August 3, 2020

Two exciting new mural projects and improvements to a preschool are three of the projects included in new funding following Gunnedah Shire Council’s call for new community resilience projects late last year.

Gunnedah Shire Mayor Jamie Chaffey said the Dorothea Mackellar Memorial Society, Ooranga and Arts Gunnedah had been granted funding through the Federal Government’s Drought Communities Program.

“These are three really exciting and worthwhile projects that were nominated through our call for new projects to stimulate local spending, provide employment and use local businesses and supplier while delivering a long-lasting public benefit,” Cr Chaffey said.

“It is fantastic they have been approved by the Federal Government.

“The Dorothea Mackellar Memorial Society has worked with Gunnedah Maize Mill to come up with a plan for a new silo mural to feature one of Australia’s best-loved poets, Dorothea Mackellar. This will be a wonderful addition to our appeal on the silo trail along with the popular mural already at Gunnedah’s Water Tower Museum.

“Arts Gunnedah will also create a new street art mural to follow on from those in place at the Conadilly Street arcade. This community project involves a number of artists and members of the community.

“Ooranga was successful in securing funding for upgraded facilities at Curlewis Preschool, including new toilet facilities. This preschool is an important service in the Curlewis community.

“All of these projects are initiatives that have far-reaching benefits for the community, and include employment or use of local businesses.

“We are very pleased to have been able to work with the Federal Government to support these and many other projects, and thank our federal colleagues for helping us to build our resilience during the time of drought and beyond.”

Captions: Gunnedah Maize Mill's Stephen Dangerfield and Gunnedah Mayor Jamie Chaffey with Phillipa Murray and Owen Hasler from the Dorothea Mackellar Memorial Society at the site of the new Dorothea Mackellar silo mural.

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Media contact: Eliza Gallen (02) 6740 2100.

31 July 2020

Gunnedah Shire Council has welcomed Member for Tamworth Kevin Anderson's announcement of $9 million for the upgrade of Rangari Road, but note with surprise and disappointment the amount falls short of meeting Mr Anderson's election commitment.

Gunnedah Shire Mayor Jamie Chaffey said $12.9 million was required to improve the safety and conditions of Rangari Road, an important regional link road as well as a daily transport route for those who live in the area.

"Council acknowledges and thanks the State Government for its continued support of our community, and the region, with the announcement of the funding which complements the funding announced for Kelvin Road," Mayor Chaffey said.

"These two announcements will ensure the remainder of Kelvin Road and the length of Rangari Road from its intersection with Kelvin Road, will be sealed to the boundary with Tamworth Regional Council.

“Two years ago, Council applied under the Resources for Regions Program, in partnership with Tamworth Regional Council, to seal the entire length of Rangari Road within the two local government areas. We were then advised that our application had been withdrawn from consideration due to the project being funded by Transport for NSW, following the local member’s election commitment. Unfortunately, it appears only part of that funding has materialised at this stage.

"Council looks forward to receiving further detail on the announced funding, finalising a funding deed with the NSW Government and commencing the works as soon as possible.

“We also look forward to continuing to work with the Member for Tamworth to secure the remaining required funding to seal the section remaining unfunded within Gunnedah Shire, along with the promised ‘State of the Art’ Gunnedah Hospital.

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Media contact: Eliza Gallen (02) 6740 2100.

29 July, 2020

As the temperature drops, Gunnedah Shire Council is reminding residents to check regulations before lighting backyard fires, following a recent increase in reports of smoke pollution.

Backyard burning and the incineration of waste are prohibited throughout the Shire, though there are some exceptions in areas where no domestic waste collection service is available.

Where backyard burning is prohibited, there are some situations where fires can still be lit outside in NSW. These include:

• Barbecues or camping,
• Eligible hazard reduction work,
• Certain agricultural purposes, and
• Authorised fire-fighting training.

Council Coordinator of Regulatory Services Wade Berryman said Council’s Burning of Vegetation Policy sets out safe practices for backyard burning to help protect resident’s health and the environment.

“Backyard barbeques and toasting marshmallows on the fire pit are still allowed, but it is important to operate them in the correct way. Using only dry wood and starting the fire with small kindling will help reduce excessive smoke,” Mr Berryman said.

“Burning household rubbish and green waste should be avoided, unless you live in an area where there is no waste collection service.

“Smoke pollution can cause health effects for both you and your neighbours. These effects may include itchy or burning eyes, throat irritations and other more serious conditions.

“People are sometimes unaware that their activities are causing a nuisance, so please check the regulations before going ahead with a burn to ensure it is being conducted safely and won’t attract penalties or fines.”

