It’s official – Parkes will welcome the Queen’s Baton ahead of the 2018 Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast. Parkes has been announced as one of the stops along the longest relay in history, travelling 230,000 km in 388 days. Parkes Shire residents are encouraged to nominate locals that inspire them to become a baton bearer. Nominations are open until 15th May via gc2018.com/qbr.
I have recently returned from Toowoomba where I attended the 2017 Transport and Logistics Symposium. I was given the op- portunity to speak about the progress of the Melbourne to Brisbane Inland Rail Project, and promote the importance of this project for regional areas, including the Parkes Shire. The symposium has been developed to create a conversation around inland rail and the importance of infrastructure, identify opportunities for local industry and en- courage further investment in the transport and logistics sector.
Thank you to the wonderful volunteers who helped clean up, fix up and conserve our local environment for Clean Up Australia Day on Sunday. Council staff were joined by a number of residents, local school students and members of the Parkes Rural Fire Service to fill two trailers with rubbish collected from various locations across Parkes and Peak Hill.
The last of the Parkes 2030 community workshops were held this week, with Council staff visiting Bogan Gate and Cookamidgera to hear from residents. Thank you to those residents who attended the workshops or completed the survey online. Your input all adds up in helping us develop the projects that we will deliver over the next term of Council and beyond.
Have an enjoyable weekend.
Yours Faithfully,
Cr Ken Keith OAM Mayor of Parkes Shire