Council News 13 March 2019
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COUNCIL NEWS 13 MARCH 2019
Amendments made to the Local Government Act 1993 (LGA) in August 2016 by the Local Government Amendment (Governance and Planning) Act 2016 (the Phase 1 amendments) provide for a model code of meeting practice (Model Meeting Code) to be prescribed by the Regulation.
Following an extensive consultation process, a Model Meeting Code has been prescribed under the Local Government (General) Regulation 2005 (the Regulation) and the existing meetings provisions of the Regulation have been repealed. The new Model Meeting Code is available on OLG’s website www.olg.nsw.gov.au.
The Model Meeting Code has two elements:
It contains mandatory provisions (indicated in black font) that reflect the existing meetings provisions of the Act and update and enhance the meetings provisions previously prescribed under the Regulation to reflect contemporary meetings practice by councils. It contains non-mandatory provisions (indicated in red font) that cover areas of meetings practice that are common to most councils but where there may be a need for some variation in practice between councils based on local circumstances. The non-mandatory provisions also operate to set a benchmark based on what OLG sees as being best practice for the relevant area of practice.The Model Code of Meeting Practice has to be adopted by the 14 June 2018. Council will also be required to exhibit the code for 28 days and provide members of the public 42 days to comment on the draft code.
It is anticipated the draft code will be presented to the March 2019 Council Meeting before being placed on public exhibition prior to being submitted to the May 2019 Council Meeting for formal adoption.
The Weddin Wellness Plan was adopted by Council at the November 2018 Council Meeting. The plan will assist to facilitate coordination of health services in the Weddin Shire, to better understand the future health needs of an ageing community and to provide data for informed advocacy and improved health service delivery.
A skeleton business plan will now be prepared to inform potential investors in health or aged care service providers of opportunities that exist in the Weddin Shire. This can then be used by potential investors to make applications for financial support or grants.
Consideration will now be given to the appointment of a partnership agent for an initial period of 12 months and the establishment of the Weddin Wellness Planning Network.
The source of the associated funding required for the partnership agent could be sourced by way of the quarterly budget review process or it could be deferred for consideration as part of the 2019/2020 estimates process.
Council at its February 2019 Council meeting resolved to defer the proposal for consideration as part of the 2019/2020 estimates process.
Grenfell Commodities are to be commended for taking the lead on public art in Grenfell. Public art is increasingly important to the visitor economy of NSW and Grenfell is no exception. The new mural in progress on the West Street silos is an arts and cultural tourism innovation, demonstrating how community collaboration can deliver terrific outcomes. The mural features a rural landscape with flourishing green pastures, cattle, sheep and the imposing Weddin Mountains.
Heesco Khosnaran is the artist engaged by Grenfell Commodities to complete the project. Recently a dinner was held at the Grenfell Country Club where the audience learned about Heesco’s Mongolian heritage, how he came to Australia to study art, his journey to becoming an Australian permanent resident and how he found his passion as an artist. The Grenfell Commodities silo is Heesco's second mural on a silo. His first was in the neighbouring Bland Shire, in the village of Weethalle, in 2017.
It is wonderful to have Heesco in the area and we trust the private project will be fantastic for tourism. In addition it is exciting to learn that the Grenfell Commodities silo is recognised as number 26 on the Australian Silo Art Trail.
Staff at the Grenfell Visitor Information Centre anticipate increased visitation in direct response to the project, boosting Weddin Shires visitor economy. Enquiries have already been received especially from those closely watching the Silo Art Trail concrete itself across Victoria and New South Wales. Public art is becoming a very popular addition to the public art scene in rural towns like Grenfell which is magnificent from a tourism perspective.
Congratulations and thankyou to all involved in the project.
Photo courtesy of the Grenfell Record.
As residents are aware Trunk Main K supplies Grenfell with water from the Central Tablelands Water (CTW) system.
Built in 1946, Trunk Main K stretches across 34 kilometres from Gooloogong to Grenfell. The pipeline is cast iron, and while the main has reliably delivered water to the town of Grenfell for the last 70 years, there are some areas of the pipeline that are beginning to fail. The Capital Works budget for replacement of Trunk Main K is $6,182,364 extending across the 2015/16 – 2018/19 financial years. Stage 1 construction of 12.6km pipeline between McDonald’s Lane pump station and Grenfell North reservoir, was completed in June 2017. Stage 2 construction 7.2km of the Trunk Main K Project was completed in May 2018. Stage 2a construction of 2.8km of the Trunk Main K Project pipeline was completed in December 2018. This completes the PVC Class 20 section of the pipeline. Flushing and disinfecting of the new sections of pipeline into Grenfell North reservoir has been placed on-hold due to Level 2 Water restrictions being applied across the CTW supply network.
The replacement of the water main is a great initiative and is a project that CTW and in particular our local CTW representatives Cr Best and Cr Bembrick have been working very hard to bring to fruition for the benefit of residents.
Congratulations to the Henry Lawson High School 2019 Science and Engineering team who have once again won the regional Science and Engineering challenge for the 10th straight year. This is an outstanding achievement and a credit to all involved. The next level of the challenge will be held in Newcastle.
Well done to all involved!
Residents are advised that the Mobile BreastScreen van will be operating in Grenfell from the 29th March – 18th April 2019. The van will be located at Vaughan Park, Melyra Street, Grenfell.
To make an appointment Ph 13 20 50 or visit www.breastscreen.nsw.gov.au
The current exhibition at the Grenfell Art Gallery is a local exhibition by the Grenfell Community Art & Craft Group and will run until the 14th April, 2019.
The Grenfell Art Gallery is proud to showcase the recent works of our highly regarded local arts group. For many years they have been meeting at their Rose Street Rooms and enjoying friendship and art tuition.
This collection showcases their more recent works. These include still life, landscapes of local scenes in pastels, watercolours, acrylics and oils. Depending on the work in progress, there may also be some fine sketches and possibly charcoal works.
The Art Gallery is open Monday to Friday 10am - 4pm, Saturday 10am - 3pm & Sunday 10am -2pm.
‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ was screened at the Grenfell Cinema on Saturday 9 March to a full house and by all reports everyone had a great night out. ‘Tully’ was screened yesterday 12 March and the movies for April will be advertised once finalised.
Finally, congratulations to all the participants in the Cargo 2 Grenfell fundraising walk conducted from the 7th-9th March, 2019.
It was a terrific effort by all of the participants who all raised funds for the Black Dog Institution which is a very worthwhile cause.
Dates to Note
Friday 22 March 2019 –Recycling Collection (Grenfell East)
Monday 25 March 2019 – Recycling Collection (Grenfell West)
Street Stalls
Friday 15 and Saturday 16 March 2019 – St Joseph’s Catholic Church
Wednesday 20 March 2019 – Grenfell Rodeo
PO BOX 125 AUTHORISED BY
GRENFELL GLENN CARROLL
GENERAL MANAGER