Maggi Barnard

Media reports that Parkes is forecast to run out of water in March next year has been disputed by Mayor Ken Keith.

“Parkes is not at immediate risk of running dry contrary to recent media reports,” the Mayor said. “It is deeply disappointing that these figures have been quoted.”

He said while there was no doubt that the current drought situation was dire, our community could rest assured that Parkes would have water through 2020 and beyond. “We are very much able to service our residents, businesses, and visitors to the region.

“On the back of the misleading reports we have had some visitors questioning their travel plans as they do not want to be further a drain on our water supply. I would like to reassure everyone that Parkes is not at imminent risk of running dry. We encourage visitors to come and support our local businesses and enjoy everything Parkes has to offer, including the 2020 Parkes Elvis Festival,” Ken said.

Parkes Shire Council’s General Manager Kent Boyd said Council upgraded the raw water infrastructure in 2016-18 as part of Council’s $100m multi award-winning Integrated Water Infrastructure Program.

Council constructed new, more efficient water and wastewater treatment plants, upgraded the raw water supply infrastructure, constructed a new river pump station and refurbished Council’s bores. “There are now eight bores that collectively allow an increasing extraction capacity while spreading the drawdown of water over a larger area to minimise impact on the aquifer,” Kent said.

With the weather warming up, local lifeguards are gearing up to dive into another big pool season.

Last swim season, Council waived the admission fees in an effort to provide our farmers, businesses and residents some small respite from the drought, which saw patronage numbers over double.

This summer Parkes pool users will pay half the admission fee. Users of the Peak Hill, Trundle and Tullamore pools will enjoy the township facilities for free for another season.

Parkes Aquatic Centre admission prices for the 2019/20 season are:
• Adult (18 years and over) $2.20
• Child (5-17 years) $1.20
• Child (under 5 years) Free – must be accompanied by a paying adult
• Child (school-based activities) $1.00
• Concession $1.20 (excludes Seniors Card)
• Spectator $1.00
• Family admission ticket $6.00
• Book of 20 admission tickets $40
• Book of 10 admission tickets $21

The Parkes Aquatic Centre will open on the October long weekend, with the township pools opening on Saturday, 2nd November.

Parkes Shire Aquatic Coordinator, Nikki Thornhill said: “This summer, Parkes Aquatic Centre will host Funday Sundays once a month, with the popular inflatable just $5 per swimmer for unlimited goes. We are also looking to start a friendly Water Polo competition and would love to hear from anyone interested in participating to get that up and running.”

“The pool will also be taking bookings for events and parties throughout the season.”

Be In The Fast Lane – Purchase Season Tickets Early

The Poolside Café will open a few days early for patrons to purchase their season tickets ahead of the gates officially opening for the 2019/20 swim season.

Page 6 Friday 27 September 2019 Your free weekly guide to what’s happening in and around Parkes…shop locally first! The Parkes Aquatic Centre will open on the October long weekend, with the township pools opening on Saturday, 2nd November.

The café will be open from Wednesday, 2nd October to Friday, 4th October between 11am and 6pm. Season Ticket Tags from last season can be re-activated when purchasing a 2019/20 season ticket.
• Family Season ticket $170
• Adult Season ticket (18years +) $105
• Child season ticket (5-17 years) $57
• Concession season ticket $45 (rules as above)

For more information, visit parkes.nsw. gov.au. For bookings and enquiries, contact 6862 6001 or pool@parkes.nsw.gov.au.

Time To Tie The Knot?

Hart Bar is a unique space created for the people of Parkes and neighbouring towns to celebrate and be entertained.

The staff cater for weddings, corporate functions, parties, dinners, drinks and so much more. Hart Bar was built on the second level of the Railway Hotel at the end of 2016. The space sees traditional features restored with a modern touch and stunning balcony overlooking the silos.

Seated functions are able to cater for up to 100 people. Hart Bar offers a PA system and stage. This can be utilised by a band or DJ in addition to an in-house music system. Three wall mounted screens allow for images and videos to be displayed, wireless hand held microphone, whiteboard, lectern and free Wi-Fi are all available if required.

Hart Bar wants to help you create wonderful memories. They can tailor this beautiful space to your needs and take the stress out of planning your wedding.

At Helloworld Travel Forbes a unique and unforgettable experience for your honeymoon to your destination wedding is provided. You also have the option of utilising the wedding registries service.

The wedding you’ve always imagined in the location of your dreams can easily become a reality with Helloworld Travel’s selection of amazing wedding packages. Whether you’re planning an intimate affair for 10 or an extravagant event for 50, the team can help with stunning resorts in breathtaking destinations.

To start your new life together, there is a range of honeymoon getaways available in some of the most idyllic locations in the world – The Maldives, Tahiti, Greece, Fiji and Thailand. Helloworld Travel also offer a wedding register service.

