August 2015
Thursday, 20 August 2015 10:57

Local schools receive maintenance funds

Member for Gippsland East, Tim Bull, said two local schools, Lindenow and Orbost North Primary Schools, had received funds for much needed repairs in the latest round of State Government schools maintenance funding program.

Mr Bull said both Lindenow Primary School and Orbost North Primary School had been identified as priority funding needs by an independent audit recently conducted by the education department.

“Lindenow Primary School received $122,000 which will go a long way to bringing the school up to the standard expected by the community.

“My understanding is the school will use the funds to repair exterior and interior walls, fix floors and paint the interior of buildings at its Woodglen campus,” Mr Bull said.

Mr Bull said Orbost North Primary School was yet to determine how it would spend its $23,000 in funding, but would work with the education department to prioritise its maintenance needs.

“Both Lindenow and Orbost North Primary schools serve some of our smaller rural communities and do a fantastic job educating students.

“It is pleasing for the two school communities that these funds have been allocated to help maintain their facilities and allow students the opportunity to learn in an upgraded workspace.”

Published in Media
Wednesday, 19 August 2015 10:56

VicHealth Sporting Grants open

Member for Gippsland East, Tim Bull, is encouraging sports and active recreation clubs to apply for VicHealth grants to help purchase core equipment and injury prevention items.

Mr Bull, who served on the VicHealth board for three years, said the Active Club Grants aimed to make it easier for clubs to fund items or equipment which helped them to improve safety, to reach out to new participants, and keep our communities connected.

“They also play an important role in supporting more Victorians to become active.

“This is increasingly important as we see the impact of a lack of physical activity in the growing numbers of people with chronic diseases and other health problems.

“To create greater opportunities for clubs to access Active Club Grants, VicHealth will run two rounds of funding, opening Monday 17 August 2015 and again on Monday 1st February 2016.

Applications for the first round of Active Club Grants can be submitted now until Friday 18 September 2015.

VicHealth CEO Jerril Rechter said this year they are offering clubs the option apply for the traditional grant of up to $3,000 or a larger grant of up to $10,000 for core equipment that will help increase or maintain participation through their club.

“We are offering up to 10 of these larger grants per round for clubs that can make a big impact and enable a greater number of Victorians to start or continue being physically active.

“This may include large clubs with a high number of teams, clubs that are seeking to implement new programs and activities to increase participation, clubs trying to reach new community members, or clubs in areas experiencing significant population growth,” she said.

For further information or to apply for this grant online, visit www.vichealth.vic.gov.au/activeclub

Round 1 – opens Monday 17 August 2015 and closes Friday 18 September 2015

Round 2 -  opens Monday 1 February 2016 and closes Friday 4 March 2016

Published in Media
Tuesday, 18 August 2015 10:55

Men's Shed grants now open

Grants of up to $8,000 are now available to help communities modify, equip and improve Men’s Sheds, Member for Gippsland East, Tim Bull, said today.
 
Mr Bull encouraged community groups with existing Men’s Sheds across the Gippsland East electorate to apply for the latest round of grants available from the Australian Men’s Sheds Association under the Nationals Shed Development Program.
 
“Men’s Sheds play a very important role in our region and are one of the most powerful tools we have in helping men to remain valued and valuable members of our community,” he said.
 
“Becoming a member of a Men’s Shed gives a man that safe and busy environment where he can connect with friends and maintain an active body and active mind in an atmosphere of old-fashioned mateship.

I visit a number of Men's Sheds around my electorate and see the benefits first hand so it is important we continue to grow these facilities,"he said.
 
The Australian Men’s Shed Association (AMSA) administers the Australian Government National Shed Development Program (NSDP) to provide direct financial assistance to men’s sheds with priority given to those sheds in areas of greatest need.
 
Mr Bull said individual Men’s Sheds can apply for up to a total of $8,000 for a range of financial support across the following three funding categories:
 
Category One – Tools & Equipment, Community Projects and Training to a maximum of $5,000
 
Category Two – Building Maintenance & Development to a maximum of $7,500
 
Category Three – Health Improvement Activities to a maximum of $5,000
 
The grants opened on Monday 17th August and close on Friday 18th September 2015.

Published in Media
Monday, 17 August 2015 10:54

CFA volunteers deserve to have their voices heard

The short timeframe for submissions to the Fire Services Review has fuelled concerns country brigades and their volunteers will have little say through the submission process.

