Media Releases

Member for Rodney, Paul Weller MP, said the Nathalia Recreation Reserve would receive $18,000 as part of the latest funding from the Sustainable Sports Ground Program.

The Nathalia Recreation Reserve is among 30 sporting venues across the state to benefit from a $1.9 million Victorian Coalition Government funding boost to help councils and clubs.

The Nathalia Recreation Reserve funding will assist in a project that will convert the grounds from cool season grass to warm season grass.

Mr Weller said the funding would benefit not just the members of the local clubs but the whole community, including nearby schools and community groups. “This will impact the lives of many local residents and will encourage more people to participate in sport and recreation,” he said.

Minister for Sport and Recreation Hugh Delahunty said the Victorian Government has invested more than $1.9 million in the program towards 30 projects across Victoria for sports such as cricket, soccer, football, netball, lawn bowls and tennis.

“Across the state, sport and recreation facilities provide vital community hubs where people can join together and be more active, more often,” Mr Delahunty said.

“From water recycling and storm water harvesting to drought resistant turf and the installation of synthetic playing surfaces, the Sustainable Sports Ground Program is helping local sport to not only survive, but thrive.

“We are working together with local clubs and councils to support higher levels of use and participation at local sporting facilities, whatever the weather brings.

“Unfortunately in the last few years some Victorian clubs and councils struggled with the impact of extreme weather, especially floods and drought, on their sports facilities and this funding will assist local clubs.

“By improving the quality, water efficiency and sustainability of these local facilities, we are encouraging more people to be more active and boost their health by becoming involved in community sports at their local clubs,” Mr Delahunty said.

For more information about the Sustainable Sports Ground Program, visit www.grants.dpcd.vic.gov.au

Member for Rodney Paul Weller MP today announced that the Shire of Campaspe will receive $105,000 for the “Count us in” Project from the Victorian Coalition Government’s $12.3 million Engage! grants program.  

 

Mr Weller said that this funding would assist the Shires “Count us in” Project to deliver and assess mentoring of young people and adults with an aim to create sustainable youth civic and social participation within all communities of the Shire of Campaspe.

 

“Our young people are our future, so an investment in them is important for our regions’ growth,” Mr Weller said.

 

More than 100 youth service providers across the state will receive between $30,000 and $50,000 in annual funding for three years to deliver a range of activities that engage young people aged between 12 and 25. These activities could range from social enterprise programs to volunteering or mentoring.

 

Minister for Youth Affairs Ryan Smith said $12.3 million over three years would enable organisations across the state to provide more opportunities for young Victorians to participate in their communities.

 

“The Victorian Coalition Government is committed to supporting organisations that improve the social, civic and economic outcomes for young Victorians.

 

“That’s why the Coalition Government has invested in programs through Engage! that offer opportunities for young people to volunteer, participate in mentoring, receive study and career advice, gain practical skills and training and increased connections with their community,” Mr Smith said.

 

For more information on the Engage! program, go to www.youthcentral.vic.gov.au/engage

The Victorian Coalition Government will partner with Country Racing Victoria, Camp Australia, and 30 regional racing clubs to deliver the Kids Summer of Country Racing Campaign.

 

Member for Rodney Paul Weller said the campaign is a terrific way for the whole family to enjoy the fun of country races during the summer holiday period.

 

“I am very pleased that the campaign includes Echuca Racing Club Family Day Out on 29 December 2011 and the Gunbower Cup on 7 January 2012,” Mr Weller said.

 

The program will offer families affordable, fun and safe entertainment for the children while enjoying a family day out at the

 races.

 

Activities will include face painting, badge making, sand wizards, tug of war, crazy cricket, giant earth ball, obstacle courses, jumping castles, mini golf and rock wall climbing.

 

Mr Weller said the Coalition Government supports the traditions of country racing  and understands the value it adds to our communities.

 

He said that country race clubs play an important role in the community and the local committees have worked hard to create an atmosphere specifically aimed at families and children.

 

“I encourage everyone to get along to one of these local race days and take advantage of a fantastic family day out,” Mr Weller said.   

 

The Victorian Coalition Government will support this year’s Murray River Marathon with a $40,000 grant, Member for Rodney Paul Weller announced today.

The funding is from the $1 billion Regional Growth Fund’s Putting Locals First Program which is an initiative designed to assist regional communities deliver initiatives which support their local communities.

Mr Weller said the funding would assist the YMCA with planning and promotion of the 2011 race.

“The Murray River Marathon contributes more than $1.5 million to the local economy and is extremely important in promoting the river and the region as a tourist destination,” he said.

“It creates significant exposure for the Murray River and provides a major boost for our accommodation venues, local businesses and community organisations who all benefit from their involvement.”

