Inverell’s Sandy Cook has been named the Northern Tablelands Electorate’s Senior of the Year.

The Senior of the Year award recognises someone who contributes to and works tirelessly in their community.

Ms Cook received the honour as part of the NSW Seniors Festival which runs from March 3 to 16.

Since the age of 17, Ms Cook has been volunteering for various community groups in Inverell.

She has been active at Inverell Golf Club and instrumental in promoting the club as well as securing grants and funding to better the facilities.

Ms Cook has also been involved in organising numerous fundraising days, particularly for breast cancer awareness.

Congratulations to Sandy for receiving this award.

Catching up with BackTrack

I visited BackTrack this week to check out everything they do as well as get an update on the BackTrack Night Crew trial program.

BackTrack approached me a couple of months ago about securing funding for a 12-week after-hours trial program to engage young people at risk. BackTrack wanted to put three youth workers on Armidale streets for three nights per week.

After speaking to NSW Premier Chris Minns, Minister for Police Yasmin Catley, and Minister for Youth Justice Jihad Dibb, we managed to secure some funding to assist with the trial.

This is a great example of what can happen when everyone works together to address a serious problem.

Congratulations to BackTrack for taking the steps to initiate and implement the trial program.

Seniors Week

The annual NSW Seniors Festival is run from 3 to 16 March and celebrates the role and contributions of older adults to our local communities.

As part of the NSW Seniors Festival, members of the local community are recognised for their contributions through the NSW Seniors Festival Local Achievement Awards.

This year five people from the Northern Tablelands received Local Achievement Awards.

They were:

Gordon Cope (Armidale)

Francis Crump (Moree)

Doug Barber (Armidale)

Margaret Hinshelwood (Inverell)

Cyril (Jim) Tanner (Armidale)

Congratulations to all recipients and thank you for all the work you do within the community.

Glen Innes Hospital redevelopment update

The schematic design of the proposed new Glen Innes Hospital has been released and is now open for feedback. The design team will be onsite during April for staff consultation, and they will be meeting with the arts working group, key stakeholders and the community to explain design details.

They have released a fly-through video: Glen Innes Hospital

The project team is also looking for community feedback and will be outside Mackenzie Mall on April 1 from 4pm until 6pm and April 2 from 12pm until 2pm.

Funding coming to the Northern Tablelands

The Local Small Commitments Allocation program will provide up to $400,000 in funding across the Northern Tablelands.

The recipients have been notified and so far I can reveal Moree Plains Shire Council will get $60,000 to upgrade the facilities at Biniguy Park.

I will be able to reveal more funding heading to the Northern Tablelands in coming weeks so keep an eye out for those announcements.

Grafton to Inverell

The annual Grafton to Inverell Cycle Classic takes place this weekend. The event starts in the Clarence Valley and winds up through Glen Innes before finishing in Inverell.

It is a great showcase event for the Northern Tablelands and I wish everyone taking part the best of luck!

Proposed water sharing plans

The NSW Government has undertaken further analysis of the wetland mapping following feedback from landholders and several regional MPs including me.

I recommend all landholders visit the Water NSW website, review the proposed maps and make a submission if they disagree with the updated mapping.

Plans to protect the wetlands include the management of the installation of pumps and impounding structures as well as the volume of licensed water that can be taken from wetlands.

For more information, to view the maps, sign up for the webinar, and make a submission visit Water Sharing Public Exhibition.

Submissions close on at 11.59pm on March 23, 2025.

Hunter New England Health Bill submissions open

Submissions are now open for the inquiry into the Health Services Amendment (Splitting of the Hunter New England Health District) Bill 2025.

The proposed Bill aims to dissolve the current Hunter New England Local Health District to establish two new districts – Hunter Local Health District and the New England Northwest Local Health District.

I want to advocate better healthcare outcomes because the New England and Northwest regions are the ones who are crying out for better healthcare services.

The inquiry allows the public to have input into the future of healthcare within the Hunter and New England regions. To make a submission, visit Public Submissions Enquiry Page.

Show Season

Cyclone Alfred didn’t stop the 149th Armidale Show on Friday and Saturday.

There was still plenty of people coming through the gates. Congratulations to the Armidale and New England Show Society for holding another successful, albeit damp, event!

Next stop is Walcha Show this Friday and Saturday.

Parliament

Parliament resumes next week and the following week for the March sittings. I will be back at Macquarie Street bringing concerns from the Northern Tablelands community forward.

Service NSW mobile centres

Service NSW is being their mobile service centre to Toomelah, Mungindi and Boggabilla.

The mobile service centre can help with driver knowledge tests, drivers licence applications and renewals, working with children check, birth, death and marriage certificates, and more.

The mobile service centre will be at Toomelah from 9am until 11am on Tuesday, 8 April at the Community Centre.

Then they will be at Boggabilla’s Community Health Centre, 74 Merriwa Street from 12pm until 3pm on April 8.

The mobile service centre will be at Barwon River Park on 155 George Street, Mungindi on Wednesday, April 9 from 10am until 3pm.

Commentary by Brendan Moylan, Member for Northern Tablelands