An upgrade of Kiewa Street in Manildra will deliver safer, smoother journeys for all mo­torists driving on the main street of the small Central West town.

Transport for NSW will remove and re­place the existing road surface right through the centre of town, starting on the western side of the Mandagery Creek Bridge and stretching to 50 metres west of the intersec­tion with Boree Street.

Work will get under way on Friday 28 Feb­ruary with crews starting at the eastern end of the project, tying into the asphalt installed in June 2024 as part of the Mandagery Creek Bridge replacement project.

“We expect the $2.5 million of road re­surfacing work to take five weeks in total, weather permitting, with a mix of day, night and weekend shifts planned to limit the im­pact on motorists, businesses and residents in what is a very busy area in Manildra,” Transport for NSW Acting Regional Director West Holly Davies said.

“Kiewa Street not only provides access to businesses and services in the Manildra town centre, but also acts as an important regional thoroughfare linking Orange and Parkes for tourists and freight operators travelling around the Central West.

“However, those high traffic volumes – including many heavy vehicle movements – have left the existing road surface badly damaged in some areas and a complete re­moval and replacement of the main street through Manidra will be welcomed by all motorists.”

The first section of work between the Mandagery Creek Bridge and Goimbla Street, which takes in most of the business­es in Kiewa Street, will be done at night be­tween 6pm and 6am from Monday to Friday, with some weekend work also required.

Crews will then revert to day shifts be­tween 7am and 6pm from Monday to Satur­day for the section of work between Goim­bla Street and Boree Street to avoid noise keeping nearby residents awake at night.

Changed traffic conditions including a re­duced 40 km/h speed limit and single lane closures will be in place during work hours, with two-way traffic flow in place outside of work hours.

The northern side of the Duff Street, De­rowie Street, Goimbla Street and Boree Street intersections will be closed during work shifts where each intersection is di­rectly impacted, and there will be temporary restrictions to vehicle and pedestrian ac­cess to properties while work is carried out in front of the business or home.

Vehicles will need to be parked off-street by 6pm on evenings when night work is planned.

The youth crime crisis is escalating across parts of regional NSW, with the Minns La­bor Government’s limited bail reforms prov­ing unsuccessful at keeping communities safe.

Shadow Minister for Police Paul Toole said a lack of leadership and action has led to a law and order breakdown.

“Youth violence and street crime contin­ues to wreak havoc and it’s hard to ignore the growing chaos in NSW. The police are stretched thin and it seems the Minns Gov­ernment isn’t prioritising public safety,” Mr Toole said.

“Recent incidents highlight just how out of control things are. Public spaces and homes aren’t as safe as they used to be, leaving people questioning if enough is being done to address young reoffenders racking up rap sheets similar to hardened criminals.

“Our regional communities have had a gutful. Residents tell me they are scared and crime has never been as bad as it is right now under a weak Labor Govern­ment. How many more innocent lives will be turned upside down?“Community safety should be the num­ber one priority – not the criminals.

The Opposition will continue to fight for stronger laws and interventions to protect communities.

The 2025 CatholicCare Wilcannia-Forbes Aboriginal Art Competition is open for entries. Pictured are the winning artworks in 2023 with judges Bishop Columba Macbeth-Green of the Catholic Diocese of Wilcannia-Forbes (right), CatholicCare Wilcannia-Forbes CEO Anne-Marie Mioche (centre) and Red Bend Catholic College visual arts teacher Tracie Axton (left).

Aboriginal community members of western NSW are invited to put paint to canvas for the 2025 CatholicCare Wilcannia-Forbes Aboriginal Art Competition. A total prize pool of $4,000 is on offer for the best origi­nal works.

CatholicCare Wilcannia-Forbes has launched the competition to discover and recognise emerging Aboriginal artists in western NSW. Entries close on Monday March 31, 2025.

CatholicCare Wilcannia-Forbes provides a broad range of programs and services caring for the wellbeing of individuals, families and communities, especially the vulnerable and at risk, supporting our local community.

CatholicCare Wilcannia-Forbes Chief Executive Officer Anne-Marie Mioche said the organisation was pleased to hold the competition for the fourth time.

She is encouraging emerging Aboriginal artists living in the Diocese of WilcanniaForbes, or in communities where its ser­vices are available, to enter.

