Narrandera Mayor Neville Kschenka presented his final report for 2024 to the Council’s December meeting, which was its final meeting for the year.

Thursday 14: I travelled to Sydney to attend the Country Mayor’s Association AGM and General meetings. That evening, I joined fellow mayors and general managers at the CMA Dinner held at the grand old Castlereagh Boutique Hotel in Sydney. The Hon. Ron Hoenig, Minister for Local Government, was also in attendance and gave a presentation on SRVs and other matters. In response to questions about rate pegging, Minister Hoenig stated that it was the responsibility of individual councils and mayors to initiate the process. From the floor, it was suggested that there should be assistance available to councils to have their needs accessed by an independent body and taken to IPART for approval so ratepayers can have more confidence in the process, knowing that the council had sought advice from that organisation.

Friday 15: I attended the Country Mayors Association AGM and General meetings held at Parliament House, Sydney. It was evident there were a lot of changes in councils after the recent elections, with quite a number of new mayors in attendance. Immediate past Chair Jamie Chaffey stood down and Mayor Rick Firman of Temora Shire was elected to the position unopposed.

Guest speakers included:

Mark Speakman, NSW State Opposition Leader. He spoke about:

• The pressure rural hospitals are under.

• The need for better connectivity.

• Slow population growth in rural towns.

• The risk of cuts in infrastructure spending, looking at the forward estimates.

• Sustainability of rural councils.

• Housing.

Steve Wahn, Minister for Skills, TAFE, and Tertiary Education spoke about the Government's plans for:

• Renewables in Industry.

• Identifying future skills needs in regions.

• Linking TAFE to business and high schools.

• Training 1300 new apprentices.

• Concern about low apprentice wages.

• Skilled migration, particularly in health.

• Recognising migrants’ qualifications.

• Electro technology.

I asked from the floor about assistance with overseas trained doctors and he said it was not in his portfolio, although my question was prompted by his comment about "skilled migration, particularly in health".

Tuesday 19: The GM and I joined a virtual meeting with Jill Ludford, Chief Executive Murrumbidgee Local Health District (MLHD).

Wednesday 20: After accepting an invitation, and accompanied by my wife Carmel, I attended and officially opened the Narrandera Rotary Club’s Annual Business Awards held at the Narrandera Ex-Servicemen’s Club. My congratulations go to all the very deserving award recipients, and to Rotary for attracting many nominations and a large crowd.

Thursday 21: The GM and I joined the 2024 MLHD Annual Public Meeting via virtual link where I put forward questions regarding the process times for recruitment of doctors and nurses to rural regions, the need to maintain nursing staff numbers in our area, and the concerns for staffing the Narrandera Hospital Emergency Department.

Monday 25: I chaired the Aboriginal Elders Liaison Committee quarterly meeting.

Tuesday 26: The GM and I met with a representative from the Narrandera Medical Centre for a discussion on recruitment of doctors to Narrandera.

Later that day, and together with fellow committee members, I attended and chaired the Narrandera Leeton Airport Management Committee meeting. Minutes of the meeting are further presented to Council.

Mayor Kschenka extended his gratitude and thanks to those Councillors who had attended various meetings throughout the month, either on my behalf or as elected committee members.

As it was his last Mayor’s report for 2024, he took the opportunity to also extend heartfelt gratitude to fellow Councillors and Council staff for their efforts and hard work over the past 12 months.

“It has been another interesting and challenging year, but one that has also been very rewarding for our Council and the community,” he said.

His next monthly report will be February 2025, as Council does not hold an Ordinary meeting in January 2025.