Double Demerits are in force this holiday period
Double demerits start 12.01am Friday 23 January and continue until 11:59pm Monday 26 January 2026.
NSW Police Force will target speeding, illegal mobile phone use, seatbelt and motorcycle helmet offences this long weekend.
Service Changes and Safety Advice for Extreme Heat (24–30 Jan)
Due to the extreme heat conditions forecast by the Bureau of Meteorology—with peaks of 46°C on Monday and 48°C on Tuesday—Wentworth Shire Council is implementing temporary changes to waste facility hours.
🗑️ Waste Facility Operating Hours
Please note the following changes:
| Facility | Status (Sat 24 – Friday 30 Jan) |
| Buronga Landfill | OPEN DAILY: 6:00am – 1:00pm (Last entry 12:45pm sharp). |
| Dareton Transfer Station | OPEN: Saturday 24 January (9am-12pm) OPEN: Thursday 29 January (9am-12pm) |
| Wentworth Transfer Station | OPEN: Sunday 25 January (9am-12pm) OPEN: Wednesday 28 January (9am-12pm) |
| Ellerslie Transfer Station | CLOSED |
| Pomona Tip | OPEN: Friday 30 January (9am-12pm) |
🔥 Fire Danger & Outdoor Safety
- Mowing and Machinery: Please avoid mowing or slashing. The risk of starting a grass fire is high.
- Travel Safety: If you must travel, ensure your vehicle is road worthy and carry water.
- No Fires: Adhere to all fire bans.
🏥 How to Stay Safe
- Stay Cool: Use fans/AC or seek cool spaces like libraries or shops.
- Hydrate: Drink plenty of water.
- Check on Others: Look after elderly relatives and neighbours.
When to Call Triple Zero (000)
Call 000 immediately if someone shows signs of heatstroke: Nausea, confusion, unconsciousness, lack of sweating, or high body temperature (>40°C).
Australia Day Public Holiday Closure – Monday 26 January 2026
Public Holiday Closure – Monday 26 January 2026
Wentworth Shire Council services including Customer Service Centres, Buronga Animal Shelter, Council Depot, Workshop, Stores, Libraries and Waste Facilities (excluding Buronga Landfill) will be closed on Monday 26 January 2026 for the Australia Day Public Holiday.
Wentworth Visitor Information Centre (including Junction Café) will be open from 9am-1pm. Buronga Landfill remains open for community access with revised operating hours due to the extreme heat forecast. Open 6am to 1:00pm (last entry 12pm sharp).
For emergencies including blocked public drains, damage to local roads, animal control or fallen trees within Council’s parks and reserves, please call (03) 5027 5027.
In life-threatening emergencies, or for urgent help from Police, Fire or Ambulance services, call 000 (Triple Zero).
Urgent Community Notice – Temporary Closure of Midway Centre
Please be advised that the Midway Service Centre and Midway Library will be closed for the remainder of today, Thursday, 22 January 2026.
This temporary closure is due to unforeseen access concerns.
Council sincerely apologise for any inconvenience this may cause.
For urgent Council enquiries, please contact 03 5027 5027.
Wentworth Shire Marks National Day of Mourning
Wentworth Shire Marks National Day of Mourning
Wentworth Shire Council joins communities across Australia in observing A National Day of Mourning on Thursday 22 January to honour the victims of the Bondi terrorist attack.
Council will fly flags at half-mast as a mark of respect and remembrance for those who lost their lives, for their families and for all who have been deeply affected by this senseless act of violence.
The day will be marked under the theme Light Will Win — a time for reflection, remembrance and coming together.
Council encourages residents to take a moment on 22 January to reflect, remember and reach out to others who may be struggling.
If you wish to observe the day, you might choose to:
- Leave a candle on your doorstep or in a window
- Pause for one minute of silence at 7.01pm AEDT
- Spend time with family, friends and loved ones
- Undertake one of more of the 15 suggested Mitzvah for Bondi
- Share a message of condolence online through the Bondi Beach Condolence Book
Mayor Linklater encourages residents to observe the day in a way that feels meaningful to them, whether through reflection, spending time with loved ones or offering kindness to others in our community.
“This day is an opportunity for quiet reflection and for standing together with care, respect and compassion, particularly with those who are grieving. It is also a reminder of the strength found in unity and the importance of supporting one another during times of sorrow. On behalf of Wentworth Shire Council, I extend our heartfelt condolences to all those affected.”
