Australia Day Awards 2025 for the Carrathool Shire were held at the Merriwagga Hall with over 130 people in attendance. The special day was led by Mayor Daryl Jardine and our 2025 official Australia Day Ambassador, Catherine DeVyre, a renowned author and keynote speaker.Angela Masters won Citizen of the Year.Natasha Peters won Young Citizen of the Year.Brent Parsons won Sportsperson of the Year.Harry Liddicoat won Junior Sportsperson of the Year (12 to 18 years).Charlie Bunn won Junior Sportsperson of the Year (5-12 years).Community Group of the Year was Goolgowi Recreation Ground Trust.Community Event of the Year was Carrathool time capsule opening ceremony.

Australia Post Container has arrived at the Ivanhoe Multi Service Outlet Council building. The secure airconditioned container is complete with postal mailboxes for residents. The Ivanhoe Licensed Post Office started operating in October last year from the MSO building providing postal and banking services. This all came about after the town’s post office closed its doors when no buyer was found after two years on the market. Before this, Ray and Jan Longfellow had run the Post Office for close to 40 years. Anyone who would like to purchase a mailbox can contact the Council.

Central Darling Shire has congratulated the Australia Day award recipients from the township of White Cliffs."Congratulations to the Central Darling Shire Outstanding Community Service Award recipients recognised on Australia Day at White Cliffs," a Council spokesperson said. "The awards are an opportunity to acknowledge outstanding contributions by publicly thanking award winners in a spirit of community pride."Andrew White - Citizen of YearJai Atkins and Laim Taylor - Young Citizen/s of the Year (joint award)Ron Dowton - Service to the CommunityHayley Atkins – Service to the CommunityEnid Black - Volunteer of YearWhite Cliffs Camel Cup and Bikekhana - Outstanding Event"Thank you to the White Cliffs Community Association and everyone who contributed to the Australia Day celebration."

A community leader with more than four decades of service to Deniliquin, who passed away last year, was celebrated as Edward River Council’s 2025 Citizen of the Year at the Australia Day Awards on Sunday. The late Bruce Simpson’s extraordinary life and profound legacy was honoured with the prestigious award, which was accepted by his wife Shandra.Edward River Council Deputy Mayor Kellie Crossley said Bruce’s community spirit and advocacy for the region made him a standout recipient.“Bruce’s life and dedication to the Deniliquin community was tragically cut short last year, but his legacy lives on as a testament to his decency, courage, and tireless leadership. Bruce embodied the qualities of a true Citizen of the Year, showing us all the power of cheerfulness, respect and courage in building strong and vibrant communities.”The 2025 Australia Day Ambassador was local media personality and former editor of The Pastoral Times Garry Baker.Award winners:The Junior Citizen of the Year was awarded to Bonnie Everett for her achievements in basketball and netball on a local and national level, as well as leadership and mentoring of other young people.Environmental Citizen of the Year – Bill & Elwyn Hermiston Memorial Award: Andrew JefferiesCommunity Group of the Year: Deniliquin Mental Health Awareness Group (Deni MHAG)Community Event or Initiative of the Year: Deniliquin Local Health Advisory Committee (LHAC) - Lifting Health Outcomes ProgramSports Award: Matthew ThomasJunior Sports Award: Bonnie EverettArts & Culture Award: Jo NathanJunior Arts & Culture Award: Piper Brown

A series of feral pig control workshops will be held across the region, hosted by Western Local Land Services.The workshops will cover pigs signs and ecology, control options, disease and biosecurity controls and discuss incentive options available through the department.One workshop will be held at Booligal Hall on February 14, 2025. Earlier meetings will be held at Darnick on February 11, Pooncarie on February 12, and Euston on February 13.Mark Lamb from Pest Lures will present each of the workshops, alongside local bio security officers.Workshops commence at 9am. Further information - Mitch Bysouth (Western Local Land Services.)

