Criteria for Appointment as a Council Delegate

Council Delegate Nominees

Your agreement to operate a Council facility represents a partnership between your group and Council. This means both parties have roles and responsibilities to ensure that facilities are managed for the enjoyment of the community.

Community Operating Committee delegates

A Community Operating Committee consists of no less than four and no more than eight delegates.  A person cannot act as a Council delegate unless they are formally appointed by Council or an approved delegate.

Nominees for Council delegation to a Community Operating Comittee must:

  • Be aged 18 years or more;
  • Be a resident of Lake Macquarie City Council area.  Under exceptional circumstances Council may approve a person who is not a resident but has demonstrated an intent to support the local community.  Residents seeking community representation cannot be affiliated with an incorporated association using the facility, unless approved by Council;
  • Be committed to working as a member of an Operating Committee  to promote the cooperative management of the facility;
  • Commit to attend at least two thirds of the total annual meetings.

Note: A person is not eligible to nominate for Council delegation if they declare as an undischarged bankrupt.

Incorporated Association delegates

Although Council delegates authority to Incorporated Associations, a member cannot act as a Council delegate unless Council formally appoints them.

Nominees for Council delegation to an Incorporated Association must:

  • Be aged 18 years or more;
  • Be a resident of Lake Macquarie City Council area.  Under exceptional circumstances Council may approve a person who is not a resident but has demonstrated an intent to support the local community; and
  • Be committed to working as a member of the Incorporated Association that manages the facility to promote cooperative management.

Note: A person is not eligible to nominate for Council delegation if they declare as an undischarged bankrupt.

Roles and Responsibilities

Council's role

  • Provide appropriate resources, training, and assistance to your group to ensure awareness and competence in all relevant aspects of this Operating Manual.  From time to time Council will provide training, including basic PC training and Manual Handling and Risk Assessment training;
  • Maintain efficient management of the Operating Manual to meet legislative requirements;
  • Take a strategic planning role for the long term provision of facilities and major capital works for recreation and community facilities across the City;
  • Establish internal and external communications on community and recreation facilities with relevant stakeholders;
  • Demonstrate due diligence, by taking all possible care and precaution to prevent foreseeable environmental, quality and Work Health and Safety hazards to ensure your safety and protection as you undertake the care, control and operation of a Council facility;
  • Provide basic maintenance to the facility, including ovals mowing, structural maintenance and vandalism repairs; and
  • Provide Personal Accident Insurance and Public Liability Insurance for volunteers whilst undertaking activities on behalf of Council;
  • Assess and approve the appropriate management structure at each facility.

Your group's responsibility

  • Hire community and recreation facilities in accordance with this Operating Manual;
  • Induct and train new volunteers in regard to their role and responsibilities as a volunteer, including how to assess risk and establish controls related to the facility and understand the content of this Operating Manual (Council will assist with this task);
  • Collect and manage fees for the use of community and recreation facilities;
  • Provide day to day maintenance as required (for issues which are outside Council's responsibility); and
  • Provide Council with financial statements of public money (including GST information) held by you on Council’s behalf each year, submit an Annual Report, and meet all other requirements as determined in this Operating Manual.

Page Last Updated: 29 May 2014