WEEKLY COLUMN Friday, 26 June 2015 Northern Tablelands’ record spend in State Budget I have welcomed a record $102.4 million of capital expenditure for the electorate in the 2015/2016 State Government budget, including the first funding allocation for the redevelopment of Armidale Rural Referral Hospital. This is the first time ever a State Budget has committed funds to this essential project, which will be completed by July 2019. The remainder of the $60 million funding commitment will be allocated in subsequent budgets, when the bulk of construction activity will occur. The $30 million redevelopment of Inverell District Hospital, as anticipated, was not factored into this year’s budget as Hunter New England Area Health has only just begun the planning process. Funding of more than $74 million will be spent on major projects and upgrades on the Newell, Gwydir and New England Highways, including bridge upgrades along Fossickers Way and Thunderbolts Way, and funding to construct a new roundabout near Armidale Regional Airport. There is also $14.2 million allocated to routine maintenance and upgrade of our regional roads and $10.3 million for our local councils to undertake improvements works on their local roads. Some of the budget highlights for the Northern Tablelands include: $3.8 million to complete final stage of the Moree Newell Highway bypass $4 million for Nee Nee Creek Bridge repairs, 46km north of Moree on Newell Highway $4 million to upgrade Newell Highway road pavement from Mungle Back Creek to Boggabilla $3.09 million to Inverell Shire Council for road maintenance $2.8 million to upgrade New England Highway between Uralla and Armidale $2.07 million to Moree Plains Shire Council for road maintenance $2 million to upgrade Newell Highway at Gurley $1.8 million to upgrade Newell Highway 14km south of Moree $1.8 million to upgrade Gwydir Highway west of Glen Innes $1.74 million to Gwydir Shire Council for road maintenance $1.5 million to upgrade the Gwydir River Bridge at Bingara $1.4 million for New England Highway pavement upgrade north of Glencoe $1.3 million to upgrade Waterfall Way from St Helena Creek to Four Mile Creek $1.3 million to upgrade the Guyra to Ebor Road $1.3 million to upgrade the New England Highway east of Delungra $1.2 million for New England Highway pavement upgrade south of Uralla $1.1 million to Uralla Shire Council for road maintenance $1.1 million for pavement upgrades on Fossickers Way between Bingara and the Gwydir Highway $800,000 to upgrade Halls Creek Bridge north of Bingara $677,000 to Armidale Dumaresq Council for road maintenance $800,000 to upgrade Cobbadah Creek Bridge on Fossickers Way $579,000 to Glen Innes Severn Council for road maintenance $600,000 for Gwydir Highway drainage upgrades on the Gibraltar Range $10.1 million to continue the Moree East Public School redevelopment $1 million for the commencement of the redevelopment of the Armidale Rural Referral Hospital $1.03 million for Bingara, Inverell and Tablelands Community Transport Services $1.7 million for Moree Remote Indigenous Housing $470,000 for a new Aboriginal Housing unit in Armidale $1.45 million for social housing upgrades across the electorate $710,000 to replace Abington Creek Bridge on Thunderbolts Way School student leaders tour Parliament On Wednesday I was delighted to welcome to Parliament school leaders from Gurya Central, Glen Innes High, Armidale High, Inverell and McIntyre High Schools and the Armidale M.E.T. School. The students were taking part in the Secondary Student Leadership Program which is conducted by the NSW Parliamentary Education Branch. The program provides them with the opportunity to meet their elected representatives and to develop their knowledge of constitutional and parliamentary proceedings including the role of the Governor and the workings of the Parliament. They began the day listening to addresses from MPs before quizzing them on the life of a politician. As Parliament was sitting, the students also had the chance to view both Houses in action before heading off to Government House to meet His Excellency the Governor. NFF called on to support relocation of government agency On the floor of Parliament this week, I gave a notice of motion which condemned the National Farmers’ Federation (NFF) for opposing the relocation of the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) from Canberra to either Armidale or Toowoomba. The NFF’s line of thinking is as bizarre as it is pointless. The issue isn’t whether the agency will move – that decision has already been made – it is now a question of where the APVMA’s new home will be, Armidale or Toowoomba. One would have thought the NFF hierarchy would be supporting the decentralisation of agricultural Federal government agencies which, in