Central West Village Voice - Issue 040

Gorgeous villa with internal garage plus separate internal laundry. Features include high ceilings, living flame gas fire and a large rear garden.

The large lounge/dining room and master bedroom enjoy stunning views of the surrounding undulating hills with a lovely private courtyard area. The master bedroom also boasts an ensuite bathroom plus an entire wall of built-in wardrobes.

The Megalong-style villa packs a huge range of features into its cleverly designed layout with the very best in modern fixtures and fittings. It boasts 2 large bedrooms, the master with walk-in robes and private ensuite. The second bathroom is perfect for guests.

The single garage has easy access directly into the home, which has a living flame gas fire in the living area and zoned heating and air conditioning throughout.

A refurbished freestanding villa with a private courtyard and attached garage, it boasts three bedrooms and two bathrooms, a spacious living area and newly designed modern open kitchen.

Reverse cycle air conditioning and flued gas heating are included.

You will love the private courtyard that is perfect for that mid-morning, relaxing coffee.

This villa is something to behold. With 2 gorgeous bedrooms, each with private bathroom and the best in modern fixtures and fittings. The master bedroom is furnished with walk-in robes and has a private ensuite.

The single garage gives you direct access to the home which makes access a breeze. It has a natural living flame gas fire in the living area and zoned heating and air conditioning throughout.

This ingenious floor-plan offers two bedrooms, two bathrooms and an internal single garage. The master bedroom has walk-in wardrobes and its own ensuite. The second bedroom also has an ensuite, which creates two separate living quarters. The superb kitchen is equipped with stone benchtops, dishwasher, oven and cooktop.

The living room boasts a cosy living gas fire, and it has fully ducted and zoned heating and cooling throughout.

This stunning home has the best of open-plan living areas. Each bedroom has its own ensuite, essentially creating two separate private wings. The master bedroom has built-in wardrobes, and there is a cozy gas fire in the living area for those winter nights.

The kitchen is equipped with stone bench tops, dishwasher, oven and cooktop. The home has fully ducted and zoned air-conditioning throughout. The single garage is fitted with an automatic roller door.

Lithgow is set to become a drawcard destination for mountain biking enthusiasts with a new $3.5 million project announced today to build a new trail thanks to Round Two of the NSW Government’s Regional Tourism Activation Fund.

Mountain biking is a fast growing activity that has become popular in the Lithgow and Blue Mountain regions. The scenery and terrain of the surrounding mountain ranges and bushland are perfect for a thrilling yet picturesque ride.

The 25km of biking and walking tracks will begin at the State Mine Heritage Park and join Gardens of Stone trails.

Deputy Premier and Minister for Regional NSW Paul Toole said the Regional Tourism Activation Fund supports local economies and local jobs by backing unique tourism experiences that will attract visitors and showcase what regional NSW has to offer.

“We know regional NSW has Australia’s best tourist destinations and experiences. We want to amplify that by helping create new experiences and drawcards that put more heads on beds and attract more tourism dollars into regional communities,” Mr Toole said.

MOUNTAIN BIKING

“This won’t only support Lithgow by increasing visitation, this will support local economies and local jobs as more people spend at cafes, restaurants, hotels, motels and local shops.”

“The projects backed through the $150 million Round Two of the Regional Tourism Activation Fund will give domestic and international visitors even more great reasons to experience the best regional NSW has to offer.”

Round Two focuses on accelerating the development of high impact tourism and events infrastructure that will increase the international appeal of destinations in regional NSW and boost the visitor economy through increased visitation and job creation.

The $180 million Regional Tourism Activation Fund is part of the NSW Government’s $3.3 billion Regional Growth Fund, designed to support growing regional centres, activate local economies and improve services and community infrastructure for regional communities.

For more information, go to: www.nsw.gov.au/RTAFund

MAJOR WORK ON GREAT WESTERN HIGHWAY UPGRADE TO START IN THE NEW YEAR

The NSW Liberal and Nationals Government is powering ahead with the $4.5 billion upgrade to the Great Western Highway, announcing Abergeldie Complex Infrastructure has been awarded the contract to begin major work at Medlow Bath in the new year.

Deputy Premier, Minister for Regional NSW and Member for Bathurst Paul Toole said the Medlow Bath upgrade will mark the first section of major work on the Great Western Highway upgrade between Lithgow and Katoomba.

“The Great Western Highway upgrade is fast becoming a reality – major work is due to start as soon as March on this project which will be life changing for the thousands of people that use the road every day,” Mr Toole said.

“The NSW Liberal and Nationals Government has worked incredibly hard to ensure this transformative project happensbecause we know the difference it will make from the Blue Mountains and beyond.”

As part of the upgrade, 1.2-kilometre section of highway through Medlow Bath will be widened to four lanes with new dedicated right turning lanes and a signalised intersection will

be built at Bellevue Crescent including a new left turning bay, and a new pedestrian bridge.

Minister for Regional Transport and Roads Sam Farraway said the NSW Liberal and Nationals Government was pushing ahead with the project because there was a real fear a Chris Minns Labor Government would put it on the chopping block.

“We saw what happened in the Federal Budget, funding was deferred to the outer years, a clear sign Labor intends to punt the project to Never-Neverland,” Mr Farraway said.

“NSW Labor left us with a $30 billion infrastructure backlog bill and in the last 12 years we’ve worked hard to build legacy infrastructure projects that will make a huge difference to the lives of people across our state now and into the future.”

The NSW Government is also inviting community feedback on the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Blackheath to Little Hartley tunnel from next month.

More information on the Great Western Highway upgrade is available on the Transport for NSW website.

Lions When your doctor is closed the hospital is not your only option. Find out where to go or who to call. doctorclosed.com.au For 24 hour health advice 1800 022 222 For an interpreter TIS National 131 450 Wentworth Healthcare Limited (ABN 88 155 904 975) as Nepean Blue Mountains PHN.

Club of Mount Panorama

stallholders

These high-achieving individuals will head to all corners of the state on January 26, volunteering their time and energy to contribute to local festivities, with communities encouraged to come together this Australia Day to Reflect, Respect and Celebrate the Australian spirit and our diversity.

For more than 30 years on our national day extraordinary individuals from all walks of life, travel to diverse local council events across NSW sharing insights from their diverse experiences. From remote towns to cities, they deliver meaningful and uplifting addresses that capture the true spirit of our nation. They embrace communities, celebrate diversity and listen to people’s stories.

Long-time Australia Day Ambassador Andy Paschalidis will head to the community of Lismore to meet the locals, while joining the Ambassador program for the first time is acclaimed ABC Health broadcaster Dr Norman Swan who will head to Orange. This year’s mix also includes Dr Clio Cresswell, the best-

selling author and mathematician who is travelling to Wentworth Shire; John Harper, founder of Mates Helping Mates, will meet the Snowy Monaro Bombala community; and SBS’s Akash Arora will visit Forbes.

Australia Day Council of NSW Chair Andrew Parker said the Australia Day Ambassadors are all exemplars of strength, passion and unity, with a truly diverse and remarkable group of people making up this year’s Ambassadors.

“Now in its 32nd year, the NSW Ambassador program seeks to spread the message of reflecting, respecting and celebrating our strong community, individuals who continually seek to help their neighbours in times of crisis, and are always there to lend a helping hand, no matter the task. This helping hand and spirit of mateship is what makes us, in essence, Australian,” Mr Parker said.

“What our amazing group of Ambassadors have in common are traits like passion, generosity and community spirit. They will be spreading the message of resilience and optimism through regions across our state, particularly those that have been badly affected by floods this year. I would like to express my deep appreciation for all the Ambassadors for sharing their stories,” he said.

INCREASED GRASS FIRE DANGER FOR CHIFLEY REGION

he NSW Rural Fire Service (NSW RFS) is warning residents of an increased risk of grass fires across the Chifley Lithgow District area over the coming months as the weather warms up.

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“It can take just a few days of hot, dry and windy weather for grasslands to cure and for fires to take hold, even in areas which have experienced recent heavy rains and flooding.

“Grass fires can start easily and spread rapidly, threatening homes, crops and livelihoods.

“I urge Bathurst Lithgow and Oberon landholders to be aware of this increased threat and to prepare.

“Every landholder should have firefighting equipment on hand and ensure that it is in good working order.”

“Bathurst Lithgow and Oberon residents should also update and discuss their Bush Fire Survival Plan and know what they and their family will do if a fire threatens,” Inspector John Bennett said.

The top five actions landholders can take to make their property safer are:

Central West Media has consolidated its two previous publications into the new Central West Village Voice, Covering the entire Lithgow and Bathurst region, and distributed fortnightly on Thursdays.

If you are looking for a way to grow your business, speak to one of our friendly team and they will design a marketing plan that suits your budget and gets results.

