Topics specific to rural and remote councils will be the focus of a meeting between Mayors and General Managers from councils west of the Newell highway and both the Premier and Deputy Premier when they all meet in Narromine next week.
Narromine Mayor, Craig Davies, has been given the opportunity to draw this group from across the vast western areas of the state to meet with the principle decision makers from Macquarie Street.
“It is a rare opportunity for Mayors and their General Managers to get the attention of the Premier and deliver their message directly,” Mayor Davies said.
“In the current environment it will be a meeting that will attract shire representatives with their specific concerns and aspirations to a setting that they rarely enjoy.”
Councils and mayors will be seeking to give the premier a much clearer understanding of those issues specific to the bush.
Premier, Gladys Berejiklian, said, “The meeting with Mayor Davies and other councillors from across the region is a great opportunity to understand the issues affecting local communities, including drought and water security.
“The New South Wales Government is coming to listen, get feedback from the local community and apply the key learnings to how we support people across New South Wales.”
Member for Dubbo, Dugald Saunders, said the meeting was a good chance for the government to hear the concerns of those living through the crippling drought.
“When this government was elected back in March, the Premier and Deputy Premier both acknowledged the need to listen to rural New South Wales, and this meeting is an example of that happening.”
Minister for Local Government, Shelley Hancock, will also be spending some time with council representatives prior to the arrival of the Premier and Deputy Premier.