A little bit of heat did not stop the crowd from flocking to the Golden Fleece Cup on Saturday in Warren.  "Everything went very well. The track was lovely," Warren Jockey Club President Paul Smith said.  Around 500 people from Warren, Dunedoo, Nyngan, Dubbo, and surrounds attended the annual event to watch the seven races.  The theme this year was 'garden' and the people who wore it best were:  Best Dressed Lady Amy Large from DunedooAmy's smart color combination and stylish accessories show why she is the best dressed lady. Photo: Harriet Gilmore. Best Dressed Gent Matthew Godson from DubboMatthew gets a big prize for throwing on his best fit at the Golden Fleece Cup. Photo: Harriet Gilmore.Best Dressed Couple Shayla Saunders from Warren and Jack Finley from Nyngan Best dressed couple are all smiles in their matching pink outfits. Photo: Harriet Gilmore Racegoers keep a close eye on their horses from inside. Photo: Harriet Gilmore."It was 39 degrees but it felt more like 34, so it wasn't too bad," Mr Smith said.  Two vets were present to make sure the horses were fairing well.  "We bent over backwards to make sure the horses were well looked after," Mr Smith said.  The hard work paid off given that the day was an all-round success.  "Jockeys were happy, trainers were happy, stewards were happy," Mr Smith said.  The food from Soul Food Depot & Gallery was also a sweeping hit among the guests.  "The feedback on the food was fantastic," Mr Smith said. While the guests enjoyed their refreshments, the races kept everyone on the edge of their seats. Jake Pracey-Holmes won the $500 jockey's award sponsored by the Warren Services Club after coming in first in the 1,200m Macquarie Valley Rock and Sand Benchmark 58 Handicap, 1,200m Warren IGA and Liquor Class 1 Handicap and 1,000m Warren Services Club Benchmark 58 Handicap.Best presented horse went to Spirit of Sainty trained by Kylie Kennedy.  Full race report by Colin Hughes With a ride worthy of a senior jockey, apprentice Tilly McCarroll experienced the thrill of her career first winner, Order Of Merit, on Saturday at Warren. Last early, the Kieren Hazelton, Gilgandra trained Order Of Merit steadily made ground however was still midfield in the straight. Wearing the green and white Bowman Racing colours, Tilly drove Order Of Merit through a narrow opening on the rails to burst clear and win by two lengths from the leader Wotastatement (Zoe Hunt, $5.50) and River Rogue (Leeshelle Small, $11) in the 1600 metres All A Glow Electrical Benchmark 50 Handicap. Clint Lundholm who trained the runner-up Wotastatement landed a winning double with Pyromania and Beechuno. Pyromania  (Jake Pracey Holmes, $7.50) returned to form when leading throughout to beat Scorpius (Dylan Stanley, $5.50) and Sauce Dragon (Wendy Peel, $7.50) by over two lengths in the 1200 metres Macquarie Valley Rock And Sand Benchmark 58 Handicap. In a handy spot behind the leaders, Beechuno (Jake Pracey-Holmes, $10) with a late surge won the 1200 metres Warren IGA & Liquor Class 1 Handicap by a long neck from the leader Island Rock (Wendy Peel, $5.50) with Calmundi (Michael Heagney,$11) a nose away third. The other leg of a treble for Jake Pracey-Holmes, who won the $500 jockey challenge at Warren, was Outta De Lady in the 1000 metres Warren Services Club Benchmark 58 Handicap. Leading most of the way, the Zach Hatch, Tamworth trained Outta De Lady ($8.50) held on for a half length win over Press Forward (Tilly McCarroll, $2.70 favourite) and Desirous (Ken Dunbar, $8.50). Before he retired, Gilgandra trainer Leo Harland won numerous races with the good sprinter Patrick May which is now trained by his daughter Gaye-Lee Burgess. Now the winner of eight races and placed eight times from 48 starts, Patrick May (Ashleigh Stanley, $3.20 to $2.90 favourite) was straight to the lead in the 1400 metres Egelabra Benchmark 58 Handicap and won by more than two lengths from Whataboutscotty (Michael Heagney, $7.50) and Beauty Edge (Jake Pracey-Holmes, $3.20). The other winners were the Darren Hyde, Dubbo trained The Legal Factor (Andrew Banks, $9) and Ultra Deep (Zoe Hunt, $10) trained at Mudgee by David Smith.

