Customer Relations, Communications & Lifestyle
8 July, 2024
Gunnedah Shire Council’s Access Working Group and community members staged an awareness raising event in Conadilly Street on Sunday, 7 July to highlight the issue of inappropriate use of designated access parking bays in the Gunnedah CBD.
The Access Working Group works to support the delivery of the Shire's DisABILITY Inclusion Action Plan and strengthen Council's commitment to being access champions.
Wheelchairs were parked in non-designated parking bays outside Gunnedah Town Hall, each bearing a “Laziness is not a disability” sign and references to common excuses used by drivers who choose to park in an access bay – excuses such as “But it’s close”, “I’ll be quick”, “Just picking my child up from school”, “I’ll only be 5 minutes”, “Nobody is using it”, “I didn’t see the sign” and “I don’t care”.
Drivers who genuinely need designated access parking spaces are often left with limited options and added stress.
"The event was staged as a result of feedback from frustrated community members, carers and the disability support sector during the development of the recently endorsed Gunnedah Shire DisABILITY Inclusion Action Plan 2024-2028,” Working Group Chairperson Councillor Colleen Fuller said.
“We hope to highlight to the broader community that designated access parking bays are allocated specifically for those who have a legitimate disability or impairment, and who display a NSW Mobility Parking Scheme Permit or an Australian Disability Parking Permit on their vehicle.”
Gunnedah Shire Council Manager Community Safety reminded the community that the snap decision to park in a designated access parking bay could come at a cost.
“Fines carry a penalty of $680 and the loss of one demerit point, with these likely to be increased after 1 July 2024,” Mr Berryman said. “The person to whom the permit was issued must also be travelling in the vehicle.”
Council’s Community and Social Planner Debra Hilton said: "This initiative is also a timely reminder that permits are also issued to individuals with invisible disabilities or conditions that may not be apparent, and that it is important to be sensitive to others.
“It is the first of many activities to be undertaken to raise awareness of access and inclusion issues, with the Working Group rolling out a series of Access Audits in public spaces including Livvi’s Place, Pensioners Hill and Porcupine Hill, over the coming months.”
Caption: Gunnedah Access Working Group (from left Ingrid Allen-Thomas, Jasmine Alloway, Tammy McAllan, Cr Colleen Fuller and Debra Hilton) at the awareness activity in Conadilly Street yesterday.
ENDS
For more information, contact Gunnedah Shire Council’s Communications team on (02) 6740 2100 or communications@gunnedah.nsw.gov.au.
5 July, 2024
Council is seeking local donations for the Gunnedah Community Scholarship Fund.
The fund is an initiative of our local community and provides an opportunity for our local youth to succeed in their tertiary education by encouraging students to embark on a journey of lifelong learning by financially supporting those moving on to pursue tertiary studies.
Gunnedah Community Scholarship Fund was established in 2003 and has assisted hundreds of local students over the many years.
Scholarships have covered many disciplines including accounting, agriculture, allied health, animal science, law, architecture, arts/theatre, civil engineering, education, information technology, medicine, nursing and social work.
Anyone wishing to make a donation to the fund, or for more information please contact Council on (02) 6740 2100 or council@gunnedah.nsw.gov.au .
4 July, 2024
Gunnedah Shire is joining the celebrations of NAIDOC Week with the opening of the popular NAIDOC Week Art Exhibition 2024 on Friday, 5 July.
This exhibition is an eclectic collection of community works reflecting on the week that celebrates and recognises the history, culture, and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
The theme for this year is Keep the Fire Burning! Blak, Loud & Proud.
Cultural Precinct Team Leader Danny Hankinson said the exhibition was vibrant and varied.
“The NAIDOC Week Art Exhibition 2024 reflects on the rich cultures of our First Nations people, with artworks including everything from bark paintings to weaving and sculpture,” Mr Hankinson said.
“Students and schools from the region have created some beautiful works alongside more seasoned artists, and our community should be proud of this celebratory exhibition.”
The exhibition will open at 1pm on Friday, 5 July at the Gunnedah Bicentennial Creative Arts Gallery, and will remain open until Thursday, 8 August 2024.
4 July, 2024
Gunnedah Shire Council is asking the community – from skateboarders to parents and kids who just want to hang out with friends – to help build a vision for the Gunnedah Youth Space.
After extensive community consultation in the lead-up to the Gunnedah Shire Council Open Space Strategy, adopted in 2022, one of the key recommendations was to investigate upgrades to the Gunnedah Skate Park on the corner of View Street and Wandobah Road.
Council is now asking people of all ages what they would like to see as part of a redeveloped space, and has engaged experts in skate park design, construction, and planning, Convic, to develop a concept plan.