To obtain a fire permit or report an issue with smoke pollution, visit www.gunnedah.nsw.gov.au or phone Council on (02) 6740 2100.

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Media contact: Eliza Gallen (02) 6740 2100.

27 July, 2020

The arrival of a new Council purchasing and procurement platform has been met with enthusiasm by local businesses.

Gunnedah Shire Council launched its partnership with VendorPanel at a business breakfast last week, attended by more than 50 people.

Gunnedah Shire Mayor Jamie Chaffey said it was great to see a solid representation from a large range of industries at the breakfast.

“The number of people who made it to the breakfast event showed there is a demand for this innovative platform where businesses can list themselves on a register available to councils across the Namoi region and beyond,” Cr Chaffey said.

“VendorPanel allows staff from the Walcha, Tamworth, Liverpool Plains, Gunnedah and Gwydir councils to find and select registered local and regional businesses.

“This is an exciting opportunity for any registered business that might have a service or product required by local government – from builders to caterers, and from water services to advertising – to ensure they are considered by local government.

“I urge any businesses that might benefit to book in for a virtual information sessions on Tuesday, July 28 at 9am or 6pm or Wednesday, July 29 at 9am or 6pm to learn more about how to register.

“Bookings are already strong for these events, and we would like to see as many suppliers as possible register. It is free to register and is open to any registered business.

“VendorPanel is one of the strong measures Gunnedah Shire Council is taking to ensure our businesses – and our economy – remain resilient during this challenging time. We have also recently announced the Invigorate Gunnedah package with a range of community and business initiatives to support revitalisation throughout the Shire. Along with programs such as the Section 356 Community and Sports Small Grant program, Council is doing its utmost to ensure we continue to grow and diversify, both in our economy and our community life.

To register for the VendorPanel information sessions, visit https://gunnedahshire.localised.com.au/ and scroll to the Newest Projects section.

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Media contact: Eliza Gallen (02) 6740 2100.

23 July, 2020

Gunnedah Shire Council is reviewing its waste collection services and calling on the community to provide feedback about kerbside and commercial collections.

Council’s current waste, recycling and garden organics kerbside collection contract is reaching its expiry in 2021 and new contracts are being planned and developed for both residential and commercial services.

Council’s Waste Manager Sheridan Cameron said there are a number of factors to be taken into consideration for the new contract, including community needs, cost of services and environmental impacts.

“We value the range of viewpoints in our community and want to engage with residents and local business owners about their satisfaction with the current service and preferences for future services,” Mrs Cameron said.

“We want to hear from residents so that we can provide a more effective and efficient delivery of the kerbside service and reduce the amount of waste disposed of to landfill.

“Waste management is one of the core services of Council and relevant to all residents, so I encourage everyone to register their views through this survey so that we are able make an informed decision about future changes.”

Changes to the current services that are being considered include:

• Bin capacity, for example larger bins for residents;
• Collection frequency, including comparing weekly and fortnightly collection of bins;
• Commercial Recycling.

There are two surveys available for people to provide feedback regarding residential and commercial waste services:

• Residential Waste Survey: for all local households, including residents who are renting or do not currently receive a Council kerbside collection. To access this survey visit: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/S3VYCPX
• Commercial Waste Survey: For local business owners who have or are interested in a commercial kerbside pick up. Commercial businesses that are renting may wish to also consult with their landlord as this service is not compulsory. To access the survey visit: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/KSSWWZQ 

Hard copies are available at the Gunnedah Shire Council Administration Building, Gunnedah Shire Library and the Civic Centre.

The survey will be open until August 20, 2020. For further information about waste management in the Gunnedah Shire, visit www.gunnedah.nsw.gov.au.

 FAQ - WASTE, RECYCLING AND GARDEN ORGANICS KERBSIDE COLLECTION COMMUNITY SATISFACTION SURVEY

1. WHAT CHANGES IS COUNCIL CONSIDERING?
Council is reviewing waste management service costs and is considering the best options to service the needs of the community and the environment. Changes to bin sizes, collection frequency and services are being considered, such as larger recycling bins and the introduction of recycling collection for local businesses. Please fill out the community waste survey on the Council website to provide feedback.

2. I AM A LOCAL BUSINESS OWNER, DO I NEED TO FILL OUT BOTH THE RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL WASTE SURVEY?
Yes. The residential waste survey refers to the kerbside collection service for households and the commercial waste survey refers to the waste collection service for businesses. Council would like to find out what you like and dislike about each of these services and what they can improve on.

