Monthly Archives: February 2023

The NSW Government’s commitment to completing the Yass Water Project remains firm – but a Liberal Government will ensure that the project is delivered without fears of cost blowouts, underestimates or wastage.  

Let’s be clear. At the last election, Yass Valley Council said it was going to take $10 million to fix the problem. As the local Member, I secured this funding, and Stage One of the project has already been completed. 

However, for an investment decision to be made by the NSW Government a robust business case is required, and this involves properly evaluating the options and the costs associated. This work is now underway and early indications are that the project costs will exceed the initial $10 million that Council estimated at the time of the election by more than 200% 

Put simply, the NSW Government cannot make a funding allocation until this work is completed, and that is why we are working with Council on that Final Business Case.  In the presence of the water minister last week Council staff told me it is going to take them 9 months to complete the final business case, a business case that the NSW Government has funded.  As a Local member I will not be caught out again making a funding announcement that will not get the job done. 

As the Local Member, I have ensured that $3.7 million of the allocated funds were immediately unlocked for improvements to the existing plant, to provide improvements to Yass residents in the short term. If it was not for my hard work in getting NSW Water and Yass Council together to agree on implementation of Stage 1 – a year after being awarded the money from the election commitment – we would not have seen ANY progress.  

Council also has a pipe network contributing to a substandard delivery (and discolouration) of the water, yet, I have not seen any commitment from Yass Councillors to gain an understanding of where the source of the problem is coming from and their plans to replace and maintain this pipe network. 

There have been plenty of funding opportunities for Councils (for instance the Accelerated Infrastructure Fund with successful projects for Round 3 announced just this week).  Yass Valley Council did not apply for the expansion of Yass water treatment plant. Council has not applied for funding to replace the aging pipe network.    

The community is being continually let down by the lack of planning on this and other issues. There has been no shortage of funds that council can apply for and please note Council still have $6.3M from the last commitment that hasn’t been spent.  

Other Councils in my electorate have done the work and their communities are benefiting.   

Reading Friends Australia’s Supporting Schools Improving Reading Skills in Children are among the successful projects announced for the Goulburn electorate under the NSW Government’s Children and Young People Wellbeing Recovery initiative.

Member for Goulburn Wendy Tuckerman said the aim of the program is to support recovery and boost resilience for young people in the region following the impacts of natural disasters and COVID-19.

“I’m thrilled to announce support for Reading Friends Australia to help children in our community bounce back stronger than ever in the wake of COVID-19 disruptions and natural disasters,” Mrs Tuckerman said.

“The Supporting Schools Improving Reading Skills in Children K-6 – Expansion is a great example of how we can help young people recover, build resilience and improve wellbeing by providing them with the tools and resources they need to become the best version of themselves.”

Reading Friends Australia Chair, Luciana De Michiel said the organisation’s aim is to help children improve their reading skills.

“We implement a series of school-based, and community-based activities. Pilots of these activities have been running successfully since 2022.

“The Supporting Schools Improving Reading Skills in Children K-6 expansion will extend these activities to other schools in the Wingecarribee, and possibly Goulburn areas.

“We recruit, vet and train volunteers to go into schools as reading helpers. Teachers select the children who need assistance, and a roster is organised.

“Volunteers read with the same children at least once a week, establishing a friendly working relationship, which benefits both the child and the volunteer, taking away some pressure from the teachers at the same time,” Mrs De Michiel said.

Minister for Regional Youth Ben Franklin said the $10.3 million Children and Young People Wellbeing Recovery Initiative offers large grants between $10,000 and $50,000 and small grants for up to $10,000.

“The large grants fund projects such as community events, peer support groups, cultural connection or partnership programs, while small grants are to enable initiatives like sporting programs and barbecues,” Mr Franklin said.

“Our Regional Youth Community Coordinators will help connect young people with the projects that best support their wellbeing and recovery and foster resilience and connection.”

The Children and Young People Wellbeing Recovery Initiative is funded through the NSW COVID-19 Economic Recovery Initiative and the co-funded NSW and Australian Governments’ Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements.

For more information on the program, visit nsw.gov.au/YouthWellbeing.

Liberal Member for Goulburn Wendy Tuckerman has welcomed news a re-elected NSW Liberal-Nationals Government will commit a further $90 million to the Stronger Country Communities Fund.

In the past five years, the Stronger Country Communities Fund has delivered more than 2,500 grassroots projects benefitting every regional Local Government Area in the state. This boost will allow the Fund to continue building the projects that make regional NSW and the Goulburn region the best place to live, work, and raise a family.

Mrs Tuckerman said the committed funding was fantastic news for the community, which has seen major community projects funded under previous rounds.

“A NSW Liberal National Government has funded and delivered stellar under the five previous rounds of this program, including:

• Riverside Park Equipment and new amenities in Goulburn

• CTC@Robertson Building Refurbishment and Robertson Men’s and Women’s Shed
• Bundanoon Public School and Community Sports Court
• Gundaroo Park Playground Shade
• Murrumbateman Recreation Precinct Tennis Courts Lighting Upgrade
• Crookwell Tennis Court Surface Repair
• Resurfacing of Goulburn’s Netball Courts and Lighting Upgrade
• Gunning Inclusive Play space
• Yass Lawn Tennis Club Courts
• Sutton Community Oval Grounds Upgrade
• A new bus for Crescent School Goulburn
• Highview Mx Track at Goulburn Moto Park
• Lighting and drainage for Marulan Soccer Field
• Upgrade of Penrose Tennis Court
• Lighting upgrade for Joe O’Connor Park in Yass
• Yass Valley Community Centre Upgrade
• Victoria Park Skate Park Extension in Yass
• Murrumbateman Recreation Ground, Amenities, Sports Storage Shed and Irrigation.
  

