Council has been refurbishing the Bonalbo Oval over a number of months to provide better drainage (via subsurface drainage lines) and level out the surface.

Unfortunately, the project has encountered a number of challenges, including hot and dry weather, followed by weeks of soaking rain and then a major weed issue.

While the current state of the oval is not ideal, the project is not finished and the site remains a work in progress.

Council applied a selective herbicide to address the weed problem last month and will progressively mow the oval over coming weeks to get the grass under control.

Following this, a final surface levelling exercise will be undertaken which is expected to substantially complete the project.

There may be a couple of bare patches where the weeds were thick, but these are expected to be minor and will revegetate over coming months, into the next grass growing season.

A responsible budget that sets the groundwork for growth, improvement and prosperity.

That’s how Kyogle Council Mayor Danielle Mulholland has described the $61.3 million draft budget which Council voted on Monday night (14 April) to put on display for public comment.

It provides $2.68 million for regional road projects, $4.1 million for rural local roads, $5.4 million for bridges, and $17 million (over two years) to build a new sewerage treatment plant for Kyogle.

A further $6 million has also been provided in the forward estimates to sewer the villages of Wiangaree, Tabulam and Mallanganee and $2.5 million for a Tabulam water supply.

“Council is investing in the future of our communities,” Cr Mulholland said.

“We are providing the essential infrastructure and connectivity needed to ensure the Kyogle LGA continues to be a great place to live and work while also having the capacity to grow sustainably.

“With this budget, Council is planning for the future – a future where the LGA’s infrastructure meets the needs of a growing, more prosperous community and Kyogle LGA is the place where people move to for lifestyle and opportunity.”

The draft budget also sets aside:

• $783,674 for urban streets,
• $141,500 for the Roxy Gallery
• $614,490 for the library and mobile library
• $725,213 on Council’s three public swimming pools
• $1.48 million on parks, gardens and village maintenance
• $166,620 in financial assistance and community donations

The budget provides for a general rate increase of the rate pegged limit of 4.1 per cent.

Meanwhile, a proposed 10 per cent increase in sewerage rates will help raise $4.25 million needed to secure a $12.75 million State Government grant to build the new sewerage treatment plant.

“The old sewerage treatment plant (STP) is classified as high risk and no longer meets environmental standards,” Cr Mulholland said.

“Building the new STP will ensure critical environmental standards are met and sets Kyogle up for the future, with the town having increased capacity to grow and thrive.”

The draft budget is on display for public comment until 16 May 2025. Copies of the budget can be found at Council’s administration centre at 1 Stratheden Street, Kyogle, on Council’s website here, or at Wadeville store, Woodenbong Post Office, Tabulam Post Office, Cawongla store, Mallanganee Post Office, Wiangaree Post Office, and Bonalbo Post Office.

Written submissions will be accepted up to 4pm on 16 May 2025 and should be sent to the General Manager, PO Box 11, Kyogle, NSW 2474 or to council@kyogle.nsw.gov.au

Leading automotive retailer Supercheap Auto is set to film a major new advertising campaign in Kyogle across a four day window between Thursday 22 May to Tuesday 27 May.

This is the second time the brand has shot in the region, having previously filmed here in 2018.

This year’s production will necessitate some temporary road closures in and around the town centre, however Supercheap Auto is working closely with the Kyogle Council to ensure that
any disruption is minimised.

Kyogle Mayor Danielle Mulholland says the production will bring economic benefits to the Kyogle region.

“We are aiming to promote Kyogle as a film-friendly location, so when a large, national company like Supercheap Auto chooses our town for a huge commercial shoot, it sends a positive message to the wider production industry,” Cr Mulholland said.

Supercheap Auto Content Manager Reece Moger said that Kyogle’s picturesque buildings and pro-film attitude is a big reason why the company is returning to Kyogle.

“We had such a great experience working with Kyogle Council to produce our previous campaign. So when we were scouting for a location for this year’s production, Kyogle’s picture perfect streets and amazing buildings made it the ideal choice,” Moger said.

