Marine Rescue Access Road to be Sealed

For too long, Lake Macquarie Marine Rescue volunteers have struggled to safely travel to the Swansea Heads base, due to the state of the gravel access road. Following continuous advocacy from myself and Lake Macquarie City Council, the NSW Government have allocated $650,000 to seal the access road. Now our wonderful Marine Rescue volunteers will be able to safely access the base and swiftly respond to emergencies. 

Funding Allocated for GP Access and Belmont Hospital

It was great to hear the Albanese Federal Government  announce in its budget that it will deliver a Medicare-funded MRI licence for Wyong Hospital, along with two Medicare Urgent Care Clinics. The MRI licence will allow residents to access critical medical scans close to home. In addition, after I urged the state government to allocate more funding to Belmont Hospital, it has provided the hospital with funds to purchase three $7000 reclining chairs and a Lucas auto CPR machine. This equipment will help alleviate pressure on the emergency department, ensuring patients are treated on time. These health announcements are a great win for our frontline staff and community.

Reid's Reserve Seawall Restoration

Reid's Reserve and Lucy's Breakwall has been fenced off to our community for more than a year now because of costal erosion. This is a much loved park that was frequently used by locals. The fencing is also an eye sore. Lake Macquarie City Council has plans to upgrade the Reid's Reserve playground. However, they cannot do so until MIDO conducts the required repairs to the seawall. That is why Council and I are urging the Perrottet Government to fund the restoration of the seawall.

Swansea Community Cottage and Gateway Care Visit

Many of our loved ones, mates and neighbours are doing it tough at the moment with the cost of living on the rise. There are great services in our local area that provide support. These include Swansea Community Cottage's OzHarvest program. The program runs Wednesdays and Fridays. To find out more information, or to learn about the other services they run, give them a call 4971 1229. Another great local program is Gateway Care's Community Table, which is held on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. For more information visit Gateway's website. Thank you to all the fabulous staff and volunteers at these organisations for all the wonderful work you do.

Eastlakes U3A Visit Parliament

Great to see Eastlakes U3A's political class at Parliament last sitting week. They had the opportunity to sit in on what was a rowdy question time. Former State and Federal MP Jill Hall guided the group on the day. I loved catching up with the group with Jodie Harrison MP - Member for Charlestown.

Community Awards

Last month I had the pleasure of hosting my community awards afternoon tea. It was a lovely afternoon celebrating some of our region's great volunteers and sporting legends. Congratulations and thank you for all that you do for our community.

NSW Government's Education Woes

Our state's education system has crumbled under the Liberals leadership. This was reinforced this week when this year's NAPLAN results were revealed. Since 2016, Year 9 students have gone backwards in reaching the minimum standard for each subject. 12,500 of this year's Year 9 cohort cannot write at the minimum standard, and 9,000 of them cannot read the minimum standard. There is no doubt that the chronic teacher shortage has contributed to this outcome, with students missing out on valuable lessons. Labor will work to turn this result around by:

• Converting 10,000 temporary teachers to permanent, to give teachers the certainty to make teaching their life’s work
• Reducing the admin burden on teachers by 5 hours a week, freeing up more time for teachers to focus on student outcomes
• Restricting mobile phone use in NSW high schools, to cut distractions in the classroom

Labor is committed to improving education outcomes for our children.

TAFE Teachers Take Industrial Action

On Wednesday, TAFE teachers from over 60 NSW campuses participated in a 24 hour stop work action, to secure better funding and job security. Fees have skyrocketed, courses have been cut, campuses have been sold and thousands of teaching and support staff have lost their jobs. 70 per cent of teachers are now casual staff. Their pay rate is also 7 per cent lower public school teachers. The NSW Liberal Government has under resourced and neglected TAFE since it came into power 12 years ago. Staff wellbeing has been jeopardised and they have been subjected to precarious employment. I stand with TAFE teachers and thank them for the crucial work they do in upskilling people across our region and state. 

Lake Mac Awards

Nominations are now open for the 2023 Lake Mac Awards. The Awards are a celebration of creativity, activity and inclusivity that aim to shine a spotlight on local quiet achievers who make Lake Macquarie a great place to live. Nominations close 12 December and can be made at the Lake Mac Awards website. Finalists and category winners will be recognised at a gala ceremony on 11 March 2023.

Let's Fish Lake Mac

Entries for this year's Let's Fish Lake Mac competition are now open. The event will run between 12 and 13 November, and there are more than $32,000 worth of prizes to be one. Swansea is home to many great fisherman, and I encourage all locals who are interested to participate. For more information and to enter visit the Let's Fish Lake Mac website. 

Dressed by Lioness

YES Hub

The YES Hub is back at Swansea Community Cottage. The Hub runs each Wednesday from 2.30pm to 4.30pm until the end of Term 4. High school students can attend a free 45 minute boot camp at Body 360. Free food, drinks and activities are also available. For more information contact the Cottage on 4971 1229. 

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. Regional seniors travel card: The regional seniors travel card provides eligible seniors living in regional, rural and remote areas of NSW with a $250 prepaid card to help ease the cost of travel. 
6. 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.
7. 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.
8. 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.
9. 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.
10. 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.