Are you eligible for a power bill rebate?

Power bill rebates

If you received the Federal Government Family Tax Benefit A or B at any time during the 2011/12 financial year, you may be eligible for a $75 rebate on your home energy costs. But be quick – families only have until June 14 to apply for reimbursement. For more information on eligibility and how to apply, click here.

NSW Government's Home Power Savings Program

To read more about this program to assist lower income households click here.

NSW Government's Home Power Savings Program

Lake Macquarie Local Woman of the Year

Woman of the Year

It was a pleasure to be able to attend the Women of the Year Awards with Jeanette Suttie at Parliament House in Sydney. Jeanette is a tireless worker for her community and is an inspiration and help to many in need.  Jeanette is the Lake Macquarie Local Woman of the Year! My congratulations and thanks to her for all her hard work.

NSW Government Community Service Awards

If you know someone worthy of being nominated for this award, please contact my office.

Electoral Redistribution

The NSW Electoral Commission is undertaking a process to determine the redistribution of state electoral boundaries. The last redistribution took place in 2004.

The commission is currently reviewing suggestions and comments  received during the public submission stage. It will then release proposed new boundaries for discussion and undertake a public inquiry.

For further information about the 2013 NSW Electoral Districts Redistribution visit www.redistribution.nsw.gov.au/ or call 1300 135 736.

Seniors Directory 2013

The new Seniors Directory for 2013 is available from my office, or can be read here

Funding for Community Groups

To find out what funding opportunities are available for your group click here. 

Volunteer Nursing Home/Seniors' Group Entertainers

Click here for contact details.

Volunteer Nursing Home/Seniors' Group Entertainers

Travelling Con Man

The Department of Fair Trading advises that in most cases these door-to-door traders target elderly and rural consumers, frequently offering to perform work on their property for a low price. Often they start work without consent and bully customers to obtain payment.

Consumers are encouraged to contact the Department on 133 220 to report any such activity.

Download the free "Do not Knock" sticker from here.

Travelling Con Man

Lead Abatement Strategy Update

Sampling has been completed at all 1,226 participating properties. Over 80% of properties have returned results within abatement categories 1 and 2, which require little to no abatement works. 

Read the update here

Justice of the Peace

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.

Premier's Gala Concerts

Tickets to the concerts, which are held each December and in March during Seniors' Week, are available to seniors 60 years and over. The free tickets 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 receive a limited number of tickets to distribute to seniors in their electorate. To enter a ballot for any surplus tickets, please contact my office.

VisionCare

The Department of Community Services can provide new spectacles to financially disadvantaged people once each two years.

Please click here to view to the Self Eligibility Test

For more information visit http://www.visioncarensw.com.au/

VisionCare

Your Group's Details

Are you a member of a club or a community/interest group in the Lake Macquarie electorate (eg seniors, sporting, youth, Probus, Lions, RSL, etc)?

By ensuring my office has your organisation's current contact and office bearer details your group can be kept up to date with information which could be of assistance.

Click here for useful information on accessing funding and grants.

Local Sporting Champions Grant

Apply now for a Local Sporting Champions Grant!

Do you know a Local Sporting Champion or a dedicated young athlete, coach or official participating in State or national sporting championships?Are you one of these people?

If so, you or your team could be eligible for a Local Sporting Champions grant to help meet costs such as uniforms, travel, accommodation and equipment.

Greg Piper

Independent Member for the State Electorate of Lake Macquarie

Development

With the O'Farrell Government having repealed the infamous Part 3A of the Environemtal Planning and Assessment Act, the focus should now be on returning decision making to those elected persons closest to the community.  The current review of Planning legislation has inherent in it the likelihood that local councils will be even further removed from local decision making than occurredunder the previous Labor regime.

This is of course the intention of the development lobby, perhaps best represented by the Property Council of NSW.  Well considered development should indeed be encouraged and councils should manage the planning and consent roles in a professional and timely manner. There is a great deal of room for improvement in system, but I believe that streamlining development approval should not be done at the expense of local decision making; nor indeed does it need to be. 

Upcoming events in Lake Macquarie

If you are a community group or club with an upcoming event please contact my electorate office on 4959 3200 and we will add the event to the calendar.

Event Archives

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State Electoral District of Lake Macquarie

State Electoral District Of Lake Macquarie State Electoral District Of Lake Macquarie

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