The announced closure of the rural counsellor’s office in Nyngan last week, following a major restructure of the services, makes an unfortunate trifecta of closures for Bogan Shire. Last year saw Westpac close the branch and the court house is undergoing a six-month trial of only being open once a month on court days.
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These are somewhat offset by the construction of our Early Learning Centre and Medical Centre, but still it is bad news for clients in our small centre.
Nyngan Rural Financial Services office is one of the oldest in the western area with its counsellors providing good financial advice and assistance to many in Bogan Shire and beyond, and with its current active number of clients well above the average of 23 for office in the Central West.
Following the independent review of the Rural Financial Counsellor Service by the National Rural Advisory Council most of their recommendations were adopted by the Federal Coalition, which changed the way clients in services were counted and consequently led to a reduction in federal government funding for the service.
The Central West area of NSW now covers 52 per cent of the state, has lost eight counsellors including Nyngan due to funding cutbacks, with the expectation that clients from areas like Bogan Shire now have to travel to Bourke.
The CEO and Board of Central West Rural Counsellors Service are promoting a hub and spoke service radiating from Bourke, Dubbo and Forbes where two counsellors are located in each centre.
Electronic means and on-property visits are proposed as part of the new administration arrangements, with a three-year duration for a client of the service.
I am bitterly disappointed that the Nyngan office will close and believe one counsellor should have been retained here and not have two at Bourke, or not have one located at Gilgandra so close to Dubbo.
It seems unfair that so many offices (eight) have closed in the Central West area, and none closed in the Northern or Southern areas of the state.
Our current counsellor, Mrs Victoria Boag, is well established here, has an excellent relationship with her clients and has been able to provide valuable help to many farmers in our shire and beyond.
These relationships and her undertaking of many clients will now be severed, take time to replace and will not be replaced by contacts external to a confidential office interview.
An article in last week’s Nyngan Observer headed “Rates will not be rising” should not be misunderstood.
As correctly reported, council will not be proceeding with an application for a Special Rate Variation to fund an infrastructure levy of 1.5 per cent for increased road work funding.
It remains part of our overall Fit for the Future submission and long-term plan, but needs more time to seek community support.
Council will consider the allowable 1.8 per cent increase for general fund rates in our estimates for next financial year, which is the rate cap recommended by
IPART.
With Australia Day behind us for another year, congratulations to our award winners and thanks to all those who helped with and attended the local celebrations in the town hall.
You all made our Australia Day Ambassador, Brad Farmer and his two companions feel very welcome to our town and district, and they were very impressed with the appearance of the town, and the museum, when they had a tour around.
We need to further refine and encourage more participation, nominations and voting for next year and we welcome any suggestions.
A fair bit of media comment seems to be focusing on celebrating Australia Day in the future on another day external to the arrival of the First Fleet.
A good idea perhaps if it was when the weather was cooler.
Farmers’ frustration about illegal hunting, stock theft, fences cut, property stolen and gate locks cut by trespassers is well understood.
Court action against those caught needs to be much quicker, and legislation changed to ensure serious penalties are available.
A police helicopteravailable to rapidly respond to reliable reports of trespassing would be a
good short-term measure to apprehend illegal hunters despite the cost.
Actions like this would support local police efforts to catch offenders on the ground, act as a strong deterrent to law breakers and minimise the future potential of a confrontation occurring between farmers and illegal hunters, both with guns.
RL Donald
