Updated 1 March, 2023

Gunnedah Shire signed a Sister City Agreement with the Yinzhou District of Ningbo in the Zhejiang Province in China in September 2017.

Six delegates from the Yinzhou Government visited Gunnedah Shire to sign official documents and experience a taste of Gunnedah during their stay.

St Mary’s College Year 8 students welcomed Gunnedah Shire Mayor Jamie Chaffey and the Yinzhou.

“The students were able to officially welcome the delegation in Mandarin and show them around our school,” St Mary’s College Principal Max Quirk said.

“The school visit was a tremendous success and Cr Chaffey spoke to the students about how exciting the initiative is between Gunnedah and Yinzhou.”

During their stay, the delegation were invited to local orange farm “Gunnible” for an official dinner, as well as taking part in flights over Gunnedah and koala spotting before signing the official documents in a ceremony at Wolseley Park.

“Fate will bring us together even if we are thousands of miles away,” Deputy Director, The Standing Committee of Yinzhou District People’s Congress, Lyu Hongqin said.

The delegation was welcomed by Gomeroi Elders conducting a traditional Smoking Ceremony, before the Australian and Chinese National Anthems were played by the Gunnedah Conservatorium of Music.

A Chinese Elm tree was planted at Wolseley Park to mark the beginning of the relationship and will grow as the relationship grows.

Updated 1 March, 2023

Gunnedah Shire has a long history with the Sydney suburb of Lane Cove. In November 2001, Lane Cove adopted Gunnedah as its Friendship Town under the Green Hands initiative which aimed to link metropolitan and country councils where tree planting and other environmental works were needed.

As a result, a delegation of Lane Cove Councillors and Council staff visited Gunnedah and after the visit, it was agreed that the two Councils would work together to develop Gunnedah's Wandobah Reserve Wetlands. The project reached the design stage but drought conditions delayed further works.

By late 2002, the Gunnedah Shire was experiencing the worst drought in living memory and the two councils joined forces to hold a Drought Breaker concert. The drought aid concert was held at St Ignatius College Riverview Hall on Friday, December 6, 2002 and featured performances by about 60 talented Gunnedah's youth including musicians, dancers, singers, whip-crackers and gymnasts. Proceeds from the concert were given to the Red Cross Farmhand Drought Relief Appeal.

Gunnedah Shire and Lane Cover announced a formal Sister City relationship at the concert and have been building on the relationship since through reciprocal visits and communications.

Lane Cove has continued to be a friend to Gunnedah during times of drought, with the Rain Bringer concert in 2020, and other generations donations from the community.

Lane Cove also hosted the photographic exhibition Sirens of Gunnedah in 2020.

18 January, 2023

Work has started on a shared pathway extension that will connect the Namoi River to Mullibah Lagoon.

The Riverine Stormwater Precinct Shared Pathway project will complement the existing pathways and is funded by the NSW Public Spaces Legacy Program.

Contractor Daracon is working its way from Cohen’s Bridge along Maitland Street, to the Carroll Street end of Mullibah Lagoon to connect to the existing pathway at the Namoi River. The Geoff Morgan Playing Fields will be linked through Mullibah Lagoon.

The pathway will include a stormwater bridge - designed and constructed by Central Industries - at the Osric Street stormwater head, and will be lit with solar lighting.

On August 2020, the NSW Government launched the $250 million program and encouraged councils to submit a plan to the Department of Planning, Industry and Environment on how they would accelerate local projects and include a brief project proposal to deliver an open and public space project.

In April 2021, $2 million in funding was allocated to Gunnedah Shire Council for projects under the Gunnedah Public Spaces Activation Program, including the Shared Pathways Connection Program, Wandobah Road Open Space Enhancement Project and the Poetry Precinct Enhancement Project.

As part of the already completed Wandobah Road Open Space Enhancement Project, low fencing, intergenerational seating and rubbish bins were installed along the 2.16 kilometres of popular footpath on Wandobah Road over June and July.

The project augments the existing shared pathway network, complements the Gunnedah Shared Pathway Connection Program and increases safety for user groups by discouraging vehicular access to the Wandobah Reserve.

