25 November, 2022

Local students who want to further their training and education at university, TAFE or an accredited training organisation can now apply for financial assistance.

Gunnedah Shire Council has opened the 2023 Gunnedah Community Scholarship Fund and is calling for applications from local students under 25 years of age. Expressions of interest opened in September.

Gunnedah Community Scholarship Fund Working Group Chairman and Mayor Jamie Chaffey said the fund provided a fantastic opportunity for local students and would give them a kick-start on their educational journey.

“There are countless costs involved in study and training, especially if students are moving away from home and setting up for the first time,” he said.

“A scholarship such as this can help with expenses including the purchase of textbooks, relocation and other travel costs, living expenses, and tuition fees.

“Earlier this year, 15 young people were successful in their applications for a scholarship in areas as diverse as medical, engineering, education and the arts.”

Cr Chaffey said community and business sponsors were vital to the longevity of the Scholarship.

“Over the 20 years since the Scholarship’s inception, about 400 scholarships have been given to young people, equating to close to $400,000,” he said.

“Without the support of local businesses and residents, we could not continue to offer a helping hand to our young people as they make their way in the world.”

Local students under the age of 25 who are intending to pursue tertiary education in 2023 can apply at:
https://gsc2380.wufoo.com/forms/2023-gunnedah-community-scholarship-fund/

Applications close at 5pm on Friday, 13 January 2023.

To find out more, or to donate to the Gunnedah Community Scholarship Fund, contact Gunnedah Shire Council’s Economy and Growth team on 6740 2100.

Caption: Some of the successful 2022 Gunnedah Community Scholarship Fund recipients.

ENDS

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

November 23, 2022

Gunnedah Shire Council staff have commenced work on reinstating the flood-damaged approaches to the new Orange Grove Bridge now that weather conditions and dam releases allow, with a view to opening it as soon as possible.

Gunnedah Shire Council Manager Works Peter Smith said the bridge had been close to completion when the Shire was hit by the recent flood events.

“Orange Grove Bridge construction had been carefully timed to take planned releases from Keepit Dam into account,” Mr Smith said.

“The bridge had been completed and was close to opening to traffic when these floods occurred. It has been designed and constructed to withstand significant water flows over the top of the bridge and the new bridge remains undamaged. The new bridge has a larger waterway area underneath it than the old bridge and features a clear single-span design that means it does not require pier supports along its length.

“Unfortunately, the road approaches had not yet been sealed when the flood event occurred, and we will need about two weeks of clear weather to ensure the bridge is safe for traffic. We have been co-ordinating with Water NSW to identify a window of time that will work outside scheduled water releases.

“We are aware of the importance of this bridge to residents of the area and are working to ensure it is open as soon as possible. At this stage, we expect to be able to undertake this work and have the bridge open to traffic within the next two weeks. If there are any changes to that we will keep the community informed.”

In March 2021, Gunnedah Shire Council was allocated around $1.1 million in funding through the NSW Fixing Country Bridges Program funding and the Federal Bridge Renewal Program to replace the bridge. The remainder of the project cost is being met by Gunnedah Shire Council.

“The current bridge has been designed and constructed to current standards considering the budget available for the project at the time of delivery,” Mr Smith said.

“Discussions are occurring with Transport for NSW to see what improvements can be made to the bridge approaches and guardrail within Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements to make it more resilient. Any major improvements from the review will be undertaken sometime after the bridge is reopened.”

The bridge will initially be limited to one lane with no other vehicle restrictions. Please drive with care and obey traffic signs.

Caption: Orange Grove Bridge from the air in the days following a recent flood event.

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

22 November, 2022

The Gunnedah Christmas Fair is only weeks away and Gunnedah Shire Council is inviting stallholders and local businesses to join the festivities.

Council is partnering with the Gunnedah Chamber of Commerce for the annual fair which starts at 5.30pm on Thursday, 8 December and will transform the CBD with music, market stalls, food, children’s activities. late-night shopping and even a special visit from Santa. 

The free community event is funded by the Reconnecting Regional NSW – Community Events Program and Gunnedah Shire Mayor, Jamie Chaffey said it would offer a welcome respite from the challenges caused by successive flooding in recent months.

“The Gunnedah Christmas Fair will give our community the opportunity to reconnect after weeks of isolation and difficulties due to flood events,” he said.

“The ongoing flooding has been highly disruptive to locals and businesses so I’m hopeful the fair will bring some Christmas cheer to the residents and retailers across the region.

“We’ve also made sure our villages can come along by providing free shuttle buses from Mullaley, Tambar Springs, Curlewis and Carroll.”

Chamber of Commerce President Ben Hennessy said local businesses had faced many challenges over the past few years from COVID-19 and more recently, flooding, and the fair would boost morale in the community.

