from Leslie Williams MP

March 2014

Community NewsMember for Port Macquarie

“This substantial injection in funds means we can put into action the building upgrade plans that have been afoot since 1996.” Pat Staunton - Tacking Point Surf Life Saving Club President

Kendall Tennis Club Kendall certainly received national prominence in January after the Kendall Tennis Club won the Tennis Australia’s AOBlitz online competition to become Australia’s best tennis town.

This was a fantastic win for the Club and the Club’s Committee led by President Wendy Hudson. The result of the online competition win which was backed so well by the Hastings community meant that tennis superstar Rafael Nadal played for Kendall during the Australian Open.

On the night of the finals, I joined other locals to watch the match on a big screen at the Kendall Tennis Club. While Nadal was defeated on the night, he did his best.

Late last year I met with the Minister for Sport and Recreation, Gabrielle Upton and representatives from her department seeking to identify funding options and assistance for the Kendall Tennis Club.

Minister Upton was very impressed by the Club’s vision, determination and success particularly with their junior tennis program. I will continue to work with the Minister to try and achieve as much funding as possible to finally see the expansion program become a reality.

While Kendall is one of the most progressive tennis clubs in regional Australia, it has been fighting for years to get enough funding to increase the number of courts from three to eight.

Leslie Williams, Member for Port Macquarieaddress Macquarie Business Centre,

Suite 6, 27 Grant Street, Port Macquarie NSW 2444phone 02 6584 0977 fax 02 6584 0978

email portmacquarie@parliament.nsw.gov.au website www.lesliewilliams.com.au

Authorised by Leslie Williams MP. Printed by Chrysalis Printing, 7 Chestnut Road, Port Macquarie NSW 2444 using parliamentary entitlements

For members of the Tacking Point Surf Club the year 2014 kicked off perfectly with news of a $250,000 State Government grant to improve their Clubhouse facilities including improved disabled access, upgraded toilet amenities and installation of an awning over the deck.

The 400 volunteer members of the Tacking Point Surf Life Saving Club provide an invaluable service to our community in helping to ensure our local beaches are safe particularly during the summer months. This outstanding voluntary organisation deserves our support and I know the funding will benefit both the Club and the wider community.

Modern facilities make surf life saving activities more accessible which in turn encourages participation and improves safety for beach goers. By investing in surf life saving clubs the NSW Government is promoting and improving the health and wellbeing of our local communities.

The smiles on the faces of club members both young and old indicated that this single biggest grant received by the Club in its 40 year history was very welcome and I’m so pleased that the long awaited upgrade of the Clubhouse can now commence.

On behalf of our community, thank you to the hundreds of members of surf life saving clubs across the Port Macquarie electorate from Crowdy Head to Flynns Beach for the thousands of hours spent volunteering to help make our beaches safer.

2014 is shaping up to be an exciting year with construction set to start on a number of major infrastructure projects including the new Stingray Creek Bridge, the Lake Cathie Public School and the new PCYC.

In January the development application for the much anticipated new public school at Lake Cathie was approved by the Northern Joint Regional Planning Panel. After more than three decades of campaigning by the local community the long awaited school will finally become a reality. The school will cater for approximately 290 students with classrooms, library, hall and administration buildings on land between Lake Cathie and Bonny Hills, with construction likely to commence later this month. Camden Haven residents will finally see work commence on the new Stingray Creek Bridge at North Haven. Again, this is a project that has been long talked about and it is now reaching a significant milestone with tenders for construction soon to be announced. The NSW Government is providing 50% of the estimated $16 million project cost as well as providing Council with assistance through the State’s Local Infrastructure Renewal Scheme (LIRS).It is expected that construction will commence in the second half of the year and weather permitting we should see a completed bridge in March/April 2015. Building infrastructure provides a stimulus for the economy with job opportunities and benefits for local businesses and that’s good news for the wider community.

