Widespread rainfall and flooding has impacted large parts of the Parkes electorate over the past week, and my thoughts go out to all those people who have been displaced, isolated or had property damaged by flood water.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Our farmers in particular have been dealt a cruel blow, as hopes of a bumper harvest have sadly been washed away.
Last week, I announced that disaster assistance is available for people in the Lachlan and Moree Plains shires that have been impacted by heavy rainfall and flooding from Tuesday 9 November 2021.
This assistance has now been extended to councils, residents, primary producers, small businesses and community groups in the Brewarrina, Broken Hill, Cobar, Gilgandra, Gunnedah, Gwydir, Narrabri and Warrumbungle Local Government Areas.
This will be welcome news for so many people who have been impacted by the severe weather events over the past few weeks.
Assistance is being provided through the jointly funded Commonwealth-State Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements and includes a range of practical measures to help fund recovery efforts.
For information on personal hardship and distress assistance, contact Service NSW on 13 77 88. To apply for a concessional loan or grant, contact the NSW Rural Assistance Authority on 1800 678 593 or visit https://www.raa.nsw.gov.au/
Heavy vehicle safety grants on offer
We all know how important heavy vehicle safety is, which is why I'm pleased with the launch of another round of the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator's (NHVR) Heavy Vehicle Safety Initiative (HVSI).
The Federal Government is investing a further $5.6 million in initiatives that will deliver safety improvements across Australia's heavy vehicle industry, protect all road users and grow the economy.
This initiative is ultimately about saving lives, so if you have a project, campaign, or idea that increases safety awareness, education and compliance, we want to hear from you.
Applications for Round 7 funding are open until 14 February 2022. Projects must be implemented during the 2022-23 financial year and be completed within two years of commencement. For more information or to view the Submission Guidelines visit www.nhvr.gov.au/hvsi
Calling for innovative ideas to help fill local jobs
Organisations in the Parkes electorate have the opportunity to submit their innovative proposals on how to connect job seekers to training and job opportunities that meet local employer demand as the economic recovery from COVID-19 continues.
The Local Recovery Fund is a key component of the Federal Government's $276 million Local Jobs Program, which was expanded in this year's Federal Budget to cover the Central West and Far West Orana regions, in addition to the New England and North West region in the Parkes electorate.
The Parkes electorate is currently experiencing a huge labour shortage, so the Local Recovery Fund will enable local stakeholders to collaborate with each region's dedicated Employment Facilitator and the Local Jobs Taskforce to design employment and skills solutions that are tailor-made for our communities.
There is no one-size-fits-all answer to the challenges brought on by the pandemic. So, by developing local solutions to the most pressing labour force issues facing our communities, we are ensuring the needs of employers and job seekers are met in ways that are most suited to our region.
To submit a response, visit: https://www.tenders.gov.au/Atm/Show/5287ddbd-4fcf-497a-9233-6cc4d46f632d
