Cr Donald is disappointed by the decision announced by Rural Financial Counselling Service Central West (RFCS-CW) CEO Jeff Caldbeck on Monday. 

Nyngan landholders seeking free rural financial counselling will now have to contact hubs based out of Dubbo or Bourke. 

“It’s very disappointing, (the Federal Government) is saving on budget, but the amount for a rural financial counsellor is miniscule for them and the benefit is enormous here,” Cr Donald said. 

“We have a long-term established office and the need remains. This replacement is inadequate.” 

Mr Caldbeck insists the standard of the current service will remain. 

“Ultimately our business aim is to assist those eligible clients across the vast NSW Central Service Area in a way that is mutually beneficial and leads to sustained outcomes for the client,” he said. 

Cr Donald said the current rural financial counsellor, Victoria Boag, had a fantastic relationship with the local community, something that would be missed by many. 

“There’s a great relationship with our current councillor Victoria Boag,” Cr Donald said. 

“We will have to renegotiate everything. Councillors here have dealt with financial needs including working with foreclosures and banks.”

Cr Donald said local counsellors had also helped with people with mental health needs. 

“They get calls from clients with mental health needs. They know who might need assistance with funding or who might need some more money around Christmas time. That’s severed if the office is closed,” he said.

Mr Caldbeck said the new system would allow counsellors to be more mobile. 

“A key feature of our business has always been to provide highly-mobile counsellors who can visit clients on-farm or in another location. To ensure that the team can continue to be responsive we are moving to a hub-style service from Bourke, Dubbo and Forbes where counsellors will be co-located,” he said. 

“Counsellors are not bound by bricks and mortar so the hubs will enable a high quality and timely service to the whole region.”