Media Releases

The Nationals Member for Shepparton, Jeanette Powell said works to restore the road surface on the Tatura-Undera Road, north of Tatura have commenced.

“The Victorian Coalition Government has provided additional funding to VicRoads so that further rehabilitation works can proceed at locations in the district where the road surface requires repair,” Mrs Powell said.

“Approximately 100 metres of Tatura-Undera Road requires pavement works to restore the road surface.
“VicRoads will also install a new culvert which will improve drainage.

“In the past 18 months, a number of major flood and storm events have occurred throughout Victoria.
“This has caused the surface of many roads to deteriorate more rapidly than usual.

“I’m pleased to announce that Tatura-Undera Road, like a number of other roads throughout the region, will be improved thanks to additional rehabilitation funding,” Mrs Powell said.

Traffic lights will be in operation during work hours, and there will be speed reductions in place during the construction period for the safety of work crews and motorists.

Motorists should be aware of the change in road conditions and obey speed limits throughout the site.

The works will be completed by early March, weather permitting.

Member for Shepparton Jeanette Powell announced today the 1st Mooroopna and 1st Shepparton North Scout Groups will receive a share of a $50,000 Victorian Government grant to improve their facilities.

“Scouting is a wonderful opportunity for young people to experience activities which help them become well-rounded young adults who can then make a positive contribution in the community,” Mrs Powell said.

The two local scout groups will share the grant with the 1st Cobram scout group.

“I have attended awards ceremonies at the local scouts groups and have seen the wonderful work they do and the skills and experience they gain to help them throughout their lives,” Mrs Powell said.

“The Scout groups will also use the funds on electrical upgrades and for essential safety compliance measures.

The Victorian Coalition Government is committed to supporting our local scouts in their endeavour to improve their facilities.”

Minister for Youth Affairs Ryan Smith said the $4 million program delivered on the Government’s election commitment to upgrade Scouts and Girl Guides facilities across the state.

“With this new funding Scouts Victoria and Guides Victoria will be able to modernise facilities and to continue their fantastic work in supporting, training and mentoring young Victorians.

“This funding also ensures that these facilities are still available for other community needs, such as accommodating local not-for-profit organisations working with young people,” Mr Smith said.

To get involved with your local Girl Guide or Scout group visit www.guidesvic.org.au or www.vicscouts.com.au.

Minister for Local Government Jeanette Powell has used her opening address to the annual LGPro conference to outline a series of Victorian Coalition Government initiatives that will assist local government to deliver better outcomes for residents and ratepayers.

The Minister addressed the Building Site Management project, the Local Government Reform Fund and the draft Green Light Plan whilst advocating for greater consultation and cooperation between the two arms of government.

“State and local governments have many inter-related responsibilities and the task of improving the delivery of those services to the community is an ongoing obligation for both arms of government,” Mrs Powell said.

“The Building Site Management project is just one example of the Coalition Government. assisting individual councils to minimise unnecessary regulatory costs in the building industry.

“An audit of local government laws found widespread inconsistency and complexity between councils and differences in compliance and enforcement.

“The fact different councils have different regulations regarding the provision of safety fencing, hours of work, on-site-bins, council asset protection, litter prevention and other matters creates an unnecessary
burden on the building industry and on consumers.

“Local Government Victoria has issued a discussion paper that will inform the process of harmonising the local laws and reducing costs for builders and consumers,” Mrs Powell said.

The Minister also acknowledged the tireless efforts of many of the local government officials present in assisting their communities with the disaster recovery effort.

“I know many people working in the local government put the interests of their community before their personal interests in the aftermath of the devastating bush fires of 2009 and the more recent floods,” Mrs Powell said.

“Local government has an integral role in dealing with the immediate threat of flood and fire and delivering the programs that deal with the long term damage.

“The response to such events highlights the professional capacity of local government and I was pleased to be able to thank the sector for their outstanding efforts,” Mrs Powell said.

