Council – Page 4 – Glen Innes News

Nov

27

2025

Conversations with our Councillors

Council, Local NewsConversations with Councillors, Glen Innes Severn Council

Glen Innes Severn Council has launched a new monthly initiative giving residents the chance to speak directly with Councillors and Council staff in a relaxed setting about issues affecting themselves and the wider community. The emphasis is intentionally informal, with the sessions—called Conversations with Councillors—held at the Highlands Hub once a month on a Thursday from 4pm to 6pm. Councillors attend when available, and at the third and most recent Conversation those present included Mayor Margot Davis, Deputy Mayor Carol Sparks, and Councillor Anne Vosper, with General Manager Bernard Smith also on hand to respond to questions and suggestions. Attendance…

Nov

26

2025

By Newsroom

CHRISTMAS IN THE HIGHLANDS – ILLUMINATIONS TO LIGHT UP GLEN INNES THIS SATURDAY

Council, Local NewsChristmas In The Highlands

Christmas in the Highlands – Illuminations will take place in Glen Innes this Saturday, 29 November, transforming the town centre into a light-filled precinct for all ages. Proudly funded by the NSW Government’s Open Streets Program in association with Glen Innes Severn Council, the event will feature lighting installations and projections, interactive and creative experiences, twilight markets, food trucks, live entertainment, reindeer in the park, and the lighting of the town Christmas tree across two themed zones - North Pole and South Pole precincts. Christmas in the Highlands - Illuminations is community-driven, with local makers, musicians, performers, businesses, volunteers, and…

Nov

21

2025

By Newsroom

Spend in Glen is Back

Council, Local Newschristmas shopping, Glen Innes News, Glen Innes Severn Council, Spend in Glen

SPEND IN GLEN RETURNS WITH CHRISTMAS CHEER AND THE BELOVED BARREL A favourite Glen Innes Christmas tradition is back for 2025, with Spend in Glen once again encouraging everyone to shop locally, support small businesses, and enjoy the festive spirit that makes our community so special. Organised this year by an enthusiastic group of local businesses and proudly supported by Council, Spend in Glen will run from 20 November to 24 December. Simply spending $20 or more at a participating Glen Innes business gives shoppers the chance to win a share of $10,000 in Shop Local Gift Cards. And yes…

Oct

23

2025

By Newsroom

COUNCIL FINALISES PURCHASE FOR FUTURE COUNCIL OFFICE ACCOMMODATION

CouncilGlen Innes Severn Council

Glen Innes Severn Council has finalised the purchase and exchanged contracts for the vacant building behind the McKenzie Mall in Glen Innes, locally known as the Dimmys building. The acquisition delivers a much needed and cost-effective response to critical safety, compliance and functional concerns that have affected the existing Council facilities for many years. Negotiations for the site began during the last term of Council, following over 15 years of investigations and planning to identify a suitable and affordable solution. Council resolved to proceed with the purchase at its November 2024 Ordinary Council meeting, and with the sale now finalised,…

Oct

11

2025

By Newsroom

Council Business Papers available

Council, Local NewsGlen Innes Severn Council

The agenda and annexures for the Glen Innes Severn Council Ordinary Council Meeting is scheduled for Thursday, October 16, 2025 and are now on the Council's website. This meeting has been brought forward from the usual 4th Thursday in the month to the 3rd Thursday. Key reports address financial sustainability, such as investment strategies, monthly investment reports showing a portfolio of $24.5M in term deposits, and a quarterly borrowings report detailing over $10M in total loan liabilities. The unrestricted cash is at positive $4.92M, with the NAB loan of $5M. Other significant topics include the proposed adoption of a Psychosocial Safety and Wellbeing…

Oct

11

2025

By Newsroom

COUNCIL REPRESENTS OUR REGION AT 2025 REGIONS RISING NATIONAL CONFERENCE

Council, Local NewsGlen Innes Severn Council

Glen Innes Severn has taken its place on the national stage, representing the strength and innovation of regional Australia at the Regional Australia Institute’s (RAI) Regions Rising National Conference in Canberra. The conference brought together Ministers, regional leaders and industry experts to explore how regions are shaping Australia’s future — from renewable energy and infrastructure to housing, workforce and health. At the Regional Dialogue Day, the Glen Innes Health Hub — an initiative of the Hunter New England and Central Coast Primary Health Network (PHN) — was showcased as one of the nation’s most innovative regional health projects. The Hub…

Sep

29

2025

By Newsroom

Ordinary Council Meeting (OCM) Highlights – 25 September 2025

Council, Local Newscouncil meeting

The Editor has received correspondence from the Acting General Manager of GISC which is included as an addendum to this report for clarity and transparency. At 8:45 am, prior to the council meeting, former Councillor Mrs Lara Gresham addressed Council in a Public Forum. Members of the public are allowed to address Councillors for 5 minutes prior to the meeting, following an application to Council. Mrs Gresham spoke against item 7.6 Psychosocial Safety and Wellbeing Framework for Councillors. The basic tenet of Mrs Gresham’s address was that the Workplace Health and Safety Act states, categorically, that it does not…

Sep

23

2025

By Newsroom

WOW – that’s an experience that must be preserved!

Council, Local NewsGlen Innes Severn Council, Land of the Beardies Museum, Our Local History

🌧️ Rain couldn’t stop the crowds! Despite the rolling scuds of rain, Glen Innes locals — joined by curious visitors — streamed into the Old Glen Innes Power Station on Saturday. By 9:30am, the building was alive with a fantastic turnout, all eager to marvel at the technology that once powered our town through the 1930s, 40s and 50s. The undisputed stars of the show? Two enormous engines, still as impressive today as they were nearly a century ago. Guests were handed a vintage brochure from the History House, written and edited by Ivan March, recounting the story of the…

Sep

08

2025

By Newsroom

Another Strategy, Another Survey – You Can ‘Shape the Future’

Council, Local NewsGlen Innes Severn Council

Economic Development Strategy & Destination Management Plan Glen Innes Severn Council has once again brought in outside consultants – SC Lennon & Associates –fully funded, through a grant, to review and rewrite the town’s Economic Development Strategy and Destination Management Plan. The idea is to build on the last set of documents and produce something “visionary, practical and evidence-based”. According to Council, these two shiny new strategies will steer the region’s economic and tourism priorities for the next five years. In other words, another round of big-picture plans that may, or may not, translate into actual projects on the ground.…

Sep

08

2025

By Newsroom

Building Drought Resilience in the High Country

Council, RuralGlen Innes Severn Council

A new Northern New England High Country Regional Drought Resilience Plan has been released, aiming to help communities across Glen Innes Severn and Tenterfield prepare for, withstand, and adapt to future droughts. Developed in partnership with the Department of Regional NSW and CSIRO, and funded under the Future Drought Fund, the Plan recognises that drought doesn’t just hit farmers – it also affects businesses, mental health, and the social fabric of towns. With climate change bringing hotter, drier and longer droughts, the Plan sets out a roadmap to strengthen resilience across five key areas: Community: The Plan calls for stronger…