13 November 2024

Following last week’s difficult but necessary decision to proceed with a Special Rate Variation (SRV) to address its financial sustainability and maintain essential community infrastructure and service levels, Gunnedah Shire Council is now welcoming written submissions from the local community. These can be provided to Council until Thursday, 19 December 2024.

Council’s original SRV proposal was for a permanent cumulative 38.88% increase over two years with a 24% increase in year one and 12% increase in year two. The community feedback indicated that the year one increase was too high.

Council considered a range of scenarios in response to the community feedback and has determined to proceed with a permanent Special Rate Variation over two years that is 37.67% cumulative but caps the increase on Residential, Business and Farmland rate categories at 15% per year (32.25% cumulative).

The balance of the revised SRV of 37.67% cumulative is to be sourced from the Mining rating category.

This week Council formally notified IPART that it intends to submit a Special Rate Variation application for the 2025-2026 financial year.

Council's Integrated Planning & Reporting (IP&R) documentation will be updated to meet the SRV application requirements, and the amended IP&R documents will be presented to a future Council meeting for the purpose of being endorsed by Council for public exhibition.

Council will convene an Extraordinary Council meeting in January 2025 for the purpose of receiving any submissions on the revised IP&R documentation and to endorse the SRV application prior to the submission to IPART by February 3, 2025.

Council also resolved to strive to achieve $930,000 through efficiency gains and operational savings over the 3-year period 2025 to 2028 with a report to council by May 30th annually during this period.

Members of the community can measure how they will be directly affected by the Special Rate Variation by accessing the rates calculator now available on the dedicated SRV page on Council’s website www.gunnedah.nsw.gov.au.

General enquiries on the Special Rate Variation can be made to Council’s customer service team on 6740 2100 or council@gunnedah.nsw.gov.au

Written public submissions will be accepted until December 19, 2024, and can be made via post:
The General Manager,
Gunnedah Shire Council,
PO Box 63,
Gunnedah NSW 2380

Or

Email: council@gunnedah.nsw.gov.au and webform https://www.gunnedah.nsw.gov.au/index.php/council/keep-in-touch/contact-us .

13 November, 2024

Every year, Gunnedah Shire residents add another layer of special to Christmas with their spectacular Christmas light displays.

Gunnedah Shire Council is challenging our community to make 2024 the brightest and most beautiful Christmas of all!

The Christmas Lights Competition opens today, with six categories including the always hotly contested title of Santa Street for the street that glows the most. Last Christmas, the title went to Kurrajong Road.

The categories are:
* Best Decorated House (a prize of a $200 Gunny Money Gift Card)
* Best Nativity Scene ($50 Gunny Money Gift Card)
* Best Christmas Theme in a Village ($150 Gunny Money Gift Card)
* Santa Street (winners’ plaque and $200 Gunny Money Gift Card)
* Judges’ Choice Award ($50 Gunny Money Gift Card)
* Best Dressed Shopfront Window ($100 Gunny Money Gift Card).

Gunnedah Shire Mayor Colleen Fuller encouraged people to spread the joy of Christmas by decorating their home or business.

“There are some really beautiful Christmas displays in our Shire every year,” Cr Fuller said. “It’s time for people who have thought about doing this before to seize the season and have a go.

“Christmas displays really add to the excitement our whole community enjoys at Christmas time.”

To be eligible for judging, people must fill out a competition form. They are available on the Civic website here. Entries close at 5pm on Friday, 6 December, and judging will take place on Wednesday, 11 December and Thursday, 12 December, depending on the number of nominations.

Winners will be announced at the Christmas Tree in Brock’s Court at 5.30pm on Wednesday, 18 December.

ENDS

Media and communications team contact: (02) 6740 2100.

12 November 2024

New food safety requirements will apply to school canteens, childcare centres, supermarkets, coffee vendors selling food and boarding schools across Gunnedah and the rest of New South Wales from next month.

