BELLINGEN SHIRE October 2014 NEWS...Community Newsletter NEWS BELLINGEN SHIRE Bellingen Shire...
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Community Newsletter NEWS BELLINGEN SHIRE Bellingen Shire COUNCIL 1 Newry Island Bridge The Newry Island Bridge was reopened to traffic on 31 August 2014 following its reconstruction. Fittingly the first resident to cross the bridge was Vanessa Hogan, an island resident who has worked tirelessly with Council, the Newry Island Bridge Group and the Newry Island community to communicate progress, help us solve problems and champion the project. There is no doubt that the reconstruction project was enormously challenging for all concerned. Neil Bardsley & Dave Fowler from Council’s Operations Division This bridge represents a $1.2 million investment in local infrastructure, the first of a range of local infrastructure investments that will be enabled by the Special Rate Variation, which was approved by the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal earlier this year. It is anticipated that by the end of October the scaffolding will be removed from under the bridge and the waterways reopened. The water and sewer pipelines have been refitted to the bridge and final abutment works are being scheduled. Crs Garry Carter, Desmae Harrison & Dominic King inspect the bridge Mental Health & Wellbeing Support During October Council has been actively involved in coordinating and participating in a program of events for Mental Health Month, which aims to encourage people across Australia to hold events and promote good mental health and wellbeing in their local community. In addition to a Youth Art Exhibition at the Bellingen Youth Hub, a Carers Expo in Urunga and a Bellingen Street Stall, Community Services Expos and Family Fun Days were held in small communities including Megan. With the generous support of the Megan Hall Management Committee, a broad range of groups and services provided information and resources to the community. In addition to the services on hand, food, music and entertainment were featured. Members of the Megan Hall Committee with Community Service Groups Participants The Megan community will also be fortunate to benefit from a Medicare Local funded First Aid course which will take place on 12 November. This opportunity is also being provided to the Kalang community on 17 November with the ultimate goal of ‘skilling up’ locals to provide an initial response in an emergency first aid situation. By supporting the smaller communities in our area with these activities and initiatives Council aims to raise awareness of groups and support services that are available if required. This in turn can increase the feeling of connectedness to support thereby improving mental health and wellbeing outcomes for our community. Council thanks and acknowledges the many organisations, groups and services that supported Mental Health Month this year. Space precludes us from listing them all in this forum. For further information on Council’s Community Wellbeing initiatives contact Anna Joy, Community Wellbeing Planning Officer on 66557300. October 2014
Transcript of BELLINGEN SHIRE October 2014 NEWS...Community Newsletter NEWS BELLINGEN SHIRE Bellingen Shire...
Community Newsletter
NEWSBELLINGEN SHIRE
Bellingen ShireCOUNCIL
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Newry Island BridgeThe Newry Island Bridge was reopened to traffic on 31 August2014 following its reconstruction. Fittingly the first residentto cross the bridge was Vanessa Hogan, an island resident whohas worked tirelessly with Council, the Newry Island BridgeGroup and the Newry Island community to communicateprogress, help us solve problems and champion the project.There is no doubt that the reconstruction project wasenormously challenging for all concerned.
Neil Bardsley & Dave Fowler from Council’s Operations Division
This bridge represents a $1.2 million investment in localinfrastructure, the first of a range of local infrastructureinvestments that will be enabled by the Special Rate Variation,which was approved by the Independent Pricing and RegulatoryTribunal earlier this year.
It is anticipated that by the end of October the scaffolding willbe removed from under the bridge and the waterwaysreopened. The water and sewer pipelines have been refittedto the bridge and final abutment works are being scheduled.
Crs Garry Carter, Desmae Harrison & Dominic King inspect the bridge
Mental Health & Wellbeing SupportDuring October Council has been actively involved incoordinating and participating in a program of events forMental Health Month, which aims to encourage people acrossAustralia to hold events and promote good mental health andwellbeing in their local community.
In addition to a Youth Art Exhibition at the Bellingen YouthHub, a Carers Expo in Urunga and a Bellingen Street Stall,Community Services Expos and Family Fun Days were held insmall communities including Megan. With the generoussupport of the Megan Hall Management Committee, a broadrange of groups and services provided information andresources to the community. In addition to the services onhand, food, music and entertainment were featured.
