July2014_NEWS from SEATH HOLSWICH MP
State Member for Pine Rivers
Pine Rivers Lego Expo
Thank you to everyone who attended the Lego Expo at Strathpine on the Queen’s Birthday Long Weekend. We had excellent attendances again this year and I hope to have final details of the donations provided to local community groups from the proceeds in the next Grapevine.
I coordinate this Expo each year for a few main reasons:
1. It assists local businesses through sponsorship opportunities and flow-on business from people who attend the Expo
2. It assists local community organisations who have the opportunity to raise money at the Expo or benefit from the proceeds
3. It assists families with autistic children, through the Autism Community Session on Sunday morning
4. It is a cost-effective family activity for local families
The Pine Rivers Lego Expo is just one way I am delivering on my commitment to build a better Pine Rivers.
The Expo will be back again in 2015, although I’m not sure whether I’ll exhibit something as large as the Old Parliament House creation I made and displayed this year!
2014 State Budget Highlights
The State Budget was handed down in June. This budget is the next step of our government’s strong plan for a brighter future for Queensland. This budget was heavily focussed on revitalising front line services and growing a strong four-pillar Queensland economy.
Key highlights of this budget for our region include:
– $403,000 funding for Pine Rivers Home Assist Secure – which assists people aged over 60 years or who have a disability and allows them to remain independent in their own homes with some occasional help. This program provides subsidies to over 50,000 Qld households each year for minor home maintenance, repairs and modifications which relate to health, safety and security.
– Our government remains committed to the Moreton Bay Rail Link, including the installation of a third line between Lawnton and Petrie stations, and this project is on target for delivery in 2016.
– Maintaining pensioner concessions – our government understands the importance of these concessions and allocated additional funds in this year’s budget to ensure these concessions remained in place.
– $13.53 million in Disability Services funding in Pine Rivers to assist people with a disability and their families to access the support and services they need as they move through the different stages of their life.
– $846,000 in funding for non-government organisations in Pine Rivers to deliver specialist homelessness services aimed at both reducing the number of homeless people and the number of people becoming homeless.
– $10.7 million is allocated in 2014-15 to ensure water quality and environmental compliance at the North Pine Water Treatment Plant. This is an important project that will ensure ongoing water security for our growing region.
– $500,000 to commence a $6.695 million replacement of the Fire & Rescue Station at Petrie. The replacement Fire and Rescue Station plan is currently being developed. It is anticipated that planning and design will be completed in the 2014-15 financial year. Construction is anticipated to commence in 2015-16.
– $400,000 has been announced from the Safer Roads Sooner Program (over 2014-15 to 2015-16) to fund a safety upgrade of the intersection of Eatons Crossing Rd & Lilley Rd, Warner/Cashmere.
Pine Rivers Parliament School Leaders Lunch
Each year I sponsor a lunch at Parliament House for all School Captains, Principals and P&C / P&F Presidents from Pine Rivers Schools. This year’s lunch was held in May and was attended by leaders from Dayboro State School.
School leaders have the opportunity to tour our historic Qld Parliament House, sit in the gallery to listen to Parliamentary debate and then enjoy lunch with other school leaders, MPs and Government Ministers.
It is important our student leaders have the opportunity to learn about our Parliament and how government operates, and I am pleased to be able to provide this opportunity each year.
Community Group Training Sessions
Thank you to all the representatives of community organisations who attended my training sessions on using social media for community organisations and writing grant applications. The sessions were very popular and I will aim to run more similar sessions later this year.
I hosted these sessions to deliver on my commitment to support and strengthen local community organisations.
You can download the presentations from both training sessions from www.seathholswich.com under ‘Online Office’ and ‘Forms & Downloads’.
Shop 5A, 199 Gympie Road, Strathpine
P O Box 109 Strathpine Centre Qld 4500
Ph 3205 6779
