Return And Earn To Expand: The NSW Government’s wildly popular Return and Earn scheme is set to expand to include glass wine and spirits bottles and larger containers. The scheme has already seen more than eight billion containers returned. The planned expansion would see up to an additional 400 million eligible bottles recycled each year, including 233 million glass bottles. The discussion paper is available at https://yoursay.epa.nsw.gov.au/ and is open for consultation until 2nd December. More information about Return and Earn at www.returnandearn.org.au

Plastic Ban: Remember the NSW Government is banning single-use plastics from 1st November. This includes: single-use plastic straws and cutlery; single-use plastic plates and bowls; and expanded polystyrene foodware. For more information visit: bit.ly/plastics-ban

Regional Health Plan: People in rural, regional and remote communities across NSW are encouraged to have their say on a new plan for the future of regional health. Minister for Regional Health Bronnie Taylor said the community’s feedback would be absolutely critical in developing the Regional Health Plan 2022-2032. So far there has been 68 consultation sessions with 1,600 people across NSW as well as more than 2,000 surveys completed.To have your say, visit https://www.haveyoursay.nsw.gov.au/nsw-regional-health-plan. The survey closes at 11.59pm on Sunday, 23rd October.

Central West Regional Weed Plan: Central West landholders and community members are encouraged to have their say on the new draft Central West Regional Strategic Weed Management Plan. It is one of 11 draft Regional Strategic Weed Management Plans that is open for consultation across NSW. The plans are used to explain how each region will work together to identify, minimise, respond to and manage priority weeds over the next five years. To view, read and submit feedback visit www.haveyoursay.nsw.gov.au/weed-plans. Submissions close on Sunday, 6th November.

Counselling For Farmers: A new, dedicated phone line will allow to quickly and easily connect with the Rural Aid counselling team. The direct line will ensure farmers are provided a faster and more trauma-informed response with access to a trained counsellor who can support them with referrals for immediate needs, while getting a sense of their story and matching them with the most appropriate support. To get in touch with a Rural Aid counsellor, phone 1300 175 594 between 9am and 5pm Monday to Friday.

Nedd The Incredible: Forbes Shire Council staff clocked up 158.4 kilometres in support of Nedd Brockmann’s Record Run. Nedd, a Forbes local, has grabbed the attention of the whole country by doing a remarkable run from Cottesloe Beach in Perth to Sydney’s Bondi Beach – averaging 100 kilometres a day for more than 40 days. He is aiming to raise $1 million for homeless people. You can support his effort by donating to the Council effort, or follow Nedd on Instagram.

Biodiversity in Focus Competition: All students in the Parkes Shire can enter the inaugural Biodiversity in Focus photography competition. Cash prizes are up for grabs to students who submit the most creative and intriguing photos that feature native plants, fungi, animals, or vegetation assemblages found in the local government area. Entries close Wednesday, 28th October.More information on the council website. 

Signage On Mobile Speed Cameras: Additional warning signs will be introduced around all mobile speed cameras across NSW. Minister for Metropolitan Roads Natalie Ward said the government had listened to the community on this important issue. “These additional warning signs will help educate drivers in real time, giving them advanced warning to slow down at these high-risk points of our road network.”

Variety Fundraising: This month, Woolworths is encouraging Parkes and Forbes Shire customers to support the Variety Fundraising Appeal by purchasing a $2 token or rounding up their purchase to the nearest dollar when they shop. Funds from this year’s appeal will go towards the Variety We Move Grant, providing life-changing mobility equipment for kids living with a disability.

Work Starts On Manildra’s Bridge: Work has started on the new $12 million bridge at Manildra on the Henry Parkes Way an important link between Orange and Parkes, to replace the existing 92-year-old bridge. About 2,000 vehicles use the bridge every day. There will be full bridge closures for up to 10 weekends in 2023 with a detour via Cudal. Transport for NSW will notify residents two weeks in advance before any closures take place. The existing bridge will be reduced to a single lane from Monday, 24th October. More information on the Transport for NSW website.

