Demanding week across the shire

It has been a demanding week across the shire. While the flooding was not as severe as it could have been, it certainly left its mark.

Several homes in Narrabri experienced water through the house, with furniture and belongings ruined. I understand the NSW Reconstruction Authority and Red Cross will be visiting affected homes over the coming days to offer support.

If you do not receive a visit but have been impacted, please phone 02 9212 9311 or email [email protected].

To all the volunteers, emergency workers and residents who stepped up over the past week—thank you. The efforts of the SES, our police, ambulance service, Fire and Rescue NSW, Rural Fire Service, VRA Rescue NSW, council workers and Transport for NSW were instrumental in keeping people safe and informed.

We received a substantial amount of rain, and our road network has taken a battering. These floods have caused millions of dollars worth of damage. Many roads—sealed and unsealed—have been impacted. Sealed roads can buckle under water, leading to potholes or entire sections needing repair, and dirt roads quickly deteriorate under heavy traffic. Please continue to drive with caution.

Conditions can change rapidly, and even shallow water poses real risks to vehicles.

I also received a phone call from the NSW Roads Minister, Jenny Aitchison, to check in on our residents’ welfare and to personally reassure us of her support for getting our roads back up and operational. We really appreciate this!

The past week also highlighted the importance of reliable health services in rural communities. On Thursday, March 27, I attended parliament with our interim general manager and the Save Wee Waa Hospital committee to watch the Member for Barwon, Roy Butler, present our petition to the Legislative Assembly. It was encouraging to see strong, united support from across the political spectrum. The Members for Coffs Harbour, Blue Mountains, Wagga Wagga and the Northern Tablelands all spoke with clarity and conviction about the need for a functioning 24-hour hospital in Wee Waa—and the Minister for Health also voiced his support.

Emergencies do not follow office hours. The need for an available on-site doctor, overnight beds and a 24-hour accident and emergency department is not something we should have to argue for—it should be a given. Since 8am last Saturday, the emergency department at Wee Waa Hospital has remained open and has been well used during the flooding. It is proof that when the funding is there, the services follow. Now we need the same support to deliver doctors and inpatient care.

There is still work to be done while we await the findings of the independent review, but I want to acknowledge the community’s persistence and thank Roy for his speech in parliament. The message has been sent—now let us keep pushing to get the hospital properly open.

I encourage everyone in our community to consider lodging a submission into the splitting up of Hunter New England Health. Many of our smaller communities receive less than ideal health services compared to their city cousins. If you have stories or viewpoints about how our hospitals can better serve the needs of you and your family then please consider writing a submission.

Writing workshops will be held to help people write submissions. For details please monitor the Save Wee Waa Hospital Facebook page or call our local member’s office on 6792 1422.

A few reminders:

Saturday, April 12 marks the final day of the summer pool season. As a thank you to the community, there will be free entry to all shire pools on the day.

Royal Life Saving NSW is holding two Public Pool Lifeguard courses at the Narrabri Aquatic Centre on April 15 and 16. Details are on council’s website.

Council is transitioning to VendorPanel in 2025 for all tenders, EOIs and quotations. This online platform will improve transparency and make it easier for businesses to work with council. It is free to register, and we encourage all suppliers to sign up. Information sessions will be held at the Narrabri Aquatic Centre on:

– Wednesday, April 2 from 9am to 4pm.

– Tuesday, May 6 from 11am to 7pm.

– Wednesday, May 7 from 11am to 4pm.

Have a good week everyone and stay safe!