Members of the Megan Hall Committee with Community Service Groups Participants
The Megan community will also be fortunate to benefit froma Medicare Local funded First Aid course which will takeplace on 12 November. This opportunity is also beingprovided to the Kalang community on 17 November with theultimate goal of ‘skilling up’ locals to provide an initialresponse in an emergency first aid situation.
By supporting the smaller communities in our area withthese activities and initiatives Council aims to raiseawareness of groups and support services that are availableif required. This in turn can increase the feeling ofconnectedness to support thereby improving mental healthand wellbeing outcomes for our community.
Council thanks and acknowledges the many organisations,groups and services that supported Mental Health Month thisyear. Space precludes us from listing them all in this forum.
For further information on Council’s Community Wellbeinginitiatives contact Anna Joy, Community Wellbeing PlanningOfficer on 66557300.
October 2014
Community Newsletter
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SnippetsAustralia Day 2015
Planning for the 2015 Australia DayCommunity Awards & Celebrations areunderway. The 2015 event will be heldby the river at Mylestom to takeadvantage of the summer holidayatmosphere. Nominations in thefollowing 9 categories will be open untilFriday 5 December:
� Citizen of the Year� Young Citizen of the Year� Community Service� Community Group� Sportsperson of the Year� Junior Sportsperson of the Year� Team of the Year� Creative Arts Award (21 & under)� Community Event of the Year
Full details are available at Council’swebsite at www.bellingen.nsw.gov.au orby phoning Council’s Customer ServiceCentre on 6655 7300.
Volunteer Policy - Have your Say
Council has developed a draft VolunteerPolicy to manage approximately 400volunteers that contribute directly toCouncil activities through programs inareas such as visitor information,libraries and sustainable environment.
The purpose of the policy is to provide aframework for the support andmanagement of volunteers throughoutBellingen Shire. It provides staff andvolunteers with information about theirroles and responsibilities when engagedin Council’s volunteer programs.
Community forums were held in Octoberand submissions relating to the policy areinvited until Monday 17 November 2014.
The Policy can be obtained from Council’sAdministration Building, Shire Librariesor website at www.bellingen.nsw.gov.au.
November is Asbestos Awareness MonthAsbestos Awareness Month aims to alert Australians about the dangers of workingwith asbestos during home renovations and maintenance. With Australia having oneof the highest incidences of asbestos related cancers in the world, and with confirmedcases of asbestos related cancers continuing to increase as a result of homemaintenance and renovation, exposure to asbestos fibres is considered a major threatto the health of Australians.
EVERY home built or renovated before themid 1980’s is likely to contain asbestos. Ifleft undisturbed asbestos generally does notpose a health risk. However, when disturbedduring renovations and home maintenance,asbestos fibres can be released into the airand when inhaled, can cause life-threatening diseases including lung cancer,asbestosis and mesothelioma.
Asbestos could be anywhere! Under floor coverings such as carpets, linoleum andvinyl tiles, behind wall and floor tiles, in cement floors, internal and external walls,ceilings and ceiling space (insulation), eaves, garages, roofs, around hot water pipes,fences, extensions to homes, garages, outdoor toilets, backyard and farm sheds,chook sheds and even dog kennels.
1. Visit www.asbestosawareness.com.au to find out where you might find asbestosin the home and how to manage it safely.
2. Visit www.adri.org.au to find out more about research into asbestos diseases.
Contact Council’s Environmental Health Officers on 6655 7300 for furtherinformation.
Companion AnimalsCouncil Officers are often asked what thedifference is between microchipping andregistration of dogs and cats. Thefollowing information is provided toexplain the processes:
Microchipping
A microchip is a subcutaneous fullduplex electronic radio transponder.Modern microchips are about the size ofa grain of rice and are implantedbeneath the animal's skin between theshoulders. No personal information isstored on the microchip, only the uniqueidentification number.
In NSW, all cats and dogs must bemicrochipped by 12 weeks of age orbefore being sold or given away,whichever happens first.