Three teens, aged 14, 15, and 15, have been charged following an aggravated breaking and entering into the motel room of a 69-year-old woman in Gilgandra on Sunday night. Police were called to a motel on Warren Road, Gilgandra around 10:10pm, following reports of a break-in.  When officers from the Orana Mid-Western force attended, they heard that two people broke into the motel room of the elderly woman and threatened her with a knife.  The suspects stole the keys to the woman's car, which contained her wallet and phone, and left in her SUV.  Police established a crime scene and commenced inquiries.  Further investigations revealed that the vehicle the suspects used to get to the motel was allegedly stolen from Brewarrina on Friday 28 February.  Police observed the SUV taken from the Gilgandra motel on the Kamilaroi Highway in Walgett on Monday, 3 March, at 8:35am and initiated a pursuit. While attempting to avoid road spikes on the Castlereagh Highway, the vehicle rolled over and the three occupants proceeded to flee on foot.  A 15-year-old was arrested near the vehicle and the two other boys were arrested a short time later.  All three were taken to the Walgett Police station.  They were charged with aggravated breaking and entering and committing a serious indictable offence while armed, and stealing a motor vehicle.  One of the 15-year-olds also received charges for dishonestly obtaining property by deception and driving a conveyance without consent of the owner.  All three teenagers were refused bail and will appear before children's court today, 4 March. 

The North Western Library has released a survey on 3 March to encourage community input into the service. Bogan, Coonamble, Gilgandra, and Warren libraries are all part of the North Western Library. Manager Erica Kearnes said a library is much more than a place where people can read a book.  The library group works hard to provide local communities with modern facilities and keep them engaged.  Warren Shire Library underwent a renovation last year and the Gilgandra Library Hub will reopen this year at their new location on Miller Street. Regional Manager Erica Kearnes sits down with elderly community members for a scam awareness talk at the Warren Library. Photo: supplied"We're no longer a library of books. We're a community hub," Ms Kearnes said.  "We offer so much, and it’s all free. It's a space for people to catch up and have fun. "And the aircon is great too." What's special about this survey is that it doesn’t only touch upon the selection of books but includes all of the other services the library offers, including events, such as free legal talk, working spaces, and free Wifi, and gathers users' opinions on what's going well and what could use improvement.  Children as young as ten can participate.  "We aim many of our activities at 10-year-olds. They have their own opinion, and I would love to hear it," Ms Kearnes said.  Responses will be filtered separately for each community to cater to their specific needs.  "We need direction," Ms Kearnes said.  "What does the community see happening with their library in the next five years? Do they want certain events or collections? "We're four completely different libraries for different communities, so it's going to be a different want in every building. Community members will get a say as to whether, for example, they want an additional function space to host events if the working area needs to be adjusted, or if they want certain types of events such as author visits.  Based on the survey's outcome, Ms Kearnes will look to see what funding the North Western Library needs to build capacity. The link to the survey can be found here, or head to your local library for a printed copy. It will remain open until 26 April. Library Officers Tash Higgins and Mil Irving at Warren Shire Library

Fire has been contained on the Sandstone Cave Walking Track and traffic is open on the Newell Highway again.It took five days of hard work by the Rural Fire Service (RFS) and National Parks to contain the blaze, which kept the Highway closed until this afternoon. Fire broke out Wednesday at 3:40pm, around 40 kilometres northeast of Coonabarabran and quickly spread due to heavy winds and dry conditions. The highway was closed on Wednesday at 6pm between Coonabarabran and Narrabri as a safety measure. A spokesperson for the RFS said that the possibility remained for the highway to be closed again should the conditions change. The fire is yet to be brought under control.  "We ask drivers to proceed with caution and be aware that RFS, National Parks, and Transport NSW volunteers are still on the ground," the RFS said. The crew are consolidating containment lines in the northwest and northeast of the fire with support from aviation, heavy plant machinery, and specialised tree felling personnel. Heavy machinery assists with containing the blaze. Photo: Rural Fire Service. As of mid-Monday the fire spread to over 5,431 hectares and is still being controlled.  Seventy crew members, both local and out-of-area, remain at the scene. The RFS held an information session on Monday between 11am and 1pm at the Coonabarabran Post Office to answer the questions of any concerned residents.  Forty-two residents and nine travellers turned up to get the latest updates.  Another information session will be held tomorrow at the Coonabarabran post office between 1pm and 3pm.  On Saturday, the fire escaped the containment lines and jumped back over the Newell Highway. Firefighters have since contained the breakout.  The fire does not pose any immediate threat to properties. Residents are advised to continue to monitor the situation closely.  "We'd like to thank the local community for the ongoing support and ask that they stay up to date on Hazards Near Me app, local radio, the RFS website, and the RFS Facebook page and be prepared to act should the situation change," the RFS spokesperson said. 