A new community survey is now available that will allow people to share their ideas.
“We encourage the community to take the opportunity to have their say and work with our consultant to help build a concept that includes the features they are interested in,” Gunnedah Shire Council Director Infrastructure Services Jeremy Bartlett said.
“The survey looks at the sort of activities people are using the space for now, and what they hope to see in the future. The survey includes examples of skatepark designs and additional activities and allows people to expand on their ideas.”
The concept will be used to source grant funding to create the new-look Gunnedah Youth Space in the future.
The Gunnedah Youth Space survey is available at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/BBKFDMM and everyone who has an interest in the space is urged to complete it.
There is currently a concept plan under development for the Gunnedah Youth Space. The purpose of the plan is to create a long-term plan or vision for the skate park area.
The plan will be completed by an external consultant and will involve engagement with community members to get input into what could be included in the design.
Members of the community are invited to the first consultation workshop which will be held at the Gunnedah Skate Park on Tuesday July 2 from 3pm-5pm.
An on-line survey will also be made available soon.
GoCo is inviting the Gunnedah community to look at its updated Community Care building (pictured) that now reflects its vision for the future.
GoCo Executive Manager Bruce Mercer said the newly furbished Gunnedah headquarters at 80 Marquis Street marked a milestone in GoCo’s journey.
An opening for the community will be held between 10am and 2pm on Thursday, 4 July.
“This building is more than just a physical space,” Mr Mercer said.
“It symbolises inclusivity and accessibility and stands as testament to our collective ambition, vision and determination as a leader in the aged care industry.
“With its sustainable features and thoughtful design, it sets a benchmark for environmental stewardship and community engagement. It is a place where everyone, regardless of background or circumstance, can feel welcome.”
The two-year project is the culmination of a partnership between a huge team of people, from architects and engineers to project managers and community members who have all contributed their expertise and passion to achieving this milestone.
It was part funded by the Department of Regional NSW under Round Four of the Stronger Country Communities Fund in partnership with Gunnedah Shire Council.
To celebrate the occasion, GoCo is holding an open day between 10am and 2pm on Thursday, July 4 when people can come along to see the transformation and meet other great service providers in town, from exercise physiologists to dieticians, a retirement village and a representative from Scooters and Mobility.
GoCo’s community care finder will also be on hand for advice about aged care services.
GoCo has specialised in providing personalised aged and community care services across the New England and North West regions of NSW for more than 30 years, supporting older people in the community to live their life the way they choose.
GoCo is an approved provider for Home Care Packages, is funded to deliver Commonwealth Home Support Program services, is a provider of Community Transport and is a partner in the delivery of services for the Carer Gateway.
To find out how GoCo can become your aged care provider, call us on 6740 2240.
Non-residents of the Gunnedah Shire are permitted to enrol and vote in the September 2024 local government elections if they meet eligibility criteria and submit the necessary forms to Gunnedah Shire Council.
You are eligible to vote as a non-resident in a council area if you are:
• an owner of rateable land in the council area, or
• an occupier or rate-paying lessee of rateable land in the council area.
Non-residential rolls are prepared and certified by each council's general manager, and the NSW Electoral Commissioner must confirm that the voters listed are eligible for enrolment on the non-residential roll. However, you are responsible for checking that you are eligible for inclusion in the non-residential roll for a council when you make an application.
You can apply to be included on the non-residential roll of another ward or council area by contacting the local council office or visiting their website.
To enrol to vote as a non-resident, please complete and submit the applicable form below. Submissions close 6:00pm, Monday 5 August 2024.
Form - Non-Residential Roll - Joint Corporate or Trustees.pdf
Form - Non-Residential Roll - Individual Owners Occupiers and Ratepaying Lessees.pdf
For more information visit the NSW Electoral Commission website https://elections.nsw.gov.au/voters/enrolment/other-enrolment-categories/non-residential-enrolment .
25 June, 2024
Mid-year school holidays are on the horizon, and another action-packed Gunnedah Shire Council School Holiday Program will offer plenty of activities to keep students happy.
Holiday favourites are back, with the guys from Totem Skateboarding holding a free learn to skate beginner class and a mentoring skate session with professional skaters, both for ages six years and up. This is always a popular activity and bookings are essential!
Gunnedah Shire Library will once again offer Crafty Creations for 7-12 years and Book Buddies for those from zero to seven years – opening a world of reading and craft for younger students. Dr Seuss is the theme for the Library this holidays.
Create with Clay is also back, at the Gunnedah Bicentennial Creative Arts Centre, with two free sessions across the holidays. This activity for ages 10 plus helps students unleash their creativity with air-dry clay. It’s a favourite and spots fill quickly, so make sure you book!