Minister for Aboriginal affairs Jeanette Powell has called for nominations for the Ricci Marks Award 2012 to acknowledge outstanding achievements of young Indigenous people in Victoria.

Each year the Ricci Marks Award, a $5,000 bursary, is presented to two young Indigenous people to support further development in their chosen field.

“The Ricci Marks Award recognises individual achievements of young Indigenous people in a number of fields including education, arts, sport, culture and community leadership,” Mrs Powell said.

“It is very important we publicly recognise and encourage the efforts of young Indigenous Victorians who in turn act as positive role models for their peers and the wider community.

“The award is part of the Coalition Government’s commitment to fostering and celebrating achievement and success among Indigenous Victorians.

“The recently launched Victorian Indigenous Honour Roll is another example of recognising and promoting the achievements of significant Indigenous Victorians.

“The Ricci Marks award shines a well deserved light on our young achievers and future leaders which is particularly important as more than half of Victoria’s Indigenous population is less than 25 years of age,” Mrs Powell said.

To be eligible for the Ricci Marks Award, nominees must be a resident of Victoria and between 16 and 25 years of age as of 1 January 2012.

The award is named after the late Ricci Marks, who was a recipient of what was then the Aboriginal Young Achiever Award in 2000. The award title was changed to honour Ricci Marks following his death in 2003 at the age of 21.

Nominations are to be submitted to Aboriginal Affairs Victoria and will be accepted until 13 March 2012.

Nomination forms are available online at www.dpcd.vic.gov.au/Indigenous or by contacting Aboriginal Affairs Victoria on (03) 9208 3255 or via email petr.svoboda@dpcd.vic.gov.au

Recipients of the 2012 Ricci Marks Award will be announced at a presentation to be held in Melbourne on 23 April 2012.

The Victorian Government has granted $2550 to Mooroopna’s Men’s Shed to strengthen its long-term viability, Member for Shepparton, Jeanette Powell said today.

Mrs Powell said the support has been provided under the Capacity Building Fund, which supports activities such as helping Men’s Sheds organise training sessions on occupational health and safety, first aid, governance, and to host networking events with sheds in neighbouring communities.

"I congratulate Mooroopna’s Men’s Shed on securing this grant,” Mrs Powell said.

“The funding will be used to conduct an OH&S workshop and information forum to increase the profile of Mooroopna’s Men’s Shed and its programs.

“Men’s Sheds play an important role in supporting the health and wellbeing of men in our community and I am pleased the Coalition Government is providing vital funding to ensure these sheds can continue to grow and attract new members.”

Community Services Minister Mary Wooldridge said the Victorian Men’s Shed Association (VMSA) was playing an increasing role in ensuring new and growing Men’s Sheds can become sustainable.

“Volunteers contribute countless hours to supporting their members, and the Coalition Government is pleased to support their efforts,” Ms Wooldridge said.

VMSA president Paul Sladdin said Men’s Sheds were increasingly being recognised as valuable to older men’s wellbeing, particularly to their social enjoyment, ongoing learning capacity, and ability to contribute to their community.

Mrs Powell said since first being established Men’s Sheds have been instrumental in assisting older men to realise their value to their communities and assisted them in maintaining their health and well-being.

“As a patron of Men’s Sheds in the district, I know firsthand the important role they play in keeping men active and learning new skills.”

More than $88,000 from the Capacity Building Fund is being distributed across Victoria in partnership with the VMSA to support activities that build the skills and knowledge of supervisors and volunteers.

The funding will be used to support:
• 40 training sessions ranging from governance to finances to first aid;
• up to 20 community partnership building events, such as men’s health awareness; and
• up to 50 shed groups participate in activities funded through the program.

There are about 160 Men’s Sheds in Victoria. The Coalition Government has committed a further $4 million in the 2011-12 Budget to continue to strengthen Men’s Sheds for the next four years.

