I have been doing my best to get around the Electorate following two weeks in Sydney for the final sittings of 2024.
So far, I have been in Armidale, Uralla, Glen Innes, Inverell, Moree, Warialda, Bingara, Ashford, Bundarra, Coolatai, Pallamallawa, Croppa Creek and North Star.
I will keep getting right around our Electorate in the weeks leading up to Christmas.
Millions pulled from our region
It is incredibly disappointing to hear the State and Federal Governments are revoking approximately $14.1 million in funding from our region.
Sums of $8,721,095 and $5,410,000 million in promised funding to Glen Innes Severn Council and Armidale Regional Council for their Rail Trail project has been withdrawn.
Whether you were for or against the rail trail projects, it is disheartening to learn Mr Minns and Mr Albanese are taking this amount out of our region.
Brendan Moylan caught up with the new owner of North Star’s Vicarage Café, Lisa, while hosting a mobile office on Tuesday.
I have met with the NSW Ministers office to express my disgust and requested they reverse this decision. If they are not prepared to reverse this decision, I will push for this money to stay in our region for other projects and not be funnelled into Sydney, Newcastle and Wollongong.
Unfortunately, I expect that these funds have been lost for good.
The funding that has been taken originally came through the NSW Reconstruction Authority’s bushfire recovery response.
As upsetting as this situation is, I will keep fighting for more funding into our electorate.
Mobile offices
I ventured out to some of our more isolated areas in the electorate this week to connect with locals and visit some of our small businesses.
It was great to get out and about and visit local businesses in the area and connect with people to hear their concerns.
Tuesday saw a visit to the Croppa Creek Store where I met with locals and chatted to the Store’s owners Carolyn and Todd who are catching their breath after a boom harvest.
Then I went to North Star’s Vicarage Café to meet with locals and chat with the café’s new owner, Lisa.
On Wednesday the Wallaroo Hotel at Coolatai and then the Ashford RTC for Mobile Offices accommodated the Mobile Offices. It was excellent to catch up with people from both of those towns as well.
Thank you to the communities and businesses for hosting me!
There are more Mobile Offices planned in the future with Deepwater and Nowendoc scheduled to happen before Christmas. Keep an eye out for confirmation on dates.
Seniors Diary
The annual LegalAid Seniors Diary will soon be available to seniors across the Northern Tablelands. The publication has information on avoiding scams, goods and services, driving and fines, Elder abuse, money and Centrelink, and more. They are free but there’s a limit to two per household.
To secure your copy either ring our Armidale office on 6772 5552 or our Moree office on 6752 5002 or email northerntablelands@parliament.nsw.gov.au
Brendan Moylan last week had Mobile Offices at Ashford RTC, Croppa Creek Store, Wallaroo Hotel and Vicarage Café.
Multicultural NSW Stronger Together Local Council Major Festival grants
The Stronger Together Local Council Major Festival grant funding is allocating $4 million for major festivals run by local Councils across NSW in 2025–26. Festivals are one way to promote cross-cultural awareness and understanding. They give the multicultural communities of NSW the opportunity to celebrate, preserve and share traditions, and live the Multicultural Principles of the State. The program supports multicultural festivals, events and projects across NSW. $100,000 – $500,000 in funding available for each eligible local Council.
Applications close Wednesday 8 January 2025. Visit www.multicultural.nsw.gov.au/stronger-together-major-festival-local-council-grants
Please contact me if I can assist with any applications for funding under this fund.
Meanwhile, Christmas is only a month away (how crazy is that!) and there’s plenty of things happening in coming weeks. So, keep an eye out for things happening in your area and remember to shop local!
As always, please contact our Armidale and Moree Electorate Offices if you wish to raise any concerns.
Commentary by Brendan Moylan, Member for Northern Tablelands
