Parents and supervisors of local learner drivers are encouraged to attend a free workshop which will be held at Red Bend Catholic College on Tuesday, 8th May.

The free two-hour workshop, Helping Learner Drivers Become Safer Drivers, will offer parents and supervisors hands-on advice on how to provide the most effective driving practice for learner drivers.

Forbes Shire Council’s Road Safety and Injury Prevention Officer, Melanie Suitor who is presenting the workshop says it is well worth attending.

“Parents and supervisors of learner drivers have a crucial role to play in making our roads safer. That is why Forbes Shire Council have teamed up with Roads and Maritime Services to hold these free two hour workshops to offer practical advice to parents and supervisors on how to help learner drivers become safer drivers.”

“The workshop covers the changes to the licensing system that came into effect last November, how to use the Learner Driver Logbook including the use of digital logbooks, licence conditions for learner and P-plate drivers, the benefits of on-road driving sessions, tips on supervising a learner driver and more.”

“Parents and supervisors who have attended this workshop in the past have found that it boosted their confidence, helped them better plan driving sessions and allowed them to share their experiences with other parents and supervisors,” said Melanie.

The Helping Learner Drivers Become Safer Drivers workshop will be held at Red Bend Catholic College on Tuesday, 8th May commencing at 6pm. Light refreshments will be available during the workshop.

Bookings are essential and can be made by calling Melanie on (02) 6861 2364. For further information please call Parkes, Forbes and Lachlan Shire Councils’ Road Safety and Injury Prevention Officer, Melanie Suitor on (02) 6861 2364.

For those of you that have always intended on learning more about the history of Forbes, there’s no chance like the present!

The Forbes and District Historical Museum located at 11 Cross Street will be having its Open Day on Saturday, 5th May from 11am to 3pm.

The museum has an extensive range of interesting and historical items on display. The dedicated museum committee members will also be on hand to share their knowledge of the antiquities from old machinery to fashions and bushranger history. The museum is open to the public through gold coin donation.

Museum Committee Secretary, Susan Stuart says that this is a fantastic opportunity for families to learn more about early Forbes.

“We would like to encourage all Forbes residents to come and visit the museum on the Open Day to find out a bit more about the history of our town,” said Susan.

Current and ongoing projects at the museum include the installation of a lift. The museum was awarded a State Government Grant at the end of last year as part of the Government’s Heritage Near Me Activation Grants Program.

“The installation of the lift will help us open the upstairs section of the old building. There are many rooms currently used for storage which we want to open up for display,” said Susan.

The museum will also be hosting a workshop meeting with Professor Louella McCarthy and Professor Kath Weston from the University of Wollongong on Thursday, 10th May at the RSL Auditorium at 2pm. The professors are in the process of putting together the history of rural medicine. A virtual museum will be setup by the professors. Anyone interested in attending the workshop or anyone that may have information, photographs or stories about medicine are welcome to contact Susan Stuart on (02) 6852 2034.

Officers from the Central West Police District, Forbes and Eugowra Police Stations and community members will come together in an informal, neutral space to discuss community issues, build relationships, and drink coffee on Tuesday, 8th May.

All community members are invited to attend. The events are being held from 11am at Café 51 on Nanima Street, Eugowra and from 2pm at The Bake House in Templar Street, Forbes. Please contact Forbes Police Station on 02 6853 9999 with any questions.

‘Coffee with a Cop’ provides a unique opportunity for community members to ask questions and learn more about the police work in Central West Police District neighbourhoods.

The majority of contact law enforcement has with the public happen during emergencies or emotional situations. Those situations are not always the most effective times for relationship building with the community and some community members may feel that officers are unapproachable on the street.

‘Coffee with a Cop’ breaks down barriers and allows for a relaxed, one-on-one interaction. The initiative aims to advance the practice of community policing through improving relationships between police officers and community members one cup of coffee at a time.

Hansen’s Eye Care Plus Optometrists in Orange have teamed up with Healy Optical from Sydney to bring you the Hansen + Healy Mid-Year Style Show on Wednesday, 9th May from 9am to 6pm.

On show will be new season and full collections of eyewear from some of the most beautiful designer frames in the world.

On the day there will be expert frame stylists and consultants from both Healy Optical Services and Hansen Optometrists. There will be giveaways and lucky door prizes throughout the day with a Seiko watch, sunglasses and optical frames all up for grabs.

All frames will boast 20% off on the day and are claimable on your health fund.

A sharp drop in sales for the first three months of 2018 has hit profitability and business confidence according to the latest Business Conditions Survey, conducted by the state’s peak business organisation, the NSW Business Chamber.

The index measures respondents’ perceptions of the economy’s current performance and, while a drop in revenue and sales activity is typical at the beginning of the calendar year, the result for the March 2018 for Western NSW saw a sharp drop to -8.3 points. The result is in stark contrast to the result in December 2017, which saw an index result of 12.5 points.

On a positive note, Western NSW’s operating cost index was the lowest in the state, with the index decreasing to 30.0 points, down from 41.5 in December and the sales revenue index whilst down, did remain positive at 4.3 points.

“Energy costs, in particular, are a major concern with 43 per cent of our region’s businesses surveyed highlighting it as a key cost control priority. At this point in the economic cycle it is essential that we look at measures to reduce the operating costs of businesses along with measures to increase future economic capacity,” said Western NSW Business Chamber Regional Manager, Vicki Seccombe.

“Although business operators remain upbeat about their prospects, and the economic outlook for the year ahead, profitability and growth are being constrained by the continued decline in energy affordability, business operating costs and skill shortages,” said Vicki.

“Reducing the burden of payroll tax on small business is key to driving investment in capital and increasing jobs growth, but we also need to do more to provide our young people with better and more targeted training so that they can secure employment,” said Vicki.

The Chamber has proposed a minimum payroll tax threshold of $1 million per annum and is championing new incentives for employers to hire young job seekers, along with measures to boost the number trainees and apprentices in NSW.

While the survey identifies a tough first quarter in 2018, local respondents are expecting brighter days ahead with the index measuring expected performance of the NSW economy increasing to 17.5 points.

“Businesses in NSW are ready to invest and have a positive economic outlook but reducing taxes on jobs and investing in skills are a must,” said Vicki.

The State Government has announced four future transport corridors for Western Sydney. The corridors including the Bells Line of Road Castlereagh Connection.

This essential link between Central NSW and Western Sydney connects into the M7 from Kurrajong and includes a tunnel on the western end.

The State Government is seeking feedback on the proposed corridors until 1st June 2018. Here are ways to provide feedback:

• Use the interactive online map to see the location of the recommended corridors at transport.nsw.gov.au/corridors.

• Complete the feedback form at transport. nsw.gov.au/corridors/have-your-say.

• Attend one of the proposed drop-in sessions transport.nsw.gov.au/corridors/community-drop-sessions. All of these are in Western Sydney and Kurrajong.

Cr John Medcalf, Chair of Centroc, is encouraging Councils and communities in Central NSW to have their say.

“It is our people, our friends and family who have to traverse these dangerous roads across the mountains and we are therefore really pleased to see a safer alignment up the east face of the escarpment,” said John.

“While there is no good time to advise people that their homes and livelihoods will be affected by a future road upgrade, it is better to know sooner rather than later.

“Once again I would like to thank the State Government and Minister Melinda Pavey for staying the course,” said John.

Submissions to the corridor can be made until 1st June.