MP Thomas George travelled to the boundaries of the Tenterfield stretch of his electorate on Monday, December 3 to press the flesh and gather feedback on any issues he may be able to address.
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During his travels he said what hit him the most the green tinge to the country, despite the region still being in the grips of drought.
“It’s a difficult time,” he said.
Fifteen people came to speak with him in Torrington Hall, where the state of the shire’s timber bridges and subsequent load limits was the most pressing issue.
Mr George said he’s fully conscious of the difficulties the load limits are imposing, and that all three levels of government are working on solutions following talks with federal MP Barnaby Joyce in Tenterfield several weeks ago.
While funding for bridge replacement would be welcome he said it would likely be 22-24 months before a new bridge came into use. He is keen for money to be found for temporary solutions to keep the existing bridges operating without restriction while longer term plans are being formed.
“We’re working with council to achieve that,” he said.
Half-a-dozen people met with him at Mingoola Hall, where Local Land Services (LLS) matters such as TSRs (Temporary Stock Reserves) were on the agenda, following the recent Northern Tablelands LLS board meeting in Mingoola.
It was a low-key affair at the Jennings Pub later that day, where locals were invited to join the MP and his heir-apparent Austin Curtin and Mayor Peter Petty for dinner at Mr Petty’s local watering hole.
