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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 interested in attending events, which are cost-free, for people aged 55 years and over? Bookings are required for the events listed in Lake Macquarie Seniors Program February 2010.
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 so, are you or your group aware that there is new legislation governing community groups - the Associations Incorporation Bill 2009 which was introduced on 7 April this year.
The new laws improve accountability and financial stability governing community services and groups. Incorporated groups can include community groups such as sporting and interest clubs, service clubs and non-government organisations.
Click on the link to view the Explanatory Notes and to view the legislation click on Associations Incorporation Bill 2009
The Public Consultation Draft Retirement Villages Regulation 2009 and the Regulatory Impact Statement will be of interest. Click on Retirement Villages.
You can also comment on the Regulation. Comments close 4 November 2009.
 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. |
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Posted 24 March 2009
Gas the way to go ... NOW!
Greg Piper, Member for Lake Macquarie, has called on the NSW Government to make a commitment to gas rather than coal for new base load power stations. Through questions in Parliament and letters to Ministers, Mr Piper has championed the call for gas as a transitional energy source and is vindicated by the Minister for Energy's statement yesterday that NSW needs to change to gas to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
According to Mr Piper, Energy Minister John Robertson told the Committee for the Economic Development of Australia yesterday that NSW needs to do more to attract investment in gas-fired generation.
"The Minister appears to have accepted the valid and significant reasons for switching to gas," Mr Piper said. "I have long argued this point and I'm glad that the Government now agrees."
"The hypocrisy is that just this month the Minister for Planning gave concept approval for two base load power stations that can be fuelled by coal," Mr Piper said. "With the Minister for Energy now acknowledging that gas emits less than half of the carbon dioxide of coal, we need to see the coal option ruled out."
"The Government can't hide its head in the sand while private operators choose the cheapest and dirtiest fuel," Mr Piper said.
Mr Piper has written to the Premier asking for a commitment that the approved developments sites in the Hunter Valley and at Lithgow will only be sold to private investors prepared to develop the gas option.
"This will undo the recent folly of approving coal as an option," Mr Piper said.
According to Mr Piper, there are ways for the Government to ensure gas supply to the new power stations, including the proposed Hunter gas pipeline that already has approval to run within 7km of the Bayswater site.
"In response to my questioning, Parliament has been told that a plan to secure additional gas supplies for New South Wales is the major element of the Government's clean energy policy," Mr Piper said. "This policy is useless if it's not brought into practice."
Posted 22 February 2010 HUGE BOOST FOR RAINFOREST PROJECT Greg Piper, Member for Lake Macquarie, today made a formal presentation to Palm Grove Ourimbah Creek Landcare Group to mark the commitment of $97,600 from the NSW Environmental Trust. The funding application was made jointly by the Landcare group, the Hunter-Central Rivers Catchment Management Authority (CMA) and Wyong Shire Council. According to Mr Piper, the lowland gallery rainforest at the Ourimbah Creek site is a valuable remnant is and habitat for seven threatened species. The Landcare project will see the rehabilitation of 1.7km of creek-side vegetation and will greatly improve wildlife corridors linking reserves to the north and south of Ourimbah. Wyong Shire Council owns the 8.8Ha site. The region currently has no areas of lowland gallery rainforest in local or state reserves. The original vegetation has been affected by clearing and weed invasion. "This is a great project and I thank the Government for their support, particularly Minister Sartor," said Mr Piper. "I commend the Palm Grove Ourimbah Landcare Group for its commitment to the rehabilitating and regenerating of this important rainforest site." "The group has been working there twice every week for more than eight years." "This site deserves protection and it's good to see the council and the community working together on it." Posted 12 February 2010 GREG PIPER WELCOMES NEW HOUSING FOR TORONTO Greg Piper, Member for Lake Macquarie, is pleased with the completion of a new public housing project at Milford St Toronto. The development, containing five "Seniors Living" dwellings, was funded through the Commonwealth Government's Nation Building Economic Stimulus Plan. According to Mr Piper, the new social housing development was under way when the stimulus package was announced and the timing allowed it to benefit from the Federal funding. This project was built for Compass Housing Services, which operates in Lake Macquarie, Newcastle and other areas. "These new Seniors Living units are greatly needed in Toronto," Mr Piper said. I'm pleased to see the project finished and welcome the new residents." "Compass Housing has done a great job and these units suit the neighbourhood." According to Mr Piper the five new dwellings will provide housing relief to seniors and local residents with disabilities who are in 'housing stress' and qualify for social housing. Posted 3 February 2010 NEW LAWS FOR RETIREMENT VILLAGES Greg Piper, Member for Lake Macquarie, is encouraging residents of retirement villages to attend an information session being held at Cardiff RSL from 10:30 to 12:00 on Thursday 18 February. According to Mr Piper, the changes under the new laws will include: According to Mr Piper, this is the only information in the Newcastle/Lake Macquarie area. Posted 22 January 2010 $120,000 TO SUPPORT THE ARTS IN LAKE MACQUARIE Member for Lake Macquarie, Greg Piper, has welcomed funding from the State Government totalling $120,000 for local arts initiatives. The grants are part of the $42.7 million 2010 Arts Funding Program announced by Minister for the Arts, Virginia Judge. "I am determined NSW remains the premier State for the creative industries - and support for locally based ventures is an important part of that commitment," Ms Judge said. Mr Piper said Lake Macquarie City Council would receive new arts grants totalling $120,000, including $80,000 for the first year of a three-year funding program for the Lake Macquarie Art Gallery. "A further $40,000 will to go towards the creative development and public presentation of a major environmental installation and sculpture commission at the Gallery", he said. "These additional funds will enable the gallery to commission a major sculptural work that will enhance the community's understanding of the gallery site's wetlands, wildlife and vegetation. It will also highlight the gallery's spectacular lakeside site and Sculpture Park, situated on a five-hectare peninsula, and will complement its collection and exhibition program." Mr Piper said "Lake Macquarie Art Gallery has particularly strong Aboriginal and community programs as well as curated contemporary Australian art, craft and design exhibitions." Posted 16 December 2009 $418,000 GRANTS FOR COMMUNITY BUILDING Greg Piper, Member for Lake Macquarie, today announced the successful Lake Macquarie applicants under the Government's Community Building Partnerships. Mr Piper provided comments and recommendations on the suitability and priority of eligible applications, with the final decision being made by the Premier. Successful applications came from a range of community interests, including Lake Macquarie City Council. The full list is below. According to Mr Piper, the Community Building Partnership program will support local jobs, stimulate growth and improve community facilities. "Typical funding is $300,000 per electorate, but Lake Macquarie received an extra $100,000 because of our high unemployment," Mr Piper said. "This was topped up to $418,852.50 so that the most deserving projects could be funded." "This will provide local employment and provide much-needed community facilities, such as improved sports facilities and venues for community groups," Mr Piper said. The successful applicants showed that their projects will deliver positive results for the community," Mr Piper added. "There were a lot of applications and it's unfortunate that some projects missed out on funding."
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