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Just three weeks after applications opened for year two of the Regional Seniors Travel Card trial, the popular initiative has had more than 100,000 applications from across regional NSW – and more than 3000 from the Dubbo electorate alone. Member for the Dubbo electorate Dugald Saunders said it’s fantastic to see the keen response to year two of the trial of the $250 pre-paid Visa card which benefited more than 337,500 seniors and their communities in 2020. “The Regional Seniors Travel Card was a commitment we made before the 2019 NSW election, and I’m proud to say it’s one we …

Local seniors jump aboard travel card Read More »

TAFE NSW campuses in Dubbo and Mudgee are set to benefit from their share of a $100 million state-wide investment in TAFE NSW facilities and equipment. The investment will focus on campus maintenance programs including plumbing, minor construction and fire safety. Funding will also be allocated for a range of new training equipment including a CAT grader, thermal imaging camera, air seeder and a sand blasting booth at Dubbo’s Mitchell Highway campus, and cots and bedding equipment, milling machines and a tooling machine at Mudgee’s Ulan Road campus. Member for Dubbo Dugald Saunders welcomed the announcement, which will provide quality …

Dubbo Electorate to benefit from $100 million boost to TAFE NSW Read More »

NSW residents are being urged to reconnect with their money and get some extra cash to spend this Christmas, by checking for any unclaimed money held by Revenue NSW. Member for the Dubbo Electorate Dugald Saunders said more than $461 million in unclaimed money was sitting with Revenue NSW that would be better reunited with its rightful owners. “Christmas is a time of year where all families could do with a little extra,” Mr Saunders said. “COVID-19 has also seen many families tighten their budgets. A quick search could help identify money that is sitting, waiting to be claimed through …

Unclaimed money the perfect stocking filler Read More »

Councils in the Dubbo Electorate can sign up for a share of $1.3 million in NSW Government funding to deliver free events, activities or experiences to enliven local public spaces this summer. Member for the Dubbo Electorate Dugald Saunders said grants of up to $10,000 were available through the ‘Festival of Place Summer Fun(d)’ program to activate the community and encourage people to stay local. “Councils are encouraged to deliver free activities such as innovative lighting displays, outdoor markets, micro-festivals, open-air theatre, street parties, lawn libraries and street entertainment,” Mr Saunders said. “Businesses across the Mid-Western, Dubbo and Narromine regions …

Funding to boost summer fun in our region Read More »

The children of the Dubbo Electorate believe the most important thing about Christmas is family, according to Member for the Dubbo Electorate Dugald Saunders. Mr Saunders called for primary-school children to help design his Christmas card this year, and the winner is 9-year-old Amelia Laws from St Mary’s Primary School in Dubbo. Hot on her heels was 11-year-old Maisie Stanley from St Augustine’s Parish School, Narromine, with 10-year-old Sienna Newstead from St Pius X Primary School, Dubbo earning third place. “There were hundreds of entries this year and the overwhelming theme was that family should be together for Christmas,” Mr …

Kids of Dubbo Electorate say Christmas is about family Read More »

Retirement village residents across the Dubbo Electorate will be protected by new laws that increase safeguards around the sale of their property, and provide early access to their financial entitlements to meet the cost of moving into aged care. Member for the Dubbo Electorate Dugald Saunders said that the changes have increased accountability and transparency in the retirement village sector. “We have introduced a raft of new reforms that will improve access to exit entitlements, make the transition to aged care easier and cap the period of time residents pay recurrent charges for general services,” Mr Saunders said. “This is …

A fairer go for retirees in the Dubbo Electorate Read More »

Member for the Dubbo electorate Dugald Saunders has backed a $300 million increase to the Regional Growth Fund as part of the 2020-21 NSW Budget. Mr Saunders said this transformational fund will include another round of the $100 million Stronger Country Communities Fund, which was responsible for delivering projects such as the Wellington Caves Education Zone, amenity upgrades at Billy Dunn Oval in Gulgong, a new playground at Dundas Park in Narromine and the Soil2Soul program that provides opportunities to at-risk youth in Dubbo. “The Regional Growth Fund has delivered vital projects to all parts of the Dubbo electorate. This …

Bush to benefit from increase to Regional Growth Fund Read More »

Tradies across the Dubbo electorate will now have greater protections to ensure they are paid on time and in full, following the introduction of new laws by the NSW Government. Member for the Dubbo electorate Dugald Saunders said changes to the Security of Payments Act will deliver faster payouts for contractors and subcontractors and quicker and fairer dispute resolution. “These reforms will raise the level of protection for local tradies and subbies so they know they’ll be paid the money they are owed on time,” Mr Saunders said. “At a time when many small building businesses are doing it extremely …

Supporting our tradies during COVID-19 Read More »

Tourism businesses across the Dubbo Electorate can now register for a series of free online industry events to hear expert advice about the domestic market, how to sell bookable products online and how to work with different distribution partners. The events, which include webinars and digital training, are hosted by the NSW Government’s tourism and major events agency Destination NSW and are free for businesses to participate. Member for the Dubbo Electorate Dugald Saunders said businesses and the region would benefit from this industry-focused advice. “This is free, expert advice for tourism businesses that will help our community to attract …

Free online industry development program for our tourism businesses Read More »

Today the NSW Government has taken the difficult but proactive decision to tighten restrictions in NSW (see the Government’s full media release below). We understand that this will be disappointing for many but the reality is that once COVID-19 gets into the community it moves very quickly. We must contain this virus and it is indoor activities that pose the greatest risk. It’s absolutely crucial that everyone does their bit to help stop this virus in its tracks. All of us need to take some personal responsibility and do the right things. We know what those things are: stay home …

STATEMENT: COVID-19 restrictions to be tightened Read More »