“The festive season is the ideal time to come together and support one another, so I urge our local businesses to get involved in the Christmas Fair by decorating their shop windows and extending their trading hours,” he said.

‘Likewise, our business community is only as strong as the support it receives from our community, so this Christmas season I urge everyone to shop local. If we want to have a strong retail precinct, it is imperative that we support our local businesses by shopping local this year.

“Let’s make the 2022 Gunnedah Christmas Fair one to remember.”

To apply to be a stallholder at the Gunnedah Christmas Fair, click here: https://gsc2380.wufoo.com/forms/qrkfkcr0kpyszt/

 Applications are due by 5pm on Monday, 28 November.

For more information on the Gunnedah Christmas Fair, contact Council on (02) 67 40 2100 or council@infogunnedah.com.au.

Caption: The Gunnedah Christmas Fair is a festive highlight on the Shire’s calendar.

ENDS

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

21 November, 2022

Gunnedah Shire Mayor Jamie Chaffey has been elected as the Chair of the Country Mayors Association of New South Wales, with a determination to advocate for equity for regional, rural and remote residents.

Cr Chaffey said he was honoured to be unanimously supported for the role in an organisation that had a history of lobbying for local government and issues that affected regional communities, and working with all levels of government to achieve the best outcomes.

 “The Country Mayors Association of NSW has a proven record of speaking up for our 76 member councils representing more than three million residents – that’s about 37% of the state’s population,” Cr Chaffey said.

“It’s a big task, particularly in a year like 2022 when local government is facing extreme financial pressure from inflation, material shortages and price increases, staff shortages and energy price increases, amongst other challenges.

“Add to this the unrelenting natural disasters impacting on 126 of the state’s 128 councils, and our communities are clearly in need of strong representation at the highest level.

“This is our strength as an organisation. We have agreed in principal on a list of State Election Priorities that will be endorsed in a matter of weeks and then presented to all political parties calling for action in the areas of skills and education, health, roads and transport, water security, housing, law and order, telecommunications blackspot coverage, and disaster preparedness and funding.”

Cr Chaffey also congratulated his fellow country mayors elected to the Country Mayors Association of NSW Executive, including Deputy Chair Mayor Rick Firman from Temora Shire Council.

“I look forward to working with Rick Firman over the next two years as we deliver for Country Mayors Association,” he said.

“It was very encouraging to see 12 nominations for eight executive positions, and for us in New England North West, it was great to see two of those positions filled by mayors from within our region – Russell Webb from Tamworth Regional Council and Sam Coupland from Armidale Regional Council.”

Cr Chaffey has been the Deputy Chair of the Country Mayors Association of NSW since 2020 and has served on the Executive since 2018. He has represented Gunnedah Shire as a delegate since 2016.

Caption: Country Mayors Association of New South Wales, from left, immediate past Chair Ken Keith (Parkes Shire Council), Cr Kylie Thomas (Kyogle Shire Council), Cr Sue Moore (Singleton Shire Council), Cr Russell Webb (Tamworth Regional Council), Chair Jamie Chaffey (Gunnedah Shire Council), Deputy Chair Rick Firman (Temora Shire Council), Cr Russell Fitzpatrick (Bega Valley Shire Council), Cr Craig Davies (Narromine Shire Council), Cr John Medcalf (Lachlan Shire Council) and Cr Sam Coupland (Armidale Regional Council). Absent: Phyllis Miller (Forbes Shire Council).

ENDS

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

17 November, 2022

Gunnedah Shire Council has finalised its 2021-22 Annual Report in a document that shows a year of both significant challenges and significant progress.

“The 12 months represented by the 2021-22 financial year has proved challenging in many respects for Gunnedah Shire Council,” the introduction by Mayor Jamie Chaffey and General Manager Eric Groth says.

“While still trying to manage many of the impacts created by COVID-19, Council has been the recipient of a large value of external grant funding and has had to manage a significant volume and value of projects in addition to providing normal services to the community.”

Cr Chaffey said challenges across the financial year had included flooding, inflation and rising costs, and national labour shortages.

“The following few years have not been business as usual across the world,” he said.

“Following drought and the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, governments at all levels have faced increasing tasks and requirements and a diminishing return for their dollar.

“Gunnedah Shire has had very welcome stimulus funding from the State and Federal governments to assist in some of these challenges.

“Despite all of the issues we have faced, 2021-22 was a year of significant progress in Gunnedah Shire, and we are proud of how far we have managed to come during that time. We are also proud of the resilience and community spirit that helped us achieve so much.”

The total capital works program for 2021-22 had a value in excess of $88 million, with projects including work towards the saleyards redevelopment, the Gunnedah Koala Sanctuary, Orange Grove Bridge and the new water treatment plant.

