Press Releases

News
  • Statement on the Maitland Mental Health Project and the future of Morisset Hospital 7th October 2023 “The NSW Government yesterday announced plans to expand Mental Health Services at Maitland Hospital and to relocate services and patients from Morisset ... more
  • An austerity budget but with commitments to important Lake Macquarie projects 19th September 2023 The Minns Government state budget released today is, as expected, an austerity budget, with some welcome commitments to progress key infrastructure projects for Lake Macquarie. ... more
  • Key NSW Independents Welcome Independent Panel Into Gambing Reform 13th July 2023 Key NSW Independents, Alex Greenwich, Greg Piper and Dr Joe McGirr today welcomed the announcement of an independent panel into gambling reform. ... more
  • An honour to be elected Speaker 9th May 2023 Independent Member for Lake Macquarie Greg Piper was today elected unanimously and unopposed as Speaker of the Legislative Assembly in the 58th NSW Parliament. ... more
  • Premier Minns backs Piper as new parliamentary Speaker 4th April 2023 I’ve just left a meeting with the new Premier Chris Minns and wanted you to know first that he has offered his support to me taking the role of Speaker in the 58th ... more
  • $30m secured for regional basketball stadium 22nd March 2023 Newcastle Basketball, City of Newcastle and the State Member for Lake Macquarie Greg Piper have today announced a new $30 million basketball stadium will be ... more
  • Taxpayers deserve answers on air race liquidation 14th March 2023 The UK-based company which promised to bring the Air Race World Championship to Lake Macquarie has gone into liquidation, leaving local creditors and taxpayers ... more
  • IPART to determine next phase of container port plan 1st March 2023 Independent Member for Lake Macquarie Greg Piper has welcomed today’s announcement that the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal (IPART) ... more
  • Statement regarding today's Federal Court appeal by the ACCC 23rd February 2023 The ACCC first filed the case against NSW Ports in 2018 and the appeal was heard 12 months ago in Feb last year. Since then, a lot has changed, most notably ... more
  • Port of Newcastle Bill - Update 20th October 2022 I’m very pleased that the Coalition Government and Labor Opposition are now at the table to find a way forward for the Port of Newcastle. Both the Government ... more
  • Port of Newcastle Bill 13th October 2022 I have today introduced the Port of Newcastle (Extinguishment of Liability) Bill to the NSW Parliament with a very clear intent. The potential of Newcastle, ... more
  • Some good wins for Lake Macquarie in today’s Budget 21st June 2022 Today’s State Budget contains a number of good wins for the Lake Macquarie electorate, including funding for key road projects, the new sport and recreation centre, social housing and other capital works. ... more
  • Voluntary Assisted Dying Bill passes final hurdle 19th May 2022 The Voluntary Assisted Dying Bill has today been passed by the NSW Parliament. “This has been a very long campaign over many years by many people,” Member for ... more
  • Voluntary Assisted Dying Bill passes upper house 11th May 2022 The Voluntary Assisted Dying Bill has passed the NSW Parliament’s Upper House tonight by 20 votes to 17. Opponents of the Bill, however, have tabled a series of ... more
  • Statement regarding the planned closure of Eraring Power Station 17th February 2022 Origin Energy’s announcement to the Australian Stock Exchange this morning that they will close the coal-fired Eraring Power Station up to seven years earlier than anticipated will have far-reaching and major implications for our local community. ... more
  • New sport and recreation centre will be built at Morisset 27th January 2022 State Member for Lake Macquarie Greg Piper has confirmed that after several years of delays and setbacks, the former Myuna Bay Sport and Recreation Centre will be reborn on a new site at Morisset. ... more
  • Update on Hillsborough Rd widening plan 23rd November 2021 Motorists using a busy Lake Macquarie commuter route are on the way towards safer and faster journeys after the community had its say on planning for improvements to Hillsborough Road. ... more
  • New housing projects for people with a disability 22nd November 2021 People with disability will benefit from more housing options in Lake Macquarie thanks to a funding boost through the NSW Government’s Community Housing Innovation Fund (CHIF). ... more
  • Draft legislation which would see voluntary assisted dying laws introduced in NSW has today been released publicly by the Member for Lake Macquarie Greg Piper and It’s time we allowed the terminally ill to die with dignity 19th July 2021 Draft legislation which would see voluntary assisted dying laws introduced in NSW has today been released publicly by the Member for Lake Macquarie Greg Piper and ... more
  • $36m Wyee sewer scheme completed 18th June 2021 The $36m scheme to connect the township of Wyee to the main sewer network is complete, with long-suffering residents now able to connect their homes to the new ... more
  • NSW Independents move to save Kosciuszko from 'power towers' 17th February 2021 The NSW Parliament’s four key Independents have urged the State Government to reject Transgrid’s plans to build overhead transmission lines through Kosciuszko ... more
  • $300,000 for Lake Macquarie community projects 1st December 2020 Member for Lake Macquarie Greg Piper has today announced that 18 community, sporting and cultural organisations in the Lake Macquarie electorate have been ... more
  • New air quality monitor for Lake Macquarie 25th November 2020 Residents of Lake Macquarie will soon have access to local air quality information following the installation of a new $320,000 air quality monitoring station.Environment ... more
  • State Budget: the good, bad and mostly ugly 17th November 2020 While this year’s State Budget reflects a solid response to the economic challenges caused by the Covid pandemic, it’s extremely disappointing that the Government and ... more
