Mayoral Column - 13 April 2022
Published on 13 April 2022
Making Cessnock more liveable and a better connected community is one of my aims as Mayor. This is a challenge for a local government area such as Cessnock, which is made up of large city centres in Cessnock, Kurri Kurri and Branxton as well as a number of smaller towns and villages with very few public transport options for people living in more isolated locations.
The community of Wollombi identified a lack of public transport between Wollombi and Cessnock as one of the biggest barriers to its aging population developing resilience and maintaining independence. In response, Council partnered with Northern Coalfields Community Care Association and Transport for NSW to work on a solution which has resulted in a new 12 month pilot program of a fortnightly bus service between Wollombi and Cessnock City. The bus is for the entire community regardless of age. The new bus service between Wollombi and Cessnock will operate every second Friday. See the Cessnock City Council website for more details.
Cessnock local government area has shone a light on our senior citizens in recent weeks through its Cessnock Seniors Festival. This unique event not only thanks our senior citizens for all they do for our community, it also highlights the many resources our seniors have created.
I have been able to get out and about to some of the events, including the Branxton Women’s Shed and Branxton Greta Men’s Shed Open Days, Kiray Putjung Aboriginal Cultural Experience, and Cessnock Bicycle Company Social Trial Bike Ride. It was a positive experience to meet some of Cessnock’s senior citizens and gain a better understanding of the sense of community they help create in our local government area.
At the same time we have been celebrating our youth as part of Youth Week. The theme of this year’s celebration was ‘It Starts With You’th’. The theme is a reminder that the actions we take today will leave a legacy for our young people. As Mayor, I am determined to work towards creating more opportunities and possibilities for young people right here within the Cessnock Local Government Area. The Youth Week program has offered many opportunities for youth to come together to learn, try new things and raise their voices. I would like the young people of Cessnock and its surrounds to know that I am listening and open to their ideas and input.
Finally, I would like to mention the recent weather events. Some of our rural communities, such as Wollombi and Laguna, have been heavily impacted with damage to property, road closures and damage to road infrastructure. Council has responded to prioritise restoring and repairing critical infrastructure in these communities. I was pleased to see the Federal Government has now extended individual Disaster Payments to the Cessnock Local Government Area. People who were seriously impacted by the event may be eligible for payments of $1000 per adult and $400 for each child under 16. Applications can be made via MyGov.