Ann Luke
Councillor
   02 6740 2100
   0417 677 827
annluke@gunnedah.nsw.gov.au

Tammey McAllan
Councillor
   02 6740 2100
   0407 604 379
tammeymcallan@gunnedah.nsw.gov.au 

An election was held in Gunnedah Shire Council on Saturday 10 September 2016 to elect nine (9) Councillors. The counting of votes resulted in the election of:

• HOOKE Rob,
• CAMPBELL John R,
• O'KEEFE Murray,
• HASLER Owen,
• MOSES David,
• FULLER Colleen,
• LUKE Ann,
• CHAFFEY Jamie,
• SWAIN Gae,

Please view the full Declaration of the Poll here.

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At Gunnedah Shire Council’s Ordinary meeting held last night, Councillor Jamie Chaffey was announced as Mayor for the ensuring 2 year term with long term serving Councillor, Gae Swain elected as Deputy Mayor.

“I’m honoured and humbled to be offered an opportunity to represent my community as Mayor, and I look forward to leading the Council for the next two years,” Mayor Chaffey said.

“It is my vision to lead a dynamic council with a fresh approach, and I look forward to being a key player in the future to shape the continued growth of the Gunnedah Shire.”

“I want to ensure the Gunnedah Shire community can continue to live in a progressive and safe environment that provides an ideal place to rear children, for young people to build a future, for businesses to grow and succeed, and for the community as a whole to prosper with opportunities continuing to come our way.”

“As a member of the Gunnedah Shire community, I am heartily grateful to our outgoing Councillors, and in particular former mayor Owen Hasler, for positioning Gunnedah Shire Council in a strong financial position for the future. Achieving this status is no mean feat and I acknowledge the hard work and dedication of all Councillors that have served our community and in particular former councillors Gwen Griffen, Steve Smith, Rebecca Ryan and David Quince.”

“I congratulate my fellow Councillors Colleen Fuller, Rob Hooke, David Moses, Murray O’Keefe, Ann Luke, John Campbell, Gae Swain and Owen Hasler on their recent election and look forward to working with them to secure a promising future for our community.”

END

Mayor Jamie Chaffey in front of the Gunnedah Shire Council Chambers.

Contact: Tom Plevey 02 6740 2100

RECYCLING COLLECTION - GUNNEDAH

Collection will be on Tuesday 4 October 2016.
Residents are requested to place their recycling bins out on Monday evening as collection will begin early on Tuesday.

RECYCLING COLLECTION – CURLEWIS

Collection will be on Wednesday 5 October 2016.
Residents are requested to place their recycling bins out on Tuesday evening as collection will begin early on Wednesday.
THERE WILL BE NO CHANGES TO THE HOUSEHOLD WASTE AND

GREENWASTE COLLECTION

Please ensure bins are placed out the night before collection date, as contractors are not obliged to accept late bins.
If you have any enquiries regarding these changes please contact Council’s Customer Services Team on 6740 2100.

Eric Groth
General Manager

Final counting in the 2016 Gunnedah Shire Council Local Government Election has been completed. The following candidates have been elected:

• HOOKE Rob,
• CAMPBELL John R,
• O'KEEFE Murray,
• HASLER Owen,
• MOSES David,
• FULLER Colleen,
• LUKE Ann,
• CHAFFEY Jamie,
• SWAIN Gae,

Declaration of the poll will be on Friday, 16th September 2016 at 11am in the Gunnedah Shire Council Chambers.

View a copy of the Gunnedah Shire Council Election 2016 - Final Count results here.

Draft Pedestrian Access and Mobility Plan and Draft Bike Plan Project: HAVE OUR SAY!
We’re excited to let you know that the Draft Pedestrian Access and Mobility Plan (PAMP) and Draft Bike Plan is now on public exhibition. We invite you to review and provide comment on the proposals and actions identified in the planning documents.

WHAT IS IT?
The purpose of the Pedestrian Access and Mobility Plan (PAMP) and Draft Bike Plan is to provide greater long term strategic focus for the development of accessible pedestrian routes and coordinated cycling infrastructure in the shire.

You can view the Draft Pedestrian Access and Mobility Plan and the Draft Bike Plan Project here.

Gunnedah Shire Councils former Director of Planning and Environment, Mr Mike Silver, was farewelled by some fifty family, friends and staff - both present and past - at a function held at the Gunnedah Rugby Club on Saturday evening.

Mr Silver had been a long-standing member of Gunnedah Shire, having served some 43 years as an officer of both the Gunnedah Municipal Council – commencing on 4 June, 1973 - and the amalgamated Gunnedah Shire after 1979.

Mr Silver was joined by wife, Glenda, and sons William and wife, Gaby, with their three children Baxter, Hudson and Carter, along with son David and friend Laura Knapman. David read a letter of tribute from third son, Peter, who was not available to attend the event.

