In ShortThe overwhelming majority of child sexual abuse is carried out by someone the child already knows and trusts, not a stranger. Predators are often described as people everyone liked and who were always great with kids.Released sex offenders in NSW are not deliberately sent to regional areas, but the public cannot access the Sex Offender Register. Local police know who is in your community, but residents are not officially notified when a registered offender moves in.Children who know their body belongs to them, who know they can always tell a trusted adult without getting in trouble, and who know there are no secrets between a child and an adult that must be kept from parents are significantly safer. Watch for sudden secrecy around devices, unexplained gifts, withdrawal from family, or discomfort around a particular adult.Could a Predator Be Living in Your Neighbourhood? What Every Regional Parent Needs to KnowThe arrests in Hay, Tocumwal, Deniliquin and Leeton over the past few months have rattled communities right across our region. People are asking questions that are entirely reasonable. How do you know if someone near you poses a risk to children? Can you actually spot a predator? And here is the question that comes up constantly in community conversations: do authorities deliberately send convicted child sex offenders to live in regional and rural areas after they get out of prison?This article answers all of those questions as plainly as possible, because the families in our communities deserve straight answers, not vague reassurances.The hardest truth first: predators almost never look the part.This is the thing that makes child sexual abuse so devastating and so difficult for communities to reckon with. There is no look. There is no type. The cases uncovered in our own region in recent months involved people who were living as apparently normal members of their communities, with homes, vehicles, routines and in at least one case a position of trust working with children. When former Broken Hill teacher Thomas McKeown was charged in September 2024 with 34 counts of alleged aggravated sexual touching of children, the alleged offences were said to have taken place within a school, in an environment where he had the complete trust of parents, students and colleagues.This is not unusual. Research consistently shows that the overwhelming majority of child sexual abuse is carried out by someone the child already knows and trusts. The stranger lurking at the park is the rare exception, not the rule. The person to worry about is far more likely to be a family friend, a neighbour, a coach, a teacher, a relative or a person in a trusted volunteer role. They are often described, after the fact, as someone everyone liked. Someone you would never have suspected. Someone who was always so good with kids.That last phrase, that someone was always so good with kids, is actually one of the things worth paying attention to. Not because being good with children is suspicious in itself, but because predators are frequently and deliberately good with children. Being warm, funny, generous and attentive toward children is how grooming works. It is the means by which access and trust are established.What grooming actually looks likeGrooming is the process by which someone seeking to abuse a child gains the trust of the child and, critically, the trust of the adults around that child. It can happen over weeks, months or even years. It is patient, calculated and designed specifically to lower the defences of everyone involved.An adult who is grooming a child will typically single that child out for special attention. They might offer gifts, money, gaming credits, treats or privileges. They create a sense of being understood and valued in the child, often by listening carefully to what the child finds exciting or difficult. They try to create situations where they are alone with the child. They will gradually introduce conversations about bodies, relationships or sex in ways that seem casual or educational, testing how the child responds and whether they will tell anyone. They will often tell the child that their relationship is special, that adults would not understand it, and that it needs to stay secret.At the same time, the groomer is working on the adults. They position themselves as helpful and trustworthy. They offer to babysit, to drive the kids to sport, to help out. They make themselves useful and likeable to parents and carers so that those adults feel comfortable leaving them alone with children. By the time abuse begins, the groundwork has been so thoroughly laid that the child often does not fully understand what is happening, does not believe they will be believed, and does not know how to seek help.Online grooming follows the same pattern, just across a screen. A person targeting a child online will often start by engaging them around their interests, gaming, music, content creators they follow, sport. They build rapport. They gradually shift the conversation toward personal topics and then toward sexual topics. They may send the child images. They will almost always tell the child to keep the conversation private. They may offer gifts in the real world or in-game rewards. They will try to shift the conversation to platforms that are harder to monitor, like private messaging apps or encrypted services.Warning signs in a child's behaviourBecause groomers are so skilled at concealment, the signs that something is wrong with a child are often subtle and easy to explain away. Taken individually, any one of the following could have an innocent cause. Taken together, or when they appear suddenly, they deserve attention.A child who becomes secretive about their phone, tablet or computer in a way they were not before. A child who quickly closes screens or apps when an adult enters the room. A child who becomes distressed, anxious or angry when their device is taken away or their internet access is limited. A child who seems to have money, gifts or things they cannot explain. A child who withdraws from family and friends and becomes more isolated. A child who starts using sexual language or referencing sexual topics that seem beyond their age. A child who seems nervous, fearful or uncomfortable around a particular adult, or conversely who seems unusually attached to an adult in a way that feels off. A child who does not want to attend an activity or be around a person they previously enjoyed spending time with.With teenagers, the signs can be different. An older child may become secretive about an online relationship, may refer to an online friend as someone no one would understand, may become defensive or angry when asked about who they are talking to, or may talk about meeting someone they have only known online.The most important thing any parent, carer or concerned adult can do when they notice these things is to keep the door open for conversation without pressure. Children who have been groomed often feel shame, confusion or fear. They may believe they are in trouble. They may have been told explicitly that no one will believe them. A child who knows they can talk to a trusted adult without being judged is in a far safer position than one who does not.The question everyone is asking: are released sex offenders sent to our area?This question comes up repeatedly in rural and regional communities, and the concern behind it is legitimate. The short answer is: no, there is no program or policy that deliberately relocates convicted sex offenders to regional NSW after their release from prison. When someone is released from prison in NSW, they generally return to the community where they lived before, or have family connections, or can find housing. There is no policy directing them away from cities and toward country towns.However, the longer answer is more complicated, and it is something regional communities have every right to understand clearly.Under NSW law, every person convicted of a child sex offence is automatically placed on the Child Protection Register, also known as the Sex Offender Register. This is governed by the Child Protection (Offenders Registration) Act 2000. Reporting obligations begin from the date of sentencing, or from the date of release from prison, whichever comes later. A conviction for a single Class 2 offence, which includes things like sexual touching and grooming, requires the offender to report to police for a minimum of eight years. A conviction for a Class 1 offence, which includes sexual intercourse with a child and persistent sexual abuse, requires reporting for fifteen years. If a person has both a Class 1 and any other registrable offence, or commits three or more Class 2 offences, they are required to report for life.What reporting means in practice is that the registered person must report to NSW Police within seven days of their release from prison. After that, they must report annually. They must also notify police within fourteen days of any change to their address, employment, vehicle details, internet service providers or phone numbers. If they intend to travel outside NSW for fourteen days or more, or travel overseas, they must notify police beforehand. Failure to comply carries a maximum penalty of five years imprisonment and fines of up to $55,000.Critically, and this is the part that many people do not realise, the register in NSW is not accessible to the public. Unlike in the United States or Western Australia, which have public-facing components to their registers, in NSW the register is held only by police and cannot be searched by members of the community. You cannot look up whether someone in your street is a registered offender. Your neighbour cannot look up whether you are. The register exists for law enforcement purposes, to allow police to monitor, track and investigate registered persons.This means that when a registered offender moves into a regional community, that community will not be officially told. Local police will know. They will have the person's details, address and reporting history. But there is no Megan's Law style community notification system in NSW. The government's position is that public registers create risks of vigilantism and can push offenders underground, making them harder to monitor. Many child safety advocates disagree strongly with this position, and it remains a live and genuinely contested policy debate.What this means practically for our communities is this: there may be people in our towns who are on the Child Protection Register. We do not know who they are. The police do. Those people are required to report regularly and to keep police informed of every significant detail of their lives. If they stop reporting, they face criminal charges. If they reoffend, police have their full history. The system is not perfect, but it is not nothing.For the most serious offenders, the law goes further. Under the Crimes (Serious Sex Offenders) Act 2006, the Attorney-General can apply for a continuing detention order, which allows an offender's imprisonment to be extended beyond the original sentence if they are assessed as posing an unacceptable risk to the community. An extended supervision order can also be imposed, placing strict conditions on an offender's life after release, including where they can live, who they can associate with and what activities they can participate in. These orders are used for offenders assessed as the highest risk.What about Working With Children checks?Anyone convicted of a child sex offence as an adult automatically becomes a disqualified person under the Child Protection (Working With Children) Act 2012. This means they are permanently prohibited from obtaining a Working With Children clearance and cannot legally work or volunteer in any child-related role. This covers schools, sport, childcare, churches, scouts, youth groups and any other organised activity involving children. It is a lifetime disqualification.This matters because one of the most common pathways by which predators access children is through positions of legitimate authority in child-focused organisations. The Working With Children Check is an imperfect but important barrier.What you can do to protect the children in your lifeKnowledge is the most powerful tool available to parents and carers in this environment. Children who understand body safety, who know that their body belongs to them, who know what appropriate and inappropriate touch looks like, and who know that they can always tell a trusted adult without fear of being in trouble, are significantly safer than children who have not had those conversations.Those conversations do not need to be frightening or heavy. They can be woven into everyday life. Use correct anatomical language for body parts from the time children are young. Teach children that some parts of their body are private, that no one should touch them there, that if anyone ever does or tries to they should tell you immediately, and that they will never be in trouble for telling you. Teach them that even if someone asks them to keep a secret, they can always tell you. Make it clear that there are no secrets between a child and an adult that need to be kept from parents.With older children and teenagers, have honest conversations about online safety. Talk about the fact that not everyone online is who they say they are. Explain grooming in age-appropriate terms. Make clear that if someone online ever makes them feel uncomfortable, asks them to keep secrets from their family, asks them to send photos, or asks to meet in person, they should come and tell you immediately and they will not be in trouble.Be the parent your child can come to. That is the single most important thing.At the community level, trust your instincts. If an adult's interest in a child seems disproportionate, or if a child seems uncomfortable around a person, or if you observe behaviour that does not sit right, trust that feeling. Report it. You do not need to be certain. You do not need evidence. You just need to make the call.NSW Police Crime Stoppers can be reached on 1800 333 000 or at nsw.crimestoppers.com.au. The ACCCE, the AFP-led national unit that investigates online child sexual exploitation, accepts reports at accce.gov.au. All reports are confidential and treated seriously. If a child is in immediate danger, call 000.A final wordThe arrests in our region over recent months are confronting. They are meant to be. They are a reminder that child sexual abuse does not happen somewhere else, to someone else's children. It happens in small towns and farming communities and outback Australia, to children who are known to us, raised among us, and whose safety is the responsibility of all of us.The predator in your community is unlikely to be the person you would pick. They are more likely to be the person you would not. Stay informed. Stay alert. Keep talking to your children. And if something does not feel right, say something. Every investigation that has uncovered abuse in this region has depended, at some point, on someone deciding to make a call.Crime Stoppers: 1800 333 000 | nsw.crimestoppers.com.auReport online child exploitation: accce.gov.auEmergency: 000Kids Helpline (for children and young people): 1800 55 1800Blue Knot Foundation (adult survivors of childhood trauma): 1300 657 380

