Message from Area snapshot the Mayor The Southern Highlands covers an area of around 2,700 square kilometres and is home to an estimated 45,000 residents. Situated approximately variety of opportunities to 110 kilometres south of be involved. , 70 kilometres Employment opportunities south-west of Wollongong in the Shire are varied, and 160 kilometres north- with health care and social east of Canberra, the area assistance, retail trade is blessed with a stunning and manufacturing listed rural landscape. The rich as the major employment agricultural soils produce lush industries. There is also a green countryside making the large and thriving tourism area renowned for its beauty. sector, with the region The region is also an hosting approximately 1.3 important catchment area million visitors each year. for water supply to the This expenditure supports Sydney, Wollongong and the around 2,330 full time Northern Shoalhaven areas. equivalent jobs. Most people residing The Wingecarribee’s in the Wingecarribee are vast physical expanse also Australian citizens, with provides an abundance of the 2011 Census data land for agricultural and revealing that 80 percent industrial purposes. An of the Shire’s population increasing amount of the were born in Australia. area’s agricultural activity Of those born overseas, is centred on value-added most residents originated products such as cut fl owers from the United Kingdom, and grape growing. followed by New Zealand, Apart from delivering core Germany, the Netherlands services such as ongoing Councillor Juliet Arkwright, Mayor and the United States. maintenance of ‘roads, rates The Southern Highlands is truly a The Census data also and rubbish’, Council is shows that the median also now seen as a major wondrous place. age for residents is 45, with provider of social, health and As Mayor of Wingecarribee the region’s bountiful harvests around 21 percent aged over community infrastructure. Shire, I need not look far to and in recent years more 65, compared to the state Exploring new and remind myself how fortunate viticulturalists have discovered average of 14.7 percent. innovative ways to listen our region is. our fertile fi elds are perfect for Home ownership is at 15.6 to our business sector and Our Shire is home to natural cool climate wines. percent – 3.8 percent higher is approximately $30 less per the Southern Highlands with improve customer service marvels such as Wombeyan The distinct seasons of our than the New South Wales week than the state median. 18.1 percent putting their will continue to be a major Caves and the spectacular region also lend themselves state average, and the cost Volunteering is an hand up for volunteer work, focus for Wingecarribee Shire Fitzroy, Carrington and to our annual Tulip Time fl oral of renting accommodation important part of living in and the community off ers a Council in the years ahead. Belmore Falls which cascade celebrations. Now running from sandstone cliffs deep for more than 50 years, each into our valley fl oors. September and October our Renowned athletes have Shire’s towns and village called our towns and villages gardens burst into colour History of the Wingecarribee Shire home for years. In fact, the with thousands of tulips. great Sir Donald Bradman spent Be it history and attractions, The Southern Highlands has a rich history which began with the traditional owners many years in during his scenery and natural beauty, youth, and around the corner sport and recreation, gardens of the land, the Gundungurra and Dharawal people. from his childhood home - and parks, arts and culture, Europeans fi rst explored the The name Wingecarribee health and wellbeing, tourism, including 46 hectares of and immediately adjacent to food or wine; the Southern area in 1798 and settlement - meaning ‘a fl ight of birds’, planning and building, parks, Asset Protection Zones and Bradman Oval - now resides the Highlands really does offer began just before 1820. The or ‘waters to rest beside’ - gardens and more. more than 50 kilometres acclaimed International Cricket something for everyone. region is recognised for its was retained because the There are more than 1100 of fire trails. The various Hall of Fame. This year both Moss Vale impressive early buildings Wingecarribee River was kilometres of road, 650 towns and villages dotted But it’s not just world-class and Bowral, two of our Shire’s and streetscapes, with some the signifi cant geographical kilometres of water main around the Highlands athletes that call our Shire home. main towns, celebrate their properties dating back to the feature common to all three pipes and 520 kilometres enjoy the use of a range Artists and authors have Sesquicentenary - or 150th early and mid 19th century. local government areas. of sewer main pipes in the of community spaces, long sought inspiration in the birthday - celebrations. The current Wingecarribee Today, Wingecarribee Shire area. Council also operates including 23 sporting Southern Highlands including In conjunction with the Shire Council came into being Council maintains a stable three water treatment fields, 59 playgrounds, Mary Poppins creator, the late community, Council has on the 1st of January 1981 workforce of around 360 plants, 29 reservoirs, 15 60 parks, 12 community PL Travers, who lived only a organised a year long program following the amalgamation employees. Council has a broad pump stations and six halls and centres and three few streets away from the of events celebrating these of Mittagong Shire Council, range of infrastructure assets to sewage treatment plants. outdoor pools – with an world’s greatest cricketer. historic milestones. Bowral Municipal Council and service the local community, as In addition, Council indoor aquatic centre also Chefs and restaurateurs Why not visit for yourself the former Wingecarribee well as various community and manages 3,257 hectares of due for completion in have also long made use of and join in the festivities? Shire Council. environmental services, such as natural bushland reserves, July 2013.

