Mayoral Column - Wednesday 17 February

Council Meeting

The next regular Council meeting is tomorrow, 18 February 2021 in Bombala. It is one of the last meetings before we go into caretaker mode in the lead-up to the election period and I am looking forward to a constructive meeting with my fellow councillors.

A key report will be tabled regarding the future of the Bombala Timber Mill and we will be discussing recommendations to ensure the future of this vital industry. Also under discussion will be the maximum minimum property rates, which is an important and sensitive topic I hope to make progress towards resolving equitably.

Governor General’s Visit

I was privileged and honoured to welcome Governor-General David Hurley AC DSC (Retd) and his wife, Mrs Linda Hurley to the Snowy Monaro last week.

This visit was delayed by last year’s bushfires, but the Governor-General was motivated to explore the region and understand the challenges people have faced. His Excellency and Mrs Hurley were well-received by the communities visited and lifted the spirits of many of us who have had a difficult year.

Bushfire recovery was a foremost concern for the Governor-General during his visit and he was grateful for the opportunity to learn about the impact on our region. We trust he will be able to make influence for continued federal support for our region’s recovery.

Snowy 2.0 Workers Accommodation

Last week I attended the sod-turning of the new $19 million worker accommodation for segment factory workers in Cooma. This is indeed welcome, as anyone looking for unit accommodation in the region over the past year would attest to the difficulty of the rental market in our region.

The Snowy 2.0 project is ongoing. While there are some issues Snowy Hydro and the Snowy Monaro community need to work through, with the right goodwill, I believe we can see the project through the years ahead.

Australian Army in Jindabyne

A contingent from the Australian Army are in Jindabyne for a period of education and training. While they’re here they’ll be exploring the region and finding out more about us – how we’re going and what support we may need. Their presence will be a boost to the local economy – we welcome them and we thank them for the wonderful work they did for us through the bushfires and their immediate aftermath.

Councillor Peter Beer Mayor of Snowy Monaro Regional Council