Media Releases

Member for Rodney Paul Weller today announced The Nationals Scholarship for Young Leaders will run again in 2012.

The scholarship will assist students from rural and regional Victoria in their chosen tertiary pathway.

“The Nationals are committed to ensuring that regional and rural young people continue to reach their potential through higher education and training opportunities,” Mr Weller said.

“The scholarship winners will be chosen based on their academic endeavours, local leadership qualities, community involvement and their commitment to rural life.”

The total value of the scholarship is $5,000 which may be shared amongst one or more successful applicants.

“The Scholarship for Young Leaders has been a great success in the many years The Nationals have committed to run the bursary,” Mr Weller said.

“The response from students across the state has traditionally been of a high calibre and the quality of the applications shows the strength and resilience of young people from across country Victoria.”

Mr Weller said the scholarship was a fantastic initiative and encouraged eligible students to apply.

“The Nationals are proud to support regional and rural students pursuing their tertiary studies and promoting exceptional leadership qualities from future leaders, expecially those committed to the future development of regional and rural Victoria.”

The selection criteria for The Nationals Scholarship includes the applicant’s academic record,
leadership qualities and community involvement.

It is intended that The Nationals Scholarship be awarded to students who are planning to return to or remain in the country after their course and demonstrate a career commitment that will ultimately benefit rural/regional Victoria. Special consideration may also be given to students in hardship situations.
The application process will be open until February 24, 2012. Application forms can be downloaded from The Nationals website: www.vic.nationals.org.au

Member for Rodney Paul Weller has congratulated the Victorian Coalition Government for providing certainty to Goulburn-Murray irrigators and for securing the future prosperity of one of the State’s most important food producing regions.

In a notice of motion tabled in State Parliament this week, Mr Weller applauded the Coalition Government, and Water Minister Peter Walsh, for securing a sound new agreement for Stage 2 of the $1.2 billion Northern Victoria Irrigation Renewal Project (NVIRP2).

Mr Weller said the deal would return 204 gigalitres to the Murray River and deliver a world-class irrigation system for northern Victoria’s food producers.

“These water savings will make an important contribution from Victoria towards reaching the sustainable diversion limits under the Murray Darling Basin Plan,” he said.

“Under the new agreement, the amount of water to be returned to the environment has more than doubled from what was originally planned under the NVIRP2.”

Mr Weller said a key part of the new agreement included changed water sharing arrangements under which 102 gigalitres of the water savings would be sold to the Commonwealth for environmental use.

He said the Victorian irrigators’ contribution to the NVIRP would come from the proceeds of selling the second 102 gigalitres of water savings generated from the project.

“This is a much fairer deal than the one proposed under Labor’s stage two of NVIRP, in which 204GL of water savings were to be equally split between the Commonwealth and irrigators.

“That deal was unsustainable in that irrigators were expected to contribute $200 million to NVIRP stage one and two which would have forced them to repay the debt via a 25-40 per cent increase in their water bills.”

Member for Rodney Paul Weller has congratulated the Victorian Coalition Government for providing certainty to Goulburn-Murray irrigators and for securing the future prosperity of one of the State’s most important food producing regions.

In a notice of motion tabled in State Parliament this week, Mr Weller applauded the Coalition Government, and Water Minister Peter Walsh, for securing a sound new agreement for Stage 2 of the $1.2 billion Northern Victoria Irrigation Renewal Project (NVIRP2).

Mr Weller said the deal would return 204 gigalitres to the Murray River and deliver a world-class irrigation system for northern Victoria’s food producers.

“These water savings will make an important contribution from Victoria towards reaching the sustainable diversion limits under the Murray Darling Basin Plan,” he said.

“Under the new agreement, the amount of water to be returned to the environment has more than doubled from what was originally planned under the NVIRP2.”

Mr Weller said a key part of the new agreement included changed water sharing arrangements under which 102 gigalitres of the water savings would be sold to the Commonwealth for environmental use.

He said the Victorian irrigators’ contribution to the NVIRP would come from the proceeds of selling the second 102 gigalitres of water savings generated from the project.

“This is a much fairer deal than the one proposed under Labor’s stage two of NVIRP, in which 204GL of water savings were to be equally split between the Commonwealth and irrigators.

“That deal was unsustainable in that irrigators were expected to contribute $200 million to NVIRP stage one and two which would have forced them to repay the debt via a 25-40 per cent increase in their water bills.”

The Nationals Member for Rodney Paul Weller has applauded the Victorian Coalition Government for its financial support of regional electorates recovering from the effects of flood.

In State Parliament today Mr Weller highlighted the meaningful difference the government’s flood recovery grants program was having in north central Victoria.

“The floods in September 2010 and January 2011 caused close to $7 million damage to roads, drains and bridges across the Campaspe Shire,” he said.

