Irrigators across NSW have warned that their accessing floodplain harvesting and supplementary water would be slashed to almost nothing - if an expert panel’s floodplain harvesting recommendations are adopted.  The Connectivity Expert Panel Interim Report, suggests a series of flow targets for rivers in “non-dry times”, which if implemented some say could force irrigators out of the rivers - potentially leading a series of large compensation claims from the agriculture sector. NSW Irrigators Council chief executive Claire Miller said if the panel’s recommendations were adopted it would effectively prevent farmers accessing any water in wet years. Ms Miller said NSW IC analysis showed the loss of access to water would rip a at least $312 million out of northern basin communities, such as Moree, Walgett and Bourke. “At face value, the lost net return from the inevitable hit to food and fibre growing is more than $520 million dollars every single year,” she added. Claire Miller. Image: Linkedin. “That’s more than half a billion dollars ripped out of the local economies of towns such as Moree, Walgett and Bourke, which are already struggling with entrenched socio-economic disadvantage, particularly in their indigenous communities. “Even after recommending all but shutting down supplementary and floodplain harvesting water access, they want the Government to raid farmers’ general security accounts in the public dams if baseflow flows are still not meeting targets”. Ms Miller has caused on the NSW Government to “distance itself” from this “rogue report” in order to keep “small towns like Moree and Bourke alive”.  NSW Greens Minister Cate Faehrmann said on a recent visit to the Macquarie Marshes, Walgett and Brewarrina she had heard the same thing - and it wasn’t that they wanted more water taken out of the rivers. “The overwhelming message I heard from local stakeholders in the Western Plains was that we need to leave water in the rivers” Ms Faehrmann told the Western Plains App.   Image: Nature Conservation Council. “I spoke with graziers who are concerned about the continuing overallocation of floodplain harvesting licences. I spoke with First Nations communities who are concerned about the building of new weirs that will divert water away from their communities and into the hands of big cotton irrigators. They all had the same message for the Government: put the water back.” “The residents of Walgett can’t drink the water from their taps, which is sourced from the Namoi. The government response has been so inadequate that communities are having to take matters into their own hands”.  The New South Wales Government is currently seeking input from the community on licensing floodplain harvesting as part of the regulated system with all other water licences. 

Barwon MP Roy Butler returned to Australia 28 April after a 19-day world tour to bring back lessons that could help the Western Plains. Mr Butler began 9 April as part of a Commonwealth Parliamentary Association study tour and travelled across three continents, including in Singapore, Thailand, Italy and Canada.He said he had little time to smell the roses, shuttling between ten countries to learn how housing, agriculture and manufacturing can be done different.While in Malaysia he met with housing policy expert Dr Suraya Ismail. He said a chat lasting over one and a half hours made him a bigger fan of modular homes to help solve housing shortages in the Western Plains. Unlike traditional builds, modular houses have sections constructed away from the building site then installed into place on-site.Mr Butler said using modular housing, also called panelised housing, would solve the issue of trying to find builders in areas like Coonamble. “Panelised housing can be built in a factory, where there are people who can build these wall panels that already have the wiring conduit and pumping built into them. “The idea is that people who aren’t tradespeople, people with some basic skills, can actually assemble these things.“The complex stuff is done off the building site in a factory, and the panels just come out and get screwed together.”Mr Butler said urban farms like this one in Singapore keep food sourced locally. IMAGE: Facebook/Roy Butler MPMr Butler also had the chance to see rooftop gardens producing food in Singapore.“You can’t own farmland in Singapore, you have to lease it.”“They’re reluctant to put massive investment into high-intensity agriculture because there’s no guarantee the lease will be renewed.“What that means is food certainty comes with buildings because the buildings are likely to be there for decades. So, you’ve got this growth in community gardens in high-rise towers. They’ve got car parks that have been converted over to food-growing spaces.There may not be high risers in Barwon, but Mr Butler said the concept is something the region could take up board. “It means that in terms of food security, the food’s being produced locally, it’s right there, you’re not having to transport it a heap of kilometres, which is an issue for us in Barwon.”“The car park garden, which was beside two really big residential towers, and there was a lot of well-aged people in them, is that there was a huge social benefit.“A lot of people who otherwise had no reason to interact with each other would come down out of their tower and tend their garden and they’d end up interacting.“I know Coonamble has community gardens. We’ve got the opportunity to really encourage, especially our well-aged people, to come out and get involved for the social benefits and for the health benefits.”The Beretta factory in picturesque Brescia, Italy. IMAGE: facebookIn Italy, Mr Butler visited Brescia in the country’s north, where he executives of arms manufacturer Beretta and see it’s factory there. “They typically produce 100 per cent of their own power, they use locally milled steel, which is their own blend of steel. They don’t ship it overseas for processing. “They have government contracts many, many years where defence and police buy their stuff so even if you’ve got a world economic downturn, say the Global Financial Crisis for example, they still had a steady stream of income.“And I think the lesson for us is wherever possible, our government should be buying domestically produced products. We shouldn’t be buying it in from overseas because it’s cheaper. We should be buying it locally and driving that money back into our economy.”Mr Butler said things didn’t all go smoothly, losing three days to flight issues. He made his last stop the G3 Grain Terminal in Vancouver, Canada, which he said ports in Newcastle could replicate to reduce transport costs, which are also worn by farmers.“So, I wanted to go see it firsthand,” Mr Butler said.“They get cereal off the trains at a rate of about 3000 tonnes an hour, they can load ships at a rate of up to 6000 tonnes an hour. Essentially, it is the world’s best practice in managing cereal crops for export. “That’s the sort of technology that I’d love to see in Newcastle.“From a freight cost pathway perspective, that would mean that we could get cereal crops for export off the transport onto a boat quickly at a lower cost, which means the farmers are not bearing as much cost.”