Central West Village Voice Publisher Rich Evans on behalf of Central West Media Pty Ltd Emails: editor@villagevoice.net.au sales@villagevoice.net.au

› Clear and maintain firebreaks – they can help prevent a fire spreading to or from your property.

› Clear around assets and buildings – to help protect sheds and valuable equipment.

NSW RFS Inspector John Bennett said that two years of wet weather has led to prolific vegetation growth across NSW, with the State now facing its most significant grass fire threat in more than a decade.› Rotate stock – to help reduce the risk and ensure paddocks are well-grazed.

› Check for restrictions before using fire – permits are required during the Bush Fire Danger Period. Always check the conditions before using fire. On total fire ban days, all permits are suspended.

› Check and maintain equipment – a build up of debris can cause a fire, destroying equipment and crops.

› Have firefighting equipment handy –maintain hoses and water pumps, and check your water supply. Residents should download the Fires Near Me NSW app and set a Watch Zone to monitor fires in their area.

For information about preparing for grass fires, check www.rfs.nsw.gov.au/ grass or visit www.myfireplan.com.au.

To check the Fire Danger Ratings for your area, visit www.rfs.nsw.gov.au or check the Fires Near Me NSW smartphone app.

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Aaron carves out new career at Lithgow timber mill 2022 Wrap-Up

For the past six months, Lithgow’s Aaron Richards has bounced out of bed in the morning, raring to go to his job as a labourer at a local timber mill for JSM Workforce Solutions.

“That’s not how it’s always been. In fact, there have been many times when I couldn’t hold down employment,” Mr Richards said.

“I’m so grateful to have a job that I enjoy doing. It’s given me a purpose again.”

Mr Richards is one of many clients supported by not-forprofit employment, training and apprenticeships provider VERTO as part of the Australian Government’s Disability Employment Services (DES) Program.

According to VERTO DES Team Leader, Amy Waight, clients like Mr Richards are eager to work and more than capable of holding down employment, given the opportunity.

“When Aaron came to VERTO for help, he had very little work history, but what he lacked in experience, he made up for in enthusiasm and determination. We could see he wanted to create positive change in his life,” Ms Waight said.

“We were able to create a plan for Aaron to support him on his path to employment. This included drafting a resume, setting up job interviews, and supporting him once he landed a job.

“I’m so proud of how far Aaron has come in only six months. His full-time job has just been made permanent, and he is no longer receiving Centrelink payments for support, which is an incredible outcome,” she said.

VERTO CEO Ron Maxwell believes Mr Richard’s story is an inspirational one for all job seekers with a disability and one that should encourage others to seek help when they need it.

“It can be daunting to know where to start when finding a job, but Aaron is proof that anything is possible, and good, quality support that can be life-changing is at hand,” he said.

“Disability doesn’t need to hold you back from a meaningful career. VERTO has more than 20 years of proven

success and a strong track record working with clients from all backgrounds,” Mr Maxwell said.

If you are a job seeker, please reach out to VERTO’s experienced employment consultants for support on 1300 4 VERTO (1300 483 786) or info@verto.org. au, or visit www.verto.org.au for more information.

By Rich Evans, Editor

It has certainly been an interesting year. Straight off the back of natural disasters and pandemics, I think we were all hoping for a better 2023. Not sure about you, but for us, I think 2023 has been one of our toughest years in a long time. There have been business challenges, along with personal ones however, once again we have made it through, and lived to tell the tale.

Kellie and I celebrated our 10th anniversary of being in the region just recently, and we are very proud of what we have been able to achieve in business and the community in that time.

As many of you know we kicked off a new venture in the middle of the year at The Annexe, and what has been very rewarding about that has been the opportunity to meet so many of you face to face and have a good chat.

The newspaper has certainly grown since we started in 2014, and as we finalise production for another year I have to take time to reflect on where are headed in 2023.

Digital news is becoming a far greater influence on community with much of the advertising budgets now being directed to these channels also. We will continue to print and distribute our publication in 2023, however we will also be putting more resources into developing our online channels as well as developing other periodical titles that give us an edge over our competition, and provide a better resource for our loyal readership.

For now however, we are taking a couple of weeks off, resting, regrouping and getting ready to go again in 2023.

So thank you for all your support and feedback throughout this year, we may not have seen eye to eye on every issue, but I value the opportunity to help bring important issues to our community and continue to shine a positive lens on these great regions.

Our first edition back will be on newsstands on 19 January 2023.

Keep up to date with online updates in the meantime at www.villagevoice.net.au

BACK TO SCHOOL NSW VOUCHERS ARE READY TO GO

Parents across the State can access $150 worth of vouchers through the Premier’s Back to School NSW program, giving a boost to household budgets through savings on textbooks, uniforms, stationery and other school essentials.

Parents, guardians and carers, including foster carers, can apply for three $50 Premier’s Back to School NSW Vouchers per child, which can be used at registered businesses towards items including bags, shoes, prescribed textbooks and lunchboxes.

Applying for the vouchers is simple and can be done in a matter of minutes using the Service NSW app, on the phone or by visiting a Service Centre. Applications for the vouchers are open now, until they expire on 30 June 2023, giving everyone plenty of time to take advantage of the savings.

Parents and carers can search for registered businesses in their local area by using the online Business Finder Tool and can use multiple vouchers in one transaction. The Premier’s Back to School NSW program is one of more than 70 government rebates and vouchers available through the Savings Finder program.

For more information about the vouchers visit www.service.nsw.gov.au/back-to-schoolvouchers, call Service NSW on 13 77 88 or visit your local Service NSW Service Centre.

Customers can search for registered businesses here: https://vouchers.service.nsw. gov.au/vouchers/providers-search/

UNI SCHOLARSHIPS HELP REGIONAL YOUTH

More young people in out-of-home-care (OOHC) will have an opportunity to pursue their university dreams, with the NSW Government funding 10 scholarships across Charles Sturt University’s six regional campuses.

The scholarships will provide a life-changing opportunity for young people in regional NSW who want to pursue further studies after school.

More young people across the regions will receive financial support so they can continue their studies, while being able to attend university closer to home.

It is another way the NSW Government is helping those in rural and regional areas reach their full potential without having to leave their communities.

Each scholarship provides up to $28,500 across three years of study; enough to earn an

undergraduate degree.

These scholarships will support young people who have experienced trauma and other challenges to secure a brighter future.

They will offer much-needed support to students from regional, rural and remote areas across the State who are in OOHC, or have been in Foster or Kinship care in the last three years.

The scholarships will be available at each of the Charles Sturt University campuses in Albury-Wodonga, Bathurst, Dubbo, Orange, Port Macquarie and Wagga Wagga.

The NSW Government also funds scholarships for young people in OOHC through Western Sydney University.

Information about the CSU scholarships can be found here.

LET’S CELEBRATE SAFELY AS CHRISTMAS AND THE NEW YEAR BECKONS

Looking back on 2022, it’s certainly been a year which has presented us with a number of challenges. But together we have worked through them. I also want to thank the community for your support as we have continued with our record investment across the Bathurst Electorate making this a great place to live, work, invest or raise a family.

In a few days time, Christmas will be celebrated all over the world. It is that time of the year when our friends and family come together and celebrate it with joy and spread happiness with each other.

And there are many traditions on which Christmas is centred. These traditions help us in enjoying Christmas to its fullest. They may include having decorated the Christmas tree with lights, exchanging of gifts, attending church for prayers or even spending time with friends and family.

Santa Claus arrives for the kids and gifts are exchanged on Christmas day. The sharing of a gift and having a meal with one another helps everyone to realise how grateful they are to have a family that cares.

Christmas remains the most enjoyable time of the year. It is time to be grateful for what one has. It is the best time to eat tasty food and spend time with your loved ones. It is a festival that spreads

warmth in each individual. So this Christmas make sure you enjoy it to the fullest

And for those who are travelling on our roads, be sure to plan your trip in advance, so that you arrive safely to your destination. We all need to remember that every time you get behind the wheel of a car the decisions you make can have fatal consequences.

Once again, I’d like to wish everyone a very merry Christmas. Take care, stay safe and I’ll see you in 2023.

TOOLE

Happy Christmas

Christmas is set to be a whole lot brighter for local young people who have transitioned from homelessness into independent living and vulnerable families, thanks to a sizeable donation from the Bathurst RSL Club.

This is the third consecutive year the Club has donated to Veritas House’s Christmas Appeal, making possible the purchase of 37 Christmas hampers, each filled to the brim with $110 worth of groceries, to be delivered to local young people transitioning from homelessness into independent living in the community and to local vulnerable families.

