Water & Roads Top Priority for Dugdell
Total Page：16
File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb
Page 1 YASS VALLEY TIMES WEDNESDAY February 24, 2021 Water & Roads Top Priority roadsfor up to standard," Dugdell he added. The Dugdell family have settled in the area, and with schooling locally and an in- Yass Valley Council reports it manages ap- terest in horses, they have already begun proximately $500 million of assets, of to immerse themselves into community which roads are the largest asset category. life. In his spare time, James enjoys run- Yass Valley Council counts the road net- ning and cycling and now he has the work at 1,237 kilometres, excluding Na- space, will return to gardening to grow fruit tional Highways & State Roads. and vegetables. James Dugdell looks forward to making a Dugdell has worked on various water sup- substantial contribution to making Yass ply projects and hopes his extensive expe- Valley an even better place to live. rience in the area will lead the team tasked with meeting the Yass water supply issues' Max O'Driscoll challenge at the present time. "Having worked in water supply all around Wanted the world, I understand how difficult fixing water supply issues can be." Part "The team we have here are really keen on fixing the problem, and I intend to support Time them in that," he said. Yass Valley Council General Manager Chris Berry expressed his excitement Taxi Drivers about bringing the new director of engi- neering into the executive team. for Yass Yass Taxis need one or two part "We're very excited to have James on time drivers. The work will be board, he brings a wealth of knowledge to the role and we look forward to working mostly weekend days. with him on projects that we know will ben- You'll be able to work from home, The Yass Valley Council has welcomed After spending 16 days quarantining in efit our community in the long run," he and will receive a guaranteed Brisbane after a horror mishap extended James Dugdell as the new Director of In- said. retainer. Easy application process. frastructure and Assets. their stay after returning from the United Training provided. Kingdom, Dugdell and his family are happy Delivering better infrastructure to commu- Dugdell brings a wealth of experience after to be in Yass. nities is a consistent theme from James’ If you're good with people, learn completing a 26-year career as an engi- career highlights such as delivering water fast, have a good driving record neer in the army, in which he served stints "We've had a really good welcome to the supply and sewer infrastructure in Iraq, and are looking for some extra in Iraq, Afghanistan and Solomon Islands, community of Yass," Dugdell said. schools and roads in Afghanistan, or post work, please contact us. as well as aiding the recovery operation for disaster relief in Fiji. James has also Cyclone Winston in Fiji. Dugdell views correcting the water supply worked on the planning and delivery of in- Age is no barrier, Graduating from the Australian Defence issues and maintaining the roads of the frastructure, training and health benefits in although you must have held a full Force Academy in Canberra with a degree Yass Valley as the most important tasks for remote Australian communities as part of drivers licence for at least two him and his team as he begins his role at in Civil Engineering, James went on to the Army Aboriginal Community Assistance years. complete his training at the Royal Military council. Programme, the highlight being the seven- College in Canberra. James’ career fo- month deployment he led to the remote Please call Steve on cused on the delivery of infrastructure in "The water taste and colour issues need to community of Fregon in the Aṉangu Pitjan- Australia and overseas with his final day in be dealt with," Dugdell stressed. tjatjara Yankunytjatjara lands in north west 0417 294 966 uniform last December. "We have to get a handle on keeping the South Australia in 2013. to discuss. 4 Pollux St 233 Pudmans Lane, Blakney Creek 26 Shearsby Crescent 50 Pollux St, $540,000 $699,000 $485,000 $549,000 SOLD UNDER OFFER NEW LISTING UNDER OFFER 31 3 904 sqm block 93.08ha 5.98 hectares 321 968 sqm block Lovingly restored brick block home, beautifully Ideal family home looking for a new family. 240 acres with great water – there is a dam in every These views are simply amazing. New kitchen with plenty of cupboard room. paddock. Double creek frontage. presented. High ceilings, ornate cornice, modern colour Building envelope has been surveyed and a site cut scheme. Large lounge room with RCAC & s/c wood Polished floorboards throughout. Great mix of pasture – Phalaris, clover & natives. 