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Mayoral Notes…

October 20, 2016 by Maggi Barnard

The Local Government NSW Annual Conference was held earlier this week and I am pleased to report that four motions submitted by Forbes Shire Council were successful.
The motions are:
• That Local Government NSW requests the Minister and Premier to consider the decentralisation of the RFS to the rural/regional area.
• That Local Government NSW requests the NSW Government provide local government with access to the LiveTraffic.com website portal or an alternative local roads website or portal that councils can access to upload information regarding local road closures, for example due to flooding or accidents.
• That Local Government NSW lobbies for increased funding to rural and regional areas for more reliable mobile and internet services.
• That Local Government NSW makes representation to the Minister to ensure that local government is represented and consulted on the new water sharing plans.

Last Friday, NSW Primary Industries Minister Niall Blair was in Forbes and met with General Manager Danny Green, Deputy Mayor Grant Clifton and some of the local farmers who have been affected by the recent floods. He was able to gain an insight into just how hard the flood has been for our farmers.

On an exciting note, I am pleased to announce that the world premiere of the feature film, The Legend of Ben Hall, will be held at the Forbes Showground on Saturday, 12th November at 8pm. To purchase tickets visit
www.stickytickets.com.au/44586

Mayor Graeme Miller

Dream Come True For Wiradjuri Centre

October 20, 2016 by Maggi Barnard

The Wiradjuri Dreaming Centre will triple in size after $270,000 in funding was announced last Friday. It will see the installation of nine new sculptures, an amphitheatre, interpretive panels, additional Wiradjuri artworks and
the planting of 200 native shrubs and trees on the Lake Forbes foreshore. It also includes the erection of a building to display Wiradjuri artefacts and host workshops and cultural activities.

Deputy Mayor Grant Clifton said the expansion would be a significant boost to tourism and culture in the Forbes Shire. “From an economic and tourism point of view this will really put Forbes in the spotlight.” The Forbes Art Society, in conjunction with Wiradjuri Dreaming Centre Incorporated, led the project application with assistance from Forbes Shire Council’s Grants Officer Andrew Rawsthorne.

Deputy Premier and Minister for the Arts, Troy Grant, who made the announcement, praised the Forbes Art Society for the quality of their proposal. “The funding is highly sought after but this project stacked up on a number of fronts,” he said. President of the Forbes Art Society, Dr Keith Mullette, said work on the project would start early next year and would be completed within two years. He said the Art Society had worked hand in hand with the local Aboriginal community to create the idea.

The funds will be provided under the NSW Government’s ClubGRANTS category 3 scheme for arts and culture.

BIZ VIZ At Forbes Pre-School

October 20, 2016 by Maggi Barnard

Forbes Business Chamber members were given a guided tour of the new Forbes Pre-School last week. Director of the Pre-school, Amy Shine, said it all started as a request for new bins from then Mayor Phyllis Miller and it ended up with what is now a state of the art facility. Amy worked with various departments to secure grants for the new building to be constructed. The site chosen was once the tennis courts and some of the memorabilia and boards of the Forbes Tennis Club are seen inside the building. The capacity of the school has increased from 39 children per
day to accommodating 180 families.

The facility consist of large storage areas, a laundry, bathrooms, staff room and even doors on the small toilets to give the children privacy. “We wanted the pre-school to feel homely, welcoming and friendly,” said Amy. “Children
from all walks of life are welcome. We believe we can teach the children through sand, dirt, and paint, while iPads are only used for programming and observation for the teachers.”

Each room has between 20-25 children with three staff members. The school employs five full-time staff and 13 part-time staff members. The facility is open for use by other groups. These include an occupational therapist, a
speech therapist and motherhood groups. We try to be inclusive of everyone and are very mindful of meeting the needs of the community” said Amy.

