Number one disease threat intercepted

Biosecurity officers at the Sydney Gateway Facility have intercepted a mail parcel with two live rooted rose plants, which are known hosts of Australia’s top plant disease threat. Head of Biosecurity at the Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment, Andrew Tongue, said importing plants carried a huge risk of diseases. “Roses are a host…

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Changes to stay-at-home orders for regional NSW

Stay-at-home orders will be lifted for Bega, Blayney, Bogan, Cabonne, Dungog, Forbes, Muswellbrook, Narrabri, Parkes, Singleton, Snowy Monaro and Upper Hunter Local Government Areas (LGAs) from 1pm today (Thursday, September 16). Unfortunately stay-at-home orders will be introduced for the Albury and Lismore LGAs from 6pm today (Thursday, September 16) for one week, due to an…

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Prioritising the mental health of students and school staff

Thousands of specialist staff are supporting the wellbeing and mental health of school communities during the COVID-19 lockdown. Nationals Minister for Education Sarah Mitchell said the NSW Government has been prioritising the mental health of students by ramping up wellbeing support. “We know how difficult the last 18 months have been for our students, which…

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Water

Water blueprint launched

The NSW Nationals in the state government have launched the NSW Water Strategy – a 20-year blueprint to deliver resilient and sustainable water resources to communities across the state. The strategy coincides with the launch of the Water Project Map – a new tool for people to access information about all water infrastructure projects across…

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Black Summer bushfire recovery grants extended

The NSW Nationals in the federal government have extended applications for Black Summer Bushfire Recovery Program grants in eligible local government areas until 5.00pm Wednesday, October 6, 2021. The areas include the MidCoast, Port Macquarie-Hastings, and Dungog Shire council areas. Grants of between $20,000 and $10 million are available to support regions affected by the…

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Lismore’s new mountain bike track open for business

The new mountain bike skills course at Nesbitt Park in Lismore has been officially opened. The creation of the course involved demolishing part of the existing BMX track, undertaking drainage work, re-establishing landscaping and vegetation, and installing the sorts of bike skill features that normally would be found in a bushland setting. Nationals MLC Ben…

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Historic Blue Mountains tunnel a step closer

Plans to build Australia’s longest road tunnel between Blackheath and Little Hartley are powering ahead, with a major contract awarded for the environmental assessment. Deputy Premier and Minister for Regional NSW John Barilaro said AECOM Australia had been selected in a competitive tender process to work on the proposed 11-kilometre tunnel, a central component of…

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COVID support payments expanded

The NSW Nationals in the state government have announced an additional $287.5 million in COVID-19 financial support to assist workers and vulnerable communities in rural, regional, and metropolitan NSW. The additional funding will see the COVID-19 emergency hardship payments, test and isolate support payments, and community empowerment grants expanded across all of NSW. Deputy Premier…

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Responding to Covid19

Stay-at-home order for Yass Valley

Restrictions will be reintroduced for the Yass Valley Council area from 12:01am Tuesday, September 14 for two weeks. One COVID case has been confirmed in the area following a recent positive sewage detection. Urgent investigations and contact tracing are underway. Following updated health advice from NSW Chief Health Officer Dr Kerry Chant about the growing…

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Locals urged to help build Newell overtaking lanes

Local businesses, suppliers, and contractors are invited to tender for work to build new overtaking lanes along the Newell Highway between Coonabarabran and Narrabri. The NSW Nationals in the state and federal governments are jointly funding the rollout of additional overtaking lanes along this busy freight corridor, with 19 new lanes already delivered, eight under…

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Bronnie Taylor

$1.5 million boost to youth mental health services

Young people across NSW will have access to expanded digital mental health support thanks to a $1.5m investment from the NSW Nationals in the state government. The Moderated Online Social Therapy (MOST) platform, designed by youth mental health organisation Orygen, will be embedded in eight eligible youth mental health services across NSW between now and…

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