Hotels across the Central West are receiving support from the Federal Government to cut their energy costs so they can invest in their business and employ more Australians.

Federal Member for Riverina Michael McCormack said Riverina and Central West hotels, motels and serviced apartment complexes with up to 99 rooms were eligible for funding including The Plainsman in Forbes to the tune of $25,000 in air-conditioning up-dates.

“I am pleased to announce that 15 businesses have shared in more than $340,000 as part of the $10.2 million Hotel Energy Up-lift Program,” Mr McCormack said.

“When I called each recipient to let them know of their successful application, they all expressed what a difference this funding would make to their business. “From the Ariah Park Hotel installing LED lighting, new refrigeration, reverse cycling air-conditioning and a gas hot water system, to the Wagga Wagga Quest Apartments putting in split system air-conditioning, to the Federation Hotel in Parkes installing double-glazed windows and reverse-cycle air-conditioners – this program is making a real difference.”

More than 85 per cent of the grants were awarded to hotels in regional or remote communities. The Hotel Energy Uplift Pro-gram was announced in the 2020-21 Budget and is part of the Government’s $1.9 billion investment in new energy technologies which will create new jobs now and into the future, reduce emissions and ensure all Australians have access to reliable and affordable energy.

Further information about the program can be found at https://business.gov.au/grants-and-programs/hotel-energy-uplift-program

With school returning this week for Term 3, “strict COVID safe restrictions” will be in place according to the NSW Education Minister Sarah Mitchell. These will include wearing masks for pick-ups and drop-offs, hygiene measures and social distancing.

Mitchell earlier this week said that based on the latest health advice from NSW Health, that masks will be “recommended” for staff and students from Year 7 up for the first week of Term 3.

Before the start of term, Forbes Public School posted online that common sense approaches and standard health orders apply such as hygiene, social-distancing and mask-wearing requirements for school runs.

“Staff will be welcoming students with seniors on standby to assist junior students through the school to their classrooms if needed,” the statement read.

Ms Mitchell reaffirmed what NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian stated over a week ago when she said regional towns like Forbes would also be under COVID restrictions but that face-to-face learning could continue in regional communities provided public health orders are followed.

Parents are encouraged to speak to their school should they have any questions. As a result the restrictions will be in place until at least 11.59pm tonight Friday, July 16.

AVARICE: Luke Ford (Underbelly/ McLeods Daughters) reunites with former McLeods Daughters cast mate Gillian Alexy in the Adam Enslow, Dane Millerd, Andrew Slattery and John V Soto written action thriller feature Avarice (Epic Pictrures/ Screenwest) being shot in Western Australia and released in 2022.

As the Screenwest and Lotterywest supported feature film thriller Avarice wraps its final week of principle photography in Perth, Western Australia this weekend, it will mark a big step forward for local screenwriters and producers Adam Enslow and Dane Millerd, our very own Head Editor of the Forbes and Parkes Phoenix Newspaper team.

The multi-million dollar action thriller, helmed by John V. Soto (The Gateway, Needle) and produced by Tim Maddocks (Terminus), stars Gillian Alexy (The Americans, NCIS: New Orleans, Damages) and Luke Ford (Animal Kingdom, Red Dog, The Mummy III). The story follows a woman (Alexy) as she attempts to rescue her cryptocurrency trading husband (Ford) after he is abducted during a vicious home invasion.

For Millerd, it is his second feature film having written, produced and directed Bounty Film’s 2015 found footage horror indie monster film There’s Something In The Pilliga (Amazon Prime) while Enslow is hard at work with film, music and his sound recording studio in Forbes where he also resides.

“It’s humbling and exciting seeing it all come to fruition,” Millerd said. “John and all the team have been tremendous and we can’t wait to see it all done,” he said.

Are there any plans for more films? “We are already onto the next one!”