Rural lobby groups are wary of the impact a senate inquiry will have on the connectivity gaps left by the closure of the 3G network.This comes after the Federal Government was called on take specific action, by the Senate Committee looking into the shutdown.Recommendations include: Establishing a program to help customers that have lost mobile phone coverage since the 3G shutoff, for example, by providing subsidies for boosters, Starlink connections, and replacing equipment that is no longer functional following the shutdown Federal government and the telecommunications accelerate the introduction of mobile services via Starlink  Increasing the scope of the National Audit Coverage to include off-road areas, such as private properties. Several organisations say the recommendations are months behind.  "While the recommendations are welcome, I'm not sure if they will go far enough to address how bad the issues are," Country Women's Association CEO Danica Leys said.  "What we're hearing is areas where people were previously able to make a successful call, are no longer able to. These are the areas we are fighting for," she said. "ICPA NSW supports all of the recommendations but they should have been brought three months ago," ICPA NSW Secretary Libby McPhee said.  "There's a huge land mass in NSW that's unable to have connectivity since 3G was shut down. It impacts the education of our children in some cases, and providing emergency services in rural and remote areas.  "If you can't make a call to somebody in an emergency, it's an exacerbating problem," Ms McPhee said. She said poor network coverage impacts farm businesses. "If they aren't able to make calls in time to seal contracts, sell livestock, or access their internet banking.  "A lot of us were able to make those calls with 3G and after the shutdown, all of a sudden, there was a huge number of people that couldn't make a connection," Ms McPhee said. Libby McPhee ICPA NSW Secretary. Photo: ICPA  This response was echoed by NSW Farmers.  "This 3G switch off has affected the mobile phones and data accessibility we rely on to conduct our businesses," NSW Farmers Rural Affairs Committee Member Sarah Thompson said.  “Farmers have also had to make expensive upgrades to water monitors, tractors, irrigation rigs and much more to enable continuity of business.” A survey by the Isolated Children and Parents Association (ICPA) showed that 88 percent of respondents had experienced difficulties establishing a network connection.  Ms McPhee said that Starlink and some of the boosters have been successful in improving the connection, but not everyone has access to them yet.  "We need to expedite the process and we need to assist people in rural and remote areas with getting that sort of coverage."  Ms Leys said part of the government's job should be to make telecommunication companies find a solution to the problem.  "It's not all government's responsibility, a large part of it is that they need to compel the telecommunication providers to step up as well in this space. "Government and telcos need to work together to address the issue and they need to do it rather urgently." 

Two teenagers have appeared in court charged after an alleged pursuit in which a boy died in Bourke last week.About 11.15pm on Thursday 27 February 2025, officers attached to Orana Mid-Western Police District responded to reports of a robbery at a service station on Burroway Road, Narromine.Four teenagers left the scene in a vehicle which had been reported stolen from Blayney last Wednesday.About 12:10am on Friday 28 February 2025, that vehicle was seen 15km east of Nyngan on the Mitchell Highway, where police initiated a pursuit; however, it was terminated a short time later.About 12.45am, a pursuit was reinitiated in Coolabah, with police deploying two sets of road spikes on the Mitchell Highway, Coolabah, and Sydney Road, Bourke.The vehicle continued through the township of Bourke, before it crashed and rolled on Weir Road, Bourke, about 1.30am.Police immediately rendered assistance to the four occupants of the car; however, a 17-year-old boy – who is believed to have been a passenger – died at scene.A 14-year-old boy was airlifted to Sydney Children’s Hospital and remains there in a serious condition.Two boys – aged 13 and 16 – were treated by NSW Ambulance paramedics at the scene before they were taken to Bourke Hospital.Upon their release from hospital about 10.30am Saturday they were arrested and taken to Dubbo Police Station.The younger boy was charged with two counts aggravated break and enter dwelling in company intend steal, aggravated break and enter dwelling in company steal, be carried in conveyance taken without consent of owner, enter vehicle or boat without consent of the owner.The older boy was charged with being carried in conveyance taken without consent of owner.They were refused bail and appeared at Parramatta Children’s Court yesterday. The younger boy was formally refused bail while the older boy was granted conditional bail. Both are to appear before a children’s court this Wednesday.The investigation continues.

