Chairman of the Country Mayors Association of NSW (CMA) Mayor Rick Firman OAM has welcomed the Federal Coalition’s promise to return the popular project-based Building Better Regional Fund (BBRF). “We have tried to engage with Federal politicians across the spectrum to discuss appropriate funding for rural, regional and remote Councils. To hear nothing but crickets … Read more

Chairman of the Country Mayors Association of NSW (CMA) Mayor Rick Firman OAM has welcomed yesterday’s Local Government funding pledge from the Coalition. “It is encouraging to see the most community-connected tier of Government receiving some of the attention it deserves in the Australian Government election lead-up.” “Rate hikes in NSW have been due to … Read more

Mayor Rick Firman OAM, Chairman of the NSW Country Mayors Association (CMA) has bemoaned the major parties’ lack of commitment to Local Government and their failure to address funding shortfalls that were clearly identified in the Interim Report into Local Government Sustainability. “Despite on-going calls from all Local Government peak bodies and from individual councils … Read more

The Country Mayors Association of NSW (CMA) hosted a special meeting with the NSW Minister for Police & Counter Terrorism, the Hon. Yasmine Catley MP recently, with some 40 members participating. Minister Catley was joined by NSW Police Force Deputy Commissioner Paul Pisanos. Held via Zoom, Minister Catley and Deputy Commissioner Pisanos accepted the invitation to … Read more

The Country Mayors Association of NSW (CMA) has welcomed the appointment of Ms Linda Scott as the new Chairman of the NSW Grants Commission. Ms. Scott was an ideal choice for the role responsible for the distribution of Federal Government funding to Councils, on behalf of the NSW Government, according to CMA Chairman and Temora … Read more

“Rural and regional Councils in NSW have been doing increasingly more, while costs escalate and funding shrinks. The extent of these widespread trends have threatened the financial sustainability of our members and in some cases, rendered them all but insolvent. We now have hope that the Australian Government understands the gravity of the situation and … Read more

Chairman of the Country Mayors Association of NSW (CMA) Mayor Rick Firman OAM has welcomed an undertaking by the Big Four (banks) to keep regional branches open until at least mid-2027. “The announcement that the Federal Government has struck a deal with the Commonwealth Bank, NAB, Westpac and ANZ to halt regional bank closures until … Read more

Chairman of the NSW Country Mayors Association (CMA) Mayor Rick Firman OAM has called for the Australian Government and Opposition to commit to the restoration of Commonwealth funding for Local Government. “Federal Governments of all persuasions have slowly but surely eroded the funding that is provided to Local Government. It is alarming that the annual … Read more

The Country Mayors Association of NSW (CMA) Chairman, Mayor Rick Firman OAM and Executive Board have welcomed verbal commitments from the NSW Police Minister the Hon. Yasmin Catley MP to improve her connectivity with the peak representative body of rural and regional Mayors in NSW. “In a lengthy phone call, Minister Catley committed to an … Read more

The Country Mayors Association of NSW (CMA) Executive Board, our Members and I were saddened to learn of the unexpected retirement of our Local Government NSW (LGNSW) President, Cr Darriea Turley AM (Broken Hill). ‘Cr Turley has given exceptional service to the Members of LGNSW, and she will be missed’, CMA Chairman, Mayor Rick Firman … Read more

The Country Mayors Association of NSW (CMA) Executive Board has responded to the growing demand the representative body faced in 2024, with its’ rural and regional advocacy increasingly sought after for Government inquiries and reviews. CMA Chairman and Temora Shire Mayor Cr. Rick Firman OAM announced the establishment of a Policy Advisor role in the … Read more

The Country Mayors Association of NSW (CMA) has endorsed the universal condemnation at the Local Government NSW conference in Tamworth this week of the State Government’s planning announcement last Friday. “The NSW Government has looted the most significant planning decisions from Country Councils that are democratically elected to consider local concerns and impacts, once again … Read more