I met with representatives from Hunter New England Health and all the mayors from across the Northern Tablelands to discuss issues around healthcare in the region.

These regular meetings are incredibly helpful in being able to take concerns from the public, as well as health care workers, directly to the relevant people.

We had a productive meeting on Tuesday and I am very pleased to say there are more nurses coming to the region in early 2025 (Armidale, Inverell and Moree Hospitals).

Funding announcements

This week I have had the pleasure of visiting some community organisations who have received well-deserved funds from the NSW Government.

The Sapphire City Gymnastics Club in Inverell received funding from the Local Sport Defibrillator Grant Program. The club has around 35 participants and many more parents, grandparents who regularly visit to watch members train. It is great they will now have access to this potentially life-saving device, hopefully they will never need to use it.

I also went along to the Sapphire Academy of Sports in Inverell to check out their facility which will receive a much-needed upgrade. The SAS has hundreds of people who attend to train and compete and it is excellent to see the facilities there will be improved thanks to $270,144 in funding.

Brendan Moylan met via zoom with representatives from Hunter New England Health and mayors from across the electorate to discuss issues around healthcare in the region.

School presentations

I have had the honour of attending the end-of-year presentations for schools around the Northern Tablelands.

This week Bundarra Central School, Uralla Central School and Inverell High School held their presentations and it was excellent to see the level of success, both academically and across other pursuits, achieved by students across the region.

Congratulations to everyone who received accolades thank you to our hard working and dedicated teachers who make it all happen!

New England Writers’ Centre

The New England Writers’ Centre faces an uncertain future after three of their funding applications to Create NSW were rejected.

I met with NEWC chair Sophie Masson and program manager Lyn Aspey this week to discuss the future of the organisation.

The centre has been running for 31 years and has helped writers, illustrators and authors build their careers and connect with other like-minded people from across the region.

They only require around $20,000 in funding.

I have requested the NSW Government reverse their decision on the funding for the Writers’ Centre.

Seniors’ diaries

Don’t forget the popular LegalAid Seniors Diaries have arrived and are ready for collection. Please contact the Armidale or Moree Electorate Office to organise a copy. There’s a limit to two per household.

Proposed water price hike

Water NSW and the Water Administration Ministerial Corporation recently submitted a pricing proposal to IPART to increase water prices by over 200 per cent in the next five years. The proposed increases to rural water prices are very concerning and will affect all water-using regional businesses including farmers, graziers, manufacturers, Councils, and food processors.

I have called on the State Labor Government to intervene to ensure water prices remain fair and equitable for everyone. The Premier recently intervened on the proposed hike in fees for Sydney Water, so if Sydney Water uses get a break on their prices, so should we in the regions.

Christmas closing dates

Our Moree and Armidale Electorate Offices will be closed over the Christmas period. The last day for the year will be Friday, December 20 and they will re-open Monday, January 6, 2025.

Please remember to shop local where you can in the lead up to Christmas!

In the meantime though, please don’t hesitate to get in touch if I can help, and please come and say hi if you see me out and about!

Commentary by Brendan Moylan, Member for Northern Tablelands