IN SHORT Carrathool Shire Council has been applying Polytahr pavement stabilisation to its unsealed local roads since August 2023, with 26 roads across the shire now treated covering a combined distance of 262 kilometres. The product has reduced the frequency of maintenance grading required on treated roads and doubled the daily grading output of crews from two kilometres to four kilometres per day. Council has resolved to continue the program as part of its scheduled works, with the treatment costing approximately $2,451 per kilometre at a daily output cost of $4,902 per two kilometres.  Anyone who has driven the back roads of the Carrathool Shire in summer knows the particular misery of a heavily corrugated dirt road. The rhythmic shuddering that rattles your spine, loosens your fillings and sends a full cup of tea airborne is not just uncomfortable. It slows travel, damages vehicles, increases fuel consumption and makes road maintenance a never-ending exercise in catching up with what the last rain event undid. Which is why a quiet but significant piece of road engineering news out of Carrathool Shire's February ordinary council meeting deserves more attention than it is likely to get. Council received a detailed status report on the ongoing use of Polytahr as a pavement stabilisation agent on its unsealed local road network, and the results are genuinely encouraging. The product, which is incorporated into the road surface gravel by blading, adding moisture and compacting, has been shown to reduce corrugations on corners and bends, improve vehicular ride quality, help the road formation maintain its shape and reduce the amount of potholing that occurs after rain compared to pre-treatment conditions. For a shire managing hundreds of kilometres of unsealed road across some of the most variable soil country in New South Wales, those outcomes matter. The trial began in August 2023 on sections of Mt Daylight Road and has since expanded significantly. Ten roads in the northern area of the shire have been treated, covering 180 kilometres, while sixteen roads in the southern area have received treatment across 82 kilometres. The list of treated roads spans some of the most heavily used routes in the shire's local network, including Mossgiel Road at 20 treated kilometres, Lowlands Road at 27 kilometres and Whealbah Road at 85 kilometres in the north, and Camerons Road at 13 kilometres, Euratha Road at 10 kilometres and Green Hills Road at 7 kilometres in the south. The infrastructure report presented to councillors noted that the treatment has been effective across most soil types, including the high clay constituent soils that characterise roads like Lowlands Road, which becomes extremely adhesive and slippery when even minimal rainfall has taken place. Post-treatment photography from Lowlands Road taken one year after application showed that the road pavement had retained reasonable formation with minimal water ponding, a result that the infrastructure manager described as encouraging given the challenging nature of that particular subgrade. Melbergen Road and Euratha Road have been treated using a slightly different method, with Polytahr incorporated directly into the gravel on the road surface during the blading and compaction process. The infrastructure manager's report noted that while this process is slightly more time consuming than standard application, "the end result is functionally much improved hence economically viable in the long term." That assessment sits at the heart of why council has resolved to continue the program. The most compelling practical statistic is the doubling of daily grading output on treated roads. When grading crews work on untreated roads, the daily output runs to approximately two kilometres. On Polytahr-treated roads, the same crew achieves four kilometres in the same working day. The road surface holds its formation better, requires less cutting and reshaping and responds more predictably to the grader blade. The result is that the shire's road maintenance budget effectively stretches further on every kilometre of treated road the crews cover. For property owners, farmers and freight operators across the Carrathool Shire and the broader region including Hay and Balranald, the condition of the unsealed local road network is not an academic question. It is the difference between getting a load to market in reasonable time and arriving with damaged product, between a smooth school bus run and one that has parents calling the council office, between a workable paddock access road and one that becomes impassable after twenty millimetres of rain. 

In ShortCoordination Crisis: Landholders claim EnergyCo has failed to coordinate transmission lines, leading to uncoordinated "stampedes" of developers across the Riverina.EIS Under Fire: The inquiry heard the Yanco Delta Wind Farm's environmental assessments severely underestimated impacts, including the lack of plans for a 710-person worker camp.Community Burden: Local councils in Hay, Murrumbidgee, and Central Darling warn they are being left to shoulder the costs of road destruction, water scarcity, and crashing telecommunications.Local landholders and council leaders have delivered a scathing assessment of the state’s renewable energy rollout, accusing EnergyCo of failing to coordinate a "planned network" and ignoring the cumulative impacts on rural life.At a high-stakes parliamentary hearing in Hay last Wednesday, witnesses argued that the "social licence" required for the South West Renewable Energy Zone (REZ) is being fatally undermined by poor consultation and a lack of transparency. Richard Coughlan, secretary of the Bundure District Landholders Group, told the inquiry that despite three years of attempts to seek clarification, farmers are still "not getting many answers."For residents in the Murrumbidgee and Hay Shires, the energy transition is no longer a distant policy—it is a construction reality. Garry Stoll of Murrumbidgee Council told the inquiry that while the region doesn't want the infrastructure, they are now forced to "leverage the maximum amount of benefit" to offset the damage.Concerns raised by the Bundure Landholders Group highlight a significant geographical disconnect. Mr. Coughlan noted that the Dinawan substation sits outside the official REZ boundary, creating a planning vacuum that excludes projects to the west while forcing massive infrastructure onto a small group of neighboring farmers.Cumulative Impacts on the Radar:Infrastructure: Massive truck movements (up to 3 million km for water carting) are destroying unsealed roads.Services: Mobile connectivity has dropped to "near zero" near worker camps, and local water treatment plants are struggling to meet demand.Economics: Neighbors face increased insurance costs, potential property devaluation, and heightened fire risks without adequate compensation."It’s been poorly planned, poorly executed, and poorly managed—and we have to live with that for the rest of our lives," Mr. Coughlan told the committee.

