IN Thursday’s General Business I had the opportunity to speak about small businesses in our regions and the impact they have, not only our communities but, across the whole of NSW, through a Notice of Motion.

October is Small Business Month and I have been highlighting small businesses in our region through my social media channels. This week I have featured the Inverell Newsagency, Carelles of Glen Innes, Simon Scott Photo and the Uralla Wool Room. They are just some of the valuable local businesses at the heart of our communities.

I also delivered 12 Community Recognition Statements to congratulate and acknowledge some of the Northern Tablelands’ outstanding achievers. Those recognised were: the Pallamallawa Speed Sheer, Ryan Hunt, Muster up Delungra, Jack Lockyer, Mungindi Men’s Shed, Deepwater Players, the Australian Natural Therapeutics Group, Gwenneth Daley, Dustin Uebergang, GLENRAC, Dr Rod Martin and Ruby Drogemuller.

I tabled seven questions on Notice on the lack of public transport to Queensland, tropical soda apple, ambulance helicopter fees, security at Guyra MPS, water quality in Guyra, small business month and COVID-19 microbusiness grants.

Congratulations to the Mayors and Deputy Mayors across the region

Following on from last month’s Council Elections, the seven councils in the Northern Tablelands have elected their mayors and deputy mayors.

There are some new faces who will lead their communities as well as some familiar ones returning to local government.

Congratulations to Armidale Mayor Sam Coupland and Deputy Mayor Todd Redwood, Walcha Mayor Eric Noakes and Deputy Mayor Glen O’Brien, Uralla Mayor Robert Bell and Deputy Mayor Tom O’Connor, Glen Innes Mayor Margot Davis and Deputy Mayor Carol Sparks, Gwydir Shire Mayor Tiffany Galvin and Deputy Mayor Sean Coleman, Moree Mayor Susannah Pearse and Deputy Mayor Wayne Tighe, and Inverell Mayor Kate Dight and Deputy Mayor Jo Williams for their elections.

It is an honour to serve in local government and I look forward to working with them to ensure we deliver on important projects and secure state government funding.

Brendan Moylan encourages people to shop local and support small businesses.

Shop local and support our small businesses

There are approximately 850,000 small businesses in NSW which comprises around 97 per cent of all business in the state. Those small businesses also employ 1.8 million people.

We have hundreds of small businesses across the Northern Tablelands and I commend them for the services they provide their local communities.

I encourage people to continue supporting these small businesses, particularly with the Christmas period coming up.

Crown Reserves Improvement Fund applications to open

The Crown Reserves Improvement Fund (CRIF) will offer around $10m in grants to support Crown Land Managers across NSW.

The funding aims to benefit the community through cultural, recreational and sporting pursuits.

For 2024-25, the funding round is for general, pest and weed projects.

Applications open on 21 October and close on 22 November.

Visit: https://reservemanager.crownland.nsw.gov.au/funding/crif

Commentary by Member for Northern Tablelands, Brendan Moylan