Another Preschool Win for Cowra

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.

Celebrating our Local Women

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

New Preschool Secured for Cowra

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. 

Best Practive for Worst-Case Scenario on Show in Cowra

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.

Shining a Light on Tresillian Services in Cowra

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.

Government Avoids Scrutiny By Cutting Sitting Days

As the New South Wales Parliament returns for the first day of sitting for the year, Member for Cootamundra Steph Cooke has raised concerns around parliamentary transparency and accountability, after the NSW Labor Government opted to minimise the sitting calendar in 2024.

Ms Cooke said the NSW Parliament is scheduled to sit for 48 days this year, which contrasts starkly with other years in which the Parliament has sat for up to 65 days under previous Coalition Governments.

“Fundamentally, less sitting days means less Question Time and less scrutiny,” Ms Cooke said.

“The decision to cut the number of sitting days, drastically reduces the ability of the Parliament to put forward bills, scrutinise legislation, raise matters of community concern, and ask questions on the record.

“I am very concerned about what this means for transparency and accountability in decision making, and I think the public is entitled to question why the NSW Labor Government is trying to avoid scrutiny,” she said.

Ms Cooke said that despite the shortened calendar, she will use the time to advocate for key issues across the Cootamundra electorate.

“Just last week I convened the 6th annual Cootamundra Summit, bringing together representatives from the local governments that make up our wonderful electorate. The Summit was a chance for me to reaffirm my advocacy agenda for the year,” Ms Cooke said.

“Chief among the priorities identified is securing a safe and secure water supply for various communities, including for Boorowa residents, which is a project we’ve already made great inroads in achieving, with news this week the Government – together with Hilltops Council – has agreed to invest close to $1 million in a feasibility study to investigate further the option of a Harden to Boorowa water pipeline.

“Ensuring we have adequate police resources for our communities was another key priority identified at the Summit, and I will continue to lobby the Police Minister to ensure our towns and villages are equipped with the staff and infrastructure we need, and most importantly, deserve.

“Other issues on my agenda include continuing to fight for the Tresillian in-patient beds to be included in the Cowra Hospital redevelopment, as well as continuing to campaign loudly for the de-merge of the Cootamundra-Gundagai Regional Council.

“Road and rail funding, including the rollout of safety upgrades at local level crossings are high on the list, and I will be demanding answers around the delay in commencing work on the Wallendbeen Bridge.

“This is by no means an exhaustive list; it’s going to be a big year and I look forward to once again working hard to achieve meaningful outcomes for the more than 170 small communities that make up our wonderful Cootamundra electorate,” she said.

Photograph caption: Member for Cootamundra Steph Cooke in the NSW Legislative Assembly Chamber.

Cootamundra Summit Drives 2024 Advocacy Agenda

Representatives from local governments across the Cootamundra electorate gathered in Harden today for the 6th annual Mayoral Summit hosted by local MP Steph Cooke.

Ms Cooke said the summit – held at the RFS Fire Control Centre – brings together mayors and general managers from across the region to discuss pressing issues, share insights, and collaborate on finding solutions to some of the challenges facing our communities.

“There are nine Local Government Areas (LGA’s) within the Cootamundra electorate; it’s a big area with over 170 small communities represented in the room today – each confronting their own unique and individual set of challenges,” Ms Cooke said.

“The annual Cootamundra Summit is an opportunity for us all to come together and listen to the issues facing different LGA’s, which then helps consolidate my advocacy agenda for the year ahead; I’d like to wholeheartedly thank the mayors and general managers who attended the summit and engaged in some really constructive discussions,” she said.

Ms Cooke said a range of problems and projects were discussed including road and rail opportunities, pothole repairs, issues around emergency response management, community transport needs, as well as the importance of mental health support services.

“We had a really constructive day and discussed a broad range of issues from water security to police resources, through to vital health infrastructure projects, and changes to councillor code of conduct requirements,” Ms Cooke said.

“There was also a lot of discussion around the impediments local governments face when it comes to securing state government investment, and utilising it in the most sensible and streamlined way possible, and I will be raising that, along with the other issues canvassed, with the NSW Labor Government,” she said.

Attendees were given the chance to ask questions directly of Water & Mental Health Minister Rose Jackson, along with representatives from the offices of the Minister for Emergency Services, and the Minister for Local Government, as well as of Shadow Corrections Minister Mark Taylor, and Shadow Agriculture & Regional NSW Minister Dugald Saunders.

“I certainly thank them all for their participation and making themselves available to hear first-hand what our priorities are on the ground here in our Cootamundra region,” Ms Cooke said.

