In a real win for the community, Forbes Shire Council has received $2,445,132 in direct funding under the Local Roads and Community Infrastructure Program, it was announced in the Coalition’s Federal Budget last week.

The budget boost is a shot in the arm for Forbes and is one of more than 100 projects across the Tablelands, Riverina and Central West approved for funding.

National’s Leader, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development and Riverina MP Michael McCormack highlighted the importance of local infrastructure projects in relation to the nation’s recovery from COVID.

“This program is delivering vital infrastructure through local councils (like Forbes) – they know best where this money needs to be spent in their Local Government Area,” Mr McCormack said.

“A broader range of projects will now be eligible for funding under the LRCI, enabling local governments to pursue larger, more complex developments to deliver even greater benefits for their local communities.”

The new program will also support jobs (850 so far across the regions), construction businesses and economic growth, it will also improve road safety and bolster the resilience of our local road networks, helping Australians get home sooner and safer.

“I will continue to work closely with local councils to ensure local projects get under way, supporting jobs and businesses as soon as possible,” Mr McCormack said.

“It really is a great boost for Forbes.”

Councils will be able to access funding for Phase 3 of this funding program from 31 January 2022, with the program extended until 30 June 2023.

Are you a local farmer, contract harvester or transport operator? Do you think you know load restraints? Load Restraint Info sessions will provide information about the fundamentals of load restraint, your legal requirements as well as tips to safely restrain hay bales, machinery and general freight. The village tour schedule is:

• Friday 21 May: Wirrinya Community Hall at 12pm
• Wednesday 26 May: Bedgerabong Showground at 8am

Registration is required for catering and COVID requirements at https://forms.office.com/r/fuhpfAS0EW

By attending you may be eligible for a Safework $500 Biz Safety Rebate. Attendees will also receive a show bag full of useful information and resources.

The Load Restraint Village Tour is part of the Councils’ current Load Restraint Education Project, which is funded by the Australian Government’s Heavy Vehicle Safety Initiative administered by the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator. Project partners include NSW Police, NSW Farmers, Transport for NSW and NSW Rural Fire Service.

For further information about the information sessions please call Mel Suitor on 02 6861 2364.

Central Tablelands Water draft 2021/2022 plans are now on exhibition for public comment.

General Manager Gavin Rhodes said the draft financial plans provide for the “ongoing financial sustainability” of Central Tablelands Water and the provision of quality drinking water over the next decade.

“These plans also provide for vital major capital renewals and infrastructure upgrades,” he said.

“CTW does not receive recurrent government grants to fund its operations,” Gavin said.

“CTW’s revenue is derived from its fees and charges, and as a result, consumption charges for financial year 21/22 are proposed to increase by 6.7% from $3.28 per kilolitre (kL) to $3.50kL,” said Mr Rhodes.

“Overall, these proposed increases, will see the average residential water bill of us-ing 182kL paying an additional $44 per year or 85 cents per week.”

The draft documents are currently on public exhibition at Council’s Blayney Office at 30 Church Street Blayney and on Council’s website at www.ctw.nsw.gov.au/publications/documents-on-public-display/

Members of the public are invited to review the draft documents and make written submissions by 4pm, 4 June 2021 to: General Manager, Central Tablelands Water, PO Box 61 Blayney NSW 2799. You can also email water@ctw.nsw.gov.au.

KEY DATES AND INFORMATION

• Next CWA meeting – Thursday 10th June at 11am (note change of date).

• “Stepping on” – exciting and friendly community-based falls prevention program for seniors. Seven week course, two hours per week. Ph: 68504009

• Stephanie Stanhope returned as President, Judy Houghton and Anne Adams vice presidents.

• Next year’s 100 year State Conference will be held at Randwick Racecourse -stand seating for 1100 delegates and observers with a garden party at Government House. Country Women of the Year competition will also be held for the Centenary year.

• Morning tea was supplied by CWA members to Wollongong Bike riders who were doing a ride in the Central West to raise funds to help in the education of women in the Philippines.

• Members had a very busy weekend supplying the Mural Painters with Morning and afternoon tea and lunch on Saturday at Eugowra.

• Members will do Meals on Wheels from 2nd June to 9th June.

• On 17th July members will perform a skit at the Group cultural Day at CWA rooms in Orange.

Last Friday KHub opened in Forbes in the old Target Country building in Rankin Street in what is a real bonus for the community.

The new Forbes store is one of 70 new KHubs being opened by the retail giant across the country with Cowra also getting their own specialty shop in September. In the interim though, neighbouring towns will have to travel to Forbes.

“Strategically we are setting ourselves up as a retail hub here in Forbes,” said Mayor Phyllis Miller.

