IMPROVED RADIO COVERAGE
Residents in Barwon can feel safer this bushfire season as increased shared radio coverage means emergency services can better coordinate incident responses. The Critical Communication Enhancement Program (CCEP) Pilot boosted radio coverage from below 60 per cent to over 90 per cent in the region, adding more than 20,000km² of in-vehicle coverage. 13 government agencies utilised the improved Government Radio Network to make over 290,000 calls from July to October 2017 in the North-West region. The North West pilot region covers an area of approximately 57,600km² and covers the towns Lightning Ridge, Collarenebri, Walgett, Carinda, Coonamble, Nyngan and Warren. For more information on the CCEP or the NSW Telco Authority visit www.telco.nsw.gov.au.
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$4.5M OF GRANTS OPEN
Not-for-profit, community based services in our Barwon electorate are encouraged to apply for $4.5 million worth of grants, targeting the youngest learners in the region. Quality early education is the best preparation for success at school and beyond, I believe children in Barwon deserve nothing less. Services like playgroups and toy libraries play a vital role in offering a pathway into preschool, which is why the NSW Liberals & Nationals have opened a $2 million grant to fund programs supporting children to prepare for an early childhood education. Applications for the Start Strong Pathways program will open at the end of November. In addition, the Liberals & Nationals Government continues to support the engagement of Aboriginal children and disadvantaged children in early childhood education with a further $2.5 million through the Community Grants program. One off grants of up to $7,000 can be used for initiatives such as regular breakfasts, specialised staff or transport initiatives to increase access. I believe it is important for services in Barwon to create welcoming environments and build meaningful relationships with children in order to break down any barriers that may stop families enrolling. The Community Grants program will open in February 2018 for not-for-profit, community-based preschools and mobile preschools.
MANAGEMENT OF PRIVATE NATIVE FORESTRY APPROVALS
Local Land Services (LLS) will take on a new role providing advice to landholders and managing approvals for private native forestry from next year. LLS works effectively with landholders in our electorate on other key issues, which makes them best placed to take on this new forestry role. LLS will advise on approval requirements as well as forestry production and natural resource management issues. The NSW Government is committed to the long-term sustainability of private native forestry and this change will help ensure the industry’s future. The Environment Protection Authority will continue to regulate private native forestry and ensure license conditions are met. A review into the Private Native Forestry Codes of Practice will also be undertaken including further work on the most appropriate regulatory model as part of the NSW Government’s plan to update private native forestry regulation. The new role for LLS will be in addition to its existing responsibility for land management and provision of agricultural advice. A 2014 independent review of biodiversity legislation recommended that private native forestry no longer be regarded as a form of land clearing. It also recommended that sustainable forestry operations be regulated according to scale and intensity rather than ownership of the land.
THUMBS UP
I would like to congratulate Rosemarie Colosi from Bourke who has received a TAFE NSW Individual Excellence Award. This award acknowledges the hard work and commitment Rosemarie offers to her students and her excellence in vocational education training.