Roxane Manley

Thousands of landcarers are out in paddocks, parks, coastlines, classrooms, creeks and community spaces doing the work that protects the places and productive landscapes we all rely on.

With just one month remaining until nomi­nations close for the 2026 State and Terri­tory Landcare Awards, Landcare Australia is calling on communities to shine a light on the local people and groups making a real difference to the health of our land, water and environment.

Who in your community deserves recog­nition? It could be: A farmer improving soil health and biodiversity on their property, A volunteer who’s spent years restoring a lo­cal reserve, A landcare, Coastcare, bush­care or rivercare group making a differ­ence, A Traditional Owner or First Nations organisation caring for Country, A teacher inspiring students through environment projects or A young person leading positive change in their community.

From farmers improving soil health and productivity, to volunteers restoring native vegetation, Traditional Owners caring for Country and young people leading envi­

gronmental projects, these are the kinds of everyday efforts that often happen quietly but make a lasting difference to communi­ties and the environment.

It might also be the neighbour who

spends weekends replanting a creek line, the farmer trialling new ways to keep soil healthy, the teacher helping students grow a habitat garden, or the volunteer group that turns up month after month to restore a local reserve.

Many landcarers do this work quietly and consistently, often over many years, so a nomination is a simple but powerful way to say their work matters. The awards celebrate the people helping create a more resilient future for Australia.

Anyone can put forward a nomination.

Nominations close Friday, 31 July 2026.

If there’s someone in your commu­nity who is helping protect landscapes, strengthen local connections and leave the environment in better shape for future gen­erations, now is the time to tell their story.

For more information or to nominate please go to www.landcareaustralia.org.au/awards

Dogs to be banned from Harrison Park, Woodward Oval and Keast Park.

Parkes Shire Council has resolved to pro­hibit dogs from Harrison Park, Woodward Oval and Keast Park following a six week community consultation and ongoing con­cerns raised by sporting user groups re­garding dog waste on playing surfaces.

The decision was made at Council’s Or­dinary Meeting on 16 June after reviewing the results of a six-week public engagement process, which attracted 51 submissions from community members.

Mayor of Parkes Shire Neil Westcott said Council carefully considered the feedback received before making its decision.

“Council received a broad range of views from the community, with many respond­ents recognising the importance of maintaining clean and safe sporting facilities while also highlighting the value of public open spac­es for exercising dogs.”

Community feedback highlighted con­cerns relating to hygiene, safety, impacts on organised sport and compliance with existing regulations. Many respondents also expressed concern about the limited availability of suitable dog exercise areas and called for improved infrastructure and enforcement rather than a blanket ban.

Council will continue compliance and enforcement activities relating to dogs in public spaces and will provide further in­formation to the community regarding the implementation of the new restrictions.

Council is currently updating signage at the affected sporting fields and develop­ing a targeted compliance and education program to support implementation of the new restrictions. The prohibition will come into effect once signage has been installed and community notification has been com­pleted.

Once the ban comes into effect, dogs will no longer be permitted at Harrison Park, Woodward Oval and Keast Park. Failure to comply with the prohibition may result in penalties of up to $1,100 under the LocalGovernment Act 1993.

Residents are reminded that a number of other public open spaces throughout the shire remain available for walking and exercising dogs, subject to relevant regulations.

This month, I have continued advocating strongly for our region – focusing on improving local health services, strengthening community safety, and ensuring regional voices are heard at the highest levels.

I have raised a range of important issues affecting the Orange electorate, including access to healthcare, delivery of essential infrastructure, and the need for greater accountability and transparency in decisions that directly impact regional communities. My priority remains making sure our region is not overlooked and that government delivers where it matters most.

Encouragingly, this continued advocacy is delivering results, with the 2026-27 NSW State Budget securing key wins for Orange, Forbes and surrounding communities.

The budget includes significant investment in healthcare following ongoing engagement with local clinicians, including a new surgical theatre at Forbes Hospital and $9.9 million for a surgical robot at Orange Health Service. This world- class technology – a first for regional NSW – will allow patients to access advanced procedures closer to home instead of travelling to Sydney, improving outcomes and reducing stress for families.

The long-awaited upgrade at Forbes Hospital will modernise ageing facilities and enhance patient safety, while Orange·s expanded surgical capability will further strengthen its role as a leading regional medical hub and help attract and retain specialist staff.

The budget also delivers a 50% boost to domestic and family violence funding, totalling $184.1 million over four years, providing stronger support for frontline services assisting women, children and families across our region.

These outcomes show what strong, consistent advocacy can achieve. I will continue working hard to ensure our communities receive the investment, services, and attention they deserve.

Special Counsel Belinda Rayment will be representing the Envi­ronmental Defenders Office at the event.

The NSW Parliamentary Inquiry into Energy-from-Waste is still ongoing, and another public hearing has been sched­uled. The Inquiry continues to examine a range of issues associated with Energy-from-Waste in NSW, including environ­mental regulation, planning frameworks, community consultation, and the poten­tial impacts on local communities and in­dustries such as agriculture.

The Environmental Defenders Office (EDO) will be in Parkes on Wednesday, 1 July at the Parkes Services Club to pro­vide information and guidance regarding the proposed Parkes Energy Recovery Project.

The Environmental Defenders Office (EDO) is Australia’s leading public inter­est environmental law organisation and the largest environmental legal centre in the Australia-Pacific region.

The EDO is taking the time to visit Parkes to provide the community with independent information about the plan­ning and assessment process for the proposed Parkes Energy Recovery Pro­ject. The purpose of the information night is to help residents better understand their rights and opportunities to partici­pate in the assessment process once the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) is released.

Topics to be covered at the information evening will include:

• Understanding the process once the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) goes on public exhibition

• How to write effective submissions in response to the EIS

• Opportunities for community involve­ment and how to have your say throughout the assessment process.

There is no need to register in advance, community members are simply encour­aged to attend. With the EIS expected to be a substantial and complex document, this information night will help equip the community with the knowledge and con­fidence to have their voices heard when the public exhibition period begins. The session is an opportunity to hear inde­pendent information about the planning process, understand what happens when the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) goes on public exhibition, learn how to prepare an effective submission, and ask questions about how to partici­pate in the assessment process.