Bourke Shire has received great news that council will receive $11,162,000 to assist the reconstruction and sealing of three areas of the Bourke to Wanaaring Road.

The funding will see reconstruction and sealing of: 12.8km in the area of Gumbalie; 16.6 km across the area known as Poison Point Plain; and 7km at Wongareena Plain. The council has lobbied hard for several years to secure funding for this area. The fact it will have significant impact on residents giving them better access is great news.

Community projects: The council has received confirmation two of its projects under Stronger Country Communities Funding have been approved and work should now be able to start. The projects are: upgraded lighting at Davidson Oval; installation of training lights at Coolican Oval; refurbishment of canteen facilities at Davidson Oval 2, toilets in the North Bourke Oval Precinct; new playground equipment, shade and associated landscaping in the same precinct; an upgrade to the boat ramp and landscaping. The total of these grants is $506,000.

OROC role.  Mayor Barry Hollman has been elected to the position of Deputy Chair of the Orana Regional Organisation of Councils (OROC) annual general meeting, which he and I attended. Gilgandra Mayor Doug Batten was elected as chair.

LGNSW. Mayor Hollman and I attended the 2017 annual conference of Local Government NSW (LGNSW) in Sydney last week and also attended other meetings including one with other councils still remaining as members of the Western Division of Councils. Bourke Shire submitted a motion at the conference in response to the concerns raised by local landowners regarding the increase in wild dog numbers and the damage being caused to domestic and native animals. The motion was: “That the NSW Government be congratulated on the release of the Wild Dog Management Strategy 2017—2021, which closely aligns with the national strategy. That the Government now be called upon to ensure adequate funding is available for the implementation of each component of the Strategy to ensure its long term effectiveness”. The motion passed without opposition.