Flooding around electorate still a major issue

I have been on the road the last couple of weeks following a busy period in parliament.

Flooding around the electorate is still a major issue. Impacted councils are declaring natural disasters to tap into federal funding for the clean-up. Rainfall totals exceeding 158mm in Walgett, 154mm in Lightning Ridge, 140mm in Wee Waa, 89mm in Narrabri 86.5mm in Boggabri caused riverine rises and flash flooding in many communities. Many towns and communities were on watch and act. The Paroo River at Wanaaring reached a record height of 5.13 metres, overtaking the previous record of 4.88 metres. The SES, Bourke Shire Council and many volunteers worked tirelessly to build the levy height up to 5.5m to protect the village. The water is receding at Wanaaring; however, the town is expected to be isolated for several weeks. The Narrabri region has moved from the response stage into the recovery stage, which means the Reconstruction Authority now takes the lead off emergency services.

The SES has done a fantastic job working with communities to ensure people are safe and informed. Many resupply trips of food, water, and medicine were delivered to isolated homes and properties by air and boat. The LLS helped move stock and evacuate large pets to safety. Several assets were deployed to be in position for a quick response: aviation assets in Bourke and Walgett, high-clearance vehicles at Bourke and Wanaaring, and additional vessels and general-purpose vehicles.

As the water moves through the system and down towards the catchment at Menindee Lakes, so will the SES, engaging with local communities and landholders along the way.

I have been in constant communication with the SES Incident Commander and impacted mayors and general managers. The Minister for Emergency Services, Jihad Dib and Minister for Reconstruction, Janelle Saffin, have made themselves available at any time to ensure Barwon has what it needs to get through this.

The silver lining to all the water around is that the moisture profile in the soil will benefit agriculture and flows in the river will fill up weir pools and give the rivers a good flush. Now, we need to keep on top of the damage to property and infrastructure and control an explosion of weeds.

This week, I am on the road with Jenny Aitchison, the Minister for Roads, Regional Roads, and Transport. We will travel the length and breadth of the electorate to examine some completed road and transport projects and see places that need attention. Following the floods, I am sure there will be a lot to look at along the way.

Narrabri Junior Soccer Club

The Narrabri Junior Soccer Club gave me a tour of the recently completed work at their clubhouse. We assisted the club with funding a while back, and it is great to see the upgrades.

Wide pathways now surround the building, and there is a large undercover area on the playing field side. These improvements have already yielded benefits for the club and will continue to do so for many years to come.

But there is still work to be done, including accessible toilets, lighting, drainage, and earthworks. I have committed to working with the club and Narrabri Shire Council to get this underway. With 440 members, it’s a very strong club that is growing constantly and brings many benefits to Narrabri and surrounding communities.

Narrabri rezoning proposal

The NSW government has finalised the Narrabri rezoning proposal in collaboration with Narrabri Shire Council.

This is a 20-year plan that will guide the future of housing, employment, and revitalisation in Narrabri. 2,100 new flood-free homes are set to be delivered.

This proposal identifies three precincts that will focus on housing, employment uses, and industrial activities. These precincts balance the region’s housing and industrial needs while creating a framework to boost housing and economic growth.

The employment lands precinct will be located between the Newell Highway and the Inland Rail route, with a proposed buffer between the residential area and the Inland Port Precinct. Plans also include new health and aged-care facilities, childcare spaces, and a potential school site near the village centre.

Narrabri has a large economy that helps prop up our overall economy here in NSW. This investment means Narrabri can keep expanding and providing for its community and many more. I have worked closely with the government and the

Narrabri Shire Council to make sure this rezoning proposal delivers the necessary opportunities for Narrabri and its surrounding communities. I look forward to seeing the outcomes of this great announcement.

Kogil St Pre-School

The Kogil Street Pre-School in Narrabri has dedicated and caring staff who reached out a while ago for some assistance, so while I was in town, I paid them a visit to see how everything was going.

The preschool supports kids aged 3-5 years, an incredibly important time in a child’s life just before they move into primary school. After talking with the staff, I could tell these kids were in good hands.

There are a few more things around the school that need funding. I will continue to work with the staff to achieve this.

Submission writing in Wee Waa- Health Services Amendment (Splitting of the Hunter New England Health District) Bill 2025

My bill to split the Hunter New England Local Health District (HNELHD) was referred to an Inquiry in NSW Parliament, meaning anyone who has had a negative experience with this health district can write a submission. This is the perfect opportunity for the NSW Parliament to hear directly from the community about the issues occurring with HNELHD.

The Wee Waa Hospital has been of particular importance due to the experience of many in the area around reduced operating hours and the lack of nursing staff and doctors. Because of the importance of Wee Waa Hospital, my team organised a submission writing day at the Wee Waa Lands Council last week.

The word “submission” can be pretty scary to some people, but a submission does not need to be long, incredibly detailed or an award-winning piece of literature. It just has to outline your experience. That could be two sentences or two pages, whatever works for you. My team assisted around six people on the day who wished to share a range of experiences with the committee, from birth stories and minor injuries to palliative care.

I want to ensure that all voices are heard, which is why I have successfully sought an extension to the submission period by 21 days. My office and I are in regular contact with the Wee Waa Hospital Community Working Party and the Save Our Wee Waa Hospital group to ensure they all have the latest information available.