Member for Shepparton, Jeanette Powell said safety and amenity at the Fryers St taxi rank will be boosted through a $66,581 State Government grant, announced today by Public Transport Minister, Terry Mulder.

The funding was awarded to Greater Shepparton City Council and will go towards the construction of a new weather-proof shelter at the site with seating, more prominent signage, improved lighting and access to taxis. The rank, situated at the western end of Fryers St near the war memorial, will also be shifted forward to avoid the existing Powercor structures and ensure better visibility from Wyndham St.

Mrs Powell said this is a big win for safer late-night travel in Shepparton.

“This funding will provide a safer environment for passengers waiting for a taxi and for taxi drivers waiting for passengers,” Mrs Powell said.

“CCTV will also be installed to deter anti-social and violent behaviour and ensure that anyone who takes part in such behaviour is held accountable for their actions.

“Fryers St is a very busy rank, particularly on weekends when the hotels and clubs in the city centre close and the improved taxi rank will help late night patrons get to their destinations as quickly and safely as possible.”

Minister Mulder said the Taxi Rank Safety Program (TRSP) is part of the Coalition Government’s commitment building better taxi services for passengers, taxi drivers and the local community.

“Under the program, councils can apply for grants to improve safety through such works as the installation of CCTV systems, upgraded lighting or the provision of shelters and seating,” Minister Mulder said.

“This round an extra $840,000 has been allocated across 13 municipalities.

"So far it has allocated over $1.5 million to councils across the state and is making real improvements to taxi rank safety and amenity all over Victoria,” Minister Mr Mulder said.

The Taxi Rank Safety Program is administered by the Victorian Taxi Directorate.

For more information and a full list of recipients, visit www.taxi.vic.gov.au.

The McAuley Champagnat Programme (MCP), part of Notre Dame College in Shepparton, has received $100,000 in State Government funding as part of the Coalition Government’s $5-million Local Solutions Year 12 Retention Fund.

State Member for Shepparton Jeanette Powell visited the school recently to meet with several of the students in the program and talk to the program director Peter Chalkley about the funding.

“I know MCP will use this money well, as they are already doing a terrific job in keeping students who are identified as “at-risk” in education with a view to getting them into meaningful employment,” Mrs Powell said.

Notre Dame’s MCP was among 37 schools state-wide to share in the Victorian Coalition Government’s $5 million Local Solutions Year 12 Retention Fund.

Mrs Powell said Notre Dame’s MCP had received the funds for its Growing Hope Project.

“The Growing Hope Project is an agricultural and horticultural education program which will enable the delivery of Certificate II Agriculture and Certificate II Horticulture,” Mrs Powell said.

“The project will provide opportunities for students to experience a sense of enterprise, as well as allowing those students undertaking Certificate II Engineering to apply their training to a farm setting.

“Importantly, it will also deliver therapeutic benefits for student wellbeing and improve training options via links to VCAL.

“This is very important targeted funding aimed at encouraging more students to complete their schooling through to Year 12.

“Finishing Year 12 increases the likelihood of students gaining meaningful employment,” Mrs Powell said.

Minister for Education, Martin Dixon said while the number of metropolitan students finishing school is going up, the Government wants to ensure the same opportunities are available to rural and regional students.

“Almost nine out of 10 metropolitan students are finishing school, but nearly a third of country students are leaving school early, and these new grants are a step toward addressing this issue.”

Of the schools receiving funding, 27 are government schools, eight are Catholic and two are independent.

A $900,000 funding commitment from the Victorian Coalition Government’s Indigenous Community Infrastructure Program will assist the Gunditjmara Aboriginal Cooperative build a new community centre at the Harris St Reserve in Warrnambool.

This funding will supplement $1.1 million from the Gunditjmara Aboriginal Corporation to finance the $2 million project.

The Cooperative’s offices were partly destroyed by fire in 2010 and it has been operating out of temporary facilities since that time.

