The festive season is upon us, with the Parkes Action Club Christmas Parade kicking off the celebrations at 5pm today. Everyone is invited to watch the festive floats make their way down Clarinda Street and into Cooke Park for Sparkle in the Park Upmarkets. Don’t forget to pack the picnic blanket, with the outdoor cinema screening the Christmas classic, The Santa Claus 2. As the sun goes down, local buildings and shops will become a colourful canvas
of light displays as part of Sparkle Illuminations, with some exciting new locations added this year.

Peak Hill will also be celebrating the festive season today at the annual Meet You Up The Street Festival – with street stalls, music, shopping and family fun taking place until midnight. Come say hello to our Council staff and join the conversation about planned projects for Peak Hill, in the Commercial Gardens between 12 and 3pm. For more information visit www.parkes.nsw.gov.au.

Today marks the start of Parkes Shire Library’s Summer Reading Club. The goal for this year is for members to read 974 books between 1st December and 31st January. Parkes Shire youth, aged 0 to 17, can take part by simply picking up a kit from Parkes, Trundle, Peak Hill or Tullamore Library. Help make Parkes sparkle! Local businesses are encouraged to deck out their shop fronts during the festive season, with the most creative window display awarded a marketing package valued at $500. The winner will be announced on the Shop Parkes Facebook page on Friday, 5th January 2018.

Don’t forget to fill you stocking locally this Christmas for a chance to win a $5,000 travel package to a destination of your choice as part of the Shop Parkes + WIN campaign.

Have a safe and festive weekend,
Cr Ken Keith OAM
Mayor of Parkes Shire

Congratulations to the Parkes Elvis Festival team on their second consecutive Gold Award at the annual NSW Tourism Conference in Sydney winning the Festivals and Events category. This award is also recognition of our fabulous volunteers and community.

Parkes Regional Airport also brought home a win from the Australian Airport Association (AAA) Industry Awards. The airport was joint winner in the Airport Innovation and Excellence – Operations category for the Aerodrome Reporting Officer Network Forum – an initiative established with Dubbo, Orange and Scone. A tremendous achievement for our airport operations staff.

Summer Reading Club kicks off on 1st December with the Library now taking registrations for this popular initiative. The goal this year is to read 974 books between 1st December and 31st January. Parkes Shire youth, aged 0 to 17, can take part by picking up a kit from Parkes, Trundle, Peak Hill or Tullamore Library.

Residents and visitors are invited to celebrate the start of the festive season at the Sparkle in the Park Christmas Markets, Movie Night and Street Parade next Friday. The annual Peak Hill Meet You Up the Street event is also on from 8.30am to midnight. Come say hello to our Council staff in the Commercial Gardens between 12 and 3pm. For more information visit www.parkes.nsw.gov.au.

Yours Faithfully,

Cr Ken Keith OAM
Mayor of Parkes Shire

This week I was fortunate enough to meet the amazing Pricilla Presley at the Elvis and Me: An Evening with Pricilla Presley gala event in Sydney. Joined by Parkes Festival Director, Cathy Treasure, we gained insight into Priscilla’s life and shared the successes of the festival with her.

The Volunteer Induction Night this week attracted over 30 attendees. For those interested in helping, the next induction night is on 4th December at 6pm in the Coventry Room.

Congratulations to our wonderful Engineering Cadet, Cate Fennell on being awarded the G A Taylor medal for best paper at the IPWEA NSW State Conference for her presentation ‘What makes an Engineer today?’ Cate now goes on to represent the State at the National IPWEA Conference in 2019.

Nominations for the Australia Day Community and Cultural Awards close on Monday, 20th November. Nomination forms are available at Council’s Administration Building, Parkes Shire Libraries, or can be downloaded from www.parkes.nsw.gov.au.

With December around the corner, residents and visitors are encouraged to fill their Christmas stockings locally and stand a chance to win a $5,000 travel package as part of the Shop Parkes and WIN campaign. Make a purchase at any participating store until 31st December and fill out an entry form. The lucky winner will be chosen on 5th January 2018.

Yours Faithfully,
Cr Ken Keith OAM
Mayor of Parkes Shire

Residents are invited to make their ’68 Comeback to the 2018 Parkes Elvis Festival as a volunteer. The first Volunteer Induction Night is on Monday, 13th November, 6pm at Council. For more information contact 6862 6000.

Nominations for the Australia Day Community and Cultural Awards close on Monday, 20th November and recognise
outstanding service to the community. Nomination forms are available at Council’s Administration Building, Parkes Shire Libraries, or at www.parkes.nsw.gov.au. November marks Asbestos Awareness Month, with Council’s Planning and Environment team launching a campaign on the dangers of asbestos. There is information on Council’s website on how to protect yourself from exposure during renovations and home maintenance.

Council staff installed a new public art work in Mingelo Street, Peak Hill this week. It features a postage stamp of Melvin the Ram, and reflects the town’s golden heritage, the district’s strong agricultural background and more prided claim to fame, their prized Merino sheep.

Residents and visitors are encouraged to fill their Christmas stockings locally this festive season, with the Shop Parkes campaign. Make a purchase at any of the participating stores until 31st December and fill out an entry form to win a $5,000 travel package to a destination of your choice.