Member for Gippsland East, Tim Bull, said local CFA volunteers and communities have been given just three weeks to write and lodge their submissions to the State Government’s Fire Services Review

“Following that, there’s only four weeks for all of those submissions to be considered and for the final report to be developed, so it seems an incredibly short time-frame for such an important matter relating to the future structure of an organisation as important to country Victoria as the CFA.

Mr Bull said if the Labor Government took CFA volunteers’ views seriously, it would provide them with adequate time to make submissions.

“To provide just a few weeks for written submissions to this review is offensive to our CFA volunteers and country communities,” Mr Bull said.

“At the same time, the government is taking more than 12 months to look into gaming machine arrangements, so why the rush for this review?

“Our CFA volunteers dedicate their time and risk their safety to protect others – and they deserve to be treated with far more respect by this government.”

“I am urging all of our CFA volunteers to have their say by lodging a submission before the August 31 deadline as there remains concerns there will be a shift to merge the CFA and MFB, or aspects of them and that would not be a good outcome for country brigades,” Mr Bull said

Published in Media
Monday, 17 August 2015 10:53

Bull says new DELWP offices a great boost for Swift’s Creek

Member for Gippsland East, Tim Bull, visiting the new Coalition funded DELWP offices at Swift’s Creek when under construction last year.

The new Coalition funded Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DELWP) offices to be officially opened in Swift’s Creek next week, have provided a huge boost to the town according to State Member for Gippsland East, Tim Bull.

Mr Bull said that although he had not received an invitation to the opening, he was proud the previous government was able to provide such a facility to Swift’s Creek.

“I will be very interested to see if the Minister turns up herself to open the facility, as being in the heart of wild dog country, she may be able to answer some questions as to why Labor axed the successful wild dog bounty on July 1 as I am sure many locals will be interested in knowing. Time will tell if she attends herself,” Mr Bull said.

“This project, which attracted $10 million in funding from the previous Government, is a strong commitment to a small rural town like Swift’s Creek and with certainty around staff numbers, it had great spin off benefits for the community,” he said.

“Swift’s Creek is a crucial Level 3 Incident Control Centre, meaning it is able to handle a full-scale, multi-agency emergency incident as well as playing a key role in planned burning operations.

“The office has been completely redeveloped to bring all emergency management functions and facilities under one roof and provide improved response to community stakeholder expectations and be a one stop shop community service.

“The new depot has provided purpose-built facilities designed to ensure a safer work environment, assist day to day works delivery, emergency preparation and response operations.

“The old facilities were ageing and disjointed with a number of extensions and portable buildings added over the years. The new layout is a massive improvement and will significantly strengthen the ability to effectively manage emergency situations and planned burning operations in this remote district,” he said.

Published in Media
Monday, 10 August 2015 10:53

Adventure Festival funding secured

Member for Gippsland East, Tim Bull, pictured with East Gippsland Marketing Inc members Richard Rijs, Karly McCaskill and John Morton. Mr Bull said funding has been secured for the event to be held later this year.

State Member for Gippsland East, Tim Bull, said he was pleased the Australian Adventure Festival to be held later this year – which he says could put East Gippsland on the international stage and bring millions to the local economy – will receive State Government funding.
 
“Having raised the matter at each of the April, May and June sittings of Parliament this year, explaining the event and seeking support, I was pleased to receive a letter from the Minister on Friday stating $75,000 has been allocated for this year’s event.
 
“Pre-election the Coalition committed $350,000 over the next four years in recognition of what this event can potentially do for this region and while this commitment is not to that level it will nevertheless be important in the developing years of the festival. I will pursue funding in future years also.
 
“There has been a lot of work go into the planning by East Gippsland Marketing Inc (EGMI) and its Adventure Festival Sub-committee, all hard working East Gippslanders who want to see the region promoted.
 
“The proposal was developed by EGMI, which received State Coalition and Local Government funds to develop a signature event for the region.”
 
Mr Bull said there would be several events as part of the Festival that included activities such as trail running, kayaking and mountain biking and the various skill levels will be catered for from elite to the “weekend warrior”.
 
“In addition, it is planned to have family friendly activities across the weekend providing sporting challenges for kids that mirror the adventure series; and shopping and food experiences including a nightly market.

“Lakes Entrance will be the focal point and base destination of the event, however the sporting challenges will take place throughout the East Gippsland region.

“The Australian Adventure Festival will bring together the world of adventure sports to compete in ultimate adventure challenges, all held in one of the most picturesque and diverse nature based destinations in Victoria.

“Based on estimated participation from the report that has been done, the event is expected to return an economic benefit of over $2 million in year one, growing exponentially as the competitor pool increases, but funds are required to get it off the ground,” Mr Bull said.

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