Gunnedah Shire Council will continue a long tradition of supporting local businesses with a total of $17,380 in funding through Round One of the 2023/24 Business Partner Program.

The Business Partner Program is part of Council’s Economic Development Strategy that focuses on attracting new business and helping existing businesses in the Gunnedah Shire to expand.

The Business Partner Program Advisory Group recommended an allocation of $17,380 across nine local businesses and organisations. All applications were considered on their individual merits, with priority given to those demonstrating benefit and economic growth to the region and aligned with the Business Partner Guidelines.

The successful recipients were:

• ProFit 24 - $3500 for Strength Room extension
• Fogarty Fotos - $2380 for relocation to larger premises
• PK Podiatry Centre – $5000 for a flotation tank
• Serene Ayurveda - $750 towards website and advertising costs
• Sunburnt Treasures - $1000 towards Google optimisation
• Stinger Vintage House - $750 towards signage
• The Mindful Business Hub - $750 towards a commercial space
• Tori Etheridge Photography - $2500 towards “Good Memories can be Created”
• Hive Coffee - $750 towards signage.

Chair of the Business Partner Advisory Group Cr Colleen Fuller said Council was proud of its Business Partner Program which aims to not only support current, but also stimulate new business in the Gunnedah Shire.

“Gunnedah’s reputation as a regional township is continuing to grow as a result of the many great businesses that have and are continuing to set up here. Increasingly, we are becoming a go-to destination in this part of NSW for people seeking quality business and lifestyle services,” she said.

“As a council we will continue to be as proactive as possible in supporting and encouraging growth of our businesses.”

August 14, 2023

Gunnedah Shire Council will hold a presentation at the Gunnedah and District Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s August networking event for employers interested in joining an Employment Expo in Kolomotu’a in the Kingdom of Tonga.

The presentation will be held on Thursday, August 17, and will outline the next steps to joining the Gunnedah delegation planned for October, 2023.

Gunnedah Mayor Jamie Chaffey said the presentation was an excellent opportunity to learn about progressing the benefits of employment with Gunnedah’s Sister City of Kolomotu’a.

“We have a strong partnership with our friends in Kolomotu’a, and are looking at very practical ways we can realise mutual benefits, particularly in the areas of employment, arts and culture, sports and education,” Cr Chaffey said.

“A Gunnedah Shire delegation to Tonga in October will hold an Employment Expo that will be targeted at creating realistic employment outcomes for both Tongan people and Gunnedah employers. To this end, we are inviting employers with a genuine need and intent to employ people from Kolomotu’a to join us for this expo.

“We are hoping the delegation will include a diverse representation of businesses and industries.

“This presentation in conjunction with the Gunnedah Chamber of Commerce will give businesses a very clear idea of what the delegation will involve, including potential costs, timing and opportunities.”

Gunnedah Chamber of Commerce president Ben Hennessy said the Employment Expo could further significant opportunities for Gunnedah Shire businesses.

“The Gunnedah Chamber of Commerce is proud to partner with Gunnedah Shire Council in this event to make sure businesses have all the information they need to take part in this exciting delegation,” Mr Hennessy said.

“Our region has some amazing and rapidly growing businesses and industries, and the partnership with Kolomotu’a could offer a solution to an identified employment problem. We hope to see a strong and diverse group of employers join the Employment Expo in Tonga in October.”

The Tongan Employment Expo presentation will be part of the Gunnedah Chamber of Commerce’s monthly networking event and will be held at:
• 5.30pm, Thursday, 17 August
• Rettie & Vickery, 101 Marquis Street, Gunnedah

Please RSVP to https://www.gunnedah.org.au/event-details/august-beer-bubbles

Caption: Members of the 2022 delegation to Kolomotu’a visit the Fokololo ‘a e Hau Institute in the Kingdom of Tonga.

ENDS

For more information, contact Gunnedah Shire Council’s Communications team on (02) 6740 2100.

14 August, 2023

Gunnedah Shire residents will receive their quarterly water notice over the next few weeks.

The water notice will reflect the increased rates recently adopted by Gunnedah Shire Council following the annual process of public consultation for Council fees and charges and the Operational Plan.

