I am hearing the many voices in the community not happy about the recent announcement of Target closing next year. I want you all to let those voices be heard! Email info@wesfarmers.com.au, and let the Chairman of Wesfarmers know the Forbes community would like this store to remain in town, I have already sent my email and I encourage you to write to the Chairman directly. If you prefer to write a letter here is the mailing address: Wesfarmers Limited, Level 14, Brookfield Place Tower 2, 123 St Georges Terrace, Perth 6000 WA.

Next week Apex Park is getting a little makeover with a new shade structure being installed and the park will be closed for a few days. I am so proud of the wonderful parks and playgrounds we have in our Shire. We are conducting a survey on recreation and open spaces and want to be able to incorporate your vision in our plans. To participate in the survey head over to www.yoursay.forbes.nsw.gov.au or there is a link down the bottom of our homepage on the website.

Well, the cold snap has come as a bit of a shock after the beautiful weekend weather we had last week. Winter really made itself known on 1 June!

It has been great to see the opening of two new businesses in Forbes last week and things returning to normality, especially in time for the long weekend. If you are travelling this weekend, please drive carefully and be safe. Please take care and remain healthy by practicing social distancing.

There has been lots of activity in the farming industry recently with tractors, plough- ing and sowing. Let us hope this coming year is profitable for everyone.

With the lifting of dining restrictions last weekend, I went out for dinner with friends, we were like kids in a lolly shop! I think we took everything for granted prior to COVID-19 and I am now so grateful for everything in my life.

Council had a great Finance and Infra- structure meeting on Monday. We viewed the Templar Street plans and the car park for Lions Park. Asset Management Plans are being done, thank you to Jason and Wafi, ably led by Stefan. These are important plans for our infrastructure well into the future.

Firstly, Target’s announcement of closing the Forbes store. I have written a submission to info@wesfarmers.com.au asking the Chairman to reconsider his decision. I have included this email address and ask you to email Wesfarmers and tell them how important Target is to the people of Forbes. We have until mid-2021 to fight this fight and I promise to do everything possible to get a win for Forbes!

The new Caltex has opened at the Home-makers Centre and the KFC will follow next week. Between these sites there are around 70-80 jobs for our town which is a major win for Forbes in this climate.

The Local Strategic Planning Statement has now gone on public exhibition. We encourage everyone to look at the plan and let Council know your thoughts. This plan will keep Council in check for the next 20 years regarding further development.

We had a wonderful win last week with the NSW State Government approving over $730,000 funding for the Stronger Country Community program. Sam Farraway delivered the funding for three projects in Forbes; Spooner Oval upgrades, Jenny Murphy Park upgrades and a new Ninja Park for Forbes.

Thank you to Deputy Prime Minister, Michael McCormack, who called last week to announce funding of $1.22 million for a stimulus package to support our community. This will bring forward many future projects we have planned. Watch this space! Take care. God Bless.

What a great week of beautiful weather and obviously everyone has taken advantage of walking around our beautiful lake. It is surprising how exciting it is, that we can now eat out again.

The Ski Dam has had an amazing face-lift and is shaping up to be one of the great picnic areas in town. I can’t speak highly enough about the skill and expertise of Forbes Shire Council staff. They take so much pride in their work and it shows through to the finished product.

The Heated Pool Committee is working hard to deliver the refurbishment of our pool. They are an amazing group of people doing a great job. Ably lead by Diane Decker as the Chair, it never ceases to amaze me how enthusiastic and generous people are with their time and love for Forbes.

Yes, we are open for business, we always were but now you can come inside to pay your bills! We are encouraging everyone to practice social distancing and only three are allowed into the foyer area at any one time. Meetings with staff are still not allowed but if you call our office, they will put you through to them.

This Friday the restrictions will loosen a little further with more people allowed at outdoor gatherings and up to 10 patrons allowed to dine inside restaurants. Our playgrounds and parks will be reopened, again restricted to 10 people at a time. Weddings can have 10 guests and funerals up to 20 mourners indoors or 30 if the funeral is outdoors. Please remember that we are all in this together and we do still need to remain vigilant!

If you are out and about this weekend you must go and have a look at the latest landscaping work completed at the Ski Dam. Looks amazing!

I would like to remind everyone our lovely walking track around the Lake is for use of walkers, joggers and bike riders combined. All must be respectful of others on the track and if you are on a bike please ring your bell or call out to alert those in front you are coming along.

Council administration building will be opening to the public again very soon. Access will be limited to three people in the foyer area, due to social distancing guidelines and the front counter will have Perspex screens in place. The front glass doors will be closed and access can be made through the automatic doors in Harold St.

There has been a lot of talk about water bills this week and I can report Council has heard your concerns and we are looking into individual cases to ensure mistakes were not made when reading your meters. This bill included a longer than usual period between read times, by several weeks, which will see on average a 30% increase to last year’s bill. The cost of water has also slightly increased on your bill as at 1 July 2019, water went from $1.23 to $1.40 per Kl. We are still the cheapest in the region by far! Our neighbouring Shires are charging up to $4.05 per Kl! If you do have any concerns, please don’t hesitate to call Council to discuss. Make sure to check your meter reading before calling though.

We have had some beautiful rain recently and it is very much appreciated. However it is important to understand that a down- pour of rain does not break a drought and our farmers will be fighting the effects of this drought for at least three years, if not longer.

Another week down in lockdown and may I suggest a few to go. I acknowledge it is tough on everybody, but we must continue to do what we are advised to do, to keep everybody safe.

Disappointingly, I have heard of some bad behaviour towards our supermarket staff. I would ask you to think twice before you get annoyed with staff, they are trying to do their best.

A big shout out to our wonderful medical staff here in Forbes. They are doing a superb job in adapting to COVID-19. A big thank you from all Forbes residents.

I want you to know we have a local committee known as the Local Emergency Management Committee (LEMC), the purpose of this group is to ensure communities’ needs are being met and with everyone in lockdown it is proving difficult to receive the views of the community. This committee determined a local information phone line is needed to assist residents on what services are available to them. The phone number is: 6850 2393.

I hope you all enjoyed the lovely Easter break we had last weekend, the weather was beautiful wasn’t it. It did feel strange not having the usual large gathering of family around during this time, but nice to catch up with them on the phone or on facetime.

This week I received a lovely call from the NSW Governor, Margaret Beasley AC QC. She called to find out how Forbes is travelling during this difficult time and how residents are coping from the years of drought we have experienced. She sends her good wishes to everyone and promises to come out for a visit when all of this is over.

I would like to introduce a new service the Council is offering to local residents during this troubled time, it’s called COVID-19 Assistance. This phone number 02 6850 2393, is for residents to call for more information regarding services and support available to them by government departments and local charities. It will be answered by our staff between the hours of 8.30am and 5pm and they will direct you to the relevant services.