Good drivers behave for 12 months and have one demerit removed from recordIf you can behave on the road for the next 12 months, eligible drivers will have one demerit point scrubbed from their record.One million drivers who remained offence-free on the road over the past 12 months have just been rewarded for their contribution to safety with a demerit point scrubbed from their licence.In New South Wales, you can check if a demerit point has been removed from your driving record by logging into your MyServiceNSW account or using the Service NSW app. You can also call 13 77 88 or visit a Service NSW Centre. Motorists will begin to see their licence demerit tally updated from the second quarter of 2025.The results of the second year of the Minns Labor Government’s demerit point return scheme show drivers in car-reliant areas of regional NSW are some of the biggest beneficiaries this year. The scheme provides a rare ‘carrot’ for people to drive safely as a counterbalance to the longstanding ‘stick’ of fines, double demerits and the loss of licence.Almost 1.5 million drivers were eligible to have a demerit point removed when the second year of the trial started on January 17, with just over one million drivers remaining offence-free.There are now more than 420,000 drivers who have had a demerit point wiped two years running.As the scheme enters its third year, the NSW Government is making an important adjustment to the end date of the 12-month period which will in future run to 31 January starting in 2026.This means that drivers who are close to benefiting with a point will need to drive safely and offence-free throughout the critical month of January which has in the past been marred by holiday crashes and deaths.Minister for Regional Transport and Roads Jenny Aitchison warned that regional accidents make up more than two-thirds of all deaths on NSW roads, despite only a third of the population living in the regions.“Deaths and road trauma hit tight-knit regional and rural communities extra hard as everyone knows everyone and the grief, hurt and trauma impact even more widely,” she said.“For those drivers who may have demerit points from previous years, but who have managed to keep their driving record clean this year, there will be a demerit reward if they can maintain their improved driving behaviours.”

The body of a man has been located during the search for a missing swimmer in the Murrumbidgee River. Australia Day afternoon, a 37 year old man fell from a recreational floating device towed behind a boat on the Murrumbidgee River at Darlington Point.When he didn't resurface and could not be found, emergency services were notified.Officers from Murrumbidgee Police District responded, as well as NSW Ambulance, State Emergency Service (SES) and Volunteer Rescue Association (VRA).A search began, and was later suspended to begin again 7.30am yesterday, with NSW Police divers attending.The search then began again at 7.30am Tuesday, again involving NSW Police, SES and VRA.The body of a man was found shortly after. The body was recovered, and a crime scene was established. A report will be prepared for the Coroner.Anyone with information about this incident is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au. Information is treated in strict confidence. The public is urged not to report information via NSW Police social media pages.

Ivanhoe Citizen of the Year for Central Darling Shire is Ian Edson (below right).A member of numerous community and farm industry committees, Ian has volunteered with Darnick Bush Fire Brigade for 50 years.He is also president of Teryawynia Landcare, member of NSW Farmers’ Association for more than 40 years and as executive of the Ivanhoe branch for 10 years and a representative on Western Division Council for many years.Ian has lobbied and achieved local safety measures including railway crossing safety lights at Darnick, reinstallation of Darnick Railway Station platform for safe local rail passenger travel and extended travel hours (by two hours) for stock carting trucks to ensure animal welfare when travelling long distances. He also supported his wife Trudie in helping to save the Ivanhoe RSL Club. Damien McMaster (below left) was announced Volunteer of the Year for service to community events in Ivanhoe, including the campdraft and rodeo.Josh Robertson (below centre) received the Outstanding Service to the Community as an advocate for mental health support, organiser of Ivanhoe Pig competition which raises money for the Black Dog Ride and various Ivanhoe non-profit groups. Images: supplied.

