Mayoral Column - 20 March 2024
Published on 20 March 2024
I was devastated to hear of the recent loss of Cessnock local, Lance Corporal Jack Fitzgibbon in a military training exercise while serving with the ADF. The Fitzgibbon family has made a significant contribution to the Hunter region over many generations; indeed, Jack was embarking on a similar selfless path through his military service. It’s incredibly saddening to lose someone so young. My deepest sympathies are with Jack’s family including his partner Kass, his parents, Joel and Di, his sisters and friends.
Earlier this month, we celebrated the successful completion of the upgraded tennis court and new multipurpose courts at George Jeffrey Park, Kearsley. It’s fantastic to see investment in vital community facilities like these, and it was great fun to have a hit of tennis against students from Kearsley Public School and local residents last week.
Council has been working diligently to prepare a Review of Environmental Factors (REF) for the vital Wollombi Road upgrade project. A program of early community and stakeholder engagement commenced in July 2023, which has helped to inform the preferred design in the Wollombi Road Design Options Report. A summary of engagement activities to date, and how feedback has been addressed in arriving at the preferred design is included in this report, which forms part of the REF.
The REF for Stage 1 is now on public exhibition. Acknowledging the significance of this project and level of interest, Council has opted to place the documents on an extended 7-week exhibition period to Friday 3 May 2024. The project team will also hold multiple large scale community information sessions in a mixture of digital and in-person formats, alongside the continued collaboration with businesses and households on the road alignment which has supported the development of the REF and preferred design for the Wollombi Road upgrade. These documents can be viewed on Council’s Together Cessnock website here, at Council’s Administration Building or Cessnock City Libraries.
For those in the community who love an opportunity to pamper themselves or their loved ones, Council is giving away 5 x $100 luxury spa vouchers for Reflections Day Spa at Adina Vineyard, Lovedale, to residents of the LGA as part of this month’s ‘Support Local’ campaign. This competition is a great way to spread positivity and support our local beauty hotspots.
To enter, post a photo of your favourite hairdresser, beautician, or nail technician business within the LGA on Facebook, caption in 25 words or less why you love them, and tag them! Use the hashtag #supportlocalcessnock, and set your post to public to make your entry count. The competition will finish at the end of March 2024, with the winner being announced during the first week in April on Advance Greater Cessnock’s Facebook page. For terms and conditions and more details, visit the Advance Greater Cessnock website here.