|
|||
 |
Tickets to these concerts, which are held each December, and in March during Seniors' Week, are available to seniors 60 years and over. Tickets, which are free, may be obtained through Ticketmaster in person by visiting any of the outlets, online at www.ticketmaster.com.au, or by phoning 1300 855 501 (expect delays).
Tickets are strictly limited to a maximum of four per person.
Members of Parliament are offered a limited number of tickets to distribute to seniors in their electorate. If you would like to enter a ballot to receive any surplus tickets, please contact my office.
Are you a member of a club, or a community / Interest group operating in the Lake Macquarie electorate (eg pensioners, Probus, Lions, RSL etc)?
If so, by ensuring my office has your organisation's contact details your group can be kept up to date with information which could be of assistance.  If you need to be appointed as a JP, either within your local community or in your employment, click here to download an application form. |
|
Posted 23 July 2010 Morisset businesses hit by loss of Dora Street parking Greg Piper, Member for Lake Macquarie, today expressed his concerns over the loss of parking spaces in Dora Street Morisset with completion of the Morisset Bus Interchange. According to Mr Piper, the proposed cycle lane on the southern side and the "no stopping" area on the northern side will both severely reduce the parking spaces vital for local businesses. "It was disappointing to see the RTA's plans for an on-road cycleway extending to Doyalson Street, because the 200-metre section south of the railway station entrance will be of little value for cyclists," Mr Piper said. "There is a great need for cycle routes connecting to the railway station from the north and west, but there appears to be little benefit by continuing the cycle lane an extra block to the south," Mr Piper said. "This would not provide useful cycle access to shops in Morisset and offers no useful or safe connection to Morisset's residential or recreation areas." "The benefit to cyclists now or in future is arguable and certainly lower than the benefit of the existing car spaces to local business." "The loss of parking in front of the shops is disappointing, because it would eliminate parking at all hours, yet for most of the day there is no real need to use the kerbside as a traffic lane." Mr Piper is deeply concerned at the RTA's lack of consultation with the business community because of the increasing disadvantage of existing small businesses against major new shopping centres. "I have twice written to the Minister for Roads outlining my concerns and asking him to ensure better consultation with the local community to achieve a more acceptable result and I'm awaiting the Minister's reply," Mr Piper added. You can read my letters to the Minister for Roads below: Letter 16th July 2010 Letter 22nd July 2010 
Petition to fix Main Road 217*
The section of MR217 through Toronto has inadequate merging and turning lanes and is above the state average for the number of collisions.
I have been working hard to get the road widened and have raised it in Parliament six times, as well as writing many letters to the Minster for Roads and the RTA.
The RTA has proposed an interim solution of painting new road markings (details here), but this will not be a proper solution and will reduce part of the road from 4 to 3 lanes.
I have started a petition to Parliament asking for the road to be widened with improved merging and turning lanes. There has already been great public interest and you can help by downloading the petition (here) and collecting as many signatures as you can. There is a notice (here) that will help you display the petition on a shop counter or desk. I'm sure the petition will be well supported and I thank you for you assistance. The petition's return details are on the bottom of the sheet.
*MR217 is the historic name and working title for the major north-south road through Toronto, although it is signposted as 133.
Posted 15 July 2010 Greg Piper keeps it local in a big electorate Greg Piper, Member for Lake Macquarie, has again offered to visit constituents in their homes, rather than expecting them to make the trip to his office in Toronto. Greg is available to visit people in their homes at these dates and locations: Posted 02 July 2010 Call to nominate Lake Macquarie's best scientists Greg Piper, Member for Lake Macquarie, is encouraging the community to nominate local scientists and science teachers for the 2010 NSW Scientist of the Year award. According to Mr Piper, the NSW Office for Science and Medical Research awards $5,000 in prize money in six categories, as well as a $55,000 overall NSW Scientist of the Year award. The $85,000 in prize money will recognise and reward research that generates economic, health, environmental or technological benefits for the State. NSW has a good reputation for science research and practice and these awards offer people a great chance to celebrate the achievements of our best local performers. There is also an award for a high school teacher demonstrating leadership in teaching science or mathematics. This year the nomination form has been simplified to make it easier to nominate our talented scientists and teachers. "We need to encourage local students to take up careers in science and we know that teachers play a key role in student decisions to continue on a science path," Mr Piper said. "That's why it's so important for us to reward and encourage teachers to keep inspiring our kids." "The NSW Scientist of the Year Awards are now in their third year, and offer one of the highest science award prize-pools in the country," Mr Piper added. The six award categories for 2010 are: Posted 02 July 2010 Sports funding for Lake Macquarie Greg Piper, Member for Lake Macquarie, is pleased with the announcement of over $43,000 in state funding for sporting groups in the Lake Macquarie electorate. Five sporting groups will benefit from grants under the Sport and