Steph Cooke MP
Member for Cootamundra

Tuesday, 13 January 2026 Cowra’s newest police sergeant is already going above and beyond to keep the community safe by not only policing the town but also serving alongside local firefighters.   Sergeant Jason Baker has recently relocated to Cowra from Lake Macquarie.   In addition to taking up his new policing role, he has joined the Cowra Fire and Rescue, further strengthening the town’s emergency response capability.   Member for Cootamundra, Steph Cooke, welcomed Sergean

Monday, 12 January 2026 Businesses in Harden are recovering from a devastating hailstorm that caused significant damage to commercial and residential buildings last year.   Owners of the Hard Rock Gym, Glenn and Ros Stewart, were forced to close their doors temporarily after the February storm caused their ceiling to collapse and water to seep into the floor.   During the incident, 40 millimetres of hail and 70 millimetres of rain were recorded in less than an hour, causing w

Wednesday, 7 January 2026   Member for Cootamundra Steph Cooke has been reappointed as NSW Shadow Minister for Water and Shadow Minister for Crown Lands, following yesterday’s announcement of the refreshed NSW Liberals and Nationals Shadow Ministry.   Ms Cooke said the reappointment was both an honour and a responsibility at a critical time for the management of water resources and public land across New South Wales.   “These portfolios sit at the centre of how our communitie

Tuesday, 23 December 2025 Three Probationary Constables have been deployed to police stations in Cootamundra, Cowra and Temora, strengthening frontline policing and helping to keep local communities safe.   Member for Cootamundra, Steph Cooke, welcomed the new officers and said it was encouraging to see additional police commencing service across the electorate.   Probationary Constables Ryan Holt (Cootamundra), Brody Forster (Temora) and Jasmine Vitagliano (Cowra) have each

Friday, 19 December 2025​     Junee’s Laurie Daley Oval will soon benefit from a major lighting upgrade, with $260,000 in funding secured through the NSW Government’s ClubsGrants Category 3 Infrastructure Grants program.    The project will replace four existing light towers with modern energy-efficient LED lighting to enhance the venue for the Junee Diesels Rugby League Club and the broader community.    Member for Cootamundra, Steph Cooke said the funding is a significant w

Thursday, 18 December 2025   As another year draws to a close, I find myself back on the road, attending school presentations and spending as much time as possible with local community groups before we pause for Christmas.   As we look back on the year that has been, I can’t help but feel an incredible sense of pride at what we have all been able to achieve, and because of many collective efforts, there is plenty to look forward to as we head into 2026.   I want to express my

Tuesday, 9 December 2025 Cowra’s new $110.2 million hospital has commenced operations, marking another major milestone for the project and an exciting new chapter for the region’s healthcare.   Following months of preparation, a coordinated transfer of departments from the existing hospital is now underway, with emergency, inpatient, and outpatient care operating within the new facility as of today.   Member for Cootamundra Steph Cooke said it was wonderful to see patients ac

Monday, 8 December 2025   The National Cherry Festival has marked its 75th anniversary in spectacular fashion.   Home to Australia’s first commercial cherry orchard, Young has proudly hosted this much-loved celebration since 1949.   What began as a small-town gathering has grown into a three-day festival that attracts thousands of visitors to the Hilltops region each year.   Joined by NSW Minister for Tourism Steve Kamper, Member for Cootamundra Steph Cooke said she was proud

Monday, 8 December 2025 Travellers to and through Gundagai will be met with the warmest of welcomes following a major upgrade of the town’s visitor information centre and surrounding amenities.   The redevelopment of the visitor centre was supported by the former NSW Coalition Government through both the design and construction phases, with $150,250 from round five of the Stronger Country Communities Fund and $300,000 from round one of the Stronger Communities Fund.   Additio

Friday, 5 December 2025 Design for a permanent Water Treatment Plant in Narrandera will commence, with the Commonwealth Government stepping up to support the delivery of clean drinking water to the community in place of their state counterparts.   $908,000 has been awarded from the National Water Grid Fund, which will pay for the plans needed to support the construction phase of this essential infrastructure project.   This is the second time Narrandera Council has been force

​​Sunday, 30 November 2025​    Cowra residents have been given their first look inside the town’s new $110.2 million hospital, which will serve the community for decades to come.    Earlier this month, it was announced that construction of the new health facility had been completed, and that the community would be invited to join guided tours ahead of the official opening.    Member for Cootamundra, Steph Cooke, joined the local residents as the doors to the brand-new hospita