FORBES COMMUNITY

SUMMER EDITION 2017

NEWS

It was very disappointing Vanfest 2017 had to be cancelled due to extreme weather conditions and major safety concerns but there is a positive side.

Forbes Shire Mayor, Graeme Miller said Forbes has proved to everyone, we are a town who cares.

“As soon as the news was circulated that the event had to be cancelled, Council staff and community members rallied to help rescue people and cars stranded in boggy conditions at the showground.”

“For many hours staff also looked after and found emergency accommodation for people who had been camping,” Mayor Miller said.

“It was an absolute shame we were all really looking forward to the weekend festival.”

“There was a significant financial boost to our local economy. While specific figures are being finalised, all accommodation was booked out and local businesses reported a marked increase in trade,” he added.

Forbes Shire Council immediately lodged a claim with its insurer and have engaged auditors for the comprehensive post-event audit. The audit will commence this month with a full and detailed report expected to be provided to Council by February. The community will be engaged during and following the audit.

There has been a great deal of interest from community groups and organisations in Forbes Shire Council’s new funding program for 2018-19.

In alignment with the Forbes Shire Community Strategic Plan 2017 – 2027, all community funding will now be allocated annually to fit in with the Council’s budget cycle.

Organisations, which have in the past or plan to seek funds from Council, need to apply. Donations,

sponsorship, fees and charges waived, in-kind or new support, seed or growth funding are all now required to be applied for through the Community Funding Program.

“It is Council’s fiscal responsibility to ensure we are distributing all funding and support in an equitable manner to organisations and groups within our community,” General Manager Steve Loane said.

An information night was held in December with two drop-in

FESTIVAL CANCELLED BUT COMMUNITY RALLIES

COMMUNITY FUNDING PROGRAM Applications for 2018-19 funding now open

sessions to be held at Town Hall on Tuesday, January 9 and Wednesday, February 14.

Mr Loane said the application was a straight forward document which staff designed to be used a planning tool by organisations.

Community Funding Program application forms can be collected from Council or downloaded from the Forbes Shire Council website.

Applications opened December 1 and will close on February 28, 2018.

General Manager settled in

Funds for new toilet block

Celebrating all abilities

Mower gift to Garema

INSIDE

Pic by Kyle Manning.

COUNCIL’S GENERAL MANAGER

FORBES PAUSES FOR WHITE RIBBON DAY

A WORD FROM THE MAYOR Welcome to our Summer edition of the Forbes Shire Community Newsletter.

It has been a very busy year with many wonder-ful end of year activities and celebrations. The town itself is looking an absolute picture and we hope you enjoy it over the Christmas break.

Forbes Shire Council has hit some major targets this year with the Community Stra-tegic Plan for 2017-2027 being developed in conjunction with you, the community.

Council’s works program has been bus-ier than ever with major water, road and technical projects being finalised or due for completion early in 2018.

On behalf of Forbes Shire Council I would like to wish all our ratepayers and residents a safe and happy Christmas and holiday period.

Graeme Miller Forbes Mayor

HERITAGE HELPCouncil provides a free heritage advisory service for owners of items of historical significance.

Council also provides monetary assistance on a dollar for dollar basis for the conservation and maintenance of historical items.

Council’s Heritage Advisor, Graham Hall, will be in Forbes again on February 6 and 7, 2018. Appointments can be made by phoning Briana on 6850 2344.

It certainly has been a busy time since I started but I have enjoyed hitting the ground running.

There is a lot to do. With the enthusiastic staff at Council I see a bright future.

I am passionate about providing path-ways for people to progress their careers

The people of Forbes have been very welcoming and I appreciate the commu-nity’s active interaction with our Council.

In 2018, Council is looking forward to continuing to improve our service deliv-ery for residents.

I hope all of our residents and ratepayers have a safe and festive summer.

Steve LoaneGeneral Manager

AUSTRALIA DAY

Final nominations are being called for Forbes Shire Citizen and Young Citizen of the Year to be presented at the 2018 Australia Day celebrations.

Mayor Graeme Miller encouraged residents to nominate a community member who deserves to be recognised.

“If you know someone who has really made a positive difference in our community or has had an outstanding achievement in academic or sporting fields, make sure you nominate them for the prestigious awards,” Mayor Miller said.

Nominations are being sought for two categories, Citizen of the Year (26 years and over) and Forbes Shire Young Citizen of the Year (25 years and younger).

