4 July, 2019

Gunnedah Shire Council has announced a contractor for construction of the Rainbow Serpent water feature to be located outside the Civic Centre in Chandos Street.

Gunnedah Shire Mayor Jamie Chaffey said Australian company Waterforms International would be appointed to bring the $274,258 water feature to life.

“This project has been more than a decade in the making, and has involved consultation and design input from local Indigenous and arts groups,” Cr Chaffey said.

“This will be a large and impressive water feature that will create a meeting place within our cultural precinct where traditional stories can be shared and celebrated.”

Waterforms International has worked on projects worldwide, including the Australian War Memorial water feature in Hyde Park Corner, London, the Sydney Airport Centre water sculpture, and the Suntec City Rotating Water Screen in Singapore.

The Rainbow Serpent water feature was originally inspired by the drawings of Gunnedah Elders.

The project was awarded $155,725 through the $100 million NSW Government Regional Cultural Fund. It will feature 32 hand-crafted glass mosaic tiles created by the Kamilaroi Women’s Group.

The Rainbow Serpent water feature is due to be completed by the end of the 2019-20 financial year.

Photo Caption: A design of the new Rainbow Serpent water feature to be built in Chandos Street.

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Media Contact: Eliza Gallen 6740 2100.

26 June, 2019

Gunnedah Shire Council is using a new road solution as part of the new Barber and Chandos streets roundabout.

Gunnedah Shire Council Works Manager Richard Baxter said rubber kerbing had been installed at the roundabout as part of traffic safety measures.

“This is a first for Gunnedah,” Mr Baxter said.

“Rubber kerbing is a cleaner and greener traffic solution that is made from recycled materials and can be removed if necessary.

“Unlike the more traditional concrete kerbing, white rubber kerbing is resistant to road grime, doesn’t crack, and does not need a lot of maintenance to retain visibility. It is also cost effective and absorbs vehicle impact.”

Rubber kerbing is becoming more widely used across Australia, and is already in use in the Narrabri Shire.

Photo Caption: Workers put the final touches to new rubber kerbing at the Barber and Chandos streets roundabout.

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Media Contact: Eliza Gallen 02 6740 2100.

24 June 2019

From 1.00 pm Saturday 6th July 2019, and Sunday 7th July 2019 Council will be undertaking asphalting work in Conadilly Street Gunnedah between Pedestrian crossing and Elgin Street. These works are expected to be completed by 5.00 pm.

Unavoidable interruptions will be experienced intermittently during the asphalting period with traffic movements under stop and go traffic control. Council will endeavour to limit these interruptions wherever possible and seeks your co-operation during the asphalting period.

If you have any special requirements during this period please don’t hesitate to contact our Customer Relations Team on 02 6740 2100.

Council apologises for any inconvenience experienced during the asphalting period and thanks you for your co-operation in this matter.

19 June 2019

Four local arts and cultural groups will benefit from a total of more than $13,000 through Gunnedah Shire Council’s Arts and Cultural Funding Program.

The latest round of funding will see $13,616 go towards programs and initiatives provided by the four groups who were selected by a panel from those who applied, and then endorsed by Council at the May Council Meeting.

The funding will go to:

• Arts Gunnedah: $5600 to go towards the 49th Annual Arts and Ceramic Exhibition and six professional arts workshops
• Gunnedah Eisteddfod Society Inc: $2980 for the Eisteddfod Enrichment Program to take in Gunnedah and outlying villages
• Two Rivers Arts Council (TRAC): $2700 for the Christmas markets
• Blackjack Camera Club: $2336 for frames for exhibitions, material to protect frames and local postcards of members’ works.

Panel chairperson Councillor Owen Hasler congratulated the groups.

“Once again, it is very good to see that there were a number of excellent grant applications, re-inforcing the fact that Gunnedah is fortunate to have such a vibrant arts and cultural sector,” Cr Hasler said.

Gunnedah Shire Council Director Corporate and Community Services Colin Formann said the program gave local arts and culture groups an avenue to apply for funding to support their programs and services.

“It is pleasing to see the Eisteddfod Society and the Blackjack Camera Club applying and being successful for the first time under this grant program,” Mr Formann said.

“The recipients are all hard-working, local volunteer groups that are doing a lot to provide education that enriches Gunnedah’s arts and cultural scene.”

Image Caption: Grant recipients: (From left) Kyle Smith (TRAC), Kellee Clark (Blackjack Camera Club), Merryl Hennessy (Gunnedah Eisteddfod Society), Lauren Mackley (Gunnedah Shire Council Cultural Precinct Team Leader), Gunnedah Shire Councillor Ann Luke, Gunnedah Shire Councillor Owen Hasler, Jenny Croft (Arts Gunnedah) and Julie Glover (Gunnedah Eisteddfod Society).

