Local Government News
 Don
Page
State Matters
NSW Budget 2005
This year's NSW Budget contains no new funding for the Pacific Highway and
almost no funding for other important infrastructure and service projects on the
Far North Coast, including the Alstonville bypass.
The Alstonville bypass remains frozen, with a mere $1.8 million, of the $24
million required from the Carr Government, committed in this Budget. Premier Carr's
deception on this issue has been confirmed with the completion date pushed out
to 2008.
The Carr Labor Government also only committed to the existing Pacific Highway
10- year plan. Whilst a Federal commitment to fund half the Ballina bypass sits
on the table, the State Government came up with a mere $5 million this year for
planning this vital project.
It demonstrates you can't trust the Carr Labor Government to deliver on its
promises.
In total the Ballina electorate has gained funding for capital works projects
including;
- $1.2 billion to expand the Ballina substation;
- $1.9 million for the Ballina Transitory Care facility;
- $10.4 million for the Richmond Clinic;
- $500,000 for the Lake Ainsworth Indoor Recreational Hall and Seawall;
- $79 million for the Brunswick Heads to Yelgun Pacific Highway upgrade (re-announced
funding);
- $3 million for planning for the Tintenbar to Ewingsdale Pacific Highway upgrade;
and
- $2 million for planning for the Woodburn to Ballina Pacific Highway upgrade.
In addition, the reinstatement of the land tax threshold shows the Labor Government's
policy on this issue was a huge mistake. They have killed the property market
and are now scurrying to cover their tracks. The State Government fails to understand
that whilst the unfair vendor tax remains, investors will continue to favour South-East
Queensland over the Far North Coast.
The Carr Labor Government has again demonstrated their lack of commitment to
infrastructure and services on the Far North Coast.
TAFE teachers axed in Budget
NSW Budget papers also reveal that almost 500 TAFE teachers and staff will
be axed despite NSW facing a serious skilled workers shortage. Furthermore, course
fees at the State's TAFE colleges will jump by $7 million over the next year,
rising from $61 million to $68 million.
Students will be forced into bigger classes and pay much higher fees and in
some cases classes may be cancelled altogether due to teacher cuts.
In my view it is very shortsighted to cut technical teachers when we have such
a serious skills shortage and it is clear TAFE students across NSW will seriously
suffer due to fewer teachers and higher fees.
National Volunteer Awards open
Local or regional not-for-profit organisations can now apply for a National
Volunteer Award, which recognise the enormous effort of volunteers in our community.
Any volunteer organisation which has undertaken a project in the last 12 months
which as been conducted mostly by volunteers can nominate for recognition. Guidelines
and nominations forms are available through my office. The closing date is July
1.
Sporting grants closing
Local eligible organisations wishing to apply for 2005-06 Capital Assistance
Program (CAP) grants for sporting and recreational facilities must submit their
applications prior to the close of business on July 31.
Capital Assistance Grants help local sporting organisations and local governments
to construct new facilities, improve existing facilities and undertake projects
to improve sporting access for under-represented groups.
Guidance notes and application forms for the 2005-06 Capital Assistance Program
are available from my office or on the web at www.dsr.nsw.gov.au.
Office contacts
Address: PO Box 1018, Ballina, NSW, 2478
Phone: 6686 7522
Fax: 6686 7470
Email: Don.Page@parliament.nsw.gov.au
 Thomas
George
Canberra Connection
2005/06 Budget I was again disappointed with the State Budget handed down last
week. The Treasurer did not announce anything new for the Lismore Electorate.
We had already been told about the funding of the following projects:
- $1.6m for Lismore Police Station ($13.206m total cost);
- $10.4m for Richmond Clinic; and
- $2m for a new Child & Adolescent Mental Health Unit ($8m total cost).
Whilst it has been a win for the community for funding the above, I am disappointed
not to see listed Stage 3 of Lismore Base Hospital redevelopment or major roads
assistance.
Other allocations included:
- $3m for a new electricity substation in Lismore;
- $91,000 to complete refurbishment of Lismore TAFE's Learner Support Centre;
- $250,000 for Lismore & District Women's Health Centre; and
- $584,000 for Department of Housing crisis accommodation.
Following widespread backlash from the constituency and the Coalition, the
Government has announced it will reintroduce a threshold of $330,000 from January
1 2006 for land tax. Once I have viewed more detailed documents, I can assess
if there is hope of receiving ongoing funding for both major and minor projects.
Old timetable reinstated
Last week Ministry of Transport director-general John Lee announced that recent
changes made by Kirklands to its newly implemented timetable to rectify problems
had not gone far enough and many problems still remained. Apparently research
showed more than half of all people who had originally made serious complaints
about the new timetable remained unsatisfied with the adjustments. Kirklands was
originally given one week to solve these problems that was extended to two weeks.
Mr Lee has directed Kirklands to follow a four-step plan to resolve the problems;
- Re-instate the previous timetable as an interim measure;
- Build the structure of a new timetable;
- Conduct extensive consultation that ensures the new timetable gets the support
of the whole community; and
- In the second half of this year implement a new timetable that has more modest
changes and reflects the needs and views of the community.
Beef Week
2005 Beef Week celebrations were launched last week and once again were a tremendous
success. I was pleased to be involved and congratulations to Terry Serone and
his hard working team of volunteers.
Tidy Towns
I recently attended and officially opened the 2005 Tidy Towns Regional Forum
held in Kyogle earlier this month. The aims are to:
- Recognise and acknowledge outstanding environmental initiatives implemented
by community groups, local government authorities and schools;
- Encourage and involve community groups, local government authorities, schools,
local business and industry in environmental projects; and
- Raise public awareness of a range of environmental issues and related projects.
There are 10 individual categories for recognising outstanding achievements
as well as the overall category.
Regional achievement awards
This is the first year of the NSW Regional Achievement and Community Awards,
which are an amalgamation of both the Regional Achievers and Community of the
Year Award and the Community Enterprise Awards.
Nominations can be made online at www.awardsaustralia.com or by contacting
my office. The closing date is August 5.
New Homework Centre
Community Connections has extended its commitment to young people in Lismore
by opening a new Homework Centre in its new Youth Space called C-Block. This program
will be open to students to use from this week and throughout the remainder of
term two, each Tuesday and Thursday. The programis funded by the Department of
Community Services and is staffed by a qualified teacher, and local Aboriginal
worker. It is located in a relaxed, safe and friendly environment that is completely
reserved for use by young people only..
Office contacts
Address: PO Box 52, Lismore, NSW, 2480
Phone: 6621 3624
Fax: 6622 1403
Email: lismore@parliament.nsw.gov.au
or www.thomasgeorge.com.au
|
