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Act now for your chance to influence that! Every May/June, all NSW councils, by law, have to seek public input on their budget and plans for the next year (operational plan) and four years (delivery plan). By law, they have to take into account any submissions. But hardly anyone does give input, so it’s very easy for you (and maybe a couple of neighbours/friends) to make your input count. Follow these easy steps: Step 1: search for “[council name] operational plan and budget 2023” on the web OR go to the council home page and look for a “Have your say” or “Community Engagement” link where you should find it. If not, call or email the council to ask for the link.  Step 2: Make a submission before the deadline which will be soon – late May or early June. Some councils provided below Two-minute version: in the comment box, or in an email to the email address shown, make a general, or specific comment. For example:
 One-hour version: Download the operational plan (which usually includes the budget near the end) and skim through it, noting or highlighting the useful bits. Look out for council’s strategic objectives and targets – these usually have good “Better Streets” related ideals that you can hold them to. Then look at the actions, and the budget figures (under capital expenditure). Start with praise for the good actions, targets and budget items, and then point out any gaps or areas to improve. Ideally, link your suggestions back to their strategic objectives that support your case. It works best if you underline or re-state at the end your clear and specific recommendations
Step 3: amplify your submission - they’ll have to consider your recommendations and comments, but it will have even more influence if others make similar comments. Email it to a few friends or neighbours and encourage them to copy a point or two. Maybe post it on the local or school facebook group. And, best of all, email a copy to the councillors, so they can also see what input the community is giving – they might decide to vote for changing the budget to include your suggestions. Late in June, council will decide on the final budget along with any changes made based on the feedback from community or councillors. Go for it! Make your views count. 
Links to some councils provided below:
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 The new Temporary Delegation from Transport for NSW (TfNSW) makes it easier for local Councils to install pedestrian crossings (and other minor works) on local roads.
TfNSW has recently issued a new ‘Temporary Delegation to Councils’ that makes it easier for councils to install a range of minor traffic works on local streets by exempting these works from review by the Local Traffic Committee (LTC) process - see Temporary delegation to councils for minor works | Transport for NSW (full explanation and list of approved minor works). Previously councils did not control changes on local streets and required all new traffic control facilities on local streets to be reviewed by the Local Traffic Committee for their Local Government Area (LGA). Created in the 1970s, LTCs are unique to New South Wales. What does this change mean for Community? Under this delegation Councils are able to respond to requests for minor works such as pedestrian crossings without needing approval from an LTC. This change removes red tape and makes it faster for a Council to respond to a request and to implement their own priorities. (Note: This change is recent and not all Council officers are aware of the new Temporary Delegation). How can the Community use the new delegation to ask Council for a crossing on a local street? People in the community can approach Council with more confidence because Councils can now use the new delegation to seek a faster approval to install a pedestrian crossing, given the request meets TfNSW criteria, without approval from an LTC. The new Delegation only applies under certain circumstances, e.g.: not within 100 metres of a set of traffic signals, only on a local road with a speed limit of 50km/h or less, not on bus routes or within 50m of a light rail corridor. Community members approaching Council should ensure officers are aware of the new Temporary Delegation, and inform Councils officers that they are authorised to install crossings (and 10 other minor works) without LTC approval. Note: Community members should also be aware that TfNSW pedestrian warrants do not apply on local roads. Other minor works included:
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