Barrier Daily Truth

City to host Ministers

Wednesday, 8th February, 2012

Kevin Humphries

Three State Government Ministers will be here at the end of this month when the city hosts the Annual Conference of the Western Division Council of NSW.

Councillors, Mayors and General Managers will be discussing the future of outback NSW and the ministers will be here to address delegates from the 13 member councils.

The conference will be held from February 26 to 28.

Local Government Minister Don Page, the Minister for Roads and Ports Duncan Gay, and the Minister for Western NSW Mental Health and Healthy Lifestyles Kevin Humphries will also take questions from the 100 delegates.

Other speakers will include the owner of the award-winning Bell’s Milk Bar, Jason King, and Walkley Award-winning journalist and social commentator Jack Marx.

Mr Marx wrote the stories that accompanied Robin Sellick’s photographs in the book “Life and Times in the Republic of Broken Hill” and is in the city doing research for a new book of his own.

Jason Cowdrey from Brand Creative will address the delegates on the use of social media, and representatives of the Murdi Paaki Aboriginal Assembly will also give a presentation to the conference.

The delegates will be asked to discuss and vote on a number of motions they have put forward as well as the future of the One Association for Local Government in NSW and the Commonwealth recognition of Local Government.

Papers will be presented on Destination 2036 for NSW Local Government, the Western Roads Project and the Federal Government’s Regional Development Department.

The Western Division includes the councils of Balranald, Bogan, Bourke, Brewarrina, Broken Hill, Carrathool, Central Darling, Cobar, Hay, Lachlan, Moree Plains, Walgett, Wentworth.

The President is the Mayor of Carrathool, Peter Laird.