from Leslie Williams MP

October 2013

Community NewsMember for Port Macquarie

“Alzheimer’s Australia NSW is excited about this project and Leslie Williams’ passion to implement it in this area.” Gary Thomas, North Coast Regional Manager

Supporting BraveheartsIn the role of an MP you get invited to be part of many community events and organisations. I try where I can to be as supportive as possible. I know that each and every organisation, no matter how large or small, is responding to the needs of our broad community.

When I was approached to be part of the committee to help form a Mid North Coast Chapter of Bravehearts, I jumped at the chance. Recently we held a community breakfast fundraiser which was attended by 300 people all supporting this cause.

A Ditto Keep Safe Adventure show has been designed to essentially present protective behaviour strategies to young children in a fun and non-confrontational style with Ditto the friendly lion cub as the star performer.

I recently visited Port Macquarie Community Preschool to experience the ‘Ditto Keep Safe Adventure’ show and witnessed first-hand the excellent way that this message is effectively delivered to children about how to stay safe from the dangers of child sexual assault.

Leslie Williams, Member for Port Macquarieaddress Macquarie Business Centre, Suite 6, 27 Grant Street, Port Macquarie NSW 2444 phone 02 6584 0977 fax 02 6584 0978

email portmacquarie@parliament.nsw.gov.au website www.lesliewilliams.com.au

Authorised by Leslie Williams MP. Printed by Chrysalis Printing, 7 Chestnut Road, Port Macquarie NSW 2444 using parliamentary entitlements

Ban On Synthetic DrugsThe NSW Government has announced the nation’s most comprehensive laws to outlaw synthetic drugs with psychoactive properties.

Under the new laws, it will be an offence to manufacture, supply and advertise psychoactive substances, colloquially known as synthetic drugs.

Penalties will include jail sentences of up to two years, more than $2,000 in fines or both for the manufacture or

supply of synthetic drugs. The penalty for possession of the drugs will be up to one year in jail and/or more than $2,000 in fines.

Minister for Fair Trading, Anthony Roberts visited Port Macquarie recently accompanied by Fair Trading compliance officers. Since the NSW Government announced an interim ban on synthetic drugs, Fair Trading has inspected more than 1,000 retailers to ensure synthetic drugs were removed from sale.

Tackling dementia in our community is one of my highest priorities and I am urging our community to join other advocates to make us ‘dementia-friendly’.

Recently, I undertook a Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) Study Tour to investigate strategies utilised in the United Kingdom to address the challenges facing all levels of Government as a result of the increasing prevalence of dementia in our communities.

As a consequence of the ageing population on the Mid North Coast there is a parallel increase in the proportion of the population who will experience age-related illnesses and diseases. In particular, dementia prevalence rates will increase significantly and the occurrence in the Port Macquarie electorate will be particularly sizeable.

In fact, of all the 93 electorates in New South Wales, Port Macquarie currently has the second highest prevalence of dementia with 1,646 people diagnosed with a predicted increase of 350% by 2050!

Effectively responding to the challenges of these increases will require a sustainable and strategic whole-of-community approach. It will need to include a comprehensive education campaign to raise community awareness about dementia, forward planning to ensure communities are well resourced to address the challenges as well as genuine support for people living with dementia and their carers.

I believe that as a community we can successfully work together to ensure people living with dementia have the highest possible quality of life – we need to become a dementia friendly community.

Already in our local community a group of key stakeholders have met and State Government funding has been allocated to develop a strategic plan to work towards this goal. There is still a long way to go but I am pleased there has been a strong commitment already to work towards this goal.

The O’Farrell/Stoner Government is now delivering on its commitment to provide a ‘one stop shop’ to make it easier for residents and businesses to complete a range of NSW Government transactions.

Next month the new Service NSW centre will open at the former Port Macquarie Motor Registry office on the corner of Barton Crescent and Central Road.

When the centre opens, customers will be able to carry out more than 800 transactions and services currently offered by Roads and Maritime Services, Fair Trading and Births, Deaths and Marriages all in the one place.

