Council Meeting Recap 28 July 2025

Published on 30 July 2025

Upper Hunter Shire Council met on Monday 28 July, 2025 and considered a wide range of matters to support our towns and villages. Key decisions from the meeting are summarised below.

Appointments to Council committees
Council reviewed nominations for its community advisory committees. Councillors supported the appointment of Rowan Rodgers to the Australia Day Sub‑Committee in the Merriwa district and Jo Caldwell, Des Dugan, Ellen Watson, Darryn Wicks & Marty Wilson to the newly‑formed Murrurundi Recreation Facilities User Group Committee. Expressions of interest for the Murrurundi committee will remain open until 15 August 2025 so that more community members can get involved. Council thanked both nominees and emphasised that committee members must adhere to the Council’s Code of Conduct.

Establishing the Scone Sustainable Community Group Committee
Council endorsed the re‑establishment of the former Scone Tidy Towns Committee as the Scone Sustainable Community Group Committee under the Community Advisory Committee – Scone District. The new committee will support initiatives such as the Scone Community Garden, Scone Spring Garden Ramble, Clean Up Australia Day, and Keep Australia Beautiful programs, and will foster partnerships with schools, aged care, businesses, and other community organisations. Council adopted a draft charter and will call for nominations from the Community Advisory Committee and expressions of interest from local residents. Activities will be funded from existing budgets and environmental grants.

Gummun Place Hostel Advisory Committee – minutes and next steps
Councillors received minutes from the Gummun Place Hostel Advisory Committee meeting held on 17 June 2025. The committee discussed the future of the Merriwa facility and noted that Council may relinquish its high‑care certification so that Gummun Place reverts to a hostel providing low‑care accommodation. The committee observed that two stakeholders have expressed interest in operating Gummun Place as a low‑care hostel offering home‑care packages and possibly accommodation for National Disability Insurance Scheme supported living. A business case will be prepared for the Commonwealth Minister for Health and Aged Care. Council thanked the committee for their ongoing input and committed to keeping the community informed as the transition progresses.

Traffic and safety signage tender
Council accepted a panel tender for the supply and delivery of traffic and safety signage to the Upper Hunter Shire and other member councils of the Hunter Joint Organisation. The panel runs for three years from 1 July 2025 to 30 June 2028 with a 12‑month extension option. Successful suppliers include Artcraft, Barrier Signs, Central Signs Road & Safety, HiVis Group, ICombined 360 Services Group, J&M Road Marking Specialists/Traffic MGMT, and The SWF Group. The joint tender achieves value for money and ensures regulatory compliance.

Local Government NSW Annual Conference
Council confirmed that Cr Shields will represent the Upper Hunter at the 2025 Local Government NSW Annual Conference, to be held at Panthers Penrith and Western Sydney Conference Centre from 23–25 November 2025.

A motion to send two delegates, Cr Shields and Cr Stolz, resulted in a tied vote (4 in favour, 4 against). The motion was defeated when the Mayor exercised his casting vote. A subsequent motion to send Cr Shields was carried, with only Cr Stolz and Cr Fraser voting against.

Motions for the conference must be lodged through the online portal by 30 September 2025.

Disclosure obligations for councillors
Councillors were reminded of their obligations to lodge political donation disclosures by 11 August 2025 and electoral expenditure disclosures by 22 September 2025. Separate disclosures apply for donations made between 1 January and 30 June 2025, annual expenditure from 1 July 2024 to 30 June 2025, and any candidate or group campaign expenses.

Support for Westpac Rescue Helicopter fundraising
Council agreed to provide a $400 donation towards the cost of green fees for a community fundraising golf day hosted by the Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service at Scone Golf Club on 28 September 2025. While the request did not strictly meet the criteria of Council’s donations policy, the Corporate Services Committee recommended granting the donation to support this vital emergency service.

Report from the National General Assembly of Local Government
Mayor Maurice Collison, Deputy Mayor Pat Ryan, Councillor Allison McPhee and the General Manager attended the 2025 National General Assembly of Local Government in Canberra from 24–27 June 2025. The assembly theme, “National priorities need local solutions”, aligned with Council’s focus on financial sustainability, roads and infrastructure, jobs and skills, housing and homelessness. Delegates heard addresses from the Hon Kristy McBain (Minister for Regional Development, Local Government and Emergency Services) and the newly appointed Governor General Sam Mostyn. Presentations covered climate change adaptation, artificial intelligence, emergency management, safer roads, housing and community infrastructure, and employment in local government. More than 191 motions were debated, including four submitted by Upper Hunter Shire Council.

For more details on other matters discussed, please refer to the meeting agenda, or head to our YouTube channel to watch the meeting.