Mudgee & Gulgong

Residents across the Central West and Western region are urged to make sure they know and follow the COVID-19 rules currently in place to keep regional and rural NSW safe, as the State remains on high alert. Member for the Dubbo electorate Dugald Saunders said the NSW Government is doing everything it can to keep the community safe, and we all need to continue following the rules to protect our loved ones and the community. “As a region, we’ve been doing a great job of keeping our part of the world free of COVID-19, and given what is happening in […]

Member for the Dubbo electorate Dugald Saunders has thrown his support behind an online portal designed to help HSC students through the COVID-19 pandemic The Stay Healthy HSC Hub will have 24-hour access to support from Australia’s leading mental health service for young people in the lead up to exams. Mr Saunders said while last year’s Year 12 cohort were the first to deal with the stress of exams during the pandemic, this year’s group have had 18 months of disrupted learning. “Year 12 is a stressful enough time for students as it is, but this group that are about

The NSW Government is continuing to prioritise student wellbeing by ensuring a strong pipeline of qualified mental health professionals in our schools. The impacts of drought and COVID-19 have played out within our school communities, making mental health a key challenge facing young people across the region. To support students through these challenges, over 80 scholarships will be handed out this year to encourage aspiring counsellors and graduate psychologists to choose a rewarding career within the school counselling service. Member for the Dubbo electorate Dugald Saunders said the scholarships are a great way to attract graduates and encourage existing teachers

Member for the Dubbo electorate Dugald Saunders has welcomed a package put together by the NSW and Commonwealth Governments to support workers and businesses impacted by the current restrictions. Prime Minister Scott Morrison, Premier Gladys Berejiklian and NSW Treasurer Dominic Perrottet unveiled two packages on Tuesday afternoon, one aimed at business owners and one aimed solely at workers whose employment has been cut as a result of lockdowns and movement restrictions. “Up until now the bulk of the support has been for those people living in Sydney, who are directly locked down but as the lockdown has dragged on it

Member for the Dubbo electorate Dugald Saunders has backed a move by the NSW Government to provide free lifetime pet registration for people who adopt a rescue pet from council pounds and animal shelters. Mr Saunders said that new initiative reinforces the NSW Government’s commitment to encourage prospective pet owners to ‘adopt not shop’ for a dog or cat and provide a forever home for animals who find themselves in pounds or shelters. “Since 2015, the NSW Government has funded half-price lifetime pet registration for people who rescue dogs and cats from pounds and shelters across the state, and in

Member for the Dubbo electorate Dugald Saunders has welcomed the implementation of the next stage of the NSW Government’s comprehensive retirement village reforms aimed at reducing ‘bill shock’ for residents. Mr Saunders has welcomed the reforms to the Retirement Villages Act 1999, which were introduced to increase accountability and transparency in the retirement village sector by seeking to reduce costs and uncertainty for residents. “We have a significant number of people living in retirement villages which is why the NSW Government has embarked on these revolutionary new reforms to make life easier and fairer for them,” he said. “These new reforms

New bus shelters, lighting and kerbside upgrades will make accessing public transport even easier in the region, with local community groups now able to apply for a share of $3.2 million from the Country Passenger Transport Infrastructure Grants scheme. Member for the Dubbo electorate Dugald Saunders said applications are now open for the biennial grants, which build upon the NSW Government’s vision to help make public transport a first-choice option for locals. “I know what a difference projects like these make to locals, so I’m calling on local councils, transport operators, schools and community organisations to apply for the grants,”

Applications for round three of the NSW Government’s $500 million Fixing Local Roads Program, which is helping regional councils repair, maintain and seal priority local roads in their communities, have now been extended. Member for the Dubbo electorate Dugald Saunders said councils now have until July 16 to apply for funding to help them fix local roads and support thousands of jobs. The $500 million program received an additional injection of $191 million from the Federal Government, and Mr Saunders said it demonstrates the NSW Government’s commitment to building a safer, stronger road network in the regions. “Our local councils