Council received the prestigious award for the development of our corporate website and social media channels.

I must thank the community for its feedback regarding our communications which formed the basis for the design and functionality of the new website.  

The RH Dougherty Awards are held annually during Local Government Week.

In August it was announced that Council have partnered with the Elvis Revival Inc Committee to commission a statue to be permanently displayed in town.  

The Elvis statue will be a fitting dedication to our wonderful volunteers, and will be designed and constructed by sculpture Terrance Plowright, the same artist who sculpted the Henry Parkes monument located in the town square.

The Elvis Revival Inc plans to unveil the new Elvis statue during the 2018 Parkes Elvis Festival.

During August we marked a monumental milestone in the construction of the new Sewage Treatment Plant, with the switched over of operations to the new facility commencing.

This signifies that this project is nearing completion.

To date, local procurement on the Advanced Water Recycling Facility is at 94 per cent, with Council partnering with a number of local suppliers and operators to deliver this project for our community.

Combined with the new Water and Sewage Treatment Plants, local content equates to 36 per cent of the total work complete across the major project sites.

An official opening will be held for the major project sites later this year.

Congratulations to the District Show Society's for another successful show circuit throughout August.

Residents of Tullamore, Trundle, Peak Hill, Parkes and surrounds took advantage of the public holiday to investigate all that was on offer at the shows.

This year Council brought along the impressive CAT500B Road Reclaimer to the Parkes Show which proved to be a big drawcard for residents wanting to know more about our roads program.  

The show circuit was capped off with an impressive fireworks display that could be seen all across town.

Congratulations is also extended to the Trundle Bush Tucker Day for another successful event attracting visitation from far and wide with a quality line up of entertainment and delicious bush cooking.

It is a credit to the volunteer organisers who put in so much time and effort to an event that gives so much back to the Trundle community.

Parkes continues to appeal as a destination for major sporting events with the announcement that Parkes will welcome two State Hockey Championship tournaments in 2018 at the Cheney/McGlynn Sporting Complex which now features two international standard synthetic surfaces.

Parkes will host the Over 50s Mens Masters and the Under 15s Boys Championships in May and June respectively.

Hosting these major sporting tournaments has huge economic benefits for the region, with the players, coaching staff and spectators injecting millions into the local economy.  

This month we launched the 2018 Parkes Elvis Festival, with the NSW Minister for Tourism and Major Events Adam Marshall in Parkes to unveil the 2018 program, which is proudly supported by the NSW Government.

The 2018 Festival theme is the ’68 Comeback Special, in celebration of 50 years since the King appeared on television in a special unplugged style performance that helped re-launch him back into the music industry.

Expect plenty of pomade and loads of black leather.

For the first time, tickets to all Parkes Elvis Festival shows will be available to purchase online through 123tix.com, making booking your entire five day Elvis extravaganza a breeze.

The September Ordinary Meeting of Council will be held on Tuesday, September 19, at the Peak Hill Ex-Services and Citizens Club.

The meeting will commence at 1.30pm with members of the public invited to attend from 2pm.

To coincide with the Council Meeting, the official unveiling of the new Peak Hill Community Wall installation will be held at 12.30pm in the Peak Hill Commercial Gardens.  

As part of the 2017 Reconciliation Week celebrations, Council commissioned local Indigenous artist, Scott “Sauce” Towney to produce some artwork for a new public installation that reflects the reconciliation message.

The artwork imagery has been transferred onto nine composite panels by local graphic design company, Morabon and installed on the Peak Hill Community Wall by Parkes Shire Council staff.

Keep up-to-date with all Council news and events via our new e-newsletter, which you can sign up to via parkes.nsw.gov.au.  

Have a safe and enjoyable September.

Best wishes,

Cr Ken Keith OAM

Mayor of Parkes Shire