By Gunnedah Shire Mayor Colleen Fuller
Last week was National Volunteer Week, a week when we say thank you to all of the people who give their time and skills to improving our lifestyle and providing us with ways to pursue all the things we love to do.
Gunnedah Shire people are enthusiastic volunteers with a volunteering rate that is higher than the state average.
Our community members volunteer to make children’s sport happen, to support our multicultural residents, to keep some of our museum and art facilities open, they even provide services in health and policing.
In council, we have valued volunteers who work at GoCo and the Gunnedah Shire Library. Both provide wonderful services that add to the amazing range of services and activities available in Gunnedah.
We also have community and business members who volunteer to play important roles on our council working groups and committees. They provide great insight and ideas to ensure our community is involved in policy and decision making.
At the May council meeting last week, we endorsed 17 members for our new Youth Working Group.
This working group will provide a forum for discussion of youth issues and provide advice and recommendations on youth matters.
It’s also a great and meaningful way for young people to develop skills in areas including leadership, communication, advocacy, governance and administration.
We also appointed two community representatives to the Gunnedah Flood Risk Management Committee, and a new member to the Sister Cities and Friendly Relationships Working Group.
These are just a few of the many working groups and committees that assist council, and National Volunteer Week is a great time to say thank you to all those people who represent their community.
You would also no doubt be aware that the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal (IPART) has approved Council’s Special Rate Variation.
There have been two rounds of extensive community consultation about the rate variation by Council, and another by IPART.
Unfortunately, this rate variation was necessary due to rising costs, falling available funds and the New South Wales rate peg system. It will be introduced over two years.
It will apply only to the rates portion of the bill and not to other charges such as waste and water.
To find out more information or to look your rates up in the rates calculator, visit the Special Rate Variation page on our website. The button is on the home page.
Gunnedah Shire Council also has a hardship policy for those who are having trouble paying rates and charges.
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