Category Archives: Temora Shire

Community organisations in Temora and Ariah Park have secured funding totalling over $20,000 for projects through the NSW Government’s 2022 Community Building Partnership Program.

Member for Cootamundra Steph Cooke said the funds will deliver much-needed improvements and equipment to local facilities.

“I congratulate the organisations that were successful in their application and look forward to seeing how these projects make a real difference for community groups in the area,” Ms Cooke said.

“I was delighted to drop into Temora Shed 4 Men to deliver the fantastic news they will receive $5,830 to purchase a sit-down lathe and stand for members.”

“This sit-down lathe and stand will make working on projects much more comfortable for the members, some who have trouble standing for long periods in comfort or are aided by walkers.”

Ariah Park Community Projects also successfully applied for funds, receiving $15,000 to purchase a rainbow projector bike to attract tourists as part of their light show. This projector will be used to project images and displays on local buildings including the silos in an attraction for the town, similar to Vivid in Sydney.

The Community Building Partnership program has funded more than 18,000 community projects since it commenced in 2009. For more information about the NSW Government’s Community Building Partnership Program, visit www.nsw.gov.au/cpb

Temora Shire Council has been successful in receiving funding of $7,500 to deliver their upgrades to the Temora Town Hall theatre thanks to the NSW Government’s Creative Capital program.

Member for Cootamundra Steph Cooke said that the Temora community has welcomed the NSW Government’s investment in improving arts and cultural venues to be fit-for-purpose for the community, enhancing access and supporting the local economy.

“This project will see the current theatre sound processor replaced, upgrading the equipment to be in line with digital cinema standards,” Ms Cooke said.

“This equipment upgrade will deliver state-of-the-art improvements and ensure our local audiences and visitors enjoy high-quality cultural experiences. I am delighted the NSW Government has made this possible for Temora.”

Temora Shire Council Mayor, Cr Rick Firman said Temora Town Hall Theatre is integral to the fabric of the Temora Shire community. The facility is community run by volunteers and provides local residents and visitors alike with access to the latest release movies and productions.

“This grant will enable the upgrade of the sound system, further enhancing the theatre experience for patrons and ensuring that the experience is comparable to that available in metropolitan locations,” Mr Firman said.

This is just one of three projects across the electorate sharing in a total of $11.7 million in funding under the second round of Minor Works and Equipment Projects.

Minister Franklin said this Creative Capital funding will pay dividends for the community by delivering a much-needed facility upgrade.

“This investment in cultural infrastructure is recognition of the valuable role arts and culture plays in the community,” Mr Franklin said.

“The NSW Government’s $72 million Creative Capital program aims to boost equity and access to arts and culture facilities for the people of NSW. With 165 projects across the state, more people will have access to top-class arts and cultural experiences.”

“It’s projects like this that will see the many museums, galleries, performance spaces and Aboriginal Cultural Centres and Keeping Places across NSW be venues their communities can continue to be proud of,” Mr Franklin said.

Further details on the Creative Capital program are available on the Create NSW website at www.create.nsw.gov.au.

Temora Shire Council will soon start receiving funds totalling $457,707.16 for urgent pothole repairs, under the NSW Government’s $50 million Fixing Local Roads Pothole Repair Round.

Member for Cootamundra Steph Cooke said the money was going straight into Temora Shire Council’s bank account to help them cover the extra costs and workload pressures following this year’s unprecedented rain and storms.

“These grants are a rapid injection of cash to help councils get on with the job of repairing potholes to get us through the wet summer ahead,” Ms Cooke said.

“This is on top of the ongoing investment in a stronger road network through Fixing Local Roads, Fixing Country Roads and Fixing Country Bridges.”

Minister for Regional Transport and Roads Sam Farraway said all 94 regional councils that applied for funding had been approved for grants.

“From December, councils across regional NSW will receive their share of $50 million to repair pothole-ravaged local and regional roads,” Mr Farraway said.

“This additional support will help councils to repair their most damaged roads, improving safety and reducing wear and tear on vehicles.”

