Media Releases

A major upgrade to the boat ramp at the bridge over the Loddon River on the Bridgewater – Serpentine Road will take place following a Victorian Coalition Government grant of $83,693 local Member, Peter Walsh, announced today.
“The provision of safe boat launching ramps is vital to the growth of recreational fishing in this State,” Mr Walsh said.
“Our region has some of the best fishing in the State with extensive stocking programs of Murray Cod and Yellowbelly fingerlings in local lakes and streams over the past two years.
“It is also important that fishers are provided safe and reliable access to our waterways and the Boating Safety and Facilities Program, along with the Department of Primary Industries Recreational Fishing Grants Program, have been developed to enable this.
“This upgrade to the existing boat ramp at Serpentine is jointly funded by these two programs and will further enhance the district’s credentials as an excellent venue for recreational fishing and boating,” Mr Walsh said.
The boat ramp upgrade will be undertaken as a joint project by the North Central Catchment Management Authority in conjunction with the DPI and Loddon Shire Counciland is part of Fisheries Victoria’s Building Northern Native Fisheries project.
Minister for Ports Denis Napthine said the Coalition Government was funding this, and other similar, important projects through the 2012-13 round of Boating Safety and Facility Program funding.
“The BFSP complements the hard work done by local water-way managers, local boating groups and volunteer rescue organisations across the state,” Dr Napthine said.
“The Coalition Government is committed to working with these groups to improve boating safety and we have recently strengthened laws regarding the use of drugs and alcohol when operating a vessel and ensuring vessels are equipped with appropriate safety equipment.”
For more information about the 2012-13 Boating Safety and Facilities Program contact the Grants administration team on 1800 337 222, email boating.grants@transport.vic.gov.au or visit www.transport.vic.gov.au

Member for Swan Hill, Peter Walsh, has welcomed today’s announcement of further funding for the district’s health services.
“The Victorian Government has once again demonstrated its commitment to the State’s regional health providers with the latest funding announcements from the Rural Capital Support Fund,” Mr Walsh said.
“Funding to enable the relocation of the Swan Hill Hospital’s Day Procedure Unit is fantastic news for staff and patients.
“This $2.1 million plus project has long been seen by the hospital as a major priority and is part of the hospital’s Three Year Strategic Plan.
“It will enable the Day Procedure Unit to be relocated directly adjacent to the hospital’s surgery unit and will enable the movement of patients to and from the unit to be carried out far more discreetly and conveniently.
“It will also enable the moving of the hospital’s pathology laboratory to a more convenient and accessible downstairs location.
“Likewise, the relocation of the radiology department in the St Arnaud Hospital building thanks to the grant of $43,698 is a great boost for the East Wimmera Health Service,” Mr Walsh.
“Once again, improving the delivery of services to patients is the major priority of our health providers and this is another upgrade that will certainly be appreciated by staff and patients alike.
“Projects totalling $58,898 at the Inglewood & Districts Health Service will also contribute significantly to service delivery in the district.
“Upgrades to lifting equipment and storage facilities will not only be of benefit to patients but will also be of enormous assistance staff in carrying out their duties,” he said.
“The Coalition Government’s Rural and Regional Health Plan is a major vision for health provision throughout rural and regional Victoria and the Rural Capital Support Fund is a vital component of the implementation of this vision,” Mr Walsh said.

World leading running rail infrastructure has recently been installed at the Murtoa Racecourse following the provision of $77,964 in joint Victorian Coalition Government-racing industry funding.
Member for Swan Hill Peter Walsh and Minister for Racing Denis Napthine said the new, lightweight plastic running rails, made racing much safer for jockeys and horses compared to the older style metal structures.
“These plastic running rails bring Murtoa in line with best practice across the state if not the world,” Mr Walsh said.
“The Mawsafe plastic rail, invented and manufactured in Victoria, has the advantage of being flexible enough to absorb the impact of a horse or rider and will give way in the event of a fall.
“There have already been a number of incidents at Victorian race tracks where these new running rails have saved jockeys and horses from very serious injuries,” Mr Walsh said.
Racing Victoria Chief Operating Officer Bernard Saundry said the invention of the plastic running rail had revolutionised the safety of both jockeys and horses.
“The Mawsafe plastic running rail is the most significant step the industry has taken to improve safety in the past decade,” Mr Saundry said.
“The safety and wellbeing of all horses and jockeys is paramount and the continued roll out of the plastic running rail into regional Victoria further demonstrates Racing Victoria's commitment to the safety of all participants,” Mr Saundry said.
The new rails have been installed for Murtoa Racing Club’s race meeting on Tuesday 29th January.
The Coalition Government is providing $38,982 towards the project with Racing Victoria and Country Racing Victoria funding the balance of the works.

