CNSWJO Keeps Wyangala Dam On Federal Govt Radar

IMAGE: Wyangala Dam releasing water from all flood gates during major inflows of water last year.

Mayors and General Managers of member councils of the Central New South Sales Joint Organisation met with Federal Environment and Water Minister Tanya Plibersek recently in an effort to keep the Wyangala Dam wall extension topical at a Federal level.

Cowra Shire Council Mayor Bill West and General Manager Paul Devery made the trip to Canberra on Thursday 25th May to represent Cowra as part of 11 councils that make up the CNSWJO, with Wyangala Dam high on the agenda. The meeting came after the Federal Budget earlier in May, which featured no funding for the Wyangala Dam wall extension- a project that has been stalled since the previous Coalition governments of both NSW and Australia announced funding contributions for the project in 2019.

Environmental concerns and budget blowouts in the business case have been the main cause of the pause on the project politically within the NSW Parliament, with the NSW Government

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From Page 1 responsible for managing the project as the owner of the dam.

Despite the project seemingly being in hiatus, Cowra Mayor Bill West said the meeting with Minister Plibersek was positive, and said it would ensure the project is not forgotten about by the Federal Government.

“The meeting was arranged to ensure the Wyangala Dam project is not off the radar of the Federal Government,” Mr West said.

“The aim was to ensure water security is still considered as important by the Federal Government, as well as flood mitigation.”

“It was a positive and productive meeting and Minister Plibersek was very welcoming of us.”

Mr West said the CNSWJO also met with NSW Water Minister Rose Jackson, and took the opportunity to raise the issue with her, as well as addressing local water utilities, flood and drought mitigation. “We raised the need of keeping the community informed about it all, as this is very important as well,” Mr West said.

Mr West said Cowra Council and the CNSWJO would continue advocating for Wyangala Dam and other issues affecting the region at both state and federal levels.

THUMBS UP... THUMBS DOWN

THUMBS UP to the friendly staff at Coles.

THUMBS UP to the large amount of wonderful tree planting work done by the volunteers from North Sydney Bush Care and local people on local farms with native tube stock proudly supplied by McDonalds Farm Trees.

THUMBS UP to Davo.

THUMBS DOWN to a particular staff member in the kitchen of a local club for being very rude to the customers.

THUMBS DOWN to the condition of the broken tiles and taped up sections on the floors of the plaza in and around the complex. I nearly tripped over on a broken section that was taped up.

Lane, Cowra NSW 2794

Snippets

Meet Local Author Harold Treasure at Cowra Library

Join us at Cowra Library when local author and farmer Harold Treasure launches his book King’s Spur on Friday 16 June at 10.30am.

King’s Spur is set in the Dargo High Plains last century and is inspired by distant Treasure relatives who are part of the High Country cattleman myths and legends.

This fictional story has its roots in history, wild remote landscapes and challenges faced by the first Europeans. The book features Emmanuel, the foreman in a gold sluice mine, when his headstrong wife Emily acquires a lease on the High Plains, against her husband’s wishes. He becomes a reluctant cattleman, struggles against nature and faces the challenges posed by another determined woman - his daughter Nell. King’s Spur will be on sale at the event for $25 and 87-year-old Harold will be on hand to sign copies.

‘Bringing The Classroom To The Great Outdoors’: Cowra Shire Schools Awarded New Funds By Woolworths And Landcare Australia

Students across Cowra Shire are on their way to becoming the next generation of environmental champions with new funds from the 2023 Woolworths Junior Landcare Grants program. They join more than 1,100 schools and early learning centres across Australia who will be awarded grants to help build and develop hands-on environmental learning projects.

Schools in the Cowra Shire who will be awarded a grant of up to $1,000 include Carinya Early Childhood Centre, St Raphael’s Catholic School. Over the years, thousands of schools have used these grants to create interactive projects focused on sustainability and have inspired students to play an active role in the future of their natural environment.

This year, the program also officially included First Nations perspectives projects for the first time. Woolworths and Landcare Australia are excited to award more than 320 grants as part of this year’s funding to projects that focus on expanding students’ First Nations education and deepening their connection to Country.

Woolworths Cowra Shire Store Manager, Paula White, said: “Bringing the classroom to the great outdoors and encouraging kids to get hands-on with nature is always something we’re excited to see, and we hope all of the schools across Cowra Shire will have fun working on their new projects.”

To date, Woolworths has contributed over $5 million to more than 4,900 Junior Landcare projects across Australia and reaching more than 400,000 kids.

For more information on this year’s recipients and to view the complete map of schools, please visit www.juniorlandcare.org.au/woolworthsgrants/map.

Getting On With Tackling The Rental Crisis

The NSW Government is accelerating the passage of practical reforms to ease the pressure on renters by pressing pause on moves to end secret rent bidding.

The Government will amend its legislation before the Parliament to remove section 22B, covering secret rent bidding, allowing the other elements passage through the Legislative Assembly. This decision clears the path to get on with passing the legislation, which is needed to:

- Implement a portable bond scheme that delivers significant financial relief to renters;

- Close existing loopholes and extend the ban on soliciting rental bids so it applies to third-party platforms and owners, not just real estate agents; and

- Empower the NSW Rental Commissioner to gather pricing data from agents, allowing them to advocate for renters and provide quality advice to government. The Government’s decision follows constructive engagement with advocacy organisations and crossbench members of the NSW Parliament.

Interviews for the newly-created role of NSW Rental Commissioner were scheduled for last week, and the Government has already begun work on the next tranche of rental reform.

The Government will charge the Rental Commissioner with continuing this work to make the market more transparent in close consultation with advocates and the sector.

The Rental Commissioner will also make it easier for renters to have pets and will end ‘no grounds’ evictions.

Last week the Government passed its First Home Buyer legislation, ensuring more support will go to those who need it most with five in every six first home buyers paying no tax or a reduced rate.