Society's reliance on digital technology was laid bare last week with CrowdStrike's system crash.With no hackers in sight, a undetected computer bug triggered by an automatic update for a piece of software caused major issues across the world. Microsoft has estimated that the incident, which is being described as one of the worst IT outages in history, impacted 8.5 million computers.Businesses, banks, hospitals and airlines were among the worst-hit, with some still struggling to fully restore their systems. For anyone attempting to make an EFTPOS or credit card purchase during this time, the chances of success were definitely low.For this reason, the Australian Citizens Party (ACP) says the lesson from the event is that the ultimate manual redundancy in case of system failure is cash.There were problems using eftpos and ATMs in some cities, but there was little impact in local branches. FILE IMAGE.“Cash is king”, ACP Research Director Robert Barwick said, “but the banks have been working very hard to overthrow the king." “In 2019 the Morrison government tried to do the banks’ dirty work for them by banning cash transactions over $10,000, but was forced to back off by an enormous public backlash.""Yet since then, the banks themselves have tried to force us to go cashless by taking away access to cash—closing thousands of branches and ripping out tens of thousands of ATMs." “The banks want every single transaction to go through their computers, so they can take a cut of literally everything, and spy on everything we do so they can monetise our data. This outage should anger every Australian, because it should never have been this disruptive."At one bank in Narromine, a spokesperson told Western Plains App that they had not experienced any issues during the IT shutdown. "Luckily we didn't experience any issues and could operate as usual," they said. "Computers were a bit slow, but that's not necessarily unusual at times." Other phone calls to business outlets yielded similar results. Like many, the Warren Shire Council said it had been "business as usual" during the event. But for outlets that were affected, people with cash were definitely at an advantage.This has been a further catalyst for the ACP who are calling on all Australians to demand Parliament pass a proposed Keeping Cash Transactions in Australia Bill 2024, which will make it unlawful for businesses not to accept cash payments (up to $10,000 and with some reasonable exceptions). “We’ve been conned by the banks to accept cashless businesses, and this is a wake-up call”, Mr Barwick said. “There should be no more cashless businesses, full stop.""Cash is not only legal tender, it is the most reliable medium for transacting under all conditions, including natural disasters, power failures and digital outages."The 'blue screen of death' meant frustrations for many. FILE PHOTO. But the outage wasn't only about cash. Member for Barwon, Roy Butler, experienced technological difficulties as he travelled to Broken Hill to speak on radio at the height of the issues. "With the ongoing Blue Screen of Death issues I was excited to see an old school recording machine on the desk at ABC Broken Hill when I arrived with Ron Hoenig MP," Mr Butler said. "It was an iPhone and microphone to the rescue for the interview." On Monday this week, he was still experiencing issues at his office in Narrabri. "My offices are still impacted by the issue, please give us a call if we can help, we will get to emails when the software is restored," Mr Butler said. Ordinary residents in the western plains did not escape unscathed.Ïn the outage today I was affected via my phone where I couldn't access anything or do anything,"one reader told the Western Plains App."I was in middle of studying and my laptop had crashed so I was met with the blue screen of death."I had assessments that needed doing but couldn't. I couldn't access emails, Aus post, Gmail, NAB, and I had alot of stuff to do."

Tourists and locals alike will benefit from the sealing of parts of the National Park Road in the Gilgandra Shire Council. Twelve-and-a-half kilometres of dirt road along the 52-kilometere National Park Road will be sealed and widened to improve travel and make the road more resilient to heavy rain and other weather events.  The remainder of the National Park Road that will be sealed runs from the northern end of the road to the Barone Creek crossing.As well as unlocking access to the Warrumbungle National Park from the west, the upgrade will improve the lives of families and assist operations of businesses in the area. "Families in the Curban and Tooraweenah area along this road will have improved access to health and education facilities through reduced travel times and all-weather access, leading to greater livability for this region," Gilgandra Shire Mayor Doug Batton said. The road repairs will also support school bus runs and give increased access to the Warrumbungle National Park.  Resident Karen Halfpenny is looking forward to the upgrade. "When it's wet, we don't go anywhere. We try to stay home, because the minute we turn off our driveway it gets greasy." "Friends can't come to visit unless they have a four-wheel drive," Ms Halfpenny said. "Once it's tarred, it will be great." The new sealed section will improve access to the Warrumbungle National Park from the west. IMAGE: DOMAIN The sealing of the road will also improve access to silos in Gilgandra, Curban, Armatree, and Gulargambone, supporting grain distribution across the region.  The total cost of the road was $4,878,344 with $3 million coming from the Fixing Local Roads Program and an additional $878,444 through the Local Roads and Community Infrastructure Program.  The remaining $999,900 came from council funding. MP Roy Butler and Minister for Regional Transport and Roads Jenny Aitchison attended the sod turn.  "I'm so pleased to visit Gilgandra to see the start of work on this important upgrade which will greatly improve local travel and transport links," Minister Aitchison said. Mr Butler said the region would see more activity to improve driving conditions and access. "With NSW government funding, we expect to see many more kilometres of sealed roads to be constructed in the near future."  "Reliable, all-weather roads mean that council spends less time and money grading unsealed roads and producers and the general public have safe, more dependable transport roads."Tenders to seal more than 58 kilometres of the Tooraweenah to Coonamble Road, which connects with Gilgandra Shire's National Park Road, have recently closed. That project, funded by the Commonwealth Government, will complete a fully-sealed link from the National Park to Coonamble.

