Council appoints councillor representatives for s355 Committees

Published on 15 July 2022

After a review and community consultation, Queanbeyan-Palerang Regional Council has resolved to support the existing 21 Section 355 Committees by appointing a Councillor delegate for each committee and creating updated guidelines, clear contact points and service level agreements.

This review was placed on public exhibition and an online meeting was held with committee representatives. The key themes and feedback from the community identified a need for clearer communication and access between communities, committees, staff and councillors.

‘These committees will all continue and now have their own Councillor delegate. They have an important role in looking after Council assets and facilities for the community benefit, and this will ensure we have the appropriate channels to support them,’ Mayor Kenrick Winchester said.

Whilst Council will dissolve the locality and area committees, the importance of the local Progress Associations and Village Committees was formally recognised. Council determined to develop arrangements for regular communication between the smaller localities and Council, by expanding and adapting the Community forums model currently held in Bungendore, Braidwood and Queanbeyan to other localities; including but not limited to Araluen, Wamboin, Captains Flat, Burra and Googong.

‘We are very aware of the work that volunteer Progress Associations and Community Associations do for their local community, planning and advocating for their communities,’ Kenrick said.

‘Council agreed that a structured communication channel as a point of contact would be better in the long term and staff will be reaching out to arrange the preferred forum and opportunity for community engagement.’