“It is a real win for our town and great to see the space filled after Target,” she said.

Meanwhile Domino’s Pizza Forbes also got in on the launch, donating pizzas to new staff who had been working tirelessly since the grand opening on May 7.

“We wanted to support KHub and show them how much we appreciate them coming to our town and supporting business here,” said Forbes Assistant Manager Tre Griffin.

It was the sentiment echoed by many as numbers piled into the new store all week since the opening in a great boost for local retail.

The Morrison Government is investing more than $65 million from January 1, 2022 to boost bulk billing rebates and provide more affordable healthcare for patients in regional, rural and remote areas.

A new, progressive incentive schedule will be applied that increases the value of the Rural Bulk Billing Incentive (RBBI) based on remoteness. This will enhance the financial viability of practices in rural and remote areas as well as reducing the gap paid by patients.

The more remote the area, the greater the incentive payment they will receive per eligible consultation to recognise the greater challenges and cost pressures.

Federal Regional Health Minister, Mark Coulton said the Coalition Government is delivering the progressive rural bulk bill-ing incentives in recognition of the ongoing need to provide the right incentives for the health workforce in rural, regional and remote areas.

“Australians in rural and remote areas have poorer access to and use of health services, compared to people living in metropolitan areas,” Minister Coulton said.

“The new Rural Bulk Billing Incentive will support those GPs providing services to people in greatest need and who have the lowest propensity to pay for healthcare.”

 

Better known for his exploits on ABC’s Gardening Australia or as Costa the Garden Gnome on Get Grubby TV, Costa Georgiadis, will be coming to the Forbes River-side Community Garden for their open day on Saturday, 29 May. It will cap what has been a huge month for Central West Land-care and Forbes Riverside Gardens.

Aside from being a television personality and presenter, Georgiadis is a landscape architect, an environmentalist and producer. He has helped created Costa’s Garden Odyssey for SBS and also picked up a Sil-ver Logie for his Gardening Australia work.

Costa is also involved with regenerative agriculture and holistic practices that deal with the issues arising from a rapidly urbanising world. His passion for plants and biodiversity is all-encompassing.

The event has been organised by Central West Lachlan Landcare, who have invited the popular green thumb to participate in the Schools’ Eco Day on Friday, 28 May and speak at the Landcare dinner that night.

While it isn’t a Costa look-a-like competition, pre-school aged children are encouraged to come to the Open Day dressed as garden gnomes and to take part in the Gnome Parade at 11am. Each gnome will be presented with a token gift as a memento of the day.

To help raise funds for Landcare’s Schools’ Eco Day, the Community Garden is raffling two tickets, total value $200, to the Landcare Dinner on Friday, 28 May.

Raffle tickets are only $5 each (prize – two dinner tickets) are available at the Community Garden between 9am and 11am each day, except Sundays, and at various retail outlets around town. Forbes Riverside Community Garden is at 59-71 Reymond Street, Forbes.

Please pre-register if you are coming to the Garden on Open Day. Tickets are a COVID requirement. Go online to www.stickytickets.com.au/YQZMK to book.

The NSW Nationals are pleased to announce Federal Leader, Deputy Prime Minister and Member for Riverina Michael McCormack has been pre-selected to be The Nationals’ candidate for the Electoral Division of Riverina at the next federal election. Mr McCormack was chosen to be The Nationals’ representative at the party’s pre-selection meeting on Sunday, 9 May 2021 at Cowra.

The Nationals’ Riverina Electorate Council Chair Barney Hyams said “Mr McCormack has been a fierce advocate for rural and regional Australia.”

“Michael is doing a wonderful job as the Member for Riverina and Deputy Prime Minister and I am proud to have him endorsed as our candidate,” Mr Hyams said.

“He has been a strong voice for the Riverina electorate and, more broadly, rural and regional communities across Australia.”

Mr McCormack said it was a great honour to be The Nationals’ Federal Member for Riverina and remained committed to continue working hard for his constituents and their local communities.

“I am deeply humbled to have served this wonderful electorate for more than 10 years. I have lived my whole life, worked in and raised a family in the Riverina electorate and I am proud to have done so,” Mr McCormack said.

“I am privileged and delighted to be given the opportunity to continue to serve the great people of the Riverina and Central West as The Nationals’ candidate for Riv-erina at the next Federal election,” he said.

“We give all our members the opportunity to participate and have their say on all of our processes – it is this grassroots democracy which is a significant strength of The Nationals. This great party has been standing up for regional and rural Australians and being their voices in Parliament for more than 100 years and I am looking forward to continuing this important duty into the future.”