How incredibly quick time has gone by.
Another big year and as much as Council has achieved, we have plenty of big projects ahead of us to focus on.
To this end, your Council has started to engage with the public in a new and interesting manner.
We had our first pop-up community engagement session with regard to our Community Strategic Plan 2027 at Murrurundi touch football last week and it was a great success.
We had a lot of people come up to us and we also went and actively sought out people’s opinions.
The feedback was excellent but the most amazing thing was the amount of interaction we received from the children and adolescents that were there.
They had some great ideas and, let’s face it, a plan that looks 10 years into the future will be all about them as young men and women living, working and relaxing in our Shire.
We have several of these gate-crashing-community-events and engagement sessions happening so if you are at one, please share your ideas and visions with us.
Council will also be at the Cassilis Community Christmas Party from 5pm this Saturday and meeting with Upper Hunter Youth Council members at Merriwa Central School.
Allan Bridge closed for repairs
How unfortunate that the Allan Bridge had some fool drive over it and cause major damage. Yes, the bridge was going to be in need of some work in the future but it was only going to be tidying up and presentation.
Now we have major repairs to consider and a road closed indefinitely, all at a cost to the community. In the process of assessing the repairs needed it will no doubt be a good time to assess the ongoing use of the bridge.
For example, should it still carry traffic under four tonne, be a pedestrian bridge only or perhaps not used at all.
It will remain in place while it is standing, as it is one of our few identified heritage bridges and council recognises that the community wishes to have it kept in perpetuity.
New Council and a new year
I would like to congratulate our new Councillors on settling in so well and rolling up their sleeves to get on with the tasks at hand.
Finally, and I really dislike doing it so early but… please have a very safe, very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.
