It is very important that all crimes are reported. Correct information about how many and what types of crimes are occurring in the community helps Police to protect residents, visitors and businesses within our Shire.

1. Police Assistance Line (PAL) – Phone: 131 444 - to report non-life threatening crime
2. Emergency Services – Phone: 000 - For life threatening situations or crimes in progress
3. Crime Stoppers – Phone: 1800 333 000 - to report criminal/suspicious behaviour anonymously
4. Graffiti Hotline – 1800 707 125 - Free call 9am to 5pm (Council and private property related offences) Check out: https://www.service.nsw.gov.au/transaction/graffiti-hotline 

When you need to report a crime or suspicious behaviour to the police always:

• Try to be calm and speak clearly, take a few deep breaths if you have difficulty speaking
• Follow the operator’s instructions
• Give your name, phone number and address
• State the problem
• Give the location and time of the incident
• Give a description of the persons and vehicles involved.

Being the victim of crime is stressful and can be overwhelming. The Police and telephone operators do understand that you have suffered a shock and may be stressed and have difficulty providing a report. They are there to help.

Under the provisions of Section 644 (B) of the Local Government Act 1993, Council has the authority to prohibit the sale, possession and consumption of alcohol in road-related public areas to reduce anti-social behaviour and crime by proclaiming them as Alcohol Free Zones.

Alcohol Free Zones apply to road-related public areas such as public roads, footpaths or carparks.

There are currently twelve (12) Alcohol Free Zones inclusive of forty-six (46) signs endorsed and allocated within the Gunnedah CBD. Alcohol Free Zones are effective for a four (4) year period by a Council Resolution and are currently effective for the period 01 July 2024 to 30 June 2028.

Alcohol Free Zones are declared in the following areas within the Gunnedah CBD:

• Conadilly Street between Tempest Street and a point of 40 metres east of Henry Street
• Tempest Street between Little Conadilly Street and Little Barber Street
• Chandos Street between Bloomfield Street and Little Barber Street
• Marquis Street between Little Conadilly Street and Little Barber Street
• Elgin Street between Little Conadilly Street and Little Barber Street
• Abbott Street between Little Conadilly Street and Little Barber Street
• Henry Street between Little Conadilly Street and Little Barber Street
• Little Barber Street between Chandos Street and Elgin Street
• Little Conadilly Street between Chandos Street and Elgin Street
• Souris Car Park between Marquis Street and Chandos Street
• Melitis Car Park between Marquis Street and Chandos Street
• Public Walkway between Conadilly Street and Little Conadilly Street

Council may suspend an Alcohol Free Zone for a specific event. An application for Suspension of an Alcohol Free Zone must be lodged with Council at least six weeks prior to the proposed event. Forms are available from Council's Customer Service Centre.

SUSPENSION OF ALCOHOL FREE ZONES

Council may temporarily suspend an Alcohol Free Zone for a specific event. An application for Temporary Suspension of an Alcohol Free Zone must be lodged with Council at least six weeks prior to the proposed event. Temporary suspensions can only be provided via a resolution of Council. Forms are available from Council's Customer Service team.

Under the provisions of Section 632A of the Local Government Act 1993, Council has the authority to prohibit the sale, possession and consumption of alcohol in parks and reserves by proclaiming them as Alcohol Prohibited Areas.

Alcohol Prohibited Areas apply to non-road-related public places such as parks and reserves.

Council has exercised this authority in relation to several parks/reserves where it has been satisfied that alcohol has been a contributing factor in incidents of anti-social behaviour in those areas.

In all of these incidences, the anti-social behaviour has occurred during the evening hours and Council has therefore imposed the prohibition between the hours of sunset and sunrise. Failure to comply with the prohibition could result in the alcohol being confiscated and disposed of by NSW police and possibly other action taken.

The following reserves/parks are Alcohol Prohibited Areas:

• Kitchener Park
• Wolseley Park
  
  

SUSPENSION OF ALCOHOL PROHIBTED AREAS

Council may temporarily suspend an Alcohol Prohibited Area for a specific event. An application for Temporary Suspension of an Alcohol Prohibited Area must be lodged with Council at least six weeks prior to the proposed event. Temporary suspensions can only be provided via a resolution of Council. Forms are available from Council's Customer Service team.

Council is committed to making our website as accessible as possible to all our visitors, including those using our site with:

• mobile devices
• assistive technologies such as screen readers
• various browsers and
• slower internet connections.

Our website is compliant with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0 (Level A).

As part of the National Continence Program, the National Public Toilet Map provides information on over 16,000 publicly available toilets across Australia, including accessibility, opening hours and facilities, such as showers & baby change.

The Map is inclusive of accessible amenities throughout the Gunnedah Shire.
The map:

• Provides the location of over 16,000 publicly available toilets across Australia
• Reduces the stress of not being able to find an accessible toilet when out and about
• Provides choice, freedom and independence for people to get out and enjoy their lives

Check out:

toiletmap.gov.au

Are you deaf or have a hearing or speech impairment but need to talk to a Council staff member?

Council’s Customer Service staff are trained to accept calls from customers accessing the National Relay Service (NRS). Relay officers and other NRS staff receive extensive and practical training and are bound by privacy laws which protect your personal information and privacy.

Check out: www.relayservice.com.au 

To access the National Relay Service contact:

• 24-hour relay call number - TTY/Voice Calls 133 677
• Speak and Listen – 1300 555 727
• SMS relay – 0423 677 767

The Gunnedah Shire Access Working Group guides the delivery of inclusion initiatives and plays an integral role in ensuring that strategies within the Gunnedah Shire DisABILITY Inclusion Action Plan are implemented. The Working Group meets bi-monthly and is comprised of a range of stakeholders including Council staff, Councillors and community and organisation representatives. Access Working Group members are appointed for a two-year term.

Nomination forms can be downloaded here, or by contacting (02) 6740 2100. Completed nomination forms may be submitted via post to PO Box 63, Gunnedah, NSW, 2380 or via email to council@gunnedah.nsw.gov.au.

For more information on how you can get involved and become an ‘Access Champion’, contact Council’s Community and Social Planner on (02) 6740 2100.

Gunnedah Shire Council is working hard to make our region more accessible for everyone, regardless of age, cultural background or ability. We recognise that improving accessibility and fostering inclusion, enhances quality of life for the whole community.

Under the NSW Disability Inclusion Act 2014, all Councils are required to have a four-year Disability Inclusion Action Plan (DIAP) in place to demonstrate how they will ensure that the services they provide are available to people with disability.

In August 2024, the Final Gunnedah Shire DisABILITY Inclusion Action Plan 2024-2028 Enhancing Access: Cultivating Inclusion (DIAP) was endorsed by Council. This document builds on previous DIAPs and articulates a clear set of priority actions aimed at enhancing access and participation for all over the next four years. The document continues to support our vision to be recognised as both an advocate and champion for the rights of people with disability in our community. Council's resolve as an organisation is to do all we can to ensure residents are treated equally and respectfully and have opportunities to enjoy the benefits of full participation in a caring, proud, prosperous, and inclusive community.

The 2024-2028 DIAP was developed after extensive consultation with the Gunnedah Access Working Group, people with lived experience of disability and their carers, support organisations, government stakeholders and the broader community.

The DIAP is available in a full version, easy read version and text only version.

For more information on the DIAP and other access initiatives, please contact Council’s Community and Social Planner on 6740 2100 or email council@gunnedah.nsw.gov.au.