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Media Contact: Eliza Gallen 6740 2100.

20 June 2019

Gunnedah Shire Council is looking for another two community members to join the new Cultural Precinct Master Plan Advisory Group.

The advisory group will work towards a better Gunnedah Shire Council Cultural Precinct by providing input into the master planning process for the precinct.

Community members approved for the group at yesterday’s Council Meeting are Joe Kelly, Martine Moran, Shirley Urquhart, Ashley Byron, Rebecca Ryan and Margaret Amos.

Councillors Murray O’Keefe, Colleen Fuller, Owen Hasler and Rob Hooke will represent Council on the advisory group.

Gunnedah's Cultural Precinct includes Gunnedah Town Hall, the Smithurst Theatre, the Civic Theatre, the Creative Arts Centre, and the Visitors Information Centre on the corner of Conadilly and Chandos streets.

Council recently announced Dunn & Hillam Architects had been appointed to look at creating a more cohesive precinct as part of the Cultural Precinct Master Plan and Concept Plan.

The architects will develop a concept plan following consultation with the community and users of the facility, as well as a cultural heritage plan.

Two more community members are able to be appointed to the group. Community members who are interested in being part of the advisory group are encouraged to express their interest by sending an email to council@infogunnedah.com.au by July 12.

Media Contact: Eliza Gallen 6740 2100.

20 June, 2019

Green Water Dispensing Stations are being installed at Tambar Springs, Mullaley, Curlewis and Gunnedah as part of measures to help Gunnedah Shire residents through the drought.

Funded through the federal government’s Drought Communities Programme (DCP) the water dispensing stations will allow residents to obtain water via either a 50mm camlock outlet or a 25mm hose outlet.

The user-pays system can be accessed either with a credit card or an account card that can be obtained from Gunnedah Shire Council.

The water stations are being installed to help residents who are facing emergency water situations or are temporarily without water.

As part of the installation process, a contractor will begin work excavating , upgrading the gravel and sealing bitumen in the carpark area of the Tambar Springs site.

Tambar Springs residents are advised access to the area will be restricted while the work is taking place.

Gunnedah’s water dispensing station will be located across from Elders on Mullaley Road.

Image: The Green Water Dispensing Station on Mullaley Road in Gunnedah.

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Media Contact: Eliza Gallen 6740 2100.

12 June 2019

Gunnedah Shire Library’s Bookend Literacy Assist program has been named as a finalist in the 2019 NSW Local Government Excellence Awards.

The program links seniors with children who need help with their reading skills, and has been achieving results.

Seniors are “borrowed” by children for one-on-one reading assistance for 20 minutes blocks. They choose a number of books from the library to read aloud to their senior, who offers help and encouragement.

The program, which won a NSW Public Libraries Association Innovation in Outreach Services Award late last year, has also been selected as a finalist in the Community Partnerships and Collaborations category (for towns with a population under 60,000) of the NSW Local Government Excellence Awards.

Award winners will be announced at a dinner in Sydney on June 20.

Librarian Christiane Birkett said the program had met with a positive response from parents who had been happy with the progress of their children’s reading skills.

“Children and parents have remarked on their increased reading skills and confidence, children are more at ease with older people, and seniors have embraced the fact that they are contributing to the wellbeing of the community,” Christiane said.

“Both the children and the seniors look forward to coming to the library for their booked sessions and interacting with each other – it’s a great inter-generational program that draws on the strengths of the seniors to help children.”

The program started after parents asked for assistance to help their children’s reading skills, and the parents themselves, both working, often were time-poor. More than 18.3 per cent of Gunnedah’s population is aged 65 and over, and within that group there are people with the time and skills to assist children.

Photo Caption: Gunnedah seniors work with students who enjoy a helping hand with their reading skills.

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Media Contact: Eliza Gallen 6740 2100.

13 June, 2019

Gunnedah Shire Council’s economic development officer Emily Wilson has been announced as one of four statewide winners of the Col Mills Memorial Scholarship.

The scholarship includes registration to LGC19 (Local Government Conference 2019) on June 19-21, and the Local Government awards dinner, where two of the recipients will be announced as winners of the Col Mills Memorial Award.

The LG Professionals scholarship is made available to younger NSW local government professionals to provide them with access to professional development activities.

Emily said she was encouraged to apply for the scholarship and saw it as opportunity to further her leadership skills.

“This is a great way to support young people in local government,” she said.

“Working in local government has opened up so many opportunities to develop both professionally and personally.

“Receiving this scholarship is such an honour and wouldn’t have been possible without the support of those around me at Council.”

Gunnedah Shire Mayor Jamie Chaffey congratulated Emily on her achievement.

“This recognition is testament to Emily’s enthusiasm and dedication to her work at Gunnedah Shire Council,” Cr Chaffey said. “This is reflective of the young, vibrant culture we have here in local government.”

