By PHILIP DONATO MEMBER FOR ORANGE
FREE ACCESS TO JE VACCINE
NSW Health is further expanding and simplifying free access the Japanese encephalitis (JE) vaccine to ensure residents are protected as the mosquito season continues.
In NSW, A Japanese encephalitis virus vaccine is available for free for people aged two months or older who live or work (including volunteer deployment) in 60 Local Government Areas.
A full list of LGAs is available here: Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) vaccination: https://shorturl.at/fUqXG
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As many people will enjoy the great outdoors this long weekend and school holiday period, it is important that people throughout the state protect themselves and their families from mosquitoes.
Here are some simple actions you can take:
Apply repellent to exposed skin. Use repellents that contain DEET, picaridin, or oil of lemon eucalyptus. Check the label for reapplication times.
Re-apply repellent regularly, particularly after swimming. Always apply SPF 50+ sunscreen first before applying repellent.
Use repellents that are safe for children. Most skin repellents are safe for use on children aged three months and older. Always check the label for instructions.
Wear light, loose-fitting long-sleeve shirts, long pants and covered footwear and socks.
Avoid going outdoors during peak mosquito times, especially dawn and dusk.
Use insecticide sprays, vapour dispensing units and mosquito coils to repel mosquitoes (mosquito coils should only be used outdoors in well-ventilated areas).
Cover windows and doors with insect screens and checking there are no gaps.
Remove items that may collect water such as old tyres and empty pots from around your home to reduce the places where mosquitoes can breed.
Protect infants aged less than three months by using an infant carrier draped with mosquito netting, secured along the edges.
While camping, use a tent that has fly screens to prevent mosquitoes entering or sleep under a mosquito net.
For further information and ways to protect yourself visit: https://shorturl.at/s6DUf
NSW Government State Representative Award
A big congratulations to Dexter Roberts on receiving a NSW Government State Representative Award for his role as a referee at the 2024 School Sport Australia Australian Football 15 Years & Under Touch Football Championships, representing the NSW All Schools Team Officials. It was an honour to present Dexter a framed certificate on behalf of NSW Premier Chis Minns MP.
MINISTERIAL VISITS
It was a pleasure to host Minister Janelle Saffin’s first ministerial visit to the Orange electorate last week. The Minister for Recovery, along with Reconstruction Authority CEO Mal Lanyon, visited Molong to meet with representatives of Cabonne Shire Council and flood-impacted business owners to see how flood recovery efforts are progressing.
Minister Saffin, Mr Lanyon and I continued our tour of Central West flood-impacted communities, visiting Eugowra. We met community representatives at the recently opened Eugowra multipurpose community centre and evacuation centre.
It was great to get locals’ perspectives and insights, and suggestions about responses to future flood events. As Chair of the Community Leaders’ Forum and the Local Member for these flood-impacted communities, I’m highly motivated to see the Resilient Homes Program progressed as quickly as possible.
Funding for replacement of flood-destroyed critical water infrastructure is on the top of my 2025-2026 state budget submission list.
I appreciate both Minister Saffin MP and Mr Lanyon for meeting with the leadership team of Parkes Shire Council on site at Lake Endeavour, to see the damaged water infrastructure for themselves. I hope this now yields the funding which Parkes, and neighbouring local government areas of Cabonne and Lachlan, desperately need to repair or replace critical water and sewer infrastructure.
Minister Saffin and Mr Lanyon went on to meet councillors and directors from both Forbes and Lachlan Shires. Each council discussed their respective local flood recovery challenges and funding needs.
It was a wonderful opportunity for the councils to provide direct feedback and make suggestions for government to consider, and I believe there has already been some resolution on a few of the issues raised – making this a doubly beneficial ministerial visit.
Late last week, Minister for Roads and Regional Transport Jenny Aitchison MP made another visit to our electorate. Minister Aitchison is one of the most active and engaging state ministers, and it was a pleasure to welcome the minister once again, and her announcements.
On Thursday I joined with Minister Aitchison, along with Mayor of Parkes Cr Neil Westcott and other Parkes representatives, for the official opening of the Parkes Bypass. The Parkes Bypass has been a large infrastructure undertaking, and now that it’s officially open it will certainly deliver enhanced road transport efficiencies and increased road user safety.
This new road will improve freight linkages to and from local industry developed in the Special Activation Precinct, as well as intermodal linkage with rail. Thank you to all involved in making this Newell Highway upgrade a reality, and to Minister Aitchison and her departmental team for overseeing delivery of this project.
Later that day, Minister Aitchison and I attended the platform of the Orange Railway Station to address media. Minister Aitchison officially released the Orange Passenger Rail Community Consultation Report, and the next steps in progressing the report’s outlined improvements to passenger rail services.
Minister Aitchison has announced $2m in funding to investigate the viability of stabling some of the new regional rail fleet at Orange. I thank Minister Aitchison for her continued support of this proposal, and the steadfast advocacy of the Orange Rail Action Group.
I also wish to acknowledge those across our community who have contributed to the consultation process, which provided the essential weight to further efforts in improving passenger rail for Orange and the broader Central West. I will continue to push for progress on this proposal until we see daily Orange-Sydney return rail services provided for our community.