The new centre will be open from 7am until 7pm during the week and from 9am to 3pm on Saturdays, making it easier for people to do their business with Government at a time that suits them.

It will have state-of-the-art design and technology to reduce queues and move people in and out of the centre as quickly as possible.

When the new Service NSW centre opens in November our residents of Port Macquarie, the Camden Haven and the Manning Valley will benefit from a totally new level of Government service in one location.

Leslie Williams Member for Port Macquarie

Dementia, A Community PriorityLeslie, Ditto and Bravehearts educators;

Casey-Anne Featon, Rosemary Johnston

Recently I launched my

website as yet another way

to connect with our local community

and I encourage you to visit

www.lesliewilliams.com.au

The site allows you to

instantly access my media

releases, photos, links to the

NSW Parliament, my

Parliamentary speeches and

Facebook as well as information

about the Port Macquarie

electorate.

Arthur Towsey (consumer), Leslie Williams, Gary Thomas (Alzeihmers Australia NSW), Suzanne Towsey (carer)

Leslie at Service NSW Office

A smartphone or Ipad app can

also be downloaded which lets

you message or phone my office

directly as well as getting directions

to the office.

The website also has a link to

subscribe to a weekly eNewsletter.

New Website

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This year’s State Budget has been described as tough but fair, delivering over $150 million to the Port Macquarie electorate.

Despite falling GST revenue which continues to impact on NSW, many significant projects across our electorate received State Government funding in the 2013/14 budget.

Treasurer Mike Baird injected millions of dollars to many very worthwhile local projects and programs which have been welcomed by our local communities.

It is through strong and effective economic management that we have reduced the State’s debt and we are now on track to return to surplus in 2015. Importantly, this translates to a secure future for New South Wales.

Major funding commitments to the electorate include;

✓ $59.5 million to continue work on the $110 million Port Macquarie Base Hospital expansion

✓ $35 million to award the construction contract and continue planning for the upgrade of the Pacific Highway between the Oxley Highway and Kundabung

✓ $11.5 million to complete construction of the dual carriageway upgrade of the Pacific Highway between Herons Creek and Stills Road

✓ $4.46 million for the restoration of natural disaster damage to local roads and bridges

✓ $3.174 million investment for social housing to build 15 units in two projects at a total cost of $5.584 million

✓ $2.7 million for Port Macquarie-Hastings Council to upgrade Ocean Drive in Port Macquarie

✓ $1.8 million for the construction of two five bed group homes in Port Macquarie

✓ $1.884 million towards the construction of the new $3.9 million fire station at Port Macquarie

The foundation stones of the 2013/14 State Budget reflect the funding commitments to the Port Macquarie electorate by living within our means, driving jobs growth, building infrastructure and boosting front-line services.

The NSW Coalition has taken responsible decisions to deliver for the people of NSW and the Port Macquarie electorate are realising the benefits.

Budget Good News for Port Macquarie Electorate

In August, I had the great pleasure of hosting the Japanese Consul General, Dr Masahiro Kohara to the Mid North Coast.

I joined Dr Kohara during his visit to Port Macquarie to explore and experience some of the region’s most popular tourist attractions, taste local produce and meet tourism industry representatives. It was also an opportunity to highlight the many options available to visitors from Japan, which would encourage them to choose the Hastings as a holiday destination.

While many overseas visitors to NSW will have a stopover in Sydney high on their list, the O’Farrell/Stoner Government encourages all holidaymakers to visit a regional or coastal area like Port Macquarie.

Dr Kohara’s Port Macquarie experiences included a tour of a local winery, getting up close with a koala at the Billabong Koala Wildlife Park and an oyster shucking demonstration.

The 2013 King of the Mountain Fun Run up North Brother Mountain at Laurieton in August was a great chance to again see some of the most spectacular views on the New South Wales coast while at the same time raising funds for the Camden Haven Surf Life Saving Club.

While nine o’clock on a Sunday morning was quite cool at the bottom of the mountain, it did not take the 356 competitors long to warm up as they

walked and ran up the five-kilometre very steep climb to the top of the mountain.

