A total of $19,531 was secured for Walcha Clay Target Association to install a solar panel and battery system to replace the loud and expensive generator they currently use.

This is great news for the hardworking club that is run entirely by local volunteers.

Funding for Inverell Basketball

A grant to purchase new equipment for the Inverell Basketball Association was secured through the Local Sport Grant Program.

The Inverell Basketball Association is entirely made up of volunteers who run the competition, coach, referee and do all the jobs which are needed to ensure participants can hit the court.

By securing funding to purchase equipment and uniforms, the association can continue to run their programs more efficiently as needed. Great news for another strong sporting organisation.

Armidale makes top 100 list of Aussie towns to visit

This week the Australian Traveller magazine pulled together a panel of industry experts to vote on their 100 best Aussie towns to visit and Armidale made the list

Tamworth, meanwhile, was nowhere to be seen . . .

That’s right, our city of four seasons, tree-lined streets, heritage buildings, world class education facilities and actual autumn colours has edged out our larger neighbour, proving once and for all that good coffee and the ability to enjoy a genuine autumn complete with coats, fireplaces and temperatures below 30 degrees still counts for something in modern Australia.

Armidale came in at number 89, rubbing shoulders with the likes of Byron Bay, Orange and Bowral on the prestigious list.

Now, before anyone accuses me of stirring the pot, and let’s be clear, I absolutely am.

I do want to extend my most sincere commiserations to the Member for Tamworth, Kev Anderson, during what I understand is a very difficult time.

Still, this is no time for division with our Tamworth neighbours and we in Armidale remain committed to maintaining positive relations across the New England.

Tamworth still has many wonderful qualities. It’s an excellent community, has great events and, importantly, it’s only 100kms from Armidale.

Johannes Meier and Caleb Frase took Brendan Moylan for a spin around Danthonia, just outside of Elsmore near Inverell, where they’re well-known for regenerative agriculture practices and holistic cattle management. “It was amazing to see what they have done with their grazing systems and regen-ag,” Mr Moylan said.

Parliamentary sittings

It was another busy week in Macquarie Street, with debates running into the early hours of the morning on a few nights.

This week, I spoke in opposition to the Energy Legislation Amendment (Prioritising Renewable Energy) Bill 2026, in support of the Health Services Amendment (Right to Primary Health Care) Bill 2026 and in support of the Crimes Legislation Amendment (Organised and Gang-Related Crime Reforms) Bill 2026.

The Energy Legislation Amendment (Prioritising Renewable Energy) Bill 2026 is an extraordinarily bad piece of legislation.

It hands unprecedented power to the Planning Minister to circumvent existing planning laws and fast track renewable energy projects in the absence of community or local council feedback.

The NSW Opposition strongly opposed the Bill. Rushing approvals while silencing communities is not demonstrating leadership; it is lazy, arrogant government.

We deserve to have a genuine say about what happens in our own backyards, about how our communities are impacted and how our precious water resources, farmland and native vegetation are handled.

Instead of allowing us that, the bill simply allows the Minister to approve projects and transmission infrastructure with the stroke of a pen.

My Notice of Motion in Parliament this week called on the state government to address the increase in violence and assaults directed at nurses in emergency departments and proposed the government boost staffing and security.

This Motion came around as a result of a number of recent incidents in our EDs across the region. Our nurses and hospital workers deserve much better.

I also delivered Community Recognition Statements acknowledging the efforts of the Inverell Transport Museum, the Animal Welfare League’s Moree Branch, the Country Education Foundation of Gwydir Learning Region, North Star Public School’s relay swimming team, Inverell’s Nelson Zell, Warialda Show, Bingara Central School, the 90th anniversary of Radio 2NZ, and in memory of Bill Baker.

The current sitting period will wrap up on Thursday night next week.

Rain, beautiful rain!

It was nice to get home today and see water lying on the ground.

From what I’m told, the last 14 days have seen good falls including up to 70mm at Walcha, 70mm at Warialda, Bingara saw 60mm, Armidale up to 45mm, Inverell up to 55mm, Moree saw up to 90mm, Glen Innes saw around 35mm and Uralla received around 45mm.

Very welcome indeed.

What’s on

June 6: Mallawa Picnic Races

June 6: Annual Myall Creek Memorial Exhibition – Ceramic Break Sculpture Park 2535 Allan Cunnginham Road, Warialda from 10am until 5pm

June 6-7-8: Bingara Bush Bash Open Championship Tennis Tournament www.92computing.com.au/bushbashentry.htm

June 7: Drought Time Out for our farming community from 11am at 7459 Bruxner Highway, Dumaresq Valley

June 20: Uralla Arts Winter Solstice Celebration at The Glen, Uralla

Commentary by Brendan Moylan, Member for Northern Tablelands