Temora Shire News

Improvement of the site, located approximately 10 kilometres from Temora, is a project of Bland Creek Catchment Committee, Temora Shire Council, Lachlan Catchment Management Committee, Temora High School and Work for the Dole.

Students have been working to lower the water table, aiming to reduce the amount of salt in the soil. Temora Shire Council Environmental Services Trainee, Kellie Lewis, recently presented Gary Tagliabue, Geography Teacher at Temora High, with a salt bag to assist in making observations in testing the water for salt, amount of salt in the soil, soil acidity and salt content.

Students visit the site once a month to water the salt tolerant trees planted, weed the area and take readings and observations.

A piesometer is used to measure the distance the water table is below ground level, with a current reading of 1.1 metres below, but it is hoped it will go lower. more ..

Special Council Meeting - Thursday, 18th September, 2008 - 17 Sep 2008
A special meeting of Temora Shire Council has been planned for Thursday, to swear in the new Council and elect a Mayor.

The usual monthly meeting will not be held for September, due to the timing of the election. It was decided instead, however, to organise the special meeting for 6PM this Thursday.

For the first time, the incoming Councillors will be formerly welcomed and sworn in. Meanwhile, the election of Mayor and Deputy Mayor will also take place, as it usually does during the September monthly meeting.

The special meeting will also deal with the election of councillors to the various committees. more ..

Rural Museum Centre of Flour Milling History Project - 16 Sep 2008
The history of flour milling in the Eastern Riverina is the subject of a joint research project between Wollongong University and Temora Rural Museum.

As part of this venture, a two day oral history training workshop was held recently at the rural museum, where volunteers from Temora Family History Group, Temora Rural Museum and Ariah Park Heritage Group were shown effective ways to gather these recollections.

The workshop was run by Dr Alison Gates, from the University of Wollongong, who is leading the Rivera Flour Mills Project.

The joint project linking the university and Temora Rural Museum is funded by a grant from the Royal Australian Historical Society. As part of the project, Dr Gates is training Temora volunteers to help collect oral history from local people who worked in, or were involved with various Riverina Flour Mills.

Over the past 12 months, Dr Gates has been working with Roslyn Hartwig of Temora, collecting written records and photographs to which the oral histories will be added, with the aim of creating an exhibition of Riverina flour milling at the rural museum.

Anyone who has any information about local flour milling, including photographs, newspaper clippings, artefacts or personal recollections about any of the mills in the Riverina, is asked to contact Bill Speirs at the Rural Museum. more ..

Morangarell Bridge - 09 Sep 2008
The 53 year old Morangarell Bridge will soon be replaced with a modern concrete structure. Over the coming weeks Morangarell Bridge, on the far North-Eastern boundary of Temora Shire, will be torn down and replaced with a modern concrete structure.

The $1.1 million project is expected to be completed by about mid-November according to Temora Shire Council Works Manager, Paul Gilchrist.

The bridge over Bland Creek, near the intersection of Mary Gilmore Way and Grogan Road, has faithfully served motorists for more than half a century. It was constructed in 1955, replacing the original timber bridge erected in the early 1900s. Given its relative youth, the seven metre high structure is believed to have been on of the last timber bridges built in New South Wales.

The bridge has been closed to traffic as Council staff prepare to rip up its road surface. Demolition will start within about a week, and construction of the new bridge is scheduled to be completed by November 13, subject to the weather.

The bridge will be replaced, with a modular concrete structure, in the same alignment. The new one will be in a similar style to Broken Dam Bridge, near Ariah Park, almost identical to the other two new bridges on Morangarell Road. It will be 60 metres long, built with five 12-metre spans.

The construction will mark the end of Council's work to replace every timber bridge in the shire, which has taken 10 or 15 years.

Council intends to keep the local residents fully informed, particularly those on properties nearest the construction site. During the works, motorists will need to use a bypass track skirting the bridge site, which was this week upgraded and lined with marker posts.