40 foot shipping container. heater. Renovated kitchen with 900 oven. RCAC, new laundry, immaculately presented. Stringy bark & red gum, hinge joint and plain wire fencing. Mature Red Gum & Yellow Box and native pasture. Steel cattle yards, hay shed. Renovated bathroom. Large north facing sunroom Two alfresco dining areas set in established gardens. Mains electricity, water, garbage collection & mail. overlooking the back yard. Page 2 YASS VALLEY TIMES WEDNESDAY February 24, 2021 Waters to Leave Wee Jasper Reserve "Time for us now and our family," Michelle said. As for advice for future managers, Michael of- fered his insight into what he believes should be done. "We've taken it to the point where it's back to the 21st century." "Whoever takes it on now just has to prolong what we started, keep nourishing it, and put their own spin on it," he said. Michelle and Michael Waters tenure managing the Wee Jasper Reserves has officially come Among the notable changes made by the pair to an end. were brand new office spaces, new shower and toilet blocks, barbeque shelters, as well as After six years in charge, the couple feel com- potable clean water supply installed at each of fortable knowing they have made significant the reserves within Wee Jasper. and everlasting improvements to the Wee Jasper Reserves. The couple noted that whilst they have experi- enced more than their fair share of tragedy "When we went out there, it was multiple pad- from the roads surrounding the Wee Jasper docks, we had very little equipment, and we Reserves, some of their fondest moments had very little help. come from meeting with the families of the people they had tried to help save. "We've left it in a much better place!" Michelle said. "Throughout one period, we had three emer- gency helicopters come in three weeks." Regarding the annual fireworks and bonfire fundraising event "Duncan's Legacy Ignites "Their families would keep returning and were Hope", which commemorates the life of their always incredibly grateful for our efforts," son Duncan who passed from testicular can- Michelle said. cer in October of 2014, they said the event would be moving to a new location, should it As for why they believe they were so success- go ahead this year. ful, Michelle believes it was their diverse skill sets that enabled Michelle to run much of the "We are in early discussions with a new loca- internal business operations, whilst Michael tion," had more of a project management and gen- eral groundskeeping focus. "Watch this space!" Michelle said with- a men acing grin. "Our jobs were so different." The event has been the highlight of the Wa- "We were really reliant on one another, be- ters' time at Wee Jasper, which from humble cause we worked out that after six years, we beginnings in 2016, has gone on to raise didn't really know what the other one actually nearly $80,000. They would like to thank the did," she said. community for all their support over the years. As for the future, the pair expect to return to "We have a huge group of family and friends work in Yass and aim to continue Duncan's that come in to support us," Michelle said. Legacy. A tough few months with bushfires and the "The best thing for us is that we've left the Wee pandemic at the beginning of 2020 exacer- Jasper Reserves in a better place, but we've bated the pairs decision to call it quits. also left on a happy note, and I think ultimately how lucky are we?' Michelle said proudly. "From the 18th of December 2019 to the 31st of May 2020, we had five weeks of trading, The Yass Valley Times would like to thank which really knocked us about," Michelle said. Michelle and Michael Waters for the incredible work they have done to improve and maintain Whilst they both admit it was not easy to walk the Wee Jasper Reserves over the years. away, spending more time with their family and more time in their own home was very at- Max O'Driscoll tractive. "We haven't had a weekend off in six years." Profitable Grazing Breakfast- Yass Branch A collection of the Yass Valley’s farm- expect a successful period over the Edward Storey made sure to empha- would continue to look away from Aus- ing community met to discuss the is- next few months. sise the importance of using pain relief tralian wool should farmers continue to sues affecting the farmers of the when mulesing. ignore their mandatory obligations. region. “Every season will give you challenges on a farm.” “Wool buyers say we’re too late to Other presenters included representa- Feed digestibility, foot rot and worms save mulesing in the long run.” tives from the Yass Local Land Serv- were all expected to be prevalent is- “All we need is an inch of rain in early ice, Integrity Systems Australia, sues for farmers this winter, after a March and I think things are locked in.