Archive for month: September, 2026

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Collection Day Stays the Same

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One thing is not changing with the new three-bin service: your collection day.

While the new kerbside collection service begins on Monday 5 October 2026, households will continue to place their bins out on their usual collection day. The introduction of the new service does not change collection routes or collection days.

Residents are encouraged to check their collection calendar to see which bins are due for collection each week and familiarise themselves with the new collection schedule before the service begins.

Learn more about the new service, view FAQs and stay up to date by visiting Three-Bin Kerbside Collection Service.

Free workshops to help local businesses prepare for food waste requirements

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Free workshops to help local businesses prepare for food waste requirements

Food-related businesses across Wentworth Shire are invited to attend free online workshops designed to help prepare for upcoming NSW food waste requirements.

Delivered through the Riverina and Murray Joint Organisation’s (RAMJO) Business Food Waste Partnership Program, the workshops will explain what the changes may mean for businesses and provide practical advice on reducing food waste, improving waste separation practices and preparing for future requirements.

The workshops are suitable for a range of food-related businesses, including cafés, restaurants, supermarkets, hotels, childcare services, aged care providers and other organisations that generate food waste.

Participants will gain practical information on:

  • Food waste reduction opportunities.
  • Waste separation and recycling practices.
  • Preparing for future food waste requirements.
  • Improving resource recovery and reducing waste disposal costs.

Businesses can also access free one-on-one support tailored to their operations.

For more information and workshop registrations, visit the RAMJO Business Food Waste Partnership Program:

www.ramjo.nsw.gov.au/food-waste

Register for Thursday 8 October 10.30am – 12pm

Register for Wednesday 21 October 10.30am – 12pm

This initiative is funded by the NSW Environment Protection Authority.

Book Mungo Lunette Guided Tours Through Wentworth Visitor Centre

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Book Mungo Lunette Guided Tours Through Wentworth Visitor Centre

Wentworth Shire Council has announced that the Wentworth Visitor Centre is now an official booking agent for the Mungo lunette guided tour at Mungo National Park.

Visitors can now book the tour using the dedicated booking link available through the Wentworth Visitor Centre, adding a local option for planning a visit to one of the region’s major visitor destinations.

The two-hour tour is led by an experienced NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service Aboriginal guide and provides guided access to the Mungo lunette, also known as the Walls of China. Tours run most days, with dates and times displayed during booking. Bookings are required and visitors travel to Mungo Visitor Centre in their own vehicle.

Wentworth Shire Mayor, Cr Daniel Linklater, welcomed the new booking service and said it would help connect more visitors with the cultural and natural significance of Mungo National Park.

“The Wentworth Visitor Centre is an important first stop for people exploring our region, and this new service will make it easier for visitors to plan and book their Mungo experience,” Cr Linklater said.

“Supporting access to authentic visitor experiences strengthens the regional visitor economy and helps people better understand the cultural significance of this landscape.”

The Mungo lunette guided tour includes a 2.5-kilometre walk across formed track, boardwalk, soft sand and uneven sloping ground. Participants meet behind Mungo Visitor Centre 15 minutes before the tour starts. Park entry fees also apply.

To book or obtain further information, visit the Wentworth Visitor Centre at 61 Darling Street, Wentworth, or contact the centre on (03) 5027 5080.

Wentworth Shire residents urged to give new three-bin service time to work

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Wentworth Shire Council is asking residents to allow time to adjust to the new three-bin kerbside collection service before deciding whether they need additional general waste capacity.

When collections begin on Monday 5 October 2026, household collection days will remain unchanged. By using each bin correctly from the outset, residents will be better placed to understand how the service affects the amount of general waste their household produces. At this time, all residents with multiple bins will revert to one 3 Bin Service.

The new service adds separate recycling and Food & Garden Waste bins alongside each household’s general waste bin. Using the three bins correctly should reduce the amount of material placed in general waste and help divert recyclable and organic material from landfill.

Residents should keep the collection calendar, magnet and launch pack which will be delivered before 5 October 2026. If the wording on a bin lid differs from these materials, residents should follow Council’s information. Sorting guidance is available on Council’s three-bin webpage and through the regional Halve Waste program.