Council staff plan to document the bridge's demolition and replacement, while Temora Rural Museum Manager, Bill Speirs, has been researching its history. The entire project will be carried out by Council staff, with 50 per cent of the funding provided by the State Government. more ..

TYRO Retro Dance Party - 09 Sep 2008
Friday , 19th September, 2008

Temora Town Hall, Loftus Street

7:30 PM - 10:00 PM (8:30 PM Lock-Out)

Cost - $5

Aged 12-18 Years (High School Age)

Drug and Alcohol Free Event

For further information please contact Kellie Lewis on (02) 6980 1100 more ..

Expression of Interest - Lease of Property - 09 Sep 2008
Expressions of Interest are called for the lease of the following:

* Lease of Springdale Garbage Depot Land

Details of the land and conditions relating to the lease is available at the Council Office.

Expressions of Interest close on Friday, 12 September, 2008 at 4:30 PM. more ..

Free Learner Driver Workshops - 09 Sep 2008
Free workshops for parents and supervising drivers.

To help you with practical advice about:

• Understanding of the new laws for L & P Licence holders
• Supervising learner drivers
• Completing the learner Driver Log Book
• Understanding the benefits of supervised on-road driving experiences.

The RTA and your local Council have set up free two hour workshops for parents and supervisors of learner drivers.

Workshop is Monday, 15th September, 2008 @ 6:00PM at Temora Library CTC Room

Book Now on - (02) 6980 1100 more ..

Schools to Benefit from DrumMuster - 03 Sep 2008
Drum Muster is a Federal Government program which operates across Australia, encouraging users of chemical containers to dispose of them in a legal and environmentally conscious way. In Temora, the shire council is the coordinator with Temora Landfill Site a designated collection point.

Under the new arrangements, 25 cents from the program for each drum deposited at the landfill site will go into a joint fund to be shared among Temora Public, Temora West and St Anne's schools.

Funds will be distributed through each school's parents and citizens/friends body. In a further boost to the potential kitty for the schools, Landmark Temora has offered an additional five cents for each drum.

Empty chemical containers can be delivered to the landfill site on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays between 8AM and 5Pm, with an appointment needed through Council Staff. more ..

Volunteer Artists Sought - 03 Sep 2008
Temora Shire Arts Council's second charity concert is coming up quickly and with volunteer artists making up the program, locals are being asked what would you like to do to add to the variety.

The artists registered so far include ballroom dancers, the local Christian vocal group, performing under the guidance of David Kennedy from Wagga; Country and Western music; possibly more dancing; pianists and something from the high school drama area.

Both of the charities being supported by this effort, Redkite and CanAssist, are assisting so many families going through trauma, anxiety and battling financially with travelling and accommodation expenses as treatment is in progress.

Anyone or any school which can contribute to the program of the concert on 20th September at 7:30PM, must register their items with Kathleen Hilder 6977 4846 or with Ruth Fritsch 6978 0614 no later than 13th September, as time is needed to compile the program. more ..

Pre-Poll Voting - 03 Sep 2008
Pre Poll voting will be accepted until 6pm on Friday, 12 September, 2008. Meanwhile applications for postal voting will remain open until 5pm Monday, 8 September, 2008.

Actual postal ballot papers must be returned by 6pm on September 15, in order to be counted.

Election officials are scheduled to visit declared institutions such as nursing homes and hospitals during the week before the election, to help the elderly or incapacitated lodge their votes. more ..

Fruit Fly Menace - 26 Aug 2008
Temora Shire Council will once again urge residents to help eradicate fruit fly from the district. The August meeting of Council was addressed by local residents Errol Hoskinson and Jean Groth, urged Council to take action.

Mayor Peter Speirs agreed fruit fly was becoming an increasing problem across the district. He emphasised the importance of residents playing their part in the battle against fruit fly. In the meantime, Cr Speirs said Council could research the cost of a proper eradication campaign.