Free Breast Screen: More than 250 women are expected to be diagnosed in Western NSW Local Health District with breast cancer this year. Make it a priority to book a free breast screen this Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Breast cancer remains the most common cancer among women in NSW, with one in seven being diagnosed in their lifetime. More than 75% of breast cancers occur in women over 50. Screening saves lives by finding breast cancer early. BreastScreen NSW recommends all women aged 50-74 years have a breast screen every two years. It takes just 20 minutes. Call 13 20 50 to book an appointment or book online.

Have Your Say on Parkes Projects: Your Say Parkes is Parkes Shire Council’s online community hub where you can provide real input into the direction of projects and decisions that affect the community. Council is seeking feedback on the Draft Middleton Master Plan and the Councillor Expenses and Facilities Policy. To learn more about these projects, head to Your Say Parkes.

Helping Orphaned Animals: Forbes TAFE is hoping to run a one-day course in Orphaned Animal Nutrition. This basic introductory course is for members of the community to provide emergency care for sick, injured or orphaned native wildlife. Cost is $85, and the course will run for one Forbes Public School day and is dependent on numbers to commence. A date will be set when minimum numbers have been reached. Register your interest at: https://forms.office.com/r/dzGqrxvQ4q

Newell Highway Update: The Newell Highway Taskforce held its AGM and regular committee meeting last month. Ongoing chair, Mayor of Parkes Shire Ken Keith OAM was re-elected and Bland Shire Councillor Tony Lord, re-elected as deputy chair. Ken reminded the community to be mindful in light of the wet weather. “We ask that all road users during this La Niña rain period drive safely and appreciate the difficulties the various road authorities are having trying to maintain the road network.” Current initiatives of the taskforce include: an additional 40 overtaking lanes; 1.2m centreline separation of traffic; bypass of Moree completed, Parkes underway; widened clear zones; additional truck stops. Over $1.4 billion has been spent or committed by the State and Federal Governments. Important projects the taskforce is currently seeking government commitment include: Forbes – West Wyalong flood mitigation; bypass of Coonabarabran; Inland Rail grade separation; more truck stops.

One Week Left To Use NSW Vouchers: Households are reminded to use any outstanding Stay NSW and Parents NSW vouchers as both programs are set to expire on Sunday, 9th October. The Stay NSW vouchers help support accommodation providers impacted by COVID-19. NSW residents aged 18 and older can apply for one $50 voucher to use towards the cost of accommodation bookings. There are around $63 million worth of Parents NSW vouchers issued, pending redemption, to date. One person from each eligible household can apply for five $50 vouchers, worth $250 in total. Visit https://www.service.nsw.gov.au/stay-nsw and https://www.service.nsw.gov.au/parents-nsw-vouchers

Save On Petrol With App: NSW drivers are urged to use the FuelCheck app to find a cheaper servo and save up to $10 a tank as the fuel excise discount ended on Wednesday. Treasurer Matt Kean said the app could save drivers up to $800 a year. “Driving a couple of hundred metres down the road to a cheaper servo can really pay off and boost your budget. New data from the past six months shows independents consistently offer drivers the cheapest fuel. “FuelCheck has been an overwhelming success, with more than 2.2 million drivers downloading the free app, and 93% giving it the thumbs up.”

School Holiday Fun With Junior Landcare: Junior Landcare has added a fun new activity to its Learning Centre – an online platform packed with resources to help children learn about the environment and how they can protect it. To download the new Biodiversity Find-a-Word activity sheet, crosswords, colouring-in sheets and more holiday fun, visit www.juniorlandcare.org.au/just-for-kids

Nominate A Tradie: Get in your last nominations for the Tradie of the Month competition in Forbes sponsored by Gunn’s Menswear. Readers can nominate a tradie by dropping into Gunn’s Menswear or email editor@forbesphoenix.com.au

Combat Feral Animals: Landholders and farmers across the Central West are encouraged to take part in the NSW Government’s Spring Pest Offensive following a rise in the number of wild animals. Contact Local Land Services on 1300 795 29

School Holidays Activities: Virtual reality tournaments, Lego animation workshops and horse-riding clinics are among the many free or discounted activities available these spring school holidays thanks to the NSW Government’s $10 million Holiday Break Program. A new online interactive map is available outlining the programs, when the activities are running and how to book. Create NSW is delivering a range of artistic activities, including its popular song-writing program, SongMakers. To find activities near you through the new interactive map, visit www.nsw.gov.au/HolidayBreak.