National standard mandating staff training and risk management procedures have been enforceable for most food businesses since 8 December, 2023, however, some business types in NSW received a 12-month extension, and now have just weeks left to prepare.

These rules apply only to businesses that sell or serve ready-to-eat unpackaged food that needs to be kept hot or cold to stay safe. Packaged food, and products like confectionary and cakes, are generally not included.

Most outlets are required to arrange formal Food Safety Supervisor training for at least one person in the business and ensure all food handlers have general food safety skills and knowledge.

Higher-risk businesses must also be able to show they are managing key food safety risks.

Gunnedah Shire Council Acting Director Community and Development Wade Berryman said the standard put in place further measures to prevent people becoming sick from eating unsafe food.

“Residents, visitors and workers in Gunnedah Shire expect and deserve a high level of food safety at the places they eat at every day,” Mr Berryman said.

“We know the vast majority of our local food businesses take food safety seriously. These new measures will further strengthen practices and processes to ensure people can continue to enjoy their food secure in the knowledge that it is safe to eat.”

Mr Berryman said Council would take an educative approach with local businesses as they transitioned to the new requirements.

For more information about the new requirements, visit the NSW Food Authority website foodauthority.nsw.gov.au/safetytools

ENDS

Media and communications team contact: (02) 6740 2100.

12 November 2024

They have already proven popular with walkers, runners, families, pets and cyclists, and Gunnedah Shire’s newest pathways will officially open this Saturday.

Community members are invited to bring their bikes and their helmets down to the Woolshed Reserve in Maitland Street at 9.30am on Saturday morning to help celebrate the opening of the Shared Pathways Activation Project and the Wandobah Fence Enhancement Project.

Gunnedah Shire Council Director Infrastructure Services Jeremy Bartlett said the Shared Pathways Activation Project was a great project in making Gunnedah Shire and even better place to live.

“Time outdoors has become even more important as our lives get busier, and creating safe and enjoyable ways to walk, run and cycle allows people to make the most of our beautiful environment,” Mr Barlett said.

“The Riverine Stormwater Precinct Shared Pathway connects Mullibah Lagoon to the Namoi River, and is part of the creation of a connected cycleways loop that includes 3,970 meters of cycleways and shared pathways.

“Pathways now run from Cohen’s Bridge along Maitland Street to the Carroll Street end of Mullibah Lagoon, connecting to the existing pathway at the Namoi River. The Geoff Morgan Playing Fields are linked through Mullibah Lagoon. The pathway includes a stormwater bridge at the Osric Street stormwater head and is lined with solar lighting.

“This project helps people get out and close to nature, whether it is with their families, friends or pets.”

The project has been largely funded by the NSW Public Spaces Legacy Program, a NSW Government program that encouraged councils to submit a plan to the Department of Planning, Industry and Environment on how they would accelerate local projects and include a proposal to deliver an open and public space project.

Funding for Gunnedah Shire included three projects under the Gunnedah Public Spaces Activation Program - the Shared Pathways Connection Program, the Wandobah Road Open Space Enhancement Project and the Poetry Precinct Open Space Activation 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.

The Stock Road pathway between Links Road and Winder Place has also had a facelift with new surfacing.

What: Official opening of the Shared Pathway Project
When: 9.30am, Saturday, 16 November, 2024
Where: The Woolshed Reserve, Maitland Street, Gunnedah

Caption: A family enjoys an evening stroll near Mullibah Lagoon.

ENDS

Media and communications team contact: (02) 6740 2100.

Following an extensive community engagement process, Gunnedah Shire Council has made the difficult but necessary decision to proceed with a Special Rate Variation at an Extraordinary Meeting yesterday. It was noted that a Special Rate Variation (SRV) was needed to address Council’s financial sustainability and maintain essential community infrastructure and service levels.

While there was strong support for no SRV indicated in the community feedback, there was equally strong support for levels of service to at least be maintained or even improved, which is not possible without an SRV.

The original SRV proposal was for a permanent cumulative 38.88% increase over two years with a 24% increase in year one and 12% increase in year two. The community feedback indicated that the year one increase was too high.