Young murder victim Daniel Morcombe will never know the good that his parents, and the charitable foundation named in his honour, are doing for children around Australia.Students from Year 3 to Year 6 at the Cobar Public School got a special end to their second term on 5 July with a talk from Bruce and Denise Morcombe from the Daniel Morcombe Foundation about how to notice unsafe situations and where to go from there.  The students won the talk after holding a fundraiser for the Day for Daniel earlier last year.  The talk was part of the 20-day 7,200 kilometre Time to Talk Road Trip under the motto 'recognise, react, report' to prevent child sexual abuse.  Bruce and Denise Morcombe also visited other towns across Australia such as Gladstone, Rockhampton, Winton, and Port Pirie to discuss the risks children face online such as sextortion and online grooming. "It is really important to us that all children are educated about their personal safety," Denise Morcombe said.  "Our aim is to educate them all on how to recognise unsafe situations, how to react in these situations, and, very importantly, to encourage them to report these to their safety team." The students received the talk well. The Morcombe presentation focused on teaching children at the Cobar public school about how to recognise, react, and report unsafe situations"It was fantastic. The children really enjoyed it" Cobar Public School Promotions Officer Donna Prendergast said.  Many of the students and teachers wore red to show support for the organisation.  The Daniel Morcombe foundation is named after Bruce and Denise's son who disappeared in 2003 at the age of 13.  His case drew national attention and sparked conversations about child safety.  Daniel's death remained unsolved until 2011 when Sunshine Coast resident Brett Peter Cowan was charged and three years later convicted of his murder.  The Daniel Morcombe Foundation was funded in 2005 to give access to free educational resources to educate children about safety and help stop child sexual abuse.  The 20th Day for Daniel Walk will be on 25 October on the Sunshine Coast.  "We are proud to be Daniel's parents and quite moved that 20 years after his abduction, those tragic events are not forgotten and his important legacy continues to grow," Mr Morcombe said. Denise Morcombe in the crowd at the Cobar Public School

The town of Lightning Ridge is bright and shiny this week with the annual Lightning Ridge Opal and Gem Festival in full swing.  The Festival got underway on Wednesday and will run until Sunday 28 July.It's a veritable showcase of all things Opal and Gem.   The local organisers say “jewellers, buyers, wholesalers, miners, rock-hounds, lapidary enthusiasts and tourists are invited to experience the best Lightning Ridge has to offer with this culmination of information, spectacular jewellery, collectables, great deals and fantastic networking opportunities.”  With free entry to the indoor and outdoor stalls, (Agate Street – behind Chemist and Racecourse carpark) the festival boasts over 150 stalls with a huge range of gemstones, lapidary supplies and lifestyle products.   Free Demonstrations of lapidary cutting, and carving will take place each day over the course of the four days with a highlight of the Festival being the annual Opal Queen Ball on Saturday night, where the Opal Queen will be crowned for 2024.  Organiser Sally Weeks is thrilled with the first couple of days attendance.  “We have had record attendance at the Festival in the last two days with around 2000 people the first day and 1500 people on Thursday, which is so exciting for us.  “The Festival which first commenced in the seventies, but in its current format in the late 90’s, is a highlight for the small community and brings people from all over Australia and the world.” “Although it is essentially an Opal and Gem Trade Show, we do have lots of stalls so there is something for everyone. “Our aim for the Festival is to promote the opal industry as well as Lightning Ridge as a tourist destination and to provide a safe, secure environment for miners, buyers, wholesalers, jewellers, lapidary enthusiasts and the general public to come together and share their passion for opals and gems,” said Mrs. Weeks. “Our Opal sellers represent all the Opal mining areas within Australia, and our buyers and tourists come from all over Australia and overseas as well, we even spoke to some British travellers who saw an advertisement about the Festival on a British travel site and decided to come over which was cool." “We have music performances from our local school music students which is fantastic. Country kids have such limited opportunities to showcase their talent, so this gives them a chance to step out and perform.” “On Saturday we have our Opal Queen Ball which is a celebration of the contributions and achievements of local women within the local community and is always a highlight of the week for the locals and visitors alike,” according to Mrs Weeks. “It is a brilliant weekend for the Community, and we love that everyone enjoys it so much.”   For more information head to the festival website for information on what’s happening each day or follow them on Facebook - Lightning Ridge Opal and Gem Festival. 

Telstra, Optus and TPG representatives were questioned at a federal parliamentary hearing over 3G closures on Wednesday 24 July.While Telstra claims it's 4G network now has largely the same coverage as its 3G counterpart, business and medical groups told the hearing they are still worried rural Australians will be cut off when the old network closes on 31 August.The same claim has been made by residents and business owners within the western plains, who believe that the 4G and 5G footprints will not match the current 3G service area.In a submission to the inquiry, the Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS) said many bush areas in low population and isolated areas still rely on 3G to communicate."A lack of reliable connectivity, particularly in areas where there are no local health services, can create extreme and unnecessary risk during emergency situations and creates a barrier to receiving telehealth services," the submission said.RFDS Chief Information Officer Ryan Klose also told the inquiry the service has used alerts which rely on 3G to keep clinicians safe."This could be 25-year-old male or female and they go into these strange communities by themselves," Mr Klose said."We give them duress alarms powered by 3G, security alarms."Mr Klose joined the bi-partisan parliamentary hearing via video link. YouTube/ Australian Parliament House Streaming Portal Mr Klose said the service has also used 3G across CCTV systems, emergency communications channels and clinician vehicle tracking.He said the RFDS has so far spent between $150,000 to $200,000 to replace 3G-reliant equipment with 4G or satellite.Meanwhile, the National Farmers Association (NFF) said ahead of the hearing that it's concerned about "unforeseen impacts" on devices including agricultural technology."While we acknowledge the opportunity the shutdown presents to improve connectivity across the country, farmers and communities are understandably apprehensive about what a world without the 3G network means for them, an anxiety made worse by anecdotal reports of degrading and changing mobile service in some areas and a general lack of confidence in existing complaint processes," an NFF spokesperson said.Telstra representative Gerard Tracey at the hearing in Canberra. IMAGE: YouTube/ Australian Parliament House Streaming PortalTelstra Principle Engineer at its Network Connectivity Service, Gerard Tracey, told the hearing it has been working towards a point where it's 4G network covers the same areas as 3G, also referred to as "coverage equivalence.""The way that we've gone through to confirm coverage equivalence is, as we've built out the 4G network, we've done drive surveys, we've done analysis of call records, we've actually done independent surveys to go out and validate that this coverage point 3G and 4G network is equivalent."Optus will also begin shutting down its 3G network from September while TPG, which owns Vodaphone, pulled the plug in January. The network was introduced to Australia in 2003.Ahead of the deadline, Telstra has sent messages to customers with devices that are not 4G compatible. Customers can also check compatibility by texting '3' to 3498.Telstra has an online interactive map showing areas it says are covered by its 3G, 4G and 5G networks.However, Coonamble business owner Lucy Moss said 4G doesn't reach her home kilometres north of the town and has trepidation about the impending 3G shutdown."It's something that we've been aware of for a really long time. In their defence, it hasn't been a sudden movement by any means, however I think the criticism comes back to the fact that what they're replacing it with just isn't adequate for us," she said."At the moment, the 4G cuts out pretty much within a 20-kilomtre radius around town."She also has a signal booster in her car which only works with 3G.Telstra Chief Sustainability Officer Justine Rowe said the service provider will work with customers where they report discrepancies in service on the map and on the ground."If a customer does have a concern we welcome them contacting us and we will work with them understand the concern, what's actually driving the experience for that customer and how we might be able to support it," Ms Rowe said."That will happen post-closure."

