SUCCESS IN RIO NEPEAN RIVER GREEN BRIDGE CONSTRUCTION COMMENCED ON

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1 SUCCESS IN RIO Photo courtesy of Australian Paralympic Committee Penrith s own Jessica Fox and Erik Horrie have once again shown their sporting skill by both winning Olympic medals in Rio. Jessica is now a Bronze medallist following her success at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games in the canoeing slalom K1 event. This medal will take its place next to her Silver medal which was earnt at the 2012 London Olympic Games. Erik is now a Silver medallist at the 2016 Paralympic Games for his achievement in the AS Single Sculls. Erik also won Silver in his debut Paralympics in London in Both of these athletes have worked tirelessly to excel at the highest level of competition and are inspirational to athletes across the state and the country. Huge congratulations from all of us in Penrith for taking out these medals. CONSTRUCTION COMMENCED ON NEPEAN RIVER GREEN BRIDGE I welcomed the opportunity to turn the first sod for the Nepean River pedestrian and cyclist bridge, which will transform the way Penrith residents interact with the picturesque Nepean River. The 257 metre long bridge will provide a safer crossing for the hundreds of joggers, parents pushing prams, cyclists and walkers who currently use the narrow footpath on Victoria Bridge. The new pedestrian and cyclist bridge will facilitate engagement with the river with viewing platforms and terraces and forms a critical link in the Bridge to Bridge loop which connects Tench Reserve, Emu Plains and the M4 Motorway pedestrian crossing. The bridge will be uniquely constructed on the eastern side of the river and launched across to the western side over temporary piers with the first piling work for the bridge abutments under way. For more information visit nepean-riverbridge/index.html Address: Shop 23, Tattersalls Centre, High Street, Penrith NSW 2750 Mail: PO Box 4006, Penrith Plaza NSW 2750 Phone: (02) Fax: (02) penrith@parliament.nsw.gov.au

2 Community Newsletter October 2016 LOCAL FOOTBALL CLUBS TO BENEFIT FROM ASIAN CUP 2015 LEGACY FUND New Pathway to the Nepean River I encourage local football clubs to apply for funding through the NSW Asian Cup 2015 Legacy Fund. Local football clubs across the state are set to benefit from the establishment of a $4 million fund to deliver better community facilities driven from the success of the 2015 Asian Cup Tournament. Guidelines for the NSW Asian Cup 2015 Legacy Fund are now available with applications open until 24 February Grants are available up to 50 per cent of the net project costs, with a maximum funding contribution of $150,000 per project. For further details clubs can visit Planning Minister Rob Stokes visited Penrith to announce a new shared pathway to improve public access to the Nepean River and new landscaping works in Tench Reserve, Jamisontown, which will be funded with $115,000 from the NSW Government. The Metropolitan Greenspace Program Grant will help build the new 400 metre concrete path for walkers and cyclists to help the public more easily get to and enjoy the Nepean River and its surrounds. The path improvements are part of a long-term plan to create the Great Nepean River Walk, and will make the existing Bridge to Bridge walking and cycling loop more accessible and attractive to users. State Flags Presented It was my honour to present new State flags to Mr Neel Chand, CEO of Penrith RSL Club and Mr Brett McFadden, Superintendent Commander of Penrith Police. The State Flag is proudly displayed in the courtyard of Penrith Police Station; and the Penrith RSL Club performs a daily ritual to raise and lower the flag in remembrance to servicemen and women of Australia.