Last week, the Minns Government announced its decision to extend strict bail testing or young people until April 2028.   But people on both sides of the political spectrum are unhappy about the decision.   Stricter bail laws were introduced in April 2024, with an additional test added to section 22C of the Bail Act 2013 for young people aged 14 to 18 who commit car theft or break and enter offence while on bail. Under 22C, bail must not be granted unless the bail authority has a high degree of confidence the young person will not commit a serious offence again. Tougher laws were expected to expire in April this year, but State Government legislated to have them extended.Nationals hold rally pushing for stronger laws On Sunday 23 February the NSW Nationals Party joined locals and police in Kempsey to hold a rally opposing the Minns Government bail laws, viewing them as weak and ineffectual. Several MPs attended the rally, including NSW Nationals Leader Dugald Saunders, Deputy Leader Gurmesh Singh, Member for Oxley Michael Kemp, Member for Tamworth Kevin Anderson, Member for Clarence Richie Williamson, Member for Myall Lakes Tanya Thompson, Upper House MP Wes Fang, Member for the Upper Hunter Dave Layzel and Federal Member for Cowper, Pat Conaghan.   Nationals MPs in attendance of Kempsey rally. From left to right: Pat Conaghan, Gurmesh Singh, Wes Fang, Richie Williamson, Tanya Thompson, Dugald Saunders, Micheal Kemp  The Nationals say they will offer a stronger solution to youth crime in regional and rural communities than the current Labour Government.   NSW Nationals are pushing for legislative reform, with plans to put forward a bill to change the bail act to stop courts from granting bail to serious repeat offenders. They also plan to propose changes to the crimes sentencing procedure act to give more consideration to the harm caused to victims, and changes to the minimum age of criminal responsibility.  Mr Saunders said rallies like these are an outlet for frustrated community members.   “People are completely fed up and are turning to these events and rallies as a last resort to try and have their voices heard.  “They are scared on the streets and scared in their homes, and we need swift and decisive action, so they know we are taking every possible measure to keep them safe.  “The Minns Government’s narrow approach has allowed this crisis to escalate and the Premier is ignoring communities that are screaming for help.”  The rally in Kempsey is part of a series of community crime events; the Nationals also held one in Armidale on Saturday 22 February, and they plan to hold another in Moree on Sunday March 1. Greens respond Greens MP Sue Higginson criticised both Labour and Nationals responses.   “The National Party as well as Labor Premier Chris Minns are driving community fear and division in a childish response to a very serious issue. "We cannot allow the criminal laws of NSW to be a plaything for weak politicians who are baiting the electorate with scare tactics."  Despite being political opposites, the Greens and Nationals both agree the Minns Government's bail laws will not do anything to tackle the crime crisis.   "The data shows that a year on from the Premier saying he will lock up more young people, the only result is that more young people are in prison, it has not reduced crime," said Ms Higginson.  Greens' Sue Higginson Where the two parties differ is how they believe the topic should be approached. While the Nationals want tougher bail laws and changes to the crimes sentencing procedure, the Greens believe policy should focus on underlying reasons for criminality, attempting to stop young offenders from falling into a life of crime.    “We should be emptying our youth prisons. If we take a bold and evidence based approach to supporting young people at risk of offending, we can actually reduce the rate of young people offending, and prevent them from re-offending as adults,” said Ms Higginson.   The Greens also described the Kempsey rally as "shortsighted, reactionary politics driven by fear."   With the federal election looming, responses to critical issues such as youth crime are no doubt front of mind for voters.

Investigations are underway after a man died in hospital after being found unconscious in Bourke yesterday, Saturday 1 March.About 4.20am on Saturday, officers from Central North Police District were called to Adelaide Street following reports of a concern for the welfare of a man after he was located unconscious on the street.The man was taken to hospital; however, he could not be revived.While he is yet to be formally identified, the man is believed to be aged in his 60s.A crime scene was established which is being forensically examined, and investigations into the man’s death have commenced.Initial inquiries have led police to believe he may have been in the vicinity of Culgoa Street, Bourke, prior to being located on Adelaide Street.As inquiries into the man’s death continue, police are appealing for any witnesses or anyone with information on the man’s movements prior to the incident to come forward and contact local police or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.Information is treated in strict confidence. The public is reminded not to report information via NSW Police social media pages.

Following public feedback, Narromine Shire Council have agreed on a revised plan for the Narromine Industrial Precinct at 397 Craigie Lea Lane during their latest meeting.Proposed in 2024, the project aimed to rezone 99.65 hectares of land from RU1 Primary Production to E5 Heavy Industrial to support agriculture, transport industries, and the Inland Rail project.This amounted to 20 per cent of the total land area.“This approach fosters growth in the agriculture and transport sectors, supporting both existing businesses and new ventures within the Narromine region,” Ms. Narromine Shire Council’s General Manage Redden said.However, in response to community feedback, the zoning will remain E4 General Industrial.Resulting public consultation on the issue ran for 60 days and involved several face-to-face information sessions.The consultation concluded on January 17 and resulted in 272 public submissions raising concerns about the plans.Narromine Shire Mayor Ewen Jones said he was happy community concerns had been acknowledged.Narromine Shire Council Mayor, Ewen Jones said the new industrial precinct has huge potential for Narromine.“Council has secured $9 million from the state government to establish the industrial precinct," Mr Jones said."While E5 zoning was initially proposed, the community ultimately supported E4, which aligns with our existing smaller industrial site."Mr Jones noted that the site was strategically chosen for its proximity to the proposed Narromine to Narrabri Inland Rail corridor, the longest section of the Inland Rail project.This 306-kilometre rail corridor will link with the Narrabri to North Star section under construction, and the completed Parkes to Narromine segment, facilitating freight transport to Adelaide and Perth.“We’ve already seen strong interest from businesses looking to establish on the site.""Distribution centres are stockpiling thousands of sleepers, railway lines, and ballast,” he said.“Whenever the green light is given for the Narromine to Narrabri section, the material stockpile will be ready." I know that all the houses or properties that Inland Rail wanted to acquire, have been acquired.""While there’s no clear timeframe for completion, a change in federal government might accelerate progress.”The construction phase will involve significant earthworks, including millions of cubic meters of embankments, thousands of concrete culverts, road realignments, and utility relocations.The design features 49 new public level crossings, 75 new bridges and viaducts, and seven crossing loops, each up to 2.2 kilometres long.For a bird’s-eye view of the Narromine to Narrabri section and to explore the proposed design structures, click here to watch the fly-through videos.

