Local Government Week 2020
- Your Hunter Valley Magazine
- Jul 29, 2020
- 2 min read
Cessnock City Council is gearing up for Local Government (LG) Week which kicks off next Monday 3 August. Council has planned activities that engage the community and shine a spotlight on the integral role Council plays in the Cessnock Local Government Area.
Cessnock City Mayor, Councillor Bob Pynsent said in the past 12 months our community has faced unprecedented challenges, from drought to bushfires to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We’ve been working hard to support our community through these uncertain times and it’s a reminder of the important role local councils have in community life. Local Government Week is a chance to celebrate the work Council does and all the different services we offer to our residents. The theme of this year’s LG week is “Councils Do” and we’re looking forward to sharing more of what we do with you.”
Councils are the hub of their communities, responsible for community events, libraries, sports fields, parks, pools, building and development assessment, the arts and even cemeteries. Councils are the grassroots, frontline level of government for the majority of people in NSW. There are 128 general purpose councils across NSW, employing around 45,000 full time staff, managing more than 93,000 hectares of open space, 165,000 kilometres of roads and 65,000 development applications each year.
As part of Local Government Week, Council is celebrating with a number of events. The first event is our annual School Leaders’ Breakfast on Tuesday 4 August. It’s a bit different this year with our students hearing from our guest speaker Stacey Currie via Zoom. Stacey will share her story of resilience.
Council is also highlighting the work they do to keep our local roads safe. They’re encouraging families to have discussions about road safety with their preschool and primary school age children. Families will be able to download a number of fun and educational activity sheets via Council’s website which will help their children better understand safety whilst walking, riding a bike or travelling in a car. Entries open on Monday 3 August.