The excitement of the 109th Carinda Races was palpable as between 250 to 300 onlookers gathered to watch the jockeys compete for the Cup on Saturday. Despite windy conditions, the sun warmed up racegoers and the track itself, which had been resurfaced after a wet build up. The programme consisted of six races with a prize money of $74,000.  The Carinda races are always a big day for the small town of under 200 people. Photo Credit: Rowie Hawley PhotographyPhoto Credit: Rowie Hawley PhotographyThis event was the first one to be led by new committee members, president Taryn Gough, treasurer Libby Caton, and secretary Bec McLellan.  "All the volunteers have been terrific. This year we had three ladies on the committee and they certainly know how to crack the whip," the announcer said during the races.  "We have had a busy year refreshing the facilities trackside with painting, a new toilet block and upgrades to the track and surveillance towers," Ms Gough said.  "Walgett Shire Council has worked with us throughout the upgrades also," she said.  "It's super important to keep up these days, as it's great for not only our community but also local and surrounding businesses."  Trackside, the elegant fashion choices added a colourful flare to the day. Carol Clarke won the competition for classic lady fashion, and Katrina Shelton won the contemporary ladies' competition. Best best-dressed girl went to Sophie Dowling Brown. Michael O'Brien was named the best-dressed man and Mason Gordon won the hearts of the crowd as the best-dressed boy. Chris Clemson and Sharmayne Ledden walked together over the finish line for best-dressed couple.  The party continued with kicks-ons and tunes supplied by Brad Haling.  "We had a good crowd turnout and the races went fantastic," Ms Gough said. The boys show off at their style at the fashion competitionPhoto Credit: Rowie Hawley PhotographyPhoto Credit: Rowie Hawley PhotographyPhoto Credit: Rowie Hawley PhotographyPhoto Credit: Rowie Hawley PhotographyPhoto Credit: Rowie Hawley PhotographyPhoto Credit: Rowie Hawley PhotographyPhoto Credit: Rowie Hawley Photography

Truck drivers will sleep easier on the trip between Walgett and Brewarrina shires after the state and federal governments announced a $1.75 upgrade to the Yambie Lagoon rest stop. The rest stop sits 60 kilometres east of Brewarrina township, right on the border between the two shires.The nearly $2 million price tag wasn't lost on local mayors who spoke to the Western Plains App. The current stop is an approximate 100-metre bitumen stretch off the northern side of the highway with two bins.The upgrade will extend the existing bitumen and mirror it on the southern side of the road.Toilet and shelter facilities will be constructed as well as picnic tables and extended parking for heavy and light vehicles Works are expected to begin in early 2025.The Brewarrina-Walgett boundary where the Yambie Lagoon rest stop sits. IMAGE: Google MapsBrewarrina Shire mayor Vivian Slack-Smith she understands the money "did sound exorbitant" for a rest stop upgrade. "But by the time you design the signage, changes to the road and the building itself and everything that goes with putting a rest stop on the side of the road, it quickly gets up to that amount of money," Cr Slack-Smith said. "It is pretty exciting, both for long-haul trucks and normal people needing to stop. "There's not many trees along the road."Walgett Shire mayor Jasen Ramien also welcomed the commitment and he'd like to see more like it. "Especially in shires with a long distance between towns," Cr Ramien said.  "There are a couple of rest stops between Collarenebri and Moree. I'd like to see one halfway between Collarenebri and Walgett. There are a lot of truck drivers that leave Walgett and there's absolutely nowhere to get off until they get off the road."“Driver fatigue is one of the top three factors leading to fatal crashes on NSW roads, contributing to at least 21 per cent of heavy vehicle fatal crashes in regional NSW in the five years since December 2019," Federal Assistant Minister for Infrastructure and Transport Carol Brown said.“The Australian Government’s Heavy Vehicle Safety and Productivity Program supported projects that aim to improve access to rest areas for drivers of larger vehicles, providing more opportunities to manage fatigue and their regulatory requirements." The project is funded by the Australian Government under the Heavy Vehicle Safety and Productivity Program, as well as the NSW Government. A Transport for NSW spokesperson said they were unable to give further details on the project since the design has not been finalised.The spokesperson also said Transport for NSW will have ongoing management of the area when upgrades are completed. Transport Workers Union NSW State Secretary Richard Olsen. PHOTO: suppliedThe peak body representing long haul drivers say that for a rest area to be effective it has to deliver a full suite of facilities.Transport Workers Union NSW State Secretary Richard Olsen said the final design should come with similar worker facilities found in factories and offices. "Fixing fatigue is not just a sealed road on the side of the highway, you've got to have proper amenities," Mr Olsen said. "If we had toilets, amenities, showers, a place to sit down and watch the news for half an hour before we have to go back in the truck - and then a place to go and sleep if you were on a seven hour break - that should be an option for truck drivers. I think that's reasonable." 