Registration
All cats and dogs must be registered bysix months of age. The registration fee isa once-only payment, which covers thecat or dog for its lifetime in NSW,regardless of any changes in ownership.You are encouraged to have your cat ordog desexed before registering it.
Discounted registration fees apply todesexed cats or dogs. Having your cat ordog desexed prior to registration helpsto reduce straying, fighting andaggression and antisocial behaviour,such as spraying to mark territory. Italso helps to reduce the number ofunwanted pets born each year.
Registration fees are used to provideanimal management related services toour community. These may includeranger services, pound facilities, dogrefuse bins, educational and othercompanion animal-related activities.
Both microchipping and registration ofyour cat and dog are legislativerequirements and failure to complycarries penalties.
For further information visit Council’swebsite at www.bellingen.nsw.gov.au orcontact Council’s Ranger on 6655 7300.
Broken piece of asbestos
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Bellingen ShireCOUNCIL
Local Government Reform ProcessThe NSW Government has indicated that it wants NSWcouncils to be ‘Fit for the Future’ and have put acomprehensive package together to help them achieve it. Itrequires councils to:
a) Enhance their own sustainabilityb) Be effective in the delivery of infrastructure and servicesc) Be more efficientd) Be of sufficient scale to engage across community,
industry and government
All councils have to undertake a formal self-assessment usinga new ‘Fit for the Future’ tool, and prepare a “roadmap” forbecoming “Fit for the Future.”
This process will be assessed independently and councils whocomplete the transition to become Fit for the Future will haveaccess to a range of opportunities, including cheaper financeoptions, simplified reporting requirements, priority access toState funding and grants and options for additional planningpowers.
The regional direction appears to be more focused onestablishing strong regional centres, the establishment ofJoint Organisations and a rural council option (<10,000population).
The starting point for Self assessments is therecommendations provided by the Independent LocalGovernment Review Panel late last year regarding structuralchange.
In Bellingen’s case the Panel recommended no change, and theestablishment of a North Coast Joint Organisation (JO)comprising the Councils of Clarence Valley, Coffs Harbour,Bellingen and Nambucca.
That said, future direction for Councils will be determined bythe “Fit for the Future” evaluation.
The Mayors and General Managers of those Council’s originallyslated for the North Coast JO have met on a number ofoccasions during 2013 and 2014 and are in the process ofsubmitting an application to the NSW Government for fundingand support to run a pilot.
Key highlights of the Fit for the Future package include:
� A new Local Government Act to be phased in from 2016/17that will focus on Integrated Planning and Reporting� A new role for the NSW Auditor-General� A review of the rating system� A review of the regulatory burden on Councils� A recognition that flexible structures should be available
� Provision of future direction for Joint Organisations - i.e.that they should be focused mainly on strategic planning,advocacy and intergovernmental collaboration to ensurealignment with state planning objectives and linking to thestate and regional plans
� The potential for improved Financial Assistance Grantsdistribution
Funding for the “Fit for the Future’ program will roll out inthree tranches:
1 Immediately unspecified dollars to the Office of LocalGovernment to provide Councils with expert assistance, aone stop shop, facilitators and technical support.
2 From 2015/16, approximately $300 000 involving:
a) $258 million for those mergingb) $13 million for local transition committeesc) $5.3 million for new JO’sd) $4 million for small rural councils for innovation
3 Government is estimating $600 million in savings (over aten year period) through cheaper finance (via agovernment run finance authority managed by TreasuryCorporation) for those Councils who are judged Fit for theFuture
Detailed recommendations can be viewed atwww.fitforthefuture.nsw.gov.au.
Bellingen Shire Tourism Industry ForumsIf you are part of our Tourism industry we want to know whatyou think about the future of tourism in our Shire. Helpdetermine the following services and products:
� Branding� Tourism product development� Economic Development Plan 2015-2030� Marketing priorities� Events Hub� Visitor Information Services
Contribute to how your local tourism industry is shaped at thefollowing community forums:
Dorrigo: Monday 10 November, 10.00am to 12.00 noonDorrigo Community Hall, Hickory Street Dorrigo
Urunga: Tuesday 11 November, 10.00am to 12.00 noonUrunga Cex Sports Club, Bonville Street Urunga
Bellingen: Wednesday 12 November, 10.00am to 12.00 noonCouncil Chambers, Hyde Street Bellingen
Contact Catherine Tait at the Waterfall Way InformationCentre on 6655 1522 for further information.
