Have Your Say! Gilgandra Region Draft Plans Now on Public Exhibition
Published on 26 May 2025
HAVE YOUR SAY! GILGANDRA REGION DRAFT PLANS NOW ON PUBLIC EXHIBITION
Draft Community Strategic Plan 2035
Draft Delivery Program 2025/26 – 2028/29 & Operational Plan 2025/26
Draft Long Term Financial Plan 2025/26 – 2034/35
OUR VISION:
A Vibrant Region to Live > Enjoy > Grow that is inclusive, resilient and progressive.
GSC has placed its draft Community Strategic Plan 2035 (CSP) and associated documents on public exhibition and is inviting residents to Have Your Say.
The CSP is Council’s highest-level planning document, serving as a blueprint that outlines the community’s vision, outcomes, and strategies for the Region under the guiding themes of Live, Enjoy, Grow, and Lead.
Supporting the CSP is the 2025/26 - 2028/29 Delivery Program and 2025/26 Operational Plan, detailing the actions to be taken during this term of Council, including the 2025/26 Budget, and Fees and Charges to support these initiatives. The 10-year Long Term Financial Plan (LTFP) to support these plans is also on public exhibition
Mayor, Cr Doug Batten thanks all those who attended and contributed to the recent community consultation sessions held in Bearbong, Tooraweenah, Curban, Armatree, Cobboco, and Gilgandra, including those who provided feedback through emails, online surveys, letters, phone calls, and other direct conversations.
“The Community Strategic Plan 2035 has been shaped by the valuable input received from the community during recent collaboration and Have Your Say opportunities, along with the priorities of your Councillors, and reflects a shared vision for the future of the Gilgandra Region over the next 10 years. I thank everyone who participated and provided feedback on the key issues, challenges and priorities. As your community leaders we are committed to a positive future for our Region, and are pleased to present these plans.”
Mayor Batten says,
“With the significant growth opportunities identified by key strategic work in the Towards 5000 population strategies, it is an exciting time for the Gilgandra Region. We look forward to building on this momentum and working towards positive outcomes over this term of Council.”
The recently developed strategies supporting a population Towards 5000 include, the Gilgandra Region:
- Community Health Vision
- Community ChildCare (0-12) Strategy
- Village Management Plans (Tooraweenah & Armatree)
- Draft Green Space Strategy (currently on public exhibition)
- Draft Youth Strategy (currently on public exhibition)
adding,
“Major infrastructure investments are already underway, and we are well positioned to capitalise on these developments through effective planning and community centred growth. This is a pivotal moment to shape the future of Gilgandra positioning our Region as a great place to live, enjoy, and grow.”
Major works planned for 2025/26 include:
Live
- Aged Care Workers Accommodation $4.92m
- Warren Road Medical Precinct construction $1.43m
- Waste Facility Cell Works $257k
- Rural Roads Capital Renewals $4.05m
- Smart Water Meters Implementation $475k
- Tooraweenah Mains Replacement $100k
- Water Fluoridation $130k
- Upgrade of Sewer Mains $340k
- Construct New Sewer Treatment Plant $20m
- Cooee Lodge Room Renovations $350k
- Jack Towney Hostel High Care Units $330k
Enjoy
- Windmill Walk Stage 2 Design $583k
- Goin’ To Gil and Under The Gums Event $219k
- Implement Green Space Strategy $20k
- Implement Youth Strategy
- Review Active Transport Strategy $76k
- Implement Village Management Plans Tooraweenah and Armatree
- IT’S GREAT Community Events program $50k
Grow
- Develop Industrial Subdivisions $4.54m
- Implement the Castlereagh Country Drought plan $250k
- Develop the next stage of the CBD Master Plan and Strategy including Community Improvement District (CID) Pilot Program $415k
- Review Councils Land Use Strategies and Plans $247k
- Facilitate the implementation of the Gilgandra Region Health Vision
- Review Tourism and Economic Development plans and strategies
- Develop a Riparian River Health Strategy for the Castlereagh River within the Gilgandra Cultural Precinct
Lead
- Review Workforce Management Strategy
- Implement Customer Service Strategy
- Review the Disability Inclusion Action Plan
