General Interest Archives - Page 112 of 352

$20,000 Of Prizes To Encourage Local Shopping

November 25, 2022 By Maggi Barnard

The Trees are out. Each participating business will have a wonderful timber Christmas Tree out the front of their business or close to their front door.

“We are so pleased to be able to offer $20 000 in prizes this year,” said Aaron Acheson of the Forbes Business Chamber. “It has been a tough year so the Forbes Business Chamber is delighted to have kept the draws to encourage local shopping.”

Due to the floods and businesses needing to clean up, the draws will begin on Thursday, 1st December with the first $500 being electronically drawn. Please make sure that your electronic entry is filled out correctly. All you need to do is scan the QR Code and fill in the details. There are 7 x $500 up until Christmas Eve and then 10 X $500, 1 x $1500, 2 x $2500 and 1 x $5000 which will be drawn on 24th December.

Major sponsors and participants: Forbes Shire Council and Forbes Business Chamber. Gold Sponsor – Bernardis, Silver Sponsors -Terry Bros Carpet Court and the Forbes Phoenix. Bronze Sponsors – Flannery’s Pharmacy, Gunn’s Menswear and Embroidery, MD Steel, Steele Technology, Walkers Ag N Vet and WA Knights. “All the sponsors will have a QR code for you to scan when you shop in their business.” For those people who don’t have a phone, there will be a sign-on-sheet. Your details will be entered manually prior to each drawer.

Participating businesses: All of the above plus Acheson’s Mite 10, Allure On Main, Blue Sky Outdoors, Betta Home Living, Blush Organics, Bowns Sports Power, Brons Hair Design, ChapterTwo, Forbes Automotive Services, Forbes Central Butchery, Forbes Small Engines, HelloWorld, Hozpots Garden Centre, Isabel’s Place, Jessica’s Beauty, Life Pharmacy, Little Extra’s Lifestyle, Loomzys Fish n Fix, Made Of Fridays, McMillian Industries, News On Rankin, Phillip Wells Optometrist, Robbs Jewellers, The Bakehouse, The Book Dispensary, Turners Furniture One and Undercover Sleepwear and Lingerie.

“We hope the Find It In Forbes Christmas Promotion and Christmas Carnival will bring some fun and happiness to all,” said Aaron.

Forbes Christmas Carnival on 9th December from 5 – 9pm.

Next Step For Flood Affected Businesses

November 18, 2022 By Maggi Barnard

If your business has been affected either directly or indirectly by the floods or other disasters (ie gas outage, landslides, road closures, flash flooding, slow rising waters etc) and this is having an impact on your ability to operate your business and generate an income, this is what you should do: call a business concierge at Service NSW for Business to find out if there is any support available. A concierge will be able to walk you through any funding or immediate aid that may be on offer.

According to Jodie Dietsch, Relationship Manager – Western Region at Service NSW, should direct financial support not be available immediately, your business details will be captured and should funding be released the concierge will be able to reach out and provide you with the relevant information. “Capturing this data may also help in determining where small business pockets in your local government area have been heavily impacted and will aid us in advocating for support for your business community.”

As an impacted business owner, call 13 77 88 and ask to speak directly with a business concierge for any assistance that may be available.

International Emergency Hub Based In Parkes

November 18, 2022 By Maggi Barnard

The Fire and Emergency New Zealand team with (4th L-R) SES Senior Manager Capability Ken Murphy, Acting Prime Minister Richard Marles, Member for Riverina Michael McCormack and Parkes Shire Mayor Ken Keith at the SES Headquarters in Parkes on Wednesday.

Deputy Incident Controller for the New Zealand team Gareth Hughes (left) showed acting Prime Minister Richard Marles a special Maori stone that they always take with them on special assignments. The stone is called pounamu and is a type of green stone which reminds them of home when they are deployed overseas.

Parkes has been turned into base camp as emergency services in NSW are facing the largest flood operation in the state’s history.

By Wednesday over 200 people had been rescued from floodwater and the State Emergency Service received more than 900 calls for help.

In addition to emergency services, the ADF has been based in town for about two weeks, while international volunteers arrived this week to assist with a flood rescue for the first time. A team of 12 from Fire and Emergency New Zealand arrived in Parkes on Tuesday, while another team of 12 from Singapore arrived yesterday.

Pioneer Oval is now a basecamp for the emergency services with a capacity of 100 personnel and includes a decontamination centre where crews can decontaminate upon return from the field. Northparkes Oval is being used as a temporary helicopter landing pad.

Ken Murphy, SES Senior Manager Capability and Incident Controller for the Lachlan Valley, said the base camp had a capacity to expand to 150 people, and would stay as long as the emergency services were operational in the area.

