Kyogle Council has called on the State Government to intervene to stop Essential Energy from slashing 182 jobs from its regional workforce, including three positions at Kyogle and another 18 across the Northern Rivers.

Mayor Cr Danielle Mulholland described the proposed job cuts as an attack on rural and regional communities and said she was sick of rural communities being treated like second class citizens.

“This isn’t just about loss of jobs in an area and an economy where we need every dollar we can get – this is about quality service delivery to rural areas,” she said.

“Our local government area is more than 3,500 square kilometres in size.

“If 21 jobs are cut across the Northern Rivers what will happen when a storm takes out the power supply to large parts of the region?

“How long will people living in areas such as Bonalbo, Woodenbong and Mallanganee have to wait to have their electricity restored?

“Will these areas be treated the same as the more densely populated centres?

“It’s time that agencies such as Essential Energy start valuing our rural communities.”

Cr Mulholland said Council applauded the comments from the Deputy Premier who called for an immediate stop to any decision by Essential Energy to carry out planned job cuts in the regions.

“We hope the State Government will be successful in preserving this component of our regional workforce and addressing residents’ concerns about ongoing service delivery, rural traineeships and job security,” she said.

Kyogle Council’s $5 million Culmaran Creek Road Upgrade Project was officially opened today by Mayor Danielle Mulholland and Federal Member for Page Kevin Hogan.

The upgraded road will improve transport links, increase freight efficiencies and pave the way for more local jobs.

Kyogle Mayor Danielle Mulholland said project was a great example of what could be achieved when the three tiers of government and the community worked together

“It is largely due to partnerships that this road got funded – partnerships between different levels of government, with industry leaders and the community, and I thank them all for their assistance,” Cr Mulholland said.

The Federal Government committed more than $2 million to the project under the Regional Jobs and Investment Packages and the State Government provided $2.6 million through the Fixing Country Roads Program.

Kyogle Council committed a further $245,000, Mara Global Foods $30,000 and Mara Seeds $10,000.

Member for Page Kevin Hogan said the completion of the road was great news for the community.

“Local companies like Mara Seeds and Mara Global Foods came to me because they were having difficulty getting their produce to markets, which was restricting their growth and job creation,” he said.

“The new road will support the existing 25 jobs at the two companies and provide the potential for doubling the workforce over the next 12 to 18 months.

“It supported another 17 jobs during the construction phase.

“By creating a new dual lane concrete bridge capable of supporting heavier vehicles and their cargo, we have unlocked the barriers to growth that many local industries have faced due to poor freight access to places like the Port of Brisbane.”

The Minister for Water, Property and Housing is seeking nominations for board appointments to the Mallanganee Public Hall Land Manager.

Appointments are for up to five years and are voluntary. It is expected that members of the board live within or close to the reserve.

The Minister is looking for a good mix of people with a variety of skills, however, sound business and financial management skills and objective decision-making expertise would be a distinct advantage.

For further information including an application form, click here.

Closing date for applications is Monday 5 August 2019.

The Kyogle and District Chamber of Commerce 2019 Business Awards will be held in in June, with nominations now open in the 11 award categories.

Categories include:

• Malcolm Wallis Tourism & Visitor Experience – recognises businesses delivering services and experiences to tourism and visitor audiences locally and further afield.
• Agriculture & Primary Industries – acknowledges excellence in agriculture and primary industries production.
• Business & Professional Services – acknowledges businesses for their excellence in the provision of services in the areas of law, accounting, finance, marketing, media and IT as a firm or independent consultancy business.
• Health, Care, Wellness Industries – acknowledges enterprises for excellence in the provision of high quality care and customer service within the healthcare and wellness industries.
• Retail & Personal Services – acknowledges businesses of excellence involved in the sale of products and services from a physical retail precinct building or a home-based business retailing products and services (with stock on premises, held or made, sold from the home or sold online).
• Trade, Construction & Manufacturing – acknowledges business excellence in the delivery of trade services, construction services and value add manufacturing.
• Excellence in Business – By Size Below – A Business that has achieved significant growth and is able to demonstrate the specific strategies and processes implemented to achieve sustainable growth in the previous financial year.
  • Excellence in Micro Business – recognises a business with less than five employees
  • Excellence in Small Business – recognises a business with five to 20 employees
  • Excellence in Business – recognises a business with 21 or more employees
• Start Up Superstar – recognises a business that has been trading for at least 12 months and less than 24 months. This business delivers a product/service/idea/invention with credible potential and strongly displays an entrepreneurial spirit.
• Outstanding Employee – to be nominated by the employer only – recognises an inspirational employee. To enter this award the individual must have been employed by their current employer for a minimum of 18 months at the time of entry.

Entries close on 27 May and are submitted via an online portal, click here to go to the portal,  and judged by an independent panel of judges from outside of our region.

Then winners will be announced at a gala awards night on 22 June.

Kyogle Council Mayor Danielle Mulholland described Council’s $53 million 2019/2020 budget as an investment in the future of Kyogle.

“We have exceeded expectations in securing grant funding and continue to deliver on our most ambitious capital works program ever,” Cr Mulholland said.

“The next four years will see further investment in our villages, roads, bridges, preschools, parks, gardens, pools, library services and community.

