Mayoral Column 13th August 2021
Published on 13 August 2021
COVID Update
The situation in NSW continues to deteriorate, with 390 cases of locally transmitted COVID-19 reported as I write this column.
In our region we also now have an outbreak on our doorstep in Canberra, with four cases reported on Thursday and more expected to come. The ACT Government has called a snap 7 day lockdown to try and get on top of this, but frustratingly have not included our region as a ‘border community.’ This means that if you need to travel to Canberra for essential work or healthcare reasons you will need to apply for an exemption online. I have written to the Chief Minister to try and have our region included in this border community list, but do not expect to have this changed.
Late Thursday afternoon it was also announced by NSW Health that anyone who has been in the ACT since 12.01am on the 5th August is now subject to a Stay at Home Order. You are only allowed to leave home for what are classified as reasonable excuses listed below;
- obtain food or other goods and services
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- in your local government area, within 10km of your home, if reasonably practicable but not if to do so means that you would enter a local government area of concern
- for the personal needs of the household or for other household purposes (including pets)
- for vulnerable people
- only one person per household may leave the home to obtain food or other goods and services each day (you may take a dependent person with you if that person cannot be left at home on their own).
- leave home to go to work if
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- leave home for education if it is not possible to do it at home
- exercise and take outdoor recreation within your local government area or up to 10km from your home.
- go out for medical or caring reasons, including obtaining a COVID-19 vaccination.
Obviously we expect to see more changes throughout the coming days and possibly even weeks. Today, it was announced that 25 cases have been identified in the Dubbo (Western NSW) region. This highlights how quickly COVID-19 can transmit in the regions, and with the ACT outbreak we now need to be extremely cautious.
We need the community to wear your masks, keep social distancing, use the QR check-ins and also minimise any activity out in the community that is not necessary. Most importantly, make arrangements to get vaccinated if you haven't already.
Please also continue to get your information from reliable sources, being the NSW and ACT Health websites. We will continue to share this on our Facebook page, and I note our State Member Wendy Tuckerman is also doing this.
Council property sales
Council had some fantastic results last week, as our Hovell Street subdivision and former Dossie Street depot were put to auction. THe approved Hovell Street subdivision was sold for $4,480,000. Council’s former depot in Sloane Street was passed in at $525,000, but sold late Friday afternoon for $600,000 after negotiations.
Council in May chose to sell both parcels of land at auction rather than undertaking the development in-house, after an approval for a 29 lot residential subdivision of 1000 square metre blocks was achieved for the Hovell Street site.
The sale highlights just how strong the demand is for land in our region at the moment, and in our opinion vindicates Council’s decision to take the land to auction rather than taking the risk as the lead developer. The property was sold to Sydney developers which shows the confidence there is in the Goulburn market.
This is a great result for our community, with the sale proceeds to be utilised for redevelopment of the Goulburn Aquatic & Leisure Centre redevelopment. Being able to achieve a price of just under $4.5 million is very positive for our bottom line.
Council will consider allocation of surplus funds at a meeting in August.
Event delays and cancellations
Unfortunately as expected with the COVID-19 growth a number of events are having to be delayed and cancelled.
The NSW Youth Conference, which was set to be held in Goulburn in September, has had to be postponed indefinitely. We will be making every effort to hold this later in the year if possible. Alongside this the Goulburn Mulwaree Library have had to cancel Comic Con, for similar reasons – it will return in 2023.
The Convoy for Kids carnival day planned for November has also been cancelled for 2021, as it just isn’t feasible for the community committee to put time and resources into the event planning in the current climate. The positive news is that the group will still plan a Mystery Convoy Drive for Sunday 14th November, pending restrictions of course.
It is disappointing to only have bad news to advise the community of, but in time we will again be able to hold these wonderful events, and I’m sure the crowds will come in their thousands when we are able to do so again.