Parkes Phoenix Editor

Maggi Barnard has been with the Forbes Phoenix since 2021 and loves writing about her community.

Snippets…

August 20, 2021 by Maggi Barnard

STILL OPERATING: The Phoenix Newspaper Group including the Forbes and Parkes Phoenix Newspapers will be continuing to operate during lockdown. Changes to your business? Let us know via email, Facebook or Instagram.

FORBES PHOENIX STILL PUBLISHING DURING LOCKDOWN: During the lock-down over the next seven days, our publishing will not be impacted. We will still be delivering community news in print and online via our website, Facebook and Instagram pages, as well as our weekly email subscription. News and media services are considered an essential service and permitted to keep trading under the Public Health Order.

“Whilst our printed newspapers will only be able to be delivered to businesses that remain open, such as supermarkets, pharmacies and newsagencies, our posted copies to rural roadside mailboxes will be unaffected, and will continue as normal,” said owner Joshua Matic (pictured above).

To subscribe to our weekly email news distribution, visit www.forbesphoenix.com.au and fill out the online form.

We are your only fully locally owned and operated and greatly appreciate your support during this time.

Most importantly, please remember to support our local businesses that remain open at this time, such as hospitality venues still offering takeaway, and local retailers still offering delivery and “click and collect”. #lovelocallovelocalsupportlocal

SCIENCE WEEK: It may be home-school this week but Science Week is upon us. Given the state of the world, our next scientist or developer of a life-saving vaccine might be among us. Check out the link – https://www.scienceweek.net.au/schools/

RED NOSE DAY LAST WEEK: Last Friday August 13 was Red Nose Day and while 2021 may not have been like other years it was a time for people to reflect on those who have lost a baby or child. The organisation was founded in Victoria in 1977 with the first national Red Nose Day held in 1988. In 2020, Red Nose was awarded $1.5m from the Federal Government to deliver a national stillbirth awareness campaign to reduce the high rates of stillbirth in Australia.

STAGE UNDER CONSTRUCTION AT LIONS PARK: One of the centrepieces of Forbes, Lions Park, continues its redevelopment with a new stage for entertainment being constructed. In what is sure to get extensive use, the stage will support a great number of local events including live music like this years community awards where numerous young local musicians graced a make-shift stage. Hopefully we can get plenty of use out of it this summer after the madness stops! Great work to Forbes Shire! It is looking amazing!

BEAUTIFICATION STAGE ONE: Forbes Lions Park beautification continues with a new stage under construc-tion in time for summer. It is one of many projects in the shire undertaken by FSC courtesy of a number of successful grants and government initiatives.

Forbes Police Join NSW Operation

August 20, 2021 by Maggi Barnard

Forbes Police are the latest to join the state-wide Operation Stay-At-Home as COVID continues to spread across the Central West.

Penalties have significantly increased after police were granted extra powers by the Berejiklian government as the pandemic infiltrates the region. Breaching self-isolation rules, lying on a permit and lying to a contact tracer now carry $5,000 fines.

Superintendent Shane Jessep has confirmed local police will investigate claims of breaches of the public health orders and follow up.

The crackdown comes despite record amounts of calls to Crimestoppers over the past month especially as more members of the public continue to dob in thy neighbour for breaches.

Penalties are now as follows:
• $5,000 on the spot fine for breaching self-isolation rules;
• $5,000 on the spot fine for lying on a permit (already a criminal offence);
• $5,000 on the spot fine for lying to a contact tracer (already a criminal offence);
• $3,000 on the spot fine for breaching the two-person outdoor exercise/recreation rule; and
• $3,000 on the spot fine for breaching rules around entry into regional NSW for authorised work, inspecting real estate and travelling to your second home.

Jessep said that normal crime prevention and law enforcement will still be a priority and “if you have an emergency, please dial 000”. To report COVID breaches, please contact Crimestoppers 1800 333 000.

NSW Police last Saturday announced that Operation Stay-At-Home. Significantly, 1400 officers attached to Traffic and Highway Patrol Command will be dedicated to both static and mobile COVID-19 compliance operations on the state’s roads.

A further 500 Australian Defence Force troops, in addition to 300 deployed, will assist with compliance checks and patrols. The Central West can expect to start seeing a similar roll-out over the next few weeks.

Learn From Home School Support

August 20, 2021 by Maggi Barnard

HOME-SCHOOLING 2021: Violet and Lexi Millerd show up for their first day of home-school after the state-wide lockdown was imposed across NSW last Saturday August 14 by Premier Gladys Berejiklian. Like all kids across the state, they will access LearnFromHome resources to continue their learning.

With NSW going into lockdown this week, children from across Forbes Shire woke up last Monday morning to the familiar site of parents (and teachers) for a week of homeschool.

For Forbes Public School students Lexi and Violet Millerd, home-school is nothing new having had their first taste back in early 2020 when the COVID pandemic first broke.

“We have done home school before and I really enjoyed it,” said Lexi. “It was great and it never bothered me at all,” she said.

