Monthly Archives: January 2021

An expansion of fee-free Summer Skills training courses is now available for NSW school leavers in 2021 with more online short courses on offer, as part of the NSW Government’s Skilling for Recovery initiative.

Member for Goulburn Wendy Tuckerman said the Summer Skills program, launched in November 2020, has expanded to include seven TAFE NSW online short courses targeting last year’s school leavers.

“In designing Summer Skills as part of Skilling for Recovery, the NSW Government has ensured the training on offer is aligned to local industry needs,” Mrs Tuckerman said.

“In addition to this, the expanded program will offer a number of new online courses starting right now through TAFE NSW. These courses include introductory training in business and digital skills.

“We need to provide the opportunities that help school leavers find their feet in these uncertain times. That’s why we’re delivering practical and fee-free training opportunities starting this summer rolling on in 2021.”

Mr Lee said all the courses come from the $320 million committed to delivering 100,000 fee-free training places as part of the NSW Government’s contribution to the JobTrainer initiative.

“There are more than 100,000 fee-free training places available through TAFE NSW and approved providers for people across NSW to reskill, retrain and redeploy to growth areas in a post COVID-19 economy.

“I encourage anyone impacted by the pandemic to see what training options are available in 2021.”

Enrolments are open for Summer Skills online training in:
• Cyber Concepts;
• Introduction to working in the health industry;
• Construction materials and Work Health and Safety;
• Mental health;
• Business administration skills;
• Introductory to business skills; and
• Digital security basics.

Full details on all available fee-free courses on offer and their eligibility as part of the NSW Summer Skills program is here, and more information on the JobTrainer initiative is here.

Motorists can expect a safer drive on the Illawarra Highway at Robertson, with road safety upgrades starting in February.

Member for Goulburn Wendy Tuckerman said the NSW Government was doing important improvement work to ensure all road users reach their destination safely.

“This work will be carried out across two sites between Fountaindale Road and East Street at Robertson and between Pearsons Lane and McGraths Road west of Robertson,” Ms Tuckerman said.

“Work will include installing new signs, tree removal, shoulder widening, minor table drain upgrades, road resurfacing, centerline widening and new line marking.

“Additional safety barriers will be installed for 1.7 kilometres between Pearsons Lane and McGraths Road at Robertson.”

The work will address the location’s crash history, and focus on improving safety around curves.

In the five years to June 2018 there were three crashes resulting in serious injury, including one head on and two run off road type crashes in Robertson. There were six crashes including four run off road crashes west of Robertson during the same period.

Work will be carried out in two stages, starting between Fountaindale Road and East Street Robertson on weekdays from Monday 8 February for about four weeks between 9.30am and 2.30pm, weather permitting.

Stage two, between Pearsons Lane and McGraths Road, will be carried out from Monday 22 February on weekdays for about five weeks, weather permitting.

Single lane closures and a reduced speed limit of 40 km/h will be in place during work hours, for the safety of motorists and workers.

Motorists should allow up to five minutes extra travel time during these two stages of work and Transport for NSW thanks the community for its patience.

Applications are now open for the NSW Government’s Greater Cities and Regional Sport Facility Fund to create and upgrade sport facilities in the Goulburn Electorate.

The two-year program was a highlight of the recent budget and will see $50 million available to organisations and councils in 2020/21 with a further $50 million available next financial year.

Member for Goulburn Wendy Tuckerman said the Fund would improve infrastructure for the sport-loving community.

“The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on everyone’s lives, including our local community sport competitions,” Mrs Tuckerman said.

“The health and wellbeing benefits of playing with your local team are so crucial not just for your fitness but from the networks you create by playing team sport.

“The Greater Cities and Regional Sport Facility Fund will improve local sports facilities and active recreational spaces and enable more people to participate in sport and active recreation.”

Acting Minister for Sport Geoff Lee said inclusive projects that encouraged the participation of females and people with a disability will be prioritised.

“I’m excited about the opportunities this will give to sports clubs and organisations throughout the Goulburn electorate, to upgrade and build new facilities,” Mr Lee said.

“I’m encouraging all eligible clubs in the Goulburn electorate to apply. I’m especially passionate about the focus on increasing and improving change room facilities for girls and women so they have their own comfortable environment for playing sport and therefore stay playing sport.”

Applications close 26 February 2021: https://www.sport.nsw.gov.au/clubs/grants

Eligible businesses in the Goulburn electorate can now register to take part in the NSW Government’s major economic stimulus program, Dine & Discover NSW.

