Lithgow City Council - Mayoral Notes

At the most recent meeting of Council which was the last for the year a number of items were discussed, some of which have already appeared in the press. Although some need to be highlighted, other items need to be reported upon.

The Digital Television change over will occur in our area in early June 2012. There will be a significant amount of advertising by the government regarding the switch over with the amount for advertising to increase closer we come to the switch over date. It is our understanding if you currently are able to receive digital television service then you will continue to have this digital service and possibly improved service once June 2012 arrives.

A number of self help blackspots television transmission towers which are located at Hartley, Capertee, Glen Davis and Portland (Mount Piper) will not be upgraded with the digital television transmission.

However if you are currently getting your TV signal from those four transmitters then you will be entitled to a subsidy of $400 towards having a satellite TV. Individual people will be able to contact the Digital Switchover Taskforce to find out how you may be affected and what assistance may be available. More information will be available in the New Year.

Council has released its draft ageing strategy report, which is now on public exhibition until the 10th February 2012. It is hoped that many people take the opportunity to view the strategy and make a submission regarding that strategy. The report is available at Council administration as well as the Libraries in the local government area and on the council website. This report is very important as our area like most country areas has an ageing population and the council and governments need to plan for the future and this strategy should be able to provide good guidance for the planning.

Our Council has endorsed an expression of interest which was submitted to Regional Development Australia for possible funding of stage two of the Lithgow Aquatic Centre. The funding application is likely to be assessed over the next couple of months with a determination expected early in the new year. If Council is successful in acquiring this money then construction will be able to begin as soon as the swimming season is complete. We await the outcome of this submission.

It has been decided to authorise a delegation from Lithgow City to travel to Huainan City in China at a time which will be mutually convenient to both communities. This trip would be to no cost to ratepayers with the Huainan City looking to fund all the expenses within China. This visit however could have significant benefits to Lithgow with a similar background in mining and the possibility of increased tourism from that area as well as hopefully increased trade and business opportunities.

The initial crossing of the Blue Mountains by Blaxland, Wentworth and Lawson took place nearly 200 years ago and this crossing of the Blue Mountains is set to be commemorated in 2013. As such a number of Committees have been formed including one from Council to oversee the various celebrations in our area to mark the occasion. Council will be considering $20,000 in its next two upcoming budgets towards supporting these bicentenary events.

Some of the money will also go to increased signage along the original route of the Cox’s Road which would be keeping in with the signage that has already been created in the Oberon area.

The roadwork’s that are expected to take place in the new year on a number of Portland roads will have to have the agreement from the Department of Primary Industry Catchment Lands as some of those roads are designated crown roads although under Councils control. As part of the work Council will be seeking to have these roads transferred from Crown roads into Council ownership so as to avoid seeking permission whenever major road works are needed in the future. It is believed that this process should not hold up roadwork improvements which hopefully (weather permitting) should be able to be done in the first half of next year.

Council offices will be closed from Friday 23rd December until Tuesday 3rd January 2012, however skeleton staff will still exist to cover any emergencies.

I would like to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and a safe and prosperous New Year

Born on 4 November 1953, Neville Castle was educated at Rydalmere Public School, Asquith Boys High School and obtained his BA Dip. ED at Macquarie University.

Together with his wife Wendy, to whom he has been married 18 years, he has two children Craig & Lauren. He has been living in Portland for 21 years and teaches Social Science and PE at Portland Central School.

In 1987 he was elected to Council and was the Deputy Mayor for 7.5years. Neville was elected Mayor on 6 April 1999 after the retirement of Gerard Martin from Local Government to concentrate further on his new career as the State Member for Bathurst. He was re-elected to Council and the position of Mayor in September 1999 after the Local Government Elections. He originally joined Council as an independent however he is now affiliated with the Labor Party.

He is interested in most sports with his main sporting passion being cricket and has been the Chairman of Council’s Sports Advisory Committee for 13 years. He has coached local junior and senior sides, Junior District and Western District sides, Open Western Area and NSWCHS Boys and Girls sides.

At various times he has been a member of:

The Board of Directors of the Portland Golf Club
A committee member of the East Portland Tennis Club
Portland Cricket Club
Coleman House
Tabulam Cottages
Crystal Theatre Management Committee
Portland Community Centre
He has & does represent Council on various Committees of Council and Committees that Council is affiliated with such as:
Delegate to the Blayney Abattoir County Council (now redundant)
Bush Fire Advisory Committee (9 years)
Cox’s River Catchment Management Committee
Association of Mine Related Councils
Airport Working Party
Budget Project Team
Business Lithgow Board
Citizens Access Committee
Joint Consultative Committee ( A council staff committee)
Sister Cities Committee; and
Sydney Road Links Committee
Neville believes in keeping the community informed with regard to Council policies and decisions and is endeavouring to develop a broader economic base for Lithgow’s Local Government Area.