Mayoral Column 21st November 2019

Published on 20 November 2019

Bushfire Awareness as summer approaches

Following on from last week’s devastating bushfires in Northern NSW, and with extremely hot temperatures hitting Goulburn this week, I would like to provide some further information on bushfire planning and how things will work if we do face a catastrophic fire:

• Our region's Local Emergency Management Committee involves a number of agencies, including Council, who all have specific roles to play under the direction of the Local Controller who will determine which agency should take the lead (depending on the nature of the emergency). In the event of a fire, the lead agency will be the Rural Fire Service.
• Other LEMC members, including Council, are then to follow the direction of that lead agency, and to provide their assistance and cooperation with resources, including communication.
• Should our area be declared ‘Catastrophic’ any time in the future, arrangements are in place for evacuation centres to be opened to allow owners to move animals such as horses early. The most likely venue is Goulburn Recreation Area but this can change depending on the emergency. Owners are responsible for care of their own animals.
• Smaller companion animals can be accepted at evacuation centres set up by the Welfare Functional Area for people. These are not usually opened unless there is a direct threat.

In the event of an extreme bushfire all agencies in the region, including Council, RFS, Police, and the local media will coordinate communication to get information to the community as quickly as possible.

Tuesday night’s council meeting

On Tuesday night we considered a very large agenda with a number of different items for Council to make decisions on:

• We placed an amendment to the Goulburn Mulwaree Development Control Plan regarding highway and rural signage. Property owners will need to provide evidence of appropriate approvals by 1 February 2020, and any sign without appropriate approvals will be ordered to be removed immediately as of 1 April 2020
• The Draft Social Sustainability Strategy & Action Plan will be placed on public exhibition until 31^st January 2020. A number of minor amendments will be made prior to the document going on exhibition
• Approved acquisition of 82sqm of 23, Bungonia Road, Goulburn for stage three of the Wollondilly River Walkway project
• Council will look to sell part of this land, rezone part for future subdivision, retain a section for a future cemetery, and advertise an expression of interest for a public private partnership from business or industry groups to undertake an activity on this land that will have long term economic, social and environmental benefits to the Goulburn Mulwaree community
• Formal application will be made to RMS to reduce speed limits in the CBD to 40km/hr to establish a High Pedestrian Activity Area. This will only be in Auburn Street, between Clinton & Bradley Streets

The minutes of the meeting, where you will find the full results, are now available to view on our website.