Girl dies, two injured in car crash

A TEENAGE girl is dead after a car crashed into a tree at Manildra yesterday (Thursday).

The fatality happened about 3:45pm when a 1998-model Holden Commodore, travelling south along Packham Way, Manildra, left the roadway and slammed into a tree, police say.
Police and ambulance officers found a 13-year-old girl dead in the back seat of the car.
The 17-year-old male P1 driver was freed from the wreckage and taken in critical condition to Orange Base Hospital for treatment.
He has been flown to Sydney’s Westmead Hospital for emergency surgery.
An 18-year-old woman, the front-seat passenger, was taken by ambulance to Orange Base Hospital, where she remains in a serious but stable condition.

Orange detectives and Bathurst Crash Investigation Unit officers are continuing their inquiries into the cause of the crash.
Anyone who witnessed the crash or the circumstances leading up to it is urged to contact Orange Police Station via Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Apprentices needed to

energise country NSW

COUNTRY Labor MLC for Burrinjuck, Mick Veitch, has encouraged people to apply for one of 81 power-line apprenticeships on offer with Australia’s biggest electricity distributor, Country Energy.

Mr Veitch says successful applicants will start their careers in January 2011, based in one of 60 locations including Cowra, Boorowa, Crookwell, Gundagai, Harden and Yass.

“Country Energy is looking for the best people – male or female, from school leavers to mature age and from all walks of life – to join its 4500-strong workforce,” he says.

Mr Veitch says this year’s call for applications includes a pilot program aimed at attracting more women to the help secure the state’s energy supply into the future.

Country Energy was also offering a number of positions specifically for Indigenous applicants, he says.

As well, a specialist electricity infrastructure design position will be based at Ballina.

“This year’s intake brings the number of apprentice positions created by Country Energy since 2001 to more than 1010,” says Mr Veitch.

Country Energy apprentices receive practical and theoretical instruction delivered at the company’s own progressive training facilities at Parkes, Grafton and Goulburn.

This instruction complements their training in the field.

“The apprenticeships will provide new recruits with the skills and training to establish a foundation for long-term employment and career development in our local community,” Mr Veitch says.

Robbie Wilson, a mature-aged apprentice with a young family, took up a career as an apprentice power-line worker with Country Energy based at the company’s Port Macquarie field service centre.

“There are so many great opportunities associated with a Country Energy apprenticeship, with a variety of tasks that give you great satisfaction and a sense of achievement,” says Mr Wilson.

“You don’t have to be a school leaver to get on board – you just have to be dedicated.”

Applicants are encouraged to apply on-line through Country Energy’s website at www.countryenergy.com.au/apprentices or visit a Customer Service Centre or call 1800 242 166.

Applicants for the 81 apprenticeships close on Friday, September 24.

Local government gives Gillard’s

election a big tick of approval

LOCAL government has congratulated Julia Gillard on her return as Prime Minister of Australia following the decision by Independent MPs, Tony Windsor and Rob Oakeshott, to back a Labor Government.

President of the Shires’ Association of New South Wales, Bruce Miller, says he hopes the strong partnership established between local government and a federal Labor Government will continue.

“We’ve been extremely pleased to see the needs of rural and regional Australia highlighted in the past two weeks, and we look forward to the roll out of the National Broadband Network across NSW with standard wholesale pricing.

“This will really benefit our rural and regional communities.

“We applaud the many other Labor Government initiatives that focus on rural and regional Australia that have recently been announced by Prime Minister Gillard, in particular the regional Health and Hospitals Fund and additional funding for regional infrastructure.

“Our rural communities have been without adequate funding for many years, and funding programs such as Roads to Recovery and the Regional and Local Community Infrastructure Program have been critical in building and renewing crumbling infrastructure.

“This federal funding has boosted local employment and the use of local contractors and service providers, which is so important in rural and regional areas,” says Cr Miller.

Local Government Association president, Genia McCaffery, says: “Local government has fostered a strong relationship with the Australian Government over the past few years, and we hope to see this continue under the leadership of Prime Minister Gillard.