He said the New Zealand team had specialist skills around logistics management, resource management, planning and intel, while the Singapore team specialised in swift water rescue. A US team with specialist capability is also expected to join the operation.

Acting Prime Minister Richard Marles toured the flood affected Central West on Wednesday and met the New Zealand team at the SES office in Parkes. “We are really grateful for your assistance. My defence counterpart in NZ sent me a text message. Your government is very proud of the service you are providing to us.”

Ken said it was amazing how the team had hit the ground running not knowing the systems. He said the international teams would be staying for as long as they were needed. “We have ongoing arrangements to roll them over. This would allow us really good opportunities to share ideas and to look at policies and procedures and evaluate equipment, and help us with fatigue management for our crews.”

Following the flood event in Parkes on Monday, Ken said the rapid damage assessment teams were still busy getting to all the affected homes and would become part of moving towards the recovery phase.

The main focus was on Forbes, Condobolin and areas downstream in preparing for the flood and responding and working with the community.

“Our biggest message to the public is to comply with evacuation warnings, to be prepared when an evacuation order was issued, to have an evacuation kit ready with all the essential items, to consider pets and neighbours.” He also said people should under no circumstance enter flood water.

No Warning As Flood Devastates Homes

November 18, 2022 By Maggi Barnard

Paul Lovett in his flooded home in Kelly Road with the water mark on the wall.

It is probably the worst start to a Monday you can imagine, but for many Parkes the nightmare became reality when they woke in the morning with water running through their homes.

“We had ten minutes to get out as the house was filling up so fast,” said David Thompson, who lives in Billabong Crescent.

His mum Bev said she heard the dog barking incessantly but tried to ignore it. “David eventually got up and found the back veranda covered in water.” Although they can see the creek from their home, Bev said it had never ever even reached a bank more than 10m from the house.

“When I opened my bedroom door, water was coming in. I only had time to grab a clean pair of pants and a top as I was still in my nighty.” She said by the time they left the house the water was already knee deep.

Residents gathered at the top of Military Road where there was a dry patch until the water started receding later in the morning.

On Tuesday morning her house was a beehive of activity as the ‘volunteer army of angels’ and the Parkes Fire & Rescue 417 team had come to help clean up. Every piece of furniture, clothing and household item were stacked outside on the lawn as volunteers started washing mud and debris from the house.

Still reeling from the shock of the previous day, Bev was extremely grateful for the love and kindness shown by the community.

A few blocks away in Kelly Road the destruction was even worse with one house in particular that appeared to have been hit by the ‘eye’ of the flood.

Paul Lovett said when he woke up and looked outside he saw water coming to his house. “I tried to push back on my front door from the inside but could not hold it for very long. It was like a torrent running right through the house, eight bricks deep.”

On Tuesday the volunteer army under the leadership of Dooley Thomson carted off truckloads of furniture and household items that had been damaged.

“The worst of all is we had absolutely no warning,” said Paul looking out over his mud covered garden and brown pool. “I don’t even have flood insurance because this area has never been classified as a flood zone.”

Dooley, who lives nearby in Military Road, said he started getting calls from people for help on Monday. He could not believe what had happened and put out a call on social media for volunteers to help with the clean-up from Tuesday.

On Wednesday he had again gathered an ‘army’ and headed off to Eugowra where the flood destruction was a much bigger disaster.

The flood water went right through Paul Lovett’s home leaving even leaving his pool a muddy mess.

The massive task of sorting through everything and cleaning out the mud was made lighter with the ‘volunteer army of angels’ for Bev Thompson.

Corey Thompson with his grandmother Bev and father David with the Parkes 417 Fire & Rescue team who helped to clean up their home in Billabong Crescent on Tuesday.

Freak Flood Worst Ever In Parkes

November 18, 2022 By Maggi Barnard

FLOOD RAVAGED… The Billabong Creek bridge on the Orange road suffered severe damage as flood waters raged over it on Monday morning. Only one lane of traffic is allowed across the bridge at the moment. (Photo: NSW RFS- Parkes HQ Brigade)

A shock wave rippled through the community of Parkes on Monday as the extent of the worst flood to ever hit the town unfolded.

Torrential rain across the Central West on Sunday with 106mm measured at the Parkes airport created conditions for a ‘freak flood’ which inundated hundreds of homes. Residents on both sides of Billabong Creek and further away towards Kelly Road woke up around 4:30am with water running through their homes.

All the main roads into Parkes were closed on Monday and the town was cut in two as the Billabong Creek bridge on the Orange road was severely damaged. Emergency services were only able to reach flood affected residents by Monday night.

