May 31, 2021

Gunnedah Shire Council is inviting community members considering nominating in the upcoming local government election to attend a free candidate briefing session.

Facilitated by former Lismore City Council Mayor Jenny Dowell OAM, the session is open to any community member interested in learning about standing for Council and the role and responsibilities of elected Councillors.

The session will be held at the Gunnedah Bicentennial Creative Arts Gallery on Friday, June 18 from 6-9pm, with light refreshments provided.

Council General Manager Eric Groth is encouraging anyone who may have an interest in running for Gunnedah Shire Council this September to attend.

“Our nine elected Councillors play an important role in advocating for the community and leading and shaping our Shire,” Mr Groth said.

“This session will provide an opportunity for potential candidates to learn more about the role and purpose of local government and the responsibilities and expectations that come with being a Councillor.”

Ms Dowell, who served as Lismore City Council’s mayor for eight years, said the session will allow prospective candidates to learn more about what’s expected from a councillor and mayor on a day-to-day basis.

“I’m delighted to be travelling to Gunnedah to facilitate this information session for those members of the community considering putting up their hand to contest the upcoming local elections,” Ms Dowell said.

“The sessions are designed to be very practical and informative and there will be ample opportunities for questions and answers.

“The best way to ensure all voices in any community are heard is to have a diverse range of candidates stand for election, and we want to encourage people from all walks of life, backgrounds, abilities, ages and gender to come along to one of the sessions and learn more about what’s involved in standing for election and serving on Council.

“Being a Councillor requires a substantial time commitment, but there’s nothing more rewarding than serving in the level of government closest to the local community.”

Bookings for the session are essential. To register, RSVP via email council@infogunnedah.com.au or phone (02) 6740 2100 by Wednesday, June 16.

For more information about the upcoming 2021 local government election and to register as a candidate, visit www.elections.nsw.gov.au.

ENDS

Media Contacts:          

Gunnedah Shire Council: (02) 6740 2100.

Jenny Dowell OAM: 0402 651 394

May 28, 2021

The winners of 2021 Waste Into Art competition have been announced, with 59 innovative entries across seven categories wowing judges.

The biennial competition has been running regionally for more than 20 years, challenging schools, community groups and individuals to transform waste into art and design.

Deputy Mayor of Gunnedah Shire Cr Rob Hooke opened the exhibition and was impressed by the diverse interpretations of the theme “Metal Reimagined.”

“I was so impressed by the variety of art we received this year. It takes a great deal of creativity and a high degree of technique to work with these materials,” Cr Hooke said.

“Thank you to everyone who participated and congratulations to those who took out prizes in this year’s competition.

“I encourage the community to come along and view these works at the gallery. The theme really lends itself to sculpture and these three-dimensional works are worth viewing in person.”

This year’s winners are:

• Early Childhood/Preschool section - “Metal Art” by Gunnedah Family Day Care
• Primary School Section - ‘Uluru’s Flying Shadows’ by Jeffrey Barr
• Secondary School Section - “Sustainable Flowers” by Claudia Cobb
• Most Creative Category - “Chief” by Elizabeth Emmerson
• Best Suits Theme of  “Metal Reimagined” category -  “Jimmy” by Warren Thomson
• Functional Art Category - “Table and Chair” by Robert Witts

The winner of the Open Community category is people’s choice, with visitors to the exhibition encouraged to cast their vote.

Waste Into Art will be on display at the Gunnedah Bicentennial Creative Arts Gallery until Sunday, July 4.

Caption: Jeffery Barr was the winner of the Primary School Section with the artwork ‘Uluru’s Flying Shadows’.

ENDS

Media and communications team contact: (02) 6740 2100

May 27, 2021

Gunnedah Shire Council is reminding motorists to be mindful when parking outside schools and in the CBD.

Parking time limits ensure all community members and visitors have a reasonable chance of finding a park. It also makes the CBD more accessible for people who rely on parking close to public facilities.

Council Coordinator of Regulatory Services Wade Berryman said parking regulations are state laws which are designed to maintain safety and turnover of parking spaces.

“Council is committed to improving safety on our roads and access to parking for all community members,” Mr Berryman said.

“Council regularly patrols high traffic areas including the CBD and schools, where unsafe parking blocks the line of vision for other drivers and pedestrians.

“We encourage residents to park safely and observe restrictions so that parking spaces are shared and rotated fairly.

“Road safety is everyone’s responsibility and we need to work together to ensure children have a safe journey to and from school. In particular, observing no stopping signage in school zones helps maintain visibility of children at all times.

“It only takes a split second for an accident to occur, so it’s important to stick to the rules. Sometimes that means parking a little further away and walking.”

Council conducts patrols in the CBD and at schools across the Gunnedah Shire to ensure motorists comply with parking restrictions and road safety regulations.

ENDS

Media and communications team contact: (02) 6740 2100.

May 26, 2021

One of Gunnedah Bicentennial Creative Arts Gallery’s most anticipated exhibitions – Waste Into Art 2021 – will open on Friday.

Council Cultural Precinct Team Leader Jacinta Cipolla said entries had been rolling in for the exhibition, which is held in partnership with Northern Inland Regional Waste to promote the reduction of waste.

