Residents pool talent for sport and rec funds

When the significant weather event happened on the 13th of November, an army of volunteers dropped from the sky to help clean up the debris and destruction.

As Molong’s community came together to lift each other up as best we could, a group of Molong residents, concerned by the loss and devastation sustained, felt they could draw on their marketing and communication contacts and skills to raise awareness at a national level.

They set up a campaign to help rebuild Molong’s sporting and recreational facilities damaged or destroyed by the wall of water that hit Molong that night.

Sporting and recreational facilities were chosen as the fundraising target as it was felt that monies raised could make a meaningful difference to reinstate Molong’s infrastructure treasured by the town.

Sport plays a critical role within country towns. It brings communities together. It brings people to town, that in turn support our local businesses.

Members of the Rebuild Molong campaign felt the restoration of sporting facilities would bring some normality back to life for everyone affected.

Where is Rebuild Molong up to?

At the conclusion of last year, the Rebuild Molong campaign had raised over $250,000 to repair and restore Molong’s sporting and recreational infrastructure and equipment damaged on that November night. The Rebuild Molong GoFundMe page had an initial fundraising goal of $50,000. We initially raised just over $100,000, with many Sydney and regional sporting clubs making incredibly generous donations to see sport return to our town.

• Briars Sports Club, of the Southern

Highlands, donated $10,000 to be split across hockey, rugby, cricket and bowls,

• Mosman Rugby Club donated $5,000 to the Molong Rugby Club,

• Mosman Hockey Club donated $1,000, and

• FigTree Unandeera Hockey donated $600. And it wasn’t just sporting clubs - retail businesses held charity nights and ran online raffles.

• Sos Waddell, owner of CINT Boutique in Orange, raised a staggering $16,625,

• Betty and Lola, owners of boutiques in Willoughby and Mosman raised $2,122, and

• Local Kate Greenwood from Greenwood Designs donated a percentage of her sales donating $2,802.

• Local artist, Tash Townsend worked with Madi at The Corner Store Gallery to donate her art, with all proceeds going to the Rebuild Molong GoFundMe page.

In November and December we received numerous offers of support from businesses keen to assist.

Cumulus Wines ran a campaign to donate a percentage of each case sold of their cool climate Quilty and Gransden wines. They raised $5099. Pontoon, a brand development business located in Manly, instead of purchasing Xmas gifts for their clients, sent Xmas cards letting them know that this year they had forgone Xmas gifts to instead support the Rebuild Molong GoFundMe campaign.

As at the 26th of February 2023, the Rebuild Molong GoFundMe site had received 322 donations raising $102,098.

In addition, Stuart Hobbs and Paul Glynn lined up 33 auction items to be auctioned in an online charity auction through AuctionsPlus.

Items donated included herd bulls from Gilmandyke Pastoral, Noonee Angus and Merit Farms as well as rams, semen and embryo packages, stud kelpie pups, meat and photography packages and a five-night stay in a Noosa luxury beachfront apartment. The online auction raised $112,102.50.

Molong is indeed fortunate to have the support of so many agricultural enterprises who got behind this auction.

The final fundraising initiative for 2022 was the sale of a pen of Steers from Stirling Pastoral and a pen of heifers from Boomey Park at the Carcoar saleyards. The stock sales equated to $27,200.

These three initiatives raised $259,400.50. Where to from here?

Rebuild Molong to be registered as an Incorporated Association.

Rebuild Molong Inc. look forward to working with Cabonne Council and our sporting and recreational clubs. Continued Page 9

STAGE 1 WORKS: 15 APRIL - 16 JUNE 2023

The Molong Town Centre Activation Project stage 1 works will commence in Bank Street between Gidley Street and Shields Lane on Saturday, 15 April 2023 until Friday, 16 June 2023 The work will take place on the northern side of the road, including the centre section Pedestrian access will be possible on both sides of the road, with parallel parking available on southern side of road during construction

Concept design - not to scale

Your Questions Answered

WHAT IS THE AIM OF THE PROJECT?

The Molong Town Centre Activation project aims to develop Molong as a key regional destination leveraging off the town’s unique characteristics and offerings, improving walkability and facilitating movement, improving navigation and wayfinding, stimulating private investment, and diversifying the local economy and grow the town as a local business and tourism hub

Q WHAT IS THE DURATION OF THE WORKS?

