Swansea Channel Dredging Update

How good is this image to see.

The dredging is already having a big impact on the Swansea Channel and restoring it to be navigable once again.

The dredging is due to be completed by the end of November and will establish a safe, navigable 30-metre-wide channel for boats.

After years of delays under the former Liberal Government, it is a fantastic outcome for the community to see dredging work delivering results.

ARPRA Northlakes

Residential home parks are so important to ensuring our community can access an affordable, safe place to call home.

It was a pleasure to attend ARPRA Northlakes meeting and hear from locals about the residential home parks in our area and other important local issues.

Hunter Manufacturing Awards

It was fantastic to attend the Hunter Manufacturing Awards and present the award for Manufacturer of the Year, less than 50 employees to Senquip a Port Stephens manufacturer.

Congratulations to all the award winners and nominees.

The Hunter Manufacturing Awards celebrate all the great manufacturing businesses across the Hunter including here in Swansea.

The Hunter has always been the home of manufacturing in NSW and we have a bright future ahead of us.

Hospital Surgery Waiting List Halved

The Minns Labor Government has halved the state's overdue planned surgery list, according to the Surgical Care Taskforce interim report.

The Government established the formation of the Surgical Care Taskforce to reduce the number of planned surgeries waiting longer than clinically recommended.

Between March and September 2023, this number was slashed from 14,067 to 7,010. 

One of the ways the taskforce was able to achieve this was by expanding the category of some procedures eligible for same day surgery when clinically appropriate, and by increasing the capacity for NSW Health to undertake surgeries.

The taskforce identified common (or high volume) procedures typically undertaken with a one-night stay and has identified surgery types that can be increasingly conducted as same-day procedures.

The taskforce’s next steps will focus on building capacity in the NSW public health system to ensure a sustainable surgical service into the future. 

The initiative will reduce wait times as well as demand for overnight beds. 

Government Delivers on Election Commitment to Provide Job Security for Teachers

The Minns Labor Government is exceeding our commitment to convert more than 16,000 temporary teachers and support staff to temporary contracts, delivering on our election promise. Helping to secure better outcomes for student's futures.

The commitment aims to turn around the workforce crisis in NSW public schools, which last year saw a record 1,854 teachers resign. 

Some teachers who were considering leaving the profession are now staying thanks to the initiative, according to feedback given to the NSW Department of Education.

In just six months, more than 16,700 temporary teachers and support staff accepted a permanent contract at their current school, exceeding the Government’s expectations and moving ahead with the goal of improving education outcomes for students in the state’s public schools. 

Under the first tranche of offers, some 10,000 teachers were offered permanent roles, with almost 9,000 accepting a permanent position so far.

Some 7,700 temporary school support staff have also accepted a permanent role, which goes above the Minns Labor Government’s election commitment to deliver 6,000 of these roles.

Work is now underway on preparing for the next tranche of offers. 

This work reverses the decade of systemic casualisation of the teaching workforce by the former Liberal National Government, where the number of temporary teachers exploded from 11,700 in 2011 to more than 24,000 in 2023. 

Belmont & District Residents' Action Group

The Belmont & District Residents' Action Group is a local community group that advocates on behalf of Belmont and surrounding suburbs on a range of local issues. The group engages with local, state and federal levels of government. The group is seeking new members and if you would like to join, please contact Robin Gordon on robingordon1942@gmail.com.

Belmont Hospital Volunteer Auxiliary

The Belmont Hospital Volunteer Auxiliary truly are a great help to hospital staff. Beginning 50 years ago with a trolley service to patients and staff, the Auxiliary now has a team of more than 30 volunteers who provide 3 services:

• Patient Care which does administration work for all the departments within the hospital. It also sells craft and personal items to assist our patients and visitors
• Meet & Greet work from the foyer and assist visitors navigate around our hospital
• Kiosk provides food and beverages to staff, visitors and patients

All services run 5 days per week. The Auxiliary are always looking for more volunteers to join their team. They work on a weekly or fortnightly roster (with the option to work full or half days). If you are keen to join this wonderful team call Fay Smith (President) on 0427 488 499.

Savings for Pensioners 

The rise in the cost of living has been hitting many people hard, especially pensioners. Here are 10 ways for NSW pensioners to save:

1. Council rate rebates: Pensioners are entitled to up to $250 a year off their council rates. For more information visit the Lake Macquarie City Council and Central Coast Council websites. 
2. Electricity rebate: The Low Income Household Rebate will shave up to $285 a year off your electricity bill for households with a retail provider.
3. Gas rebate: This rebate will give you a discount of up to $110 a year.
4. Water rates: Eligible pensioners can access a quarterly rebate, shaving hundreds of dollars a year off a typical household bill. 
5. Revenue NSW Unclaimed Money: Find “lost” money waiting to be claimed from inactive bank accounts, shares and investments, insurance policies, unpaid wages, unclaimed super and deceased estates.
6. Travel vouchers: Pensioners are entitled to four Pensioner Travel Vouchers each calendar year. They can be used for two return or four single trips, giving access to free or discounted travel in economy class on NSW TrainLink Regional services within regional NSW.
7. Free car rego: Pensioners in NSW don’t pay registration fees or motor vehicle tax on one of their cars. They also receive free driver’s licences, free driving tests and concessions on the cost of Mobility Parking Scheme permits.
8. Free glasses: You can get yourself one pair of single vision glasses or one pair of bifocal glasses in a two-year period under the NSW Spectacles Program.
9. Seniors Card: The NSW Seniors Card is packed with discounts for thousands of retailers and services across the state from groceries to tradespeople and insurance.

I encourage all seniors to apply for these savings if they haven't already.