For Violet, last year was her first year at school and the disruption to Kindergarten for some while initially challenging eventually became a footnote in what was still a good year.

“I did miss my friends last year when we first heard about ‘Rona,” said Violet. “But dad was a great teacher so it was fun!” Lexi agreed.

LearnFromHome started across regional NSW this week for schools. Schools are still open for families who need it. Your school should contact you regarding LearnFromHome. Online resources are also available on https://fal.cn/3gGKw.

Get tested immediately if you or your child have any symptoms, and do not attend school. NSW Health: www.health.nsw.gov.au/

Visit https://fal.cn/3gGKv for the latest COVID-19 advice.

COVID Cases Climb In Central West

August 20, 2021 by Maggi Barnard

For some, the state-wide seven-day lock-down comes “too little, too late,” as numbers from the Delta variant of COVID-19 continue to spread across NSW to well over 400 each day with numbers now above 100 cases in the Western NSW Health District including Mudgee.

With only 20% of the country fully vaccinated (5.25 million) and just 15 million doses administered at the time of publication, NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian called a snap lockdown for regional NSW last Saturday August 14 at 5pm for a week in line with other LGA’s in NSW. By that time, Dubbo and Walgett had known cases and other centres such as Parkes and Bourke recorded sewerage fragments.

“To protect the people of NSW from the evolving COVID-19 outbreak, new restrictions have been introduced for all of Regional NSW, this means the whole of NSW is now under stay-at-home restrictions,” Berejiklian said last weekend.

Restrictions that may extend beyond a week with contract tracers scrambling to catch up.

“You must stay at home unless you have a reasonable excuse to leave. You cannot have visitors to your home from outside your household, including family and friends,” the NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian said.

Sentiments echoed by Dr. Kerry Chant and Forbes Mayor Phyllis Miller OAM in an online Forbes Shire Council video.

People can have one visitor at one time to fulfill carers’ responsibilities or provide care or assistance, or for compassionate reasons, including where two people are in a relationship but reside separately.

There are a number of new restrictions in place the public should familiarise themselves with as infringements and fines also peaked at 529 (on the first night of lock-down) on August 14.

Please visit nsw.gov.au/covid-19/rules for more information and regular updates.

Forbes Shire Under Strict Stay-At-Home Orders

August 20, 2021 by Maggi Barnard

The Forbes Shire is under strict Stay-at-home orders along with the rest of regional NSW until 12.01am Sunday August 22nd 2021. Mayor of Forbes Shire, Phyllis Miller, would like everyone to remain calm and follow NSW Health guidelines.

“I want to encourage all of our community to go and get tested for COVID-19,” said Mayor Phyllis Miller OAM.

“Parkes has detected COVID in their sewage system and it is yet to be determined if there is a case in Parkes. The two towns are so closely linked we need to treat this as if we are one town,” Phyllis said.

COVID testing is set up at the Forbes Showground from 8am – 2pm daily with people urged to go and get tested if they are showing even the mildest of symptoms.

“We need to keep our community safe and get this under control,” she said.

“We need everyone to stay at home for the rest of this week. It is a reasonable excuse to leave your home for work – but only if it cannot be done from home. By all means continue to exercise but keep to the guidelines of exercising with your masks on and limiting it to two people together at one time.”

Forbes Shire Council administration office will be closed to the public during this time. The office is closed to the public but will continue to provide essential services within. Daroobalgie Waste Facility is closed to the public until further notice. Those residents who reside outside the urban collection area are asked to hold their waste until the landfill reopens to the public. Kerbside collection will also continue as scheduled.

“Council understands the frustration this closure may cause, however, it is in the interest of the community’s well-being and safety.”

Mayoral Notes

August 20, 2021 by Maggi Barnard

I’m so excited to announce Forbes was named number 1 town in NSW with the highest capital growth (80.9%) in rural regional areas! This is wonderful news for our town and we know the future plans we have for Forbes will be well received by those looking to invest in the area. There are so many exciting projects happening in the area, the future for Forbes is very bright.

There has been a lot of talk regarding roads over the last week and I was happy to see the NSW Government is finally looking into the work needed to be done to the Newell Highway to flood proof this major thoroughfare for our state. We cannot have a road impassible for over six weeks that carries over 42 specialised heavy vehicles every minute! This highway is so important for the economy of our town we cannot wait a minute longer.

I know we have a few of our local roads closed at the moment due to flood waters, please do not drive through them. The signs are there for a reason to protect yourself and our roads. Your car warranty and insurance will not cover you if you were to be stuck in flood water. We have listed daily on our website the roads that are closed due to flood waters. Check them out before you set off from home to allow for extra travel time should you need it.

Till next week. God Bless.

Your Mayor,
Phyllis Miller

Native Bush Garden For FWDCIC

August 13, 2021 by Maggi Barnard

The Forbes Wiradjuri Dreaming Centre Indigenous Corporation will benefit from a $5,000 grant through the Local Land Services Resilient Communities Small Grants program, NSW Upper House MP, Sam Farraway announced last week while in Forbes.