For students aged 12 and up, the Gunnedah Conservatorium and Gunnedah Shire Council are presenting “I Will Tell you my Story” from Monday, 8 July to Friday 12 July, a five-day program that runs between 10am and 3pm daily. Each day starts with yoga and community music-making before students choose their own adventure by nominating sessions including songwriting, visual arts, photography, theatre-making, digital storytelling and developing your own performance. This program is free, thanks to funding from the NSW Government, but bookings are essential.
PCYC also has a full program of fun events, including laser tag, paint and shake, Lego Masters and athletics.
“Once again, the Gunnedah Shire Council School Holiday Program has something for just about everyone,” Gunnedah Shire Council Manager Economy and Growth Susan Frater said.
“This holidays, along with well as some of the activities that have proven to be favourites, we are also partnering with the Gunnedah Conservatorium for their “I Will Tell you my Story” program. This is a five-day program to encourage local young people to tap into their creative side and will culminate in a performance on the Friday afternoon.
“The Library is always a favourite with children, and we are happy that Create with Clay, Totem Skateboarding and the PCYC are all back. The Gunnedah Shire Council School Holiday Program includes many free activities and is a great way to keep the fun in the holiday period from July 8-20!”
To see the full program and book activities, visit www.thecivic.com.au/youth
Caption: Children enjoy hands-on creativity at Create with Clay earlier this year.
ENDS
For more information, contact Gunnedah Shire Council’s Communications team on (02) 6740 2100 or communications@gunnedah.nsw.gov.au.
24 June, 2024
A reminder to artists across Gunnedah Shire that artworks for this year’s ever popular NAIDOC exhibition are due by Monday, 1 July.
Held across Australia from 7-14 July, 2024, NAIDOC Week will celebrate and recognise the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
This year’s theme is “Keep the fire burning! Blak, loud and proud!” and artists are invited to create an artwork – whether it is sculpture, painting or another form of art – to be included in the annual Gunnedah NAIDOC Exhibition.
Submissions can be dropped off at the Gunnedah Bicentennial Creative Arts Gallery.
Submission forms are available on the Civic website – www.thecivic.com.au – and the exhibition will open at 1pm on Friday, 5 July.
The exhibition will continue until 9am, Friday, August 9, when artists can collect their works.
Caption: Visitors to the gallery enjoy a past NAIDOC Week Exhibition in Gunnedah.
ENDS
For more information, contact Gunnedah Shire Council’s Communications team on (02) 6740 2100 or communications@gunnedah.nsw.gov.au.
21 June, 2024
Operational Plan adopted
Gunnedah Shire Council has adopted the 2024/25 Operational Plan and Fees & Charges following a public exhibition period.
The Operational Plan details the works and services Council intends to undertake during the next financial year through responsible fiscal management of Council’s $56 million total operating expenditure and a capital works program of $25 million.
Gunnedah Shire Council is in a similar position to that of many NSW councils facing a poor financial outlook caused by a perfect storm of negative impacts resulting from natural disasters, high inflation, and legislative ‘cost-shifting’ by the NSW and Australian governments.
The current financial outlook for Gunnedah Shire Council is not financially sustainable and action is necessary to ensure that a sustainable path can be determined to support Council’s future.
To maintain current service levels and to grow requires an increase in revenue. Alternatively, no increase in revenue will see the need for service levels to decrease. To address this challenge, Council will explore all options available to it, including:
• Undertaking efficiency reviews;
• Reviewing project prioritisation to maximise Council's resources and funding opportunities; and
• Investigation options for a possible Special Rate Variation application.
In the 2024/25 financial year, Council will start a conversation with the community to discuss how we can maintain current service levels, address our growing infrastructure renewal backlog, support our current population growth projections and deliver on key infrastructure priorities. This conversation will be important in shaping the future of our region.
To view the Gunnedah Shire Council 2024/25 Operational Plan and Fees & Charges, visit www.gunnedah.nsw.gov.au
Updated polices on public exhibition
Three Gunnedah Shire Council policies have been reviewed and are now on public exhibition.
They are: Draft Policy – Hardship; Draft Policy – Debt Recovery; and Draft Policy – Customer Service.
The Draft Policy – Hardship establishes guidelines utilised by Council in the assessment of hardship applications, while the Draft Policy – Debt Recovery provides a framework to facilitate the timely, efficient and effective recovery of money owed to Council. The Draft Policy – Customer Service ensures staff provide consistent, positive customer service across the organisation.
These policies will be on public exhibition for 28 days. To view them and submit feedback, visit www.gunnedah.nsw.gov.au