With water gushing 1.7m over the Lake Endeavour spillway, and every other little creek feeding into it filled to capacity, the 4m water marker at the creek crossing on the Eugowra road was completely submerged. The water spread far over the creek banks creating flood plains in places people would never have imagined in their wildest dreams it would get flooded. A resident who had just built a new home on Emerton Road said the water came about 1.5m higher than the one in 100-year flood event level.

Many homes along Nash Street were also inundated and parts of the road was closed because of flooding.

Parkes Shire Mayor Ken Keith said the devastation was unbelievable. He praised the community for the kindness shown in helping each other saying it was really inspiring.

Flood in Focus

November 18, 2022 By Maggi Barnard

The flood in Parkes on Monday seen from the air when the Billabong Creek came down a torrent and spread all over town. (Photo: Parkes Shire Council Facebook page)

Flood debris and damage at the Amelia Field bridge on Back Yamma Road in Parkes.

The extent of the flooding in Forbes at 5:30pm on Wednesday with the level at the Iron Bridge at 10.676m. The Camp Street bridge in the foreground is completely submerged with only the light poles sticking out. (Photo: Craig Dwyer)

Don’t Let Your Waste Go To Waste

November 11, 2022 By Maggi Barnard

It’s time to start thinking about waste as a resource and to carefully think about whether it could be recycled or reused before disposing of it.

It is National Recycling Week and the Parkes Shire Council is inviting all residents to rethink and recover, and to look at waste as a resource.

National Recycling Week was established by Planet Ark in 1996, and this year explores the idea that Waste isn’t Waste until it’s Wasted.

Placing materials that are recyclable or recoverable in the red lid general waste bin is a waste of resources. Rethinking and recovering our waste not only keeps valuable materials out of landfill it also benefits the environment by reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

During National Recycling Week, the community is encouraged to think about waste as a resource; reconsider how we use, buy and dispose of materials to keep them in circulation for as long as possible; and think about ways we can avoid, reduce, reuse and recycle for a better future.

“There are so many ways we as a community can rethink our resource use,” said Councillor Marg Applebee said. “The Australasian Recycling Label is found on packaging and helps to take the confusion out of recycling. It is a simple tool to help you identify which bits go in which bin and is one of the easiest ways to double check that you are recycling right.

“It is also important that materials that can be recycled are empty and clean. Give glass bottles and jars, milk and juice cartons, steel and aluminium cans and rigid plastic bottles and containers a quick rinse to get rid of food scraps and liquid residues before they go into the yellow lid recycling bin.

“Recyclable materials must also be placed loose in the recycling bin and not in plastic bags. Plastic bags cannot be recycled and do not belong in the yellow lid bin,” said Marg.

There are also drop off opportunities for materials that can be recovered for reprocessing and specialised recycling that are not accepted in kerbside recycling bins.

Coles and Woolworths have specially marked REDcycle bins for the collection of soft plastics, while the Parkes Community Recycling Centre (CRC), accept problem and hazardous waste materials free of charge.

Hazardous materials should never be placed in any of the kerbside bins as they pose a health and safety threat to the community and to waste workers.

Brendan Hayes, Council’s Director Planning & Communities said: “We also want to remind people of the value of diverting organic materials away from landfill.

“As food and other organic materials such as garden waste break down in landfill, they release methane gas, a greenhouse gas 24 times more noxious than carbon dioxide. Using your green lid food and garden waste bin or a backyard composting system for all your household’s organic materials not only keeps this material out of landfill but also creates a valuable end product – compost,” said Brendan.

For more information on recycling and other ways to rethink waste including buying second hand, buying in bulk, buying products made from recycled material or with recycled content, and buying local, check out the Planet Ark website.

For information on Council’s waste services, facilities and special events, visit the Council website at www.parkes.nsw.gov.au or contact Council on 6861 2333.

Bird’s Eye View Of Forbes Flood

November 11, 2022 By Maggi Barnard

PHOTOS: FARMPIX PHOTOGRAPHY

The water went up the Newell Highway towards Parkes as far as Bunnings.

Businesses in Johnson and Lachlan Streets surrounded by water.

Lake Forbes has swelled in size with the Johnny Woods Crossing, Apex Park and Grinstead Oval completely submerged. The Vampire aircraft is just visible.

The bowling greens turned into swimming pools at the Forbes Sport & Recreation Club.

Find It In AMAZING Forbes

November 11, 2022 By Maggi Barnard

The trees aren’t out yet, but Find It In AMAMZING Forbes begins on 14th November. Each participating business will have a timber Christmas tree at the front of their front door when the flood water recedes.

Aaron Acheson of the Forbes Business Chamber said: “We are so pleased to be able to offer $20,000 in prizes this year.”

