I encourage everyone to get into the spirit of Australia Day and hold that message through the year.

My congratulations to everyone across Burrinjuck electorate in receipt of Australia Day awards.

Funding for Gold Trail
This month I was pleased to announce that the Regional Gold Trail committee will receive $50,000 from the NSW Liberals and Nationals Government to enhance signage and assist visitors to better explore the region's gold mining heritage.

The Lambing Flat Festival in Young, the Harden Gold Trail Festival, and the Grenfell Gold Fest have been successful events held under the umbrella of the Gold Trail which has expanded over the past three years to include 30 towns and cities in ten local government areas.

Tourism funding for Cowra and Grenfell
I was pleased to announce this month that Cowra and Weddin Shires will share about $34,000 in funding for local tourism, under the NSW Government's Regional Tourism Product Development Funding Program.

Weddin Shire will receive $14,000 to develop signage for the Grenfell Gold Mining Trail at O'Brien's Hill, while $20,000 will be directed towards business training for tourism operators to establish a cluster of accommodation and experiences in Cowra.

Burrinjuck Transport Infrastructure Grants
Local infrastructure upgrades in the Burrinjuck electorate will receive grants from the NSW Government of $100,000 for upgrades as part of a regional grants program.  Local projects to receive support include:
• bus shelters at four sites around Cowra to receive $34,000as part of the CHART Cowra Hail and Ride Terminals;
• country passenger bus stop at Yass to receive $20,686;
• Lynch Street Passenger Shelter and Improvements program in Young to receive $48,200.

Have your say on wind farm developments
I am urging residents to review the NSW Government draft Planning Guidelines for Wind Farms now on public exhibition until 14 March 2012.  The draft guidelines strike a balance between providing opportunities for investment in wind farms and protecting local communities from potential impacts of new developments.

The draft guidelines can be accessed at www.planning.nsw.gov.au/onexhibition until 14 March.  I encourage all locals to get involved and make sure their voice is heard on the future of windfarm developments in NSW.

Home power savings program
Eligible card holders can save up to 20 per cent on power use by joining the NSW Government's free Home Power Savings Program.   I encourage eligible households in the electorate to take advantage of this program.

Pensioners, veterans and those most in need can receive a visit from an energy expert who will check the running cost of appliances and give personalised advice on how to save power.  To join the program call 1300 662 416.

Householders not eligible for the program can access helpful information on how to save money at home by visiting www.savepower.nsw.gov.au

Christmas Concert DVD
I have a limited number of copies of the 2011 Premier's Christmas Gala concert DVD available free to seniors and relevant organisation in Burrinjuck electorate.

The DVD 'All Wrapped up for Christmas' is presented by the government in recognition of the continued contribution made by seniors in NSW.

To obtain a copy please contact my office on 6226 3311 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Year of the Farmer
2012 is the Australian Year of the Farmer – a year when we can celebrate all the fabulous men and women who produce the great products we enjoy eating, wearing and using every day of the year.

As well we can celebrate those who help package, transport and sell the farmers' produce and all the men and women working in agricultural research and innovation helping our farmers to be among the most efficient in the world.

Help celebrate by saying thank you and buying Australian farmed products to help keep our farmers and all those who rely on them in business.

Grandparents' Family Law Information Guide
Unfortunately more grandparents are becoming affected by marital breakdown, which is currently at 40 percent of marriages, and they can be left out of agreements between separating parents and the Family Law Court.

For any grandparents in this sad situation I have available from my office copies of the Grandparents' Family Law Information Guide produced by the Family Law Reform Association NSW Inc.  The Guide is a useful tool for grandparents denied access to their grandchildren.  Copies are also available from www.familylawreform.org.au

Strata Reform
I welcome the Global Access Partners initiative encouraging everyone who owns, lives in or is involved in the management of a strata or community schemes to have their say on strata and community laws during a three month online consultation project hosted by the public policy think tank.  The GAP project will provide information for the NSW Government's planned review of strata and community title laws in 2012.

Strata and community scheme stakeholders can participate in the online consultation period which commenced on 15 December 2011 and continues until 29 February 2012.  Comments can be made directly online on the GAP open forum website at www.openforum.com.au or by following the link from either the NSW Fair Trading website at www.fairtrading.nsw.gov.au or the Land and Property Information website www.lpi.nsw.gov.au

Digital TV
Burrinjuck electorate is included in the area which will be switching to digital broadcasting in June 2012.  To keep receiving free-to-air television after the digital switchover, a TV capable of receiving digital signals is required. 

An analog TV can be converted to digital by using a set-top box or digital recording device or a TV with a built in digital tuner can be purchased.

The Household Assistance Scheme has been introduced to assist people who need help to get ready for digital TV, and more information about the scheme is available by phoning 1800 55 64 43.

To find out more about the switch to digital TV phone the information line on 1800 20 10 13 or visit www.digitalready.gov.au

Main Road 54 roadwork
Roads and Maritime Services (RMS) is planning to start work in mid February on widening the Bathurst to Goulburn Road at Abercrombie Hill.  This section of Main Road 54 will be closed to all traffic from 7am to 6pm. 

The closure will be signposted at Goulburn, Gunning, Crookwell, Blayney, Bathurst and several sites along the road.  Work is expected to take about six weeks to complete.  This $800,000 project is being funded by the NSW government in response to concerns raised by residents following increased traffic movements on the road.

Motorists travelling between Goulburn and Bathurst will be diverted through Yass, Cowra and Blayney.

February is Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month
Next month is Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month  when Ovarian Cancer Australia aims to raise ovarian cancer awareness, to support women with this cancer, to educate communities about the disease, advocate to improve outcomes, treatment and quality of life for women with ovarian cancer, and to fund innovative research.

One in 77 Australian women will develop ovarian cancer in their lifetime; it is the sixth most common cause of cancer death in Australian women and there is no detection test.

For more information please visit www.ovariancancer.net.au