We know they will do us proud, as previous delegations have done, and we look forward to their safe return with lots of stories to tell.   

Thank you again to the local community who so generously supported their fundraising activities to make their trip possible. Also good luck to the Year 12 HSC students as they commence their exams this week.   

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A number of representatives from groups that use the Racecourse/Showground Complex met last week to review how their events had run this year and to look to next year.

A major upgrade of the Wye Pavilion inside and out helped by a grant, permanent relocation of the sheep dog trial yards, a new skillion on the edge of the Animal Farm Pavilion, top-dressing the area between the racecourse grandstand and the horse stalls, a new fence to keep spectators and children away from the horse stalls and improvements to the watering system in the ring were the main ones.  

The co-operation and financial contributions to these projects by users is certainly appreciated.   

With the Centenary of the Anzac landing race meeting next year, priority will be given (hopefully helped by another grant) to some top-dressing and grading of the racecourse, clearing and cleaning up the inside of the racecourse and ensuring adequate measures are in place to ensure amenities cope with the large crowds generated by events, particularly the Duck Creek races.  

We also hope to be able to paint most of the racecourse grandstand for this special meeting.  

Painting of the southern section of the ring and some maintenance to some of the fascia boards and guttering is also planned.   

It is good to see the annual events at the showground/racecourse continuing and in many areas growing, which provides the incentive to maintain and improve the infrastructure at the complex.

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As harvest approaches, which will hopefully be a reasonably successful one following the season we have had for most of this year in Bogan Shire, council agreed to participate again in the Grain Harvest Management Scheme on all shire roads, and allow vehicles 5 per cent margin over their general mass limit.   

The co-operation of all involved in the transport of grain is requested. Weather permitting, the major access roads into Nyngan silos should have all recently received a maintenance grade, with some gravel re-sheeting.

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As previously mentioned, council recently advertised for a replacement museum co-ordinator and has appointed Stewart McKenzies to take over from Glad Eldridge.   

The next meeting of the museum committee will be the annual meeting with reports and election of office bearers scheduled.   

We have an appreciation dinner soon planned for Glad Eldridge as she retires as museum co-ordinator to which museum volunteers will all be invited to attend.   

She has been appointed the museum patron by council, with a plaque to be placed in the museum acknowledging her long and valued contribution to this project.

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Some interesting statistics were conveyed to members of the Nyngan Solar Plant Community Consultative Committee at the last meeting on October 1 2014.   

Half or 78,000 of the steel posts had been installed at the site as well as many tilt brackets and tables installed to take the solar panels or modules.  

There are 1.3million of these, of which 678,000 have been delivered with installation of these to start last week.   

First Solar representatives reported that there are currently 140 people employed on site, with this number expected to peak at just over 200.   

Local members of the committee continue to advocate and strongly encourage as much opportunity as possible be given for local employment, particularly at the current assembly stage of the project.   

First Solar and AGL representatives reported that approximately $100,000 was being spent at local businesses for requirements for employees and for the construction site.   

While it may be difficult to accurately estimate the amount of wages and purchases flowing through the town we certainly hope local businesses are getting a substantial benefit from the Solar Farm construction. The $28,000 from the first AGL Community Fund has certainly been received with appreciation from a number of local community groups.

RL Donald, Mayor