NURTURING NATURE: Forbes Shire Council Mayor Phyllis Miller OAM was full of praise for the new birdlife nesting hollows created for Gum Swamp Wetlands. The hollows will help protect the burgeoning number of species coming to the area as well as the many that call the area home.

Forbes Shire Council recently engaged OS Trees Pty Ltd to create twenty nesting hollows in existing dead trees at Gum Swamp to create new homes for the increasing birdlife in the area.

“This is such an important project for our region and the sustainability of the birdlife in our natural wetlands area,” said Forbes Shire Mayor, Phyllis Miller OAM.

“Forbes is becoming well-known for its incredible birdlife and we want to build on the work currently being conducted in partnership with the Forbes Art Society at Gum Swamp with the installation of new bird hides around the waterway.”

The hollows project coincides with the refurbishment of the existing Bird Hide at Gum Swamp and the adding of several two-storey bird hides surrounding the wetlands. The bird hides are set to open to the public in later 2021.

“The man-made bird hollows utilise existing dead trees in the area which are stabilised and hides cut into the tree,” Mayor Miller said.

“A number of limbs have been removed to ensure the trees have suitable balance with the view to assisting the trees to remain standing for a very long time. Any limbs that were cut have been left onsite, for ground habitat.”

The project was funded by the NSW Environmental Trust and the execution was coordinated by the Central West Councils Environment and Waterways Alliance.

“Tree hollows are so important to our native wildlife,” said Mayor Miller.

“One reason in particular is the length of time that it takes for a tree hollow to form. In Australia, there are no animals that are able to create tree hollows (e.g. woodpecker), which is why humans sometimes have to step in to give nature a helping hand.”

Gum Swamp Wetlands is located five kilometres southwest from Forbes along the Newell Highway.

SAFER ROADS AND COMMUNITIES: Forbes Shire Council along with the NSW Government have stepped up to fix more paths and roads in the Forbes Shire starting with Browne Street these school holidays.

Forbes Shire Council is committed to the improvement of infrastructure within the community, with a focus on the safety and wellbeing of all members of the community, evidenced through the latest investment in fixing Browne Street.

“The safety of our youngest most vulnerable community members is most important – we need to make sure that children are able to get to school safely,” the FSC statement read.

“There are safety concerns for Council and the community currently, and this project will help to address these”.

Council has applied for and been successful in obtaining a grant from the Federal Government, School Zone Infrastructure Sub-Program (administered by Transport for NSW), which is part of the $540million federal stimulus (NSW) Road Safety.

Stage 1: Upgrade and widen the existing footpath on the school side of Browne Street, this stage is expected to take 2-3 weeks and will be commencing during the week of Monday 5 July. Stage 2 will see the installation of pedestrian fencing on the school side of Browne Street, while Stage 3 will take place in September.

For more information on this project, please contact Council’s Project Manager, Michael Todd on 02 6820 2300.

STEPPING UP FOR LOCALS: Bernardi’s continue to service the Central West through industrious and innovative offerings for COVID impacted communities be it through their products, sponsorship, support or engagement.

With more lockdowns in NSW, local business Bernardi’s Marketplace Forbes have launched “Mega Meat July” and are providing amazing value in their meat department, in a time where industry prices have increased.

Bernardi’s will deliver a whole month of activity and launch their new ‘value pack’ range that promises to deliver value to its customers all year round with a focus on providing families with affordable meal solutions.

Further to this, Bernardi’s will be offering a 10% discount off their entire meat range every Wednesday when customers spend over $30 on meat. They will be holding BBQ tastings every Thursday and Friday from 3pm-6pm and every Saturday from 10am-2pm to showcase their new meat range and to demonstrate the quality of the meat on offer. It will also give more people food prep ideas while at home.

“We really want to provide our customers with value for their families & obviously meat is a staple for most household dinners,” CEO Joseph Bernardi said.

Bernardi’s launched the activity on 1 July and invite customers to come in-store to try the new value pack range. Visit bernardis.net.au/mega-meat-july for more information.