3 BOOST FOR NSW POLICE CRIME STATISTICS DOWN 208 new Police recruits recently attested as Probationary Constables during the Class 328 parade. The recruits commenced on-the-job training in August and will continue distance learning before graduating with an Associate Diploma in Policing Practice. The men and women taking attestations join more than 3,400 officers who have become sworn officers of the NSW Police Force since It was great to meet and congratulate local Luke Bernacki for graduating from the Goulburn Police Academy in Class 328 and to thank him for his commitment to combating crime and community safety. The NSW Liberals & Nationals Government is committed to boosting the authorised strength of the NSW Police to 16,795 over this term of Government. The latest BOCSAR quarterly crime statistics show that locally, the following major crime categories are seeing downward trends in the two years to June Robbery with a weapon not a firearm down 57.1% Break and enter dwelling down 10.2% Steal from motor vehicle down 22.1% Malicious damage to property down 9.3% Break and enter dwelling (Blue Mountains LGA) down 17.1% State-wide the quarterly crime statistics reveal 15 of the 17 major crime offences remain stable or are falling. Six categories remain stable while nine categories showed downward trends: Murder ƒ down 32.1% Robbery without a weapon ƒ down 25.9% Robbery with a firearm ƒ down 41.7% Robbery with a weapon not a firearm ƒ down 22.2% Break and enter dwelling ƒ down 7.2% Motor vehicle theft ƒdown 12.6% Steal from dwelling ƒ down 6.6% Steal from person ƒ down 9.9% Malicious damage to property ƒ down 3.2% These independent figures show that our local police are making our community safer and I thank the NSW Police Force for their efforts and commitment. Penrith Police receive additional mobile devices I joined Senior Sergeant Viv Motbey and Senior Constable Chris Guinery to announce the roll out of additional mobile tablet devices for frontline officers, which will simplify the process of issuing infringements and allowing officers mobile access to police systems. Already 900 devices from the Mobile Policing Program have been delivered to Local Area Commands across NSW as part of the NSW Government s Policing for Tomorrow fund and now another 1,300 will be rolled out statewide. In , $36 million was allocated towards programs like this one as part of a $100 million commitment over four years. These devices simplify the process of issuing infringements so officers don t have to return to the station, meaning they spend more time out on the beat.

4 50 YEARS OF JP SERVICE It was my pleasure to present two of the state s longest serving Justices of the Peace, Mr Leo Bahlmann and Mr Gregory Pigott with their commendation certificates for 50 years of service. It is a rare achievement to provide an important voluntary service to the community for such a long period of time, and these two gentlemen thoroughly deserve this recognition. Justices of the Peace serve as an independent witness to documents people use for official or legal purposes. Their duties include witnessing the signing of statutory declarations or affidavits and certifying copies of original documents. There are more than 90,000 Justices of the Peace in NSW. People can search for a Justice of the Peace in their area by visiting the online public register of JPs at: Household Appliance Offer FUEL CHECK - The cheapest petrol prices at your fingertips Motorists will now be able to find the cheapest petrol at every service station in NSW thanks to the State Government s new initiative, FuelCheck. FuelCheck is the first service of its kind in Australia and will change the way drivers buy petrol by providing accurate, real-time fuel price information at every service station across NSW. Service stations will be required to update petrol price changes as soon as they make changes, so customers can compare prices. FuelCheck is currently in Beta version, so we are encouraging consumers to offer feedback to NSW Fair Trading regarding the functionality of the website. More information about FuelCheck is available on The NSW Government is offering eligible households 40 and 50 per cent discounts to replace inefficient TVs and fridges to save on their energy bills. About 20,000 low income households are expected to save an average of $140 a year on their energy bills under the NSW Government s Home Energy Action program s $4 million appliance program. Eligible households must be: A NSW resident; and Hold either a valid Pensioner Concession Card, Health Care Card or Low Income Health Care Card from Centrelink or a Gold Card from Veterans Affairs The fridge being replaced must be at least six years old and the TV being replaced must be a plasma or cathode ray tube (CRT) TV. The offer is available until the $4 million program budget is exhausted. For more information, visit or call the Good Guys on

