Council News 14 November 2018

Council News 14 November 2018

COUNCIL NEWS 14 NOVEMBER 2018

Weddin Shire’s Mayor Cr Mark Liebich on behalf of Council recently forwarded a letter to the Deputy Prime Minister and Member for Riverina the Hon Michael McCormack MP requesting that Weddin Shire be considered for the $1m funding under the Drought Communities Program (DCP).  

The funding can be spent on locally identified projects aimed at stimulating the local economy and maintaining jobs. There are now 81 Councils eligible to receive funding under the program, including 40 in New South Wales, 22 in Queensland, 2 in Victoria and 17 in South Australia.

The western portion of the Weddin Shire particularly Caragabal and Quandialla areas are very dry with farmers not experiencing significant rain for an extended period of time which has resulted in crops dying and feed for cattle and sheep being non existent. The situation is quickly becoming dire particularly as water supplies are also drying up very quickly.

If granted the funding, Council could work with Central Tablelands Water to waive standpipe fees for farmers as well as investigate the upgrading of the Caragabal village water supply system. There are also a number of other capital projects that could be undertaken which would lift the spirits of the Caragabal and Quandialla communities during this very difficult time.

Council is currently awaiting a response from the Federal Government.

Farmers in the Riverina and Central West will now receive more support to resolve labour shortages with new changes to two visa programs.

The Nationals’ Member for Riverina, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development Michael McCormack advised that the changes meant farmers would receive immediate support to help them reap the returns of their hard work. Mr McCormack also advised that agriculture was a critical industry which underpinned regional economies and empowering a flexible work-force to meet varied labour demands was critical to success. 

The Working Holiday Maker (WHM) visa changes represented another pragmatic solution to address the problem of filling work-force shortages in the Australian farm sector. The Government will make a number of changes to the WHM visa program to target genuine workforce shortages in regional Australia without displacing Australian workers. It will also make a number of changes to the Seasonal Worker Program, making it easier for farmers to access workers for a longer period with less administration costs.

The Government wants Australians filling Australian jobs but when this isn’t possible action is needed to ensure farmers weren’t left high and dry. Minister for Immigration, Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs David Coleman said the changes to the WHM visa program would help resolve agricultural labour shortages in regional and rural Australia.

For more information visit: https://www.homeaffairs.gov.au/News/Pages/changes-working-holiday-maker-visa.aspx

Residents are reminded that Central West Local Land Services are hosting a series of workshops delivered by a world class facilitator to empower central west organisations to deliver quality results for their customers, stakeholders and members. 

The workshops will be facilitated by Steven Bowman who is a global governance and Senior Executive Team development specialist. His consultancy, Conscious Governance is an international, independent advisory service for non-profit boards, CEOs, Directors, providing strategic planning, board governance, leadership and risk management consulting services. He works with organisations across all sectors and provides resources, guidance and online programs that help promote strong governance practices. Steven currently works with over 1,000 not-for-profit and corporate organisations each year in Europe, Australia, New Zealand and Asia in Governance, Executive Leadership and Consciousness at work.  Registration is open to regional board and committee members and their project officers and managers from any industry, not-for-profit, community service, Natural Resource Management agency or organisation that would like to improve the performance of their organisation or business.  Lunch is included for both workshop sessions and, with a diverse range of professionals expected, the workshops will prove to be an excellent networking opportunity.

 Workshops:

Location

Venue

Date

Time

Workshop

Forbes

Forbes Inn, 43 Rankin St

Tuesday, 20 November Wednesday, 21 November

8.30am – 4.00pm

8.30am – 12.00pm

Good governance Strategic planning

Dubbo

Cattleman’s Motor Inn, 8 Whylandra St

Thursday, 22 November Friday, 23 November

8.30am – 4.00pm

8.30am – 12.00pm

Good governance Strategic planning

 Please visit www.tinyurl.com/cwllsworkshops for more information.

Residents are advised that the Christmas Display Competitions will commence shortly in Grenfell, Caragabal, Greenethorpe and Quandialla/Bimbi in which residents can enter to win great prizes. 

The following competitions are being run this year:

Grenfell -  Christmas display competition Caragabal - Christmas Lights and Mailbox Competition Quandialla/Bimbi - Christmas themed display competition Greenethorpe - Christmas Gate Competition

Information on how to enter will be released in the Grenfell Record in the near future or you can contact the Grenfell Visitor Information on 6343 2059 or

Nominations for the annual Weddin Shire Australia Day Awards are currently being invited and interested persons and organisations are invited to make nominations for the 2019 awards within the categories detailed below:- 

- Citizen of the Year  

- Senior Citizen of the Year 

- Community Event/Organisation of the Year  

- Community Achievement Awards in any category.  

Nominations forms are available at the Council Chambers or Council’s website:  www.weddin.nsw.gov.au and will be accepted up until Friday 7 December 2018.  Residents are encouraged to nominate community members who they think are deserving of an award in any of the categories.

