MidCoast Council's Community Conversations have finished for now – but don't worry, they'll be back later this year!
Over the past few months, councillors and senior staff visited 14 towns across the region, including: Forster, Wingham, Old Bar, Harrington, Stroud, Pacific Palms, Gloucester, Bulahdelah, Tea Gardens, Nabiac, Hallidays Point, Elands, Wootton and Lansdowne. Severe weather impacted the program at some locations.
Around 280 people came along to share their thoughts and hear what Council is working on.
The goal of Community Conversations is to:
- Let people know what Council is doing and planning
- Help people understand how services are delivered and paid for
- Build stronger connections between Council and the community
- Listen to local ideas and concerns
Each event included a short talk from the General Manager and directors and a chance to ask questions and have a conversation with Council staff.
MidCoast Mayor, Claire Pontin, said the events were a great way for Council and locals to connect.
"These grassroots sessions are important," said Mayor Pontin.
"We get to share what we're working on, like fixing roads and improving services, and we get to hear from you on your patch."
At each location, community members raised different topics – from roads and drainage to development issues and flood recovery. One common concern was speed limits. Council looks after signs but cannot change speed limits. If you want to request a speed limit review, you can do that through the NSW Government at https://www.transport.nsw.gov.au/roadsafety/topics-tips/speeding/have-your-say/speed-limits-have-your-say
Keep an eye out for the next round of Community Conversations later this year or follow the webpage and get notified when dates are confirmed https://haveyoursay.midcoast.nsw.gov.au/community-conversations.
