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Free Camping debate fires up again Volunteer grants for local groups
The controversial topic of Free Camping campers should have been offered an alternate in Cobar was raised again at the Tourism option. “The signage related to the closure was Advisory Committee meeting last week with ambiguous, and I felt it hinted a serious of- Two local organisations will share in locals debating the pros and cons, benefits fence,” Mrs Carter added. $66,225 worth of Volunteer Grants that and problems that Freedom Campers bring At the April meeting, she requested the Tour- were recently awarded in the Parkes electo Cobar. ism Advisory Committee ask Council if they torate. Cobar Services Club secretary/manager Lin- supported tourism and, if so, in what way? The Cobar Lady Golfers and Copper City da Carter, who is very much in favour of Free Cobar Shire councillors Julie Payne, Lillian Men’s Shed are among the 28 organisations in Camping, said currently the club’s main reve- Simpson and Kate Winders attended last the electorate to benefit from the latest round nue comes from Free Campers. week’s May meeting and all were adamant that of the Australian Government’s 2022-23 VolAt the committee’s April meeting, Mrs Council very much supports tourism. unteer Grants program. Carter said it appeared Cobar Shire Council Cr Payne said Council supports tourism in Federal Member for Parkes Mark Coulton did not support the local tourism industry, and numerous ways including providing facilities announced the successful recipients last week. were not aware of the tourism revenue that such as the museum, the caravan park and the “I’m very pleased to see these groups receive Free Campers bring to the town. dump point. Council has upgraded the roads to much-needed funding under the 2022-23 VolShe said Council’s decision earlier in the Mt Grenfell and the Old Res making it easier unteer Grants program,” Mr Coulton said. month to close the Council carpark to campers for tourists (and locals) to access, it maintains “Our volunteers give their time, efforts, taldemonstrated they “talk the talk on tourism but the parks and gardens for use by tourists (and ents and skills to contribute positively to their fail on action”. locals), provides signage for local attractions, local communities and our towns are all the Mrs Carter said she understood Council’s supports local festivals and has provided a better because of them. reasoning behind the carpark closure (Council toilet on the Bourke Road. She said Council is “Volunteering has a strong presence throughadvised the area was overcrowded with camp- also planning further upgrades to the caravan out the Parkes electorate, whether it be helping ers who were impeding delivery trucks access- park and is working on establishing a parking out with local sporting teams and land care ing the adjacent supermarket) however she felt area on the eastern approach to town. groups, responding to the ongoing impacts of COVID-19, natural disasters or other emergencies, or helping local charities support some of our most disadvantaged people.” Cobar Lady Golfers will receive $2,000 and the Men’s Shed will receive $1,575. The Volunteer Grants program provides organisations with grants of between $1,0000 and $5,000 to purchase small equipment items, contribute towards the cost of training courses and background checks, and to help reimburse volunteers for the cost of their fuel or transport.
Wintry weather It feels like winter has already arrived in Cobar after some very cold mornings were recorded last week. According to the Bureau of Meteorology, Thursday was our coldest morning of the week with residents waking up to a chilly 0.8 degrees (well below the long term average of nine degrees for this time of the year) before the thermometer climbed to a top of 18.5 during the day. Friday wasn’t much better with 1.8 degrees the minimum overnight before it reached a maximum of 16.1 during the day. The Bureau is predicting a couple of warm days with 21 the top today and 23 is expected tomorrow (with four degrees the minimum). That’s it however for the warmer days with Friday only expected to reach a top of 15 (after five overnight), Saturday’s forecast is for 16 degrees (after two degrees) and the forecast for both Sunday and Monday is for a top of 17.
Page 8 The Cobar Weekly Wednesday May 24, 2023