“A re-elected NSW Liberal-Nationals Government will deliver another round of the fund and build even more projects to benefit our communities across the Goulburn electorate.”

Deputy Premier and Minister for Regional NSW Paul Toole said the further $90 million commitment would take the total investment in the fund to three quarters of a billion dollars.

“Everywhere I go, people tell me about the big difference these Stronger Country Communities projects make to everyday life – whether it’s a new playground that kids love, a new community hall, upgrades to the main street or programs that make living in the regions even better,” Mr Toole said.

“We aren’t just building playgrounds and sporting ovals; we’re building communities to be proud of.

“It’s the little things that make a big difference to the way we all work, live, play and do business, and the Government is delivering the projects that make a difference to everyday life right across regional NSW.

The Stronger Country Communities Fund is part of the $3.3 billion Regional Growth Fund, designed to support growing regional centres, activate local economies, and improve services and community infrastructure in the regions.

For more information, visit: nsw.gov.au/sccf.

The community of Berrima Public School will benefit from a cash boost of $291,230 to revitalise their playground under the NSW Government’s Infrastructure Grants program, Member for Goulburn Wendy Tuckerman has announced today.

Mrs Tuckerman said the funding will upgrade the sporting facilities and unused playground at Berrima Public School.

Principal Karyn Fitzgerald said the construction of a natural playspace will have many inclusive features designed to meet the needs of children and young people with disabilities.

“The enhancement of sporting facilities will also benefit the whole community by providing a safe and welcoming space to maintain health, fitness and wellbeing.

“Sharing our school’s space creates an opportunity for a powerful hub for community connection, activity, inclusion and celebration”.

Mrs Tuckerman said 48 projects across NSW would share in $6.3 million under the latest round of funding in the NSW Government’s Infrastructure Grants program.

These include projects in the areas of sport and recreation, the arts and culture, disaster readiness and community infrastructure.

Disaster-affected communities that have been impacted by floods or fire have been prioritised in this round of funding.

“The NSW Government’s Infrastructure Grants program funds the construction and upgrade of essential community infrastructure across the state,” Mrs Tuckerman said.

“This much needed cash injection will help regional groups do what they do best in serving their local communities.”

“It is hoped the funding will ignite community spirit and boost participation across the areas of sport and recreation, the arts and cultural activities.”

The NSW Government’s Infrastructure Grants program is made possible by Clubgrants Category 3, a fund which re-invests profits from gaming machines at registered clubs into community projects.

Since 2015, more than 660 community projects have been awarded $98 million under the funding program.

To find out more information or to apply, please visit https://www.nsw.gov.au/grants-and-funding/clubgrants-category-3-fund

Liberal Member for Goulburn Wendy Tuckerman has welcomed the news a re-elected NSW Liberal Nationals government will continue to fix local roads and rail across the Goulburn electorate with the announcement of a commitment of $1 billion.

Mrs Tuckerman said the announcement would build on the $1.8 billion spent on local roads by the NSW government since 2019.

“We’ve spent the last 12 years building the roads and rail our community deserved and needed after 16 years of Labor barely giving us a cent,” Mrs Tuckerman said.

“Over the last 12 years, we’ve rolled out the $500 million Fixing Local Roads program, the $543 Fixing Country Roads program, the $500 million Fixing Country Bridges program and following recent floods and heavy rain, $330 million to regional councils to fix potholes.

“But we know there is more to do, that’s why I’m proud of our $1 billion commitment, which will continue to fix our local roads and rail across the region.

Deputy Premier and Leader of the NSW Nationals NSW Paul Toole said the landmark commitment would improve the resilience of the road and rail network right across NSW, benefitting the regions for generations to come.

“This is a state-building initiative that will drive safety and drive productivity, ensuring people and products get where they need to – and that when disaster strikes, communities and supply chains remain connected,” Mr Toole said.

NSW Minister for Regional Transport and Roads Sam Farraway said on the back of the Covid-19 pandemic and recent floods forward thinking was needed to strengthen the state’s supply chain.

“Betterment isn’t a last minute thought bubble or cash splash. This has been a 12-month journey since I signed the first co funded betterment pilot in the country to rebuild infrastructure in the northern NSW post floods,” Mr Farraway said.

“This is what the community expects and this is the policy direction we need to move in when it comes to disaster recovery.
The funding commitment includes:

• A $400 million injection for Fixing Local Roads to help regional councils continue their work to repair, maintain and seal the roads their communities use every day;
• $300 million for the establishment of a new Fast Tracking Freight program to tackle freight pinch points on the road and rail network, better connect road and rail with key and emerging freight hubs and increase the capacity and reliability of the network; and
• $300 million for a Build Back Better program to invest in more resilient State, regional and local road and transport infrastructure across regional NSW.