August 25, 2022 Five Gunnedah Shire Council policies are on public exhibition following the August ordinary Council meeting. The following policies will be open to public comment until Friday, 23 September 2022: the draft Councillor and Staff Interaction Policy; the draft Councillor Expenses and Facilities Policy; the draft Investment Policy; and the draft Leasing and Licensing Council-owned and Managed Land and Property Policy. The draft updated Code of Meeting Practice is also on public exhibition…

A final report of the Community Resilience Program has detailed how the program helped Gunnedah Shire weather difficult times. The Gunnedah Shire Council Community Resilience Program won the Local Government award in the NSW 2020 Resilient Australia Awards. “This wonderful recognition of the combined efforts of Council and our community showcased the efforts taken over a very challenging time to strengthen our Shire into the future,” the Community Resilience Program Final Report notes. The report…

August 23, 2022 A contract has been awarded for construction of Stage 2 of the new Gunnedah Koala Sanctuary. The successful tenderer, David Payne Constructions, is expected to finalise designs before beginning construction later this year. Gunnedah Shire Council voted at its July meeting to renew its commitment to the koala sanctuary despite a funding shortfall caused by skyrocketing supply and labour costs following the COVID-19 pandemic. Council agreed to seek additional grant funding to…

August 18, 2022 Thousands of locals and AgQuip visitors filled Gunnedah’s CBD for the return of NightQuip on Tuesday. The heart of Gunnedah was alive with music, markets and merriment for the community night markets on the first night of AgQuip, which has returned to Gunnedah after a two-year hiatus because of the COVID-19 pandemic. NightQuip – a Council-run event - was first held in 2019 and was back bigger and better than ever this…

August 11, 2022 Gunnedah is gearing up for the return of AgQuip – Australia’s largest premier agricultural field days. The ACM Rural Events field days are a highlight in the Shire’s calendar, drawing 100,000 visitors from across Australia to see the latest in innovations, browse 1000 exhibits and enjoy three days in beautiful Gunnedah.  “The event is celebrating its 49th anniversary and has battled its way back after two years of cancellations due to the…

August 9, 2022 Preparations are in top gear for NightQuip, Gunnedah’s community night markets, on Tuesday, August 16. There will be plenty for the whole family to enjoy when the vibrant evening festival on Conadilly Street returns with a bang, thanks to funding from the Reconnecting Regional NSW – Community Events Program. NightQuip – a Gunnedah Shire Council event - is on the first night of AgQuip and will light up Gunnedah’s main street with…

August 8, 2022 A Gunnedah Shire Library initiative has received a special acknowledgement at the Local Government Week Awards. Librarian Christiane Birkett and Gunnedah Shire Mayor Jamie Chaffey accepted the Special Acknowledgement award in Sydney last week for Innovation in Special Events in the RH Dougherty Awards category. Multicultural March was a month-long event highlighting and celebrating multiculturalism within the Gunnedah Shire through library events.  Councillor Chaffey congratulated Mrs Birkett and her team at the…

August 5, 2022 The Gunnedah Bicentennial Creative Arts Gallery will host Gunnedah Shire’s biggest art exhibition from Friday, August 12. The 51st Art & Ceramics Exhibition includes the work of artists from the Gunnedah district, as well as the wider region and beyond. Gunnedah Shire Council’s Acting Cultural Precinct Team Leader Madeline Buhagiar said the annual exhibition filled the gallery walls with an exciting and diverse range of works. “This exhibition is competitive and invites…

August 1, 2022 Today marks the start of Local Government Week and Gunnedah Shire Council are celebrating with a series of events at local facilities. Local Government Week runs from August 1 to August 7, and is designed to showcase the wide variety of work councils do and the ways they support their local communities. The Civic is bringing live children’s theatre, The Owl's Apprentice, to Gunnedah on Tuesday, August 2, at 11am and 1:30pm.…

July 28, 2022 Gunnedah Shire Council has welcomed Kelly Stidworthy to the role of Director Corporate Services. The role includes the governance, information systems and communications and customer service business units of Council. “We are delighted to have Kelly on board,” Council’s General Manager Eric Groth said. “She comes with extensive experience in both local government and the public sector and brings with her a wealth of knowledge that will help Gunnedah Shire Council in…