“With grant funding assistance from the State and Federal governments, over the next four years $37 million will be invested in our roads and bridges. The Clarence Way alone will receive $12 million, including $8 million for the initial sealing of the gravel section south of the Bruxner Highway.

“We will also set aside $20,000 per year to establish a Local Heritage Fund to assist businesses and residents protect our heritage for future generations.

“Regardless of how ambitious our current works program is, we will continue to lobby for further funding so we can deliver beyond expectations, particularly priority projects like the Tabulam agribusiness precinct and the Clarence Way.”
General Manager, Graham Kennett said Council continued to punch above its weight and deliver for our community.

“A total of $10 million over the next four years is dedicated for bridges across the LGA, with eight bridges scheduled for renewal in 2019/20 and a further 21 bridges identified for replacement across the four year period,” he said.

“Since Council adopted the 2014 Long Term Financial Plan, we have delivered $61 million in capital works, with a further $27 million included in the current 2018/19 budget. Infrastructure spending will see a further $61 million in capital works delivered over the next four years, with a $25 million capital works program in 2019/20.”

Other budget highlights include;
• $140,000 in 2022/2023 to change to LED for highway lighting that will reduce greenhouse gas emissions and reduce operating costs by $30k a year.
• $421,000 for library services, in addition to the $170,000 in the current budget for the upgrades to Kyogle Library.
• $317,000 for emergency services.
• $496,000 for swimming pools, including the continuation of the extended season and extended opening hours during times of extreme heat.
• $67,000 for pre-schools.
• $622,000 for parks and gardens.
• $98,000 for Community Donations and financial assistance including $11,437 for the three Australia Day Committees.
• Funding to progress the Tabulam water supply project and the provision of sewerage services to Tabulam, Wiangaree and Mallanganee through the NSW Governments Safe and Secure Water Program

Copies of the draft budget, adopted by Council at its 8 April meeting for public display and comment, are available from Council at 1 Stratheden Street, Kyogle, Wadeville store, Woodenbong Post Office, Tabulam Post Office, Cawongla store, Mallanganee Post Office, Old Bonalbo Post Office, Kyogle Library, Kyogle Council Administration Centre, Wiangaree Post Office, Bonalbo Post Office, and the mobile library.

The draft budget and fees and charges can also be viewed here.

Submissions should be made in writing by 4pm on 7 May 2019 to the General Manager, 1 Stratheden Street, Kyogle or to council@kyogle.nsw.gov.au.

To read the third Bushfire Recovery Newsletter produced by Office of Emergency Management, please click here.

The newsletter provides wide ranging information and advice for people impacted by the fires and includes details about new disaster relief  assistance announced on 25 February by the Federal Government, the phone number for agencies providing mental health care, animal welfare, housing assistance, small business assistance and legal assistance as well as advice for people whose cars have been written off as a result of the fires.

This edition of the newsletter also has advice on cleaning up after the fires, and information on how people can access emergency water supplies for homes and livestock.

To read the second Bushfire Recovery Newsletter produced by Office of Emergency Management, please click here.

The newsletter provides wide ranging information and advice for people impacted by the fires and includes the phone number for agencies providing mental health care, disaster relief grants, animal welfare, housing assistance, small business assistance, legal assistance and advice for people whose cars have been written off as a result of the fires.

Bells Bay Camp Ground at Toonumbar Dam has been temporarily closed due to a blue green algae bloom and ongoing dry conditions.

Water NSW has issued a Red Alert warning (high alert) for blue-green algae after monitoring revealed high levels of the potentially toxic algae in the dam water.

A spokesperson for the Kyogle Fishing Club, which manages the Bells Bay Camp Ground,  said the algal bloom coupled with dangerous fire conditions prompted the decision to temporarily close the camp grounds.

It will re-open when both the algal bloom dissipates and the fire conditions improve. For further information, go to the Bells Bay Camp Ground Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/bellsbaycampground1/

The blue green algal Red Alert means that people should not undertake recreational activities such as swimming where they may come into direct contact with the water. Nor should they shower or wash in the water. Contact with the water may also pose a threat to livestock and pets.

The species of blue-green algae identified are potentially toxic and may cause gastroenteritis in humans if consumed and skin and eye irritations after contact. Boiling the water does not remove algal toxins.

People are advised not to enter the water, drink untreated water or bathe in water drawn from the dam while this red alert level warning is in place. Town water supplies remain unaffected and safe to drink.

Livestock owners are reminded to continue to check stock water supplies for blue-green algae and to remove stock from foreshores where surface scum is visible or blue-green algae are suspected.

Blue-green algae usually appear as green paint-like scums on the water, near the edges, or as greenish clumps throughout the water. It makes the water appear dirty, green or discoloured and generally has a strong musty or earthy odour. People should not eat mussels or crayfish from Red Alert warning areas. Any fish caught should be cleaned and washed thoroughly in uncontaminated water and any internal organs disposed of before consumption.

It is not possible to predict how long the algae will remain at high levels. Regular monitoring will continue, and the alert will be lifted as soon as the high levels of algae dissipate. To find out the latest information on the algae bloom, call 1800 999 457 or visiting – www.waternsw.com.au/water-quality/algae