A quick glance at the Narromine Shire Council Facebook page and you could be forgiven for thinking the council has gone to the dogs!There is a definite focus on man’s best friend, which is a great reminder that need dogs need our care and attention at all times.Narromine Shire remind residents that responsible pet ownership is key to keeping our best mates safe and happy.-         Microchip and register your dog, and keep those details updated. It's their ticket home if they ever get lost.-         Secure your dog within your property. No roaming adventures without supervision!-         Keep your dog on a lead in public areas. Safety first.-         Off-leash fun? Stick to designated areas like the pawsome dog park at Rotary Park in Narromine. It's got everything your dog will need for a tail-wagging good time!-         Training time! Well-trained puppies are less likely to be involved in incidents. Plus, it's a great bonding experience!-         Exercise = happy dog! Regular walks and playtime keeps dogs healthy and less likely to be ruff around others.While around 81 per cent of dogs are desexed, according to the RSPCA, this unneutered demographic leads to lots of unwanted puppies. And if that’s not a reason to desex your dog, think of the savings in registration fees. For example, in Sydney, the cost of registering a neutered dog is 29.4 per cent cheaper than an unneutered dog.Narromine Shire is supporting residents to desex their dogs by announcing a free desexing program is soon to visit the area.“We're excited to announce that a FREE desexing program will soon be visiting the area to ensure the health and safety of our pets,” they said. “Stay tuned to Narromine Shire Council's social media pages and Council Column for upcoming details. We can all work together to keep our best mates safe, happy and healthy!”Unfortunately it’s not too healthy to be in the Narromine Animal Shelter at the moment with its closure due to a highly contagious disease.“The Narromine Animal Shelter has recently received several surrendered puppies infected with Canine parvovirus,” Narromine Shire announced on its social media pages. “This is a highly contagious disease that requires immediate veterinary care.”Canine parvovirus (CPV) is a highly contagious viral disease of dogs that commonly causes acute gastrointestinal illness in puppies. The disease most often strikes in pups between six and 20 weeks old, but older animals are sometimes also affected.Council has consulted with veterinary services and taken corrective action and placed the Animal Shelter under quarantine.Narromine Shire Council will not be able to accept any further animals until the virus has been eliminated. Council will inform residents when the Shelter will reopen.

Growth, entrepreneurship and resilience are all trademarks of a successful business. Now in its 12th year, the Western NSW Business Awards recognises all these things and several local businesses have been nominated for the 2024 awards which will be presented in Bathurst on May 31st. Vicki Seccombe, Regional Director – Western NSW, at Business NSW, said this year’s finalists showcase and highlight the incredible business talent that is based right here in Western NSW. “I believe our business community is one of the strongest in Regional NSW and is reflected in the 32% increase in submissions this year. These awards are a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the ingenuity, strength and entrepreneurial spirit of our Western NSW business community, said Ms Seccombe. Finalists in three categories is the Nyngan Riverside Tourist Park which sees manager, Emily Stanton nominated in the Outstanding Young business Leader section and Julie O'Brien as outstanding employee as well as the Park being a finalist in the Excellence in Small Business category. Ms Stanton's parents bought the park in 2007 and she has been general manager for 12 years. "We're very happy about our nomination," she said. "It's nice to be recognised as being a good business because we do put in a lot of hard work and are very passionate about what park." Ms Stanton said they were surprised to be finalists in three categories. "It's a family-owned business and we've had it for 15 years, we're always improving. Our location is unique as well, we're on the Bogan River, so I think that makes us stand out, especially in the central west. It’s like a little oasis." "It takes a really good team of staff as well and, I guess, good business management."Nyngan's Riverside Tourist Park is a nominee in three categories. IMAGE: Tripadviser Ms Stanton is 32, and encourages others to get involved in the world of small business. "My motto is that anything is possible," she said. "It's not always easy and it takes hard work and sacrifice and there's a lot of challenges, but if you put your mind and your heart to something then can achieve anything. Take big risks." Julie O'Brien, nominated as an outstanding employee for the awards, said she loves her work at the Riverside Tourist Park."I came here from a corporate job about seven years ago," Ms O'Brien said. "I just love it here, everyone is so positive and the customers are great. The support from my employers is also fantastic. I will be heading to Bathurst for the award ceremony, it should be amazing."Daughter/Father team Rachael and Shane Swansborough with staff member Bree Roworth were recognised at the Coonamble District Business Awards in 2023. IMAGE: Coonamble Times Another finalist in the business awards is food service distributor, Swanny's Foods, from Coonamble. They are in the running for the Excellence in Business award.Swanny's Foods Manager Rachael Swansborough said her family bought the business in September 1992. They initially nominated just to see purely to see what the nomination process was like."It was really for research purposes on my behalf to see how we could change the nomination process for the Coonamble Chamber of Commerce," she said. "Then I spoke to my brother about it and he said ‘oh, we might as well have a decent crack at it and fill out properly, which we did, but we did not expect to become finalists on the basis that it covers such a big area. "We’re up against people from Bathurst, and Orange, Nyngan and Dubbo." Ms Swansborough said running a business is definitely not for the faint-hearted. “I think our biggest attribute is that we are a family-owned business and that we do go above and beyond with our customer service, We like to think that we’re good at that,” she said.The Kennard family are taking their quality products to the world from their home base in Condobolin. MASPRO Engineering at Condobolin are finalists in the Employer of Choice Category. Established in Condobolin in 2006, MASPRO Engineering is a family-owned and operated mining technology business with a history spanning three generations. The company works to optimise mining equipment to improve safety and reliability in harsh mining conditions. Winners of the 2024 Western NSW Business Awards, will then represent the region at the State Business Awards to be held in Sydney in October. “Last year, two Western NSW businesses, Topsoil Organics from Forbes and Black Gold Motel from Wallerawang won at the State Business Awards, and based on the calibre of this year’s finalists, I expect that our regional winners will again do very well,” Ms Seccombe said.  