“For most of the young people using our Supported Independent Living Services and Targeted Family Services, Christmas was looking like a fairly lean affair; with the costs of living already so high, they certainly would not be able to afford Christmas treats like pudding and presents,” said Narelle Stocks Veritas House Acting CEO. “Thanks to the generosity of the RSL, we’re able to gift not only some essential items but some special Christmas surprises too, to brighten their festive season considerably.”

“Assisting to prepare the hampers is also a lot of fun for our staff and our case workers are looking forward to the opportunity to deliver them to each of our clients and to see

the smiles on their faces,” said Narelle.

The Bathurst RSL funding also covers gifts for young people who placed a wish on the Veritas House Christmas Wishing Tree and a Christmas lunch with all the trimmings for the young people spending Christmas in Veritas’ residential accommodation settings. Veritas House has also been generously supported by VERTO through gifts for children and sponsorship support for the Foster Care Christmas party; Big W Bathurst; 2BS/B-Rock; and Raine & Horne Bathurst.

“That’s what Christmas is all about and the generosity the Bathurst business community has shown to Veritas over recent months, helping to bring smiles to the faces of local people doing it tough at this time of year should be applauded.”

Veritas House is a not-for-profit organisation that was established in the Central West over 40 years ago and has grown to become one of the largest providers of foster care, youth homelessness and family support services in the region, supporting more than 900 children, young people and families each year.

CAREERS @ COUNCIL

Working

for a full list of current vacancies.

NO 36.00788 -

The existing bridge is located on Tarana Road, Gemalla, approximately 22km east and 11km south of Bathurst, NSW, at the road crossing of Stony Creek.

The proposed works are for the design and construction of a new 18 metre single span reinforced concrete structure, including new abutments on the proposed alignment, and the demolition of the existing bridge structure. Approach works and road realignment will be carried out by others.

Interested parties are required to register via the E-tendering Portal www.tenderlink.com/bathurst to download the tender document at no charge.

Tender submissions closes 10.00am on 24 January 2023.

If you experience difficulties accessing the above website, please call the Tenderlink Helpdesk on 1800 233 533.

All electronic tenders shall be submitted in the format specified in the tender document. Failure to do so will result in the tender not being considered by Council.

Council Policy is that lobbying or liaison with Councillors prior to the consideration of a Tender by Council will lead to the rejection of the Tender.

Museums

opening hours. Museums Bathurst are open every day during the January school holidays.

Bathurst Memorial Entertainment Centre Closed: from 12pm 23 December 2022. Open: 10.00 am on 3 January 2023.

Bathurst Visitor Information Centre Closed: from 12.00pm on 24 December 2022. Open: from 27 December 2022, 9.30am - 4.30pm.

Bathurst Library Closed from 12.00pm on 23 to 27 De- cember 2022, 31 December 2022, 1-2 January 2023. Open on 28-30 December 2022. Normal library hours resume from 3 January 2023. After hours chute open for returns.

Bathurst Regional Art Gallery Closed from 12.00pm on 23 to 27 December 2022. Open from 28 December 2022 to 2 January 2023 (10.00am - 2.00pm). Normal Art Gallery hours resume from 3 January 2023.

Visit Council’s website for a full lsit of closure dates.

EVENT OF THE YEAR APPLICATIONS

Council and the Australia Day committee are encouraging local organisations to nominate for the Bathurst Region Community Event of the Year Award. For more information or to nominate visit Council’s website. Nominations close Friday 6 January 2023.

TENDER

Design and Construction of Stony Creek Bridge, Gemalla Bathurst Regional Council is seeking tenders from suitably qualified and experienced contractors for the design and construction of a bridge within the Bathurst Regional Council area.

Veritas House is making Christmas brighter for local youth and families with the help of local businesses

The Bathurst region is a treasure trove of hidden gems and well-known attractions this summer. Come and uncover yours. This is what Bathurst region locals are being encouraged to do during their summer holidays, sharing the love of our fantastic region with visiting friends and relatives.

The promotion, run by Bathurst Visitor Information Centre, includes a weekly draw until the end of summer with prizes including gift vouchers for local activities and attractions, food, and retail all available. To become involved, residents and visitors of the Bathurst region are encouraged to snap their unearthed hidden gems, tag the locations, and share on social media using the hashtag #BXmarksthespot for others to discover as well.

Manager of Tourism and Visitor Services, Dan Cove said the promotion is a fun way for locals and visitors to support businesses in the visitor economy during the holiday period.

‘BX is a widely known, shorthand term for Bathurst used colloquially by many residents, which stems from military radio communications during the Second World War. By using BX, a local term to instil pride in our residents, and turning the region into a

giant treasure hunt, encouraging them to share their experiences with the Visiting Friends and Relative (VFR) market over summer, we are aiming to increase overall awareness and consideration of our local businesses, experiences, and attractions.’

‘There is something for everyone in the Bathurst region this summer from the great outdoors to our rich heritage and history, wellloved attractions, foodie finds, events and live music, great local shops, art and culture. It’s all here to be found’

The BX Marks the Spot treasure hunt competition will be launched the week after Christmas. From Monday, 26 December, participants are encouraged to start hunting for those local treasures and sharing them. Winners will be drawn on the following Sunday and contacted directly by Bathurst Visitor Information Centre with instructions on how to redeem their prizes.

For inspiration, itineraries, and exclusive offers from local businesses during the competition duration, visit the website, www.bxmarksthespot.com.au

Tips for a sustainable Christmas

Reduce Food Waste

Food scraps breaking down in landfill produces methane, a potent greenhouse gas that contributes to global warming. The best way to prevent food waste is to plan ahead and consider what you’ll be eating and how many people you’re cooking for. It is also more economical to plan meals ahead of time and only buy what you need.

If you have leftovers that can be frozen such as meats or pasta dishes, this is a much better option than throwing them out. Use air tight containers to store leftovers, and wrap salad leaves in paper towel to last longer. If you do have to dispose of leftover food, put the scraps into your green lidded kerbside bin so they can be made into compost.

Recycle Right

Most wrapping paper, unless 100% recycled paper, cannot go into your recycling bin and needs to be disposed of in the red lidded general waste bin if it has a waxy plastic film or glitter.

Save on wrapping paper this year and, get creative! Could you use a scarf, a towel, old newspaper or magazines as wrapping? Or reuse wrapping paper and gift bags that you already have?

Gift Giving

Christmas is often a time for mass overconsumption with unnecessary packaging and excessive presents. Quality over quantity is a great mindset to have when shopping for Christmas presents!

Aim to avoid novelty gifts this year and buying things for the sake of it. This will save unnecessary gifts going to waste and ending up in landfill. You may consider gifting an experience, or “giving a gift to the planet” and making a donation to an environmental organisation or sponsoring an endangered animal on behalf of a loved one. These gifts can often be more meaningful and make a positive impact on our planet.

Decorations

Plastic Christmas trees cannot be recycled and can take up to 10 years to break down in landfill. If buying an artificial tree, consider if you will continue to use it each Christmas to make it a worthwhile investment. Otherwise, if it is possible to source a real tree, consider this as an option. It is more sustainable to use a real tree that can be replanted or potted after the Christmas season, and it will break down if needing to be disposed of.

There are many ecofriendly alternatives to traditional Christmas decorations. You may consider making your own decorations or upcycling some old ones. This will save money and could also be used as a thoughtful homemade gift for a loved one.

2023 Citizen of the Year

Congratulations to Bathurst's 2023 Citizen of the Year, Melissa Baker.

The annual award is co-ordinated by 2bs 95.1 FM and supported by Bathurst Regional Council. The Citizen of the Year is selected from the recipients of the Citizen of the Month Award.

All monthly nominees were recognised at a function at BMEC with Melissa named the winner. Melissa was recognised for her social media pages which profile the adventures of her

two dogs, Wombat and Jess and the role they played in lifting the spirits of the community during the COVID lockdowns.

This year marks 40 years of the Citizen of the Month awards being presented which recognise extraordinary individuals in our city Melissa is pictured with her dog Wombat, Robert ‘Stumpy’ Taylor - Mayor of Bathurst and General Manager Bathurst Broadcasters Janeen Hosemans

The festive season can often bring with it a lot of unnecessary packaging, plastic, and waste. Reduce your environmental footprint this Christmas by following some of these simple tips:

√$12.5 million for Bathurst’s second racetrack

$2 billion for Great Western Highway

24 hour rescue helicopter for our region

$380,000 for a new laundry building at Glenray Industries following fire √ Millions in Federal funding to keep Lithgow Aged Care open √ $5.3 million for production line upgrades and more jobs at Allied Timber Mill, Bathurst √ $3.3 million for improvements at Bathurst Airport √ $3.083 million for an expansion and improvements at Three Tree Lodge √ $2.235 million for Lithgow’s Blast Furnace Park √ $3.2 million for the Lithgow CBD revitalisation √ $1.1 million for the upgrade of Glen Davis Road √ $625,554 for playground equipment in Bathurst

√ $954,250 for construction of Bathurst Rail Museum

√ $650,000 for replacing footpaths in Bathurst

√ $300,000 for upgrades to the Civic Ballroom at Lithgow for use as an evacuation centre

√ $205,000 for upgrades to Machattie Park

√ $54 million for the CSU Medical School

PLANTING OF TREES FOR THE QUEENS JUBILEE

I stopped by there last weekend to help unveil the plaque for the $20,000 grant the Arboretum received under the Queen’s Jubilee Tree Planting Program.