Applications for additional general waste bins will open on 1 February 2027. The period before applications open gives households time to trial the service, adjust how they sort waste and assess their ongoing needs.

Council recognises the standard service may not meet every household’s needs. Residents with specific circumstances, including medical needs that generate additional waste, can contact Council to discuss available options.

Council’s message to residents is simple: give the service a go, use all three bins correctly and assess your household’s needs over the coming months. For information, visit engage.wentworth.nsw.gov.au/3-bins or call 03 5027 5027.

Heavy Vehicle Grape & Grain Forum

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Heavy Vehicle Grape & Grain Forum

Wentworth Shire Council and Community RoadSafe Mildura invite heavy vehicle operators, transport businesses, growers and industry stakeholders to attend the Heavy Vehicle Grape and Grain Forum.

Hear from industry and regulatory representatives on heavy vehicle safety, compliance requirements and current industry issues affecting the grape, grain and transport sectors.

Presentations by:

  • National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR)
  • Victoria Police
  • WorkSafe Victoria
  • Transport for NSW
  • EnergyAustralia

Date: Thursday, 15 October 2026
Time: Registration from 8:30am for a 9:00am start. Concludes 12:00pm.
Venue: The Cliffs Roadhouse, Sturt Highway, Trentham Cliffs

Bookings are essential.

Register online via Eventbrite:
https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/heavy-vehicle-grape-and-grain-forum-tickets-2001671262630

For enquiries, contact Wentworth Shire Council on (03) 5027 5027.

Road Rules Awareness Week: refresh your road safety knowledge

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21–27 September 2026

Road Rules Awareness Week is an opportunity for all road users to refresh their knowledge and make safer choices. Wentworth Shire Council is sharing reminders about common road rules throughout the week.

Key road rule reminders

Safe following distance

  • In good conditions, allow at least a three-second gap between your vehicle and the vehicle ahead.
  • Increase the gap to four seconds or more in poor conditions, including on wet, unsealed or icy roads and at night. Heavy vehicles need additional space.
  • On higher-speed roads, allow at least five seconds so there is more time to react and brake.

E-scooters

Privately owned e-scooters remain illegal on NSW roads and road-related areas, including footpaths, shared paths and bicycle lanes. They may only be used on private property.

Giving way to pedestrians

Drivers must give way to pedestrians crossing the road they are turning into, at intersections with or without traffic lights.

Overtaking

Only overtake when you have a clear view of approaching traffic, lane markings allow it, and you can complete the manoeuvre safely without exceeding the speed limit.

Roundabouts

When approaching or entering a roundabout, give way to any vehicle already in the roundabout.

Mobile phone use

Fully licensed drivers may use a mobile phone only in permitted hands-free ways or when the phone is secured in a commercially designed mounting fixed to the vehicle. Learner, P1 and P2 drivers must not use a mobile phone while driving.

Bicycle riders

Children under 16 may ride on a footpath unless a NO BICYCLES sign applies. An adult supervising a rider under 16 may also ride on the footpath. Riders on footpaths must keep left and give way to pedestrians.

Road safety is everyone’s responsibility. Review the NSW road rules and test your knowledge using the Transport for NSW road rules information.

Be aware during swooping bird season

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Be aware during swooping bird season

Spring is breeding season for many native birds, including magpies. Some birds may become territorial and swoop to protect their nests and young.

If you encounter a swooping bird:

  • avoid known nesting areas and use another route where possible
  • stay calm, keep the bird in sight and move quickly and carefully away—do not run
  • protect your head and eyes with a wide-brimmed hat, sunglasses, helmet or open umbrella
  • if cycling, dismount and walk your bike through the area
  • travel in a group where possible, supervise children and keep pets under control
  • do not provoke, feed, throw objects at or interfere with birds, nests or young.

Native birds are protected in NSW. Swooping is usually temporary and generally stops once chicks have left the nest.

Please take care on shared paths, near parks and along school routes. Report a swooping bird posing a public safety risk on Council-managed land to Wentworth Shire Council on (03) 5027 5027 or council@wentworth.nsw.gov.au, including the location, date, time and details of the behaviour.

