In many cases those partnerships provide tangible hours volunteering, sharing information or working on committees and advisory roles with Council. In some cases, and perhaps more so in the future, those partnerships involve joint funding solutions such as the household contributions proposed for the Stuarts Point Sewerage Scheme or co-contributions of homeowners for the kerb and guttering program in Frederickton.

My Council colleagues and I are really conscious of the need to continue strengthening our community relationships and building on our individual networks to deliver shared programs that fit in with the overall direction of the Council and community. There are a few projects currently underway that really highlight the way we want to continue working.

The Crescent Head Lions Club and the Men’s Shed are in the process of building two timber bench seats using wood recycled from the old Killick Creek footbridge. These groups have been working with Council staff to have the seats installed later in the year in the reserve near the new amenities block, as part of the upgrade to that community space.

Similarly two cedar tree trunks donated by Council to the South West Rocks Arts Council have been used to create a bench seat for the eastern headland at Horseshoe Bay.

The trees were removed from the intersection of Belgrave and Johns streets. They were then milled and donated to the arts council.

A combination of the donated wood and funding from the Arts Council, Council’s Mayoral Community Fund, South West Rocks Country Club and the Lions and Rotary Clubs of South West Rocks is going to result in a really beautiful and valued community asset. In a prime location!

Positive social connections, a sense of ownership and a practical working relationship with Council are all important benefits of these types of partnership projects.