Steph Cooke | 09 Feb 2023 | Roads and Transport Weddin Shire
Weddin Shire Council will soon receive funding of $1,966,645 through the NSW Government’s $280 million Regional and Local Roads Repair Program.
Member for Cootamundra Steph Cooke said the Weddin Shire has over 1000km of roads to manage, with this latest funding a welcome boost allowing further repairs to be undertaken.
“This investment is all about improving the roads we use every day, making them safer for the freight industry, tourists, and the commute to and from work or school,” Ms Cooke said.
“It is fantastic to have this funding secured, which builds on an initial cash injection of $370,405 for council to fix potholes announced in December.
“I am advised council has been sent the funding deeds, and once the deed is executed the money goes into the bank.”
Weddin Shire Council General Manager, Ms Noreen Vu said this funding will ensure that road damages across the road network can undergo urgent repairs such as corrective maintenance and some level of renewal.
“While the funding does not allow Council to provide resilient upgrades, the corrective maintenance will see heavy patching on our roads and some drainage works,” Ms Vu said.
“Council will still continue with its planned and scheduled asset renewals. We are also talking to neighbouring councils to focus on ways to look at procuring contractors for better value for money.”
The NSW Government continues to support local government areas in making our road network smoother and safer. Over the past five years, Weddin Shire Council has secured over $16 million in NSW Government funding to deliver 8 road projects through Fixing Local Roads and Fixing Country Roads, on top of assistance through Regional Roads Block Grant program and NSW Disaster Assistance Arrangements.
Steph Cooke | 30 Jan 2023 | Bland Shire Coolamon Shire News Weddin Shire
Motorists will soon have more real-time traffic information data at their fingertips with the NSW Liberal and Nationals Government adding more local roads to Live Traffic NSW.
Member for Cootamundra Steph Cooke said we currently have three Councils in the electorate being trained to use the real-time road information platform to deliver more accurate information to motorists.
These Councils include:
Bland Shire Council
Cowra Shire Council
Weddin Shire Council
“We have fast-tracked the onboarding of councils who have been severely impacted by the recent flooding events, which is a major win for those travelling in and out of flood-impacted areas in NSW,” Ms Cooke said.
“This means Councils will be able to upload road closure and incident information to Live Traffic NSW in real time from 23 January 2023, which feeds data into third party apps like Google Maps, Waze and Tom Tom.
“In October, we added the first 22 councils to the platform and a further three in December. These councils have since communicated almost 5,500 road incident updates.”
Minister for Regional Transport and Roads Sam Farraway also revealed emergency broadcast signs are being installed across the state.
“Within weeks we will have installed all 99 signs that will display local ABC radio frequencies so people in our regions know where to turn for emergency information during a natural disaster,” Mr Farraway said.
“This was a recommendation from the NSW Bushfire Inquiry, as was the inclusion of local roads on Live Traffic NSW and we’re getting on with the job of ensuring our communities are safe in times of emergencies.”
The ABC’s Head of Regional, Rural & Emergency Hugh Martin said the signs could serve as a vital reminder for locals and visitors to regional areas.
“By reminding communities where they can turn to for reliable, up-to-date and often life-saving information in times of emergency means those communities are better protected in the future,” Mr Martin said.
“The ABC works closely with all emergency and state services and is the most trusted source of information during an emergency. This roadside information campaign is a timely reminder on where people can go to find the most reliable coverage that will keep them safe.”
Steph Cooke | 23 Jan 2023 | Education Roads and Transport Services Weddin Shire
Grenfell Preschool and Long Day Care Inc Centre have been awarded $142,934 thanks to the NSW Government’s commitment to ensure that all parents with children at public primary schools have greater access to Before and After-School Care.
Member for Cootamundra Steph Cooke said the latest round of the NSW Government’s Transport Grant Program to support Before and After-School Care (BASC) has been assessed and awarded to services in Weddin Shire.
“I’m so pleased that Grenfell Preschool and Long Day Care Inc Centre are among the beneficiaries of this funding,” Ms Cooke said.
“This funding for the purchase of a bus will increase the viability of the service, which currently has a bus hire arrangement in place.
