Productive fortnight for council

COLLEEN FULLER OAM, MAYOR, GUNNEDAH SHIRE COUNCIL

It has been a productive fortnight for council and there is so much positive news to share.

I’m very relieved and glad that council’s advocacy for Gunnedah Shire’s water security under the Regional, Rural and Remote (RRR) Water Security Alliance – representing seven councils across inland New South Wales – has been successful.

Thank you to NSW Minister for Water Rose Jackson for listening to our concerns about the proposed Keepit Dam to Tamworth pipeline and recognising that another avenue is needed to help secure water for the Tamworth region.

While recognising the importance of securing Tamworth’s long-term water supply, the Alliance argued that it must not come at the cost of communities downstream of Lake Keepit and Split Rock Dams who already face strained access to water for basic human needs, agriculture, culture, and economic survival.

Without water, communities dry up. It’s important that we protect our life source so our shire can continue to thrive.

Thank you to the councils in the Water Security Alliance – Liverpool Plains, Narrabri, Walgett, Brewarrina, Bourke and Central Darling shires – for working alongside us, and to Gunnedah Shire councillor Robert Hoddle, chair of Murray Darling Association Region 11 Gunnedah Shire and council staff, including general manager Eric Groth and director community and planning andrew Johns, for all they have invested in this significant advocacy priority.

This is a great outcome for our shire and I’m excited that this result has been achieved by working together for the good of our shires.

There is more good news for our whire – 18 community-based organisations and registered charities will receive almost $70,000 in funding under douncil’s newly revised Small Grants Program. The previous Community and Sports, Arts and Cultural, and Access Incentive Small Grants initiatives were recently combined to form one more cohesive and simplified grants program.

Council has awarded almost $800,000 locally through small grants over 22 years, aiding the work of local not-for-profit arts, cultural, sporting, social support and community groups to help them buy or replace equipment, upgrade infrastructure, deliver events, workshops and celebrations, create new programs to enhance access, and expand existing ones.

By providing these funding opportunities, we continue to acknowledge how valuable these groups and their committed volunteers are to our shire, and their resourcefulness and resilience.

Another way council is supporting the community is through our long-running partnership with the Gunnedah Salvation Army to provide gifts to those in need over Christmas. We have teamed up for the 13th year to launch the Gunnedah Shire Community Christmas Tree Toy Appeal, and we are asking for donations to this wonderful initiative.

I know we are all feeling the pinch of rising living costs, so I want to remind our community members that even a small contribution can make a big difference. If you would like to donate, please place new and unwrapped gifts under the Christmas trees located at Gunnedah Shire Council’s Administration Building (63 Elgin Street, Gunnedah) and the Gunnedah Shire Library (291 Conadilly Street, Gunnedah).

For health and hygiene reasons, food items and pre-loved toys are unable to be donated. All donations need to be delivered by 5pm on Monday, 7 December 2026 so they can be distributed to local families in the lead-up to Christmas.

Keep an eye on our website and social media for upcoming Christmas events.