The event attracted people from all over the Mid North Coast and some competitors came from Sydney. All in all, it was a fantastic community event and a lot of fun.

Around $5,000 was raised for the surf club which primarily will be used to buy additional sun safe and sun smart products for use by the clubs nippers.

King of the Mountain

Japanese Consul General

New Fuel Price Board Standard Has BegunThe NSW Government has reformed fuel price signage, with changes taking effect from 1 September 2013.

Under the new standard, the price displayed for fuel must now be the price available to all motorists, free of any discounts or special offers.

All service stations have to display the prices of four fuels, including their two top-selling fuels, LPG and diesel (if sold). This ensures price boards are reflective of the local marketplace.

The new laws will ensure that motorists in the Port Macquarie electorate have accurate information when purchasing fuel and can make an informed choice at the pump. Details of the reforms are available at www.fairtrading.nsw.gov.au or by contacting my office on 6584 0977.

Harrington Men’s Shed’s Bob Downing with Treasurer Mike Baird and Leslie Williams

Councillor Adam Roberts, Glen O’Brien, Leslie Williams and Uncle Bill O’Brien at the King of the Mountain

Leslie Williams with Dr Kohara at the Billabong Koala Wildlife Park

Next month I will be announcing the recipients of the 2013 Community Building Partnership Grants program. This program is a fantastic way to improve vital community infrastructure and facilities and will bring to a total of $1 million invested in local community initiatives.

I understand that for many community groups, sporting organisations and charities securing funding grants is challenging and this is one way they can be supported as they seek to improve social, environmental and recreational activities in our community.

Earlier this year, I welcomed Treasurer Mike Baird to Port Macquarie to present cheques to 20 local groups who successfully applied for the 2012 round of CBP grants.

CBP Grants Funding recipients include:

✓ Bonny Hills Progress Association $35,233 to construct new toilet facilities and playground at Bonny Hills Hall Reserve

✓ Camden Haven Meals on Wheels $8,360 to install solar panels at Laurieton

✓ Endeavour Mental Health $20,000 to fit out the Endeavour Clubhouse kitchen

✓ Hannam Vale Recreation Reserve $4,540 to secure storage facilities at the Hannam Vale Recreation Reserve

✓ Harrington Men’s Shed $25,000 to construct a Men’s Shed at Harrington

✓ Hastings Preschool and Long Day Care Centre $10,000 to build an adventure playground and family meeting area.

✓ Hastings Women and Children’s Refuge $16,440 to install solar panels at the Refuge

✓ Heart Support Australia, Port Macquarie-Hastings Branch $10,000 to construct an ‘eco friendly’ walkway and exercise park at Port Macquarie

✓ Kendall Dragon Boat Club $11,528 to replace the roof on their amenities building

✓ Kendall Reserve Trust $3,530 for insulation and air conditioning of the Kendall School of Arts Hall

✓ Life Education Port Macquarie $5,750 for the purchase of a wheelchair lift to

assist in the delivery of Life Education programs throughout the electorate

✓ Lifeline Mid Coast $11,800 for installation of solar panels to their Gordon Street premises

✓ Mid North Coast Maritime Museum $8,527 to replace the roof on the Pilots Cottage Museum in Port Macquarie

✓ Port Macquarie Cycling Club $20,000 to reseal the current criterium track at the Port Macquarie Cycling Club

✓ Port Macquarie Hastings U3A $20,000 to upgrade the St Agnes Lodge premises to provide educational and social facilities

✓ Port Macquarie Kart Racing Club $15,000 for the construction of a building to house their power generator, roof and benches for the tyre inflation area at the race track

✓ Port Macquarie Rotary Club Community Centre $19,000 towards stage one of the sealing of the driveway and car park at Hamilton Green

✓ Rotary Club of Port Macquarie Sunrise $29,616 to construct a pathway and viewing platform at the Tacking Point Lighthouse

✓ Sailability Port Macquarie $20,071 to purchase two sailing dinghies for their disability program

✓ The Players Theatre $5,605 to repair the roof and refurbish the kitchen

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