the case of the APVMA, if Armidale was successful in its bid, would have a huge positive impact on the economic and social landscape of the region. The NFF’s assertion that moving the APVMA from Canberra could impair its expertise and research capability is downright insulting to the world-leading researchers at the University of New England and the work being undertaken currently by the CSIRO, NSW Department of Primary Industries and industry CRCs. The NFF seriously need to get their heads out of the Canberra clouds, reconsider their position and give their support to the relocation of agricultural- based agencies from Canberra to rural Australia, where we have a great deal to offer and the capability to deliver. Eight new mobile towers coming our way Mobile phone reception blackspots throughout the region will soon be significantly reduced with eight locations in the electorate being selected for funding to construct new phone towers. This improvement in network coverage will be delivered through the State Government’s investment of $24 million into the Mobile Blackspot Program, along with $28 million of Federal Government funding and a contribution from the networks – a total investment of $92 million across country NSW. The eight locations, by local government area are: Armidale Dumaresq – Hillgrove; Inverell Shire – Bonshaw, Elsmore, Kings Plains, Hetheringtons Sugarloaf (Rocky Creek), Spring Mountain Road; Uralla Shire – Invergowrie, Uralla-Kingstown Road (Balala) I am absolutely delighted to see so many troublesome mobile blackspots receiving new towers under this scheme. This is a great example of State and Federal Governments and the private sector working together to improve access to the network for country people and maximise the number of towers that can be built. Uralla’s community recycling centre officially opened On Monday I was honoured to officially open the new Uralla Community Recycling Centre which was constructed after council received a grant of almost $103,000 from the State Government through the NSW Environment Protection Authority’s (EPA) Waste Less, Recycle More initiative. This new recycling facility accepts paints, oils, batteries, gas bottles, polystyrene and other household problem wastes which will bring long-term environmental and health benefits to the Uralla community. Uralla Shire Council and the community have a strong track record of taking waste reduction seriously and caring for the environment. Funding to support local NAIDOC week celebrations I was pleased to announce this week the State Government has allocated $6,750 to support local celebrations for NAIDOC Week, beginning on 5 July. Ashford, Tingha, Moree, Boggabilla and Toomelah Local Aboriginal Lands Councils will share in the funding to host a series of events during the week-long celebrations. Child sex offenders to now face life in jail This week I welcomed the passage through Parliament of tough new laws through the NSW Parliament that will see child sex offenders face life in jail. The government has delivered on its commitment to increase the maximum sentence for sexual intercourse with a child under 10 from 25 years to life. The tough new laws will bring sentences into line with community expectations, help protect child victims, and ensure offenders are brought to justice. The reforms also provide for 13 child sexual assault offences to the Standard Non-Parole Period Scheme which gives the judiciary guidance on sentencing. The new standard non-parole periods will be significantly higher than current average sentences for the crimes. For example, the current average sentence for sexual intercourse with a child between 10 and 14 is less than two years. The new standard non parole period is seven years. Today and the weekend Its orange picking season and I’m heading over to Bingara this morning to take part in the annual Orange Picking Ceremony. I’m looking forward to morning tea with staff and students at Bingara Central School before the ceremony. I’ll be in Inverell this afternoon for some meetings before heading back to Bingara in the evening to attend the Military Ball which is held in the beautiful Roxy Theatre. It’s a great evening and very well supported by all. Tomorrow morning I’ll be in Bundarra to meet with the Bundarra Sports Club members and then back in Armidale where I’m being locked up in the Centro Shopping Centre, all for a good cause though. The Armidale PCYC is conducting their annual fund raiser Time for Kids to assist with the funding of their various programs for children at risk. Please come along to the shopping centre on Saturday morning and support a good cause. Tomorrow night I’m back in Inverell for the Inverell Rotary Club’s Changeover Dinner. ADAM MARSHALL Member for Northern Tablelands .