Five years after James Hunter went missing from Western NSW, police are renewing their appeal to locate him.  Mr Hunter was last seen at a pharmacy on Macquarie Street in Dubbo on 28 February 2020.  James Hunter, who was 52 at the time of his disappearance, lived in the Newcastle suburb Tighes Hill and travelled to western NSW for work on rural properties in Dubbo, Mendooran, and Dunedoo.  He was also known to frequent Walgett and Lightning Ridge for opal mining.  He has not accessed his bank accounts since. Family members last saw him in person in December 2019 when he was in the Newcastle Area.  Mr Hunter is the son of Australian actor Bill Hunter.  He was reported missing to police in July 2021 after failing to make contact with his family for several months.  In March 2022, Detectives attached to Orana Mid-Western Police District established Strike Force to investigate the circumstances surrounding Mr Hunter's disappearance.  That same month Mr Hunter's blue 2005-model Toyota Hilux was located on a property he was working at in Mendooran and it was seized for forensic examination.The Toyota Hilux that belonged to Mr Hunter. Photo: NSW Police  On 22 and 23 March 2024, 1700 hectares of land northwest of Mendooran were searched with the use of high-tech drones carrying out 52 flights.  Investigators captured and processed 33,000 high-resolution images as part of the investigation.  Police and family members continue to hold concern for his welfare and are hoping community members are able to provide more information relevant to ongoing investigations.  Mr Hunter is described as being of Caucasian appearance, 175 cm tall, and of a medium build with brown hair and eyes.  Members of the public can contact police by calling either the Dubbo Police Station on 02 6883 1599 or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000. 

Federal politician Mark Coulton has had to take some medical time out during his final weeks as Member for the Parkes electorate.Mr Coulton underwent a successful surgery to remove melanoma and five lymph nodes on Friday 28 February.  "All indications are that the procedure was completely successful, and I will not require further treatment," Mr Coulton said.The former farmer knows he is far from alone in his skin cancer diagnosis and is taking the opportunity to remind others in his electorate to take precautions and have regular skin checks. He also reassured the residents of his vast electorate that support remains in place for any of their government-related concerns."I will be taking a few days to recuperate and look forward to getting back to work later next week. "In the meantime, my three electorate offices remain open, and my exceptional staff will continue to provide their usual high level of service to the constituents of the Parkes electorate." In February 2023, Mr Coulton had two basal cell carcinomas and a melanoma removed and in August 2021 he had a basal cell carcinoma removed as well.  Mark Coulton following the basal cell carcinoma removal in August 2021. Photo: Mark Coulton Facebook Cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma and basal cell carcinoma, also known as non-melanoma skin cancers, account for 97 percent of all annual skin cancers nationwide every year, amounting to 570,000 cases.  Most non-melanoma skin cancers are not life threatening unless left untreated.  In his younger years, Mr Coulton said he worked often out in the paddock in the direct sun with minimal sun protection. Around 95 percent of skin cancers are caused by UV exposure.  He is now a big advocate of wearing sun protection to prevent skin cancer and has pushed for getting melanoma removal listed as a Medicare item.  "I cannot stress enough how important it is for everyone to follow the timeless adage of 'Slip, Slop, Slap, Seek, Slide' - it does not matter whether you are a young parent taking your child to the pool for a swimming lesson, a cocky who has been on the land for 30 years or an international tourist holidaying in Australia," Mr Coulton said.   "Proper sun safety is the only way to prevent this from happening to you and regular skin checks are the only way to catch skin cancer early." Since the introduction of the Slip Slop Slap campaign in 1982, the risk of contracting melanoma by the age of 30 shrunk from 1 in 9,100 in 1982 to 1 in 62,000 in 2020, according to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW). 

