As discussed last week, Council’s new Section 355 Committee structure is in place. At last Thursday’s Council meeting we elected the Chairs of the five committees. This week I will focus on the Natural Environment Committee. Its purpose is to support Council by recommending programs, pro- jects or actions that have the potential to progress the Community Strategic Plan in relation to protecting the environment and achieving effective land use planning, in the interest of the Forbes community. Council- lor Jeff Nicholson was elected the Chair of this committee and Councillor Grant Clifton is also a representative of this committee.
I have fielded a number of questions regarding some of the roads that are still damaged due to the floods last year. All roads have been inspected by the Shire and works will continue on a priority basis on flood damaged roads. Some of the work is also awaiting funding allocation by RMS. Council is very appreciative of your patience and our crews are doing a great job on the repairs.
At last week’s Council meeting, the new Community Funding Program Policy was approved. This new policy will allow equitable distribution of Council’s annual donation’s allocation and we will be calling for applications for the funding shortly.
Council will be meeting with all real estate agents in the near future to assess the needs of accommodation and housing in Forbes. This will help us to look at what is needed in the Forbes Shire in regards to accommodation and housing.
Mayor Graeme Miller