Category Archives: News

Member for Cootamundra Steph Cooke has announced an investment of close to $800,000 to go towards a stand-alone preschool at Cowra’s Yalbillinga Boori Day Care Centre.

Ms Cooke said she was delighted to announce the funding totalling $797,000 under the Start Strong Capital Works Grants Program, which will create an additional 15 places for pre-schoolers in Cowra.

“It’s well known just how important the first five years of life are, and how vital it is we engage young people in learning right from the start, and I’d like to congratulate Centre Manager Caroline Bamblett and her team, for this great outcome,” Ms Cooke said.

“As the wonderful team at the centre will tell you, there’s always a waiting list, so today’s news means they can accommodate more children, which will provide great opportunities for local families.

“This investment in the Yalbillinga Boori Day Care Centre is an investment in Cowra’s future, and a signal to families here and beyond, that this is a great place to raise children.

“We must do everything we can to ensure our youngest learners have access to the best possible start when it comes to their education, so securing investments for our preschool-aged children has been a top priority for me personally over the years,” she said.

Ms Cooke said she has secured more than $8.5 million in preschool funding for the Cootamundra electorate since being elected in 2017.

“It’s all about providing parents and families with more places in areas of high need, and the new preschool will help ensure more families have the chance to utilise these opportunities here in Cowra,” Ms Cooke said.

Ms Cooke said today’s announcement follows news that the Cowra Early Childhood Services (CECS) has been awarded $3.7 million in government funding to build a new 60-place community pre-school, also thanks to the Start Strong Capital Works Grants Program.

“As the local member, ensuring we have access to these services is just so vital. It goes far beyond bricks and mortar; funding like this will literally change the lives of families and improve outcomes for our young ones, for generations to come,” Ms Cooke said. 

Photograph caption: Member for Cootamundra Steph Cooke talking with Yalbillinga Boori Day Care Centre manager Caroline Bamblett about the exciting plans for the centre following the recent funding announcement.

Member for Cootamundra Steph Cooke said NSW Women’s Week 2024 is a time dedicated to celebrating the achievements and contributions of women across our Cootamundra electorate, that also serves as a reminder of the resilience, strength, and talent that women bring to local communities.

Ms Cooke said the week provides an opportunity to highlight the diverse roles and experiences of women of all ages, and from all walks of life.

“Today is the start of NSW Women’s Week 2024 – a chance for us all to recognise the contributions of women and girls across our Cootamundra electorate,” Ms Cooke said.

“Women play a vital role in our communities, and they deserve to be celebrated for the wonderful and tireless work they do.

“We have some fantastic local women kicking goals and doing amazing things in their field, from sport, to small business, education, health, the arts, agriculture – the list is endless.

“But this week is also about acknowledging the unsung heroes; the home-makers, the ones who give their time as volunteers, or committee members – those who are active in the community doing every role under the sun to help our amazing towns and villages thrive.

“It’s a chance for women and girls everywhere to support one another, learn from each other, and enjoy each other’s company.

“Essentially, this week is all about honouring the achievements of women, celebrating their contributions, and inspiring generations to come, so that together we can build a brighter future for all,” she said.

Find out more about the events that are going on this week from Monday 4 March to Sunday 10 March here:

www.nsw.gov.au/women-nsw/awards-and-events/womens-week

The recommencement of work in Wallendbeen to replace the bridge on Burley Griffin Way is long overdue, and the department responsible for the build must do better when it comes to communicating with the local community about the project, Member for Cootamundra Steph Cooke said.

Ms Cooke said Transport for New South Wales has finally returned to the site this week to restart work on the bridge, after advising that minor work will be carried out before ‘major work’ begins on Monday 4 March.

“This project is beyond overdue; it is located on a major traffic corridor and is a key route linking our goods and services to markets across the state and beyond, so I am of course relieved to know that work will get underway again, and that we will finally have this vital piece of infrastructure up and running once and for all,” Ms Cooke said.