The program will create an economic boost for local dining, arts and tourism businesses, which have been impacted by COVID-19, and encourage customers to get out and about safely.

Member for Goulburn Wendy Tuckerman encouraged local businesses to register and get ready so they can hit the ground running when the program goes live.

“We’ve heard loud and clear just how tough it has been for businesses in our community. This program will help reinvigorate the local economy and provide customers with hip pocket relief,” Mrs Tuckerman said.

Service NSW is launching a specialised app for participating businesses, so they scan and track voucher usage over the life of the program.

After applying online, NSW businesses will be able to track the progress of the application through their MyServiceNSW Business Profile.

Business owners will then receive a step-by-step process on how to get ready.

“With a high uptake of the vouchers expected across the state, the Business Profile provides one, easy-to-use location for businesses to stay on top of voucher transactions,” Mrs Tuckerman said.

“All eligible businesses will receive an email from Service NSW with details on how to register. I also urge residents to do yourself a favour and download the Service NSW app now in anticipation of the rollout.”

The program will be rolled out in a few steps to ensure a seamless customer experience.

Phase one will include a pilot at The Rocks and in Broken Hill in early February. The pilot will then be expanded to the Northern Beaches, Sydney CBD and Bega Valley Shire Council, which is expected to commence in late February.

Member for Goulburn Wendy Tuckerman today announced over $792,000 in funding for a range of local improvement projects for Crown land reserves and community facilities in the region.

Mrs Tuckerman said the funding is being provided by the NSW Government under its Crown Reserves Improvement Fund.

“It’s fantastic to report $792,148 has been secured for regional projects this year under the Crown Reserves Improvement Fund program to maintain and upgrade local reserves as well as facilities located on them,” Mrs Tuckerman said.

“This funding will see infrastructure updates to reserves, golf courses, caravan park and showgrounds as well as weed and pest control on our reserves.”

Minister for Water, Property and Housing Melinda Pavey said the NSW Government is providing $51.7 million from the Crown Reserves Improvement Fund this year to support 705 maintenance and upgrade projects on Crown reserves across the State.

“This year’s fund has received a $40 million boost to support communities that have been impacted by bushfires and COVID-19, to fund infrastructure improvements and support jobs for local trades and materials suppliers,” Mrs Pavey said.

“Protecting and enhancing Crown land reserves is essential for the well-being of communities and our environment, and to support recreation, tourism, business, and local economies.”
Local projects being funded include:

• $253,020 to upgrade tennis courts, construct and fit out a new BBQ area on the Binda Recreation Reserve.
• $129,600 to upgrade water and electrical connections, install lighting and CCTV cameras on the Crookwell Caravan Park.
• $97,554 to construct a bitumen driveway and replace, re-level and reline internal stage flooring and walls, and relocate the electricity meter box at Robertson School of Arts.
• $63,000 to remove 40 dead and dangerous trees along a walking track on the Tully Park Golf Course.
• $41,910 to remove flood debris from a waterway at Barbers Creek at Tallong Picnic and Recreation Reserve.
• $29,191 to install posts and cabling to manage access on Oallen Ford reserve.
• $28,545 to remove dangerous trees and fire hazard timber debris from fallen trees on the Goulburn Golf Course.
• $18,568 to paint the Dalton Public Hall.
• $16,379 to control feral deer on the Parish Reserve for Joadja.
• $14,000 to install a new boundary fence and safe access points on the Crown reserve to protect high conservation value box-gum grassy woodland and maintain open space amenity within Murrumbateman village.
• $13,200 to control blackberry weeds along Kelly’s Creek at Moss Vale from Iona Park Road to Wingecarribee River.
• $13,052 to repair the floors on the Moss Vale Showground.
• $11,998 to repair and upgrade the caretaker’s cottage on the Yass Showground.
• $10,172 to control weeds in the area adjacent to Caalang Creek.
• $10,857 to control weeds to create a buffer along the boundary between Crown land and residential properties at Berrima.
• $9,152 to control wild dogs and foxes in the Brindabella and Wee Jasper area.
• $8,945 to control blackberry weeds on the Goulburn Recreation Area.
• $8,800 to resurface the driveway at the Berrima Scout Camp.
• $6,280 to control weeds on vacant Crown land adjoining Bundanoon Cemetery.
• $2,624 to control weeds on Howick Street, Bungonia.
• $2,200 to control weeds on Crown Land at Kangiara.
• $2,085 to purchase and install four self-closing cattle resistant pedestrian gates at entrances and cattle transit points on the Gundaroo Common.
• $1,016 to control blackberry weed at the entrance to Berrima River Reserve.