Council considered a range of scenarios in response to the community feedback and has determined to proceed with a Special Rate Variation over two years that is 37.67% cumulative but caps the increase on Residential, Business and Farmland rate categories at 15% per year (32.25% cumulative). The balance of the revised SRV of 37.67% cumulative is to be sourced from the Mining rating category.

Six SRV scenarios were included in the report to Council for consideration and the options were robustly debated at the meeting. Given the current financial position of the Council and the significant challenges that face local government in relation to increased costs associated with cost-shifting, high inflation and natural disasters, Council has made a balanced determination on the SRV that considers the potential impacts on Council’s services and the essential infrastructure it supports and the community.

Council was also mindful of community feedback regarding efficiency and productivity and included an action to strive for improvement through efficiency gains and operational savings and report on progress in May each year.

The option of a lower SRV offset by savings was considered by Council. However, it was also acknowledged that Council operates in a highly legislatively constrained environment and there are minimum levels of service that Council is required to support. In this environment, it is difficult to nominate guaranteed savings that could assist with reducing the impact of a Special Rate Variation. The decision that Council has made is responsible but allows for flexibility in that we will continue to strive for efficiency in the way we can deliver services. The community will be invited to have their say on the revised SRV proposal and information about the way to do this will be provided on Council’s website.

Key points from Council’s Extraordinary Meeting on 6 November 2024 are:

• Gunnedah Shire Council committed to proceed with a section 508(A) permanent Special Rate Variation (SRV) to address its financial sustainability and maintain
  essential community infrastructure and service levels.
• In response to the community feedback, Council determined a position on the SRV as follows:
  • An SRV application to be made to the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal (IPART) under section 508(A) be endorsed at 37.67% cumulative to be phased in over two years and retained permanently commencing in 2025-2026.
  • This scenario spreads the SRV more evenly over two years and caps the Residential, Business and Farmland rating categories to an SRV of 15% per annum (32.25% cumulative) with the balance to be sourced from the Mining rating category.
• Council makes an application to IPART under section 548 of the Local Government Act 1993 for the Maximum value of the Minimum ordinary rate for Residential, Business and Farmland categories to be set as follows to match the section 508(A) permanent SRV application value:
  

• Council, prior to 29 November 2024, Council will formally notify IPART that it intends to submit a Special Rate Variation application for the 2025-2026 financial year.
• Council's Integrated Planning & Reporting (IP&R) documentation will be updated to meet the SRV application requirements, and the amended IP&R documents will be presented to a future Council meeting for the purpose of being endorsed by Council for public exhibition.
• Council will convene an Extraordinary Council meeting in January 2025 for the purpose of receiving any submissions on the revised IP&R documentation and to endorse the SRV application, including Council's approach to continuous improvement, efficiency gains and operational savings, prior to the submission to IPART by February 3, 2025.
• Council will strive to achieve $930,000 through efficiency gains and operational savings over the 3-year period 2025 to 2028 with a report to council by May 30th annually during this period.

QUOTES FROM MAYOR CR COLLEEN FULLER:

“It’s time to plan for the future of our Shire.
“Gunnedah Shire Council spoke with the community about a proposed application for a Special Rate Variation (SRV) to maintain and potentially enhance the services it currently receives.
“We listened to what the community told us and have developed a revised proposal based on the feedback we received which is crucial in shaping Gunnedah’s future.
“I would like to thank my fellow councillors and staff for what has been a great team approach to this very important process and to ensuring the outcomes meet the needs of our community as best as possible while also maintaining a range of efficiency and productivity measures.”

ENDS

31 October, 2024

Gunnedah Shire Council is once again partnering with the Salvation Army for the annual Gunnedah Community Christmas Tree Toy Appeal.

Now in its 11th year, the Christmas Toy Appeal aims to connect the community through compassion by calling on residents to donate toys for distribution to local families in need over Christmas.

