Audit, Risk and Improvement Committee

Shellharbour City Council’s Audit, Risk and Improvement Committee (ARIC) was established in 2010 and currently consists of three independent members (one of whom is the Chair).

The Office of Local Government has confirmed that the Risk Management and Internal Audit for Local Government NSW Guidelines have been approved in draft form pending the official amendment to the Local Government Regulation 2021 in early 2023.

The Local Government Regulation requires a council’s audit, risk and improvement committee to operate according to terms of reference that are consistent with the approved Model Terms of Reference.

Council has completed its review of the draft OLG guidelines and the updated ARIC Terms of Reference was adopted by Council on the 18 April 2023.

In line with the OLG Guidelines, a key role of the ARIC is to act as an independent source of advice and opinion to both the Council and the Chief Executive Officer, and to act as a forum for the resolution of any disagreements between the council and internal audit function.

The ARIC is required to independently review and advise on the following aspects of the council’s operations in accordance with Section 428A of the Local Government ACT 1993:

• compliance
• financial management
• risk management
• fraud control
• governance
• service reviews
• implementation of the strategic plan, delivery program and strategies
• collection of performance measurement data by the council, and
• any other matters prescribed by the regulation.

Council Representatives
Mayor Chris Homer
Chief Executive Officer 

Independent Representatives
Mayors and Chief Executive Officers / General Managers from the 24member councils as defined in the constitution and rules for the membership period.

Meeting Convenor
External

Staff Attendees (not board members)
Staff representatives to be delegated by the Chief Executive Officer

Meets
CivicRisk Mutual Limited - four (4) times per year

Purpose
To achieve and implement the objectives of CivicRisk Mutual Limited to ensure that members of the mutual have access to appropriate insurance coverage and associated services. To ensure that CivicRisk Mutual Limited is viable; and to ensure that the Board, Management Committee and any sub-committee operates in accordance with the constitution and rules for the membership period.

Delegates        
All Councillors

Staff Representatives    
Staff representatives as delegated by the Chief Executive Officer

Meets 
Meet as required.

Purpose

The Community and Australia Day Awards Advisory Committee plays an important role in promoting and encouraging nominations for the Shellharbour Community and Australia Day Awards. The Committee are responsible for carefully considering all nominations to determine the well-deserved recipients in each category.

• Citizen of the Year – Celebrating an exceptional individual whose dedication and service have made a lasting impact on the local community.
• Young Citizen of the Year – Recognising a young leader (under 25) who has demonstrated remarkable community involvement and a passion for positive change.
• Athlete of the Year – Honouring a sportsperson who has achieved outstanding sporting success and inspired others through their dedication and sportsmanship.
• Young Athlete of the Year – Acknowledging a young sportsperson (under 25) who has shown remarkable promise and commitment in their sporting pursuits.
• Service to Sports – Awarding an individual or group that has made an outstanding contribution to sports through coaching, administration, or volunteer efforts.
• Community Group of the Year – Recognising a group or organisation whose efforts have significantly enhanced the wellbeing and cohesion of the local community.
• Community Capacity Builder – An individual who has significantly contributed to positive social, cultural and/or economic change in the community.
• Volunteer of the Year – An individual who has demonstrated incredible dedication, effort and community service for a local non-for-profit organisation, community group or other entity in a volunteer capacity.
• Outstanding Contribution to the Arts – Celebrating an individual or group that has made a significant and lasting impact on the arts and creative community.
• Outstanding Contribution to Diversity & Inclusion – Recognising efforts that have fostered inclusivity and promoted diversity, ensuring equal opportunities for all members of the community.

The committee will consider all nominations and assess each nomination using the Community and Australia Day Award nomination criteria. Awards are to be presented to recipients at the Community and Australia Day Awards presentation. The format of the award presentation is determined by the Chief Executive Officer in consultation with the Mayor.

Delegates
Councillor Moira Hamilton

Alternate
Councillor Kellie Marsh

Community Representatives

A total of up to eight (8) Community Representatives, including:

•  A minimum of four (4) places for Shellharbour residents with disabilities,
•  Two (2) places will be considered for carers of Shellharbour residents with disabilities

Staff Representatives
Executive Director Community and Culture
Executive Manager Community and Creative Services
Other staff as directed/required

Meets
Up to five (5) meetings to be held per year.

Purpose
Shellharbour City Council is committed to creating a city where all residents can live, work and play.

The Disability Access and Inclusion Advisory Committee is responsible for ensuring that Council is responsive to the diverse needs of the community and gives a voice to people within the community affected by access and inclusion. The committee will advocate and provide advice and priorities to maximise opportunities for people with a disability living or visiting the City.

The committee also has a critical role in providing advice on the implementation and monitoring of the Disability Access and Inclusion Plan (DAIP).

