Last week in Parliament I spoke about my priorities for the Port Macquarie electorate for the next two years.

I believe over the past six years I have demonstrated, through the delivery of some significant projects, that we have a state government getting on with the job by investing in key infrastructure like the Lake Cathie Public School, the new Stingray Creek Bridge, and funding to upgrade the Port Macquarie Airport.

But there are many more projects still on my list that I want to see delivered. 

I have identified a parcel of land adjacent to the Douglas Vale Winery that would be suitable for a community education centre that could potentially accommodate the Port Macquarie Men’s Shed and the Hastings Arts and Craft Centre.

The land had been earmarked for sale by the Department of Education but I have been in ongoing discussions with the Minister for Education to reconsider this plan and retain the land. I am hopeful of a positive outcome.

Other issues on my radar include the revetment wall at Lake Cathie; the development and improvement of the Food for Less car park in Port Macquarie, and the much talked about Orbital Road which will address increasing traffic movements impacting on Ocean Drive, the industrial area, the health precinct, and the airport.

If you’d like to read my speech in full, please go to: www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/Hansard/Pages/HansardResult.aspx#/docid/HANSARD-1323879322-97631/link/79.

Online tourism

The NSW government has announced it will triple the number of free webcasts for the state’s tourism operators this year, in response to the growing need for online learning among rural and regional tourism operators.

We are expanding the NSW First program, which provides free online webcasts and webinars, which aims to help NSW tourism businesses develop, promote and sell their products, no matter where they are in NSW.

To view the initial list of events in the NSW First Workshop program for 2017, and to register, go to www.destinationnsw.com.au/nswfirst.

Grant alert

A $1.1 million grant for organisations and councils under the NSW Government’s Youth Opportunities program is now available.

One-off grants of up to $50,000 are available for projects that engage young people to lead and participate in community development activities. 

The online application process is open until Monday 26 June 2017. Successful applications will be announced later in 2017.

To apply for a Youth Opportunities Grant or for more information, visit youth.nsw.gov.au/youth-opportunities.