Gunnedah Shire councillors thankful for Lane Cove's backing

On Friday, deputy mayor Gae Swain said she had spoken to Lane Cove’s mayor Pam Palmer about the council’s intention to help.

“I acknowledged the great support we’ve had from Lane Cove and the understanding of the position we’re in and the farmers are,” she said.

“They’re going to think a bit more closely about what that assistance might mean.

“We’ve got to make sure the money goes to the most appropriate place.”

The conversation followed Lane Cove Council’s decision at a meeting last Monday to reach out to Gunnedah to see how it can support the community.

The idea was brought up by Lane Cove councillor Andrew Zbik who is married to former Gunnedah woman Bronwyn (nee Deane) and has been travelling to the area for 11 years.

A recent trip to Gunnedah brought Cr Zbik face-to-face with the reality of the drought and he raised concerns with his council.

Cr Swain said Lane Cove Council and Gunnedah Shire Council’s relationship was first formed in the 1990s after they came together to host a drought relief concert.

“I’m really appreciative [of this offer to help] because we’ve had the close relationship with Lane Cove since way back when I was mayor,” Cr Swain said.

“This is just a further extension of their sister city contact.”

READ ALSO: The Big Dry draws help from our sister city

Fellow councillor Rob Hooke said it was good to see Lane Cove re-connecting with its sister city.

“I’m absolutely thrilled to think that other councils are willing to assist. I think it’s a marvellous contribution. It just shows the resilience of Australian people,” he said.

“I think the first thing that really excites me is the fact that we're now getting traction in the city and the city people really understand the desperate situation that farmers are facing but also a lot of country towns because the spin-off from that is ghost towns in the bush, especially towns that don’t have secondary industries. They’re really suffering.”

Cr Hooke said Gunnedah was in a more “fortunate position” because mining and its associated industries created a buffer, “but nevertheless our CBD and our people are going to feel the pinch badly”.

“I think that any contribution now has really got to be either monetary or food voucher types of contributions and also transport and feed subsidies,” Cr Hooke said.

“I really fear that there’s a lot of the eastern seaboard of Australia that is now under drought conditions and my real worry is that those areas that are supplying feed are going to run out of supplies themselves. It’s not looking good.”

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