“Obviously the new bridge won’t be in place overnight, with Transport for New South Wales advising that the project will not be completed until at least the middle of 2025.

“Leaving aside the fact the bridge was supposed to be completed last year, I ask Transport for New South Wales to work with the local community as closely as possible, to ensure they’re kept up-to-date on the revised construction schedule, and the progress of the work.

“Local residents tell me they feel as though they’ve been left in the dark when it comes to the works timetable; this is simply not good enough.

“An email to locals from Transport for New South Wales the day before work gets underway does not meet community expectations when it comes to appropriate consultation.

“There are local small businesses operating in the area – some under difficult circumstances given the disruption that a project of this size causes – so that must be taken into account during the coming weeks and months.

“Disruptions are inevitable, but a lack of communication and consultation is avoidable, and I implore Transport for New South Wales to either come and speak to residents in-person, or pick up the phone, to ensure locals are fully across the details of the project schedule, and can make the necessary arrangements, so that disruptions to their lives and small businesses, are kept to a minimum,” she said.

Member for Cootamundra Steph Cooke visited staff and students at St Mary’s War Memorial School in West Wyalong to see first-hand the recent upgrades undertaken at the school.

Speaking at an assembly held to officially open the new school building, Ms Cooke praised the work that has been done by all those involved in bringing the project to life.

“I’d like to thank the entire school community for their warm welcome; the students are a credit to the local community, and I know that the future of West Wyalong is in safe hands with such a vibrant and inspiring group of young people,” Ms Cooke said.

Ms Cooke said the upgrades were made possible thanks to a $890,000 grant allocated under the previous Coalition Government as part of the Building Grants Assistance Scheme.

“St Mary’s War Memorial School is a wonderful place for children to learn and grow, and it’s so heartening to see the improvements they’ve been able to make thanks to this grant,” Ms Cooke said.

Ms Cooke explained the government funding went towards the school’s $1.2 million upgrade project, that included the brand-new building which houses classrooms, various learning resources, and staff facilities.

“It’s important that students and teachers in regional areas like West Wyalong, have access to high quality educational facilities,” Ms Cooke said.

“Funding like this helps schools improve the learning environments for their students, giving schools contemporary facilities that reflect modern learning needs.

“We want all students to get the best education we can provide them, which is why the previous Coalition Government supported projects like this.

“I remain committed to ensuring the schools across our Cootamundra electorate get the funding they deserve in order to create learning environments that provide the best possible start in life for the younger members of our community,” she said.

Member for Cootamundra Steph Cooke has announced the Cowra Early Childhood Services (CECS) has been awarded $3.7 million in State Government funding to build a new 60-place community pre-school.

Ms Cooke said the funding has been secured thanks to the Start Strong Capital Works Grants Program, and together with input from CECS, will see an investment of $4 million towards building the new preschool.

“It has been a long road to get to this point, so I’m just so thrilled that all our hard work in advocating for this vital project has finally paid off, and that families in Cowra will soon have access to more preschool places in this community,” Ms Cooke said.

“I’d like to congratulate CECS General Manager Libby Ewing-Jarvie and the entire team, who do such an amazing job each and every day.

“Investments in our preschools are quite literally an investment in our future; we must do everything we can to ensure our youngest learners have access to the best possible start when it comes to their education.

“Securing investments for our preschool-aged children has been a top priority for me personally – and indeed for the Coalition more broadly – over the years, having secured over $4 million in preschool funding for our Cootamundra electorate since I was elected in 2017,” she said.

Ms Cooke said the new facility will create additional preschool places, which will then also open up places at CECS for families looking for long day-care.

“It’s all about providing parents and families with more places in an area of high need, and the new preschool will help ensure families have the chance to utilise both preschool and day-care opportunities here in Cowra,” Ms Cooke said.

Ms Cooke said today’s announcement follows news that Boorowa has been chosen as the site of a new public preschool, one of just 49 locations in regional New South Wales.