The increased fees will only apply to the July 2023 portion of each bill and not the May-June portion which will be billed at 2022-2023 rates. In addition, to help with the transition to the new fees, residents will only be billed at Tier 1 levels for May and June, and not at the higher Tier 2 and 3 levels.

The funds raised through water charges are used to operate, maintain and renew Gunnedah Shire’s water supply services. They are set in accordance with the NSW Best Practice Management of Water Supply and Sewerage Guidelines 2007 and comply with the NSW Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal’s (IPART) Pricing Principles for Local Water Authorities.

The new prices from 1 July 2023 are:
• Tier 1 – first 400kL - $1.76/kL
• Tier 2 – 401kL to 800kL - $2.64/kL
• Tier 3 – over 800kL - $3.96/kL

The rates have been increased to assist in meeting the rising costs associated with providing the community with a water supply.

To find out more about water notices, ways to save water and keep your bill as low as possible, your water meter and water conservation levels, click here. 

There is an answer – and it’s art!

One of the ultimate ways to recycle and reuse is to turn what has been thrown out into unique works of art, and Gunnedah artists have it covered.

The biennial Gunnedah Shire Waste Into Art exhibition is always a triumph of creativity over waste or pre-loved materials, with wildly imaginative uses for unexpected materials.

Gunnedah Shire Manager Economy and Growth Susan Frater said she was hoping artists would make Waste Into Art 2023 even bigger and better than it has been in past years.

“The theme this year for Waste Into Art is The Circular Economy,” Ms Frater said.

“We are living in changing times when people are truly realising not only the value, but the critical need to reuse, reduce and recycle. Making art out of the items that are no longer needed is a worthy challenge – and artists really are only limited by their own imagination.

“Gunnedah Shire Council is calling on our artists to be visionary with this challenge, to have fun, and to create something memorable.

“Waste Into Art 2023 will open in October, which leaves a bit of time to start thinking and start creating.”

Artworks for Waste Into Art 2023 must be submitted by 5pm on Tuesday, October 3 at the Gunnedah Bicentennial Creative Arts Gallery. There will be prizes in the categories of:

• Early Childhood/Preschools
• Primary Schools
• Secondary Schools
• Collaborative Work
• Most Creative
• Best suits theme of “The Circular Economy”
• Functional Art (e.g. furniture, homewares, inventions etc)
• And the People’s Choice Award voted by visitors to the exhibition.

The entry form and further details are available on www.gunnedah.nsw.gov.au

A statement about revised plans for the Gunnedah Hospital Redevelopment

from Gunnedah Shire Mayor Jamie Chaffey

August 9, 2023

Once again, the spotlight is on our health services in rural and regional New South Wales.

A new inquiry to inquire into the progress on the first inquiry has been announced.

It is clearly time to stop the political game-playing part of this process and get on with the job of building a better health system.

The original inquiry, which included significant and emotional submissions from our own Shire, along with a hearing of the inquiry in Gunnedah, resulted in 44 recommendations. It painted a sad but entirely accurate picture of health care in the country, where New South Wales residents die sooner, are more likely to have chronic diseases, and can’t find a doctor or access a hospital for treatment.

The inquiry found the rural health system was “in crisis and failing residents”. That is no news to the people of Gunnedah, many of whom went years between doctor’s visits.

Now, 14 months on, we have improved access to GPs and limited additional health services. Our new hospital remains a mirage on the horizon.

The state government promise in 2019 - backed by the Minns Government during the 2023 State Election campaign - of a comprehensive hospital redevelopment that would meet our desperate need for improved health care was met with relief and hope for the future. And yet four years later, we are stuck with a design that delivers only a fraction of the original plans. And we are yet to see any construction.

Despite the much-lauded community consultation, the revised plan presented to Council on July 10 this year falls short on so many services we were assured it would include. Where are the renal and chemotherapy services Gunnedah was promised?

Last week, the General Manager and I met with the NSW Minister for Regional Health Ryan Park and told him that despite the stark recognition of the critical need for these services, Gunnedah Shire was again being short-changed. We presented a comprehensive report highlighting a timeline of the tortuous process we have been through, from commitment to the project in 2019 through to release of the Master Plan in 2022, confirmation of commitment to the project by the Greens, Coalition and Labor candidates for Tamworth in February this year, and news it would not be delivered as promised just last month.

