From Hilltops Council – Mayor Brian Ingram

We have recently seen some promising statistics from NSW Health with a decline in the number of new COVID-19 cases. So far, we have been very lucky as a region. We have been lucky because we have been careful. To sustain this, we need to continue to be careful. Maintain social distancing and strict hygiene, stay home if you are unwell and get tested if you display any symptoms.

The recently advertised Spring Carnival was to be held at the Young Showground, which is controlled by the Showground Trust. The event was not approved or supported by Council. I have listened to the concerns of the community and expressed these concerns to event organisers. As a result, the Carnival will not be going ahead. The safety of the Hilltops community is our number one priority, and this is not the time to take risks or become complacent.

There will be a Local Environmental Plan (LEP) Workshop for Councillors next week which will form the start of internal consultation for the LEP process. This will involve discussions between staff, Councillors, the State Government and relevant agencies including the Department of Planning. This internal consultation is part of the formal process required by Council prior to commencing public consultation of the plan in early 2021.

Also next week, Councillors will be attending a workshop to discuss the Draft Waste Strategy. We will be discussing the current status of our waste and transfer facilities and the ongoing delivery of these services to the Hilltops community in line with governing legislation.

On Thursday, the Minister for Police and Emergency Services NSW David Elliott will officially open the South West Slopes Fire Control Centre in Harden. This project has been a long time in the making and it is great to see the finished product, a state of the art facility which will provide improvements in incident response and enhanced training opportunities, leading to increased safety for our community. This facility is another fantastic example of positive outcomes that can be achieved via collaboration between Local and State Governments.

The Centre is a terrific asset for the Hilltops community, and it is very pleasing that we have retained Rural Fire Services in the region.

– Mayor Brian Ingram

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• Local Council