Bairnsdale Field and Game will receive $300,000 to improve facilities and expand on current shooting disciplines, including a new International Olympic Trap layout, if the Nationals form Government in November.

Member for Gippsland East, Tim Bull, was delighted to be on site to make the announcement, while watching a number of locals show their prowess at the practice shoot.

“Bairnsdale Field and Game has one of the largest membership bases in the state, and we should be proud of how the club continues to support and develop local athletes to participate both at the grassroots and elite levels,” Mr Bull said.

“We have several extremely promising athletes who compete at the state, national and international levels. Construction of this layout will create additional pathways from grassroot participation to elite level.

“Interestingly, country shooters make up the majority of shooters who qualify for selection in both National Shooting teams. It makes no sense having to force talented rural and regional athletes to travel to Melbourne in order to train and compete.

“The Olympic Trap layout will also enable Bairnsdale to host a broader competition catalogue with the capacity to host additional major events and conduct training camps with the potential to attract participants from all across the state and nation, which will provide a welcomed economic boost to East Gippsland as an added benefit.”

Mr Bull said that the inclusion of the layout has been lobbied for strongly for several years now, and he is pleased to be able to make this pre-election commitment which will provide more opportunities and enjoyment for shooters in East Gippsland.

“The committee and members are motivated to also install solar panels and batteries to fully transition away from diesel power generators to becoming a fully sustainable club and this will be part of the works as well,” Mr Bull said.

President of the Bairnsdale Field and Game, Dave Jones, said this funding will be a game changer for members and others wanting to pursue progression to Olympic Trap.
“We’ve got so much talent in East Gippsland, we’ve proven that. But they’ve had no option to train without driving to Melbourne. With the Commonwealth Games Trap venue in Gippsland, we might see an East Gippslander get a chance at a team place now,” Mr Jones said.

Mallacoota’s WWII Bunker Museum is set for a $100,000 makeover under a Liberal and Nationals State Government.

Run by the Mallacoota and District Historical Society, the museum is a major visitor attraction to the town and an asset which showcases the key strategic role the district held during the WWII effort as well as significant local history.

Gippsland East Nationals MP, Tim Bull, committed a $100,000 grant to the society which will be used to give the bunker an overall face lift.

“This funding will support the Mallacoota and District Society to purchase new display cabinets, cupboards and information boards, while also undertaking maintenance works and making general improvements,” Mr Bull said.

“As we know, Mallacoota is a tourist town and while the facility is a great attraction in its own right, on inclement weather days it is a great alternative for visitors to enjoy.

“The bunker itself is of historic significance, being used by the RAAF as a major advanced operations base during WWII.”

Displays include military weapons and uniforms, information about Mallacoota’s role in the conflict and a display that tells of the region’s strong links to the timber and shipping industries.

Mallacoota and District Historical Society Secretary, Sue Nicolaou, says this funding boost will be put to great use.

“The WWII Bunker is an iconic and important part of both Mallacoota and East Gippsland’s history and its transition to a Museum is a testament to the hard work put in by members of the local community and this work continues today with the Museum staffed only by volunteers.

“The building, while structurally being in exceptionally good condition, needs to be future proofed,” she said.

“This $100,000 commitment, announced by Tim is welcomed and will be of huge benefit to the Society in its endeavour to keep the Bunker viable and open to visitors well into the future.”

Mr Bull congratulated the hard-working volunteers of the Historical Society for their unwavering commitment to preserve and share Mallacoota’s unique war history.

“The War Bunker is a fantastic tourist attraction and one that will only get better with this investment from an elected Liberal Nationals Government.”

Caption: The Nationals Member for Gippsland East, Tim Bull has announced $100,000 for the Mallacoota WWII Bunker Museum, if the Liberals and Nationals are elected next month. Pictured with Mallacoota Historical Society volunteer Sue Nicolaou.

 Friday, 4 November 2022

The Victorian Liberals and Nationals will partner with East Gippsland Water to bring a town sewerage system to Swift’s Creek if elected later this month.

Nationals Gippsland East MP, Tim Bull, said more people in country towns will be connected to town sewerage under the $40 million Small Towns Water and Sewerage Fund.

“Eligible water authorities will receive dollar-for-dollar funding to install town sewerage or potable water supplies in smaller communities and East Gippsland Water has already done preliminary work on Swift’s Creek, so we will be happy to partner with them under this scheme,” said Mr Bull.

“I would hope Labor would come to the party on this commitment too, but given they axed this scheme when they came to Government, there appears little hope of that. Perhaps when the local candidate is announced, they can lobby for this outcome,” he said.

Leader of The Nationals, Peter Walsh, said the fund will allow smaller communities to expand by the installation of water and sewage infrastructure.

“Our small towns are being held back by a lack of water and sewerage infrastructure,” Mr Walsh said.

“There is a significant number of towns close to major regional centres that do not have adequate infrastructure to support a growing community and Swift’s Creek is one of those.

“Adding potable water and sewerage infrastructure means these communities can grow with less of a cost to existing ratepayers.”

Wednesday, 2 November 2022

Boisdale Recreation Reserve will receive $1.5 million towards the rebuild of its existing social rooms and upgrading of access roads and car parking areas if a Liberal and Nationals Government is elected in November.

Nationals State MP Tim Bull made the announcement while visiting the Boisdale Recreation Reserve today.

“The Liberal and Nationals are committed to ensuring that sport facilities in our smaller communities meet the needs of current and future populations, are accessible for everyone and support positive health and wellbeing outcomes,” Mr Bull said.

Mr Bull said the Boisdale Recreation Reserve and its facilities provide a valuable venue for the Boisdale Briagolong Football Netball Club, which fields three male and one junior female footy team plus six netball teams, as well as being used by several other local organisations.

“The existing social rooms have been kept in pretty good shape by a band of committed volunteers over the years, but the facilities are no longer fit for purpose,” he said.

“Sheer dedication to their upkeep can’t overcome the compromised disability access and substandard toilet facilities.

“The reserve also lacks formalised car parking areas, the street entry between the netball courts and social rooms is a hazard for pedestrians and the internal vehicle access roads are unpaved.

“The Committee of Management has received terrific support from the Wellington Shire Council with recent upgrades to oval lighting for training and new change rooms.

“I hope my announcement will encourage the Shire to consider helping with stage two of the Committee’s masterplan for further parking improvements and a second netball court, as some netballers are currently having to travel to Sale to train.

“Community sport is the lifeblood of our country towns bringing families, young folk and older people together.

“This is a sound investment in the future of the Boisdale Recreation Reserve.”

Caption: Tim Bull has announced $1.5 million for the Boisdale Recreation Reserve if a Liberal and Nationals Government is elected in November.

Wednesday, 2 November 2022