AUSTRALIA DAY NOMINATIONS

THIS month is the last chance you will have to nominate a worthy local person for a Great Lakes 2015 Australia Day Award.

I know there are many “quiet achievers” in our community who provide outstanding community service, and you must know someone who you could nominate for an award.

The Categories include: Citizen of the Year, Young Citizen of the Year and Sportsperson of the Year.

Nomination forms are available from Council’s website or our offices, and you have until Monday 24 November to submit your nomination.

 WATERWAYS REPORT CARD LAUNCH

On Monday 24 November, Council will receive the 2014 Waterway and Catchment Report Card from the NSW Office of Environment and Heritage.

Since 2011 Great Lakes Council has worked with the NSW Office of Environment and Heritage to undertake water quality monitoring of our major waterways and present these results in an accessible ‘report card’ to our community.

It assesses the condition of the waterways scoring different locations from A-F.

As you know, we already have clean waterways.

 GRANT FOR WORKS ON GEREEBA ISLAND

Council recently received a grant of $96,318 presented by our NSW Member, Mr Stephen Bromhead.

The NSW Environmental Trust Grant will allow Council to undertake a three year project to undertake environmental works on Gereeba Island on the Wallamba River.

The works will commence this month.

 NSW LOCAL GOVERNMENT CONFERENCE

Once again all NSW Councils copped criticism for attending the Local Government Conference in late October, but once again, the Conference was very beneficial and a necessity for us to attend to continue important dialogue with the NSW Government.

 CITIZENSHIP CEREMONY

On 28 October it was again a very great pleasure for me to conduct three citizenship ceremonies during Council’s Ordinary Meeting.

One couple, who have since moved away from our area, flew back from Melbourne in order to attend their citizenship ceremony in the Great Lakes – how wonderful of them.  It is my favourite duty as Mayor to welcome new citizens to Australia and to wish them well on the new path in life they have taken.