The June ordinary council meeting last week was a significant one — where strategy, funding and direction all came together to shape the future of our shire. Council formally adopted its 2025–2029 Delivery Program, 2025–2026 Operational Plan, and the 2025–2029 Resourcing Strategy. They are the guiding tools that underpin how council delivers services, maintains infrastructure, supports communities and plans for growth.
Among the highlights is a $23 million capital works program, with $5.3 million allocated for road repairs and reseals, $4 million for the Violet Street Bridge replacement and $1 million for the Boggabri Civic Precinct.
There is also $200,000 for sport and recreational masterplans — something that will help us design the facilities our communities need, not just now, but into the future.
The Resourcing Strategy provides a blueprint for how we manage our staff, assets and finances to deliver these outcomes. These plans, developed with public consultation and transparency, reflect our priorities and responsibilities — and I thank everyone who contributed.
We also adopted our first formal Communications Strategy. This strategy strengthens how we engage with the community — whether it is face-to-face, online or in writing — and supports better two-way communication. A more informed community is a more empowered one, and this marks a major step forward for council.
Council also placed the draft 2025 Code of Meeting Practice on public exhibition. Two options were considered regarding livestreaming of public forums. Councillors chose Option 1, which allows public forums to be included in the livestream. This increases transparency and ensures more people can hear directly from their neighbours. The draft is open for public feedback for 42 days, and I encourage everyone to take a look.
As part of the mayoral minute, council also took action on an issue that is growing across rural and remote NSW — the illegal sale of tobacco and vape products. Council will write to the NSW Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure requesting urgent changes to the state’s planning laws.
We are asking that “Tobacconist” be clearly defined and no longer grouped within the broad definition of “Shop” or “Retail Premises” under the Standard Instrument – Principal Local Environmental Plan. These changes would make it much harder for illegal operators to set up under the radar. These unregulated outlets undermine health policies, public safety and lawful businesses, and must be properly addressed. There is an increasing concern that criminal groups have been infiltrating the tobacco and vape trade. Council is also coordinating with neighbouring councils to make a joint submission to the upcoming NSW inquiry into the illegal tobacco trade.
Another serious concern is the growing push from some corners of state government to build a pipeline from Lake Keepit to Tamworth to support their water needs. While we all understand the importance of securing Tamworth’s future, taking water from low rainfall areas such as the Namoi River system — especially during dry periods — is not the answer. We have not forgotten how bone dry the Namoi became during the last drought.
Proposals like this would only worsen the hardship felt by communities throughout the western slopes and plains. Gunnedah, Narrabri and Walgett Shire Councils are strongly opposed to any water diversion projects that take water from downstream communities to towns and cities towards the coast such as Tamworth. The government must consider alternative water sources from higher rainfall areas, rather than creating new pressures on already vulnerable regions. This is a fight for fairness, for sustainability and for the survival of our communities.
Back here at home, graffiti continues to be an issue. While council staff respond quickly to clean graffiti off public assets, we are seeing a growing number of incidents on private properties. Graffiti is not just unsightly — it sends the wrong message about our towns. Thank you to those who are already removing it quickly. Your efforts make a visible difference. I encourage all property owners to act quickly and together we can keep our towns clean, safe and welcoming. I encourage residents to speak to property owners (including commercial buildings) when they see graffiti. Leaving graffiti in place for months on end is unsightly and affects our entire community.
A quick update on The Crossing Theatre: we now anticipate reopening in late July. While that date may shift depending on final certifications, I want to make clear that public safety has always been our top priority. There has never been any risk to the public, but additional fire safety work has been required to bring the building up to standard. I thank you for your patience. I have written to the state government to speed up the inspections required which have delayed our opening by weeks.
In other council decisions, we resolved to reimburse the Narrabri Arts Eisteddfod committee for out-of-pocket expenses due to The Crossing Theatre’s closure and reduce hire fees by 50 per cent for next year under our Concessional Use Policy. We are also working closely with the committee to host a concert later this year to give young performers another opportunity to shine. It is a reminder of what a jewel our Crossing Theatre is—not only to our Narrabri Shire towns and villages—but also the entire northwest NSW region.
