Special Interests Archives - Page 84 of 121

National Approach To Managing Wild Dog Scourge

July 3, 2020 by Maggi Barnard

Image credit: https://www.agric.wa.gov.au/

Australia’s new blueprint for humane, best practice wild dog management officially took effect from 1 July.

Agriculture, Drought and Emergency Management Minister David Littleproud praised the way government and industry stakeholders collaborated on the new National Wild Dog Action Plan.

“Wild dogs are terribly destructive pests, costing farmers conservatively upwards of $89 million a year in lost production and control costs,” David said. “They can decimate livestock, tearing down sheep and goats at will, and in doing so, can hurt rural and regional economies because of the destruction they wreak and anxiety they cause.”

Having a clear, coordinated and borderless national plan to guide farmers and other stakeholders on the best strategies and safest tools for livestock and biodiversity protection is critical for rural and regional communities as they recover from COVID-19, bushfires and drought.

David applauded the way producers, peak farming bodies, governments and research and development corporations came together to ensure control measures are evidence-based and best practice. “Wild dog management is an Australian Government priority, with over $54 million invested in wild dog management since 2014-15, including recent wild dog fencing commitments in South Australia and Western Australia,” he said.

“The National Wild Dog Action Plan has already proved an exemplar in the way we should be approaching Australian predator management.”

The National Biosecurity Committee endorsed the National Wild Dog Action Plan 2020-2030 as the national plan for the co-ordinated management of wild dogs on 11 March 2020.

Prompt, Proactive And Accurate Advice At David Bicket

July 3, 2020 by Maggi Barnard

David Bicket CPA is your local go to business for all taxation, accounting, financial and business issues. No job is too big or too small. They also specialise in succession, retirement and estate planning matters.

Since 2002, David and his staff have been servicing the needs of a diverse client base with their knowledge and expertise well recognised. With an understanding that no two businesses are the same and requires different levels of support, the firm can be relied upon for prompt, proactive and accurate advice delivered in a friendly and personal manner.

The staff members include Toni Hall, Lisa Bicket and Michael Reilly. Toni has been with the firm for over 13 years and specialises in all small business accounting software packages. Since 2002 Lisa has been the backbone of the business as office administrator/allrounder. Michael brings a wealth of professional, practical and commercial experience to the practice. Michael, a born and bred Parkes local, is a qualified Chartered Accountant and spent time in Sydney before returning where he was part of a major Forbes-based accounting practice in the 1990s.

Call today and make an appointment for your financial and taxation needs.

Fair Wear And Tear

July 3, 2020 by Maggi Barnard

We have had many tenants moving in and out of properties recently, and I thought it a good time to clarify what the term “fair wear and tear” means.

When it comes to Residential Tenancy Agreements, fair wear and tear means the normal deterioration of a property over time from ordinary, everyday use.

Some examples of fair wear and tear consist of faded curtains, frayed cords, furniture indentations and traffic marks on flooring, scuffed wooden flooring, faded or chipped paint or movement cracks.

Some examples of what is not fair wear and tear are missing or torn curtains, large marks or holes in walls, significant damage to flooring such as stains or burn marks, badly scratched or gouged wooden floors, unapproved paint jobs, burns or cuts in benchtops, and damage caused by pets.

The tenant is responsible to rectify any negligent, irresponsible or intentional actions that cause damage to the property. These are things we look for during our regular routine inspections rather than just waiting until the end of the tenancy.

Should we discover that there are some items that need to be rectified, we will ad- dress this as soon as possible to achieve a suitable solution.

Alternatively, if it is the end of the tenancy and damage is noted on the outgoing inspection, we will claim the tenant’s bond to reimburse or compensate the landlord for this.

For more information on this topic please feel free to contact the Century 21 Central West team today.

Delay The Spray-Clethodim Advice

June 26, 2020 by Maggi Barnard

Grain growers are reminded they should avoid spraying annual ryegrass with clethodim herbicide when frost is forecast.