Snippets…

October 20, 2016 by Maggi Barnard

Garage Sale Trail: Forbes Shire Council is involved in the national Garage Sale Trail for the second year and is encouraging households, schools and community groups to host a sale tomorrow. It is a unique opportunity to promote the reuse of items that might otherwise end up in landfill. All you have to do is register your sale on the website www.garagesaletrail.com.au. Registration is free and includes a seller webpage that can be personalised.
Enjoy your kids again: Parents all over the world have turned to the award-winning 1-2-3 Magic program to help them get back in charge of their homes and learn how to enjoy their kids again. 1-2-3 Magic is a simple, precise and effective way of managing – gently and firmly – the behavior of children in the two to twelve-year-old range. CentaCare Forbes will be running the 1-2-3 Magic program over two nights on 25th October and 1st November at the CentaCare office at 134 Lachlan Street from 6 to 8pm each night. Michael Browne, CentaCare Men and Family worker, and Natasha Harris, Family worker are encouraging parents to attend together as managing behaviours is a team effort. The workshop is free of charge, but space is limited so make sure to book early. Call
CentaCare Forbes on 68501777 to secure your seat.
What a Wonderful Night: St. Laurence’s P & F held its second successful art exhibition last Friday. The student art competition drew a wide range of infant and primary entries and was judged by Jan Ashe one of the exhibiting artists. Winners were: Infants: 1st Jett Rudd, 2nd Ruby Spry, 3rd Konner Coleman and Highly Commended
Madeline Morrison. Primary winners were: 1st Clancy Bolam, 2nd Laylah Davies, 3rd Sienna O’Connell and Highly Commended Cassidy Robb-Potts. The raffle first prize was won by Andrew and Pam Peters, a pastel work “Old Barn”
by artist Colin Darley, second prize a wheelbarrow of meat and produce donated by Baa Moo Oink was won by Penelope O’Connell and the six bottles of wine from Bernardi’s IGA were won by Reilly Godsell. Thank you to all the sponsors, Forbes artists, artists who exhibited, the Art Society for the loan of their easels, the show committee for the use of their display frames and the Lions Club who dropped off and collected these.

Flood Theme For Revamped Spring Races

October 20, 2016 by Maggi Barnard

The Forbes Spring Races have been rescheduled and rebranded and will be on Saturday, 19th November. The new event will be called the Spring Flood Recovery Cup and the Forbes Jockey Club will have an array of activities to help the community recover from the floods. “The aim of the flood recovery cup is to provide a chance for the locals to come together after an extremely difficult time and celebrate the resilience of our community,” said Secretary of the Forbes Jockey Club, Blake Nicholson.

Footraces will be replaced by a sandbag challenge where participants will have to ferry as many sandbags as possible in two minutes with a cash prize for the winner. Fashions on the Field have a new category of best flood outfit with extra points awarded for water or nautical themed clothing. Extra points will also be awarded for clothing that contains floodwater brown. Races will be named in flood themes with the main race being the Bankstown Sports
Swamp Rat Flood Cup. Other races will include Mandagery Creek Mile (named after Eugowra Creek that feeds the Lachlan River), the Southern Cross Sprint (named after the area east of Forbes that feeds major floods), the Iron Bridge Handicap (where river levels are managed), the Roads Closed Handicap (transport difficulties) and the Farmers’ Flood Maiden (named for the fact the flood have disproportionally affected primary producers).

A significant donation will also be made to the Lions Club disaster relief fund for the work they have done to assist the community. “The meeting doesn’t aim to take itself too seriously and it’s supposed to be a day of fun. However we do acknowledge that many people have lost their income and one person lost his life,” Blake said. Marquee bookings are available by calling 0439 911 052.

Petition To Get Popular Vote For Mayor

October 20, 2016 by Maggi Barnard

Eligible voters in Forbes could be electing the Mayor in the next Local Government election in 2020 if a referendum is held to change the current system before then. A petition to Council for a constitutional referendum will start circulating around town this week to get signatures from residents. “We need at least 500 signatures, but aim
for 1,500 to 2,000,” said Duke Jelbart. At the moment the Mayor is voted in by the nine Councillors of the Forbes Shire.

“Shouldn’t the person with the most primary votes be the Mayor,” is a question people had been asking. As a former councillor serving two terms, Duke has received many requests to start the process for change. Once Council has a petition it would have to decide on whether to go to a referendum for a simple yes or no vote for or against a
popular vote for the Mayor.

“It would be quite costly, but if people want the change, Council would have to find the funds in the budget for the referendum,” Duke said. According to Duke the change would empower the community to put the person in who they believe should be Mayor and this would result in more stability as the Mayor would serve the full term of four years.

“Voters would also know from the start of the campaign who is running for Mayor.” Duke said there would be comments that he was doing this to stir as he was not reelected, but added: “I have been talking about this change for six years. Voters feel like they don’t count and we want to make them count.”

$1.5 Million For Saleyards Expansion

October 13, 2016 by Maggi Barnard

The Forbes Shire Council will receive $1.5 million for much needed upgrades to expand the Central West Livestock Exchange (CWLE) increasing througout capacity, productivity and turnaround times. “It was third time lucky,” said Forbes Mayor, Graeme Miller, and thanked the Grants Officer of the Council for his persistence in applying to the National Stronger Regions Fund (NSRF).

Graeme said numbers at the CWLE had grown over capacity and that the expansion would allow for another 600 to 800 head of cattle. “This would be a lot better for the presentation of vendors, as well as animal welfare.” The CWLE is one of three projects in the Central West to share in more than $4.2 million in Federal funding unveiled by the Small Business Minister and Riverina MP, Michael McCormack, last week. The other two projects are extensions to the Parkes Regional Airport and Wagga Wagga’s Kurrajong Waratah.