8 Billion Containers: A major environment and recycling milestone was reached last weekend with eight billion bottles, cans and drink cartons returned through the NSW Return and Earn return point network. Minister for Environment James Griffin said the incredible effort from NSW communities was transforming how we recycle.

The eight billion containers have delivered $800 million in refunds to the people of NSW, and reduced drink container litter by a massive 52%. “Heading to the local Return and Earn point has become a routine part of life, and I’d like to thank the almost 80% of adults in NSW who have got involved.” Return and Earn has contributed more than $35 million in donations to community groups and charities since its launch.

Students And The Future: Applications for the Infrastructure Traineeship Program are now open for school leavers across the Central West. The two-year program brings together leading infrastructure government agencies and industry partners to offer school leavers practical experience in the infrastructure sector. More than 100 trainee roles are available through three rotations of eight months each with government agencies, contractors and consultants. For more information and to apply, visit: www.apprenticeshipcareers.com.au/infrastructure-traineeships

Calling On Youth: Young people across regional NSW are encouraged to apply to become a member of the 2023 Regional Youth Taskforce consisting of 18 members, which includes two members from nine regions. “If you are aged 12 to 24 and are passionate about your region, being on the Taskforce is an opportunity to work with like-minded people and let us know how the NSW Government can help you and your peers work, live and thrive in your community,” said Minister for Regional Youth Ben Franklin. The Taskforce meets four times per year with travel costs, meals and accommodation covered. Applications close 23rd October. Visit www.nsw.gov.au/regional-nsw/regional-youth-taskforce

Yoga & Meditation In Support Of Homelessness: Start your Grazing Down the Lachlan weekend with a yoga and meditation session tomorrow (Saturday) from 8 – 9am ate Wheogo Park. Guided by four local women, Carmen Spry, Kitty Stitt, Aimee Woods and Cherie Stitt, the session is perfect for all levels and you can choose to practice from a chair (provided) or a mat (bring your own). Payment by donation, and all proceeds will go to the Women’s Refuge run by CatholicCare in Forbes.

Nominate A Tradie: Our Tradie of the Month competitions in Forbes and Parkes, sponsored by Gunn’s Menswear and Totally Work Wear respectively, continues this month. Readers can nominate a tradie by dropping into Gunn’s Menswear or Totally Work Wear, or send us an email at editor@forbesphoenix.com.au or editor@parkesphoenix.com.au. The Parkes competition closes on Sunday, 18th September.

Mandagery Creek Bridge: Abergeldie Pty Ltd has been awarded the tender to build a new $12 million concrete bridge over Mandagery Creek at Manildra with construction to begin this month and completed by June 2024. The new bridge on Henry Parkes Way will have wider travel lanes and better access for pedestrians with a footpath on the northern side.

Slow Down For Moo-Ving Livestock: Local Land Services is reminding drivers to slow down when approaching livestock that are being moved along public roads. Following wet conditions and floods, many producers need to move livestock to safer ground. When stock are grazing or moving near or on a road, drovers must display approved black and yellow warning signs. Drivers must give way to stock and all other animals and any vehicle accompanying the stock.

Chief Medical Officer: Western NSW Local Health District (WNSWLHD) has announced the appointment of its first Chief Medical Officer (CMO) Professor Mark Arnold. He is set to begin in the new role in January next year. Mark Spittal, WNSWLHD Chief Executive, said the CMO role was specifically designed to put real emphasis on the standards of clinical practice, the ethics of care and the long-term development of the medical workforce in particular. Professor Arnold has more than 30 years’ experience as a rheumatologist and, as a senior academic with the University of Sydney as Head of the Rural Clinical School and Professor of Rural Medicine.

