stays local when spent at a multinational retailer. This means that shopping at independent grocers has a greater positive impact on the local economy. Answer: The community would need to rally at the point where a big corporate applies for a DA.

• Update from Info Night 01.05.2025: Highlight was that Fishers Hill Road is in appalling condition and was on the "Community Strategic Plan 2025-2035 - Capital Works" as an option, not a given. If Vacy residents want to see it get on there they need to write a short letter to Council, by 16th May, saying it needs to be in the plan. Email letters to shirecouncil@dungog.nsw.gov.au   

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Council feedback for us: come to the info night on Thursday 1st May at the Vacy School of Arts Hall.

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Next quarter:

• Street bins at Paterson, Vacy and Gresford and recycling. Synergies/opportunities with the Hunter Joint Org. circular system projects

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