Hilltops Council is a busy place

Hilltops Council is a busy place. You may wonder what activities go on in Council apart from looking after rates, roads and rubbish. There are ways for each of us to be involved in our local Council.

For a start, there are new guidelines about recycling. The cost of waste disposal continues to rise, so it is vital for each of us to recycle what we can and minimise the overall waste we produce.

Opportunities for businesses include the Open Business forums - initiatives from the Hilltops Economic Action Plan, which are open to anyone with ideas for economic growth. The NSW Government has extended an invitation for businesses to attend an introduction to freight and exporting workshop. Southern Region Business Enterprise Centre are hosting a “How to start your own business” workshop in Young.

The LEP process is well underway and provides opportunities for everyone to be involved. The LEP ultimately affects us all, so we should all take an interest in it. More of the projects funded through Stronger Country Community grants are nearing completion or have been completed. One of these is the Harden Visitor Information Centre. For the month of July there were 277 visitors, which shows there is increasing interest in the area.

The Regional Tourism Committee provides an avenue for anyone wishing to make a positive impact on tourism in the Hilltops region - nominations are currently being held. Several forums are taking place - the art exhibition and environment forum at the Harden Mechanics Institute is coming up this week. The Boorowa Community Landcare Group are hosting a forum to empower land managers to make change, planning for climate uncertainty.

Community organisations are invited to apply for financial assistance or sponsorship grants. The next round of Stronger Communities funding has also opened.

These are only some of the ways to be involved in the Hilltops region. Please take advantage of these opportunities.

– Councillor Rita O’Connor

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• Local Council