“The NSW Liberal and Nationals Government is backing in our councils with this dedicated pothole repair funding which is the first of its kind in NSW.”

Temora Shire Mayor, Cr Rick Firman, whose area has been hit by floods and severe weather several times this year, welcomed the extra money announced under the Fixing Local Roads Pothole Repair Round.

“We have nearly 1240 kilometres of local and regional roads to manage across the Temora Shire. Every dollar counts towards ensuring they are repaired as quickly as possible,” Cr Firman said.

“We are extremely grateful for this funding, like many other rural and regional Councils we have extensive damage which will take a lot of money to fix. However, this is a good start, and we sincerely appreciate the initiative.”

As part of the NSW Government’s $80 million commitment to the redevelopment of the Temora Hospital, information stands and an online information session are being held.

Member for Cootamundra Steph Cooke said that these information sessions are an important step to ensuring health services are carefully planned to meet community needs now and into the future.

“The project team are currently in the early planning stages for delivering a redeveloped hospital that meets the needs of the Temora community,” Ms Cooke said.

“These pop-up information stands and online session provide the opportunity for the local community to learn more about this project and what is involved in the process.”

The stand will be available on Wednesday 30 November:

• 9:00am – 11:00am – Outside Wylies Newsagency, Temora
• 2:30pm – 4:30pm – Outside Woolworths, Temora

No bookings are required to visit the pop-up stand.

An online information session will be held on Thursday 1 December:

• 5.30pm – 6.30pm – To register attendance please email: MLHD-Temora-Redevelopment@health.nsw.gov.au

The $80 million Temora Health Service redevelopment is part of the NSW Government’s record $11.9 billion investment in health infrastructure over four years to 2025-26, with nearly a third of the capital allocation in this financial year going towards regional and rural health facilities.

Since 2011, the government has delivered more than 180 health capital works projects across NSW, with more than 130 projects currently underway – of those, more than 90 are in rural and regional areas.

Nine firefighters have joined the ranks of Fire and Rescue NSW at Coolamon, Cootamundra, Cowra, Grenfell, Junee, Narrandera and Temora Fire Stations after completing weeks of intensive training at the Emergency Services Academy in Sydney.

Of the 227 new recruits, 60 are becoming permanent firefighters while 167 are becoming on-call, or part-time, firefighters. Made up of 161 men and 66 women are a welcome boost to Fire and Rescue NSW.

Member for Cootamundra Steph Cooke said the nine firefighters are a welcome boost to the capability and capacity of emergency services in the region.

“I want to congratulate and thank each new recruit for putting service above self and making the decision to join Fire and Rescue NSW,” Ms Cooke said.

“Whether it’s responding to fires, chemical emergencies, car crashes or natural disasters, Fire and Rescue NSW firefighters are prepared for any situation.”

“Every day they answer the call to help, putting themselves on the frontline of danger to protect and save others. I’m very proud to see these new recruits joining that proud tradition.”

“Fire and Rescue NSW is widely known as one of the most professional and well-respected emergency services organisations in the world, and I am confident these 227 new recruits will serve their local community with distinction,” she said.

Each of the new firefighters has spent up to 14 weeks learning their trade, studying various techniques to deal with different emergencies, how to apply first aid, search and rescue skills, heavy vehicle driving and HAZMAT response know-how.

Some of the new firefighters have already been deployed to their new fire stations, while others will join from Monday onwards.

Abandoned shopping trolleys, vehicles and other unattended property will spend less time on streets and public spaces, and owners will be more accountable following the introduction of new rules strengthening impounding powers of councils across the electorate.

Member for Cootamundra Steph Cooke welcomed the new regulations which are coming into effect today Tuesday 1 November 2022.

“The NSW Government has again made common-sense changes to rules around unattended property. The new rules put the onus back on owners where it belongs, will save council money and make our streets safer,” Ms Cooke said.

Minister for Local Government Wendy Tuckerman said the Public Spaces (Unattended Property) Act 2021 replaces the Impounding Act 1993, and places more responsibility on individuals and businesses to better manage their property within reasonable timeframes or face much stronger penalties.

