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Collapse Issue 403 - 03 Oct 2016Issue 403 - 03 Oct 2016
Collapse  NEWS NEWS
Council drops land sale plans
NBN audit to be conducted by local industry group
Council acts after canal algae blamed for pelican deaths
Department 'should formulate' pelican management plan
Administrator defers trust wind-up proposal
Projects continued this financial year
Council announces lease of Woy Woy cafe
Community garden is best on the Coast
Residents get together to plant street trees
Council to run green living workshops
Bays brigade celebrates 50 years
Disabled runabout towed to safety
Tibetian monks to learn to surf
Wicks reiterates commitment to election promises
Expressions of interest in Patonga Hotel close
Major sponsor secured for Oyster Festival
Rotarians return from Uganda visit
Umina pie-maker competes in Melbourne
Collapse  FORUM FORUM
Happy memories of 'Runway Park'
Woy Woy, Umina or Blackwall?
Speak up to protect beautiful area
Boxing is dangerous, no place in civilised society
Speaking for animal lovers
Collapse  HEALTH HEALTH
Program about tuning in to teens
Free hearing checks offered
Brain cancer fundraiser
Peninsula Village will hold family open day
Poetry performed at retirement village
Collapse  ARTS ARTS
Woytopia to feature live music, stalls and talks
Remake of 1936 film shows Peninsular Paradise
Jez Lowe comes to Troubadour
Line-up announced for Opera in the Arboretum
Foundation awards for young artists
Craft centre displays works
Painter exhibits at Norah Head
Collapse  EDUCATION EDUCATION
Volunteers sought to run ethics classes
Reading program places available
Students compete in zone athletics
Students visit Canberra
Olympic-themed carnival
Girls football team vies for State title
Collapse  SPORT SPORT
Liesl Tesch to be honoured with civic reception
Umina bowls rookie makes two State finals
Surf club members bring home world medals
Bowls day to honour Ken McMorrow
Life membership for Pat Toohey
Bowlers raise $1240

Wicks reiterates commitment to election promises

The Federal Member of Robertson, Ms Lucy Wicks, has reiterated her commitment to her key 2016 election promises for the Peninsula.

"The Coalition is committed to working with Central Coast Council to help fix local roads on the Peninsula," Ms Wicks said.

"It's no longer acceptable that people in suburbs like Umina should have to put up with second-rate roads," she said.

"We're committed to fixing these roads, which will also help to free up Council to direct its resources to other priority roads more quickly.

"The funding for Ryans Rd in Umina Beach, and Murray and Davis St at Booker Bay include essential upgrades to kerb and guttering, widening footpaths and improving drainage."

According to Ms Wicks, the $2.75 million investment includes: $1.1 million for Murray St, Booker Bay; $900,000 for Davis St, Booker Bay; and $750,000 for Ryans Rd, Umina.

"I have recently written to the Minister for Infrastructure and Transport, Mr Darren Chester, and the Minister for Urban Infrastructure, Mr Paul Fletcher, to obtain an update on these projects, which I want to see delivered as soon as possible.

"I have been advised that the Australian Government must speak to the New South Wales Government, to seek information such as the proposed profiling and funding allocations to projects as appropriate.

"The timing for the delivery of the individual commitments will depend on the complexity of the project and the current status of planning.

"Before any funding can be released, States are required to submit detailed Project Proposal Reports to the Department of Infrastructure and Regional Development which outline information such as project scope, cost and timing.

"Once the Project Proposal Reports have been received we will move to implement these important projects as soon as possible.

"To assist in this process, I have also undertaken a detailed briefing with Central Coast Council.

"I am advised that planning is underway, and I will continue to work with the Council to ensure that these projects are delivered," she said.

Ms Wicks also pledged during the election campaign that she would make a funding boost to the Umina PCYC.

"I was pleased to announce further support for our area during the 2016 campaign, with a funding boost to New South Wales Police Citizens Youth Clubs," Ms Wicks said.

"The funding supports communities at the grass roots to help address crime and anti-social behaviour, and support local crime prevention initiatives to keep our streets safe.

"It's not only an investment in our local PCYC in Umina, but also to help our young people and families on the Central Coast.

"The commitment is part of a wider $1.2 million investment in PCYCs across NSW to undertake Project Booyah, a police-run leadership and mentor program that uses adventure-based learning, resilience training and policing strategies to help young people years make better life choices.

"The 20-week early-intervention program is for young people aged 14 to 17 years.

"It has been running in Queensland since 2011 and the results speak for themselves.

"Almost 80 per cent of young participants have re-engaged in education and 63 per cent of graduates have gained some form of employment or work experience as a result of the program," she said.

Ms Wicks also provided information about the status of her promise to improve mobile coverage at Killcare.

"During the 2016 election campaign, we were able to announce that Killcare will receive improved mobile phone coverage, as part of an additional $60 million in funding to extend the Mobile Black Spot Program.

"New mobile base stations in these areas will bring a much-needed boost, providing benefits to emergency service operators, businesses and residents.

"To help to keep our communities informed about the process, I have written to the Minister for Regional Communications, Senator Fiona Nash, for an update.

"The next steps involve the Government inviting mobile network operators to bid for funding from the list of priority locations, including Killcare.

"The Government will then ensure that that funding is provided to build new base stations on the priority list, subject to receipt of an application from at least one mobile network operator.

"It's also expected that co-contributions will be received from State and Local Government, mobile network operators and third parties.

"Because of the need for better coverage there is also a possibility that Killcare may be included in an earlier round of funding, which will be finalised by the end of 2016.

"It's expected that the rollout on new or upgraded base stations will be completed over the next three years.

"I acknowledge that there is a desperate need for better mobile coverage, and I will continue to fight to see these towers delivered as soon as possible.

"Many regions have previously been overlooked by mobile network operators due to commercial factors.

"They were also overlooked by Labor, who despite being in Government for six years, did not spend one single dollar on improving mobile coverage," she said.

"Plans are already underway for a community event to be held in Killcare on this issue before the end of the year."

Ms Wicks' final promise to the Peninsula community during the election campaign was for the installation of free wi-fi at Woy Woy train station and continuous mobile coverage to Sydney.

"This is a commitment that's been well received by our community, particularly our hard-working commuters," she said.

"There are more than 60 kilometres of rail between Wyong and Hornsby where commuters currently face little or no mobile data coverage.

"Our commitment will allow commuters to access emails, browse the internet and use social media while on the long train journey to and from work.

"Wi-Fi will also be made available at train stations to give commuters broadband access while waiting for trains to arrive at the platform.

"Many commuters have already asked me for details on the next steps.

"I have recently spoken with the Minister for Communications, Senator Mitch Fifield, to obtain an update, and also asked about the matter in Parliament Question Time.

"I'm advised that the $12 million commitment is on track, and expected to leverage an additional $4 million investment from the NSW Government.

"The NSW Government will also provide in-kind assistance in facilitating access to land along the rail corridor, and help arrange planning approvals for new and upgraded telecommunications infrastructure.

"Funding will be awarded through an expression of interest process, taking bids from interested telecommunications network providers.

"This is expected to be underway within months, with work on track to begin by the end of 2017, so that we can deliver the free Wi-Fi hot spots and continuous mobile coverage that our commuters deserve."

Ms Wicks said Peninsula residents are welcome to contact her office on 4322 2400 if they have any questions about her election commitments or other issues or they can email lucy.wicks.mp@aph.gov.au.

Updates on these projects are also regularly posted on her Facebook and Twitter @LucyWicksMP, or you can sign up to Ms Wick's monthly e-newsletter via www.lucywicks.com.au.





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