Media Releases

Grants totalling $45,000 will help two Bendigo area Scout groups be prepared for a stronger and safer future, Nationals MP for Northern Victoria Region, Damian Drum, said today.

The 2nd Kangaroo Flat Scout hall will receive $30,000 and the 1st Eaglehawk Scout hall will get $15,000.

The money – from a new $4 million state-wide fund - will be used to carry out a range of internal repairs and renovations, including lining ceilings, improve ventilation, refurbish a kitchen and electrical work.

Mr Drum said modern Scouting groups needed modern facilities.

“For generations, the Scouting movement has been helping young people bring out their best, and it is great to see the Coalition State Government helping to maintain that reputation,” Mr Drum said.

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.

Girl Guides Victoria’s State Commissioner Robinette Emonson said: “We are looking forward to working closely with the state and local governments and the community to achieve outcomes which will be of benefit to everyone.”

Chief Commissioner of Scouts Victoria, Bob Taylor, said: “It is fantastic that the Victorian Government has recognised the importance and benefits of Scouting and Guiding in today’s society and are providing funding to assist us in upgrading our facilities across the state.”

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

The entire community of Greater Bendigo has taken an important step towards building new respect between men and women and ending the cycle of violence, the State Government’s Parliamentary Secretary for Regional Development, Damian Drum, said today.

Mr Drum officially opened a public forum, Achieving Respect and Gender Equality in Greater Bendigo, aimed at finding ways to end gender-based violence.

“Just as violence in our homes has devastating impacts on our entire community, so it is up to us all to develop a community-wide response.

‘One of the most pervasive and devastating forms of violence is the use of violence by men against women. It is a violation of the most fundamental rights of women and children – but it can be tackled only with commitment and direction.”

The forum brings together state and local governments, community groups, individuals and health and well-being agencies.

In 2010-11, police responded to 753 family violence reports in Bendigo, compared to 420 call outs in 2006-07.

“Statewide, there were 40,892 violence incidents reports – up 14.6 per cent in a year,” Mr Drum said.

“That’s why addressing violence against women and children is an important priority for the Coalition Government. We have invested more than $75 million this financial year to both prevent and respond to this issue.

“State Minister for Women’s Affairs, Mary Wooldridge has launched a new push to find better ways to address gender violence over the next three years. That project has already begun.

“And now we are also seeing local government inspiring us with its efforts to end the violence.

“The Coalition Government has invested just over $1.5 million helping local government build respectful, fair and non-violent communities.

“The Bendigo forum is part of that response,” Mr Drum said.

He said the forum, at Bendigo’s Capital Theatre, demonstrated the whole-of-community response to develop ways to deal with the problem.

“I congratulate the City of Greater Bendigo for its leadership in making this a community responsibility and a high priority,” Mr Drum said.

California Gully’s Men’s Shed will soon not only be a creative place for blokes – but also a safer place thanks to a Coalition State Government grant.
Nationals MP for Northern Victoria Region, Damian Drum announced today the Bendigo Men’s Shed would get an extra $2000 to help develop its occupational health and safety practices.
The money will be used to help train 10 supervisors in OH&S as well as to develop a Men’s Shed OH&S manual which could be shared with Men’s Sheds in other parts of the state.
Mr Drum said the California Gully Men’s Shed was expecting a significant rise in participation and wanted to have activities such as training sessions on occupational health and safety, first aid, governance, and to host networking events with sheds in other communities.
The grant was part of the State Government’s Capacity Building Fund.
“The OH&S project will have a broad outcome for the Men’s Shed movement,” Mr Drum said.
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.
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.

Bendigo has shared in another round of funding from the Flood Recovery Community Infrastructure Fund.
MP for Northern Victoria Region and Parliamentary Secretary for Regional Development, Damian Drum, announced today that seven projects in the City of Greater Bendigo, and nine in Loddon Shire would get more than $200,000.
Projects in the City of Greater Bendigo in the latest round of grants were:
Phoenix FM - Repair roof leaks - $100 (Fully completed)
Aged Care Services - Replace damaged carpet - $8,500 (Fully completed)
Bagshot Hall - Replace damaged floor coverings. Supply crushed rock to driveway to provide access to site - $2,575 + $850 (Fully completed)
Chinese Museum - Repair roof leak. Repair and replace damaged fire indicator panel due to water damage - $178.75 + $2,846.25 (Fully completed)
Dudley House - Repair roof leak - $66 (Fully completed)
Jaara Building - Inspect and dry carpet. Replace underlay - $513 (Fully completed)
Peter Krenz Leisure Centre - Undertake sanding, linemarking and coating to 1/3 stadium flooring as a result of flooding. - $12,174.98 (Fully completed)
More than $180,000 in grants were announced for Loddon Shire projects, mainly to make up for shortfalls in insurance payouts on damage to community facilities.
These included:
Bridgewater Bowling Club - $166,748.49
Bridgewater Public Toilets - $1,686.75
Pyramid Hill Pool Complex - $9782.21
Pyramid Hill Tennis Club - $13,177.27
Pyramid Hill CERT Hall - $33,249.25
Pyramid Hill Preschool - $5,800
7East Loddon Preschool - $3,774
Newbridge Public Hall - $34,165.28
9Boort Gun Club - $8,341

Mr Drum said even though it was now a year since last summer’s devastating floods, many small communities were still struggling to get back to normal.