Weed control experts are advising growers not to spray clethodim two to three days before or after a frost event due to the impact on efficiency. The poor performance of clethodim on annual ryegrass, a weed becoming increasingly resistant to clethodim, can be associated with cold and frosty conditions.

University of Adelaide Associate Professor in weed and crop ecology, Dr Gurjeet Gill, says frosty conditions make it even harder to control annual ryegrass when clethodim resistance is present in the population.

“Growers are advised to carefully review weather forecasts for their district and spray clethodim when cloud cover is present and the risk of frost occurrence is low,” Gurjeet says.

Clethodim resistance has been slowly increasing in the northern region with current testing indicating resistance through New South Wales is less than 10 per cent.

This message is particularly pertinent to Forbes, which is prone to frost at this time of year, when many canola and pulse crops are likely to be sprayed for ryegrass control.

Telehealth The Future For Older Australians

June 26, 2020 by Maggi Barnard

There are many things that Australians over 60 would like to see return to “normal” post-COVID, but according to new research undertaken by the Global Centre for Modern Ageing (GCMA), telehealth is something many are keen to keep.

Whether accessed by phone or online, telehealth has worked well for older Australians, with more than 60 per cent of people aged over 60 surveyed nationally saying they were willing to use telehealth in the future.

“Older Australians like telehealth for its convenience, reduced travel and ability to be conducted at home,” said GCMA chief executive Julianne Parkinson.

Over two in three people who used telehealth during the pandemic said they would feel confident using telehealth in the future and 49% said they were likely to use telehealth after the pandemic.

“The experience of those who took part in digital consultations was positive,” said Julianne.

While many had a largely positive experience, some had difficulties using telehealth. Challenges included a less personal experience, less perceived warmth and less perceived care, difficulties for people with hearing impairment, tech glitches and a lack of tech confidence.

Talking Real Estate with Tara

June 19, 2020 by Maggi Barnard

When looking at renting out a property there are a few things that can mean the difference between a successful investment, and a real estate nightmare.

It is crucial to have a property manager who stays on top of maintenance and has a great relationship with local tradespeople. When looking for a property manager, investors should look for one that is going to maintain the property, so the quality remains.

Consistency and integrity during regular property inspections, clear and concise communication with owners about the required repairs, as well as proactively organising repairs with tradespeople, are just some essential requirements of a successful property manager. Leaving repairs for an extended amount of time only creates larger problems, so we work to identify anything that needs doing and try to organize repairs as soon as possible to avoid further issues.

At Century 21, Tara and her team keep property owners updated throughout the repair process, ensuring the work has been done and to a high standard and sending images of the completed work for peace of mind.

The Century 21 property management team has an excellent relationship with local tradespeople which makes all the difference when getting the job completed to a high standard and in a suitable time frame. For investors to be certain that their property is well looked after and that the value of their property continues to increase, look no further than Tara and her team at Century 21 Central West. For more information about how the property management team at Century 21 can assist you with your investment property, please feel free to contact us today!

New Restrictions From 15 June At CWLE

June 19, 2020 by Maggi Barnard

The Central West Livestock Exchange (CWLE) is moving into Stage 2 of the recovery from COVID-19, with the allowance of agents, vendors, restockers and contractors on site while business is being conducted from 15 June.

“The Saleyards are not open to the general public, if you are not conducting direct business here please do not come,” says Forbes Shire Council’s General Manager, Steve Loane, who also advised that “we require all to follow some simple guidelines when attending the facility. Please fill out the attendance form before turning up at the yards. Failing to do so only results in long queues at the gate, which nobody appreciates. This form can be found on our website and the agents also have access to it.

“We know how important it is for our farming community to have a chance to catch up with fellow stock men and women and talk about their trials and tribulations. This place is a common meeting ground and everyone’s mental health needs considering,” Steve said.

For further information please contact Central West Livestock Exchange manager Cassi Walmsley on 6850 2300.

