2017 has been a great year for Upper Lachlan Shire Council. We’ve kicked a lot of goals.
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Among the highlights has been the construction of the Crookwell Skate Park and Crookwell Water Treatment Plant. We’ve also upgraded playgrounds across the Shire as part of the ‘Play and Stay Program’ and assisted the Crookwell Neighbourhood Centre to build the Shire’s first outdoor community gym at Clifton Park.
Council was recognised with two awards this year. We were named the winner in the category of Reporting to Your Community, Division A (population of less than 30,000) in the 2017 RH Dougherty Awards for outstanding communication via our Facebook page and were named runner up for ‘Most Improved Small Sewerage Provider’ in the inaugural Sam Samra Awards.
We tapped into the creativity and ideas of our local school children with two competitions – the National Reconciliation Week Art Competition and the Our Towns – Schools’ Ideas Competition, with both garnering a vast array of impressive entries.
Council is also planning for the future needs of the community with the development of the Pedestrian Access Mobility Plan and Bike Plan, Disability Inclusion Action Plan, Streetscapes Project and input to the Tablelands Community Strategic Plan 2016-2036.
Council maintained a healthy budget, recording a total net operating surplus of more than $5 million for 2016/17, before capital grants and contributions, making us fit for the future.
Gunning and Bigga were recognised as ‘RV Friendly Towns’ by the Campervan and Motorhome Club of Australia (CMCA), enabling the towns to be promoted through the CMCA’s channels. With over 70,000 members the CMCA are the largest RV Club in the southern hemisphere.
Council established a new agreement with Goulburn Mulwaree Council for the provision of library services following the dissolution of the Southern Tablelands Library Cooperative. The new agreement allowed for Crookwell, Gunning and Goulburn libraries to continue to operate in the same way as they did previously – with shared access to each other’s collections. Goulburn Mulwaree’s mobile library service the ‘Big Read Bus’ also commenced services in Taralga, as part of a 12 month trial.
This year we also started work on the realignment of the notorious ‘Devil’s Elbow’ section of Grabben Gullen Road, with construction to continue into next year and the upgrade to Main Road 54, which is due to be completed in March 2018. When MR54 is completed the road between Crookwell, Bathurst and Orange will be sealed.
Speaking of next year, it’s sure to be a big one too. Next year we’ll start work on the Kiamma Creek Bridge upgrade, the redevelopment of the Crookwell Memorial Oval Sports Centre and construction of the Tuena Campground Toilets.
While Council is making great strides, we will not be complacent and will continue to work hard to meet the needs of our community.
On behalf of Council, I’d like to wish all Shire residents and their loved ones a very merry Christmas and a safe and happy New Year.