Message from the Mayor – December 2024
Published on 04 December 2024
December 2024
In the wake of the devastating storm that swept through our community on Saturday 7 December, and on behalf of councillors and staff I want to extend my heartfelt best wishes to everyone affected. This unprecedented weather event challenged us all, but the response from our community has been nothing short of inspiring. The resilience, solidarity and strength demonstrated by residents is a true reflection of the remarkable spirit that defines the town.
A special thank you goes out to the SES for their tireless emergency response, to Essential Energy for their efforts in restoring power, to our dedicated council team, to the Boys to the Bush team for helping with the clean-up, as well as the countless volunteers and individuals who have supported their neighbours during this difficult time.
The community’s collective efforts have shown just how strong and united we are, and together, we will continue to recover and move forward.
And now my report for November - it certainly kept us all extremely busy. The agricultural harvest is in full swing, with mixed reports about crop yields.
Our roads are also busy, with many truck movements and heavy machinery present. Much roadwork is happening in “our patch” and maintaining this repair work during such a busy time is challenging.
The time for school presentations and graduations is upon us. It is a special time of year and is a delight to attend such special evenings. I attended the Coleambally Central School Year 12 Graduation on 21 November. The 7 young adults who completed their schooling should be so very proud of their achievements, as should their parents and the school.
At the recent RAMJO AGM and Board Meeting in Hay, I was elected chair of RAMJO for a 2-year tenure, with the General Manager assuming the chair of the General Manager’s Group.
Other meetings I have attended with the General Manager include the Country Mayors’ Meeting in Sydney, the Joint Organisation Chairs’ Forum, the LGNSW Conference in Tamworth, as well as meetings with both NBN and Telstra seeking to put in place connectivity plans that will hopefully see us better serviced into the future.
The Jerilderie community held the unveiling of the “Monash and the Bushranger” Statue and storyboards in Jerilderie on 17 November. My congratulations to the Monash Committee for their passion and commitment, ensuring the delivery of the project.
The Jerilderie community also celebrated the official opening of the upgraded Monash Park Sports Precinct on Saturday 23 November. The project was funded with a $750,000 grant through the NSW Government, with support from Murrumbidgee Council. Coupled with the Origin “Diamond for a Day” initiative and their ambassador Jo Weston, our junior netballers had the pleasure of listening to and playing with a “real diamond”.
On 29 October, as chair, we convened the joint Newell Highway and Sturt Highway Taskforce Committees meeting in Narrandera. The meeting was well attended by member councils. We were also pleased to attend a breakfast meeting with the Hon Jenny Aitchison MP, NSW Minister for Regional Transport and Roads and Transport for NSW representatives
On 21 November I had the privilege of presenting 5 recipients with Staff Recognition Certificates. My congratulations to Rick Moore, Darrell McNeilly, Robert Adamson, David Saunders and Kesaya Caqusau. Thank you for your dedication and commitment over many decades.
On 25 October, Council conducted a Citizenship Ceremony for Helette Ferreira and Gabriel Garcia, both of whom have settled in our LGA. We wish them success and happiness as they now live their lives as proud Australian citizens.
As part of Remembrance Day, Council laid wreaths at services across our Council LGA - paying our respects and never forgetting the price paid for peace in our lives is an honour.
We are currently running an important survey to gather critical feedback to guide the Council's Community Strategic Plan – the overarching framework that directs all plans and strategies. The feedback collected through this survey will be instrumental in helping us understand what matters most to the local community both at present and into the future, identifying priorities, and aligning future actions with the needs and aspirations of residents and businesses. I encourage you to complete the online version (on our website) or the paper copy that will be sent to all households.
We are also seeking input from the community on three important initiatives. First, we welcome suggestions for naming the new residential subdivision at Darlington Point. Additionally, we are gathering expressions of interest for innovative economic proposals, specifically focused on value-added or manufacturing initiatives that could benefit from an injection of funding. Your feedback and ideas are invaluable as we work together to shape the future of our community.
Thirdly, our survey is still open for possible safety measures on the Sturt and Newell Highways and Kidman Way. There is more information on these initiatives on our website.
In closing, stay safe and alert on the roads with lots of traffic due to harvest activities and the busy lead-up to Christmas.
Ruth McRae OAM