In ShortEmergency Diversion: Flight ZL6469 diverted to Parkes after an in-flight shutdown of the right-hand engine (General Electric CT7-9B).Investigation Launched: The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) is currently assessing the electrical fault and engine failure.Service Resumed: The aircraft, a 35-year-old Saab 340B, returned to service approximately 36 hours after the incident following maintenance checks.Passengers on a Sunday evening Rex service from Griffith to Sydney faced a tense situation after their aircraft suffered a mid-air engine shutdown. Flight ZL6469, operated by a Saab 340B (VH-RXE), was forced to divert to Parkes following an electrical fault that impacted the aircraft’s right-hand systems.The incident occurred during the cruise phase of the flight on February 22. Pilots detected abnormal indications on the No. 2 engine and followed standard safety protocols to shut it down. Despite the drama, the twin-engine turboprop landed safely at Parkes Airport, and all passengers and crew disembarked without injury.While the Saab 340B is a workhorse of the Australian skies, this incident highlights the ongoing need for rigorous maintenance of aging fleets.Aviation experts reassure travellers that pilots undergo extensive simulator training for single-engine operations. Modern turboprops are engineered to climb, cruise, and land safely on a single functioning engine.ATSB Statement: A formal investigation into the occurrence is being considered as the bureau awaits further technical data from the operator.The aircraft involved, VH-RXE, has been part of the regional fleet since the early 1990s and is one of the older frames currently flying regional routes in NSW.

False Alarm in Mildura: Sighting of Lake Cargelligo Triple-Homicide Suspect Ruled OutIn ShortMildura Sighting Cleared: Extensive enquiries by the Mildura Crime Investigation Unit have confirmed that a reported sighting of Julian Ingram on February 24 was not the suspect.Triple-Murder Suspect: Ingram (alias Pierpoint) remains at large following the January 22 shooting of three people in Lake Cargelligo; he is considered armed and dangerous.Ongoing Manhunt: Police believe Ingram may be receiving help from associates to survive extreme heat conditions while evading Strike Force Doberta in NSW’s west.Police received a report in relation to a sighting of wanted NSW man Julian Ingram in Lilley Drive, Mildura on 24 February.Detectives from Mildura Crime Investigation Unit conducted extensive enquiries into the report and were able to verify that the sighting was not Julian.Julian Ingram also known as Pierpoint, aged 37, allegedly killed three people in Lake Cargelligo on January 22. Ingram is accused of shooting dead his pregnant former partner, her new boyfriend, and her aunt, and wounding a fourth person.He was last seen driving a Ford Ranger utility with NSW registration DM-07-GZ described as having council signage, a metal tray back, high visibility markings on the side and an emergency light bar on the roof.In late January and February 2026, NSW Police launched a massive manhunt following the triple murder.Strike Force Doberta was established to lead the investigation and track Ingram across the state’s west. Deployment has included the Tactical Operations Unit, PolAir, drones, and canine units. Following reports of a sighting in the week following the incident, Police have scoured the rugged terrain near Mount Hope NSW.Officers believe Ingram may be receiving help from associates to survive extreme heatwave conditions the region experienced in past weeks.NSW Police has also launched a internal Critical Incident Investigation to review Ingram's bail status and previous domestic violence history at the time of the killings.Anyone who sights Julian or with information on his current whereabouts is urged to contact Triple Zero (000), Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or anonymously at www.crimestoppersvic.com.auImages: NSW Police Force

RIVER AT THE CROSSROADS: The $15M Gamble to Eradicate the 'Rabbits of the River'In ShortThe Virus Strategy: Controlled trials of the Cyprinid herpesvirus 3 (KHV) are scheduled for 2027, targeting juvenile carp in isolated Victorian billabongs to test containment.The Political Clash: MP Helen Dalton has slammed the Federal Government for "negligence," while Minister Plibersek defends a "Nature Positive" approach focused on scientific certainty.The Biomass Bomb: Experts warn a mass kill could leave 350+ million rotting carp in the system, risking "blackwater" events that could suffocate the very native species the plan aims to save.The Murray-Darling Basin is bracing for what could be the most significant—and controversial—biological intervention in Australian history. As of early 2026, the federal government has doubled down on the National Carp Control Plan (NCCP), with controlled trials of the Cyprinid herpesvirus 3 (KHV) slated to begin through 2027.Since their introduction in the 1800s, common carp have decimated freshwater ecosystems. Experts now estimate these "mud-sucking" invaders account for a staggering 80 to 90 per cent of the fish biomass in the Basin.The political divide over the virus has sharpened. Member for Murray Helen Dalton MP has emerged as the project’s fiercest advocate, labeling carp the "rabbits of the river." In a scathing assessment of Federal Water Minister Tanya Plibersek’s strategy, Ms. Dalton didn't mince words."There are over 145 carp for each person amongst the 2.4 million people who live along the Murray River system,” Ms Dalton said. “Tanya Plibersek hasn't proposed a solution. This isn't leadership - it's negligence."Ms. Dalton has gone as far as suggesting the public should "forget net zero" and pivot all environmental focus toward the fish, calling them the single greatest threat to the Australian landscape.Conversely, Minister Plibersek has maintained a posture of "cooperation, compromise, and common sense," insisting on a "Nature Positive" approach that prioritises scientific certainty over hasty releases.The Science of the KillThe virus, identified in the 1990s and present in over 30 countries, is lethal and specific. It attacks the gills, kidneys, and liver, killing 70 to 95 per cent of exposed carp. CSIRO research remains firm: the virus does not jump to humans or native species like Murray Cod.However, the logistical nightmare of the aftermath is what keeps policymakers awake.The Biomass Bomb: With up to 357 million carp in the system during wet years, a mass kill would leave hundreds of thousands of tonnes of rotting flesh in the water.Blackwater Risks: Decaying fish strip oxygen from the river. Without massive intervention, the virus meant to save native fish could suffocate them instead.Evolutionary Resistance: Critics point to international studies suggesting carp can evolve resistance rapidly, potentially rendering the $15 million investment a temporary fix.Turning Pests into ProfitWhile the federal government deliberates, regional leaders are looking at commercial solutions to the biomass problem. Independent Member for Barwon Roy Butler MP has been investigating the conversion of carp into high-value agricultural products.After visiting specialised processing facilities, Mr. Butler expressed excitement at the prospect of a circular economy for the pest:"A product that uses waste and carp to produce high-value soil products has an obvious value to agriculture, consumers, and the environment—it ticks a lot of boxes,” Mr Butler said. “It takes two wicked problems and turns them into something of value."This approach builds on the legacy of Charlie Carp, founded in Deniliquin in 1998. The company already utilises a network of commercial fishers to turn tonnes of carp into liquid fertilizer, proving that what was once described as the "muddy soup" of the Lachlan and Murray can be harvested rather than just buried.The 2026–2027 TrialsThe Victorian Fisheries Authority (VFA) is set to lead the first controlled trials in isolated billabongs and enclosed lakes. By targeting juvenile spawning areas in the Spring - when water temperatures are at an 18°C to 25°C temperature - scientists hope to contain the kill and manage the cleanup.Security remains a concern. The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) has been tight-lipped about specific trial locations to prevent illegal translocations, where members of the public might prematurely move infected fish into major river systems.As the Lachlan River Catchment undergoes intensive epidemiological modeling, the residents of the Back Country wait to see if 2027 will finally be the year the tide turns against the river’s greatest foe.

