Archives: Media Releases

SUTHERLAND HOSPITAL TO RECEIVE $496,000 FOR MENTAL HEALTH INFRASTRUCTURE UPGRADES

I am proud to announce that mental health facilities at Sutherland Hospital will benefit from almost $500,000 in funding as part of a NSW Government investment to upgrade mental health infrastructure in NSW.

Sutherland Hospital Acute Unit will receive $496,000 to build a new multipurpose room, replace bedroom and bathroom doors and to purchase equipment to enhance the mental health unit.

Well-designed physical spaces in acute mental health units help dignify our mental health consumers by meeting their needs for recovery, security, and connection.

This funding will create therapeutic environments to support person centred care that responds to past trauma, focusing on individual recovery.

Projects were funded after a partnership of Local Health Districts (LHDs) working with consumers and carers.

LHDs and specialty networks have received a share of $20 million to make important improvements, the first initiative of the NSW Government’s $700 million Mental Health Infrastructure program.

This is part of the NSW Government’s long term plan to help our mental health facilities refresh their physical environment so they support modern care models.

The $20 million investment is focused on delivering immediate benefits to help reduce, and where possible eliminate, the use of seclusion and restraint in NSW acute mental health facilities.

This funding is in addition to this year’s record $2.1 billion State Budget for mental health services. Planning continues for the remainder of the $700 million state wide Mental Health Infrastructure Program, with a focus on enhancing specialist services.

If you or someone you know needs crisis support please call Lifeline 13 11 14. For local mental health services phone NSW Mental Health Line 1800 011 511.

 

 

 

 

DETAILS OF STAGE 1 OF SUTHERLAND TO CRONULLA ACTIVE TRANSPORT LINK ANNOUNCED

I welcome the announcement of Stage 1 of the Sutherland to Cronulla Active Transport Link.


Early work is proposed to start later this year with major construction for Stage 1 underway in early 2019. Plans for Stage 1 are open for community consultation and feedback is invited until 5pm on 4 November.


Stage 1 starts from McCubbens Lane in Sutherland and travels along the northern side of President Avenue through to Pollard Park, Kirrawee. The active transport link will connect key destinations, such as transport interchanges, schools, residential areas and shopping precincts.


Future stages between Kirrawee and Cronulla will make greater use of the rail corridor while still connecting key destinations like transport interchanges, parks, retail and business precincts, and Cronulla Beach.


Details on the Stage 1 plans, community pop-up sessions and how you can have your say can be found at www.transport.nsw.gov.au/projects.

 

 

 

NEW AND EXTENDED CLEARWAYS

I welcome the new weekend and extended weekday clearways along Taren Point Road between Captain Cook Bridge, Taren Point and Kingsway, Caringbah which start 6am Monday 22 October 2018.

 

Taren Point Road is the gateway to the eastern end of the Shire. Most eastern Shire road users leave and enter the Shire through it.

 

The new weekend and extended weekday clearways will operate in both directions on Taren Point Road between Captain Cook Bridge and The Boulevarde/Captain Cook Drive from 6am to 7pm on weekdays and from 9am to 6pm on weekends and public holidays. On Taren Point Road between The Boulevarde/Captain Cook Drive and Kingsway, the new weekday clearways will operate in both directions from 6am to 10am and from 3pm to 7pm, Monday to Friday.

 

Additional parking restrictions will also start at the intersections of Taren Point Road with The Boulevard/Captain Cook Drive and Kingsway.

 

To provide replacement parking, the NSW Government provided funding to Sutherland Shire Council to reconfigure kerbside parking on Box Road (west of Taren Point Road). There will be an additional 17 angle parking spaces on Box Road and nine 2P parking spaces on Kumulla Road for business customers.

 

I have strongly advocated for more or extended clearways on main roads in the Sutherland Shire.

SHIRE BEACHES READY FOR SUMMER SWIMMING

I welcome the overall strong results for Shire swimming spots in the State of the Beaches 2017-18 report released last weekend.


7 out of 8 Cronulla ocean beaches (Greenhills, Wanda, Elouera, North Cronulla, Cronulla, Shelly Beach and Oak Park) “had excellent water quality and were suitable for swimming almost all of the time”.


Of the other monitored Shire spots, Boat Harbour, Silver Beach, Gunnamatta Bay baths, Lilli Pilli baths, Horderns Beach, Jibbon Beach and Como baths were all “good” and only Gymea Bay baths were “poor”.


Among NSW government measures to improve reliability of the sewerage system, the Cronulla Wastewater Treatment Plant had a $46 million upgrade completed in 2014, the Woolooware Bay pumping station had a $4.5 million upgrade complete in 2016 and $3 million has been invested in new valves and controllers at Kurnell.


Details, including on other work being done to improve water quality locally, at https://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/-/media/OEH/Corporate-Site/Documents/Water/Beaches/state-of-beaches-2017-2018-sydney-180382.pdf

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

FUNDING FOR GERMAN SATURDAY SCHOOL SYDNEY

The German Saturday School Sydney, which runs German language classes at Grays Point Public School, will receive $7,300 in funding from the NSW Government.

The Community Language Schools Program provides funding to community organisations to help establish and run language schools in the local area.

The NSW Government is providing more than $5 million in funding to support community language schools.

Community language schools are vital for young people to maintain strong links to their heritage and cultural identity.

The NSW Government was dedicated to supporting education in all its forms.

CRONULLA PARK GETS FUNDING BOOST

I am delighted to announce that Cronulla Park will benefit from a $100,000 grant thanks to the NSW Government’s Crown Reserves Improvement Fund.


