1 x $2 coin helps to build your community
AND WESTERN DISTRICTS ADVERTISER
Ph: (02) 6366 8017
THURSDAY 3 June 2021
Email: molongex@bigpond.net.au www.molongexpress.com.au
NO Want to help grow business and tourism in Cabonne
Tourism and economic development has never been more important in rural regions – particularly given the impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic and drought recovery – now is the time to have your say on the future direction of the Cabonne shire. Cabonne Council is developing an Economic Development and Visitor Economy Strategy. The strategy will help to determine current and new opportunities for business growth and tourism in the region. All business owners, including agricultural businesses, and residents of Cabonne are invited and encouraged to attend community consultations that are being run by the Australian Economic Consultants (AEC). The consultation sessions are a chance for businesses and
residents from Cabonne to identify opportunities for increased business activities, population growth, and tourism. The outcomes from the consultations will contribute directly to the strategy. The consultations will be run over two nights. : Molong – Cabonne Council Chambers (101 Bank Street) Tuesday 8 June 6pm-8pm Canowindra – Canowindra Services Club (93 Gaskill Street) Wednesday 9 June 6pm-8pm Light refreshments will be served at both sessions. For catering purposes, please RSVP to: Council’s Leader Community and Economy Ph: 6392 3200 e: Rebecca.Johnson@cabonne. nsw.gov.au
$2.00 inc gst
C'wealth Bank "Cheques Out" of Molong
One of the last duties at the Commomnwealth Bank this week was to hand over a cheque for $500 to the Molong Advancement Group to assist the upcoming June long weekend markets. Local staff and the bank have long presented donations to local charities and associations through their CommBank community donations program. No more - the Branch closes tomorrow. (R) Sue Wild & Janine Marriott (MAG) receive the cheque from Sharni Tolhurst (Centre)
Country Communities "Abandoned" - Gee
Andrew Gee MP, Federal Member For Calare, on Tuesday issued a scathing admonishment to the big banks' closure of country branches. Mr Gee said: "As you well know, Molong and Blayney are thriving rural centres and I have no doubt that they are still profit centres for the banks, and yet the banks are closing branches hand over fist." ... "This is a stark example of Australia’s banks putting super profits ahead of their long-standing and loyal country customers, who rely on the banks to provide the services they need to manage their businesses and livelihoods."
See page 9
Full Statement Page 9 Andrew GEE MP
FEDERAL MEMBER RUNS ON THE BOARD FOR CABONNE √ $15,000,000 new Molong for a MPS √ $10,900,000 for Manildra Solar Farm
√ $250,200 for repairs to bridges in Yeoval √ $700,000 for Bangaroo Bridge Replacement
FOR CALARE
COUNTRY CO MM
UNITIES ABA NDONED BY BIG BANKS
Here we are,
growing our the centre of Australia’s country’s food economy, droughts and and produc turning their bushfires and yet the big e, fighting backs and using banks are an opportunity to close branchthe cover of COVID as es. I’m calling on the big banks branches as to cease closing Australia emerge country pandemic. s from the COVID -19
how importa nt it is that maintained. Branch face-to-face service regional busines es provide essential service s are s to our and vulnerable ses, farmers and also to digital alternati people, who cannot easily our elderly ves. access the
Local post offices, which have an alternative, been put service as the simply don’t provide the forward as same level of stand-alone branche Since the onset of the COVID s. banks have either -19 pandemic, Australia’s permanently almost 300 branche While closed s, many of them or plan to close decentr the Government is working to in regional areas. alisatio promote the regions, n and the growing trend the banks are to move to In Calare we have by actively a deliber had underm several ate plan to close the big banks country branch ining this in a number of recent branch closures by the latest of which our country commu es. is the foresha nities, Recentl Commonwealth Bank branche dowed closure of the arrange y the CBA offered to services, at Molong s, along with put in place ments their ATM and Blayney and Molong, for its closing branches transitional on 4 June. by couple of days allocating ‘information in Blayney officers a As week you well know, ’ for a for a few √ $308,175 for this is not even Molong an close to good months. Quite frankly, rural centres education and I have no and Blayney are thriving enough. info centre and profit centres doubt that they at the Australian Nationa are still The closing branchefor the banks, and yet the fact that the l Field Days site s hand over fist. banks are at outcome, highligh bank believes this to Borenore be a positive ts the huge headquarters √ $2.5 million and community gap between the CBA As a further blow, our region. feeling on the ambulance for an station Bank only intend executives from the Commo ground in in Molong two weeks after to visit Blayney and Molongnwealth their √ $2 million almost This intended closure for a is a stark date of 4 June. biomass-fuelled super profits example of Australia’s banks boiler at MSM ahead of their This is a slap country custom long-standing putting in the face to Milling ers, who rely Bank custom and loyal the local Commo the services ers who are wanting √ $395,500 for nwealth they need to on the banks to provide bank about keeping to and livelihoods. manage their overtaking new these branche engage with the businesses being present on the Cargolanes s open, ed Road after the branch with a done deal and rather than fait accompli √ $2 million doors are locked. for This is actually projects across about people having the Cabonne under in regional commu same access The loyal country nities the Drough counterparts. to services t customers of as their city In the city if betrayed and Communities these it there is angry. In many banks pretty easy to is a branch closure Program generations and cases this loyalty feel kilomet get there is a real ers down the to another branch if it's that this is √ $644,950 for feeling on the spans country a road. That is a St not the case few ground where is not Germain’s Bridge support to be shocking way for this long-st in the so easy to get repaid. Replacement to other branche anding s. √ $492,410 My request of I think there for Eugowra be delivering the big banks is that is a strong and Multi-Purpose they the Australian Govern growin should same level of accessibility Community ment to mandat g argument for the service, ensurin to Centre requirements e minimu g city. This is a country communities as they for banking in √ $460,000 matter of equalit country areas. m service do in the for an y and accessi upgrade of bility. Escort Way The The banks will near I think manda say they are Eugowra ted minimum people are increas closing branche now need to be service require but local commu ingly doing their business because ments on the table. s online, nities are constan tly telling me √ $170,000 for new toilets and facilities at shower Molong Showground
√ $1,293,770 for local road an upgrades across Cabonne LGA √ $82,500 for repairs to bridges in Cumnock √ $80,000 upgrade to for an Molong Rec Ground cricket nets
ORANGE ELECTOR
Our country commu
nities deserve
ATE OFFICE
1/179A Anson Street PO Box 673 Orange NSW 2800
Authorised by
(02) 6361 7138 @ andrew.gee.mp@ aph.gov.au www.andrewgee mp.com.au Andrew Gee, MP, National Party of Australia,
Suite 1/179A
Anson Street,
better.
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