Three caravan parks, one shire and three completely different financial stories. Carrathool Shire Council received a detailed operational report on its three caravan park facilities at the February ordinary meeting, and the picture it paints illustrates just how variable the economics of remote community tourism infrastructure can be. The Hillston Caravan Park is the clear standout. With 30 powered grass sites and 24 cabins on site, the park has become one of the shire's most productive assets. By the end of December 2025, the halfway point of the financial year, the park had already recorded a surplus of $78,949. With cabin income running ahead of the previous year's pace and a consistent pattern of strong occupancy, the park is on track to deliver a full-year surplus of approximately $160,000, a result that would marginally exceed the $157,150 surplus recorded in 2024/25. The park's success is not incidental. Cabin accommodation in particular is in constant demand, and the report to council was candid that the facility is currently unable to accommodate the full extent of that demand. That is both a compliment to the park's reputation and a prompt for action. Council has secured $493,000 in grant funding which, combined with other available funding, creates a total upgrade budget of $763,000. Works are scheduled to commence this financial year and will include a new sprinkler system, public WiFi installation and renovations to long-term cabin accommodation. The upgrade is a sound investment in an asset that is clearly earning its keep. The picture at Goolgowi is more modest. The Goolgowi Caravan Park generates income primarily from fees and charges, which ran at $20,290 for the six months to December 2025 against expenditure of $28,486, producing a deficit of $8,196 for the period. The full-year deficit is expected to land in the range of $5,000 to $8,000, consistent with the previous two years. The park covers its day-to-day operational costs reasonably closely but maintenance and repair expenses have consistently pushed it into the red. Rankins Springs presents the most significant financial challenge of the three. Income for the six months to December 2025 sat at $12,688 against expenditure of $42,119, producing a deficit of $29,431 for the period alone. The full-year deficit is anticipated to reach around $70,000, continuing a trend that has seen the park lose $57,992 in 2023/24 and $63,242 in 2024/25. The primary driver of the deficit is maintenance and repair costs, which have run at $66,653, $70,685 and $34,705 for the three consecutive reporting periods. A park generating $16,000 to $18,000 in annual fee income while spending three to four times that on maintenance is a structural challenge that will require either a reduction in costs, an increase in revenue or a strategic decision about the park's future role. For the wider regional community, the contrasting performance of these three parks reflects a broader truth about rural tourism infrastructure. Proximity to a population centre, highway traffic and the availability of quality accommodation all drive occupancy. Hillston's location and the quality of its cabin offering have made it a genuine destination. Rankins Springs and Goolgowi serve smaller and more dispersed communities with fewer passing travellers to draw on. The upcoming upgrade to the Hillston Park should further cement its position, and the question for council in the years ahead will be what role the other two parks can realistically play in the shire's tourism economy. 

In ShortMajor Investment: A total of $155,400 has been awarded to local organisations and individuals through the Iluka Resources Community Funding Program.Broad Impact: Funding covers 13 diverse projects including school infrastructure, sporting equipment, and upgrades to early learning and aged care facilities.Future Focus: Beyond physical infrastructure, the program has funded four individual scholarships to support local educational pathways.Local infrastructure and community groups across the Balranald Shire are set for a significant upgrade following the announcement of over $155,000 in targeted funding.The Balranald Shire Council confirmed this week that the Iluka Resources Community Funding Program has finalized its latest round of grants. A total of $155,400 has been allocated to a wide-reaching list of recipients, ranging from major sporting clubs to early childhood services and individual scholars.The funding isn't tied to a single sector.Among the larger capital works, Balranald Central School will see the construction of a new athletics area, while the Balranald Pony Club has secured a contribution toward an ablution block upgrade.Youth and education also took centre stage, with the Balranald Inc and Dolly Parton Imagination Library receiving funds for children's books, and the Euston Pre-School Association securing a new rubber soft-fall surface for outdoor play.In a statement regarding the announcement, the Council noted;"The funding supports a diverse range of initiatives that strengthen community wellbeing, enhance local facilities, and provide meaningful opportunities for residents of all ages."Council also acknowledged the corporate partnership involved;"Council acknowledges and thanks Iluka Resources for its continued commitment to supporting local communities and investing in projects that deliver long-term social, recreational, and educational benefits."Full List of Funding Recipients:Balranald Central School: Construction of a new athletics area.Balranald Cricket Club: In-kind donation of portable buildings.Balranald Football & Netball Club: Digital scoreboard for netball facilities.Balranald Inc & Dolly Parton Imagination Library: Children’s library books.Balranald Pony Club: Contribution towards ablution block upgrade.Balranald Soccer Club: Children’s soccer equipment.Balranald Early Learning Centre: CCTV camera system.Euston Pre-School Association: Rubber soft-fall surface for outdoor play areas.Balranald Multi-Purpose Service: New seating and smart TVs.Kyalite Fishing & Sporting Club: Fish re-stocking and river facility upgrades.Little Bunyips Playgroup: Technology for children.Robinvale & District Ballet Guild: Acrobatics equipment.Individual Recipients: Four scholarships for local students.The Council and Iluka Resources concluded the announcement by stating they "look forward to seeing these projects delivered for the benefit of the wider community."

IN SHORTThe Annual General Meeting of the Western Division of Councils of NSW is scheduled for 5 and 6 March 2026 in Cobar, with discussions expected to address the future direction of the organisation. Carrathool Shire Mayor Darryl Jardine and General Manager Rick Warren are both expected to attend. Council has written to the Western Division formally requesting full membership should the organisation continue, aligning its position with that of other member councils including Central Darling Shire, which has also expressed a preference to remain within the Western Division framework.The question of how far west councils organise themselves for regional advocacy is not merely a matter of administrative tidiness. It shapes the collective voice these communities can bring to bear on a state government that, despite the appointment of a dedicated minister for the region, still makes decisions in a building on Macquarie Street that is a very long way from Cobar, Hillston, Menindee or Wentworth.The Western Division of Councils of NSW is holding its Annual General Meeting on 5 and 6 March 2026 in Cobar, and the agenda includes discussion about the future of the organisation itself. Mayor Darryl Jardine noted in his report to the February council meeting that both he and General Manager Rick Warren are expected to attend. Ahead of that meeting, Carrathool Shire has written formally to the Western Division requesting full membership of the organisation should it continue in its current form.The timing of Carrathool's formal membership request is significant. The review of joint organisation boundaries across New South Wales has created some uncertainty about the alignment of western councils and the structures through which they will advocate collectively going forward. Central Darling Shire, which met the same week, has similarly expressed a preference to remain with the Western Division, and the Cobar meeting will go a long way toward determining whether enough member councils share that preference to sustain the organisation's future direction.The value of a body like the Western Division lies in its ability to aggregate the advocacy of councils whose individual populations and rate bases give them limited leverage on their own. Roads funding, water infrastructure, emergency services resourcing, health service access and telecommunications connectivity are all issues where a coordinated regional voice carries more weight than seventeen small councils each making the same case independently. The Cobar meeting represents an important moment for western communities to decide what that collective advocacy structure looks like going forward and who sits at the table when the conversations with ministers and their departments take place.