Gunnedah Shire Mayor Jamie Chaffey said it was exciting for Council to have the opportunity to enhance the Shire’s open spaces for present and also future generations.

“One of the things residents love most about the Gunnedah Shire is its open spaces, so we, at Council, have taken that on board and are looking forward to delivering these projects in spaces that are already well-loved and well-used by our community,” he said.

“There is so much potential to improve these shared spaces and this is a great start.”

Work on the Riverine Stormwater Precinct Shared Pathway project is expected to be complete by early March.

Caption: Work is under way on the Riverine Stormwater Precinct Shared Pathway project in Maitland Street.

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For more information, contact Gunnedah Shire Council’s media team on (02) 6740 2100.

18 January, 2023

It’s time to mark International Women’s Day by creating something special for the Gunnedah International Women’s Day Exhibition 2023.

Gunnedah Cultural Precinct Team Leader Michael Cornford said March 8 was an important day in the global calendar, and Gunnedah had plenty of reason to celebrate.

“While the 2023 theme for the day is #EmbraceEquity, this is an opportunity to create amazing art – whether it is a painting, drawing, sculpture or another form of art – to symbolise any aspect of women,” Mr Cornford said.

“In the past, this has been a very popular exhibition in Gunnedah.
“Maybe it’s because there are so many directions this theme can take us. It can be an opportunity to pay tribute to women's achievement, to raise awareness about discrimination, or just to have fun with the theme.

“We hope to see many submissions to make this a really vibrant and exciting exhibition.”

Submissions are due at the Gunnedah Bicentennial Creative Arts Gallery by 5pm on Thursday, March 2.

The International Women’s Day Exhibition 2023 will officially open at 6pm on Friday, March 10, with a black and white theme, and continue until Sunday, April 16. For entry forms and more information, visit www.thecivic.com.au, or contact Gunnedah Shire Council on 6740 2100.

Caption: Gunnedah Shire Council is calling for people to start work on submissions for the International Women’s Day Exhibition 2023.

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For more information, contact Gunnedah Shire Council’s Communications team on (02) 6740 2100.

January 11, 2023

An exhibition celebrating the journey of the Blackjack Camera Club Inc will open at the Gunnedah Bicentennial Creative Arts Gallery on Friday, January 27.

Through the Lens Photography Exhibition is a selection of highlights taken by members of the Blackjack Camera Club Inc, which is based in Gunnedah.

Blackjack Camera Club president Wendy Carpenter said the exhibition was as diverse as the club’s members.

“In the past seven years, we have seen membership change, but the passion remains the same,” Wendy said.

“This collection of photographs is a reflection of the path we have travelled, the excursions, the travels, the everyday moments of magic, the workshops and the quest to learn more. It captures how we all see moments in so many different ways.

“There are some beautiful artworks in Through the Lens. Seeing the exhibition come together is really exciting. There is a phenomenal wealth of talent among the members and we are thrilled to be able to share the skill of our own local photographers.

“There are 44 photographers represented in the exhibition of more than 90 photographs.

“Through the Lens exhibition has been made possible by the support of Gunnedah Shire Council through a Section 356 Arts and Cultural Grant, and we hope that all members of our community and visitors to our town over the summer have the opportunity to come to the gallery and enjoy these spectacular photographs.”

Gunnedah Shire Council Cultural Precinct Team Leader Michael Cornford said the exhibition had something for everyone.

“Through the Lens captures an era in Gunnedah and beyond,” he said. “There are a wide spectrum of life-filled moments captured at local events such as the Gunnedah Show, through to portraits, landscapes and wildlife.

“This is an exhibition worth seeing – it will provide a glimpse into life through the eyes and lenses of these talented local photographers.”

Through the Lens Photography Exhibition opens on the evening of Friday, January 27, 2023, and closes on Saturday, February 25. For more information, visit www.thecivic.com.au

Caption: Blackjack Camera Club members pictured against the sunset. Image: Paul Williams.

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For more information, contact Gunnedah Shire Council’s Communications team on (02) 6740 2100.

