FEDERATION COUNCIL SNIPPETS
DONNA CAFFREY BLOOMING AGAIN EXHIBITION
Step Into a
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• Stunning large-scale fabric panels featuring hand and machine embroidery.
• A deep dive into the world of “bricolage” where repurposed materials are given a beautiful new life.
Don’t miss this chance to experience the work of a highly regarded regional artist whose pieces have graced galleries from Albury to Shoalhaven! To coincide with the exhibition, Caffrey will also be offering a Collage Card Making workshop on Wednesday 6 May, 2026 from 12:30pm, with card making activities in anticipation of Mother’s Day. Book your place now from Council’s website.
FREE MICROCHIPPING DAY
It’s time to grab your furry friends and join us for our Free Microchipping Day in Howlong and Mulwala! This is a fantastic opportunity to ensure your pets are safely identifiable so they can always find their way home. To make the day even better, we’ll be hosting a free sausage sizzle for all attendees! Event details: Saturday 23 May, 2026
• Howlong: 9am - 11am | Lowe Square, Hawkins Street
• Mulwala: 12pm - 2pm | Council Office & Library, 71 Melbourne Street T&C’s apply. Find out more from Council’s website.
AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT MOBILE SERVICE CENTRE VISIT
Australian Government Mobile Service Centres travel to rural and regional communities to provide personalised face-to-face service to residents who may not have easy access to a Services Australia office. Assisting with Centrelink and Medicare payments and services. The mobile service will be visiting Corowa and Howlong between 9am - 4pm as follows:
• Corowa: 6 & 7 May, 2026 near Waldrons IGA supermarket, River Street.
• Howlong: 8 May, 2026 near the Community Resource Centre, Hawkins Street.
Information about Department of Veterans’ Affairs programs and support services for veterans and their families is also available.
HELP US SHAPE THE FUTURE OF YOUR LIBRARY SERVICE
Federation Council is committed to ensuring that our community facilities remain relevant, accessible and efficient in a rapidly changing environment. As part of this commitment, we are officially launching a Library Service Review to better understand how our current services align with your needs, technological advancements and modern literacy trends. What we want to discover:
• How you currently utilise our branches (or why you might not).
• Any barriers to access you may experience.
• Which new programs, digital resources, or services would provide the greatest value to the community. Your feedback is essential. It will provide the data necessary to develop a future focused service model that maximises participation and delivers high quality, cost effective library experiences across the Federation Council area. Complete our 10 minute survey from Council’s website or send your feedback via email to council@ federationcouncil.nsw.gov.au or by letter addressed to PO Box 77, Corowa NSW 2646. Visit any Council library branch to chat with our staff or fill out a hard copy survey.
FIREWOOD COLLECTION
Firewood collection season is now open until the end of September 2026. Residents can collect firewood on designated Federation Council road reserves for home heating at certain times of the year with a permit. Further information including where you can and can’t collect firewood, plus all of the relevant fees and permit information is available from our website.
DEVELOPMENT CONSENTS
Public notice is given pursuant to Section 101 of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act, 1979, that the Council has granted development consent in respect of the following developments. The consents are available for public inspection by contacting Council during business hours.
10.2025.198.1 103 Corowa Road, Mulwala Dwelling & Attached Garage
10.2026.51.1 158 Hoddle Street, Howlong Shipping Container
10.2026.64.1 2/134 Kennedy Street, Howlong Shed 40sqm
10.2026.58.1 41-59 Belmore Street, Howlong Shed 90sqm
ALCOHOL FREE ZONES & ALCOHOL PROHIBITED AREAS UNDER REVIEW
With the expiry of the existing Alcohol Free Zones and Alcohol Prohibited Areas in Corowa, Howlong, and Mulwala on 1 December, 2025, Federation Council is seeking feedback from local businesses and the community regarding their potential re-establishment. First established in 2014, these zones are designed to support a safe, family-friendly environment in our main townships. The primary objectives include:
• Reducing alcohol related disorderly behaviour and anti-social incidents.
• Minimising alcohol related littering and vandalism in public spaces.
• Improving the overall peace and enjoyment of our parks, streets and footpaths.
We encourage residents to review the specific locations and boundaries by viewing the detailed maps available from Council’s website. Your feedback is essential in helping Council decide whether to maintain, move, or remove these restrictions. Complete the online survey available from Council’s website or if you prefer a written submission, please email to council@federationcouncil.nsw.gov.au or post: PO Box 77, Corowa NSW 2646.