During the Covid lockdown many of the members worked overtime to save trees from the drought and more recently have raced to protect trees from the flooding. It’s wonderful to see them now in a position where they can plant more trees.

What the team at the Arboretum are doing is creating a botanic

ark, a living tree museum. This will leave a legacy that will last hundreds of years. The original 40 acre Barton Park farm was visited by famed naturalist, Charles Darwin, it’s wonderful to see them continuing the tradition. Their work will leave a legacy that will last hundreds of years.

The Arboretum is a magnet for tourists and visitors to the Wallerawang region, it has also become popular as a place of quiet reflection, where those who’ve lost loved ones can

Keep up the great work, and thank you for preserving our botanical heritage.

LITHGOW RSL SUB-BRANCH CHRISTMAS DINNER

I’m very proud to serve as a patron of the Lithgow RSL Sub-Branch and it was terrific to catch up with everyone at the annual Christmas Party earlier this month

In keeping with tradition, the annual beer controversy continued with Allan having a bit to say about the fact that the slab I brought along wasn’t XXXX and Ernie (renowned for his famous

pickles and jams) lodging a protest because it wasn’t New!

Merry Christmas Lithgow RSL Sub Branch! And thank you for all you do to honour the men and women who’ve done so much for our country. We appreciate it!”

And thanks for the pickles Ernie! We’ll do New next year!

GAS SUPPLY UPDATE

It’s positive to hear APA have completed work fixing the gas pipeline over the Macquarie River between Bathurst and Oberon.

I remain disappointed that no real financial support is being offered.

Many businesses and residents are out-ofpocket due to the gas disruption.

Many local residents were hit hard in the pocket and many of our local businesses copped significant losses.

I again call on State and Federal Governments, and the gas companies to step up with financial assistance, or explain why none is forthcoming.

EUGOWRA FLOOD APPEAL

It was great to meet Zana from Foster & Co Botanicals in Bathurst, who organised an auction on Tuesday evening to support local residents in Eugowra.

Dozens of Bathurst businesses, plus a number from across the state, donated some amazing items which were up for grabs!

Over $10,000 was raised at the auction night, and has been given to GIVIT’s Eugowra Flood Appeal, which will help purchase essential items and services for residents impacted by the flood.

If you couldn’t make it on the night, and would like to donate directly to the Eugowra Flood Appeal, visit: https://fundraise.givit.org.au/ fundraisers/EPPA/eugowra-floodappeal

The Barton Park Giant Trees Arboretum located on the shores of Lake Wallace near Wallerawang just keeps getting better and better.

plant a tree in their memory.

Andrew with the wonderful volunteers of the Barton Park Giant Trees Arboretum

Andrew and John unveiling the commemorative plaque

Planting the first tree!

Andrew and Greg Lewis from Lewy’s Pizza - one of many businesses crippled by the gas outtage

Andrew with the members of the Lithgow RSL sub-branch

Andrew with Zana from Foster & Co in Bathurst

Merry Christmas!

The Lithgow and Bathurst regions have had a very difficult year with the gas crisis wreaking havoc across the area.

With the devastating floods there have been some incredible stories coming out of Eugowra, Molong, Cudal and Canowindra.

Stories of devastation and tragedy, and stories of courage and selflessness.

Stories of survival against great odds, like that of Smithy and Bootleg, and Ed the Sheep.

And stories of heroism despite the great danger… A list so long, I’d need a book to write them all.

They’re all stories of true Aussie spirit.

The tsunami smashed through many communities our area.

While it tore apart our towns, it has also brought people together.

It’s been wonderful to see so many folks from our region and from afar step up, lend a hand, and dig deep to help those who’ve been devastated in the floods.

Thank you to everyone who’s given so generously. It’s greatly appreciated.

The rebuilding task is massive, and it’ll take more than a Christmas miracle to get through.

If we stick together and keep on keeping on, these stories won’t remain tragedies, they’ll be stories of triumph.

Visit my Facebook page to hear some of these incredible stories.

The team at Portland Men’s Shed have been working out of a historic shed that used to serve as a bath house at one of the local mines.

It’s got great local history, but was well, shall we say, pretty basic.

The team set about changing that.

With limited funds available, they came across a large supply of hundreds of excess new doors from a building supply company in Sydney. Using about 500 of them, they have completely transformed the shed. They’ve lined walls, built internal ceilings and even benches out of repurposed doors (you can see a few spares in the photo!).

The results have to be seen to be believed.

It’s amazing what a little vision, hard work and Aussie ingenuity can achieve!

It was terrific to catch up with the men and women of the shed at their Christmas party recently and tour their great and unique HQ. And yes, I have put in a request for some Jim Morrison/Doors tunes for the official opening!

a

and a dance was a wonderful thing. Together we can face anything!

MERRY CHRISTMAS AT 2BS

Merry Christmas and shakas to you!

Always terrific to catch up with Ricky and the crew from 2bs & B-Rock FM. I was there to record my Christmas message and spread a little Christmas spirit over the airwaves.

Merry Christmas to 2BS and to all who work in radio in our area for being such an integral part of our region! You inform and entertain us and do a huge amount of community service.

RUNS

ON THE BOARD FOR BATHURST AND LITHGOW

√ $14 million for highway upgrades between Lithgow, Bathurst and Orange

√ $181,818 for Bathurst’s War Memorial Carillon

√ $11.4 million for expanding and supporting aged care facilities in Lithgow

√ $398,500 for crisis accommodation in Bathurst √ $1.2 million for CCTV in Bathurst and Calare communities

√ $200,000 for new synthetic courts at Wattle Flat Recreation Ground $480,000 for Wallerawang Community & Sports Club

$19.75 million in federal funding for bushfire recovery projects in Lithgow and Calare communities

More than $1.6 million for supporting childcare centres in Calare, including Bathurst Family Day Care

√ $925,000 for the Bathurst Animal Rehoming Centre

√ $60 million for drought and COVID-19 recovery to our local councils for local projects

√ Record Australian Government funding for hospitals, schools, childcare and the NDIS

√ $125,000 for canteen facilities at Bathurst headspace

40 mobile phone stations for Calare

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Andrew with the Portland Men’s Shed in their new digs (it’s wall-to-wall doors!)

You just can’t beat Aussie ingenuity!

Andrew and Neil Gill belting out some tunes

Andrew and Ricky (FYI - Ricky is standing on the studio lounge!)

Local business supporting local community groups.

Cleary Fairbrother Property CFP celebrates 12 months of regular donations to local community groups and welcomes 2 new groups to the program.

Giving Back To Bathurst began in 2021 and provides cashflow for the community groups based on our success. Over the last 12 months CFP have made dozens of donations to the local community groups based on a choice made by each of our vendors at their settlement.

Initiative began in 2021 by Cleary Fairbrother Property principals, Jay Cleary & Sandy Fairbrother. It began with 6 local community groups and two more have been added since. The most recent additions are Boys To The Bush and BECIS.

In the last 12 months dozens of donations have been made across these groups and helps them with cash-flow and assistance for many of their projects.

Recently, Cleary Fairbrother Property was successful in an industry application for a community grant for Boys To The Bush. The $1500.00 grant will be put to great use supporting local disadvantaged youth.

Cleary Fairbrother Property has been recognised across national, regional, industry and local awards as finalists in Innovation, business leaders and other categories. They were winners in Excellence in Micro Business in the local Bathurst Carillon Awards. The Giving Back to Bathurst initiative was part of the recognition.

“We are happy to be associated with several different charities and community groups. We hope that we have helped in a meaningful way to support these organisations throughout the year and look forward to continuing these relationships into the future”. – Jay Cleary.