10 January, 2023

Time is running out to nominate outstanding individuals and organisations for Gunnedah Shire’s 2023 Australia Day Awards.

Nominations are due by Monday, January 16 for the annual awards which recognise and honour individuals and groups in the local community who have worked to shape and enrich the Shire.

Gunnedah Shire’s Australia Day Working Group Chair and Deputy Mayor Cr Rob Hooke said the AustraliAusta Day Awards were an important way to highlight the Shire’s community champions.

“Our community is the sum of the people within it, and we have some amazing people in our shire who contribute their time and talents to many worthwhile endeavours,” Cr Hooke said.  

“We would love to see locals recognised in all areas of the community, from sport, to volunteering, to cultural and community achievements, and environmental contributions.

“If you know someone who deserves to be acknowledged for their valuable input in our community, I urge you to fill out a nomination form by 5pm on Monday.”

The 13 categories in Gunnedah Shire Council’s Australia Day Awards are:

• Citizen of the Year Award (21 and over);
• Young Citizen of the Year Award (20 and under);
• Ossie and Beryl Campbell Memorial Volunteer of the Year Award;
• Eve Turner Perpetual Trophy recognising a retired person who has continued to dedicate time and effort to the community;
• Community Achievement Award for a person or group who has made a significant contribution;
• Cultural Achievement Award recognising a person or group celebrating cultural diversity;
• Max & Mikie Maas Good Neighbour Award;
• Sports Person of the Year Award (21 and over);
• Junior Sports Person of the Year Award (20 and under);
• Junior Sports Team of the Year Award (20 and under);
• Sports Team of the Year Award;
• Ivan Towns Memorial Award recognising the work of a coach; and
• Environmental Citizen of the Year Award (open age category).

Nomination forms, with more details about these categories, are available at https://thecivic.com.au/live-theatre--events. Hard copies are available at Council’s Administration Building at 63 Elgin Street and Gunnedah Visitor Information Centre in Chandos Street.

Applications close at 5pm on Monday, January 16.

Winners will be announced during the Australia Day Awards Dinner on Wednesday, January 25.

Caption: It’s time to get nominations in for Gunnedah Shire’s Australia Day Awards. Pictured is Philippa Murray receiving the 2022 Community and Cultural Achievement Award from Cr Rob Hooke on behalf of the Dorothea Mackellar Memorial Society. Photo: Gunnedah Times

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For more information, contact Gunnedah Shire Council’s Communications team on (02) 6740 2100.

22 December, 2022

Gunnedah Shire has once again celebrated the festive spirit with homes and businesses switching on their Christmas lights.

Twenty-six homes and businesses entered the Christmas Lights Competition, decorating their premises with everything from giant inflatable Santas to strings of illuminated stars.

Gunnedah Shire Council Manager Economy and Growth Susan Frater said the competition judges – Gunnedah’s Citizen of the Year Tracey Reid, Gunnedah Chamber of Commerce representative Sammi Bath and representatives from Gunnedah Shire Council – recently visited entrants who were scattered throughout Gunnedah and in the village of Curlewis.

“The judges reported they were amazed at the effort people had put in to help bring Christmas to Gunnedah,” Ms Frater said.

“There was a huge variety of displays from big inflatables and a frenzy of colour, to more elegant and simple displays. There was a giant Sydney Harbour Bridge, glowing rooftops, and Santas on sleighs, on skis, with surfboards and on tractors – it was difficult to pick the winners!

“The judges were impressed with all the entries, with a particular mention of the three twinkling displays at Curlewis.”

The Christmas Lights winners were:

• Best Christmas Theme in a Village – Oaktree Retirement Village – the judges said the village was a “veritable fairy town”;
• Best Decorated House – 17 Boronia Street – home of a million lights and the Sydney Harbour Bridge;
• Best Theme – 18 Linden Place – a sweet gingerbread house theme;
• Santa Street – Kurrajong Road – the wow factor from one end of the street to the other;
• Best Dressed Shop Front – The Gunnedah Times with a very thoughtful display. Congratulations also to all the businesses who have created beautiful displays but did not enter; and
• Judges’ Choice Award – 849 Preston Street, where one of the sons of the household has showed his love of Christmas with a magical display.

