Mayoral Column - 17 June 2020

Bushfire recovery is still an ongoing priority in the Snowy Monaro. The cleanup effort continues with Laing O’Rourke crews removing bushfire damaged structures throughout the region.

The hard-working BlazeAid volunteers are doing a fantastic job assisting landholders in replacing their bushfire damaged fences.

The BlazeAid Bredbo/Numeralla camp has cleared 69km of fencing and completed 40km of new fencing. BlazeAid’s Bombala volunteers have removed 52km of damaged fences and erected 36km of new fencing.

Community groups in the former Bombala and Cooma-Monaro local government areas can now apply for the latest round of grants through the Boco Rock Community Enhancement Fund.

Applications will be accepted until 5pm Friday 24 July. This is an exciting opportunity for groups in these areas to obtain funding for projects or events that will benefit their community.

All residents interested in heritage matters are encouraged to provide feedback on the Council’s Draft Heritage Strategy. Feedback has been extended until 5pm Friday 26 June.

Your comments are welcomed and will ensure Council has an understanding of the heritage issues important to you.

Earlier this year, the Snowy Monaro community provided feedback on the region’s resource and waste management services. This important feedback will assist with the development of Council’s Resource and Waste Management Strategy.

Following this first round of consultation, Council had planned to host a series of community information sessions. However, due to COVID-19 social distancing regulations preventing this, an online presentation is now available.

You can view the ‘The tipping point - time to transform waste’ presentation on the Your Say Snowy Monaro platform by searching for the Resource and Waste Management Strategy consultation page.

Feedback on the presentation will be accepted until Tuesday 23 June 2020 and can be provided through Your Say Snowy Monaro or in writing to Council.

Due to COVID-19 restrictions, this month’s Ordinary Council Meeting will be closed to the public. The meeting will be held on Thursday 18 June and will be live-streamed via the Council’s website.

I encourage residents to watch the live webcast as the more people who participate and provide feedback, the better informed Council is when making a decision.

Councillor Peter Beer Mayor of Snowy Monaro Regional Council