“Each time we’ve held this competition, we’ve received some truly awesome and inspiring entries,” Ms Mioche said.

“We started this competition in 2019 be­cause we knew there was unrecognised talent in our vast region, and we wanted to showcase these artists.

“In 2023 the competition attracted 14 en­tries from across our region, and two im­pressive artworks tied for first place.”

The competition offers the prize pool to encourage emerging Aboriginal artists to create and share meaningful artworks that show the rich Aboriginal culture and artistry in western NSW.

The winner of first prize will receive $2,000, while second prize is $1,500 and third prize is $500.

Previous winning artworks have sub­sequently featured in CatholicCare Wil­cannia-Forbes branding and publications.

Ms Mioche said the competition was warmly embraced by her team.

“I always feel excitement at the arrival of new entries, I know our team members do as well,” she said.

“We love viewing the artworks and learn­ing the story behind them.”

The full information pack is available here https://tinyurl.com/mrck53an

Our team enjoyed the Parkes Elvis Festival atmosphere and fully embraced it by dressing up, and stepping back in time to celebrate his iconic influence.

The Quorn Park Hybrid Farm, on Back Trundle Road, Parkes NSW, is progressing the construction phase of the project.

Initial construction activities started with material import for temporary tracks and working pads, soon to transition for perma­nent internal access roads. Vehicle move­ments towards the solar farm have remained monitored and under control, whilst the final road upgrade in Henry Parkes Way and McGrath Lane are completed. Once the up­grade is underway, additional construction activities will begin, including piling (support structures for the photovoltaic panels), pe­rimeter security fencing and foundations.

Light and heavy vehicles are transiting on Henry Parkes Way, Mc Grath Lane, Back Trundle Road as goods and personnel are transported to site, generally between 7.00am – 5.30pm Monday – Friday.

Quorn Park project team recently took part in the Parkes Elvis Festival in January 2025.

Potentia Energy had a stall at Cooke Park from 8-11 January 2025, where our team was able to share information about Quorn Park Hybrid and solar and renewable en­ergy more generally, answering questions about our project, who we are and what we do, while giving away resources on renew­able energy, and Potentia Energy branded merchandise.

Potentia Energy and Beon Energy Solu­tions (EPC contractor for the project) aim to maximise opportunities for local contractors and suppliers to participate in the project through the provision of goods and services to the project site and workforce.

Beon Energy Solutions will seek to em­ploy a local workforce to support the con­struction of the project. Opportunities will in­clude labourers, truck drivers, cleaners and plant operators. The specifics of these roles will be made publicly available in early 2025For further queries or feedback about Quorn Park Hybrid we encourage you to reach out via email quornparkhybrid@po­tentiaenergy.com.au

Michael with Gaylene Crabtree at the Olde School T-house in Bethungra.

Small businesses across the Central West, Riverina, Snowy Mountains, South West Slopes and Southern Tablelands are set to benefit from a new Coalition policy that will cut red tape.

A future Liberal-Nationals Government will introduce a capped tax deduction of $20,000 for business-related meal and en­tertainment expenses – excluding alcohol – for small businesses with a turnover of up to $10 million.

Federal Member for Riverina Michael McCormack said the policy would help boost small businesses and stimulate the hospitality industry. “As a former Minister for Small Business and as a former busi­ness owner, I can certainly attest to the tan­gible benefits cutting red tape can have on helping a business survive and thrive,” Mr McCormack said.

“This announcement will also give the hospitality industry a much-needed boost – with many cafés, pubs, restaurants, clubs and entertainment facilities themselves small or family-owned enterprises.”

The measure, which will run for an ini­tial two years, will be exempt from Fringe Benefits Tax. “This is about supporting small businesses that have felt the brunt of a cost-of-living crisis completely misman­aged by the Labor Government over the past three years,” Mr McCormack said.

“Small businesses are the engine room of the economy, particularly in regional and rural communities.

“The Liberals and Nationals understand this important symbiotic relationship be­tween small and family-owned businesses and the local communities they serve and live in, which is why a future Coalition Gov­ernment will always have their backs.”

Under this Labor Government, more than 26,000 small businesses have fallen into insolvency, with more than 4,000 of those in the hospitality sector.

This measure builds on the Coalition’s commitment to rebuild small business by making the Instant Asset Write-Off perma­nent.