Please see below flyer for TAFE NSW Coomealla Campus, including courses on offer for the first Semester, 2025. Along with these course listings are hundreds of online and virtual courses available for those wishing to further their education at www.tafensw.edu.au.
Per and Polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are synthetic chemicals used in various industrial and consumer products for their resistance to heat, stains, grease and water. PFAS are termed “forever chemicals” due to their persistence and slow breakdown in the environment.
The Australian Drinking Water Guidelines provide standards for safe drinking water. Current guidelines ensure water safety for PFAS, with future stricter limits under consultation.
The NSW Government rigorously assesses treated water to ensure water supplies comply with existing guidelines. For more details go to NSW Government PFAS page.
Recent water testing by Wentworth Shire Council (December 2024) showed PFAS levels significantly below the Australian Drinking Water Guidelines’ thresholds, confirming the water is safe for consumption.
Water testing occurred in all three of Wentworth Shire Council’s Filtered Water Supplies:
| Characteristic | Current ADWG value | Proposed ADWG value | Result for all sites | Meeting current ADWG value (%) |
| Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) | 0.560 µg/L | 0.2 µg/L | <0.001 µg/L | 100 |
| Perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) | Sum of PFOS and PFHxS 0.07 µg/L | 0.004 µg/L | <0.001 µg/L | 100 |
| Perfluorohexane sulfonic acid (PFHxS) | As above | 0.03 µg/L | <0.001 µg/L | 100 |
| Perfluorobutane sulfonic acid (PFBS) | No current guideline value | 1 µg/L | <0.001 µg/L | 100 |
These results align with the NSW Government’s findings that most water supplies, including regional ones, are well within acceptable PFAS levels.
Water test results indicate that PFAS concentration in all of Wentworth’s Filtered Water Supplies are far below both the current and proposed Australian Drinking Water Guidelines, ensuring compliance with environmental health standards and continued community confidence in drinking water quality.
The Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water released the following media release on 17 December 2024. For further information, visit nsw.gov.au/departments-and-agencies/dcceew
Investing in safer water for Wentworth Shire
Locals and holidaymakers in Wentworth, Buronga, Gol Gol, and Dareton are one step closer to locking in safer and more secure water thanks to $472,000 in co-funding from the NSW Government and Wentworth Shire Council.
The investment will enable Council to identify the best options for upgrading critical infrastructure that delivers both drinking and non-drinking water to the four towns.
It’s a significant move towards boosting water quality, reliability, and drought resilience for the region’s 4,100 people and supporting the growth of outback tourism in an area where the Darling and Murray Rivers meet.
The new funding includes:
$161,250 from the NSW Government and $53,750 from Council to deliver an options study and concept design for upgrading Wentworth’s water treatment plant and raw water pump station
$192,750 from the NSW Government and $64,250 from Council to deliver an options study and concept design for upgrading Gol Gol’s water treatment plant and the raw water pump station supplying Dareton and Namatjira
Currently, Wentworth relies on a single pump station to deliver both drinking and non-drinking water to its 1,100 residents and a growing number of visitors.
But the ageing infrastructure, which was operating at its peak during the early 1990s, is now in need of a major upgrade to meet modern water treatment standards and demands, particularly during dry conditions.
Meanwhile, in nearby Gol Gol, the water treatment plant services about 3,000 people in the town and in neighbouring Buronga, Dareton and the indigenous community of Namatjira.
But parts of the plant are in dire need of replacement or repair, and the infrastructure has reached its capacity so will be unable to meet the towns’ water needs as they grow.
The raw water pump station delivering non-drinking water also requires an urgent upgrade.
The new funding will allow Council to launch detailed investigations across four schemes to find solutions and develop early planning works, including environmental reviews, geotechnical investigations, site surveys, and concept designs.
Options will aim to enhance water treatment process reliability, efficiency, and automation, reduce operating costs, and extend the life of major equipment.
The development work is due to be completed by June 2025.
The investment is the latest from the NSW Government’s Safe and Secure Water Program which supports more than $1 billion worth of projects across the state, with over 260 projects in various stages of delivery.
