Digby Rayward here again. Happy to present this week’s Council Happenings.
Look, unfortunately, I need to keep reminding you that the state election is coming up early next year, and it’s vital for the community to get behind our call for Fair Funding for Dungog campaign. The elections are critical if we’re going to have any success in getting more funding. We will be repeatedly running this message, so get used to it. We need you to come along behind us and to advocate as a voice for us. As you know, we are pushing harder for fair funding for the maintenance of our vast regional road network. As I previously mentioned, we get $11,523 per kilometre, compared to $19,600 per kilometre for Port Stephens, which has the same roads when they join up, and $23,366 for Maitland. The current formula is way overdue for revision. It doesn’t take into account council’s ability to fund the extensive road network we have. It is neither equitable nor sustainable for a small rural council and its residents to bear a disproportionate share of the cost of maintaining our regional road network.
Now, last week, recent discussions with Minister Aitchinson, the Minister for Roads, were constructive, and she acknowledged that the current formula does not account for the council’s limited grading capacity to fund the additional maintenance required. We will ask Minister Aitchinson and all candidates running in the next state election to either scrap the old formula or develop a new funding arrangement. If you scrap it, you need either a new funding arrangement or an updated formula to ensure councils like Dungog, which have limited capacity to raise funds, are adequately financed.
Now we’ll be asking all candidates in the upcoming election to tell Dungog residents where they stand on our call for Fair Funding for Dungog.
Unfortunately, so far we only know of two candidates who have been nominated. Dave Layzell, the current Nationals, has put his hand up again, and I believe the Shooters and Fishers have a young lady just nominated, but I’ve just missed the name. So we’ll keep you in the loop as we receive nominations for the other parties.
Now, I want to give special thanks to the newly formed Paterson Valley Landholders Association. This group has contacted Minister Aitchinson and asked for support for funding of our regional roads. This is the kind of support that Councillors need, coming from all across the shire. So a loudest, united voice is the only thing that will get us there. This new group is certainly looking at the Patterson corridor and advocating for their section, and we certainly want that across other parts.
The General Manager, Gareth, and I are heading down to Sydney next week to the Country Mayors’ AGM. Now there’s an interesting motion put up by Broken Hill, which we fully support. They slammed the Country Mayors for supporting the shutdown of the proposed Financial Assistance Grant model that would have increased funding to small regional councils, and in Dungog’s case by $2.2million a year, so this will be an interesting meeting, and I hope their motion gets up. It’s vital for small councils, especially vital for us.
Anyway, let’s move on to some more positive things around Dungog. We’re fortunate to have so many things happening. Check out our November Council Happenings on our council website. I haven’t had time to go through it all because there’s so much there. John Tucker Park Plan of Management drop-in sessions are organised so our locals and others can have their say. Check the website for dates and times.
Also, nominations for the Australia Day Awards are open. Get involved. There are so many absolutely critical people who do so much, including sports people and volunteers. Have a look at that website, see the categories, and submit a nomination for someone you think is deserving. Get their name in there. Don’t be afraid to nominate them!
Now, Clarence Town. If you’re interested in helping form a paddling club there, there’s been a lot of interest on the river. Join the inaugural meeting at the Erringhi Hotel, the pub in Clarence Town, tomorrow, Saturday the 7th, at 10am. I’m told many people have expressed interest, so I’m sure this will take off. Also in Clarence Town the next day, Sunday, at the Village Green, the open space just past the hardware store and the pub, right on the river. There’s a fundraiser for the Clarence Town Community Builders, with music, family events, barbecues, an egg-and-spoon race, and tug-of-war. If you can, come down and help build that community spirit around Clarence Town.
Well, look, that’s enough for me. I think I’ll leave it there. I’ll keep banging on about supporting our efforts in the upcoming state election because that’s absolutely vital. It’s the only time we can get some guarantees of money, and we need to change the formulas as they currently exist.
So anyway, until next time, I’ll catch you then. Cheers.