Gulargambone residents can say goodbye to their slow internet connection, as the NSW Government leapfrogs the nbn by announcing plans to install high-speed Fibre to the Premises (FTTP). The $250 million investment is part of an agreement between the NSW government and Australia's second-largest fibre wholesale access broadband provider, Opticomm. "Approximately, 370 addresses in Gulargambone will be eligible with the remaining addresses located in Menindee and Sunset Strip," said a spokesperson for Tara Moriarty,  Minister for Regional NSW and Western NSW.The exact number of eligible addresses will be confirmed once the initial detailed design and planning phase of the project is complete. The spokesperson said that Opticomm will construct a whole new fibre network."This initiative is entirely independent of the nbn," the spokesperson said.  The upgrades are set to begin at the end of 2025.Gulargambone, as with many smaller regional communities, did not receive fibre or wireless connections as part of the original nbn rollout.Access to the internet is generally via the nbn's Skymuster satellite, mobile broadband through the local Telstra tower, or the more expensive Starlink low-orbit satellite.Some residents say they are looking forward to the upgrade but it is long overdue. “After one and half years, they will just start building, and when will it finish?” asked Pharmacist Kris Chaudry. “Last year, we didn’t have internet for 10 days in a row. This year it didn’t come back for three days.”“Every few months or every year, it drops out for a very long time. That’s a consistent history.” Mr Chaudry says his broadband internet is often not reliable and can impact the delivery of medications and the assessment of Medicare claims. “Sometimes, we can’t claim anything. We don’t know whether a script we have dispensed is accepted by Medicare or not," he told the Coonamble Times.“Obviously, things get very slow for ordering as well. Sometimes we have to go back to the old system of ordering over the phone which takes a very long time.“We can’t hold a large amount of stock. We’re just a small outlet and don’t have capacity to buy large so we have to order on a daily basis.” Nav Singh from the Friendly Grocer said he also has issues with his internet, “The last few months it hasn’t been too bad but before it happened a lot.”“The internet would slow down for a few days.” Mr Singh said the slow internet is a problem to his internet as well. “Everything works with internet, all the systems. If someone doesn’t have cash we just get stuck.”Some residents and businesses contacted, such as the Gulargambone Rural Transaction Centre (GRTC), have switched to Starlink to enhance their connectivity and avoid issues with broadband internet. "We're not doing too bad here. Australia Post put in an upgrade to Starlink. Before that, it was very, very slow," Manager of the GRTC Tammy Nicol said. Mr Singh and Mr Chaudry said they will take advantage of FTTP when it arrives in Gulargambone. "Of course I would use it," Mr Chaudry said. He added that he hopes more internet providers will come to Gulargambone to improve competition and services. "Optus should come. Vodafone should come," he said. "We pay $130 and it is still so unreliable." Residents and businesses can check if they are eligible on the 'check my address' tool on Opticomm's website. "Coonamble Shire Council and the Gulargambone community will receive further information about the project and will be invited to use this tool in the coming months," a spokesperson for Minister Moriarty said. 

CORRECTION: Please note, the previously published version of this article contained some details that were found to be incorrect. At this stage there is no indication of a mechanical fault and there is no evidence of a mayday call made by the pilot. The incident remains under investigation by the ATSB. The Western Plains App apologises for the error and for any confusion or distress caused.The Air Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) has just released a preliminary report into a fatal aircraft accident that took place in the Western Plains earlier this year. The tragic event unfolded near Bourke, when an AT-502 crop duster plane engaged in agricultural operations crash-landed in a paddock at around 07:50am on 10 February. At 06:29am local time, the plane departed a private airstrip on the property it was working on, in a southerly direction with the first load of herbicide.Another pilot also departed around this time to conduct spraying in a different area of the same property.The plan was to continue spraying herbicide on fields they had commenced the previous day. At 6:32am recorded data showed that the pilot had commenced spraying a field. The recording ended 12 seconds later. The final point recorded the aircraft's ground speed of about 114 kiloton and travelling in a south-easterly direction. At about 07:15am, the other pilot attempted to contact the pilot of AQW on the ultra-high frequency radio, followed by a text message but received no response.The other pilot became concerned about their colleague so decided to fly around the property to locate AQW.The aircraft wreckage was found in a cotton field adjacent to the field being sprayed. The incident resulted in the death of the 47-year-old pilot, who was the sole occupant.Last week the latest report stated that the spraying was expected to be conducted with the aircraft’s wheels about 2-3 m above the ground.“A site examination found the aircraft had impacted an irrigation levee adjacent to the southernmost field being sprayed,” acting Director Transport Safety Dr Nathalie Boston said. “A ground scar about 27 m long from the aircraft’s left main wheel was found in the paddock just before the levee, and two more wheel marks were found where the main landing gear struck the levee.”Examination of the wreckage itself indicated the aircraft collided with terrain nose down, then came to rest inverted. “All of the aircraft’s major components were present at the accident site, and there was no evidence of an in-flight break-up,” Dr Boston said. “Additionally, there were no pre-impact defects identified with the airframe or flight controls, and examination of the engine and propellor indicated that the aircraft was under power at impact.” The pilot held a Commercial Pilot’s License (aeroplane) and a valid Class 1 Aviation Medical Certificate. The pilot also held an aerial application rating, as well as float plane, manual propeller pitch control, tailwheel undercarriage, and gas turbine endorsements. They had 13,135.6 hours of total aeronautical experience, and at least 3,721.2 hours on Air Tractor aircraft variants based on information provided by the operator.As it progresses the investigation will include review and examination of electronic components recovered from the aircraft, medical and pathological records, operational documentation, and aircraft maintenance records. A final report, which will detail the ATSB’s findings and its analysis of the collected evidence, will be released at the investigation’s conclusion. The objective of ATSB safety investigations is to enhance transport safety which is done through identifying safety issues and facilitating safety action to address those issues and providing information about occurrences and their associated safety factors to facilitate learning within the transport industry.It is not a function of the ATSB to apportion blame or provide a means for determining liability.

