24 November, 2025

Draft code of meeting practice

Council’s draft Code of Meeting Practice is on public exhibition for a period of 28 days, and the public have 42 days to make a submission.

The draft contains a number of proposed changes in response to the Office of Local Government’s (OLG) new Model Code of Meeting Practice, which must be adopted by all NSW councils by 1 January, 2026.

Key changes include mandatory public forum provisions; increased timeframes for submission of Notices of Motion and Questions on Notice; prohibition of pre-meeting briefing sessions; mandatory live-streaming of meetings; and simplification of the rules of debate.

All proposed changes can be found in the draft Code of Meeting Practice, which can be viewed at Council’s office at 63 Elgin Street, Gunnedah and online at www.gunnedah.nsw.gov.au/index.php/council/the-future-of-gunnedah/draft-documents-exhibition. Submissions can be made until Thursday, 1 January, 2026.

New members for Council working groups

Council endorsed the addition of one more community position and one more organisational position for the Access Working Group and approved new members for four working groups. They are as follows:

• Crime Prevention Working Group – Mark Brown (Community)
• Access Working Group – Timathy Richter (Sunnyfield Disability Services) and Lauren Muggleton (Sunnyfield Disability Services) and Ray Gaynor (Community)
• Youth Working Group – Michelle Hobden (School or Training Provider - Gunnedah High School)
• Australia Day Working Group – Jo-an Cabanas (Community)

Additional positions are still vacant across some categories in the Youth Working Group and the Australia Day Working Group.

Gunnedah Shire Employment Land Strategy

A key document outlining Council’s strategy planning for the Shire’s employment land needs over the next 20 years has been endorsed by Council following 28 days on public exhibition.

The Gunnedah Shire Employment Land Strategy (ELS) provides a comprehensive framework for the utilisation of employment land to support population growth and economic diversification and is guided by three key themes:

1. Supply – ensuring sufficient and suitable land is available for current and future needs.
2. Support - for employment opportunities, encouraging investment and job creation across diverse sectors.
3. Attract – strengthening the Shire’s competitiveness and appeal for new enterprises.

Both commercial and retail businesses growth are anticipated while Gunnedah’s CBD remains the strategic centre. The ELS proposes a resultant land/area demand that should be accommodated in Gunnedah Shire to cater for the growing community needs:

• Industrial area – a total net demand of around 22 hectares over the period over the 17-year period due to mining expansion and Namoi Jobs Precinct.
• Retail floor area – an increase of around 4,145 square metres or 18% to 2041.
• Non-retail floor area – estimated that net growth in non-retail commercial-related jobs would drive demand for around an additional 2,000 square metres of space

Three submissions were received during the public exhibition period and these have been addressed.

The final ELS is available on Council’s website: www.gunnedah.nsw.gov.au/index.php/development/landuse-planning/land-use-strategies

Gunnedah Sewer Strategic Planning

Council has entered into an agreement with the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW) to receive funding under Stream 2 of the Safe and Secure Water Program (SSWP) to support strategic planning activities aligned with the Regulatory and Assurance Framework for local water utilities.

The funding will enable selected outcomes within the framework to be addressed, specifically relating to sewerage services.

The development of a Sewer Strategic Plan is a critical prerequisite for obtaining Section 64 approval for the proposed upgrade of the Gunnedah Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP). This approval is a requirement for securing funding for upgrade works and must be in place before construction starts.

Completion of the strategic plan will ensure Council is considered “shovel-ready” and increase the likelihood of successful grant applications and timely project delivery.

With this in mind, Council has endorsed the following actions:

1. Add the remaining balance of $68,767.81 from the 2023/24 Scoping Report and Options Assessment for STP Stage 2 to the 2025/26 Scoping Report and Options Assessment Stage 2 Upgrade and close the 2023/24 project, which will increase the budget for the 2025/26 Scoping Report and Options Assessment Stage 2 Upgrade from $37,311.13 to $106,078.94.
2. Include the Gunnedah Sewer Strategic Plan as part of the 2025/26 Scoping Report and Options Assessment Stage 2 Upgrade to meet Council’s co-contribution requirement under Stream 2 of the Safe and Secure Water Program.

Drinking Water Management System

The updated risk-based Drinking Water Management System (DWMS) 2025 is on public exhibition until Thursday, 18 December.

The DWMS was developed to be consistent with the Australian Drinking Water Guidelines (ADWG) framework for ensuring the ongoing safety of the drinking water supplies in Gunnedah, Curlewis, Mullaley and Tambar Springs.

After the Gunnedah Treatment Plant was commissioned earlier this year, the risk assessment for these schemes was updated to include all recent changes and to reflect the maturing of the DWMS.

The DWMS is on public exhibition for 28 days at Council’s office at 63 Elgin Street, Gunnedah and online at www.gunnedah.nsw.gov.au/index.php/council/the-future-of-gunnedah/draft-documents-exhibition. Submissions should be received no later than 5pm on Thursday, 18 December, 2025.

Permanent Road Closure Request

A proposal for the closure of a redundant road reserve at 'Carnarvon', 492 Grain Valley Road, Mullaley, is on public exhibition until Thursday, 18 December, 2025.

The Council public road falls within the property’s boundaries but it is not an access road and there is no evidence construction has ever taken place.

The proposal was prompted by a request of a private landowner who intends to purchase the land or apply to have it added to their existing Crown land licence to continue current agricultural activities.

The road closure proposal is on public exhibition for 28 days at Council’s office at 63 Elgin Street, Gunnedah and online at www.gunnedah.nsw.gov.au/index.php/council/the-future-of-gunnedah/draft-documents-exhibition. Submissions should be received no later than 5pm on Thursday, 18 December, 2025.

Road closures for events

Road closures recommended by the Local Traffic Advisory Committee have been endorsed for two events pending provision of completion of all documentation and adherence to conditions contained in the Special Events Transport Management Plan; and submission of the completed document suite to NSW Police by the event organiser for consideration of the notice of public assembly.

The details are as follows:

1. Temporary road closure at Winanga - Li Aboriginal Child Family Centre (Hunter Street Gunnedah) for an NRL Superstars visit. Approval subject to advice on new event date, adherence to the current considered Council approval, and further endorsement by the Local Area Traffic Committee (LATC).
2. Temporary road closure of streets circling the Gunnedah Memorial Pool Complex from 5:30am to 8:30am for the annual Australia Day Triathlon on 26 January, 2026.

Council also supported the Local Traffic Advisory Committee’s recommendation that the Weeks of Speed Tractor Trek committee be advised that its event application can be resubmitted in a full road closure format, including restricted CBD parking similar to that approved for the NAIDOC Week event 2025, to mitigate the risk of interactions between parade and non-parade vehicles, horses and persons.

Caption: Council’s draft Code of Meeting Practice is on public exhibition for a period of 28 days, and the public have 42 days to make a submission. Pictured are Gunnedah Shire’s councillors: Back, from left, Cr Ann Luke, Cr Linda Newell, Cr Cameron Moore, Cr Rob Hooke, Cr Tammey McAllan and Cr Juliana McArthur. Front, from left, Deputy Mayor Kate McGrath, Mayor Colleen Fuller, and Cr Robert Hoddle.

ENDS

For more information, contact Gunnedah Shire Council’s Communications team on (02) 6740 2100 or communications@gunnedah.nsw.gov.au.