The commercial is produced by TAXI Film, one of Australia’s leading production companies.

It is anticipated the production will bring over 100 cast and crew to the region, bringing economic benefits to local accommodation and hospitality providers as well as other businesses.

“We’re also hoping to employ locals as background extras, as well as work with local auto clubs to source vehicles,” Moger said.

Locals interested in being a background extra in the production are asked to email photos of themselves and a brief description, including name, age and contact details to production@taxifilm.tv or if you have any questions relating to the production please email
shoot@taxifilm.tv

Kyogle landfill will re-open on Monday (24 March), but will only accept small quantities of general waste for the coming weeks.

The landfill cell that holds general waste was seriously damaged in the Cyclone Alfred weather event and will take some time to repair. In the meantime, Council will truck its household waste out of the area for disposal.

As a result, Council is only able to accept small quantities of household waste (bins and bags of rubbish) at the landfill facility.  Please note the landfill will not accept bulky household waste, commercial or industrial waste during this time.

All other waste including co-mingled recyclables, green waste, scrap metal, tyres, fridges, and Community Recycling Centre items can be dropped off as per usual

Council thanks the community for their patience while the work to repair the cell is undertaken.

Monday, 10 March

Agriculture and Animal Services Hotline

In the wake of the floods caused by Tropical Cyclone Alfred, Council has postponed all the community consultation sessions planned for this week on the review of the Community Strategic Plan.

The community consultation sessions will be rescheduled once Council is able to determine venue and staff availability.

Council has also decided to postpone the Mallanganee Observatory Information Session which was to be held on Wednesday (12 March). It will now be held on Wednesday, 19 March 2025.

Pools re-open

The Bonalbo and Woodenbong pools will re-open to the public today (Monday, 10 March)  at the usual times, 2-6pm.

Kyogle Memorial Pool will re-open at 6am tomorrow (Tuesday, 11 March) to allow staff to clean up storm debris and properly adjust the water chemistry.

Waste facilities and operations

Kerbside bin collection services will operate as normal this week, pending any further deterioration in weather conditions.

Householders are asked to put out their red-lid and green-lid bins on the usual day of service.

If you have green waste (leaves, tree branches, palm fronds etc.) on your property as a result of Cyclone Alfred, please place as much of the waste in your green-lid bin as possible. Remember small branches and palm fronds up to 60cm long and 10 cm in diameter can be placed into your green-lid bin.

The Kyogle Landfill Facility and Kyogle Reuse Shed will remain closed until further notice as the facility has sustained damage and flooding as a result of Cyclone Alfred.

The Woodenbong Transfer Station will be open tomorrow (Tuesday, 11 March), however, the access road has sustained moderate damage and people are advised to exercise caution when driving up the road.

Council staff are assessing Bonalbo and Mallanganee transfer stations for damage today. Council will advise whether they will be open on Wednesday and Thursday respectively, once these assessments have been completed.

Council would like to thank the community for their patience as we work through safety issues caused by the Cyclone Alfred weather event.

Kyogle library and mobile library services

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8pm Sunday, 9 March

The community meeting planned for Cawongla tomorrow (Monday, 10 March) as part of the review of Council’s Community Strategic Plan has been postponed to date to be confirmed.

This will allow Council staff to focus on immediate recovery efforts following flooding caused by Tropical Cyclone Alfred.

Similarly, the Council meeting set down for tomorrow afternoon has been postponed to Monday, 17 March at 2pm.

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4pm Friday, 7 March

For all information about evacuation centres and where they are located, please go to the SES website by following this link.

There will be a Business Beyond Disasters information session next week – Wednesday 5 March from 8.30-10am – at the Kyogle Memorial Institute Hall.

This free online learning program has been designed to strengthen business resilience. The information session will cover everything you need to know about Business Beyond Disasters – why it’s important, how it works and when you can get started.

This is a great chance to connect with your local business community over light refreshments to hear about this new approach for business resilience. Representatives from key agencies and emergency services will be there, as will the Reconstruction Authority to share updates on adaptation planning.

For further information follow this link.