“By providing a transport service for school-aged children means an increase in enrolments and access for parents and families within Grenfell and surrounding villages.”
“I’m proud to be part of a government that is providing funding to ensure that all parents with children at public primary schools have access to Before and After-School Care (BASC). These services support students and their families.”
Grenfell Preschool and Long Day Care Centre Director Wezley Makin said this funding will enable their service to create a dedicated program for their Before and After School Children when travelling between their local primary schools.
“This will also allow us as a service to provide a better connection with our local community within the Weddin Shire to allow students and children of our service to easily get out and about through excursions through Vacation Care and even branching out into surrounding communities,
“By enabling deeper community engagement and improving accessibility for our parents, families, and children for our service,” Mr Makin said. Grants worth a total of $3.9 million were awarded to 33 applicants spread across the state. BASC service providers were invited to apply for grants of up to $160,000 to support transport solutions to increase access to BASC services, with priority given to students in small, regional and/or remote public schools who do not currently have access to these services.
Five projects in the Weddin Shire have received a total of over $1.3 million in funding thanks to Round Five of the NSW Government’s Stronger Country Communities Fund.
Member for Cootamundra Steph Cooke said a $629,979 redevelopment of Taylor Park, including a new all-abilities playground is a particular highlight.
“I am delighted for local families, and wish to thank and congratulate local Emily Eppelstun who has worked with Weddin Shire Council on this initiative from the outset,” Ms Cooke said.
“Having met with Emily and her son Billy last year, I wholeheartedly indicated my support for the project and am so pleased we have secured this outcome for future generations.
“We know it is important to have community spaces which are user-friendly for the entire family.
“More broadly, these playground projects also help with the overall cost of living as there is no entry fee to our local parks, so to invest in making them more welcoming and better arranged when it comes to the supervision of little ones, is a big win for family outings which won’t blow the budget.”
Projects awarded funding in Weddin Shire include:
Weddin Shire Council
Taylor Park Redevelopment and all-inclusive playground $629,979
Upgrades to support freedom camping at Weddin Shire villages $300,000
Grow Grenfell Group Inc
Lighting at Grenfell Silos and visual display $114,753
Grenfell Dramatic Society
Upgrade of community arts premises $129,135
Grenfell Country Club
New clubhouse toilets $150,623
Weddin Shire Council Mayor Cr Craig Bembrick said they are extremely excited by this announcement and Council looks forward to delivering their projects for the enjoyment of the broader community and visitors to the area.
“The inclusive playspace is for people of all ages, abilities and cultures to come together and gather at one of our main parks. The funding also allows us to undertake other redevelopment works including the rotunda and upgrading other park infrastructure assets,” Cr Bembrick said.
“Our villages of Caragabal, Greenethorpe and Quandialla will have an opportunity to enhance their sports and showground facilities by providing formalised freedom playground sites for our tourists and visitors to camp.”
Over $5.1 million for 23 projects across Weddin Shire has been secured through the five rounds of the Stronger Country Communities Fund, part of the NSW Government’s $3.3 billion Regional Growth Fund.
Steph Cooke | 23 Dec 2022 | Community Cootamundra Gundagai Regional Council Hilltops Council Narrandera Shire Temora Shire Weddin Shire
Young people in the region will be able to enjoy a vast range of activities during the upcoming summer school holidays, thanks to the NSW Government’s $10 million Holiday Break Program.
Member for Cootamundra Steph Cooke welcomed the latest suite of activities and said they offer great opportunities for young people to stay connected, have fun and maybe even discover a new interest.
“Across the electorate, events and workshops will be delivered to help the youth in our region access social and recreational activities within their local communities while on their summer holiday break,” Ms Cooke said.
“These activities are a wonderful way to ensure we break down barriers for our regional youth, making it easier for them to socialise and have some fun during the summer break.”
“The NSW Government invests in this program because we know it is important to provide opportunities for young people to connect, socialise and have fun during the school holidays,” Mr Franklin said.
“We also know that keeping the kids entertained over the holidays can be costly for families, so these free activities will help to relieve the financial pressure on family budgets these Summer holidays.
“The programs on offer will provide social and recreational outlets to help regional youth become more involved in their local communities, and to show that living in a regional location is not a barrier for young people to try new things.