IN SHORTAs of December 2024, approximately 3,200 students are receiving the federal Basic Boarding Allowance, which sits at $10,338 per annum for 2025.The ICPA is calling for an immediate increase of more than $4,000 per child and for the allowance to be indexed to the education sub-index of the CPI rather than the general CPI, arguing that boarding fees rise at four to eight per cent annually while the allowance fails to keep pace. An ABC Landline story titled Boarding Blues, which aired on 15 February 2026, is giving rural families a national platform to put a human face to the financial and personal pressures they carry, with the ICPA crediting its members' willingness to share their stories as the driving force behind the campaign.For families living across the Hay, Balranald, Carrathool and Central Darling local government areas and beyond, the path to a secondary education for their children runs through a decision that no family in urban Australia is ever required to make. There is no high school at the end of the street. There is no bus that can bridge the distance. If a child is going to complete Year 7 through to Year 12, they are going to have to leave home to do it.Boarding school in this part of the world is not a lifestyle choice or a mark of privilege. It is the only option available, and it comes attached to a cost that has been climbing steadily beyond the reach of many rural incomes for years.The federal government's Assistance for Isolated Children scheme, known as the AIC, was specifically designed to help rural and remote families carry that cost. The Basic Boarding Allowance component of the scheme was introduced by a Labor government in 1973 with a clear original intent: to cover approximately 55 per cent of average boarding expenses so that the financial barrier to secondary education for geographically isolated children was meaningfully reduced. The ICPA has been raising concerns with the federal government for many years that the allowance no longer meets the needs of families as educational expenses and associated costs continue to rise.In 2025 the Basic Boarding Allowance sits at $10,338 per annum per student, with approximately 3,200 children across Australia currently receiving it.The problem is not the existence of the payment. The problem is the widening gulf between what the allowance provides and what boarding actually costs. The AIC is currently indexed annually in line with the Consumer Price Index, while boarding school fees continue to rise at a far greater rate, increasing on average by four to eight per cent per annum.Every year the allowance falls a little further behind. Every year rural families absorb a little more of the shortfall themselves.ICPA Federal President Louise Martin said families are being crippled by outdated policies and support structures that do not reflect the reality of their lives. When the ICPA took a delegation to Canberra to press the case directly with federal ministers and senior officials, Martin was unambiguous in putting the numbers on the table. The organisation is seeking an immediate increase of more than $4,000 to the Basic Boarding Allowance, which at that level would begin to restore the coverage the payment was originally designed to provide.Speaking directly to Education Minister Jason Clare during the delegation, Martin delivered a message that cut to the heart of the ICPA's position. "I said to Jason Clare, if you give us $16 million a year, which is loose change in the department, I will never have to bother you again, but until then expect this squeaky wheel to remain," she saidMartin also connected the education funding debate to the broader question of what it means to sustain viable rural communities. "If politicians want the agriculture industry and primary producers to clothe and feed the nation, and keep contributing to the GDP, they are going to have to start looking after us or eventually the plates will be empty," she said. Those are not hollow words in country like this. The families carrying the greatest weight from boarding costs are the same families running the stations, grazing properties and farms that form the economic backbone of the western interior. Many rural and remote families are required to send their children to boarding schools for secondary education, especially in regions where high schools are unavailable, and the gap between the AIC Boarding Allowance and actual boarding fees continues to widen, straining the financial burden on rural familiesThe ICPA's ask from government is clear and specific: an immediate significant increase to the Basic Boarding Allowance, followed by a permanent shift in how future annual increases are calculated. The association wants to see the allowance cover at least 55 per cent of the average boarding fee and for the AIC to be aligned with the Consumer Price Index education sub-index, which would ensure the allowance did not erode over time and was reflective of the actual cost increases facing boarding families.The federal government's current position, relayed by a Department of Social Services spokesperson during the delegation, is that indexation arrangements are already working as intended. A DSS spokesperson said there are already arrangements in place for increases to be applied to AIC payments on January 1 each year in line with CPI indexation processes, with the Basic Boarding Allowance increasing by $564 per annum on 1 January 2024 as a result.The ICPA's response to that position is straightforward. An annual CPI increase of $564 applied against fees that are rising at four to eight per cent annually does not close the gap. It manages the rate at which families fall further behind.Nationals leader David Littleproud, who met with the ICPA delegation in Canberra, said the organisation does critical work for the education of children in rural and remote areas and asks for very little in achieving that, adding: "We will make an announcement closer to the election with regard to the AIC payment."With a federal election drawing closer, the ICPA has moved the issue into the national public conversation through ABC Landline's Boarding Blues, which aired on 15 February 2026. The Australian Boarding Schools Association and communications firm C7EVEN supported the campaign. ICPA members from across Australia, including families from western New South Wales, spoke directly to camera about what the financial pressure feels like from inside the family home, putting a human face to figures that can otherwise read as dry policy abstractions.For the communities of Hay, Balranald, Carrathool and Central Darling, the story resonates at a level that is difficult to overstate. These are places where the nearest secondary school is often a three or four hour drive away, where isolation is a fact of geography rather than a personal choice, and where the question of whether a family can afford to educate their children beyond primary school shapes decisions about whether to stay on the land at all. The ICPA's position is that the federal government must significantly increase the AIC Basic Boarding Allowance so that it more accurately reflects the real and rising cost of boarding school education for geographically isolated students.The boarding blues are real. The families living with them have been patient long enough.Boarding Blues aired on ABC Landline on 15 February 2026 and is available on ABC iview. BCB recommends watching the full program. Readers can also view the full ICPA briefing paper and key recommendations on the ICPA national website at icpa.com.au.BCB Editorial Note: All figures, positions and direct quotes have been sourced from ICPA official briefing documents, the ICPA key recommendations paper (January 2025) and contemporaneous coverage of the ICPA Canberra delegation. The federal government's position as stated by the Department of Social Services spokesperson has been included to provide a balanced account.

IN SHORTCentral Darling Shire has reaffirmed its preference to maintain membership with the Western Division of Councils as the organisation works through a structural review. Member councils will meet in Cobar on 5 and 6 March to determine the future direction of the organisation, with Central Darling's chairperson attending to represent the shire's interests. The council has also expressed a preference to join the Far North West Joint Organisation as part of the broader review of joint organisation boundaries across the state.Central Darling Shire Council has reaffirmed its commitment to regional unity in the Far West, resolving at its February meeting to maintain its membership with the Western Division of Councils as the organisation faces a significant moment of self-determination.Member councils from across the western region are due to gather in Cobar on 5 and 6 March for meetings that will help shape the future direction of the Western Division. Central Darling's chairperson will attend to represent the shire and advocate for the continued relevance of the organisation as a vehicle for rural and remote council advocacy.The review of joint organisation boundaries is the backdrop to these discussions. Under the current framework, councils can choose which joint organisation they align with for regional collaboration and representation purposes. Central Darling has expressed a preference to join the Far North West Joint Organisation, a position that reflects both geographic logic and shared advocacy interests with the communities of that part of the state.The broader push for unity among Far West councils comes at a time when the New South Wales Government has appointed a dedicated minister for the region, a development that councillors noted creates both an opportunity and an expectation for western councils to speak with a coherent regional voice. Fragmented advocacy rarely moves ministers in the same way that organised, unified regional pressure does.Key priorities for Far West councils in any regional advocacy agenda include increased police presence across western communities, improved emergency communications across vast distances, and sustained investment in infrastructure that keeps remote towns viable. These are not issues that any single shire can resolve alone, and the value of organisations like the Western Division lies precisely in their ability to aggregate and amplify the concerns of communities that are individually too small to command much attention from Sydney.

