Gunnedah what's on: road closures approved for NightQuip, State Hill Climb Championships

Gunnedah shire councillors have voted to close numerous roads in anticipation for these events at Wednesday afternoon's ordinary council meeting.

Conadilly Street from Elgin Street to Chandos Street will be blocked off on August 17 from 5pm-9pm for NightQuip if a road occupancy licence is awarded.

The one and only NightQuip to ever be held was in 2019, with COVID-19 restrictions cancelling any chances of the evening festivities and the annual AgQuip Field Days from going ahead in 2020 and 2021.

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Apex Drive will be closed on June 26 and 27 for a hill climb event and on September 4 and 5 for the hill climb championships.

The council's works manager Richard Baxter said the Gunnedah Motoring Enthusiast Club was selected to hold the eighth round of the nine-round championship competition, which was a "prestigious honour".

"With it being over fifty years since Gunnedah last hosted a round of the NSW Hill Climb Championships series, the event provides an opportunity to boost economic interest as well bring tourists to the region," Mr Baxter said.

Meanwhile, almost $100,000 will be moved to the council's pool temporary labour budget due to expensive staffing costs in the 2020/2021 swimming season.

The pool temporary labour budget will gain an extra $44,550 from sporting grounds funds and $51,793 from the parks and gardens budget.

A short-notice resignation from a senior pool attendant in the lead-up to the season; permanent lifeguards taking leave over Christmas and New Years; and two other lifeguards only able to conduct light duties after workplace injuries, meant casual staff covered many shifts.

This, according to the May meeting papers, "increased costs considerably, exceeding the original casual staff budget".

But maintenance for sporting grounds and gardens tree maintenance was "significantly under budget" for the financial year due to a "flow-on effect from the COVID-19 shutdown and a shortage of parks and gardens staff earlier in the year".

"This enables these funds to be redistributed where required," the papers read.

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