Mayoral Column - 4 October 2023

Published on 04 October 2023

Cessnock City Mayor Jay Suvaal

This past weekend kicked off the 2023/24 Summer season at our outdoor pools and it couldn’t have come at a better time. We’ve experienced the thermometer rising, so it is great that Council offers this popular service that provides respite from the Summer heat.

In the lead up to the opening our pools at Cessnock and Branxton, Council’s newest lifeguards participated in rescue training scenarios alongside their experienced senior colleagues to keep their skills up to date for a busy season.

I’m pleased to advise that at its latest meeting, Council adopted my recommendation in a Mayoral Minute to host a free entry day at Cessnock and Branxton pools. The free entry day is in addition to offering free entry to both pools on Australia Day. Keep an eye out on Council’s social media channels for more information about the timing of this initiative.

The warmer weather has other, more serious impacts on our community, as we saw recently with the bushfire that threatened parts of Neath last month, along with other fires that have occurred across our local government area. The statutory Bush Fire Danger Period runs from 1 October to 31 March, but as we’ve seen, bushfires can pose a threat outside this period.

Bush fires are a part of life in the Hunter Valley and across the State. The Rural Fire Service are recommending residents prepare their properties as we enter the bush fire season. RFS has identified 5 simple steps every household can do around their home to prepare it for a bushfire, which are;

  • Trim overhanging trees and shrubs
  • Mow grass and remove the cuttings
  • Remove material that can burn around your home such as door mats, wood piles, mulch, leaves, outdoor furniture
  • Clear and remove all the debris and leaves from the gutters surrounding you home
  • Ensure you have some sturdy hoses or hose that will reach all around your home

For more information and to download the essential resources the RFS have available on their website, visit: https://www.rfs.nsw.gov.au/resources/bush-fire-survival-plan

Also, be sure to report all unattended fires to Triple Zero (000) and stay up to day by visiting www.rfs.nsw.gov.au/fnm or by checking the Hazards Near Me app. 

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