Lockhart Shire Council July 2013 General Manager Mr Rod Shaw Profile Hi to all the residents of boy. That was over 40 years ago and since then I Lockhart Shire. I started my have worked in numerous councils including term as General Manager Wakool, Leichhardt, Wentworth, Moree and Bingara on 1st July 2013, barely two in NSW, Wangaratta in Victoria and Darwin in the weeks ago and I don‟t think Northern Territory. At least 20 of those years have my feet have hit the ground been at Director level or higher. I also served as yet. It has been a very busy Shire Clerk at Tumbarumba for 4 years. My most time settling in, moving recent appointment was as General Manager of house, meeting people and Brewarrina Shire in the north of the state. A midlife becoming acquainted with my new environment. My crisis a few years ago resulted in some private first impressions are very positive. My partner Jan sector experience when I purchased and operated and myself have found everyone we have met to be a newsagency/post office in Newcastle for 6 years. welcoming and helpful, and have been impressed That experience was extremely beneficial to my by the high level of pride that everybody feels about later local government appointments because I was their towns and the area in which they live. It is my able to draw from the realities of private enterprise intention to draw on that positive environment and and bring that knowledge to the local government hopefully make it better by my contribution. The industry, which as we all know, can get a bit only downside I have to comment on is the bureaucratic at times. weather, it is really cold down here compared to the I have 3 adult children (Jan also has 2) who for northern part of the state where we have come some strange reason (which definitely didn‟t come from, but it is winter and I guess we‟ll get used to it. from their father) have all become chefs and live in As I move around the Shire gaining knowledge of various parts of Queensland. Daughter Penny has my environment, if you see me, I would encourage just had her 2nd child and my second grandson and you to come and say hello, even if you‟ve already lives in Charters Towers. The two boys live at Emu met me. I‟ve met so many people and my memory Park near Rockhampton where they run the kitchen is not as good as it used to be, so it might take a at the local hotel. few meetings before I start to remember faces and I am an avid sportsperson and follower (more names. So please don‟t be offended if you think armchair these days) but still enjoy a hit of squash you‟ve been snubbed, just come and say hello. and golf. I (and Jan) also enjoy walking and jogging The Mayor has asked me to provide a personal - shuffle? - to keep some semblance of fitness. I‟m profile so you will all know a bit about me. more your league follower than the crazy local I hail from the Coffs Harbour area and grew up in game where you score a point for missing (just the small coastal town of Urunga just south of joking), I do have a modicum of understanding of Coffs. My first job in local government immediately AFL and have already been to a local game to out of school was at Bellingen Shire as junior office (Continued on page 3) [email protected] www.lockhart.nsw.gov.au Council Snippets 15 July 2013 National Broadband Network (NBN) Through the program, businesses can: Council has approved the formation of a sub- Get expert advice on managing your small business committee to actively promote the benefits of the Access face-to-face support NBN to The Rock Township. Council has approved Develop key business skills the co-opting of local citizens to assist in this Small Biz Connect is funded by the NSW process. Government and will link with other business Code of Meeting Practice support services such as the Commonwealth Council has adopted a new Code of Meeting Government‟s Enterprise Connect program, as well Practice which is available on Council‟s website. as initiatives of Local Government and private Boxing Day Trading enterprise. Council received a request from Murray Shire Whether the business is just starting out, or want to Council seeking support for Woolworth‟s application expand the business or you need assistance to to trade on Boxing Day, Council voted to decline the prepare for retirement, Small Biz Connect can request. assist. The Rock Men’s Shed The Small Biz Bus will be parked in Mathews Street Council considered a request from The Rock Men‟s opposite the Post Office and will only be available in Shed at the Council Meeting for Council to the morning. purchase the property from the current owner to Greens Gunyah Museum give the Group greater security in regards to Funding has been received enabling stage one of funding, application for grants and continuation of the Green‟s Gunyah development to commence. the services provided to the community. The Stage two and three will proceed if additional purchase would involve a subdivision of the land funding applications are successful. It is anticipated with the intent that in the future a new shed would stage one will be completed by June 2014. be built to replace the very old structure currently Museum – The Rock used. The purchase price agreed by the current The Rock Township‟s development was aligned owner is very reasonable and Council reasoned that with the arrival of the railway in the region. The even if in the future, the Men‟s Shed ceased to Rock Community has expressed interest in operate for whatever reason, the real estate may be establishing a museum to reflect and display the useful for other purposes. Council agreed to development of The Rock Township. purchase the property for $25,000 payable over 3 years as well as meeting all the costs associated Engineering with the purchase. A lease will also be negotiated Three crews are still continuing with long term with the Men‟s Shed Group as well as requiring all repairs of roads following March 2012 storm event maintenance to be met by the Group. as well as regular maintenance works. Two crews Small Biz Connect visit to the Lockhart Shire are undertaking reconstruction works and pavement The Tourism & and Economic Development Officer sealing works. Works on Stage 1 MR370 at has arranged for Small Biz Connect will visit Osborne is complete. This crew is now proceeding Lockhart on Wednesday July 31 offering is a to stage 2 of the MR370 project. The Woodend-Five quality, personalised and highly subsidised Ways stage 1 project is nearing completion, with business advisory program for small businesses in Stages 2 & 3 to be undertaken later this financial Lockhart Shire. Small Biz Connect offers these year. Works on Rods Road, The Rock, progressing services throughout NSW. well and nearing completion. All sealing works will be held over until the warmer months. Council has 2 Council Snippets 15 July 2013 undertaken a trial section of 40mm gravel on both Flood claim Tinamba & Fragunyah Lanes due to proven results Council has submitted „Final Certificates‟ for with other Councils that the 40mm gravel enables Regional Roads flood events for 2010, 2011 & increased duration between resheets. There have 2012 and Local Roads 2010 &2011. RMS has been some issues with the placement of the gravel agreed to over expenditure for 2010 & 2011 events and these are currently being addressed. Council and payment is expected shortly. RMS is finalising will be continuing with the use of 20mm gravel for its assessment for 2012 Regional Roads final resheets for the time being. claim. Programme of works for 2013/2014 has Table drain clearing/cleaning in both Lockhart and been compiled and this is the last year of the The Rock is still progressing well with pipes funding. installations in various locations across Lockhart Road Safety Officer having commenced. NSW Roads & Maritime Services has allocated a Flood Study total of $8,000 in grants for road safety projects in Draft flood study reports (Modelling and Flood Greater Hume, Lockhart and Urana Shires for 2013 Damages) have been submitted, with comments -14 under the Local Government Road Safety provided back to the Consultant. Reports expected Program. Projects in Lockhart Shire will address to be presented to the respective Flood drink driving, driver fatigue, speeding, older drivers, Committees shortly. learner drivers and older pedestrians. (Continued from page 1) cheer on the team, unfortunately my cheering Lockhart Show wasn‟t enough to get us across the line that time nd but I‟m hoping for a better result next time. I did 22 September 2013 lose some brownie points with the Mayor by Are you 18-24 years and confessing to following the Swans. I‟m also interested in getting involved with some interested in representing local groups having been a former Apexian and your town in the Senior serving on a few sports committees from time to Showgirl Competition? time. Well, I guess if you want to know more about me The Show Committee are you‟ll have to make my acquaintance and we‟ll now accepting entries and have a conversation together. In the meantime, I‟m looking forward to having a rewarding experience are pleased to offer this as your new General Manager, to meet as many of opportunity of personal you as I can in the coming months and seek your growth and challenge to the views on how we can advance the prosperity and well-being of the Shire.