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Crown Land Managers across the Dubbo electorate are now able to apply for their share of $16 million in funding to maintain and improve Crown land reserves for community use. Member for the Dubbo electorate Dugald Saunders said applications for the Crown Reserves Improvement Fund are officially open until November 17. “This funding is essential to help us look after these facilities on behalf of the government, and I would strongly encourage eligible organisations to come forward,” Mr Saunders said. “There is $14 million worth of grants and $2 million in loans on offer, which could go a long way […]

The children of the Dubbo electorate are being invited to let their creativity flow by helping design the Christmas card for local MP Dugald Saunders. Primary school students across the region are being asked to submit drawings with the theme My Dream Christmas Holiday. The winning entry will take pride of place on Mr Saunders’ Christmas card which will be delivered to thousands of households across the region. The card will also be delivered to hundreds of people and organisations across NSW. “This year I would love to see where and how kids would spend their Christmas if they could

Member for the Dubbo electorate Dugald Saunders is encouraging community groups across the region to apply for the next round of the Community Building Partnerships program, which opens on Monday, October 2. The program secures investment for local infrastructure projects that aim to deliver positive social, environmental and recreational outcomes, while promoting community participation and inclusion.   Since its inception, almost $400 million has been put towards more than 18,000 projects across NSW. Some of the successful local projects in the last round included a mobile interactive smartboard for U3A, a patient transport vehicle for the Cancer Council, a blanket and heat

The NSW Labor Government is lying to Regional communities when it comes to fixing roads, claiming it will outlay seven times the amount of funding than what it actually has allocated in the budget for the next four years. Minister for Regional Transport and Roads Jenny Aitchison has contradicted the budget papers on numerous occasions in the past couple of days, including on the floor of Parliament. Page 1-5 of Budget Paper No.3: Infrastructure Statement clearly states: “$46.6 million over four years for the Regional Roads Fund (as part of a total $334.0 million investment).” In Question Time yesterday Ms

Nationals leader Dugald Saunders has slammed the Premier for failing to rule out a legislation change to the Snowy Hydro Legacy Fund that would see the remaining allocation ripped away from regional NSW. The $4.2 billion kitty was created after the State sold its stake in the project to the Commonwealth, with every cent committed to improving infrastructure in the bush. Mr Saunders said the fund was announced by the former Liberal and Nationals Government to support better water security, digital connectivity, road and rail, freight links and the establishment of Special Activation Precincts. “The Snowy Hydro Legacy Fund Act

Regional communities across NSW are suffering from a double shortage blow. It’s a catch twenty-two between needing more workers across the board and needing more accommodation to house them. Whichever way you look at it, one problem cannot be fixed without solving the other, especially when housing in regional areas is becoming both unaffordable and unavailable to those on medium to low incomes. Modular housing is one of my big ticket items as NSW Nationals Leader, and it is one of the main solutions we need to look at to stem the regional housing shortage.     It provides a real opportunity

The NSW Nationals are calling on the Labor Government to unveil its drought preparedness plan, after small pockets of the state were declared to be back in drought. Nationals Leader Dugald Saunders said parts of the Hunter Valley and areas around Grafton and Casino have been identified as being already impacted by the Department of Primary Industries’ Combined Drought Indicator. “After a dry winter and ahead of the warmer months, drought is now on every farmer’s mind. It is seemingly inevitable, it is coming, and we need to prepare for it”, Mr Saunders said. “The last drought was the worst

Member for the Dubbo electorate Dugald Saunders has urged residents to sign a petition designed to pressure the Labor government into keeping a hugely successful cost-of-living measure aimed towards regional seniors. The Coalition rolled out the $250 Regional Seniors Travel Card in 2019, and more than a million cards have been distributed since. But after cutting off applications for the card in July, Labor on Saturday announced a 4c per litre reduction in fuel for seniors at United service stations. “Labor’s announcement on Saturday is a weak attempt to compensate eligible seniors, and the most genuine sign so far that

Vital community projects in every local government area across regional NSW are under threat, with the Labor government refusing to rule out scrapping the hugely successful Stronger Country Communities Fund (SCCF). Member for the Dubbo electorate Dugald Saunders has urged the Minister for Regional NSW Tara Moriarty to stand up for communities in the bush and roll out the $90 million in funding that had been set aside by the previous government for the next round of the program. “Every day we’re reminded of the success of this program, and how it has made a really meaningful difference to the