Hot and dry conditions this weekend will make it difficult for firefighters to extinguish the ongoing bush fire in the Pilliga Nature Reserve. As of 9:30am this morning, Saturday 1 March, the fire had burned more than 4600 hectares. The Sandstone Cave Walking Track and the Newell Highway between Coonabarabran and Narrabri have been closed since 6pm on Wednesday 26 February.  Traffic can divert via Gunnedah using the Kamilaroi and Oxley Highway.  "They still have a fair amount of work ahead of them," a Rural Fire Service (RFS) spokesperson said.  Despite a decrease in fire activity in the morning of Thursday, 27 February, temperatures around 35 degrees during the day contributed to the fire spreading over 2,300 hectares by Friday afternoon, particularly in the north-east corner of the fire. Stormy weather in the night from Wednesday to Thursday contributed to the spread of the blaze. Photo: RFS NSW Facebook Currently, there are around 20 firefighters from the RFS and National Parks attending the scene, including out-of-area incident management crew.  Heavy machinery and aircrafts are being used to control the blaze.  There is currently no immediate threat to properties. Authorities urge residents to continue to monitor the situation closely over the weekend. 

Lake Cargelligo in the Lachlan Shire is one of the areas benefitting from the State Government's investment in new accommodation, as they try to attract more healthcare workers to regional Australia.   The Key Health Worker Accommodation program invests $200.1 million and supports more than 20 projects across rural, regional and remote NSW. This funding will deliver approximately 120 dwellings across regional NSW, includes building new accommodation, renovation of existing living spaces, and the purchasing of liveable properties like residential units. The four-year program will drive the recruitment and retention of more than 500 health workers, by providing them and their families with accommodation options.  Mayor of Lachlan Shire Council John Medcalf said the council was pleased about the funding.  “Council supports all initiatives that improve the availability and quality of housing options for key workers in our towns and villages, particularly those that support the provision of medical services in our communities." The initiative has seen success in other areas of regional Australia such as Narrandera, Finley and West Wyalong. It is hoped the creation of quality housing will attract and retain essential healthcare professionals to regional and rural areas.   Member for Barwon Roy Butler was also positive about the roll-out of the program in the area.  “Lake Cargelligo is warm and friendly community, with a dedicated team working at their MPS [Multi-Purpose Services Hospital]. Accommodation in town is tight at the best of times, so providing more places to live for health workers is essential for the community.  "More accommodation for health workers means less pressure on local rental and housing markets. Rural and remote communities desperately need more accommodation for our key workers, and this will be a good start," Mr Butler said.

High prices, rising interest rates, and a lack of staff are putting a strain on business owners in more ways than one, according to leading crisis specialist Gary Fahey.  Mr Fahey said he is witnessing an increasing number of people going through mental breakdowns and turning to unhealthy coping mechanisms such as alcohol and gambling to deal with the stress of running a business during a financial crisis.  “I’m seeing highly capable business owners crumble under the pressure, leading to poor decision-making, broken relationships and in some cases, total burnout," Mr Fahey said.  "The stress is overwhelming and many are suffering in silence.” Problems in the business can lead to problems at home, Mr Fahey says. Photo: suppliedAccording to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, a third of business owners experience moderate or high levels of psychological distress and 17 percent said they experienced a mental health condition in the past year.  "The burnout is real," Vicki Hanlon, owner of the newsagency in Condobolin for the past 13 years said.  The shop is open seven days a week and her work days often turn into 12 hours.   "I love my job but the daily grind can get to you."  There are times when the shop is short-staffed and Ms Hanlon said she finds herself juggling retail and administrative responsibilities.  "If we're running short, it means I have to cover more areas," Mrs Hanlon said.  "It can be hard because you have appointments for yourself booked in too."  Kellie Ward, registered counsellor and Director of Foundational Care said managing staffing issues is a common concern she hears among business owners.  "One of the most difficult aspects of running a business is human resources," Mrs Ward said.  Counsellor Kellie Ward has experience with helping business owners navigate concerns they have both in their work and private life. Photo: supplied.A 2024 survey by Small Business Australia showed that 30 percent of business owners struggle with finding skilled staff.  The economic situation also means people use their money first to buy essentials.  "The price of everything has gone up," Mrs Hanlon said.  "People are going to buy food at the supermarket, or putting fuel in the car, or paying their electricity bill before they buy a luxury.”  Mrs Hanlon said she normally expects business to wind down in January but this year, February has been slow to pick up too. Despite the difficulties Mrs Hanlon said she takes pride in running her shop and tries to see the glass half full.  "You've got to not fall into the trap of letting it get to you. "You try to stay on top of it and get a positive mindset." Finding support and making sure you find time for yourself is essential to staying on top of your mental health when running a business, Mrs Ward said.  "It is so important to have a mentor when running a business and have someone you can trust to face these challenges with you.  "This can be someone you look up to in the same industry, a business coach, counsellor, or trusted friend or family member to bounce ideas off." She said. having firm boundaries and a regular self-care routine goes a long way too in preventing and recovering from burnout. Free sessions on how to prevent burnout are available, for example, through Employee Assistance Australia.

