Harden Shire Mayor John Horton has released his August 2015 mayoral report.
The following are some activities that I have carried out on behalf of you, during the past six weeks and are in no specific order.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
- Street Scape meetings --- The infrastructure for Stage 2, being West Neill Street and East Street is now completed. Gardens have been planted with roses etc and await Spring to display a beautiful new Main Street for Harden. Albury street shall have approx 200 Crepe myrtle trees planted in time to take advantage of 2015 Spring, thus completing our Town's beautification program.
- Inspected roads and in particular intersections at Wombat with Director Mark Crisp. Wombat residents pointed out the dangers and as a result appropriate signage has been installed.
- Local Health Advisory Committee Meeting (LHAC). Discussed topics ranging from a new Multi Purpose Hospital to Mental Health issues, to the drug Ice etc. It was proposed and agreed we move our Monthly meetings back to the Hospital, in order to make it practical to inspect Hospital related projects at time of meetings.
- Plant committee meeting, regarding purchasing and selling as appropriate -- Council plant.
- Sibelco-- Met with newly appointed Operations Manager Kevin Munday. Sibelco is travelling well and all were pleased Council approved their DA to increase tonnage extraction up to 320,000 tons per year. Sibelco Australia are currently spending $20M on their mine operations at Galong.
- Pepes -- Met with Mario Bonaccordio --- Operations Manager and John Houston ---Chief Executive Officer. The only problem is that ducks are growing too quickly during winter. Ducks are reaching 3kg and beyond in 42 days !! Management is very happy -- Quack quack -- !!
- Kruger Medical Centre Harden --- Met with Principal - Dr. Sazeedul Islam and his team of Doctors, Dr. Prakash Bandgar, Dr. Ishrat Jahan and Centre Manager Dr. Suranjna Jennifer Rahman. Dr. Tahmina Mohsin was on leave. All reports are very positive with three Doctors now having Visiting Medical Officer rights to our Hospital. The Medical Centre is now open seven days a week and being well patronised. Dr.Rahman informed me she is looking for a fifth Doctor and expects the new Doctor to commence duties end of 2015 --early 2016. Wonderful news for all the Community !
- Healthy Harden Committee meeting ( Formerly Medicare Local ) New walking tracks for our residents are progressing well and a book launch to deliver books to residents confined to home was undertaken at the Library last week.
- Federal and State members are met on a spasmodic basis throughout the year. I have commenced a six weekly meeting regime with our Government representatives offices. This Month saw the first meetings with Katrina Hodgkinson's office in Yass and Angus Taylor's office in Cowra. Meetings on a regular six weekly basis ensures we are all kept in the circle and that our working relationships are more productive.
- Police Area Command meeting was held at Cootamundra and was attended by Deputy Mayor - Councillor Neil Reid. Discussions included drugs, break and enter, speeding and domestic violence issues.
- Murrumburrah Public School. Represented Council at the Hero awards presentation -- 2015
- St. Lawrence Southern Cross Apartments . Met with new Manager, Staff and residents to celebrate Christmas in July. Took along the Piano Accordion and played a few tunes on it and on their Piano. A good time was enjoyed by all.
- Murrumburrah High School. Attended the afternoon Circus and the evening performance put on by students. Some 400 were in attendance and the quality of entertainment was up there with the best. Met with Principal Mr. John McFaden and offered him and students congratulations.The evening show was --- TRULY AMAZING ! ---
- Cootamundra Local Area Command --- Medals and Award Ceremony for Police Officers. Represented Harden Shire at this very important and professional ceremony. We are indeed fortunate to have such a fine and professional body of men and women, policing our area and beyond.
- Country Mayor's Association -- Sydney Meeting. Attended with acting General Manager Trevor Drowley and some 60 members were in attendance.
- Local Government. NSW Minister for Local Government Paul Tool and I had a long one on one meeting which gave me the opportunity to express my views on all things amalgamation. We are both on the same page and my impression is that provided Cootamundra and Harden Councils show that we are fit for the future ( In our proposal ) then our proposed merger shall be a winner.
- Local Government. Both acting General Manager Trevor Drowley and I met one on one with Minister for Roads and Infrastructure Duncan Gay. At my meeting the Minister expressed his thanks for a job well done with Streetscape stage 2, that he was pleased he was able to give the $1.6M grant towards the project and that he hoped to give us additional help down the track !
- Mechanics Institute fund raiser evening. Represented Council at this fund raiser -- old time dance -- ( A good reminder of my arthritic knees) A successful night with some 70 people in attendance --- good music, good food and good fun people.
- Angus Taylor / Katrina Hodgkinson. Met with both whilst representing our Shire, attending funerals.
- Chamber Of Commerce Awards Night. Held at Harden Country club with some 150 people in attendance. It was good to see Sibelco Australia, Pepe's Management and Staff in attendance and contributing financially to the success of the evening. Congratulations to to ALL nominees on being selected to represent your Company and my congratulations to all the winners. Chamber of Commerce President Hilton Doberer, his Board of Directors and Committee members are to be congratulated on a job well done. It was a great night. My thanks go to Deputy Mayor - Councillor Neil Reid and Councillor Matt Stradtmiller for representing Council.
- Councillor John Bray Mc Gregor ( Young ) - Acting General Manager and I attended John's funeral in Young.
- Federal Member and NSW member (Retired ) Alby Schultz - Acting General Manager Trevor Drowley and I attended Alby's funeral in Cootamundra.
- Amalgamation. Our merger proposal is with NSW Government's independent Committee ( IPART ). As soon as they reach a decision their recommendation shall be on Minister Paul Toole's desk. The Minister is the man who hands down the final decision to all NSW Councils, this decision is expected in Octoberr 2015.
- Rural Fire Service Headquarters. Both Harden and Cootamundra Councils at this month’s Council Meetings, voted for the new headquarters to be built in Harden Shire. Young voted for Young and Boorowa had not held their meeting at time of my writing. In any case the final decision rests with RFS--NSW. We should have a decision very soon.
- Cunningar Export Grain Development Project is well off the ground. This some $8M project has the support from grain growers, federal and state members, Rail, Councils, Grain board, Delta just to name a few. A grant request has been submitted to Government and we are awaiting their decision. I have no doubts that this project is long overdue and shall be looked upon favourably by all concerned!
My almost 12 months as your mayor has been an extremely busy time, with Councillors and Staff heavily involved in the Amalgamation 'FIT FOR FUTURE' reforms, whilst at the same time carrying out the normal day to day service and delivery functions of Council.
I want to personally thank Councillors and Staff for their support, hard work and commitment throughout the year to both myself and the great Harden Community.