Signage has gone digital in Gilgandra – with the latest installation of an ongoing project almost complete.Gilgandra Shire’s Region Signage Project has evolved over the last few years, starting in 2020 when a Shire Signage survey was conducted in the community. There were 221 respondents and 88 comments, all offering ideas about how the new signs should look.At the time, Marketing & Communications Manager, Kathryn Larkin says the desired outcome was to promote Gilgandra and the local villages, Armatree and Tooraweenah.“We are currently seeing an increase in regional travellers and by providing a welcoming, vibrant and unique entry to our region, we are attracting visitors and promoting our town in a way that is reflective of our community spirit,” she said. “The designs have been developed to complement one another while touching on each of the elements in the Gilgandra Cultural Strategic plan of Military History; Farming & Natural Landscape; and Aboriginal Heritage, as well as, importantly, the feedback from our community.”“We are excited to be presenting the designs to the community and look forward to seeing them in place, believing they will truly make a positive impression.”Community feedback confirmed that making the region attractive to tourist was important.After the consultation, many new signs sprang up around the shire -2 x new major town entry feature signs at the Southern and Northern Entrances to the Gilgandra township on the Newell Highway2 x new minor town entry signs on Castlereagh and Oxley Highway entrances, smaller versions of the major town entry signs4 x village entry signs, which are smaller versions of the town entry feature signs at Armatree (2) and Tooraweenah (2) with design elements specific to the villages6 x Gilgandra Shire entry signs which replaced the existing timber routed signs2 x super site Gilgandra Region signs on northern and southern Newell Highway approaches8 x tourist messaging signs – replacing out of date promotional signageMayor, Doug Batten said the signs were a welcome addition that are unique to the region.“These town entry pieces will capture the spirit of Gilgandra Shire with individual elements that reflect the local character of our township and our villages,” he said. “We believe this project will have real impact in terms of residents’ pride, showcasing to visitors the aesthetics of our beautiful home, welcoming travellers to come and visit!”At a recent Gilgandra Shire Council meeting, an offshoot of the project was discussed - the community digital signage project with funding already in place.The contract has been awarded to Armsign, and they will design and install one pedestrian, and one town entry full-colour interchangeable LED digital installations. Amsign are familiar with the western plains, having completed the fit out of the Coonamble Information and Exhibition Centre in 2022.Gilgandra's new digital signs will be available for local community groups to provide information, events, news and attractions. The aim is to improve Gilgandra Shire’s visitor economy and community pride and offers more people the opportunity to attend and socialise at events.Council has received the first concept designs for the signs, which were presented to the Economic Development Committee on the 27 February 2024.The location of the pedestrian sign will be placed within the Gilgandra Community Plaza with investigations ongoing as to the exact location. The other sign will be alongside the recently updated Welcome to Gilgandra sign.

The reality of mandatory electronic identification (eID) tags comes into being in January of next year. New South Wales, and other states, are currently transitioning to mandatory individual electronic identification for sheep and goats. Using eID will reduce the time required to manage an emergency animal disease or food safety incident. This allows authorities to respond to and recover from an outbreak, such as foot and mouth disease and be able to easily trace stock. While the move has positives for biosecurity, the start up costs have been an issue for many farmers, who have appealed to government for assistance. On May 1st, NSW Agriculture Minister Tara Moriarty announced a new eID tag discount program for NSW producers, with a 76 cent-per-tag discount available for eligible sheep and goat eID tags purchased from 1 November 2024 until 31 October 2025, or until funding is exhausted NSW Farmers has thanked the state government for listening to industry concerns around mandated traceability reforms following the announcement of a new scheme to provide discounted eID tags to sheep and goat farmers in NSW. Fifth generation farmer, Nick Deshon from 'Llanillo', a cropping and grazing property between Lightning Ridge and Cumborah runs 5000 Merino sheep and 6000 -7000 rangeland goats and is gearing up for the introduction of mandatory tagging. Mr Deshon's rangeland goats don't need the new tags as they go direct from Llanillo to the abattoir in Bourke."With the sheep, it's just something we will have to do. We have started lambing now and will be ordering the compatible tags to use at lamb marking. I just hope the government steps up and help us out," Mr Deshon said.Mr Deshon said the new tagging system was not foolproof."The tags get knocked off in yards or lost, whereas a brand or an ear mark is visual and can't disappear but I can see the reasons for biosecurity. We had some sheep on agistment from Queensland and they were easy to trace."IMAGE: Deshon Goat DepotNSW Farmers President Xavier Martin said the discount program had come as a positive step forward for producers in the transition to electronic identification for sheep and goats.  “It is the governments who mandated this traceability system, and so they must have plans to properly support producers with transitioning to the required systems,” Mr Martin said. “We have made it very clear that we will only continue to support these traceability reforms if tag costs are reduced to economically viable levels, and we are pleased to hear the state government has stepped up to the plate and listened to our policies on this.  “While there is further detail in this scheme we need to unpack and understand, there is no doubt that today’s announcement is a step forward in support for sheep and goat producers in NSW. "However, there is a still a long road ahead for traceability reform, and the state and federal governments must continue to ensure there is sufficient and suitable funding for all producers in NSW, all the way through this transition, if this scheme is to truly be successful and harmonized.” With just eight months until eID becomes mandatory for sheep and goats in NSW, Mr Martin urged both the state and federal governments to continue to explore all available options to ensure that national traceability can be achieved without excessive imposts and costs for sheep and goat producers. "They just don’t need to rush things," Mr Deshon said. "They have to get it right. As for me, I'll stick with the goats that don't need tagging and leave the sheep to my son."

