This week I will focus on the Natural Environment Committee. Its purpose is to support Council by recommending programs, projects or actions that have the potential to progress the Community Strategic Plan in relation to protecting the environment and achieving effective land use planning, in the interest of the Forbes community. Councillor Jeff Nicholson was elected the Chair of this committee and Councillor Grant Clifton is also a representative of this committee.

I have fielded a number of questions regarding some of the roads that are still damaged due to the floods last year. All roads have been inspected by the Shire and works will continue on a priority basis. Some of the work is also awaiting funding allocation by RMS. Council is very appreciative of your patience and our crews are doing a great job on the repairs.

At last week’s Council meeting, the new Community Funding Program Policy was approved. This will allow equitable distribution of Council’s annual donations allocation, we will be calling for applications for the funding shortly.

Council will be meeting with all real estate agents in the near future to assess the needs of accommodation and housing in Forbes. This will help us to look at what is needed in the Forbes Shire in this regard.