“As you can well appreciate, this level of damage has resulted in significant disruption and inconvenience to residents and it is without question that the repair works constitute a mammoth recovery project for the shire.

“The Campaspe Shire received $3.3 million from the Victorian Coalition Government’s flood recovery grants program to start the repair works and I am pleased to report that those works are set to commence next month.”

Mr Weller said the funding would help repair roads, drains, culverts, bridges and other infrastructure damaged by the catastrophic floods.

He said those works would include rebuilding some entire roads where flood waters washed away the pavement, reconstructing shoulders on sealed roads, repairing bridges and restoring table drains eroded by the enormous volume of water.

Mr Weller said works worth about $1 million would begin on gravel roads from next month, and the full flood damage program was expected to be completed by June 2013.

“I applaud the Victorian Coalition Government for the enormous level of financial support it is providing electorates such as mine to recover and rebuild from the devastating flood events of September 2010 and January 2011,” he said.

“I also take this opportunity to wish the Shire of Campaspe all the best in delivering and completing this massive flood recovery project.”

Deputy Premier and Minister for Regional and Rural Development Peter Ryan will visit the Rodney electorate tomorrow, Wednesday 5 October to officially open the new agribusiness pavilion at the Elmore Field Days.

As part of the visit, Mr Ryan will also make a major funding announcement for an integrated bioenergy project at Madowla Park near Echuca.

The Deputy Premier will also meet with representatives from the Committee 4 Echuca-Moama (C4EM) which was recently established to identify new economic and social development opportunities for the district.


Event 1
What: Official opening of Elmore Field Days Agribusiness Pavilion
When: Wednesday 5 October, 2011
Time: 11am
Where: Elmore Field Days, Midland Hwy, Elmore


Event 2
What: Deputy Premier to make funding announcement for integrated bio energy project
When: Wednesday 5 October, 2011
Time: 1pm
Where: Madowla Park, 1584 Stewarts Bridge Road, Lower Moira


Event 3
What: Deputy Premier to meet with C4EM
When: Wednesday 5 October, 2011
Time: 2.45pm
Where: Rodney Electorate Office, 26 Percy St, Echuca.

The Victorian Coalition Government will provide a sustainable and long-term supply of firewood from the river red gum forests to the communities of Barmah and Gunbower, Nationals MP Paul Weller announced today.

The firewood supply will initially be sourced from logging residue and will gradually be replaced by firewood produced through an ecological thinning program.

Mr Weller secured the commitment from Environment and Climate Change Minister Ryan Smith this week.

“As we all know, the Labor Government declared both the Barmah and Gunbower state forests a national park during its last term in power, and as a result, the collection of household firewood was to be completely phased out from June 30 this year,” he said.

“The Labor Government made no provision for domestic firewood collection past this date and naturally this greatly angered affected residents in the River Red Gum region.

“I am delighted the Coalition Government has taken immediate action to ensure the very basic needs of these residents are not overlooked and has developed a strategy to ensure their ongoing access to a sustainable supply of domestic firewood.”

Mr Weller said Parks Victoria had opened domestic firewood collection areas on Barmah Island in the proposed Murray River Park on July 1 to supply firewood to the residents of Barmah this winter.

He said the Department of Sustainability and Environment had opened domestic firewood collection areas in the Gunbower State forest to supply Gunbower residents with their winter firewood supply.

Mr Weller said the Minister was also considering a legislative amendment to extend the period available to collect firewood from specified former logging coupes in Barmah and Gunbower National Parks, for domestic and camping use outside the parks, for a further three years.

“In the longer-term, firewood supply will initially be sourced from logging residue in river red gum forests and parks,” he said.

“This source will gradually be replaced with firewood produced by an ecological thinning program in the Murray River Park and logging and thinning residues in the Gunbower, Benwell and Guttram State forests.”

Mr Weller said the Coalition Government’s commitment to a long-term firewood collection strategy would provide enormous relief to many Barmah and Gunbower residents who relied on firewood as the sole source of affordable fuel to heat their homes.

The Cohuna Recreation Reserve will be a big winner if the Coalition wins government on November 27, Nationals Member for Rodney, Paul Weller, said this week.

 

Mr Weller said that the Coalition would be providing $20,000 towards the cost of construction of a long-awaited and much needed verandah right across the front of the reserve pavilion.

 

“I am very pleased to be able to give this undertaking on behalf of the Coalition. I know it has long been the wish of the local football fans, also the cricketers and the show attendees, that a verandah be provided to provide protection from the winter chill and the summer heat,” he said.

 

Mr Weller said that the Cohuna Kangas regularly drew big crowds to their home games, and people liked to gather together in front of the pavilion to support their team.

 

“A verandah will provide much better protection and make it a more enjoyable day out for local sports fans.

