Merimbula property granted $15,525.60 water-charge concession as CEO limit rises Bega Valley Shire Council approved the concession for 21 Marine Parade and separately lifted the CEO’s authority for eligible water and wastewater charge reductions to $50,000. Council: Bega Valley Shire Council Meeting: 23 Sep 2026 2:00pm Recorded status: approved BRIEF Bega Valley Shire Council’s minutes record approval of a $15,525.60 water-consumption charge concession for 21 Marine Parade, Merimbula, and an increase in the CEO’s delegated authority for eligible water and wastewater charge reductions from $10,000 to $50,000. The delegation vote was recorded as six to three. Conflicting entries about Cr Helen O’Neil’s attendance prevent verification of the actual concession vote tally. KEY FACTS - Resolution 132/26 records approval of a $15,525.60 water-consumption charge concession for 21 Marine Parade, Merimbula. - The concession was made under Procedure 4.07.02, Water and Sewer Billing, Concessions and Reduction. - Resolution 133/26 increased the CEO’s delegated authority for eligible water and wastewater consumption-charge reductions from $10,000 to $50,000. - The delegation vote was recorded as six in favour and three against. - The minutes list Cr O’Neil as both in favour of the concession and absent from that vote, preventing verification of the actual concession vote tally from the supplied record. ANALYSIS OF THE RECORD - The two resolutions were separate: the concession was resolution 132/26 and the delegation amendment was resolution 133/26. - The higher delegation is conditional on applications meeting the council's adopted procedure. - The public record does not state the reason for the individual concession or the number of applications likely to use the higher limit. QUESTIONS FOR FOLLOW-UP REPORTING - What circumstances supported the $15,525.60 concession for 21 Marine Parade? - How many applications previously exceeded the CEO's $10,000 delegation limit? - What reporting will councillors receive on reductions approved under the new $50,000 delegation? SOURCE PASSAGES Resolution 132/26 records approval of a $15,525.60 water-consumption charge leniency concession for 21 Marine Parade, Merimbula, under Procedure 4.07.02. The concession vote lists nine councillors in favour and none against, but also lists Cr O'Neil as absent despite including O'Neil among those in favour. It records O'Neil returning at 4:29 pm. "132/26 RESOLVED on the motion of Crs Nadin and Porter 1. Approve a water consumption charge leniency concession of $15,525.60 for the property located at 21 Marine Parade, Merimbula, in accordance with Procedure 4.07.02 Water and Sewer Billing, Concessions and Reduction IN FAVOUR: Crs Allen, Daly, Fitzpatrick, Haggar, Mudaliar, Nadin, Noble, O'Neil and Porter AGAINST: Nil Council Meeting Minutes 23 September 2026 - 15 - ABSENT: Cr O'Neil 04:29 pm Cr O'Neil returned to the meeting." (Resolution 132/26) Resolution 133/26 amended Delegation DEG025 to increase the Chief Executive Officer's authority to approve water and wastewater consumption-charge reductions from $10,000 to $50,000, where applications meet the requirements of the council's adopted Water and Sewer Billing, Concessions and Reductions Procedure. "133/26 RESOLVED on the motion of Crs Haggar and Daly 1. Amend Delegation DEG025 to increase the Chief Executive Officer's delegated authority to approve reductions in water and wastewater consumption charges from $10,000 to $50,000, where applications meet the requirements of Council's adopted Water and Sewer Billing, Concessions and Reductions Procedure." (Resolution 133/26) The recorded vote lists six councillors in favour and three against. "IN FAVOUR: Crs Allen, Daly, Fitzpatrick, Haggar, Mudaliar and O'Neil AGAINST: Crs Nadin, Noble and Porter 10.5 Pulse upgrade and expansion project 04:30 pm Cr Nadin left the meeting." (Vote on resolution 133/26) The minutes record Cr O'Neil leaving the meeting at 4:27 pm under item 10.4, Water Consumption Charge Leniency Request. "IN FAVOUR: Crs Allen, Daly, Fitzpatrick, Haggar, Mudaliar, Nadin, Noble and O'Neil AGAINST: Cr Porter 10.4 Water Consumption Charge Leniency Request 04:27 pm Cr O'Neil left the meeting." (Attendance entry before item 10.4) The record includes a confirmation bearing Russell Fitzpatrick's digital signature as chairperson of the Bega Valley Shire Council meeting held on 23 September 2026. "Closure There being no further business, the Chairperson closed the meeting at 5:47 pm. Confirmed Russell Fitzpatrick (digitally signed) Chairperson of the meeting of the Bega Valley Shire Council held on Wednesday, 23 September 2026." (Closure and confirmation) SOURCES https://begavalley.infocouncil.biz/RedirectToDoc.aspx?URL=Open/2026/09/OC_23092026_MIN_1213.PDF https://minutesradar.com/news/bega-valley-infocouncil-council-23-sep-2026-2-00pm-23-sep-2026-2-00pm-minutes-merimbula-property-granted-15-525-60-water-charge-concession/ Prepared from public council minutes using automated drafting and checks. No meeting attendance or interviews are implied. Check the original record and seek comment before republishing claims or analysis. 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