3. I WORK FOR A LOCAL BUSINESS, DO I NEED TO FILL OUT THE COMMERCIAL WASTE SURVEY?
No. Only business owners are required to fill out the commercial waste survey.

4. WHY DOES COUNCIL WANT TO KNOW ABOUT MY HOUSING STATUS AND AGE GROUP?
This information is useful for Council to gauge whether a good representation of the community is being captured in the community feedback.

5. I DON’T WANT MY WASTE SERVICES TO CHANGE, DO I STILL FILL OUT THE SURVEY?
Yes. If you like the current services you should provide this feedback to Council so this opinion can be considered as they analyse options.

6. I DON’T NEED A BIGGER RECYCLING BIN, CAN I KEEP MY CURRENT BIN?
Council is considering providing larger recycling bins to all residents to encourage residents to recycle more. If this option is chosen, it will be the new standard bin size and all resident recycling bins will be upgraded.

7. WHY IS COUNCIL CONSIDERING CHANGING FROM WEEKLY TO FORTNIGHTLY COLLECTION OF THE RECYCLING BIN?
Council is considering fortnightly collection of the recycling bin as this may reduce the service cost.

8. I DON’T HAVE ENOUGH GENERAL WASTE BIN SPACE, CAN I HAVE MORE THAN ONE BIN?
The Council is encouraging residents to recycle as much as possible and recommends recycling more to free up space in the general waste bin. If you require extra bin space, please contact council. Additional charges will be incurred.

9. IF I DON’T PUT OUT A BIN FOR COLLECTION, WHY DO I STILL GET CHARGED A FEE ON MY RATE NOTICE?
If you live in an area provided with a collection service, you are entitled to use that service. Council must pay its contractor to service the whole area, thus Council passes the cost of collection onto all residential properties entitled to access this service.

10. WHAT CAN I PUT IN MY BINS?

• The green waste bin only accepts garden waste.
• The recycling (yellow-lid) bin accepts recyclable packaging from the kitchen and bathroom and tin/aluminium cans.
• The general waste (red-lid) bin is suitable for all other household waste, excluding hazardous and problem waste such as paint, oil, batteries, gas bottles, fire extinguishers or syringes. For further information, visit the Council website (www.gunnedah.nsw.gov.au) for a guide to waste bins and services, ‘Sorting for our future’.

11. WHAT IS FOGO?
FOGO stands for Food Organics Garden Organics. It relates to the co-collection of food organics and garden organics in the green-lidded organics bin. Food waste includes vegetables, meat, fish, dairy, bread and essentially all leftovers or waste food from the household. A FOGO service is going to be reviewed in 2026

21 July, 2020

A total of nearly $30,000 will be made available to nine Gunnedah Shire organisations through the Section 356 Community and Sports Small Grant program for a range of projects.

Selection panel member Cr Ann Luke said six community organisations and three sporting organisations had been approved for grants worth a total of $29,602.22.

“We look forward to seeing some great improvements for community and sporting groups through the latest round of the Section 356 Community and Sports Small Grants,” Cr Luke said.

“Many factors are taken into account when considering the applications, including value for money, eligibility criteria and other information provided by the applicant to support the project. The groups that have been successful met all of the criteria.

“It has been a challenging year for community and sporting groups and it is good to see some interesting projects going ahead, as well as some much-needed maintenance work.”

The successful applications are:

• Gunnedah and District Historical Society - $2490 towards a new air-lock front door for the Water Tower Museum
• Gunnedah Hospital Auxiliary Kiosk - $2600 towards the supply and installation of an air-conditioner
• Gunnedah Miners Support Association - $2569 towards the conversion of historical mining photos to digital format
• Gunnedah Liquor Accord Incorporation - $3950.91 towards new equipment to enhance COVID-19 safety in venues
• Gunnedah Early Childhood Intervention - $3351.19 towards adaptive equipment for children with disability
• Gunnedah Country Women’s Association - $1145.45 towards removal and replacement of floor covering in the CWA kitchen
• Black and Blue Boxing - $3586.12 towards new boxing equipment
• Gunnedah Jockey Club - $5000 towards upgrades to the jockey change room
• Gunnedah Bulldogs AFL - $4909.55 towards new training and game day equipment.

Council’s Section 356 Small Grants (Community and Sports) program has been in place since 2005/2006, and is designed to support the work of local not-for-profit, charitable community and sporting groups and organisations.

Representatives from successful organisations are invited to attend a brief presentation ceremony at the Rotunda at Wolseley Park, Gunnedah on Friday 24 July at 11.30am.

