Council

Council has a number of services as detailed below.  Walcha Council is a progressive rural Council which is responsible for the maintenance of a road network of some 1,150 kilometres and covers an area of 640,028 hectares.  The township of  Walcha is 1,067 metres above sea level.

Council provides the agency for Service NSW.  It is open Monday to Friday 9:00am to 4:30pm.  Service NSW & Walcha Council are working together to provide more NSW Government services including: Driver Licences; Vehicle Registration renewals; Driver Testing; Driver Computer Tests; Unregistered Vehicle Permits; Conditional Registrations; Transfer of Vehicle Registrations; Number Plate Issues and Transfers; Establish Registrations; Boating Licences and Registrations; Applications for Birth, Death & Marriage Certificates and Applications for Contractor Licences.

The Council maintains water, sewerage, garbage, and recycling services.  The Council employs approximately 55 staff plus a number of contractors.

The Council also operates an extremely comprehensive branch of the Central Northern Regional Libraries which provides computer and internet services and carries over 3,000 books ay any one time.

One of the Council’s services to the community is the provision and upkeep of the local swimming pool.  It is open from November to March.

Council manages both the General and Catholic Cemeteries in Walcha and the cemeteries at Nowendoc and Woolbrook.

The Walcha Council Dog Pound is located at the Council Depot in North Street, Walcha.  Access is restricted to business hours only.

The Walcha Council Community Care is auspiced by Walcha Council and supported by the Walcha Council Community Care Advisory Committee.

The Walcha Preschool is a community based education centre.  Its licence is held by Walcha Council and all administration functions are carried out by the Council.

Council also maintains an aerodrome with gravel main strip and grass cross strip in ‘tip top’ condition.  The RAAF use the gravel strip on a regular basis for training exercises for their pilots (usually at night).

Clr Adam Iuston

First Elected to Council on 14 September 2024.

Clr Iuston is a member of the following Council Committees:

  • Walcha Council Beautification Advisory Committee;
  • Walcha Council Arts & Tourism Advisory Committee; and
  • Walcha Council Capital Review Committee.

 

Clr Iuston is Council’s Delegate on the following Committees:

  • NSW Public Libraries Assoc – North Eastern Zone;
  • Central Northern Regional Libraries Committee; and
  • Arts North West.

 

E – aiuston@walcha.nsw.gov.au 

 

Clr Rachel Greig

First Elected to Council on 14 September 2024

Clr Greig is a member of the following Council Committees:

  • Walcha Council Arts & Tourism Advisory Committee;
  • Walcha Council Preschool Advisory Committee; and
  • Walcha Council Capital Review Committee.

 

Clr Greig is Council’s Delegate on the following Committees:

  • Walcha Community Consultative Committee; and
  • New England Renewable Energy Zone (REZ) Community Reference Group.

 

E – rgreig@walcha.nsw.gov.au 

Clr Anne-Marie Pointing

First Elected to Council on 04 December 2021.

Clr Pointing is a member of the following Council Committees:

  • Walcha Council Beautification Advisory Committee; 
  • Walcha Apsley Riverview Committee;
  • Walcha Council Capital Review Committee; and
  • Walcha Council’s General Manager’s Performance Review Committee.

Clr Pointing is also Council’s Delegate on the Walcha Centre Management Committee (MPC).

E – apointing@walcha.nsw.gov.au 

Clr Eric Noakes

First Elected to Council on 10 September 2016.

Elected as Mayor on 28 September 2016, re-elected unopposed on
22 December 2021 and re-elected unopposed on 9 October 2024.

Councillor Noakes is Council’s Delelgate on the following Committees:

  • Country Mayors Association of NSW (CMA)
  • Walcha Local Health Committee
  • Coalition of Renewable Energy Mayors (CoREM)

And is also a member of the following Council Committees:

  • Walcha Council Apsley Riverview Committee;
  • Walcha Council Aboriginal Advisory Committee;
  • Walcha Council Capital Review Committee; and
  • Walcha Council General Manager’s Performance Review Committee.

 

E – enoakes@walcha.nsw.gov.au 

First Elected to Council on 14 September 2024.

Elected as Deputy Mayor on 9 October 2024.

Clr O’Brien is a member of the following Council Committees:

  • Walcha Council Motorcycle Rally Advisory Committee;
  • Walcha Council Aboriginal Advisory Committee; 
  • Walcha Council Capital Review Committee; and
  • Walcha Council’s General Manager’s Performance Review Committee.

 

Clr O’Brien is Council’s Delegate on the New England Bushfire Management Committee.

E – gobrien@walcha.nsw.gov.au 

Clr Hyde Thomson

First Elected to Council on 14 September 2024.

Clr Thomson is a member of the following Council Committees:

  • Walcha Council Youth Advisory Committee; and
  • Walcha Council Capital Review Committee.

 

E – hthomson@walcha.nsw.gov.au 

Clr Gary Olrich

First elected to Council on 14 September 2024.

Councillor Olrich is a member of the following Council Committees:

  • Walcha Council Community Care Advisory Committee
  • Walcha Motorcyle Rally Advisory Committee
  • Walcha Council Capital Review Committee

 

E – golrich@walcha.nsw.gov.au

Clr Stephen McCoy

First elected to Council on 14 September 2024.

Clr McCoy has been elected to:

  • Walcha Council Capital Review Committee; and
  • Walcha Council General Manager’s Performance Review Committee.

He is also Council’s representative on the Mid North Weight of Loads Group.

E – smccoy@walcha.nsw.gov.au