Mayoral Column 6th August 2021
Published on 06 August 2021
Goulburn Mulwaree Award
In May this year, Council endorsed the establishment of the Goulburn Mulwaree Award. Individual contributions by volunteers and community members can be recognised in many ways, through local organisations right up to the Orders of Australia.
I felt there was a gap in this system, and believe that the Goulburn Mulwaree Award will fill this role.
At the time, Council decided to delay expressions of interest for a working party to create processes and assessment guidelines until after the September election, however as we now know this has been delayed.
In order to get this moving along we will now be putting a report to Council recommending we call for expressions of interest for membership within this working party. Once established, the working party will have delegated authority to make all decisions relating to receipt, processing, assessment and presentation of the award.
The new award process will give special recognition to more members of our community whose contributions and/or achievements are above and beyond the norm; encourage outstanding and valued service, and further instil our sense of community pride; provide further opportunity to refer individuals' credentials on to the Australian Honours and Awards Secretariat for their consideration.
I expect the report will go to our meeting on 17th August, and encourage you to keep an eye out for expression of interest advertisements following that meeting – assuming councillors agree with this recommendation.
Funding to assist local entrepreneurs and start-ups
Our region will be boosted by a University of Wollongong initiative to boost economic resilience and create jobs, after UOW’s business incubator and accelerator iAccelerate was awarded $999,570 from the Federal and NSW governments’ combined Bushfire Local Economic Recovery Fund (BLER).
iAccelerate will deliver education programs to support 90 of the most promising entrepreneurs and business owners in bushfire affected areas to create 300 new jobs. Goulburn Mulwaree is one of six local government areas to be included in the program, after engaging with iAccelerate and providing a letter of support for the application.
This is very exciting news for the businesses and entrepreneurs of our region, who will be able to tap into the brilliant programs and experience offered by iAccelerate to help them take the next step. Their model has already delivered strong results in regional NSW through the Bega Valley Innovation Hub, and I look forward to seeing the program developed further over the coming months.
Long term lease for Campdraft and Riding for Disabled
At our Council meeting this week, we resolved to enter into a long term lease with Goulburn Campdraft Association and Riding for Disabled, for 55 hectares of land at 632 Taralga Road.
This lease will allow these two hard working community organisations to plan for their future. With a 20 year lease in place they will be able to invest in the facilities, and also lobby for grant funding towards their master plan proposal.
Riding for Disabled do a wonderful job with many of our younger community members living with a disability, and I’m sure will be grateful to be settled at the new home on Taralga Road. Goulburn Campdraft have been an organisation growing stronger, and they too will now be able to plan for larger events, long term.
Both organisations will pay peppercorn rent of only $496 per annum for the land, which is Council owned. The parties lodged a joint expression of interest for use of the land with the intention of developing shared facilities for equine activities.
They will now continue to develop a master plan with staged development for the site, with plans underway for a camp draft arena, undercover sand arena, livestock yards, car park, campground and canteen and office building. Road works, water reticulation and fence construction will also be necessary for the area; a number of these elements will require development consent.
Rossi Bridge – repair works
Transport for NSW will carry out work on Rossi Bridge on Range Road at Goulburn from Monday 16 August to Friday 27 August, weather permitting. Residents in this area should have received a letter notifying you of alternate routes throughout the work, however traffic control and signage will be in place.
Detours for light and heavy vehicles will be via Chinamans Lane and Crookwell Road and are expected to add about 10 minutes to journeys.
Work will include routine maintenance on the timber truss elements and safety investigations. To carry out the work safely the bridge will be closed in both directions and detours will be in place from 9am until 3pm Monday to Friday.