Major achievements despite a challenging year

Local Government Week runs from 3 August to 9 August and aims to celebrate the work of local councils and the range and diversity of services they provide to their communities beyond "roads, rates and rubbish".

This year's theme 'Council's Do' is an opportunity to showcase Kempsey Shire Council's services and achievements during what has been a challenging year.

Despite navigating multiple crises including unprecedented bushfires, prolonged drought and the coronavirus pandemic, Council has continued to deliver many important services and projects.

Over the last 12 months, Council has made improvements to existing public facilities, built new infrastructure, and created ongoing support services for bushfire affected communities.

Some of the infrastructure improvement highlights include:

• The reconstruction of Tozer St, West Kempsey, improving alignment, footpaths, drainage and access to properties
• A new $4 million two lane concrete bridge at Turners Flat, improving safety and less susceptible to flood events
• A pedestrian footbridge at Back Creek, South West Rocks and a new amenities block
• The Monument Point Walkway at South West Rocks
• New CBD amenities at Crescent Head
• Floodlighting upgraded at three local sporting fields - Verge St, Jim Stirling Oval and the South West Rocks sports fields to create opportunities for night training and games
• A new playground, amenities, picnic area and pathways at Gladstone Memorial Park
• As part of the reserve and foreshore upgrades at Stuarts Point, a new playground, pathways and amenities have been completed with work on upgrading the carpark, boat ramp and additional walkways still progressing.

Despite the Coronavirus forcing the closure of many public facilities such as playgrounds, Council used this time to upgrade playgrounds at

Services Clubs Park and Frederickton with new equipment installed.

Council are immensely proud of these works, alongside efforts to conserve water, assist in disaster recovery, promote business and tourism and deliver much loved services like our Libraries, and we look forward to another great year of work to improve community life in our shire.