C35 – Is this your cat?

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How to Claim:

If you believe this is your cat, or if you have information regarding the owner, please contact Wentworth Shire Council directly on (03) 5027 5027.

Please note: Satisfactory proof of ownership will be required prior to the animal’s release.

Wentworth Shire Welcomes Nine New Citizens on Australian Citizenship Day

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Wentworth Shire Council welcomed nine new Australian citizens at a ceremony on Australian Citizenship Day, 17 September 2026. The ceremony was held in the Wentworth Conference Room.

The ceremony marked the final step in the citizenship journey for Mr Stuart Hyde and Ms Elizabeth Mangan from New Zealand; Ms Robyn Smit, Mr Wilhelm Smit, Mr Wilhelm Smit Junior, Miss Karli Smit and Miss Klara Smit from South Africa; Ms Natalie Whitelum from the United Kingdom; and Ms Alissia Kampeera from Thailand. Each new citizen made the Australian citizenship pledge, formally affirming their commitment to Australia and its people.

Australian Citizenship Day has been observed annually on 17 September since 2001. It provides an opportunity for Australians, whether citizens by birth or by choice, to reflect on the privileges and responsibilities of citizenship, celebrate democratic values and consider the common bond that unites the nation.

More than 6.2 million people have become Australian citizens by conferral since Australian citizenship was introduced in 1949. The latest full-year figures published by the Australian Government show that 165,193 people from more than 190 nationalities became Australian citizens by conferral in 2024–25, reflecting the cultural diversity of communities across the country.

Wentworth Shire is home to people from a range of cultural and ancestral backgrounds. As 2026 Census data is yet to be released, the latest available population figures are from the 2021 Census, which recorded 7,453 residents in the Shire.
Wentworth Shire Mayor Councillor Daniel Linklater congratulated the new citizens and acknowledged the significance of making the pledge on Australian Citizenship Day.

“Citizenship is a significant commitment and an important milestone. On behalf of Wentworth Shire Council and our community, I congratulate our newest citizens and welcome them as they begin this next chapter,” Mayor Linklater said.

“Australian Citizenship Day reminds us that citizenship brings both rights and responsibilities. It is also an opportunity to recognise the different experiences, cultures and perspectives that contribute to the Wentworth Shire community. I look forward to seeing our new citizens and their families continue their journey in Wentworth Shire and contribute to the community we share.”

For further information about Australian citizenship ceremonies, please visit immi.homeaffairs.gov.au. For Council information, visit wentworth.nsw.gov.au or contact Council’s customer service team on (03) 5027 5027.

Mr Stuart Hyde
Ms Elizabeth Mangan
The Smit Family
Ms Natalia Whitelum
Ms Alissia Kampeera

Wentworth Shire Mayor and Deputy Mayor Re-Elected Unopposed

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Wentworth Shire Council has re-elected Councillor Daniel Linklater as Mayor and Councillor Peter Crisp as Deputy Mayor unopposed at the Ordinary Meeting of Council held on Wednesday 16 September 2026.

Mayor Linklater was first elected Mayor on 20 September 2023 after serving as Deputy Mayor from 10 January 2022. Deputy Mayor Crisp has served in the role since the start of the current Council term following the 2024 local government election.

The Mayor and Deputy Mayor were elected unopposed by Councillors Jon Armstrong, Brian Beaumont, Greg Evans, Susan Nichols, Jo Rodda, Jody Starick and Michael Weeding.

Mayor Linklater thanked his fellow councillors for their confidence and said he was committed to continuing to represent the community.

“It is an honour to continue serving as Mayor of Wentworth Shire. I look forward to working with Deputy Mayor Crisp, our fellow councillors and Council staff to represent our communities and progress the priorities of the Shire,” Mayor Linklater said.

“Council has important work ahead, and we will continue to focus on sound decision-making, responsible governance and practical outcomes for residents across the Wentworth Shire.”

Deputy Mayor Crisp thanked his fellow councillors for their support and said he looked forward to continuing to assist the Mayor and Council in serving the community.