Mayoral Column 18th March 2022
Published on 17 March 2022
Immediate departure of General Manager Warwick Bennett
By now I am sure most of you are aware of the immediate departure of General Manager Warwick Bennett. Council on Tuesday night enacted clause 7(b) of the Deed of Release, effective immediately. As part of this clause, the General Manager is to perform no work at all from this date.
Mr Bennett remains a contracted employee until the 8th July 2022, however today’s decision allows Council the opportunity to move forward with a new direction.
Although we have made this decision, we are very grateful for Warwick’s eight years of service to this organisation and community. There is no doubt he has contributed greatly to improving our region, and been at the forefront of a number of exciting projects which are now nearing completion.
As a Council we look forward to moving forward into a new era for Goulburn Mulwaree Council. We have appointed Blackadder Associates to undertake recruitment of a new General Manager for Goulburn Mulwaree Council. This process will begin immediately.
Waste to Energy Regulation
On Tuesday night at our meeting, Council endorsed a submission to the “Protection of the Environment Operations (General) Amendment (Thermal Energy from Waste) Regulation 2021.”
We have re-iterated our strong opposition to Energy from Waste (EfW) or waste incineration facilities in the Goulburn Mulwaree Local Government area (LGA). The submission also to state that Council’s position is to ensure that environmental and public health outcomes are Council’s number one priority. Council also expressed extreme disappointment and anger to the NSW EPA that the Energy from Waste Infrastructure Plan released in September 2021 was endorsed with no community consultation prior to this amendment regulation and that the report did not provide any information about how environmental or public health concerns would be alleviated.
We have requested an extension of six weeks to enable any joint submission to be reviewed and agreed by the four affected Councils. Council will also share the resolution with Parkes, Lithgow and Richmond Valley Councils and with neighbouring Councils to garner their support on the issue.
Final reminder – tickets for GPAC opening
It is incredibly exciting to be just one week away from the official opening of the Goulburn Performing Arts Centre, which will feature REeNTRANCE, a performance created by our community, for our community!
Join members of our local Goulburn performing arts community in a celebration of cherished memories, combined moments and the continuation of building momentum into the future, brought together by our various community groups and individuals
This Grand Opening Performance of the Goulburn Performing Arts Centre, REeNTRANCE, is a collaboration using drama, storytelling, dance, song, costumes, stagecraft and music; capturing stories inspired by the elements in the form of a message stick. A message stick in First Nations culture represents a public form of graphic communication. They are carried by messengers over long distances and are used for reinforcing a verbal message that carries great importance. Their message that the arts are thriving within the Goulburn region and deserve a permanent stage for celebration.
Tickets are just $10, and they are of course selling quickly so jump on board. Visit www.goulburnpac.com.au to book your ticket, and take a look at the amazing line up of upcoming shows in the coming months while you are there.
Regional Hockey Facility opening
The huge opening weekend will continue next Saturday morning, with the official opening of the Goulburn Regional Hockey Facility from 10am.
I will be joining the Hon Wendy Tuckerman Minister for Local Government and Member for Goulburn, and The Hon. Angus Taylor Member for Hume and Minister for Industry, Energy and Emissions Reduction along with representatives of Goulburn Hockey Association and Hockey NSW.
$3.8 million has been provided by the NSW Government through the Restart NSW Program, with the Goulburn Hockey Association also contributing $200,000. Goulburn Mulwaree Council purchased the complex off the Goulburn Workers Club in November 2020 for $3 million in order to secure the future of hockey in this region.
It is an enormous improvement, and we look forward tying it all together later this year with construction of new amenities. Come along to enjoy the morning, and then an afternoon of high quality hockey on the new turf.