As the State election campaign winds into its final week it is not surprising that most of the attention by the major parties centres around city electorates and some north coast seats that the Labor Party hope to reclaim.
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If the Coalition wins the majority in the State Lower House and gains a mandate to lease 49 per cent of the poles and wires, that so much of their funding depends on, it is hoped minority party members of the Upper House with a minuscule mandate won’t block the legislation.
In our shire, part of the large Barwon electorate, not much is promised. The Roads and Maritime Services Office has been given an assurance of staying open for a number of years, but a cloud still hangs over the future of the local court house after the election.
Much could be done to improve the lot of dialysis recipients in our shire who need to travel regularly, tri-weekly to Dubbo.
Member for Barwon, Kevin Humphries will be attending our council meeting on Thursday and will be asked if the Coalition has any money to assist funding a medical centre for our shire.
He did indicate earlier that $50m of the State’s Regional Infrastructure Funds would go towards piping the Albert Priest Channel in a couple of years’ time.
Our Fit for the Future Submission, Drought Assistant Policy, Rural Fire Service Funding, a Container Deposit Scheme, the Native Vegetation Act, winding back daylight saving and a Plan B for funding if the poles and wires legislation is not passed will all be discussed with him.
With Anzac Day only a month away council and the local sub-branch have finalised the program, starting with the unveiling of plaques at Heritage Park, followed by the march and service at the Cenotaph.
More shaded seating will be available this year as a large crowd is anticipated for the centenary. An open invitation is extended to any sons and daughters of former ex-service men and women, no longer with us, to join the march as an extra component of the centenary.
With Senior Citizens’ Week again behind us we hope all our senior actives enjoyed the week’s program. Congratulations to Lorraine Callaghan who was voted our Senior Citizen of the Year 2015, with Dawn Elder the other nominee.
Both ladies contribute a lot to our community, so it’s good to have the opportunity to acknowledge, with appreciation, their efforts, along with many others not nominated who lend a helping hand. Unfortunately only one busload of people could travel out to inspect the solar farm last Saturday morning.
However we are assured an open day is planned in the future for those who missed out. Thanks to Donna Pumpa for much of the organising for Seniors’ Week.
Council’s gravel resheeting and maintenance grading program has continued during the last two months with very little interruption from wet weather.
A total of 1.4 kms of the Dandaloo Road has been sealed from the Tottenham Road to its junction with the Buddabadah Road. Construction and sealing of 1km of Coffils Lane and 1km of Pangee Road, 2kms of the Hermidale-Nymagee Road and 1km of the Colane Road are programmed to be done before the end of May.
Hopefully those who attended the public meeting last Wednesday have a better understanding of our submission content for “Fit for the Future’. Support from that meeting and the good response we had to the surveys has been appreciated and certainly helps the information we need to provide.
As explained, excessive emphasis on financials ratios instead of council’s history and ways, we believe we can improve with more financial help, with the potential of improving Local Government statewide.
Those who travel out to our tip will be pleased to know that another cell can be constructed within the existing site to alleviate the overflowing heap.
Once the new site is established, north of the existing site, we will be required to spread each day’s deliveries with water and then cover with soil and compact.
RL Donald Mayor