Optus has agreed to allow rival TPG Telecom to access it's mobile network.   That means western plains customers with Vodaphone, which TPG owns, could have access to Optus' 4G and 5G network in early 2025.  Pending approval of the deal by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC), TPG will get access to 2444 Optus mobile network sites in regional Australia, the telcos said in a joint release 1 May. Coonamble-based spokesperson for Better Internet for Rural, Regional and Remote Australia, Sharon Single, said the deal is a "potential win" for consumers, depending on whether Optus expands it's infrastructure network.   "We're cautiously optimistic," Ms Single said. "Competition is generally a good thing as long as there's enough infrastructure to remain competitive.  "Previously, the ACCC had turned down Telstra doing the same deal with TPG because they felt something like this could happen and that it would be better for rural consumers.  "Telstra have had a huge market advantage, both because of their history, but also because they had made investments in their rural network.  "Optus has increased it's coverage over time, but they haven't necessarily had the same extensive network." Sharon Single, and husband Tony, have fingers crossed for better service as telco infrastructure sharing comes into play.Ms Single also said rural and regional areas like the Orana are a small customer base for the major telcos.  "Going from three networks to two makes a lot of sense. And these deals, it won't just be Optus as such, it'll be a variety of carriers using that network, similar to how there's quite a few different retail providers you can use that utilise the Telstra network, such as Boost."  "So, if somebody was coming from the city and they've got a TPG or Optus-supported network carrier, they can come out here and have service."  The Optus 4G network currently covers most regional centres in the Western Plains, although not Brewarrina.  It also misses a cluster of areas within a rough square drawn between Gilgandra, Cobar, Bourke and Walgett.  Optus Interim CEO Michael Venter said the deal speed up his telco's 5G rollout. “Optus and TPG Telecom will be positioned to provide consumers with more choice and better services as we accelerate our investment in the regions," Mr Venter said. “The agreement will reduce combined 5G network rollout costs in regional Australia, which will enable the rollout of 5G infrastructure to be completed two years earlier than previously planned." TPG Telecom CEO Iñaki Berroeta said sharing networks, rather than building separate infrastructure, will give reduced operating costs. “This network sharing arrangement will reset the competitive landscape for mobile services in regional areas and provide Australians with more choice than ever before,” Mr Berroeta said. “In a country as large as Australia, this is the sustainable approach we need to maximise established infrastructure, and expand the reach of telecommunications services, competition and choice for consumers.” The deal comes after Vodaphone shut down it's 3G network in December last year. Optus will shut their 3G network in September after Telstra closes theirs in June.  

Agricultural groups says the proposed Federal Food Levy will hurt farmers, drive up the cost-of-living and make groceries more expensive at the checkout. Under the proposal announced in the federal budget last year, primary producers will cover about 6% of the biosecurity protection levy. Importers, considered to bring the highest risk, will pay about 48%, with taxpayers and Australia Post covering 44% and 2%, respectively. GRAIN Producers Australia and GrainGrowers were united in opposition to the current Biosecurity Protection Levy framework when representatives fronted a senate inquiry into the proposed legislation on April 23 GPA chief executive Colin Bettles and GrainGrowers general manager – policy and advocacy Zachary Whale appeared at the hearing alongside other agricultural industry groups and the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry. Colin Bettles. Image: Graingrowers.  The grains industry they said would contribute the largest chunk of any commodity impacted by the legislation, an estimated $12.25M out of a total $51.8M. Acting Chair Labor Senator Raff Ciccone questioned whether the cost to the grains industry, estimated to be 0.06 per cent of the average annual value of the sector, was a small price to pay for increased biosecurity protections. Mr Whale said growers were open to paying more if there was a clear, communicated benefit achieved by the levy funds. “The GRDC does invest in the biosecurity activities that contribute to the profitability and ongoing sustainability of farmers, but it would not be able to divert that revenue to something like pre- and at-border biosecurity activities, which are distinctly different” Mr Whale said. The National Farmers Federation told the Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport Legislation Committee’s (RRAT’s) inquiry into the Agriculture (Biosecurity Protection) Levies Bill 2024 [Provisions] and related bills. Image: Australian Government. “The NFF is extremely concerned that the levy may have a distortionary impact on the rural research and development system given it does not appear to accord with underlying principles such as proper establishment processes, industry support, equitability and accountability”. “Put simply, the Biosecurity Protection Levy is poor policy”. They along with the National Party, want importers to pay the levy. “In what parallel universe would a government charge its own farmers to pay for the risks their competitors are creating?” Nationals Leader David Littleproud. “This new tax will hurt families at a time they can least afford it and farmers who are already under pressure”. In a statement the ALP said “Primary producers, whether growing for the domestic market or exporting into premium overseas markets benefit considerably from our strong biosecurity status”.  “This is reflected in the high returns being secured from our export markets, with over 70 per cent of all Australian agricultural production being exported. The Biosecurity Protection Levy will ensure that those who directly benefit from Australia’s strong biosecurity make a modest and direct contribution to ensure the biosecurity system is sustainably funded into the future”.  