Page 1 Moss Vale Indoor Aquatic centre takes shape Highland bikes head to Namibia From the The gates may have closed on Wingecarribee Shire’s public Namibia’s needy are set to benefi t from the generosity of Southern Highlands residents swimming pools, but weather permitting, the 2012/13 season will with the imminent arrival of a shipping container of local bikes on its shores. General be the last year that swimming facilities close come early autumn. A total of 380 mountain bikes, Councillor Juliet Arkwright resting on its laurels and were opportunities for the villages,” Manager Scheduled to be open for options for Shire citizens stages of construction will fi ve wheelchairs and a handful thanked the volunteers for already aiming to fi ll another Mr Radowitz added. business in the third quarter regardless of the weather. include the development of walkers and crutches - their eff orts. Council sponsored container. In addition to bicycles, of the year, the multi-million At the time of writing, of the pool shells and their which were donated by local “The volunteers of our local “We accept all types of bikes collapsible wheelchairs, In the three years dollar Moss Vale Indoor major construction associated plant.” residents - were refurbished, branch of Bikes for Humanity but given the conditions they’ll crutches and walkers are since I arrived Aquatic Centre will off er year components including Wingecarribee Shire Mayor, loaded and transported from are to be congratulated be used in overseas, mountain also accepted. round swimming for our structural framework, Councillor Juliet Arkwright Wingecarribee Shire Council’s for their tireless efforts in bikes are the most sought In support of the scheme in the Southern Shire’s residents. roofing, concreting and said that on completion, Resource Recovery Centre repairing these bicycles that after,” he said. Wingecarribee Shire Highlands, I’ve been Featuring a heated eight– excavation have already the aquatic centre - located by the Bundanoon based will ultimately bring so much Apart from aiding in Council has allocated a lane 25 metre swimming been completed. directly behind Council’s facility,” she said. “Regardless Indoor Aquatic Centre Here you can view a 3D local branch of the Bikes for joy to those less fortunate regional mobility the container for collections truly captivated by pool, an additional warm “The building is really Moss Vale Civic Centre – of age, this facility will provide will benefit Southern animated model of the Humanity charity network than ourselves,” she said. “The scheme also provides at its Moss Vale–based the region. water exercise pool, a water taking shape and we’re would become a landmark countless benefi ts for all of Highlanders and their centre and information will with assistance from fellow Shire’s residents also deserve business opportunities for Resource Recovery Centre. our residents.” visitors for years to come.” continually be added as play area, a gymnasium, a making good progress feature of the Shire. volunteers from the Goulburn a huge pat on the back for impoverished communities. Bicycles and wheelchairs The climate and environment, “From vital learn to swim To follow progress on the construction progresses. club and a party room, kiosk towards the anticipated “Once completed, our and Temora Men’s Shed. getting behind this project and “The container that the bikes can be dropped off free- school and recreational classes, to exercise therapy, Moss Vale Indoor Aquatic You can also follow progress and wet and dry amenities; August completion date,” citizens will no longer need Speaking at the official donating so many bicycles in are shipped in is converted on of-charge at the Resource choices, business leisure, or general health Centre visit www.wsc.nsw. on the aquatic centre on the $8.4 million indoor facility said Bob Lewis, Council’s to travel outside of our launch of the first full such a short time.” arrival into a pre-fabricated Recovery Centre during opportunities and unique and well-being; I have no gov.au/services/moss-vale- Facebook under Moss Vale will off er alternate exercise, Project Manager in charge Shire to access a first–class container to be issued from Southern Highlands Bikes for workshop which continues normal business hours. characters are just some of its doubt that the Moss Vale aquatic-centre Aquatic Centre. leisure and rehabilitation of the facility. “The next year–round swimming the Southern Highlands, Humanity spokesperson Hans to