Message from the Mayor: 25 August 2023

Published on 25 August 2023

Hello, I'm John Connors, the Mayor of the Dungog Shire, bringing you this week's Mayoral Message.

Earlier this week, the Dungog and District Chamber of Commerce held a business forum in Dungog for businesses right throughout the Shire. The event was well attended by representatives of the various businesses, together with government agencies and other external groups to offer assistance, guidance and advice to those that were present.

The forum enabled the business houses to express their concerns about issues that affected them and these range from issues that impacted the Shire or allegedly were caused by the Shire such as parking and the like within the town of Dungog. And, of course roads throughout the Shire. But the night clearly was well received and a benefit to all.

Next Wednesday night there will be an Extraordinary Meeting of Council. The purpose of the meeting is to consider what Council’s position should be with respect to the appeal, but it's now been lodged by the Daracon Group over the Martins Creek Quarry development application. As you recall, the independent Planning Commission earlier this year refused development consent to the fresh application. And it's that decision that has now been appealed to the Land and Environment Court and Council will deliberate as to what, if any role, it should play in that appeal.

Council doesn't have any right to participate as of right now and if it chose to become involved would have to seek the approval of the court to be joined into the proceedings in some way. And they’re the issues that Council will consider on Wednesday next.

There's been significant publicity in the media in recent times about the need for electric vehicle charging points throughout the country. A recent article focusing particularly on Victoria stressed the fact that travelers and tourists are now making their decision as to where to go based on where there are EV charging points. And this of course, is becoming more and more significant as the number of electric vehicles increases. It's something that the Council is looking into and it's something that of necessity for the benefit of the Shire, must be activated as quickly as possible. And hopefully, it will be.

The roadworks continue throughout the Shire. On Sugarloaf Road the works there should be sealed weather permitting in the current week. The works at Clarence Town road on the approach to Dungog have been sealed and there are now works being undertaken on the intersection of Mary St, Clarence Town Rd and Lord St. Those works there will continue in the coming week.

Duke St at Clarence Town is still closed apart from access for residents. And those works will continue and will move further north during the coming week. Work has commenced, or the contractors have set up, on Durham Road at East Gresford and there will be traffic interruptions there as those works are carried out by contractors on behalf of Council.

The Bridge works continue throughout the Shire with bridges constantly being completed and the approaches being constructed. Perhaps one bridge that's had a significant impact is Jordan's Bridge on Summer Hill Road which has caused Summer Hill Road to be closed for some period of time and it's anticipated that those works will be completed in about two to three weeks time and the road then naturally will be reopened.

 I think with those few comments for this week, that brings it to a close so until next week good luck and goodbye