Customer Relations, Communications & Lifestyle
17 March, 2023
The Simson Bridge on Clifton Road just north of Breeza has been closed to traffic following an assessment which revealed extensive flood damage.
Gunnedah Shire Council Director Infrastructure Services Jeremy Bartlett said recent heavy rainfall had exacerbated flood damage to the bridge’s road approaches.
“Repeated flood events last year left the banks of the Mooki River softened and eroded, with damage to the southern road approach of the bridge,” Mr Bartlett said.
“To allow access to the route while Council sought disaster recovery funding, one lane of the bridge was opened to traffic, but a recent assessment after rain events and heavy traffic has shown tension cracking has now extended across the full width of the road.
“Unfortunately, it is no longer safe to allow traffic access to the route.”
Detour options for through traffic are available via the Kamilaroi and Oxley Highways. There are alternative routes available for affected residents and property owners both to the north and south of the bridge location.
Signage has been placed on Clifton Road and on either side of the bridge to alert road users.
“We realise this closure has come at a difficult time for primary producers,” Mr Bartlett said, “but the damage to the road means this has to be done.
“Council is working with Transport for NSW toward having the required repair funded under the Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA) as Essential Public Asset Reconstruction Works (EPAR). There is no quick fix for this damage.
“There are a number of steps in this process, each of which will take some time, meaning the road is likely to be closed for a number of months.
“While we realise this will cause significant disruption, we ask for patience while we work towards the best solution for this important route.”
Caption: The Simson Bridge was damaged by successive flooding and is closed until repairs can be made.
ENDS
For more information, contact Gunnedah Shire Council’s Communications team on (02) 6740 2100 or communications@gunnedah.nsw.gov.au.
17 March, 2023
Council to put seven motions to National General Assembly
Gunnedah Shire Council this week resolved to submit seven motions to the 2023 National General Assembly of Local Government to be held in June in Canberra.
The motions are:
- That the Australian Local Government Association (ALGA) calls on the Federal Government to remove restrictions preventing the development of Nuclear Energy as a viable option in the production of base load electricity following the decommissioning of coal fired power stations throughout Australia.
- That the ALGA calls on the Commonwealth Government to conduct an urgent review into the Local Government (Financial Assistance Grant) Act 1995 and the basis on which grant funding for roads is allocated, to create a more equitable approach to allocations and one that recognises the significant infrastructure managed by local government in the rural, regional and remote regions of Australia.
- That the ALGA calls on the Commonwealth Government to delay any cut or suspension of the current fuel excise tax arrangements until such time as a genuine reform package can be legislated to replace the tax with a mechanism which distributes this vital road maintenance funding across all road users regardless of fuel type.
- That the Federal Government conducts an audit of Regional Australia to determine which areas have mobile black spots and which areas don’t provide adequate data, so the problem can be identified and fixed.
- (a) That Conference calls for a constitutional amendment, and policy amendments that mandates that the Board of the Australian Local Government Association (ALGA) action all motions that are successful at the Annual National General Assembly of Local Government.
(b) That Conference calls for the ALGA Board to except the change of NGA debating rules.
- That the ALGA calls on the Federal Government to increase funding for Regional Airports.
- That the ALGA calls on the Commonwealth Government to provide Regional Councils with an additional one-off Roads to Recovery grant equal to 50 percent of the annual funding for the maintenance, repair and renewal of roads.
Draft policies on public exhibition
Gunnedah Shire Council has three draft policies on public exhibition:
- Draft Policy – Councillor Expenses and Facilities
- Draft Policy – Procurement and Tendering and Statement of Business Ethics
- Draft Policy – Council Related Development Applications Conflict of Interest
The Draft Policy – Councillor Expenses and Facilities brings Gunnedah Shire Council’s policy in line with current costs, actual expenditure and similar councils with New South Wales. The policy ensures accountability and transparency in the reasonable and appropriate reimbursement of expenses and provision of facilities to councillors to help them undertake their civic duties.