Fast Facts from the 2021-22 Gunnedah Shire Council Annual Report:

• $24,506.22 was awarded under the Section 356 Community Small Grants Program to nine community organisations
• $19,734.55 was awarded under the Section 356 Sports Small Grants Program to seven groups
• 24,046 users visited the Council website
• 11,744 social support hours were delivered for GoCo clients
• 144,048km were travelled for GoCo Community Transport clients
• 80,112 documents were registered into Council’s Records Management System
• There were 10,400 walk-in visitors to the Visitor Information Centre
• 42 local businesses received Business Partner Program funding
• $42,000 was allocated to local businesses via the Business Partner Program
• 143 development applications worth more than $39 million were lodged with Council for assessment
• There were 50,293 visits to Gunnedah Shire Library
• 10,110 tonnes of domestic waste were received at the Gunnedah Waste Facility

Caption: Blackjack Camera Club was one of a number of community groups that received a grant under the 356 Community Small Grants Program. Pictured are Deputy Mayor Rob Hooke and Blackjack Camera Club member Marg Carr.

ENDS

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

17 November, 2022

A draft Hardship Policy, and a revised 2022-23 Fees and Charges Schedule including a Natural Disaster Category, are on exhibition for 28 days.

Gunnedah Shire Council endorsed the exhibition of the draft documents at the November ordinary Council meeting on Wednesday.

The draft revised Hardship Policy aims to provide clarity and transparency to the community on the hardship provisions for residential and farmland rate assessments including the determination of hardship, options available to ratepayers and the application and assessment process.

The recent floods in Gunnedah Shire have caused considerable financial hardship for many ratepayers whose properties have been impacted by floodwaters. While Council is unable to waive or reduce rates for individual ratepayers, Council does have the ability through Council’s adopted Hardship Policy to enter into payment plans and waive overdue interest in genuine cases of hardship.

Council’s revised Fees and Charges Schedule, if adopted, would enable the General Manager and /or delegated staff to waive or reduce fees in cases where ratepayers and residents are impacted by a natural disaster event.

The inclusion of the new category was prompted by the successive flooding events in Gunnedah Shire in the past eight months and could be enabled following a Natural Disaster Declaration by the NSW Government for impacted residents for a set period of time following the natural disaster event.

Gunnedah Shire Mayor Jamie Chaffey said it was great to see the two motions supported unanimously by Council.

“Our community has been through the wringer and residents need every bit of help we can offer them as a Council. At the moment, decisions on fee waiving and reductions must go before Council which means we can’t act as quickly as we need to during a natural disaster. It’s vital that Council is able to step in and assist residents as soon as possible and the inclusion of this new category will allow for that,” he said.

The draft wording to be included in Council’s Hardship Policy and 2022-23 Fees and Charges Schedule have been placed on public exhibition and written submissions are invited by the undersigned up until 4.00pm on Friday, 16 December 2022. The documents can be viewed at Council's Administration Building at 63 Elgin Street or online at https://www.gunnedah.nsw.gov.au/index.php/council/the-future-of-gunnedah/draft-documents-exhibition

Submissions should be addressed to the General Manager, Gunnedah Shire Council, PO Box 63, Gunnedah NSW 2380 or via email council@infogunnedah.com.au.

The adopted Fees and Charges Schedule will be amended to include the above Category after the public exhibition period if no submissions are received from the public. However, if submissions are received, a further report will be prepared for the following Council meeting after the end of the public exhibition period, which will include a summary of submissions and whether any changes should be considered by Council.

Caption: Gunnedah Shire has experienced six flood events since November 2021.

ENDS

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

14 November, 2022

Gunnedah’s multi-award-winning Library has added to its accolades once again.

Gunnedah Shire Library received an Innovation in Outreach Services award for a book paper folding activity for Fairytale February, and a Highly Commended for Multicultural Excellence for its Multicultural March event.

The NSW Public Libraries Association awards were announced at the Switch 2022 Conference last week, attended by Librarian Christiane Birkett, Library Assistant Gina Torrens and Councillor Ann Luke.

Mrs Birkett said it was wonderful to see the efforts and creativity of the Library staff recognised once again.

“It was very exciting to see the work of our staff acknowledged at the NSW Public Libraries Association annual conference,” she said.

“Our staff are always trying to think of new and exciting ways to engage and collaborate with the community, and Fairytale February and Multicultural March are great examples of this.”

In Fairytale February, staff encouraged residents to learn the art of book paper folding while repurposing old books. The handicraft was popular with all ages and individuals, groups and organisations contributed works to a display which included fairy houses and Hagrid’s Cottage from Harry Potter.   