Leslie Williams Member for Port Macquarie

Tacking Point Surf Club

Leslie with members of Tacking Point Surf Club

As your local MP, I try and attend as

many community functions and events

as possible. I believe it is vitally

important to show support to the many

groups and individuals who go above

and beyond to help our community.

I have said on many occasions that our

area is blessed with so many volunteer

groups and individuals who deserve

praise for the work they do across our

local area.

One such group is the Mid North Coast

Lymphoedema Support Group

(pictured above) who are holding an

awareness Iced Tea Party at the CWA

room on the Town Green in Port

Macquarie between 1pm and 4pm on

Friday the 14th of March. If you would

like to find out more details please

contact Heidi on 6580 1845.

Whether it’s with Cath Le Page and

the Friends of Kooloongbung Creek,

David Twitchen and Marjorie Peatfield

from the Hastings Driver Revivor

Centre or wrapping gifts with Glenda

Hamilton for the Westpac Rescue

Helicopter Service, I try where I can to

help our wonderful community groups.

Supporting Our CommunityLeslie with the Kendall Tennis Club Committee members

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The NSW Government’s Community Building Partnership (CBP) program is an excellent opportunity for community organisations to access much needed funding assistance. In December I was pleased to announce another $300,000 for 20 local groups for a range of projects from walkways to boatsheds.

The Community Building Partnership grant program directly benefits community groups, creates local jobs and increases business opportunities while at the same time enhances local investment in the Port Macquarie electorate.

Congratulations to all the successful applicants and for those that were not approved the good news is another round of grants will be available later in 2014. I look forward to a visit later this month from Treasurer Mike Baird who will join me in congratulating the 2013 grant recipients.

Local projects to receive funding include;

✓ Camden Haven Boxing Team $25,298 to construct a new community building

✓ Camden Haven Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Tourism $14,500 to refurbish the iKew Community Hub and Tourist Information Centre

✓ Camden Haven Surf Life Saving Club $28,495 for the purchase of an all-terrain vehicle

✓ Harrington Men’s Shed $25,000 for the construction of Harrington Men’s Shed (Stage 2)

✓ Hastings District Respite Care $18,000 for installation of garden shading and a new kitchen for the Respite Care Centre in Port Macquarie

✓ Lansdowne Public Hall Reserve Trust $4,816 to construct a concrete barbecue and outdoor eating area

✓ Lord Howe Island Historical Society and Museum $35,000 for the refurbishment of the entrance, foyer, café, kitchen, shop and IT area of the museum

✓ Port Macquarie Art & Craft Centre $4,986 for the purchase of arts and crafts equipment including a lathe, kiln pyrometer and computer controls

✓ Port Macquarie Community Preschool $5,290 for the installation of solar panels at the preschool

✓ Port Macquarie Hastings Council $6,750 for building preservation and restoration safety works to the Laurieton School of Arts Hall

✓ Port Macquarie Hastings Hockey Club $10,000 for the construction of a pump house and amenities for public and disabled toilets

✓ Port Macquarie Hastings Municipal Band $12,741 for a PA system and purchase of musical instruments at the “Mac” Adams Music Centre

✓ Port Macquarie Rowing Club $19,819 to replace the rowing boat trailer

✓ Rotary Club of Port Macquarie Sunrise $28,400 to construct a pedestrian walkway at Tacking Point Lighthouse

✓ RSL Lifecare $10,100 to establish a war museum at Le Hamel, Port Macquarie

✓ Scouts Australia – NSW Branch $6,645 for repairs to the Port Macquarie Scout Hall

✓ St Agnes Parish Port Macquarie $20,000 for the construction of an accessible children’s cultural and sustainable learning garden and meeting place in Port Macquarie

✓ The Players Theatre $4,160 to install handrail supports to the auditorium and to replace the front awning of the Players Theatre, Port Macquarie

✓ Volunteer Marine Rescue NSW $20,000 to commence construction for a boat shed at Harrington

Building A Better Community

The opening of the new Service NSW centre in Port Macquarie by Deputy Premier and Member for Oxley Andrew Stoner marks the beginning of a new era in customer service delivery.

