Mayoral Column - 6 May 2020

The welcomed early season snowfalls have generated plenty of discussion on whether our region will have a snow season. Talks are ongoing between local stakeholders (including Council) and the NSW Government. Our region eagerly awaits a decision.

I am pleased the 128 applications for the Mayoral Bushfire Relief Fund have been successful. Each of the applications successfully secured a portion of the fund’s $483,000 pool, which will assist residents who had their homes, outbuildings and fences destroyed by the 2020 bushfires. Our bushfire recovery team is making contact with the successful applicants. Bushfire recovery is still ongoing throughout the region and we know there are still many people grappling from the devastating fires.

Laing O’Rourke cleanup crews are expected to arrive in the Snowy Monaro in the next fortnight to start clearing bushfire debris from bushfire affected properties. Local contractors have been engaged to help with this important work.

Laing O’Rourke will be contacting landholders who have registered for the cleanup with Service NSW to arrange a site inspection. They will not turn up unannounced.

Landholders can call the Laing O’Rourke hotline 1800 007 539 to check on registration. More information can be found on the NSW Bushfire Clean-up Info Hub which is updated on a fortnightly basis by Laing O’Rourke https://cleanup.lnbr.com.au/

Council is aware of recent community feedback regarding Yallambee Lodge. There will be a briefing session held this week to update Councillors on our Council operated aged care facilities. Information will be provided to our community in the coming days.

At the most recent Council meeting, a resolution was passed requesting Snowy Hydro provides Council with a report into the expected traffic movements to and from the Segments Factory at Polo Flat, Cooma.

Council is in complete support of the Segments Factory and the broader Snowy 2.0 project. This resolution isn’t a wavering of our support, just a request for further information to help Council better prepare our region for future traffic changes.

We know there will be some short-term inconvenience but there will be significant long-term benefits for our region and the nation.

Finally, I would like to thank Dr Mike Kelly for his service and contribution to the Eden-Monaro electorate. Mike has retired as our Federal Member of Parliament and I thank him for his support of the Snowy Monaro. I wish him the best of health in the years to come.

Councillor Peter Beer Mayor of Snowy Monaro Regional Council