Emily moved to Gunnedah from Sydney in 2012 and started work with council in 2015 as a finance cadet while finishing a Bachelor of Business (Business Economics).

She worked in a number of roles in finance before taking on the role of economic development officer in April this year.

“It’s a new challenge, and I love it,” Emily said.

Emily’s application noted she was constantly seeking new ways to give back to the community, including fundraisers, volunteering at sporting events and coaching classes at the gym. She has also recently completed a Graduate Certificate in Human Nutrition.

The winners of the Col Mills Memorial Award will be entered in the national Federation Emerging Leader of the Year Award. This will be presented at the LG Professionals Australia National Congress and Business Expo held in Darwin at the end of July.

The Col Mills scholarship was formed in 1999, in memory of LG Professionals member Col Mills who was a strong advocate of creating opportunities for members to advance their professional careers.

Scholarship recipients receive funding towards any professional development opportunity offered by LG Professionals, NSW.

Photo Caption: Gunnedah Shire Council economic development officer Emily Wilson has been announced as a Col Mills Memorial Scholarship winner.

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Media Contact: Eliza Gallen 6740 2100.

11 June 2019

Gunnedah’s links with Sister City, the Yinzhou District of Ningbo, Zhejiang Province, China, have been strengthened and new business opportunities are in the wind following a recent study tour of China.

Gunnedah Shire Mayor Jamie Chaffey, also the chairperson of Namoi Unlimited, led a delegation of local businesses and exporters on the week-long trip in May.

Cr Chaffey said the visit, which included visits to Shanghai, Ningbo and Guangzhou, showed how many opportunities there were through Gunnedah’s links to China, including strong prospects for primary producers and education.

“We are looking at the best outcomes for education at every level,” he said.

“While UNE [the University of New England] is working with a university in Ningbo, locally, we are building a relationship with the Chunxiao Middle School in Ningbo.

We visited this school of 1200 students from years 7 to 9 and staff watched a video from St Mary’s in Gunnedah.

“St Mary’s are looking at a student exchange program that could see our Gunnedah kids spending time at the school in what would be a valuable cultural experience.”

Cr Chaffey said there were also great opportunities for primary producers, particularly cattle and lamb farmers.

“The demand is there,” he said. “We want to show our primary producers that there are many opportunities.

“We are exploring options for business investment in a multi-species abattoir in Gunnedah that would meet accreditation for export to China, among other countries. This could be a valuable addition to the Gunnedah and North West economy.”

Peter and Juliana McArthur, from Oldfield Poll Herefords and McArthur Legal Services, joined the study tour.

“I wanted to learn about international client engagement,” Mrs McArthur said.

“In my previous role, I worked in a law firm in Sydney and Canberra and I can explain what’s needed for international small business people who are looking to expand into Australia.”

Mrs McArthur said she had made good connections while in China, including a meeting with the Australia-China Business Council.

“There is also a lot of interest in exporting beef and sheep to China,” she said.

“There is an overwhelming demand for Australian clean and green beef. We really need an abattoir in Gunnedah. We are closer than many other countries, and we don’t have foot and mouth disease.”

The Namoi to the Ningbo Study Tour also saw a Memorandum of Understanding signed with the Foreign Affairs Office, Ningbo, in Zhejiang Province.

Cr Chaffey said the agreement would allow both parties to explore opportunities for investment and trade in agricultural commodities and services, tourism, renewable energy, transport and logistics.

Ningbo is home to one of the world’s biggest seaports and is an important centre for trade and economic activity.

Photo Caption: Images one and two: Gunnedah Mayor Jamie Chaffey during a visit to Chunxiao Middle School in Ningbo, China.

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Media Contact: Eliza Gallen 6740 2100.

6 June 2019

If you are looking for a helping hand with your business and have a great idea in mind that will benefit Gunnedah Shire through increased employment, there is still time to apply for the Business Partner Program.

The latest round of the program is now open, with applications closing on 30 June 2019.

The program is designed to encourage business expansion and help new business and economic activity, through projects like website upgrades, business planning and even assistance with major projects.

One of the successful applicants in the last round, Michelle Kiehne of Lash Out, said the Business Partner Program had given her the kick-start she needed to expand into training.

“I am qualified to train and I thought I could give people in rural places somewhere to learn without having to go to a major centre,” Michelle said.

“The grant helped me to buy the beauty beds and pay for the training manuals.”

Michelle has already held two training courses covering services including eyelash extensions, lash lifts, henna brows and tanning, and is planning a third session.

For further details about the Business Partner Program, contact Council’s Economic Development team on 02 6740 2100.

Photo Caption: Michelle Kiehne has used her Business Partner Program grant to grow her business Lash Out.

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Media Contact: Eliza Gallen 02 6740 2100.