Building sector apprentices offered $10k incentive to complete training amid housing crisis, labour shortagesTraineeships are prime opportunities for people to gain invaluable experience and knowledge. People enter an industry because they have an aptitude and interest in the field.One depressing reality of traineeships though, are often the inability to live in the world and survive on the wage. In a move aimed at tackling the national housing crisis and bolstering the building and construction industry, the Prime Minister has announced a new incentive program for apprentices in the home building sector. The program is set to begin on July 11.The program, named the Key Apprentice Program, will provide eligible apprentices with $10,000 in incentive payments, on top of their wages.The incentive is designed to encourage more Australians to take up trade apprenticeships and remain in the construction industry. The Prime Minister stated that the initiative is "about more than bricks and mortar, it is about people and investment in skills. The goal is to address the critical labour shortage in the building sector. Build Skills Australia estimates a shortage of around 200,000 building-sector workers this year alone.Key aspects of the program:•Eligible apprentices will receive a total of $10,000 in payments over the life of their apprenticeship.•The payments will be staggered, with $2,000 paid at six, 12, 24, and 36 months, and at the completion of the apprenticeship.•The incentive is targeted at residential construction apprentices, such as bricklayers, electricians, plumbers, carpenters, and joiners.•The payments are in addition to the apprentice's regular wages.•This initiative aligns with incentives already in place for apprentices in the clean energy sector.The Prime Minister has acknowledged that many apprentices struggle financially, with some earning as little as two-thirds of the minimum wage before factoring in the cost of tools and safety gear. This financial pressure leads many to leave their training. The new program also includes an increase to the allowance for apprentices living away from home, the first increase since 20032.Benefits for the building industry:•The staged payments provide a financial incentive for apprentices to complete their training, with the final payment only paid on completion.•Around 50 percent of all apprentices do not currently complete their training, and the new approach aims to improve completion rates.•The program aims to address labour shortages, identified as a significant barrier to resolving the housing crisis.The government says incentive program is expected to help meet the government’s goal of building 1.2 million homes by July 2029.Coupled with government funding for fee-free vocational training, the new program aims to make it an ideal time to pursue a career as a tradie.

Good progress is being made in Balranald to kick off 2025INFRASTRUCTURE REPORT Gravel construction works of a further 3.9-kilometre section of Marma Box Creek Road started early this month in the Balrandald Shire, with the section projected to be sealed this coming autumn. On completion of this section, Marma Box Creek Road will be sealed all the way to the intersection with Magenta Wampo Road. Heavy patching works of Balranald Ivanhoe Road will be continuing this month. Heavy patching is used when large sections of the road are badly damaged or deformed. Heavy patching explained: A road is made up of three layers: the surface and two layers of foundation; the PAVEMENT the FORMATION or SUBGRADE.During heavy patching, the damaged SURFACE is removed. The PAVEMENT gravel is pulverised by road reclaimer machinery. A binder is mixed into the pavement gravel for strength. The pavement is then watered and re-compacted before a surface seal of either asphalt or sprayed seal is applied. The binder being used on MR67 is called triple blend, which is a mixture of lime, cement and fly ash. This binder strengthens the pavement, helping it to hold together, resist moisture and cope better with the demands of today’s larger, heavier traffic. MAINTENANCE CREWS Council’s maintenance crews have also been busy on MR67 with pothole patching. They are doing an excellent job during the hot conditions. They have also been busy installing and replacing guideposts on Council’s unsealed road network making the area safer for visitors and locals. In addition, old, outdated road signs are being replaced new updated signage. This will continue across the Shire until all signage has been updated with more compliant signs