Have Your Say on the Future of Wentworth Shire Libraries
Have Your Say on the Future of Wentworth Shire Libraries
Council is inviting community feedback to help shape the future of library services across Wentworth Shire.
We encourage residents, library users and community members to complete the Shaping Future Wentworth Shire Libraries survey. Your insights and ideas will play an important role in planning library programs, resources and spaces that best meet community needs.
To participate in the survey, please visit:
https://engage.wentworth.nsw.gov.au/shaping-future-wentworth-shire-libraries
We appreciate your time and input as part of this important consultation.
Wentworth Flood Rally (70 Years On)
Wentworth Shire Council has announced the official details for the Wentworth Flood Rally (70 Years On), a three-day celebration to commemorate seventy years since the historic 1956 Murray–Darling Flood. The event will include an attempt to break the Australian record for the largest assembly of Ferguson TEA20 (“Little Grey Fergie”) tractors.
The rally, to be held over the King’s Birthday Long Weekend from Friday 5 June to Sunday 7 June 2026, will honour the extraordinary resilience of the Wentworth community, who famously used the Little Grey Fergies around the clock to build levee banks and protect the town during the biggest flood in recorded history.
The Wentworth Flood Rally is expected to attract more than 3,000 visitors from most states and over 250 registered vintage vehicles dated pre-1956.
Roll in Tractor Trek, Friday 5 June 2026
Participants of the Flood rally will trek from Red Cliffs to Wentworth, marking the beginning of the weekend program.
70km Tractor Trek, Saturday 6 June 2026
A 70km trek through Wentworth and the surrounding region will celebrate the spirit of the 1956 flood response, showcasing an impressive convoy of vintage machinery travelling through areas where flood waters once marked the district.
Australian Record Attempt, Street Parade, Historic Displays and Market, Sunday 7 June 2026 A standout moment of the commemorative celebrations will take place on Sunday 7 June, when enthusiasts will unite for an Australian record attempt to gather the largest assembly of Ferguson TEA20 tractors. Owners of Little Grey Fergies and other eligible machinery are invited to register for this historic occasion.
The day will include a major street parade featuring vintage vehicles, machinery displays and living history presentations. Personal stories and interviews will reflect on the 1956 flood and the community’s resilience. The parade will conclude in Darling Street, where the record attempt will be held.
Local markets at the wharf precinct, along with shopping and dining options across the township, will offer visitors a vibrant showcase of regional produce, culture and tourism.
Wentworth Shire Council Mayor Daniel Linklater said, “The Wentworth Flood Rally is more than tractors – it is a living monument to the Wentworth community and Australian ingenuity. We are calling on every Little Grey Fergie and other vintage machinery owners to join us for the 70km Trek and help make history. Come and celebrate the saving of the Wentworth township during the iconic 1956 flood and bring its story back to life.”
How to Get Involved
- Vintage Vehicle Owners
- Registrations for the Australian Record Attempt and the 70km Trek are now open
- Visit www.wentworth.nsw.gov.au/flood-rally for further details and registration forms. Register your tractor by emailing tractor@wentworth.nsw.gov.au
- Stallholders
- Expressions of Interest (EOIs) are open for food vendors, local producers and specialised trade stalls. EOI submissions will close Friday 1 May 2026. Apply to events@wentworth.nsw.gov.au
General Attendees
With limited accommodation available in Wentworth, visitors are encouraged to make bookings early. Full event details, local attractions and accommodation links are available at experiencewentworth.com.au
Council invites the community to take part in the weekend’s program of festivities and discover more of Wentworth and Surrounds. Visitors will also be able to experience the region’s newest attraction, Fibre Optic Symphonic Orchestra (FOSO).
Opening in April 2026, this immersive installation by artist Bruce Munro will feature eighty illuminated columns synchronised to an original orchestral score by British composer Nainita Desai. Together with Trail of Lights, FOSO will offer a distinctive multi-day cultural experience that enriches the wider visitor journey.
About the Wentworth Flood Rally (70 Years On)
The Wentworth Flood Rally marks seventy years since the 1956 Murray–Darling Flood, when the Wentworth community united to save their town by building levee banks with the help of Ferguson TEA20 tractors. The rally honours this legacy and showcases the enduring spirit of the region through a major regional tourism event supported by Wentworth Shire Council.