The current debate on rail versus road freight has been highlighted by the spate of heavy vehicle accidents on NSW roads. Parkes Shire Council Mayor Ken Keith is urging all transport organisations and Government agencies to adopt a ‘big picture’ approach to come up with a solution. Parkes, situated on the Newell Highway, has a designated 500 hectare National Logistics Hub, which will be a significant depot for the proposed Melbourne-Brisbane rail link. The number of trucks passing through Parkes on the Newell Highway now averages over 1400 vehicles per day.

Narrandera

The MIA 1 State Forest between Narrandera and Leeton will become a national park if the Natural Resources Commission’s (NRC) proposed forest rescue plan is adopted. The plan was outlined after the NRC reviewed river red gum and woodland forests in the Riverina region. The impact on the region’s local timber industry may be significant, especially for river red gum mills but there will be implications for processors of other timbers. Family operated Narrandera business Grants Sawmilling Co Pty Ltd will be affected to some degree by this proposal and at Darlington Point Sawmills Pty Ltd, a specific red gum enterprise, the workforce has already been halved in anticipation of the adoption of the plan and workers at Mathoura are also concerned about the future of their jobs.

Hay

Hay resident Peter Oataway has called on Hay’s community leaders and politicians to investigate the possibility of building a solar energy plant on the Hay Plains. The Federal Government announced last year that it was looking to build four solar energy plants in Australia on sites that met a long list of specific criteria. Mr Oataway believes the Hay Plains is an ideal site for a project of this scale and would prove a boon for the Hay district in both the short and long term.

Deniliquin

A $4.95 million long plan to expand the Deniliquin Airport hinges on a submission that is now before the Federal Government. The project aims at improving existing facilities, making way for a return of passenger air services and attracting new business like Ballarat based ST Aviation and Training which is investigating expanding their operations into southern NSW. A new 1800 metre long runway would run parallel to the existing sealed runway, allowing larger aircraft to land at Deniliquin. The final decision on whether the project application will be approved may not be known for some time.