Roy’s Roundup 20 January 2025  G’day folks,  Here we are nearly at the end of January, another year under way, and already things are starting to pick up pace after the festive season. I hope that everybody had a chance to get some down time, although I know that for some people working on the land, running their own businesses, working in health, policing or the emergency services finding that time can be hard. This year is shaping up to be a big one, with a Federal Election looming, it will be interesting to see what promises are made by both sides that will affect regional NSW and affect what happens in parliament this year.Even without that distraction there will be a lot happening in parliament this year. There are still plenty of issues we are working on and who knows what others we will see emerge through this year.Bus services survey Given the vast distances separating towns in Barwon, public transport plays a vital role in the lives of my constituents. Many people in Western NSW rely on buses to get them where they want to go. NSW Trainlink is proposing changes to the timetables and routes, based on passenger feedback, but they want more public input. They are asking people to take part in a survey  I urge anybody who relies on public transport to take part in the survey. The plan is to introduce the changes in 2026. Perilya Mine Fire Last week we heard news of a fire in the Perilya Mine at Broken Hill. Fortunately, workers who had been underground at the time were evacuated from the mine safely, but there were concerns about the cloud of gas and smoke over the city. An Emergency Operations Centre was set up in response, the Mine has a sub plan, as part of the New South Wales State Emergency Management Plan, to detail the arrangements and response to an emergency at the Mine.  It is yet to be confirmed, but the cause of the fire is thought to have been a polyurethane foam, often referred to as a “grout”, used in the mine. The fire occurred in a disused section of the mine that was in the process of being remediated and there was a chemical reaction with the foam believed to have caused the fire. The Emergency Operations Centre has been stood down with the Mine and the Resource Regulator back in control. The latest news I have, is that the fire is extinguished, but there are still smouldering timbers. However, Perilya have not yet returned to full operations. It is concerning that Miners are either using their leave entitlements or if they have exhausted their leave, or are a casual or contracted employee, they are not being paid.Power Outage Inquiry The power outages in the far west of NSW last year dominated the headlines for a time and left a lot of households and business in the region out of pocket. The inquiry that I requested be held into the outages is kicking off, so I would urge people to make a submission, so that we can hear from all affected members of the community. The Inquiry will cover a range of relevant issues relating to the outages, including how they happened and how effective were the measures taken by electricity providers in response to the loss of power. The inquiry will make recommendations on preparation and mitigation strategies that may help safeguard the Far West NSW in the future. Make a submissionManaging the bushI have spent a few days recently investigating forestry on both private and public land and learning about some of the factors that are hindering the industry. Timber is a renewable resource; the industry should be thriving in NSW. However, successive governments have politicised the industry and made it increasingly difficult for Australian forests to be managed and for timber to be used for local purposes. We once had a thriving industry in Barwon. In places like Baradine and Mendooran, these industries are now gone. The Australian bush has been actively managed for thousands of years through cultural burning. Active management encourages new growth, which is the preferred food for our native species and mitigates the risk of fires. The industry is highly regulated by the EPA and LLS, which control the monitoring and compliance. It creates jobs for regional and rural communities all the way down the supply line. I know forestry is not for everyone, but as someone who wants to see local manufacturing and industry in Australia, with tight regulations and rules. I'd rather we manage our land and harvest timber here than destroy landscapes overseas without regulation. I'd like to see better collaboration between government and industry and a return of active management to appropriate forests in Barwon. Seniors Local Achievement Awards Nominations are still open for the Seniors Local Achievement Awards. If you know someone in your community who has gone above and beyond, making a significant contribution, helping with inclusiveness and diversity, providing inspiration for others, I encourage you to nominate them for some well-deserved recognition. The awards will be announced during the NSW Seniors Festival running from March 11 to March 24. Download the nomination form HEREYou can return it to [email protected] Or by post to one of my electorate offices- Narrabri Office - 60 Maitland Street, Narrabri NSW 2390 Cobar Office - 11 Barton Street, Cobar NSW 2835 Broken Hill Office - 1/142 Argent Street, Broken Hill NSW 2880 Alternatively, pop into the closest electorate office to grab a form and return it in person. Wee Waa Hospital Last week the people of Wee Waa rallied to continue to demand that the local hospital be returned to normal operating hours. I spoke to the Health Minister earlier this month and he continues to reaffirm his commitment to keep the hospital open and to return it to normal operation, with a Visiting Medical Officer and increased services.  The problem lies in recruitment of a VMO and full nursing staff for the hospital, which Hunter New England LHD has so far failed to do. It has been suggested that an inquiry is needed to work out why HNE has been unable to recruit staff, or to come to an agreement with a VMO. When Western LHD was confronted with a similar problem at Nyngan Hospital, going to reduced hours in October 2022, they engaged with the community working group formed to discuss the issues, they increased their recruiting efforts and by the beginning of 2024 they were back to normal operating hours. HNE were unwilling to engage with the Wee Waa Hospital Community Working Group and are showing a lack of interest in recruiting staff for the hospital. We have to ask the question why the HNE LHD efforts are failing, and we also must revisit the idea of splitting up HNE LHD, so that hospitals in New England have their own designated health district and are not having their resources drained to fill the needs of hospitals on the coast.  I have requested a meeting between the Minister and the Wee Waa Hospital Working Group. Gilgandra road upgrades A major problem in country towns that sit on major highways is the volume of heavy vehicle traffic they often have to deal with on their main street. Cars, bicycles, and pedestrians often must share the road with some big vehicles like road trains and B-doubles. It can be dangerous, it causes wear and tear on the roads, but it is also inefficient for our vital road transport vehicles, slowing them down along major routes. That is why it was great to hear that the state and federal governments have committed a total of $40 million to upgrade four major intersections in Gilgandra, which will help to take some of that heavy vehicle traffic away from the main street. The intersections on Hargraves Lane and Federation Street, where they intersect with the Newell, Oxley and Castlereagh highways, will be upgraded to increase freight productivity, reduce travel delays, and improve safety. If the experience of similar improvements in other towns is anything to go by, this investment will help reinvigorate the main street of Gilgandra. It is a recognition of the strategic importance of Gilgandra in the road network in this part of the world. 

