August 2019
Thursday, 29 August 2019 10:45
Daniel Andrews M.I.A. in East Gippsland
Daniel Andrews is failing our farmers in East Gippsland and other drought affected areas of Victoria.
“We have been in severe drought for almost three years, but Daniel Andrews hasn’t visited any of the affected communities,” said Gippsland East Nationals MP, Tim Bull.
“In the five years he has been Premier we have been through floods, fires, massive job losses at Heyfield and now drought, but he has not visited the region. Nor may I add has the Deputy Premier.
“It is not just our region, it is country Victoria.
Gippsland South Nationals MP Danny O’Brien said there were large areas in his electorate in drought that also need support.
Mr Bull said Daniel Andrews confirmed again in State Parliament why he’s made a name for himself as the Premier for Melbourne.
“Just like the Premier has refused to visit East Gippsland, yesterday The Nationals asked if he would visit the Millewa region in north-west Victoria – which is enduring the worst conditions since the 1944-45 drought – but he refused.
“Farmers have also been asking for a rates relief subsidy since last year, but Daniel Andrews continues to ignore them.
“He again said it was a consideration. Well, the Government said it was a consideration in January. Things have got a lot worse since then and at some stage you have to act.
“I see shire rates relief as a fair and equitable way to support all farmers who are doing it tough. It will result in real savings.
“To date the relief has been dollar for dollar loans, which many can’t afford to access, school student uniform subsidies (when many farmers do not have school aged children), so they have missed the mark.
“Daniel Andrews needs to get out a map and get out of Melbourne and see first-hand the enormous pressure our farmers and their families are under.”
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Thursday, 29 August 2019 10:40
Avon River bridge start date a relief
Community members, who are closely following progress on the new rail bridge over the Avon River at Stratford, will be greatly relieved by the announcement that work is scheduled to commence later this year.
Gippsland East Nationals MP Tim Bull said the Federal Member for Gippsland Darren Chester announced back in 2017 that the Commonwealth Government would provide the funds but since then the Andrews Labor Government had been giving out conflicting and ambiguous timelines for the project.
“The construction of the new bridge may well be the catalyst for the reinstatement of rail freight services and increased opportunities for additional passenger services which will create further investment and jobs, so it can’t happen soon enough,” said Mr Bull.
“I note the appointment of non-locals CPB Contractors to the project and expect that they will give every opportunity for local civil construction businesses to participate in the bridge’s construction.”
Community information sessions relating to the works will be held on Wednesday, September 4 from 4 - 7pm and on Thursday, September 5 from 8am noon at the Segue Community Hub and Arts Café, 66 Tyers Street Stratford.
A local industry briefing will be held on Wednesday, September 4 from 4 - 7pm at the Stratford Courthouse, 66 Tyers Street Stratford.
“I would hope these sessions will outline what the disruptions to services will be (if any) and alternate arrangements.”
Caption: Federal Member for Gippsland, Darren Chester and Member for Gippsland East, Tim Bull, at the site of Avon River rail bridge at Stratford where works on its replacement will commence later this year.
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Wednesday, 28 August 2019 08:19
Labor must park its plan to lock up more public land
More than 77,000 hectares of public land will be locked up if the Andrews Labor Government adopts recommendations from the Victorian Environmental Assessment Council’s Central West Investigation final report.
Gippsland East Nationals MP Tim Bull said bush users and their families, from both country Victoria and the city, were on a unity ticket against losing access to public land.
“Daniel Andrews must park his plan to lock up more of Victoria’s public land,” said Mr Bull.
“Public land should be exactly that – for the public – but under Labor, all Victorians who enjoy recreational activities like camping, four wheel driving, horse riding, prospecting or hunting are being pushed out.
“If the Andrews Labor Government adopts VEAC’s recommendations access for many of these activities will be severely restricted or stopped altogether.”
A petition, tabled today by Shadow Minister for Public Land Use and The Nationals Member for Eastern Victoria Melina Bath, received nearly 4500 signatures in support of public land staying for the enjoyment of the public.
Ms Bath said if adopted, VEAC’s recommendations would significantly limit the activities of bush users, including fire wood gatherers, recreational miners and prospectors, horse riders, four wheel driving enthusiasts, hunters and bush walkers.
“Bush users want to preserve their ability to go bush and take part in activities they have enjoyed for many generations,” said Ms Bath.
“The bush is a way of life in country Victoria and responsible bush users make sure they leave our state forest in a better state than they found it.
“Conservation and bush access do not have to operate exclusively.”
The Victorian Government has until February 2020 to consider the recommendations of the Central West Investigation final report.
