Still protecting

• Above L-R: General Manager Peter Brown and Senior Ranger Craig Ridley with Sue Halliwell and Cathy Thompson.

By Sally Willoughby

The Condobolin office of the Livestock Health and Pest Authority (LHPA), previously the Rural Lands Protection Board (RLPB), will remain open despite the recent restructure and loss of one job.
Senior staff member, Craig Ridley, who was recently promoted to Senior Ranger, maintained that ratepayers would still have the same local contacts and local office despite the changed management regime.
“The name’s changed but what we actually do and how we do it has changed very little...they’re changes for the better,” he said.
The restructure saw the boards of Condobolin, Forbes, Young and Molong merge to form the Lachlan LHPA covering a much larger five million hectares and 8,000 ratepayers.
“With the vast increase in property that now falls under the Lachlan LHPA jurisdiction services will not deteriorate,” Craig assured.
He said they are now better equipped to handle emergency responses and resolve ongoing problems.
“We’ve got a bigger area to cover, but more men to cover it,” he said.
With 14 Field staff now under his direction the merge encourages a more consistent approach to policy and procedure across the Lachlan Authority area.
“We don’t want to fix what’s not broken, it’s just about figuring out what needs to change and how to change it,” he said.
Lachlan LHPA General Manager, Peter Brown, agreed expressing that the restructure allows the local offices more autonomy and responsibility.
Under the new structure the Board of Directors will have less involvement with the day to day running of local offices and focus instead on implementing policies and allocating the budget.
“It’s now up to Craig and myself and other Senior staff to review policies and come up with recommendations to put to the Board of Directors,” Peter said.
“The new board is currently made up of six members who proportionally represent the three divisions that make up the Lachlan LPHA. Two more board members are to be appointed and don’t necessarily need to be ratepayers,” Peter said.
With most of the board and senior staff now appointed Peter is positive about the Lachlan LHPA’s future.
“We’ve got the team, now we can get out there and promote the service,” Peter said.

CDAT out in force

• (L-R) Heather Blackley, Leanne Kendall and Leonie Parker. Photo: S. Willoughby.

By Sally Willoughby

Members of CDAT were out in force last week as part of Community Drug Action week promoting awareness and information in their attempt to combat drug and alcohol abuse in the area.
With a stall on Bathurst Street, members of Condobolin’s Community Drug and Alcohol Team (CDAT) provided literature on the dangers of drug addiction and where to go for help.
Western Plains Regional Development Project Officer and member of the Condobolin CDAT team, Heather Blackley, said that the information and posters were much more focused on targeting youth and ways to get through to them on drug and alcohol issues.
CDAT works to take action on drug and alcohol related concerns in the community and is also involved in promoting events like “sports days, discos and activities without drugs and alcohol,” Heather said.
A recent trip to Lake Cargelligo saw many Condobolin youngsters enjoy a sports day with a strict drug and alcohol-free policy.
CDAT are also promoting the Black Dog Institute that provides a service for young people that “promotes well being and self-esteem,” Heather said.
The event will be held later in the year at Condobolin High School.

Nationals senator to visit Condobolin

The Nationals Senator for New South Wales John Williams will visit Condobolin this Friday morning to meet local people from 11am at the Council Chambers.
Senator Williams entered the Senate in July last year after a life of farming, shearing, truck driving and ownership of a small business in his home town of Inverell.
He has been a staunch critic of the Federal Government’s Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme which he says will devastate rural Australia costing jobs in the mining, agricultural, manufacturing and transport industries, and force the nation into a reliance on imported products from big emitters like China and India.
Senator Williams has also voiced concerns over the controversial changes to the Youth Allowance.
He is looking forward to meeting members of the Condobolin community.