Australia Day celebrations will be held at Lions Park on Friday, January 26, 2018.

Nominations close at 5pm on January 19, 2018. Forms can be collected from Council’s Administration Office or downloaded from the Council website.

The Forbes community took a stand against family and domestic violence when White Ribbon Day was held on November 24.

White Ribbon Day is an annual event which aims to prevent men’s violence against women.

Forbes’ White Ribbon Day event is a partnership between the Domestic Violence Committee and Forbes Shire Council.

It included of a march down Lachlan Street and a community gathering at Victoria Park. The event was conducted by the White Ribbon Boys of Forbes High School.

“Our young men have a particularly large part to play. You are the next generation and by swearing never to commit, excuse or remain silent we can end family and domestic violence in Forbes,” Forbes Shire Mayor Graeme Miller said.

COUNCIL MATCHES MAJOR FUNDS

FUNDING SUCCESS

International Day of People with a Disability was celebrated this year at the Forbes Pool with 70 people attending on Thursday, November 30.

Sanctioned by the United Nations, IDPwD is celebrated internationally to promote understanding and acceptance as well as celebrating the achievements and contributions of people with a disability.

Council’s Youth Development Assistant, Clarissa Horan, said this was the first time the day had been held at the Forbes Pool, which proved to be really successful and inclusive.

“The day was about celebrating people’s abilities, everyone was able to participate in the day’s activities, regardless of mobility with the hoist and facilities at the pool,” Mrs Horan.

As well as pool activities, there were lawn games, painting, a barbeque lunch and live music.

BOOK A DEVELOPMENT APPLICATION MEETINGThinking of doing extensions, building a new home or installing a pool?

Not sure what information you need to provide or how to get an approval?

Council provides free Development Application pre-lodgement meetings where all aspects of building can be discussed with Council’s assessment staff.

Appointments can be made by phoning Briana on 68502344.

BATTYE ST UPDATEForbes Shire Council has completed the final stage of the Battye Street pavement rehabilitation and improvement project.

The project completely reconstructed the road surface of one of Forbes’ busiest roads from the north of town. Funds from the Roads to Recovery Program have been used for the $290,000 project.

As one of the main arterial roads into the CBD it was a priority for Council to undertake the extensive rehabilitation and improvements.

One of Forbes’ premier sporting locations has received a boost with a major upgrade planned at the Botanical Gardens.

Forbes Shire Mayor Graeme Miller announced Council will be contributing $150,000 in conjunction with $146,263 announced by the Parliamentary Secretary for Natural Resources and Western NSW, Rick Colless. The funding will be used to replace the amenities block and upgrade facilities at the Forbes Botanical Garden.

Mayor Miller thanked the State Government for its support. This is an excellent development for the Botanical Gardens as it has long been a truly multipurpose sport facility in Forbes.

“The sportsground is used all year long with soccer, cricket, Little Athletics, touch football, as well as by the local schools for training, carnivals and cross country,” he added.

Forbes Shire Council Community Development Manager Nina Hooper, Forbes District Soccer Treasurer Ashley Milford, Parliamentary Secretary for Natural Resources and Western NSW Rick Colless, Forbes District Soccer President Simon Moore, Forbes District Soccer Registrar Doug McKenzie, Football NSW Regional Coach and Development Manager Andrew Fearnley, Forbes Shire Mayor Graeme Miller, Member for Orange Phil Donato and Forbes Shire Councillor Susan Chau with the cheque from the State Government to upgrade the amenities at the Forbes Botanical Garden sport grounds.

The new amenities facility will be built in two stages and will incorporate additional toilets, showers, change rooms and improved disability access. Following completion of the new amenities block, the old block will be gutted and converted into lockable storage. There will be some building and sewerage system upgrades as well as a new fence to be constructed on the western side of the fields.

Forbes Shire Council Grants Officer Andrew Rawsthorne and the Forbes District Soccer Club worked closely to submit the grant application to secure the funding.

“Council is very pleased to match the grant as it’s a sporting facility well used by Forbes residents and the surrounding communities. Now the grounds will have amenities worthy of the events and numbers it hosts,” Mayor Miller said.

During the 2016/17 financial year more than 80 per cent of $5,000,000 worth of grants applied for have been successful on behalf on Council and the community.

More than sixty projects received funding worth $3,500,00 with a further 28 projects pending.