provide skills training, For more information visit attractions. Wingecarribee Shire Mayor Radowitz said the group wasn’t employment and business www.bikesforhumanity.com.au Its proximity to greater metropolitan areas is also Council launches an attraction for many of its Butting out smoking at outdoor residents. Many highland locals commute to Sydney, the recruitment drive Illawarra, Southern Tablelands dining areas and beyond for work. In February 2013 Considering the current economic climate and And within this lies one of uncertainty surrounding proposed reforms to the the Shire’s great challenges. Regional Livestock Exchange, Wingecarribee Shire The Wingecarribee Shire the Moss Vale Enterprise Zone New South Wales Local Government structure, Council adopted an does not fi t neatly into any of and soon to be completed Moss Wingecarribee Shire Council’s recent decision to these areas. We are separated Vale Indoor Aquatic Centre have amended Smoke undertake its largest recruitment drive in years by the Great Dividing Range also provided stimulus for local Free Outdoor Areas may be seen as a bucking of the trend. from the South Coast and construction, livestock and In fact, at the time of print, Positions were advertised whilst we provide the bulk manufacturing businesses. Policy. Wingecarribee Shire Council throughout local media water supply for the greater Identifying local issues The policy will see smoke free had just closed the doors on agencies, including social Sydney area, the commercial has also been tackled by the zones introduced in Council 21 newly created positions media forums. hub of western Sydney is introduction of regular project – managed outdoor dining within its Operations Division. “We encouraged as many still some 60 minutes to the specifi c community consultative areas in stages from the 1st of Explaining the recruitment applicants to apply for north by vehicle on the M5 workshops and monthly mobile July 2013. campaign was Council’s the vacancies as possible,” Motorway. Goulburn is a Information Kiosks where Council managed outdoor Deputy General Manager Mr Marshall said. “We similar distance to the south members of staff travel to dining areas are areas which Operations, Phil Marshall. promoted the jobs as an and Canberra still further. outlying villages to discuss issues Council regulates through “We have some $12 million opportunity to experience Prior to the State with local residents. licence agreements with invested in mechanical plant both a diverse range of Government releasing its Underpinning all of these businesses and generally means at Wingecarribee Shire duties, and as a chance to Future Directions for NSW initiatives is the continued (From L to R) Pam and Hans Radowitz, Bob Smith, Councillor Arkwright and Steve Best farewell the shipment of bicycles establishments like cafés and Council,” he said. “To ensure begin a rewarding career Local Government report, we rollout of our staff Business restaurants who use Council we use it to its maximum, within Local Government. had already initiated mutual Excellence program across managed land such as footpaths we want skilled and “Importantly, the service and skills sharing the organisation and the for outdoor dining purposes. front window to enable and for businesses to prepare,” • a swimming pool professional staff operating majority of the positions agreements with some recent releases of our annual The fi rst stage is eff ective customers to identify the Mr Arthur said. complex; this machinery, helping were newly created,” Mr Council history laid bare of our neighbours. These Operational Plan and four from the 1st of July 2013 newly designated smoke free “They build on Council’s • a spectator area at a to improve our delivery of Marshall added. “All of Local history buff s can now explore some of the Shire’s past with the transfer of over 750 items from discussions continue. year Delivery Program and sees smoke free zones areas. Customers dining in existing Smoke Free Outdoor sports ground or other services to our ratepayers.” the positions were within Wingecarribee Shire Council’s Archives to the Local Studies Room at Bowral Library. Our vast geographic area papers; documents outlining implemented at all outdoor these areas will be required to Areas Policy which originated recreational area being Some of the newly Council’s Operations and relative small ratepayer our program of works we dining areas on Council refrain from smoking and are from community feedback