Archive for month: February, 2022
Midway Service Centre Bendigo Bank Agency turns one
The Bendigo Bank Agency at Midway Service Centre will celebrate its first birthday on Wednesday 2 March 2022 from 10:30am.
The agency opened at the Midway Service Centre in March 2021 and is operated by the Community Bank Wentworth and District and staffed by Wentworth Shire Council’s Customer Service Team.
It offers core day-to-day banking facilities to existing and new customers of Bendigo Bank.
Wentworth Shire Council Mayor Tim Elstone said it was great to see services expand at the Midway Centre, with the Community Bank Wentworth and District and Wentworth Shire Council working together to serve the needs of the community.
“In an age when services in regional areas seem to be readily stripped back it is great to see the Bendigo Bank Agency at the Midway Service Centre going strong,” Cr Elstone said.
“I would like to thank Community Bank Wentworth and District and the community themselves for supporting this venture and ensuring it remains viable, to keep services here local.”
Chair of the Community Bank Wentworth & District Becky Bysouth thanked the valued customers who support the agency.
“When you bank with us profits are invested back into the community through grants, sponsorship and donations.”
“It is only through increasing our customer base that we will be able to continue to grow and further broaden our assistance to the community.
“We have formed a great partnership with the Wentworth Shire Council and this is just another example of both parties working together to bring services to the local area.”
The agency’s hours are Monday to Friday 10:00am to 12:00pm and 1:00pm to 4:00pm.
To RSVP for the agency’s anniversary celebration please contact Annette Fraser on 03 5027 5027 or annette.fraser@wentworth.nsw.gov.au.
Upcoming road works – Wentworth Shire
Wentworth Shire Council will be conducting its Road Works Program on the following roads and dates. Roads will remain open to local traffic only during advertised times
Fletchers Lake Road – 1/3/22 to 11/3/22
Fletchers Lake Road will be closed between Silver City Highway to Milpara Road to all traffic during hours of 6:00am to 6:00pm. Local, Bus and emergency services will be able to get through but must obey directions of the traffic controller.
Old Wentworth Road – 1/3/22 to 1/7/22
Old Wentworth Road will be closed between Wentworth Gun Club and Keenan’s Drive, Coomealla to all traffic for the duration of the project. Local, Bus and emergency services will be able to get through but must obey directions of the traffic controller.
Bridge Road – 14/3/22 to 1/4/22
Speed restrictions will be in place during works between Pitman Avenue West and West Road Buronga, the road is open but under guidance of traffic control.
Business Houses meeting
An opportunity for local Wentworth businesses to come together to engage and discuss possible future events and priorities to benefit the community.
Dareton Pool closed 22 February
Council advises the Dareton Pool is closed today, Tuesday 22 February, due to staff shortages.
Council apologises for any inconvenience.
Wentworth Long Day Care works commence
A major revamp of the Wentworth Preschool will see the existing Preschool transformed into a Long Day Care Centre and Preschool.
The redevelopment has occurred following more than five years of hard work by a hardworking band of committee members who have actively campaigned and fundraised for a Long Day Care Centre (LDCC) in Wentworth.
Preschool committee member Annita Hawkins said after years of fundraising it was great to see the project progressing.
“This has all come about after being successful with our grant applications from the Australian Government’s Building Better Regions Fund, the NSW Government’s Stronger Country Communities Fund, Wentworth and District Bendigo Bank and major contributions from the Wentworth Shire Council, David and Liz Dawes, Bob Jolley and the Community,” she said.
Wentworth Shire Council Mayor Tim Elstone congratulated the committee on their fundraising efforts and lauded the LDCC’s expected impact on Wentworth.
“Not only will the centre provide additional employment in Wentworth, but it will provide a service that the Wentworth Township has been missing,” Cr Elstone said.
“Parents currently working in Wentworth, need to take their children to the nearest centres at either at Buronga, Merbein or Mildura, this will solve that issue.”
CPM Building Contractors are undertaking the extension works, which will accommodate a new entrance and foyer, office, two daycare rooms, staff room and amenities.
The extension will make it possible to offer childcare as well as early education for up to 57 children. The works have been programmed to enable the existing Preschool to operate throughout the full construction.
This will prevent any further disruption to children, parents and staff. Works are scheduled for completion by the 30 June.
The Preschool’s Facebook page has up to date information or please contact the Preschool on 5027 3067 for all Enrolment Expressions of Interests or by email to wentypre@bigpond.net.au.
January 2022 Council Connects
Attached is the January 2022 edition of the Council Connects newsletter.
Council Connects comes out monthly following Ordinary Meetings of Council.
Wentworth Shire Council trains next generation engineers
For new Wentworth Shire Council project engineer Ryan Thomson, there is no place like home.
The 22-year-old grew up at Gol Gol and now finds himself back at the Council where he completed his university placement between July 2020 and February 2021.
“The ultimate for me was to get back into the region and immerse myself into the community,” Ryan said.
“This is where I grew up, this is where I’m happy to be, I enjoy the area, and coming back to a place I spent close to nine months I am back into a familiar environment and straight back onto the tools and into the work.”
Ryan’s placement came in the third year of his four-year Bachelor of Engineering (Civil) with Honours at Adelaide’s Flinders University.
He spent 20 weeks on his placement, even staying on over his summer holidays to continue picking up skills on-the-job.
“I spent quite a lot of time with senior engineers, learnt a lot of skills and techniques and gained knowledge,” Ryan said.
“Then had the opportunity to go and prove I’ve learnt things and am able to do things by myself.”
Part of Ryan’s current work with Council includes scoping out viability of a criterion cycling track at Buronga and the viability of an upgrade of the boat ramp at Pomona as well as civil works inspections.
“If those projects are deemed viable and secure funding I will then undertake design works and manage those projects through to completion,” Ryan said.
Wentworth Shire Council Director Roads and Engineering Geoff Gunn said the Council was proud to provide opportunities for young engineers to get a footing in their career.
“Ryan brings fresh ideas to the table and as a local he already has a solid knowledge of the area,” Mr Gunn said.
“Having previously worked at Wentworth Shire Council for his university placement he has a head start on what his role entails and the processes to work within the organisation.
“We look forward to seeing his career at Wentworth Shire Council progress.”
Council currently has another engineering student, Mildura’s Eli Alabaster, completing his 20-week university placement and like Ryan before him has opted to stay on for an extra 14 weeks to gain further experience and knowledge.
Eli approached Ryan to gauge the latter’s experience with Council and whether it would be the right fit.
“I was impressed with what he told me and then rang Geoff (Gunn) to arrange the placement,” Eli said.
“It has been an incredible experience. Being able to immerse myself within a professional environment has been invaluable to my professional career.
“Wentworth Shire Council has welcomed and pushed me to extend my skills.”
Eli said he had been able to gain large amounts of knowledge from senior engineering staff within Council which has him excited for his next step.
“Local government has a vast range of responsibilities in regards to engineering work, which has required me to learn new things,” he said.
“After I finish my degree at the end of this year, I hope to move into a full-time position in Civil Engineering in the Sunraysia region.
“I have thoroughly enjoyed my experiences as a Project Engineer at WSC and will look to move into a similar position in 2023.”