Cumberland Council E-news 4 November 2016

$1 Million up for Grabs for Community Organisations

Under the Stronger Communities Grants Program, $1 million will be available for not-for-profit community organisations to deliver projects that aim to bring about positive change locally. Applications are now welcome for a broad range of projects. Joint projects between local groups working in partnership are strongly encouraged. Organisations can apply for funds from three separate tiers, the first being up to $10,000, the second between $10,001 to $20,000 and the third from $20,001 to $50,000.
 
Cumberland Council will be running several sessions to assist organisations in preparing and lodging their application including three information sessions two grants writing workshops and one on one advisory sessions.
 
Applications close on Monday 27 February 2017. To view the Grants program guidelines and application form and to book into one of the upcoming sessions being run by Council please click here.
 
For further information please call 9735 1296 or email grants@cumberland.nsw.gov.au.

Administrator Viv May with General Manager of the Auburn Basketball Centre, Dawn Burke

A Bright Future for Wyatt Park Recreational Precinct

At this week's Council Meeting, Administrator Viv May announced plans to rejuvenate the Wyatt Park Recreational Precinct in Lidcombe. The precinct provides valuable green space and recreational facilities for the local and wider communities and is home to the Ruth Everuss Aquatic Centre, currently undergoing a $30 million upgrade, Auburn Youth Centre, Lidcombe Oval and the Auburn Basketball Centre.
 
Improvements to the precinct will get underway immediately in order to bring it back to being a quality recreational hub for all of Cumberland, starting with the Auburn Basketball Centre. The roof of the centre, comprised of asbestos sheeting, will be replaced as a matter of priority and the exterior of the building will be tidied up.
 
A plan of management for the Wyatt Park precinct will be built as soon as possible to establish the parameters for the development of quality recreation facilities in the area.
 
For more information on the upgrade please click here. 

Council Meeting Wrap

In his Administrator's minute, Viv May congratulated all Council staff, community organisations and volunteers for their award winning project 

Council did not accept a proposal for overhead powerlines from Camellia to Lidcombe...
 
It was advised that underground cables be used to prevent the removal of trees and maintain the visual enmity of the area. Council will now seek support from local members of Parliament.
 
A new policy addressing community notification of planning proposals is now on public exhibition...
 
The new policy will introduce a consistent approach across Council ensuring the public is notified at the earliest stage and invited to comment.
 
Council requests that 5 sites now within the Cumberland LGA be deleted from a Parramatta Land Acquisition Proposal...
 
The deletion of the sites was recommended by the Department of Planning and Environment as a more straightforward and efficient process of transferral of these proposals. Cumberland will prepare a report on the sites and provide it to the CIHAP.
 
Progress was reported for the first quarter of Council's Operational Plan...
 
A number of highlights were acknowledged across all three former Council areas and 91% of tasks are currently on track.
A consistent approach was proposed to the way council assesses social impacts of Development Applications...
 
It was recommended that specific sensitive development applications and all major planning proposals require a social impact assessment. The matter was referred to the Cumberland Independent Hearing and Assessment Panel for their input.

For the full business papers please click here. 

The Festival of All Abilities 2016

The Festival of All Abilities (FOAA) is an annual program of events which mark Social Inclusion Week and International Day for People with Disability. FOAA advocates for the social inclusion of seniors, people with disability and carers. Council will be running a number of events in collaboration with partner organisations, to create awareness about the necessity of accessible infrastructure and services.
 
From 24 November to 10 December more than a dozen activities will be available to the public including an All Abilities Sports Festival, a ThinkAbility forum for advocates and professionals, Weelchair Basketball Come N' Try, Disability Awareness Training, an art exhibition at Cumberland Council  and much more.
 
For more information please click here.  


Local Citizen of the Year Awards - Nominate Now!

Do you know someone special who has made an outstanding contribution locally? Nominate them for a Local Citizen of the Year Award! There are a number of categories to choose from including:
 
*         Citizen of the Year - For those aged 26 years and over.
*         Young Citizen of the Year - 12 years to 25 years.
*         Sports Person of the Year - For all ages
*         Community Event of the Year - Open to 'free' community events delivered in Cumberland during 2016.
 
To fill out a copy of the nomination form please click here.
 
The closing date for nominations is 14 November 2016. For information regarding the Awards process, please call 9735 1221.

 
Fridge Buyback Scheme



Fridge Buyback actually pays you to reduce your power bills and help save the environment by giving up your old second fridge or upright freezer. Getting rid of your spare old fridge or upright freezer is one of the easiest steps you can take to cut your power bills.

Inefficient second fridges and freezers are one of the home's biggest energy guzzlers, consuming up to three times the energy of new fridges. Running a second fridge adds an average of $300 a year to your power bills and results in greenhouse gases being released into the atmosphere.
 
The appliances are professionally degassed and the metals recycled.
 
Fridges and freezers will be collected and a $25 rebate is paid if the removal involves stairs with six steps or less.
 
The next collection days are:

9 November - Former Holroyd area
10 November - Former Auburn area
16 November - Granville, South Granville and Guildford

Call 1800 708 401 to book or see www.fridgebuyback.com.au for more information. 

We are keen to get your feedback on the merger process. Click the box to the right to send us a message.