The 2013 Swan Hill Region Wine and Food Festival is being supported with $10,000 in Coalition Government funding, Member for Swan Hill, Peter Walsh announced today.
Speaking on behalf of Deputy Premier and Regional and Rural Development Minister, Peter Ryan, Mr Walsh said the four-day festival from March 8 - 11 would celebrate and showcase the food and wine excellence in the Swan Hill Region.
“Our funding will help festival organisers, Swan Hill Incorporated, continue to promote the region as north-west Victoria’s premier food and wine destination,” Mr Walsh said.
“The Festival will bring together wineries and food outlets to work as a united Swan Hill region collaborative.
“The aim is to encourage visitors to the region and to also attract further investment by food and wine producers,” he said.
Mr Ryan said Swan Hill Incorporated believed the festival had the potential to grow and develop into a hallmark event on the Swan Hill region calendar.
“Swan Hill Incorporated’s vision is that the festival could change the food and wine profile of the Swan Hill region as a tourist destination,” Mr Ryan said.
“One area of tourism the Swan Hill region needs is a combined and unified emphasis on the region's wine trail.
“By highlighting local wines and bringing the key partners together greater traction can be achieved in developing a wine trail for the region.
“A farmers’ market also programmed for the event will help lay the foundations for the development of a food group to progress the establishment of regular farmers’ markets locally.”
Mr Ryan said Victorian Government funding for the 2013 Wine and Food Festival would be provided through the $1 billion Regional Growth Fund’s Putting Locals First Program.
“Putting Locals First is an initiative designed to enable regional communities to plan and deliver the services and infrastructure to meet local priorities,” Mr Ryan said.

Swan Hill youth will benefit from a $30,000 Local Government Youth Inclusion Grant designed to support them to have their say in local decision-making, Member for Swan Hill, Peter Walsh, said today.
Swan Hill Rural City Council is one of nine local councils to share in $270,000 in grants as part of the Victorian Government’s Shape It! Strategy.
“Shape It! is a Coalition Government plan to give young people in rural and regional areas a chance to better connect with and shape their communities,” Mr Walsh said.
“The Victorian Government is providing $3.2 million to support young people in rural and regional Victorian to get involved in local government decision-making, leadership development programs, networking online and meeting with other young leaders from across the State.
“I’m delighted that the Swan Hill Council and local young people will benefit from this latest round of funding.
“The grants enable young people to get involved, to find their voice and be counted when it comes to local government decision’s that impact on them,” Mr Walsh said.
The Swan Hill project will see young people across the municipality consulted and actively involved in developing a Youth Engagement, Inclusion and Participation Policy which will be adopted and implemented by Swan Hill Rural City Council.
“It’s important that regional and rural young people feel involved and are able to contribute to the development of their community,” Mr Walsh said.
“By staying connected they’re far more likely to remain involved in and be an active member of their community,” he said.
Further grants will be available over the next two years with more information on the grants available at www.dhs.vic.gov.au/youth

Member for Swan Hill, Peter Walsh, is reminding all ex-service organisations, councils and community organisations who have an interest in the maintenance of their local war memorials to apply for a grant to assist in any restoration work that may be required.
“Grants are available for funding of up to $10,000 to upgrade and enhance local commemorative sites and honour rolls,” Mr Walsh said.
“Practically every community has a war memorial commemorating the courage, spirit and sacrifice of local servicemen and women.
“Unfortunately, over time these memorials suffer from the elements and this grants program is designed to assist communities to reinstate them to their original condition,” he said.
“Our war memorials are a sign of our enduring respect for the sacrifice made by so many and they also provide an opportunity for our younger generations to learn about and appreciate the legacy of our war veterans,” Mr Walsh said.
Applications for the grant close on February 5 2013 and forms can be accessed by phoning 1300 366 356 or by going to the grants website www.grants.dpcd.vic.gov.au or www.veterans.vic.gov.au

The Victorian Government’s Country Action and VicTalent grants will see even more people in Donald, Kerang and Charlton having the chance to take part in and boost their skills in sport.
Member for Swan Hill, Peter Walsh, today announced the funding recipients of the first phase of the 2013 grants program.
“Many of Victoria’s rural and regional teams, coaches and athletes cover large distances just to compete in their local competitions,” Mr Walsh said.
“The VicTalent grants help these Victorians with travel costs removing potential barriers to training, competition and realising their sporting ambitions.
“The Country Action Grant Scheme grants go a long way to help local sports organisations improve their administration and program delivery so they can provide even better participation opportunities,” he said.
Together the programs assist grassroots sport to increase their local skill base, implement best practice and promote active participation by helping to meet the travel costs.
“I am very pleased that the Kerang Badminton Association has received $4000 from the Country Action program and two grants of $500 each under the VicTalent banner,” Mr Walsh said.
“Charlton Golf Club has also received $500 to support its VicTalent nominee while the Adult Fitness Program out of the Donald Learning Group will receive $1440 to conduct Volunteer Lifeguard Training.
“Supporting local organisations to operate more effectively is just one of the many ways the Victorian Government is ensuring even more Victorians get their chance to play sport and get active, more often.
“By investing in great initiatives like these we can encourage more people to get involved in sport and recreation; increasing participation and improving our overall collective well being,” he said.
For further information on the grants visit www.grants.dpcd.vic.gov.au

