WATER ACCOUNTS

The (SEPT DEC MARCH AND JUNE) water meter reading accounts have been issued. These accounts are thirty (30) day accounts and should be paid by 29 July 2009. If you did not receive an account and are connected to town water supply please ring us on the number below for a copy. If accounts are not paid by the due date, interest and charges could be added to your account. You can make payments at the Civic Centre, at Australia Post or using Bpay. PLEASE REMEMBER payments made other than at Council may take up to 3 days to be credited to your account. If you are having any problems paying your water account by the due date, Council is prepared to enter into a mutual arrangement that will enable payment of this account over a period of time.

Should you have any enquiries regarding your water account, please contact Councils Accounts Officer on 6566 3284.

FLOOD DEBRIEF – MAY FLOOD EVENT – 9 JULY 2009

Council resolved at its May Ordinary Meeting of Council to hold three separate flood debriefs across the Shire, with one to be held in Kempsey and the other two in the Upper and Lower Macleay areas.

These debriefs have been scheduled for the one day to facilitate attendance of senior representatives from the Bureau of Meteorology and the State Emergency Service. The State Emergency Services will have representatives from State Headquarters, the Regional Office and local volunteers.

The debriefs will provide members of the community the opportunity to discuss matters of concern and have a discussion with senior representative of the relevant organisations as to flood warning systems and flood preparedness.

The matters raised will be considered by Council and the appropriate authorities when reviewing Policy and Procedures to assist in providing enhanced communications and notification to residents impacted by floods. This is not to suggest that all your concerns or problems will be rectified, but they will be considered and where possible systems put in place to help mitigate these issues. Without your input the matters may not be considered in future planning.

The flood debrief meetings have been scheduled to be held on 9 July. These debriefs will be held at:

Your input is considered valuable and the debrief meetings will provide you the opportunity to share information in relation to such events and ask responsible officers questions in relation to the flood procedures. This will assist with improving the communities’ resilience for future events.

TURNERS FLAT - CHANGE IN GARBAGE AND RECYCLING SERVICES

Due to the long term bridge damage to the Turners Flat road, caused by the floods in May 2009, the garbage and recycling services will be collected on Tuesdays instead of a Thursdays. This change will be applicable until the bridge is repaired and reopened.

Please accept Council’s apologies for any inconvenience. For further information please contact Council on 6566 3200.

KEMPSEY SHIRE ART PRIZE 2009

The Kempsey Shire Art Prize 2009 exhibition opens on Saturday 11 July at 10.30am in the Macleay Valley Community Art Gallery Gladstone and closes on Sunday 26 July at 3.30pm. The exhibition will include features such as Sculpture, Painting and Photography.

The Art Exhibition committee invites community members to attend the exhibition opening at 3.00pm on Saturday, 11 July.

GLADSTONE MARKERS MARKET

In conjunction with the Art Prize a Makers Market will be held in the Memorial Park at Gladstone on Saturday 18 July from 8.30am. All items for sale must be designed and made by the seller and may include jams and pickles, art and craft work, food items (prepared off site) etc.

The Memorial Park is opposite the Gladstone Hotel in Kinchela Street Gladstone.

Stall holders will need to have their own insurance and in the event of wet weather Smithtown Hall will be used.

To book a Market place or get an Art Prize entry form please phone Kempsey Shire Council 65663226 during business hours 8.30am to 4.30pm or visit our website www.kempsey.nsw.gov.au/artprize-market.html.

COMMUNITY GRANTS PROGRAM

Each year Kempsey Shire Council makes provision to provide minor financial assistance to sporting clubs and community organisations through the Community Grants Program. Applications for assistance in 2009/2010 are invited to be made by Friday 31 July 2009.

To eligible for consideration applications must be for community based projects, events, activities and services within the Kempsey Shire that support community development and growth. For a full copy of the Community Grants Program policy, which includes a complete eligibility criteria, level of funding, conditions and application forms, please visit Council’s website at www.kempsey.nsw.gov.au or contact Jo McGoldrick on 65663200.

AUCTION OF SURPLUS PROPERTIES

5 parcels of land, one with subdivision potential, all with building entitlements Will be put to public auction on Thursday 16 July 2009 commencing at 9.30am in the Council Chambers at 22 Tozer Street West Kempsey.

A detailed listing of the properties to be auctioned and location maps are available from Council’s Customer First Centre.

For more information visit Council’s website www.kempsey.nsw.gov.au or telephone 6566 3200.

AUSTRALIA DAY 2010
Australia Day Award Nominations Open All Year

Australia Day is a community celebration!
26 January 2010 is a day for acknowledging community and national spirit in NSW, where the nation comes together to celebrate what’s great about Australia.

One way of celebrating is acknowledging the contributions made by others in our community. There are many people in our community who deserve to be nominated for an Australia Day award. As a trial for the 2010 Australia Day Awards we have decided to accept nominations all through this year.

If you know of someone who would be worthy of one of these awards, consider nominating them. Categories for the awards are:-

• Citizen
• Young Citizen
• Sports
• Community Service
• Community Entertainment, Music and Arts

Nomination forms can be obtained and nominations lodged online at www.kempsey.nsw.gov.au. The closing date to lodge nominations in the 2010 Australia Day Awards is Friday, 13 November 2009.

COMMUNITY GRANTS PROGRAM
Each year Kempsey Shire Council makes provision to provide minor financial assistance to sporting clubs and community organisations through the Community Grants Program. Applications for assistance in 2009/2010 are invited to be made by Friday 31 July 2009.

To eligible for consideration applications must be for community based projects, events, activities and services within the Kempsey Shire that support community development and growth. For a full copy of the Community Grants Program policy, which includes a complete eligibility criteria, level of funding, conditions and application forms, please visit Council’s website at www.kempsey.nsw.gov.au or contact Jo McGoldrick on 65663200.

NOTICE OF PROPOSED DEVELOPMENTS

The following applications have been received and are notified in accordance with Council’s Policy.
NOTE: Not all applications received require public notification.

The applications and plans relating to the developments to which this notice refers may be inspected at Council’s Customer First Centre, Tozer Street, West Kempsey, any time between 8.30am and 4.30pm from Monday to Friday (public holidays excepted) for the period stated above.

At anytime during which the application may be inspected, any person:

1 who has received written notice of a proposed development from Council; or
2 who owns land and who contends that his enjoyment of that land will be detrimentally affected if a proposed development is carried out; or
3 who feels that a proposed development will adversely affect the character or amenity of the surrounding area may object in writing to council.
A person or associate of the person who makes a submission in relation to the application must make a disclosure of any reportable political donation or gift made in the previous 2 years (and up to the time the matter is determined).

The disclosure (Disclosure Statement of Political Donations and Gifts) will need to accompany the submission. A Disclosure Form and further details can be obtained from Council’s website or Customer First Centre.

If the application will need to be considered by Council, a precis of submissions received will be included in a report to Council for determination of the application. Copies of submissions may be included in the Appendices to the Business Paper unless specifically requested by the writer not to be included and the submission is clearly headed “confidential”.

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).

NOTIFICATION OF CONSIDERATION OF PROPOSED DEVELOPMENTS

The public are advised that it is intended to consider the following development related issues lodged with the Sustainable Development Services Department at the Council Meeting of 14 July, 2009.  The meeting will commence at 9.00am.

Further information on the Development Proposals can be obtained by contacting:
Sustainable Development Services Department