A former pub in the heart of Cobar will be transformed into a community hub which will revitalise the area, thanks to Federal funding.Cobar is one of four communities who will share $21 million under a newly released list of recipients for a Precincts and Partnership grant from the Federal Government.Along with Bathurst, Cessnock, and Mudgee, Cobar will receive funding of almost $3.5 million to create new and revitalise its CBD.The funding is set to deliver the design and planning works for the council’s 'grand precinct', getting it up to construction and tender-ready status.The Grand Hotel Cobar ready to be upgraded with new funding - Image Western Plains App.The project will see the redesigning of the Grand Hotel into a cultural-commercial hub, upgrading the library, restoring the town hall for multi-purpose use, adding senior housing and improving streetscapes.Cobar Mayor Jarrod Marsden said the project will be very worthwhile for the community.Cobar Shire Council Mayor Jarrod Marsden - Image Western Plains App. “We are really pleased to obtain this funding and a pat on the back to our council staff for putting in a really good grant proposal. The government obviously saw the benefit of investing money out here,” said Cr Marsden.“We purchased the Grand Hotel as we identified it as somewhere we could do something special in the main street, tying in with the library across the street and the Town Hall just around the corner.“The Grand Hotel has been a part of Cobar’s history for as long as I can remember, and the big beer can is an iconic attraction for tourists. It closed its doors as a hotel several years ago and has sat empty ever since.“The upstairs area is quite big and has some older style accommodation. We believe there is some real value in refurbishing that area into modern accommodation." It's expected contractors will need to be on-site for three months to complete the project. “In terms of the Town Hall, we will need some community consultation to see what people would like done with the hall. The most likely outcome will be that it will become an art gallery. Being a heritage building we need to be very careful with what we do to maintain its structure.Cobar Town Hall part of the Precinct to be upgraded - Image Western Plains App.“The funding will allow us to perform a bankable engineering study to get the project to shovel ready standard, something we look forward to for our community.“We’ve advocated for a long time that regional funding should be just that regional, even though it tends to include Newcastle and Wollongong, which I think is a bit unfair as they generally take up a little bit of money, but we have pushed for a while that regional should be truly regional and we are finally starting to see that in real life, which is awesome,” Cr Marsden said.A Cobar resident welcomed the news. “The Grand Hotel is literally the centre of town and is looking a bit unloved now. It will be grand to see it all shiny and new again, along with the library and town hall,” she said.Cobar Shire Library - Image courtesy Cobar Shire CouncilMinister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government Catherine King, said government is listening to communities across regional NSW and is boosting local economies by strengthening community infrastructure.Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government Catherine King - Image Australian Labor Party“Precincts like this not only give the community a space to gather and visitors a space to enjoy, but they transform towns by boosting local economies and shaping the everyday lives of locals.“The regional Precincts and Partnerships program is about revitalising underutilised spaces to enhance regional cities and towns – working collaboratively across government, community and with the private sector," Ms King said.

A 17-year-old boy died in a car crash following a police pursuit in Bourke in the early morning hours of 28 February.  Three further teenage boys were injured, two of them remain in critical condition.  Police were called to a service station on Burroway Road in Narromine on Thursday, February 27, around 11:15 p.m., following reports of a robbery.  The four teenagers at the scene fled in an allegedly stolen vehicle.  The vehicle was located around 12:08 am on the Mitchell Highway, 15 kilometres east of Nyngan.  Police initiated a pursuit which was terminated a short time later.  Around 12:45 am, the pursuit continued in Coolabah.  Police set two road spikes on Mitchell Highway in Coolabah and Sydney Road in Bourke.  The vehicle continued through Bourke township before it crashed and rolled on Weir Road around 1:30 am.Police rendered assistance to the four occupants of the car.  The 17-year-old boy succumbed to his injuries at the scene.  NSW paramedics attended to the boys and took them to Bourke Hospital.  A 14-year-old boy has been airlifted to Sydney Children's Hospital in critical condition.  A 13-year-old boy also remains in serious condition, while a 16-year-old boy's condition is stable.  Specialist officers from Crash Investigation Unit are examining the crime scene and a critical investigation team from Oxley Police District will investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident.  The investigation will also be subject to independent review. 

