The budget meeting will explain the main program for the next financial year from a balanced budget totalling some $12m. 

Council will be retaining its current employment level and putting a high priority on the services it is responsible for. 

Road works take up the major part of the expenditure with 7kms of bitumen seals planned plus necessary reseals, gravel resheeting, maintenance grading and ongoing contract work on the highways.  

Other programs include extensive replacement of tiles at the swimming pool, aged accommodation, main street beautification, a new garbage tip and improvements to the Albert Priest Channel shared with Cobar. 

Rate levels and income to cover these programs will be explained and discussed.

The public meeting at the RSL Auditorium at 6pm on Thursday (May 30 2013) will explain the program to beautify the main street. 

Efforts to explain this project via a public meeting two years ago, plans provisionally adopted by Council for community comment (of which none were received ), a further information meeting in July 2012 and reference to the project in Council’s local column in November 2012 seemed to have been overlooked by many people when work started on the southern side of Pangee Street last week. 

Council has been surprised and disappointed by comments from a few that it is a Council that does not inform residents about its programs, and intends to take actions that will destroy local businesses. 

Hopefully the information pamphlet distributed to all last week, and the public meeting will again inform residents of this project aimed at making the main street more attractive. 

This meeting will also provide an opportunity to discuss reforming the Nyngan Historical Society and gauge any interest in re-establishing another committee.

The Nyngan Hospital Auxiliary is holding a first-ever car boot sale in the Anglican Church grounds on Saturday June 1 2013, with proceeds to purchase some much-needed items, like shower chairs for our local hospital.  

Sounds like another local organisation is rolling up its sleeves to help the community - so give President Rhonda a call if you can help with some spare saleable items. (Phone 68321377)

I had the pleasure of attending the Nyngan High School National Sorry Day and Public Education Assembly last Friday, and was very impressed by the way the students concerned conducted the assembly, the respectful tone of the assembly and behaviour of the assembled school community.   

Following representation from the owners of the two Nyngan Caravan Parks, Council has decided to withdraw from being a RV Friendly Town.  

Part of the criteria to be recognised in this scheme was to provide free parking for motorhomes, campervans and caravans at the showground.  

Originally we entered into this arrangement to hopefully attract a major motor home rally here, but the chances of this event coming to Nyngan seem very slim.   

The facility for motorhome owners will remain at the Teamsters Rest Area in Pangee Street, however we do not wish to provide an arrangement that potentially takes business from the local park owners. It is good to hear the library has received a grant of $149,000 after a number of unsuccessful previous applications.   

Congratulations to Maria and her team who have persevered and now have funds to redesign and modernise the library interior into a new “people space”.  

The project involves improving collection display and accessibility, improved shelving, disabled access to the bathroom and with many other improvements the money will be well spent and certainly appreciated.

Former NSW Governor Rear Admiral Peter Sinclair, remembered by many as our flood co-ordinator after 1990, will be back in town for the long weekend’s celebrations to mark 130 years of railway in Nyngan.  

 It will be good to see Peter again. As Patron of State Passenger Rail heritage, he will be coming from Newcastle in the train travelling to Nyngan for the weekend.

Council resolved at a recent meeting to support opposing the electronic tagging of sheep and goats and has sent a letter to the Minister of Primary Industries on this issue.