Councillor Matthew Stadtmiller has not attended a number of meetings recently, due to illness, however, has continued to provide Questions on Notice for Council to answer so that residents are informed.
Stadtmiller a Councillor since 2012 said that he often knows the answers to the questions asked but it is pertinent that residents are given clear and concise answers on every occasion.
At Hilltops Council’s meeting last week, Councillor Stadtmiller provided dozens of Questions on Notice seeking answers about issues he feels the community should be aware of and informed of to increase transparency. Some of these questions pertain to Boorowa and are presented below with
Council’s answers.
Stadtmiller was disappointed at some of the responses stating, “Answers are often provided but not always to the questions that have been asked such as the representations regarding whether or not Council hierarchy have actually met in person or not with relevant ministers, especially face to face and in person and where. Offices in Sydney or Canberra? It’s all well and good to meet with
the local member Steph Cooke who tries hard, but meeting with Cooke when the coalition isn’t governing does little. Cooke doesn’t hold the purse strings. I still can’t ascertain which members of parliament Council has met with in person to push the funding case for Boorowa Water and either can residents, or if they have met with none. It’s a little insulting to say the least to refer me back to diaries for clarification. I’ve been a Councillor since 2012. I don’t want BS, I don’t want diversion. I want actual sensible answers admitting one way or another who and how and where have Council hierarchy met with, re Boorowa Water!”
“I’m dismayed at some of the answers. Only last week were Councillors provided with a detailed report which showed a map that could actually be read regarding Boorowa Water. Council needs to start providing answers that the communities want, not playing ducks and drakes. I’m embarrassed for the residents and ratepayers. They should start asking questions themselves and seeing the difficulty in getting an answer that I would deem helpful, detailed and explanatory.”
Stadtmiller: “What physical representations have been made to the relevant water ministers in government, both state and Federal to lobby said ministers to address the water quality issues in the Boorowa area? If representations have been made, what have the responses been?
Council: All meetings with Ministers, both Federal and State, are recorded in the Mayoral Report, the Councillor – Meeting Attended report, and the Executive Meeting Attended reports produced every ordinary council meeting. Broadly, the response has been supportive, subject to budget constraints and competing priorities.
Stadtmiller: When will councillors be provided with an actual map of the proposed Galong to Water pipeline, including a list of property owners who will be affected and or possibly paid financial compensation for having the pipeline go through their land? Are there any landowners who have objected to having the pipeline through their land, and if so, at what stage of monetary negotiation is Council or any other body up to that council is aware of? Once delivered, who will become responsible for the pipeline, and what are the projected depreciation costs? How much will Boorowa residents be charged to connect to the Goldenfields water supply, considering new connections for those who have access to the water supply cost approximately $8,000? Will the underground Boorowa water network undergo a major upgrade, considering its current condition? If so, what is the cost of a full upgrade? Will Boorowa residents be left with aging infrastructure at the end of a new pipeline?
Council: The route was provided in the draft Review of Environmental Factors reported at 12.31 – 25/34 – HARDEN TO BOOROWA PIPELINE UPDATE, Ordinary Council Meeting 26 February 2025. The draft detailed design reported at 12.27. HARDEN TO BOOROWA PIPELINE UPDATE to this meeting also shows the route in detail. No landowners have objected to having the pipeline run through their land at this stage of the project consideration. Council would be responsible for the pipeline once constructed, and the depreciation cost is currently estimated at $400k per year. New water connections will be charged in accordance with Council’s Fees and Charges in force at the time of connection, and annual charges and usage charges will be as detailed in the Revenue Policy in force at the time. Further information on fees and charges will be provided at the community consultation session to be held on 12 March 2026 at the Boorowa Ex-Services Club. The capital program for Boorowa water infrastructure was reported at 15.1. WATER CAPITAL DELIVERY PROGRAM and approved by Council at the Ordinary Council Meeting, 22 October 2025.
Stadtmiller: Can Council explain when it first became intertwined with the community committee known as the Boorowa to Galong Rail Trail? How has Council become a ‘Champion’ of the cause? Does Council remain impartial on the matter when it appears that it is promoting public consultation meetings for ratepayers to hear from TRCTourism? Why did Young not receive a community meeting when residents and ratepayers of Young will pay the highest contribution per capita to fund ongoing maintenance of a rail trail? What is the Council’s projected costs for maintenance? Please provide an independent figure ascertained by Hilltops Council staff. Galong doesn’t currently have any food or beverage businesses operating now that could support the Rail Trail. Will Council be offering grants to prospective Galong enterprises to fill this space?