5 STRONGEST GROWTH STRONGEST ECONOMY NSW remains the nation s economic powerhouse with the latest ABS figures showing the State experiencing its strongest financial year growth since before the global financial crisis. The NSW economy is well out in front as the strongest in the nation and is continuing to be the engine room of Australia. NSW has had the lowest unemployment rate of any state for 15 straight months, as confirmed by the ABS. The data showed the unemployment rate in NSW fell 0.2 per cent to 5 per cent in August the lowest in the nation. The NSW Government s massive investment pipeline and fiscal discipline is helping spur confidence in our economy making NSW the number one destination to live, work and do business. PLATFORM YOUTH SERVICE RECEIVES FUNDING TO SUPPORT LOCAL TEENS WITH CRISIS CARE It was great to visit Platform Youth Services to welcome the roll out of the state-wide Homeless Youth Assistance Program (HYAP), a $32 million NSW Government homelessness initiative. Local young teens who are homeless or at risk of homelessness will receive 24/7 help and crisis care with $689,446 funding for the area. Platform Youth Services operates a range of support services to vulnerable young people across the Penrith, Hawkesbury and Blue Mountains LGA s and with the addition of HYAP funding will be able to increase access and intervention to both young people, aged years, and their families to repair relationships and provide safe accommodation where needed. COMMUNITY WAR MEMORIALS FUND AND ANZAC COMMUNITY GRANTS Funding is now available to protect and repair local war memorials and fund educational and commemorative programs which preserve the Anzac legacy through the Community War Memorials Fund (CWMF) and the Anzac Community Grants Program (ACGP). This is a fantastic opportunity to invest in the conservation of important local war memorials as well as promote a greater understanding and recognition of the Anzac legacy. CWMF grants are generally for amounts up to $10,000 while the ACGP grants are for amounts up to $2,000. CWMF grants are available for the protection and conservation of existing war memorials across the state. Applications can be made by veteran groups, community organisations and councils until Remembrance Day 2016 (Friday, 11 November, 2016). Funding from the ACGP will help community groups with projects that assist veterans and teach the community about the Anzac legacy. Applications must be submitted by Friday, 24 February, 2017.

6 RECORD SUPPORT FOR DV SERVICES The NSW Budget includes $53 million over four years for the state-wide roll-out of Safer Pathway, which aims to ensure every domestic violence victim receives a consistent and effective response regardless of where they live. Safer Pathway will extend to 21 new locations across the state in , including new sites in Western Sydney. The NSW Government recognises the important work our government-funded women s health services provide for women and children in need of support, especially those affected by domestic and family violence, through case management and coordination services. In recognition I was pleased to announce $100,000 for the Penrith s Women s Health Centre (PWHC) to deliver domestic violence services which align with the Government s Safer Pathway initiative. This support for PWHC will see their workforce, which is now approaching 30, continue to assist women in our local community who are victims of domestic violence and provide them with the necessary skills and strategies to enhance their lives. SAFETY BOOST FOR PENRITH SCHOOLS Penrith will share in a $5 million program to install school zone flashing lights where schools have multiple busy entrances, and have higher road safety risks. In Penrith we will see 4 additional sets of flashing lights installed to improve road safety for children travelling to and from school. Schools in Penrith that will receive an additional set of flashing lights are: Penrith Public School/Penrith High School Penrith South Public School St Dominic s College St Nicholas of Myra Flashing lights are funded through the Community Road Safety Fund, where all speed and red light camera fines go directly towards vital road safety programs. MURU MITTIGAR partners with Sydney Zoo I was pleased to announce an exciting new partnership between the Sydney Zoo (opening September 2017 at Western Sydney Parklands) and Penrith s own Muru Mittigar (Aboriginal Social Enterprise). This partnership will help create jobs and training opportunities for Aboriginal people across NSW by working at Sydney Zoo. Sydney Zoo should be commended for setting a target to have 10% of their workforce Aboriginal and this announcement gives them every chance of hitting that target. Contact: Phone: (02) Fax: (02) penrith@parliament.nsw.gov.au Mail: PO Box 4006, Penrith Plaza NSW 2750 Address: Shop 23, Tattersalls Centre, High Street, Penrith NSW 2750 facebook.com/stuartayresmp twitter.com/stuartayresmp Authorised by Stuart Ayres MP, Shop 23, Tattersalls Centre, High Street, Penrith NSW Printed by Zion Graphics, 3 Robertson Pl, Bella Vista NSW 2153 using parliamentary entitlements. Oct 2016.