“As the local member, ensuring we have access to these services is just so vital. It goes far beyond bricks and mortar; funding like this will literally change the lives of families and improve outcomes for our young ones, for generations to come,” Ms Cooke said. 

Ensuring residents in Cowra are well prepared and looked after in the event of future floods and other potential disasters, was the focus of a mock evacuation at the Golf Club recently.

Member for Cootamundra Steph Cooke was on hand to meet with representatives of the various agencies and community groups taking part in the response exercise, to hear more about what plans are in place, should disaster strike the town.

“As we know, when the Lachlan River reaches a certain point, Cowra gets cut in half, so it’s vital that we have the resources in place on both sides of the river, to ensure all residents are catered for should similar events unfold in the future,” Ms Cooke said.

“Thanks to the Cowra Bowling Club and the Cowra Golf Club, we have an evacuation centre on the east and on the west side of the river. So it doesn’t matter which side of town you reside on, there is now a very well-equipped evacuation centre for residents to go to.

“As the Minister for Emergency Services, Resilience, & Flood Recovery during the 2022 floods, I – together with the then-Premier Perrottet – launched an independent flood inquiry, which essentially provided vital insight into what went wrong, but also what went right in terms of rescue, response, and recovery during those flooding events.

“And it’s exercises like this here in Cowra, that demonstrates that we have learnt the lessons of the past, and we’re now applying those lessons in a way that ensures we’re better prepared in the future.

“I’d like to congratulate all involved in this exercise, including organiser Feargus O’Connor, Executive Director of Disaster Welfare, with the Department of Communities and Justice, and the close to 100 first-responders from the various agencies and not-for-profit organisations in the town, who took part.

“This kind of proactive approach serves as a model for others, and demonstrates the vital role key agencies and organisations play, in ensuring the safety and well-being of our community members.

“The event highlighted the value of emergency response training, as well as the establishment of evacuation protocols, and the need for ongoing investment in essential rescue equipment and resources,” she said.

Boorowa is among 49 communities to be included on a list of regional areas chosen as locations for new public preschools, following a strong and ongoing advocacy campaign for the towns and villages across the electorate by the Member for Cootamundra Steph Cooke.

Ms Cooke said she was grateful Boorowa was selected, after the NSW Labor Government reduced the number of new preschools the previous Coalition Government had originally planned for the state.

“Preschools are such an important first step in a child’s journey into education, and I’m so excited that these opportunities will be expanded in Boorowa with the newly announced public preschool at the Central School, which of course, will complement the wonderful services currently provided by the Boorowa Early Education Centre,” Ms Cooke said.

“It’s all about providing parents and families with more places in an area of high need, and the new preschool will help ensure all families have the chance to utilise preschool opportunities here in Boorowa,” she said.

Ms Cooke said enrolments at the Central School have grown by 37 per cent in the last four years – an increase she said, mirrors the growing demand for additional preschool services in the town.

“The town is expanding all the time, and when you consider the intake from surrounding villages such as Reids Flat, Rugby, and Rye Park, waiting lists for the highly sought-after Boorowa Early Education Centre are getting longer,” Ms Cooke said.

“So we clearly need more providers in Boorowa, and the new preschool will take the burden off the BEE, by extending the services they provide; essentially, it’s all about equity of access, and making sure all the families who want it, have the ability to send their children to preschool for the 12 months leading-up to kindy,” she said.

Ms Cooke said the Government has committed to delivering the new public preschools over the next three years, and she will be monitoring progress on the new preschool at Boorowa Central School closely, to ensure it is delivered in the promised timeframe.

“Securing investments for our preschool-aged children has been a top priority for me personally – and indeed for the Coalition more broadly – over the years, having secured over $4 million in preschool funding for our Cootamundra electorate since I was elected in 2017,” Ms Cooke said.

“While it’s true that the previous Coalition Government had planned a much larger preschool rollout, I’m relieved and grateful that our community has not been left out, and I can assure residents right across the electorate, that I will continue lobbying the Government to secure similar investments in early learning like we’ve been able to achieve today here in Boorowa.