Council: Council resolved on 23 October 2024, resolution 24/300
That Council:
(a) Approve the request from Boorowa Galong Rail Trail Inc. to endorse the application to Transport for NSW for the formation of the Boorowa to Galong Rail Trail;
(b) Establish a Boorowa Galong Rail Trail Oversight Committee as outlined in this report;
(c) Authorise the application for Third party access licence (Minor Activities licence) – to get on to the rail corridor to undertake surveys, etc;
(d) Submit to Transport for NSW the proposed boundary of the proposed lease area of the Rail Trail; and
(e) Upon approval by Transport for NSW of an area for the Rail Trail, commence community consultation in accordance with the requirements of the Transport for NSW Framework.
Council resolved on 27 November 2024, resolution 24/358
That Council:
(a) Establish a Boorowa Galong Rail Trail Oversight Committee and structure as outlined in (a) report;
(b) Approve the Terms of Reference in Attachment 2;
(c) Appoint two Councillors – Cr Flanery and Cr Blackwell to the Oversight Committee;
and
(d) Authorise the advertisement for Expressions of Interest for the remaining Committee members.
Council resolved on 26 February 2025, resolution 25/52
That Council:
(a) Appoint the following representatives to the Boorowa Galong Rail Trail Oversight Committee:
• Martin Corcoran (Boorowa Community representative)
• Judie Suttor (GPA Representative)
• Nikki Burton Taylor (Landholder representative)
• Jim Ryan (Boorowa Galong Rail Trail Inc. Committee endorsed)
• Paul Young (Boorowa Galong Rail Trail Inc. Committee endorsed)
Council resolved on 22 October 2025, resolution HC 31/2025:
That Council:
a. Note Boorowa Galong Rail Trail Oversight Committee Meeting Minutes – 1 October 2025; and
b. Allocate from the discretionary fund $16,500 for the community consultation report listed at item 3 of Minutes.
Council is currently implementing these resolutions. The public consultation is currently underway and has been extensively advertised and promoted. Cost estimates for development and maintenance of the proposal have been included in the information publicly available.
Stadtmiller: Will Council provide a report on the Rugby Road and the speed limit reduction? When will Councillors be given the ability to vote on the matter?
Council: The decision to reduce the speed limit for the entire length of Rugby Road was made independently by Transport for NSW (TfNSW). Speed zoning decisions rest solely with TfNSW and not Council.
Stadtmiller: Which current state government ministers and members of the government has Council representatives met with during this term of Council? What subjects and issues have been discussed? Has Council met with Rose Jackson, Minister for Water, to ascertain who will pay for Council’s projected estimate for the Harden to Boorowa pipeline of $56 million dollars. Who will construct the pipeline? Who will own it? Will the Goldenfields Water proclamation be changed to include Boorowa so that it can be included for potential construction?
Council: All meetings with Ministers, both Federal and State, are recorded in the Mayoral Report, the Councillor – Meeting Attended report, and the Executive Meeting Attended reports produced every ordinary council meeting. There has been no decision or commitment for the funding for the construction of the proposed pipeline. Any change to the Goldenfields Water proclamation would be considered at the appropriate time.
Stadtmiller: What will be the Hilltops derived cost for the ongoing maintenance of the proposed Galong to Boorowa rail trail? Has Council met with the relevant ministers for funding? If so, what was discussed and what is the governments’ position, both state and federal, in regard to funding the project, currently estimated at more than $11 million dollars? What materials will be used to construct such a cycleway? Will they be sourced locally? Will construction be done in house or will it go to a contractor, therefore raising the cost?
Council: This was reported in the Boorowa Galong Rail Trail Development Plan. Contact with relevant Ministers has not been made.
Stadtmiller: What is the cost of fixing the stretch of Rugby Road under the speed limit? Why has Council allowed the bitumen surface to deteriorate to such an extent that TFNSW has intervened? When will work commence to bring the road up to standard?
Council: The change in speed limit for Rugby Road is not related to maintenance. The upgrades which would be required to return the road to a 100km/h standard have not been fully costed however, the recent work on the Barton Highway upgrade of 7km to 100km/h Australian standards has been reported as $24m.
Stadtmiller: Off their own back Council provided a report to cease running meetings at Boorowa and Harden. When will Council now provide a report to reinstate meetings at those venues?
Council: Council resolved meeting times and places at the Extraordinary Council Meeting of 9 October 2024 (Report EOM 6.5 – 24/14 – MEETING DATES AND TIMES FOR THE ORDINARY MEETING OF COUNCIL, Resolution EOM 24/22).
– Jack Murray
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