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National Party Shadow Minister for Regional Infrastructure and Development Ian Slack-Smith met with the Cumborah Progress Association last week to discuss the advancement of the small community.
Describing the meeting as both resourceful and enthusiastic, Mr Slack-Smith said the 30 members of the Progress association demonstrated a great deal of pride in their community and a commitment to improving their situation.
Mr Slack-Smith said the biggest concern addressed at the meeting was the Cumborah water supply.
"The Progress Association has established a three-person committee to look into the various options available to the community. One option is to drill a new bore and another is to take advantage of the cap and pipe bore scheme and deliver water to Cumborah from the Mullewa Bore, Mr Slack-Smith said.
Another issue of continuing concern was the state of the Cumborah Road. Mr Slack-Smith said he has requested a meeting with Minister for Roads Carl Scully seeking improvements to the vital transport link.
"Although Walgett Shire Council has made a welcome monetary commitment towards improving the road, the State Government must recognise its significance and provide funding to ensure it is completely sealed," Mr Slack-Smith said.
"More opal fields have been found further west and the unsealed road link from Cumborah to Lightning Ridge is vitally important. There must be a decent line of communication from the village of Cumborah through to Lightning Ridge. Each week 43 school children travel this regional road every day to attend school. They deserve much better than this.
"It is time the Carr Labor Government stopped treating country people like second class citizens," he said.
Also at the meeting the Progress Association requested a Post Office Box to be installed. Mr Slack-Smith said although a post officer serviced Cumborah, the residents had nowhere where they could post letters in the village.
"In Cumborah there is also growing concern about the prevalence of the noxious weed "Tiger Pear". I have suggested to the Progress Association that they contact NSW Agriculture Weeds department to have cochineal beetles released. They eat the weed and are the least expensive and most environmentally friendly solution to the problem," Mr Slack-Smith said.
Following the meeting in Cumborah Mr Slack-Smith also contacted the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Regional Development John Anderson to discuss the Progress Association's concerns in regard to black spot service for communications such as television. He said he would also make enquiries to Telstra about a CDMA tower in the Grawin Cumborah area.
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