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Waste ServicesThe past 12 months have been a busy time in the Waste Management area with manynew and innovative projects being undertaken. Here’s a recap:
Clothing Collection Trial involving 596 households in North Bellingen with 87%participation rate. A total of 840kg clothing was collected and separated into 4categories for processing resulting in items either being sold, exported, cut into ragsor sent back to the waste stream.
-waste Disposal - drop off facilities for unwanted, non working or obsolete electronicitems made available at Council’s Waste Facilities located at Raleigh, Bellingen andDorrigo facilities.
Mobile Muster – Eco-Bins for unwanted mobile phones, batteries and accessoriesmade available at Council Admin Centre and Raleigh & Dorrigo Waste Centres.
Bin Trim Project - Aimed at small andmedium businesses with free wasteassessments, recycling infrastructure andassistance with optimising waste services.
Bower House Recycling Shop - Officiallyopened its doors at the Raleigh WasteManagement Centre.
Better Waste Recycling Fund - During 2014Council will undertake a range of initiativeswhich are funded by the NSW Government.Projects include the installation of publicplace recycling bins across our maintownships, installation of several “Seal TheLoop”bins to reduce marine waste,specifically fishing line litter, Bin TrimProgram and the installation of aWeighbridge at the Raleigh Waste Facility.
Garage Sale Trail participation on Saturday 25 October. A National program aimedat encouraging communities to organise garage sales on the same day to promotereuse, reduce waste to landfill and enable new neighbourly connections.
Summer Operating Hours at our Waste Facilities
Raleigh and Dorrigo Waste Management Facilities and the Bellingen Transfer Stationare now on summer trading hours until 6 April 2015.
Raleigh (6 days) Closed Tuesdays and Public HolidaysMonday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday: 7.00am – 5.00pmSaturday, Sunday: 8.00am - 5.00pm
Bellingen (4 days) Closed Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Public HolidaysWednesday, Friday: 7.00am – 1.00pm; 2.00pm - 5.00pmSaturday, Sunday: 8.00am – 1.00pm; 2.00pm – 5.00pm
Dorrigo (5 days) Closed Monday, Tuesday and Public HolidaysWednesday, Thursday, Friday: 8.00am – 1.00pm; 2.00pm - 4.00pmSaturday, Sunday: 9.00am – 1.00pm; 2.00pm – 4.00pm
Visit Council’s website at www.bellingen.nsw.gov.au for further details.
“The paper used for this newsletter is 55% recycled and conforms with Australian ForestryStandards and is from sustainably managed forests and controlled sources.”
Sculptor Nick Warfield with Bower Bird Sculpture
CouncillorsCR MARK TROY (MAYOR)Phone 6655 [email protected]
CR DAVID SCOTTPhone 0499 984 [email protected]
CR GARRY CARTERPhone 0499 984 [email protected]
CR DESMAE HARRISON (DEPUTY MAYOR)Phone 0499 984 [email protected]
CR DOMINIC KINGPhone 0499 984 [email protected]
CR STEVE KLIPINPhone 0499 984 [email protected]
CR GORDON MANNINGPhone 0499 984 [email protected]
CONTACT COUNCILPhone: 6655 7300Fax: 02 6655 2310AFTER HOURS EMERGENCIES02 6692 2900COUNCIL RANGER6655 7300POSTAL ADDRESSPO Box 117, Bellingen 2454STREET ADDRESS33-39 Hyde Street BellingenEMAILcouncil@bellingen.nsw.gov.auWEBSITEwww.bellingen.nsw.gov.au
OTHER CONTACTSEMERGENCY(FIRE/AMBUL/POLICE) 000RURAL FIRE SERVICE6655 7001SES132 500BELLINGEN HEALTH CAMPUS6659 5800DORRIGO HEALTH CAMPUS6692 7700COFFS COAST WASTE SERVICE1800 265495RALEIGH RESOURCES WASTE HUB6655 3777
Community Newsletter Bellingen ShireCOUNCIL