Health Check From Home

June 12, 2020 by Maggi Barnard

Despite the impact the COVID-19 outbreak has had on our lives, preventative health and routine screening are still vital. This week is HIV Testing Week in NSW. The Western NSW Local Health District (WNSWLHD) is urging our communities that even during the COVID-19 outbreak, getting testing for HIV is still important.

Social distancing measures and changes to how Sexual Health services are running during the COVID-19 outbreak has meant people may be putting off getting tested for HIV. WNSWLHD Sexual Health Clinical Nurse Consultant Kim Grant, said: “It’s great so many people are keeping safe by practising physical distancing, however keeping on top of preventative health, in particular, HIV testing is just as important”.

Dried Blood Spot (DBS) testing is also an option for people who meet eligibility criteria to test for HIV as well as Hepatitis C at home. It is free, easy, reliable, and confidential. It does not require an appointment with a doctor or a clinic.

“DBS tests can be ordered online, done in the privacy and safety of your home, and mailed directly to the lab.” Kim said.

Results from DBS tests take around a week, and clients can choose how to receive them. A nurse will be in contact via text message, email, or phone call, and are completely confidential.

WNSWLHD, Manager of HIV and Related Programs, Ann Ryan said, “HIV is a treatable health condition. The first step to living a long, healthy life with HIV is getting tested.”

To see if you are eligible for a Dried Blood Spot test head to www.hivtest.health.nsw.gov.au or get in contact with your local Sexual Health Service for an appointment or an assisted DBS test.

Farmers’ Flexibility Put To The Test Again

June 12, 2020 by Maggi Barnard

Callen Thompson from the Central West Local Land Services has some great advice to help farmers adapt to recent change.

Following earlier rainfall, warmer temperatures, and generally lower numbers of stock across the region some producers are now considering silage as an option for storing excess feed.

Central West Local Land Services mixed farming advisor Callen Thompson said while excess feed was a good problem to have there were a number of things to keep in mind before trying silage for the first time.

“Particularly if they have sown grazing crops or their cereal crops have started to run up growers are looking at their options to conserve this fodder for future use or create a saleable product to help with cash flow,” Callen said.

“Silage can be a great fodder source used to fill gaps in feed supply,” he said. The growth stage of the crop, what the silage will be used for and how it will be made were all important considerations for producers.

If cut at the right time, silage can retain much of the crops fodder quality, unlike hay which decreases in quality through the hay making process. “At this time of year you need to know if you will be able to dry the cut material quick enough to ensure feed quality, you may need to wait until daytime temperatures start to increase,” Callen said.

The decision on whether to produce bales or chopped silage would also depend on how much would be used at a time and whether it would be used on the farm or sold. Bales can be a better option if you only want to feed out small amounts at a time and wrapped bales can be sold off farm more easily.

For more information on considerations for making silage or to be notified of upcoming silage workshops contact Central West Local Land Services on 1300 795 299.

New Parent Groups Go Ahead

June 12, 2020 by Maggi Barnard

Clinical nurse and child and family health consultant, Anne Roth and Meagan Evans, clinical nurse specialist for child and family health WNSWLHD.

Keeping new parents connected during the COVID-19 pandemic has led to the Western NSW Local Health District (WNSWLHD) Child and Family Health Nurses developing a new way of working.

The WNSWLHD is now offering first time parent’s access to a Virtual New Parent Group.

WNSWLHD, Consultant Child and Family Health Clinical Nurse, Anne Roth said, “New Parents Groups are normally provided face to face in centres across the WNSWLHD and we’ve had a great response to the first group, with 52 first time parents registering since it started on 22 April.”

COVID-19 has meant that these face to face groups can no longer operate as normal but the need to stay connected is more important than ever.

“This is particularly important for new parents who can feel vulnerable at this time. It may be hard right now for them to know how to balance the joy and excitement of having a new baby with the fear caused by this unprecedented global pandemic,” Anne said.

The Group is led by Meagan Evans a Clinical Nurse Specialist in Child and Family Health and is held weekly over four weeks with each session running for 90 minutes.

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