Gunnedah Shire Council’s Crime Prevention Working Group recently undertook a walking tour of the closed circuit television (CCTV) network in the Gunnedah CBD. The tour was conducted to revisit and review the current locations of cameras and to determine future approaches to maintaining and expanding the network.

Undertaking the tour were members of the Working Group including Chair Cr Colleen Fuller, Mayor Jaimie Chaffey, Cr David Moses, Cr John Campbell, Cr Murray O’Keefe, Inspector Michael Wurth, Senior Constable Damian Wood, Director Planning & Environmental Services Andrew Johns, Council’s, Information Services Manager Wayne Somerville, and Community and Social Planner Debra Hilton.

Council currently has 17 CCTV cameras located throughout the western end of the CBD and recently obtained $44,582 under a Safer Streets Programme grant from the Australian Government to extend the network to the eastern end of the CBD entertainment and shopping precincts, with Council contributing a further $10,000 to the project
“The walking tour’s aim was to finalise the locations under the scope of this project, but it also presented a perfect opportunity to review the existing network to identify gaps and potential for further CCTV installations” Working Group Chair Cr Fuller said.

“Council is committed to supporting local businesses and entertainment venues through the reduction of street crime, illicit activity and anti-social behaviour in the CBD, and by assisting Police with quality footage that facilitates the early apprehension of offenders. Adopting a strategic planning approach with consideration to the next 5-10 years makes good financial sense” Mayor Jaimie Chaffey said.

“It is important that we get the infrastructure right first, as this will reduce costs for Council and the ratepayer down the track, provide us with the flexibility and portability to expand the network across a number of stages, and ensure our maintenance burden is kept to a minimal” he concluded.

ENDS

Media Contact: Eliza Gallen 6740 2100.

WORKSHOPS WITH GOMEROI ARTIST - JACK CONLON

Arts workshops with Jack Conlon- Schools or Service Providers pay $300.00 and supply materials for 2 x 3 Hour Sessions for young people to work with Gomeroi Artist, Jack Conlon Creating art works to exhibit In the Gunnedah Creative Arts Gallery for NAIDOC Exhibition, 2017

POSTER COMPETITION

The Winner will have their image used for all publicity for the NAIDOC Art Exhibition & $100.00 Prize Money – Judged by local Gunnedah Aboriginal Artists. Submissions due by 5.00pm - Friday, 2nd June 2017 at VIC, Chandos Street.

MEDIA AND VIDEO PROJECT

Video and Media Project - Everybody is asked to record themselves and others on their phones, Speaking language or saying “Our Language Matters” - Please send all submissions to laurenmackley@infogunnedah.com.au for a short film to be created and projected during the NAIDOC Exhibition 2017 - All submissions by 5.00pm – Friday, 2nd June 2017.

FREE DANCE CREW WITH KARWIN KNOX

Monday – Friday, 19th - 30th June 2017
2.00pm to 3.00pm – Winanga-Le Early Learning Child and Family Centre
3.30pm to 4.30pm – School students from all schools and high schools @ Gunnedah Creative Arts Studio
4.30pm to 5.30pm – Community members @ Gunnedah Creative Arts Studio

OPPORTUNITY TO EXHIBIT

Calling for artworks to be submitted to Exhibit In The NAIDOC Exhibition at the Gunnedah Creative Arts Gallery. Artworks that celebrate, share and reflect Indigenous Australian Culture, open to all age. Submissions due by Friday, 16th June 2017 at the VIC, Chandos Street Gunnedah – Official Opening of Exhibition will be held on Friday, 7th July 2017.

For any enquires please call Gunnedah Shire Council's Arts and Cultural Officer , Lauren Mackley 02 6740 2100 or email laurenmackley@infogunnedah.com.au 

‘The Cow Tripped Over the Moon’ is the book that will unite Australia for the 2017 National Simultaneous Storytime. 3500 libraries, schools and childcare centres across Australia will participate in synchronised reading at 11.00am on Wednesday 24, May to celebrate Australian authors and promote early childhood literacy.

Gunnedah Shire Library’s event is set to be exciting, as they have taken leadership of the Gunnedah chapter of ‘Paint the Town REaD’ and will launch the program at their National Simultaneous Storytime event.

