Bundian Way fee waiver to go on public exhibition in Eden

Bega Valley Shire Council has backed a fee waiver for Eden Local Aboriginal Land Council's Bundian Way project, with the proposal now set to go on public exhibition for 28 days before it can take effect.

At its 28 January meeting, council agreed to waive all current and future UPL fees for the project, as outlined in the report before councillors. The minutes show the waiver will proceed if no objections are received during the exhibition period required under the Local Government Act 1993.

The decision relates to the Bundian Way project in Eden, which council identified as a local Aboriginal tourism and cultural project. Cr Clair Mudaliar left the chamber and did not vote on the item after declaring a pecuniary conflict of interest because of her employment with Eden Local Aboriginal Land Council and involvement in the project.

For Eden and the wider shire, the practical change is that the project may receive ongoing relief from these council fees. That support is not yet final, because the public exhibition step must happen first.

The next step is formal exhibition of the proposed waiver for 28 days. If objections are received, the minutes do not set out any final implementation at this stage. If no objections are received, council's resolution says the waiver will be progressed and implemented.

The same meeting also authorised a memorandum of understanding for the Snug Cove Maritime Precinct with Transport for NSW, Port Authority of NSW and Eden Local Aboriginal Land Council, another Eden-related item from the January agenda.