To RSVP please contact Debra Hilton on 02 6740 2162 or debrahilton@gunnedah.nsw.gov.au

Caption: The Water Tower Museum will get a new front door through Gunnedah Shire Council’s Section 356 Community and Sports Small Grant program.

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Media contact: Eliza Gallen (02) 6740 2100.

20 July, 2020

Council supports Eisteddfod’s award nomination

Gunnedah Shire Councillors have voted to support Gunnedah Eisteddfod Society’s nomination for a national award for this year’s Online Music Eisteddfod.

Gunnedah Shire Mayor Jamie Chaffey said the society had applied to council for financial support towards entry fees for the Best Cultural, Arts or Music Event and Best Regional Event cate
gories of the Australian Event Awards and Symposium.

“The Gunnedah Eisteddfod Society has created something wonderful during challenging times,” Cr Chaffey said.

“Their initiative to create an online eisteddfod not only allowed this important community event to continue, but took it to new audiences and new heights, with 669 entries and new sections, including a family and household category.

“This is a great example of innovation at work in our community and we truly support the Gunnedah Eisteddfod Society in this nomination for a national award, and their plans to extend this event even further in the future.”

Gunnedah Shire Council will provide $400 towards the entry fees from the Cultural Grants Program.

GoCo changes on public exhibition

Proposed amended GoCo fees and charges will be available for comment for 28 days.

Gunnedah Shire Council approved the fees and charges schedule for public exhibition at this month’s Council Meeting.

The amended fees and charges will provide a framework for GoCo to use when discussing with individual clients their capacity to contribute to cost of services they receive.

GoCo specialises in providing aged and community services to the Gunnedah community, supporting older people to live an independent life. GoCo clients must be eligible through My Aged Care to access a range of services.

People can view the document on https://gococare.com.au/news/

New door for library and lift for pool

Gunnedah Shire Council has approved funding for a new automatic entry door for Gunnedah Library and a new disability access lift for the Gunnedah Memorial Swimming Pool.

The automatic entry door to the library has been malfunctioning while set on automatic and Council has been advised it cannot be repaired.

The door will be replaced by a new automatic entry door as soon as possible.

Council also approved funding to replace the disability access lift at the pool which is not working and is unable to be repaired to Australian Standards.

The disability access lift is used in the indoor heated pool by people who are unable to access the pool via the stairs or with other assistance.

Caption: A new disability access lift has been approved for the Gunnedah Memorial Swimming Pool.

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Media contact: Eliza Gallen (02) 6740 2100.

17 July, 2020

Gunnedah Shire Council is moving to the second phase of its economic response to COVID-19, with the introduction of the Community Resilience Business Recovery Package - Invigorate Gunnedah.

The first phase of the COVID-19 Business Support Package, rolled out in April, saw a $1.6 million stimulus flow to the Shire which incorporated a freeze in interest accrual against rates, fees and charges, a reduction in business fees, and extension of existing grants programs to help businesses struggling due to COVID-19.

Endorsed by Council at the July Ordinary Meeting, the second phase of the package, valued at more than $800,000, incorporates a range of community and business initiatives to support recovery, rebuilding and revitalisation throughout the Gunnedah Shire.

Mayor of Gunnedah Shire Jamie Chaffey said Invigorate Gunnedah was shaped through community consultation, with the collaborative process allowing Council to identify where it had capacity to fill gaps in Federal and State Government support.

“We have heard first-hand from the local business community about their most pressing needs during this crisis. Feedback suggested that Council develop local spending incentives, support more community events and create a more vibrant CBD experience with street art and pop-up shops,” Cr Chaffey said.

“The business community told us they wanted guidance with efforts to diversify and future-proof, and they also want to see us using local goods and services for upcoming projects.

“The tourism sector has been heavily impacted by COVID-19, and some valuable feedback was received about capitalising on the increased interest in domestic travel and improving the overall visitor experience in Gunnedah.

“The community will see this feedback represented in Invigorate Gunnedah. This recovery package incorporates short-term strategies to help our community weather the current crisis, including Shop Local campaigns, visitor incentives to boost tourism, a Cultural Precinct 'pop-up' public domain project and the launch of a new procurement platform helping Council access more goods and services from local businesses.

“Invigorate Gunnedah also looks to the future through larger scale initiatives and infrastructure projects designed to generate greater investment in the Gunnedah Shire. The Business Partner Program will have extra funding for new projects and there will be an additional round for signage and façade upgrades.

“Building resilience, keeping people employed and ensuring businesses continue to succeed is at the heart of everything we are doing.”

