16 October, 2025
Election of Deputy Mayor
Councillors have voted to re-elect Cr Kate McGrath as Deputy Mayor of Gunnedah Shire Council. Cr McGrath has been re-elected for a term of 12 months after her initial election in September, 2024.
2026 Council meeting schedule
The 2026 Ordinary Council Meeting schedule has been endorsed – with meetings starting at 4:30pm – as follows:
- 18 February, 2026
- 18 March, 2026
- 15 April, 2026
- 20 May, 2026
- 17 June, 2026
- 15 July, 2026
- 12 August, 2026
- 16 September, 2026
- 21 October, 2026
- 18 November, 2026
- 9 December, 2026
Council also endorsed that the Planning, Environment and Development Committee meetings be held at 4pm on the first Wednesday of each month (with the exception of January) in 2026.
Sale of land for unpaid rates, charges
Following Councils’ public land auction on 25 July, 2025, Councillors have resolved that Council write-off the outstanding rates and charges against Assessment Number 13323880 for the sum of $6,009.70, and Assessment Number 13323898 for the sum of $5,618.52.
Prior to the public auction, two properties included in the 19 March, 2025 resolution to be sold for unpaid rates were paid in full totalling $21,156.68 and were withdrawn from the auction.
The following properties were successfully auctioned:
- Assessment No.: 13316338 - 1349 Voca Road CURLEWIS NSW 2381
- Assessment No.: 13323880 - 4 Wentworth Street GUNNEDAH NSW 2380
- Assessment No.: 13323898 - Meldrum Street GUNNEDAH NSW 2380
At the Council meeting held on 19 March, 2025, Council also resolved to authorise the General Manager or representative to bid for the purchase of 4 Wentworth Street and Meldrum Street.
The auction resulted in a 100 per cent clearance rate with sales totalling $14,500. Council was the successful bidder for 4 Wentworth Street and Meldrum Street.
Narrabri Underground Stage 3 - Voluntary Planning Agreement
A draft Voluntary Planning Agreement (VPA) associated with State Significant Development SSD-10269, Narrabri Underground Stage 3 is on public exhibition for 28 days.
Council resolved to:
- Endorse the Draft Narrabri Underground Stage 3 Voluntary Planning Agreement for public exhibition for a period of not less than 28 days; and
- Authorise the General Manager to execute the Voluntary Planning Agreement should no substantial and valid public objection be forthcoming from the exhibition period.
Council previously resolved (16.03/21) at its March, 2021 Ordinary Meeting that 'Council authorise the General Manager to negotiate a Voluntary Planning Agreement with Whitehaven Coal for the Narrabri Underground Project Stage 3 in accordance with Option B as outlined in the report'.
The NSW Independent Planning Commission (IPC) granted development consent for Narrabri Underground Mine Stage 3 Extension Project, SSD-10269, on 1 April, 2022.
The assessment report for the Narrabri Underground Stage 3 presented to the IPC indicated that total shared contribution from the project should be 1 per cent of the Project's Capital Investment Value based on distribution of primary place of residence. Since the determination of the development, Council and Whitehaven Coal have negotiated the terms of the terms of the VPA in accordance with the conditions of development consent.
The proposed contributions are $716,360 in 2032 and a further $716,360 in 2033, bringing the total contribution to $1,432,720.
The draft VPA is on public exhibition for 28 days at Council's office at 63 Elgin Street and online at www.gunnedah.nsw.gov.au
Submissions should be received no later than 5pm on Thursday, 6 November, 2025.
Gunnedah Community Scholarship Fund Working Group Nomination
Chennelle Winsor has been endorsed as a First Nations representative in the Gunnedah Community Scholarship Fund Working Group.
Chennelle is a former employee of Gunnedah Shire Council and was named the 2024 Gunnedah Young Woman of the Year. She is currently employed at Gunnedah High School, where she mentors young Aboriginal women, supporting their personal and educational development.
Affordable Housing
Affordable housing will be the focus of a Council report to be brought to the February 2026 Ordinary Meeting.
Council resolved that Council staff will identify potential housing development sites on Council-owned land and provide further information on potential options to progress affordable housing lot development in the Gunnedah Local Government Area.
The Notice of Motion put forward by Councillor Rob Hooke cited the expansion of the Vickery Mine as a major factor in requesting the investigation.
Property sale
Council resolved to sell its property of 144 Little Conadilly Street, Gunnedah in its current condition and allocate the proceeds from the sale to a Restricted Asset to fund recommendations relating to the reclassification and disposal of land identified as surplus to open space needs in the Open Space Strategy 2022-2032.
Caption: Gunnedah Shire Councillor Kate McGrath will continue in the role of Deputy Mayor for another 12 months. She is pictured here with Gunnedah Shire Mayor Colleen Fuller following her re-election at the October Ordinary Meeting.
ENDS
For more information, contact Gunnedah Shire Council’s Communications team on (02) 6740 2100 or communications@gunnedah.nsw.gov.au.
