General News
11 July, 2024
Coo-ee council wants you!
In the lead up to the local government elections to be held in September, current councillors are encouraging community members to get active and nominate to be part of the next term of Gilgandra Shire Council (GSC).
In the lead up to the local government elections to be held in September, current councillors are encouraging community members to get active and nominate to be part of the next term of Gilgandra Shire Council (GSC). Next week, GSC is hosting a prospective councillor workshop to give those interested in nominating for the upcoming election (or those thinking about it) an idea about what is involved with being a local government councillor.
Council is responsible for the strategic direction of a vast array of community services, programs, capital works, tourism, and shire maintenance. Being a member of the council gives an individual an opportunity to be part of the planning processes and long-term strategic direction of the Gilgandra region.
The current term of council has overseen several large projects including new strategic directions and plans for health, childcare, shire growth, and village management. Then there is always the essential three ‘r’s – rates, roads, and rubbish. With a budget of some $70 million under the direction of the council, current mayor Doug Batten said the next term of local government will be an “exciting time”.
“Joining the council is an opportunity to work with like-minded people for the betterment of the shire,” said mayor Batten. “We live in a diverse community, so we need a diversity of people on the council to reflect who we are - to each bring their own perspectives, passions, and experience and work together. The upcoming local government election is the process to do that.”
Job one for the new term of council will be the resetting of the community strategic plan to inform and update the community priorities. This plan will need to be formed with respect to new and emerging issues within the shire. For the new term, these will be the potential windfarm development west of Gilgandra township, the presence of Inland Rail, health and recreation issues, opportunities for youth, housing, and population growth under the council’s Towards 5000 strategy.
Mayor Batten said liveability of the community has always been a key priority for council, underpinning improvements in health and wellbeing. “The new council, whilst starting with a good foundation from previous councils, will encounter a number of new challenges and the councillors will need to be able to confidently address those challenges. This is why prospective councillors need a very firm appreciation of the business of local government. Managing the major levels of expenditure which council now does across its facilities, requires thought, consideration, discussion, and input from the councillors and council staff.”
Mayor Batten recalled that his reasoning to join the council was to repay the people that raised him. “To me, joining council was a real opportunity to give back to the community that educated me, put up with me during some questionable teenage years, and the community that had provided an environment in which to see a young family grow and prosper.”
Being a councillor gives its members the opportunity to work with council staff and industry allied groups locally, both at a state and national level. Council also has a number of council committees and representations on third-party organisations. This further enables councillors to represent Gilgandra in a way that suits their passions whether that be in health and aged care, community work, or other areas such as governance, and health and safety.
“We want to encourage people to attend the workshop to learn what it means to be on the council and gain that appreciation of the business of council. The council needs people who are willing to not just show up to council meetings and flick through the business paper. [We need] those that want to share their views, and promote discussion about the issues brought to council. I encourage residents to give consideration to putting their hand up to give the community four years of their time and expertise.”