“BECIS is thrilled to have been embraced by the fabulous team from Cleary Fairbrother Property as part of their ‘Giving

Back To Bathurst’ initiative. It was our pleasure to welcome Sandy, Jay, and Gerarda to the service and to show them our environment. This was an excellent opportunity for team members to discuss their many varied roles and see our purposebuilt building. We are truly grateful to businesses such as the Cleary Fairbrother Team for the ongoing support they give to important community causes. Thank you again for including us as one of the beneficiaries of this amazing initiative.” - said a representative from BECIS

"Boys to the Bush prides itself on its ability to engage vulnerable and disengaged boys surrounding them with good

people in their community. The team at Cleary Fairbrother Property are no exception and have been supporting us throughout the year. The successful grant application Cleary Fairbrother Property lodged on our behalf, will enable us to continue moving forward with positive outcomes for the boys we work with. We are truly grateful to have the support of such a generous and community minded business." – Cassandra Tyack, Community Partnerships Co-ordinator

The Inland Sea of Sound is back

From February 23 to 26 - 2023.

This year the festival precinct will include ticketed concerts in the TAFE / Fossil Museum carpark and the Festival Club at BMEC (accessed from Courthouse Lane). Linking these two venues there will be a series of free events in Kings Parade. With these venues the festival celebrates the literal “heart” of Bathurst, all within easy walking distance. As a satellite event there will also be a return of the 2022 Festival hit, the Regional Song Contest Finalists Showcase at Keystone, still an easy walk from the main festival precinct.

While organisers are planning for balmy February weather BMEC will remain ready as a wet weather back up so it can be guaranteed that concerts will go ahead rain, hail or shine.

The theme of the festival is to “Support Local Business”, so festival goers are asked to buy food from one of the many local businesses that surround the festival precinct, take it to Kings Parade or the TAFE / Fossil carpark and enjoy Bathurst in summer with some great food and entertainment.

Gordi (Sophie Payten) is the headliner for 2023. With over 600,000 monthly listeners on Spotify, Gordi has recently combined with Paul Kelly in Australia and Swedish singer/ songwriter, The Tallest Man on Earth, on a European tour. Sophie grew up in Canowindra and studied to be a doctor. In fact with no gigs possible during the height of the pandemic Sophie returned to medicine to help out in hospitals in the Melbourne lockdown. We are glad she is no able to return to her music to play for us.

Second on the bill is Ash Grunwald one of the great Australian blues musicians and an institution at Bluesfest who has released

eleven studio albums and received five ARIA award nominations plus the gong for Best International Act at the LA Music Critic Awards in 2014.

Next we have Karen Lee Andrews whose songcraft is built on a thorough knowledge of blues, gospel and soul music and motored by an undeniable hunger to connect.

Andrews mostly tours as a formidable trio, teaming up with Yanya Boston on drums and Adam Ventoura on bass – two exceptional musicians. This dynamic band is exhilarating to witness!

The Friday night Club will rock to Owen Campbell & The Cosmic People sharing alternative blues and soulful cosmic rock at its best. Owens’ sound is best described as smouldering guitar work to soulful fingerpicking to lap steel guitar solos, gritty caramel vocals and a sublime rhythm section.

The final concert, at the festival club, will feature the sublime Jude Perl who has written and performed 6 solo comedy shows winning 3 Green Room Awards for Best Original Song. Earlier this year Jude performed her latest show at the Melbourne Comedy festival also appearing in the Melbourne International Comedy Festival Gala

Stay tuned to www. inlandseaofsound.com.au and social media for information about the regional support artists who will play and full details of the free entertainment in Kings Parade. See you at the festival.

BOOST TO DIRT BIKE RACERS

Bathurst’s dirt bike competitors will be cheering with a funding boost from the NSW Government.

Panorama Motorcycle Club will receive $5000 from the Local Sports Grant Program 2021-22 to purchase new equipment for the club including additional scoring transponders.

Mr Toole said the funding will help attract new members to the club who look to the sport not only for competition, but also as a way of socialising and having fun.

“The NSW Government wants to ensure that all residents have access to a range of activities to encourage a healthy lifestyle,” he said.

“The new equipment will allow Panorama Motorcycle Club to cater for a larger number of participants and longer races.”

Club President Michael Kovac welcomed the funding.

“This is great news for our club, the new equipment will allow our club to continue to expand and provide a quality racing experience,” Mr Kovac said.

Bluey Live Interactive Experience to feature at NYE Party in the Park

Get ready for one of the best New Year’s celebrations in the region with NYE Party in the Park at the Adventure Playground, Victoria Park on Saturday, 31 December.

Celebrate the arrival of 2023 with friends and family. The event will feature delicious food, live entertainment, activities for children, market stalls and a spectacular fireworks display.

This year the event will feature the Bluey Live Interactive Experience where Bluey and her little sister, Bingo, will perform live on stage with the first performance at 5.10pm. A full list of stage times will be available on Council’s website closer to the event.

Mayor Robert Taylor said Bathurst is a destination renowned for incredible events and Party in the Park is one not to be missed this year.

“The highlight of the event will be the Bluey Live Interactive Experience which will be an absolute treat for the little ones,” he said.

Entry is free. Party in the Park commences at 4.00pm and concludes at 9.00 with fireworks.

Proudly funded by the NSW Government in association with Bathurst Regional Council.

For more information visit www.bathurst.nsw.gov.au

Australia

Lithgow Official Ceremony

Queen Elizabeth Park

9am - 10.30am

Mayor Maree Statham will conduct the Citizenship Ceremony and present the NSW Local Citizenship Awards.

The Official Australia Day speech will be presented by the Australia Day Ambassador Peter Frazer.

Refreshments provided by the Lions Club of Lithgow.

Entertainment by Lithgow City Band and local singers. Local youth band Hollowpoint will perform from 10.30 to 11.30am

In case of inclement weather the ceremony will be relocated to the Union Theatre. Please check the council website for current guidelines and cancellations.

JM Robson

Aquatic Centre

Free entry 8am - 4pm

Australia day 2023

Portland

Wolgan Street, Portland

12.00 noon Official Ceremony and Australia Day Address by Mayor Maree Statham and Ambassador Peter Frazer.

Entertainment including displays, market stalls, a jumping castle, BBQ and CWA refreshment room

Wolgan Street will be closed to vehicles from 9.00am – 4.00pm

Free entry to Portland Community pool.

Wallerawang Wallerawang Community & Sports Club

Family entertainment from 10.30am

11.00am Official Ceremony and Australia Day Address by Mayor Maree Statham and Ambassador Peter Frazer.

Australia Day 2023 is a day to reflect, respect and celebrate the Australian spirit and the best of this vast country; our mateship, our sense of community, our resilience; and looking to the future with optimism and hope. To celebrate Australia Day 2023, a number of ceremonies and events will be held around Lithgow LGA.

submit your stories and read more at villagevoice.net.au

Day Ambassador for 2023 is Peter Frazer OAM, founder of SARAH (Safer Australian Roads and Highways), and who has dedicated his life to improving road safety.

Lithgow City Council acknowledges the Traditional owners of this land, the Wiradjuri people.

International Day of People with Disability Celebration at Lithgow Library

International Day of People with Disability was celebrated at Lithgow Library on Tuesday 13 December 2022.

Lithgow’s International Day of People with Disability 2022 (#IDPwD) brought together local people experiencing disabilities, the services that support them and the community, to create awareness, understanding and acceptance of people with disability in our community.

LINC’s Disability Services provided food and games and Lithgow’s Classic Fun Silent Disco made everyone dance to the sound of DJ Liv Mina and DJ Nam Lay. This was

followed by a Sing-along Karaoke, where everybody had a go.

International Day of People with Disability is a United Nations observed day celebrated on 3 December each year.

Lithgow City Council is committed to enabling all people to participate in every part of community life. This commitment is demonstrated in detail in Council’s Disability Inclusion Action Plan Report, which can be accessed via the Council website at https://council.lithgow.com/community/ disability-inclusion-action-plan/

Photo by Ronan Devries Photography

EnergyAustralia confirms Lithgow, Wallerawang, and Oberon gas customers to receive a bill credit

EnergyAustralia today announced it would provide a credit to customers in Lithgow, Wallerawang, and Oberon covering the daily gas supply charge while the Young to Lithgow gas pipeline was damaged by floods in early November 2022.

From 2 November 2022 until the pipeline’s operator, Jemena, restored the gas supply on 20 November, nearly 3,000 EnergyAustralia customers in Lithgow, Wallerawang, and Oberon were without gas.

EnergyAustralia Head of Residential, Lisa Mavrodis, said: “The impact of the Macquarie River flood was obviously a huge inconvenience for our gas customers in the Lithgow region and we want to ensure that they receive a bill credit covering the daily supply charge during this period.”

The credit will appear on gas customers’ next bills as “Gas outage credit”. Some customers may also notice their gas bill arriving later than usual, as EnergyAustralia held off sending bills during the gas outage.

Garbage & Recycling Services over the Christmas & New Year Period

Lithgow Council’s kerbside waste and recycling collections will occur as normal for the Christmas and New Year Period.

