We'll be taking it in stages to build new roundabout
THE roundabout at the intersection of Suttor, Mitre and Lambert streets is being constructed in response to community concerns and feedback about safety issues at the intersection.
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The construction of the roundabout is a complex and lengthy project due to the design of the intersection and the number of underground services in the area.
It is envisaged the project will take approximately nine months to complete. The project will be conducted in stages, the first of which are:
- Stage one: Car park construction adjacent to the shops and water main works at the rear of the shops. The intersection will remain open under traffic control.
- Stage two: Water main works at the intersection. The intersection will remain open under traffic control. Stages one and two are expected to take approximately eight weeks.
- Stage three: Road realignment and service relocation. Suttor and Mitre streets will remain open under traffic control. Lambert Street will be fully closed to traffic. This is scheduled to occur during school holidays to minimise impact to traffic. This stage is expected to take approximately four weeks. As the project progresses, the subsequent stages will be detailed on the Bathurst YourSay website.
Drop-in sessions for updates and project information will be held on Thursday, November 14. Come in any time between noon and 2pm at the Upstairs Startup Hub or 2.30pm to 4.30pm at the Scout Hall on Suttor Street.
Staff will be available to assist with any questions or concerns. Regular project updates will be published on the YourSay Bathurst website. You can also subscribe to receive a newsletter with the latest information.
Food and Flix
THE Youth Council's Food and Flix will be held at the Adventure Playground on Friday, November 15 at 6.30pm.
With the warmer days upon us, it's the perfect opportunity to pack a picnic blanket and head outdoors.
Entry is free and the children's classic Willy Wonka And The Chocolate Factory starring Gene Wilder will start at 8pm. Some food and drink stalls will also be available.
For more information, visit www.bathurst.nsw.gov.au.
Bathurst mayor Bobby Bourke
Digital days are here for those who hold a licence
I'M pleased to confirm that NSW drivers can now use a Digital Driver's Licence (DDL) on their smartphone for proof of identity, proof of age and at roadside police checks.
Opal card and Service NSW have revolutionised the customer experience and the Digital Driver's Licence is the latest way we are making life easier for the people of this state.
The Digital Driver's Licence has inbuilt security controls to protect customers' personal information.
The DDL is hosted securely on the new Service NSW app, locks with a PIN and can be accessed offline. It will provide additional levels of security and protection against identity fraud compared with the plastic driver licence.
We are working closely with business and industry to have them come on board and accept the DDL. This includes nightclubs, restaurants, hotels and petrol stations. Watch this space.
Drivers who opt-in are encouraged to carry their plastic licence in the initial stages.
For more information about how to recognise and accept the DDL, visit www.service.nsw.gov.au/campaign/digital-driver-licence
To get a DDL, licence holders will need to create a MyServiceNSW Account at www.service.nsw.gov.au and download the Service NSW mobile app on their smartphone.
The DDL will always be opt-in only.
Sporting chance
I'M urging sporting clubs in the Bathurst region wanting to improve mental health and wellbeing in drought-stricken areas to contact their state body and apply for a share of a new $1.2 million Mental Health Sports Fund.
Sport is a great way to unwind, get out of the house and catch up with your mates.
Our local sporting clubs and organisations have strong ties with Bathurst, and act as a point of focus for families, friends and neighbours.
That's why the NSW Government has launched this fund, to create an opportunity for sports organisations to support the drought effort and help build resilience in rural communities.
The fund was launched off the back of the highly successful 2018 "Baggy Blues" regional cricket tour, which harnessed a love of cricket in rural communities to have conversations about the importance of mental health.
The Baggy Blues will tour new locations next year, starting in Inverell in January and Tamworth in February.
We are hoping a diverse range of sporting codes will apply to promote mental health, and start important conversations in regional areas battling this tough drought.
For further information and how to apply, please visit the Office of Sport NSW website: https://sport.nsw.gov.au/clubs/grants/Mental-Health-Sports-Fund
Anyone requiring drought assistance is encouraged to visit the NSW DroughtHub website: www.droughthub.nsw.gov.au
Sustainability focus
IT'S great to see a new four-year grants scheme that aims to help students develop innovative sustainability projects at their schools.
The Sustainable Schools Grants program, which is open to all NSW public schools, provides up to $15,000 for student-led initiatives that improve their environment.
This program will provide $10 million over four years to support hands-on sustainability projects for our young people.
I am really looking forward to seeing the projects that come from the grants at schools in our local area and expect we'll see a wide variety of sustainability projects, or strategies for more sustainable transport, or plans to establish kitchen gardens.
Grant applications must be for projects that include hands-on activities for students to learn about sustainability, be linked to the curriculum, and improve the sustainability of the school environment.
The first round of grants applications can be submitted between November 1 and 29 and successful applicants will be notified in February 2020.
Schools will implement their projects by November, when the following year's applications open again.