Parkes Shire Council
Local Government in Parkes

Council Meetings Council Meeting minutes and agendas are on record and available for public viewing Attend a meeting or view details of preceding meetings' Council. Parker Shire Council strives to deliver progress and value to our community, while offering diverse and wide career opportunities. By integrating these corporate values into everything we do, we are qualified to achieve our mission of delivering progress and value to our community. Core values when active with our community. councilors are responsible for managing the Shire's assets, providing a expansive range of services and facilities, and ensuring finances are allocated in the best interests of the whole community. Parker Shire Council and More Plains Councils are in the process of reestablishing the Alliance and have written to every Council along the route asking them to pass a Council resolution supporting the Inland Rail to date over 75 of the Councils have responded positively to this request. The vision for the Taskforce is To accomplish through Government action the development and upgrade of the Jewell Highway to cater for increasing traffic volumes and to facilitate economic, social and environmental outcomes. Married to Kate they have two sons, Ben and Matt. Cr Ward takes exceptional interest in the areas of educational, medical and sporting facilities. Cr Ward recognizes the success and progress of the Parker Shire and looks forward to a powerful and exciting coming for Parker Shire and its communities. Cr Pratt has lived and worked for the majority of his life in Parker. Cr McGrath is a lifelong resident of Parker, married to Sue with eight children. The business employs his wife and two sons. Actively involved in community life, Cr O'Leary brings an opportunity for community members to have their say and to improve facilities and services throughout the Shire. Cr Westcott has been an active member of the community, most notably a life member and past president of the M D Society, and an energetic member of the Parker Uniting Church. Parker is now home for Cr Bibles and he would like to see the community grow and be a destination place for the future. The Office of the General Manager is responsible for overseeing all functions of Council, including Mayoral and councilor activities and appointments, corporate strategy, community engagement, governance, records and business improvement. He has held the position of Director Infrastructure since March 2015 and in this role is responsible for Council’s Water, Sewer and Stormwater services, and management of the natural environment including noxious weeds, sustainability and emergency management. We establish particular committees to make decisions about definite functions of Council below delegated authority. All committee meetings are originate to the public, and residents and ratepayers are welcome to attend. There are five formal committees of Council that meet regularly to discuss a range of issues, applications and proposals. Parker Shire Council is committed to making information available that explains how we operate and how we make decisions in accordance with Council policies and procedures. Council works within a value system that governs the way we labor and interact both within the organization and with our community. The Parker Region is a huge store to live and hoist a family with affordable housing and great lifestyle, diverse employment opportunities, health services including a fresh hospital, quality educational facilities, a powerful sporting culture and beginning class community facilities.

The Parker Region has a proud and colorful history linked with gold mining, agriculture and transport, all of which are still the strongest industry sectors of our economy today. The Parker area remained relatively unsettled until 1862 when the discovery of gold led to a hastily erected canvas’ town known as Currajong which accommodated thousands of hopeful gold seekers. A further discovery of gold in 1871 at the nearby Bushman’s Gold Mine helped the district to become one of the richest gold producing areas in the colony. As mining diminished in importance, the lough, the join and the harvester became the fresh symbols of progress. Wheat, barley, canola, oats, oil seeds and winter legumes are grown annually. Sheep grazing lands are predominant in Parker Shire, producing meaningful volumes for both the wool and meat markets. Parker is developing as an urgent inland hub of Australia's transport network. Parker itself continues to entice new businesses, with major retail developments occurring in recent years. Sir Henry Parker, as he became in 1877, enjoyed a accessible relationship with the citizens of Parker who named their town after him in honor of his achievements. He visited Parker three times and his bond with the town was demonstrated by the gifts he gave including the Marble Montana Bust, which is on display at Parker Shire Council, and a book of his speeche