BIODIVERSITY REFORM
The public consultation period of the Biodiversity legislation review is now finished. Approximately 7000 submissions have been received from interested stakeholders and the community including landholders, farmers, industry, conservation and environment groups. All submissions will now be reviewed and feedback will be considered in the development of a revised package, still with the aim of striking an effective balance between land management and conservation that will benefit farmers and the environment. Stakeholder feedback will help ensure the reforms are practical and that the theory meets practice.
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Current laws protecting our native flora and fauna are ineffective and overly complicated. The new biodiversity conservation framework will deliver better protections for the land and natural environments we value most through. The NSW Government is committed to reforming the state’s native vegetation laws and delivering a new biodiversity conservation legislative framework that is better for the environment, is fair and balanced and allows primary producers to get on with the business of farming.
COMMUNITY BUILDING PARTNERSHIP APPLICATIONS CLOSING
The Community Building Partnership Grant application period closes this Friday at 5pm. No applications submitted after 5pm on this date will be accepted so I strongly encourage organisations to avoid waiting until the last minute to submit their application. Applications should be for infrastructure based projects that deliver positive social, environmental, inclusive or recreational outcomes in the local community through the building or enhancement of facilities.
Any Councils or not-for-profit organisations who are wishing to apply for funding this year should visit www.communitybuildingpartnership.nsw.gov.au or contact the CBP assistance line on 13 77 88.
WORK COMPLETED ON CASTLEREAGH HIGHWAY
Work to improve a five kilometre section of the Castlereagh Highway near Lightning Ridge was completed late last month. The NSW Government provided $1.3 million funding to resurface and widen the highway from 53 kilometres north of Walgett near the Lightning Ridge intersection.
The road is a major transport corridor from Lithgow to the Queensland border and this work will improve safety for motorists and reduce maintenance costs by providing a more durable road surface. Work started in April and was completed in the last week of June on time and under budget.
VISION FOR TAFE NSW
NSW has the strongest economy and the strongest jobs growth in the nation. Since April 2015 over 154,000 jobs were created in NSW, including 61,700 in regional NSW.
For more than 130 years, TAFE NSW has met the changing skills needs of our community and economy, gaining a respected reputation for delivering job-ready graduates.
With a rapidly changing economy and technological advancements TAFE NSW must adapt to meet the needs of students, teaching staff and employers. NSW Government announced its vision to modernise TAFE NSW, providing more choice, better access and convenient training for students and employers to support the jobs of the future. As part of these changes TAFE is reshaping its institutes, removing duplication in back-office across campuses, and creating a student-centred workforce and learning environment.
For more information please visit: www.tafensw.edu.au/
THUMBS UP
Congratulations to the NSW Country Rugby League 18s who defeated Western Australia 60-0 over the weekend. A particularly big thumbs up to the Barwon players in the team, Jesse Wighton from Lake Cargelligo and Clayton Couley from Nyngan.