“Our continued program partnerships mean we’re able to deliver an assortment of activities that allow youth to hone their artistic skills, explore a completely new area of interest or get moving with a fun physical activity over the school holidays.”
A list of events across the electorate includes:
Cootamundra Youth Council
31/12/2022 7:30pm – 12:30am
New Years Eve Movie night for ages 12-17 – The Arts Centre Cootamundra.
16/01/2023 9am – 3pm
Family Fun Sports Day – Cootamundra Sports Stadium.
Teen boot camp-fun and fitness in the sun – Carberry Park (opposite Council Chambers Gundagai).
20/02/2023 2pm – 3:30pm
Skateboard and scooter lessons and grip tap art workshop – Gundagai Skate Park.
13/01/2023 6pm – 9pm
Open Night at the Gundagai Pool – Swimming, games and giveaways – Gundagai. Memorial Pool.
Hilltops Youth Action Group
29/01/2023
Back 2 Skool Pool Party featuring the World’s oldest Rocking DJ’s & Nursing home escapee’s the Rockafellas.
Temora Shire Council
05/01/2023 9am -10:30am
Cooking Class with Local Caterer – Platform Y.
06/01/2023 9:45am – 3pm
Trip to Wagga with lasertag and Shopping time – Platform Y.
09/01/2023 9:30am – 10:15am
Yoga Class for ages 12-24 – Platform Y.
09/01/2023 11am – 2:30pm
Mixed Media Art Workshop – Platform Y.
12/01/2023 10am – 11:30am
Gaming Day – including VR headsets – Platform Y.
Narrandera Shire Council
04/01/2023 – 03/02/2023 10am -9pm
The Summer Sessions will include two Paint with mates sessions, a cultural tour and an afternoon of music followed by a movie night – Lake Talbot Water Park.
Weddin Shire Council
21/01/2023 10am – 7pm
Beach themed pool party. Laser Tag, Water inflatables, Craft activities and beach themed catering. To find out more about activities near you and for program guidelines, visit nsw.gov.au/ holidaybreak
The Trustee of the Salvation Army has secured a total of $19,168 in funding through the NSW Government’s 2022 Community Building Partnership Program.
Member for Cootamundra Steph Cooke said the State Government funds will deliver much-needed improvements and equipment to local facilities.
“I congratulate The Salvation Army in their successful application which will allow for building upgrades to be undertaken at the Grenfell family store,” Ms Cooke said.
“It is important that we continue to support the groups that look after our local communities.”
“This is just another example of how the NSW Government are providing assistance to where it is needed in regional areas.”
“This program has been hugely successful in the Cootamundra electorate allowing local groups to undertake a wide range of projects.”
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
Steph Cooke | 05 Dec 2022 | Community Weddin Shire
Weddin Shire Council has been successful in receiving funding of $241,476 to deliver upgrades to the Grenfell Art Gallery thanks to the NSW Government’s Creative Capital program.
Member for Cootamundra Steph Cooke said that the Grenfell 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.
“I am delighted as this funding will enable improvements which will ensure our local audiences and visitors enjoy high-quality cultural experiences,” Ms Cooke said.
Weddin Shire Council, Mayor Cr Craig Bembrick said the project is both an extension and upgrade of our existing Arts and Culture space in the town.
“As the Cultural Centre in the heart of Grenfell, this funding will allow us to create a fit-for-purpose venue with the capacity to host travelling exhibitions and meet environmental requirements, support quality cultural experiences, increase the galleries exposure and increase exposure to art, culture and technology in Grenfell to visitors and residents,” Cr Bembrick said.
This is just one of three projects across the electorate sharing in a total of $11.7 million 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.
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.
Steph Cooke | 10 Nov 2022 | All LGAs Bland Shire Coolamon Shire Cootamundra Gundagai Regional Council Cowra Shire Hilltops Council Junee Shire Narrandera Shire News Temora Shire Weddin Shire
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
Steph Cooke | 25 Oct 2022 | All LGAs Bland Shire Coolamon Shire Cootamundra Gundagai Regional Council Cowra Shire Hilltops Council Junee Shire Narrandera Shire Roads and Transport Temora Shire Weddin Shire
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.
