Mayoral Column - 27 April 2022

Published on 27 April 2022

I am very much looking forward to hosting the 2022 Mayoral Scholarships Presentation this afternoon. As Mayor, this is a program I am truly proud of as it has allowed Cessnock City Council to offer scholarships to 223 students since it started in 2002. To date, the Mayoral Scholarships Program has provided local students with $558,000 in scholarship money, including another $30,000 this year. This has been made possible through the support of our wonderful sponsors who recognise the value of supporting education and learning. These scholarships assist students financially to achieve their educational goals, and also recognise students for excellence in their chosen field. I look forward to sharing the recipients of the scholarships with you in my next column.

We are so lucky to have so many dedicated, community-minded people who contribute to the Cessnock LGA. The annual Australia Day Awards is an opportunity to thank and acknowledge them for all that they do. Cessnock City Council has opened its 2023 Australia Day Award nominations early this year to encourage more nominations, and I would like to call on the community to nominate someone who deserves to be recognised. Nominations can be for an outstanding achievement during the past year or a significant contribution to the local community over a number of years. Nominations are open until Monday 31 October 2022. To find out more, including information on how to nominate a deserving local, visit Council’s website.

In fantastic news for Kurri Kurri, stages 2 and 3 of the Col Brown Rotary Park upgrade are set to kick off in early May. Council was successful in obtaining an $847,701 grant under the NSW Government’s Resources for Regions program to complete the works, which will include landscaping, increased seating, improvements to the amenities block, feature tree plantings, accessible pathways, and park lighting. The aim of these works is to make the park more accessible and user friendly for the community to enjoy, while maintaining its heritage and charm. Col Brown Rotary Park plays host to so many wonderful community events and this upgrade will ensure we’re making the most of this great space in the centre of town.

It’s not too late to have your say on the Draft Heddon Greta – Cliftleigh Corridor Structure Plan which is on public exhibition until Friday 6 May. The draft plan seeks to identify and address current and future infrastructure and servicing needs within the corridor and considers issues such as the road network, service infrastructure, constraints, connectivity, and open space. This area has experienced substantial population growth over the last decade and I believe it’s so important to put a plan in place that provides a coordinated approach for any future development and infrastructure delivery. Thank you to those who have attended the information sessions and provided feedback on the plan this month. You can still have your say via the online survey and interactive map which can be found on Council’s website.