Belinda Neal - Member for Robertson
The Peninsula has received a number of significant investments from the Federal Government this year.
Schools on the Peninsula are now being transformed with new classrooms replacing old demountable buildings.
The parks, playgrounds, community buildings and major sporting facilities have been greatly improved all across the Peninsula."
The eight primary schools on the Peninsula received a total of $17.56 million to build new classrooms facilities, multi-purpose halls and special education facilities.
Another $1.55 million was spent upgrading these primary schools as well as both campuses of Brisbane Secondary Water College, which also received 345 new computers.
I am very proud to say that across the Robertson electorate more than $84 million has been spent on our schools.
This program is providing a real jobs boost for local tradespeople, contractors and small businesses.
The biggest single transformation has been the new Peninsula Recreation Precinct at Umina Beach, which was funded under the Federal Government's Community Infrastructure Program, with $3 million being invested to build a world-class recreation and sporting facility.
So far the Federal Government has provided Gosford Council with more than $5 million under this innovative infrastructure program, which has upgraded numerous other community buildings, parks, playgrounds and ovals such as the expanded and revamped Rogers Park at Woy Woy.
Other highlights in 2009 included the roll-out of CCTV security cameras at Woy Woy, Umina and Ettalong and the opening of a second Centrelink Office in Woy Woy to serve the people of the Peninsula.
In August, I inspected a $1.4 million federally-funded social housing project in Everglades Cres, Woy Woy, with a similar $1.9 million project also underway at Umina Beach.
These two projects were managed by local firm Baxter O'Hara Building and will employ about 75 local tradespeople and labourers and four apprentices.
Quality aged care is a Federal Government priority for the Peninsula and in September I opened the new $1.65 million Yaringaa Dementia Day Care Centre in Woy Woy, which was majority funded by the Federal Government.
Sports and healthy lifestyles were not neglected either.
Ocean Beach Surf Lifesaving Club's under-15s Male Water Team was announced as winner of the inaugural round of the Federal Government's 2009 Local Sporting Champions program.
The $3000 award helped the boys compete in the National Surf lifesaving Championships in Perth in March.
In October, the Federal Government announced an investment of $110,000 to build a shared pedestrian-cyclist pathway through the Woy Woy CBD.
In May, I was a guest at the Federal Government-sponsored and world-renowned science expo Questacon at the Peninsula Leisure Centre.
This hands-on learning experience attracted large crowds and toured through 25 schools in Robertson.
The Peninsula News celebrated its 10th Anniversary in April,2009, and I had the pleasure of sending a message of congratulations on this significant local milestone.
2009 has been a year a great progress on the Peninsula.
This year's achievements show that when Government and community work together in partnership, great things can be accomplished.
Letter, 10 Dec 2009
Belinda Neal, Member for Robertson