QUEANBEYAN-Palerang Regional Council Administrator Tim Overall is celebrating 100 days since the proclamation was made by the NSW Government creating the QPRC. QPRC is now an area of 5319km2, with over 56,000 residents supported by a budget over $165 million and 500 staff, making it one of the largest regional councils in NSW.

The first 100 days have been a busy time for Council staff bringing the systems and processes of the two former organisations together and have continued to provide service continuity to the community.

Highlights from the first 100 days include:

• A new Local Representative Committee has been established and chaired by former Palerang Mayor . The Committee is made up of eight former Palerang and Queanbeyan councillors.
• A joint operational plan was adopted for 2016-17, which has more than $38 million in capital works, $7.6 million for the upgrade of the water and sewer network and $4.4 million towards improvements to waste management. “The Operational Plan includes some very exciting projects and a range of asset renewal and upgrade projects,” Mr Overall said. “This Operational Plan represents the final year of the Delivery Program of the former Queanbeyan City and Palerang councils and thus includes the projects and services the two former councils intended to undertake. We have also started to see the two former workforces working together on the Captains Flat road construction works and improving services into our eastern pools for example” Mr Overall stated.
• All merged councils are being supported by the NSW Department of Premier and Cabinet, with all councils collaborating on new performance, technology and staffing initiatives. Council recently adopted an interim executive structure and will commence the placement of staff into new roles. The costs of the merger over the next few years is offset by a grant of $5m from the Government. A number of savings have already been achieved for QPRC through reduced insurance and procurement costs for example. QPRC has also commenced a review of the services, assets and finances to guide its financial plan. The community will be surveyed next month on the level of satisfaction with and the importance of, the various council services.
• The NSW Government announced the creation of a ‘Stronger Communities Fund’ as part of its local government reform initiative – ‘Fit for the Future’. Funding has been provided by the Government to the newly-merged councils to spend on priority community initiatives and asset renewals. QPRC will allocate up to $1 million in grants of up to $50,000 each to incorporated not-for-profit community groups and Council’s Section 355 Committees, for projects that build more vibrant, sustainable and inclusive local communities. Later in the year, QPRC will also consider a schedule of other infrastructure renewals or improvements to be carried out using the Government’s $9m asset grant for each merged council. The period to apply for the $50,000 grants has been extended to 23 September 2016 and information is available online via Council’s website.