The recent growth of business activity in the Shire has been encouraged and supported by Council through infrastructure developments; improved telecommunications; and meeting the housing needs of an increased labour force.
With a staff of 85, Council runs an extensive works program. Similar to most rural regions, it is the largest employer in the area. Most of its works program is carried out inhouse but contract labour is used when required.
Carrathool’s Works Team has successfully won RTA tenders for maintenance of the Kidman Way and other State roads. This team is also responsible for some 2,000 kilometres of local town and unsealed roads, the lifeline of agri business as well as local traffic movement and tourism. Some 40 per cent of Council’s budget is spent on roads.
Recent road works include the sealing of additional sections of the Lachlan River and Murrumbidgee River Roads. All work undertaken is carefully planned to ensure that native vegetation and road reserve habitats are not unnecessarily disturbed.
Working with its neighbouring Councils through RivRoc, plans to have the rail link from Hillston upgraded could see up to 400,000 tonnes of produce railed south to Melbourne and Geelong over the next three to four years. As well as value adding for local industry, this upgrade will reduce heavy transport on the Shire’s roads and deliver significant savings in maintenance and replacement costs.
Funding through the Networking The Nation program has enabled Council to establish a mobile telephone service providing Telstra CDMA towers in Hillston and Goolgowi.
“New and established businesses in the Shire need to have reliable telecommunication capabilities including local call access to the Internet,” said Hank van Apeldoorn, Council’s Tourism and Economic Development Officer. When Council requested businesses in the Goolgowi district to provide letters of support for the new service, a 100 per cent return was received.
“Telstra Country Wide was selected as the winning tender because it has clearly established a genuine commitment to rural Australia,” said General Manager, James Roncon.
Many of the new jobs created with the diversification in agri business activities are seasonal so meeting accommodation needs is vital. Recently Council received two Development Applications for the construction of accommodation facilities in Hillston to help address this shortfall, with the possibility of providing additional facilities for tourists.
In addition, Council signed an agreement with a Wagga Wagga based company to install 10 portable units used at the Sydney Olympics at the Hillston Caravan Park.