The current exhibition at the Grenfell Art Gallery is "Poppies for Remembrance" conducted by the Grenfell Garden Club which will be on display until the 25th November, 2018.

The exhibition is celebrating the 100th Anniversary of the first Armistice Day and the Flanders Poppy and includes a display of memorabilia, posters and photos from WW1, a large display of knitted & crochet poppies as well as an exhibition/competition of poppy art.

The Art Gallery is open Monday to Friday 10am - 4pm, Saturday 10am - 3pm & Sunday 10am -2pm.

The next film to be screened at the Grenfell Cinema will be “Plane, Trains and Automobiles” at 6.45pm Saturday 24 November, 2018.  Please see the adjacent advertisement for further details.

  

Dates to Note

Friday 16 November 2018 –Recycling Collection (Grenfell East)

Monday 19 November 2018 – Recycling Collection (Grenfell West)

Street Stalls

Friday 16 and Saturday 17 November - St Joseph’s Parish

WEDDIN SHIRE COUNCIL

DEVELOPMENT PROPOSAL

ENVIRONMENTAL PLANNING & ASSESSMENT ACT 1979

DA 61/2018

Council has received an Application for a New Shed/Garage with amenities over LOT: 2 SEC: 33 DP: 758473 50 Brundah Street GRENFELL 2810.

Inspection:      The application DA 61/2018 for New Shed/Garage with amenities may be viewed between the hours of 9.00 am to 4.00 pm from 5 November 2018 and Wednesday 21 November 2018 at the Council’s Office, Camp Street, Grenfell.

Submissions:   Any person may make a submission in writing to the Consent Authority within the advertised period.  Submissions objecting to the development are required to specify the grounds for objection.

Written submissions are to be received at Council by 4.00 pm on 21 November 2018.

WEDDIN SHIRE COUNCIL

STREET STALLS 2019

Applications may now be lodged with the undersigned for allocation of dates for street stalls during 2019.  It is anticipated that an allocation of dates will take place in December 2018.

Applications close on Friday, 7 December 2018 and can be emailed to

WEDDIN SHIRE COUNCIL

AUSTRALIA DAY 2019 AWARDS

Interested persons and organisations are invited to make nominations for the Weddin Shire Australia Day 2019 Awards.

Categories are:        -      Citizen of the Year

                               -      Senior Citizen of the Year

                               -      Community Event/Organisation of the Year

                               -      Community Achievement Awards in any category.

                               -      Achievement Award – each secondary and primary school in the Shire.

                               -      HSC Academic Award – Henry Lawson High School

Nominations forms are available at the Council Chambers or Council’s website www.weddin.nsw.gov.au and will be accepted up until 7 December 2018.

   

WEDDIN SHIRE COUNCIL

PUBLIC NOTICE - PRESENTATION OF FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

as per Section 418 (3) of the Local Government Act.

In accordance with Section 418 (3) of the Local Government Act, 1993, Weddin Shire Council advises that the Ordinary Council Meeting to be held on 15/11/18 will include the presentation of the audited Financial Statements and the Auditor's Reports for the financial year ending 30 June 2018.

A summary of the Financial Statements is provided below:

2018

2017

$'000

$'000

Income Statement

Total Income from Continuing Operations

14,573

16,758

Total Expenses from Continuing Operations

13,773

12,317

Operating Result from Continuing Operations

800

4,441

 

 

 

Net Operating Result for the year

800

4,441

Net Operating Result before Grants & Contributions provided for Capital Purposes

(1,215)

3,135

 

Balance Sheet

Total Current Assets

8,301

11,522

Total Current Liabilities

(2,858)

(3,030)

Total Non-Current Assets

186,430

175,826

Total Non-Current Liabilities

(4,459)

(4,490)

Total Equity

187,414

179,828

 

Other Financial Information

Unrestricted Ratio

4.09 : 1

5.23 : 1

Debt Service Ratio (%)

5.91

42.55

Operating Performance Ratio (%)

-11.12%

19.90%

Rates & Annual Charges Outstanding Ratio (%)

5.44%

5.92%

In accordance with Section 420 of the Local Government Act, 1993, any person may make a submission in writing to Council with respect to the Council's Audited Financial Statements or the Auditor's Reports. 

Copies of the audited Financial Statements and the Auditor's Reports may be inspected at:

Internet:                            www.weddin.nsw.gov.au

Locations:                         Weddin Shire Council

                                         Corner of Camp and Weddin Streets

                                         GRENFELL  NSW  2810

Submissions close one week after the above Public Meeting has been held.

November Movies

Come and enjoy a movie or two

Free entry FOGL will be running a candy bar. No hot food allowed Bring your own, bean bag or cushion

Sessions

Family movie night Saturday 24 November

6.45pm for a 7pm start – Plane, Trains and Automobiles

 

PO BOX 125                                                                                               AUTHORISED BY

GRENFELL                                                                                                   GLENN CARROLL

                                                                                                                    GENERAL MANAGER