In ShortA Life-Changing Moment: In 1953, a freak rabbiting accident on Canally Station left 12-year-old Kevin Coombs a paraplegic, setting him on an unexpected path toward sporting history.A Global Pioneer: Despite not being recognised as a citizen at the time, Coombs became Australia’s first Indigenous Paralympian, competing in Rome in 1960 with a 40kg everyday wheelchair.An Enduring Legacy: Beyond five Paralympic Games, Uncle Kevin became a revered Elder and advocate, becoming the first Paralympian in the world to receive the PLY post-nominal title.On a Friday afternoon in September 1953, a split-second accident on Canally Station near Balranald changed the course of Australian sporting history.Twelve-year-old Kevin Coombs was out rabbitting with friends. He was enjoying a typical afternoon for a young boy growing up on the Balranald Aboriginal Reserve, when a .22 rifle, carried by a seven-year-old playmate, accidentally discharged after the younger boy slipped.Kevin was struck by the stray bullet.The local headlines at the time were grim. The Sydney Truth reported the young "Coombes" was on the "danger list," and the Daily News in Perth listed him in serious condition. After a frantic car trip that ended in a breakdown two miles from the Balranald hospital, he underwent emergency surgery. After he was then rushed to Swan Hill for further surgery, Kevin survived. But the accident left him a paraplegic.He spent time at the Royal Austin Rehabilitation Hospital in Melbourne where he was introduced to sport as part of his rehabilitation program.One of the sports that he competed in was wheelchair basketball.What the newspapers couldn't have known then was that this young boy from the Wotjobaluk nation would go on to become a global pioneer: the first Aboriginal Paralympian, a passionate supporter of Australian sport and athletes with disabilities and an advocate of First Nation people.Kevin Coombs was born on 30 May 1941 in the Victorian town of Swan Hill, to Cecil Coombs and Rosie Clayton. After losing his mother at age five, he and his four siblings moved to live with relatives in the NSW town of Balranald.When Kevin Coombs traveled to Rome for the inaugural Paralympic Games in 1960, he wasn’t just competing against the world’s best wheelchair basketballers; he was navigating a country and a society that didn't officially recognise him as a citizen.Because the 1967 Referendum was still seven years away, Indigenous Australians were not yet counted in the census. On 27 May 1967, Australians voted to change the Constitution so that like all other Australians, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples would be counted as part of the population and the Commonwealth would be able to make laws for them. A resounding 90.77 per cent said ‘Yes’ and every single state had a majority result for the ‘Yes’ vote. It was one of the most successful national campaigns in Australia’s history.But Kevin’s appearance at the very first Paralympics in Rome in 1960 ment, to represent his country, Kevin had to carry an honorary British passport rather than an Australian one.Those games in Rome were the ninth iteration of the Stoke Mandeville Games, the predecessor to the Paralympics, held since 1948, yet no identified Indigenous athletes participated in those earlier events.Kevin arrived in Rome with a single wheelchair - the same 40kg (88lb) heavy-duty chair he used for his daily life. Despite the lack of high-tech equipment, Kevin’s talent was undeniable. He went on to represent Australia at five Paralympic Games between 1960 and 1984, captaining the men’s basketball team twice and serving as the captain of the entire Australian Paralympic delegation in 1980.His trophy cabinet boasted gold medals from the Far East and South Pacific Games and a silver from the Commonwealth Paraplegic Games, but it is said that Kevin’s greatest impact was off the court.As an Elder, after his sporting career, Kevin spent his professional life dedicated to his community. He established the Koori Hospital Liaison Officer program and managed the Koori Health Unit for the Victorian Department of Human Services.His contribution to the spirit of the Games was so profound that in 2016, Paralympics Australia created the Uncle Kevin Coombs Medal. In 2023, he became the first Paralympian in the world to be officially honored with the initials PLY after his name—a post-nominal signifying his status as a pioneer of the movement.Post-nominal letters, such as PhD or MD, are placed after a person’s name to indicate that they hold a position, honour, or is a member of a fraternity. As such, PLY can be added alongside the Paralympians’ name on official documentation, social media, cv, business cards, presentations, email signature or anywhere else their name may be used.Uncle Kevin Coombs passed away on October 5, 2023, at the age of 82. There remains an avenue named in his honor at Sydney Olympic Park - the boy from Balranald who took on the world.

Police have reminded motorists of their responsibility to ensure their vehicles are roadworthy and compliant after stopping a driver in Broken Hill whose vehicle had not been registered for more than a decade.Just after 10pm on Friday, February 20, 2026, a 35-year-old male was stopped whilst driving in Broken Hill after his vehicle came under the attention of police. It will be alleged that after checks, police discovered the driver's licence was currently suspended and that the vehicle had not been registered since 2014.The male was issued with a Court Attendance Notice to appear at court on a future date.Police have reminded motorists that checks should include ensuring headlights, indicators and brake lights are all working before leaving home. Drivers should also ensure that the vehicle has number plates and a bonnet.Under NSW law, driving whilst suspended carries serious penalties. For a first offence, drivers face a maximum fine of $3,300, an automatic 12-month disqualification period which can be reduced to a minimum of three months, and up to 18 months imprisonment. Second or subsequent offences carry maximum penalties of $5,500, two years disqualification and two years imprisonment.Driving an unregistered vehicle carries a maximum fine of 20 penalty units, currently $2,200. Police can also seize the vehicle and confiscate number plates.An unregistered vehicle is also not covered by Compulsory Third Party insurance, meaning the driver is personally liable for any injuries caused to other road users in an accident. This liability can run into hundreds of thousands of dollars and potentially result in bankruptcy.For vehicles unregistered since 2014, the driver would face additional penalties for the extended period without registration and the lack of valid CTP insurance over that time.The Road Transport Act 2013 makes it clear that ignorance of the law is not a defence, and drivers cannot claim they were unaware of a vehicle's registration status simply because they are not the owner.Police use cameras to check number plates for registration and CTP green slip insurance status during routine patrols.

Trump Defies Supreme Court: New 15% Global Tariff Triggered as $175B Refund Crisis LoomsBy Felicity Deane, Professor of Trade Law and Taxation, Queensland University of TechnologyIn ShortThe Pivot: Following a Supreme Court ruling that his "reciprocal tariffs" were illegal, President Trump has invoked Section 122 to raise baseline global tariffs from 10% to 15% for a 150-day window.The $175B Question: Legal experts estimate the US government may owe up to US$175 billion (A$247 billion) in refunds for illegally collected duties, sparking a wave of corporate lawsuits led by giants like Costco.Australia’s Shield: While the 15% rate applies broadly, critical Australian exports including beef, energy, and critical minerals remain exempt, though other exporters face increased price pressure.US President Donald Trump has announced the United States will increase baseline tariffs on imports from all countries to 15%, as the fallout continues from a seismic Supreme Court ruling on Friday.Trump had imposed sweeping “reciprocal tariffs” last year under an emergency powers act, but the court ruled this law did not authorise him to do so.Speaking in the wake of the ruling on Friday, Trump admonished the justices of the Supreme Court. He called the Democratic justices who ruled against the tariffs a “disgrace to the nation”.He also said he felt “ashamed” of members of the court he considered conservative who had voted against his use of emergency powers.Trump’s statement was riddled with insults and inaccuracies. However, he admitted he had tried to “make things simple” by using the emergency powers act. He went on to say he does have other options, but those options would take more time. This was one part of his speech that was indeed accurate.With the clock already ticking on his landmark trade agenda, and the multi-billion dollar question of refunds looming, what might Trump do next? Here’s what could now be in store for both Australia and the world.Scrambling for alternativesThe new 15% rate is an increase on the 10% global baseline tariff enacted shortly after the ruling using a different law, and will hit some Australian exports.This part of the law has never been used. However, it appears to clearly allow the president to impose tariffs of up to 15%, and for a period of no more than 150 days.But Trump said during this five-month period, his administration would investigate the use of yet another law, section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974.This section does allow the president to impose tariffs in response to foreign countries who violate US rights under international trade agreements, or that burden or restrict US commerce in “unjustifiable”, “unreasonable” or “discriminatory” ways. However, it requires some steps to be followed.The process for using this law is detailed and cannot be subverted. It would likely take either years or vast amounts of resources to introduce tariffs that were anywhere near the “Liberation Day” tariffs.If nothing else, it requires consultations with the countries upon whose goods those tariffs will be imposed.Section 301 has previously been used to impose tariffs on China, following an investigation by the United States Trade Representative in 2018.Another optionAnother avenue for the president to bypass Congress is a specific section of a different law, Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962, that applies to a particular sector of the economy.This is the power used to impose tariffs on steel and aluminium in the first Trump administration in 2018.However, it can’t be used to recreate sweeping tariffs on all foreign imports. This provision is generally product-specific and requires an investigation into the national security threat.Its use to impose steel and aluminium tariffs has been challenged by multiple trading partners at the World Trade Organization. A panel of experts ruled the US had used a special national security exception erroneously.However, despite this violation, Trump has suggested that he isn’t bound by international law.The question of refundsThe Supreme Court’s ruling on Friday means all tariffs introduced under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) were unlawfully collected.If all collected duties are refunded, it’s estimated the total repayment could reach approximately US$175 billion (A$247 billion).Much to the president’s frustration, there was no clarity within the Supreme Court’s ruling on the process for refunds of illegally collected tariffs.That silence, which prompted Trump to refer to the decision as “terrible” and “defective”, was likely because this would be handled by other courts.Back in December, the US Court of International Trade stated it would have the authority to order reliquidation and refunds of the sweeping tariffs if the Supreme Court ultimately ruled them unlawful.Many large companies had already anticipated this ruling, and acted to get on the front foot. For example, in late November, large retailer Costco sued the Trump administration to secure a full refund of tariffs in the event the Supreme Court deemed them unlawful.In late December, faced with an avalanche of similar cases, the Court of International Trade temporarily halted all cases where companies were claiming relief from IEEPA tariffs ahead of the Supreme Court’s ruling.Refunds may not be straightforwardSome importers have argued that because the tariff payments were itemised, receiving refunds should not be messy.But the process for refunds may not be as straightforward as it should be. Trump suggested they could be “in court for the next five years”.What does this all mean for Australia?Australia’s previous 10% rate was much lower than many other nations, but now at 15% the playing field has been levelled – at least for the next 150 days.Australian exporters don’t pay these tariffs directly themselves, but may be pressured to absorb some of the cost, and it makes their imports less competitive in the US market.However, not all Australian exporters are in the same position. The proclamation issued by the White House listed some exceptions, including beef, critical minerals, energy products and pharmaceuticals.At Friday’s press conference, Trump said “great certainty” had been brought back to the United States and the world. In truth, the uncertainty is far from over.

