New Mallee Industry for Shire within three years

• Outgoing LREA president Dave Hall, Sandy Booth and Peter Milthorpe are pleased with progress made for a new Mallee Bio-energy Industry to be established within Lachlan Shire.

The Lachlan Renewable Energy Alliance (LREA) predicts Lachlan Shire will have a multi-million dollar New Mallee Bio-energy Industry within three years.
Chairman of the LREA, Dave Hall told members at their AGM held this week, that considerable work had been done on the Industry Action Plan to guide initial roll-out of the industry. Two important elements of the plan have now been realised. The first was completion of an Industry Overview and Business Analysis Report prepared by Total Catchment Services for the LREA.
This report which was funded by Lachlan Shire Council, clearly demonstrates the many advantages of mallee as a high quality bio energy product and the very significant potential to establish extensive mallee plantations, initially within a 100 km radius of Condobolin.
Dave Hall said mallee has the energy value of medium coal and produces very low emissions when burnt for commercial and domestic purposes. Beyond its value as a high quality bio energy product, mallee also produces high quality oil which has a wide range of uses.
The second element of the LREA’s Industry Action Plan developed in December 2006 is to foster development of a commercial entity to move the industry forward for the benefit of investors, local landholders and the broader community. A commercial entity was now only weeks away from being established. With this in place, work can then begin on the exciting task of establishing the initial commercial plantations.
Over the next five to ten years the LREA predicts the New Mallee Industry could expand to cover over 67,000 ha of plantations, producing over 160,000 tonnes of dry matter per year. This will require 10 harvesting units and almost 60 road train trips transporting the material for local processing. Overall, the industry will be generating more than $60M annually
As outgoing Chair of the LREA, Dave Hall paid tribute to all the LREA members and supporters who had put in so much hard work to help foster this new exciting industry.

Town to welcome B&S visitors

Ticket sales have started for the Annual Condobolin Winter Bachelor and Spinsters Ball (B&S) to be held 12th July at the Condobolin SRA Hall.
Traditionally many people travel long distances from Queensland Victoria and all parts of NSW to attend and times are tough too for them – B & S goers show true dedication in the face of long distances and high fuel costs.
Committee Chairlady Lucy Calton said “The town needs to welcome the visitors to town as they purchase food and fuel during the weekend of festivities”.
Their attendance provides another form of revenue in the form of the long standing B & S charity donations – donations that have purchased, for example: shower chairs for the Retirement Village, sporting equipment for clubs and learning materials for the schools.
Lucy Calton said, “We had a good ball last year with more than expected turning up and we were able to give out a lot of donations. We hope to give money to those who missed out last year and we appreciate as much community support as possible.”
“It is a hard event to put on and we are struggling for numbers on the committee. It seems to be the same people who help out are the ones spread across many other committees. We certainly miss (the late) Ray Davis and all the work he did. It is a love job on the part of the committee and we‘ll be happy with anyone from the community who can help out.”
“We hope lots come to support the ball and behave themselves – then they can continue.”
Although there is no specified theme this year, revellers can dress up if they want to. Often a group will get together and coordinate a similar styled costume with coloured hats/ caps/ t – shirts or accessories.
Music will be supplied by “Scattered’ from Trundle and White Nites DJ.

DoCCs cares

• Lake Cargelligo and Condobolin child carers meet with DoCCS representatives from Parkes.

by Karen Tooth
news@condobolinargus.com.au

Family support held a "morning tea" for child carers from Lake Cargelligo and Condobolin to meet with representatives from Department of Community Care (DoCCS) , Parkes.
Leanne Merritt is the new ‘Youth Mentor’ along with Leith Day. The Youth program runs every Friday from 4 – 6 pm at Family Support, 153 Bathurst Street , Condobolin and is open to kids in care and their friends.
Janine Richards, who was in the acting position for the last 2 months, is the new ‘Aboriginal out of Homecare Worker’. The Out of Homecare program, though based in Condobolin, also goes to Lake Cargelligo and Murrim Bridge and the hours are 9 am – 5 pm Monday to Friday with one day allocated to Lake Cargelligo.
Janine and Leanne will be running the morning teas as a regular network of getting carers together for support, updates and training information.
Kevin Read of DoCCs Condobolin complimented the workers in Condobolin and at Lake Cargelligo and Murrim Bridge. It is A DoCCs initiative to support local carers, who he described as ‘quiet achievers caring for kids.’
Pictured: Front L - R: Sue Mansell, Kevin Read (DoCC), Leane Merritt, Tess Kelly, Janine Richards, Beryl Powell, Anne Stewart (DoCC), Leith day, Michael Byrnes (DoCC), Ben Kerwin, Delphine Biggs, Katrina Kirby and Mary-Ellen Sloan.

Concerns at slow payment

Concerns have been raised at Condobolin the DoCCs system of providing payments for carers of children at risk is not keeping up with needs; delays are creating undue hardship.
Carer Mary-Ellen Sloan (who has received an award for the quality of care and the number of children she has cared for) is currently caring for six children and praised the support from DoCCs but is wary of the payments procedure.
“I can’t thank DoCCs in Parkes and Condo enough. They are always there to help me out on the phone.”
However, Mary – Ellen has raised concerns with delays in receiving financial assistance for a child she has had since February.
“[the child] doesn’t do without but it does make things difficult.”
Carer Delphine Biggs has recently moved from Victoria to Lake Cargelligo and with her partner Ben Kerwin is looking after a 7 month old baby. Delphine was concerned that there was not enough money for carers many of whom receive a basic pension.
She too, was frustrated with waiting times. “Governments pay out money to people who use it on drugs and grog and the kids have nothing to eat. Many people are concerned, not just me. Kids are not in school – it’s happening all around.”
Carer Katrina Kirby also from Lake Cargelligo says Centrelink payments are wasted. “They {the government} should see for themselves where the money is going. We can see it going on drugs and grog. Some people are getting money for kids and they aren’t even with them.”
Delphine added “You see it everywhere and people like us need the money to look after kids. It is very frustrating.”
Michael Byrnes, DoCCs Manager of Client Services for Parkes and Condobolin said he couldn’t comment without knowing the specifics regarding delays in payments.
“The process can take a number of weeks from when the application was put in. Carer support is assessment based around the child’s welfare. It could be a kinship or family based placement and is different to foster care placements. Assessment takes time and resources with immediate (i.e. emergency) needs taking priority.”
“We identify the needs and concerns of people and then go back to the management team to fit them into priorities.”
“Currently the new office in Condobolin has five DoCCs staff, which hasn’t always been the case – three new positions have been created. The Lachlan Area has a high demand for services. This staffing level is part of DoCCs enhanced service delivery which will provide a more comprehensive service to the community.
All staff here are from the local area and are passionate about kids,” Michael Byrnes said.