Standing committees

Standing Committees give Councillors the opportunity to work closely on matters of special interest or specialised skill. Each Councillor is a member of one committee and is elected by their peers, with the Mayor sitting on all committees. The five subject committees meet three to four times a year to discuss and make recommendations on matters within the committee’s portfolio. The chairs of these committees, along with the Mayor, form the Strategic Advisory Reference Group Committee. This committee meet monthly and progress matters which are dealt with at subject committee level, review draft policies and make recommendations on strategic matters.

Cultural, Arts, Land & Heritage

This committee has a portfolio including: • Ailan Kastom • Cultural Heritage Advisory Committee • Language & Arts Advisory Committee • Regional Events • Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) • Native Title • Deeds of Grant in Trust • Land transfer Members: Councillor Noah (Chair), Mayor Mosby, Councillor Elisala, Councillor Nona. Executive Sponsor: Executive Director, Community and Building Services. This year the Culture, Arts, Land and Heritage Committee worked closely with officers to develop Council’s Corporate Identity Document, ‘Wan Mak’, which discusses matters pertaining to the Torres Strait Flag.

Governance and Leadership Committee

This committee has a portfolio including • Regional Assembly • Transition Action Plan (TAP) • Torres Strait Treaty • Local Government Boundaries Members: Councillor Lui (Chair), Mayor Mosby, Councillor Trinkoon, Councillor Toby. Executive Sponsor: Executive Director, Community and Building Services. This year the Governance and Leadership Committee worked on progressing the local government boundary review.

Economic Growth Committee

This committee has a portfolio including: • Divestment of Enterprises • Regional Stimulus Projects • Industry Development • Torres Strait Procurement Policy • Connectivity & Tele-communication • Employment • Training Members: Councillor Stephen (Chair), Mayor Mosby, Councillor Tabuai, Councillor Gela. Executive Sponsor: Executive Director, Financial Services.

This year the Economic Growth Committee worked on progressing Council’s Enterprise Development Strategy, Indigenous Procurement Policy and the Ugar and Dauan Sea and Air Access Business Plan.

Housing, and Safe and Healthy Communities Committee

This committee has a portfolio including • Housing • Water and Wastewater • Access and transport • Health • Master Planning • Youth • Women • Employment Members: Councillor Fell (Chair), Mayor Mosby, Councillor Levi, Councillor Pearson Executive Sponsor: Executive Director, Engineering Services and Executive Director, Community and Building Services. This year the Housing and Safe and Healthy Communities Committee worked on all matters within the portfolio with a special focus on housing and regional impacts of COVID-19.

Standing committees

Climate Change adaptation and Environment Committee

This committee has a portfolio including: • Torres Strait Climate Change Strategy • Torres Strait Sea Wall Program/Project • Torres Strait and North Peninsula Area Biosecurity

Plan • Renewable Energy Productions • Waste Management • Land & Sea Management Members: Councillor Mosby (Chair), Mayor Mosby, Councillor Tamu, Councillor Dorante. Executive Sponsor: Executive Director, Engineering Services.

This year the Climate Change Adaptation and Environment Committee on the Coastal Hazard Adaptation Strategy, Waste Management and Climate Change.

Strategic Advisory Reference Group Committee

This committee has a portfolio including • Strategic direction • Council strategic plans and policies • Long-term Financial Forecasts • Council Performance Management, Measurement,

Benchmarking • Strategic Staffing Initiatives • Strategic Asset Management • Facilities including office and residential accommodations Members: Mayor Mosby (Chair), Councillor Mosby, Councillor Noah, Councillor Stephen, Councillor Lui and Councillor Fell.

Executive Sponsor: Chief Executive Officer. This year the Strategic Advisory Reference Group Committee worked on Council’s strategic direction, Council’s advocacy priorities as well as other matters referred by the five specialist standing committees.