NSW DCCEEW Executive Director of Development Lisa Hingerty said:
“This is about safeguarding water for Wentworth, Buronga, Gol Gol, Dareton and Namatjira, and it’s vital we get the ball rolling on long-overdue infrastructure upgrades.
“This investment will help Council examine all the challenges for these five communities and find the best remedies to ensure water infrastructure is fit for the 21st century.
“We want to support the region into the future and as more and as more visitors come spend their holidays in Wentworth Shire. I’m delighted to see this work get going.”
Wentworth Shire Mayor Daniel Linklater said:
“We are pleased to partner with the NSW Government to secure the future water supplies.
“The upgrade of pump stations and water treatment plants is essential to ensure the continued delivery of safe and reliable water to our residents and visitors.
“This much-needed infrastructure upgrade addresses our aging assets and represents a significant achievement in collaboration with the NSW Government, securing a sustainable future for our community.
“This funding is crucial for initiating preliminary assessments, which will enable us to develop and implement effective long-term solutions.”
The Saturday bus trial from Wentworth to Mildura (Routes 950 and 951) has been cancelled by Transport for NSW (TfNSW) due to insufficient patronage numbers.
The trial started on 17 December 2022 and will conclude on Saturday 14 December 2024.
For any questions or further information, please contact TfNSW.
Opening: Wentworth Conference Room
📅 When: Tuesday 10 December 2024, at 4:00pm
📍 Where: In the Wentworth Visitor Centre, 61 Darling Street
An invitation is extended to the community to attend the opening of the Wentworth Conference Room, located in the Wentworth Visitor Centre.
The Hon. Sussan Ley Member for Farrer and Deputy Leader of the Opposition will officiate the opening.
The facility was funded through the Federal Governments Murray Darling Basin Economic Development Program.
🚧 Community Opening: Pooncarie-Menindee Road Upgrade 🚧
📅 When: Tuesday 10 December 2024, from 11:30am
📍 Where: Pooncarie Town Hall, Tarcoola Street
This $9.2 million project, jointly funded by the Australian Government and NSW Government under the Growing Local Economies Fund, delivers 87.5 kilometres of bitumen sealing, providing a safer, faster, and more reliable journey for motorists.
The event will feature The Hon. Jenny Aitchison MP, Minister for Regional Transport and Roads, and The Hon. Sussan Ley, Federal Government Leader of the Opposition.
The upgrade includes 61 kilometres sealed through the Central Darling Shire and 26.5 kilometres through Wentworth Shire.
Travel from Broken Hill to Mildura and back every Monday.
For more information, view the flyer below or visit: cdcbrokenhill.com.au
New food safety requirements apply to school canteens, childcare centres, supermarkets, coffee vendors selling food and boarding schools next month.
The national standard mandating staff training and risk management procedures was enforceable to most food businesses from 8 December 2023, however, some business types in NSW received a 12-month extension and now have just weeks left to prepare.
The rules only apply to businesses that sell or serve ready to eat unpackaged food that needs to be kept hot or cold to stay safe – packaged food, and products like confectionary and cakes, are generally not captured.
Most outlets need to arrange formal Food Safety Supervisor training for at least one person in the business and ensure all food handlers have general food safety skills and knowledge.
Higher-risk businesses must also be able to show they are managing key food safety risks.
Mr Ken Ross, General Manager of Wentworth Shire Council said the standard aimed to further prevent people becoming sick from eating unsafe food.
“Residents, visitors and workers in Wentworth Shire demand a high level of food safety at the places they eat at every day,” Mr Ross said.
“We know the vast majority of our local food businesses take food safety seriously. These new measures further strengthen practices and processes to ensure our consumers can continue to enjoy their food knowing it’s safe to eat.”
Mr Ross said council would take an educative approach with local businesses as they transitioned to the new requirements.
For more information, visit the NSW Food Authority website foodauthority.nsw.gov.au/safetytools
As summer approaches, Council is pleased to announce that both the Dareton and Wentworth pools will open on Sunday 3 November. With extended hours and accessible facilities, these community pools offer the perfect way to enjoy the season.
Dareton Pool
Wentworth Pool
For full details on admission fees, season passes, and more, please visit https://www.wentworth.nsw.gov.au/community/public-swimming-pools/