Mayor of Gunnedah Shire Cr Colleen Fuller said Council was proud to partner with the Salvation Army to help make the festive season a little brighter for families who may be struggling.

“Last year the Appeal saw over 350 items donated to the Salvation Army for distribution to local families, highlighting the compassion and generosity of the Gunnedah community,” said Cr Fuller.

“The Salvation Army does a tremendous job supporting some of the most vulnerable members of our community and as the rising cost of living continues to impact families, they are expecting to see an increase in demand for services following a challenging year.

“By adding an extra gift under the tree this year, you can help bring joy to local family facing tough times.

“I encourage those in a position to donate to get involved and help spread the Christmas cheer.”

New and unwrapped gifts can be placed under the Christmas tree located at Gunnedah Shire Council’s Administration Building (63 Elgin Street, Gunnedah) and at the Gunnedah Shire Library (291 Conadilly St, Gunnedah).

Gift ideas include toys, clothing and accessories, books, sporting goods, games, beauty products and gift vouchers. Locals are also encouraged to consider selecting gifts appropriate for older children.

For health and hygiene reasons, food items and pre-loved toys are unable to be donated.

Donations must be received before 5pm, Friday 06 December 2024 and will be distributed to local families in the lead up to Christmas.

31 October 2024

Round 2 of the Section 356 Arts and Cultural Small Grants and Round 2 of the Section 356 Community and Sports Small Grants Program have opened.

Gunnedah Shire Council has a small amount of unallocated funds for the Section 356 Small Grants Program and is calling on arts and cultural groups and community and sports groups to put in their applications.

The Section 356 program has been in place for 20 years and is designed to aid the continuation of existing local projects or help funds that meet the needs of our growing community. Groups must meet eligibility criteria and provide documentation to support their application.

In the past, the grants have helped many organisations deliver exciting projects that have allowed Gunnedah Shire residents to discover something new or enrich the pastimes and sports they already enjoy.

To find out more about eligibility and apply, visit:
• For the Section 356 Arts and Cultural Small Grants: Section 356 Arts and Cultural Grants - Gunnedah Shire Council (nsw.gov.au)
• For the Section 356 Community and Sports Small Grants: Section 356 Community and Sports Grants - Gunnedah Shire Council (nsw.gov.au)
Both rounds close at 5pm on Friday, 22 November 2024.

Caption: Some of the recipients of a 2023 round of the Section 356 Community and Sports Small Grants.

ENDS

Media and communications team contact: (02) 6740 2100.

30 October, 2024

Hundreds of Gunnedah Shire students saw high-flying inspiration in action today at an Aussie FMX event hosted by Gunnedah Shire Council, sponsored by Boggabri Coal and the NSW Government through the Community Recovery Officer Program.

The show, that features some of Australia’s top freestyle motocross riders including Aussie FMX director and three-time world record holder Brodie Carmichael, encourages kids to pursue their passion with the possibility of turning it into a career.

Riders perform tricks from a ramp, but also engage with a young audience about their hopes and dreams.

Gunnedah Shire Council Manager Economy and Growth Susan Frater said the idea to bring the show to Gunnedah had been raised by Councillor Juliana McArthur and attended by Deputy Mayor Kate McGrath.

“Having a young population who are resilient and encouraged to overcome challenges for a brighter life is vitally important to our Shire,” Ms Frater said.

“The performers in the Aussie FMX show not only showcase an extraordinary degree of talent, but they tell their own stories, and connect with students who might be becoming disengaged with their education and their own journey.

“It was wonderful to see the Gunnedah High School and St Mary’s College students today really enjoying not only the spectacular stunts, but the message the riders brought to them. A big thank you to our sponsors Boggabri Coal and the NSW Government through the Community Recovery Officer Program for helping us to make this happen.”

Other agencies in attendance supporting the event were NSW Police, Australian Red Cross, Centacare New England North West and PCYC.

The show was held at the Gunnedah Showground and included a sausage sizzle and presentations from youth facilitators about life skills and building positive influences.