Residents should put their bins out as usual on their collection day.

Christmas break is a great time to concentrate on recycling correctly. Don't forget to recycle any glass, aluminium cans, cardboard & wrapping paper you might have by placing them in your bin with the yellow lid.

The most common forms of contamination are bottles and containers containing liquid and food scraps, and bagged recycling.

To prevent contamination, make sure that bottles and containers are emptied, and recycling is placed in the yellow lidded bin loose.

Monday, 23 January at 7pm

Mayoral Message

Next Ordinary Council Meeting

In the Council Chambers, 180 Mort Street, Lithgow

On Exhibition

Members of the community wishing to address the Council meeting are required to register by midday on the day of the meeting. Register online at: www.council.lithgowcom/addressing-council.

Copies of the agenda can be found on the website.

Council is inviting you to have your say on the following:

• Public Notice – Proposed classification of Public Land Closes 2 Feb

• DRAFT PLAN OF MANAGEMENT PART OF CROWN RESERVE 590046 TONY LUCHETTI SPORTSGROUND AND SHOWGROUND (section 38 Local Government Act 1993)

At the ordinary meeting of Council on 26 September 2022 Council resolved to place on public exhibition the draft plan of management for part of Crown Reserve 590046 - Tony Luchetti Sportsground and Showground.

•

Council’s

Watch Live Stream

Christmas Closure

Council will be closed over Christmas/ New Year from close of business Friday 23 December and reopen on Monday 9 January 2023.

During this time essential services will operate. If assistance is required please call 6354 9999.

Reminder

Closure

Residents are reminded that Wallerawang Garbage Depot will close permanently on Saturday 31 December 2022.

Waste will not be accepted at the Wallerawang Garbage Depot from 1 January 2023. Residents can use the Lithgow Solid Waste Facility and Portland Garbage Depot for domestic waste at no charge.

Residents are also reminded to follow the signs at the entrance to the waste facilities and to only dispose of permitted items.

Should you require further information, please contact Council on 6354 9999.

Once adopted, the plan will authorise the subject area to be used for construction of a multi-function building (including Women’s Shed) (STCA) as outlined in section 6 of the draft plan of management, and the granting of leases, licenses or other estates for the purposes outlined in section 7 of the draft plan.

Public exhibition

The draft plan of management will be on public exhibition from Thursday 10 November 2022 to Friday 23 December 2022.

View the draft plan of management

The draft plan of management is available for viewing:

• on Council’s website at www.council.lithgow.com

• in Council’s Administration Building at 180 Mort Street, Lithgow, between 9.15am and 4pm weekdays during the public exhibition period

Submissions

Submissions are invited from the public in relation to the draft plan of management. Submissions must be:

• in writing Marked “Submission – draft plan of management Tony Luchetti”

• Sent to Council’s email council@lithgow.nsw.gov.au OR posted/delivered to Council’s Administration Building at 180 Mort Street, Lithgow

• Received by Council no later than 4pm on Friday 23 December 2022

• Community Strategic Plan 2035

• Combined Delivery Program 2022– 2026 and Operational Plan 2022/23.

• Resourcing Strategy:

• Long Term Financial Plan 2022-2032;

• Strategic Asset Management Plan 2022-2032; and

• Workforce Plan 2022-2026.

The IP&R suite of documents adopted by Council was regarded as interim as the pathway to financial sustainability was under development at the time of preparing that version of the Long Term Financial Plan. There have now been changes to the adopted Long Term Financial Plan and these have been integrated with updates to the other IP&R documents. Council is calling for submissions from the community regarding the updates to the Long Term Financial Plan 2022-2032 and the Options for a Sustainable Future section of each of the abovementioned documents.

The Our Place, Our Future suite of documents will be on exhibition for public comment until Thursday 2 February. All community submissions received will be reported to Council (personal information will be redacted) for consideration at its January meeting.

Be a part of the process and visit www.ourplaceourfuture. lithgow.com to view the plans and make a submission.

Scan here

career opportunities with council

council@lithgow.nsw.gov.au www.council.lithgow.com

of Wallerawang Garbage Depot

It’s Our Place, Our Future - Have Your Say! Closes 2 Feb

Integrated Planning and Reporting (IP&R) documents were adopted by Council at the 27 June 2022 meeting (Min. No. 22-114). The documents include the following plans:

The Councillors and staff at Lithgow City Council would like to wish the entire community a Merry Christmas and a prosperous New Year.

As the Christmas break approaches, it is an opportune time to pause and reflect on the year just passed, and to think about the year ahead.

2022 Mayoral Recap LITHGOW HIGH HSC RESULTS

2022 has been defined by exceptional weather, the continuing influence of Covid and difficult economic conditions. The Lithgow Local government area has not been excluded from any of these. The Council has had to provide the usual day-to-day services, while dealing with these challenges.

During 2022 the Council has continued to deliver quality projects that will shape the future of the Lithgow local government area including:

• A new Library Façade and awning was built, an investment in our Libraries of which 33% of the community are members.

• Youth programs were delivered during Youth Week and School Holidays.

• Solar panels were installed at the JM Robson Aquatic Centre. During 2021/22, 12,800 people visited the JM Robson Aquatic Centre taking advantage of the facilities and programs offered, including Learn to Swim and Aqua Aerobics.

• “Lithgow Live & Local” was delivered. The program has provided professional development for local musicians, created a live music database and a program of events across the local government area.

• The Wallerawang No. 1 Sewerage Pumping Station was renewed to cope with additional flows from new development in Wallerawang, reduce the running costs of the plant and provide greater storage volumes during emergencies and shutdowns.

• A comprehensive leak detection survey was completed across the entire Council water reticulation scheme. This project provided the Council with valuable information to assist with prioritising asset maintenance works.

• The Resource Recovery Centre building which will be operational in 2023 was constructed. 44,155t of waste was received at the Lithgow Solid Waste Facility during 2021/22, the Centre will change the way we process recyclables and waste moving forward.

• Cullen Bullen residences were readied for connection to the new Sewer Treatment Plant. This project will be completed in the first half of 2023.

• The Portland Foundations Trunk Main Infrastructure project was completed. This will allow for growth in Portland including the proposed Portland Foundations development and has included the replacement of mains that causes pressure reductions and breakages in Portland.

• Cullenbenbong Road Causeway in the Kanimbla Valley was reconstructed to a higher standard.

• Works have been completed on the replacement of Crown Creek and Airly Bridges in the Capertee Valley. Planning, studies, and the approvals process commenced for the replacement of Red Hill Bridge, Palmers Oaky and Charles Street Bridge Rydal.

• The “Made in Lithgow” was installed in Cook Street Plaza. The installation will re-energize the night-time economy

providing opportunities for Pop-Up markets, Events and Live Music.

• Planning commenced for the replacement of the Main Street footpath and revitalisation of the CBD from Lithgow Street to Bridge Street.

• A number of major public events were conducted including Halloween, Lithglow and Opera at the Union Theatre.

• The Council advocated for continuation of the Lithgow Community Private, which delivers much needed specialist medical services.

• Significant work has been undertaken to provide interim access into the Wolgan Valley and support for the community and businesses because the only access road to it failed.

• Bathing amenities and other services were provided to assist the community through the gas outage.

The impacts of 2022 will carry forward into 2023 and beyond. Indeed, it is likely that the operating conditions for councils will never return to the past and this makes it critical for Lithgow Council to re-set so that it is future ready.

The council has been working hard to not only repair infrastructure, but to find long-term solutions to ensure that communities such as Wolgan Valley, Newnes and Glen Davis are not isolated in the future. Some infrastructure repairs will take time due to resourcing of materials and contractors, and the complexity of the problem. The Council understands the frustrations of the community and appreciates the patience shown as work continues with experts to resolve issues and applying for funding to ensure long-term rectification.

Lithgow City Council is experiencing the same financial challenges as other rural and regional councils. In 2022, extensive community consultation occurred about the options for Council’s ongoing delivery of services, within its limited financial capacity. It was explained that tightening the Council’s purse strings even further and looking for continuous productivity would not, on their own, make the council sustainable. Once community opinion was known, the Council decided to apply for a special rate variation, because that is required if we are to be sustainable, able to deliver services, address backlog issues with roads and other damaged infrastructure and transform the local economy.

The above is just an overview of the many wonderful projects and programs that the Council has delivered in 2022.

I thank you for your support. I also acknowledge the hard work and dedication of my fellow councillors, the Council staff, and the many volunteers in our community. The support provided by other levels of government has also been of great benefit. Many of the projects referred to above were funded through a range of government programs.

It would be nice to wish that next year will be less challenging. Be assured, however, that whatever the circumstances are - good or bad - Lithgow Council will continue to work tirelessly to deliver quality services.