Our growing community deserves access to great health services in their home town. They deserve to have their lives valued as highly as those of the people who live in the city.

We were made no promises by Minister Park, although he has taken our concerns on board to discuss with Treasury. We called for the shortfall to be allocated in the September 19 State Budget.

I will continue to advocate for our community and their right to equity in health care, because a second inquiry can only find that the shortcomings discovered in the first have not yet been addressed.

Gunnedah Shire Mayor Jamie Chaffey

Caption: A timeline showing the journey of the Gunnedah Hospital Redevelopment.

ENDS

For more information, contact Gunnedah Shire Council’s Communications team on (02) 6740 2100.

August 9, 2023

Gunnedah Shire’s biggest annual art exhibition will open the Gunnedah Bicentennial Creative Arts Gallery on Friday, August 11, with exciting artworks across 14 categories.

The 52nd Art & Ceramics Exhibition, held by Arts Gunnedah, will showcase the work of artists from not only the North-West, but from Tamworth, Armidale, Scone and Coonabarabran, with prize money totalling $9600.

Arts Gunnedah president Helen Stanley said the exhibition had become a Gunnedah institution.

“This is an exhibition Gunnedah looks forward to every year,” Mrs Stanley said. “It is always a wonderful collection of a wide variety of art and ceramics - a colourful expression of the talent we have in this area and beyond.

“The 52nd Art & Ceramics Exhibition will include everything from watercolours to graphics, miniatures, mixed media and ceramics.

“We invite everyone to come along and take a look while this exhibition is open at the Gunnedah Bicentennial Creative Arts Gallery. You can even vote for your favourite artwork for the People’s Choice Award.”

Gunnedah Shire Council is a sponsor of the exhibition that will have its opening at 6pm on Friday, 11 August. Tickets are $20 for adults and $5 for children under 18, and can be reserved at www.thecivic.com.au and paid for at the door, or bought at the event.

The exhibition will be open daily from 10am to 4pm and will continue until Saturday, August 26.

Caption: Visitors enjoy the opening night of the 2022 Art & Ceramics Exhibition.

ENDS

For more information, contact Gunnedah Shire Council’s Communications team on (02) 6740 2100.

July 31, 2023

The Gunnedah Shire Council will proudly join Local Government Week celebrations this week.

Starting today, Local Government Week (31 July – 6 August, 2023) aims to shift the focus beyond roads, rates and rubbish to the broader role that councils play throughout Australia to support their local communities.

Gunnedah Shire Council is one of 128 local councils in NSW and currently employs a full-time equivalent of 200 staff, manages a budget of nearly $66 million and is responsible for a number of major projects including the Saleyards Precinct Upgrade, the Water Treatment Plant, the Airport Tarmac Works and the Koala Sanctuary.

Council strongly values the significant contribution of its staff each year and, to commemorate Local Government Week, will feature several of its employees in a series of short video interviews on its Facebook and Instagram social media channels. These pieces will provide some insight into the different roles they play within the organisation.

The Gunnedah Shire Library will also be recognised at the Local Government Week Awards ceremony at Doltone House in Sydney this Thursday evening, having been named as a finalist in the Innovation in the Special Events category (Division A 0- 30,000 people) for its Book Paper Folding for Fairytale February.

Mayor Councillor Jamie Chaffey said Local Government Week presented a prime opportunity to further explain the many important functions of a council and the role of its employees.

“We have a highly dedicated and genuinely passionate team working at the Gunnedah Shire Council and this is a chance to recognise them and allow our community to get to know some of the faces behind the names that work tirelessly to make day to day living in our region safe and enjoyable,” Cr Chaffey said.

“These people are also great ambassadors for working in local government and with recruitment a key focus for all councils, it’s important to hear from the very people who are at the coal face of our operation serving our community and just how rewarding they find their work.”

As part of Local Government Week celebrations, Council will host a free barbecue in the Smithurst Courtyard from 11am - 2pm this Friday, August 4.

