Media Releases

Minister for Local Government Jeanette Powell today announced $349,500 in Victorian Coalition Government funding from the Living Libraries Infrastructure Program for the redevelopment of the Apollo Bay Library.

“The Coalition Government is committed to the continual upgrade of Victoria’s world-class public library network to ensure life long learning opportunities for all Victorians,” Mrs Powell said.

“Libraries are essential public infrastructure that bring the community together and connect it to the wider world and the Coalition Government is making a substantial investment in these community hubs.”

Member for Polwarth Terry Mulder welcomed the funding for Apollo Bay Library as another example of the Coalition Government investing in the local community.

“This redevelopment will see the Apollo Bay Library double its current size and provide additional space for more books, a children’s area, access to IT and wireless internet,” Mr Mulder said.

Mrs Powell said through the Living Libraries Infrastructure Program, $17.2 million was being invested over four years to improve Victoria’s public library structure by delivering at least 40 new or upgraded library
facilities across the state.

“The purpose of the Living Libraries Infrastructure Program is to improve the infrastructure of Victoria’s public libraries to make them more accessible and to meet the changing needs of communities,” Mrs Powell said.

The redevelopment of the Apollo Bay Library will receive $349,500 from the Living Libraries Infrastructure Program; $200,260 from the Colac Otway Shire Council and $38,000 from Otway Health. The total project cost is $587,760.

Minister for Local Government Jeanette Powell has announced $180,000 in Victorian Coalition Government funding from the Living Libraries Infrastructure Program to help establish a new library at Lake Bolac.

“The Coalition Government is committed to the continual upgrade of Victoria’s highly rated public library network to ensure life long learning opportunities for all Victorians,” Mrs Powell said.

“Libraries are essential public infrastructure that bring the community together and connect it to the wider world and Coalition Government is making a substantial investment in these community hubs.

“The purpose of the Living Libraries Infrastructure Program is to improve the infrastructure of Victoria’s public libraries to make them more accessible and to meet the changing needs of communities,” Mrs Powell said.

Member for Lowan Hugh Delahunty welcomed the announcement of the $180,000 in Coalition Government funding for a new library at Lake Bolac.

“Lake Bolac is a progressive town and this funding will provide a great boost to the community and encourage more people to enjoy the facilities their local library offers,” Mr Delahunty said.

“With this funding, the people of Lake Bolac will now have a permanent home for their library, which will open seven days a week – a big improvement on the one-hour-a week mobile library.

“I am thrilled the Lake Bolac library will be housed in an extension to the Lake Bolac Information and Business Centre and will now be able to provide a reading area, educational display area and an area for programs and storage, ensuring the community has a new place to connect.”

Minister for Local Government Jeanette Powell said the Coalition Government is investing $17.2 million over four years to improve Victoria’s public library structure by delivering at least 40 new or upgraded library
facilities across the state.

The first round of funding for the Living Libraries Infrastructure Program will result in $3.4 million being invested in the rebuilding or refurbishment of Victoria’s public library network.

Minister for Local Government Jeanette Powell has launched Goulburn Valley’s new mobile library in Shepparton today.

The Coalition Government contributed $269,330 to the mobile library under the Living Libraries Infrastructure Program, with the Goulburn Valley Regional Library Corporation funding the difference on the $415,969
project.

The Living Libraries Infrastructure Program provides for the continual upgrade of Victoria’s public library infrastructure to improve accessibility and meet the changing needs of our communities.

“The new state-of-the-art mobile library will provide users with access to an ever expanding range of services including the ability to lend a variety of books, magazines, audio books, DVDs and CDs, and will bring access to the internet for the 21 communities it services,” Mrs Powell said.

“Our public libraries are important community hubs and this new library has greater mobility that will allow it to reach less accessible areas.

“The Victorian Government is committed to working in partnership with councils and library corporations to deliver opportunities for life long learning to all Victorian communities.

“By connecting smaller communities to the public library network the mobile library service is a very important component of that commitment,” Mrs Powell said.

Through the Living Libraries Infrastructure Program, $17.2 million is being invested over four years to improve Victoria’s public library structure by delivering at least 40 new or upgraded library facilities across the state.

The Victorian Government worked in conjunction with Moira Shire Council, Greater Shepparton City Council, Strathbogie Shire Council, and the Goulburn Valley Regional Library Corporation on this project.

Neighbourhood Houses and Learning Centres (NH&LCs) in the Shepparton electorate are encouraged to apply for funding under a Victorian Coalition Government program that will help modernise centres across the state, State Member for Shepparton Jeanette Powell said today.

The $700,000 Creating Modernised and Inclusive Neighbourhood Houses grants program will provide funding to support small-scale infrastructure and governance improvements.

Mrs Powell is encouraging the neighbourhood houses in the Shepparton district to consider making an application for a grant of up to $30,000, which can be used for a variety of purposes including improving and expanding infrastructure, improving disability access or expanding information and communication technology.

“There are also smaller grants of up to $15,000 available for smaller projects designed to increase participation at neighbourhood houses, particularly for people with a disability,” Mrs Powell said.

“I have been involved in special events and activities at the neighbourhood houses in Shepparton, Mooroopna and Tatura and have seen firsthand the wonderful work participants do and the great facilities on offer.

“With this funding, these neighbourhood houses could increase participation and offer greater infrastructure to those involved in their programs.”

Community Services Minister Mary Wooldridge said the Coalition Government recognises the vital contribution neighbourhood houses make to families and communities.