The Draft Policy – Procurement and Tendering and Statement of Business Ethics is being updated to comply with changes in legislation that govern how Council must conduct procurement and tendering activities. The Procurement and Tendering Policy assists in ensuring compliance with legislation, achieving best value for money and transparency in procurement processes and the Statement of Business Ethics assists in ensuring suppliers are ethical, fair and consistent in their dealings with Council.
The Draft Policy – Council Related Development Applications Conflict of Interest addresses conflict of interests that may arise when Council is the developer, landowner or holds a commercial interest in land that is also regulated by Council. Development applications which fall into this category are proposed to be defined as “council-related development applications” within the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979.
These policies are available for review at Gunnedah Shire Council’s Administration Building at 63 Elgin Street, Gunnedah, or online at www.gunnedah.nsw.gov.au
You can provide feedback by:
- Emailing council@infogunnedah.com.au with the name of the plan, policy or item in the subject line. Please include your name and contact details.
- Completing an online form via the Contact Us section of Council’s website.
- Posting your submission to Gunnedah Shire Council, PO Box 63, Gunnedah, 2380 or handing it over the counter at Council’s Administration Building at 63 Elgin Street, Gunnedah.
Submissions close at 5pm on Friday, 14 April, 2023.
Two names to join Naming and Public Acknowledgement Policy
The names of “Thew” and “Flett” will join Gunnedah Shire Council’s Naming of Public Infrastructure and Public Acknowledgement Policy.
Council received an application to register the name of Thew in honour of Kenneth H. Thew for his contribution to the development of Gunnedah’s retail and services sector. Ken and his wife Barbara and family moved to Gunnedah in 1955 and set up an accounting business. Ken and Barbara were also very involved in community life. Ken was an Alderman for the Gunnedah Municipal Council for 12 years.
Council also received an application to include the name Flett in recognition of Maurice (Tom) and Alice Flett for their contribution to Gunnedah’s infrastructure, farming and sporting sectors and the continued community participation of the family members. Tom drove and trained trotters and the Fletts were farmers who enjoyed farming competitions and sport.
The names will be added to the register but will need separate reports to Council if nominated for the naming of specific infrastructure.
Final funding approved for Pathways Connection Program
Council has approved an additional $520,000 to the Shared Pathways Connection Program for completion of the Riverine Urban Precinct and Riverine Stormwater Precinct pathways.
The Shared Pathway Connection Program has been under construction since January 2023, with extension of the path between the Namoi River and Mullibah Lagoon.
The project has been largely funded by the NSW Public Spaces Legacy Program.
Proposed road closure
Gunnedah Shire Council is proposing to close part of the road reserve on Wean Road at Bluevale.
The section of road reserve is no longer used as a road following construction of a new section of Wean Road to smooth out a corner.
The proposal to close the road reserve will be on public exhibition for 28 days and is available on www.gunnedah.nsw.gov.au
You can provide feedback by:
- Emailing council@infogunnedah.com.au with the name of the plan, policy or item in the subject line. Please include your name and contact details.
- Completing an online form via the Contact Us section of Council’s website.
- Posting your submission to Gunnedah Shire Council, PO Box 63, Gunnedah, 2380 or handing it over the counter at Council’s Administration Building at 63 Elgin Street, Gunnedah.
Submissions close at 5pm on Friday, 14 April, 2023.
Caption: Gunnedah Shire Council held its March ordinary meeting at the village of Tambar Springs.
ENDS
For more information, contact Gunnedah Shire Council’s Communications team on (02) 6740 2100.
9 March, 2023
Australia’s leading Academy-qualifying and BAFTA-recognised short film festival, Flickerfest, is on its way to The Civic Gunnedah.
The Best of International Shorts will screen at 7.30pm on Friday, 17 March and the Best of Australian Shorts will screen at the same time on Friday, 24 March.
Residents will see a familiar face in White Lies when New England MP Barnaby Joyce makes his screen debut as a well-intending father whose lies escalate out of control at his daughter’s religious school.
Now in its 32nd year, Flickerfest attracted 3,200 entries and the cream of the crop have been hand-picked for the 2023 tour which was launched in Bondi in January.
