I caught up with RFS Northern Tablelands Superintendent Paul Metcalfe on Friday and had a look around the Armidale Fire Control Centre.

It’s an impressive building which has no shortage of kit to help with firefighting operations across the region.

It is also a good reminder to prepare ahead for the fire season. The Bush Fire Danger Period runs from 1 October to 31 March.

Earlier in the week, I tagged along as a Meals on Wheels delivery person in Armidale.

Every day a small army of volunteers load up their cars with delicious meals and set out to deliver, not only sustenance for the body, but a welcome smile and chat which is good for the soul.

It certainly did my soul good to meet the happy faces of customers as MOW volunteer Simon and I did the rounds. This service and others like it across the electorate play a vital role in our communities and I was thoroughly impressed with the service.

Two new pickleball courts for Inverell High School

I delivered some good news to Inverell High School this week with the announcement of a $25,000 grant under the Community Building Partnership fund for the construction of two pickleball courts.

The new acrylic pickleball courts will boost social interaction for students of all ages and abilities as well as promote physical activity.

They will be built on the existing cement surface in the school quadrangle and will transform it into a fun and inviting space.

We know how important physical activity is for the health and wellbeing of students and a game of pickleball will help achieve this goal.

Inverell High has a school community of approximately 500 students, I have no doubt the new pickleball courts will be a terrific space for kids to play together during their morning tea and lunch breaks.

The Department of Education’s Asset Management Unit is overseeing the project, and the courts will be completed by 31 August 2025.

Brendan Moylan tours the Armidale Fire Control Centre with superintendent Paul Metcalfe.

Continuing to back nurses and midwives push for better pay

I continue to put my support behind hardworking nurses and midwives across the electorate and regional NSW, in their concerted effort to push for fairer and more appropriate salaries.

It is great to see other Coalition members now doing the same.

As I have said before, nurses are the backbone of our health system and without them, hospitals would grind to a complete halt.

I recently met with President Emma Ratajczyk and Secretary Warren Isaac of the Armidale Branch of the NSW Nurses and Midwives’ Association and heard their concerns firsthand.

Other states and territories pay nurses up to 18 percent more than New South Wales, this is resulting in many of our local nurses moving to Queensland.

Nurses are highly trained and highly skilled individuals and yet the average salary of first-year nurses is approximately $70,000 which is lower than the average income of a ‘stop-go’ worker in NSW.

Everyone in our community values nurses. It’s about time the State Government does as well.

Glen Innes and Moree Hospital Redevelopments

The Moree Hospital Redevelopment is a step closer with a main works construction tender released this week.

Following the tender process, a builder will be engaged, and the project scope and a construction timeline will be confirmed. Construction is anticipated to commence in 2025.

For further information visit: https://hneinfra.health.nsw.gov.au/projects/moree

In regard to the Glen Innes Hospital Redevelopment, I have been assured by the Health Minister that the $50 million funding commitment remains unchanged.

The redevelopment will include a new emergency department, medical imaging, ambulance bays, mortuary, main entry, and parking facilities.

The new building will be linked to the existing structure to ensure all acute services are on the same level, improving patient and staff flow.

Commentary by Member for Northern Tablelands, Brendan Moylan