Mayoral Column – Wednesday 9 September 2020

The first of two Minderoo Pods has arrived in the Snowy Monaro with the temporary housing solution delivered to a property near Cathcart.

Tantawangalo resident John Rocke lost his home and all structures on his property in the summer bushfires.

In the months since, John has been living in a caravan as he works towards rebuilding his home. John received a Minderoo Pod on Friday through assistance from the Bushfire Recovery Team, NSW Government and Minderoo Foundation. The pod provides a 2000L water tank, generator, kitchen facilities and bathroom.

I had the pleasure of meeting with John Rocke on his property, then went on to join community members, Member for Monaro John Barilaro and Councillor Sue Haslingden to unveil a number of projects delivered in Delegate and Bombala.

The Delegate Streetscape project has seen the main street upgraded to reflect its importance to the town and community. The streetscape project has significantly improved the aesthetics and accessibility of Delegate’s main thoroughfare.

Maintaining Delegate’s heritage feel, the upgrades have seen the installation of planter boxes, new access ramps and stairs, parking improvements and overall streetscape enhancements.

Thank you to the Delegate Progress Association and Delegate Residents Group who played an important role in seeing this project through to completion.

In Bombala, we celebrated and thanked the hard working Bombala and District Chamber of Commerce and Bombala Residents Group for their input and passion in seeing the Bombala Streetscape Project and upgrades to the Platypus Reserve come to fruition.

The Bombala Streetscape Project has seen the CBD upgraded and enhanced. A large part of this work has taken place in Therry St with the formalisation of the parking area, garden beds installed and the area made more appealing for locals and visitors.

Bombala and its surrounding areas present many wonderful places to spot a platypus and there is no better location than at the Platypus Reserve.

The upgrades at the reserve have focused on accessibility improvements with the construction of compliant pathways, handrails, and tactile indicators leading from the carpark to the existing viewing platform.

Thank you to John Barilaro and the NSW Government for supporting these projects. Councillor Peter Beer – Mayor of Snowy Monaro Regional Council