Message from the Mayor: 15 September 2023

Published on 15 September 2023

Hi I'm John Connors, the Mayor of the Dungog Shire bringing you this week's Mayoral Message

This week news has come forth that the Federal Government having put all major infrastructure works on hold, has now started making announcements of projects that will proceed. The most relevant one of those that was announced this week was the funding to Upper Hunter Shire Council for the Willow Tree to Merriwa Road.

It's regrettable that we've heard absolutely nothing about the Clarence Town Bridge, which is caught up in the same review process. It was meant to be a 90-day review but some are now describing it as the 120-day review, but I think it's even longer than that.

Making inquiries about the announcement of the Willow Tree to Merriwa Road, it became apparent that the Federal Member for New England, Barnaby Joyce, who's the Local Federal Member for that area, has been extremely proactive in agitating for funding for the road, or the reinstatement of the funding for the road.

He has issued a number of media releases and I'm told has been a constant agitator of Minister Catherine King, attempting to secure the funding that had previously been made available. Now the Clarence Town Bridge is in exactly the same position. What we're asking is to secure the funding that was previously announced by Dr. David Gillespie, the Member for Lyne back in 2021. But, regrettably, there are no media releases from Dr. Gillespie since the announcement in 2021. We, as a Council have failed to get any real traction.

Whilst we've had two meetings with the minister Catherine King, our attempts to get traction from the Federal Member have not resulted in any useful participation unfortunately. I urge the community at large to make contact with the Member, Dr Gillespie. You can call him or call his office on 6586 4462, or alternatively, write to him by email at David.gillespie.mp@aph.gov.au.

One would like to think that some pressure from the community with respect to the bridge, drawing attention to its significance and attention to the impact that it has on the growing community on the other side of the river, might cause him to become a little more proactive in trying to ensure that the funding not only is reinstated but that we get the necessary additional $4.86 million.

So again, I urge the community to express your wish, your desire, to the Federal Member, to Dr. Gillespie as soon as you possibly can.

Now, the roads and bridges continue on and this week the work has commenced on Clarence Town Road, near Wirragulla and also on Gresford Road south of Fishers Hill Road. These are new roadworks that are just commencing and work continues in Duke Street in Clarence Town and Sugarloaf Road which is virtually complete, but the guard rail is to be installed in this coming week.

Next Wednesday night is the September Council meeting at 6pm which will be live streamed on Facebook as usual or the community is welcome to come and sit in the gallery. On the agenda this month there are amongst other things, a quite significant Development Application for the town of Dungog, a significant enhancement of the Settlers Arms Tavern with the addition of further accommodation and a revamping of the existing structure.

Also in the business paper which is now out for everybody to read on Council’s website will be the announcement of the Council Small Grants Program together with the Hunter Water ‘Love Water’ Program. Collectively there are 26 successful applicants from throughout the shire and the details are set forth in the business paper but have to be confirmed by Council at its meeting on Wednesday night.

So I think with that until next week, good luck and goodbye, and again during the week please take a few minutes to make contact with Dr. Gillespie and express your views about the need for funding for the Clarence Town Bridge. Thank you.