The Library is renowned for their amazing decorations and imaginative take on themed months, and true to form those attending will be introduced to the REaD Egg, a magical egg which only grows if it’s read to.

‘Paint the Town REaD is a great initiative, and the library is proud to be stepping up to lead it. We are passionate about reading, and early literacy skills are crucial for a child’s development. Making reading fun and interactive is a great way to engage children, and developing those skills early will hopefully lead to a lifelong love of reading,’ Gunnedah Shire Council’s Paint the Town REaD Co ordinator Liz Ironmonger said.

Councillor Anne Luke will lead the library’s official Simultaneous Storytime reading kicking off at 11.00am, which will be followed by a presentation of 1000 Books Before School Certificates for children who have achieved this impressive reading milestone.

For more information about National Simultaneous Storytime or to be involved with Paint the Town REaD contact Gunnedah Shire Library on 6740 2190.

ENDS

Media Contact: Eliza Gallen 6740 2100.

The Community Strategic Plan 2017-2027, Delivery Program 2017-2021 and Operational Plan 2017/18 for Gunnedah Shire Council is officially placed on public exhibition and Council will receive submissions in relation to the documents up until 5:00pm Thursday 15 June 2017.

The documents will be available for viewing at the Council Administration Building, Library, Community Care Centre and Visitor Information Centre. Alternately the documents can be downloaded from Council’s website below:

{rsfiles path="GunnedahShireCouncil/COUNCIL/THE-FUTURE-OF-GUNNEDAH/Exhibition-Draft-Documents/DRAFT Delivery Program 2017-2021 and Operational Plan 2017-18 - EXHIBITION.pdf"}

{rsfiles path="GunnedahShireCouncil/COUNCIL/THE-FUTURE-OF-GUNNEDAH/Exhibition-Draft-Documents/DRAFT Community Strategic Plan 2017-2021 - EXHIBITION.pdf"}

This is an opportunity for members of the public to lodge submissions in relation to the items considered and strategies applied in the Draft Community Strategic Plan and Draft Delivery Program and Operational Plan. Council will meet again on Wednesday 21 June 2017 to consider all submissions, formally adopt the documents.

Should you have any enquiries, please contact Council on 02 6740 2100.

Eric Groth
GENERAL MANAGER

NSW Minister for Primary Industries, Niall Blair is asking people to splash some colour on a nail this week to help improve awareness around food allergies and the risk they pose.

Mr Blair said a key component to reducing risk is making people allergy aware - one way of doing this is to paint a nail to represent the one in ten babies born in Australia with a food allergy.

"That statistic alone shows how important this issue is for the entire community, allergy awareness is everyone’s responsibility.

"Some food allergies can range from being merely unpleasant and inconvenient but sadly in the worst cases they can be fatal.

"More than half a million Australians manage the difficulties that come with a food allergy every day.

"Keep an eye out for a splash of colour on people’s fingernails this week – it’s a simple way to help raise awareness and support people with a food allergy right across our State."

The NSW Food Authority is the key front line agency and plays a vital role in educating both industry and consumers when it comes to food allergies.

In NSW, all food businesses are required to provide information about the most common allergens, gluten and sulphites through correct labelling and information.

Food Allergy Week 2017 runs from 14-20 May. People can access information and resources from www.foodauthority.nsw.gov.au. 

Gunnedah Shire Council recognises that people with disability are valued members of our community and is committed to fostering a community in which people with disability and their carers live with optimum quality of life, independence and participation, and where the equal participation, access, rights and equity principles of the Disability Discrimination Act 1992 are respected.

Our vision for an Inclusive Community is to be recognised as both an advocate and champion for the rights of people of all abilities in our community ensuring all of our residents are treated equally and respectfully and have opportunities to enjoy the benefits of full participation in a caring, proud, prosperous and inclusive community. To achieve this vision include Council encourages the business community to diversify their workforce and to create meaningful opportunities for persons with disability to obtain and maintain employment.

NSW Business Chamber

The NSW Business Chamber has developed a range of easy read resources and fact sheets to assist employers to diversify their workforce - visit www.nswbusinesschamber.com.au for more information.