25 July, 2023

Revered Australian puppet show A Little Bit of Blue is set to delight young members of the Gunnedah community at The Civic next week.

A Little Bit of Blue is an interactive environmental detective story that unravels the mysterious habits of the satin bowerbird, an extraordinary Australian animal that has a unique fascination with the colour blue.

The performance, aimed at pre-school age children, will be staged by Australian company Little Wing Puppets which specialises in original heart-warming shows and is committed to environmental education, weaving together light-hearted and entertaining stories about the nation’s unique natural heritage.
They have performed to more than 50,000 children and in numerous festivals, theatres and country halls in every state and territory of Australia as well as overseas.

The story of A Little Bit of Blue begins with the strange disappearance of items from Mrs. Mavis Hooley’s home. Every day something new goes missing including a $10 note, pegs and a ball of wool, but then the mischievous Bowerbird takes it one step too far so she calls in a detective to investigate.

Jenny Ellis, a puppeteer with more than 20 years experience leads the show and invites the audience to become part of the theatrical experience by helping to solve the mystery.

Gunnedah Shire Council Manager Economy and Growth Susan Frater welcomed the addition of A Little Bit of Blue to The Civic’s entertainment schedule.

“This fantastic show will be a fun and interactive way for our community to gain a better understanding of the idiosyncracies of a unique Australian bird,” Ms Frater said.

“We are thrilled to have a theatre company the calibre of Little Wing Puppets come to Gunnedah and inform and educate our young people in such an unforgettable way.”

WHEN

Tuesday 1 August 2023

Session 1 – 10am – 11am
Session 2 – 1pm – 2pm

LOCATION

The Civic Theatre
83 Chandos St, Gunnedah NSW

TICKETS

$10 

For bookings or more information, go to https://thecivic.com.au/live-theatre--events

July 25, 2023

The already strong Sister City relationship between Gunnedah Shire and Kolomotu’a in the Kingdom of Tonga has become even closer with this month’s delegation visit.

Gunnedah Shire Mayor Jamie Chaffey said the visit, led by Her Royal Highness Princess Angelika Lātūfuipeka Tukuʻaho, the High Commissioner of the Kingdom of Tonga to the Commonwealth of Australia, had been an amazing experience for the community and everyone involved.

“This is the second time we have been blessed by a visit from Her Royal Highness, and it was truly a productive four days,” Cr Chaffey said.

“This Sister City Agreement is now a year old and has grown into a family relationship, with strong cultural and friendship ties between our regions. It was particularly exciting to see so many of our community members,
organisations and businesses welcoming the delegation, including at the Gunnedah Chamber of Commerce Gala Ball.

“Community groups were very generous with their time and their talents. Our Tongan visitors have commented on how much they enjoyed visiting Gunnedah and meeting our community.

“We are cementing the way forward for our partnership, particularly in the areas of the arts and culture, sports, education and employment.

“To this end, a delegation of business people and Council representatives will visit Tonga in early October for an employment expo to outline the many opportunities there are on both sides. Tongan people have worked in Gunnedah for many years, and are very much part of our community.”

The visit from the Tongan delegation was also the beginning of fundraising for a new library for the Government Middle School of Kolomotu’a which was badly damaged in a tsunami in January 2022. The principal of the school, Lose Kuluka, was among the visitors to Gunnedah.

“We visited the Middle School on our visit to Kolomotu’a in October last year and witnessed first hand how difficult it was to teach with limited buildings and resources,” Cr Chaffey said. “This is a wonderful way we can assist our friends to get back on track.”

The Gunnedah Shire Council Sister Cities and Friendly Relationships Working Group will meet in the coming weeks to discuss the next steps.

If you are interested in joining the delegation to Kolomotu’a that begins on October 7, 2023, or are an individual or community group that could help in the fundraising effort for a new library for the Government Middle School of Kolomotu’a, please email the Working Group via council@infogunnedah.com.au

Caption: Gunnedah Shire business and community members joined members of the delegation from Kolomotu’a in the Kingdom of Tonga and the Annual Mayoral Breakfast.

ENDS

For more information, contact Gunnedah Shire Council’s Communications team on (02) 6740 2100.