The judges also made a special mention of:

• 129 Edward Street for a wonderful effort including a star-studded tree;
• 5 Sanders Place for the variation and sheer number of lights;
• 37 South Street for a vibrant and colourful display; and
• 24 Reservoir Street for beautiful elegance.

“We would like to thank everyone who has put so much effort into helping to create that Christmas excitement for the whole community – from little ones through to grandparents,” Ms Frater said.

Caption:

Cr Rob Hooke presents Nikita and Agnes White with the Santa Street award for Kurrajong Road.

Nick and Sophie Mainey accept the award for Judges’ Choice from Cr Rob Hooke for their home in Preston Road.

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For more information, contact Gunnedah Shire Council’s Communications team on (02) 6740 2100.

20 December, 2022

Gunnedah Shire Council is actively recruiting town planners to keep pace with rapid growth in Gunnedah Shire.

Over the past 18 months, 232 development applications have been lodged with Council, along with Customer Service Requests, street trading applications, planning certificates, and state significant developments, among other requests.

Most of the DAs are additions to homes (for example, sheds/pools/dwelling alterations), additions to commercial/Industrial, and new dwellings (based on June 2021-December 2022 figures), while other applications involve significant new development which could support the community’s economic growth into the future. 

While it’s good news for the shire that the region is growing, Council’s Director Planning and Environmental Services Andrew Johns said a national shortage of town planners was putting pressure on councils. This pressure, combined with changes in State Government legislation, as well as a shortage of building certifiers and engineers, meant assessment periods for development applications had increased significantly.

“Unfortunately, the average time it takes for a development application to be assessed has blown out considerably. This is due to both staff shortages and the complex nature of the assessment process,” Mr Johns said.

Mr Johns said an average of three development applications were lodged with Council each week, coinciding with a period of severely under-resourced staffing.

“Gunnedah Shire Council has been operating with one Senior Development Officer and one Town Planner for some time and has only recently been successful in recruiting a second Town Planner who will start at Council in the new year,” Mr Johns said.

“The severe shortage of town planners available in Australia led us to undertake recruitment in other countries including New Zealand and the United Kingdom, but we have been unsuccessful due to the competitive nature of the industry.

“When the workload is especially high, we have at times employed locum planners, but it is a costly process and is not sustainable in the long-term.

“We are in the process of developing a position for a cadet, with the purpose of recruiting a candidate from the Shire, or one who wants to settle here permanently.”

Council’s Manager Development Assessment Wade Hudson said more than 50 applications were currently under assessment, and on top of the increasing number of applications, staff received an average of 8-10 customer requests a day.

“Many of these requests are residents or developers wanting to check on where their application is up to in the assessment process, questions about new developments, and exemptions to approve developments,” he said.

“Understandably, there has been frustration from some applicants because they are keen to see their projects progress, but we are hampered by staff resources and limits in complying development provisions.

“We assess DAs as quickly and efficiently as we can, but we’ve got more work to do than we have people to do the work, and a high number of applications currently under assessment.

“Our assessment team also has many other responsibilities which compete for our limited time. These include street trading approvals, preparing and issuing planning certificates, and reviewing and making comment on state significant developments.

“With aspirations of another successful recruitment, we are hopeful that in the new year we can future-proof our planning team and resolve the backlog of development applications so the shire can continue to grow and flourish.”

Caption: New dwellings are among the most common development applications received by Gunnedah Shire Council.

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For more information, contact Gunnedah Shire Council’s Communications team on (02) 6740 2100.

16 December, 2022

It’s summer and that means the school holidays are here!

Gunnedah Shire Council’s latest school holiday program is full of fun activities including skateboarding workshops, whip cracking, outdoor cinema, a free pool day, and theatre workshops in January 2023.

Louis Tennis Academy will run tennis coaching clinics in both Gunnedah and Breeza on Tuesday, 10 January, and Gunnedah Conservatorium is hosting a number of theatre and music workshops over a few weeks.