If you are not going for a church wedding, choosing the right civil celebrant is very important to ensure your ceremony has that special touch. Luckily in Parkes you don’t need to look very far to find a celebrant in Narelle Page who is available for all kinds of special ceremonies in your life. Make sure you make a booking early enough to avoid disappointment.

 

‘Blush’ With Pride On Your Big Day

If you are in need of a wedding makeup specialist, Blush Organic Beauty in Forbes is the place to go. Wedding makeup is one of their specialties. They are trained as makeup artists and take pride in offering professional makeup for your special day.

The team at Blush take pride in their work, with extensive training and qualifications ranging from special occasion makeup to cosmetic tattooing, and almost everything in between. At Blush they focus on providing the highest quality service and using some of the most natural products on the market.

Blush can take care of all of your beauty needs in the lead up to, and on your big day. You can ask for a quote and they suggest a trial so they can show you how great you will look as a bride.

To see the range of services, check out the Blush Facebook page 02 6851 6088 Rankin St, Forbes or visit www.blushorganicbeauty.net or call 6851 6088.

Parkes’ newest public garden is truly a ‘green’ space. The Town Entry Garden on the corner of Henry Parkes Way and Eugowra Road was landscaped with repurposed soil, features water-wise natives, and will be irrigated with recycled water.

It was created as a value-adding project from the Recycled Water Rising Main (RWRM) construction. The land was disturbed during the recycled water pipeline construction, and Council took the opportunity to create a space that would benefit the community.

“Many people are aware of the relationship between sustainability and the environment, but for a project to be truly sustainable it must address social and economic considerations as well, and the Town Entry Garden certainly ticks all the boxes,” said Parkes Shire Council’s Technical Infrastructure Manager, Julian Fyfe.

The scope and nature of the garden was informed by a community workshop in May with a community consensus for a low-impact native garden.

The hardy native species will need minimal maintenance, while 100% repurposed soil from the RWRM construction were used eliminating the costs of stockpiling or disposal. “The topography was created with waterflow in mind. Trees were planted along swails, or ridges, that were constructed to take advantage of natural runoff and direct water to plants,” Julian explained. “During rain events stone-lined creek beds will flow into an ephemeral pond, so the garden will change with the seasons.”

Another project to come out of the RWRM Urban Design Workshop is a new bush tucker garden to be established at Bushman’s Hill to enhance the Wiradjuri Cultural Precinct.

Council is inviting Wiradjuri elders and educators for input into the garden design. For more information contact Raen Fraser on 68612333 or Raen.Fraser@parkes.nsw.gov.au

Shire dogs now have something to wag about: there’s a new off-leash park at Kelly Reserve. After three months of construction the new dog park opened to the public today.

The park is fully fenced, meaning playful pooches can run with the pack without risk of running into trouble such as traffic or playgrounds.

The dog park includes a general exercise area, as well as a separate agility yard with permanent fixtures, which will encourage canines to exercise both body and mind. The entry is double gated to prevent accidental escapes.

There is new turf, plenty of shade, and even bench seating for owners who might not have as much energy to burn. A pooch drinking bowl post was installed so dogs can keep hydrated. The park is also fitted with bag dispensers, so owners can easily clean up after their dogs.

Parkes Shire Council’s Presentation Technical Officer, Tim Gillogly said the park was established as part of Council’s commitment to urban animal management.

“Off-leash parks have a range of benefits, and provide social opportunities for both dogs and owners,” said Tim.

Councillor Bill Jayet brought his companions Poppy and Banjo to test out the new facility and said: “This really is a fabulous project. There has been strong community demand for a fully fenced dog park, and this is better than anyone could have imagined.”
Dog owners using the new facilities are expected to take the lead with responsible ownership.

Dogs must be vaccinated, wormed, desexed and registered before being taken to the park. Always bring a leash, monitor your dog’s behaviour, and never leave dogs unattended.

The Parkes Camera Club had a lot to celebrate when it hosted the Western Districts  Associations of Camera Clubs (WDACC) Photographic Competition at the Parkes Services Club recently.

Six clubs took part in the interclub competition with the Parkes Camera Club taking equal second place. The six categories in the individual competition had a great display of entries, and Cathy McPherson from the Parkes club won first place in the digital open category. Five more members got second and third places in various categories.

They are Julie Brown, Frances Thornton, Maree Tanswell, Steve Ostini and Matt Barber.

The judge was Linda Fury from Wollongong, who also gave a talk on her street photography when travelling overseas.

Guest speaker, Helen Whittle from Molong, talked on taking portraits and editing them.

The other big celebration for the Parkes Camera Club was its 60th anniversary and they shared a special cake with the other WDACC clubs present.

Local Elvis tribute artist Barry Green, who is also a club member, entertained the group with some Elvis songs.

A group of club members and visiting clubs went to the Aviation Museum at the Parkes Airport on Sunday where everyone enjoyed photographing the great display.

“From all reports everyone enjoyed the weekend,” said one of the club members.