Michael said the three projects would deliver a vital economic boost to the region, as well as enhance future job and
investment opportunities throughout the Riverina and Central West. “I know the investment in Parkes and Forbes is critical in giving the region’s small businesses – a third of which are farmers – the infrastructure and services they need to continue to grow into the future,” Michael said.

Under Round 3 of the NSRF, 67 projects across the nation will receive funding. The Central West has received $17.7 million in Rounds 1, 2 and 3.

Face Lift For Flannery’s

October 13, 2016 by Maggi Barnard

Flannery’s Pharmacy is getting a complete face lift for the first time since 1994. “We are very excited to be getting a brand new store,” said Manager Debbie Prior. She said since the merger of Flannery’s and Michael’s Amcal Pharmacy 12 years ago and the move to Rankin Street, the shop had never had an update. “We are putting in automatic doors in front and for the back door at the moment, and next week we will start with a complete new
refit inside. This will include three new consultation rooms for professional services and a nurses clinic room.”

While the new fixtures and fittings are being done, business will be done from half a store. “We apologise for any inconvenience this might cause, but hope customers will see the benefit of the new shop when it is all done by early December,” said Debbie. Once all the work is done, the new shop will be launched with an exciting range of new Christmas stock.

Council Comments…

October 13, 2016 by Maggi Barnard

The Lachlan River continues to drop and the water is receding very slowly. Most of our arterial roads should be open by the end of the week, which will be a relief for all involved. Last week I attended the Newell Highway Taskforce meeting in Dubbo. The taskforce will send a delegation to the Federal Government with the aim of seeking funding to flood proof the Newell Highway at Marsden and Lake Cowal. The Newell Highway is now closed and will remain closed for some weeks. This is having a detrimental effect on towns along the highway.

Next week a number of Councillors and the General Manager will be visiting the Local Government Association Conference in Wollongong. This is an important occasion and one of our new Councillors, Councillor Jenny Webb, will be attending. We will report back when we return. Council business is back in full swing after the induction of our new Councillors and our first briefing session.

The new briefing sessions have replaced Works and Services Committee meetings and I was very pleased to see the interaction between new and old Councillors. Our Grants Officer Andrew Rawsthorne has recently been successful in gaining significant funds for projects in the Forbes community. This financial year Forbes Shire Council has successfully gained grants for five projects totalling $2,416 million. There are over 30 grant applications pending with a total value of almost $2 million. It looks like being another good year for grants in the Forbes Shire.

Mayor Graeme Miller

Snippets…

October 13, 2016 by Maggi Barnard

Upgrade for park: Forbes Shire Council will upgrade the playground equipment at Hughie Wilson Park in Elizabeth Street. The existing playground will be demolished and replaced with new equipment featuring a gyro disc, a t-swing with a toddler seat and climbing equipment with a slide. The upgrade, to start on 17th October, is part of Council’s 15-year replacement program, and should be ready by the end of the month. “The upgrades to Apex Lakeside Park and Nelson Park have been very well received by the community,” General Manager, Danny Green, said.
Long lunch by the lake: Come and enjoy a two course luncheon to help raise funds for a mobile Physio Touch machine for Forbes and Parkes Hospitals on Sunday, 13th November in Lions Park at 12:30pm. The guest speaker is Dianne Green, McGrath Breast Cancer Nurse. Tickets are $80 per person and includes a gourmet BBQ and dessert provided by Peter Ashcroft, beer, wine and soft drinks, as well as entertainment by Adam Enslow. There will
also be raffle tickets for sale in a monster raffle. Bookings close on 9th November. Contact debbie@roylances.com.au.
Forbes Neighbourhood Watch: Winners of the 100 club Sheet nr 6: 1st H. Payseno $60; 2nd Lach Reynolds $25; Roselee White $15; Sheet nr 7: 1st Peter Robb $60; 2nd Monica Wren $25; 3rd Gloria Haley $15.
Our 2nd Forbes Home Security and Safety Expo is on 16th October at Bunnings. The closing date for the Forbes Community Safety Art Competition is on Friday, 21st October. Entries can be handed in at local schools.
Try for Five: Cancer Council NSW is challenging families to boost their daily vegetable intake during National Nutrition Week next week. Eating more vegetables is a great way to boost overall health and adding more fibre-rich food can have lifelong cancer prevention benefits,” said a spokesperson.
St Laurence’s Art Exhibition: Tonight at 6pm is the St Laurence’s Art Exhibition at the School Hall in Dalton St. Entry is $5 and includes 2 tickets in the lucky door prize and a complimentary champagne/beer and nibbles on arrival. Artists’ work on exhibit include Liz Ledbrook, Pam Thomson, Klara Ward, Bec Bennett, Rosie Johnston,
Katie Ragg, Kellie Hanley, Sampa Bhakta, Karen Ritchie, Jan Ashe, Jan Martin and Ray Thorpe. James Whalan of the Forbes Conservatorium will provide music. There will be an auction, as well as a student art competition.

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