Glen Innes Severn Council

22/10/2026

🚧🛑TEMPORARY ROAD CLOSURE - Old Grafton Road🛑🚧

Residents are advised that there is a tree over the road on the Old Grafton Road approx 1km in from the Gwydir Highway turnoff.

Council crews are on route to address the issue and anticipate having the road re-opened within an hour.

Motorists are encouraged to drive carefully and safely in these wet conditions.

22/10/2026

October Council Meeting Highlights

This month's Council meeting may have been shorter than usual, but it covered some important fundamentals, including financial sustainability, accountability and service delivery.

In our latest highlights video, Mayor Margot Davis and Acting General Manager Riarna Sheridan discuss:

📋 Review of 37 outstanding Council resolutions and a revised delivery schedule

💰 September Cash and Investments Report, including approximately $26.8 million in cash and investments and $8.3 million in unrestricted cash

📈 Quarterly Borrowings Report and ongoing work to strengthen Council's financial position

👋 A welcome to new Chief Financial Officer James Brinkley and his role in future financial planning

🏛️ $6.54 million in Federal Financial Assistance Grants funding and ongoing advocacy for fair funding for rural, regional and remote councils

⚖️ Discussion about the withdrawal of the proposed Grants Commission methodology changes and the importance of fair funding outcomes for councils

📚 Updated Library User Code of Conduct Policy

🏗️ Development Assessment performance, including an average assessment time of 33 days, well below the NSW benchmark of 75 days

The video also includes a brief message from Mayor Davis about respectful community discussion and supporting those who serve the community, following recent events involving Federal MP Helen Haines.

🎥 Watch the latest Council Meeting Highlights now: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8-kPGwgvEzA

📋 To view the full recording, agendas and minutes from this and previous Council meetings, visit Council's website: https://www.gisc.nsw.gov.au/Council/Council-Meetings

Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.

21/10/2026

This week is National Water Week, a great time to think about how we use and value water.

We've had some welcome rain lately, with hopefully more on the way. 🌧️

But a few good showers don't break a drought, so let's keep up our water-wise habits. Treat the rain as a bonus, not a reason to ease off.

Every drop we save now will help when the dry weather returns, especially with the warmer months ahead. Water is part of everyday life in the beautiful New England area, from what we drink and the food we grow, to the waterways that give wildlife a home and give us places to enjoy.

All of us have a part to play in caring for our waterways and catchments. Healthy landscapes and healthy waterways are essential for thriving communities and a sustainable future.

Simple ways to save water at home:

💧 Use the eco cycle when washing clothes or using the dishwasher
💧 Take shorter showers
💧 Plant drought-resistant natives that suit our local climate
💧 Tip leftover water from bottles onto the garden or pot plants
💧 Collect the water you run while waiting for the hot tap in a bottle or bucket
💧 Use quality organic mulch, such as sugar cane, to improve soil and hold moisture

How many of these have you already put into practice?

🌏 Find free activities, quizzes and resources for households, schools and community groups at: https://www.nationalwaterweek.org/

Check the current water restrictions and learn more about Council's water services:

Water Restrictions: https://www.gisc.nsw.gov.au/Infrastructure-Services/Water-Services/Water-Restrictions

Water Services: https://www.gisc.nsw.gov.au/Infrastructure-Services/Water-Services

Any changes to restrictions will be shared on Council's website and page.

📞 Water enquiries: (02) 6730 2300 (business hours) or 0418 162 794 (after hours)

21/10/2026

Our communities have been coming together lately, and it's been lovely to be part of it.

Mayor Margot Davis was recently invited to a morning tea hosted by the Glencoe Hall Committee, where committee members thanked Council for supporting the purchase of a new pop-up gazebo through the Mayor's Community Impact Fund. The gazebo will be a valuable asset for local events and community activities for years to come.

Council was also honoured to attend the Afghanistan Remembrance Day service, where Mayor Davis addressed those gathered before joining veterans, families and community members in paying tribute to those who served in Afghanistan and remembering those who made the ultimate sacrifice. Deputy Mayor Carol Sparks and Councillor Scott and Councillor Vosper were also in attendance.

Events like these are what make our region special: people showing up for each other, in good times and in quiet ones.

Thank you to everyone who organised, volunteered and joined in.

21/10/2026

Good news for everyone who's been asking: aqua aerobics is back and classes have kicked off at both Glen Innes and Emmaville Aquatic Centres.

💦Aqua Fitness – Glen Innes Aquatic Centre
Tuesday 8:30am
Wednesday 6:15pm
Thursday 8:30am
Saturday 8:30am

💦Aqua Move – Emmaville Aquatic Centre
Saturday 2:45pm

It's a fun, low-impact way to stay active this summer, and you don't need any experience. Just bring your togs and a towel and jump in.

For more information, contact the centres:
📞 Glen Innes Aquatic Centre: 0436 917 339
📞 Emmaville Aquatic Centre: 0439 521 932

You can also find out more about our other programs, fees, passes and opening hours at: https://www.gisc.nsw.gov.au/Parks-and-Recreation/Glen-Innes-Aquatic-Centre

19/10/2026

Do you own or run a business in Glen Innes Severn? There's still time to get involved in Small Business Month.