 

“It will also provide much needed shade in cricket season, and I am sure it will prove popular when the local show is underway,” he said.

 

Mr Weller said the early guarantee of funding from the Coalition would allow the sports bodies using the pavilion to begin planning the work.

 

“Obviously there will be a lot of in-kind support and hopefully other funding, but this $20,000 guarantee certainly provides a solid basis for getting the project underway.

 

“It is a typical example of the way we as a Coalition government want to provide support and assistance for people in rural areas. It is a practical response to a situation which has been a concern for a number of years.

 

“It is a different way of doing things to what the tired, arrogant Brumby Government has been providing, and people everywhere are looking for a change.

 

“Once we win government, we will be able to look at a whole range of practical, common-sense solutions delivered at a local level, and covering areas that the current government has blatantly ignored for the past decade,” he said.

Local councils will receive a big boost under a new $100 million fund announced by the Coalition, Nationals Member for Rodney, Paul Weller, said this week.

 

The Local Government Infrastructure Account, funded through the planned $1 billion Regional Growth Fund, will be in addition to current government expenditure and will be aimed at supporting local council initiatives such as roads, bridges, community centres and sport and recreation facilities.

 

Mr Weller said the funding was desperately needed by councils who had been starved of funding and over-burdened with state government responsibilities over the past decade.

 

“This Local Government Infrastructure Account will be administered so as to give councils a clear understanding of the funding they are likely to receive in future years and the flexibility to allocate the money to projects that reflect local priorities.

 

“Allocations will be based primarily on need and population to ensure smaller, financially struggling rural councils receive their fair share of funding,” Mr Weller said.

 

He said councils would no longer have to spend large amounts of time chasing grants.

 

“Having this fund available and easily accessible will free councils up to get on with their core business, that is providing the best possible level of service to ratepayers and residents.

 

“Over the past decade it has become a  real struggle for councils, particularly the smaller ones in rural areas, and this new account is a great policy initiative which will make a real point of difference,” Mr Weller said.

 

Details of the new scheme were very warmly received when it was announced by Nationals leader and shadow minister for regional and rural development, Peter Ryan, at the Municipal Association of Victoria state conference in Melbourne last week.

 

“It is the sort of common-sense, practical policy that is sore sorely missing in this state right now, and we look forward to implementing it after the November 27 election. There is a very strong feeling that time is up for this tired, arrogant Brumby government,” Mr Weller said.

Member for Rodney Paul Weller will head a strong Nationals presence at the Elmore Field Days next week.

 

Mr Weller will be present at the Nationals’ site on both Tuesday and Wednesday, and will be joined on the Wednesday by the party’s deputy leader and the shadow minister for both agriculture and water, Peter Walsh.

 

Senator elected Bridget McKenzie will also be present on the Wednesday, and along with Mr Weller and Mr Walsh, will take part in an hour long public forum focussing on agricultural issues and water from 10.30 am.

 

Mr Weller welcomed all field day visitors to drop into the Nationals site for a cuppa and a chat at any stage.

 

“It is a relaxed, informal setting, and having both Mr Walsh and Ms McKenzie present to talk through rural issues and concerns is a real bonus.

 

“We will have a barbecue operating as well, and we would love to see as many people as possible,” Mr Weller said.

A Victorian Liberal Nationals Coalition Government will bring the country to Melbourne every year to showcase country Victoria’s business, lifestyle and cultural riches at Country Week, the Nationals Member for Rodney Paul Weller said today.

 

Regional tourism, local government, education, business and cultural groups will all feature at the Country Week Expo and provide detailed information about jobs, education and lifestyle opportunities.

 

Mr Weller said the event is designed to remove any apprehensions Melbourne people might have about a possible move to regional Victoria.

 

“It will help people who are considering the move to appreciate the wonderful elements that make living in the country so rewarding,” he said.

 

The week-long event would have specialist exhibitions on issues such as employment, housing, education, transport, investment, the arts and other opportunities.

 

“For people who are genuinely considering relocating to regional Victoria, these are all matters of immense importance,” Mr Weller said.

 

“Victorians wanting to know about housing costs, job vacancies, and opportunities to invest in or relocate a business will be able to find out more at Country Week as well as enjoying country-grown entertainment and learn about, sporting, cultural and recreational opportunities across country Victoria.”

 

The $2 million Coalition Country Week plan was announced this week by Coalition Leader Ted Baillieu and Shadow Minister for Regional and Rural Development and Leader of the Nationals Peter Ryan.

 

The plan will see $500,000 a year invested in Country Week for four years, and will be held at a different time of the year to the agricultural-based Royal Melbourne Show.

 

“The Electorate of Rodney is such a diverse area with so much to offer.  We just need some

way to showcase all that is good about country life.  This is it” Mr Weller said.