After more than 100 hours of round-the-clock activity, Inland Rail has completed a gruelling schedule of work which puts the Stockinbingal to Parkes section well on the path towards completion.

Starting last Saturday, 13 September, at 6am and finishing on Thursday 19 Septem­ber, at 10am, teams from Inland Rail and principal contractor Martinus Rail complet­ed work at four key sites during a 100-hour shut down of the Australian Rail Track Cor­poration (ARTC) line from Forbes to Goo­bang Junction.

To get this work finished on time, up to 240 rail workers across the four sites completed shifts which began ahead of the shutdown and finished after the line reopened.

James Kennedy, Delivery Director, Albury to Parkes (A2P), Inland Rail, said “The work we have carried out this week can only be done safely when the line is closed.

“Safety is our highest priority and so we make the most of the two available track possessions which take place each year.

“To do that we undertake rigorous and methodical planning, working hand in hand with Martinus Rail, to ensure we complete our work and return the line to the operators on time.

“I would like to thank the communi­ty for their patience and understanding while we carried out these construction tasks.”Treaven Martinus, Martinus Rail CEO and founder, said “The successful comple­tion of this super possession is a testament to the dedication and planning of both the Inland Rail and Martinus teams.

“Across multiple locations, from the instal­lation of turnouts to extensive earthworks and track formation reconstruction, every task was executed with safety and efficien­cy as our top priorities.

“We are grateful for the community’s sup­port and patience.

“Martinus remains steadfast in our mis­sion to deliver this landmark project safely, effectively, and with a focus on creating last­ing value for Australia’s future.”

Regional Development Australia Central West (RDA Central West) is excited to announce the launch of the annual Central West is Best Photography Competition for 2024. With this year’s theme, “Location, Location, Location”, the competition invites photogra­phers of all ages to capture the unique landscapes, landmarks, and hidden gems that showcase the magic of our region as a loca­tion to host an event or film a movie.

The competition is open to all residents of the Central West, with categories for all ages to enter: Open (over 18 years), Junior (un­der 18 years) and Mini (under 10 years).

“We’re thrilled to bring the community together again for this year’s competition,” said Josh Gordon, Director of Regional De­velopment for RDA Central West. “The theme, ‘Location, Loca­tion, Location,’ perfectly highlights the pride we have in the natural beauty and vibrant culture of our region. Whether you’re a sea­soned photographer or just starting out, this competition offers a wonderful opportunity to showcase the Central West’s diverse and stunning locations.”

Participants are encouraged to submit images that reflect the essence of what makes the Central West a remarkable place to live, work, and explore. From sweeping landscapes to the heart of our local towns, each photo will celebrate the unique character of the area.

Submissions for the 2024 competition are open until 5pm, Oc­tober 20, 2024, and winners in each category will receive exciting prizes, including opportunities for their work to be featured in RDA Central West publications and online channels.

Entrants can submit photographs via https://rdacentralwest.org.au/ Winners to be announced early November.

Pastures & Grazing NSW has this week launched their new website – www.pgnsw.com.au. Combined with this launch is the reintroduction of their newsletter.

The new website has retained the exten­sive content from the old website, but in­cludes two additional features for members ‘Ask an Expert’ and an area for members to share their ’Success Stories’.

If you’ve got a burning question about grassland farming, use the ‘Ask an Expert’ contact form, and you’ll hear back from one of our Board members or a suitable indus­try professional within our network with the answer.

Sharing your ’Success Stories’ is similar to a member’s blog, where you can let other members know of any options or practices you used with success, or what you found is best to avoid.

The newsletter has been rebranded to our new identity but still carries the usual arti­cles on research, farmer success stories, in­formation from pasture updates and accom­panying photos. You may even have a story you’d like to submit to our editor, Jonathan McLachlan at editor@pgnsw.com.au.

To receive an email copy of the newslet­ter, simply visit the new website www.pgn­sw.com.au to subscribe, or email our Exec­utive Officer at admin@pgnsw.com.au who will be pleased to add you to the mailing list.