Meet other local business owners, hear real local stories and get practical info you can use. All free, with four events left.

☕ Fri 23 Oct | 7.30am–9.00am | The Local, Glen Innes Business Breakfast: Local Stories on Grey Street. Hear from Kerrod and Michelle Pedley of The Local, and Meg and Rory from Beardy Downs.
🎟️ https://www.eventbrite.com/e/rise-thrive-business-breakfast-local-stories-on-grey-street-tickets-1999741095448?aff=ebdsoporgprofile

🥪 Tue 27 Oct | 12.00pm–1.00pm | Highlands Hub Lunch & Learn: 24-Hour Economy & Vibrancy Reforms. Find out what they could mean for your business, with the NSW Small Business Commission. 🎟️ https://www.eventbrite.com/e/lunch-learn-know-where-to-turn-24-hour-economy-vibrancy-reforms-tickets-1999742001157?aff=ebdsoporgprofile

🌱 Fri 30 Oct | 7.30am–9.00am | Highlands Hub Business & Community Breakfast: From Rural Fit to Health Hub, with Andrew and Paula.
🎟️ https://www.eventbrite.com/e/rise-thrive-from-rural-fit-to-health-hub-tickets-2000105039013?aff=ebdsoporgprofile

🎨 Fri 30 Oct | 5.00pm–8.00pm | Highlands Hub Creative After Dark: a night of ideas, business and creativity.
🎟️ https://www.eventbrite.com/e/creative-after-dark-a-night-of-ideas-business-creativity-tickets-1999742162640?aff=ebdsoporgprofile

FULL PROGRAM: https://www.gisc.nsw.gov.au/Events-Activities/Small-Business-Month-in-Glen-Innes

Glen Innes Highlands Hub

19/10/2026

The latest Our Council is out now! Read it here: https://www.gisc.nsw.gov.au/News-Media/OUR-COUNCIL

📰Prefer a printed copy?
Pick one up from Council's Town Hall Office, Glen Innes Public Library, Life Choices, or the post offices in Deepwater, Emmaville and Glencoe.

Would your business or community venue like to become a collection point? Let us know: [email protected].

📬 Get Our Council delivered straight to your inbox. Click below, scroll down and hit subscribe. 👇👇👇

18/10/2026

The next Ordinary Council Meeting is scheduled to be held:

🗓 Thursday, 22 October 2026
⏰ 9.00am
📍 William Gardner Conference Room at the Glen Innes Severn Learning Centre

You can attend the meeting in-person or watch online at: https://webcast.gisc.nsw.gov.au/

Agenda and minutes can be found on Council's Website at: https://www.gisc.nsw.gov.au/Council/Council-Meetings

📣 Want to speak at the Public Forum?
Submit your application by 12 noon, Tuesday 20 October

📄 Download an application:https://www.gisc.nsw.gov.au/files/assets/public/v/1/council/application-to-speak-at-the-public-forum-session-fillable-29.7.24.pdf

18/10/2026

🏭 Help re-energise the Glen Innes 'Powerhouse'

Council has opened an Expression of Interest for the lease or licence of the rear portion of 148 Church Street, the former Essential Energy building.

The site includes the heritage-listed former Glen Innes Power Station, known locally as the 'Powerhouse'.

Council held community engagement on the site's future in 2025, including an Open Day. More than 300 people came through the doors, and ideas came in through Have Your Say as well.

The EOI is open to proposals that may include:
🔧 Heritage and industrial museum functions
🎪 Small-scale tourism and events
🎨 Creative, community and education uses
⚡ Energy education linked to the New England Renewable Energy Zone
🛍️ A commercial component

📅 Questions close: 9 November 2026
📅 EOI closes: 16 November 2026

👉 Find out more and how to submit: https://haveyoursay.gisc.nsw.gov.au/have-your-say-on-the-future-of-the-former-glen-innes-power-station

18/10/2026

📣 Have you had your say?

How easy is it to find the services and support you need locally? Are there things you need to travel out of the area to access?

We've heard from some of you, but we need to hear from more.

We’d like to hear from people across Glen Innes and our villages and hamlets about what’s available locally, what might be missing and what our community needs.

Your feedback will also help us explore whether a Community and Wellbeing Hub in Glen Innes could help bring services and support together in one place.

The survey takes around 10 minutes and closes Friday, 30 October 2026.

👉 Complete the survey on Have Your Say: https://haveyoursay.gisc.nsw.gov.au/community-wellbeing-and-support-hub

Prefer a paper copy? You can pick one up from:

📍 Council’s Town Hall Customer Service Office
📍 Glen Innes Severn Public & TAFE Library
📍 Life Choices Support Services
📍 Children and Family Services
📍 Glen Innes Youth
📍 Deepwater Post Office
📍 Emmaville Post Office