used for an organised purchased plant include Branch, and once filled, Council Minutes, Valuation documents to the community All of the documents permanent new home in base also present their plan on undertaking in the managed land throughout advised to move away from and was introduced back in sporting event; industrial mowers, excavators will comprise part of our and Rate Books dating back rather than place them in available have been the Bowral Library’s Local share of issues. Grading immediate future. the Shire excluding those the area prior to ‘lighting up’. February 2012. • public transport stops and and bobcats, a vacuum truck regional construction and to 1886, Infectious Diseases restrictive archives,” he said. catalogued by the Library’s Studies Room in the Old and sealing remote country Whilst the challenges located in Bowral’s Corbett Council’s Manager “Council’s amended smoke stations (including ferry and a materials handling maintenance work force. Registers, Burial documents “Our Records staff took the Local Studies Librarian and Bowral Town Hall which roads, while not unique to ahead are many, including Plaza, the site of one of the of Environment and free policy is now closely aligned wharves and taxi ranks) vehicle at the Council’s “This recent recruitment and historical administrative initiative and worked with as State Archive are held in is open Tuesdays and our Shire, continue to remain the proposed changes to the Shire’s premier dining areas. Sustainability, Barry Arthur with state legislation which and; Resource Recovery Centre. drive is commitment from trivia are among some of the State Archives to enable custody by Council. Thursdays from 2pm to 4pm. a priority. Recent investments current Local Government Stage two comes into eff ect explained the new outdoor came into eff ect in January this • within four metres of a Positions called for included our Council to improving items available to the public. the community to access a A detailed list of collection “The Local Studies Room in upgrading our mechanical state model, perhaps even from the 8th of November 2013 dining arrangements. year,” Mr Arthur said. pedestrian access point Landscapers, Carpenters, the delivery of our services Council’s Manager of glimpse into the past through holdings can be found in is not just for historians,” plant fl eet have allowed our outside of our influence, I’m and will see outdoor dining “The introduction of the This state legislation, and to a building. Roadside Vegetation Offi cers, where it counts most, Customer and Information the documents of the day. the Local Studies section on added Mr Carnahan. “It’s staff to tackle outstanding confident the recent work areas on Council managed new smoke free zones have Council Policy now both stipulate Council’s Policy also Labourers, Truck, Backhoe and and is testament to the Services, Andy Carnahan “Both the content and Wingecarribee Shire Council’s open to all members of projects and win contracts undertaken by the staff of land within Corbett Plaza also been deliberately designed that smoking is prohibited in the extends the prohibition on Street Sweeper Operators. confidence we have in the explained the transfer beautiful copperplate hand– library’s website at www. the public who’d like to outside of our Shire. Wingecarribee Shire Council implement smoke free zones. to be gradually phased in to following areas: smoking to include areas Within the majority of the future prosperity of this Shire of information. written script refl ects an era library.wsc.nsw.gov.au take a look back in time Major Council infrastructure will hold us in good stead Businesses will be required allow customers time to get • within 10 metres of within 10 metres of a Council vacancies were a range of and the greater Southern “There’s a growing that has largely passed,” Mr The collection can also through the window of projects such as the as we meet and overcome to display signage in their used to the new arrangements children’s play equipment; owned building. grades including Team Leaders. Highlands region.” movement to return historical Carnahan said. be viewed in person at its our documents.” construction of the Southern these challenges.

Page 2 Page 3 The Southern Regional Livestock Exchange Less than two years since Wingecarribee Shire Council opened the gates to the revamped Southern Regional Livestock Exchange (SRLE) cattle saleyard roofi ng enclosure, and the benefi ts are already speaking for themselves.