On behalf of my fellow Councillors, and the management and staff of Council, I wish you a safe and happy Christmas and New Year.

As the Year 12 students of 2022 begin the next phase of their lives, we congratulate them on their fine results released today. These students have worked consistently hard, and this is shown for those who achieved entry to their chosen University courses, apprenticeships, and work placements.

Mr Loupos, Principal of Lithgow High School is pleased with this year’s HSC results. “We have seen some excellent results in the 2022 HSC, it is a testament to the hard work undertaken by the students and staff with the support of their families. Our highest achievers have always had a diligent work ethic, and have spent many hours preparing, practising, and studying for their HSC and fully deserve the results they have achieved. These results recognise our students’ abilities, and it is great to see we are producing well rounded students that are sought by many institutes and employers”.

Top results were seen in many KLA’s including;; Mathematics Standard 2; Ancient History; Visual Arts; Biology; PDHPE; Dance; Business Studies; IDT – (Web Software applications); Construction; Hospitality – (Kitchen Operations)

The staff of Lithgow High School congratulates all Year 12 2022 and wish them the best for their future.

Book Bingo Summer Reading Challenge

Do you want something to keep you busy over the Christmas and New Year holidays? Then Lithgow City Council Libraries has the activity for you!

Book Bingo will run through summer from 12 December 2022 until 3 February 2023. The program is designed to be a self-directed reading challenge open to all ages. There are challenges for adults, and two levels for kids/teens of various ages. We would like to persuade our regular users and encourage any “newbies” to get into the habit of reading.

Game cards can be collected from the Library and if you are not a member of the Library, joining only takes a few minutes.

Complete the fun reading tasks on the bingo form and fill in the details. Receive bonus entries if you get caught reading somewhere in Lithgow. It might be at the park, the pool, Blast Furnace or even in one of our smaller villages or towns. Take a photo of yourself reading somewhere in Lithgow Local Government Area and either post it in your social media with the hashtag #getcaughtreadinginLithgow or comment on Lithgow City Council Libraries Facebook posts and attach your photo.

Drop completed entries into any branch of Lithgow City Council Library service. Winners will be drawn at random and notified. All participants will receive a certificate of participation. While visiting, check out the fabulous resources that we have on offer.

To find out more about this program or activities that are happening in January then head to the library’s webpage lithgow.library.com or call us on 6352 9100.

Reminder to only donate your quality used goods

Out with the old and in with the new? If you’re looking to get rid of old stuff, make sure you only donate good quality items. Broken, damaged or worn-out goods will end up in landfill at a cost to charities.

If it’s not right for donating, Council provides residents with a bulky waste collection service twice each year. The details of the 2023 bulky waste collection are on Council’s website at council.lithgow.com/ waste-recycling/waste-bulky.

Residents can dispose of permitted household bulky furniture at the Lithgow Solid Waste Facility. Furniture and other domestic waste must be from their home within the Lithgow local government area.

Residents are not charged a fee to dispose of household furniture at the Lithgow Solid Waste Facility. There is a fee for mattresses, mattress bases and ensembles to contribute to the cost of recycling. Mattresses, mattress bases and ensembles are only accepted at Lithgow Solid Waste Facility.

The Lithgow Solid Waste Facility will be closed on Christmas Day, but it is open on other public holidays in December and January.

When visiting the waste facilities, please remember to observe the sign at the entrance and to only dispose of permitted items.

EnergyAustralia grants bring Christmas cheer to local community groups

Creative Community Concepts, Dymocks Children’s Charities, LINC, Lithgow High School, Lithgow PCYC and Thrive Services are the latest recipients of nearly $30,000 in community grants from EnergyAustralia Mt Piper.

The power station’s Community Grants program supports community projects and initiatives within the Lithgow region that are focused on improving education, social inclusion, regional sport and recreation.

EnergyAustralia’s Head of Mt Piper, Steve Marshall, said his team is excited to be funding four worthy new initiatives.

“These grants are a favourite of everyone here at Mt Piper, enabling us to support and connect with the community where we live and work.

“Our people love that our grant to Lithgow High School enabled it to be part of the Solar Car Challenge, providing

students with solar model car kits and helping them learn about renewable energy in the process.”

EnergyAustralia’s grant to LINC supported its Mums and Bubs Connection Group. While the funding provided to Dymocks Children’s Charities meant it could add new books to the libraries at Portland Central and St Joseph’s Portland schools.

These are Mt Piper’s second round of grants for 2022, with Blinky Bill Early Learning in Portland, LINC, Meadow Flat Public School, St Joseph’s School in Portland, STEMworks and the Lithgow Valley Regional Science Hub sharing in nearly $30,000 in funding earlier this year.

Each year Mt Piper provides around $130,000 in community grants and sponsorships.

Lithgow City Council

General Purpose Financial Statements

for the year ended 30 June 2022

Public Notice – Presentation of Financial Statements

Publicnotice–Presentationoffinancialstatements

asperSection418(3)oftheLocalGovernmentAct.

InaccordancewithSection418(3)oftheLocalGovernmentAct,1993,LithgowCityCounciladvisesthattheordinaryCouncil meetingtobeheldon16/01/2023willincludethepresentationoftheauditedFinancialStatementsandtheAuditor’sReports fortheyearending30June2022.

AsummaryoftheFinancialStatementsisprovidedbelow: 2022 2021 $ '000 $ '000

Income Statement

Total income from continuing operations 61,623 52,594 Total expenses from continuing operations 55,400 51,286 Operating result from continuing operations 6,223 1,308

Net operating result for the year 6,223 1,308

Net operating result before grants and contributions provided for capital purposes 451 (2,588)

Statement of Financial Position

Total current assets 47,164 37,271 Total current liabilities (14,492) (14,282)

Total non-current assets 612,267 594,786 Total non-current liabilities (24,440) (22,714) Total equity 620,499 595,061

Other financial information

Unrestricted current ratio (times) 2.47 2.23 Operating performance ratio (%) 4.91% (3.72)% Debt service cover ratio (times) 7.33 5.66 Rates and annual charges outstanding ratio (%) 4.61% 6.70%

Infrastructure renewals ratio (%) 65.98% 51.75%

Own source operating revenue ratio (%) 61.37% 70.84% Cash expense cover ratio (months) 9.56 8.57

In accordance with Section 420 of the Local Government Act, 1993, any person may make a submission in writing to Council with respect to the Council’s Audited Financial Statements or the Auditor’s Reports.

Copies of the Audited Financial Statements and the Auditor’s Reports may be inspected at:

Internet: Council.lithgow.com

Locations: 180 Mort Street Lithgow NSW 2790

Submissions close one week after the above public meeting has been held.

@villagevoicelithgow

LOST CITY ADVENTURE EXPERIENCE STEPS CLOSER TO REALITY

The Lost City eco-adventure destination is set to leap off the page and into reality with plans for exciting adventure experiences in the Gardens of Stone State Conservation Area ready to move forward.

The new infrastructure is being established in a partnership between the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) and family adventure tourism experts Experience Co, which will also bring to life plans for overnight accommodation and guided walks for the park’s new multi-day walk.

The partnership follows a competitive Expressions of Interest (EOI) process which will see Experience Co, an internationally renowned Sydney-based adventure tourism company, leverage decades of experience in sustainable tourism development to position Lithgow as an iconic destination.

Member for Bathurst Paul Toole said the 30,000 hectare park will deliver diverse experiences catering for all visitors, thanks to a $50 million dollar investment from the NSW Government

“If you love nature and you love adventure, this is going to be the place to be,” Mr Toole said.

“There will be thrilling experiences such as twin zip lines, suspension bridges connecting sections of the via ferrata cliff face climb plus accessible family-friendly camping areas, bushwalks, lookouts, cycling and four-wheel driving routes.

“The Lost City Adventure Experience precinct and the multiday walk will make the Gardens of Stone a unique world-class destination that is expected to attract up to 200,00 new visitors, create around 190 local jobs and generate up to $30 million in regional economic activity each year.”

All visitor infrastructure will be subject to rigorous environmental and cultural approvals to minimise environmental impacts and make sure ecological and cultural values are protected.

The Gardens of Stone will deliver an iconic Great Walk, linking Wollemi National Park and the new State Conservation

Lithgow VIEW Club 2022 Christmas Meeting

The 14th December 2022 saw the very last meeting for Lithgow VIEW Club for the year. Paul Toole MP and Maree Statham Mayor of Lithgow attended along with Geoff Wheeler and Howard Fisher from the Lithgow Workies. We would like to thank the above people who took time out from their busy schedules to attend our meeting. We also had visitors from the Upper Blue Mountains VIEW Club, Springwood VIEW Club, Ladies from the Red Cross and CWA Wallarawang Inner Wheel. We hope that you all had a good time with us. A Welcome Pack was presented to Carol McDonald and our Guest Entertainer was Lisa Budin Price who really got the members on their feet with rock and roll singing as well as Christmas Carols. A big thank you also goes to the staff from the Lithgow Workies who set up our tables with fantastic decorations. We would like to wish everyone a very happy and safe holiday season and New Year.

