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…
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…
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,…
The latest meeting of Glen Innes Severn Council on Thursday 16 October saw progress across a range of initiatives affecting the community. Council officers have been busy completing a number of resolutions over the past month, including the sale of a property in Deepwater. In governance matters, the Council adopted the Foundation Stage of the Councillor Psychosocial Safety and Wellbeing Framework, reinforcing a commitment to supporting the health and wellbeing of its elected members. In appointments, Cr Elphick was selected as Council’s representative for Glenrac, over Cr Scott. Financially, the Council remains in a strong position, with $28 million in…
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…
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…
🌧️ 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…
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.…
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…
Anne Vosper has officially been declared elected to the Glen Innes Severn Council, following a countback process overseen by the NSW Electoral Commission. The Returning Officer declared her elected on Monday, 1 September 2025, after the countback was uncontested—only one application was received to participate. Under New South Wales electoral law, when a councillor resigns mid-term and was elected through proportional representation, a countback is used to fill the vacancy rather than holding a full by-election. The process re-examines ballot papers from the previous ordinary election to determine which candidate among those not elected previously is next in line, based…
