Mayoral Column 14th November 2019
Published on 13 November 2019
Celebrating 20 year sister city relationship
It has been a wonderful week, where we have welcomed a delegation from our Sister City of Shibetsu, Japan. The visit marked the 20th anniversary with this wonderful city, with which we have held a number of citizen and student exchanges throughout this time.
Over the three days our visitors had the chance to tour Goulburn and the region, while we also held a formal celebration dinner, and a dedication ceremony for the new Shibetsu Garden in Victoria Park.
This Japanese style garden has been planned and designed with the expertise of citizens of Shibetsu, in particular Takiyoshi Takashi who is a Technician of Landscape Gardening from the region. Mr Takashi has also generously donated two large granite stones that are real features of the first section of the garden.
Extensive work has already gone into this project with pathways and a gazebo now constructed and some beautiful stone work undertaken. Further planting and landscaping will occur over the coming months to complete stage one of the garden.
When completed it will be an amazing community space within Victoria Park, which is already such a buzzing place. The Shibetsu Garden will stand as a testament to the strong relationship between the two Cities, and also as a tourist attraction for Goulburn.
I am incredibly proud of the relationship that has been developed, and I would encourage community members and in particular our high school students and families to put your hand up to host a Shibetsu student in 2020.
Hospital parking reprieve extended
Council has advised that the non-enforcement period for timed parking around the Goulburn Base Hospital has been extended to Monday 6th January 2020.
Signage was put up in October, and permits distributed to households, staff of the Hospital and Goulburn High School. No fines are being issued throughout the introductory period through until 6th January 2020.
We have decided to extend the introductory period as significant works on the project won’t be ramping up until the start of next year. The site itself is able to handle all traffic associated with construction until January, therefore we are comfortable in extending this non-enforcement period. Again I’d like to reinforce that our priority throughout the project is to ensure residents, staff and people visiting the hospital are able to park and access the facility safely and conveniently throughout this process.”
Residents and business owners who have not already done so are encouraged to apply for a parking permit. Applications and further details are available via the following means: