February 2018
Wednesday, 28 February 2018 10:31
May start for pedestrian crossings
Lakes Entrance is set to benefit from two dedicated pedestrian crossing points along the Esplanade, according to Gippsland East Nationals MP, Tim Bull, who raised the matter in State Parliament last week.
“The Lakes Entrance community has long been advocating for more pedestrian crossings along the Esplanade – it is an area that experiences very large holiday crowds,” Mr Bull told Parliament.
“They are being proposed for the Mechanics Street and Barkes Avenue intersections and for this I congratulate local residents – particularly the Lakes Entrance Action and Development Association – on their strong advocacy to both VicRoads and East Gippsland Shire Council.
“Having been on the record supporting these requests, it is pleasing they have been recognised.
“I understand VicRoads is now refining the designs with Council and that they will be presented to the community in the near future.
“The aim, as I am advised, is to have these works commence in early May,” Mr Bull said.
Mr Bull said he was also aware of proposed improvements to the bicycle/pedestrian footpaths, along with plans to alter the Myer Street / Esplanade intersection.
“It is my understanding plans for these matters will be presented to local residents along with the pedestrian crossing and signalling designs,” Mr Bull said.
Caption: Gippsland East Nationals MP, Tim Bull, is supportive of plans to install two pedestrian crossings at Mechanics Street and Barkes Avenue along the Esplanade in Lakes Entrance.
Wednesday, February 28, 2018
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Friday, 23 February 2018 10:27
CFA leadership training axed
Volunteer Fire Brigades Victoria’s leadership training program, which has assisted East Gippsland volunteers from Mallacoota to Mount Taylor, has been cancelled due to funding cuts by the Andrews Government in its latest stoush with CFA volunteers.
Volunteer Fire Brigades Victoria’s funding bid to enable its Volunteer Leadership Program to continue for 2018 and to be offered to CFA volunteers and other volunteers across the Victorian emergency services sector, has not been supported by the Minister for Emergency Services.
Volunteer Fire Brigades Victoria initiated this volunteer leadership opportunity in 2010 with 327 volunteers graduating over the eight years since it commenced.
Nationals MP for Gippsland East Tim Bull has described the withdrawal of ongoing state government funding this long-running and successful volunteer leadership program as a “short sighted and disrespectful way to treat our emergency services volunteers.”
“Volunteers from Mallacoota with Ambulance Victoria, Paynesville Coast Guard and from six Country Fire Authority brigades across East Gippsland have obtained a Certificate IV in Leadership & Management under this program.”
“At a time when we need to be doing all we can to strengthen emergency services volunteer leadership skills and enhance volunteerism, it is disheartening that a proven and respected program like this has not been supported.
“The course was run in conjunction with Chisholm Institute with participants working on a project relevant to their community to develop realistic and practical solutions.
“At the end of last year’s course the participants presented to the group on their project.
“The senior emergency services personnel who attended were highly impressed with the standard of these presentations, with one in particular about the issue of bullying resonating strongly.
“The Andrews Government has allowed the rug to be pulled out from under our emergency services volunteers and I will be requesting the Minister to reconsider his decision not to support this program,” said Mr Bull.
Friday, February 23, 2018
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Wednesday, 21 February 2018 12:40
Bull calls for hold on barriers
Yet another request to halt the wire rope barrier roll out was made in State Parliament last night, by Gippsland East Nationals MP, Tim Bull, after the Minister for Roads and Road Safety agreed to a review in another area of the state.
“Media reports indicate the minister has ordered VicRoads to review wire rope barriers installed along the Calder Freeway, after recent complaints from fire fighters who attended a fire south of Bendigo last Sunday,” said Mr Bull.
“Firefighters are reported as saying the barriers made it harder for them to access the fire, while also forcing them to work closer to passing traffic, which was dangerous.
“I have been calling on the Minister since October last year to halt implementation of the wire rope barriers project in East Gippsland, so it can be reviewed.
“We too have had issues with roadside fires and already one serious accident involving a recently installed centre of the road Armco barrier. We have also had paramedics and the CFA raising concerns. Surely, this is enough to at least warrant a review as well.
“Given there was no consultation with these agencies prior to this program going ahead, I call on the Minister to stop referring to those who raise legitimate concerns as banjo playing conspiracy theorists and dingbats and expand his review of the barriers on the Calder Freeway to include East Gippsland.
“I again want to put on the record that I am not opposed to these barriers in the right locations as evidence shows they can be effective, but this blanket roll out is causing concerns with community members and emergency services and pressing the pause button until these matters are resolved is the sensible thing to do and he ought to do it,” Mr Bull told the chamber.
Wednesday, February 21, 2018
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Saturday, 17 February 2018 10:45
Local support for “Dolly’s Dream” Foundation
In just six days Carlee Knight’s initiative to raise funds for the Dolly’s Dream Foundation has resulted in over three hundred orders from all over Australia for her unique shirts embroidered with the “Do it for Dolly” hashtag which aims to spread awareness of teenage bullying.
Dolly is the girl from Katherine in the Northern territory who was the victim of bullying and ended her life at the young age of 14.
“Dolly was a country girl who loved horses and horse riding.
“We have a strong connection with what Dolly enjoyed in her life in the country, being surrounded by horses and other animals and I just wanted to do something practical to raise awareness of bullying, anxiety, depression and youth suicide,” said Carlee.
Gippsland East Nationals MP, Tim Bull said, “Dolly’s tragic death as a victim of bullying is a wakeup call for all of us, especially parents of teenagers.
“Bullying, especially cyber bullying, is an insidious and serious problem in our own community so its wonderful to see Carlee and the staff at the Bairnsdale Horse Centre have got behind the Dolly’s Dream Foundation and are receiving spectacular community support.
“Carlee has raised $4,500 so far for the Foundation which will facilitate change for other young lives.
“Wearing one of Carlee’s blue shirts is a practical way of raising awareness and will hopefully be the trigger that will get people thinking and talking about what we can do to prevent teenage bullying, said Mr Bull.
Orders for “Dolly’s Dream” shirts can be made up to the end of February at the Bairnsdale Horse Centre 1/493 Princes Highway Bairnsdale or online at https://www.countryrippa.com.au/
Caption: Gippsland East Nationals MP, Tim Bull promotes the Dolly’s Dream Foundation at the Bairnsdale Horse Centre with (from left to right) Jacqueline Davies, Sarah Ramsay, Heather Knight, Chloe Knight (in front) Carlee Knight, Leading Senior Constable Toni Redshaw; APM and Mayor of the East Gippsland Shire Council Joe Rettino.
Saturday, February 17, 2018
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Friday, 16 February 2018 10:59
Promised funds for country not delivered
A big chunk of the money promised to country Victoria from the Port of Melbourne lease proceeds has not been delivered by Daniel Andrews.
While East Gippsland’s road and rail infrastructure is crying out for renewal, the promised funds have been spent elsewhere.
Nationals member for Gippsland East Tim Bull said, “In 2016 Daniel Andrews promised to invest 10 per cent of the $ 9.7 billion proceeds from the Port of Melbourne lease deal in new transport infrastructure projects in regional Victoria.
However, under questioning in a Public Accounts and Estimates Committee (PAEC) hearing this week, Department of Treasury and Finance Secretary, David Martine, admitted the last budget acquittal for the Port of Melbourne lease proceeds was wrong.
“He revealed that a total of $288 million of the lease proceeds have instead been used on “periodic maintenance” of existing regional rail – not new projects as promised – while a further $435 million has been spent elsewhere because the Federal Liberal Nationals Government stepped in to deliver this amount for regional rail in Victoria instead.
“These funds were not ever intended to be used for maintenance and to replace that budget, it was for new projects. That is what was promised and that is what should be delivered.
“There are a lot of projects that the Andrews government could have completed or at least had underway with this money,” said Mr Bull.
“The Wellington and East Gippsland Shire Councils both have priorities for roads and bridges and V/Line has the same for its rail assets and rolling stock.
“It’s a shame that good projects have been left sitting on the drawing boards while all of country Victoria has to battle on with substandard infrastructure and the Premier focuses only on Melbourne.
“The Premier needs to immediately return the $723 million to the country transport projects, to get cracking on consulting with the community about its priorities and start getting things done for not only East Gippsland, but all of country Victoria,” said Mr Bull.
Friday, February 16, 2018
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Tuesday, 13 February 2018 09:55
Liberal Nationals to halt wire barrier rollout
The State Liberals and Nationals will suspend the blanket rollout of wire rope barriers and allow funds to be directed toward road safety measures on country roads, if successful at the November poll.
“I have been calling on the Minister for Roads since October last year to delay implementation of the wire rope barriers project so that its flawed implementation can be fixed and I am delighted Shadow Cabinet has now adopted this position,” said Mr Bull.
“But all I have had in response from the Minister is his contemptuous and mocking remarks that country motorists and emergency services personnel with concerns about the placement of wire rope barriers are ‘dingbats’ and ‘banjo playing conspiracy theorists’.
The Liberal Nationals support properly placed and installed wire rope barriers. If done properly they can prevent some serious accidents and they can save lives. However, we are concerned that the latest round of barriers are being installed without proper planning and consultation and are making some roads more dangerous instead of safer.
Some of the specific concerns about the latest installations include:
• Impeding access and manoeuvrability for emergency services, with both paramedics and the CFA flagging concerns;
• Compromising motorcycle safety if a rider connects with the barrier;
• Wire Rope Barriers installed too close to the side of the road that inhibit drivers pulling over safely due to a flat tire or a breakdown; and
• Considerable vegetation growth under the barrier rope which pose a significant fire risk and maintenance issues.
• Compromising motorcycle safety if a rider connects with the barrier;
• Wire Rope Barriers installed too close to the side of the road that inhibit drivers pulling over safely due to a flat tire or a breakdown; and
• Considerable vegetation growth under the barrier rope which pose a significant fire risk and maintenance issues.
The review of the barriers will include consultation with key stakeholders such as the CFA and RACV to determine a common sense approach to the placement and extent of their implementation.
“The safety benefits of wire rope barriers are indisputable when they are used in a strategic way, but Labor has taken this project and aggressively expanded the rollout with little consideration of where the barriers are being placed.
“The haste with which the project is being carried out is not allowing enough time for the scrutiny and inspection required to ensure the barriers are installed correctly, which in some
cases is resulting in barriers being only 30 centimetres from the edge of the traffic lane in locations around the state, when the VicRoads desirable minimum offset is four metres.
“Senior CFA staff have warned that the barriers are a hindrance in fire situations, particularly where they impede access and manoeuvrability for fire trucks.
“It is exasperating to watch millions of taxpayers’ dollar being spent on this when our roads are in desperate need of basic maintenance and repair.”
“In government we oversaw the successful installation of barriers in areas where there was clear evidence it would save lives,” Mr Bull said.
“Importantly, the money being used to fund the current rollout will be immediately redirected towards other country road safety measures, like improving road surfaces.”
Shadow Minister for Roads, David Hodgett, said, “The Premier for Melbourne has botched the installation of wire rope barriers and it’s putting the lives of motorists and emergency services at risk.
“Daniel Andrews has ignored maintaining and repairing Victoria’s regional roads for the last three years and as a result they have become dangerous. Too many of our regional roads have large and dangerous potholes as well as crumbling bitumen on road shoulders which need urgent repair, rather than wire rope put up along the edges.”
Caption: The Liberal/Nationals will halt the blanket roll out of wire rope barriers if elected in November, pending concerns including that they impede emergency services vehicles and that they are being installed too close to the side of the road, inhibiting drivers from being able to safely pull over after a flat tyre or breakdown.
Tuesday, February 13, 2018
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