Our rescheduled events celebrating Local Government Week 2025 were a great success, with many community members joining us to learn more about how Council works behind the scenes.
Steuart McIntyre Dam Tour
Participants enjoyed learning how clean, safe water reaches our taps. Our tour was led by Director Utilities Wes Trotter who shared insights into the water and sewer services that support our community and appreciated the thoughtful questions from attendees.
The tour covered current projects, including the Water and Sewer Program of Works—a once-in-a-generation investment. Guests learned how the dam and our water sources support the shire, with discussions on wastewater management, environmental return, and the relationship between our local water cycle and infrastructure.
Big Map Flood Experience
Next, we explored how floods behave in our catchment through the immersive Big Map Flood Experience. Covering 11,500 km², our catchment includes tributaries stretching 160 km inland, with rivers flowing through mountainous terrain into a large estuarine zone.
A giant satellite image of the catchment was printed on fabric and laid out across the floor, allowing participants to walk through a replica of our valley. The map, specially created for the Macleay using advanced mapping technology and drone footage, was brought to life by Dylan Reeves, Group Manager of Infrastructure Delivery. Dylan explained how our flood mitigation infrastructure works to channel floodwater out to sea and onto floodplains, protecting our communities.
Waste Management Centre Tour
To round out the week, we toured the Waste Management Centre on Crescent Head Road. Participants got a closer look at how Council manages waste and learned about recent remediation and building projects aimed at improving environmental outcomes. These include the construction of a leachate treatment plant, an irrigation system, and Cell 4.
Attendees also explored the recycling services available through the Kempsey Community Recycling Centre and discussed upcoming works and projects at the site.
Thank you to everyone who attended—we hope you enjoyed the events and look forward to seeing you at future ones!
