Message from the Mayor: 11 October 2024
Published on 11 October 2024
Good morning everybody, and welcome to this week's mayoral message. I'm Gareth Curtis, the General Manager. I'm providing this week’s message on behalf of Mayor Rayward, our new Mayor.
There might be some changes coming up in relation to how Council communicates, either through the video or the message each week and the radio as well. Until the Council can get together and work with Mayor Rayward on this and collaborate on how that might look, I’m going to keep doing it, but I know you are all probably looking forward to hearing from the new Councillors and Mayor, stay tuned, and I'm sure you'll be able to see the new changes coming soon.
The first meeting of the new Council will be next week. We've got an Agenda Review Briefing on Monday with the new Council and the Mayor. It's also to give an overview of what's happening at the meeting. It's mainly ceremonial and governance issues that need to be dealt with, such as the election of the Deputy Mayor, looking at count-back elections in the event that we do get vacancies, and things like that. Members of the public, if you are interested in attending the meeting, by all means, come along. It's at 6pm at the Council Chambers on the corner of Brown and Dowling Streets in Dungog. Additionally, if you look at the Agenda when it's placed on the website, you'll be able to register. If you want to speak to any of the items, you can register for our public access forum, and those forms are also available on our website, they need to be lodged by 4pm on Monday.
Our first Councillor Briefing also took place earlier this week. We looked at a number of things, including the Local Government NSW Conference coming up in Tamworth, which is an opportunity for the Council to advocate on behalf of its community, and then look at collective advocacy with the rest of Councils across NSW. We're looking at the issues to do at this stage and my understanding is the Grattan Institute Report has some recommendations in relation to how funding should be overhauled at the federal and state level. We also looked at our Council Committee representation for Councillors, and it was great to see the new council working together, working out who wants to go on what committees and which areas the committees are in. We've got a list that's going up in the Agenda for Council's consideration next week.
To the roads and infrastructure update. Clarence Town Road, segment six, those works did commence last week just north of Dungog. That's part of a three-stage process with Clarence Town Road. It’s over a $4 million contract. Keep your eyes open for that and follow the safety rules and the speed signage. Please make sure you drive safely.
We've also got some works happening at Lewinsbrook Road in Gresford from the corner of Allyn River Road to the end of the seal. Council crews are doing the rehabilitation works there, and there are some reduced speed limits in place as well. The Lord Street Dungog works are continuing between Hooke Street and Brown Street. There's restricted access there allowing for residents only, so those detours are in place. Please follow detour signage. We've got a grid pattern in Dungog, so it should be easy enough to avoid those works if you can.
We've also got Stroud Hill works continuing and traffic lights on the corner of the Fosterton Road intersection. Again, we understand that this is inconvenient for residents and travelers on those roads. However, it's going to be great when it's finished, so please bear with us.
We've also got the Allyn River Road up at Eccleston from Halton to Gringhi Bridge. Those works are continuing, but they are in the final stages now. We are almost there; even though we have extended traffic delays, they are almost complete, so please bear with us just a little longer. It's going to be great when it's finished.
We're doing some tar patching next week at Glendonbrook Road and Glen William Road and on our unsealed road network. We're doing maintenance grading on Salisbury Gap Road and Quartpot Creek Road. Keep your eyes open for that. We've got slashing and vegetation in Clarence Town next week, around Clarence Town Road and Glen William Road as well. So, keep your eyes open for those works.
That's the update for this week, looking forward to the first council meeting next week, and one of us will see you next week. Thanks.