ON EXHIBITION
Draft Revenue Policy
At Council’s April ordinary meeting it endorsed the Draft Revenue Policy 2026-2027 for public exhibition for a period of 28 days.
Each NSW council is required to determine the combination of rates, charges, fees and pricing policies needed to fund the services it provides to the community through the revenue policy. The revenue policy contains a rating structure that determines which rates and charges to be paid and how they will be calculated. Charges are generally determined on either an annual basis or according to usage or combination of both, for example, water annual charges and user charges (consumption).
Council is inviting residents to review the draft policy and provide any feedback by 5pm, Wednesday 27 May, 2026.
The draft document is available for viewing from Council’s website or at any Council office. Anyone interested in providing feedback should do so in writing, addressed to the General Manager, PO Box 77, Corowa NSW 2646 or email council@federationcouncil.nsw.gov.au
SERVICE NSW MOBILE SERVICE
The Service NSW Mobile Service Centre is coming to Mulwala They will be set up at Club Mulwala, 271 Melbourne St on the following: • Wednesday 27 May, 2026 from 9am - 3:30pm
SLOW DOWN IN YOUR STREET: NOMINATE A LOCATION
Concerned about speeding in your neighbourhood? Federation Council is inviting residents to nominate local streets for our portable speed boards and ‘Slow Down’ signage. These boards provide motorists with real time speed feedback, serving as a vital reminder to stay within the limit. With 29.3% of serious injury and fatality crashes in our region involving speed, these tools are essential for educating drivers and keeping our residential areas safe. If you’d like to see a speed board or “slow down” sign in your street, let us know! Simply suggest a location by completing the quick online form available on Council’s website. Together, we can encourage safer driving habits and protect our community.
PRIVACY AWARENESS WEEK
Privacy Awareness Week is a global campaign that involves both public sector agencies and citizens, aiming to improve understanding and awareness of NSW privacy legislation
Privacy Awareness Week NSW takes place from 4 – 10 May 2026 and this year’s theme is Smart Tech, Smarter Choices – Protecting Yourself in the Age of AI and focuses on privacy being even more important as Artificial Intelligence slowly becomes an integrated part of everyday work and life. As use of digital tools expand in planning, regulation and community engagement, transparency about the use of personal information remains essential.
Federation Council is a proud Champion of Privacy Awareness Week NSW 2026 and is committed to protecting the privacy of the people of NSW. Learn more from Council’s website.
FREE YOUTH MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AID TRAINING
Federation Council, in partnership with the Corowa Local Health Advisory Committee and the Corowa Lions Club, is proud to offer fully subsidised Youth Mental Health First Aid (YMHFA) training. This is a vital opportunity for adults in the Federation community to gain the skills, confidence, and practical tools needed to support young people (aged 12–18) when they need it most. Training is FREE for residents and volunteers who engage with young people in the Federation Council. Community members are encouraged to register their interest early via Council’s website to secure a place and indicate their preferred training format. This opportunity will close on Friday 22 May, 2026. This initiative is part of the Vibe Check Youth Mental Health Intervention Project supported by First Health Limited and Murrumbidgee Primary Health Network Community Grants through the Australian Government’s PHN program. Become a certified Youth Mental Health First Aider and help make a difference in a young person’s life by visiting Council’s website.
WATER NOTICES & EXTENDED DUE DATE
Federation Council has recently issued water notices for the billing period of 1 November, 2025 to 28 February, 2026 Please take a moment to review the following important information regarding your bill and the adjusted payment timeline.
Extended Due Date: Due to a technical issue, the delivery of printed water bill notices via mailbox was delayed. To ensure residents have sufficient time to arrange payment, the due date has been extended to Friday 8 May, 2026. Please ignore the original due date printed on your physical notice. No late payment fees or charges will be applied during this extension period. Council apologises for any inconvenience this technical delay may have caused. During this four month period, Council has also noticed a significant increase in water consumption across the entire Council area. Because of this widespread spike in usage, many residents may notice their bill is higher than average. Find further information on Council’s website.
MIKI CITY 2026 STUDENT EXCHANGESEEKING HOST FAMILIES
We are so excited to announce that students from our Sister City, Miki City, Japan, are visiting Federation Council this August! We are looking for residents to act as host families. Whether you’re a family with kids or a couple with a spare room, this is a unique chance to share the Australian way of life and build lifelong international friendships. In 2023, over 60 locals made this exchange a huge success, let’s make 2026 even better!
• Visit dates: August 2026.
• Expressions of interest close: Monday 1 June, 2026. Express your interest via the online form on the Council’s website.