A meeting of the Premier’s Rural, Remote and Regional Advisory Council (PRRRAC) was held last week on 25 and 26 of June at Parliament House in Sydney. The council facilitates collaboration between the NSW Premier, the Minister for Regional NSW and key regional stakeholder groups across NSW providing strategic advice and advocacy on matters affecting regional, rural and remote communities and informs government policy, promotes regional priorities and showcases local successes. Meeting three times a year Temora Shire Council mayor Rick Firman co-chairs the council with NSW Premier Chris Minns and he is also the chairman of the Country Mayors Association (CMA). Other members of the council are Dr Richard Colbran - CEO of Rural Doctors Network, Cr Leeanne Hampton - a councillor for the Wiradjuri Region of the NSW Aboriginal Land Council Tess Herbert - Board Chair of Local Land Services Tanya Jolly - President of the Country Women’s Association. Steve Krieg - Mayor of Lismore and Chair of NSW Regional Cities. Jane Laverty - Regional Director of Business NSW for the Northern Rivers. Xavier Martin - President of the NSW Farmers Association. Andrea Plawutsky - Chair of Destination Country and Outback NSW Annabel Strachan - NSW State President of the Isolated Children’s Parents Association During the meetings last week, the council met with the NSW Treasurer Daniel Mookhey, Minister for Police Yasmin Catley, Minister for Gaming and Racing, Veterans and Medical Research David Harris, Minister for Small Business and Recovery Janelle Saffin. The PRRRAC is working on a range of state priority issues such as housing and drought and is set to tackle roads and transport going forward. Cr Firman said that much of the work is done out of session with council members very committed and working hard to bring about meaningful solutions to some of the state’s biggest rural issues with the Premier allocating department staff to assist the PRRRAC. “Friday’s meetings with Mr Minns focussed on the drought and housing and the work done to date,” Cr Firman said. “A paper on drought along with recommendation has been presented to the Premier and is awaiting a formal response that was which we understand is being considered currently. “Dr Colbran is the working party chairman, and he’s done a top job with very considered, fair dinkum recommendations coming from the team. “A final report on the important issue of housing with a suite of recommendations will be furnished to the Premier at the September PRRRAC meeting. “Ms Laverty is the lead on this and the members are putting in a lot of effort – which I think the Premier and his Department appreciate.” The PRRRAC is not just about finding solutions to statewide issues, the Premier, Mr Minns strongly encourages council members to present success stories of rural and remote communities to be shared. Two shared at the most recent meeting were the Riverina Eastern Regional Organisation of Councils (REROC) Building a Bridge program that encourages young aspiring engineers to participate in a breidge building exercise. Mayor Krieg presented their special Tiny Homes programme. “This is a rare opportunity for state, rural, remote and regional leaders to work with the Premier and his department to see what can be done to further strengthen our communities and organisations we proudly represent,” Cr Firman added. “We just need to see some of our proposals come to fruition, which we hope will happen sooner rather than later. “Again though, this is a unique opportunity for the bush and we’re making the most of it.” *Cr Firmans expenses are not borne by Temora Shire Council, they are covered by CMA NSW