Regional Health Advisory Panel: Mayor of Parkes Cr Ken Keith is one of the local leaders appointed to the new Regional Health Ministerial Advisory Panel. The panel forms part of the NSW Government’s response to the Rural Health Inquiry with support in principle for 41 of the 44 recommendations. Other local leaders included are Orange GP Dr Anna Windsor and Broken Hill Midwife Meg Austin. The government will be recruiting 10,148 full-time equivalent staff to hospitals and health services across the state over four years – the nation’s largest-ever health workforce boost. 

Rural Crime: A new Rural Crime Investigator position in Orange has been created for two specialist investigators backed in by the existing two specialist investigators in Parkes. Rural crime specialist investigators focus on a range of crimes from theft of stock, grain or wool, rural arson and fraud, firearm offences, to cruelty to animals or trespassing. The new position has boosted the total number of Rural Crime Investigators in the NSW Police Force to 53. 

Nominate A Tradie: Our Tradie of the Month competitions in Forbes and Parkes, sponsored by Gunn’s Menswear and Totally Work Wear respectively, continues this month. Readers can nominate a tradie, male or female, to go into the draw. Simply drop into Gunn’s Menswear or Totally Work Wear with your nomination, or send us an email at editor@forbesphoenix.com.au or editor@parkesphoenix.com.au. 

Central West Photography Competition: ‘Central West Unmasked’ is this year’s theme for Regional Development Australia Central West’s (RDA Central West) annual photography competition. Entrants are encouraged to capture the true essence and hidden gems of their hometowns. Entry is free and open to all ages. The closing date is 5pm on Friday, 30th September. Entrants can submit up to four photographs. More information at www.rdacentralwest.org.au 

It’s Magpie Season! Magpies usually breed between August and October and will beak clap, whoosh above your head and screech to warn other birds, animals and humans to stay away from their eggs or newly hatched chicks. Forbes Shire Council will be placing warning signs in areas where there are swooping birds. Magpies tend to only swoop within 100 metres of their nest. Stay calm if you are swooped, and don’t run or wave your arms. Magpies are protected. If the attacks continue or are extremely aggressive contact NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service. 

Leads Please: Forbes Shire Council has received numerous complaints about dog owners not using leads around Lake Forbes. Remember that responsible dog ownership is important, and that dogs in public places must always be on a lead or leash unless they are in a specified off-leash area. Always keep your dog on a lead in public places. 

Bust Your Energy Bills: Applications for the NSW Government’s Energy Bill Buster program to help households slash their power bills by up to $600 a year are now open. Eligible households include pensioners and Department of Veterans Affairs Gold Card holders receiving the Low Income Household Rebate. Households can check their Bill Buster eligibility and apply at www.energysaver.nsw.gov.au/rebate-swap. 

Free RATs: Pensioners and other concession card holders can now get up to 10 free rapid antigen tests (RATs) from any Service NSW Service Centre, Mobile Service Centre or Disaster Recovery Centre until the end of October. Eligible Commonwealth Concession Card holders in NSW include: Pensioner Concession card; Commonwealth Seniors Health Care card; Health Care Card (including Low Income Health Care card); Department of Veterans’ Affairs Gold, White or Orange cards. For more information visit Free rapid antigen tests to support vulnerable communities | NSW Government or any Service NSW Service Centre. 

Unclaimed Money: Older people are encouraged to check if they have money owing to them with more than half a billion dollars currently sitting with Revenue NSW. Anyone can use the free service on the Revenue NSW website to search for unclaimed money. The unclaimed funding includes share dividends, trust accounts, refunds, commissions, deceased estates and money from a range of other sources. Go to https://www.revenue.nsw.gov.au/unclaimed-money 

Free Food Organics Workshop: Parkes Shire Council is hosting a free food organics workshop on Tuesday, 27th September from 5:30pm – 7pm at the Marramarra Makerspace Studio. Food and garden waste accounts for almost half of waste materials, takes up limited landfill space and creates harmful greenhouse gases when it breaks down. Bookings are necessary for catering purposes. To reserve your spot, visit: https://bit.ly/3cjLqTd 

Bulky Waste Collection: Parks Shire Council will be providing a bulky waste kerb-side collection from Monday, 5th to Friday, 16th September for larger items. It will also help to divert items suitable for recycling from landfill. Items are to be placed neatly next to the edge of the kerb and secured to avoid windblown littering. The total volume of waste must not exceed two cubic meters. Mattresses will be collected via a separate service during this time, and green waste will not be accepted during this round. 

