Local Government Week highlights Council’s integral community role

06 August 2020

Tweed Shire Council is using Local Government Week (3-9 August 2020) as a chance to reflect on an unprecedented year, with Council staff and the Tweed community facing multiple challenges.

Mayor of Tweed Councillor Katie Milne said the theme of this year’s Local Government Week – “Councils Do” – was an appropriate way of describing the more than 50 services which Council delivers to the community, even in times of crisis.

“These past 12 months have been particularly challenging for the Tweed, as it has been for communities across the country, with the perfect storm of drought, water restrictions, bushfires, flooding and a global pandemic having a massive impact on our community,” she said.

“Our community continues to rise to the challenge again and again, and residents can take great faith that we will continue to be there for each other especially in difficult times.”

“Council goes far beyond roads, rates and rubbish and is the hub of our community with people using Council services and infrastructure and enjoying our beautiful environment every day. We strive to create strong community connections and promote a healthy, ethical economy,” Cr Milne said.

Council takes care of 1556 hectares of open space in the Tweed including maintaining more than 400 parks, 40 sports fields and around 80 playgrounds alongside managing Tweed’s 1254-kilometre road network and internationally significant environment.

“Council is also responsible for a wide range of services from events, community centres, libraries, pools, museums, building and development assessment, galleries and cemeteries,” Cr Milne said.

One service that is particularly important right now is the COVID-19 Tweed Emergency Dashboard, which recently was awarded the Local Government Professionals Award (Special Project Initiative).

The dashboard aims to provide information about Council’s services and support in response to COVID-19 and to connect the Tweed community to government information about the pandemic. View the dashboard at emergency.tweed.nsw.gov.au/coronavirus (Please note, Council is not the authority on public health issues).

While Council is working harder than ever to support our communities, the usual program of community events for Local Government Week is not being held this year due to COVID-19 restrictions.

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Caption: A view of the Tweed from Cook Island/Fingal Head. Photo credit: Ryan Fowler