Coonamble bore water users were amongst a number of ratepayers and officials who met in Narrabri on Monday for updates from the NSW Government on their water access requirements.New regulations as part of the Water Management Act came into effect on March 1, and are now impacting artesian bore water users across the Western Plains, including in Quambone, Wingadee, Collarenebri  and Come By Chance. Water trusts must provide a "works plan" including the location, management, mapping and access licencing for their bore water systems. "It's pretty basic stuff, it's just the 'when, what, who where and how' so that they're clear and we're clear on the theatre of operation," Director of Water Planning Implementation at the NSW Department of Planning, Industry and Environment (NSW DPIE), Allan Raine said. "They must have these work developed by March 2025, but they're fairly simple documents and we're more than happy to work with them on getting those over the line." Mr Raine said the changes also reduce red tape for trust, including by allowing boards to fill vacancies without NSW government approval. Free-flowing bores like this one are a rarer sight these days. IMAGE Wikimedia However, Artesian Bore Users Association of NSW (ABUA) Vice-President, Marg Garnsey, said it may be difficult for trusts to meet the requirements. "A lot of these trusts started in the early 1900s, like 1910 to 1930. Typically a lot were done in the 1940s and 1950s, then there was another lot that was done in the 1970s to 1980s," Ms Garnsey said. "A lot of country has changed hands in those times. "When the Cap and Pipe scheme came in, they gave a lot of landholders a map of the area and of the trust and exactly what the limitations are, who can be on it, who can't, where it runs, where the troughs and tanks are to be. "Over all these years, heaps of people have lost their maps, country's been resold, houses burned down, you get floods," Ms Garnsey said. "People just don't always have the opportunity to look after everything exactly as it should be." The Cap and Pipe scheme provides landowners financial incentives to cap free-flowing bores and replace open bore drains with piping. The consultation panel at Narrabri yesterday was led by NSW DPIE Water Resource Officer Lucy Peters and Neeraj Maini, Principal Policy Officer at the Water Operations Division of the NSW Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (NSW DCCEEW). Ms Garnsey said attendee were left "frustrated" by the end of the session."Some of the answers were specific, but anything that really wanted to pin them down was 'we'll have to get back to you.' "'If we have a bore failure, will the government help?' 'Oh, we'll get back to you on that one.' "They did get the answers, but not the answers that they wanted. They're frustrated that government's fixing a system that didn't need to be fixed." The Great Artesian Basin system that supplies bore water in the Western Plains. SOURCE: Australian GovernmentMoving away from the Trust modelThe changes to the Water Act mean that new entity trusts can convert to 'private water corporations,' as part of the government's push away from the trust model.  Unlike trusts, corporations have the power to appoint 'authorised officers' to investigate breaches of member agreements and impose charges if someone takes water illegally or damages infrastructure. While the legislation doesn't force trusts to become corporations, they cannot switch back if they opt in and landholders are being offered a fee-free option if they create a corporation by March 1, 2026. "If a trust feels it needs to exercise additional powers, then conversion to a corporation allows them," Mr Raine said. "We would encourage trusts to become corporations so they have those, but at the moment with the way the Act is written they can stay as trusts if they feel that everything is operating well in the current format." A DCCEEW spokesperson said none of the reforms shift responsibility for administration and maintenance of bore water systems between water boards and the NSW government. "If it's on Crown land, responsibilities won't be dictated in our Act. That will be whatever arrangement they have with Crown lands," Mr Raine said. "Those sorts of arrangements will be detailed on a case by case basis. "The whole point of this is to make it easier for these groups to operate, give them more powers, give them more autonomy, but we're also here if they need help."Fear of ownership disputes Ms Garnsey, also a member of almost 30 bore water trusts, said "ambiguous" legislation will leave the door open to ownership disputes. "They're saying that we all need to become incorporated, but we're all saying 'why?' Legally it brings up a lot of questions like who is going to responsible for the bore head? "Ownership is the critical issue and ownership comes with deeds, so if you're going to be incorporated and you've got the deed saying you own the land and the pump is on that. "That's fine, but they're not coming up with transfer of ownership of anything that's still on Crown land."

