Lismore MP Janelle Saffin recently completed a round of meets-and-greets through the more remote stretches of her electorate, taking in Legume, Liston and Torrington as well as Tenterfield township.
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While the topic high on most people's list was the pending outcome of the bushfire inquiry, in which Ms Saffin participated when the panel convened in Tenterfield, there was also more mundane matters brought to her attention that she said she will now take on.
There were a number of cross-border issues (and this was prior to the Queensland Government closing the border on August 8), including the higher cost of parcel delivery to Killarney and Woodenbong. As Australia Post is a federal matter Ms Saffin said she would bring this matter to the attention of federal MP Barnaby Joyce.
The issue of accessing the Queensland health system for dental treatment was also raised in Liston, just east of Warwick, particularly in the case of an emergency. Ms Saffin said she believes there is an agreement in place but she will clarify the details with the health minister.
There were also allegations of water theft, as in unauthorised pumping from water stores, in the northern reaches of Tenterfield Shire but Ms Saffin said she required more detail before she can raise the matter with the water regulator.
While in Liston, where around 14 people attended the hall meeting, Ms Saffin took the opportunity to visit John Burton's Cobb & Co Coach display along with Tenterfield councillor Gary Verri.
Torrington constituents had concerns about the roadside rubbish marring the entry to the village.
Ms Saffin is exploring the possibility of some sort of kerbside collection of items people can't transport to the tip.
She said she was pleased to see the four marking pegs behind the RFS shed there are now replaced by a mobile phone tower after a long wait.
Meanwhile meeting slots were fully filled by those wishing to raise private issues in Tenterfield.
Ms Saffin said she loved seeing the work done in town and catching up with representatives of the National Monument Project, Make It Tenterfield and Tenterfield Community College.
She particularly appreciates the potential of the National Monument Project.
"It says something about Tenterfield, as the birthplace of federation.
"It's a great project with huge potential."
Prospects for Tenterfield's old Scout Hall were also discussed.
Ms Saffin said it was great to finally take the road trip around the electorate, to discover a great group of people who are getting on with their lives despite drought, bushfires and now COVID-19.
"It's that country resilience, it really stood out," she said.