IN SHORTCentral Darling Shire is managing over nine million dollars in capital works across roads, aerodromes, water infrastructure and community facilities. A two million dollar road sealing program is progressing across the state and regional network, while nearly six million dollars has been allocated for runway improvements at White Cliffs that will support emergency medical flights. New water treatment plants are being constructed for Ivanhoe and Wilcannia, and a one million dollar program will upgrade four swimming pools across the shire.Despite the financial pressures that have earned Central Darling Shire a spot on the NSW Auditor General's watchlist, the council is pushing forward with an extensive capital works program that touches almost every community in the shire.More than six million dollars is allocated for regional road works across the shire's vast network, which includes sections of the Barrier and Cobb Highways managed in close partnership with Transport for NSW. A successful two million dollar work proposal for this year's sealing program will see improvements to both state-managed and local road surfaces across the region. For those who drive these roads regularly, the significance of that investment needs no explanation. Distance is the constant companion of life in the Far West and the condition of the roads between communities is not an abstraction but a daily reality.White Cliffs Aerodrome is set for significant improvement, with close to six million dollars allocated for work that will lengthen and strengthen the runway. The urgency of this upgrade is underscored by recent discussions at council about low spots on aerodrome runways that have previously made emergency medical flights difficult or impossible to land. In a part of the world where the Royal Flying Doctor Service is a genuine lifeline, the condition of rural aerodrome infrastructure is a matter of life and death. Improving the White Cliffs runway is not just a capital works tick. It is an investment in the safety of every person living within its catchment.Water security is another critical thread running through the shire's infrastructure program. New water treatment plants are currently being fabricated and constructed for both Ivanhoe and Wilcannia. These towns sit in some of the most water-stressed country in Australia, and the quality and reliability of treated water supply is fundamental to the health and liveability of the communities that depend on it. The level four water restrictions currently in place in White Cliffs serve as a pointed reminder of how vulnerable the shire's water supply can be when rainfall fails.A one million dollar swimming pool upgrade program is also underway, covering four pools across the shire. The works include repainting and the installation of new shade sails. Community pools in remote towns are more than leisure facilities. They are gathering places, health assets and in the extreme summer heat of the western interior, a practical necessity.The council has also been managing the aftermath of environmental challenges, with staff and contractors recently removing eight truckloads of dead fish from the Menindee foreshore. Fish kills in the lower Darling and Menindee Lakes system have become a distressing but recurring feature of life in the region, and the clean-up work, while unglamorous, is a necessary part of managing the environmental consequences.

All risk, no reward for outback farmers In ShortThe Financial Gap: NSW Farmers are calling for compensation to be raised to $1,500 per claim, arguing the current $50–$200 rates are a "pittance" that fails to cover real business losses.Operational Chaos: Beyond the dig site, farmers report losing access to land within a 1km radius due to livestock stress, biosecurity risks, and disrupted water access.The Ultimatum: If fair compensation isn't met, the NSW Farmers Association suggests opal mining should be restricted strictly to public land reserves. Shortchanged farmers in the state’s northwest are desperately calling on government to deliver fairer compensation for small-scale title mining claims.NSW Farmers Acting CEO Mike Guerin said the proposed compensation amounts for opal mining claims fell well short of the real and ongoing losses faced by farm businesses hosting mining activity and called on the NSW Government to urgently rework the proposed compensation framework to ensure farmers were treated fairly and not forced to absorb the full financial and operational impacts of mining activity on their land.Under the current proposal, landholders would receive as little as $50 per claim in White Cliffs and $200 near Lightning Ridge, amounts NSW Farmers said were nowhere near the actual losses borne by farm businesses.“A lot of people don’t realise that an opal miner can turn up with a piece of paper and completely disrupt your business or your backyard,” Mr Guerin said.“Most of us only own the top few metres of dirt, and the government can sell the rights underneath the surface to miners who then have the right to turn up, dig holes, disrupt your operation and create a huge mess.“This is a massive impost on farmers who are doing their best to produce healthy plants and animals in a pretty harsh environment, and this pittance proposed by government as ‘compensation’ is little more than an insult.”NSW Farmers did not support the outcome of an independent review that recommended tiny compensation amounts, nor did it support the government’s response which failed to reflect the full extent of impacts experienced by affected landholders.Mr Guerin said an evidence‑based approach was needed to properly account for the costs associated with a small-scale title claim on their farm, to ensure farmers were not left carrying an unfair burden.“Real‑world losses extend well beyond the immediate surface disturbance and include increased biosecurity risks and ongoing management costs, defensive spending, livestock disruption, and significant impacts on labour and farm management,” Mr Guerin said.“Landholders have told us they can lose us up to a one kilometre radius around the actual title site as the livestock behaviour is disturbed on the adjacent land, which can also impact animal health, and access to watering points.“We've calculated a compensation rate of approximately $1500 per claim more accurately reflects the true costs and losses incurred by farm businesses hosting opal mining activity.“If the government is unwilling to provide fair and equitable compensation, in lieu of compensable loss, then opal mining should be restricted to public land only, within designated reserves established specifically for that purpose.“Even the Independent Reviewer identified that less than 1.5 per cent of the available area is being used for opal mining, indicating there is a huge area of land potentially available for the continuation of activity within existing areas. This is contrary to the claim that there is a lack of land available and NSW Farmers does not support expansion of the current footprint to Opal Prospecting Area 4.“