The entire project is expected to be completed prior to January 2024, weather permitting Council will ensure that works will be programmed to minimise disruption during the Christmas trade period Work will be conducted between 7am - 5pm, 5 days a week Intermittent works outside of these hours may occur, including on weekends Council will undertake the work in stages to provide access and minimise disruption to businesses for shoppers, staff, owners, residents, and delivery workers

WHAT IS THE DURATION OF THE STAGE 1 WORKS? Q

Stage 1 works will commence in Bank Street between Gidley Street and Shields Lane on Saturday, 15 April 2023 until Friday, 16 June 2023

Q WILL THERE STILL BE PARKING AVAILABLE ON THE STREET?

The Molong Town Centre Activation works will be completed in stages to ensure traffic can flow and pedestrians still have access to businesses and homes throughout the entire project Parking will be available on Bank Street throughout the entire project, with parallel parking available in areas where construction is happening Council have undertaken testing to ensure that the design will meet the requirements of users (including motorists and pedestrians) and ensuring that parking is accessible for a range of vehicle types

WILL DELIVERIES STILL BE POSSIBLE ON BANK STREET DURING THE WORKS?

Yes, deliveries will be possible for businesses during all stages of the construction works Delivery vehicles will be able to park either in the 45-degree angled parking, or between tree plantings in the street center, once they are installed Q

Q

Q

WILL THERE BE LESS SPACE ON BANK STREET WITH THE ADDED TREES?

The centre median and tree planting configuration proposed is anticipated to have minimal impact on vehicle manoeuvring and will enhance safety generally

The new tree plantings will be Japanese Elm (Zelkova serrata Green Vase ) and are designed to provide added benefits of vehicle speed calming, safer pedestrian refuge and amenity enhancements

Whilst the term “median” is used, the median is at the same level as the road which ensures no trip hazards This flat median, combined with the street trees, will enable a safer weigh point for a pedestrian to gain refuge from traffic if needed

WHEN WILL THE STREET FURNITURE BE INSTALLED?

The street furniture, which includes bins, seats, bike racks, planters with Crepe Myrtles (Lagerstroemia indica x faurei 'Natchez ) will be completed by October 2023

WHY CAN'T THIS FUNDING BE REPURPOSED FOR OTHER PROJECTS?

Following extensive community consultation throughout the development of both a Molong Main Street Issues Paper and a Molong Town Centre Plan Council was successful is securing over $2M in grant funding from both the State and Federal Government to activate the Molong CBD As part of the grant application, Council was required to provide a sound business case for assessment, evidence of community/business support, and an outline of the complete scope of works and costs proposed

The Grant funding was successful based on this information – including the street trees - and Council is required to regularly report to both the State and Federal Governments as the project is delivered Whilst minor changes to the scope of works are permitted, large changes are not - and therefore if the project is not delivered in line with the funding agreement, funding may be withdrawn

Contact us: council@cabonne.nsw.gov.au

The street furniture including bins, seats, bike racks, planters and shrubs will be completed by October 2023.

STAGE 1

Saturday, 15 April 2023 to Friday, 16 June 2023 (weather permitting).

From Gidley Street to Shields Lane on the southern side of Bank Street.

STAGE 2

Saturday, 17 June 2023 - Sunday, 27 August 2023 (weather permitting).

From Shields Lane to Edward Street on the southern side of Bank Street.

STAGE 3 & 4

Exact location and timeframe to be developed for delivery in 2024.

Project Inclusions

Installation of street trees to the centre line of road with native understorey planting, permeable paving in between trees, and a safe crossing point near Shields Lane.

Installation of new seating and removal of existing planters and benches.

Installation of tree planter pots with irrigation reservoirs, solar fairy lights and ornamental tree planting in strategic positions along the main street.

Installation of new garbage bins.

MORE SUPPORT NEEDED FOR FLOOD-HIT TOWNS

There is still a lot that governments can be doing to support our storm and flood hit communities.

There are a number of programs available to flood devastated areas such as the Northern Rivers that have not been put in place for our own flood devastated communities.

Home Buy-Back Scheme

The NSW Government has started the first round of voluntary home buy-backs for the flood-hit communities of the NSW Northern Rivers. The $700-million Resilient Homes Program is designed to enable around 2,000 buy-backs for the purchase of a homeowner’s house and land.

