Forbes Shire Council invites the community to attend a Community Consultation Workshop as part of the public exhibition of the draft Forbes Flood Risk Management Plan and Study, open for feed­back until 31 March 2026.

The results of an updated flood study and flood damages as­sessment have been used as the basis for preparing the Forbes Flood Risk Management Study and Plan 2025. The Forbes Flood Risk Management Study and Plan 2025 has been prepared under the guidance of the Flood Risk Management Committee compris­ing representatives from Forbes Shire Council, the NSW Depart­ment of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water, the NSW State Emergency Service and community representatives.

Join Forbes Shire Council at 5:30pm on Tuesday 10 March 2026 at the Vandenberg Hotel, where they will present the draft plan and outline the nine (9) proposed measures aimed at reducing flood risk and strengthening community resilience.

These measures focus on key areas such as land‑use planning, emergency preparedness, infrastructure improvements and com­munity awareness. By working together to understand and imple­ment these strategies, Council and the community can better pre­pare for future flood events, protect lives and property and support sustainable development within the floodplain.

Council encourage all community members to come along, learn more and share their feedback. To view the draft plan, visit www.forbes.nsw.gov.au/public-exhibitionsSubmit feedback by 31 March 2026 via: Email: forbes@forbes.nsw.gov.au Post: Forbes Shire Council, PO Box 333 Forbes NSW 2871 or in person: Council Office 2 Court St Forbes NSW 2871.

For more information, call Council on 6850 2300.

Pictured handing over the funds raised for Adelaine Blunden (L-R) is Zach Byrnes, Fiona Durkin, Moihi Parker, Joel McNamara and Elisha Nqua.

Three year old Parkes girl Adelaide (Addy) Blunden, has recently been diagnosed with Metastic MYC-amplified Medulloblastoma.

The condition is associated with poor prog­nosis and is often resistant to standard treatments.

The disease is primarily found in children and accounts for a significant percentage of all childhood brain tumors. The MYCamplified subgroup is particularly aggres­sive, with a low overall survival rate and a high likelihood of metastasis.

Due to Adelaide’s heartbreaking diagno­sis, her father Alex has made the decision to stop working so he is able to be with his little girl for an undetermined amount of time. Addy remains the same smiley happy girl despite having to undergo many surgi­cal procedures and spend time away from friends and family.

Wanting to help with fundraising efforts for Addy, on Saturday 28 February, the Parkes Aquatic Centre held a fundraising movie night and raffle with loads of prizes donated by local businesses. With over 100 people in attendance and an amazing show of community support, the incred­ible team at the Parkes Aquatic Centre are proud to share that together with the Parkes community they were able to raise $1,300 for Adelaide and her family.

Zach Byrnes, Regional Aquatics Man­ager said, “Thank you to all the local busi­nesses who generously donated prizes, and to every single person who bought a ticket or came along on the night. The Parkes community continues to show just how strong and supportive it is.”

There has also been a Go Fund Me set up and all of the funds raised will be used for ongoing expenses and treatment. If you are in the position to help Addy then please do so, all donations will be much appreci­ated by the family. Donations can me made at www.gofundme.com/f/adelaide-blunden

Federal Member for Parkes Jamie Chaffey is urging not-for-profit organisations in the federal electorate of Parkes to apply for the 2025-26 Volunteer Grants Round.

Expressions of interest are now open for grants of between $1,000 and $5,000 for el­igible not-for-profit organisations to support and increase participation in volunteering.

“Volunteers contribute so much to the Parkes electorate across every aspect of our lives,” Mr Chaffey said. “From sports to emergency services, to events and health support, people in our communities give their time and skills freely.

“These grants can help make a difference to organisations who in turn make a differ­ence in their communities. I encourage eli­gible organisations to reach out to my office for an expression of interest form.”

“Twenty-one organisations in the Parkes electorate benefitted from a total of about $60,000 through the 2024-25 Volunteer Grants Round,” Mr Chaffey said.

Applications close 5pm, Friday 27 March, 2026, and the expression of interest form can be found at www.jamiechaffey.com.au, or contact one of the offices of Jamie Chaf­fey MP to find out more or send an email to jamie.chaffey.mp@aph.gov.au

Licensed firearm dealers across NSW – many of them small, family-run businesses in regional communities – are facing significant financial pressure following the rapid introduction of new firearms legislation late last year.

Since these changes came into effect, local operators have reported substantial reductions in trade, with declines in sales and stock turnover placing real strain on their ability to meet ongoing costs such as wages, insurance, leases and inventory commitments.

I have been contacted by a number of businesses across the Orange electorate who are doing it tough, particularly in the current cost-of-living environment. These are law-abiding small businesses that play an important role in our regional economy, and they deserve fair consideration.

I am calling on the NSW Government to introduce a targeted support package to assist licensed firearm dealers manage the financial impacts of these legislative changes. Th is should include practical measures such as transitional assistance, support for stranded inventory and relief to address cash flow challenges.

There is clear precedent for governments to provide assistance where policy decisions have directly impacted industries, and I believe similar support is warranted in this case.

More broadly, I recently met with members of the Canobolas Hunting Club to discuss the impacts of these reforms and the importance of ensuring that law-abiding firearm owners are properly considered in future regulations. I will continue to advocate for fair, balanced outcomes that support responsible firearm ownership.

I also look forward to speaking in NSW Parliament in response to the Sporting Shooters’ Association’s record-breaking petition, which high lights the level of community concern around these changes.

I will continue working to ensure the voices that of practical, regional fair communities solutions are are heard delivered. and ,

Concerned Farmers and Community members gatherers in the centre of the main street in Parkes on Sat 28th and Marched Together to Cooke Park where Speeches where lead by Parkes Farmer Sharon Wood.

NSW Farmers say plans to pollute rural and regional communities with Sydney’s rubbish should be immediately rejected.

The proposed Parkes Incinerator would burn 700,000 tonnes of Sydney’s red-bin rubbish each year if approved, and NSW Farmers Vice President Rebecca Reardon said it was totally unacceptable to force any regional community to be the dump­ing ground for Sydney waste if they did not agree.

The Parkes region contributes signifi­cantly to NSW’s wheat, barley, oats, canola and pulse crops. Its mixed farming systems also support substantial sheep grazing for wool and meat.

The significant number of heavy vehicles on council roads, or more freight move­ments on rural rail infrastructure already in need of major upgrades will decimate our regions and agriculture’s economic return to the state budget.

Mrs Reardon spoke at the Parkes Farm­ers & Community March and said the peo­ple of Parkes felt they were being forced to become Sydney’s dumping ground.

“When these projects were proposed for Western Sydney, there was a chorus line of Labor MPs very vocal in their opposition,” Mrs Reardon said.

“Why should rural communities be forced to host projects that are considered unac­ceptable for urban centres, particularly when these same regions produce a lot of the state’s food and fibre?” “There’s also significant concerns for public health, and the impact on the food and fibre grown in these communities.

These projects should be immediately ruled out without question.”

Phil Donato MP marched alongside local farmers and said “It’s critically important that people power unites in Parkes to op­pose this project because the Government will take that into account.”

“We really need to continue and persist with that pressure to push back on this pro­posal and send a message loud and clear to the state government that Parkes does not want this facility in their community.”