Local services and families say children are being left in limbo waiting to be assessed, diagnosed and treated for certain types of problems as access to paediatric specialists evaporates.Children up to the age of 16 now have even fewer options with workforce shortages forcing the Paediatric Outpatient Unit at Dubbo Base Hospital to restrict their intake of “non-urgent” and “non-medical” patients.In Coonamble, at least one child has been waiting for three years to see a paediatrician and all involved say the situation is getting worse.A number of local services referring children have received letters from the Western NSW Local Health District’s paediatric outpatient unit stating “Unfortunately at this time we will not be accepting any non-medical referrals (eg. Behavioural concerns).”“We suggest you redirect this referral to another service or private paediatrician."Please also consider what interventions you can offer in the interim. We return this patient back to your care.”A set of ‘referral guidelines’ is also provided which includes a list of possible alternate sources of support.However, the local service providers say that access to many of the suggested alternatives is also seriously limited and, in some cases, there is no alternative to a paediatrician.CEO of Coonamble Aboriginal health Service Phil Naden says his organisation has received no official notice of any changes.“This is of concern, as there is already a long waiting list for children to see a Paediatrician and this appears to be a redirection of care for clients that may need to see a paediatrician,” Mr Naden said.“I think it’s great if there is alternate providers and if the advice clients receive is qualified it may fast track a diagnosis, but at the end of the day, if a child needs to see a paediatrician, they should be referred to a paediatrician.”The list of ‘non-medical/behavioural’ concerns includes Autism Spectrum Disorder, ADHA, Anxiety or Depression, Anger Management/Aggression, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder/Oppositional Defiant Disorder, Speech Delay/Regression, and Self Harm/Suicidal Ideation, and more.Responsibility for this type of care is shared among a complex network of public, private and funded non-government providers.However local stakeholders say the increasing limits and delays mean the system is now failing many of the region’s most vulnerable children.A spokesperson for Ochre Health Clinic in Coonamble said their GPs have confirmed that they were advised of restrictions to paediatric services six to eight months ago. “We received a letter giving some options but they’re not great options,” the spokesperson said. “Critically, the major concern is for the children.“Our doctors are trying to connect with as many paediatricians as possible but have found it very difficult to refer outside the local health district because those specialists have a full load from their own areas.“Doctors have tried different avenues, even referring to Sydney if they have to. They have to fossick around to see if they can find someone but there is a terrible shortage of practitioners, even in Sydney.”“This area is chronically under-serviced.“It’s a pretty dire situation and there is no miracle silver bullet.”Private clinical psychologist Stephanie Ryan says the system is in crisis.“Anywhere like Orange have closed their books. I was trying to find something, anything, for a child in Gular, and everywhere is closing their books to ‘non-medical’ cases,” she said.“Clinical psychologists do a lot of assessments and get children ready to see a paediatrician, especially if they need medication for physical symptoms - all these are part of each disorder, they don’t just have a mental disorder or a physical disorder.”She says separating children on the basis of brain-related (non-medical) issues as opposed to body-related (medical) issues is not a model that works.“I know the driving reason is resources but it’s not the answer to ignore that fact that it’s all connected.“It’s like stepping back a hundred years. What has happened to holistic health care?”A spokesperson says that the Western NSW LHD’s Paediatric Outpatients Unit remains open to children with all types of problems but that “new referrals are triaged and prioritised based on urgency and acute clinical need.”Letters sent to local doctors, therapists and families would indicate that ‘acute clinical’ need trumps other conditions that can also have devastating and far-reaching effects on children’s overall health and wellbeing.Gilgandra-based occupational therapist Melinda Beveridge says it is almost impossible for children with emerging problems to access a paediatrician, unless there is an urgent medical aspect.She says nothing can replace a specialist paediatrician.“You access a paediatrician for diagnostic purposes and ongoing co-ordination of care when a child is using multiple allied health or medical services,” she said.“Paediatricians are a really integral part of the care of children in the western area.“It’s really devastating for families wanting to explore issues with a paediatrician, which is the right pathway - and the only pathway in a lot of cases.”Children with a wide range of problems - from anger and anxiety to autism and ADHD - are being left on hold across the west.The LHD currently has three permanent vacancies for specialist paediatricians.“All vacant roles are identified as hard-to-fill, critical positions and advertised with incentives applied under the NSW Government’s Rural Workforce Incentive Scheme,” the spokesperson said.“Attracting and retaining the required workforce in regional areas, particularly specialist clinicians, remains an ongoing challenge across Australia. “Despite using locum clinicians wherever possible and running an ongoing recruitment campaign around Australia and internationally, those long-running vacancies mean that their service is under immense pressure.Some primary-aged children have already been waiting years to see a paediatrician.Local families, school staff and health workers say the situation is unacceptable and getting worse.“A paediatrician is the gateway to other support services,” Mrs Beveridge said. “It’s an absolute crisis for families out here.“It can have such significant impacts on learning, relationships, and disrupt classrooms and families.“Often there is no alternative.“There needs to be more paediatricians available.”

May the Fourth be with you at Coonabarabran this weekend.Fans of the sci-fi galactic world, and anyone else wanting a great time should head to Coonabarabran this weekend for the Dark Sky Awakens Festival.The celebration is conveniently scheduled on May 4th, a well known play on words on "May the Force be with you," a common saying among Jedi and believers of the Force in Star Wars.Vivian Evans, Community Development Coordinator from 2357 Development Group in Coonabarabran said the event was packed with activities for the whole family.“The Dark Sky Festival has only happened once before in 2022,” Ms Evans said. “We’re so excited that it’s coming back. We really want to connect the community through all these awesome activities.”Starting on Friday 3 May, the Coonabarabran Bowling Club invites all comers to don sci-fi fancy dress join in for Dark Sky Jack Attack! – great team games of night time bowling.Also on Friday is part one of the sci-fi movie marathon at Flix in the Stix, featuring Flash Gordon. Other classic movies of the genre which will be shown over the Dark Sky Awakens Festival are 2001: A Space odyssey, ET and Spaceballs.The official opening of the Capture the Cosmos Astro-photography Exhibition will be opened at the SPACE Gallery on Friday night.“There’s plenty of space themed things happening over the weekend,” Ms Evans said. “You may want to join the challenge at Coonbarabran High School where they are running a robotics Lego challenge for teams of three on Saturday morning. They've got their own robotics team and mentor help people to create code and build things.”​There are solar star viewings near the post office with an astronomer coming down from Siding Springs Observatory.“He is a local astronomer very involved in community and he will be very knowledgeable. The whole community is excited. Even the local nursery is getting into the spirit with a feature of star shaped flowers.”Ms Evans said he organising committee was keen to put some fun into the festival and draw in science fiction lovers. Even the feature act at the Imperial Hotel on Saturday night – a Van Morrison tribute show called Van the Man was chosen for their famous “Moondance” song.And a final word of advice for anyone heading to Coona for this weekend’s Dark Sky Festival?“Come dressed as your favourite sci-fi character for any or all events!” Find out more here.

