July 2017 Active Kids Rebate A Hit Budget Community News With Families brings New Leslie Williams MP Opportunity For Families across NSW are relishing the $100 rebate for sporting and fitness related costs announced as part of the recent budget. Member for Port Macquarie Business In NSW Parliamentary Secretary for Regional and Rural Health $207 million has been allocated across four years to provide all Parents will be able to register online and can take a sports school aged children with an ‘Active Kids Rebate’ on sporting voucher to a registered sports club or provider to receive related costs. their rebate. Small businesses will continue to receive face to State Budget Our Active Kids Rebate will put $100 per school aged child back Further details are available on the NSW Office of Sport website face support and business advice thanks to an in the pockets of parents to help cover the cost of getting their https://sport.nsw.gov.au additional $7.5 million investment in the Business More palliative children involved in sport and physical activities. Connect Program as part of the 2017-18 Budget. Additional roads funding includes; The Government’s strong economic management means real saving for families and reduced barriers to healthy activity. care services for • $2,320,000 – Pavement repair on the Pacific Highway, This is a fantastic initiative which aims to reduce cost of living south of Kew pressures for families and supports the Premier’s priority to Since January 2017, the Business Connect program • $2,113,000 – Routine maintenance work on State roads reduce overweight and obesity rates of children by five per cent has helped over 3,100 small businesses to find new regional NSW including management and inspection services and minor over 10 years. opportunities to expand and create more local jobs. pavement repairs Whether your active child plays sport such as netball, football or Small businesses are built on hard work and Training basketball, swimming classes, gymnastics or athletics, this is an • $1,115,000 – Specific maintenance and minor perseverance so they deserve a fair go. • Palliative care training for 300 nurses and innovative and exciting initiative. improvement work on State roads including patching and allied health staff This investment will introduce new Access to Finance resurfacing, road widening and realignment, intersection Families will be able to claim up to $100 per school child, per and Procurement Advisory Programs to help Scholarships upgrades and passing lanes calendar year from 1 January 2018 for after-school, weekend businesses access capital, improve cash flow, and and school holiday sport and active recreation activities. increase opportunities to work on government projects. • 300 scholarships for rural and regional staff to • $100,000 – Design improvements for the intersection of enhance palliative care skills The Active Kids Rebate will mean savings for thousands of The Business Connect Program dedicates at least the Oxley Highway and Lake Road, Port Macquarie families and ensure children can attend team sports as well 70 per cent of services to regional NSW and has been Specialists as recreational programs such as swimming. integral in helping businesses to plan, adapt to The long awaited expansion to the Mental • $832,000 – Grants to Port Macquarie-Hastings Council, • An additional six palliative care specialists in disruption, survive the impact of natural disasters Health Unit at the Port Macquarie Base Lord Howe Island Board and Sailability NSW Inc (Port rural and regional areas Macquarie) to upgrade recreational boating and get connected online, making it easier to start up Hospital has been secured with $10.6 million and grow. • Two specialist positions to provide relief to infrastructure facilities under the NSW Boating other specialists in rural and regional areas allocated in the recent State Budget. Now program The NSW Government has also committed $96 million to the Jobs for NSW initiative to encourage continued More Nurses • The popular community backed projects in the Camden business development and investment and to stimulate Haven – Schools to Schools and Beach to Beach have • An additional 30 palliative care nurses The major upgrade to Lake Cathie Public School including jobs growth across NSW. secured more funding through this budget including an providing care in hospitals,homes and new classrooms will meet the increasing student enrolments Regional in one of the fastest growing areas in the Port Macquarie elevated boardwalk at Dunbogan as part of the $62 Our smaller and newer businesses often have nursing homes electorate and is welcome news for our community. million Cycling and Walking Program challenges in accessing finance, so the NSW Improved Services Government continues to make funding available for The upgrade will help provide the quality school facilities our • Funding has also been committed to continue businesses with high growth and high potential to • Developing and implementing comprehensive community needs and deserves. investigations for a new orbital road from Ocean Drive Cultural Fund create more jobs. and integrated palliative care services Thanks to the Liberals and Nationals Government, the NSW to Hastings River Drive, Port Macquarie The 2017-18 Budget includes $3.6 million for small • Improving medication management for economy is the strongest in Australia and this Budget Art and culture is at the heart of every regional business advocacy and dispute resolution services. palliative care patients through community demonstrates that by being fiscally responsible we can community. The NSW Government’s $100 million pharmacy initiatives deliver vitally important projects across the electorate and Other local funding commitments include; Regional Cultural Fund will support the development of across the state. • $2.3 million to fund the Telegraph Point Sewerage arts and culture in regional areas, with up to $25 million We are seeing unprecedented growth in our local Scheme available in the first round of funding. communities and thanks to the Government’s astute decisions, our strong position now enables us to invest • Over $2.7 million for new and upgraded social housing in regional growth. This includes building and upgrading arts and cultural venues Leslie Williams Member for Port Macquarie Parliamentary Secretary for Regional and Rural Health • $900,000 for Aboriginal housing including art galleries, libraries, performance spaces and Over $100 million has been allocated for the completion cultural centres. of the Pacific Highway upgrade from the Oxley Highway email [email protected] website www.lesliewilliams.com.au to Kundabung. Since I was elected in 2011, hundreds of millions of dollars Funding for regions is based on four categories to support have been directed to the Port Macquarie electorate and this While we have prioritised the completion of the duplication the rich cultural