A better Old South Road with less disruption

This Monday 16 January we're starting work on the long-awaited reconstruction of Old South Road.
 
This multi-million-dollar project is one of the largest and most complex civic construction undertakings we’ve committed to in recent years.
 
To minimise traffic congestion, we'll start construction at the northern end of the project which will require the temporary closure of the road between Bong Bong and Range Roads.
 
Council was initially going to close the entire 9.7 kilometre reconstruction route starting from Merrigang Street. Upon hearing your concerns we’re keeping the southern section from Merrigang Street to Range Road open until works on nearby Station Street are finished.
 
We’d like to again thank everyone in advance for their patience and understanding as we work towards improving this major Highlands thoroughfare.

Station Street construction resumes for 2023

Preliminary construction works have also recommenced on Station Street in Bowral.
 
Staff and contractors have this week resumed final re-surfacing works. They’ll be onsite between the hours of 7am and 6pm on weekdays and 8am to 1pm on Saturdays. Starting Monday 16 January we'll also be undertaking additional evening works.
 
To ensure our crews and motorists stay safe only northbound traffic will be able to use Station Street during this time. Southbound traffic will be temporarily re-diverted.
 
We’re also busy completing the restoration works outside the Bowral Train Station including installing new pedestrian access, improving the lighting and repairing and restoring the heritage camelia gardens and stone walls.
 
By the end of the month we also plan on reconstructing the train station carpark.
 
We remind everyone to take extra care when travelling through this work zone and follow directions from our onsite traffic controllers.

Return and Earn marks five years of success

Our Southern Highlands community is making positive changes to reduce litter with millions of containers being recycled through the NSW Government’s Return and Earn scheme.

Together, we've recycled 38,012,504 containers since the scheme began.

That's equivalent to enough waste to fill 240 garbage trucks or removing 1,696 cars off our roads for a year!

In addition to the environmental benefits the scheme has also returned valuable funds to charities and community groups across the State and Highlands.

There are currently two Reverse Vending machines in the Shire, both located in Mittagong:

• Highlands Hub Mittagong, 205 Old Hume Highway
• Highlands Marketplace Mittagong, 197 Old Hume Highway

Book now for Seniors Festival

Wingecarribee’s 2023 Seniors Festival runs from Wednesday 1 to Sunday 12 February with lots of free and discounted events and activities planned for seniors across the Highlands.
 
Pick up a hard copy of the festival program from our Moss Vale Civic Centre, libraries or browse the online calendar at www.wsc.nsw.gov.au/Events-Directory/Seniors-Festival-2023.
 
Join us as we host the Planning for the Rest of your Life Information Day at our Moss Vale Civic Centre on Wednesday 8 February. 
 
We’ll have guest speakers from Services Australia, Service NSW and Palmer Legal plus lots of opportunities for questions and answers.
 
All events are either free or entry via gold coin donation.

Summer holiday activities

Young people aged between 12 and 24 years are invited to come and try a range of creative pursuits as part of the Fun’Da’Mental Art Taster Program.
 
One-day workshops will run in the January school holidays and are free for young people to attend.

Many of the workshops have already filled up but spots are still available for our Indigenous art workshop scheduled for Tuesday 24 January.

Council secures $1.4 mill in NSW Grant Funding

We’ve just received some great news from the State Government.
 
Deputy Premier Paul Toole has informed Council that we’ve been successful in securing three grants valued at $1.4 million as part of the latest round of the NSW Government’s Stronger Country Communities Fund.
 
The three Council projects successfully securing funding were: 

• David Woods Adventure Playground ($1,000,000)
• Bowral Streetscape Beautification Project ($200,000)
• Bong Bong Common Inclusive Playground ($200,000) 

Council’s Administrator Viv May PSM said the announcements were testimony of the State Government’s confidence in our Shire to successfully deliver critical community projects.
 
“I thank both the Deputy Premier and Member for Wollondilly for their continued support of our Shire,” he said.
 
All three jobs will now be fully scoped prior to the start of works.

Community Assistance Scheme reminder

Have you submitted an application for Council’s 2022/23 Wingecarribee Community Assistance Scheme?
 
Under the scheme up to $120,000 is being made available to be shared across the Shire’s not-for-profit organisations.
 
Grants and donations can be sought to fund programs, equipment or capital works which improve or enhance cultural, sporting, welfare, health promotion, community development or leisure services.
 
Two types of funding are available - Donations up to $600 and Grants up to $7,000. 
 
But hurry!  Applications for this year’s scheme close 4pm this afternoon - Friday 13 January 2023.

Community Update

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