Lake Road Upgrade 

Many locals have constantly raised with me the need to repair Lake Road, Swansea. I have met with Lake Macquarie City Council to raise their concerns, and I am pleased to say that they will commence work this month to widen the road by 1.5m from The Esplanade to Swansea Street, along with milling the damaged road pavement. This is a great win for our community. 

Old Belmont Public School Demolition

It was great to see demolition commence at the old Belmont Public School site. The site has been non-operational for some time, with community members sharing with me their concerns that the premises is not monitored by security, and has not been maintained. Their was also a fire their last year, which raised fears of asbestos fibres becoming airborne. After contacting the Minister for Skills and Training about the issue, TAFE NSW submitted a Development Application for demolition to Lake Macquarie City Council, which was approved on 14 June. 

MGA Thermal Visit

It was great to visit local Hunter manufacturer MGA Thermal with Kate Washington MP. MGA Thermal is doing innovative work in the renewable energy space, and have received a $1.27 million federal government grant to put towards thermal energy storage technology. This fantastic local company shows the critical role the Hunter will play in our future energy market, and the jobs potential in our region.

2022 Westfield Local Hero 

Swansea local Jillian Hogan is the Services Manager at the San Remo Epicentre. She consistently works hard to ensure that Coasties have access to support and resources like food and clothes washing facilities. Knowing how dedicated Jillian is to the local community, I was pleased to hear that she is one of three finalists for the Westfield Local Hero. Should Jillian win, the Epicentre will receive $20,000 to provide further support for those in need. Let's get behind Jillian and the Epicentre by voting at the Westfield Local Heroes website. 

NSW Government in Crisis

There is no doubt that the Perrottet Government is in crisis. We have seen two Ministers sacked in a matter of days. First Eleni Petinos was stood down for bullying allegations, followed by Stuart  Ayres due to the fallout from the Barilaro saga. To make matters worse for the Government, John Barilaro implied in his appearance at the Upper House inquiry on Monday that he had spoken with both the Premier and Treasurer about his application for the job. Media reports also indicate that the Premier offered David Elliott a trade role if he chose to leave cabinet. The Barilaro inquiry has put in full view the dodgy behaviour of this Government, and the division within it. The people of NSW deserve an honest government that will put them first. 

NSW Nurses and Midwives Visit

This week in Parliament I had the pleasure of meeting with members of the NSW Nurses and Midwives’ Association to hear about their experiences working in the state's health system. Our health staff go above and beyond to look after patients, often going without breaks to make sure they get the care they need. Our nurses and midwives are at breaking point. It's time for the NSW Government to listen to our health staff and reform the system. 

Casino Legislation Amendment Bill

This week in Parliament, the Lower House passed the Casino Legislation Amendment Bill to create the NSW Independent Casino Commission. NSW Labor believes that there must be regulatory framework in place to handle the complexity of this industry. Over the past few years, the public's confidence in the casino and gaming sector have been shaken by media reports of money laundering taking place, working with junket tour operators with links to organised crimes, along with the failure of casino’s to comply with regulatory standards. I am pleased that this Bill passed because it is an important step in improving regulation of the industry. 

Service NSW Saving Finder 

Did you know that you could be eligible for Government rebates and vouchers? More than 70 rebates and vouchers are available to help you save on everyday costs, including the Regional Seniors Travel Card, Toll Relief and Family Energy Rebate. Start saving now by visiting the Service NSW website. 

Chain Valley Colliery Community Funding Program

Chain Valley Colliery Community Funding Program aims to support not-for-profit community organisations to deliver projects that improve community infrastructure and services in Chain Valley Bay and surrounding suburbs. Eligible groups can now apply for up to $30,000 out of a total pool of $40,000 for community projects until 31 August. For more information on this year’s program and to apply, visit the Central Coast Council website. 

Regional NSW Business Case and Strategy Development Fund

Applications are now open for the Regional NSW Business Case and Strategy Development Fund. The fund has been designed to support local councils, joint organisations of councils, not-for-profit, industry and Aboriginal community groups with funding to develop business cases or strategies for regionally significant projects and initiatives. Applications close 24 August and can be submitted via SmartyGrants. For more information about the fund, visit the NSW Government website. 

Using Public Transport Safely as a Senior Program

Newcastle Transport are hosting their Using Public Transport Safely as a Senior program at the Swansea Centre, on Monday 22 August, between 10:30 and 11:30am. The event is free, but bookings are essential. Visit the Eventbrite website to book in now.