Column - 14 October 2011

I was proud to deliver a speech in Parliament last week praising the Glen Innes community for reviving a successful youth program facing closure. Glen Innes youth worker Sandra Smith coordinates the Glen Innes Open Door Program where young people aged between nine and 18 can go to after school and participate in a number of activities. The successful program faced closure and, in fact, the service was 'mothballed' for three months due to the lack of funding. Enter the Glen Innes community - an unexpected $22,000 rescue package from the Glen Innes Freemasons re-opened the Open Door Program last week, just in time for the start of school term, one the members is now a volunteer, Coles and Bi-Lo supermarkets stepped in with food and vouchers for the popular kitchen and parents of some of the youth attending the program are lining up to help out. Many of the young people attending the Open Door program are vulnerable and to them the Open Door Program is more than just somewhere to hang out, for some it is a home life they wouldn't normally experience. However, with enough funding to keep the program open until the end of the year, the search is still on for a permanent source of funding and support. The Government and the Department of Communities are currently reviewing funding for grassroots programs like these and I have asked that they be the top priority in their consideration.

Figures reported last week that the NSW Government's $7,000 Regional Relocation Grants have fallen far short of expectations with fewer than 50 applications approved in the first three months. The Office of State Revenue figures that show the scheme introduced on 1 July this year to provide a financial incentive for people to relocate to the country was expected to be taken up by 10,000 households a year over four years. I was pleased to support this idea when announced by the Government, however, I did say at that time and repeat today that it needs to be properly targeted to Regional and Rural areas where population growth is slow or negative. The grant program should be significantly reviewed in light of the take up rate being so low and the subsequent massive shortfall in demand. There is also the serious issue of a large reduction in Regional Development Programs – from 30 down to just two and the lack of take up with this program means that far less money has been spent for regional development and growth. I have raised my concerns directly with the NSW Government and requested an urgent review. That review should explore making this scheme a targeted program weighted toward inland and including New England North West and remote communities that have slow or negative population growth.

Police across the New England Local Area Command (NELAC) area are continuing to achieve outstanding results. The Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research (BoCSAR) results for the NELAC in the three months from July show that a downward trend continues with crime rates in most categories still dropping. In that same period there was a higher than average number of offenders subjected to legal action such as being charged, cautioned or issued a court order. Commander of the NELAC Superintendent Bruce Lyons detailed the achievements. Police from across the Command are doing a great job in maintaining downward pressure on crime in the region. I understand that in all categories of crime except malicious damage the Command has legal action rates well above the Western Region and State averages. The police are working very hard to consolidate gains already made and the higher than average legal action rate indicates they are being successful at keeping downward pressure on criminals.

Congratulations to Senior Constable Ian Ramma of Tenterfield Police Station who recently clocked up 40 years service as a NSW Police officer, 27 of those years stationed at Tenterfield. During all that time he has performed frontline policing duties and involved himself in the community. Senior Constable Ramma is a wonderful example to younger police and I commend him on his dedication to the community over all that time. He would be one of the few officers in NSW to have clocked up four decades in blue and on behalf of the community, I thank him sincerely for his efforts on our behalf.

My recent visit to Ashford with the Duty MLC for Northern Tablelands Sarah Mitchell was a good chance to deliver a cheque for $15,000 to the New England Volunteer Air Transport (NEVAT) President David Roach. The funding was from the NSW Premier who was quick to respond when I asked on behalf of NEVAT. The funds will be used for vital maintenance on NEVAT's sole aircraft a Beechcraft Sundowner called 'Brucey'. The aircraft needed a service and a new propeller as well as insurance to keep the volunteer service in the air. NEVAT was established in 2006 and since that time has transported 428 passengers on more than 250 flights to medical appointments for little or no cost. President David and his team of volunteers do an amazing job keeping this service available on donations and goodwill. More information about NEVAT can be found on the website at www.nevat.org.au or by phoning 6725 4448.

I was pleased to learn last week that five New England-based Landcare groups received $1.4 million through the Commonwealth Government's Caring for our Country grants recently. These groups undertake some terrific environmental projects on behalf of the community and I congratulate the five groups who were successful in securing these substantial funding grants. Glenrac Inc, Glen Innes will receive $196,141 for river and land management along the Severn River, Granite Borders Landcare Committee, Tenterfield $596,750 toward repairing damage from 2011 floods in northern NSW, Gwymac Inc, Inverell $170,755 to regenerate grazing areas on the Upper Gwydir River near Bundarra and $87,529 for reducing soil erosion in the border rivers region. The New England North West Landcare Network Chairs Inc, Armidale $190,300 for a project to reduce threats to endangered ecological communities in the New England and the Southern New England Landcare Ltd, Armidale will receive $162,800 to encourage sustainable farming practices.

A series of community consultations on vocational education are currently underway across NSW The NSW Government are holding a skills reform consultation process to develop a more highly skilled workforce. As demand for highly skilled workers in NSW increases the vocational educational system will be reviewed and the Smart and Skilled; Making NSW Number One initiative are currently receiving submissions from the community. I urge those people in the community in the community with an interest in vocational education to consider making their views and opinions known. A forum is being held in Tamworth on Friday, 28 October or written submissions will be received until Friday 4 November 2011 at 5pm. More information is available at www.training.nsw.gov.au or contact (02) 9266 8201.

Dr Adrian Wall has recently moved into the new Walcha Medical Centre alongside the Walcha MPS Hospital and is open for business. I inspected this facility before it was opened and was impressed by the way in which the old Walcha school building had been transformed into a modern medical practice. The other good news for Walcha is that Dr Wall is welcoming a new doctor to the practice – Dr Jane Marr is working alongside Dr Wall at the centre each Tuesday. I'm sure the additional doctor will be made to feel most welcome by Walcha.

The NSW Premier last month announced the creation of a NSW Grandparents Day to be celebrated on Sunday 30 October 2011. The announcement was made at the NSW Whole of Government Ageing Roundtable when a decision was made that the day would be annually on the last Sunday of each October. Grandparents play an invaluable role in families, enriching the lives of their grandchildren and other children in the community by providing care, mentoring and stability. Ageing, Disability and Home Care (ADHC) is also working to facilitate activities for the inaugural year's celebrations and more information can be found on the website www.adhc.nsw.gov.au

Armidale Police have resurrected the ever-popular Blue Light Disco in Armidale with the inaugural Junior Disco getting underway at the Armidale PCYC in Rusden Street from 5.30pm this Friday (21 October 2011). Senior Constable Mandy Vaughan is coordinating the event with plans to turn it into a regular fixture. The first disco will be for Primary School-aged children 12-years and under, with a second disco to be arranged on a later Friday for 13 to 17-year-olds. All events are supervised and managed by police and approved volunteers. Anyone interested in lending a hand can contact Senior Constable Vaughan on 6771 0699. Tickets for the first disco are $5 and can be purchased from the police station, the Armidale Dumaresq Council or Armidale PCYC. No tickets sold at the door.

A reminder that applications for the $400,000 Community Building Partnership program are closing on Monday 31 October 2011. This is the third year this successful program has been offered to communities and in that time some terrific results have been realised. Open to community organisations and councils the funding is generally provided by the NSW Government on a 50/50 basis for the construction of infrastructure. Some examples of projects previously funded include new amenities block and barbecue area at the Glen Elgin Sports Club, redevelopment of the Inverell tennis courts, a mechanised sorting facility at the Uralla landfill and automatic doors at Legacy House in Armidale. More information can be found online at www.communitybuildingpartnership.nsw.gov.au or call the Electorate office 6772 5552.