Local Government Week

This week, August 3 to 9 is Local Government Week.

The week is a way of informing the public what Councils actually do for their community. The theme of this year’s Local Government Week is “Councils Do”.

Most people are aware that Council provides services such as roads, rates and rubbish, but we do so much more. Council’s reach extends too many other service areas such as public libraries, childcare centres, sporting facilities, tourism, youth services, arts and culture, building and development – and more.

Lachlan Shire has faced challenges with the drought and most recently from COVID-19 and Council recognises the important responsibility it has in supporting our community through these difficult times.

“Local Government Week is not about blowing our own trumpet, it’s about making residents aware of the range of services councils have on offer to make their community a fantastic place to work and live,” said Mayor John Medcalf OAM.

“Lachlan Shire Council recognises the truth of this year’s theme – that we aim to provide the best possible support for our community through the broad range of services we provide and a proactive response to the many challenges our community face,” he said.

The Mayor said Lachlan Shire Council takes its role of serving our community seriously.

There are 128 councils across NSW, employing around 45,000 full time staff, managing more than 93,000 hectares of open space, 165,000 kilometres of roads and processing 65,000 development applications each year.

Councils are often the first point of contact for any issues arising at a local level, and Lachlan Shire Council is the first line of defence when it comes to protecting amenity and lifestyle for our area, while balancing the need to attract new business and development opportunities.

Following the Federal Government’s advice to cease public gatherings in response to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, Council will not be holding any face-to-face public events.

We will, however, be uploading short video clips to our Facebook page.

Council is also running a colouring in competition for kindergarten to grade two students and will also send out a newsletter to homes in the shire.

Council will be running an awareness campaign through our online portals and through the media on waste disposal and recycling.

The Mayor John Medcalf OAM will be judging an online public speaking competition where school students are asked to send in a short video clip saying what they would do for our community if they were Mayor for a day.