Norfolk Island Regional Council - NIRC

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗗𝗲𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗘𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗼𝘆𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗸𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗲 𝗥𝗲𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘀𝗲𝗲𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗶𝗻𝗽𝘂𝘁:

The Australian Government has declarations (or “rules”) about which ships are covered by certain national maritime laws. The declarations they are seeking feedback on are:
👉 Seafarers Rehabilitation and Compensation (Prescribed Ship – Norfolk Island) Declaration 2016
👉 Occupational Health and Safety (Maritime Industry) (Prescribed Ship – Norfolk Island) Declaration 2016

These declarations are about to expire on 1 October 2026, so the government plans to “remake” them (i.e. renew them so they continue).

𝑾𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒅𝒐𝒆𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒎𝒆𝒂𝒏 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝑵𝒐𝒓𝒇𝒐𝒍𝒌 𝑰𝒔𝒍𝒂𝒏𝒅?
Nothing is changing – they are proposing to keep the current rules in place, so everything continues as it is now. They advise that the Seacare scheme regulates work health and safety and provides workers’ compensation arrangements for defined parts of the maritime industry.

Remaking these declarations without change will preserve current workers’ compensation and work health and safety arrangements under the Seacare scheme, preventing the unintended expansion of the scheme to Norfolk Island.

📨 If you have any questions or would like to provide feedback on the remaking of these declarations, you can contact [email protected] by 12 June 2026.

𝙉𝙤𝙧𝙛𝙤𝙡𝙠 𝙄𝙨𝙡𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙍𝙚𝙜𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙖𝙡 𝘾𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙘𝙞𝙡 𝙝𝙖𝙨 𝙣𝙤 𝙧𝙤𝙡𝙚 𝙞𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙥𝙧𝙤𝙘𝙚𝙨𝙨, 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙥𝙤𝙨𝙩 𝙞𝙨 𝙟𝙪𝙨𝙩 𝙥𝙧𝙤𝙫𝙞𝙙𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙞𝙣𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙢𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙩𝙤 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙢𝙪𝙣𝙞𝙩𝙮.

A television tower located on Mt Pitt was damaged and has fallen during the severe weather over the weekend. 📺

Council is currently working on a solution to restore television services as soon as possible.

We apologise for any inconvenience caused and thank everyone for their patience while these works are being carried out.

Council will update the community when more information is known.

🔗 Media release: https://bit.ly/4eiXn8K

✨CLOSING SOON ✨ We're seeking the services of a suitably qualified person to fill the statutory position of 𝗦𝘂𝗿𝘃𝗲𝘆𝗼𝗿 𝗚𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗹 for an initial period of 12 months.

The primary function of this position is to approve, where applicable, partial and compiled Survey Office plan requests for Norfolk Island.

📅 RFQ submissions close on 5 June 2026

👉 For more information and how to apply, please visit www.nirc.gov.au/Your-council/Tenders-and-EOI

🚧 𝗦𝗹𝗼𝘄 𝗱𝗼𝘄𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗳𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗳𝗳𝗶𝗰 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗹 𝗮𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱 𝗿𝗼𝗮𝗱𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸𝘀 🚧
We're reminding all drivers to please reduce speed and follow traffic control directions when travelling through active road work zones.

Concerns have recently been raised about vehicles not reducing speed in work areas or ignoring directions from traffic controllers.

Our road crews are often working close to live traffic, and reduced speed limits are essential to ensuring the safety of workers while allowing works to continue with minimal disruption to road access.

Lower speeds are also critical during the initial stages of road sealing. Vehicles travelling too fast can damage newly sealed surfaces, resulting in additional rework, delays, and unnecessary costs.

If safe operating conditions cannot be maintained, temporary road closures during works may become necessary to protect workers and the public.

This measure would only be considered where required, it could result in significant disruption and access to some areas. We'd like to avoid this with your cooperation.

Please follow all traffic controls and speed limits to help keep road workers safe.

🔗 See the full media release here: https://bit.ly/4egtzcS

📝 We're seeking expressions of interest from suitably qualified/experienced candidates to fill 3 vacancies on the 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗰 𝗙𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗜𝗺𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗶𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗲 (𝗦𝗙𝗜𝗖).