Caption: Brodie Carmichael talks to Gunnedah High Students at the Aussie FMX event in Gunnedah today.

ENDS

Media and communications team contact: (02) 6740 2100.

21 October 2024

It’s big, it’s accurate, and it will help Gunnedah Shire face disasters like the floods of 2021-22.

The Big Map - a 15m x 9m aerial photograph that allows people to actually walk across the Shire - is at the centre of a series of Disaster Relief Australia (DRA) sessions to be held in Gunnedah and Narrabri early November.

DRA Emergency Management Specialist and National Resilience Manager Adam Moss said the Big Map project brought together stakeholders and the community to take a bird’s eye view of flooding across the Shire.

“The Big Map is a connector,” he said. “It’s an interpretation tool that connects a community and enables people to work together to see the bigger picture and understand the potential risks and hazards they face in the area they live.”

DRA Resilience Manager Shari Bent said weather events were continuing to increase in severity and frequency.

“Communities now more than ever need to understand the possible risks and hazards ahead,” she said. “Walking the Big Map is a unique way to explore where you live and gain new perspective on these threats to your communities. Once communities understand these risks and hazards, they can work together to identify ways to mitigate better prepare for next time.”
Gunnedah Shire Council Community Recovery Officer Karen Grimm said the project was a step forward in working with stakeholders and the community to assist in future preparedness and recovery readiness planning and events.

“Local knowledge is critical in understanding and preparing for future events,” Ms Grimm said. “People who have lived and worked through previous disasters know exactly what effect they had and where.

“The Big Map sessions are a great, visual way to take our disaster readiness to the next level. Local community knowledge combines with stakeholder information, science and government and organisational expertise to work towards better ways forward.”
Gunnedah Shire Council Local Emergency Management Officer Wade Berryman said there would be two sessions in Gunnedah Shire, one on Friday, 1 November for key stakeholders, emergency services and local government representatives, and one on Saturday, 2 November for the community.

“Not only is this a great opportunity for the community, but the Friday event will be very important in bringing together the on-the-ground agencies,” Mr Berryman said.

“The session will help us to further identify areas at risk and provide an opportunity to talk about roles and responsibilities, assist in working towards practical steps to follow as events unfold, and find out where the gaps exist.

“When we are prepared and all agencies work together according to a well-considered plan, the outcomes for the community can be improved.”

Acting Chief Superintendent Matthew Kirby - Zone Commander NSW SES said the NSW SES was excited to be involved in the Big Map community events in Gunnedah and Narrabri.

“The NSW SES is pleased to be partnering with Disaster Relief Australia, the Minderoo Foundation, and Gunnedah and Narrabri Shire Councils to deliver the Big Map events in early November.

“During the flooding events of 2021 and 2022, both Gunnedah and Narrabri experienced significant flooding. Giving community members the opportunity to view their flood risk on a 15m by 9m aerial photograph and map allows for a far better understanding of the impact of flooding in and around their community, hopefully ensuring they are better prepared during future flooding events.

“The NSW SES is committed to continuing its flood preparation and response activities across the New England North West. Events like the Big Map, ensure we can continue to educate and equip communities with the skills and knowledge to identify and manage flooding hazards across the region.”

The Gunnedah Shire community Big Map event will be held from 9.30am to 3.30pm on Saturday, 2 November, 2024 at the PCYC in View Street. The event is free, but participants are asked to register at https://disasterreliefaus.org/what-we-do/community-resilience-plans/big-map/ or email resilience@disterreliefaus.org

A Narrabri Shire community Big Map event will be held from 9.30am to 3.30pm on Sunday, 3 November 2024 at the Main Auditorium, The Crossing Theatre, Narrabri. It is free and participants can register on the links above.
The session will include presentation and discussions, however, people are welcome to drop in during that time.

Caption: The Big Map sessions give people a bird’s eye view of the Shire and allow participants to identify areas at risk.

ENDS

Media and communications team contact: (02) 6740 2100.