Gunnedah Shire Council Cultural Precinct Team Leader Michael Cornford said Flickerfest was a vibrant showcase of creativity and vision, both at home and away.
“Flickerfest screenings are a fantastic way to dive into the fresh imaginings of budding filmmakers and screenwriters, some of whom are making their debut,” he said.
“Flickerfest is a vital part of the fabric of the film industry and we are delighted to continue featuring the best national and international films each year at The Civic.
“This year, the Best of Australian Shorts will feature the award-winning Katele (Mudskipper), comedic flick Married at First Fleet and animation An Ostrich Told Me The World is Fake And I Think I Believe It.
“The Best of International Shorts includes Oscar-nominated Canadian animation The Flying Sailor, UK comedy Dream Big, and a powerful new drama, IVALU, produced by a Danish Academy Award-winning team.
“Book your tickets for 17 and 24 March on The Civic website and join us at the flicks.”
Flickerfest 2023 at The Civic
Best of International Shorts: 7.30pm, 17 March 2023
Book tickets: https://ticketing.oz.veezi.com/purchase/4076?siteToken=jnnwp7qschbnhzvfrcche1asp4
Best of Australian Shorts: 7.30pm, 24 March 2023
Book tickets: https://ticketing.oz.veezi.com/purchase/4077?siteToken=jnnwp7qschbnhzvfrcche1asp4
Caption: Flickerfest 2023 will kick off at The Civic Gunnedah on Friday, 17 March. Image: Flickerfest.
ENDS
For more information, contact Gunnedah Shire Council’s Communications team on (02) 6740 2100 or communications@gunnedah.nsw.gov.au.
7 March, 2023
Gunnedah’s International Women’s Day Exhibition 2023 promises an eclectic collection of creative art works at its opening on Friday, March 10.
The bi-annual exhibition will open at 6pm at the Gunnedah Bicentennial Creative Arts Gallery with a black and white dress theme and will feature a variety of mediums including photographs, paintings and book paper folding.
International Women’s Day (March 8) is a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women. The day also marks a call to action for accelerating women's equality. This year’s theme is #EmbraceEquity.
Gunnedah Shire Council’s Cultural Precinct Team Leader Michael Cornford said International Women’s Day was the ideal opportunity to celebrate the Shire’s strong community of creative women.
“There are so many talented, skilled and artistic women in our community and this exhibition is just one way we can celebrate all they have to offer,” he said.
“One of the special things about this exhibition is the collaborative art works submitted by groups of women including Gunnedah Wood Workers Club and The Sisterhood of the Couch Surfing Canvas Collective,” Mr Cornford said.
The exhibition opening will include an interactive book paper folding demonstration by local artist and Librarian Christiane Birkett. A book paper folding installation features in this year’s exhibition, along with Gunnedah’s Travelling Junk Journal, launched by local artist Jade Punch in August 2021 in response to COVID-19 lock-downs.
Ms Punch wanted to help Gunnedah’s creative women stay connected and utilise their talents and ideas in a time when the art world was at a standstill.
She started things off by taking a deleted hard cover novel from Gunnedah Shire Library and repurposing it as a journal that could be handed from one artist to another. The journal was a great success and will now feature in the International Women’s Day Exhibition as an interactive display, and women who attend the exhibition are encouraged to add a page or two of their own.
“Come along and discover the unique ideas of our Shire’s women illustrated in ink, paint, paper and film,” Mr Cornford said.
Gunnedah’s International Women’s Day Exhibition 2023 will continue until Sunday, April 16.
Caption: Gunnedah Shire Council’s Cultural Precinct Team Leader Michael Cornford and The Civic’s Jade Punch with some of the works in Gunnedah’s International Women’s Day Exhibition 2023, including the Travelling Junk Journal.
ENDS
For more information, contact Gunnedah Shire Council’s Communications team on (02) 6740 2100 or communications@gunnedah.nsw.gov.au.
3 March, 2023
Gunnedah Shire’s agricultural history will mix with the speed demons of 2023 as the Community Street Parade on Saturday kicks off the pace in the Weeks of Speed.
