Progress made on key issues for the Narrabri Shire

There has been progress on some key issues for our shire, including last Saturday’s meeting about the Wee Waa Hospital with our local NSW state member, Roy Butler.

The council, our local member and members of the Wee Waa community are determined to continue pushing for a doctor’s appointment to the hospital and for the hospital to operate beyond 5:30pm.

Most of all the community want to know when this is happening. This hospital has been teetering on closure for years now.

I want to thank all those involved for keeping up the pressure on our Local Health District.

Our new splash pads in Boggabri, Wee Waa, and Narrabri officially open this Thursday and will operate daily between 9 am and 7 pm. These are great spaces for young and old to cool off during the summer.

Unfortunately, we did experience some vandalism to the Wee Waa splash pad, but our team quickly repaired the damage to ensure it remained open.

Future improvements such as shade and seating are planned, pending funding opportunities.

On the subject of vandalism there have been “tagging” incidents particularly in Narrabri.

I encourage all residents to be on the lookout for troublemakers. If you see anything suspicious, please call Crimestoppers on 1800 333 000 or if you see anything more serious, then call 000.

Council does have CCTV across the shire which the Police have access to. We do enjoy relatively low crime rates in Narrabri Shire, however we all need to remain vigilant.

At this time of year, we remind everyone to check council’s website for holiday operating hours, including changes to waste collection services.

It is also important to follow parking restrictions in the CBD to support local businesses and ensure accessibility during the busy Christmas shopping period.

Recent PFAS testing across all seven town water supplies managed by council has provided some reassuring results.

PFAS was not detected in six locations, and while it was found in Narrabri’s water supply, the levels are well below current Australian guidelines.

Council is working closely with NSW Health and the EPA to monitor the situation, and we will keep the community updated.

Looking ahead to next year, council will be installing new bulk water filling stations in Boggabri and Wee Waa.

We are currently seeking feedback on the proposed locations, and residents are encouraged to share their thoughts by visiting the council website.

I would like to thank everyone for their contributions to our shire this year.

Whether through your work, volunteering, or participation in community events, you all play a part in making Narrabri Shire such a great place to live.

I look forward to continuing to work with you in 2025.

As a final note, this time of the year can be a difficult one for those people who have lost loved ones and for those who find themselves alone.  I know that so many of you will reach out to those people to bring a bit of Christmas cheer.

Thank you!

Wishing you all a safe, Merry Christmas and a very Happy New Year. Enjoy the break (if you are having one!), and I look forward to seeing you in the new year.