The Minns Labour Government has chosen to extend strict bail testing for young people accused of stealing cars or breaking into homes.   An additional test under section 22C of the Bail Act 2013 was introduced by State Government last year in response to concerns about youth crime. It applies to young people aged 14 to 18 who commit car theft or break and enter offence while on bail. Under the law, only offenders the bail authority have a high degree of confidence will not reoffend can be granted bail.   Section 22C was first introduced as temporary, and expected to expire in 4 April 2025, but Government legislated to have them extended until April 2028.  Early data shows the bail refusal rate under 22C is more than double the general bail refusal rate for young people charged with similar offences. But does more bail refusal equal less crime?   Chairman of the Safer Coonamble group, Dennis Glover, is supportive of the strengthened bail laws.   "Well, you've got to have strong enough laws to enforce.   "Some kids will not change by other means, so you need the law to control them."   The Safer Coonamble group was formed in early 2024, due to concerns about property crime and drug and alcohol related offences amongst young people and adults. It is supported by local services, the Coonamble District Chamber of Commerce, the Coonamble Aboriginal Working Party and the Local Aboriginal Land Council.   "We need stricter laws, you can't pussyfoot around. It won't happen overnight but it's a start," said Mr Glover, adding the situation has improved in the last five years.   Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research (BOCSAR) does show some reduction in crime rates in the Coonamble LGA from 2014 to 2024, with break and enter dwelling offences down 5.6 per cent and malicious damage to property down 5.5 per cent. But rates of domestic violence related assault and common assault both remained the same.    "It's cheaper and easier if you get kids out of the system from the start.   "If they can divert them early into programs they can change for the better. With better role models and supervisors they can be part of the community," said Mr Glover. The extension on stricter bail laws comes at the same time as the NSW State Government is holding a parliamentary inquiry into community safety in regional and rural communities. The inquiry, which was supposed to hand-down an interim report in March this year, has been given an extended deadline due to the amount of submissions they received.   Country Mayors' Association (CMA) Executive Board Member and Tamworth Mayor, Russell Webb, who submitted to the inquiry, says bail laws are only one part of the issue, and communities and governments need to focus on long-term solutions.   "I will mainly be talking about programs and intervention at parliamentary inquiry. Focusing on getting to young juveniles before they get to offending.  "If we don't do that, it's going to be a race to a very bad end."    Bourke Shire council also made a submission to the inquiry supporting many of the CMA NSW recommendations for change.   Last year, the State Government announced a $26.2 million community safety package. Last month they also later announced an additional $6 million to support community safety across Bourke, Moree and Kempsey.  Stricter bail laws have been in place for less than a year, making it difficult to say if they have reduced crime rates, but locals are hopeful the additional support will help make the region a safer place.   

The Brewarrina Shire Council is getting an influx of $4 million to make their roads more accessible for both locals and tourists looking to explore the beauty the shire offers thanks to the Active Transport Boost for NSW from the federal government.   “Whether you’re on a motor scooter, pushing a pram, walking or cycling, we’re making it easier for people to get to school, work or local services, without having to jump in the car," Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government Catherine King said.  "We're delighted to hear that news," Brewarrina Shire General Manager David Kirby said.  Three million will go towards creating cycle and pedestrian paths from the Brewarrina Township to the Barwon River, featuring solar-powered lighting and shaded rest areas, stretching around three kilometres from Bridge Road to the Aboriginal Reserve.  Particularly for people with disabilities having footpaths available to get from one point to another will be a game changer.  "There's no footpath currently for people with mobility issues," Mr Kirby said.  The remaining funding is for a connection between the centre of Goodooga and the bore baths located 1.5 kilometres apart.  Between Goodooga centre and the bore baths, there currently isn't a footpath either.  During the winter months Goodooga is booming with tourists who come to the small town of around 240 people to camp and visit the bore baths and other tourist attractions, nearly doubling the number of inhabitants temporarily.  The Goodooga Artesian Baths is a must for travelers passing through the region. Photo: Brewarrina Shire Council Facebook"This footpath means you're going to have a lot more pedestrian and foot traffic back into the town centre," Mr Kirby said.  "Businesses benefit from the interaction and it means potentially we can keep people around longer to spend a little more money and enjoy the sites."  "I can't stress enough the importance of these projects for our communities.  "It's critical for our survival and further infrastructure development." Work for the projects is set to begin shortly. "Because we have already completed the design for both projects, we can immediately move to the next step.  "We want to commence the tender phase at the end of March."  The work will not impact the opening of the Goodooga bore baths on Monday, 3 March. 

Firefighters are still working to contain the blaze on the Sandstone Cave Walking Track near Dandry that broke out yesterday afternoon, Wednesday 26 February.  Stormy weather, including unpredictable winds, contributed to the fire quickly growing from 70 hectares to over 1,100 hectares. There has been a drop in fire activity today, 27 February, according to a Rural Fire Service (RFS) spokesperson.  The spokesperson said just under 30 firefighters in 14 trucks from the RFS and Wildparks are attending the blaze. Aerial view of the blaze. Photo: NSW Rural Fire Service Heavy machinery and aircrafts are helping contain the blaze.  The crews are working today on building containment lines on the east and west side of the highway to get the blaze under control.  The fire led to the closure of the Newell Highway in both directions between Narrabri and Coonabarabran Wednesday evening around 6pm.  All traffic can divert via Gunnedah using the Kamilaroi and Oxley Highway.  No properties are in immediate danger at the moment, although residents are urged to monitor the situation as it develops.