Gilgandra has aired concerns over what impact the Inland Rail project will have over other their ability to use land for housing and industry. It comes as the Inland Rail chief executive Nick Miller announced that almost one-fifth of the 1600km $31 billion Inland Rail network from Melbourne to Brisbane is now complete, but that the government-owned agency building the still does not have a clear view on the ultimate cost and finish date. However, Mr Miller says the “project is not stalled”. The Parkes to Narromine section was completed in 2020 and is now operational. The project involved the upgrade of 98.4km of existing rail track. Major construction on the 176km Narrabri to North Star Phase 1 (NSW) section was finished in October 2023. Freight trains are now running in this section. However, construction on the section in-between Narromine and Narrabri has not yet begun with Inland Rail explaining on its website that they “are working with the Australian and state governments to gain environmental approvals, secure land and refine designs so we can provide more certainty about the full cost and delivery of Inland Rail”. Image: Inland rail.   Just under 20 percent of the total network had been completed, up from 17 percent in February. However, Concerns over the future of the Inland Rail project is casting a shadow over Gilgandra Shire, with new residential housing blocks about to go to market and thriving local businesses providing positive employment opportunities for locals.  Federal Member for Parkes Mark Coulton was joined by Leader of The Nationals David Littleproud in Gilgandra this week, where they met with Gilgandra Shire Council Mayor Doug Batten, General Manager David Neeves and councillors.   “Council’s housing development is a great initiative. It’s good to see a council being so proactive in providing more housing blocks to increase the local population and capitalise on future growth opportunities, like the Inland Rail.  Doug Batten. Image: Gilgandra Shire Council. Gilgandra Shire Council Mayor Doug Batten said the council team appreciated the opportunity to engage with two senior Federal Nationals Parliamentarians to raise issues relating to the Albanese Government's action regarding the Inland Rail.  “The Inland Rail is a pivotal project for regional Australia, particularly along the Eastern Seaboard,” Cr Batten said.  “Gilgandra Shire Council has sought legacy-building projects as part of the construction of Inland Rail.  “These issues, together with housing availability and the ongoing sustainability of aged care in smaller communities such as ours, also warranted discussion."  When the Coalition committed to delivering the project in 2017, the estimated cost was $9.3bn. In 2020, the project’s cost was estimated at $16.4bn with a completion date of 2026-27. A review into Inland Rail released in April last year found the projected cost had grown to $31.4bn with an expected completion date of 2030-31. 

Today, May 1st, is day one of Domestic Violence Prevention month.Sadly, domestic violence remains a widespread issue in Australia, with the latest data unveiling one in four Australian women and one in 14 Australian men have experienced violence from an intimate partner.Recently, violence against women by men has been the focus of rallies and demands for government to act. One in five adults have experienced violence by an intimate partner or family member – one in four are women and one in 14 are men.Abuse can come in many forms, including coercive control which can involve any behaviour which scares, hurts, isolates, humiliates, harasses, monitors, takes away another person's freedom or unreasonably controls their day-to-day activities. The advent of smartphones has only exacerbated this type of abuse.Mobile phones have plenty of positives, Australians are becoming more reliant on their smartphones to navigate their way through life, from juggling work to accessing vital services like online banking. Yet for domestic violence victims, mobile phones are often the first thing to be destroyed, taken, or monitored, with one in two adults having experienced at least one technology-facilitated abuse behaviour at some point in their life. In fact, over half of domestic violence practitioners observe perpetrators checking victims phones and text messages without consent.Verbal threats to women through phone calls saw a 35.8% increase, with practitioners reporting it going from 32.9% in 2015 to 44.7% in 2020. The use of text messages, emails, or instant messages to threaten women surged by 74.4%, rising from 32.9% in 2015 to 57.4%in 2020.The intersection of technology and domestic violence continues to worsen, with GPS tracking apps such as “Find My” frequently preloaded on to smartphones, and practitioners reporting women feeling obligated to turn them on by the perpetrator.This is where company DVSmartphone comes in, using mobile devices to assist in safety, rather than be a detriment to it.During the pandemic, Ashton Wood from the Sunshine Coast was clearing out old items from his house, intending to donate old phones to those who need them most. When lockdown happened, he had nowhere to take them. He rang an old friend, a senior police sergeant, asking if he could take them anywhere and what she needed in that moment was mobile phones for victims of domestic violence.According to DV Smartphones, 62% of Australians choose to keep one or more mobile phones after updating them. The number of mobile phones in storage has grown over the past 15 years in Australia to a point where there are almost as many phones in storage as there are people in Australia - around 22.3 million mobile phones being stored around the country.DV Safe Phone is calling on Australians to dig through their draws and donate their old phone at one of over 600 locations across Australia.Domestic and Family Violence Prevention Month, (1-31 May), serves as a timely reminder of the extreme and often hidden circumstances people experiencing domestic violence live through, yet by donating an old and unwanted phone, Australians can make a direct and real difference to ensure no call for help goes unheard.DV Safe Phone collects, repurposes and gifts mobile phones to victims of domestic violence (DV) through registered charities, safe houses and authorities serving this vulnerable community. These amazing organisations have people who are trained and resourced to assist victims with their individual needs and circumstances. This includes the provision of a 'safe plan' or 'escape plan' - alongside DV Safe Phone's gifted mobile phones.If you are experiencing violence or abuse, and are in need of a mobile phone to access emergency or crisis support services, you can search for an authorised agency via the H.A.L.T Map link.To find a DV Safe Phone near you, simply navigate the map below by zooming into your location. Local locations include Barnardo’s in Nyngan and The Walgett Aboriginal Medical Service.For more information about DV Smartphones and links to helplines, follow this link.Other support is available through the NSW Domestic Violence Helpline.