Business Australia is the state's peak business organisation and is an independent not-for-profit organisation. Business Australia provides advocacy, advice and affordable solutions for businesses throughout the State, acknowledging that starting, managing and growing a business is as challenging as it is rewarding. Business Australia's mission is to offer the network, advice and solutions that businesses and employers need to succeed. See more at www.businessaustralia.com.

Expressions of Interest are now being called from suitably qualified consultants to provide internal audit services. The consultant will be required to revise the 2014 – 2017 internal audit plan and provide internal audit services as per the revised plan.

Further information can be obtained below or by contacting Colin Formann, Executive Manager Business Systems and Governance on 6740 2111.

{rsfiles path="GunnedahShireCouncil/COUNCIL/COUNCIL-INFORMATION/Tenders-Quotations-EOI/Current-Tenders-Quotations-EOI/Expression of Interest - Provision of Internal Audit Services.pdf"}

Expressions of Interest should be directed to the General Manager, Gunnedah Shire Council, PO Box 63, Gunnedah or to council@infogunnedah.com.au by close of business on Wednesday 31 May 2017.

Eric Groth
General Manager
Gunnedah Shire Council

Don’t miss your chance to nominate a local legend to carry the Queen’s Baton when it visits Gunnedah next year.

Batonbearer nominations are open for everyday Australians to be part of the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games (GC2018) Queen’s Baton Relay (QBR).

Across Australia, 3,800 batonbearers are needed to share the dream of the ‘friendly Games’ as part of the QBR.Starting on 25 December 2017, the Queen’s Baton will travel for 100 days in Australia, visiting Gunnedah on Wednesday, 31 January 2018.

Nominate someone today for this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity so their achievements don’t go unrecognised.

The GC2018 QBR will be the longest and most engaging in history, visiting communities large, small, urban and regional, giving everyone the opportunity to be part of Australian sporting history.

{rsfiles path="GunnedahShireCouncil/COUNCIL/KEEP-IN-TOUCH/News-and-Media/Media-Releases/QBR Batonbearer Poster.jpg"}

Batonbearers must be nominated by someone else and nominees must accept their nomination to be considered for the role. It is important to remember that each nomination is judged on merit and all face the judging panel at the same time, so there is still plenty of opportunity to get your nominations in.

“We’re delighted to be a part of an event that will take Gunnedah to the world and I encourage you to nominate a local legend you think deserves to be a Batonbearer, whether they’re an aspiring young person or someone who is already accomplished,” Mayor Jamie Chaffey said.

Batonbearer nominations are open until 11:59pm AEST on 15 May 2017 at https://www.gc2018.com/qbr and don’t forget to check your email to see if you have been nominated.

We are looking for people who:

• Have achieved something extraordinary or inspired others to achieve something extraordinary; or
• Have made a significant contribution to either sport, education, the arts, culture, charity or within their community; or
• Have excelled, or aspire to excel athletically or personally; or
• Contribute to a fun, friendly, vibrant and inclusive community;
• Are at least 10 years old as at 25 December 2017; and
• Are an Australian citizen or lawfully entitled to reside in Australia during the Relay period (25 December 2017 – 4 April 2018)

ENDS

Media Contact: Eliza Gallen 6740 2100.

Arts North West and Accessible Arts NSW will be celebrating the launch of Enabling Community Creativity: A Regional Disability Resource at the Civic Centre Gunnedah on 22 May 2017.

Enabling Community Creativity: A Regional Disability Resource Manual is the direct result of The Heading West Project, a strategic two year partnership between Arts North West, Arts Northern Rivers (regional arts development organisations) and Accessible Arts NSW. This resource manual is a how-to-guide to deliver arts and disability projects and events in regional Australia including project development, marketing, and accessibility plans. It comprises step-by-step processes, templates, resources as well as a number of case studies to assist organisations and individuals to develop their own arts and disability events in their communities.

Everyone is invited to come along, participate in an inclusive art activity, and create a nature photo print and frame. All materials and morning tea provided.

WHEN:
11:00am – 1:00 pm Monday 22 May 2017

WHERE:
Creative Arts Centre, 81 Chandos Street
Gunnedah.

The Creative Arts Centre is an accessible venue.

COST:
Free

Further enquiries, please contact Arts North West via email office@artsnw.com.au, phone 67324988 or visit the website www.artsnw.com.au for more information.