Maggi Barnard

A road upgrade to create a major heavy vehicle route linking the Newell Highway to busy grain handling facilities at Wirrinya, south-west of Parkes, is now complete.

The changes include a 12.6 km section of the road, known as Bewleys Road in the Weddin Shire, and Wirrinya Road in the Forbes Shire, was widened, had its culverts strengthened, intersections realigned and rail crossings improved to allow access for an increased number of heavy vehicles.

The upgrade will allow B-doubles, road trains and other heavy vehicles to use the road as a direct route between the Newell Highway and Wirrinya.

The upgrade has created a more direct heavy vehicle route which represents a distance saving of up to 37 kilometres per trip meaning the trucks will no longer need to travel through Forbes or Caragabal. The grain handling facility at Wirrinya received about 50,000 tonnes of grain each year by truck.

The two successful recipients of the CMOC-Northparkes Mines 2018 Indigenous Scholarships are Thomas McRae and Peter Lindsay.

Thomas is from Parkes and has been accepted into the University of Newcastle to study a Bachelor of Engineering Honours Electrical and Electronic. Peter is from Tottenham and has been accepted into the University of Wollongong to study a Bachelor of Engineering Honours.

“It’s great to see these scholarships being presented to such outstanding students.

We are proud to welcome Thomas and Peter to our employee pipeline,” said Northparkes Managing Director Jim Fowler.

Thomas, who is currently undertaking work placement at Northparkes during his university holidays, said he was enjoying the opportunity to develop relationships at the mine. Peter is considering doing a Bachelor of Science after completing his Bachelor of Engineering Honours.

The scholarship program awards $5,000 per year to non-technical and $10,000 per year to technical scholarship holders. The recipients also receive a laptop and work placements at Northparkes and throughout Australia.

Drone technology has opened up an array of time and cost saving applications, and the Parkes Shire is welcoming it with open arms.

A number of Parkes Shire Council staff are undertaking a training course in drone operation and Civil Aviation Safety Authority’s (CASA) compliance as part of a wider program to incorporate the technology into asset management and other applications.

Council’s Director of Infrastructure Andrew Francis said Council has teamed with The Institute of Drone Technology for drone flight training as well as ensuring all staff trained in drone usage are compliant with the stringent CASA guidelines for Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS).

“All trained staff will attain their remote pilot license which is the precursor to Council obtaining its own operator’s licence. We will eventually have a certified aviation management system for our drones.”

The use of drones and other smart community technology will assist in asset management and maintenance as well as providing environmental monitoring opportunities for noxious weeds and other problems such as salinity.

“There are many time and cost saving applications for drones including inspection of assets at height (sporting oval lights, water reservoir covers and platforms), road conditions, flood response, geotechnical monitoring, thermal heat mapping of building roof insulation effectiveness, hydrology, water pollution, vegetation analysis as well as parks and sporting oval watering performance. The drones will also be used to monitor drainage issues and digital capture for town planning,” said Andrew.

One of the key uses will be for leak detection in the hundreds of kilometres of council water mains, particularly in hilly terrain to the east of Parkes.

The marketing team will also be able to utilise images for promotional purposes.

Member for Orange Phil Donato MP has taken the lead to show his support for drought affected farmers by donating the 2.5% pay rise MPs have received to the drought charity Aussie Helpers.

He feels the government have failed to deliver for farmers, and charities are now having to do the work.

“I cannot in good conscience accept a pay rise while farmers, whom I proudly represent, are struggling through the worst drought in over three decades.”

He also put out a challenge to all regional and rural based MPs, both state and federal, to donate their pay rise and show their support for farmers and demonstrate leadership, which they were elected to do.

“If government won’t provide freight subsidies for fodder, water, and stock to help farmers, the least they can do is open up their wallets,” said Phil.

“Politicians received a 2.5% pay rise this year, but I don’t think it’s fair that we should get a pay rise when farmers are struggling.”