Area, providing visitors an opportunity to take in outstanding views of the ancient sandstone pagoda formations and canyons of this special place, which is home to over 80 rare and threatened species, including koalas and regent honeyeaters.

The planned low impact eco-accommodation and public bushwalking campsites will make sure there is something for everyone, from experienced campers to those stepping into their first wilderness experience.

Experience Co Chief Executive Officer John O’Sullivan said staged construction will begin as soon as the required design,

environmental and cultural assessment, planning approvals are finalised. The zip line and via ferrata experiences at Lost City are anticipated to open in December 2023.

The Gardens of Stone SCA multi-day walk will be fully accessible to the public, with the reserve to also feature a network of mountain bike tracks catering for all abilities, canyoning, horse riding, lookouts and rock climbing.

The first stages of the multi-day walk will be open in mid-2024. More information on the Gardens of Stone State Conservation Area can be found on the Department’s website.

Member for Bathurst Paul Toole has officially opened the installation of guardrail safety barriers at the Yvonne Martyn Memorial Motorsport Park thanks to a Stronger Country Communities Fund (SSCF) grant of $170,137.

Mr Toole visited the facility at Portland on Saturday to mark the occasion.

“The funding has made much needed safety improvements to club’s Hillclimb course, including 620 metres of Armco guardrail,” he said.

“Additionally, the course was unveiled to be named the David Tutton Hillclimb Course.

“This fittingly acknowledged the incredible years of service by David, including more than 2000 hours of volunteer work and 14 years as a previous Club President and a host of other achievements.”

Mr Toole said the supply and installation of the guardrail now helps guarantee the safety of vehicles and their occupants on the roadway used for Hillclimbing, a motorsport discipline that is in short supply in NSW.

He said that improvements to facilities at the Lithgow District Car Club are part of the latest wave of support from the SCCF being rolled out by the NSW Government to deliver new and upgraded facilities, infrastructure and programs that make a big difference to everyday life in the bush.

“SCCF delivers guaranteed investment in every single regional LGA in NSW, and has seen $500 million invested across more than 1900 local projects since 2017,” he said.

"The Park is a unique motorsport/driver training complex in the community, providing driver training for children aged 12 years upwards, with the Confederation of Australian Motorsport (CAMS) Ignition Program.

“The precinct also provides a venue for hill climbing, motorkhana, rallysprint and khanacross events which draws competitors from all over NSW, so it’s important to maintain the infrastructure and modern equipment for visiting competitors.

The Lithgow District Car Club has seen a transformation of late and thanks to support from the NSW Government including a further $50,000 from the NSW government funding a brand new access road completed while another $9900 in funding meant a new remote timing control system could be purchased.

Lithgow District Car Club President, Les Taylor, said the funding brings the park up to standard when it comes to

PORTLAND CITIZENSHIP NOMINATIONS 2022

Nominations are being called for the following categories: PORTLAND CITIZEN OF THE YEAR PORTLAND YOUNG CITIZEN OF THE YEAR (18 Years and under)

NOMINATIONS FORMS ARE AVAILABLE AT : PORTLAND NEWSAGENCY, PORTLAND POST OFFICE, PORTLAND BRANCH LIBRARY. COMPLETED FORMS MUST BE RETURNED AND PLACED IN THE BOX PROVIDED AT ONE OF THE ABOVE OUTLETS BY FRIDAY 31 DECEMBER 2022.

AWARDS WILL BE PRESENTED AT THE AUSTRALIA DAY CELEBRATIONS TO BE HELD ON THURSDAY 26 JANUARY 2023.

ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE DAY, WILL BE ANNOUNCED,WHEN FINALISED. Further information please contact : John Kearns 0409345752

competitions and events.

“Thanks to Paul we now have a whole new timing system, something that really brings us up to modern standard,” he said.

“We appreciate the government’s support as it really helps us continue to serve our members and the broader community in the best way we can.”

Research This

Farmers around Australia benefited for 100 years from the research done at Australia’s third oldest Agricultural Research Station at Bathurst. My mate Mick, the Sage of Wiseman’s Creek, says we couldn’t have done without it. The station has closed but still daily weather data is collected and sent to the weather bureau, and the 100 year old pear trees still bear fruit.

Beautiful brick Arts and Crafts style buildings remain as part of the CSU campus – offices, dormitory and dining hall, and separately the evocative Farm Square sits surrounded by farm buildings from the early 1900’s – a woolshed, beautiful brick stables (pictured), a blacksmiths shop, an agronomy shed, hay sheds and a wonderful machinery shed with some very special graffiti.

Following initial work done by your scribe and then in detail by others, in 2017 the National Trust listed the whole farm as a heritage item which indeed it is. Its importance to Australian agriculture cannot be underestimated. As a result Bathurst Regional Council also listed the whole farm as a local heritage item.

Now the challenge continues for the site to be reinvigorated with new purpose. It is most encouraging to see that the Landcare Nursery took up residence, and The Friends of the Agricultural Research Station FOBARS did likewise, painstakingly cataloguing all the

wonderful and important items left over.

For the last few years the Agricultural Research Station was a venue for the highly popular Bathurst Heritage Trades Trail. In 2023 the Bathurst Heritage Trades Trail will be on 15 & 16 April, with all attractions this time at the Bathurst Showground. See rare farm and domestic trades, animals & rides. Best not miss it – tickets now on sale at BVIC and online.

Leo, Roving Reporter

Also watch out for an upcoming music event there in 2023.

And a happy Christmas to everyone from the team here at Heritage Central.

Thought of the week … “lets revitalise this heritage asset” by a humble heritage advocate –DECEMBER 2022, column #267

Report from: My desk | Story filed: Merry Christmas and thank you

Hi, everyone. I don't have much to say in today’s column, just that I wish everyone a very happy Christmas and a happy new year. If you happen to read my columns thank you, I know this year hasn’t been easy for anyone and we’ve all had our own personal problems but you for striking around and reading my column, like I said I don't have much to say in this column but thank and have a very merry Christmas and a very happy new year.

Until next time

Leo

Roving Reporter

The Glen Museum Celebrate 2022

On Thursday 15 December 2022 The Glen Museum held its annual lunch at the Coronation Hotel Portland to thank and recognise the support from its volunteers. The dedication shown by our volunteers, and especially Fay Fulton's rostering skills, to ensuring that the museum is open to visitors in all weathers has been key to the museum's success

It's now nearly 5 years since The Glen Museum relocated the Charlie Pinch collection to the Foundations. The collection is now being catalogued with the assistance of Tegan Anthes, a professional conservator and Cornelia Gartner our volunteer Collection Manager assisted by Kaylin Caddis a volunteer and private local collector of dolls.

We also thank Allen Lennon for programming our digital sign.

On behalf of the committee we thank our volunteers and we send out a call to the younger members of our community to participate in preserving our local history and understanding our identity.

The Western Wildfires Cricket Club have had a busy time over the past month, with representatives in the National 50s in Adelaide, the National 60s in Geelong and the NSW 65s just recently in Ballina/Lismore.

The NSW 50s team was captained by Kim Taylor and went on to win their division which was a great feat. Details of their victories will be reported at a later date.

In the 60s, the Wildfires were represented by 6 players over the 6 teams. Al Northey captained one team which reached the final but unfortunately, they were unable to beat New Zealand in the final. Al himself retired for 40 on the first day and was about 20 on the second day when hamstring troubles struck.

Steve Walsh, Glen Campbell and Nev Castle all found themselves in the same team in Geelong. Their team won against Queensland and West Australia but lost by 40 to New Zealand and in the last over to Victoria. Walsh and Castle had good carnivals as all-rounders and Campbell

was a very effective opening bowler every day.

The Wildfires team for the 65s carnival in Ballina was promoted to Division 1 with he withdrawal of another team. Our team was hit by some injuries and Covid from Geelong and were already combining with Central West and borrowing a few other players from other clubs. The team came together well and although losing the first two games against Sydney and ACT they managed to win their final game against Qurindi.

Glen Campbell and Dave Hicks bowled very well every day. Campbell regained his batting form making a 20 and 40 no. John Emms made 20 no on the last day and Nev Castle made 3 stumpings behind the wickets. Gil McGrath took a very good 4/8 in the final game to help secure the win.

Attention now turns to the second part of the year with more home and away games rather than carnivals.