In the following weeks, 24 towns in Central West NSW will have the chance to Claude "the Mowerman" Harvey in action raising funds for the charity organisation Bravehearts.    Bravehearts is a not-for-profit dedicated to fighting child sexual abuse.     Donations go to counselling for child sexual abuse survivors along with running the educational program Ditto's Adventure run by Bravehearts.    The program educates children in early learning centres and lower primary schools about personal safety skills through age-appropriate language, song, and dance.     "Education is very important because there are many kids who are sexually abused in this country," Claude told the Western Plains.     As a Queensland native, Claude is visiting many towns in the Central West for the first time at 78 years old, "I'm very excited."     He started off his journey on 27 April in Roma and will be ending it on 28 May in Wentworth. Some of the other towns he will be visiting include Lighting Ridge (29 April), Walgett (30 April), Coonabarabran (13 May) and Gilgandra (15 May). A full itinerary of his travels can be seen below.     For thirteen years Claude has been traveling across Australia with his lawnmower to raise awareness, bringing in up to $1.8 million for the cause. This year alone he has raised $35,000 for Bravehearts.    "He's committed. He's passionate. Everyone in the area knows him. He's kind of a legend," member of the Bravehearts fundraising and community engagement team Lexis Ferguson-Maxwell said.    Claude Harvey accepting the Queensland Senior Australian of the Year Award in 2023 Claude's journey at Bravehearts began as a volunteer. Eventually, he started pushing his lawnmower across Australia to support the cause even driving his lawnmower across Sydney Harbour Bridge twice.      The cause lies especially close to his heart after two loved ones told him about their own experience as child sexual abuse survivors.     One of the things Claude said surprised him in his travels is the number of men, from all age groups, who come up to him and reveal they had been sexually abused.     In 2023, Claude was named Queensland Senior Australian of the Year for his efforts in protecting children's rights.   Onlookers can donate to Bravehearts by either putting money in the bucket Claude keeps on his lawnmower or through the Bravehearts website.   

Truck driver stopped after being detected 54km/h over speed limit near Coonabarabran A man has been issued with an infringement notice after being detected 54km/h over the signposted speed limit near Coonabarabran yesterday.Officers attached to Traffic and Highway Patrol were patrolling roadworks on the Newell Highway at around 11am yesterday (Monday 29 April 2024) when a B-double truck was detected travelling at 114km/h in a signposted 60km/h area about 10km south of Coonabarabran,.Police stopped the man and conducted a roadside breath and drug test – both were negative.The 25-year-old man was issued with an infringement for exceed speed by more than 45 km/h.The Queensland man’s licence has also been suspended.

New to Narromine?As happens in many of the shires across the western plains, a welcome event has been planned for new shire residents. This time, it’s Narromine’s turn to roll out the welcome mat."Council extends a warm welcome to all new residents in the Narromine Region," said Mrs Jane Redden, General Manager of Narromine Shire Council.To help “warm the welcome,” Narromine Shire Council is inviting newcomers to attend the much-anticipated New Residents Welcome Night which is scheduled for Thursday, May 30th. The evening promises to be a celebration of community spirit and a way to learn more about the local community.According to council, the New Residents Welcome Night is designed to foster connections, have some fun and introduce a sense of belonging to Narromine’s newest residents."We are really pleased to invite our new residents to this special event, where we hope that there is a chance for newcomers to discover the strong sense of community and to develop some lasting connections," Ms Redden said.“We will have on hand representatives from the region’s social, sporting and service clubs for new residents to meet and connect with and hopefully to become involved in and embrace our community and sporting life.”Mrs Redden said the New Residents Welcome Night is always a fantastic opportunity for newcomers to learn more about the region and what is on offer, make meaningful connections with other new residents and to find out about our sporting organisations, service, and social clubs.Narromine Shire Council Mayor, Craig Davies agreed with Mrs Redden’s sentiment and said he would be attending the event, along with other councillors.“We hope to see a good turn out,” Mr Davies said. “It’s a great chance to newcomers to get the opportunity to meet councillors and staff, ask questions and just generally allow us to welcome them into the shire. I encourage anyone new to Narromine to come along and learn about our shire and what we offer. It’s a regular event and we get community groups and service groups coming along to give new people the opportunity to see what happens in the town and who's who in the zoo.”“We would love to see as many new faces as possible."To take part, Council encourages all new residents to register their attendance by visiting Council’s Public Service Announcement page at https://www.narromine.nsw.gov.au/.../public-service... and clicking on the New Residents Welcome Night 2024.The event will be held at the Narromine USMC from 5:30pm to 7:30pm on May 30th.

Blasting at Coonamble's Mt Magometon Quarry are expected this afternoon.Coonamble Shire Council has advised residents "the blast window has been set between 2pm and 5pm and could occur between these times."26 people were recorded as living in Magometon on census night in 2021."The Quarry will be closed when the blasting actually occurs," the council said on a Facebook post published around 9:30am today."Council thanks customers and local residents for their forbearance during this blasting event."Rock blasting is when explosives are used to fracture rock for materials to be excavated.Customers are requested to call (02) 6825 6222 before travelling out to Mt Magometon to confirm access.

The NSW minister responsible for housing says it’s unclear exactly how many dwellings are unoccupied in the Orana region.  Knowing how many houses are dilapidated and unoccupied, and who owns them, can help identify potential development opportunities to lift housing supply in the Western Plains.In March 2024, the residential vacancy rate sat at zero per cent in postcodes Bourke and Walgett, 1.1 per cent in Coonamble, 0.5 per cent in Gilgandra, 0.9 per cent in Cobar and 0.6 per cent in Warren, according to SMQ Research. NSW Minister for housing Rose Jackson said the government doesn’t have a precise breakdown for public-private ownership of unoccupied dwellings in the Orana.  “For government-owned homes, obviously we do map that very closely. If we own it, we know if someone’s living in it, if someone’s moved out, what condition it’s in,” Ms Jackson said. “I have some sense in your region about NSW government-owned homes and where they are unoccupied, but in the Orana region, no, we don’t have that level of data. “We’re relying on our partners in local government, we’re relying on the census, we’re relying on the bit of data that we do have, whether it’s land tax information, whether it’s short term rental registers. It’s not a complete picture, but I hope that people can understand, when you got a state the size of NSW with the millions, and millions and millions of dwellings that we would have, getting that kind of granular detail is challenging. “We’ve got some work we can do using land tax, because that maps people’s property holdings and excludes the primary place of residence, so it’s a way to try and get a picture, but that doesn’t really show if they’re tenanted or not. So, for us to do it state-wide in the private housing market is very hard. “But local councils, particularly in regional areas, can do a lot to try and map their local area and we’re happy and keen to support them to do that.” The 2021 census revealed Bourke and Cobar LGA had some of the highest unoccupied dwelling rates in the state.  Bourke was at 24.8 per cent with 579 empty houses. Cobar was at 23.1 per cent with 533.In comparison, Narromine sat at 11.2 per cent with 2550 empty houses.  However, Coonamble Shire General Manager, Paul Gallagher, said the census numbers are distorted in his LGA. "There are other properties owned by rural property owners who use the house during wet weather periods to allow for children to attend school etc. These houses have distorted the census to some degree as they present as a vacant house,” Mr Gallagher said. Ms Jackson also said the census rate is “the best thumbnail sketch we’ve got, but it’s not very detailed.” “The census isn’t necessarily great because what if someone’s just away on holiday for two weeks?” Ms Jackson said. “Is it under renovation? Is the owner just living somewhere else for a short period of time? Has the home been abandoned? Is it empty because it’s up for sale? “That level of detail is hard for us to grapple with.”Ms Jackson said the state-government is revamping it’s own dilapidated housing as a priority under it’s strategy to increase supply.  “I know for example in Coonamble there are a couple, I think two or three, vacant homes that the NSW government owns.” “Some of them are in a state of disrepair, so we are going to go and try and make sure that they’re turned around.” Ms Jackson said the government can also reach out to private owners. “Stuff that’s worked quite well is identify who owns the home and directly getting in touch with them and saying ‘what’s your plan?’” Ms Jackson said. “It doesn’t always work, but often it yields good results. People would say ‘oh, fair enough, you know what? I’ll sell it. “That’s where I think that partnership with local government is really valuable.”