IN SHORTMayor Doug Curran attended a Riverina and Murray Joint Organisation meeting in Wentworth last week alongside the General Manager and Councillor Blumer, with the Murray Darling Basin Plan review dominating proceedings and prompting the mayor to urge Griffith residents to complete a submission and engage directly with the process. Mayor Curran has also acknowledged the retirement of Sussan Ley from the Farrer electorate, describing her as a representative who always had her constituents at heart regardless of political affiliationGriffith Mayor Doug Curran has opened his latest message to the community with a Leonardo da Vinci quote that cuts to the heart of everything this region is built on. "Water is the driving force of all nature." In a city whose agricultural identity, economic output and long-term viability are inseparable from access to water, that is not a philosophical observation. It is a statement of operational fact that every farmer, irrigator, business owner and resident in the Murrumbidgee Irrigation Area understands in their bones.Last week Mayor Curran travelled to Wentworth with Griffith's General Manager and Councillor Blumer to attend a meeting of the Riverina and Murray Joint Organisation, known as RAMJO. The meeting was heavily focused on the Murray Darling Basin Plan review, a process that will shape water policy across the basin for the years ahead and that has enormous direct implications for communities like Griffith whose prosperity is built on irrigation agriculture.By the mayor's account it was a very good meeting. But it also underlined something that tends to get lost in the machinery of policy reviews conducted by bureaucracies and politicians: that community engagement is not a box to tick but a genuine opportunity to shape outcomes that will affect people's lives and livelihoods for a generation. "Please, please find out more, complete a submission and be a part of the review," Mayor Curran said. "This will be one of the most important reviews for Griffith's future."That is not hyperbole. The Murray Darling Basin Plan review is examining water use, environmental flows, buybacks and allocation arrangements across the most productive agricultural river system in Australia. The voices that carry weight in that process are not only those of government agencies and environmental lobby groups. They are also the voices of the communities that actually live and work in the basin, irrigate from its rivers, run businesses that depend on the agricultural output it supports and have watched previous iterations of the plan play out in ways that have not always reflected local knowledge or local need. If you have a view on how water in the Murrumbidgee system should be managed, now is the time to put it on the record. The MDBA's review consultation process is open to public submissions and the link is available through the BCB app story.The mayor also used his message to acknowledge the retirement of Sussan Ley from the seat of Farrer, a federal electorate that covers a vast swathe of southern and western New South Wales including Griffith. Ley, who served as a federal minister across multiple portfolios and was most recently Deputy Liberal Leader, has represented Farrer for more than two decades. Mayor Curran's assessment was characteristically measured and generous across political lines. "Regardless of your politics, it cannot be said that Sussan did not always have her constituents at heart," he said. Ley's retirement triggers a by-election for Farrer that will be watched closely across the western region. Mayor Curran is right that water will enter the by-election debate, and so it should. The seat covers much of the Murray Darling Basin. The views of whoever wins it on water policy, irrigation entitlements and the Basin Plan review will matter directly to Griffith and to every farming and irrigating community in the electorate. The by-election represents a moment for the region to make clear what it needs from its federal representative and what it expects on the issues that define the area's economic future.

IN SHORTThe NSW SES has issued a Prepare Now warning for Tibooburra, White Cliffs, Wanaaring, Tilpa and Milparinka, with heavy rainfall and flash flooding forecast — on top of ground already saturated from earlier rain.Dozens of roads across the Far West and Central Darling are closed due to flooding, including key routes in and out of White Cliffs, Wilcannia and surrounding station country — with more closures expected.Fog has grounded REX and Qantas flights at Broken Hill's Silver City Airport this morning, compounding disruption for travellers and freight across the region.Communities across Central Darling Shire, including White Cliffs and Wilcannia, woke this morning to find the region even more deeply isolated, with Transport for NSW confirming at 8:45am that the majority of local roads across the Far West remain closed due to flooding and slippery surfaces.The NSW State Emergency Service has issued a Prepare Now warning for Tibooburra, White Cliffs, Wanaaring, Tilpa and Milparinka, advising residents and property owners that heavy rainfall and flash flooding are forecast — arriving on top of ground that is already well beyond capacity.For those living and working in the communities that make up the Hay, Balranald, Carrathool and Central Darling local government areas, the timing is significant. Supply routes that connect the region's stations, homesteads and townships to Broken Hill, Cobar and the wider road network are among those closed, and the forecast of additional rain raises the real prospect of further deterioration in conditions before any improvement is seen.Across the Transport for NSW road condition report, the closures most directly affecting these LGAs include the Old Pooncarie Road in both its Tandou Road to Bindara Road section and the Bindara Road to Coona Point section, the Wanaaring to Wilcannia Road north section, the Henry Roberts Road between White Cliffs and Cobham — which remains open to four-wheel-drives only and with caution — Tandou Road, Netley Road and Loch Lilly Road.The Mutawintji Road is shut in both directions, whether approaching from the Silver City Highway or from the White Cliffs side, and the Mutawintji National Park Road itself is also closed. These closures directly affect movement in and around the eastern fringe of Central Darling Shire.On the state highway network, the Silver City Highway from Broken Hill to Packsaddle and from Packsaddle to Tibooburra remains open, but Transport for NSW is advising drivers to travel to conditions. The Wilangee Road between Broken Hill and Wilangee is open to general traffic with caution, though four-wheel-drive is recommended — and the section from Wilangee through to McDougals Well is closed entirely.Further into the western road network, the closures are extensive. The Cut Line is shut in both directions between Tibooburra, Borrona Downs and Wanaaring. Cameron Corner Road from Tibooburra to Fortville Gate is closed. So too are the Wompah Gate Road, Toona Gate Road, Hamilton Gate Road, Poole's Grave Road, Narriearra Road, Willara Crossing Road, the Veldt to Milparinka Road, the Veldt to Westwood Downs Road, Mount Arrowsmith Road, Mount Woowoolahra Road, Fowlers Gap to Teilta, Corona Road in both sections, Nuntherungie to Kayrunnera, Gum Vale to Hewart Downs, Monolon to Borrona Downs, Teilta to Border Downs Road via Pine View and a number of other routes.Adding to the region's Monday morning, thick fog has settled over Broken Hill, grounding flights at Silver City Airport with services operated by REX and Qantas both delayed. Fog in the far west during late summer is not uncommon when humid air pushes south, but it compounds an already difficult situation for those trying to access goods, services or medical care across a region where air access is often the only option when roads close.The SES is clear in its advice: do not attempt to drive through floodwaters under any circumstances, and prepare now. For those in affected communities, that means checking on supplies, ensuring vehicles are not parked in low-lying areas, and monitoring Bureau of Meteorology warnings as the situation develops.The Transport for NSW road condition report for the Far West will next be updated when conditions change.⚠️ Emergency Contacts & ResourcesIf you need emergency assistance, call the NSW SES on 132 500. If your life is at risk, call Triple Zero (000) immediately.Road conditions: livetraffic.com | 132 701 Bureau of Meteorology warnings: bom.gov.au | 1300 945 108 Transport for NSW Far West District Works: 08 8082 6699

Menindee Common Trust in Limbo as Legal Costs and Land Disputes Leave Council at a CrossroadsIN SHORTThere are approximately fifteen outstanding leases and licences on Menindee Common Trust land that remain unresolved due to the high cost of using mandatory Crown Land legal templates. Several private homes have been built on what are technically council roads rather than private land, creating a significant legal liability for the shire. Council has resolved to seek urgent discussions with the Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure and push for special grant funding before agreeing to take on another three year management term.The future management of the Menindee Common Trust is hanging in the balance after Central Darling Shire Council resolved at its February ordinary meeting to demand urgent state government support before committing to a further three year term overseeing the troubled parcel of Crown land.The trust, which sits on the doorstep of the Menindee Lakes system in the state's Far West, has accumulated a significant backlog of unresolved legal and administrative issues that the council says it simply cannot afford to fix on its own. At the heart of the problem is a stack of approximately fifteen outstanding leases and licences that have been stalled for years because the legal templates required under Crown Land regulations are expensive to prepare and enforce.Interim General Manager Robert Hunt told councillors the situation is more complicated than a simple paperwork delay. A number of private residences have been built on what are technically classified as council roads rather than privately titled land. That means people are living in homes that sit, legally speaking, on public road reserves, a circumstance that creates genuine liability and uncertainty for both the residents and the council responsible for managing the land.Adding another layer of complexity, Indigenous land use agreements are required before access to key points on the trust land can be formalised. Racecourse Road, one of the main access routes through the area, is among those requiring an agreement before it can be properly administered. Negotiating those agreements takes time, specialist legal expertise and money, none of which the cash-strapped shire currently has in ready supply.Council discussed the option of returning the land to the Crown entirely, which would effectively hand the administrative burden back to the state government. However, that option attracted concern from councillors who argued that walking away would cost the local community its seat at the table. Local management, even when difficult, keeps decision making closer to the people who actually live and work around Menindee.The Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure has already approached the council about renewing its management commitment for a further three years, but the council's position is clear. No commitment will be made until the state agrees to fund the legal and administrative work needed to bring the trust's affairs into order.For communities across the western region, including those in neighbouring Balranald and Carrathool shires who share many of the same land tenure complexities and Crown land management challenges, the outcome of these negotiations will be watched closely. The question of who carries the cost and responsibility for managing complicated Crown land assets is one that resonates well beyond the Menindee Lakes foreshore.