The Service NSW centre is the first to open on the Mid North Coast and one of 18 service centres being rolled out across the State since July last year. Undoubtedly, customers will be impressed by the new customer service improvements including an express counter, concierges, self-service options and most importantly, shorter waiting times.

The Service NSW centres are part of the NSW Government’s plan to transform the way people do business with the Government, making transactions easier and simpler. This efficient service means residents and businesses save time as they are able to do more in the one location at times that suit their busy lives.

The Port Macquarie Service NSW centre is located on the corner of Central Road and Barton Crescent, Port Macquarie. Opening hours are 7.00am-7.00pm Monday to Friday and 9.00am-3.00pm on Saturdays.

The Mid North Coast Local Health District recently launched a new public website designed to improve access to health information and increase community understanding of health-related topics.

Your Health Link has been designed as a centralised gateway for fast and easy access to health information. The site has links to more than 300 Government and Non-Government organisations, chosen by health professionals.

Your Health Link includes information on physical health, nutrition, sexual health, sport, mental health, finance, legal services, education, employment, and includes health related videos, national events calendar, useful telephone numbers and the National Health Services Directory which identifies health services in specific local areas.

Congratulations to Clinical Educator Carolyn Guichard who designed and developed the Health Link website. To find out more go to www.yourhealthlink.com.au

Your Health Link

Service NSW Opens in Port Macquarie

Andrew Stoner, Leslie Williams, Service NSW Manager Peter Dawson and Port Macquarie Chamber of Commerce President Hadyen Oriti

Confidence in the local tourism market continues to grow with $3.2 million of improvement works recently being completed at two holiday parks at Bonny Hills.

The State Government has just spent $1.7 million upgrading the Bonny Hills Holiday Park.

Improvements include a new amenities building, new cabins, beach tents, a new camp kitchen as well as a new coastal walkway, BBQ shelter and pathways.

Just down the road the BIG4 Holiday Park recently spent $1.5 million upgrading their facilities with new luxury accommodation units, renovated beach cottages, a water

fun slide, giant jumping pillows, putt putt golf and go carts.

The park has been an iconic holiday destination in Bonny Hills for many years and was purchased in 2010 by Alan and Merv King who have undertaken widespread improvements to the park.

The commitment and confidence shown with these upgrades is a shot in the arm for our local tourism industry.

The caravan and camping sector contributes around $1.7 billion to the state’s economy so it is an important part of the tourism industry.

Caravan and camping also accounts for 10% of the total number of all visitor nights in Australia with more than 90% of nights spent in regional areas like the Mid North Coast.

Bonny Hills Holiday Parks

Leslie with Camden Haven Boxing Club members

Harrington Community MeetingI was pleased to see so many people attend the community meeting I recently held in Harrington. Around 40 local residents from Harrington and Crowdy Head came along for morning tea and to discuss local issues.

The Harrington/Crowdy community is a committed and active community with many hard working organisations who continue to advocate for local outcomes.

Over the past couple of years Harrington and Crowdy Head have received significant funding for a range of projects including;

✓ Harrington Public School has received more than $443,000 for a Covered Outdoor Learning Area, a new toilet block and minor maintenance works as well as funding to support the Gonski initiatives.

✓ $8,000 for Crowdy Head Public School supporting Gonski initiatives.

✓ $57,000 to manage and undertake work at the Harrington Lagoon and Foreshore.

✓ $13,510 for the extension of the Harrington boat ramp.

✓ $45,000 to help establish a Men’s Shed at Harrington.

✓ $28,500 for an exercise fitness trail along the Harrington Foreshore Reserve

✓ $10,000 for the Crowdy Head Surf Club from the Community Building Partnerships Grants for the first aid and patrol rooms refurbishment.

Leslie with the Harrington Men’s Shed members at the Harrington community meeting.Leslie with Mid North Coast Local Health District Board Chair Warren Grimshaw and Clinical Educator Carolyn Guichard

Leslie with BIG4 Bonny Hills owners Merv and Alan King

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