Glen Innes motorists and residents are advised to plan ahead as several temporary road closures will be in place across the town for the 2025 Australian Celtic Festival, taking place from Friday 2 May to Sunday 4 May. The Glen Innes Severn Council has announced the following road closures to ensure the smooth running of festival events: Friday 2 May:Grey Street, between Bourke Street and Town Square, will be closed from 9:30am to approximately 1:45pm to accommodate the Festival Opening Ceremony. Saturday 3 May:Grey Street, from Lang Street to Meade Street, will be closed between 8:00am and 11:30am for the…
A $5 million overdraft facility taken out by Glen Innes Severn Council has drawn criticism from some councillors, who have raised concerns over transparency and compliance with local government procedures. At a council meeting on Thursday, 24 April, General Manager Bernard Smith defended the facility, which was extended by the National Australia Bank in 2024. Mr Smith said the overdraft had been established to manage cash flow while the Council awaited reimbursement for already completed and paid-for grant-funded projects. "Importantly, the facility hasn't been drawn down," Mr Smith told councillors during the meeting. Although Council already had an existing $200,000…
Significant upgrades to Glen Innes’ local CCTV infrastructure are set to commence soon, with Glen Innes Severn Council announcing plans to expand and modernise surveillance systems across the town centre and, for the first time, at ANZAC Park. Scheduled to begin between late May and early June, the project will see 16 new high-definition cameras installed on four streetlight poles located between the Bourke Street and Meade Street intersections—four cameras per pole—substantially increasing coverage throughout the central business district. Further improvements include the addition of 13 cameras around the perimeter of the Town Hall. The existing system within the building…
Glen Innes’ new sensory garden has officially opened, thanks to a $100,000 grant from Round 5 of the Stronger Country Communities Fund. The garden, part of Glen Innes Severn Council’s Life Choices Support Services (LC-SS), has been specially designed to engage all five senses. With a mix of carefully chosen plants, textured surfaces, water features and other calming elements, the space aims to support people with sensory processing needs. The idea for the project was led by the late Anthony Williams, Glen Innes Severn Council’s former manager of community services, and it now stands as a tribute to his work…
Glen Innes Severn Council will consult the community on a proposed special rate variation (SRV) that could see rates increase by up to 68.5 per cent over three years, as part of its effort to address long-term financial sustainability. At its Ordinary Meeting held in April, councillors endorsed a number of strategies and plans under the Shaping Tomorrow Community Engagement Program. The program will gauge ratepayer sentiment on future planning priorities and potential SRV options. The community consultation period will run until 6 June 2025, with a final decision to be made at the Council’s meeting on 19 June. The…
The fourth annual goodnessgravel riding event was another outstanding success. 135 riders experienced the local sights as part of a weekend cycling event at Glen Innes on Saturday 12th April 2025. An Australian bike event company, goodnessgravel, in partnership with the Glen Innes Severn Council, hosted this gravel riding mini-festival. On Saturday, the main event consisted of a 125 kilometre ride with over 1,700 metres of climbing, there was also a shorter 75 km ride with over 1,000m of climbing and then a ‘Piccolo’ course of 35 km course with 450m of climbing with all courses traveling through the glorious…
The Glen Innes sheep saleyards have been brought in line with the latest livestock traceability standards following the installation of electronic identification (eID) technology. The upgrade was made possible through a $193,101 grant secured from the NSW Department of Primary Industries. Under new legislative requirements, all sheep and goats must be electronically tagged before arriving at saleyards. Upon arrival, the eID tags are scanned and read, enabling full traceability of livestock from farm to processor. With the new equipment in place, the Glen Innes sheep saleyards now fully comply with these updated regulations. Member for Northern Tablelands Brendan Moylan welcomed…
Glen Innes Severn Council will vote on whether to adopt a number of long term plans, which include a proposed increase in rates, at its next meeting to be held on 24th April. Council, in a recent media release, highlighted that Council's General Fund is not financially sustainable. As a result, it is becoming increasingly difficult to maintain and upgrade essential infrastructure such as roads, bridges, kerbing and guttering, parks, drainage, buildings and other community assets or provide new community facilities. This has prompted Council to consider the option of applying to the NSW Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal (IPART)…
The following works are scheduled in the period ending Friday 5 May 2025 subject to weather conditions and unforeseen delays: Jetpatching in the Glen Innes Township, and Old Grafton Road; General street sweeping around the Glen Innes Township; The Roads Construction Crew will be working on Wellington Vale Road; Maintenance grading is scheduled for Hazelwood Road, Tindal Road, Riley's Road, Euroka Road, Grahams Valley Road, Nant Park Road, Rangers Valley Road, Wycliffe Road, and Spicers Road. The Heavy Patching Crew will be undertaking urban heavy patching a various locations as part of the urban heave patching reseal program. The Bridge team will…
Glen Innes is preparing to welcome thousands of visitors from across the country as it hosts the Australian Celtic Festival from 1–4 May 2025. Now in its 33rd year, the festival remains Glen Innes Severn Council’s largest annual event and is recognised nationally as a key celebration of Celtic heritage and community spirit. Held at the Australian Standing Stones National Monument in Centennial Parklands, the 2025 event will pay tribute to the Celtic nations of Brittany, Cornwall and Wales. The program includes live music, traditional ceremonies, artisan markets and community festivities spread across the township. Mayor Margot Davis said the…
