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I welcome the $200 million Regional Recovery Package we announced as a State Government today, which includes a new $50 million Regional Events Package, Round two of the $30 million Regional Jobs Creation Fund, and $40 million for priority infrastructure projects across Regional NSW. Regional NSW – especially our region – has been hit hard by the Delta outbreak, and this announcement demonstrates the NSW Government’s commitment to make sure regional areas bounce back better than ever before. We’re turbocharging the COVID-19 recovery across regional NSW. The new $25 million Community Events Package will help local councils stage events like […]

Students in the Dubbo electorate will have access to more opportunities and support than ever before, with schools this week learning they’ll share in more than $10 billion in state-wide needs-based funding in 2022. Member for the Dubbo electorate Dugald Saunders has revealed the 34 public schools across the electorate will receive a combined $28 million in 2022 – a $1.2 million increase on the previous year. “This level of funding going to our schools mean students have the opportunities and support to reach their potential through a quality education,” Mr Saunders said. “This government is proud of its investment

Member for the Dubbo electorate Dugald Saunders is encouraging young people hoping to make a difference in their community, to apply to join next year’s Regional Youth Taskforce, a Ministerial advisory group with a strong voice into government. Mr Saunders said the Taskforce provides young people aged between 12 and 24 with a unique opportunity to meet with government and inform decision making that will have flow-on benefits for their communities. “Being on the Taskforce is all about representing friends, classmates and family to champion local causes, and play a part in making decisions that will help drive change in

In a major boost to rail freight efficiency between Orange and Dubbo, work on the $12.98 million rail passing loop at Maryvale is now complete. Member for the Dubbo electorate Dugald Saunders said following the completion of track work, testing was carried out to ensure safety for trains using the loop. “Not only will this loop, the rail equivalent of overtaking lanes, help rail freight efficiencies and passenger services by improving journey times, but the project has also supported up to 100 jobs at the peak of construction,” Mr Saunders said. “With the regional freight task in NSW set to

After the worst drought in living memory, our region is now set for its second bumper harvest in as many years. Unfortunately, the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent border closures have made life difficult for our farmers – especially those who rely on interstate or overseas workers to harvest their crops. I’m delighted the NSW Government is able lend a hand, by giving all 4,500 staff from the Department of Regional NSW – including Local and Services and DPI – access to five days’ special leave to help our farmers. Nearly 80 percent of staff from the DRNSW live and work

There are a number of key changes to the “Re-opening NSW Roadmap”, which will see fully vaccinated adults enjoying more freedoms from next Monday 11 October. WHERE AND HOW TO GET YOUR COVID-19 VACCINATION The changes to the 70% roadmap will allow: up to 10 visitors (not counting children 12 and under) to a home (previously five) the cap lifted on outdoor gatherings to 30 people (previously 20) the cap increased for weddings and funerals to 100 people (previously 50) Indoor pools will also be re-opened for swimming lessons, squad training, lap swimming, and rehab activities On the Monday after

With a difficult 2021 coming to a close, Member for the Dubbo electorate Dugald Saunders is calling for help to design his holiday greeting cards. Primary school children across the region are being asked to submit drawings, with the winner to take pride of place on the card, which is delivered to hundreds of people and organisations across NSW. Given the challenges of the year, which saw the state plunged into lockdown, Mr Saunders is keen for the children of the region to share drawings that show Christmas out of lockdown. “This year I want kids to show me what

New funding is available across the region for organisations providing critical grassroots support to the community in response to the Covid-19 pandemic. Member for the Dubbo electorate Dugald Saunders said Orana Support Service (OSS) has been successful, with $15,000 approved in the first round of the Empowering and Supporting Local Communities grants program. Orana Support Service has been providing significant help to the community during the pandemic, and Mr Saunders has called on other local grassroots organisations to apply for round two. “The team at OSS has done a great job during this trying time, and the collaboration with other

Local tradies are being invited to help brighten up the region’s schools, with a third round of the LED Lighting Upgrade program announced. More than 800 public schools across the state are set to benefit from the $157.8 million initiative, including a total of 19 across the Dubbo electorate. State MP Dugald Saunders welcomed the inclusion of Ballimore Public, Dubbo West, Dubbo School of Distance Education, Mian School, Yawarra Community School, and Gulgong Public schools. Each will have old, inefficient lights replaced with smart LED lights, benefiting the eyes and minds of students and staff – and school power bills.

Collaboration has been the key to stabilising the COVID-19 outbreak in western NSW, according to Member for the Dubbo electorate Dugald Saunders. The situation looked dire on Friday the 13th (August), as the region’s health authorities forecast exponential growth of COVID-19 cases in the Dubbo region and some of our remote far-west communities. But the local emergency management committees sprang into action, combining state government agencies like police and health with local councils, Aboriginal Land Councils and other non-government organisations. The Australian Defence Force was also mobilised to help accelerate the vaccine rollout, with their entire program coordinated from the