Dredging Gets Underway

I am thrilled that sand is now being pumped from the Swansea Channel ahead of the summer boating season.

The dredging of the Channel is scheduled to be completed by the end of November.

The Minns Labor Government promised to dredge Swansea Channel as a priority and that is exactly what we have done.

Jim Commerford Memorial Wall Annual Memorial Service

Always a privilege to attend the MEU Northern Mining & NSW Energy District, Jim Conmerford Memorial Wall Annual Memorial Service.

This year was the 26th annual service.

Speers Point Roundabout Upgrade

I know the Speers Point roundabout is a source of frustration and delay during peak hour.

So I was thrilled to join Premier Chris Minns to announce the NSW Government is delivering on our commitment to a further $6 million to upgrade this notorious bottleneck.



Lake Macquarie residents will soon have a safer, smoother and quicker journey home. This is a great investment in our region.

Teacher's Historic Pay Deal

The Minns Labor Government has secured an agreement with the Teacher's Federation that will deliver teachers a historic pay rise.

NSW teachers will recieve the largest salary uplift in three decades and go from being amoung the worst paid to best paid teachers in the country.

The agreement means starting salaries will increase from $75,791 to $85,000, and salaries for those at the top of the scale increase from $113,042 to $122,100 from October 9.

This investment in our state’s education is desperately needed, following the neglect under the Liberals and Nationals, where poor funding decisions led to declining outcomes for students, and thousands of talented teachers quitting the profession.

Health Worker Subsidy to Lift Recruitment and Retention

The Minns Labor Government will bolster the recruitment and retention of health workers by committing more than $120 million towards health worker study subsidies in the budget.

The NSW Government will support 12,000 healthcare students with study subsidies over five years, fulfilling a key election health pledge.

New students will receive scholarships of $4,000 per year. Existing students will receive one-off payments of $8,000. 

Students can begin applying for this support from 1 January 2024 and must be willing to make a five-year commitment to the NSW public health system. 

Belmont & District Residents' Action Group

The Belmont & District Residents' Action Group is a local community group that advocates on behalf of Belmont and surrounding suburbs on a range of local issues. The group engages with local, state and federal levels of government. The group is seeking new members and if you would like to join, please contact Robin Gordon on robingordon1942@gmail.com.

Habitat Action Grants

Calling all local anglers, community groups, and land managers. The latest round of Habitat Action Grants are now open.

Grants of up to $40,000 are available for projects including the:

• removal or modification of barriers to fish passage
• rehabilitation of riparian lands (river banks, wetlands, mangrove forests, saltmarsh)
• re-snagging waterways with timber structure
• removal of exotic vegetation from waterways and replace with native species
• bank stabilisation works.

Applications close at 5pm on 29 September. For more information or to apply visit the website.

Belmont Hospital Volunteer Auxiliary

The Belmont Hospital Volunteer Auxiliary truly are a great help to hospital staff. Beginning 50 years ago with a trolley service to patients and staff, the Auxiliary now has a team of more than 30 volunteers who provide 3 services:

• Patient Care which does administration work for all the departments within the hospital. It also sells craft and personal items to assist our patients and visitors
• Meet & Greet work from the foyer and assist visitors navigate around our hospital
• Kiosk provides food and beverages to staff, visitors and patients

All services run 5 days per week. The Auxiliary are always looking for more volunteers to join their team. They work on a weekly or fortnightly roster (with the option to work full or half days). If you are keen to join this wonderful team call Fay Smith (President) on 0427 488 499.

Savings for Pensioners 

The rise in the cost of living has been hitting many people hard, especially pensioners. Here are 10 ways for NSW pensioners to save:

1. Council rate rebates: Pensioners are entitled to up to $250 a year off their council rates. For more information visit the Lake Macquarie City Council and Central Coast Council websites. 
2. Electricity rebate: The Low Income Household Rebate will shave up to $285 a year off your electricity bill for households with a retail provider.
3. Gas rebate: This rebate will give you a discount of up to $110 a year.
4. Water rates: Eligible pensioners can access a quarterly rebate, shaving hundreds of dollars a year off a typical household bill. 
5. Revenue NSW Unclaimed Money: Find “lost” money waiting to be claimed from inactive bank accounts, shares and investments, insurance policies, unpaid wages, unclaimed super and deceased estates.
6. Travel vouchers: Pensioners are entitled to four Pensioner Travel Vouchers each calendar year. They can be used for two return or four single trips, giving access to free or discounted travel in economy class on NSW TrainLink Regional services within regional NSW.
7. Free car rego: Pensioners in NSW don’t pay registration fees or motor vehicle tax on one of their cars. They also receive free driver’s licences, free driving tests and concessions on the cost of Mobility Parking Scheme permits.
8. Free glasses: You can get yourself one pair of single vision glasses or one pair of bifocal glasses in a two-year period under the NSW Spectacles Program.
9. Seniors Card: The NSW Seniors Card is packed with discounts for thousands of retailers and services across the state from groceries to tradespeople and insurance.

I encourage all seniors to apply for these savings if they haven't already.