The funding will be used for the construction of a viewing platform at Cronulla Park. The works will be carried out in conjunction with the redevelopment of the Cronulla Surf Club.


Our beaches are such an invaluable asset to the community so it is great news that this project will be funded along with the Surf Club redevelopment.


The Crown Reserves Improvement Fund supports programs that allow communities and visitors alike to continue to enjoy local land and facilities.


The NSW Government has invested $115 million over seven years into Crown land projects, including a record investment this year of more than $20 million across the state.

 

 

 

 

 

CLEARWAYS PROGRESSING FOR TAREN POINT ROAD

New weekend and extended weekday clearways along Taren Point Road are one step closer with work starting yesterday on providing new business customer parking.

The NSW Government is funding the clearway project as part of its program to reduce congestion and delays on Sydney’s roads.

The NSW Government is providing funding to Sutherland Shire Council to reconfigure existing parking on Box Road to provide an additional 17 spaces, six of which will be 2P spaces.

Nine unrestricted parking spaces on Kumulla Road will also be converted into 2P parking spaces which will operate from 8:30am to 6pm, seven days a week.

The alternative business parking will be available when the new and extended clearways are introduced later this year.

Work to reconfigure parking is expected to be completed next month, weather permitting.

For more information about the Sydney Clearways Strategy visit rms.nsw.gov.au/clearways.

NEW RETURN AND EARN POINT IN CARINGBAH

New reverse vending machines (RVMs) for the NSW container deposit scheme Return and Earn have been installed at the Caringbah Bowling and Recreation Club, 105 Willarong Rd, Caringbah.

 

Return and Earn is the largest litter reduction initiative to be introduced in NSW. 3.6 million containers have already been collected at the two other reverse vending machine kiosks in the Cronulla area and more than 580 million across NSW.

 

RVMs provide community users a refund in three ways. They can:

  • Receive the refund into a registered PayPal account by scanning the myTOMRA app code on your smartphone at the machine
  • Collect a printed voucher that can be redeemed for either cash or an in-store purchase at the retail partner (in this case it is Coles)
  • Donate to one of the donation partners listed on the machine

 

Local community groups, schools, sports groups and charities can also apply to become a local donation partner on the machine so people returning containers to the site can choose to donate them their refund.

 

Drink containers eligible for the 10 cent refund include most containers between 150ml and three litres. Containers must be intact (not crushed or broken) and have a readable barcode to be eligible for the refund.

 

Residents can still use their kerbside recycling bins for ineligible drink containers. They can also still place their eligible containers into the kerbside recycling bins or even donate them to local charities or community groups that are collecting them for fundraising purposes.

 

For more information, including a return point map, eligible drink containers, and how to apply to become a donation partner, visit: www.returnandearn.org.au.

 

 

 

 

 

 

SYDNEY MARINE PARK INCLUDES SHIRE SITES

The NSW government’s proposed Sydney Marine Park includes 25 sites between Newcastle and Wollongong is a significant advance for marine conservation across the Hawkesbury bioregion, including in particular the Sutherland Shire. As a coastal MP and former Environment Minister, I know how important it is to protect and nurture our marine environment and to implement measures that aim to protect and increase our marine biodiversity.


The Towra Point Aquatic Reserve will grow by 349ha, to incorporate additional adjacent Posidonia australis seagrass and shorebird habitat as a special purpose zone. The reserve protects the largest and most diverse wetland complex in the Sydney region. It’s adjacent to the Towra Point Nature Reserve, a wetland of international importance and declared Ramsar site. It’s also an important nursery area for fish and invertebrates, a habitat for migratory seabirds, and rich in marine biodiversity.


Cabbage Tree Creek, a small tidal creek on the southern side of Port Hacking, will be a new 23ha sanctuary zone. The area contains extensive estuarine habitats, including saltmarsh, seagrass and mangroves. It’s a significant area for the local Aboriginal community, as is Towra Point.


An 85ha conservation zone in Royal National Park will go from Martin Head south to the northern end of Garie Beach, including Wattamolla Beach and Wattamolla Lagoon, and 100m seaward.


Some old favourites will be included with no changes to management rules, such as Boat Harbour and Shiprock.


All proposed sites have been carefully analysed by the NSW Marine Estate Management Authority following extensive community consultation. You can provide feedback at: https://www.marine.nsw.gov.au/key-initiatives/hawkesbury-shelf-marine-assessment. Submissions close 27 September.


An information stall will be visiting Cronulla Mall on 15 September from 8 am to 12 noon.

 

 

 

 

 

NSW GOVERNMENT COMMUNITY SERVICE AWARD

George Capsis has received a NSW Government Community Service award for his support of some of the most vulnerable and marginalised in our community.


The NSW Government Community Service Award recognises individuals in NSW who have substantially helped to improve the quality of life of members of their community. This is beyond what would reasonably be expected in their usual occupation.


George founded Community Outreach Ministries in 1987 and has provided support to people disadvantaged by mental illness, homelessness, drug or alcohol abuse, suicide and family crisis.


In 2006 George received the Order of Australia Medal for his service to the community through the Community Outreach Ministries.


Each year Community Outreach Ministries holds an event in Cronulla to promote crucial public issues. This May, the “Good News Day” event highlighted people with disability and the work of their carers.
George has also represented the community in his role as a Sutherland Shire Councillor from 2008 to 2012 and was elected to the role of deputy mayor in 2011/2012.


George also served for a period of 17 years from 1986 as the Cronulla Sharks Rugby League team chaplain.


George is an active member of his community and is a deserving recipient of the NSW Government Community Service Award.