“Entries include some absolutely amazing ventures into the imagination,” Ms Cipolla said. “People have taken everyday objects that would go to landfill, like fence caps, wire and aluminium cans, and turned them into artworks.

“There is everything from functional art to quirky animals, from whimsical sculptures to wall hangings.

“Waste Into Art opens on Friday at 1pm and will continue until Sunday, July 4, with artworks across seven categories, including youth categories, open community categories and a People’s Choice Award.”

The theme for 2021 is “Metal Reimagined”.

Caption: Metal Reimagined – an artwork from a previous Waste Into Art exhibition.

ENDS

Media and communications team contact: (02) 6740 2100.

May 26, 2021

Experienced tourism manager Nikki Robertson has joined the Gunnedah Shire Council team to help bring Gunnedah to the rest of the world.

As one of her first tasks in the role, Nikki has been invited to speak about Agritourism and the pilot project between the Liverpool Plains and the Office of the Small Business Commissioner at the Local Government Destination and Visitor Economy Conference this week.

Nikki brings a lot of experience to the role. Before taking up her appointment as Gunnedah Shire’s Tourism Team Leader, she managed the Liverpool Plains Visitor Information Centre for eight years, helping build the Liverpool Plains as a destination, including the success story of sunflower tourism.

“This is a fresh challenge,” Nikki says. “I can put to use everything I have learnt in the Liverpool Plains and expand it.

“Gunnedah has huge potential in tourism, particularly during this time when people are looking to holiday within Australia, and we have new attractions including the Dorothea Mackellar silo and the Rainbow Serpent.

“I am really passionate about tourism. I have travelled all over Australia, I love the country, and we have got so much to share here. I want the world to come and visit Gunnedah.”

Nikki was born in Switzerland, she has now lived in for over 26 years and is happy to call this area home.

Caption: Nikki Robertson has joined the Gunnedah Shire Council team and Tourism Team Leader.

ENDS

Media and communications team contact: (02) 6740 2100.

RECYCLING COLLECTION - GUNNEDAH

 Monday 14 June 2021

Collection will be on Tuesday 15 June 2021.

Residents are requested to place their recycling bins out on Monday evening as collection will begin early on Tuesday.

RECYCLING COLLECTION - CURLEWIS

Monday 14 June 2021

Collection will be on Wednesday 16 June 2021.

Residents are requested to place their recycling bins out on Tuesday evening as collection will begin early on Wednesday.

Should you have any enquiries regarding the Recycling collection on Easter Weekend please contact RECYCLIT on 67421522.

THERE WILL BE NO CHANGES TO THE HOUSEHOLD WASTE AND GREENWASTE COLLECTION

Please ensure bins are placed out the night before collection date, as contractors are not obliged to accept late bins

If you have any enquiries regarding these changes please contact Council’s Customer Services Team on 6740 2100

Eric Groth

General Manager

May 21, 2021

Gunnedah Shire Council is urging landholders to be on the lookout for Parthenium on properties, following recent discoveries of the invasive weed in the North West.

Currently found mostly in Central and South East Queensland, Parthenium weed is a prohibited species in NSW. The highly invasive weed poses a significant risk to livestock and reduces crop and land values. Contact with plants or pollen can also cause serious respiratory and allergic reactions in people.

Eight significant infestations of Parthenium have been identified across the North West and Hunter regions over the last 12 months, along with numerous single plants on roadsides throughout NSW.

Council Biosecurity Officer Lee Amidy said Council is working with Local Land Services and weed professionals from the NSW Department of Primary Industries to swiftly identify and manage any local infestations.

“A number of infestations have been discovered in the Gunnedah Shire since late April last year. The last two occurred on private property and exceeded 40 hectares,” Mr Amidy said.

“The infestations appear to be linked to grain and stock feed brought from Queensland into NSW during the recent drought.

“Although all visible plants have been physically removed by Council staff, both reinfestation and potential spread from these properties will need to be monitored for a number of years.”

Pete Dawson, Regional Weed Coordinator for North West Local Lands Service said any landholder who thinks they might have Parthenium weed should report it immediately.

 “Given the flow of hay and grain coming in from Queensland, it was to be expected that we would see an influx of new weeds including Parthenium,” Mr Dawson said.

“While the number of infestations in the North West and Hunter is cause for concern, local Councils have been quick to respond, reducing the immediate risk posed by mature plants and inspecting areas where there has been potential spread.

“Landholders are reminded it is a legal requirement under the Biosecurity Act 2015 to notify the local control authority should they see or suspect they have seen Parthenium on or near their property.”

Chair of the North West Regional Weeds Committee Mike Whitney has echoed Mr Dawson’s comments and is encouraging the community to be vigilant.

“The best defence we have against invasive weeds such as Parthenium is to identify, contain and begin coordinated control work on infestations as soon as possible,” Mr Whitney said.

“The longer infestations remain undetected the more difficult they are to contain and eradicate.”

Suspected sightings can be reported to Gunnedah Shire Council on (02) 6740 2100 or to the NSW DPI Weeds Helpline on 1800 680 244.

