February 2026 Council meeting briefs

Published on 20 February 2026

Weeks of Speed - Darg Racing

Cancer Fundraiser support

A resolution to reimburse Josie Gallagher for pool fees for participating in a breast cancer fundraiser is on public exhibition for 28 days.

Council resolved that Josie be reimbursed to the maximum value of $150 from the Elected Members Donations Budget on the provision of evidence that she has completed the Big Bold Swim for the Breast Cancer Trials Group, if no submissions are received during the public exhibition period.

The resolution is on public exhibition 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, 19 March, 2026.

Murray-Darling Basin Plan Review

Council will work to bring key stakeholders together to collaborate on a submission for the Murray Darling Basin Plan review.

The Murray Darling Basin Authority (MDBA) is carrying out 12 weeks of public consultation as part of a review and released a discussion paper exploring the following key themes:

  • Initial assessment of sustainable diversion limits;
  • Water for the environment;
  • River connectivity in the northern basin;
  • Floodplain and wetland health;
  • Native fish decline;
  • Water quality;
  • Water infrastructure and critical human needs;
  • Regulatory design; and
  • Improving science and knowledge.

A stakeholder meeting has been planned for 11am on 26 February 2026 in Gunnedah. This meeting will bring together speakers from the MDBA (CEO Andrew McConville), and the Murray Darling Association (MDA). Council has also invited councillor delegates from Region 10 (to our south), Region 11 and Region 12 (to our North), MDA board members, the Gunnedah and District Chamber of Commerce and Industry and irrigator representatives from across northern NSW.

2026 National General Assembly of Local Government Conference

Mayor Colleen Fuller OAM, Deputy Mayor Kate McGrath and Councillor Rob Hooke have been endorsed to attend the 2026 National General Assembly of Local Government (NGA) in Canberra in June.

The theme for 2026, ‘Stronger Together: Resilient. Productive. United’, underscores the pivotal role councils play in shaping the nation’s future and delivering national priorities.

Council also endorsed five motions to be submitted to the 2026 event:

  1. That the Australia Local Government Association (ALGA) calls on the Commonwealth Government to provide increased funding for and delay the integration of the Commonwealth Home Support Program (CHSP), into the Support at Home program of reform until such time as there is substantial, independent, and wide-ranging review and analysis of the program.
  2. That ALGA calls on the Federal Government to fund a local government local roads improvement scheme and increase the funding for Roads to Recovery program.
  3. That the National General Assembly calls on the Australian Government and Murray-Darling Basin Authority, as part of the 2026 Murray-Darling Basin Plan Review, to model and consider the impacts of population growth and drinking water on water allocations for the environment and other water users, including communities and irrigators.
  4. That the NGA calls upon the Australian Government, when considering applications for new water storage projects, to consider the potential for flood and drought mitigation as a result of increased water storage, and the risk of increased incidences of floods and droughts due to climate.
  5. That the NGA calls upon the Australian Government and Murray-Darling Basin Authority, as part of the 2026 Murray-Darling Basin Plan Review, to amend the Water Act 2007 (Cth) to exclude any further environmental water recovery by way of water buy-backs, until such time as Sustainable Development Limit Adjustment Mechanism projects are delivered in full, particularly those relating to constraints and the Enhanced Environmental Water Delivery (EEWD) project.

Northern Regional Planning Panel

Deputy Mayor Kate McGrath has been retained as the alternative delegate to the mayor for the Northern Regional Planning Portal (NRPP) following Council endorsement.

The principal function of Planning Panels is to determine regionally significant DAs and undertake rezoning reviews.

The NRPP is made up of the following:

  • Three persons appointed by the Minister for Planning (Dianne Leeson - chair, Stephen Gow and Michael Wright);
  • One Councillor, as the community representative. This report seeks endorsement for the alternate delegate to the Mayor only. No other members are nominated under this resolution; and
  • One Council nominated expert, having expertise in planning, architecture, heritage, the environment, urban design, land economics, traffic and transport, law, engineering or tourism.

Appointments are for up to three years.

Response to Notice of Motion – Affordable Housing

Council is continuing to investigate affordable housing on Council land and provided an update at the meeting following a notice of motion put forward by Councillor Rob Hooke at the October 2025 ordinary meeting.

Council has identified two significant barriers to increasing necessary dwelling density and development-supporting population and services growth –

  1. Town lot development is constrained where stormwater modelling is not available to allow certainty in costs and approvals; and
  2. Strategic work needs to be done to assess housing needs in the Shire and identify opportunities for Council and other stakeholders to deliver prioritised options as soon as possible with the aim of ‘creating’ additional development opportunities in effected areas.

Further, a strategic assessment of our housing needs will identify gaps and provide a clear action plan for how Council can be involved in influencing additional housing delivery within the Shire in the short and medium term.

Applications have been submitted under the Regional Housing Strategic Planning Fund (Round 4) for the two priority projects – the Housing Needs Study and Housing Action Plan, and Stormwater Mapping for Flood Study.

Council is awaiting the announcement of successful applicants for Round 4. If Council is successful, the priority projects will be positioned to proceed.

Gunnedah Motoring Enthusiasts Fee Waiver Request

A resolution for Council to support the Gunnedah Motoring Enthusiasts for the annual Weeks of Speed event in March is on public exhibition for 28 days.

  1. That Council endorse a 50% waiver of fees to hire Council aerodrome and terminal facilities for two days annually with $2000.00 (GST exclusive) to be drawn from the Tourism Community Programs and Events budget;
  2. That, if endorsed, the Tourism Community Programs and Events budget be increased by $2,000.00 (GST exclusive) each year from General Fund Unrestricted Cash for the three years from 2025/26 until 2027/2028;
  3. That, if endorsed, staff develop a written agreement with the Gunnedah Motoring Enthusiasts, which includes a clause that the agreement be reconsidered should a regular passenger service be provided to the Gunnedah Airport; and
  4. Place the above financial assistance on 28-day public exhibition in accordance with Section 356 of the NSW Local Government Act 1993 and the financial assistance be endorsed if no submissions are received.

The resolution is on public exhibition 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, 19 March, 2026.

Medical Professionals Accommodation Support Policy

Council’s revised Medical Professionals Accommodation Support Policy is on public exhibition for 28 days.

The policy was established to provide a structured and transparent framework to support the attraction and retention of medical professionals within the Gunnedah Shire. The document governs the allocation of Council-owned accommodation and the provision of rental subsidies; and supports Council’s broader objective of maintaining access to essential health services in a rural context where workforce and housing constraints are well recognised.

Following the December 2025 Council meeting, the policy was revised and deferred until the ongoing need for support was verified with the two medical practices leasing Council-owned medical accommodation units. The practices confirmed that Council-provided accommodation continues to play an important role in supporting local medical service delivery.

The revised Medical Professionals Accommodation Support Policy is on public exhibition 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, 19 March, 2026.

Caption: Gunnedah Weeks of Speed is an annual festival held in March.

ENDS

For more information, contact Gunnedah Shire Council’s Communications team on (02) 6740 2100 or communications@gunnedah.nsw.gov.au

 

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