THE POST, Thursday, April 10, 2025 - Page 1
parkeschampionpost.com.au
ESTABLISHED 1891 Thursday, April 10, 2025
clittle@midwestmedia.com.au
$2.20 inc GST
parkeschampionpost.com.au
Petrol prices plunge in Forbes Page 5
ANZAC Day guest speaker
All the fun of the fete
Page 6
Page 7
Parkes Shire pipes are in urgent need of repair
Bypass opens Tuesday
AFTER YEARS OF WORK NEWELL BYPASS IS DAYS AWAY FROM OPENING By CHRISTINE LITTLE Traffic will switch onto the new Newell Highway Parkes Bypass on Tuesday. It’s been six years in the making since the project was first conceived, added to Infrastructure Australia’s Priority List a year later and almost four years of construction after the contract was awarded to Georgiou Group. While some areas still require work, drivers will get their first feel of the new section of the highway that’s been relocated two kilometres west of the centre of Parkes where it previous-
ly passed through. It’s to improve freight efficiency and productivity, and the safety of drivers and pedestrians, particularly across Bogan Street. Beginning at Barkers Road in the south and reconnecting at Maguire Road in the north, it’s 10.5 kilometres long with five key intersections: Two T-intersections north and south between the existing Newell Highway and the bypass, split T-intersection at London Road, four-way roundabout at Condobolin Road, Tintersection with Bogan Road, and two bridges over rail lines and Hartigan Avenue, and over the bypass on Victoria Street.
7 DAYS A WEEK
ultimate
COMFY
SALE
It also bypasses tight bends in town and two railway level crossings at Hartigan Avenue near KFC and the Welcome crossing in the south. Large signs saying PARKES in the north and south tell drivers they are on the town’s doorstep. There’s also been an extension of Hartigan Avenue to Henry Parkes Way/Condobolin Road which opened to traffic under its bridge on 21 November, as did the bypass roundabout. Other work over the last four years has seen part of Moulden Street shifted to the west, ■ Continued on page 9
As Parkes Shire’s damaged piping lay scattered around them, Member for Orange Philip Donato has joined mayors of the Parkes and Lachlan shires in calling on the NSW Government to urgently fund the repair of critical water infrastructure. Eight kilometres of Parkes’ water pipes from Lake Endeavour were damaged in the 2022 Central West floods, while Lake Cargelligo was inundated with water, breaking the banks of its sediment ponds and damaging its sewerage treatment works. Two and a half years on the pipes remain in the same state after floodwaters washed them away, leaving Parkes Shire Council with an enormous repair bill it is unable to cover. Parkes Mayor Neil Westcott said because the infrastructure is considered a council asset it is not covered by disaster funding. “We are not asking for special favours, our assets are no less destroyed than the Northern Rivers and theirs were fully funded by the NSW Government,” he said. “Water supply to a town is surely essential infrastructure. “Our peak supply has been reduced by 30 per cent, we cannot afford to fix it. We need government help… This is a very serious issue.” Cr Westcott would like to see the issue resolved while there’s time. “I’d like to see it resolved before the next drought, which we will need it for - we have time to do it now,” he said. “We’re relying on gravity-fed water at the moment.” Mr Donato said he is extremely grateful to both state and federal governments for their rapid support and ■ Continued on page 3
transform your
H O M E I N TO A haven of relaxation DREAM 20% OFF At participation stores only! See in store for Terms and Conditions.
22-36 Parkes Road, Fo bes (Next doo to Bunnings)