Mr Weller said around 3000 people were involved in the marathon, including paddlers, support crew and event volunteers.

He said thousands of spectators would follow the paddlers over the gruelling 404km, five-day iconic event that travels from Yarrawonga to Swan Hill, passing through Tocumwal, Picnic Point, Echuca, Torrumbarry and Murrabit.

“This funding announcement is extremely significant for organisers and communities along the marathon route as it assists with the planning, organisation and promotion of the event.

“The marathon promotes an active, engaged lifestyle by encouraging people of all ages and abilities to take part and the government is delighted to get behind it.

“I encourage everyone to line the river banks as the paddlers pass by to show your support for this fantastic event and all those involved.”

The Murray River Marathon runs from December 27-31.

As we approach the summer holiday period I would like to wish each and every resident across the Rodney electorate a very safe and happy Christmas.

At this time of year, it is easy to lose sight of the deeper meaning of Christmas as we are swept up in the mad rush of busy schedules, family commitments, work functions, social events, school concerts and gift buying.

It can be a stressful time for many trying to balance the load and it is so important that we make the time to stand still and be mindful of the present moment.

Christmas is a time for reflecting on our many blessings and for showing gratitude for all that is important in our lives.

It is about spending quality time – not money - with our family, friends and loved ones.

It is about practicing generosity – of mind and spirit – and of teaching our children the real value of giving.

It is about looking after one another, particularly the elderly, the frail and those in poor health.

And it is a time to be considerate and understanding of those in our community who find this time of year difficult whether through loneliness, financial difficulty or bereavement.

So as you busily work your way through your Christmas lists in the coming days, please take a moment to contemplate what is really important in your lives.

Is it rushing out to grab that last minute bargain or to attend another work or social commitment?

Or is it sitting beneath the Christmas tree with the precious members of your family and taking pleasure in the sheer moment?

However you decide to celebrate Christmas this year, please do it safely.

Be careful on the roads, be patient with one another and take care great care of your loved ones.

Neighbourhood houses in the Rodney electorate have been encouraged to apply for funding under a Victorian Coalition Government program that will help modernise centres across the state.

Member for Rodney Paul Weller said the $700,000 Creating Modernised and Inclusive Neighbourhood Houses grant program would provide funding of up to $30,000 to support small-scale infrastructure and governance improvements.

“These grants are available for projects that expand facilities for young children and their families, improve disability access, improve information and communication technology infrastructure, or improve training to strengthen governance,” Mr Weller said.

“Neighbourhood houses play such an important role in providing social, educational and recreational activities for their communities and I encourage centres in my electorate to consider making an application to the program.”

Community Services Minister Mary Wooldridge said the Coalition Government recognised the vital contribution neighbourhood houses made to families and communities.

“These centres provide a mixture of social, educational and recreational activities, especially in rural and regional communities, where they may be the only local community facility,” Ms Wooldridge said.

The Victorian Government is providing $21.6 million to neighbourhood houses and learning centres in 2011-12 to enable community engagement, planning and service delivery through the
Neighbourhood House Coordination Program.

The Government strongly supports 373 neighbourhood houses and 16 neighbourhood house networks across Victoria.

Applications for Creating Modernised and Inclusive Neighbourhood Houses grants close on 27 February 2012.

For further information, go to: www.dhs.vic.gov.au/neighbourhoodhousesgrants.

Work is set to commence on Tongala’s new primary school before the end of the year, Member for Rodney Paul Weller announced today.

Mr Weller said the tender process for the project had been finalised last week and awarded to a Cobram building firm.

He said he was hopeful demolition and construction works would commence on the site immediately.

“This is fantastic news for the Tongala Primary School and wider community particularly given the number of setbacks the project has suffered along the way.

“The school community has worked tirelessly and patiently to overcome a number of hurdles in securing their new school and I congratulate them for their dedication and commitment.

“I have been pleased to be able to support them in their endeavours to achieve this long overdue outcome and very enthusiastically await the completion of the new school.”

Mr Weller said the new school was originally scheduled for completion by 2009, but had been plagued by problems since the Building the Education Revolution funding was granted.

He said since the Victorian Coalition came to power 12 months ago he had been working closely with the Victorian Education Minister to overcome the issues and fast-track the project.

“In August this year there was a problem regarding a lack of available funding to upgrade fire services at the school but thankfully we were able to arrange for the department to manage the cost of that upgrade.

“This enabled the school to receive the best outcome for its building project which was released for tender in October.”

Mr Weller said construction of the new school was expected to be completed within six months.

Flood-damaged Rochester will be given a welcome facelift thanks to Victorian Coalition Government funding today announced by the Nationals Member for Rodney Paul Weller.