Officially opened by initiatives seen in such a of steel compared to a “It really has transformed the Federal Member for regional project. conventional design. the facility into one of the Throsby, Stephen Jones The design of the roof Whilst 60,000 head of cattle premier saleyards in the state.” MP in July 2011, the $4.8 includes insulation from the worth up to $35 million in $4.1 million in funding for million structure was fully heat and cold, solar panels which trade already pass through the project was secured via operational just six months capture the suns energy, and the the facility each year, the the Federal Government’s after work fi rst began on the ability to capture, fi lter and store construction of the roof will Regional and Local Community all–weather facility. stormwater run-off to drinkable enable an extra 20,000 head Infrastructure Program. At The 10,000 square metre standards. During periods of of cattle to pass through; a the time of assembly the SRLE roof, built with 150 tonnes heavy frost, the roof is able to target Council’s SRLE team roofi ng project was one of the of structural steel, now capture up to 20,000 litres of have fi rmly in their sights. largest construction projects ever fully encloses the Moss Vale water per day. In fact, the roof “The benefits the roofing undertaken in the Wingecarribee cattle saleyards. has the capacity to save some 1.8 enclosure has brought to the “Not only have we increased “But just as important, Shire. The project was Besides providing million litres of water each year! Shire’s regional economy cattle numbers through our we’ve increased the undertaken by contractors permanent coverage from In addition, the energy have been enormous,” said gates, but we’ve attracted comfort and safety for all National Buildplan. the elements, the roof efficient design of the Andrew Murdoch, Council’s stock from neighbouring our guests, staff and even The Southern Regional includes some of the most facility allowed for a Coordinator in charge of regions including Braidwood, the livestock that visit the Livestock Exchange is located innovative energy efficient saving of some 70 tonnes the facility. Goulburn and Camden. yards,” Mr Murdoch said. at 550 Berrima Road, Moss Vale. Water, smoke and ice used in Wingecarribee Shire’s Council’s pipes Wingecarribee Shire Council is in the process of undertaking a range of tests and procedures in order to maintain and improve its extensive network of underground water and sewerage pipes. Included in the testing However the third, called as cracks, leaks and even inevitably build up in all pigging involves pumping an This semi-solid slurry is schedule are a number of ‘ice-pigging’, has attracted illegal connections. water main systems. ice slurry, or ‘ice pig’, through therefore much more eff ective at practices - some well known the most attention from the As the name implies, Smoke-testing is performed water pipes to remove any scouring and cleaning the walls and some relatively new to residents of this Southern water main fl ushing involves by pumping an odourless built up debris. of pipes of varying diameters and the local water and sewerage Highlands Council. ‘fl ushing’ out a water pipe via smoke into the sewerage Ice-pigging is an effi cient, cost- it uses approximately half the industry - that this Council has All three tests are undertaken a water hydrant. system to help detect any faults, eff ective and environmentally volume of water of traditional been keen to embrace. in combination by Council’s Council regularly carries ill-fi tting or illegal connections. friendly way to clean the pipe cleaning methods. Water main flushing and Water and Sewer team as out a proactive program of The final procedure Council’s network of water Combining old and new smoke testing are two of the part of ongoing maintenance water main flushing across Wingecarribee Shire pipes. Although pumpable like techniques are just some of the more common practices that of the reticulation system the entire Wingecarribee Council undertakes in a liquid, ice-pigging takes on tools this Southern Highland’s Wingecarribee Shire Council and are designed to help Shire to help remove the maintenance of its the properties of a solid when a Council uses in its day-to- uses in the maintenance of its identify any faults in the water minute particles of dirt, underground infrastructure is ‘pig’ of ice slurry is formed within day operations to maintain water and sewerage network. and sewerage system such iron and manganese that also the most innovative. Ice the pipe. its infrastructure.

Page 4 Prepared and published by Local Government FOCUS | (03) 9416 9900 | www.lgfocus.com.au May 2013