“The recent signing of a formal agreement between Labor and the Greens agreeing to a referendum to recognise local government in the Australian Constitution is a significant and exciting decision for local government across the country.

“We’ve eagerly awaited a public commitment on this issue and we’re delighted to see the Gillard Government take the lead. We hope the opposition will also support the recognition of local Government in the Constitution.

“We’re also seeking further commitments from the Prime Minister on other crucial issues affecting local government, including much-needed action on climate change and a greater funding allocation for councils, especially community infrastructure.

“It’s really important that local government is a strong partner in the delivery of these programs. Local government is the closest sphere of government to the community – we understand our communities’ needs and want to work closely with the federal Government to ensure these programs are delivered effectively,” says Cr McCaffery.

Rain boosts Wyangala Dam

storage to 28 per cent

WYANGALA Dam water storage has reached 28 per cent capacity following solid rainfall at the weekend.

New South Wales Water Minister, Phil Costa, says the rainfall will both increase water supply and morale in the state’s south-west as the spring planting season gets underway.

“This year has brought the best rains we have seen in more than a decade and the good rainfall at the weekend has provided another timely boost to storages,” Mr Costa says in a statement.

Labor MLC for Murray-Darling, Tony Catanzariti, says waterways across the region will benefit.

“The rain has fallen on already wet catchments, generating runoff into rivers and streams across a large portion of the state. The good news is that much of this water will eventually make its way into the River Murray,” says Mr Catanzariti.

Labor MLC for Burrinjuck, Mick Veitch, says local dam storages have fared well in the rains.

“This runoff has already topped up storages in the state’s southern and central irrigation dams, and it looks like we may see runoff continuing to improve dam storages over the next few weeks – this is great news for irrigators in the region,” he says.

Since last Friday:

Wyangala Dam levels have increased by three per cent to 28 per cent;

Burrinjuck Dam levels have increased by over ten percent to 81 per cent; and,

Hume Dam levels have increased by 4.6 per cent to 59 per cent.

Mr Costa says while the rainfall had resulted in minor to moderate flood warnings along central and southern rivers, NSW had avoided the flooding experienced in Victoria.

“While NSW has received some solid rainfall, we feel for our southern neighbours in Victoria who received heavier, destructive rainfall and flooding,” he says.

“Over the past week, towns in southern NSW have received between 5mm and 100mm of rainfall, with Perisher Valley in the Snowy Mountains recording 79mm, Orange in the Central Tablelands experiencing 60mm and Batlow on the South-West Slopes receiving 56mm.

“Currently, there are flood warnings in place for the MacIntyre, Castlereagh, Macquarie, Belubula, Lachlan, Murrumbidgee and Murray rivers and streams.

“Hydrometrics experts are continuing to gauge river heights throughout southern NSW this week as the flood waters begin to flow from Victoria into the Murray, and these will be reported in real time on the NSW Office of Water’s website.”

Baby abduction: man to face court

A MAN from Forbes will appear in court today (Wednesday) after a nine-week-old baby was allegedly taken from a home at Cooma.

The 21-year-old man, who police say is the baby’s non-custodial father, allegedly forced his way into the Cooma home about 8pm on Tuesday and assaulted two women, aged 19 and 43.

He then left the home with the nine-week-old baby, police say.

About two-and-a-half hours later, highway patrol officers stopped the man on the Lachlan Valley Way at Yass, about 170km north of Cooma.

The baby was safe and well inside his car, police say.

The man was charged with aggravated breaking and entering, assault occasioning actual bodily harm and assault.

Bail was refused for him to appear at Goulburn Local Court today.

Police say investigations are continuing into the circumstances surrounding the baby being taken from the home.

Man charged with toddler’s murder

A NARRABRI man has been charged with murder and aggravated sexual assault over the death of a three-year-old boy.

Homicide squad detectives arrested the man in the town yesterday (Tuesday) afternoon, just days after the child was hospitalised with serious head injuries.
He was airlifted to a Sydney hospital on Sunday and died on Monday night.
The 21-year-old man has been charged with murder and two counts of aggravated sexual assault of a child under 10.
He was refused bail to appear at Moree Local Court today (Wednesday).