Representing Deputy Premier and Minister for Regional and Rural Development Peter Ryan, Mr Weller said the town’s Municipal Precinct would be repaired to its former glory under the Rochester Municipal Flood Recovery Re-establishment Project.

“The Rochester Municipal Precinct buildings, including the Shire Hall, Library and Service Centre and former chamber were so badly damaged in the January floods that they had to be abandoned,” Mr Weller said.

“As a consequence, the Rochester community has been without important community assets for several months.

“The Coalition Government is pleased to be able to provide $506,878 funding to re-establish the Rochester Municipal Precinct as an important community hub for the town and district.”

The Rochester Municipal Flood Recovery Re-establishment Project involves works to the following buildings:

• Shire Hall - Demolishing and rebuilding the Shire Hall kitchen and toilet, improving access to the building and upgrading the fire system;
• Library and Service Centre - demolition works, installation of fire systems, reconfiguration of the toilets, painting and flooring, and building ramps; and
• Former Chamber – demolition works, installation of new fire systems, demolition of toilets and building new walls and passages, painting and flooring.

Deputy Premier Peter Ryan said Coalition Government funding for the projects was being provided to the Campaspe Shire Council through the $30 million Flood Recovery Community Infrastructure Fund jointly administered by Regional Development Victoria and the Department of Sustainability and Environment.

“The Flood Recovery Community Infrastructure Fund is supporting councils and community groups to restore flood-affected local assets," Mr Ryan said.

“The Coalition Government is committed to improving local infrastructure and services, creating jobs and boosting business opportunities throughout regional Victoria.”

All the works are scheduled to be completed by the middle of 2012.

Member for Rodney Paul Weller has accused the Federal Government of being ‘hell-bent’ on decimating northern Victoria for no environmental gain through its draft Murary Darling Basin Plan.

In State Parliament yesterday Mr Weller said the draft plan was proof that the federal Labor-Greens coalition was driven by ideology rather than fact.

“The plan in its current form could see 420,000 megalitres taken from productive agricultural use,” he said.

“This is the equivalent of taking out Tatura and the entire Central Goulburn region.”

Mr Weller said the Federal Minister for Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities, Tony Burke, was making false claims about salinity to sell the draft plan.

“The minister is saying that if we do not return more water to the Murray, it will die from salinity,” he said.

“Let’s look at the facts and they are that salinity levels were higher in the 1970s and 1980s than they are now.”

Mr Weller said salinity levels at Morgan in South Australia exceeded 800 electrical conductivity (EC) 42 per cent of the time from 1975 to 1985.

He said since then EC levels had dropped continually through land care programs, salt interception schemes and better farming practices.

“In 1988 the average electrical conductivity at Morgan was 583 compared to 577 in 1999.

“In the past 12 months that figure had varied between less than 100 and up to 460, with an average of less than 350 EC.

“And this is in a flood year when you would have expected a spike because in flood years the floodwaters mobilise the salt on the flood plain and send it into the river.”

Mr Weller said farmers had done an exceptional job in the past 30 years using the latest technologies to make their water go further.

He said the Federal Government should be using its money and resources to do the same with environmental water.

Mr Weller encouraged all farmers and community members to attend a public meeting on the MDBA draft plan at the Shepparton East Bank Auditorium on Tuesday 13 December at 10.30am.

Nationals MP Paul Weller today announced that three landcare groups covering the Rodney electorate would receive funding for Landcare facilitator positions under the Victorian Coalition Government’s $12 million Local Landcare Facilitator Initiative.

The Upper Campaspe Combined Landcare Group, the Broken Catchment Landcare Network and the Goulburn Murray Landcare Network have each been allocated funding to employ a facilitator.

Mr Weller congratulated the group on securing the funding and encouraged residents to consider applying for the positions.

“Recruiting from within the local community means the facilitators will have a good understanding of the local area and issues and will be able to work more closely with their local groups,” he said.

“The facilitator will play a vital role in supporting the landcare group in on-ground delivery, building community capacity and partnerships and assisting with advice on project development.”

Minister for Environment and Climate Change Ryan Smith said successful organisations would receive a fixed grant of up to $50,000 a year towards funding the facilitator positions.

He said the 60 new landcare facilitator positions would deliver on yet another Coalition Government election commitment.

“In combination with the additional $600,000 in funding announced in July, this demonstrates the government’s strong commitment to Landcare in their 25th anniversary year,” Mr Smith said.

“The Coalition Government congratulates Landcare for its engagement with the community and for its significant on-ground works that protect and enhance our environment and support sustainable agriculture.”

Landcare in Victoria covers well over one thousand landcare and other community-based environmental groups, and has thousands of members including farmers, urban residents, landholders, families and students.

For more information about Landcare, please visit www.landcarevic.net.au.