I am proud to say we are now having our sewage tested for COVID-19! Our first test was a negative last Friday with more testing to do. It did take a bit of commotion to get our NSW Health Department CHO to understand.

I want to thank the community for coming out this week to get tested for COVID-19, and for all abiding by the Stay-at-Home order set by the NSW Government. This is a short sharp lockdown and it will be over before we know it. We must do it now to ensure the virus doesn’t spread throughout the community. Whilst we have amazing medical facilities we do not have the resources to handle a large amount of cases.

You cannot have visitors to your home from outside your household, including family and friends. One visitor at one time to fulfill carers’ responsibilities is allowed.

I do encourage everyone to get vaccinated if they can. This advice comes from our health professionals, we need widespread vaccination to help ease the pressure on our hospital system.

The Forbes Visitor Information Centre remains closed as does the Council administration office to the public. I can assure you Council staff are busy working inside. We will reassess the situation later in the week to see if all can re-open again next week.

The Central West Livestock Exchange remains open for registered buyers, agents and council staff only.

Take care. God Bless.

Your Mayor,
Phyllis Miller

It has definitely been a tumultuous week with COVID postponing and cancelling many events in our area. The local government elections are not happening in September as previously stated, they are being moved to 4th December 2021. The COVID situation in NSW has many Council’s under an immense amount of pressure and to hold an election in a safe way does seem like a difficult task to achieve. I do believe this is an awful time of year and would be better in February 2022.

I want to thank all the potential candidates for showing interest in becoming a Councillor. We have had to postpone our briefing session this week. We will hold it closer to the new election date. Stay tuned.

You will see there is a lot of movement down at Lions Park at the moment. This is a continuation of the Lake Forbes Activation work we have going on. A permanent stage area is being installed near the Bates Bridge end of the park. This park is home to various events in the calendar year and the well patronised Sweet Three by the Lake food vendor.

Have you had a chance to see the new lights in Templar Street yet? They look amazing. With the paving work complete and the fairy lights in we are just waiting on the pergolas and street furniture and we are done.

Till next week. God Bless.

Your Mayor,
Phyllis Miller

Another week has passed and the COVID-19 situation in NSW is still a very real concern. I want to thank everyone for wearing their masks and signing into every venue they enter, hopefully we manage to remain COVID-free. Our neighbours in the Cabonne Shire have gone into a 7-day lockdown. Our thoughts and prayers are with them as they go through this.

Last week’s Council meeting was very productive with a lot of important decisions made for the future of Forbes. Council was presented with the Energy Action Plan for the Shire and it was very interesting. The plan is on exhibition for all of you to read and make comments. It is great to see Council are planning to reduce its energy consumption whilst still meeting the needs of the community, we would like to hear what you think about it. We discussed the letters I have written to the NSW Health Minister regarding the need for a new operating theatre for our hospital and all our Councillors agreed, this is very important for our community and we will continue to fight for this.

I again welcome anyone thinking of putting their hand up to be on Council to get in touch and come to the Candidate session being held on 28th July. You can join the

It looks like we will be in the current Cov-id-19 restrictions for a while longer with the numbers still quite high in the State. Thanks again to all of you who are trying really hard to abide by these rules.

I met with the NSW Health Minister, Brad Hazzard this week regarding our request for a new operating theatre for the Forbes hospital. We saved the NSW Government $20-$30 million dollars when we built our hospital, we chose to have the old hospital converted to house the Ambulatory services. Here we are looking for a couple of million dollars to build a new operating facility. This is such an important asset for our community, we will not accept a renovation to the existing one! I have made this very clear to the minister and I wait to hear the Health Department’s response.

Can I remind everyone to put your pets on a leash whilst in a public space. Also please pick up after your dogs. We are giving pet owners free bags. Just pop into reception at Town Hall and ask for one.

Council Elections are fast approaching and the deadline for nominations is Wednesday 4th August 2021. There will be an information session 6pm 28th July at Council Chambers if you would like more information on what is required to be a Councillor. Contact Council on 6850 2300 if you would like to attend.

Till next week. God Bless.

Your Mayor,
Phyllis Miller

 

I would like to start by thanking you all for trying your best to adhere to the latest restrictions we are facing. I also want to remind you all that it is compulsory for you to check in when entering any business from July 12.

Whilst speaking of Covid I would like to encourage everyone, who is eligible, to book in for a Covid-19 vaccine jab, I’ve had mine. The Forbes Medical Centre are taking appointments. There are only so many they can do in a day and the earliest appointments will be a little time away, late August, I believe. I urge you to remember this date and time and turn up for your appointment, because if you don’t the doctors have to throw the vaccine away.

You would have heard the wonderful news we received last week regarding funding from the NSW Government, $166,000 for Goldridge Estate infrastructure. This will enable us to build the necessary roads to open up this amazing new estate sooner than we thought.

Last but not least we are calling upon the community to come out and help us plant some trees for National Tree Day on Saturday 31 July at the Daroobalgie Landfill site. This project will create a buffer between the road and the landfill site. For more information contact Council’s Waste and Environmental Specialist and pop your name down, it’s going to be lots of fun!

Till next week. God Bless.

Your Mayor,
Phyllis Miller

This week we met virtually with Federal Minister for Health, Brad Hazzard to discuss the current Covid-19 situation and how our community can assist in bringing this virus under control sooner rather than later. I want to thank the community for their compliance with the mask wearing as per the Public Health Order. It is annoying I know, but the sooner we get this virus under control, the sooner we can all go back the life as normal.

How great was the news from Sam Farraway last week regarding the successful grant funding for Hughie Wilson Oval? This funding will go towards a new amenities facility at the oval, which will be great for local groups.

Politics is politics and this week we lost two local members off the front bench in Federal Parliament. I want to thank Michael McCormack for a fantastic job he has done in the Deputy Prime Minister position. Also I would like to thank Mark Coulton Minister for Regional Health, Communication and Local Government.

It was very sad to postpone our Volunteers Thank You Morning Tea this week due to the new Covid restrictions. Rest assured we will be holding it at a future date, as it is very important we say thank you to all our wonderful volunteers.

School holiday activities have and will proceed as planned. We have Covid-safe numbers allocated for these events and participants are asked to wear face masks

Till next week. God Bless.

Your Mayor,
Phyllis Miller

I would like to start by saying a big thank you to our Forbes community for coming out to get Covid tested this past week and half.

This community has really stepped up during this pandemic and until everyone is vaccinated we have to learn to live with this terrible disease and take every precaution we can to ensure it does not affect us.

Thank you also to the many of you who braved the cold to get vaccinated at the pop-up clinic. We will let you know when they return. If you haven’t already, go to the Services NSW App and register with the Vaccine Eligibility Checker. This will put you on a waiting list and you will be notified when it is your turn to be vaccinated.

This week another magnificent sculpture was launched along the Sculpture Down the Lachlan Trail. ‘Heart of Country’ does fall in the Lachlan Shire and the first to be launched in the Shire. It is wonderful to work with our neighbouring Councils, the Forbes Art Society, the NSW Government and Evolution Mines to bring this project to fruition.

Remember if you are unable to come to Frost and Fire this weekend and you have tickets, please contact our Tourism team tourism@forbes.nsw.gov.au with your booking code. We have a waitlist of people looking to attend and we can reissue them to others.

Till next week. God Bless.

Your Mayor,
Phyllis Miller