An internationally acclaimed author, singer, songwriter, public speaker and youth worker has taken students on his amazing journey from drug addict to passionate priest.Father Rob Galea visited Baradine early this month to run a faith workshop with local primary and secondary students.An ordained Catholic Priest currently serving Melbourne, Fr Galea moved to Australia from Malta, his home country. He is the founder and executive director of ICON Ministry, a charity organisation that ministers to millions each year across the world.“I talk to large crowds, sometimes 1.5 million at a time, but my greatest joy is when I come to towns like this to talk to young people about my love for God and to help them reach their full potential as human beings,” he said.  “Very often we are blinded by the business of life, we are hampered by the insecurities that we carry. I work to encourage young people to find their hope and their dignity. Music is part of what I do. I am evangelist, I am a communicator and I use music to communicate to young people. Music is the language of the heart so it transcends and I am grateful that I get to use this means of communication.”Known to millions as ‘Father Rob from Australia’, many are not aware of how far removed his world is today from his life as a troubled teenager on the island of Malta. Knowing that he needed help, he dedicated himself to his faith and says he has never looked back. His message to youth is about recovery, redemption and faith.PHOTO: Father Rob Galea (second from right) with fellow musicians in Baradine.“I was a drug addict until I was about 16 years old; I lived on the streets,” he added. “I get to share a little bit of that story with young people from the aspect of dignity and hope and I also talk about theology and philosophy according to the age level of the audience.“I believe people long for human connection. At the end of the day, phones are great tools, but it is when we become slaves to them that we start to lose our sense of purpose, even of joy. I give my story; I show video and I give testimony.  “I have been getting a great sense of joy from the students I have talked to today and there was a lot of engagement. My work is usually with secondary kids, I have not worked with primary before so I have welcomed the opportunity to do this here. They all seemed very engaged and ready to listen and understand the message I am trying to give.“Ultimately, I am a priest, I get to stand on big stages, yes, but at the end of the day I want to serve people, I want to love people, so whether it’s in a small town or in a large stadium people are there to love and it is wonderful that I get to relate to people in this way.  “It is wonderful to watch the kids interact, I work in thousands of schools and the kids are so much calmer and so much more present in this town, you have a lot to be grateful for.”

 As we shiver through winter, thoughts of dipping into a swimming pool are probably not uppermost in people's minds.But come summer Warrumbungle Shire will have prepared for the region's aquatic needs, with two local swimming facilities facing redevelopment and upgrades as part of a plan to bring their pools up to community expectations. "The redevelopment of Coonabarabran Swimming Pool represents a significant investment in our community’s recreational infrastructure," Warrumbungle Shire Mayor, Ambrose Doolan said. "Council committed to ensuring that this project meets the current and future needs of our residents, enhancing accessibility, safety, and enjoyment for all." Currently the pool features a solar-heated 33m x 7 lane pool, a toddler pool, and essential amenities, but council has recognised the need for modernisation and improved accessibility, and so established the Coonabarabran Swimming Pool Advisory Committee. The much loved Coonabarabran swimming pool, originally constructed in the 1950s in memorial to those that served in the Second World War, and is now set for a transformative redevelopment. The Committee’s comprehensive assessment highlighted key redevelopment priorities, which include the construction of a new 25m x 8 lane pool with an accessible ramp, a dedicated toddler pool featuring a splash park, upgraded accessible amenities, and a refurbished entry building housing an office and kiosk. “Funding of $199,440.00 has been secured under the State Government’s Resources for Regions Round 9 to assist with the planning. This funding will support the initial phases of the redevelopment project, encompassing the development of a Masterplan, detailed design, and construction plans,” Mr Doolan said. Across the shire at Dunedoo, the old male amenity building at the town's pool will be demolished next month. “This is exciting news for the Dunedoo community and a milestone in this project,” Mr Doolan said. “Following the demolition phase, which is expected to last approximately two weeks, construction of the new modular building will commence promptly.” Funding of $900,000 will allow council to develop modern facilities including female and male change rooms equipped with toilets and showers, as well as an accessible family room. All construction activities are slated for completion by the end of December 2024. “This initiative aims to enhance the overall experience for pool visitors and improve accessibility for all members of our community,” Mr Doolan said. Acknowledging the importance of minimal disruption to pool users during the construction phase, measures will be implemented to ensure continued access to amenities and smooth operational activities. “We look forward to the completion of this exciting project and the improved facilities it will provide for our community,” Cr Doolan said. If you would like your say on the Coonabarabran pool redevelopment, a brief survey has been devised to gather feedback from the broader community. This survey can be found under the ‘Have your say” tab on Council’s website. 

Federal Member for Parkes has said the “first round voluntary water buybacks” which started on Wednesday July 17 will eventually drive up food prices.“We've been dreading this day ever since Labor's amendments to the Murray-Darling Basin Plan” Mark Coulton said in a statement.“While communities throughout the Basin will be bracing themselves for the fallout, this will impact all Australians, with the cost of water to no doubt rise, pushing up the price of food at the checkout”.Buybacks involve the federal government buying “water entitlements” – the right to take a certain volume of water from the river each year – from people who want to sell them.The buybacks are voluntary with Commonwealth aiming to give back 26.25 gigalitres of water each year to the rivers for environmental flows.Mark Coulton. Image: Supplied. The NSW Farmers Federation says the buybacks will hurt Western Plains communities.“Basin communities have sent a clear message to the Federal Government that they oppose buybacks and this rewrite of the Basin Plan, because they are living through the negative impacts,” says NSW Farmers Water Taskforce Chair Richard Bootle.The first ‘targeted’ tender started last Wednesday is seeking up to 70 GL. The second seeking sales of large portfolios of more than 20 GL each will get going in the first quarter of 2025. The third, open to everyone, will get underway in the second quarter of 2025.Image: NSW Government. NSW Irrigators’ Council CEO Claire Miller said that buybacks were already inflating the water market.“The NSW Water Register shows the Government is paying more than 30 per cent above the market for NSW Murray entitlements under its Bridging the Gap tender from last year,” Ms Miller said.“In the Namoi valley, it is paying almost double the market rate for supplementary water licences”.“ABARES says past and planned water recovery wipes $602 million – $914 million every year from what the farmgate value of irrigated agriculture would otherwise be”.However, environment groups support the buybacks.Craig Wilkins. Image: Supplied. An alliance of leading environment organisations across Victoria, NSW, QLD and South Australia has strongly welcomed the resumption of voluntary water purchases “to benefit rivers, wetlands and wildlife”.The Murray-Darling Conservation Alliance, which represents close to half a million supporters across all Basin states, praised the announcement of Commonwealth tenders.Murray Darling Conservation Alliance National Director Craig Wilkins said “These are not new targets for river health. They are the same Basin Plan targets that have been in place since 2012. "After over a decade’s delay, Minister Plibersek is getting on with the job. Labor promised this at the last election, they negotiated with the states and Senate last year, and now they are delivering. “Scientists have long held that the full delivery of the Plan’s water targets, including the 450 gigalitres, is the bare minimum required to give the Murray Darling a decent chance of survival." 