“We’ve developed these new laws following extensive consultation with stakeholders including local government, industry, advocacy groups, state agencies and the community,” Mrs Tuckerman said.

“There will be a six-month grace period where warnings will be issued for unattended property in most cases, rather than fines. We’ve also listened to retailer concerns and introduced more flexibility around requirements to collect abandoned trolleys notified after-hours.”

The PSUP Act includes special powers for authorities to deal with stock animals wandering on public roads and causing a risk to safety, which was widely welcomed by councils during consultation. These provisions will commence at a later date.

The rules also apply to boat trailers, unregistered cars, trailers and caravans, share bikes, and personal watercraft. For full details of the Public Spaces (Unattended Property) Act 2021 please visit https://dpe.mysocialpinpoint.com.au/unattended-property

Temora Shire Council has been successful in receiving $20,000 to hold their ‘Flow’ workshops thanks to the third round of the NSW Government’s Reducing Social Isolation for Seniors Program.

Member for Cootamundra Steph Cooke said these workshops are designed to empower seniors to be active and connected in their local community.

“Following this round of the program, the NSW Government have now supported 71 different programs with some $2 million to support seniors and keep them connected with their local communities right across the state,” Ms Cooke said.

“Seniors are an integral part of our society and we want to make sure they don’t run the risk of falling into social isolation.”

“I encourage all our Seniors to get out and take part in these workshops regardless of your background, language or abilities.” 

Ms Shontayne Ward Community Development Officer at Temora Shire Council said the ‘Flow’ workshops build on the outcomes achieved through the previous program by continuing to offer creative ways for seniors to reconnect with each other and the wider community.

“In the Temora Shire we have a higher proportion of seniors than average, and we want to ensure they know how much we value their contribution to our local society.” Ms Ward said.

It is important to support our local seniors, as they play such an important role in breaking down those barriers of social isolation.

Funding of up to $50,000 were on offer in the third round of the Reducing Social Isolation for Seniors Grants program. Projects must run through 2022-2023.

For more information on the grants program, visit: Reducing Social Isolation for Seniors Grant Program (nsw.gov.au).

The NSW Liberal and Nationals Government will invest $50 million to help regional and rural councils fix the increasing number of potholes brought on by this year’s extreme wet weather.

Member for Cootamundra Steph Cooke said under the new Fixing Local Roads Pothole Repair Round, Councils across the electorate can apply for funding to help them address their highest priority pothole repairs.

“It is hard to drive anywhere on our road network without dodging potholes as a result of the wet weather we have experienced this year,” Ms Cooke said.

“We have heard the calls for help loud and clear and fixing the hundreds of potholes caused by recent heavy rains and flooding is a priority.

“This additional support will help ease the pressure local councils are facing and boost the resources they can draw upon to repair their most damaged roads to improve safety and reduce wear and tear on vehicles.”

Minister for Regional Transport and Roads Sam Farraway said NSW has had more than its fair share of natural disasters and extreme weather and that more than 135,000 potholes have been repaired on State roads in regional NSW since February.

“We certainly have plenty more potholes that still require attention, particularly on council-managed roads, which is why our Government is putting more money on the table for councils to repair potholes on the roads regional communities use every day,” Mr Farraway said.

“This funding is available to help every regional council across the state to carry out emergency repairs and would fix roughly more than 420,000 potholes on their roads.”

The new funding builds on the $500 million invested by the NSW Government through the Fixing Local Roads program to help regional councils repair, maintain and seal local roads across the state.

Funding under the Fixing Local Roads Pothole Repair Round is available to 95 regional councils and authorities to help repair potholes on regional and local roads. Work must be completed between 1 January 2023 and 1 January 2024.

Applications for funding are open for two weeks from today with funding announced in November so councils can begin work as soon as possible.

Return and Earners in the region could be in for a massive update, with the NSW Government planning to expand the scheme so it includes containers like glass wine and spirits bottles and larger containers.

Member for Cootamundra Steph Cooke said this is an exciting opportunity to build on one of Australia’s most successful recycling initiatives and improve recycling practices in households across NSW.

