BY CR JAMIE CHAFFEY:

The NSW Local Government elections will be held on Saturday, September 14, 2024.

It is an important date for Gunnedah Shire. We will once again go to the polls to elect nine people to represent our community at the local government level.

Representing Gunnedah Shire is an honour, and the role has proven to be a challenging and fulfilling one for me for the past eight years. Taking on the role of a Gunnedah Shire councillor brings with it the responsibility of working towards an even better shire, and achieving that progress within the confines of government regulations and resources, and budgetary constraints. It is a time-consuming, sometimes fast-paced and always varied role, and ultimately a rewarding one. I urge anyone who is thinking about putting their hand up to run for council to take a look at what is involved on the NSW Electoral Commission website at https://elections.nsw.gov.au/political-participants/candidates-and-groups

You will need to be prepared to listen and to learn about the wide-ranging role council plays in the lives of the Gunnedah Shire community. A good place to start is by attending a monthly ordinary council meeting of council.

They are held every third Wednesday of the month at 4.30pm at the Gunnedah Shire Council chambers in Elgin Street.

A number of workshops for prospective candidates will soon be hosted by council. Keep an eye on our website www.gunnedah.nsw.gov.au and Facebook page for details.

I also urge anyone who has something to say about crime in Gunnedah Shire to make the most of the opportunity to put in a submission to the Inquiry into Community Safety in Regional and Rural Communities.

This inquiry has come following the calls for action by the Country Mayors Association of NSW and councils including Gunnedah Shire Council.

To see an improvement, we need to let the NSW government know exactly what the problem is, and there is no better way than by telling the parliamentary inquiry about your experiences. You can also tell them of the experiences of friends and loved ones or – if you work in this area – about your role and what you see happening. They need to hear your ideas and thoughts. Every submission will help make a difference.

Whether you only have a few lines, or can provide statistics or your own story, please send in your submission. To find out how, visit www.gunnedah.nsw.gov.au

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