Traffic incident closed the Cobb Highway at Hay bridgeEmergency services were called to a single vehicle crash on Lachlan Street, Hay about 9.30pm, yesterday, January 22, 2025.The driver was freed and taken to Hay hospital with minor injuries. The road was cleared about 10.15pm.

WaterNSW has issued a Red Alert warning for high levels of potentially toxic blue-green algae for the Lake Menindee.The Red Alert warning applies only to untreated water at the identified location and will remain in place until monitoring and test results confirm that the risk is sufficiently diminished.People should avoid consuming untreated water from this waterbody and prevent pets and livestock from drinking this water.People should avoid recreational activities such as swimming, water skiing, canoeing and any other activity that brings them into contact with this waterbody until the red alert warning is lifted.

Broken Hill Service NSW has moved houseDid you know Broken Hill's new Service NSW centre has opened for business?The doors at Shop MM003A, Westside Plaza, 5 Galena Street, Broken Hill opened at 9am on Friday January 17.The re-located Service Centre will make it easier to access a range of NSW Government services including: • Far West power outage support grants • driver knowledge and practical driving tests • driver licence and photo card applications and renewals • Working With Children Check applications • applications for birth, death and marriage certificates • vehicle and vessel registration applications and transfers • boat licence applications • cost of living support and more. The existing Service Centre in Bagot St closed on Monday 13 January.Many NSW Government transactions online but opening hours are Monday to Friday 9:00 am to 4:00 pm. For more information, visit Service NSW or call 13 77 88.

