From my Desk

Vaccination has been an absolute game-changer in the fight against COVID-19 and it’s fantastic for our community that things can start to open up progressively from next Monday:https://www.nsw.gov.au/covid-19/easing-covid-19-restrictions These freedoms are only made possible thanks to high rates of vaccination, and I want to say a huge thank you to everyone who has done the right thing by your loved ones and the wider community by getting vaccinated! Vaccination reduces the risk of you spreading the virus to someone vulnerable, which could cost them their life. It also means some changes to the way we deal with COVID cases going

There was some great news early this week with further details on NSW’s roadmap for easing restrictions for fully vaccinated people. We know stay-at-home orders will be lifted for fully vaccinated adults when NSW reaches the 70 percent double dose vaccination target (Stage 1), which is expected from 11 October. From the Monday after NSW hits the 80 percent target (end of October), restrictions will be eased for those who are fully vaccinated: Up to 10 visitors will be allowed in a home (not including those 12 and under), Community sports will be permitted, Retail stores can operate at one

Great news over the weekend with restrictions being eased to coincide with the warmer days and rapidly rising vaccination rates! Burrendong Dam and Cudgegong Waters both reopened to the Dubbo Regional local government area (LGA) over the weekend for the purposes of exercise and recreation (including boating). Mookerawa Waters has also thrown open its gates. Check the COVID-safe measures in place: https://reflectionsholidayparks.com.au/travel-information/ NSW Health has also announced that outdoor public swimming pools can reopen from Monday 27 September, with strict COVID-safe protocols in place. Not all councils will reopen their pools but for those that do, this will be a

The development applications for the Dubbo Regional Sports Hub were submitted to Dubbo Regional Council last week. The hub will be developed on Charles Sturt University land, with Stage 1 involving the construction of a $25.3 million PCYC and Multi Indoor Sport Facility featuring a combination of basketball, gymnastics, indoor hockey, netball, futsal and volleyball courts, providing an all-weather venue for sporting participants of all levels. This is such an exciting milestone and it’s fantastic to see the project gathering momentum. I look forward to the hundreds of local construction jobs and the boost to our local economy the project

Applications are now open for the NSW Government’s sports infrastructure fund. The fund will provide grants from $100,000 up to $1 million to eligible sport and recreation organisations and councils. Eligible projects include lighting, amenity buildings, clubrooms, change rooms and grandstands, with a particular focus on projects that encourage the participation of women, girls, and people with a disability. Sport and exercise are vital for our physical and mental wellbeing. When COVID doesn’t get in the way, sport brings people together. We can’t gather down at the kids footy or netball at the moment, but when we can, I want

There was some really positive news around COVID-19 over the weekend with Australia’s second drive-through vaccination centre opening right here in Dubbo. The new clinic threw open its ‘doors’ at the Ewen MacInnes Pavilion at the Dubbo Showground on Saturday, and will aim to vaccinate about 200 people per day. Bookings are essential: https://wnswlhd.health.nsw.gov.au/covid-19-information/covid-19-vaccination-dubbo-drive-thru-booking Both Pfizer and Astrazeneca are available depending on your eligibility: https://covid-vaccine.healthdirect.gov.au/eligibility?lang=en or call 1800 022 222. This drive-through clinic will be a real game-changer for the many families and others with caring responsibilities, who have previously struggled to access vaccination, and it’s a real coup for

There was some really positive news around COVID-19 over the weekend with Australia’s second drive-through vaccination centre opening right here in Dubbo. The new clinic threw open its ‘doors’ at the Ewen MacInnes Pavilion at the Dubbo Showground on Saturday, and will aim to vaccinate about 200 people per day. Bookings are essential: https://wnswlhd.health.nsw.gov.au/covid-19-information/covid-19-vaccination-dubbo-drive-thru-booking Both Pfizer and Astrazeneca are available depending on your eligibility: https://covid-vaccine.healthdirect.gov.au/eligibility?lang=en or call 1800 022 222. This drive-through clinic will be a real game-changer for the many families and others with caring responsibilities, who have previously struggled to access vaccination, and it’s a real coup for