Recreation Facility Grant Program. "This is great news for these sporting groups, who can now benefit from improved facilities," Mr Piper said. "It's a big effort for the volunteers who run these groups and they deserve support in improving their facilities and equipment." According to Mr Piper, the grant program provides up to 50% of the total project cost, with local funding providing the rest. "This year applications were made on-line, which simplified the process for applicants," Mr Piper added. "I would like to thank the Minister for Sport and Recreation, Kevin Greene, for supporting sporting groups in this area," Mr Piper said. The successful applicants are: Posted 29 June 2010 Regional Achievement and Community Awards Greg Piper, Member for Lake Macquarie, wants community groups to be rewarded for their efforts. Using the slogan of 'Stand up and be Counted' Mr Piper is inviting those doing good deeds in our community to apply for a share of $30,000 in prizes through the NSW/ACT Regional Achievement & Community Awards. Nominations are now open in the following categories: Posted 23 June 2010 Cary Street demands action In Parliament today Greg Piper, Member for Lake Macquarie, asked the Minister for Roads when work will start on widening Cary Street Toronto. Mr Piper's question referred to the section of Cary Street between the Boulevarde and Bay Street having an accident rate above the state average and the fact that so far this year four children have been hit by cars. In his reply, the Minister spoke of short-term safety measures at the Bay St traffic lights in response to recent accidents involving school pupils. He also referred to the money already allocated for planning, but he added that the RTA would proceed with property acquisitions. "For two years I've been asking the RTA and the Minister for Roads to get on with improvements to this dangerous road," Mr Piper said. "The intersection at Victory Parade is just one of five within 400 metres and it has had 64 collisions over the last three years." "This short stretch of road is causing growing traffic delays and dangerous driving, yet most of the land needed for road widening has already been acquired," Mr Piper added. "I'm pleased that for the first time a Minister has shown any support for buying the last of the land needed for road widening. It should now be a simple decision to just get on with the job." "There are safety issues at the school crossing and I welcome any improvement here but this road deserves a complete solution to the congestion and chaos. Safety for school pupils will be one important part of the upgrade." "The people of the Toronto area are waiting for this problem to be fixed - and hoping that there isn't a death while they wait." Mr Piper has also launched a petition calling for improvements to Main Road 217 in central Toronto. Copies can be downloaded here or from his office. "There has already been a good response to the petition and there are a lot of people who want to be heard on this issue. Posted 15 June 2010 Community Building Partnership 2010 Greg Piper, Member for Lake Macquarie, is inviting applications from community organisations for funding under this year's Community Building Partnership program. The NSW Government will provide up to $400,000 for use by sporting, social and environmental groups, charities and local councils to build and improve facilities in their local area. According to Mr Piper, applicants should demonstrate how their project would benefit their local community through building or improving facilities to deliver positive social, recreational or environmental outcomes. "Last year's projects delivered a range of improvements across the electorate," Mr Piper said. "I look forward to seeing new applications for projects to provide facilities that will improve community life." "Applications will be accepted until Friday 23 July 2010, Mr Piper said. "Projects must be ready to commence by late 2010 and be completed before the end of December 2011." Last year ten applications were successful in the Lake Macquarie electorate, ranging from $10,987 to $80,000. The funds were mostly spent on improvements to existing buildings. Information on this year's grants program is available at www.communitybuildingpartnership.nsw.gov.au and applications can be made online. Posted 08 June 2010 Budget Misdirection Greg Piper, Member for Lake Macquarie, has criticised today's budget for its election focus concentrating on Sydney and the government's marginal electorates. " While nine of the electorate's 28 public schools have been directly targeted for improvement, most of the school funding has already been announced or is funded through the Rudd government's Building the Education Revolution scheme" Mr Piper said. "The same applies to housing, with most funding coming from the Nation Building Economic Stimulus Plan." "I am pleased that $500,000 has been allocated to plan road improvements between Toronto and Booragul, but the problems along Main Road 217 desperately need action - not just planning" Mr Piper said. "There has been a regional approach to funding health services, with no projects targeting Lake Macquarie." "Lake Macquarie residents will benefit from some items outside the electorate, in particular the new Police headquarters at Glendale" Mr Piper said. "To a large extent, people from western Lake Macquarie are forced to travel out of the area to access the services they need." "This continues the Labor tradition of ignoring services such as health and education in the Lake Macquarie electorate." "This budget makes a very modest allocation of funds to Lake Macquarie as the government is trying desperately to stem the electoral haemorrhage in other seats." The Treasurer also announced the continuation of the Community Building Partnership, with Lake Macquarie to receive $400,000. "There were a lot of worthy applications for last year's funding, so I'm looking forward to distributing this year's money to deserving groups," Mr Piper said. |
|
|
|||||