“More than 8 billion bottles have been returned and given a new life since the scheme started in 2017, a huge achievement and I thank the regional communities for embracing this new way of thinking about beverage containers,” Ms Cooke said.

“Together we have driven down drink container litter rates by an impressive 52 per cent, increased recycling rates and donated funds to charities,”

“Return and Earn has achieved an enormous amount so far and now we’re looking to take the next step as we strive towards our vision for a circular economy in the region.”  

Return and Earn locations across the Cootamundra Electorate are located at:

Bland LGA	V & L Machinery Railway Road, West Wyalong	Over the counter
Coolamon LGA	Coolamon Lions Club 59 Loughan Street, Coolamon	Over the counter
Cootamundra-Gundagai LGA	Gundagai Mitre 10, 1 Byron Street, Gundagai   Woolworths Cootamundra, 26 Bourke St, Cootamundra	Over the counter     Reverse vending machine
Cowra LGA	Woolworths Cowra, 3-9 Railway Lane, Cowra	Reverse vending machine
Hilltops LGA	Donges Supa IGA, 159 Boorowa Street, Young	Reverse vending machine
Junee LGA	Junee Supa IGA, 102 Broadway Street, Junee	Over the counter
Narrandera LGA	Narrandera Recycling 16 Red Hill Road Narrandera	Reverse vending machine
Temora LGA	IGA Temora, Victoria Street 7 Baker Street Temora	Reverse vending machine
Weddin LGA	Grenfell Furniture, 66 Main Street, Grenfell	Over the counter

Consultation is now open on the Scheme’s expansion, which would see almost all beverage containers between 150 ml and 3 litres accepted for refund.

For example, this would include:

• Wine and spirits in glass bottles
• Cordials and juice concentrate
• Larger containers up to 3 litres of beverages already in the scheme, such as flavoured milk, fruit and vegetable juice, cask wine and sachets. 

Plain milk and health tonics would continue to be excluded from the scheme.

The NSW Environment Protection Authority will be holding targeted stakeholder information sessions and webinars in the coming months around NSW so a transition can be as smooth as possible for new suppliers to the scheme.

The discussion paper Driving NSW’s circular economy is available at https://yoursay.epa.nsw.gov.au/ and will be open for consultation until 5pm 2 December 2022.

For more information about Return and Earn visit www.returnandearn.org.au

The NSW Government’s $80 million commitment to redevelop the Temora Hospital has taken a key step forward with the appointment of the project team to oversee the redevelopment.

Member for Cootamundra Steph Cooke said the NSW Government is committed to delivering enhanced health services and future-proofing care for the local community.

“An experienced team of project managers, architects and cost managers who have worked on a range of health infrastructure projects in both metro and regional areas have been engaged to progress master planning for the Temora Hospital redevelopment,” Ms Cooke said.

“The appointment of the project team is a key milestone in the advancement of healthcare for the region and will ensure we can move ahead and deliver the best possible hospital to support the health needs of the Temora community now and into the future.”

The project team includes:

• Capital Insight as the Project Managers
• HDR as the Architect

Minister for Regional Health Bronnie Taylor said the immediate focus for the redevelopment team includes commencing the master planning for the hospital.

“With the project team on board, we will be consulting with key stakeholders including clinicians, staff, patients and the local community to inform the project’s planning and design,” Mrs Taylor said.

“It’s an exciting project for the entire Temora community and the NSW Government is committed to ensuring regional communities like Temora have access to quality healthcare and modern health facilities that meet the needs of the region.

“The full range of services and infrastructure to be delivered as part of the redevelopment will be identified through the planning phase.”

The $80 million Temora Health Service redevelopment is part of the NSW Government’s record $11.9 billion investment in health infrastructure over four years to 2025-26, with nearly a third of the capital allocation in this financial year going towards regional and rural health facilities. Since 2011, the government has delivered more than 180 health capital works projects across NSW, with more than 130 projects currently underway – of those, more than 90 are in rural and regional areas.