The Hon. Ron Hoenig, NSW Minister for Local Government, visited Glen Innes on Tuesday 29 July to meet with Glen Innes Severn Council.
The visit began at Glen Innes Town Hall, where Mayor Margot Davis and General Manager Bernard Smith welcomed the Minister for a wide-ranging discussion. Key issues raised included the financial pressures on rural councils, structural challenges, and concerns about the current Special Rate Variation (SRV) process.
“Rural councils are expected to deliver core services and infrastructure with increasingly limited resources,” Cr Davis said.
“It’s vital that state decision-makers understand the pressures we face and support reforms that reflect these realities.”
The Mayor also thanked the Minister for making the effort to engage directly with local government and the community.
“We sincerely thank Minister Hoenig for taking the time to visit Glen Innes Severn and engage directly with our Council and community,” she said
“This was a valuable opportunity to provide a firsthand perspective on the issues we are navigating, as well as the potential we see for the future.”
The Council also took the opportunity to brief Minister Hoenig on longer-term strategies to support population growth, strengthen local resilience, and improve liveability across the Glen Innes Severn region.
The visit included site tours of several key local destinations, including the award-winning Sweetie Pies Bakery, the Australian Standing Stones, the Highlands Hub, and the Glen Innes Highlands Skywalk. The Minister also met with local trainees employed under the NSW Government’s Fresh Start Program.
Minister Hoenig has previously voiced concern about financial management in local government, saying, “It’s clear we need to improve the financial health, transparency and accountability of local government in this state”