Local heroes celebrated by receiving Australia Day award nominations for 2025Balranald Shire Council received four nominations this year for the Australia Day Awards, Citizen of the Year 2025. Each of the four nominees have given tremendous amounts of time and energy to improve their communities and the lives of the people in them. They have worked in many different areas, such as education, youth opportunities, health, domestic violence prevention and sport and recreation. Although there can only be one winner, Balranald Shire Council would like to acknowledge the tremendous work and achievements of each nominee. Small communities thrive and survive thanks to the dedication and hard work of amazing people such as these. Thank you to all community volunteers who generously offer their time to serve in committees, clubs, churches and schools. Our towns would not be what they are without you all. Tony Conway As well as being a local business owner and raising a family, Tony has worked behind the scenes for many years with Balranald Football Club, Balranald Racing Club, Southern Districts Racing Association and Swan Hill District Cricket Association. Tony has served as a committee member, timekeeper, umpire, fund-raiser, auctioneer and coach. He is ready to help out with whatever needs doing. As President of Balranald Racing Club since 2005, he supports other small racing clubs and advocates for the continuation of country racing. Tony also volunteers his time for St Joseph’s annual school fete and as a stand-in meals-on-wheels driver when needed. Tony has lobbied the Police, Ambulance and Teacher Housing Authority for better housing conditions for professional people and their families. He is also a strong proponent for the expansion and development of Bidgee Haven Retirement Hostel. Emma Moore Emma is mum to three young boys and works as Nurse Manager for Maari Ma Health in Balranald. She has completed multiple post-graduate nursing courses with the aim of offering extended and improved health care services in Balranald. On top of her work duties, she has been involved with the organisation of successful service expos and health promotion events. Emma is a member of the Western Primary Health Network, Far West Community Advisory Council, the Lower Sector Violence, Abuse and Neglect Interagency Group and Council’s Strengthening Community Access, Inclusion and Wellbeing Advisory Committee and St Joseph’s School Committee. Emma is also secretary of the Balranald NAIDOC Committee, St Joseph’s School Parents & Friends Association, and Balranald Soccer Club, of which she was a founding member. In an interview for Women’s Week in March 2024, Emma stated “I hope that I can inspire and empower other women to set a positive example for their kids and families. I’m firstly a proud Mum, but my heart expands to all my other commitments and community, where I hope to influence positive change.” Glenn Stewart Glenn was a secondary school teacher for 22 years, and since then has worked for many years in various government organisation roles, working to improve local education, youth training and employment. Glenn’s passion to see improved services to the people of the Euston-Robinvale area also extends outside of the workplace. Through his roles on several boards and advisory committees, Glenn strongly advocates for improvements in such areas as economic development, vocational training, higher education, indigenous affairs, youth affairs, school education and AFL administration. He has been an active member of the Euston Progressive Advisory Committee for the past four years. With Glenn’s local industry connections and extensive experience, he works hard with local government and the community to improve the small town of Euston. Rachael Williams Rachael works with her husband in managing their farm, while also running her own business and raising three children. In addition, she gives her own time in many areas to improve opportunities and services in our community. Rachael played a key role in developing Advisory Committees to work with the Council’s Administrator. She is Chairperson and Secretary for the Strengthening Community Access, Inclusion and Wellbeing Advisory Committee and a member of the Executive of Chairs Advisory Committee. Rachael has also assisted with community engagement to help guide positive outcomes in areas such as community development, business growth and tourism.Rachael works in several areas for local children and youth. She has advocated for early intervention initiatives, recognising that addressing challenges faced by young people at the earliest stages can have a transformative impact on their futures. She has served several terms as President and committee member of the St Joseph's Parents & Friends Association, as well as being a member of the School Committee, dedicating countless hours volunteering and raising funds to support our local school children. Keen to see our rural youth succeed, Rachel has been secretary of the Local Country Education Foundation for over a decade. This foundation provides financial support to local students aged 16-25 transitioning from school into further education or the workforce. Rachael volunteers her time to source funding, assess applications, interview candidates and communicate outcomes. Rachael has helped to organise events such as ‘White Ribbon’ nights in support of victims of domestic violence, the annual Health, Wellbeing and Support Services Expo and Women’s Health Pamper Day. Rachael’s passion, commitment, and tireless work ethic have made a significant impact on the lives of many individuals in Balranald. She has worked relentlessly to advocate for improved healthcare, mental health support, women's health, youth and early childhood services and domestic violence resources in the community, always striving to create a better, more inclusive environment for all.

Police pursued an alleged stolen vehicle.Around 3.10pm Monday January 20, officers attached to Murrumbidgee Police District were patrolling on Cobb Highway, near south of Hay, when they attempted to stop a white Chery SUV, with a dangerous driving manner.  When it failed to stop, a pursuit was initiated.The pursuit continued through to the southbound of Cobb Highway, however it was terminated due to a communications issue.Further checks revealed the vehicle was reported stolen from Queensland.As inquiries continue, anyone with information about this incident is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Applications are now being invited for the Rob Seekamp Memorial ScholarshipThe scholarship is in tribute to the late Rob Seekamp of Woolcunda Station and Past President of Isolated Children and Parents Association (ICPA) and Pastoralists' Association of West Darling (PAWD). Rob had a strong interest in promoting educational opportunities for people living in outback NSW. Students from the Western Division of NSW and surrounding areas are encouraged to apply. The successful applicant will receive $2,500.The objective of the Scholarship is to encourage a student to pursue a course of study in a field which will benefit the area. The applicant’s tertiary course of study must be relevant to employment within the Western Division and is open to full-time and part-time students. Guidelines and application forms are available by messaging PAWD on Facebook, or emailing [email protected]. Applications close January 31, 2025. An independent panel will select the successful applicant.