Multicultural March was a month-long event highlighting and celebrating multiculturalism within the Gunnedah Shire through library events. The Library received a Special Acknowledgement award for the event at the Local Government Awards in August.

During the month, the library was transformed into a colourful multicultural space and staff collaborated with the Multicultural Women’s Association whose members read children’s stories and shared their culture in their own languages in the Book Buddies program.

Over the course of the month, six languages - Chinese, Portuguese, Spanish, Malay, Maori and Korean – featured in the program, which attracted record numbers, including children from local pre-schools.

Cr Ann Luke said it was fantastic to see the Shire’s library back in the spotlight.

“I’d like to congratulate Christiane and her team for their ongoing work in this dynamic community space,” she said.

“Our library staff always demonstrate ingenuity, creativity and resourcefulness in the activities and events they design and deliver, and they are deserving of every accolade.

“The library has something for all ages and offers so many great services to our residents. It continues to be an invaluable asset for our community.”

Caption: Gunnedah Shire Library Assistant Gina Torrens, Gunnedah Librarian Christiane Birkett and Gunnedah Shire Councillor Ann Luke at the Switch 2022 Conference.

ENDS

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

14 November, 2022

It’s time to light up Gunnedah’s streets for the annual Christmas Lights Competition.

The Gunnedah Shire Council Christmas Lights Competition is an opportunity for locals to be rewarded for their creative flair ahead of the festive season, and all residents and businesses are invited to participate.

Christmas lights and displays will be judged and awarded prizes under six categories, including:

• Best Decorated House - $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.

The competition opens this Monday, 14 November. Entries close at 5pm on Friday, 9 December.

“Council’s annual Christmas Lights Competition is a great way to encourage locals to spread the festive spirit in their own neighbourhoods and it gives the community something to look forward to when the sun sets each day,” Council’s Events and Engagement Officer Madeline Buhagiar said.

“It’s also a chance for Gunnedah’s businesses to dress up their shop windows to transform our main street into a Christmas spectacular.

“Heading out to see Christmas lights at night is a family tradition in Gunnedah and we’d love to see this continue into the future, so dust off your lights and start decorating!”

Entry forms are available at www.thecivic.com.au/live-theatre--events and hard copies can be collected from the Gunnedah Shire Council’s Administration Building at 63 Elgin Street, Gunnedah Shire Library or the Gunnedah Visitor Information Centre.

Completed nomination forms can be submitted to Gunnedah Shire Council by emailing council@infogunnedah.com.au, in person at 63 Elgin Street, Gunnedah or by posting to PO Box 63, Gunnedah, NSW 2380.

Caption: Gunnedah residents and businesses are encouraged to start planning their Christmas displays for the annual competition.

ENDS

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

10 November, 2022

Gunnedah Shire welcomed five new citizens on Wednesday.

The conferees from four countries, including the Philippines, the United Kingdom, Brazil and the Netherlands, became Australian citizens at a ceremony at The Smithurst Theatre.

Gunnedah Shire Mayor Councillor Jamie Chaffey said citizenship ceremonies were an opportunity for all Australians in their community, whether by birth or by choice, to reflect on, and celebrate what’s great about being Australian.

“Citizenship ceremonies give us an opportunity to reflect on the contributions of citizens in our local communities. There is no greater privilege than our citizenship, and as Mayor, it is always an honour to see these new Australians through the final stages of their citizenship journey,” he said.

“There are many beautiful places in the world, and I want to thank our newest citizens for choosing Gunnedah Shire as their home.”

The Shire welcomed 15 new citizens on Australian Citizenship Day on 17 September.

For more information about Australian citizenship, visit www.citizenship.gov.au.

Caption: Gunnedah Shire welcomed five new citizens on Wednesday – Benjamin Cotton, Nikita Van Brakel, Katherine Carter Edwards, Elaine Dos Santos Matos and April Boyle. They are pictured with Gunnedah Shire Deputy Mayor Rob Hooke and Gunnedah Shire Mayor Jamie Chaffey.

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

ENDS

10 November 2022

In accordance with Section 418 (3) of the Local Government Act, 1993, Gunnedah Shire Council advises that the Ordinary Council Meeting to be held on 16 November 2022 will include the presentation of the Audited Financial Statements and the Auditor’s Reports for the financial year ending 30 June 2022.

In accordance with Section 420 of the Local Government Act, 1993, any person may make a submission in writing to Council with respect to the Council’s Audited Financial Statements or the Auditor’s Reports.

The Audited Financial Statements and the Auditor’s Reports may be viewed online or in person at Council’s Administration Building at 63 Elgin Street, Gunnedah.

Submissions close one week after the above public meeting has been held.

Public Notice – Presentation of Financial Statements

Eric Groth
GENERAL MANAGER