community

State Member for Holsworthy, Melanie Gibbons MP, announced $163,870 in NSW Government funding for Liverpool City Council’s plans for a new kayak launch facility at Light Horse Park in Liverpool .

Ms Gibbons said the new non-powered vessel facility represents one of 69 successful projects allocated grant funding under the NSW Government’s $28 million investment in Round 3 of the Boating Now program which supports infrastructure projects to improve boating access, amenities and safety for NSW boaters.

The new round will allow local councils, boating and community groups, as well as private sector organisations, deliver new or upgraded boating infrastructure, including boat ramps, jetties, wharves, car and trailer parking, dinghy storage racks and sewage pump-outs.

“The project at Light Horse Park will involve designing and building a new kayak launch facility on the Georges River close to the new Paper Mill Precinct. The new launch facility will include an all-abilities access kayak launch platform to cater for individuals in a wheelchair.

“The program is funded from boating licence and registration fees which are reinvested back into initiatives that improve boating for local communities.

“We are offering delivery partners up to 25 per cent of the grant value up front to help fast-track the planning and delivery of projects to stimulate local economies.” Ms Gibbons said.

As part of the new round of funding, $2 million has been set aside for boating infrastructure to be repaired quickly following damage caused by severe weather events such as storms and bushfires.

The remaining funding will be allocated to priority infrastructure outcomes identified in the 2018 Maritime Infrastructure Plan, which provides strategic guidance for investing in maritime infrastructure, with the outcomes that are receiving funding to be announced later this year.

The Boating Now Program also contributes to achieving the outcomes for the ten-year Marine Estate Management Strategy to coordinate the management of the marine estates in NSW.

The Boating Now Round 3 allocation is in addition to the $70 million investment since the program commenced in 2015.

For more information on the program and successful projects go to www.rms.nsw.gov.au/projects/key-build-program/boating-now.

The State Electorate of Holsworthy has secured close to $300,000 in funding, for a total of 17 projects, through the NSW Government’s 2019 Community Building Partnership Program.

State Member for Holsworthy, Melanie Gibbons said the State Government funds will deliver much-needed improvements to local facilities including bathroom, playground and kitchen upgrades to name a few.

“This is fantastic news for our local area.

“This grassroots funding will directly help create a more vibrant and inclusive local community with positive social, environmental and recreational outcomes,” Ms Gibbons said.

“I congratulate all the organisations that were successful in their application and look forward to seeing how these projects make a real difference for community groups in the area.”

Now a decade old, the Community Building Partnership program has funded more than 13,800 community projects since it commenced in 2009.

Applications for the 2020 Program will open in May.

For more information about the NSW Government’s Community Building Partnership Program, visit www.nsw.gov.au/cbp

Community-run language classes in the Holsworthy Electorate will share in more than $5.5 million in funding from the NSW Government.

The Community Languages Schools Program provides funding to community organisations to help establish and run language schools in the local area.

Some examples of funding in the Holsworthy Electorate include:

• Balar Malar Tamil Educational Association, which runs classes at Holsworthy Public School will receive $12,883.54 in funding to support the operation of its community Tamil lessons.
• Islamic Charity Projects Association, which runs classes at Lurnea Public School, will receive $27,095.28 in funding to support the operation of its community Arabic lessons.
• Australian North Cyprus Friendship Association, which runs classes at Chipping Norton Public School, will receive $3,320.50 in funding to support the operation of its community Turkish lessons.
• The Centre for Indian Languages and Arts will receive $5,000 to start running community classes in Hindi and Telugu at Holsworthy High School.

State Member for Holsworthy, Melanie Gibbons MP has welcomed this funding, saying it will help to support language diversity in our local community.

“Community language schools play an important role in helping young people maintain strong links to their heritage and cultural identity,” Ms Gibbons said.

“I’m proud to support our community language schools and the work of their dedicated volunteers.

“The Liverpool region is such a diverse and multicultural community - and this is one of our great treasures.

“This is one way the NSW Government can help in fostering and celebrating that diversity,” Ms Gibbons said.

Minister for Education Sarah Mitchell said the Community Languages Schools Program has already had a profound impact on students from all backgrounds.

“Research shows that children who learn a second language show greater cognitive development in higher order thinking skills, which means their brain has acquired the capacity to think quickly and strategically, creating a solid foundation for their schooling years,” Ms Mitchell said.

A list of successful recipients is available below:

State Member for Holsworthy, Melanie Gibbons MP, announced the winners of the My Community Project, with applicants now able to bring their ideas to life. Our region will benefit from projects put forward and voted on by the local community, which will now be funded by the NSW Government’s My Community Project program.

The successful projects are:

• Newbridge Heights Public School Playground ($129,000) – This project is about creating a safe and fun environment for the children to socialise, explore and get active.
• A Playground and Outdoor Learning Area for Chipping Norton Public School ($98,360) – Transform the school’s blank grass canvas into an engaging, interactive outdoor learning space and to promote happy healthy hearts and bodies.
• Youth Mental Health First Aid ($80,000) – Parents from Moorebank Community of Schools (Moorebank High School, Chipping Norton Public School, Nuwarra Public School and Newbridge Heights Public School) will learn how to assist adolescents who may be experiencing a mental health problem.

Ms Gibbons thanked all applicants and sponsors for taking the time and effort to develop their ideas along with the members of the community who voted.

“My Community Project captured the imagination of our local community with people putting a lot of work into their ideas and it was great to see locals getting behind the projects that matter to them,” Ms Gibbons said.

“These projects came from the community and were voted on by the community and I look forward to seeing them becoming a reality and providing a local benefit.”

More than $24 million was made available, spread across the entire State, for projects valued between $20,000 and $200,000 that would make communities more liveable, cultural, accessible, safe, revitalised or healthy.

Acting Treasurer Damien Tudehope said My Community Project was a great example of real grassroots democracy in action and the projects chosen to receive funding reflected the wishes of the people.

“There has been a tremendous response to the My Community Project program with more than 61,400 people casting their vote through the My Community Project website across the State,” Mr Tudehope said.

For further information visit www.nsw.gov.au/mycommunityproject