The street parade is traditionally a wild mix of vehicles new and old, from lovingly restored Massey Ferguson tractors to drag racers, speedway cars and vintage vehicles.
Gunnedah Shire Council Team Leader Nikki Robertson said the parade was a great way to begin the program of events.
“The Community Street Parade is a rare opportunity to see both our past and our present celebrated in Conadilly Street,” Mrs Robertson said.
“The parade will begin at 10am on Saturday, March 4 in Conadilly Street at Elgin Street, and continue down to Chandos Street.
“Not only will there be an exciting mix of vehicles, but the Memphis Moovers Roving Band will perform some of the biggest all-time music hits, and eight-foot kangaroos will be bouncing down the main street as part of the Roo’d performance. Roo’d has appeared at festivals and events around the world.”
The street parade is funded by the NSW Government’s Reconnecting Regional NSW – Community Events Program.
One of the organisers of the Community Street Parade, Ian Guest, said the parade would finish in the Woolworths car park at about 10.30am for the Show ‘n’ Shine and the official opening of the Weeks of Speed.
As well as a chance to see the tractors and cars up close, there will be a working steam engine.
Across the road in Wolseley Park, a Hot Rod Display will happen between 10.30am and 12pm.
“This is only the beginning of a huge program of events for Weeks of Speed,” Mrs Robertson said.
“The full program includes everything from the Motorkhana at the Gunnedah Showgrounds to the Boggabri Cup at Riverside Racecourse, and from the Multicultural Harmony Festival to the Mt Porcupine Hill Climb. There’s billy-boiling, whipcracking, speedway racing, fishing, clay target shooting, and the Clash of the Sirens.”
At the Gunnedah Rural Museum, volunteers are not only preparing for the Community Street Parade, but for the Rural Museum Demonstration Day and Tractor Pull on Sunday, March 26.
For the full Weeks of Speed events program, visit www.visitgunnedah.com.au or drop into the Visitor Information Centre at 83 Chandos Street, Gunnedah.
Caption: Getting ready to hit the road: Gunnedah Rural Museum volunteers (from left) Bill O’Gorman, Jim Noon and Doug Wise.
ENDS
For more information, contact Gunnedah Shire Council’s Communications team on (02) 6740 2100.
Updated 1 March, 2023
On June 24, 2022, Gunnedah Shire and Kolomotu’a, Tonga, signed a Sister City Agreement.
Her Royal Highness Princess Angelika Lātūfuipeka Tukuʻaho, the High Commissioner of the Kingdom of Tonga, to the Commonwealth of Australia, visited Gunnedah on that date to formalise the relationship. Gunnedah representatives visited Kolomotu’a in October 2022.
The agreement is the Kingdom of Tonga’s first Sister City relationship.
Gunnedah and Kolomotu’a continue to build on their strong partnership with the focus on four key areas: arts and culture; sports; education; and employment and the economy.
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Updated 1 March, 2023
Manly Council and Gunnedah Shire Council signed a Friendship Relationship agreement in September 2005. Manly amalgamated with Pittwater and Warringah councils to become the Northern Beaches Council in May 2006.
The partnership was formed to develop a close friendship and bilateral exchanges in culture, education, environment, sport and literature, including a common interest in our shared citizen, the famous poet Dorothea Mackellar.
In 2010, Manly Council hosted a group of Gunnedah students as part of the Bush to Beach student exchange program, and Gunnedah in turn hosted a group from Manly.Northern Beaches Council also hosted farming families for a beachside break during the difficult years of the drought, showing how practical and meaningful a Sister City partnership can be during tough times.
February 28, 2023
Gunnedah Shire Council has welcomed the NSW Government announcement a contractor has been appointed for construction of the Gunnedah Hospital redevelopment.
Gunnedah Shire Mayor Jamie Chaffey said the community had waited patiently for news of concrete progress on the $53 million project which was critical for the region.
“I congratulate Richard Crookes Construction who have been appointed to work alongside the project team to progress the detailed design,” Cr Chaffey said.
“This is good news.
“But it has taken almost four years to get to this point, and we are proud of our community for making their voices heard to ensure this new hospital includes the services we were promised, and the hospital beds and services we so badly need.