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Tuesday, 27 August 2019 14:01
Shady Govt. grants sure to create interest
Local schools, community groups and sporting clubs across the East Gippsland electorate are encouraged to apply for funding from the 2019 Shade Grants Program that is now open.
Gippsland East Nationals MP Tim Bull said establishing shaded areas within schools and communities is an effective way to counter the negative impacts of UV radiation.
The program, which is offered annually, is split across two grant categories:
• School Shade Grants Program
• Community Shade Grants Program
Grants are available of up to $25,000 for shade development in schools and $50,000 for community groups and can include up to $700 for sun protection items such as hats and sunscreen.
Mr Bull said that approximately two in three Australians will be diagnosed with skin cancer by the time they are 70.
“We know that prolonged exposure at even low levels to ultra violet radiation from the sun is very dangerous to our health.
“Shade is a simple and effective way to protect from harmful UV radiation, and well-planned and designed shade can reduce overall exposure to UV radiation by up to 75 per cent.
“I am positive that all eligible schools, community organisations and sporting clubs across East Gippsland could put additional shade structures and equipment to very good use, not just in the heat of our summers, but all year round.
“Several schools and community groups within my electorate have been successful recipients of this initiative in previous years. I encourage all eligible organisations to apply.”
The School Shade Grants Program is will close on 18 September 2019 and the Community Shade Grant Program will close on 2 October 2019.
For further information and to apply, visit: https://www2.health.vic.gov.au/public-health/preventive-health/skin-cancer-prevention.
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Tuesday, 27 August 2019 09:49
Bus passengers left out in the cold
Public Transport Minister Melissa Horne’s assurance that a conductor would be present at Bairnsdale Station to assist bus passengers until midnight, is not being delivered.
Ms Horne told Gippsland East Nationals MP Tim Bull back in May 2019 when he first raised the issue with her, that when buses replace trains, conductors at Bairnsdale would be present “to make themselves visible to passengers during disruptions, to enhance safety and ensure that passengers can use the Station facilities when required”.
“This is not happening. On a Sunday night recently, passengers on the bus services into Bairnsdale tell me they found no Station staff were present and they were locked out of the waiting room and toilet facilities,” said Mr Bull.
“The time lag between the first bus arriving at Bairnsdale Station and the last bus arriving and then setting off with passengers for Lakes Entrance and Orbost was over one hour.
“When the train service is operating, passengers who are travelling on to Lakes Entrance and Orbost are able to take a seat in the Station's waiting room and use the toilets before their bus departs, which is why I asked the Minister to provide equivalent access to the Station’s facilities when buses replace trains.
“Passengers who were travelling on to Lakes Entrance and Orbost on this service told me they had to endure an uncomfortable wait with only the protection of a bus shelter on a bitterly cold and windy night.
“I am extremely disappointed that the undertaking I was given has not been delivered and I have asked the Minister to make good on her promise.
“The lack of security and amenity for an extended period on a cold night for bus passengers, many of whom were older folk, is just not good enough,” said Mr Bull.
Caption: Member for Gippsland East Tim Bull pictured at the Bairnsdale Station’s bus exchange where Orbost and Lakes Entrance bound bus passengers were locked out of the Station’s waiting room and toilet facilities.
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Friday, 23 August 2019 12:41
Intersection plans on show at last
Following site meetings with local MP Tim Bull and community members as far back as 2016, Regional Roads Victoria will finally present long awaited concept plans of the Princes Highway and McEacharn Street intersection in Bairnsdale this Thursday.
“It is one of four intersections where upgrades will be discussed and having made representations on at least two of these some years ago, it is time we got on with fixing them,” said Mr Bull.
“There have been numerous on site meetings over the last four years with VicRoads and community members and letters to Roads Ministers to get action.
“So it’s a relief that we can finally see something tangible happening and I would encourage road users to visit the Bairnsdale Library to view the concept plans which include:
• Princes Highway and McEacharn Street;
• Princes Highway and Bairnsdale-Dargo Road;
• Bullumwaal Road and Howitt Avenue, and
• Princes Highway and Great Alpine Road.
“My office will be happy to receive your feedback to pass on to Regional Roads Victoria if you cannot make this session.
“We don’t want a repeat of the sham consultation that preceded the Princes Highway road safety barriers project where communications staff basically came and told us what was happening.
“I’m hoping that at Bairnsdale this Thursday we will instead be able to have a say in what goes ahead,” said Mr Bull.
The concept plans of the four intersections will be on view at the East Gippsland Shire Library, 22 Service Street, Bairnsdale on Thursday 29 August, between 2pm and 6pm.
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