Forbes Shire Council Deputy Mayor Chris Roylance, Inland Rail Stockinbingal to Parkes Project Director Malcolm Clark and Martinus Rail Project Director Albury to Parkes Andy Williams at the new active level crossing at Daroobalgie. The upgraded crossing has boom gates and flashing lights, enhancing safety and providing smoother traffic flows as vehicles will no longer need to come to a stop at the crossing unless the lights and booms are activated.

Inland Rail has delivered a safer experi­ence for motorists and trains using the Da­roobalgie Road level crossing, completing important works to install boom gates and flashing lights at the crossing, with the im­provements being part of work to construct a passing loop on the Stockinbingal to Parkes (S2P) section of Inland Rail.

The previous level crossing was passive, meaning it only had a Stop sign and a Look For Trains notice, but the much needed up­graded crossing is now active, with highintensity LED flashing lights, bells and retroreflective boom gates, and also has new signage and line marking for both the rail and roadway.

The change to an active level crossing will result in an increase in safety for both motorists and pedestrians by providing clear and reliable signals when trains are approaching. Thanks to the active crossing road users can expect smoother traffic flows as vehicles will no longer need to come to a stop at the crossing unless the lights and booms are activated.

Representatives of Inland Rail joined staff from contractor Martinus Rail and Forbes Shire Council Deputy Mayor Chris Roylance at the commissioning of the upgraded level crossing.

The change to an active level crossing was a key safety requirement to augment the new Daroobalgie Crossing Loop direct­ly to the west of Daroobalgie Rd. Malcolm Clark, Inland Rail Project Director, Stock­inbingal to Parkes, said “The Daroobalgie Road level crossing now provides a safer way for road users to cross the rail line.

“Safety is at the heart of everything we do and so the level crossing upgrade became a key part of works to construct the Daroo­balgie Passing Loop.

“We have been working closely with Forbes Shire Council and the Forbes com­munity, and I would like to express my thanks for the support we have received.

The Central West Greens this week an­nounced Councillor Trish Frail the candidate for Parkes and Ben Parker as the candidate for Calare at the upcoming Federal Election.

Cr Trish Frail, the Greens candidate for Parkes, is a Ngemba woman who calls Brewarrina home. Trish is a Councillor on Brewarrina Shire Council and is currently working with the Council and the community to put the Biami Ngunnhu Fish Traps on the world heritage list as the oldest man-made structure in the world. Previously, Trish led a successful campaign against the establish­ment of a nuclear waste facility in the shire.

“Parkes is in need of a change. We don’t need a local member from a party pushing the nuclear fantasy as a solution for our en­ergy needs. We need someone who cares for the whole electorate, for our environ­ment, and for our future generations,” she says.

In Calare, the Greens candidate is Ben Parker, a university student studying Infor­mation Technology at Charles Sturt Univer­sity. Ben’s primary goal is to inspire young people to get involved in politics and show them how powerful their voice really is.

‘With Gen Z and Millennials set to out­number Baby Boomers in this upcoming federal election, I believe my perspective as a young candidate makes me uniquely po­sitioned to connect with and represent the younger voters in our electorate. By advo­cating for urgent action on key issues like climate change and the cost of living crisis, I am committed to fighting for policies that put people and the planet first,’ he says.

In the Senate, electors in Calare and Parkes can re-elect current Greens Sena­tor and Deputy Greens Leader, Dr Mehreen Faruqi, for a second term. Mehreen is a civil and environmental engineer and life-long activist for social and environmental justice.

In 2013, she joined NSW State Parliament, becoming the first Muslim woman to sit in an Australian parliament. In 2018, Mehreen became Australia’s first Muslim Senator.

Mehreen is a hard-working and passionate advocate against racism and misogyny.

Parkes Shire Council, Stevens Group, and the NSW Government’s Regional Growth Development Corporation (RGDC) last week celebrated the commencement of construction with a sod-turning ceremo­ny on site of the bp Highway Service Cen­tre in Parkes. The Stevens Group develop­ment site is located in the Parkes Special Activation Precinct northern gateway, that will connect the precinct with the Parkes town centre and Newell Highway.

The first stage of the project commenced construction in late 2024, with bulk earth­works, servicing and road infrastructure underway. Once complete the Highway Service Centre will be anchored by bp with a convenience store, truck drivers lounge with showers, laundry, and diner, and 26 Heavy Vehicle parking spaces to provide a much needed rest stop on this significant transport route.

Mayor Neil Westcott said this project is more than just a service centre – it serves as the gateway to the heart of national lo­gistics and the Parkes Special Activation Precinct.

Parkes Shire Council is proud to partner with esteemed developers like the Stevens Group and bp, whose involvement under­scores the quality and national importance of this site. For more information, you can visit: https://bit.ly/4hFf1mF