Council Connect: 6 December 2024

Published on 06 December 2024

G’day, it’s Digby Rayward here, the current Mayor of Dungog, happy to give you the council update for this week.

Once again, there’s been a lot happening behind the scenes that you don't see. It's a bit like a duck: legs are going underneath and everything's going on top. The General Manager and I have had a meeting with the Hunter JO. As I’ve explained before, the Hunter JO is a joint organisation of 10 local councils. Our strength is advocating with politicians on particular topics we want, and those topics are usually aligned across the 10 councils.

Our meeting was to put forward the positions that Dungog wanted to take and we had that opportunity. I'll give you a brief rundown on what we were advocating for. Certainly the highest one is the funding for our roads. The grant funding has always been all over the shop, and we've been advocating for changes to the funding for small regional roads. That's high on our list because that's also tied in with the financial sustainability of these small rural councils. So we're hammering away at that. And I think we may have had a minor win, because there was a report just released on the ability of local governments to fund infrastructure and services. In that report, there were about 17 recommendations. One that came out, I think it was recommendation five, was that there's an amendment to the current Commonwealth grants guidelines per capita distribution method, that disproportionately benefits inner city councils. So our argument is that these big city councils are getting more money than they should be getting. They don't want to hear that argument of course, but we've been arguing that for a while, and to get that up as a recommendation is a big win at this stage, but there's a long way between that recommendation and something coming out of it. I know that means very little to those listening to me explaining this to you, but let me tell you, it's a little bit of a win that we can get.

There's another couple of things that came up. The road reclassification that we've been banging on for quite a while about, there's a new model being put forward towards the end of this year, we're told will come out very soon. We'll be able to reapply for the classification, and it will be based on the functionality of the road. So we'll be able to re-argue our position on a number of these roads. So I’m hopeful we may get some brownie points and win those things for you. So anyway, that’s a bit of the old background stuff for you, a bit of mundane things. We can now get down to what you see.

We've got a council newsletter being letterbox dropped over the next week or so, so keep an eye out for it and don't just throw it in the bin. Have a look at it and then give us some feedback on the pros and cons of this approach and what you think needs to be in it or not needs to be in it. So that'll be in your letterbox soon. Don’t throw it out!

This is also a reminder that we released a Draft Community Engagement and Participation Strategy at the last Council meeting. Those who want to participate and have some say in it will have to go to the website, so get your little eyes over there, have a little bit of a look, and give us some feedback if you think it's worth your while.

Another thing I reminded you all of last week was the Dungog Street Party. Obviously you all took a great deal of notice because the street was packed, even though it was raining. It was a great event. Congratulations to the Chamber of Commerce, and also the shops, and everyone that got behind them, and the sponsors, magnificent! I was fortunate enough to be asked to open the Food Co-Op and also the art exhibition at the museum; both of them are magnificent shows.  So the community spirit is there, and the energy was abundant in spite of the rain, so well done to all and to those of you that turned up great work.

Here we are in December, and you think, wow, the year is nearly over, but instead of slowing down, it seems to be getting faster. We've got one more council meeting next week.

Everyone, have a good break. We're not there quite yet, but enjoy yourself. Thanks for listening in. Give us any feedback that you want to give us. We're always open to adjusting the message.

But anyway, I or someone else will catch you next week. Until then, take it easy. Cheers.