Yours Faithfully, Cr Ken Keith OAM
Mayor of Parkes Shire

The Shop Parkes Christmas campaign officially launched today, which aims to drive spend into the local economy over the festive season. Residents and visitors are encouraged to fill their stockings locally at participating stores until Sunday, 31st December and fill out an entry form for a chance to win a $5,000 travel package to a destination of your choice. The lucky winner will be chosen on Friday, 5th January 2018.

Residents are invited to make their ’68 Comeback to the 2018 Parkes Elvis Festival as a volunteer. Register online at www.parkeselvisfestival.com.au. Volunteer induction nights will be held on Monday, 13th November and Monday, 4th December. For more information contact the Parkes Visitor Information Centre on 6862 6000.

Nominations are now open for the 2018 Australia Day Community and Cultural Awards, recognising outstanding service to the community. Nomination forms are available at Council’s Administration Building, Parkes Shire Libraries, or can be downloaded from www.parkes.nsw.gov.au. Residents are encouraged to take advantage of the free tip days this weekend at the Parkes Waste Facility. Residents can dispose of green waste, mixed recyclables
and general household waste free of charge tomorrow and on Sunday from 8.30am until 4.15pm. A reminder to separate your loads and cover the load when transporting waste to the facility. Special wastes such as tyres, builders waste, white goods, mattresses and gas bottles are not included in the free tip weekend and therefore, will be charged as per normal fees and charges.

Yours Faithfully,
Cr Ken Keith OAM
Mayor of Parkes Shire

Council is delighted to have received a second prestigious accolade for the Water and Sewage Treatment renewal projects, presented with the Sustainable Systems Award at the Blue Star Awards conference in Maitland on Saturday.

This week we joined representatives from Pacific National as they announced an initial $35 million to commence development of the company’s Parkes Logistics Terminal within the Parkes Logistic Hub. Pacific National’s investment has been triggered by the first stage of construction of the Melbourne to Brisbane Inland Rail project between Parkes and Narromine valued at $300 million, part of the Australian Government’s $8.4 billion commitment. The terminal will generate 50 full time jobs, and provide up to 20 new skilled jobs in the future, including train drivers and terminal workers.

Council has identified the first round of projects to be submitted under the Stronger Country Communities Fund. Those projects include upgraded seating at The Little Theatre, more shared pathways to link recreational precincts and the upgrade of the Community Hall at the old hospital site. Parkes Aquatic Centre has launched new Aqua Aerobics classes for all ages and abilities.

The pool will run two 45-minute sessions on Tuesdays at 7.15am and 7.15pm, for $10 a class. This initiative aims to encourage members of our community to live active, healthy lifestyles.

Yours Faithfully,
Cr Ken Keith OAM
Mayor of Parkes Shire

I am delighted to share the news that Parkes Shire Council was named the winner of the Water Management Award Division A category at the LGNSW Excellence in the Environment Awards held this week. Council received the award based on the delivery and sustainable management of the Parkes Integrated Water Infrastructure Renewal projects, which includes construction of the new Water Treatment Plant, refurbishment of Bore 8 and the Lachlan Pump Station, and construction of the Advanced Water Recycling Facility.

Council received funding under the NSW Government’s Social Housing Community Improvement Fund to revitalise two popular community spaces in the Shire. PAC Park South in Parkes and Lindner Oval in Peak Hill will both receive upgrades, with both projects awarded $50,000 each. Parkes Library is inviting the community to attend a free talk with Jeremy Godwin, author of the book Mental Illness Sucks! (But It’s Not The End Of The World), on Monday 23 October. If you’d like to attend, give Parkes Library a call on 6861 2309 to book your spot.

Today is the final day teams can register for the 2017 GP Cup on 28th October. Teams of 10 will compete in soccer, netball, touch football and a mystery event over the course of one action packed day at McGlynn Park. Download a nomination pack from Council’s website.

Yours Faithfully,
Cr Ken Keith OAM, Mayor of Parkes Shire

I was delighted to welcome the Minister for Tourism and Major Events, The Hon Adam Marshall to Parkes this week for the launch of the 2018 Parkes Elvis Festival and the official opening of the revitalisation works at the Peak Hill Gold Mine.

Residents and visitors are invited to the official unveiling of the new Peak Hill Community Wall art installation on 19th September at 12:30pm in the Commercial Gardens. The Community Wall is an extension to the Parkes Shire public art series to celebrate cultural and artistic diversity within the community. Current artworks are by Wiradjuri artist and Peak Hill resident, Scott “Sauce” Towney. The unveiling will coincide with the Ordinary Meeting of
Council at the Peak Hill RSL at 2pm.

Council have partnered with the Parkes and District Netball Association to resurface the eight netball courts at McGlynn Park to meet the needs of the current users and to attract larger competitions to the region. Council will contribute $64,490 under the Parkes Town Improvement Vote.

Council is taking enrolments for the Parkes Learn to Swim program for the 2017/18 swim season. Information and enrolment forms are available at www.parkes.nsw.gov.au. The Parkes Aquatic Centre will open on Saturday, 30th September at 10am.

Yours Faithfully,
Cr Ken Keith OAM
Mayor of Parkes Shire