Gunnedah Shire Council has resolved to submit six motions for the 2025 Local Government NSW Annual Conference, which is set to be held in late November.
Motion one stipulates that Local Government NSW (LGNSW) advocate for untied funding mechanisms that empower councils to undertake necessary upgrades and design improvements for greater resilience against future disasters; and invest in smarter recovery and adaptation strategies at the local level by utilising existing data, flood mapping, and infrastructure risk assessment tools.
Motion two stipulates that LGNSW call on the NSW Government to: ensure that all hospitals situated more than 70 kilometres by road from a Group 1 Major Hospital are equipped with a compliant, functional helipad capable of supporting air ambulance operations; seek dedicated state funding for the construction, upgrade or repair of hospital helipads, focusing on rural, regional and remote communities; and recommend regular review and maintenance programs to ensure ongoing compliance, reliability, and safety of all hospital helipads serving communities located beyond the 70 kilometre threshold from a Group 1 Major Hospital.
Motion three calls on the NSW Government to: endorse a statewide Designated Area Migration Agreement (DAMA) framework consisting of two regionally administered agreements – Inland DAMA and Eastern DAMA – to support skilled migration where domestic supply cannot meet demand; support timely approval and variation of existing DAMAs to incorporate additional occupations and LGAs; ensure that DAMA administration remains regionally embedded, engaging local councils and stakeholders; and collaborate with the Australian Government to uphold concessional safeguards and ensure community-oriented  settlement  planning  that  recognises  and  respects  regional  values  and aspirations.
Motion four seeks to urge NSW Government Water not to supplement water supplies for Local Government Areas by transferring water from catchments outside their boundaries, where such actions could compromise the water security of the source region. Instead, LGNSW advocates for the exploration and funding of alternative water solutions – such as the construction of new dams, advanced water recycling technologies, and other sustainable supply options.
Motion five stipulates that LGNSW call on the NSW State Government to maintain essential services at rural and regional hospitals, including maternity, day surgery and emergency services.
Motion six requests that the NSW Government increases the funding for the Regional Road REPAIR, Block and Supplementary grants to the level required to sustainably maintain and improve to the appropriate standard the classified roads managed by Councils which contribute to the state significant freight task.
