Connecting the Community since 1876 AND WESTERN DISTRICTS ADVERTISER
Ph: (02) 6366 8017
THURSDAY 2 March 2023
Email: molongex@bigpond.net.au www.molongexpress.com.au
Women's cricket Page 15
$2.00 inc gst
Magpies launch for 2023 Page 8
Calls to fix aged infrastructure before CBD beautification
The chosen design for the Molong CBD Activation Project. Beauty above ground...chaos continuing underground. How does this create a better, safer place for the extended community?
Most will agree that Molong's CBD needs a 'facelift' - a beautification program and the improvement of pedestrian and vehicle safety aspects will be most welcomed. The good news is that Cabonne Council is on the case with a Government-funded program providing significant dollars so that Council can deliver the Molong CBD Activation Project - very soon. The project has been 'on the drawing board', so to speak, for at least two years with consultants working with Council to conduct community consultation, achieve design and
planning outcomes, and visionary outcomes for the further development of Molong. Well, that was prior to the minor storm/ major flooding events which occurred in the CBD during the La Nina 2021/22. The downpour created stormwater runoff throughout town ... and in turn, what became a regular flooding of shops, hotels and businesses in the lower areas of Bank and Watson Streets. Traders, business owners, building owners, and the wider community are, understandably, 'over' the now constant clean-up of minor
and major flooding and the enormous expense created by stormwater running down the overflowing gutters, into overflowing stormwater drains - which were designed for yesterday's weather patterns and not for what we now know as La Nina events - and climate change. The Express is keen to see the implementation of a major works program focussed on the needs of surface-water collection and disposal of as a critical pre-works program before the Molong CBD Activation Project commences. What do readers think?
Country footy vital to kick off Wallaby careers It's not unusual for wallabies to be seen at Molong’s Rec, but more than 60 footy hopefuls gathered to see three of them last week in the hope of following their footsteps to success. Ex-Wallabies stars, Molong’s David Lyons, and teammates, Stirling Mortlock and Owen Finegan shared their secrets to success with young union players at a clinic organised by Molong Magpies. They know only too well that the future of Australian rugby starts with clubs like Molong – with every single young player at the clinic having the potential to play for their country one day. A lot of players who came through the ranks to Wallaby status were from country venues according to Mortlock, who has seen it first-hand in his 500-test point career. “The thing about our game is that’s it’s all about community,” he said. “When you go to country clubs for rugby, you can see the fabric and backbone of community.
Photo Courtesy Tracey Harvey Photography
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