For further information on parthenium weed and how to identify it, visit https://weeds.dpi.nsw.gov.au/weeds/partheniumweed

ENDS

Media contact: Communications team (02) 6740 2100.

May 20, 2021

Three major arts and culture programs will get a helping hand through Gunnedah Shire Council’s Arts and Cultural Grants Funding Program.

Council last night endorsed the Arts and Cultural Grants Panel’s recommendation to award funding to three applicants – Arts Gunnedah, Gunnedah Conservatorium and Two Rivers Arts Council.

Panel chair Cr Ann Luke said Council was one of the few local government bodies in New South Wales that offered funding for arts and cultural programs, projects and events.

“This program is recognition of the important role arts and culture plays in our community,” Cr Luke said.

“Whether it is dancing, singing, painting, craft or any number of activities that are enjoyed by people of all ages, arts and culture bring us together, make us happy, and creates wonderful moments alongside artworks.

“These grants will allow groups to continue with their existing successful projects or to try new ideas. We are really pleased to be able to assist these three groups with their diverse programs.”

The successful applicants were:
• Arts Gunnedah - $5000 towards their annual arts exhibition with workshop events with renowned local artists
• Gunnedah Conservatorium - $4051 towards a series of lunchtime concerts highlighting local artists
• Two Rivers Arts Council - $1025 for a variety of workshops encompassing different cultures in the Gunnedah community.

Caption: A Gunnedah Shire Council Arts and Cultural Grant will go to Arts Gunnedah for their annual arts exhibition.

ENDS

Media and communications team contact: (02) 6740 2100.

18 May, 2021

Gunnedah’s newest festival is proud to announce Paul West of the popular television series A River Cottage Australia as the 2021 festival ambassador for Harvest Gunnedah.

Harvest Gunnedah Committee Chair Cr Colleen Fuller said Mr West, who is known for his cooking with farm-fresh food, would be an important part of the celebrations on October 2.

“Having chef Paul West here for Harvest Gunnedah is wonderful news,” Cr Fuller said.

“Our Shire already knows the benefits of sustainable farming and cooking with produce straight from the farm, and Mr West is a perfect fit. As well as being a chef, he knows about growing fruit and vegetables and using them to create family meals.

“The inaugural Harvest Gunnedah is shaping up to be a great event, and to have Paul West there is just the icing on the festival cake.”

Paul West was the host of four seasons of the television program A River Cottage Australia which followed his journey to grow farm-fresh food and share it with the community. He now travels Australia hosting cooking demonstrations, and is a guest presenter for shows including Gardening Australia and Catalyst.

Paul is trained as a chef and has worked in all areas of food production, from WWOOFing (Willing Workers on Organic Farms) around Australia, growing fruit and vegetables, to cooking in the bistro of Melbourne’s renowned Vue de Monde.

He will feature in the program of Harvest Gunnedah, where local growers will share their produce alongside market stalls and a great line up of live entertainment.

Harvest Gunnedah will celebrate the role farming has played in Gunnedah’s past and present, with generations of families producing food for the local area and across the globe.

The festival has received funding of $17,000 through the Australian Government’s Building Better Regions Fund, along with $20,000 awarded to the Gunnedah Jockey Club through the Back to the Track program.

For more information and to register as a stallholder visit www.harvestgunnedah.com. Registrations close Friday July 30, 2021.

Caption: TV chef and farm-fresh food guru Paul West will be in the North West to help Gunnedah celebrate its first Harvest Gunnedah in October.

ENDS

Media and communications team contact: (02) 6740 2100.

May 13, 2021

The latest round of the Business Partner Program has now opened for 2021, providing an opportunity for existing or new businesses to start a fresh adventure.

The Business Partner Program has assisted many Gunnedah Shire businesses and organisations to expand or start new initiatives, and meets up to 75 per cent of project costs for eligible applications.

Some of the 10 recipients of the previous round of the program were congratulated by Gunnedah Shire Council yesterday at the Civic.

Chair of the Business Partner Program Advisory Group Cr Ann Luke said the previous round of grants had concluded a super-charged year for the Business Partner Program in which the budget had been significantly boosted to help local businesses and organisations meet the challenges of the past year.

“We have just finished a special year for the Business Partner Program which saw more than 65 projects assisted by Gunnedah Shire Council, including an amazing 45 successful applicants for the round dedicated to street beautification and activation,” Cr Luke said.

“The last round, celebrated yesterday, included 10 projects ranging from a new electrical business start-up, to expansion of boarding kennels.

“The Business Partner Program will continue into the next financial year. Gunnedah Shire has an impressive diversity of businesses, and the Business Partner Program offers a unique opportunity for Council to support economic activity in the Gunnedah Shire by encouraging business growth and innovation.

“I encourage businesses and organisations who are ready to grow, or who have a new initiative that will lead to a stronger economy and employment, to put in an application.”

 Applications for the latest round of the Business Partner Program will close on 30 June, 2021. For guidelines and more information, click here.

Caption: Successful recipients of the Business Partner Program were congratulated by Gunnedah Shire Council yesterday at the Civic.

ENDS

Media and communications team contact: (02) 6740 2100.