CEO Chatter For August 2022
Welcome to August, we all hope it will be a wet one! Unfortunately it has been a very dry July for our District and the farmers are desperate for some constant soaking rains.
Like so many others my family has been impacted by Covid19 which required the imposed home isolation, luckily we live in such a great community that groceries and medications were delivered to our door by local businesses and friends. I am grateful that my family and I live in such a generous and helpful community.
This last month has been an incredibly busy time for Council as we close out the 21/22 Financial Year and commence the 22/23 Financial Year and budget in earnest. We, from within the Council walls, certainly look forward with optimism to see what we can deliver for our community in the next year.
The District Council of Orroroo Carrieton was fortunate to host our State Member for Stuart, the Hon Geoff Brock MP, Minister for Local Government, Minister for Regional Roads and Minister for Veterans affairs at our most recent Council Meeting. The Mayor and Elected Members discussed a wide range of local topics with the Minister which included our Bypass works, Road funding, Disaster funding inequity, Childcare availability and Tourism. The Elected Members of Council were most appreciative of the time the Minister made available to discuss items that impact our community.
As mentioned in a previous edition Council are creating a working party and arranging a comprehensive survey through the Regional Development Australia Yorke and Mid North to ascertain the actual current demand for childcare. Please keep an eye out for this working party expression of interest and the subsequent survey and share widely throughout your network, it is incredibly important to be able to demonstrate our needs.
Finally after much planning and design work in collaboration with the Department of Transport and Infrastructure I anticipate that the Bypass project will recommence in the next four to six weeks. This will include the middle sections of Railway Terrace and the link to Weighbridge Road, further works will include the intersection of RM Williams Way at the Northern end of Orroroo to complete the link. As soon as we can provide the updated program of works we will inform of any traffic disruptions. We expect this work to be completed by December 2022.
Council have chosen to delay the Southern intersection works to accommodate budget provisions and future Grant access to ensure the cost to our community is limited to the budget provision allowed.
The Bypass will be able to function to its capacity regardless of the Southern intersection upgrade.
Some of the other key projects that we are busily planning or commencing works include;
Continuation and completion of the Settlers Trail works around the Woolpress building, including the paving, new street furniture, turf and planting and finally the signage and historical digital stories. (I personally think this area looks absolutely stunning!).
Township road upgrades including sealing of some township roads that are currently unsealed. Design parameters are currently being developed prior to commencement of works.
The Orroroo Recreation Grounds Stage 2 change room complex has commenced in earnest and we plan for completion later in this calendar year. Let’s hope this lines up with an Orroroo Football and or Netball Club Premiership or two…
Council recently said goodbye to Margaret Chapman, Margaret has been a long term and extremely valuable employee at Council for many years. Marg has retired, at least from paid employment! I am sure that she will be kept busy on the farm and any other exploits she turns her attention to. Good luck, heartfelt thanks and best wishes Marg, from all of us at Council.
Finally, with the Council Elections fast approaching I offer any prospective new elected member candidates the opportunity to come and meet me. Rather than offering a group session for people to attend, I thought it would be of much more benefit to explain the role of an elected member and the eligibility requirements in person. Please contact the main office on the following number 8658 1260 to make an appointment should you wish to have an informal chat.
And with all of the above in mind, I’m once again encouraged to have returned home to Country SA. Working for a community is a privileged role.
“The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others”
Mahatma Gandhi.