Gunnedah Shire Council April meeting briefs

20 April, 2023

Fiddes name added to register

The “Fiddes” name will be added to Gunnedah Shire Council’s Naming of Public Infrastructure and Public Acknowledgements Policy in honour of Jack Fiddes for his contribution to the development of Gunnedah’s retail, services and arts sectors.

Council received a request from the Fiddes family for consideration of the Fiddes name. Mr and Mrs Fiddes moved to Gunnedah before World War 2, where Mr Fiddes started duty as company secretary for Storey Pty Ltd, becoming managing director after his return from active service.

He was instrumental in the establishment of the Gunnedah aerodrome and St Andrew's church and manse. He was a keen lawn bowler and cricketer and was involved with the Gunnedah Eisteddfod.

The names will be added to the register but will need separate reports to Council if nominated for the naming of specific infrastructure.

Councillors appointed to grants panels

Gunnedah Shire Council has appointed Councillors to the panels that will assess applications to the 2023-24 Section 356 Small Grants for Community and Sports, and Arts and Cultural.

Councillors Juliana McArthur, Kate McGrath and Rob Hooke have been appointed to the Community and Sports panel, and Councillors Juliana McArthur, Kate McGrath and Rob Hoddle have been appointed to the Arts and Cultural panel.

The Community and Sports panel has been assisting not-for-profit community and sporting groups with projects and events for 18 years, with close to $515,000 in grant funding allocated. The Arts and Cultural program has been in place since 2018 and helps local arts and cultural groups with existing or new projects or initiatives  that help to meet the needs of our growing community, while strengthening cultural identity and connection to place.

Clifton and Kelvin Road updates

Extensive rain in the past six months has delayed both the Kelvin and Clifton road upgrade projects.

Since the $6.18m Kelvin Road upgrade began, there have been 98 wet weather days, limiting the work that could be done on the 11.6km project. Work has, however, continued when possible, and Council hopes to have the project completed by May.

The project is being funded by the NSW Government’s Heavy Vehicle Safety and Productivity Program (HVSPP) and Fixing Local Roads (FLR) program.

The Clifton Road project has also been impacted by floods and wet weather days. Construction and sealing of the final section on Maitland Street and Bulunbulun Road, Breeza are anticipated to be completed by May.

The second coat seal between Oakey Creek and Round Hill Road has also been delayed by wet weather and is expected to begin following September this year.

The damaged approaches to the Simson Bridge and Breeza bridge are the ongoing subject of the engineering investigation to restore the bridge service and reinforce the abutments and approaches to prevent damage in future events.

Draft Pesticide Use Notification Plan on public exhibition

Gunnedah Shire Council has placed its Draft Pesticide Use Notification Plan on public exhibition for 28 days.

Council is required to prepare a plan to outline how it will notify the community of pesticide applications in outdoor public places under the NSW Pesticide Regulation 2017. Notification is based on the principle that people have a basic right to know when they may be affected by pesticide use to make informed decisions about their contact with pesticides and reduce their exposure to pesticides.

The Draft Pesticide Use Notification Plan will be on public exhibition until Friday, 19 May and is available on Council’s website www.gunnedah.nsw.gov.au or at the Council administration centre at 63 Elgin Street, Gunnedah.

Caption: Gunnedah Shire Council has appointed Councillors to the panels that will assess applications to the 2023-24 Section 356 Small Grants for Community and Sports, and Arts and Cultural.

ENDS

For more information, contact Gunnedah Shire Council’s Communications team on (02) 6740 2100 or [email protected].