“Investments in our preschools are quite literally an investment in our future; we must do everything we can to ensure our youngest learners have access to the best possible start when it comes to their education.

“As the local member, ensuring we have access to these services is just so vital. It goes far beyond bricks and mortar; funding like this will literally change the lives of families and improve outcomes for students for generations to come,” she said. 

Photograph caption: Member for Cootamundra Steph Cooke discussing plans for the newly announced public preschool at Boorowa Central School, with principal Graham Jones.

Member for Cootamundra Steph Cooke said the recent refurbishments to the Junee Senior Citizen’s Welfare Club Hall will allow the group to expand their activities in 2024, and will ensure the club continues to support seniors in the community well into the future.

Ms Cooke said the entire community of Junee will benefit from the upgrades, made possible thanks to a $60,783 grant provided under the previous NSW Coalition Government.

“This much-needed cash injection helps our regional groups do what they do best in serving their local communities, and I am delighted the hall is now equipped to provide the best possible experience for club patrons and those who hire the venue,” Ms Cooke said.

Ms Cooke said the funding was provided under the Clubgrants Category 3 Fund, which provides infrastructure grants for arts and culture, community, disaster readiness, and sport and recreation.

The works on the hall include the installation of an accessible toilet, as well as security upgrades with the installation of security grills on the windows, and CCTV.

The hall now boasts new audio-visual equipment, along with Internet access that will allow the club to host various presentations, information sessions, and small movie events.

Junee Senior Citizen’s Welfare Club Treasurer Barbara Guthrie said the hall is used by a number of groups, and the improvements will ensure all members of the community can take advantage of this revitalised asset. “We are delighted to know that people with walkers and wheelchairs will now have access to the toilets, along with some technology to help us move into the 21st Century,” Barbara said.

Member for Cootamundra Steph Cooke has used a visit to Young by Police Minister Yasmin Catley to once again highlight the need for a bi-partisan parliamentary inquiry into rural and regional crime.

Ms Cooke met with the Minister in her Young office, before they together joined local police for a tour of the Young Police Station, where the group discussed a range of issues specific to the Cootamundra electorate, including the need for additional police funding to address problems around infrastructure and staffing.

“I never miss a chance during parliamentary sitting weeks to invite the Minister to the electorate, so I’m certainly pleased to be able to welcome her to our part of the world, where she had the chance to tour both the Cootamundra and Young Police Stations,” Ms Cooke said.

“The Minister was receptive to the matters that I raised directly with her; she was grateful for the on-the-ground feedback that I was able to provide around matters such as the need for a new Police Station in Young, as well as the need for additional funding for police stations and accommodation right across the electorate.

“I used the meeting to again discuss the community’s concerns around police numbers, and the ongoing calls for 24-hour policing in some areas.

“I continued to urge the Minister to reconsider her position on a proposal put forward by the Country Mayors Association, for a parliamentary inquiry into rural and regional crime.

“An inquiry would give us a clear picture of the changing landscape around law and order, both in terms of police resources and criminal activity, and would provide a clear way forward on combatting these issues, which are not going to improve without a concerted effort to address the unique challenges facing police in rural and regional areas.

“At the end of the day, I left the Minister in no doubt about the need to ensure we have enough police on the ground – with the resources they need – to proactively address and deter criminal activity, and make rural areas a no-go-zone for potential wrongdoers.

“Our police do a wonderful job – day-in and day-out – looking after our communities, and I certainly let the Minister know how grateful we all are to them for their hard work.

“Policing it is not an easy task, and the officers of our four Police Districts – Riverina Police District, Hume Police District, Murrumbidgee Police District & Chifley Police District – go above and beyond, to protect us all.

“The Minister’s visit was a welcome opportunity to sit down and discuss at length the specific issues in our Cootamundra electorate, and I will continue to have ongoing conversations with her on these and other matters going forward,” she said.

