2023 – Page 5 – Wentworth Shire Council

WaterNSW Pricing Proposal 2025-2030

May 11, 2023/by Marketing & Communications

Every four years, the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal (IPART) sets the maximum charges for WaterNSW prices and ensures that WaterNSW proposed costs are fair, prudent and efficient.

For the next pricing period (2025-2030), WaterNSW must submit its draft water pricing proposal to IPART by September 2024, with new prices, regulated and set by IPART, to take effect from 1 July 2025. These determinations will affect Rural Valleys, Greater Sydney, and Water Administration Ministerial Corporation customers.

This pricing proposal engagement will look a little different to previous years. WaterNSW are expanding the breadth and depth of their engagement so that customers and stakeholders of all types – big and small – are offered the opportunity to be involved in decision-making.

In the second half of 2023, WaterNSW will start to examine price proposal issues and there will be a deeper dive into greater detail, with the website regularly updated. Price sharing issues, tariffs structures, and cost proposals will be examined into 2024.

For further information or to get involved in the pricing proposal process, click or tap the button below.

WaterNSW Pricing Proposal 2025-2030

NSW Youth Advisory Council (YAC)

May 11, 2023/by Marketing & Communications

The NSW Advocate for Children and Young people’s recruitment for the 2024 NSW Youth Advisory Council (YAC) is underway. Membership of the YAC is open to all children and young people between 12 and 24 years of age.

The YAC provides a direct avenue of communication between the children and young people of NSW and the NSW Government. YAC members work together with Government and non-government agencies to better understand and work on issues that affect children and young people in NSW.

Applications close Sunday 21 May 2023.

For further information or to apply, click or tap the button below.

NSW Youth Advisory Council

Privacy Awareness Week 2023

May 1, 2023/by Marketing & Communications

Privacy Awareness Week is a global campaign that involves both public sector agencies and citizens and aims to improve understanding and awareness of NSW privacy legislation, and to raise awareness of a person’s privacy rights and agency obligations.

Privacy Awareness Week NSW takes place from 1 – 7 May 2023 and this year’s theme is Back to Basics: Privacy foundations in NSW.

Wentworth Shire Council is a proud Champion of Privacy Awareness Week NSW 2023 and is committed to protecting the privacy of NSW citizens.

In NSW, your privacy is protected by the:

Privacy and Personal Information Protection Act 1998 (PPIP Act) which outlines how NSW public sector agencies, including government agencies, local councils and universities, manage and protect personal information

(HRIP Act) which promotes fair and responsible handling of health information. The HRIP Act applies to an organisation in NSW that is a health service provider or that collects, holds or uses health information. This includes both public and private sector organisations.

This Privacy Awareness Week, follow these basic principles to protect your privacy:

Store – store personal documents such as passports, driving licences, pay slips, tax returns, bank statements and bills in a safe place.
Destroy – Destroy or shred personal documents you are throwing away such as bills, receipts, credit card statements and other documents that show your name, address or other personal details.
Secure – If you need to post personal documents, ask the post office for advice on the most secure method.
Limit – Keep the number of documents you carry around on you to a minimum. Don’t leave personal documents in your vehicle or unattended.
Check – Check your bank and credit card statements regularly for unusual transactions.
Vary – Always use a different password and PIN for different accounts and take care when using public computers to access personal information.
Accurate – Regularly check your records. Make sure your information is correct and up to date.
Secret – Disable auto-connect to public Wi-Fi and never connect to public Wi-Fi on your work account. Use a VPN, incognito mode and/or ad blocking browser extensions, and clear out your cookie caches and browsing history to prevent your data and activity being collected.
Ask – Get permission before you share photos or videos of someone, and don’t share posts that contain personal information. Never exchange sensitive information over email.
Think –Think before you click links or share posts. Social media platforms have around 20 per cent more methods to scam customers than other websites, including malicious advertisements, share buttons and plug-ins.
Separate – Never use a work email address on a personal social media account. Use your own email address or create a separate one.
Delete – Remove unused apps from your phone, and disable location, camera and microphone access where it’s not required.

The Information and Privacy Commission (IPC) can also help you understand privacy laws in NSW and give you information on how to protect your personal information and assert your rights. Learn more by visiting the Privacy Awareness Week webpage www.ipc.nsw.gov.au/PAW2023

PAW2021_Top_Ten_Privacy_Tips_Infographic_May_2021 Download

Fact_Sheet_IPPs_for_members_of_the_public_April-2023 Download

Fact_Sheet_A_guide_to_privacy_laws_in_NSW_September_2019 Download

Fish deaths in the Lower Darling community update 6 April 2023

April 6, 2023/by Webmaster

As residents of the Wentworth Shire Council, you may be aware of the mass fish death event that
has been occurring further up-river around Menindee. As the river travels south, it brings some of
the low-quality water with it and you may have observed some fish deaths.

Read the full press release via the following document.

Community-update-_6-April_Wentworth-Shire_FINAL Download

Community update on response to fish deaths in the Lower Darling

March 31, 2023/by Webmaster

As residents of the Wentworth Shire Council, you may be aware of the mass fish death event that has been occurring further up-river around Menindee. As the river travels south, it brings some of the low-quality water with it and you may have observed some fish deaths.

The NSW Government has released a community update to inform residents about what is happening and the response being taken. Please read the article below to ensure you are fully informed.

