Upper Lachlan Councillors have welcomed the formation of the new Crookwell Progress Association.
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After the Association’s President, Mr. David Johnson, spoke to the August Council meeting, Mayor Cr. John Shaw responded: “I can say unequivocally that Council and staff will be happy to work with you.
“It will be an ongoing process – we look forward to working with you.”
Cr. Jo Marshall endorsed this: “The whole process is really exciting – we do want people pulling together rather than waiting for someone else to do it.”
Mr. Johnson, accompanied by other members of the new Progress Association, told Council he believed Crookwell “needed a voice.”
“Laggan, Grabben Gullen and the other villages in the Shire have a voice through their Progress Associations – Crookwell hasn’t had,” Mr. Johnson said.
Her added that in the 26 years he had been in Crookwell the hospital services had been downgraded, students numbers at the schools had fallen, and the town had even now lost its Catholic priest.
“A lot of these decision were not made in Crookwell, and we’d like to be a voice in consultation with the Council to get results.”
Mr. Johnson presented a long list of projects which the new Association felt could be achieved by working with Council.
These included signage to places of interest in the town, such as long vehicle parking, locations, the Council office, the art gallery and library, public toilets and other areas of interest to visitors.
Main street furniture improvements were also on the list.
An annual “clean up” for residents, with free pickup of discarded material, and a twice yearly green waste collection were also listed.
Community projects could include the Christmas lights competition, possibly a hockey museum, local postcards for sale to generate income for the Association, and efforts to attract retirement village developments.
Association member Mr. Ian Webster, supporting Mr. Johnson, said that the new organisation had emerged from the “Go Crookwell” project, which had found a groundswell for growth and progress in the Shire and for the town.
“I get sick of people not knowing where Crookwell is.
“It would be of great benefit to the town to have a heightened awareness of what it offers.”
Mr. Webster said formation of the Progress Association provided an opportunity to advance the community, in co-operation with the Council.