Key issues raised during the meeting included:

• New Police Station for Young;
• Narrandera Police Station;
• Country Mayors Association’s proposal for a rural and regional crime inquiry;
• Potential implications for police resources following de-privatisation of the Junee Correctional Centre;
• The need for greater police presence in parts of the electorate;
• Calls for 24-hour policing in some areas;
• The need for police numbers to keep pace with population growth;
• Domestic violence case numbers, and the need for adequate support services;
• Matters regarding firearm licence delays/removals; and
• Stock theft across the electorate.

Photograph caption: Member for Cootamundra Steph Cooke, with Police Minister Yasmin Catley, and (back from left) Deputy Commissioner Paul Pisanos APM, Inspector Adrian Matthews, and Superintendent Paul Condon.

Member for Cootamundra Steph Cooke said the early parenting support provided by Tresillian in Cowra has been an invaluable resource for the town and its surrounds.

During a visit to mark one year since the new centre opened its doors, Ms Cooke congratulated the team for the care and guidance they provide to the community.

“It’s just over 12 months since I officially opened the new Tresillian Family Centre here in Cowra. The service has been a game-changer for young families who have been able to utilise the Tresillian support services without having to travel long distances out of town,” Ms Cooke said.

“Rochelle Longhurst and the team do a remarkable job; the one-on-one consultations that they provide are such an important asset for families in the region.

“Of course when we opened the Family Centre back in February last year, the plan was to complement the Tresillian day services with two overnight beds in the new Cowra Hospital redevelopment. These beds would be the first Tresillian beds on this side of the Great Dividing Range.

“As we know, these plans were abruptly shelved late last year, however I am continuing to hold discussions with the Regional Health Minister about overturning this decision.

“The Minister is a big supporter of Tresillian, and understands how important their services are in our rural and regional communities, and I sincerely thank him for keeping the lines of communication open, and for his willingness to hold further discussions around the future of the in-patient Tresillian beds in the new Cowra Hospital.

“There are a lot of complexities involved in decisions like this, and I look forward to continuing to engage in productive and pragmatic conversations with all stakeholders; after all, at the end of the day, we are all striving to achieve the best outcome for the families that make up our wonderful communities of the Central West,” she said.

Cowra Tresillian Nurse Unit Manager Rochelle Longhurst said a lot of families expressed “sadness” when they heard the news that Tresillian in-patient beds were being excluded from the rebuild.

“The thought of those in-patient services not being available was very disheartening; we’d really like people to get behind Tresillian, and support re-instating the beds in the new Cowra Hospital. It would be very beneficial for people to speak out, and let it be known that we need those beds and the services they will provide,” Mrs Longhurst said.

“It’s my fear that without them, there will be families that won’t access our services because of the costs involved in travelling far from home, not to mention the fact that new mothers who may be struggling, are often in a vulnerable state, and so need to be close to home where their family support network are,” she said.

Following her visit with the Tresillian team, Ms Cooke then attended a sod-turning, marking the beginning of main works construction at the new $110.2 million Cowra Hospital redevelopment site.

“Today marks another significant step forward for this community, who for many years, have fought to secure what will be a state-of-the-art facility providing enhanced healthcare services for residents in Cowra, and surrounding towns and villages,” Ms Cooke said.

“It will truly transform healthcare for Cowra and its surrounds, and I want to take this opportunity to once again pay tribute to all those who helped bring our collective vision to life.

“This project all began with a petition I launched over five years ago, and has grown to become one of the biggest ever infrastructure projects in the town’s history.

“I’m proud to say I have been there every step of the way on this journey with the community; it is a true testament of just how effective people power can be,” she said.

Photo: Member for Cootamundra Steph Cooke (right) with (from left) Executive Director at Health Infrastructure NSW Amanda Bock; Stephen Lawrence MLC; Western NSW Local Health District CEO Mark Spittal; and Health Services Manager Pauline Rowston, at the sod-turn marking the start of the main works construction of the new Cowra Hospital.