The DAIP defines Council’s strategic direction for enhancing the accessibility and inclusiveness of the City for all residents.

Accountable to
Joint Committee of Wollongong, Kiama and Shellharbour Councils.

Council Delegate
The CEO to delegate a staff member

Staff Representative
Executive Director Infrastructure Services
Executive Manager Works and Services
Other staff as directed/required

Meets
IDWA meetings are held quarterly, generally on a Friday at 12 pm (to coincide with SCG) (Technical Advisory Committee meets when advised at rotating Councils)

Purpose
To control noxious weeds through suppression and destruction within the Local Government areas of Wollongong, Shellharbour and Kiama. The IDWA has delegated authority from Wollongong, Shellharbour and Kiama Councils to carry out local control authority functions under the Biosecurity Act 2015. It also represents these councils on the South East Regional Weeds Committee.

Council Delegates

Delegate         
Mayor Chris Homer
Deputy Mayor Kellie Marsh

Staff Representative
Chief Executive Officer

Government Representatives
The NSW Government, as represented by a nominee of the Regional Director-Illawarra Shoalhaven, Department of Regional NSW.

Meets
The Board will meet at least once in each quarter on such date, place and time as the Board decides.

Purpose
Member councils of the ISJO are Wollongong, Shellharbour, Kiama and Shoalhaven. Each member council has two (2) representatives on the ISJO, one being the Mayor of that council or Mayoral delegate; the second position will be determined by each Council.

The principal functions of the ISJO are to:
•    Establish strategic regional priorities for the joint organisation area and develop strategies and plans for delivering these priorities
•    Provide regional leadership for the joint organisation area and to be an advocate for strategic regional priorities
•    Identify and take up opportunities for intergovernmental cooperation on matters relating to the joint organisation area

Other functions of the ISJO include:
•    Enhancing strategic capacity, to support member councils to deliver services to their communities
•    Service delivery, to provide services directly to communities within the region

Responsible to
Joint committee of Wollongong and Shellharbour City Councils

Delegate     
Mayor Chris Homer
Councillor Lou Stefanovski

Staff Representatives
Executive Director Infrastructure Services
Executive Manager Technical and Recreation Services
Other staff as directed/required

Community Representatives
Two community members from each local government area.
Two Aboriginal community representatives. One nominated by the Shellharbour City Council Aboriginal Advisory Committee and one nominated by the Wollongong City Council Aboriginal Reference Group.
One independent scientific advisor.

State Government Agency Representatives
Department of Planning, Industry and Environment (DPIE)
Government Property NSW
Department of Primary Industries (Fisheries)
Transport for NSW
South East Local Land Services
Sydney Water
Illawarra Local Aboriginal Lands Council

Meets
At least four times a year for ordinary meetings.

Purpose
This group is to oversee and where needed, provide advice on the implementation of actions within the Lake Illawarra Coastal Management Program. It will act as a platform for relationship building between all stakeholders, with the shared aspiration to ensure that Lake Illawarra’s ecological, social and economic value is maintained and improved now and into the future.

Council Delegate 
WCC Representative
KMC Representative
(No councillor delegate is required)

Purpose
Regional Development Australia (RDA) is an Australian Government initiative that brings together all levels of government to support growth and development of regional Australia. RDA is delivered through a national network of 55 committees who build partnerships between governments, regional development organisations, local businesses, community groups to provide strategic responses to social, economic and environmental issues affecting regional Australia. Each RDA committee contains members from local government.

Responsible to: South Coast Arts (NSW) Inc., Shoalhaven City Council, Kiama Municipal Council and Shellharbour City Council

Councillor Delegate:
Councillor Robert Petreski

Staff Representatives
Executive Director Community and Culture
Executive Manager Community and Creative Services
Other staff as directed/required

Meets
The South Coast Arts Executive Director will organise scheduled (2 times per year) meetings with senior Council representatives for planning and reporting purposes. 
•    All meetings will be chaired by the Executive Director of South Coast Arts. 
•    Meeting agendas and minutes will be provided by the Executive Director of South Coast Arts. 
•    Meetings will be held as determined, with location of meetings on a rotating basis across the region. 
•    If required, subgroup meetings will be arranged outside of these times at a time convenient to subgroup members. 

Purpose
Key to achieving outcomes will be a commitment to the following objectives: 
1.    Identify and respond to issues that are of a regional nature i.e., the partnership will offer opportunity for regional south coast advocacy, strategic planning and implementation. 
2.    Build a dynamic relationship between our population centres. 
3.    Work within the NSW Government framework/policy. 
4.    Establish partnership and collaborative arrangements; and 
5.    Inter-governmental collaboration. 

In order to develop a meaningful partnership, time needs to be dedicated to developing a model that works for all parties and their communities and ensures key outcomes are achieved.