WASTE STATIONS – GOOD FRIDAY CLOSURE

Residents are reminded that due to the Easter break the waste transfer station at South West Rocks and Kempsey landfill site will be closed on Good Friday, March 21. Normal operating hours will resume on Saturday March 22, 2008. Further information is available through Customer First on 6566 3200. Council apologises for any inconvenience caused.

APPLICATIONS CALLED- MENTORING PROGRAM FOR POTENTIAL COUNCILLORS

Applications are invited from residents who are eligible to be on the electoral roll for Kempsey Shire Council elections and, are interested in becoming a Councillor to take part in a Mentoring Program for Potential Councillors to be run between Monday 7 April and Saturday 1 August 2008.

The criteria for a person to be included in the Kempsey Shire Council Mentoring Program are that he/she:

1. Must be a resident of Kempsey Shire or own property in the Shire and be eligible to vote in Kempsey Shire elections.
2. Must be seriously considering standing for election at the council electing on 13 September 2008.
3. Needs to be available during business hours to undertake the program
4. Needs to be committed to all aspects of the program.
5. Must submit in writing (200 words or less) why they would like to participate in the program.

The program involves a commitment of at least 5 days over the 5 month period to attend a mentoring workshop and various other meetings to learn about how Council functions. Council meetings are held on the 2nd Tuesday of each month and the one day workshop will be held during normal business hours.

Further information on the program is available from Mayor Councillor Betty Green on 65663200 or 0427419302.

Application forms are available on Council’s website (www.kempsey.nsw.gov.au), at Council’s Customer First Centre at 22 Tozer Street; or by phoning 65 663200 and Council will arrange to fax or send you one. Completed forms can be dropped off at Customer First or faxed to 02 65 663343 or emailed to learning@kempsey.nsw.gov.au.

Applications close on Friday, 28 March, at 4.30pm and Late applications will not be considered.

COMMUNICATION IS IMPORTANT

Council provides residents and ratepayers with lots of opportunities to discover what is happening at Council. These are just some of the methods we use to communicate with you

• Weekly ads and Mayoral Column in the local press
• Regular media releases sent to local and regional media
• Weekly program on Tank FM on Mondays at 10.10am
• On-site inspections, workshops and public meetings relating to specific subjects or issues
• Letterbox drops and mail-outs when appropriate,
• Displays at events such as Celebrate the Macleay
• The production of comprehensive public documents including the Annual Report, Management Plan and the State of the Environment Report – most are now available on our website
  Council’s website – www.kempsey.nsw.gov.au - look at this site for copies of the Council business papers and minutes
• Community Newsletters
• Council’s email mailing list
• Surveys

You are invited to attend Council meetings and arrangements can be made for you to address Council or, if this is not convenient, think about inviting a Councillor or staff member to attend a community meeting which you are involved with. If you would like to suggest a new, different and cost effective way of communicating with us, please drop us a line at PO Box 3078, West Kempsey, fax us on 6566 3205 or email us ksc@kempsey.nsw.gov.au.

PUBLIC NOTIFICATION OF DEVELOPMENT CONSENTS - ISSUED BY COUNCIL

Consent has been granted for the following applications.

A record of consents may be inspected, without charge, at the Customer First Centre of the Kempsey Shire Council, Civic Centre, Tozer Street, West Kempsey, between 8.30 am and 4.30 pm from Monday to Friday (public holidays excepted).

HALF DAY PUBLIC HOLIDAYS 2008

The following public half day holidays have been gazetted by the NSW Department of Industrial Relations for the Kempsey Shire Council area:-

• Wednesday afternoon, 9 April 2008 for Kempsey Show
• Thursday afternoon, 8 May 2008 for Kempsey Cup.

Local public holidays are gazetted under the Banks and Banks Holidays Act of 1912. This act requires that banks are closed on local public holidays. An appointed local holiday under the Act benefits employees who have an industrial award, agreement or contract of employment which confers a right of paid absence (or penalty rates in lieu) on the local public holiday. In the absence of such express coverage within an applicable industrial instrument, the conferring of the benefit of a local public holiday to employees is entirely within the discretion of individual employers.

OFFICIAL OPENING – YAKKA WATSON PARK, SMITHTOWN

The community is invited to attend the official opening of the John ‘Yakka’ Watson Park in Fitzgerald Avenue Smithtown by Mayor Councillor Betty Green, in the presence of Andrew Stoner MP, on Saturday 29 March 2008 between 12pm and 2pm. The Park has been named in honour of the services to our community by John “Yakka” Watson. Come along and bring the family; there will be a BBQ run by the SES; a raffle draw at 1.30pm and other activities.

Congratulations to the members of the park committee who, with the assistance of our community, have raised substantial funds towards the park

LIBRARY EVENTS FOR TEENS (APRIL - MAY 2008)

The following program of events will be provide by the Shire Library thanks to a grant from the NSW State Library. Some special Youth Week events are highlighted in italics:

Kempsey Shire Library
Time Management, Wednesday,2 April 4-6pm
Parabowla & Teen Area Launch - Light supper provided, Friday, 11 April, 4.30-6.00pm
Yoga Workshop, Wednesday, 23 April, 10-12.00 pm
Essay Writing, Wednesday, 30 April, 4.00-6.00pm
Stress Management, Thursday, 1 May, 4.00-6.00pm

South West Rocks Library
Time Management, Thursday, 3 April, 4.30-6.00pm
Essay Writing, Thursday, 10 April, 4.30-6pm
Stress Management, Thursday, 17 April, 2.00-4.00pm
Yoga Workshop Tuesday 22 April 2.00-4.00pm

Stuarts Point Library
Time Management, Tuesday, 1 April, 5.00-6.00pm
Essay Writing, Tuesday, 8 April, 5.00-6.00pm
Stress Management, Tuesday, 15 April, 3.30-5.30pm
Yoga Workshop, Tuesday, 22 April, 10.00-12.00pm

If you would like to be involved in these events please contact the library on 65 663211.

COMMUNITY CONSULTATION REGISTER

Council is establishing a Community Central Consultation Register so that members of our community can register their interest in participating in focus group and other consultative opportunities. All you need to do to be included is fill in a registration form and return it to Council. Forms are available from Council’s Customer First Centre, all branches of the Shire Library, or online at www.kempsey.nsw.gov.au (go to Communications, then Forms Index (Alpha), and you’ll find under ‘C’, Central Consultation Register).