According to Department of Primary Industries guidelines for residents, a vital part of fighting fruit fly is proper orchard hygiene. Unwanted fruit trees should be removed from around houses, sheds and boundary fences, and all house trees should be kept free of fruit fly. more ..

CCTV Close to Completion - 26 Aug 2008
Work is still progressing on the installation of Temora's new main street security camera network. Councils General Manager, Gary Lavelle advised that the mounting poles for cameras would shortly be installed on the two roundabouts in Hoskins Street.

Two banner poles have alraedy been installed on the roundabout at the intersection of Hoskins and Parkes Street, each fitted with a different style of banner. At the recent Assets & Operations Committee it was recommended to Council to support the larger of the two styles of banners, which has outrigger brackets at both top and bottom. This was endorsed by Council at its August meeting.

Under the proposed Central Business District surveillance system, Hoskins Street will have complete coverage for at least the five blocks between Britannia and Polaris Streets. Initially, camera poles will be placed at two locations in Hoskins Street, on the roundabouts at the Victoria and Parkes Street intersections.

Another will be earmarked for a proposed future roundabout at the Loftus Street intersection. Each of the black camera poles will be flanked by several of the smaller 1.8 metre banner poles, which will display the town logo. Meanwhile, each of the main mounting poles will have five closed circuit security cameras.

It is planned that four cameras will cover each of the streets leading away from the two roundabouts. The fifth camera on each pole will be able to be controlled remotely, so the operator can point it at a designated target.

The intersections with cameras will also cover at least a block to the east and west, meaning most of the centre of town will be covered. The necessary fibre-optic cabling has been in place for several months, awaiting the installation of the poles and cameras.

Cameras are already in place in Federal, Gloucester and Callaghan Parks and will also form part of the surveillance network. more ..

Sporting Grounds Policy on Trial - 20 Aug 2008
A new policy governing the use of local sporting grounds has been adopted by Temora Shire Council and will be trialled for the next 12 months.

The policy was ratified by Council at its July meeting, in line with recommendations from the Assets & Operations Committee. Under the new policy, booking of all games and grounds will need to be through Council, before each season starts. Finalised copies of draws will also need to be submitted to Temora & District Sports Council (TDSC). In addition, all sporting clubs using Council's grounds will need to provide Council with copies of their public liability forms and a list of current office bearers.

Any booking disputes will be adjudicated by Council, in conjunction with TDSC. According to the policy, priority will be given to clubs which meet all commitments under the policy.

Council will also have the final say in whether a sporting ground is to be closed if weather conditions are unsuitable. Cr Rick Firman moved the adoption of the policy for a 12 month trial, seconded by Cr Fred Meale. The motion was put to a vote and carried unanimously. more ..

Tourists flock to Visitor Centre - 20 Aug 2008
Temora Visitor Information Centre (VIC) has enjoyed a busy few months, handling enquiries from hundreds of visitors to the district. According to Temora Shire Council's Tourist Officer, Ann Pike, the VIC had almost 380 visitors last month, during which period more than $1,000 in sales were also recorded. During the month, the centre's volunteers put in almost 65 hours of their time. The VIC continues to receive requests from other communities for information on Temora, including local tourism brochures and relocation packs, and information on the aviation museum and details of local accommodation.

Ms Pike reported the centre was meanwhile in the process of having more copies printed of the local Stroll Around the Streets brochure, and was awaiting the arrival of a newly-designed map of the town, which would hopefully occur by the begining of September.

The VIC has started selling joint tickets for Temora Aviation Museum and Temora Rural Museum. The tickets, which are also available from local motels, have reportedly been well received and offer visitors a discount of a couple of dollars per person. more ..

Expression of Interest - Aqua Aerobics - 19 Aug 2008
Temora Shire Council is seeking Expressions of Interest of appropriately trained local individual/organisations to conduct Aqua Aerobics classes at Temora and Ariah Park Swimming Pools from November 2008 to March 2009.

