PLAQUE TO HONOUR PAUL

Forbes Shire Council has decided to erect a plaque on the recently-acquired pipe organ to recognise Paul Coles who generously donated the instrument to Forbes Town Hall.

A plaque and photograph of Mr Coles will be placed on the pipe organ in recognition of his donation.

Director of tourism, community and cultural development Richard Morgan requested at the July council meeting that the process of installing a plaque be fast-tracked in light of Mr Coles’ ill health.

A ceremony will be held to unveil the plaque once it is erected.

NEW WEBSITE

Forbes Shire Council has launched a new website which is now up and running.

The new site is cleaner, easily navigated and user friendly and still contains all the old information in a new and improved way.

Over the last month council staff have been busy editing, proofing content and adding features to the website before it will be officially promoted.

“There’ll be continual changes to the website as and when required, so we can constantly update it,” mayor Ron Penny said.

“It’ll be kept up to better speed.”

MOTORISED SCOOTER SAFETY

The intersection of Bedgerabong Road and Lawler Street behind Woolworths will be investigated at the next traffic committee meeting in regards to pedestrian safety and motorised scooter access.

There was question whether that intersection is a pedestrian crossing and what can be done to make the area safer for all concerned.

This comes as Forbes Shire Council has resolved to support the findings and recommendations of a new Staysafe Committee which was formed by the state government to investigate the safety issues surrounding the use of non-registered motorised vehicles including mobility scooters, segways, e-bikes and quad bikes.

Forbes, Parkes and Lachlan Shire Councils made a submission to the Staysafe Committee outlining a number of safety recommendations.

NEW BUS SHELTERS

Forbes Shire Council has received a grant from the Roads and Maritime Service to install two new bus shelters in the centre of town.

RMS has provided $13,419 for the project under the Country Passenger Transport Infrastructure Grants Scheme.

MAYORAL ELECTIONS

Mayoral elections will be held on September 1 prior to the works and services meeting due to absences of a number of councillors.

At this stage both the current mayor and deputy mayor are re-standing for the positions, with no other councillors expressing an interest to stand.

All of the committees will be determined at the normal council meeting in September.

Council are currently doing a review on the committees to improve the system.

NEW GRADER

Forbes Shire Council is currently looking into buying a new grader for the town.

There was debate at the July meeting as to what brand is best, so councillors resolved to get more information from staff which will then be presented at the next works and services meeting when a decision will be made.

Mayor Ron Penny said council need to weigh up all options before going ahead with a purchase.

“We’re spending public money, so we don’t want to spend it lightly without checking facts,” he said.

“I’m determined that we stay within our financial capabilities so rates aren’t jacked out of proportion.”

BEN HALL SITE SIGNS

New signs will be going up at the Ben Hall Shooting Site following approval of the Heritage Advisory Committee to proposed panels which will be installed at the property.

All new signage will be installed within the site but first council will apply to the heritage officer for the removal of the existing signs and will also discuss the proposed signage with the owners of the property.

The directional signs to the site will also be changed from Ben Hall’s Place to Ben Hall Shooting Site.

YOUTH WEEK WEBSITE

Forbes Youth Committee will establish a website to be used for the promotion of Youth Week activities.

Council has supported the committee’s decision to use the platform wordpress.com for the website at a cost of $48 with unlimited use of colour palettes and a customised web address as well as annual fees. The youth website will have many advantages, particularly in being able to provide a greater connection with young people.