Council
22 September, 2026
Heritage advisory committee to be re-established but Cr Russell misses out
Wingecarribee Shire Council will re-establish its heritage advisory committee more than four years after the former committee was disbanded.
Wingecarribee Shire Council will re-establish its heritage advisory committee more than four years after the former committee was disbanded.
Council resolved at its September meeting to re-establish the committee to “provide a forum through which council can obtain community, stakeholder and specialist advice on matters relating to the conservation, management, promotion and celebration of the Shire’s cultural, built and natural heritage”.
The committee will be comprised of two councillor representatives and three community representatives who will be appointed through an expressions of interest process.
A number of groups will be invited to nominate representatives to sit on the committee including the Berrima District Historical and Family History Society, the Southern Highlands branch of the National Trust of Australia (NSW), the Southern Highlands branch of the Australian Garden History Society, the Illawarra Local Aboriginal Land Council and the Gurrangatch Foundation.
Former mayor Jesse Fitpatrick was the only councillor to vote against the motion – but said nothing during debate to give an indication why.
Cr Rachel Russell – who was behind the recommendation to re-establish the committee – missed out on one of the two councillor positions.
Cr Russell moved an amendment to a staff recommendation at council’s June 2026 meeting relating to a planning proposal to implement the recommendations of the Wingecarribee Community Heritage Study 2024-2040.
Councillors agreed to re-establish the heritage advisory committee “on the basis of the previous model that existed prior to administration”.
Council resolved at the September meeting to appoint councillors Heather Champion and James Farrell to the re-established committee.
Cr Russell’s bid to have herself appointed chairperson of the committee was defeated.
Cr Champion said it was “wonderful” to see the committee established and she was excited to be nominated.
Cr Russell said she was “delighted” that council had adopted her proposal and described it as “a win for council and a win for the community”.
She moved an amendment to the staff recommendation appointing herself as chairperson of the committee but the amendment was lost.
While the new committee will operate in a similar manner as the old committee, staff reported that the purpose and objectives of the committee had been expanded “to place greater emphasis on community engagement, education, collaboration and stewardship of cultural, built and natural heritage”.
It will meet a minimum of two times a year.
Council will now undertake an expressions of interest process to appoint the three community representatives.
Applicants will be required to address the relevant selection criteria, including their relevant knowledge, experience, skills, connection to the Wingecarribee Shire, capacity to contribute constructively to committee discussions and availability to participate in committee meetings.
Expressions of interest will be advertised on council’s website and via council’s e-newsletter and social media.
Application forms will be available electronically via Participate Wingecarribee.
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