“The Coalition State Government stands solidly with their communities in that work,’ he said.

Nine community projects in the Loddon Shire will received a total of $181,000 to continue the work of flood recovery, the MPs for Swan Hill, Peter Walsh, and Northern Victoria Region, Damian Drum, announced today.

In their joint statement, they said the grants, from the Flood Recovery Community Infrastructure Fund, would help meet shortfalls in insurance payouts on community assets damaged in last summer’s floods.

Mr Walsh said the community facilities were vital to the small towns and communities involved, and some were not able to meet the cost of covering insurance shortfalls.
Mr Drum said he hoped the grants would help the recovery both physically and emotionally.

The projects are:
Bridgewater Bowling Club - $166,748.49
Bridgewater Public Toilets - $1,686.75
Pyramid Hill Pool Complex - $9782.21
Pyramid Hill Tennis Club - $13,177.27
Pyramid Hill CERT Hall - $33,249.25
Pyramid Hill Preschool - $5,800
East Loddon Preschool - $3,774
Newbridge Public Hall - $34,165.28
Boort Gun Club - $8,341

Deputy Premier and Minister for Regional and Rural Development Peter Ryan said the funding was part of the $30 million Floods Recovery Community Infrastructure Fund, designed to help rebuild and repair infrastructure in flood affected communities across the state.

“It has been over twelve months since the Victoria was hit by flooding and the Coalition Government is continuing to support recovery efforts across the state,” Mr Ryan said.

“It is important that we stand shoulder to shoulder with flood-damaged communities as they continue to rebuild and recover from these devastating events.”

Bendigo’s reputation for producing some of Victorian thoroughbred racing’s
most celebrated champions is set to continue with the Victorian Coalition
Government last night announcing an $80,000 grant to upgrade the club’s
synthetic training track.


Attending the Melbourne launch of Bendigo’s premier Golden Mile Raceday
last night, Minister for Racing Denis Napthine said the Bendigo
Jockey Club had a proud tradition of producing winners.


“Known as our ‘Nursery of Champions’, Bendigo is a leading racing region
with the likes of Better Loosen Up, Bletchingly and Hyperno all winning
their first races here,” Dr Napthine said.


“By making sure the training facilities at the track remain of the highest
standard, I am confident Bendigo will be the breeding ground for many more
future champions.


“Providing top quality training facilities in Bendigo is also vital in
supporting the economy and employment within the racing industry which
contributes close to $250 million annually to the north central region and
generates jobs for more than 3,500 people.


“The Coalition Government is pleased to support this project with $40,000
from the Victorian Racing Industry Fund (VRIF) while a further $40,000 will
be jointly provided by Racing Victoria and Country Racing Victoria,” Dr
Napthine said.


Bendigo Jockey Club Chief Executive Officer Ian Hart said the club greatly
appreciated the support for the project which was necessary after wear and
tear, and heavy rainfall damaged the existing synthetic training facility.


“Bendigo racecourse is the training base for a large number of trainers and
horses and this upgrade will be of great benefit to those participants by
providing an improved alternative training surface,” Mr Hart said.


“The track upgrade is a joint investment between the Victorian Government
and Racing Victoria, to help resolve any drainage issues and provide a safe
and uniform surface for trainers to work their horses.


“Other works will include blending additional training synthetic material
and binder into the existing track and regulating the depth of the track,”
Mr Hart said.

State Government grants totalling more than $50,000 will help connect some of the more technologically isolated people in our region.
Parliamentary Secretary for Regional Development, and MP for Northern Victoria Region, Damian Drum, said today three groups in this region would share in the latest round of Community ICT Skills grants.
They would help people and groups which had previously found it hard to access Internet, email or computer technology.
The grants will go to:-
• Castlemaine and District Continuing Education: $20,700 for the Castlemaine Connected project designed to help people access online resources and job opportunities.
• Future Employment Opportunities: $8500 to upgrade technology equipment to enable free ICT training for seniors and those seeking jobs.
• Golden City Support Services: $25,000 to help targeted groups overcome their fears or other barriers to using the Internet.
Mr Drum said information technology skills were becoming essential for all people to be able to take a constructive part in modern life, and the grants would help many who up until now had been unable to access or use the technology.
Deputy Premier and Minister for Regional and Rural Development Peter Ryan said the Community ICT Skills Grants program supported community organisations to increase and develop the use of information and communication technology.

