September's From the Council Chambers

Published on 18 September 2026

September’s Council meeting was one for the questions.

Across the night, Councillors sought clarification, challenged details and looked closely at what was being put in front of them - from Council’s financial future and how community organisations receive rate concessions, to graffiti, the future of Wee Waa’s community precinct and who gets a seat at the table through Council’s committees.

There were also a couple of familiar faces returning to the top jobs, with Mayor Darrell Tiemens and Deputy Mayor Brett Nolan both receiving unanimous support to continue in their roles.

Here are some of the key moments from the Council Chambers.

Stable Leadership Continues as Mayor and Deputy Mayor Re-elected

There was a steady silence in the Chambers as General Manager Eloise Chaplain read out the unopposed nominations for Mayor and Deputy Mayor.

With no other nominations received, Cr Darrell Tiemens was unanimously re-elected as Mayor, along with Cr. Brett Nolan re-elected as Deputy Mayor.

Mayor Tiemens will continue in his role until the first Council meeting of the next Council term in 2028, while Cr. Nolan will serve another 12 months as Deputy Mayor.

Thanking his fellow Councillors for their vote of confidence, Mayor Tiemens said it was an “absolute privilege” to serve his local community.

“I’ll continue to work hard for our community. We have a lot of challenges at the local council level, and my door is always open. But that’s fine, it’s our job, and it’s a privilege.”

He also encouraged others in the community to consider putting their hand up for local government.

“I challenge other people to think about serving at Council. We can really help steer the future of Narrabri Shire.”

Getting Serious About Council’s Financial Future

Council’s long-term financial sustainability was another major focus, with its new Financial Future Strategy put forward for public exhibition.

The strategy looks at where Council is financially today and what needs to change to ensure it can continue delivering services efficiently into the future.

Director Corporate and Community Services, Mark Watt, described the document as a diagnosis of the organisation’s current financial position and a starting point for deeper structural changes.

“It lays out where we are right now and becomes a starting point to say that we’re going to look at this seriously, make structural finance changes to our organisation.”

Ms. Chaplain said the work was not happening in isolation, pointing back to the qualified audit received by Council in 2022 and the improvement work that followed.

“In 2022, we had the qualified audit – which essentially is a trigger for us to do something. From there, there was an improvement plan.

“We got out of the audit, and now the next phase is about looking internally and diving deeper into the practices.”

The strategy will now go on public exhibition, allowing the community to have its say before it returns to Council.

Supporting Community Organisations Within the Budget

This month, Councillors considered the latest round of the Donations in Lieu of Rates Program, which provides eligible community and sporting organisations with assistance towards their annual rates and charges.

There was more demand than money available, with applications totalling $168,246.13 against the allocated budget. After each application was assessed against Council’s Community Assistance Policy, 34 organisations were approved for assistance totalling $77,516.48.

That means successful applicants will receive a 100% donation of eligible General Rates, along with a 50% donation towards eligible annual service charges.

Councillors did their usual due diligence, seeking clarification around some of the applications, including where organisations had multiple properties.

The allocations were ultimately approved, with the available funding distributed across eligible organisations while keeping the program within its approved budget.

Fresh Voices Around the Council Table

Three new community representatives will join Council committees following this month’s meeting.

Two appointments will fill vacancies on the Crime Prevention Advisory Committee and Access and Inclusion Committee, while another community member has been appointed to the Narrabri Shire Youth Council.

Mayor Tiemens said it was encouraging to see community members willing to give their time and contribute to the work of Council and their community.

Cr. Whillas also encouraged stronger connections between Council and the Youth Council, suggesting opportunities for the two groups to attend each other’s meetings and share ideas.

Taking the Next Steps on Graffiti

Graffiti has been a recurring concern across the Shire, and Council has now taken its first steps towards a more coordinated approach to managing and preventing it.

Following a Mayoral Minute earlier this year, Council considered a new graffiti management plan bringing together work from across the organisation.

That includes crime prevention and community development, clean-up and repair work, compliance as well as investigating opportunities to work with the community on prevention and education.

The plan also looks at improving the way Council records the cost of graffiti clean-ups, giving a clearer picture of what individual incidents cost and potentially supporting future enforcement and prosecution.

Councillors also discussed the role of CCTV on Council assets and whether more cameras or broader coverage could assist.

Ms. Chaplain highlighted that cameras alone don't stop the behaviour.

“CCTV doesn’t deter the act, just helps prosecute. We need to work on crime prevention, so people don’t feel the urge to pick up the paint in the first place.”

The plan is not being presented as a one-stop solution. Instead, it is about bringing the different pieces together - while recognising that keeping the Shire free of graffiti will ultimately require both Council and community involvement.

A Positive Step forward for Wee Waa

There’s been another step forward for the future of Wee Waa’s community precinct, with Council endorsing a new concept design for the site formerly proposed as the Wee Waa Community and Business Centre.

Following a Notice of Motion from Cr. Towns in May and feedback from the wider Wee Waa community, Council investigated options for a revised project scope.

The concept received broad support from Councillors, although there are still a few steps to take before construction can move ahead.

Because the project is grant-funded, Council will now need to return to the funding body with the revised scope for approval.

While the design has changed, the purpose of the project remains the same - creating a space for the Wee Waa community to gather, connect and celebrate.

“The sentiment is the same, a space for community gatherings, for unity and for celebration - we have to adapt to what the community needs,” Ms. Chaplain said.

And the conversation with the community isn't finished.

While the revised concept does not need to go back through a formal consultation process, Ms. Chaplain confirmed Council staff will be in Wee Waa next month as part of Community Conversations.

“I would ask the Wee Waa community to review the concept and provide feedback on those smaller details, that way should we get approval we know what is wanted and can move forward with the project.”

Cr. Dickinson also reminded Council of the importance of considering the long-term maintenance and upkeep of the precinct when deciding how the funding is used.

Another Round of Community Projects

Ten local community groups will share $14,500 through the latest round of Council’s 2026/27 Community Financial Assistance Grant Program.

The funding will support community projects across the Shire, helping local organisations deliver activities, improvements and initiatives for their communities.

It’s another reminder that some of the work of Council happens in the big decisions around the table; and some of it happens through the small projects that make a difference in our towns and villages.

In Summary

A new financial strategy is out for public comment. Two familiar faces remain in the top jobs. Community voices join Council committees. The Shire takes another step towards a coordinated response to graffiti and Wee Waa moves one step closer to a new community precinct.