We have many homeowners in places like Eugowra, Cudal, Molong and Canowindra who’d be very keen to participate in the scheme, but they can’t get answers about what’s going on. It needs to be rolled out here.

Why hasn’t it?

Local Government Recovery Grants

Co-funded by the Australian and NSW Governments, grants of up to $2 million have been announced for the Northern Rivers region, but not for Cabonne. Our councils can’t get through the recovery without help. Why isn’t this support being made available here?

Community Assets Program

In mid-January, the Federal and NSW Governments announced the $70 million Community Assets

Program. Under the program, local councils in flood-hit areas can apply for grants of up to $7.5 million to go towards the repair of flooddamaged community infrastructure like parks, playgrounds, walkways, and libraries. This program should be made available to Cabonne. Why isn’t it?

The smaller communities of the region are tired of picking up the pieces from these flood events when there are practical solutions that could be implemented now. People’s lives are in limbo. They are hearing about these programs which are offering hope, and then can’t get any clarity as to whether the programs will be rolled out in the Central West. The $200,000 just announced by the NSW Government to support flood-hit businesses with 20 or more employees is positive, but won’t help many in Cabonne. Most businesses hit were small businesses.

From press conferences we need action.

Flood Mitigation Urgently Needed

As the recovery from the recent storms and floods continues, people across the region are asking “How do we stop this happening again?”

One thing that the NSW Government can do is get the Molong Creek rail bridge raised or moved. This may not prevent future flooding but it would certainly greatly lessen the impacts.

It’s no good for government to simply feel the community’s pain and move on. This issue must be addressed. The future of Molong depends on it. I would encourage all candidates at the upcoming NSW election to commit to resolving the issue with the bridge and also carrying out other necessary mitigation work along the creek.

Another thing that the NSW Government could do is commit to removing the traffic islands in Hill Street (along the highway opposite the REC Ground) and levelling the gradient of the road.

As things stand, the highway is built up higher than the gutters. This combined with traffic islands is creating a mini dam which is making any flooding much worse. Currently the water is running down Hill Street and coming in from Gidley Street well before any water from the creek gets there. You can still see the dirt and gravel that recently washed into the islands. Phil Davis

Orange Running Festival

The Orange Running Festival was held on the weekend, featuring distances from 1 mile to a full marathon.

Despite the stormy weather, the event drew a massive crowd!

I’m here to tell you, I’m not a runner but I did compete in the Community Mile and had a great time!

The previous federal government supported the event with a $35,000 grant.

A big thank you to Anthony Daintith and all the Festival organisers, volunteers and sponsors for delivering such an outstanding event!

I’ll definitely be back next year!

PS - A shout out to Parrot Distilling Co for assisting with my post race recovery!

(pictured) and other local residents have had enough. They need action.

Some relatively simple road works and the removal of the traffic islands would greatly alleviate the situation. An insurance assessor has already looked at the road and said the level is too high.

I have raised this issue with the Premier and NSW Minister for Regional Transport Sam Farraway but haven’t had a response. It’s time to get cracking on solutions rather than hoping the next storm won’t be as bad as the last one.

My Two Cents

One of the important things about being an independent is not being told how to vote by a political party.

There is a growing expectation in the community that MPs will say what they actually think and not just follow a party line because it’s good for their career prospects. There just isn’t enough of it in politics.

Giving up my numerous shadow ministries meant taking a significant pay cut but I’m now free to turn an independent eye to any issue before parliament or our area.

Here are a few issues on the agenda this week:

• I won’t be supporting the government’s proposed tax increases on superannuation. If they were planning to move the super goal posts it should have been stated before the election.

• I do support the federal government’s National Reconstruction Fund because it will benefit the regions.

• I don’t think the NSW Nationals/NSW Government should have promised (and advertised) to make NSW mobile blackspot free at the last state election. There are still plenty of mobile phone blackspots around and this was a promise that was highly unlikely to ever be fulfilled. You don’t hear much about that promise these days. No wonder people get cynical about the major parties.

Not quite running like the wind!

• The level of both state and federal road funding is clearly not where it should be. Recent state funding announcements will only have a minimal impact. The backpedalling on the Great Western Highway by the federal government is also very concerning. The $2 billion that the previous federal government and I secured for the project needs to be released and rolled out.