News
Bushfire control work carried out Cobar, Euabalong West, Nymagee and Louth are among 21 towns and villages in Far West NSW which have been identified as in need of bushfire control work. Crown Lands and the Rural Fire Service have been working together to undertake safety work in various outback communities as the normally dry and arid landscape has undergone significant vegetation growth following ongoing rain. Crown Lands Executive Director of Land and Asset Management Greg Sullivan said ongoing wet weather linked to repeated La Nina weather conditions has seen many parts of the Far West’s normally dry and barren areas transformed with dense vegetation growth. “It is quite a natural phenomenon as areas of red dirt transform into a green landscape, but with it comes an increased risk of summer bushfires that now need to be managed,” Mr Sullivan said. Crown Lands has used aerial imagery to provide a bird’s eye view of vegetation growth further supported by on-ground inspections with the Rural Fire Service to assess and map strategic placement of fire breaks and fire trails. Rural Fire Service Assistant Commissioner Jayson McKellar said that while wet conditions and green growth have been a welcome change for some communities they have also created increased risk as hot weather dries vegetation creating highly flammable fuel loads. “This new growth is creating a substantial risk and so we have activated mitigation crews to work on strategic vegetation clearing and management for bush fire preparedness across many Far West communities,” Assistant Commissioner McKellar said. “The crews will continue to maintain asset protection zones and fire breaks around towns and villages as well as ensuring fire trails are in good shape for response to fires.”
37 years ago…
• The first edition of The Cobar Weekly news-
paper was released on February 6, 1986. • Youth worker Pauline Hunter was our Australia Day Citizen of the Year and Volunteer Rescue Association (VRA) member David Barwood was the Young Person of the Year. • Cobar High School PE teacher, captain of the Western Plains Zone Rugby Union team, cricketer and basketballer, Paul Cotterill, was named the Sportsperson of the Year. • State swimmer, Stephen Place won the Junior Sportsperson Award.
New team members at St John’s
Ashley Place (trainee teacher), Zoe Sunk (Stage 2 teacher), Kim Kliendienst (principal), Scott Bennett (Stage 3 teacher) and Tom McKeown (Stage 3 teacher and deputy principal) have joined the teaching staff at St John’s School this year. ▪ Photo contributed
Safer Internet Day
Cobar Shire Council
Marking the 20th annual Safer Internet Day, Optus yesterday announced an expansion to its Digital Thumbprint Program to provide more opportunities for students to learn about digital safety and wellbeing. Cobar primary students in years 3 and 4 classrooms can be among the first to experience the expanded digital educational program, focusing on kids staying safe when on games and apps, and keeping information private online. Year 5 and 6 students will be able to access a program tailored to deal with cyberbullying and having respectful online relationships. The expansion of the Optus Digital Thumbprint program offers a variety of resources for parents, teachers, and trusted adults to facilitate conversations with kids. Primary teachers can register their classroom for free online training and gain access to quizzes, teaching resources, and interactive games. More information is available at https:// www.digitalthumbprint.com.au/.
mail@cobar.nsw.gov.au PO Box 223, COBAR, NSW, 2835 Peter Vlatko, General Manager
OFFICE CLOSURES The Council Administration Office and Service NSW will be closed each day from 8am to 10am from Wednesday February 8, 2023 to Friday March 10, 2023 due to the conversion of Council’s Electronic Record Program. We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause.
ORDINARY COUNCIL MEETING 5pm, Thursday February 23, 2023 Open to the public Agendas and business papers are available to the public from Friday February 17, 2023. Copies are available from the Council Administration Office or may be downloaded from website: www.cobar.nsw.gov.au/council/ council-meetings
The Cobar Weekly Established Feb 6, 1986 Wednesday February 8, 2023 The Cobar Weekly Page 7
