JUNEE Shire Council has rounded out another year of securing grants, tidying the town and managing key projects.
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There were a number of successes achieved by council, according to mayor Neil Smith, but also "always ways to improve".
"This might sound slightly flippant but I really do feel that our councillors, with excellent guidance from our general manager, are working beautifully as a cohesive and productive team," Cr Smith said.
"There is a wealth of experience and a great breadth of diverse knowledge and it is being harnessed and used for all the right reasons."
Cr Smith said it was "the small as well as the big" achievements that proved the council's success.
"It's the combination of small positive actions that go together to make the big success stories," he said.
Councillor Pam Halliburton outlined three projects of note, which she said represented a "productive and positive year" for the council.
"I am very pleased that council was so proactive in having the proposal virtually all ready to go to enable the community to successfully put in for, and win, the My Community Project grant for the erection of the adventure playground," she said.
"The building of this, plus the passing of recommendations for the Off the Leash Dog Park on Park Lane and the centre-based childcare facility in Kemp Street can only be a positive for Junee and district."
The overall flow of projects like the Athenium Theatre's new kitchen and air-conditioning plans, the almost $200,000 secured for the adventure playground and the Laurie Daley Oval amenities upgrade all contributed to a successful year, according to Councillor David Carter.
"It all helps to enhance the visibility of the town," he said. The year was not without its challenges, though.
"Attracting key staff and keeping them continues to be a challenge," Cr Smith said.
"Meeting the increasingly stringent requirements being imposed on council by the state government, and the amount of administrative red tape being imposed on our staff, that does nothing in terms of improving quality of life or conditions for our communities, is extremely frustrating and costly."
Cr Smith said the council were prepared to work hard into 2020 to make improvements and continue supporting the community.
"We hope to be more inclusive overall - not that I think we're doing too badly - however, I think we could improve in a couple of areas," he said.
Those areas include embracing and welcoming other cultures such as non-English speaking residents, improving accessibility in terms of infrastructure like wheelchair friendly footpaths and parks, and continuing to collaborate with the smaller communities in the shire, according to Cr Smith.
"We want to get the very best we can for them, to hear what they are saying and wherever possible, respond quickly and positively," he said.
In other news:
Cr Smith encouraged "community-minded individuals" to consider running for council next year.
"2020 is an election year with local government elections being held in September," he said.
"The more people that decide to run for council, the more choice the people of Junee Shire have to choose the very best of the bunch, the cream of the crop, and that has got to be a good thing for Junee Shire."
Cr Halliburton said a focus on the new community strategic plan was a positive heading into next year.
"The NSW government has mandated we have to be ready by July 1, 2020," she said. "The parameters of the government's vision for this should really enable us to move fluidly into future proofing Junee Shire in order to strengthen it."
Financial and overall productivity will be a key focus for Cr Carter in the new year.
"We hope to keep achieving what we already are doing well, and working to get the best bang for our buck," he said. "We've all worked well and keep striving to produce an effective and meaningful outcome for rate payers and communities.
"I'd like to wish a Merry Christmas to all the ratepayers and a safe holiday season, along with a good year ahead for the rural community."
Other Junee Shire councillors were contacted for comment, but did not respond.