“Through this program, senior citizens, people with a disability, migrant and refugee communities and Victorians living in remote and isolated locations are being encouraged to get online and develop their skills and knowledge using computers and the internet.

“Effective use of technology not only promotes increased independence, it also provides another setting for social interaction and expands opportunities for employment and education.

“The Victorian Coalition Government is proud to support communities across the state through programs such as this,” Mr Ryan said

Nine Bendigo sporting and community facilities will benefit from the State Coalition Government’s latest round of flood recovery funding, Nationals MP for Northern victoria Region, Damian Drum said today.
The projects share in a $15.4 million package from the Flood Recovery Community Infrastructure Fund.
Mr Drum said the Bendigo grants would go towards repairing flood damage at the Canterbury Park sports ground, Strathdale Park, Wade Street recreation reserve, Malone park recreation reserve, Ewing Park, the Queen Elizabeth Oval, Eaglehawk Mechanic’s Institute and the North Bendigo recreation reserve.
The Bendigo grants total about $20,000.
“In most cases, buildings and assets in these reserves suffered minor damage compared to the massive damage elsewhere in the State,” Mr Drum said. ‘But for many small community organisations, even minor damage causes a lot of heart-ache.
“For example, about $5000 will help pay for damage done to flooring coverings and some buildings in Eaglehawk’s Canterbury Park. That might not mean a lot to some, but to the hard-working sporting community of Eaglehawk it is very important.
“The Government has been very mindful that last summer’s floods affected a wide range of organisations, communities and people.”
The grants were in response to applications from the City of Greater Bendigo which has already completed many of the repairs.
He said many organisations had few resources of their own to repair the damage and get on with life.
“Victoria’s flood-damaged communities continue to inspire us with their recovery efforts and the Coalition Government is standing by them and supporting them,” Mr Drum said.
That effort remains on-going.

A City of Greater Bendigo council decision to push for a 50-metre pool at Kangaroo Flat was a great result for the community, Nationals MP for Northern Victoria Region, Damian Drum, said today.
The Kangaroo Flat area was a fast-growing part of Greater Bendigo and the larger aquatic centre now planned would help meet the needs of a larger population.
Mr Drum said the push for a 50-metre pool instead of the previously planned 25-metre pool in a new aquatic centre had been backed by the Nationals candidate for Bendigo West, Steven Oliver, in the lead-up to the 2010 State election.
“There has been a strong community campaign for the full sized pool and I’m glad to see that the City Council has listened to the community.
“A full-sized indoor pool will cater for a broad cross section of the community in the southern parts of the city: right through from children and teenagers to families and the elderly.
“I feel it will also become an important resource for schools south of the CBD.
“I also believe that a full-sized pool can only boost the level of sport competition in our region.”
Mr Drum said he looked forward to working with the City of Greater Bendigo in developing and then delivering the aquatic centre project.
“A lot still has to be done in areas such as innovative design and sustainability, but I now feel that work has truly begun,” he said.

A comprehensive review of the Bendigo Residential Strategy will be carried out with the help of a $50,000 Victorian Government grant announced today by the State Government.

The review has been planned because of Bendigo’s phenomenal growth.

The announcement was made by Parliamentary Secretary for Regional Development Damian Drum, in Bendigo on behalf of the Regional Development Minister Peter Ryan.

Mr Drum said the Bendigo Residential Strategy Review would deliver greater community and investor certainty, helping the region grow.

“The Bendigo Residential Development Strategy was adopted in 2004 and is currently being audited because of the faster than anticipated growth that has occurred in Bendigo in recent years,” he said.

Mr Ryan said: “Of the forecast growth between 2006 and 2031, about 40 per cent has been realised. “

The Residential Strategy impacts directly on where and how property developments use “infill” parcels of land, range of housing styles and also on housing affordability.

“This project will review the strategy, assess current and estimated land supply and demand and consider various legislative and policy changes.

“It will also consider the latest demographic data and establish a new strategic framework to guide the long-term residential growth of Greater Bendigo.

“The project will result in a revised residential strategy that will give developers, the community and service providers greater surety and confidence about where land can be developed for residential purposes, and that sufficient land is available to accommodate the City of Greater Bendigo’s future growth.”

Mr Ryan said a contemporary strategic planning framework was essential to the economic development of a large regional centre like Bendigo.

“Clearly identifying future growth options and supporting infrastructure needs will enable the Greater Bendigo City Council and other infrastructure providers to plan their capital works programs well in advance,” Mr Ryan said.

“Identifying long-term growth areas will enable the council and other service authorities to start planning for the delivery of services, thereby minimising the lag time between when residential development occurs and when the services need to be in place.”

Mr Drum said: “Strong residential growth has many flow-on economic benefits and having a clear framework for future development will position Greater Bendigo City Council to undertake more detailed, place-based planning in the future.”

Victorian Government funding for the Bendigo Residential Strategy Review would be provided to Greater Bendigo City Council. The review was expected to be complete by the middle of next year.