Passengers aboard the Lightning Ridge to Dubbo coach service had some heart-stopping moments last Friday 19 July at around 5.20pm as they watched a potential highway tragedy unfold.A small red Suzuki attempted to overtake the NSW Trainlink bus at a roadworks site about forty five kilometres south of Walgett, only to lose traction in loose gravel before rolling off the road.The vehicle came to rest on its roof.A group of passengers and drivers from following vehicles rushed to roll the vehicle back onto its wheels.The driver, a 52 year old Iranian-born school teacher from Walgett was miraculously uninjured.Emergency services from Coonamble were called to the scene, along with police and ambulance from Walgett."We saw it happen from about a hundred metres away," said the driver of a car travelling behind the Suzuki."The bus was doing about 40 kilometres an hour and he was doing a bit more."He just hit the gravel and it was so soft and fluffy those skinny wheels just cut right through it."There was an embankment about 1.5 to 2 metres deep and he went straight over that and ended up on his roof."The driver of this vehicle escaped relatively unscathed."He missed a massive sandstone boulder by about a metre - it would've been a whole different story if he'd hit that," the witness told the Western Plains App.The car was crushed and undriveable but the driver, who was assessed at the scene, was shaken, shocked but otherwise unhurt.“He was very lucky,” the witness said. “It was just lucky he had his belt on and was going slowly.”

Trangie's popular Junior Judging Day was held during the school holidays, drawing keen young ag enthusiasts from across the region. Kath Donoghue from the NSW Department of Primary Industry's Trangie Agricultural Research Centre, where the Judging Day was held, said the event had been going for many years, with the earliest known trophy dating back to 1940. "It's been going for a long time in the Trangie area and it's all about education and learning about agriculture and ag products. "On the day, the older kids, those over 15, also get to speak about how they judged some of the samples or animals. Then all the prize winners are announced at the end of the day." Competitors ranged in age from 6 to 20 years, and came from near and far for the event, including Gilgandra, Condobolin, Coonabarabran, Bathurst and Dubbo, as well as locals from Trangie, Warren, Narromine and Tottenham. Competitors were given the opportunity to assess beef cattle, meat sheep, Merino sheep, cotton samples, wool fleeces and grain samples, as well as learn more about these agricultural products. "Cattle are from our research station but everything else is supplied by local breeders or businesses." Ms Donoghue said. "Wool, cotton and grain come from Quality Wool, Cotton Australia and Graincorp. Local breeders Egelabra Merino Stud and Double C Australian Whites supplied the sheep for which we are very grateful. Many thanks to NSW Farmers for their generous sponsorship of the event as well." Meg Dunford from the NSW DPI School Unit also attended to provide tips on how to structure the public speaking component of junior judging events- a vital skill for all. "The kids learned how to structure their talks as it's not just about judging but also about getting up and talking about the products or animals, and why they placed them that way," Ms Donoghue said. "The entrants are assessed not only how they placed the products or the animals, but also on how they speak about the process they went through."Most Enthusiastic sub-junior Emily Swift of Narromine. Delayed a week due to rain, Ms Donoghue said numbers at the Judging Day were slightly down."Last year we had over 100 kids complete, but this year was a bit smaller," she said. "We still had around 60 enthusiastic kids running around though. "These kids don't want to just sit still and listen up, they're keen to get in and handle the sheep and cattle and the wool and the cotton. They love how hands on the event is."A big prize haul - and a promising future - for Sienna Pearce, Dubbo. Winners on the day included the following Overall Champion: Sienna Pearce, DubboSenior Champion: Sienna Pearce, DubboReserve Senior Champion: Mary Westwood, GilgandraJunior Champion: Nelly Tink, NarromineReserve Junior Champion: Lucy Miles, CondobolinAustin Steer Memorial Award: Olivia Mitchell, BathurstSub-Junior Champion Most Enthusiastic Award: Emily Swift, Trangie and William Starr, Tottenham The long-standing event was again a great success, with kids and spectators alike learning plenty from the experts present as well as having a great day with their friends. Below: Junior & Reserve Champions for 2024, Nelly Tink (Narromine) and Mary Westwood (Gilgandra).

If you are considering standing for local council in the upcoming elections, you can now complete and save your nomination forms online. It's a great way to get prepared as the lodgement period is short. Maybe you don't plan to nominate, but if you are over 18, you will need to vote as it is compulsory. The NSW Electoral Commission is urging people to be aware of this legal requirement. Local Government elections will be held on Saturday 14 September this year and although you can complete your nomination form now, it can only be lodged between 8am, Monday 5 August and 12 noon, Wednesday 14 August 2024. Some local Shires have already held information sessions for prospective councillors including Bogan, Walgett and Gilgandra. At the Gilgandra meeting, held earlier this week, Deputy Mayor Ash Walker shared his thoughts on the commitments involved with being a councillor for the Gilgandra Shire. "The commitment of being a councillor is sometimes just attending community functions, everything from Australia Day to Bushfire Medal presentations," Mr Walker said. "We have a monthly council meeting which takes anything from two to four hours as well as workshops where we look at the budgeting process and the strategic direction of council." Mr Walker, along with Mayor Doug Batten, General Manager, David Neeves and current councillors welcomed anyone with an interest in learning more about this important community role to attend the two hour workshop which helped shed some light on the role in a relaxed and informal setting. Providing similar information was Bogan Shire Council where the briefings gave an insight into the time commitment required of a councillor for meetings and other activities as well as looking into the responsibilities of the role. Another consideration of upcoming elections is enrolling to vote which is compulsory for all eligible voters. The NSW Electoral Commission is urging anyone who is eligible to vote in NSW to make sure they are enrolled ahead of this year’s local council elections.  Acting NSW Electoral Commissioner Matt Phillips said thousands of young NSW residents would have recently become eligible to enrol to vote.  “If you are 17 and will be 18 on or before election day this year, you can provisionally enrol now and be ready to vote in September,” he said. “It’s quick and easy to do online." Mr Phillips said NSW had the highest enrolment rate of any state or territory with 99 per cent of eligible voters enrolled as of March.  “NSW can be proud of its enrolment rate but we want everyone who is eligible to be ready to have their say in the NSW local council elections,” he said. “It is compulsory to enrol to vote in NSW if you are eligible and aged 18 or over. All you need to enrol is a driver's license or similar identification document or you can have someone who is already enrolled confirm your identity.”  “If you are not yet enrolled, I encourage you to do so as soon as possible,” he said.  Information is available at Local Government Elections .