“These centres provide a mixture of social, educational and recreational activities, especially in rural and regional communities, where they may be the only local community facility,” Ms Wooldridge said.

The Victorian Government is providing $21.6 million to neighbourhood houses and learning centres in 2011-12 to enable community engagement, planning and service delivery through the Neighbourhood House Coordination Program.

Applications for Creating Modernised and Inclusive Neighbourhood Houses grants close on 27 February 2012.

For further information, go to: www.dhs.vic.gov.au/neighbourhoodhousesgrants

Seventeen Aboriginal Victorians graduated last week at La Trobe University’s Bundoora Campus with the Certificate IV in Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Management as the first graduates of the Australian
Cultural Heritage Management Program (ACHMP) .

Minister for Aboriginal Affairs Jeanette Powell, who launched the ACHMP in February, congratulated the graduates on their significant accomplishment and wished them well in their future work to help protect Victoria’s rich legacy of Aboriginal cultural heritage.

“The Victorian Government has invested more than $2 million in the ACHMP to ensure Aboriginal people can play key roles in the protection and preservation of Aboriginal cultural heritage as an important part of our
shared Victorian history,” Mrs Powell said.

Mrs Powell said the Certificate IV in Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Management was an Australian first, placing Victoria at the forefront in the field of managing such significant cultural heritage.

The program was developed to facilitate an expanded role for Aboriginal people in Victoria under the Aboriginal Heritage Act 2006, particularly with regard to cultural heritage management planning, and in recognition of the small number of qualified Aboriginal people in the industry.

The course provides archaeological and industry skills with the aim of increasing the number of Aboriginal people with formal qualifications in cultural heritage. The program recognises the existing skills and
expertise of the graduates and provides an opportunity to use this knowledge to achieve a qualification through a high-quality accredited training program.

“Previously a lack of formal qualifications was a barrier to a career in this field – but through this innovative course we are now in the process of removing that obstacle,” Mrs Powell said.

Aboriginal Affairs Victoria developed the certificate IV course specifically to meet the needs of Aboriginal Victorians working in the cultural heritage management field.

The certificate IV is delivered by university academics, industry professionals and Traditional Owners, providing a unique blend of formal, industry and traditional learning.

“Managing Victoria’s cultural heritage is a substantial task, with more than 32,000 Aboriginal cultural heritage sites and some 1,000 heritage places registered,” Mrs Powell said.

“Graduates will now take the next step in their journey to becoming leaders in the field of Aboriginal cultural heritage management, and leaders in Victoria’s Aboriginal community.

“Graduates of the program are role models and I know they will inspire other Indigenous people to consider a career in protecting Victoria’s unique Aboriginal cultural legacy,” Mrs Powell said.

The Certificate IV in Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Management is based on the successful 2009 pilot program. To date, 141 individuals have participated in six introductory three-day workshops and 33 individuals have completed the full certificate IV.

New navigation aids will be installed at Shepparton’s Victoria Lake through State Government funding, State Member for Shepparton Jeanette Powell announced today.

The Greater Shepparton City Council received $12,310 for the navigation aids as part of the Government’s Boating Safety and Facilities Program (BSFP).

The navigation aids the council are looking into include a waterway audit of the lake and safety signage around the lake for people launching a vessel into the water.

“I was pleased the council was successful in applying for this grant,” Mrs Powell said.

“Now that canoes, rowboats, kayaks and small fishing vessels are back on Victoria Lake, up-to-date navigation aids are needed. I am happy to support money being spent on making sure everyone in the Shepparton district and visitors to our region can safely enjoy our lake facility.”

The BSFP provides funds to local councils and shires for boating facilities, education and training, search and rescue and aids to navigation.

This year’s program has closed. For information on next year’s program, go to www.transport.vic.gov.au/freight/boating-safety-and-facilities-program.

A locally-driven program that develops Goulburn Valley’s future leaders has a bright future ahead with the announcement today of major Coalition Government support.

Representing Deputy Premier and Minister for Regional and Rural Development Peter Ryan, Member for Shepparton Jeanette Powell announced $600,000 funding towards the program at the Fairley Leadership graduation dinner.

Mrs Powell said the Fairley Leadership Program for the Goulburn Valley project would develop 30 emerging leaders who would be the catalysts for positive change in their local communities.

“The Fairley Leadership Program for the Goulburn Valley is an intensive annual program that explores the major issues and opportunities for the region and exposes participants to current key leaders from local, state and federal arenas,” Mrs Powell said.

“The leadership program comprises 28 days of activity, including workshops, seminars, industry visits and weekend retreats.”

Mrs Powell said the program encouraged participants to consider key challenges and potential solutions, as helped generate imaginative and informed thinking on key issues.

“Over the years, graduates of the Fairley Leadership program have taken on important leadership roles throughout the Goulburn Valley,” Mrs Powell said.

“The Coalition Government’s support for this program will ensure there will always be a pool of leaders who will contribute their skills to this region.”

Deputy Premier Peter Ryan said Fairley Leadership would provide the required mentoring for the program’s 30 participants, who were from Greater Shepparton, Mitchell, Moira, Murrindindi, Strathbogie and Benalla, to take on leadership roles in the Goulburn Valley.

“The program will explore the major issues and opportunities for the region and facilitate networks for emerging community leaders from the business, government, cultural, community and agricultural sectors,” Mr Ryan said.

Mr Ryan said Coalition Government funding for the Fairley Leadership Program for the Goulburn Valley project would be provided over four years through the government’s $1 billion Regional Growth Fund’s Rural Community Leadership Program.