From Hilltops Councillor – Mayor Brian Ingram

Brian Ingram

The May Ordinary Council Meeting was held last week. It was a large agenda, and a number of items are worth mentioning in this column.

Recently Council was approached by the Boorowa Galong Rail Trail Inc. to contribute $25,000 toward a feasibility study for a proposed 29km Boorowa Galong Rail Trail.

Council endorsed this request which will allow the committee to proceed with the feasibility study.

I acknowledge that a rail trail could provide many economic and social benefits to the Hilltops community, however, we must ensure that matters such as ownership, construction costs, ongoing operation and maintenance are established as part of this study and prior to any progression of this project.

Also at the May Council Meeting, Council endorsed a number of draft documents for public exhibition and community consultation.

These are a suite of revised plans and strategies to set the way forward for the Hilltops community and Council for the short, medium and long term. This includes the Draft Hilltops Community Strategic Plan, Delivery Program, Operational Plan including the annual budget and draft fees and charges; Resource Strategy; Long Term Financial Plan, Asset Management Plan and Workforce Management Plan.

These documents are available on Council’s website and at the administration buildings in Boorowa, Harden and Young, and submissions are invited until Friday 24 June 2022. Now is the time to have your say on our future, please do so.

Another item that was discussed was community consultation on the Waste Strategy and Resource Recovery Strategy. This will involve Councillors and staff visiting Hilltops towns and villages to discuss the future of waste services in each area.

This will be happening over the next six weeks and will be advertised via newspaper, website and social media.

Please attend your local meeting to have your say.

Councillor Brian Ingram