Splash into Summer with free entry for children to the outdoor pool at Gunnedah Memorial Pool on Wednesday, 11 January from 9am-6pm. There will even be a jumping castle!

Free skateboarding workshops are back on Friday, 13 January from 9am-11.30am. Places are limited, so book fast!

Learn whip cracking from the Wicks family on Tuesday, 17 January at the Griffith Pavilion in the Gunnedah Showground. The novice session is from 9am-10am and the advanced session is from 10.30am-11.30am.

Join us for an open-air screening of the new Dreamworks animation, The Bad Guys (PG) at Kitchener Park on Friday, 20 January from 6.30pm.

After a lifetime of legendary heists, notorious criminals Mr. Wolf, Mr. Snake, Mr. Piranha, Mr. Shark and Ms. Tarantula are finally caught. To avoid a prison sentence, the animal outlaws must pull off their most challenging con yet - becoming model citizens. Under the tutelage of their mentor, Professor Marmalade, the dubious gang sets out to fool the world that they're turning good.

Pack a picnic and bring along a chair or rug to enjoy an evening of family-friendly entertainment under the stars. Don’t forget the mosquito repellent! The Civic is also screening $10 movies including Avatar: The Way of Water, Lyle Lyle Crocodile, and Puss in Boots: The Last Wish.

Gunnedah Shire Library has school holiday fun that includes Book Buddies for 0-7 years, and Crafty Creations for 8 years plus. On Wednesday, 11 January, 2023, from 3.30pm-4.30pm test your galactic movie knowledge at a space movie trivia afternoon. There will be four people per space station and dress-up is optional, with prizes on offer. Parents are welcome.

There will also be Crafty Creations sessions at the Curlewis Library from 2pm-3pm on Monday 9 January, 16 and 23. To find out more about the library’s activities, visit the Gunnedah Shire Library Facebook page. Bookings are essential.

To find out more, and make bookings for Gunnedah Shire Council’s School Holiday Program, visit www.thecivic.com.au/youth

Caption: Whip cracking is making a return in Council’s summer School Holiday Program.

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For more information, contact Gunnedah Shire Council’s Communications team on (02) 6740 2100.

15 December, 2022

Gunnedah Shire has strengthened its partnership with its Sister City of Kolomotu’a, Tonga, and other Pacific Islands through a recent labour workshop.

Gunnedah Shire Council hosted a Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) scheme workshop to introduce local employers to the Federal Government program.

“This workshop, which was open to employers looking to fill labour gaps with reliable workers from the Pacific Islands or Timor-Leste, is a great step towards meeting a number of needs,” Gunnedah Shire Mayor Jamie Chaffey said.

“Not only does it work towards addressing our labour shortage, but this scheme allows Pacific and Timor-Leste workers to find jobs in Australia so they can send income home to their families. They also often have the possibility of further training.

“We have a special Sister City Agreement with Kolomotu’a in the Kingdom of Tonga, and a tradition of employing Tongan nationals. Workshops like this one cement our relationship and open the doors for employers to learn more.

“This workshop also allowed businesses who already employ Pacific Island workers to share their knowledge and build support for Pacific Island workers within Gunnedah.”

The workshop was held by Pacific Labour Facility Regional Manager Fionnuala Dixon, who said that eligible businesses could recruit workers, through the PALM scheme, for seasonal jobs for up to nine months or for longer-term roles for between one and four years in unskilled, low-skilled and semi-skilled positions.

Cr Chaffey said a visit to Kolomotu’a by a Gunnedah delegation had shown just how important overseas jobs were to Tonga, where more than one-third of the country’s gross domestic product comes from money sent home by residents living and working overseas.

To find out more about the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility scheme, visit https://www.palmscheme.gov.au/ or if you are interested in a further workshop, please email the Manager Economy and Growth at council@infogunnedah.com.au

Caption: The workshop allowed businesses who already employ Pacific Island workers to share their knowledge and build support for Pacific Island workers within Gunnedah.

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For more information, contact Gunnedah Shire Council’s Communications team on (02) 6740 2100.