The recovery package is centered upon six key objectives, including:

1. Support local spending,
2. Bring vibrancy back into the CBD,
3. Strengthen our businesses and encourage resilience,
4. Grow our tourism sector in Gunnedah Shire,
5. Promote Gunnedah as the first choice to live, work and invest, and
6. Drive local infrastructure projects to create more jobs.

Each objective will be achieved through a number of initiatives and strategies, to be rolled out in the coming weeks.

For further information about these initiatives and Gunnedah Shire Council’s broader COVID-19 response, visit www.gunnedah.nsw.gov.au 

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Media contact: Eliza Gallen (02) 6740 2100.

16 July, 2020

Gunnedah Shire Council has more opportunities to work with local businesses following the introduction of an innovative digital marketplace.

VendorPanel is a purchasing and procurement platform that allows local businesses to register for a broad range of Council tenders.

VendorPanel Marketplace then uses geolocation to help Council staff pinpoint businesses that Council can collaborate with.

The platform is free and available to all suppliers with an Australian business number and public liability insurance. Once registered, suppliers can receive invitations to quote on work across dozens of categories.

The platform provides suppliers with direct access to procurement opportunities and suppliers can elect to receive SMS or email notifications for upcoming tenders.

The project has been developed in collaboration with Namoi Unlimited, a joint organisation of Councils across the Namoi region. Once established, Vendor Panel will provide Gunnedah Shire businesses further opportunity to compete for tenders in neighbouring areas.

Mayor of Gunnedah Shire Cr Jamie Chaffey said VendorPanel will strengthen the local economy and create more job opportunities by making Council procurement across a range of goods and services more accessible.

“It is more important than ever for Council to support local businesses and employees in these challenging economic times,” Cr Chaffey said.

“Businesses of all sizes will benefit from registering with VendorPanel. As a Council we utilise a broad range of services; everything from event catering to fleet vehicles and machinery.

“VendorPanel will have significant economic benefits to the Gunnedah Shire. It is designed to support local jobs, increase revenue for businesses and further diversify our economy.

“A case study of 26 Councils already using the platform found that in 84.4% of cases, jobs were awarded to local suppliers.

“The study also found that local suppliers offered Councils value for money, delivering an average 9.74% savings to the buyer.

“I urge every business interested in providing goods and services to the local government sector to take advantage of this opportunity made possible by Namoi Unlimited and VendorPanel.”

Two virtual training and information sessions have been scheduled to support businesses through the registering and tender process. Both morning and evening sessions are available on:

• Tuesday July 28 at 9:00am. To register visit https://vendorpanel.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_Vu_0daQRRKGbESZw3ukodA
• Wednesday July 29 at 6:00pm. To register visit https://vendorpanel.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_2hL-Xo3NQw2DNVFCR91KFw 

Local businesses ready to sign up for VendorPanel can visit www.vendorpanel.com.au/marketplace. Those with further queries can also contact Council through vendorpanel@gunnedah.nsw.gov.au.

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Media contact: Eliza Gallen (02) 6740 2100.

15 July, 2020

Organisers of Harvest Gunnedah have announced a new date for the inaugural festival, with the feast for the senses now scheduled for next Spring.

Harvest Gunnedah will be held during the 2021 October Long Weekend on Saturday, October 2 at Riverside Racecourse, Gunnedah.

Gunnedah Shire Councillor and member of the Harvest Gunnedah Committee Colleen Fuller said that COVID-19 had created an exceptional set of circumstances, forcing the group to make the difficult decision to postpone the event.

“With the fluid COVID-19 situation creating ongoing uncertainty about mass gatherings, we have decided to put community health and safety first and postpone this year’s event,” Cr Fuller said.

“The committee is still 100% committed to the event and they are positive and excited for next year. Harvest Gunnedah 2021 will see everyone able to eat, discover and celebrate Gunnedah with their friends, family and community.

“In the meantime, we encourage everyone to still get out enjoy the great produce, dining and other local products the Gunnedah Shire has to offer.”

Harvest Gunnedah 2021 will feature street food stalls, a produce market, live music and entertainment, children’s entertainment, demonstrations from local growers, celebrity chefs and much more.

The festival received funding of $17,000 from the Australian Government through the Building Better Regions Fund and a $17,000 co-contribution from Gunnedah Shire Council. An additional $20,000 was awarded to the Gunnedah Jockey Club through the Back to the Track program. This funding will be held for the deferred event.

For future updates visit www.harvestgunnedah.com or follow @harvestgunnedah.

What: Harvest Gunnedah
Where: Riverside Racecourse
When: Saturday 2nd October 2021

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Media contact: Eliza Gallen (02) 6740 2100.