Since July 2017, ten major submissions have been made yielding $882,722 in funding.

Grants allocated and received in the last quarter include $70,000 from the Local Government NSW Innovation Fund for Council, $200,000 for Lachlan House With No Steps from Building Better Regions and $50,000 from the Social Housing Fund for the Nelson Park toilet block.

Any community groups requiring funding assistance can contact Andrew Rawsthorne, Council’s Grants Officer on 6850 2327 or andrew.rawsthorne@forbes.nsw.gov.au.

You can also follow the Forbes Shire Grant Funding Facebook page for more grant funding opportunities at https://www.facebook.com/ForbesShireGrantFunding/

Major upgrade at Botanical Gardens

DAY TO CELEBRATE AT THE FORBES POOL

UPCOMING EVENTS

WORKS PROGRAMNelson Park toilet block to be complete in 2017.

Footpath renewal in Court and Sheriff Streets. Drainage upgrade is being undertaken in parts stages, Press Street (stage one), pool entrance (stage two), Lawler Street (stage three) and re-placing drainage in Webb Street (stage four).

Footpath maintenance and partial renewal has been completed on the corner of Farrand and Union Streets.

Kerb and guttering has been replaced in Acacia Avenue, Hunter, Farnell, Ryan, Thompson and Elm Streets.

Upcoming projects include, the Sam Street wa-ter main upgrade, the installation of water qual-ity sensors at the Water Filtration Plant and the high voltage electrical supply and transformer for third bore.

CONTACT COUNCILCOUNCIL CUSTOMER SERVICE For all inquiries: 6850 2300AFTER HOURS EMERGENCY CONTACT 1300 978 633STREET ADDRESS 2 Court Street, ForbesPOSTAL ADDRESS PO Box 333, Forbes, NSW 2871 EMAIL mail@forbes.nsw.gov.auWEBSITE www.forbes.nsw.gov.au

Council with assistance from the Environmental Trust and NSW Environmental Protection Authority has undertaken improvements to Bedgerebong, Garema and Ootha landfills.

This includes upgrading fencing, diverting surface water, constructing cells and removing orphan waste. Recycling facilities have also been provided for rural residents.

These sites will now have restricted access with supervision provided at Bedgerebong and Garema.

Wirrinya and Warroo have been closed and rehabilitation of these sites is progressing.

Christmas garbage services will not be interrupted over the festive season but residents are reminded not to overload their bins

A green bin full of wet cut grass would exceed the truck’s capacity to lift the bin, likewise a yellow bin filled entirely with glass bottles would exceed the 75 kilogram maximum weight. Overloaded bins cannot be collected.

Old bins will no longer be collected and can easily be identified by Council’s waste contractor.

The Daroolbalgie Waste Depot is closed on Christmas Day but will be operating as normal on Tuesday, December 26 8.30am to 5pm.

MOWER GIFT FOR GAREMA

RURAL LANDFILLCONSOLIDATION

BIN COLLECTION CHRISTMAS DAY

Following a resolution by Forbes Shire Council, the community of Garema has been presented with a Ferris zero turn lawn mower. The Garema community had applied through Council’s Community Funding Program The mower will be used in maintenance of the Garema Hall and surrounds, a task usually undertaken by Council staff.

To find out more about upcoming events visit www.forbes.nsw.gov.au or send an email to whatson@forbes.nsw.gov.au to register for upcoming events notifications or to promote your next event.

Agricultural chemical drums, tyres, commercial waste and construction and demolition waste are not accepted at these facilities. These facilities are for use by local residents only.

DAROOBALGIE WASTE DEPOT (Forbes Tip) is open 7 days a week (except Christmas Day) from 8.30am – 5.00pm.

GAREMAWednesday 8.00 – 11.00amSunday 1.00pm – 4.00pm

BEDGERABONGWednesday 1.00pm – 4.00pmSunday 8.00am – 11.00amThis facility is for local residents only.

OOTHAClosed to the public with an access system provided to residents.

LANDFILL OPERATING HOURS

SNAP SEND SOLVECouncil reminds residents of its smartphone application, Snap Send Solve, that allows users to report an issue instantly to Council.

Snap Send Solve determines your council using your smartphone’s GPS location. Once your GPS location has been determined the server sends back all relevant council details, including contact information, location and email contact.

Snap Send Solve allows you to easily capture and report on common issues such as broken playground equipment or road conditions. You can also provide a general request or general feedback.