Author name: Dugald Saunders

Local organisations to receive funding boost

A trio of local social sector organisations will receive a funding boost totalling $150,000 to help them modernise their operations and improve the services they deliver. Member for the Dubbo electorate Dugald Saunders said the NSW Government’s Social Sector Transformation Fund is helping to support small-to-medium sized organisations with grants. “Social services organisations play a pivotal role delivering support to some of the most vulnerable people in our community,” Mr Saunders said. “They’ve had to adapt how they deliver services during the pandemic and this funding will help them invest in improved business processes, technology upgrades and new ways of […]

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Funding available for 2022 Seniors Festival

The call is out for organisations across the region to apply for grant funding for activities that support the delivery of the 2022 NSW Seniors Festival. Member for the Dubbo electorate Dugald Saunders said the $200,000 NSW Seniors Festival Grants Program supports initiatives that encourage people aged 60 or over to stay healthy, engaged and active. “This is an opportunity to celebrate or build on the diverse skills and interests of seniors in our community in areas like art, sport, health or technology,” Mr Saunders said. “The 2021 NSW Seniors Festival included e-safety sessions, drumming circles, movie nights and gardening

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Fee-free courses prove popular in Dubbo electorate

More than 1700 residents from the Dubbo electorate have taken up the chance to upskill through a fee-free JobTrainer course during the pandemic. It comes as NSW records more than 100,000 Jobtrainer enrolments since the jointly-funded Federal and NSW Government program was announced in October. Member for the Dubbo electorate Dugald Saunders said the most popular courses to study were operating forklift and forklift truck, statement of attainment in construction and statement of attainment in hospitality. “It’s great to see locals using their time during lockdown to learn a new skill, change their career or get their first qualification,” Mr

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Pfizer vaccinations and Zinc Phosphide Rebate program

Last week the NSW government took the difficult decision to redirect Pfizer doses from the regions to the COVID-ravaged areas of South West and Western Sydney. About 200-300 doses are set to be redirected from the Western NSW Local Health District. In turn, extra supplies are on the way to the regions in the coming weeks. The biggest threat to our regional communities is the growing outbreak of the Delta strain in Sydney. We currently have no cases in our region and vaccinating young people in the hot spot areas will help to keep it that way. Allowing COVID to

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Zinc phosphide rebates available to farmers

Rebates of up to $10,000 are available from today for eligible farmers in the region to assist with the purchase of zinc phosphide mouse bait as part of the NSW Government’s $150 million mice support package. Member for the Dubbo electorate Dugald Saunders said many farmers are preparing to fight a spring surge in mouse numbers following a winter lull. “The whole of the central west felt the effects of the mouse plague over summer and autumn and thankfully we’ve had some reprieve as they settled down over winter,” he said. “Given the numbers we saw, the experts are predicting

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Works progress on cancer centre and new car parking spaces

Planned upgrades that will deliver more than 350 additional carparking spaces to the Dubbo Hospital precinct continue as planned, with aerial images of the site showing significant work has already taken place. Member for the Dubbo electorate Dugald Saunders turned the first sod on the $30 million project back in March, and said he is looking forward to tracking the progress of both sites. “The new car park close to the main entry point of the hospital is scheduled to be finished in the next few months and will open shortly after,” Mr Saunders said. “That is one part of the

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Rural Access Gap program continues to roll out

Following a successful pilot program in Dubbo, stages two and three of the historic technology upgrades for all regional schools in NSW is now underway.  The $365.8 million Rural Access Gap program is ahead of schedule, with 1000 rural and remote public schools now receiving a top-to-bottom digital upgrade.   Member for the Dubbo electorate Dugald Saunders said he is thrilled that 29 schools across the area had the opportunity to participate in this historic pilot program.  “Under the Rural Access Gap program, more than 680 new devices were delivered to students across the region and 540 new laptops were given to teachers. Not only did our schools receive hardware, they were also resourced with mentoring, advice and guidance from a

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First sod turned on Boothenba Road upgrade

Safety on Boothenba Road is set to be improved, with the first sod turned on upgrades to the intersection that leads to the Dubbo Regional Livestock Markets. Member for the Dubbo electorate Dugald Saunders joined with Federal Member for Parkes Mark Coulton and Dubbo region mayor Stephen Lawrence for the event, which marks the official commencement of the $8 million project. The NSW Government has contributed $6 million from its Drought Stimulus Package to the project, and Mr Saunders said the work will improve a known black-spot. “We announced the funding for this project on the same day that Dubbo

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Applications open for youth projects

Young people will develop the skills and knowledge they need to support future employment, education and training opportunities through a NSW Government grant program which opens today. Member for the Dubbo electorate Dugald Saunders said local not-for-profits, community groups and councils are being encouraged to apply for grants of up to $50,000 as part of the NSW Government’s Youth Opportunities program. “These grants will help young people develop tangible skills to support future employment, education and training opportunities,” Mr Saunders said. “They will also support young people’s participation, engagement, and inclusion in the community.” The Youth Opportunities grants provide one-off,

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Narromine plans of management for Crown Reserves adopted

More than 60 hectares of prime Crown land in the Narromine area will be put to its best uses for the local community following the finalisation and adoption of Plans of Management by Narromine Shire Council. Member for the Dubbo electorate Dugald Saunders said Plans of Management have been approved by the Department of Planning, Industry and Environment – Crown Lands. “Under the Crown Lands Management Act, councils are required to prepare Plans of Management for Crown land they manage on behalf of the NSW Government. Narromine Shire Council has about 63 hectares of Crown land reserve under its care

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