“We are calling on the NSW Government to ensure this hospital is delivered in a timely manner, and is delivered to the highest standard.
“Hunter New England Health senior management made an early commitment to create a workforce plan in tandem with the design and construction of the hospital. I can’t overstate how important it is to have the appropriately trained staff ready and waiting when the doors open. Our hospital needs to provide the standard of care our community deserves.”
Member for Tamworth Kevin Anderson announced yesterday that once final designs had been developed, the project team would seek feedback at consultation sessions in Gunnedah.
“I encourage our community members to continue to have their say on the development of our hospital,” Cr Chaffey said.
More information about the Gunnedah Hospital Redevelopment is available at www.hneinfra.health.nsw.gov.au/projects/gunnedah
ENDS
For more information, contact Gunnedah Shire Council’s Communications team on (02) 6740 2100 or communications@gunnedah.nsw.gov.au
23 February, 2023
The Koala Tartan has woven its way into history with demand from around the world.
The tartan, which was launched by weavers Fred and Marie Lawson of The Crofters Weaving Mill at Spring Ridge alongside Gunnedah Shire Mayor Jamie Chaffey in October 2021, has captured the hearts of both lovers and koala lovers.
“The Koala Tartan was used for an Australian wedding party in Scotland,” Marie said.
“It was our second or third wedding all in the tartan. They bought the kilt cloth and had the kilts made in Australia. I made the ties.”
The Koala Tartan has also made its way to Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom and New Zealand, and has attracted the attention of wildlife groups and sanctuaries. It has also proven to be a favourite at Gunnedah’s own Visitor Information Centre, where Australian-made cuddly koalas featuring tartan scarves have been popular, along with ties and scarves.
It has been The Crofters Weaving Mill’s bestselling tartan.
“The Lawsons have come up with something special with the Koala Tartan,” Gunnedah Shire Mayor Jamie Chaffey said.
“These are two talented people who have created a beautiful and practical way to celebrate the koala, not only in Gunnedah - the Koala Capital of the World - but across the globe. The tartan has been registered through The Scottish Register of Tartans and is now recognised as the pattern that represents the koala worldwide.
“I congratulate them on this amazing achievement.”
Marie said The Crofters Weaving Mill had been working on expanding the range, with Fred recently successfully weaving a rug from 20-ply merino wool from Nundle. Marie is also working with a different material to make scarves and shawls.
The mill has also proven to be a drawcard for bus tours who stop to watch the world-recognised weavers at work.
To take a look at the Koala Tartan, drop into the Gunnedah Shire Council Visitor Information Centre at 83 Chandos Street, Gunnedah.
Captions:
- Fred Lawson works on the Koala Tartan.
- Gunnedah Shire Mayor Jamie Chaffey (middle) with Marie and Fred Lawson.
- Products featuring the Koala Tartan on sale at the Gunnedah Visitor Information Centre.
ENDS
For more information, contact Gunnedah Shire Council’s Communications team on (02) 6740 2100.
20 February, 2023
Financial Assistance
At a Gunnedah Shire Council meeting last week, Council resolved to provide financial assistance to a number of community events and groups, pending feedback from public exhibitions.
Council endorsed the following recommendations:
- $2,256 of in-kind support for the Gunnedah Show Society’s Country Music Muster on March 21-26;
- In-kind support for the hire fee for Gunnedah Multiple Sclerosis’s recent annual Christmas Fair; and
- A contribution of $5,000 for operational costs and servicing of the Gunnedah Rural Museum for the next three years, and a contribution of $3,000 for the museum towards insurance costs for the next three years.
The above contributions are on public exhibition until Friday, 17 March and can be viewed in full here: https://www.gunnedah.nsw.gov.au/index.php/council/the-future-of-gunnedah/draft-documents-exhibition.
A co-contribution of up to $30,000 for the Gunnedah Jockey Club towards a grant application for a kitchen and dining upgrade project at Gunnedah Racecourse was also approved at the meeting.
ENDS
For more information, contact Gunnedah Shire Council’s Communications team on (02) 6740 2100.
