Gunnedah Shire Council may be set to rejoin the Mining and Energy Related Councils NSW after leaving years ago.
The association advocates for local councils impacted by mining and energy production.
Councillors agreed during the July ordinary meeting to attend two meetings offered free of charge before deciding if they wished to rejoin.
Mayor Colleen Fuller told the Gunnedah Times she believes the council needs to stay up to date with what happens in the mining industry.
“We really want to look at everything that’s going to be good for the future of water, mining, future industry [and] job employment for our local area,” she said. “I believe the mining related council will look at that.”
Cr Fuller would also like to see the association’s meetings brought back to regional areas, “where they used to be”.
She said ministers would come to the regional areas to see what the discussions were about, rather than having representatives attending parliament.
She said when speaking with Narrabri Shire Council and those looking into joining, they agreed being a united front would achieve more.
Cr Fuller said the Gunnedah council first joined the association in what she believed was 2009.
The association saw a string of Gunnedah councillors on the committee, including herself at one point as chair. Multiple past Gunnedah councillors and Cr Fuller are honorary life members.
“Things changed and [council] didn’t want to go on with it then but we want to have that opportunity to look at it again with fresh eyes,” she said.
“We will see how it all runs again.
“Years ago it ran very well and then we did see some changes that I believe the previous council wasn’t happy with.”
If the Gunnedah council rejoins, her aim is to take less councillors into the association to cut costs.
Cr Fuller will be the council delegate with Cr McGrath accepting the nomination as the second delegate.