Get Skilled For Free: NSW residents who want to get skilled for a first job, a new job or a better job will have more opportunities to access fee-free training. The joint NSW/Federal Government funded JobTrainer program provides fee-free training in response to the impact of COVID-19. For more information on eligibility and locations of the fee-free training courses across NSW including online, visit https://education.nsw. gov.au/skills-nsw. 

Safer Havens For DV Victims: The NSW Government is investing over $500,000 for security upgrades at more than 80 women’s refuges across NSW to protect women and children leaving domestic violence. The security upgrades will include replacing external fluorescent emergency lighting with energy-efficient vandal-proof lights and the installation of additional external illumination in poorly lit areas, including front and back yards, pathways, garages and other outdoor structures. 

Flood Risk Managerment: Forbes Shire Council is seeking input from the community to help revise its Flood Risk Management Study and Plan. Council is looking for information, anecdotes, stories and images from the 2016 and 2021 floods to help inform the revised plan. Council is providing a variety of opportunities for the community to have input into this survey: Complete the survey online at YourSay Forbes: https://yoursay.forbes.nsw.gov.au/forbes-floodplain-risk-management-study-and-plan-consultation, complete a paper form, or email flood@forbes.nsw.gov.au. There will be a drop-in session on Friday, 2nd September from 9am-5pm at the Council Office. 

Farm Financial Skills Workshop: On Thursday, 1st September farmers can attend a free workshop in Forbes from 8:30am to 3:30pm on the financial skills essential to managing an agricultural operation. The practical Financial Skills Workshops is offered by Rabobank’s Client Council, and will provide practical, hands-on advice for understanding financial statements and banking requirements, and explore topics such as taxation versus management accounting, essential business management ratios and understanding key components of a business’s financial profile. Make sure complete your registration to ensure a spot at https://rabobankaunz.eventsair.com/financial-skills-workshops/registration/Site/Register 

Trash Into Treasure: Households are encouraged to step up their recycling efforts to help contribute to a cleaner environment and transition to a circular economy in NSW. Minister for Environment James Griffin said: “Two thirds of all waste in NSW is already being recycled, and we want to do even better to boost the circular economy.” Use the Recycle Mate app to tell you exactly what can and can’t be recycled in your local government area. Sixty-four per cent of all waste generated in NSW is recycled, being remade into new items such as building materials, packaging, and new food and drink containers.

Spring Bee Swarming: New measures have been put in place as part of the Varroa mite emergency response to help deal with an expected increase in bee activity as the weather heats up. “Bees typically swarm during warmer months as a way of establishing new colonies, so we’re reminding people to be aware that these swarms can become feral or unmanaged,” said NSW Minister for Agriculture Dugald Saunders. “Reporting these swarms and colonies is really important so we’re asking members of the public to exercise caution and contact the Department of Primary Industries (DPI), so they can take targeted action to remove them. If you come across a feral bee colony, contact DPI’s Exotic Plant Pest Hotline on 1800 084 881 (9am to 5pm, seven days a week). For more information on the Varroa mite emergency response, visit www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/varroa 

Reading Day: The annual PAINT THE TOWN REaD day in Parkes is back next Friday, 26th August and this year’s theme is Paint Parkes REaD, Rhymingly. The theme is focusing on traditional nursery rhymes, contemporary rhymes, ditties and made-up rhymes – basically all things rhyming. Primary school students and pre-school kids can look forward to a fantastic day filled with many different shows and activities, including a graffiti wall, photo booth and lots more, from 9:30am in Cooke Park and the CBD.