Forbes farmer to chair Lachlan LHPA

FORBES farmer, Chris Sweeney, has been elected chairman of the Lachlan Livestock Health and Pest Authority (LHPA).

Mr Sweeney, a board member, specialises in feed-lotting lambs. He replaces James Maslin, who retired after five years as chairman.

Lachlan LHPA general manager, Peter Brown, says Mr Sweeney has a long association with the LHPA and former Rural Lands Protection Boards (RLPBs), and will continue to ensure strong guidance and direction for the authority.

“Chris was initially elected to the former Forbes RLPB in 2006 and then elected to the Lachlan LHPA in 2009, so he has had four years of continuous service as a director,” says Mr Brown.

“[He] has a strong commitment to ensuring the ongoing success of the now established LHPA.

“As well as his experience with the organisation, Chris runs his own farming enterprise in the Lachlan area and has a broad knowledge of livestock health and pest issues facing landholders in the region.”

Mr Sweeney is actively involved in the community, being associated with both senior and junior rugby and junior cricket. He is a member of the Forbes Shire Council Saleyard Advisory Committee, as well as a member of the working party for the establishment of the new sheep saleyard facility.

Mr Sweeney and his wife Kathryn, a school teacher, have four children.

Robber flees empty-handed from hold-up

A MAN armed with a knife has fled empty-handed from a fast-food outlet after an attempted robbery at Orange last night (Sunday).

Police say a 15-year-old employee was threatened by a man while working at the drive-through window at the restaurant on Bathurst Rd about 9:40pm.
The girl ran away from the man and alerted other staff.
The man left the scene empty-handed.
Police established a crime scene and searched the area for the offender.
They believe the man entered the restaurant car park through an open rear fence and possibly left the same way.
He is described as being of Aboriginal appearance and was wearing a hooded jacket.
Anyone with information about the attempted robbery should contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Man dies as utility crashes into tree

A 20-YEAR-OLD man is dead after his utility left the Mitchell Highway near Dubbo and crashed into a tree early today (Sunday), bringing the state’s weekend road toll to four.
Police say the fatality happened at Wongarbon, east of Dubbo, some time before 3am. Authorities were alerted to the incident by passing motorists.

Police and paramedics located the man, believed to be from Dubbo, deceased in the wreckage.
The highway was closed while investigations were carried out at the scene.
Anyone who witnessed the crash or the circumstances leading up to it is urged to contact Dubbo Police (02) 6883 1599 or via Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
Meanwhile, a second motorist and two pedestrians have died in separate incidents on New South Wales roads.

Police say a 44-year-old man died at the scene after his car veered off the Hume Highway in wet conditions and hit a tree before rolling on its roof just after 6:30am yesterday (Saturday) at Berrima in the Southern Highlands.
Investigating officers are appealing for public assistance as they examine the cause of the crash.
Anyone who witnessed the incident is urged to contact Goulburn Police Station via Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
And a woman died after being struck by an ambulance in Sydney’s inner west on Friday night.
About 10pm, an ambulance under lights and sirens was travelling west on Parramatta Rd, Camperdown, when it struck a woman at the intersection with Mallett St.
It appears the woman had stepped into the path of the ambulance, police say.
The ambulance officers attempted to render medical assistance to the woman, but she died at the scene.
The male driver and female passenger of the ambulance were both taken to Royal Prince Alfred Hospital for treatment to shock.
Investigations are continuing after a man was fatally struck by a bus at Leumeah, in Sydney’s south-west, yesterday morning.
About 4am, a 33-year-old Ambarvale man was hit by the bus on Rudd Rd, near the Queen St intersection.
He died at the scene.
Witnesses have told investigating officers the man had been lying on the roadway before he was run over by the bus.
Anyone with information about the incident, who hasn’t yet spoken with police, is urged to contact Campbelltown Police Station via Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
Reports of the fatalities are being prepared for the Coroner.