Federal Member for Riverina Michael Mc­Cormack is reminding schools and stu­dents across the Riverina and Central West his 2024 Christmas card design com­petition is closing soon.

“This year’s Christmas card design com­petition theme is “We Wish You a Riverina Christmas,” Mr McCormack said.

“The top three designs will be featured on my personal Christmas card, which will be sent to key stakeholders and parliamen­tary colleagues.

“Schools have until Friday 8th November 2024 to submit their entries to my Wagga Wagga office.

“Last year more than 1,700 entries were sent in from eligible students in Kindergar­ten, Year 1 and Year 2.

“Unfortunately, this year will be the last opportunity for some schools to enter the competition, as schools in Bland, Forbes and Parkes Shires will no longer be in the Riverina electorate after the next election.

“I urge schools and students in these shires to make the fullest of this opportu­nity.

Submissions from schools are requested to be enclosed and posted in a single pack­age to Suite 2/11-15 Fitzmaurice Street, Wagga Wagga NSW 2650, or alternatively, submissions can be scanned and emailed to michael.mccormack.mp@aph.gov.au

Parkes Shire Council marks a significant milestone in transforming the lake into the Parkes Shire’s first developed natural water location for recreational use. This $1 million project, brings new opportunities for locals and visitors to enjoy the natural beauty of Lake Endeavour.

The project features include a 90-metre floating pontoon, a sandy foreshore, CCTV cameras for enhanced safety, dual toilets, seating and shelters, and more. The Parkes Dragon Boat Club attend the opening and took Mayor Neil Westcott and Cr Bill Jayet for a special joy ride

The Illabo to Stockinbingal section of Inland Rail has received Federal Government approval, green-lighting the project to move into the construction phase in 2025.

The Illabo to Stockinbingal (I2S) section of Inland Rail has received Australian Govern­ment approval, green-lighting the project to move into the construction phase in 2025.

The project was assessed under the Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999, which focuses on the avoidance, minimisa­tion and management of impacts on biodi­versity matters of national significance.

The Commonwealth’s conditions of ap­proval supplement the NSW approval to protect threatened species and habitats in the project area. The approval is available online in the EPBC public portal.

The 39-kilometre Illabo to Stockinbingal section of Inland Rail will create a new di­rect route from east of Illabo tracking north to Stockinbingal in New South Wales and is the only new section of track from Bev­eridge to Parkes.

The route will bypass the townships of Cootamundra and Bethungra and the wind­ing, steep section of track known as the Bet­hungra Spiral on the Main South line, open­ing a more efficient way to transport freight.

Works on the Illabo to Stockinbingal sec­tion will be carried out by construction part­ner John Holland, which has been awarded the Design and Construct (D&C) contract.

The work will include the construction of several bridges and level crossings, nu­merous culverts, as well as a new crossing loop.

I2S forms part of the Inland Rail section in NSW from Albury to Parkes which has provided considerable employment and business opportunities. Since July 2023 Inland Rail has spent $7.4 million with 86 local businesses on the project between Albury and Parkes. On the same section, Inland Rail has employed a total of 434 people. 135 of the total are local residents, and 40 of the total are women. 40 of the to­tal are First Nations people. Of the 135 lo­cal residents, 24 are First Nations people.

For information please visit https://inlan­drail.com.au/where-we-go/projects/illaboto-stockinbingal/

Inland Rail Skills Academy graduates (from left) Hamilton Currie, Brett Whyman and (far right) Lawrence Button with Inland Rail’s Cathy Duncan, Senior Program Skills and Training Advisor, and Adam O’Sullivan, Rail Superin­tendent, Martinus (second right).

A trio of Inland Rail Skills Academy gradu­ates have used their new-found skills to find employment with Inland Rail contractor Martinus Rail and make their own contribu­tions to the project.

The three graduates: Brett Whyman, Lawrence Button and Hamilton Currie, each completed a five-week Certificate II in Rail Infrastructure course through the Inland Rail Skills Academy earlier this year. The course, provided by First Na­tions training provider Yakka Training, took place over five weeks in March and April in Wagga Wagga.

The graduates then started work with In­land Rail contractor Martinus Rail and were assigned to the Stockinbingal to Parkes (S2P) section during the September pos­session, a 100-hour period where the rail line was closed and an intense period of construction took place.

Inland Rail is an approximately 1,600km freight rail line that will connect Melbourne and Brisbane via regional Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland, enhanc­ing Australia’s national freight network and supply chain capabilities, connecting exist­ing freight routes through rail, roads and ports, and supporting Australia’s growth.

The Inland Rail sections between Bev­eridge in Victoria and Parkes in New South Wales are prioritised for completion by 2027.

Brett Whyman, Martinus employee and Inland Rail Skills Academy graduate, said “The Inland Rail Skills Academy appealed to me because it gave me an opportunity to put my foot in the door and start in the rail industry. The advice I’d give to locals about the Inland Rail Skills Academy is: go for it.

It’s very rewarding once you get into the in­dustry and the Inland Rail Skills Academy will help you with everything to get into the industry.”