Celebrating our Local Seniors

Member for Cootamundra Steph Cooke is encouraging the community to celebrate the positive role seniors play in the local area by nominating them for the 2024 NSW Seniors Festival Local Achievement Awards.

Nominations are now open for the awards program, with the winners to be announced during the NSW Seniors Festival, taking place from 11th – 24th March, 2024.

The NSW Seniors Festival celebrates and acknowledges the important role that seniors play in our community.

It is the largest festival for seniors in the Southern Hemisphere, with an estimated 250,000 seniors participating in hundreds of free or discounted events.

“This annual festival is all about celebrating the positive impact of older people in our families, and broader community,” Ms Cooke said.

“The festival provides an important opportunity for seniors to participate in their communities in meaningful and engaging ways.

“The awards too are a fantastic opportunity to acknowledge the contributions and achievements of our seniors.

“So many seniors go above and beyond for our community as volunteers, carers, and role models, so if you know a senior who helps make our community a better place to live, then I encourage you to nominate them,” she said.

Nominations close at 5pm on Friday, 1st March 2024.

To nominate a senior or find further information on the awards program, phone: 6382 2399 or email: cootamundra@parliament.nsw.gov.au

For more information about the NSW Seniors Festival visit: www.seniorsfestival.nsw.gov.au.

Small Projects Making a Big Difference in our Villages

Member for Cootamundra Steph Cooke joined with members of the Gooloogong community to help officially mark the opening of the revamped amenities building at Gooloogong Park.

Ms Cooke said the state-of-the-art upgrade was made possible thanks to a $70,300 investment by the previous Coalition Government – under the Crown Reserves Improvement Fund program – and serves as a testament to the commitment of the Coalition in improving infrastructure and essential services in regional communities.

“Our villages are the beating heart of rural and regional communities; whenever I visit and chat with locals, I’m always so encouraged by their passion for their district, and their pride in their area; you couldn’t bestow an investment on a more grateful group of people,” Ms Cooke said.

“And it’s certainly no different in Gooloogong, where the renovated amenities building – which includes accessible showers and toilets – not only enhances the village for the benefit of residents, but also acts as a drawcard for tourists, with the park providing camping sites for visitors.

“It’s these kinds of investments that are crucial to the longevity of our towns and villages; they may only be relatively small, but assets like this pay huge dividends for local communities, with tourism having a flow-on effect throughout the economy, as visitors stop and spend money locally, before moving on to the next destination to spread the word among other travellers about where they’ve been.

“I will always be a steadfast advocate for local development opportunities, and will lobby the government strongly to continue investing in regional infrastructure, ensuring that the evolving needs of our communities are met, and that they have access to vital facilities like these.

“Maintaining and enhancing our Crown reserves means residents have access to quality spaces for sports and fitness, or to just relax, rejuvenate and stay in touch with each other.

“As Gooloogong looks to the future, the amenities building stands as a symbol of progress and a testament to the positive outcomes that collaboration and investment can yield,” she said.

Putting Our Hand up for Regional Investment

Member for Cootamundra Steph Cooke is encouraging community groups to secure the region’s fair share of state government investment, and apply for funding under the latest round of the Clubgrants Category 3 Infrastructure Grants Program.

“We want to make sure that we continue to see the same level of investment in our regional towns and villages, as we saw under the previous Coalition Government, so it’s important we put our hand up and let the NSW Labor Government know about the projects in need of support west of the Great Divide,” Ms Cooke said.

“The Clubgrants Category 3 Program, reinvests profits from gaming machines into community projects, and is crucial in supporting initiatives that contribute to the development and improvement of our communities.

“Infrastructure grants of between $50,000 up to $300,000 are available to not-for-profit community organisations and local councils, and are delivered across four categories: arts and culture, community infrastructure, sport and recreation, and disaster readiness.

“The funding can be used for halls, sports centres, playgrounds and swimming pools, capital equipment, evacuation centres, museums, art galleries, and cultural centres.

“These groups are the lifeblood of many communities, and I want these organisations to not just keep their doors open, but to grow and prosper.

“This kind of funding helps empower local organisations to undertake projects that matter most to our community members.

“Applications close on Monday the 18th of December 2023, so I certainly encourage groups that are thinking about applying, to start putting their application together as soon as possible.

“Any groups seeking assistance with their application are invited to contact my office for support,” she said.

For more information or to apply, visit:

www.nsw.gov.au/grants-and-funding/clubgrants-category-3-fund