About 2.15pm on Sunday 21 July 2024, emergency services were called to the Oxley Highway at Warren, near Rifle Range Road, following reports of a crash involving two motorbikes.Officers from Orana Mid-Western Police District were told that after the motorbikes collided, the rider of one of the motorbikes then left the roadway and crashed into a tree.Despite the efforts of NSW Ambulance Paramedics and first responders, the rider died at the scene.Police advise that the rider, a boy believed to be aged 16, is yet to be formally identified. The other rider was taken to Warren hospital for mandatory testing.A crime scene was established and an investigation by the Western Plain Crash Investigation Unit into the circumstances surrounding this crash has commenced.A report will be prepared for the information of the Coroner.As inquiries continue, anyone with information, CCTV or dashcam footage in relation to this incident is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.Anyone with information about this incident is urged to contact Crime Stoppers or call 1800 333 000. Information is treated in strict confidence. The public is reminded not to report information via NSW Police social media pages.

Member for Parkes, Mark Coulton has slammed the Government’s decision to axe the Harvest Trail program.This comes after the Federal Government halted funding for the Harvest Trail Services and Harvest Trail Information Service which helped link seasonal workers to regional jobs, effective as of July 1. The move was part of a cost savings exercise, according to the Government.Mr Coulton said the decision would make it increasingly difficult to get food from paddock to plate by axing the crucial backpacker and worker program for farms.“The Harvest Trail has helped connect farmers with thousands of backpackers and jobseekers during the harvest period, also helping both employers and employees get a background check, enabling confidence in both the job and the industry,” he said.“In the Parkes electorate, the major agricultural industries are cropping – including grains, cotton, oil seed, lucerne and vegetables – as well as livestock such as cattle and sheep, in addition to some fruits.“Each of these industries are reliant on seasonal workers, particularly during busy harvest periods when there’s generally more work and not enough people within our small communities to fill them. Seasonal workers help fill those positions such as driving tractors, picking fruit, handling grain, bug checking, shearing and more. “It’s often not realistic for our farmers and agricultural companies to pay workers year-round when there isn’t always work available, which is why the seasonal workforce is so important,” Mr Coulton said.Coulton predicts a big impact on this year's grain harvest. IMAGE: RDA RiverinaHe predicts the winter grain harvest would be most affected by a reduction in seasonal workers. “We saw the impacts during COVID when there were less backpackers in Australia and many farmers struggled to get their crops off.The Harvest Trail provided background checks for both employers and employees which provided both parties with more confidence and peace of mind. “Finding and retaining workers in our rural and remote communities is challenging enough as it is, which is why the seasonal workforce plays such a crucial role in filling essential farm jobs,” Mr Coulton said.“The less workers farmers can find, the less they can plant, or harvest, meaning families will pay more for their food at the checkout.“The agricultural industry underpins the economy of nearly every town and community in the Parkes electorate and seasonal workers play a key role in that industry.”

Coonamble farmer James Nalder has joined the NSW Farmers Federation in backing calls for a fox bounty saying foxes are becoming a “growing concern” across the region.It comes after NSW Nationals leader and member for Dubbo Dugald Saunders suggested in parliament that NSW should consider following Victoria’s lead in paying $10 for each decapitated fox scalp presented by a shooter. Mr Saunders told parliament that he believed the program was successful.Around 940,000 of the $10 bounties have been handed in Victoria over the last decade.However, the impact this has on overall fox numbers is debated - with critics like the Invasive Species Council suggesting 940,000 is “insignificant” in a state where fox numbers are unknown but estimated to be in the millions.Fox numbers in Western NSW are unknown, but Coonamble farmer James Nalder said foxes were a growing concern on his property for baby goats as well as native wildlife.Image: NSW Government“We go through periods of baiting and this keeps them await for a little while, but then they end coming up, coming in from somewhere else” he told the Western Plains App.“It comes in waves, but I think everyone's sort of saying at the moment they're seeing more foxes running around”He supported the introduction of the fox bounty” Look I think anything that can be done there to encourage people, people to be taking active role in foxes and fox control would be great.”Mr Nalder said he believed there needed to be more ways to get people to be active on foxes.Dugald Saunders. Image: NSW Nationals.He added that he found the fox baiting has so far been effective and has reduced kid deaths on his property.The NSW Farmers Association told the Western Plains App it has been calling on the NSW Government to introduce the bounty for ten years.However, NSW Minister for Agriculture Tara Moriarity said in a statement that past experience had shown that fox bounties “are not successful” - saying they have been previously been introduced into the state and made no difference to fox numbers.Mr Nalder said he would like to see the state introduce a competition where the person who collects the most fox pelts wins a prize.“I’d like to see something more like that, something innovative,” he said.