G'day, it's Digby Rayward here, and it's my pleasure once more to present this week's Council Connect.
As usual, there's been a lot happening in the Shire. I guess we were lucky to have the ABC come and present directly from Dungog the other morning. There were two things they were discussing: the federal elections are getting up, so that's causing a bit of discussion across the board, and also, it's unfortunate, but we're getting up to the 10-year anniversary of the massive East Coast flooding event we had in Dungog. So some of the people talking with the ABC were Beth, who did a great job, and she was very actively involved when, of course, we lost two people who drowned, and there was a lot of damage. So that was 10 years ago. It's a bit hard to believe. In fact, I was still working at the time, and in my role in the agricultural industry. We ended up feeding a lot of cattle that were stranded on flood mounds, and also 700 head of cattle drowned. So we had to sort all that out. So those of us who were there know that East Coast low sat just above us and poured down and kept going. It was very unusual.
Also, in my radio interview, I once again talked about the inadequate funding for our road system. I think we have to keep that at the forefront all the time because we just keep getting the short straw on this. I also had a few words to say about Hunter Water. I'm always concerned about our DA process and outside agencies. We have to improve our process of course, but if we're being adversely impacted by someone else, we need to do something about it and raise that flag, which I'm very keen to do.
We also had another important and positive meeting with the new Minister for Roads, Jenny Aitchison. Council met with her, and we put forward our arguments to her about the failings of the Financial Assistance Grants and how they're distributed. I've shared that with you before. We also ran with a couple more points while we were fortunate enough to have the Minister's time, and that was the Road Reclassification. The government has put out a document suggesting a new way forward for road reclassification, and as I've said to you before, we once again miss out badly on that, with our shire not even having a state road. So we've put in a submission on that draft because if it goes ahead as it is, once again, there's nothing in it for us because it's all based on numbers. We want to reclassify the roads on needs, not on numbers. We are trying to get the roads to critical infrastructure, like Chichester Dam and Lockstock Dam, on that agenda.
There's another road funding that we may not have shared with you before that's called the Block Grant. Once again, Dungog is a loser on this too. The Block Grant is some funding towards roads that also works on numbers. So our neighbours, like Maitland or Port Stephens, if they've got a bit of road, for example, coming from Maitland to Dungog, they will be getting 70% more for their section of the road than we do. If they get $170, for example, per metre of road, as soon as you get to Glen Oak to get into Dungog, we get $100. They get 70% more than we do, which is unfair. So we've been lobbying against this one for a while, so we took that up as well and tried to get that on the radar. We will keep at that because it's vital for us!
On a different note, Council recently funded a 'how to apply for grants' workshop, and let me tell you, it was a great event. I went along. It was well attended with about 40 people there, and the professional presenter was absolutely terrific! She discussed artificial intelligence which is the way things are going. I tell you, you need to get on board with all this. It was really great. The feedback is that I think Council will probably be sponsoring, depending on our budget, more of these. There's a solid need for this sort of work.
Yesterday, I went to Cessnock for the day with the Hunter Joint Organisation, a group of 10 local councils. You've got to have strength in numbers for advocacy and so I'm happy to go down there and be involved. I was talking to one of the other Mayors, who was also talking to Jenny Atkinson about something else, and then he said to her, 'why don't you throw some more money to Dungog?' And I thought, wow, we've got the team on side here. So that's all good.
Don't forget the Future of Farming forum, for those that have any interest in agriculture and where it's going. It's on tonight, from 4-6pm at the RSL. We've got some good speakers like Russell Reeves, he's one of those scientists that is doing a second generation ethanol plant processing. Russell's a Dungog guy, and he will be speaking tonight. If you've got the time, get to the RSL tonight between 4-6pm and then have a Chinese meal and beer after.
And of course, Easter is coming up. Don't forget the Billy Car Derby, and Josh, I'm not going in the Billy Cart race! And the rodeo, get there!
That's all this week. Have a good time and someone else will talk to you next time. Thanks very much.
