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Small businesses that experienced a downturn over summer can now apply for a NSW Government support payment of up to $5,000 per week through Service NSW. Member for the Dubbo electorate Dugald Saunders said the Small Business Support Program will provide cashflow assistance to help local businesses get through the current COVID-19 outbreak and keep workers employed. “Over the summer, Omicron meant many people chose to stay at home, which hit small businesses in our community hard, especially in the hospitality and tourism sectors,” Mr Saunders said. “Our Small Business Support Program is about making sure businesses that are viable […]

Sporting clubs in the Dubbo electorate are being encouraged to come to the crease with some big-hitting ideas for delivering mental health and wellbeing activities as part of a $2.8 million Mental Health Sports program. Member for the Dubbo electorate Dugald Saunders said clubs can apply for grants of up to $150,000 from now until 6 March 2022 for activities that provide mental health, resilience and wellbeing benefits to individuals and groups across the local region. “Sporting clubs are the heart of our communities, helping to bring people together and forge a strong sense of place,” Mr Saunders said. “During

Volunteer land managers and Local Land Services (LLS) are putting weeds on notice, after the NSW Government committed more than $35,000 for control activities from the Crown Reserves Improvement Fund. Member for the Dubbo electorate and Minister for Agriculture Dugald Saunders said four Travelling Stock Reserves (TSRs) around Narromine and Dubbo are among the seven sites to secure funding in the latest round. “Crown Reserves are great public assets exist for the whole community to enjoy, providing land for recreation and community groups as well as conservation – but they also need to play a role in biosecurity,” Mr Saunders

Inland Rivers across NSW, including the Macquarie, will be cleaner thanks to a NSW Government grant program. Member for the Dubbo electorate Dugald Saunders has announced OzFish will receive $79,180 as part of a $1.8 million litter prevention program managed by the NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA) that aims to tackle local litter hotspots. “We’ve come a long way with litter on the Macquarie River but there’s still a lot of work to do,” Mr Saunders said. “Some people still aren’t getting the message that littering does real damage, and frankly it’s just not acceptable in this day and age.

Local groups and not-for-profit organisations that delivered food and care hampers to community members across the Dubbo electorate during the 2021 COVID lockdowns can now apply to have some of their distribution expenses reimbursed thanks to the Resilience NSW COVID Regional Community Support (CRCS) program. Member for the Dubbo electorate Dugald Saunders said not-for-profits and groups can now apply to recoup up to $30,000 of costs incurred when distributing these vital supports during lockdown, including fuel, couriers and logistics expenses. “During the COVID-19 pandemic groups from across our region stood up to help their fellow community members with deliveries of

Businesses in the Dubbo electorate are urged to apply for a NSW Government grant program that’s already delivering significant job growth across the region. Member for the Dubbo electorate Dugald Saunders said applications are now open for the $40 million Regional Job Creation Fund Round Two, for projects that will attract investment through co-funded business initiatives to support economic recovery and resilience in the across regional NSW. “From the smallest start-ups to some of our largest employers, the Regional Job Creation Fund is already delivering more than 540 jobs across the Dubbo electorate,” Mr Saunders said. “Grants will range from

Minister for Agriculture and Western NSW Dugald Saunders today helped release 5,000 Murray Cod fingerlings in the Macquarie River at Dubbo, taking the total number of Murray Cod stocked in NSW waterways in 2021-22 to 1.27 million, eclipsing previous records. Mr Saunders said today’s final stocking event capped off a record-breaking season, smashing the previous state stocking record of 780,000 back in 2006-07. “Stocking over a million fingerlings into NSW waterways is crucial to strengthening the Murray Cod populations and this record-breaking year is monumental following years of crippling drought,” Mr Saunders said. The Murray Cod fingerlings were the progeny

Newly elected councillors are being urged to participate in comprehensive webinars to provide them with the know-how to serve the best interests of the local community. The NSW Government is holding a 12-week series of Hit the Ground Running webinars to support the councillors to fulfil their civic responsibilities to the best of their abilities. Member for the Dubbo electorate Dugald Saunders commended the newly elected Dubbo Regional, Mid-Western Regional and Narromine Shire councillors for hitting the ground running, and encouraged them to take advantage of the webinars. “Our local councillors are integral to ensuring our local council provides our

Christine Anu, Shannon Noll and Phil Burton from Human Nature will lead the line-up for the highly anticipated Premier’s Gala Concerts during this year’s NSW Seniors Festival. Member for the Dubbo electorate Dugald Saunders said free tickets to the concerts, to be held at ICC Sydney on 30 and 31 March 2022, will be available through Ticketek from 9am next Friday 28 January. “The NSW Government hosts the Premier’s Gala Concerts each year to thank seniors for their contributions to our communities,” Mr Saunders said. “These concerts are hugely popular among our seniors for good reason. They provide a great