Heyfield Ambulance Station expansion
Member for Gippsland East, Tim Bull, was on hand for the official opening of the new Heyfield Ambulance facility on Saturday, August 16.
Mr Bull said the Heyfield Ambulance Auxiliary sought support and funding from the local community to build a new shed at the Heyfield branch.
“The addition to the Heyfield Ambulance Branch was largely funded by a grant from the local Bendigo Community Bank branch awarded to the Heyfield Ambulance Auxiliary.
“The total cost of the project was $92,400 with $84,000 provided by the grant from Bendigo Bank and $8,000 from Ambulance Victoria,” he said.
Mr Bull said the new facility will house the Complex Patient Ambulance Vehicle (CPAV) which provides an important service to the people of Gippsland and is integral to the operations of Ambulance Victoria.
“CPAV's are larger ambulances, purpose built to accommodate and support complex patients, and those patients unable to safely be transported in a general purpose ambulance.
“The provision of these vehicles is testimony to this Government's commitment of providing top class health services to the people of Victoria,” he said.
Mr Bull said in April this year the Government announced $73 million to renew and upgrade services at Latrobe Regional Hospital, including a new Emergency Department which will be double the capacity of the existing one, a new 30 bed ward and for the first time in Gippsland a cardiac catheterisation lab, ensuring that more Gippsland residents can have their cardiac procedures performed closer to home.
“The Coalition has also invested heavily in ambulance services.
“This investment has included two new MICA Single Responder units at Sale and Bairnsdale, as well as funding to rebuild the Maffra branch, which is expected to commence construction shortly.
“On top of this, a new $550 million contract to replace the State's fleet of helicopters has been announced. These new helicopters, one of which will be based in the Latrobe Valley are faster and can travel further, to better service the people of Gippsland,” he said.
“The Coalition has also increased funding to Ambulance Victoria by 23 percent, to a record $696 million. “This increase in funding has seen an extra 539 EFT paramedics employed across the state, with more than 70 of those commencing here in Gippsland, resulting in more than 31,000 extra shifts per year in the region,” Mr Bull said.
$12.5 million shooting fund
Member for Gippsland East, Tim Bull, said local shooting clubs could soon access a $12.5 million fund to expand or upgrade their facilities, purchase equipment or host events and tournaments.
The $12.5 million Shooting Sports Facilities Program will encourage more people to get active in an environment that promotes safe and responsible firearms ownership.
Mr Bull said shooting was a popular sport throughout East Gippsland.
“This fund will provide an opportunity to improve our local facilities and encourage more regional Victorians to participate in the sport of shooting,” Mr Bull said.
The funding can be used to purchase land for the expansion of existing facilities or to secure tenure over existing facilities in order to improve the long term viability of the sport locally.
Mr Bull said it could also be used for capital improvements at existing facilities, or to purchase major equipment to enable a local facility to host major events and increase participation.
“Minor projects will be able to receive up to $100,000 from the fund, with the Coalition Government offering $2 for every $1 put in by the club or another contributor, for example a local council,” Mr Bull said.
“There is no cap on funding invested by Coalition Government into a major project, but the investment will need to be matched dollar-for-dollar by the club or another contributor.
“More than 20,000 Victorians participate in competitive shooting events each year, and we have a proud history of producing Commonwealth, Olympic and Paralympic Games medallists, with Russell and Lauryn Mark, Adam Vella and Peter Tait all flying the flag.
“The Coalition Government is helping shooting clubs develop better facilities, host big events and give more people the opportunity to be participants, coaches, and volunteers,” Mr Bull said.
An advisory committee, chaired by Mr David Hawker AO, will be established to assess project applications and provide specialist advice on the sport's specific and strategic needs.
Details of the program will be finalised following the establishment of the advisory committee.