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Council Services

Council has a number of services as detailed below. Walcha Council is a progressive rural Council that is responsible for the maintenance of a road network of some 1,150 kilometers.

Council provides the agency for Service NSW (formerly RTA/RMS).

The Council maintains water, sewerage, garbage, and recycling services. The Council employs approximately 55 staff plus a number of contractors.

As part of the Council’s objective of developing the distinctiveness of Walcha, Council embarked on a project to develop the town as an Open Air Gallery. A number of major works of public art have been established in and around the town and we invite you to take the Open Air Gallery to walk – to download the brochure and map jump onto our Tourism website link and scroll down. It is a must-see whilst visiting Walcha.

The Council also operates an extremely comprehensive branch of the Central Northern Regional Library which provides computer and Internet services and carries over 3,000 books at any one time.

The local swimming pool is heated and is open from November to March.

Walcha is a very picturesque town. The beautification of the town is a priority of the Council with many thousands of trees having been planted over a number of years. Council is also responsible for the establishment of several very attractive town parks which entice many travelers to break their journey and spend some time in Walcha.

The Walcha Council maintains an aerodrome with a main gravel strip and grass cross strip in ‘tip top’ condition. The RAAF use the gravel strip on a regular basis for training exercises for their pilots (usually at night).

The Walcha community is very supportive of its residents and district – this is shown clearly by the number of organizations that are running at any one time. When times are tough the residents get behind one another and show a united front.

The Council has common boundaries with the Councils of Armidale Regional, Uralla, Tamworth Regional, Upper Hunter, Mid-Coast, Hastings, and Kempsey.

Large tracts of our Local Government area (approximately 234,000 hectares or 37%) are non-rateable, these being mainly State Forests (96,000 hectares) and existing and proposed National Parks (138,000 hectares). Approximately 406,000 hectares are being utilized for agricultural pursuits.

Contact Details

Clr Gregory Schaefer

Ward A

First Elected to Council on 04 December 2021.

Clr Schaefer has been elected as Walcha Council’s Delegate to the following Committees:

  • New England Bush Fire Management Committee
  • Walcha Local Liquor Accord Committee

Clr Aurora Reilly

Ward D

First Elected to Council on 04 December 2021.

Clr Reilly is a member of the following Council Committees:

  • Walcha Council Beautification Advisory Committee
  • Walcha Council Youth Advisory Council
  • Walcha Council Audit Risk & Improvement Committee

And has also been elected to be Council’s Delegate on the following organisations:

  • NSW Public Libraries New England Zone Committee
  • Central Northern Regional Library Committee
  • Walcha Community Consultative Committee

Clr Anne-Marie Pointing

Ward B

First Elected to Council on 04 December 2021.

Clr Pointing is a member of the following Council Committees:

  • Walcha Council Beautification Advisory Committee
  • Walcha Council Preschool Advisory Committee

Clr Eric Noakes

Ward B

First Elected to Council on 10 September 2016.

Elected as Mayor on 28 September 2016. Re-elected unopposed on 22 December 2021.

Councillor Noakes is Council’s Delelgate on the following Committees:

  • Namoi Councils Joint Organisation
  • Country Mayors Association of NSW (CMA)
  • Mid North Weight of Loads Group
  • Walcha Local Health Committee

And is also a member of the following Council Committees:

  • Walcha Council Arts Advisory Committee
  • Walcha Council Aboriginal Advisory Committee
  • Walcha Council Capital Advisory Committee

Clr Scott Kermode

Ward C

First Elected to Council on 10 September 2016

Elected as Deputy Mayor on 22 December 2021

Councillor Kermode is Council’s Delegate on the following Committees:

  • New England Weeds Authority

And is also a member of the following Council Committees:

  • Walcha Council Capital Advisory Committee
  • Walcha Council Aboriginal Advisory Committee

Clr Nena Hicks

Ward C

First Elected to Council on 04 December 2021.

Clr Hicks is a member of the following Council Committees:

  • Walcha Council’s Art Advisory Committee
  • Walcha Council’s Audit Risk & Improvement Committee
  • Walcha Council’s General Manager’s Performance Review Committee

 

Clr Hicks is Council’s Delegate on the following organisation:

  • Arts North West

Clr Kevin Ferrier

Ward A

First elected to Council in 1991.

Was elected as Deputy Mayor from 2000 – 2012.

Councillor Ferrier is a Member of the following Walcha Council Committees:

  • Walcha Council Community Care Advisory Committee
  • Walcha Council Motorcycle Rally Advisory Committee

Contact Details

Walcha Council
Phone: 02 6774 2500
Fax: 02 6777 1181
E – council@walcha.nsw.gov.au

Clr Mark Berry

Ward A

First elected to Council on 04 December 2021.

Clr Berry has been elected to the following Council Committees: