Cootamundra-Gundagai Regional Council, (CGRC) councillors have resolved at recent meetings to extend the standard 28-day submission period for documents/items on public exhibition.
The two items, the proposed sale of the Gundagai Preschool and Kindergarten and the Cootamundra Floodplain Risk Management Study have been recognised by Councillors as being significant issues that should allow the extension of time for the community to make their submissions.
In the case of the proposed sale of the Gundagai Preschool and Kindergarten, Councillors voted unanimously at the Ordinary Council meeting held in February 2023 to place the documents relating to the proposal on exhibition until Tuesday 18 April 2023.
The Cootamundra Floodplain Risk Management Study also attracted a longer submission period. At the Ordinary Meeting held in March 2023, Councillors decided that public interest and recent events warrant an extended period for public submissions that will close on Monday 1 May 2023. Councillors also determined that a community meeting should be held after submissions were received and reviewed and will provide a further opportunity for submissions. A date is yet to be determined for the community meeting.
CGRC Deputy Mayor Leigh Bowden said these issues very important across both communities and allowing extra time will assist in getting a good cross section of community views.
“It isn’t often that Council goes outside the standard 28-day submission period for documents on public exhibition, however all Councillors felt that these two subjects justify the extra time. The proposal to sell the Gundagai Preschool and Kindergarten to the Gundagai Preschool & Kindergarten Inc, group has raised concerns by residents. We want to hear what the community have to say on this issue,” Cr Bowden said.
“With the recent flooding events in Cootamundra, many still cleaning up after the October episode, and the amount of “chatter” on social media about what Council should be doing in respect to Muttama Creek. The documentation and report from WMA Water is lengthy and complex, people need time to make their way through it and then be able to make submissions based on the information contained in the plan,” Cr Bowden added.
Documents on public exhibition can be view at DOCUMENTS ON PUBLIC EXHIBITION | Cootamundra Gundagai Regional Council (nsw.gov.au) or by visiting either administration offices at Cootamundra or Gundagai.
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