Council Meeting: Feb 22

AT tonight’s Council meeting Cr Kiwa Fisher raised concerns about new coal mine developments and asked the Council to take action now.

Upper Hunter Shire Council: Back: Cr Fisher, Cr Campbell, Mayor Bedggood, Cr Collison, Cr Driscoll, Cr Peebles. Front: Cr Watts, Cr Johnsen and general manager Waid Crocket.

Cr Fisher requested that the Council meet with three mining companies which had recently purchased mines, two in the Muswellbrook Shire area and Dartbrook, which is partially within the Upper Hunter Shire Council area.

He also asked that the Council talk with Muswellbrook Shire and meet with the Minister of Planning to discuss the proposals.

Mayor Wayne Bedggood said while he personally shared Cr Fisher’s concerns about the cumulative impacts of mining on the Upper Hunter Shire Council the proposals could not be discussed until the mines lodged their plans.

“The Council is not the consent authority and until a DA (development application) is lodged we can’t act on it,” said Mayor Bedggood.

“Council is doing everything it can do, but we can’t pre-empt things,” he said.

“We can voice our concerns, we have done that and we will continue to do that,” Wayne Bedggood said.

Cr Peter Bishop shared Cr Fisher’s concerns and also implored Council to begin lobbying prior to plans being available.

Cr Peebles asked that technical services report on the state of Neverfail Road in Merriwa which was taken on notice.

Cr Campbell asked for improvements to the Merriwa Road, where two semitrailers had collided today, also noting a council employee had been killed on the same section of road several years ago.

The intersection of Mackenzie and Bow Streets in Merriwa was also raised by Cr Campbell who said a tree needed to be trimmed to improve visibility.

Cr Johnsen was an apology.

Regional Arts Upper Hunter

At the beginning of the meeting, Mark Reedman provided Council with an overview of Regional Arts Upper Hunter.

The Upper Hunter Shire Council is one of five shires, including Dungog, Gloucester, Muswellbrook and Singleton, encompassed by Regional Arts Upper Hunter.

Arts New South Wales contributes $140,000, the local councils contribute a total of $46,000, with the Upper Hunter Shire Council contributing $10,648 of that amount.

The focus of the arts body during the next three years will be on young people in the area with initiatives planned for contemporary dance, song writing and plays.

Mr Reedman also discussed the Rural Museum located at Glenbawn and said Regional Arts Upper Hunter would be looking at funding opportunities to preserve the collection and find an appropriate building to store the collection.

Link to: Council meeting agenda Feb 22.