Both Maintenance Team Guidelines & Claim Form and General Work Guidelines & Claim Form documents below were approved at the recent AGM. For easy access they are also available under Forms in the drop down menu above (on this page).
Tips
Mental Health First Aid – Training 27/28 Nov 2023
After our Mind Your Mates Sessions in July, Lifeline has scheduled a two day Mental Health First Aid training for us at the Co-op on 27-28 November. It’s free of charge for members and friends and will be held at Camp Kitchen.
The session aims to to improve knowledge of mental illnesses, their treatments, appropriate first aid strategies, and confidence in providing first aid to individuals with mental illness.
For details and registration (necessary for info on group size and catering) please click on the flyer attached.
Maria River Road – Sealing #4
PMHCouncil is the lead partner in this joint project with Kempsey to seal Maria River Road, and their Project Manager has given this update on its progress.
The road design is complete now, with 7.2m of seal and 0.5m gravel shoulders. Unfortunately, it won’t be straightening out the s-bend at the beginning of the existing seal going north.
Acquisition of a parcel of necessary land from National Parks passed through the NSW Parliament last week, and other regulatory and environmental approvals are proceeding slowly, which is apparently normal for this type of sensitive project.
As early preparation for the construction phase, some of the culverts and drainage along the road may be worked on later this year or early next year.
Actual construction should now commence in the second half of 2023 (not this year, as last advised!), and take about 6 months to complete. Weather permitting!!
He didn’t say anything about holding your breath.
Maria River Road – Sealing #3
Project Manager for PMH Council has verbally provided this update on progress towards sealing MRR.
Apparently the original road design to a high standard (9m wide) was too costly for the grants provided by Federal & NSW governments. So, a down-scaled re-design was necessary, and should be approved by the first quarter of next year.
Additionally, the road’s boundary with the National Park along the southern section needs to be adjusted, which involves environmental approvals not tried before under the Act. These approvals may take until Aug-Sept next year.
Roadworks on sealing MRR will therefore start, at best, by fourth quarter 2022.
Covid Safety Plan
On 26 February COVID restrictions for NSW changed, and the government required the Co-op, as a COVID-safe organisation, to update its Safety Plan, as below:
Coronavirus Care
The Directors would like to reassure Goolawah members and their families that our community well-being is a priority. We will try to take precautions and follow guidelines outlined by government health departments.
The Australian Department of Health advises to maintain hand hygiene, avoid large gatherings (over 500 people) and self isolate if you have any symptoms (sore throat, cough, fever) – and use the Coronavirus helpline 1800 020 080, or call your doctor.
NSW Dept of Health says to call Healthdirect 1800 022 222 or your GP or go to Emergency.
Below are practical guidelines for personal health:
- Transmission of the virus can occur through coughed droplets in the air, but also through touching a surface that an infected person has touched, then bringing your hand to your face. The best precautions are frequent, thorough hand-washing, and maintaining social distance.
- Make an effort not to touch your face until you can wash your hands thoroughly with soap. Do not touch MEN! (mouth, eyes, nose).
- Greater social distancing: avoid going out if you don’t need to; do business by phone rather than face-to-face; whilst in conversation keep six feet apart; avoid queues and crowds. No need to become a complete recluse, just maintain a larger sense of personal space.
The community can find ways to help any sick members with supplies and support. As age is a significant factor in coronavirus susceptibility, we need to keep a closer eye on our senior members.
The board will be monitoring any official announcements that may affect our upcoming social gatherings.
https://www.health.gov.au/health-topics/novel-coronavirus-2019-ncov
https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/Infectious/diseases/Pages/coronavirus.aspx
Maria River Road – Sealing #2
Port Macquarie Hastings Council has also finally replied to my query about the prospect of sealing Maria River Road, in the attached letter:
Maria River Road – Sealing #1
In response to a query about plans for possible sealing of Maria River Road, Kempsey Council has advised the following:
“While funding for sealing of Maria River Road was promised by the State Member for Oxley, Melinda Pavey (formerly Minister for Roads, etc.) prior to the last State election, no formal offer of funding has been received to date. In fact, Council has recently been requested to apply for funding under the Fixing Local Roads Program which is currently pending. In the absence of a formal offer that is acceptable to Council, no firm indication of when the road might be sealed is possible. However, given that the section of road is approximately 24km long, completion of environmental studies, design and construction is likely to take at least two years from the date funding is offered.”
Comments on member website
You can comment on any post in the member section of our website by clicking on Leave a reply below the post. They will only be moderated if offensive. Everybody can check out all comments at any time by clicking there.
As always, respectful and constructive comments are better received, and of course we’re communicating with fellow community members. Is brevity a virtue?
Compost Toilets
Goolawah ‘dinner parties’ inevitably get round to discussing compost toilets, and questions about our relevant rules and approved practice arise, so here’s an extract from our By-Laws as a reminder:
5. No pit toilets are to be dug on Goolawah.
6. Before any development takes place on individual sites, there needs to be access to a dry composting style toilet, either individually or on a hamlet basis. Functioning “home built/designs” are acceptable.
7. Before any development takes place on individual sites, a Council approved grey water system should be developed for the site. This includes the use of biodegradable, phosphate free detergents and soaps etc.
Goolawah Co-op Members 