Coulton’s Catch Up - Monday 20 January, 2025Coulton's Catch-Up• Another chance to boost connectivity on Back Country properties• NBN upgrades• New grants available for aged care providers • Disappointment follows funding announcement, by Dubbo airport benefitsAnother chance to boost on farm connectivityThe Labor Government has announced it will open a third round of the On Farm Connectivity Program later this year.While I welcome this investment into the ag-tech grants program, I hope the application process for this next round will be improved to make it fairer for all farmers after the debacle of Round 2. Applications for Round 2 were open for less than a week before the $18 million in funding was exhausted, meaning many farmers in the Parkes electorate missed out.The program provides rebates of up to 50 per cent for eligible equipment and technology for farmers to aid with monitoring livestock, improving efficiency in water use and improving soil quality through smart farming. For more information about the On Farm Connectivity Program, visit: www.infrastructure.gov.au/ofcpNBN upgradeLast week NBN CO announced it will upgrade the remaining Fibre to the Node network across Australia, benefitting about 622,000 homes and businesses with more than half located in regional Australia.More than 95 per cent of these homes and businesses will have the option to upgrade to nbn full fibre via nbn Fibre to the Premises, which is faster and more reliable than Fibre to the Node. Faster broadband speeds will enable more people and devices to be online at the same time with minimal disruptions, meaning smoother streaming, faster downloads and uploads, and stronger connections.While details about specific locations are yet to be announced, I’m hoping towns across the Parkes electorate will benefit from this upgrade. To register for updates to find out if your home or business is eligible, visit: www.nbnco.com.au/checkGrants to support transition to new aged care actA new grant opportunity is available for providers of Home Care Packages (HCP) and the Commonwealth Home Support Programme (CHSP) to assist with the required changes they’ll need to make to meet the obligations under the Australian Government’s new Aged Care Act 2024.As part of the aged care reform, the Support at Home (SaH) program will replace the HCP program from 1 July 2025. HCP providers will require changes to their IT systems to meet new obligations for claiming payments for services delivered and reporting under the SaH program and the Aged Care Act 2024. CHSP providers will also require changes to their IT systems to meet the new reporting obligations.I encourage providers in the Parkes electorate to apply for one-off funding of $10,000 to upgrade their IT systems. Grants informationWin for Dubbo, disappointment for other communitiesI’m pleased that Dubbo Regional Council has been awarded $14.6 million under Round 2 of the Federal Government’s Growing Regions Program to upgrade the runway at Dubbo Regional Airport.This project will upgrade and strengthen the main runway, associated taxiways and aprons to support the operation of large air tankers and emergency services, ensuring the airport remains a reliable gateway to the region.However, I'm disappointed this was the only project in the Parkes electorate to receive funding under Round 2 of the Growing Regions Program when we have so many worthwhile projects that desperately need funding.It’s also interesting that Round 2 has been announced before Round 1 recipients are yet to even sign a contract, let alone receive a cent of the funding that was promised to them back in May last year.Those five projects – the Brewarrina PCYC Youth Hub and Indoor Sports Centre, Moree Artesian Aquatic Centre Redevelopment, Wiradjuri Cultural Tourism Centre and Keeping Place, Gunida Gunyah Community Cultural Hub, and Narrabri Shire Tourism and Cultural Precinct – cannot start until a contract has been signed.It’s extremely frustrating for those communities which have been waiting for eight months to see these important projects get underway. I’m worried the continued delays are just a way for the Labor Government to avoid parting with this money altogether before the federal election, further starving our regions of funding.

People invited to make submissions for the inquiryThe Committee on Environment and Planning is inquiring into the major electricity outages in the Far West region of New South Wales in October 2024. The Committee adopted the inquiry on Thursday, November 21, 2024, following a referral from the Minister for Energy, The Honourable Penny Sharpe MLC.On October 17, 2024, a storm severely impacted power supplies to Broken Hill and towns in the Far West of NSW, including Menindee, Silverton, Tibooburra, White Cliffs, and Wilcannia. In the period from October 17 to 31, 2024, impacted communities in the Far West experienced major electricity outages.This had multifaceted and far-reaching impacts on people’s lives and circumstances.The Inquiry will consider the preparation and mitigation strategies in place by electricity providers in Far West NSW in the event of a major electricity outage, the overall effectiveness of these strategies, the role of relevant NSW Government agencies and local government in preparing for and responding to major electricity outages, the implementation of recommendations from previous electricity outages in Far West NSW. It will investigate recommendations on future alternative power supply emergency response and effective redundancy, and the effectiveness of providers' communications strategies regarding electricity outages and responses.Interested and affected parties are invited to make submissions to the inquiry by Monday, February 10, 2025. To make a submission, visit https://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/committees/inquiries/Pages/inquiry-details