Member for Swan Hill, Peter Walsh, today announced Coalition Government funding of $75,000 to upgrade the St Arnaud Community Cinema.
Representing Deputy Premier and Minister for Regional and Rural Development Peter Ryan, Mr Walsh said the funding would allow the cinema to expand its usage as a Community Culture and Entertainment Centre.
“This funding will upgrade the cinema’s projection equipment and train the community projectionists in the use of the new equipment,” Mr Walsh said.
Mr Walsh said the cinema screened 35mm films but this format was expected to no longer be available in 2013 when it is replaced across the nation by digital technology.
“Upgrading to digital technology will not only allow the community-operated St Arnaud Cinema to continue to operate, but in an improved way,” he said.
“The project will retain most of the existing equipment, including the sound system, bio-box and screen, with the lifespan of the new equipment expected to be 10 years at least.
“It will also enable additional screenings for the community with the quality of the digital technology expected to attract increased numbers to the cinema making it more viable.
“The project will help secure the cinema’s future because it is unlikely it will have a future if it doesn’t move to digital technology,” Mr Walsh said.
Mr Ryan said the Victorian Government funding towards the $100,000 St Arnaud Cinema Upgrade would be provided through the $1 billion Regional Growth Fund’s Putting Locals First Program with the Northern Grampians Shire Council and the St Arnaud Community Cinema Committee contributing $25,000 towards the project.
“Putting Locals First is a $100 million initiative designed to enable regional communities to plan and deliver the services and infrastructure to meet local priorities,” Mr Ryan said.
“It is supporting stronger and more sustainable regional communities by building their capacity to drive development in their region.”
The St Arnaud Community Cinema Upgrade project is expected to be completed in May 2013.

Peter Walsh, Member for Swan Hill, today joined with Deputy Premier and Regional and Rural Development Minister, Peter Ryan, to announce Government funding of $34,500 for Swan Hill Rural City Council to formulate a workforce development strategy.
Mr Walsh said the strategy was vital to ensure current and projected economic growth could be translated into ongoing, meaningful employment for the region’s residents.
“The Workforce Development Strategy is expected to deliver enhanced skills development and economic growth through employment opportunities that will translate into population growth for the region,” Mr Walsh said.
“Increasing educational attainment levels will increase local productivity and boost competitiveness by enabling businesses to operate more efficiently and effectively.”
The strategy will identify and address:
• Swan Hill Rural City’s current skills and qualification profile
• The emerging directions for industry and business in the municipality including growth and decline and identify the economic and community aspects which impact on these trends
• Secondary school pathways to careers and future employment opportunities
• Labour workforce and skill requirements, anticipated future workforce and identify expected skill gaps or barriers within the municipality focusing on health, manufacturing, agriculture and community services
• Employer satisfaction with current skills development opportunities, skills and qualifications required to support industry retention and growth.
The strategy will also involve liaison with employers, educational services and other key, local stakeholders and develop a focus group to understand the barriers to attracting and retaining skilled labour and develop practical measures to address common issues.
“The strategy will assist the Swan Hill Region to identify workforce development issues and associated training needs to address factors impacting on the region’s economic growth and prosperity,” Mr Ryan said.
Government funding towards the $47,500 Workforce Development Strategy would be provided through the $1 billion Regional Growth Fund’s Putting Locals First Program.
“Putting Locals First is a $100 million initiative designed to enable regional communities to plan and deliver the services and infrastructure to meet local priorities,” Mr Ryan said.
“It is supporting stronger and more sustainable regional communities by building their capacity to drive development in their region.”

The Coalition Government is supporting plans for a community-business hub at the Inglewood Town Hall with $30,000 in funding.
Making the announcement today along with Loddon Shire Mayor Geoff Curnow and Inglewood Ward Councillor Colleen Condliffe, Member for Swan Hill, Peter Walsh, said the funding would help Loddon Shire Council develop a business plan, operational charter, governance process and architectural plans for the hub.
“The development is a community driven project seeking to enable the redevelopment and revitalization of the historic Inglewood Town Hall, a highly valued but underused community facility,” Mr Walsh said.
“The project will deliver key pieces of work required to support the transformation of the Town Hall into a vibrant community-business hub and will complement the considerable amount of background work already undertaken.
“It will enable the project to reach a construction-ready stage whereby infrastructure development funds can be sought..
“Developing the community-business hub will provide jobs in the construction phase and, through provision of new infrastructure, enable business development and growth in Inglewood together with increased education and training opportunities.”
Mr Walsh said Loddon Shire was unique because it had no district centre but comprised a network of small towns in a largely agricultural landscape.
“Community-business hubs are key facilities supporting the resilience, liveability and sustainability of rural centres like those within this Shire,” he said.
Victorian Government funding towards the $45,200 Inglewood Town Hall Hub project would be provided through the $1 billion Regional Growth Fund’s Putting Locals First Program to the Loddon Shire Council.
“Putting Locals First is a $100 million initiative designed to enable regional communities to plan and deliver the services and infrastructure to meet local priorities,” Mr Ryan said.
“The program is designed to support stronger and more sustainable regional communities by building their capacity to drive development in their region.”
The Inglewood Town Hall Hub planning project is expected to be completed in February 2013.