Welcome to winter! Very cool evening temperatures over the past week, have certainly confirmed that we are in the coolest season of the year!
With the recent announcement by Wesfarmers that Target Country will be closing down in Narrabri, I was astonished that such a decision could be taken lightly by this organisation. Since the announcement, both myself and senior staff at Council have been lobbying non-stop to Wesfarmers representatives about the impending closure.
I do understand that it was a ‘business decision’ made by executives of the organisation, however, if they could only see the potential developments that Narrabri Shire Council has on the horizon within the imminent 12-24 months, they would seriously reconsider their decision.
Our priority is the health and wellbeing, socially and economically, of ALL residents within the Shire, and the impending closure of this large department store is certainly a very poor judgement undertaken by this organisation.
I for one feel for the staff who will be displaced by this decision, then in turn for the community that relies heavily on purchasing ‘basics’ within this store, that will now be forced to shop out of town or online for these items, which is certainly not suitable for all consumers, particularly the elderly within our community.
Council will commence talking to existing owner/operators of current businesses in Shire towns, and will not hesitate in going further afield to attract a similar organisation to consider locating to the Shire to provide alternatives for residents.
As the saying goes, ‘when one door closes, another opens’ – watch this space.
I must say that I am looking forward in the coming couple of weeks to the finalisation and re-opening of the Tarriaro Bridge – as reported last week, I was on-site at the deck pouring for the bridge, and it was a fantastic sight to see.
Once completed, the bridge will be a large item of brand new infrastructure that many locals and travellers will use on a daily basis. It has been a long time coming, but I am excited to see the end result.
Finally this week, I would like to commend Council staff and Shire residents alike for their patience in the ‘re-opening’ of many Council facilities after the COVID-19 closures approximately two months ago.
Whilst being conservative in our approach to re-opening specific facilities, it has been done with the health and safety of each resident in mind, as to continue the sustained ‘no COVID case’ Shire in NSW.
Residents are asked to keep an eye on the ‘Your Council’ weekly page within The Courier and also the Council Facebook page as to the continued ‘re-opening’ of Council facilities, in line with the Public Health Orders being regularly updated.
Cr Cathy Redding, Narrabri Shire Council Mayor
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