diversity of our regions. To find out more or address Macquarie Business Centre, Suite 6, 27 Grant Street, Port Macquarie NSW 2444 year’s budget reflects ongoing investment for the benefit of of the Pacific Highway by 2020, we have not sat on our to apply visit phone 02 6584 0977 fax 02 6584 0978 everyone in our local community. www.nsw.gov.au/regionalculturalfund or contact my office laurels when it comes to other much needed services and on 6584 0977. infrastructure. Authorised by Leslie Williams MP. Printed by Chrysalis Printing, 7 Chestnut Road, Port Macquarie NSW 2444 using parliamentary entitlements $1.3 Billion To Boost Oxley To Kundabung Pacific Highway Upgrade Regional Economies Reaches Major Milestone Safer Pathways The new bridge across the Hastings River as part of The new bridge is west of the existing Dennis Bridge and Local residents and businesses will receive their fair share In The Camden Haven the Oxley to Kundabung Pacific Highway upgrade is is one of 23 built as part of the Oxley to Kundabung Pacific of the $1.3 billion investment in regional NSW announced now complete. Highway upgrade. in the 2017-18 NSW Budget boosting local economies Upcoming work includes the start of paving on the new The popular community backed projects in the Camden Haven – It’s exciting to reach this milestone, with the $820 million through the investment in vital infrastructure and southbound lanes for about five kilometres between the Schools to Schools and Beach to Beach were big winners in the Australian and NSW government funded upgrade on track community facilities. north Oxley Highway interchange and Fernbank Creek State Budget with more funding provided for an elevated to open to traffic later this year. Bridge. boardwalk at Dunbogan as part of the $62 million Cycling and This major project is really starting to take shape now the The community must be thanked for their patience, Walking Program. The Regional Growth Fund will deliver $1 billion to help develop new 15 span Hastings River Bridge has been completed especially while the 150 girders required for the bridge were transport, energy and water projects, and an extra $300 million after almost two years of work. earmarked for community and cultural facilities as well as $300 transported from Macksville. The upgrade is about making the highway faster and safer million for environment and tourism assets. Finishing touches including asphalting and line marking will Indicative funding allocations include $500,000 for the Beach to Beach for the thousands of motorists who use it every day with two be carried out before the new bridge opens to traffic and the project with Schools to Schools set to receive $200,000. We are working with the community, local government and $10.6 Million For lanes each way from Sydney to Brisbane. industry groups to identify projects that will benefit our area community will be kept updated as work progresses. This is a fantastic result for the Camden Haven and shows this and help develop the business cases required to secure funding. Government is not only listening to the needs of the community but continuing to deliver funding for these important infrastructure projects. We’re looking at projects that will promote local economic Port Macquarie Base growth and benefit the whole community, and we will work together to make it happen. Hospital Mental The Regional Growth Fund will support projects like building or upgrading power, transport and telecommunications links; improving water and sewerage services; enhancing voice Health Expansion and data connectivity and upgrading community and sporting facilities. Every year in NSW, around 160 million drink containers are Mental health patients receiving care at Port tossed into our parks, streets and waterways, making up about Further information and program guidelines are available at Macquarie Base Hospital will benefit from a further 49 per cent of all litter volume. The cost of cleaning this up is a www.nsw.gov.au/regionalgrowth. $10.6 million from the 2017-18 Budget, to continue whopping $180 million every year. the expansion of the hospital’s inpatient mental In South Australia, which has had a container deposit scheme health unit. since 1977, beverage containers make up only 2.2 per cent of litter. And over 2015-2016, $58 million was refunded to the SA community through participation in the scheme. This investment in Port Macquarie’s inpatient mental health The scheme, NSW’s biggest-ever litter reduction initiative, will unit will enhance services, particularly for older people and provide a financial incentive to clean up while giving community young adults. groups and individuals a way to raise money. The funding will improve the amenity and environment for Local schools, charities, sporting and community groups will be patients being cared for at the facility, through upgraded able to accept donations of eligible containers and then activity, dining and lounge areas. exchange them for cash at approved collection points. Engaging and consulting with consumers on the mid north Port Macquarie Base Eligible drink containers under the scheme include most cans, coast about the works have been a key component of the Container Deposit Scheme bottles and cartons between 150ml and three litres. planning and design phase, and this level of engagement Exceptions include those consumed mostly at home and will continue. Hospital Carpark recycled in kerbside recycling, such as plain milk containers, The NSW Government is committed to providing the On 1 December 2017, the NSW Government launches wine bottles and large juice and soft drink containers. One of the issues I am working to address is car parking investment needed to improve the care and service its landmark Container Deposit Scheme (CDS) to reduce A full list of containers and other information about the CDS can congestion at Port Macquarie Base Hospital. The hospital is a provided in NSW mental health facilities. the amount of litter in our environment. be found on the NSW Environment Protection Authority website: first class facility, but parking is a problem. I have been working http://www.epa.nsw.gov.au/waste/cds-intro.htm Detailed designs for the expansion of the unit have been closely with Local Health District Governing Board Chair Warren The scheme will give a 10-cent refund to anyone who returns completed and tenders for construction are expected to be Grimshaw AM and Chief Executive Stewart Dowrick to identify an eligible used drink container. It will be easy for everyone to More details about the scheme, including how and where to released soon. Construction is due to begin later this year. options to increase parking and am hopeful we will have some participate in and it will help to clean up and protect our redeem eligible containers from 1 December, and opportunities good news in the near future. environment. for local communities to participate will become available soon.