“The Victorian Government is pleased to support the Warrnambool community by contributing these funds for stage 1 of the Cooperative’s project to ensure the Gunditjmara Aboriginal Cooperative will have a proper facility to serve its members and the greater community,” Mrs Powell said.

The Guditjamara Aboriginal Cooperative helps deliver health related services, cultural and education activities, housing and accommodation; aged and child care, employment, training and education and juvenile justice programs to the Aboriginal community of Warrnambool.

“The Victorian Government recognises the importance of providing culturally appropriate services to Aboriginal communities,” Mrs Powell said.

“The new facility will double as an administrative and program delivery centre for the Cooperative.

“The Indigenous Community Infrastructure Program is one of the Victorian Government’s programs to help Close the Gap on Aboriginal disadvantage in Victoria,” Mrs Powell said.

Since 1991, Victoria’s Indigenous Community Infrastructure Program has supported Indigenous organisations to purchase, upgrade or redevelop more than 90 properties across Victoria.

Member for Shepparton, Jeanette Powell, is encouraging small to medium size businesses in the Shepparton District to take part in the 2012 Telstra Business Awards.

Telstra has run these Awards which recognise excellence in small and medium business for 20 years and they offer a combined prize pool of more than $500,000 in cash and prizes.

Mrs Powell said 2012 is another milestone year for the Telstra Business Awards as they now include the new "HTC Start-Up Award" for small to medium businesses which have been operating between one and three years.

“This new Award celebrates people who demonstrate dedication, enthusiasm and the knowledge required to turn an idea into a successful commercial reality,” Mrs Powell said.

"Running a small business can be a lonely job with owners working long hours, often on their own, and the Telstra Business Awards are a great opportunity for small and medium businesses to increase their profile.

“Importantly, each entrant receives a free individual Business Health Check. This offers businesses the chance to get a better picture of where they stand and how well placed they are to take advantage of opportunities to grow and expand.

“They receive advice in key areas including customer and staff management, product development, social responsibility, financial management and marketing,” Mrs Powell said.

For the 2012 Telstra Business Awards, the categories are:
· HTC Start Up Award – For businesses that have been operating for between one and three years and have up to 200 employees
· MYOB Small Business Award – For businesses with more than five employees, but less than or equal to 20 employees
· News Ltd Micro-Business Award – For businesses with five or less employees
· Commonwealth Bank Medium Business Award – For businesses with more than 20 employees and up to 200 employees
· Telstra Regional Award – For businesses in each state and territory located outside the metropolitan areas of the capital cities
Entries close at 5pm on Monday 2 April 2012.
Nomination forms are available from Mrs Powell’s Office 5 Vaughan Street, Shepparton.

For further information call 1800 262 323 or visit telstrabusinessawards.com

The Nationals Member for Shepparton, Jeanette Powell is reminding young people from the Shepparton electorate applications for The Nationals Scholarship For Young Leaders in 2012 closes on 24 February.

The scholarship will assist students from rural and regional Victoria through their chosen tertiary course. The total value of the Scholarship is $5,000 which may be shared amongst one or more successful applicants.

Mrs Powell said there has been great interest in the scholarship from young people in the district this year.

“This scholarship by The Nationals is aimed at ensuring country students can achieve their goals in further education,” Mrs Powell said.

“We believe it is important to keep our best and brightest young people in country Victoria and this scholarship offers rural students a great opportunity to gain financial assistance with their studies.

The selection criteria for The Nationals Scholarship include the applicant’s academic record, leadership qualities and community involvement and will be awarded to students who are intending to return to or remain in country Victoria.

Special consideration may be given to students in hardship situations for whom the scholarship will provide major assistance.

“I encourage all school leavers and young people progressing with tertiary studies in 2012 to consider applying for The Nationals Young Leaders Scholarship,” Mrs Powell said.

The application process closes on 24 February 2012.Application forms are available from Mrs Powell’s office at 5 Vaughan Street, Shepparton ph 58316944 or can be downloaded from The Nationals website: www.vic.nationals.org.au