✅ If there are any community members interested in joining the Committee, please read the Information Pack and Terms of Reference available at www.nirc.gov.au/SFIC, before submitting your application to Customer Care at [email protected].

Closes: 12 June 2026.

📢 𝐊𝐄𝐘 𝐂𝐎𝐔𝐍𝐂𝐈𝐋 𝐃𝐎𝐂𝐔𝐌𝐄𝐍𝐓𝐒 𝐎𝐍 𝐏𝐔𝐁𝐋𝐈𝐂 𝐄𝐗𝐇𝐈𝐁𝐈𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍 📢

Norfolk Island Regional Council has placed several important documents on public exhibition, and the community is invited to have their say.

The documents include:
• 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐜 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐧 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔–𝟐𝟎𝟑𝟔
• 𝐃𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐦 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔–𝟐𝟎𝟑𝟎
• 𝐎𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐧 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔–𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟕, including the Annual Budget, Revenue Policy Statement, Schedule of Fees and Charges and the Long‑Term Financial Plan

These plans will guide Council’s priorities, services and decision‑making for years to come, and now is the time for the community to provide feedback before they are finalised.

💬 𝐏𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐜 𝐬𝐮𝐛𝐦𝐢𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐜𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐞 𝐚𝐭 𝟒.𝟎𝟎 𝐩𝐦 𝐨𝐧 𝟐9 𝐉𝐮𝐧𝐞 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔

You can view the documents and make a submission online via Council’s Public Exhibitions page: 👉 www.nirc.gov.au/Public-Exhibition

📄 Hard copies are also available for viewing at 𝐂𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐫 𝐂𝐚𝐫𝐞, Bicentennial Complex, Taylors Road.

Council will be sharing further information during the exhibition period and will also hold public meetings where community members can ask questions and learn more about the documents.

We thank everyone who has already contributed through surveys and stakeholder meetings — your feedback has helped shape these draft plans, and further input is encouraged.

✅ Have your say and help shape the future direction of Norfolk Island.

This strategic planning work is being progressed in the context of anticipated governance changes, including the proposed establishment of a future Norfolk Island Assembly. While the Assembly is not expected to be bound by the outcomes of this process, Council considers it important to continue meaningful community engagement and strategic planning at this time.

𝗜𝗖𝗬𝗠𝗜: Here's a summary of Council news this week.
For more information on any of these topics, please see below.

🌿Public Land Grazing Management Strategy: https://bit.ly/4vgnumy

💬 Public Exhibition notice: https://bit.ly/4dBAihp

🔑 Open Opportunities: https://bit.ly/4uGRiJg

🗞 Gazette #20: https://bit.ly/4vlWNNr

🤝 Job vacancies: https://bit.ly/4wYO31o

📰 May Fuss Newsletter: https://bit.ly/4upMyrg

The Draft Public Land Grazing Management Strategy is out for public exhibition seeking community and stakeholder feedback until 4:00pm, 26 June 2026.

Following the public exhibition period, a report will be taken to a Council meeting outlining any submissions received and recommend any revisions or adoption of a final Strategy.

It was developed through consultation with the Norfolk Island Cattle Association (NICA) and outlines practical measures to mitigate environmental impacts, enhance pasture and grazing management, and progressively refine carrying capacity estimates as monitoring data becomes available.

For more information, including the draft Strategy, and to make a public submission, follow the instructions on Council’s Public Exhibitions page www.nirc.gov.au/Public-Exhibition

Gazette No. 20 is now available online for viewing.

🔗 https://bit.ly/4dCWo3a

Expressions of Interest are closing this week!
We’re seeking passionate individuals interested in potential opportunities within our Environment Team.

We want to hear from you if you have interests, skills, qualifications and/or demonstrated experience in one or more of these areas:
👉 Planning & Land Use
👉 Biodiversity & Natural Assets
👉 Climate Resilience
👉 Waste Services
👉 Public Health

✅ If this sounds like you or someone you know, visit our Working for Council page to apply before 4pm 31 May 2026.
🔗www.nirc.gov.au/Your-council/Working-for-council/Environment-Team-Opportunities