FIRE AND RESCUE SLAMMED FOR FAILED BINGARA STATION CLOSURE ATTEMPT

NORTHERN Tablelands MP Adam Marshall has on Friday fired a full broadside at Fire & Rescue NSW for its latest lazy and failed attempt to covertly withdraw services from Bingara and close the Bingara Fire Station, which he declared had been officially blocked.

“When will these pencil pushers and bean counters from Sydney get the message – keep your hands off Bingara Fire Station,” a furious Mr Marshall said today.

“Once again, the bigwigs have tried to close the station and once again they have failed – they are very slow learners.”

Mr Marshall confirmed on Friday with the Deputy Premier and Minister for Emergency Services that Bingara Fire Station would be “remaining open and servicing the local community.”

“I don’t know what game NSW Fire & Rescue is playing at, but if they want to make savings on their statewide balance sheet, then they can bugger off and look somewhere else,” he said.

“Gwydir Shire Council, the local community and I are in lockstep on this one – we’ll never allow the station to close and services to be withdrawn from the community.

“Bingara may be small but lives out here are just as important as ones in the big city and just as deserving of adequate fire protection.

“I trust now this latest attempt has been stopped dead in its tracks, Fire & Rescue will resume genuine recruitment efforts to fill vacant retained firefighter positions at the station.

“The community will be watching Fire & Rescue’s actions very closely.”

Gwydir Shire Council Update

Bingara Council Chambers

On 19 January 2023 Council had a special meeting to discuss the new Bingara Shire Council Office. The meeting included a walk through of the existing facilities being the former Bingara Council Chambers, the former veterinary clinic and the current Northern Slopes Landcare office.

At this meeting Deputy Mayor, Cr Catherine Egan was appointed Chair of a working group together with Council staff, Deputy General Manager Mrs Leeah Daley and Building Services Manager, Mr Colin Cuell and all other Councillors.

Council resolved to engage StruXi Design Pty Ltd (StruXi) to design the new facility and the working group met with this company on 14 February. StruXi now plan to provide a draft design to Council within the next month.

In the meantime, a Development Application is being prepared and will be lodged for the demolition of the existing Bingara (Council Chambers and former Adams Garage) structures.

Gwydir River – Fairy Tree area

Further to the meeting with NSW Soil Conservation Service (Soil Con) staff late last year, approval to remove the fairy tree has since been obtained. Council has now entered into a Service Contract with them. Soli Con staff are expected to conduct an onsite inspection before the end of February 2023 and to finalise a design for remediation and beautification works by the end of April 2023.

The site inspection will also include the banks below the Bingara Golf Course which has suffered significant flood damage.

In the December issue of The Gwydir News Council invited readers to contact them with what they would like to see happen with the riverfront area and the Bingara Council Chambers. This invitation has been extended to 5pm on Wednesday 15 March 2023. If readers would like to contact Council please email, mail@gwydir.nsw.gov. au or telephone one of Council’s offices on 0267 293 000 or 0267 242 000 or write to Locked Bag 5, Bingara NSW 2404.

Bingara War Memorial Baths and Bingara Riverside Caravan Park

The project works for the upgrade of the electricity supply to the pool and park has progressed much slower than Council had hoped due to delays in obtaining Essential Energy design and construction approvals. Planned electricity outages will occur on 5 March 2023 for high voltage upgrade works.

When the high voltage supply upgrade is complete the unoccupied new building at the caravan park can finally be connected. This building will be a new residence and park office.

In addition, the new sports lighting and PA system will be installed at the pool, and the heating pumps will be able to be made functional.

In April 2023 the caravan park toilet blocks and laundry will be demolished and replaced with a combined all access amenity and laundry. During this period the adjacent pool amenities will be utilised.

The Living Classroom, Bingara

An area at The Living Classroom had been leased and known as The Carbon Farm. When the lease fell due last year Council decided not to renew it.

Council has been developing an alliance with Southern Cross University - Regenerative Ag Alliance. The university is so committed to their relationship with Council and the community they are currently advertising for an Adoption and Extension Officer with the Drought Innovation Hub. The successful applicant will be full time and based in Bingara. To apply for this position please go to Adoption and Extension Officer Bingara - Farming Together. Council has agreed to provide office space for this person at The Living Classroom.

The Living Classroom continues to be well presented and is continually used for private and business functions. The Living Classroom is a busy place hosting weddings, birthdays, retreats for special interest groups, meetings, student day and overnight experiences and training days.

The Living Classroom will soon boast five new cabins which will be delivered and installed onsite the first week of March 2023.