Parliament returns this week for what Member for Barwon Roy Butler describes as "most likely the last [sitting weeks] for the year", with several regional initiatives announced across infrastructure, health, and community safety.

Youth Crime Delegation Meets Premier Following an invitation extended during October's Question Time, mayors from Bourke, Brewarrina, Coonamble, and Walgett Shire Councils met with Premier Chris Minns and Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon on October 28 to discuss youth crime solutions.

Butler said the discussion focussed on "the need for greater accountability and collaboration in the delivery of youth programs" and a shift toward community-led approaches.

"There was general agreement that one-size-fits-all strategies are largely ineffective, and that a better approach is to acknowledge the unique challenges and contexts of each Barwon community to tailor an appropriate solution," Butler stated.

The member thanked the Premier, Police Commissioner, and Attorney General Michael Daley for their support of "this more reasoned approach to finding long-term solutions to what is a complex problem".

Central Darling Shire Council has been awarded $85,000 through the NSW Government's Infrastructure Grants Program, which reinvests gaming machine profits from registered clubs into community projects.

Other recipients in the region include Walgett Aboriginal Medical Service ($250,000) and Broken Hill City Council ($193,440).

Butler welcomed the funding and thanked Minister David Harris MP for the grants.

The Cobar community continues to grieve following the recent explosion at the Endeavour Mine that claimed the lives of miners Holly Clarke and Ambrose McMullen.

"In this time of grief, we need to just allow the community time to process what has happened and for investigators to do their careful work of looking into what caused it to happen, so that precautions can be taken to prevent future deaths," Butler said.

He also expressed concern for Mackenzie Stirling, who was injured in the explosion and is recovering.

Her family has established a GoFundMe page to assist with medical and living expenses.

Butler, a member of the Joint Standing Committee on Road Safety (Staysafe Committee), has been participating in hearings examining interventions to reduce road trauma in regional NSW caused by speeding, fatigue, and drink and drug-affected driving.

The inquiry has coincided with the Federal Government's Regulatory Impact Analysis proposing to reduce the open road default speed limit from 100km/h.

"For many of us in Barwon who have to travel hundreds, sometimes thousands of kilometres along open roads, this proposal will only extend our time on the road," Butler said.

"I do not agree with this approach. Rather than lowering the speed limit, we need better and safer roads. Lowering speed limits because the roads need work is a cop out."

Butler argued that statistics including Wollongong and Newcastle as regional areas "don't accurately reflect the lower incident rates we see on our rural and remote roads, especially unsealed roads".

The NSW Government has announced $9 million from the Rural and Regional Roads Fund to seal the remaining 9.64km stretch of Rangari Road, which connects Manila to Boggabri.

Butler said the project "will improve safety, reduce dust, and enhance the road's resilience in wet weather for residents, the mining industry, freight operators, and tourists".

He described it as "another small but significant connection in the vast transport network across Barwon" and thanked Minister for Regional Roads Jenny Aitchison for the funding.

The NSW Government has allocated $4 million to address PFAS contamination in Narrabri's drinking water supply.

The funding will deliver a portable water treatment plant and new production bores.

Butler recently toured Sydney Water's Cascades Water Filtration Plant in the Blue Mountains to assess treatment options.

"The great news is that it will [work for Narrabri], and it can be up and running in a matter of months," he said.

The member welcomed the funding, stating, "The community needs a clean, reliable water supply as we enter the hottest time of the year."

Applications are now open for the 2025–26 Crown Reserves Improvement Fund, with $13.5 million available for projects on Crown land.

Two funding streams are available: General Projects (grants from $50,000 to $1 million) and Pest & Weed Management (grants from $500 to $200,000).

Applications close on Friday, December 5 2025 at 5:00pm.

Butler has invited art communities, groups, and organisations across Barwon to exhibit their work in the NSW Parliament's Fountain Court.

"Art plays such an important role in promoting the best of Barwon and showing that there is more artistic talent out west than some people might realise," he said.

Artworks must have significance to Barwon or NSW and be hosted by a Member of Parliament. There is no fee to exhibit in the space.