Local State Member Kevin Humphries presented a cheque on 17 October last year for $1.5m from the State Government to upgrade the availability of dialysis at Nyngan, not only for local people requiring the service but for Nyngan to become a hub for areas west of here. Mr McLaughlin indicated that extension planning was currently occurring for the safe supply of adequate filtered water to the hospital for the upgrade. Apparently the architect of the MPS has been involved to draw up a plan and location for the unit, with tenders to be called in a couple of months. Mr McLaughlin said he expected the unit to be operational in twelve to eighteen months. This seems an excessively long time to wait for completion, particularly when some local residents still travel 3 times a week to Dubbo for dialysis. Hopefully the foot can be put down on this project so that completion can meet the time frame expectations when the cheque was presented.

All ratepayers will shortly receive information from the State Government about the Emergency Services Levy to fund the operations of the three emergency services commencing next financial year. All ratepayers benefit from the actions of emergency services personnel when fires and other natural disasters occur and emergency rescues are needed. This will be a much fairer way to fund them than by a tax on only those with insurance. The levy will be sent out with next year’s rate notices, but as a separate item and not a Council rate increase. Council will collect the money on behalf of the Government and will send it on. The State Government need to be in a position to ensure Insurance companies reduce their premiums by the amount they were charging policy holders to pay the emergency services levy.

The Larsen family recently sold their business, Larsen’s Transport, after over 40 years of operation. Graeme started their business from Girilambone with a small truck delivering parcels between Nyngan and Dubbo, and saw it grow into the successful large transport reliable business of parcel and freight delivery between Dubbo and all towns west to Bourke, Cobar and Brewarrina.

During this time Larsen’s have employed many drivers and locals at their depot. It must surely have been one of the most successful family businesses to operate in the western area. Council still has the provision of Seniors Rental Accommodation on its agenda, with a costed site plan to be presented to Council next month on the site of the old Preschool. Council extends sympathy to the family of the late Bill McLaughlin, formerly of “Whitewood”, Nyngan and later of “Jambola”, Molong who passed away recently.