A public submission at last Thursday’s council meeting calling for Syrian refugees to be settled in Glen Innes is being considered by the Glen Innes Severn Council.
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Local resident Nicci Parry Jones made the submission asking for the council to support settling Syrian refugees.
Ms Parry-Jones committed to setting up a working group and to gain local community support.
“Over the coming months I will research this issue; contact other support groups in the region; talk to people and start a list of issues that will need to be addressed in order to make this happen, “she said
“I am sure I am not alone in feeling powerless to help these people so I am holding a public meeting at the Town Hall on Wednesday October 21 at 6pm to enable our community to show their support, voice their concerns and register their assistance no matter how small.
“There are many significant hurdles to jump before anything is likely to happen but neighbouring shires have already stated their commitment to welcome these refugees into their towns.”
Council General Manager Hein Basson said Council now needs to develop a better understanding of what would be required and expected of it to become involved with this issue.
"Obviously, it is a fantastic and positive idea for our community to get involved with the resettlement of these unfortunate refugees,” he said.
"However, I would not like Council to get caught up in a situation where expectations are raised, both with local people and potentially with refugees, about Council’s involvement – only to find out down the track that we do not have access to the necessary resources, finances and infrastructure to deliver on anything tangible."
Member for Northern Tablelands Adam Marshall said he welcomes the fact members of the Glen Innes community are willing to settle refugees.
The Glen Innes community along with those in Inverell and Armidale are to be commended for their generosity of spirit,” he said.
“It speaks volumes of country people to be unselfish and big hearted enough to roll up their sleeves to do something to help less fortunate people.
‘I have written to the Premier making him aware of the desire of the communities in my electorate to help and we await further details however, at this point in time the federal government has not made a detailed announcement as to how many refugees are to be settled in New South Wales or in rural areas.”