Mayoral Column - Wednesday 21 October 2020

At last week’s Ordinary Council Meeting, Councillors resolved to place two important strategic planning documents on public exhibition. The Rural Land Use Strategy and Settlements Strategy are now out for community comment.

The Settlements Strategy presents recommendations relating to the growth and development of towns in the Snowy Monaro. This strategy outlines the potential of future urban release areas along with rezoning of land to meet the short to medium-term growth needs of our communities.

The Rural Land Use Strategy reviews rural landscape in a land use planning context and examines existing planning provisions under each of the Bombala, Cooma-Monaro and Snowy River Local Environmental Plans (LEPs).

These draft land use strategies are designed to provide recommendations for a Snowy Monaro Comprehensive Local Environmental Plan.

I encourage you to have your say on these regionally significant strategies. The documents are on exhibition until Sunday 29 November 2020.

There are opportunities to discuss the strategies with Council’s strategic planning team either in-person or online. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, bookings are required for in-person meetings. Please contact Council or visit Council’s website for further details.

Councillors considered a report detailing the economic impacts of the summer bushfires and COVID-19. The Snowy Monaro has been hit harder than most other regional areas.

We were fortunate to see our winter season through to its completion. Without it, this economic forecast would be even more severe. Well done to all in the community who assisted and to those visitors who complied with PHO restrictions.

Council approved the construction of a dry slope ski jump at the Jindabyne Sport and Recreation Centre. This is an exciting project for our region. Our winter athletes will benefit from this world-class training facility in Jindabyne.

Over the weekend, our region once again welcomed the Katyn-Smolensk Rally. We have a proud and strong connection with the Polish community. This connection started with explorer Edmund Strzelecki and developed through the contribution Polish workers made to the mighty Snowy Mountains Scheme.

I extend my sympathies to the Polish community for the tragic events this rally commemorates. We stand alongside our Polish friends in commemorating the Katyn massacre of 1940 and the Smolensk plane crash of 2010.

Councillor Peter Beer – Mayor of Snowy Monaro Regional Council