Mr Farraway said the grant would be used for a native bush garden in Forbes in the state’s central west. “This project will integrate cultural knowledge and awareness with capacity building within the local community in line with the Caring for Country priority,” he said.

“The Forbes Wiradjuri Dreaming Centre Indigenous Corporation is already an integral part of the local fabric, but it will expand that by continuing to use native plants and share awareness about native plant species within the area. This will include passing on information about local native plant communities,” Mr Farraway said.

“The corporation will use the $5,000 grant to landscape the native bush food garden, install an irrigation system and interpretive signs throughout the garden to provide information on the plants and their importance in Aboriginal culture, and revegetate the surrounding area with local species”.

There will also be an opportunity for the local Aboriginal community to upskill and improve their opportunities for future employment in the field of natural resource management, landscaping and horticulture, he added. “This is a fantastic organisation and I can’t wait to see the local indigenous and broader community reap its benefits.”

Central West Local Land Services is planning to run the Resilient Communities Small Grants program again this year.

Spooner Oval Receives Major Sporting Grant

August 13, 2021 by Maggi Barnard

NEW WOMEN’S FACILITIES: Forbes Shire Council GM Steve Loane with NSW National’s MP Sam Farraway, Forbes Mayor Phyllis Miller and Cr. Chris Roylance as well as members of the Forbes Magpies at the announcement last week.

Sport in the Forbes Shire has received a major boost last week after the NSW Government announced a $683,489 grant for Spooner Oval – home of rugby league in Forbes. The grant was awarded to Forbes Shire Council for the installation of brand new amenities, female change rooms and facilities for female referees.

The grant was part of Round One of the NSW Government’s Regional Sport Facility Fund which will see $50 million award-ed over two years for new and upgraded sports facilities in Regional NSW.

NSW Upper House MP, Sam Farraway congratulated Forbes Shire Council on receiving the grant which will improve sport infrastructure for the sport-loving Forbes community.

“Sport is part of the fabric of the Forbes community,” Mr Farraway said.

“The Spooner Oval project will provide Forbes residents with a modern, fit-for purpose sports facility.”

Forbes Mayor Phyllis Miller was chuffed with the announcement saying that this was one of the steps being taken along with improved lighting that would one day hopefully allow Forbes to “have corporate boxes and host NRL games”.

Minister for Sport Natalie Ward said the Regional Sport Facility Fund will help promote healthy lifestyles across regional NSW while stimulating local economies and boosting employment. “The NSW Government recognises investing in new and existing sports facilities plays a vital role in improving the health and wellbeing of NSW residents,” Mrs Ward said.

“The Regional Sport Facility Fund will promote improved health and well-being and create a construction boom across regional NSW as part of the NSW Government’s multi-billion-dollar infrastructure pipeline.”

The Regional Sport Facility Fund provides grants to councils, local sporting bodies, NSW State Sporting Organisations, State Sporting Organisations for People with Disability, National Sporting Organisations and private enterprises.

For the full list of recipients and further information on the Regional Sport Facility Fund, visit: www.sport.nsw.gov.au/clubs/grants

CNSWJO: We Can’t Walk Away From Wyangala Expansion

August 13, 2021 by Maggi Barnard

EXPANSION NEEDED: Lachlan Shire Mayor John Medcalf and the CNSWJO believe Wyangala Dam is still a priority for the NSW Government. Photo courtesy of the Cowra Phoenix – Josh Matic.

The Chair of Central NSW Joint Organisation of Council (CNSWJO), Cr John Medcalf, OAM has hit back at claims that the NSW Government is stepping away from the Wyangala Dam expansion project in favour of non-infrastructure options to secure water supplies in the Lachlan River and broader Central West.

“How quickly people forget that little over 12 months ago many of our communities faced a day-zero crisis with town water supplies fast running out,” said Cr Medcalf, Chair of the Central NSW Joint Organisation and Mayor of the Lachlan Shire Council.

“Minister for Water, Melinda Pavey has been a strong supporter of the Wyangala Dam project and the region’s Mayors have welcomed her vision and solution focus,” he said.

“While supportive of non-infrastructure options, the reality is that we know from the many studies done to date that there is a limit to what these can achieve in securing town water supplies.”

Medcalf believes increased storage is needed so we can store water during times of good rain to prepare for drought.

“It’s disappointing given all the talk about working collaboratively with regional NSW on risks to town water supplies that the bureaucrats have not spoken to us about these non-infrastructure solutions being investigated. Maybe they need to be out in the region to experience our pain. We cannot afford to back away from the Wyangala Dam expansion. We owe it to our communities.”

Swampies Improving In Junior AFL

August 13, 2021 by Maggi Barnard

Orange/Forbes Swampies are back in the swing after COVID restrictions halted the season. Despite a first up loss to first placed Dubbo Demons 5.2.32 to 1.8.14, the side continues to improve and sits in third on the ladder. A reminder to all that Auskick is also on each Friday from 4pm at Gaggin Oval.

Parkes Phoenix Editor

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