Frequency and duration of classes are open for discussion and suggestions should be included in any Expression of Interest which must be submitted to Council prior to Friday, 29th August, 2008.

Expressions of Interest should also include a proposed cost share arrangement including total fee proposed for each class.

Further information may be obtained from Council's Director of Environmental Services, Mr Kris Dunstan on (02) 6980 1100. more ..

Temora Shire Council Election - 19 Aug 2008
Ten prospective Temora Shire Councillors are as follows and will appear on the September 13 ballot paper as:

FIRMAN Rick

MEALE Fred

COATES Graham

COLWILL Trevor

SMITH Ken

JUDD Nigel

SINCLAIR Graham

BROAD Irene

SPEIRS Peter

SCHLIEBS Rachel

In Temora the Local Government Elections will hold some extra historical significance as the 2004 referendum result to reduce the number of councillors to nine will be enforced.

Voters will go to the polls on Saturday 13 September to elect their new Council, which will guide the shire through the next four (4) years. more ..

Information Bay Advertising - 19 Aug 2008
Information Bay Advertising is Available Now.

Contact Ann Pike at the Temora Visitor Information Centre on 6977 1511 to book your space.

Limited spaces available. more ..

Native Approach to Hillview Park Upgrade - 14 Aug 2008
Temora Tidy Towns Committee has taken a fresh focus on board, with more of an emphasis on local activities and education, rather than directing its energies to entering the annual Tidy Towns Competition. An upgrade of Hillview Park, beautification of tourist information bays, Brown's Dam tidy up and beautification, and business/industry clean up days have been flagged as proposed projects for the committee to focus on.

Regular clean up days will continue to be held throughout the community, including the bulk item collection for pensioners and scrap metal collection, and the Adopt-A-Road program will also carry on.

The Hillview Park upgrade, for example, was discussed at the July Committee Meeting, with the suggestion that it does not need to be like other parks in Temora, but perhaps a place where native shrubs, etc, are planted.

Information plaques indicating what the plants are, as well as some picnic tables, park benches, etc, could make the park a popular destination for local families, or tourists keen to observe native plantings.

With further investigation being carried out into the upgrade, Hillview Park will be among the items on the agenda for the next meeting. Any further information can be obtained from Miss Kellie Lewis. more ..

Television Focus for Temora Rural Museum - 11 Aug 2008
An exciting opportunity awaits Temora's award-winning Rural Museum, which may soon feature on television screens across the world. The museum has been chosen as the location for the shoot of a pilot episode of a television series, which will feature items and artefact's of Australian Heritage. The 13 part series, which is planned for Australian and international distribution, will be produced by multi-award winning producers, Robin Newell and Keith Stevenson (who has recently moved into the Temora district), through their production company, Thought Films www.thoughtfilms.com .

For the museum, and Temora district, there is the potential for valuable tourism exposure to a national and international audience. Local residents also have the chance to be involved, invited to take along items of historical significance for evaluation, and the possibility of being included in the show. Temora Rural Museum Director, Bill Speirs is delighted the museum was chosen to host the important pilot.

Mr Speirs encouraged the public to take the opportunity to discover more about historical items they may have themselves. Filming gets underway at the museum at 10:30 AM on Tuesday 19th August and Wednesday 20th August.

For further information contact the Temora Rural Museum. more ..

Building Australia Day - 11 Aug 2008
Temora Shire Australia Day Council (TSADC) will continue to build on a successful shire format of January 26 celebrations. TSADC reviewed 2009 activities and discussed plans for Australia Day 2009 when it held its annual general meeting.

Cr Nigel Judd was re-elected as Chairman for a third term, Cr Graham Sinclair was re-appointed as Vice Chairman, Cr Firman as Secretary and Beth Firman as Treasurer. Members of the TSADC committee elected were Rex Bryant, Cr Graham Coates, Cr Irene Broad, Mrs Gwen Fairman and new member, Sarah Lennon.