Fish_Deaths_LowerDarling_31March Download

Community update on response to fish deaths in Menindee

March 31, 2023/by Webmaster

The Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) will be stood-down from Friday 31 March 2023 as agencies expand their water monitoring to downstream of Menindee following fish kills in the lower Darling-Baaka River.

The EOC was established on Saturday 18 March 2023 at the direction of State Emergency Operations Controller, Deputy Commissioner Emergency Management Peter Thurtell, to ensure fresh and clean water supply was maintained to the Menindee township and properties surrounding the Main Weir pool, as well as to coordinate the removal and disposal of as many of the fish as possible.

NSW Police Force Regional Emergency Operations Controller, Assistant Commissioner Brett Greentree, said the EOC has delivered on its priorities in and around Menindee, but key agencies would remain vigilant with monitoring and actioning where new risks are identified.

Established contacts and processes for clean-up in the event it is required in the future are also in place.

The coordination of operations has now returned to the control of individual agencies. NSW and Commonwealth Government agencies are continuing to monitor conditions, take samples and test water, and take actions to try to improve conditions, including dissolved oxygen (DO) levels, in the Murray Darling Basin.

To read the full media release please see below.

Fish_Deaths_Menindee_31March Download

Wentworth Civic Centre Project Update

March 24, 2023/by Marketing & Communications

The Wentworth Shire Civic Centre project has commenced with the internal demolition phase bearing completion in readiness for the construction and fit out stage. The project is on track for occupation in July 2024.

Western Region Sport and Active Recreation Transport Program

March 3, 2023/by Marketing & Communications

The cost of transport to travel is a significant barrier for people living in the far west of the state to participate in sport and active recreation. The program will play an important role in supporting more active communities.

What is the Western Region Sport and Active Recreation Transport Program?

The Western Region Sport and Active Recreation Program will provide funding assistance to community organisations in the far west region of NSW to enable them to participate in sports and active recreation.

The sport and active recreation sector is community driven. Sport and active recreation contributes to community identity and cohesion creating more active, healthier communities.

Who can apply for assistance?

Organisations applying must be located within a Western Region Transport Program area of NSW (West of the Newell Highway).

The eligible groups to apply include:

sporting teams, clubs, and associations (junior and senior)
active recreation clubs and/or associations (junior and senior)
not-for-profit organisations providing sport and active recreation
schools located in an eligible area.

Applications will be open on 30 January 2023.
Applications will stay open throughout the two-year pilot program.

CLICK FOR FURTHER INFORMATION

Further information and feedback
For more information, please contact Donna Coady, Aboriginal Service Development Officer.
Email: donna.coady@transport.nsw.gov.au

Senior’s Morning Tea

March 1, 2023/by Marketing & Communications

The Australian Inland Botanic Gardens in coordination with Wentworth Shire Libraries, hosted a Senior’s Morning Tea on Tuesday 28 February 2023. Organiser of the day Mackenzie Seddon, Acting Team Leader Libraries, was thrilled to see over 60 seniors in attendance.

The morning tea begun with speeches by Deputy Mayor of Wentworth Shire Council, Cr Daniel Linklater and 2023 Citizen of the Year Gwen Wilkinson.

Deputy Mayor of Wentworth Shire Council, Cr Daniel Linklater said during his speech “Our community consists of 28% of people aged 60 and over, making us a Shire with a wealth of knowledge, life experience and embedded cultures handed down for future generations.” He also spoke of fond experiences throughout his life with the older generations.

Following the speeches, an assortment of sandwiches and sweets were served to attendees for morning tea by the AIBG Catering Team.

After the morning tea, the attendees were priveliged to a Tractor/Train tour of the gardens from experienced driver Vic Eddy, who has run the tour for over 8 years.

Wentworth Winedown

February 25, 2023/by Marketing & Communications

The picturesque Australian Inland Botanic Gardens hosted Wentworth Winedown on Saturday 25 February with raving reviews. Free attendance at the Wentworth Winedown was only made possible through the Reconnecting Regional NSW Community Events Program funded by the NSW Government.

The aim of this program was to promote the social and economic recovery of regional communities, by renewing social connections and providing a revenue-boost to local businesses, following the extended COVID-19 restrictions across regional NSW and impacts of border closures.

Wentworth Winedown provided great live entertainment from some of Australia’s top performers along with local food and wine vendors serving up a variety of gourmet options.

Local food and drink vendors served up a storm to over 3,000 attendees and included a range of options from Monak Wines, Trentham Estate, Fossey’s Gin Distillery, Cappa Stone Wines, SCAD’s Cruisin Café, The Van, El Gringo’s Mexican Street Food, Peter’s Souvlakis, Outback Almonds, Verdict Catering, Two Black Sheep, Enjoy Catering, Grazing Into Brunch and the Lions Club of Buronga Gol Gol & Friends of the Gardens Committee.

Over 5 hours of live performances from Australian artists included Alice Ivy, Allday, Mallrat and the Mildura formed Loose Bricks (now performing on multiple interstate tours). In a Q&A with the artists, they were excited to be playing a regional concert for music fans and to connect the community in one venue. A member of Loose Bricks said “Rural communities often have to travel long distances to get to see live music which is expensive and often time consuming, so events that are local provide accessible experiences for the people in those communities.”

Wentworth Shire Council would appreciate attendee feedback on the event to assist with the planning of future events of this kind. If you would like to have your say, see the feedback form below or visit www.wentworth.nsw.gov.au/wwd