Country Mayors Association of NSW (CMA) Chairman, Mayor Rick Firman OAM has commended Westpac Bank for opening a new Regional Service Centre in Moree, in north-west New South Wales and for what appears to be a vastly improved attitude towards servicing country NSW communities. “Our Rural, remote and regional communities in NSW keep getting hit … Read more

The regional road surfacing funding announcement by the Minns Government this week is paving the way for more durable country roads, according to Country Mayors Association of NSW (CMA) Chairman, Mayor Rick Firman OAM. NSW Minister for Roads and Minister Regional Transport the Hon Jenny Aitchison MP announced that $37.5 million would be invested in … Read more

Chairman of the NSW Country Mayors Association (CMA), Mayor Rick Firman OAM, has cautiously welcomedthe planning reforms announced by the Minns’ Government. Mayor Firman, however, raised concerns abouthow centralised planning, standardised assessments and processes would improve outcomes for remote, ruraland regional communities. “The CMA, of course, support reforms to the planning regime that will make … Read more

The newly appointed NSW Police Force Commissioner, Mal Lanyon APM has been warmly welcomed to the role by Country Mayors Association of NSW (CMA) Chairman, Mayor Rick Firman OAM. “This is a well-received choice as our State’s number one Police Officer.” “After an extensive 38 year career in the Police Force, Commissioner Lanyon was the … Read more

Mayor Rick Firman OAM, Chairman of the NSW Country Mayors Association, has today slammed plans by the ANZ to cut 3,500 full time jobs, fearing the decision will result in yet more bank closures or a further reduction in services in rural communities across Australia. “Every single time a bank closes its doors in a … Read more

Chairman of the Country Mayors Association of NSW (CMA), Temora Shire Mayor Rick Firman OAM has commended the New South Wales Local Government Minister the Hon. Ron Hoenig MP and the Office of Local Government for the recently released ‘Meeting Code of Practice’. “In the main, it’s a good workable Code. The CMA Board are … Read more

Premier Chris Minns and Minister for Regional New South Wales, Tara Moriarty will convene adedicated regional advisory group to work with the government to better understand and addressthe unique challenges faced by people living and working in regional, rural and remote areas of NewSouth Wales.Announced at the 2025 Bush Summit, the NSW Premier’s Rural Remote … Read more

The New South Wales Government, the Police Force and the Judiciary were represented at a Crime focused general meeting of the Country Mayors Association of NSW (CMA), which took place in Parliament House, Sydney last Friday. Over 120 Mayors and General Managers came together to hear from a top line-up of speakers talking crime and … Read more

“Each year, Local Government Week in New South Wales provides an opportunity to recognise and celebrate the pivotal role that councils and their employees working together with community members play in creating the vibrant, safe, and sustainable communities we call home,” Chairman of the NSW Country Mayor Association Mayor Rick Firman OAM, said today.  “Local … Read more

A delegation from the Country Mayors Association of NSW (CMA) had an intensive series of meetings with Australian Government and Opposition representatives in Canberra last week, with a focus on improving awareness of the financial plight of rural, regional and remote Councils and the dire need to improve Federal Financial Assistance Grants to support sky-rocketing … Read more

The Country Mayors Association of NSW (CMA) Chairman and Temora Shire Mayor Rick Firman OAM has described the recently announced cutbacks to Transport for NSW, the NSW Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) and Bendigo Bank as impactful blows to rural, regional and remote communities. He voiced concerns that regional commitment and regional … Read more

Local Government NSW released a new report on ‘cost shifting’ last week and the Country Mayors Association of NSW (CMA) has reiterated their frustrations and the fact that the impacts are more deeply felt in rural, regional and remote communities. Cost shifting is the terms given to the offloading of cost burdens by State and … Read more