TSADC resolved to again hold Australia Day celebrations at the lake in the evening and Ariah Park for breakfast. It was also resolved to investigate costs for special badges to Citizen and Young Citizen of the Year recipients. Another suggestion was adopted, to include a senior community member to deliver an address on "What Australia Day means to me". School student representatives speaking along the same them will continue. TSADC also resolved to introduce a special award, to be known as the "Australia Day Award" to an individual or local group. Judging of Australia Day awards will again be conducted by the nine Temora Shire Councillors and four community representatives on TSADC.

more ..

Information Bays to Promote Events - 06 Aug 2008
At the July Council meeting a number of recommendations for the best way to allow advertising on the new Tourist Information Bays were discussed.

A report to the meeting by the Tourism Officer, Ann Pike, said the first of the four planned information bays had been erected and was now at the stage where advertising could be sold.

A map of the shire with a legend will be included in the wall which faces the east. The side that faces west, originally the service clubs, were going to be invited to put their logo and meeting times but, after inspection of their signage, it has been decided the present signs are in excellent condition and more visible in the current location. A suggestion has come forward to use the west side panel of the bay as a place to promote upcoming events.

Council moved that the coming events section of the bay be enabled to hold laminated A3 sheets (advising of monthly upcoming events). Which could be produced at Council and replaced as necessary. It was also resolved that a policy be drawn up governing which activities could be advertised on teh coming events section. more ..

Temora Business Enterprise Group Executive Elected - 06 Aug 2008
The following are the executive of TBEG 

Mr Michael Harper - Chairman.

Lindy Reinhold - Secretary

Wendy Pinney - Treasurer

Debbie Davidge - Snr Vice President

Rick Friman - Jnr Vice President

Portfolio Managers

Retail - Lindy Reinhold

Tourism & Hospitality - Ian Nicholas

Training & Education - Sue Lester

Professional Services & Member Services to be filled.

  more ..

Interagency Focus on Mental Health - 30 Jul 2008
Mental health services in Temora Shire will be a major focus of Temora Interagency at upcoming meetings.

At a well attended July meeting of Interagency, a need to address the provision of mental health services and how they can be assessed, emerged as a priority. There were simple, but vital, questions which needed to be addressed - "How do you get help?" "Who is out there?" and "What are the phone numbers to ring?". Temora Interagency continues to build momentum as a valuable networking group and forum for enhancing services to the community.

Temora Shire Councils Community Services Officer, Mrs Karen McLaren said plans were underway to more formally establish a structure for Interagency and determine terms of reference. Interagency has been meeting on a regular basis for a number of years, but waning interest earlier this year prompted to re-think of how to effectively involve the greatest number of service providers and best serve the Temora district.

Compiling a database of service providers is a project which Interagency has taken up in earnest and one which is beginning to yield results. There is a need to get the information out there for example through Narraburra News or a community noticeboard.

Interagency will next meet at Temora's CTC (Community Technology Centre), adjoining Temora Library on Wednesday, 13th August, 2008. more ..

New Look RTA Agency - 30 Jul 2008
The Temora Agency of Roads and Traffic Authority (RTA) has undergone a facelift, aimed at improving customer service and accessibility. Temora Shire Councils Director of Administration & Finance, Steve Firth, said the changes had been necessitated by the agency's high customer turnover. Of the 13 agencies which come under RTA Central Processing at Parkes, Temora has consistently had the highest transaction numbers. The old set up, which had only one customer service point, was not deemed sufficient particularly at busy times. Now there are tow service points and upgraded technical equipment, which will provide better service to customers.

The area assigned for learner driver knowledge tests has also been enhanced, moved from the main customer service point to a more private position at the end of the new L shaped counter. Mr Firth said the upgrade had been carried out with as minimal days closure of the agency as possible, with local tradesmen, RTA and TSC staff, working through the weekend and into the night to get the job completed.  more ..

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