Vacation care boost for frontline workers

Children from vulnerable backgrounds or whose parents work as frontline workers are the focus of a pilot program aimed at providing better access to quality vacation care. Grants of up to $30,000 will assist services to provide engaging opportunities like sports and nutrition programs, excursions, cooking and art workshops. Nationals Member for Myall Lakes, Stephen…

Northern Rivers MPs unite in call to protect the region

MPs representing the Northern Rivers have joined forces to ask the NSW government to protect the region from a predicted influx of “70 percenters” when Sydney reaches the government’s double vaccination target before the regions do. The Nationals’ Chris Gulaptis (Clarence), Geoff Provest (Tweed) and Ben Franklin MLC have, for the first time, jointly written…

Nats deliver more cash to fix local roads in the bush

Hundreds of additional roads across regional NSW will receive funding for vital works to improve journeys for regional communities, farmers, and freight. Deputy Premier and Minister for Regional NSW John Barilaro and Nationals Minister for Regional Transport and Roads Paul Toole have announced $153 million for 94 regional councils to fix, maintain, and seal priority…

Stay-at-home orders lifted

The stay-at-home orders introduced last week for the Albury and Lismore Local Government Areas will no longer apply from midnight tonight (Wednesday, September 22) NSW Health has thanked the communities for their co-operation and for coming forward for testing in large numbers. The following measures apply to all people in regional LGAs where stay-at-home orders…

Jacksons Bridge upgrade

Work is powering ahead to replace the timber Jacksons Bridge over the Lachlan River at Hillston with a new concrete bridge that will improve freight efficiencies and better connect local communities. Nationals Minister for Regional Transport and Roads Paul Toole said Jacksons Bridge was among more than 400 of the state’s ageing timber bridges being…

Lightening the road load on regional councils

The NSW Government has released the Independent Panel’s Interim Report into road classification and the transfer of regional roads to state ownership, including recommendations for the Priority Round of transfers and reclassifications. Nationals Minister for Regional Transport and Roads Paul Toole said the government had accepted the Panel’s recommendations for the transfer of 391 kilometres…

Stay at home orders

Stay-at-home orders will be introduced for the Kempsey, Byron Shire and Tweed LGAs from 5pm today (Tuesday, September 21) for seven days due to an increased COVID-19 public health risk. This comes after an authorised worker spent several days in the areas and later tested positive. The stay-at-home orders also apply to anyone who has…