- Implement GSC Transformational Change Roadmap Priority Actions 2024-2027 $1.68m
- Administration building works
The draft Plans are on public exhibition to Wednesday, 18 June 2025 including, the Gilgandra Region:
- Draft Community Strategic Plan 2035
- Draft Delivery Program & Operational Plan 2025/26 – 2028/29
- Draft 10-year Long Term Financial Plan 2025/26 – 2034/35
Draft Towards 5000 Strategies also on public exhibition include, the Gilgandra Region:
- Draft Green Space Strategy
- Draft Youth Strategy
These draft Plans and Strategies, including a copy of the collaborative sessions PowerPoint presentation and Q&A responses are available in electronic format and can be downloaded from Council’s website: www.gilgandra.nsw.gov.au
Copies of the draft Plans and Strategies are also available for viewing at the following locations in Gilgandra:
- Service NSW, 20 Miller St
- The GIL Library Hub, 30-32 Miller St
- Gilgandra Shire Council, 15 Warren Rd
- Cooee Lodge Hostel, Townsend Dr
- Jack Towney Hostel, 5 Stockings Cres
- Community Care, 22 Miller St
- Youth Centre, 4 Hall St
- Coo-ee Heritage & Visitor Information Centre, 6452 Newell Hwy
Share your views on the key issues, challenges, opportunities and priorities going forward at www.gilgandra.nsw.gov.au/Have-Your-Say.
The community can:
- Complete a Have Your Say form online at Council’s website
- Find details via Council’s Facebook page
- Provide feedback in-person:
- Service NSW
- The GIL Library Hub
- Gilgandra Shire Council
- Cooee Lodge Hostel
- Jack Towney Hostel
- Community Care
- Youth Centre
- Coo-ee Heritage & Visitor Information Centre
Feedback and submissions close at 5.00pm on Wednesday, 18 June 2025.
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Your Community Insights Survey Results
The Gilgandra Region Community Insights Survey was open throughout November 2024 to February 2025. Residents were invited to join the conversation on facilities and services provided to our community and to assist in planning the future over the next ten years of the 2035 Community Strategic Plan.
There were 212 responses to the survey.
- 58% have lived in Gilgandra for more than 20 years, 12% have been here for 11-20 years and 17% less than 5 years.
- 75% of respondents were female, 25% were male.
- The majority of respondents were aged between 36 – 45 years (23%), followed by 18-35 age group (19%)
- 78% are from in the Gilgandra Area, while Armatree, Balladoran, Biddon, Collie, Curban, Kickabil, Mendooran, Tonderbrine, Tooraweenah areas were represented
- 87% would be likely or very likely to recommend Gilgandra Shire as a place to live
- 88% would be likely or very likely to recommend Gilgandra Shire as a place to visit
- 76% would be likely or very likely to recommend Gilgandra Shire as a place to start/grow a business.
- 49% of respondents had contacted Council in the last 12 months (other than to make a payment).
- 45% contacted Council by phone and 31% visited Council Facilities in person. Which were the top two preferred ways of dealing with Council (76%).
- 27% of respondents felt like Council dealt with their interaction fairly well.
- 26% of respondents felt like Council dealt with their interaction well.
- The majority of respondents prefer to communicate with Council by email and phone (30% each)
- In person followed just behind with 29%.
- In 2025 the majority of respondents preferred to hear about Council news through Council’s Social Media (56%). The Gilgandra Weekly was the second highest communication channel (45%). Council’s website, email newsletters and letter box drop were all well rated (above 33%).
- The majority of respondents rated Council’s overall performance last term as a 7, on a scale of 1 (very poor) to 10 (very good). This was closely followed by 8. 82% scored Council’s overall performance as 5 and above. Compared to 64% scoring 5 and above in 2021.
Respondents were asked to rate the Council's Overall Performance from 1 - 10 with 10 being scored the most positive.
- 82% scored Council's overall performance as a 5 and above.
Top focusses for the future:
You can view a copy of the Community Insights Survey Results at www.gilgandra.nsw.gov.au/Connect/Have-Your-Say.
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Contact Kathryn Larkin
Project Manager Strategy & Economic Development
02 6817 8800
klarkin@gilgandra.nsw.gov.au