The draws will begin on Thursday, 17th November with the first $500 being electronically drawn. All you need to do is scan the QR Code and fill in the details. There are 7 x $500 prizes until Christmas Eve and then 10 X $500, 1 x $1,500, 2 x $2,500 and 1 x $5000 will be drawn on 24th December.

Major sponsors and participants: Forbes Shire Council and Forbes Business Chamber; Gold Sponsor – Bernardis, Silver Sponsors – Terry Bros Carpet Court and the Forbes Phoenix; Bronze Sponsors – Flannery’s Pharmacy, Gunn’s Menswear and Embroidery, MD Steel, Steele Technology, Walkers Ag N Vet and WA Knights.

“All the sponsor businesses will have a QR code for you to scan when you shop in their business. For those who don’t have a phone there will be a sign-on-sheet.”

Participating businesses: All of the above plus Acheson’s Mitre 10, Allure On Main, Blue Sky Outdoors, Blush Organics, Bowns Sports Power, Bron’s Hair Design, ChapterTwo, Forbes Automotive Services, Forbes Central Butchery, Forbes Small Engines, HelloWorld, Hozpots Garden Centre, Isabel’s Place, Jessica’s Beauty, Life Pharmacy, Little Extra’s Lifestyle, Loomzys FishNFix, Made Of Fridays, McMillian Industries, News On Rankin, Phillip Wells Optometrist, Robbs Jewellers, The Bakehouse, The Book Dispensary, Turners Furniture One and Undercover Sleepwear and Lingerie.

Supporting businesses have again come forward and continue to promote and support the Find It In Forbes Promotion and Christmas Carnival. “A huge thanks to Chudleigh and Dobell, Forbes Livestock, MBC, Michael Robinson & Co., Central West Diesel and Woolerina.

with many events cancelled and excess water everywhere causing huge stress to businesses and the community. We hope that the Find It In Forbes Christmas Promotion and Christmas Carnival will bring some fun and happiness to all,” said Aaron Acheson.

The Forbes Christmas Carnival will be held on 9th December from 5 – 9pm.

Forbes Flood Worst In Decades

November 11, 2022 By Maggi Barnard

SANDBAGGED… Houses in Renfree Street were already surrounded by water last Friday morning as the flood level was rising by the minute. Residents scrambled to get their flood preparation done, and unfortunately for many the water could not be stopped from inundating their homes.

The sun was shining in a clear blue sky as the Lachlan River in Forbes peaked at 10.67m last Saturday making it the biggest flood in 70 years causing extensive damage.

Up to 1,000 people were ordered to evacuate as hundreds of homes and businesses were affected, and the town was split in two as flood waters started spreading. Residents on the northern side of town had to rely on emergency services to ferry them across the flood waters to get to the CBD and hospital.

The flood was not without its dramas and the SES assisted Forbes resident Mamata Pun Rama, who had gone into labour with her first child, to get her to the hospital in time. Mamata and partner Chitra Pun Rama welcomed a son, Imaan, at Forbes Hospital last Saturday.

The Western New South Wales Local Health District said mum, dad and the midwifery team were all “over the moon” and offered their congratulations to the new parents and baby Imaan who “is blissfully unaware of the incredible circumstances surrounding his delivery.”

The SES had hundreds of call outs and some of the rescues included household pets and other animals. There were even more than 1,000 sheep that had to be airlifted to safety.

The community spirit once again soared as hundreds of volunteers from businesses, organisations and individuals helped to fill thousands of sandbags in School Road that were distributed in the community. Since the clean-up started this week, community members have reached out to assist where they can with many flood affected people commenting on how heart warming the community spirit was.

The SES and other emergency services received hundreds of requests for assistance from flood rescues and evacuations, to storm damage jobs, resupplies, sandbagging and more.

Premier Dom Perrottet, Minister for Emergency Services and Resilience and Minister for Flood Recovery Steph Cooke MP and Member for Orange Phil Donato MP visited Forbes on Friday to be briefed on the flood situation. They also met with residents and announced funding grants of up to $25,000 for farmers impacted by floods in disaster declared areas.

With the flood water starting to subside earlier this week, Forbes Shire Council reminded residents whose properties had been damaged to photograph any damage before beginning clean-up work.

Council said the tip was open and skip bins would be set up in affected neighbourhoods.

Residents can also leave damaged household goods on the street kerb for the Council to pick them up.

A warning has also been issued by Western New South Wales Local Health District for residents to protect themselves against mosquitoes. (See more on this page)

Information on disaster assistance can be found on the Australian Government’s Disaster Assist website at www.disasterassist.gov.au.

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