Two people will face court charged following a pursuit in a stolen car that ended near Narromine in the early hours of this morning.Officers attached to Orana Mid-Western Police District were patrolling Boundary Road, Dubbo when they attempted to stop a SUV travelling at high speed at about 2.10am today (Monday 29 April 2024).When it failed to stop, a pursuit was initiated. The pursuit continued through Dubbo and along the Eumungerie Road, where the vehicle was successfully road spiked.It came to a stop at the intersection of Eumungerie and Warren Road, Narromine, where the driver fled on foot.The driver – a 37-year-old man – was arrested a short time later, as well as his passenger – a 24-year-old woman. They were both taken to Dubbo Police Station.Checks reveal the car was stolen from a home in Dubbo yesterday.The man was charged with police pursuit - not stop - drive recklessly, drive motor vehicle while licence suspended, take and drive conveyance without consent of owner, and breach of bail.He was refused bail to appear at Dubbo Local Court today (Monday 29 April 2024). The woman was charged with be carried in conveyance taken without consent of owner and was given conditional bail to appear at Dubbo Local Court on Wednesday 26 June 2024.

It may be a small rural town but the turn out by the Gwabegar community for the Anzac Day dawn service was huge.More than 150 people, the largest number for many years, rolled-up to this year’s commemorative service on Thursday, 25 April held at the town war memorial in Anzac Park.As the sun rose and the haunting sound of the Last Post reverberated through the small community, war veterans and ex-servicemen and women gathered with residents in a moving service of commemoration run by Gwabegar Public School students.In her Anzac Day address, Gwabegar public school principal Tracy McGlashan spoke of the spirit of Anzac; its values of bravery, sacrifice and unity and the need to ensure that it is not just remembered on one day but is imbued in the everyday lives and choices of our youth.“This year studying mateship, teamwork and resilience allowed us the opportunity to reflect on our own lives and it strikes me that these are the qualities of Anzac in the First World War,” she said. “At the end of June 1914, Australians read in the newspapers about the assassination of an heir to a European throne which set in process a chain of events that led to war. German troops entered Belgium in the August and then Britain declared war on Germany. As a dominion of the British Empire, Australia willingly joined the war offering its unreserved help."Local riders provided a guard of honour; Adrian Worrell, Roy and Emily Tanner and Crystal Bullin.“Upon taking up my principalship of Gwabegar public school in 2021, I was in awe of the Gwabegar community. They are a small community, but their spirit is strong and how welcomed I felt to be part of it by leading our public school. “Teaching the students to work together to conquer their fears for a task at hand, having mateship, being ready to assist with community knowledge when given the opportunity to further their learning. "Hearing the discussions as the students reflected and made comment as to how they would relate to the soldiers, not in the face of war but in the mateship, camaraderie and teamwork they thought would have to be a large part of how the soldiers were able to get through another day. Ex-servicemen and women, emergency services volunteers, police NSW, local councils and district schools were represented at the Gwabegar dawn service.Of course, we all discussed the horrors of war and the reality that we would never want to experience anything like it again.“Upon ending our unit of Anzac studies this year, the students were humbled and quiet and speaking of resilience of the soldiers and how they could learn to practice it in their lives at school and at home. “This made me respect them for teaching me, that although this event happened over 100 years ago, what being Australian means growing up in this beautiful country and being able to experience all the wonders that come with it. The mateship that we all experience through our lives, the resilience and the teamwork that we as a small community practice every week is something that we and you should all be proud of.Gwabegar Public School students recite an Anzac Day poem.“This is a day of commemoration for respect for our Anzacs so that we do not forget the sacrifices that were made to honour those who fought in this great war and for those families to remember their loved ones.     “The students and staff of Gwabegar public school are our current and future generation of learners and we understand the importance of being present at our Anzac Day dawn service. “Today we reflect on that service and we recognise more than 100,000 Australian men and women who have lost their lives in military operations carried out in our country’s name. “We honour the values that have been invested in the original Anzacs, loyalty, selflessness and courage and the ways in which later generations measure their own achievements against those of the soldiers who fought at Gallipoli.”      Baradine RSL sub-branch president, Michael Ross and Gwabegar public school principal, Tracy McGlashan, congratulated student Lily Hall on winning the 2024 Anzac award.        Floral tributes were laid at the memorial and the service concluded with the presentation of the 2024 Anzac Day School Award by Baradine RSL sub-branch president, Michael Ross to Gwabegar student, Lily Hall.