During the formal part of the evening many speakers spoke of Mr Silver’s significant contribution to the Gunnedah community both in his professional capacity as well as his community roles particularly as a member of APEX and as an administrator of the Gunnedah Cricket Association.

Speakers included Mayor Owen Hasler, Deputy Mayor Gae Swain, General Manager Eric Groth, former engineer Rod Green, former Shire Clerk Ian Horwood, former fellow Apexians and sports administrators Don Ewing and Terry Curran and son William.

Councillor Hasler spoke of Mr Silver’s distinguished career in Local Government.

“Mr Silver became an important Senior Officer in terms of his role in mentoring and managing staff, developing teams within the organisation and also as a respected adviser and counsel to elected members”.

“Mike was a strategic thinker who always focused on improved outcomes for our community based upon a strategic vision which had been workshopped with Councillors and which had involved considerable community consultation.”

“Mr Silver has been involved in many important community projects spread across the breadth of community impact, from tourism to cultural facilities, to child care, to aged care, to public housing, to recreational and sporting facilities, to emergency services, to floodplain management, to urban design and streetscape planning as well as in the development of strategic policy in town planning, environmental management and community embellishment” stated Gunnedah Shire Mayor Owen Hasler.

These projects included:-

• Sugargums Childcare Centre;
• The establishment and expansion of the former VIC now the headquarters of the Dorothea Mackellar Society and home of the Jean Isherwood Collection;
• The Nursing Home Redevelopment - two stages;
• Community Housing including Favell Court and Vi Robinson Place;
• Donnelly Fields, Wolseley Park Upgrade, Junior Cricket Fields and the Riverine area;
• The Bill Clegg Building - SES Headquarters;
• Upgrade of the Waste Management Facility;
• Raising of houses in Carroll and Gunnedah, the levee bank issue, and Blackjack Creek proposal;
• The upgrade of Conadilly Street and concept design;
• The development and adoption of two LEP's which focussed on strategic policy in town planning, environmental management and community embellishment.

“Mr Silver's contribution to the Gunnedah Community has not been limited to his professional role.”

“Mr Silver is an extremely active citizen in a number of other ways not least been his involvement in a number of community organisations.”

“The first of these was his long standing involvement in the Gunnedah Apex Club where he was integrally involved in a number of their projects including the development and construction of the former VIC building.”

“However, Mr Silver is also remembered for his involvement in the sporting community, particularly the Gunnedah and District Cricket Association, as both a player and an administrator.”

“It is not surprising, therefore, that the cricket facilities in Gunnedah are second to none in rural NSW with the Wolseley Oval grounds and pavilion an outstanding result of his determination to have a first class cricket ground. Similarly with the junior cricket grounds in the Riverine area which spearheaded development in that part of our community.”

“We thank Mike and wish he and Glenda well in retirement,” Concluded Mayor Hasler.

Councillors Hasler and Swain, together with General Manager, Eric Groth, made two presentations to Mr Silver on behalf of Council in recognition of his considerable years of service.

Mr Silver responded by indicating how much he had appreciated the opportunities and challenges provided him, including the opportunity to participate as a member of the Australian Cricket Board, during his time at Council.

He also thanked his mentor, Peter Clark, for his early years of assistance when a trainee.

Mr Silver also spoke of how much his family had enjoyed their time in Gunnedah and looked forward to their continued residency in the community during retirement.

In conclusion, Mr Silver thanked his wife Glenda, and family members for their love and support during his career in the community.

ENDS

Contact: Lisa Davis 02 6740 2100

Budding young poets from all over the nation attended the Dorothea Mackellar Poetry Awards Presentation Ceremony last Friday in Gunnedah, celebrating the crème de la crème of modern poetry and prose.

Over 11,7666 entries from young Australian poets were received this year with competition judges Sophie Mason and Stephen Whiteside set the difficult task of selecting the 2016 winning submission for each of the eight categories.

The presentation ceremony was held at The Civic in Gunnedah and was attended by Dorothea Mackellar Memorial Society patrons Margaret White, Mark Vaile and Peter Shergold as well as renowned ABC Journalist and keynote speaker Heather Ewart.

At the conclusion of the presentation ceremony, winners, their families and dignitaries attended the official opening of The Mackellar Centre - the new home base for the awards and gallery for the Jean Isherwood “My Country” Watercolour Collection.

The Mackellar Centre has been a major project of the society and Gunnedah Shire Council with support of funding partner BHP Billiton and many local businesses.

Head to www.dorothea.com.au or contact the Dorothea Mackellar Poetry Awards Head Office on 02 6742 1200 to find out more information.

For more details and photos please see the Media Release: Winners Announced at 2016 Awards Ceremony.

ENDS

Media Contact: Pip Murray 0427 426 722

Final Check Count of first preferences is now complete. Therefore the quota will be 719 and as a result 4 candidates have been elected. Counting will recommence on Tuesday.