  • New playground opens at Morisset 6th November 2020 A new playground at Bernie Goodwin Memorial Park in Morisset, to be officially opened in the coming weeks, is now complete. The new park is thanks to $616,024 ... more
  • Premier opens expended football centre at Speers Point 2nd October 2020 NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian will today open the expanded Lake Macquarie Regional Football Facility with State Member for Lake Macquarie Greg Piper. ... more
  • World game's new home open at Lake Macquarie 2nd October 2020 Lake Macquarie’s grassroots football community is kicking goals with a new multi-purpose building featuring state-of-the-art LED lighting and new female-friendly ... more
  • New grandstands open at Fishburn Reserve, Rathmines 5th September 2020 The Westlakes Wildcats Football Club will officially unveil two new grandstands at their Rathmines home base on Saturday. Member for Lake Macquarie Greg Piper ... more
  • New-look Wyee Station officially opened 19th August 2020 NSW Minister for Transport Andrew Constance and Lake Macquarie MP Greg Piper will officially open the new-look Wyee Railway Station this morning. ... more
  • Local drivers urged to slow down 14th August 2020 Drivers travelling in the Lake Macquarie area are being urged to slow down this Rural Road Safety Month, with more than two-thirds of the lives lost on NSW roads ... more
  • School crossing supervisor for Morisset school 7th August 2020 Safety for students at five Hunter schools will be strengthened with 88 new school crossing supervisors soon to be appointed across the State. Parliamentary Secretary ... more
  • Costco to bring huge economic boost to Lake Macquarie 31st July 2020 Hundreds of jobs and more than $300m in local economic activity will be created by today’s announcement regarding Costco and Green Capital at Cockle Creek, ... more
  • Minister: site selected for new sport and recreation centre 21st July 2020 Released by NSW Minister for Sport Geoff Lee: The preferred site for the new Lake Macquarie Sport and Recreation Centre has been announced by the NSW ... more
  • New Speers Point jetty opened 25th June 2020 A $1.4 million jetty upgrade at Speers Point is now open to boaters to provide easier and safer access to Lake Macquarie. The project, which was co-funded by Transport ... more
  • Work starts on new $1.7m Marine Rescue base 28th April 2020 Construction has started on a new $1.7 million communications centre to provide Marine Rescue Lake Macquarie with a world-class emergency ... more
  • Air quality monitor for Lake Macquarie 27th April 2020 After a decade of community campaigning led by Lake Macquarie MP Greg Piper, an independently-operated air quality monitor will be installed in the local area. ... more
  • New Wangi jetty now open 9th April 2020 Member for Lake Macquarie Greg Piper has today announced that construction of the new $1.38m jetty at Wangi Wangi has been completed ... more
  • $300,000 for Lake Macquarie community projects 23rd March 2020 Almost 30 sporting and cultural organisations in the Lake Macquarie electorate have been successful in securing grants to improve or construct facilities ... more
  • A sensible solution for the disposal of contaminated soil 17th January 2020 Lake Macquarie MP Greg Piper says residents will be the big winners out of the Environmental Protection Authority’s (EPA) decision to change ... more
  • Piper welcomes agreement on Myuna Bay 12th December 2019 Member for Lake Macquarie Greg Piper has welcomed an agreement on the future of Myuna Bay Sport and Recreation Centre. ... more
  • $201,000 for flood management in Lake Macquarie 28th October 2019 Member for Lake Macquarie Greg Piper today welcomed State funding of $201,000 to Lake Macquarie City Council for local floodplain management and development ... more
  • Groundwater wells will investigate extent of Pasminco's 'black slag' 20th September 2019 Environment Minister Matt Kean and Member for Lake Macquarie Greg Piper today announced work is under way to install wells to investigate groundwater quality in areas around Lake Macquarie where black slag was historically dumped. ... more
  • Have your say on major plans for Morisset Country Club site 30th August 2019 With the covers coming off an ambitious plan for the privately-owned Morisset Country Club site today, Member for Lake Macquarie Greg Piper has urged the local community to have their say and get involved in the assessment process. ... more
  • Boolaroo deal will deliver thousands of jobs and a $1.8billion economic boost 20th August 2019 A State Government deal to take control of the former Pasminco lead and zinc smelter site at Boolaroo will unlock the area and deliver unprecedented growth and investment ... more
  • Toronto's waterfront needs a park, not high-rise development 8th August 2019 Plans for a six-storey development on a prime waterfront site at Toronto should be scrapped and reconsidered, Member for Lake Macquarie Greg Piper said. ... more
  • Myuna Bay in limbo for another two months 31st July 2019 Member for Lake Macquarie Greg Piper has expressed his frustration at the independent review into the report used to close Myuna Bay Sport and Recreation Centre, saying it will mean further months in limbo for the centre and its staff. ... more
  • Budget delivers funding for major Lake Macquarie projects 18th June 2019 Millions of dollars promised to a range of projects in the Lake Macquarie electorate have been confirmed in today’s State Budget. ... more
  • Construction work starts on Wyee station upgrade 12th June 2019 Member for Lake Macquarie Greg Piper has welcomed the start of major construction work today on the upgrade of Wyee Station. ... more
  • Sports Minister joins workers and community reps at Myuna Bay 3rd May 2019 NSW Minister for Sport John Sidoti joined Independent Member for Lake Macquarie Greg Piper outside Myuna Bay Sport and Recreation Centre this morning to discuss the centre’s recent closure by the Office of Sport. ... more
  • New $300,000 Marine Rescue vessel unveiled 27th April 2019 Boaters will be safer on Lake Macquarie and offshore with the addition of a new $300,000 fast response search and rescue vessel to the Marine Rescue NSW fleet, Member for Lake Macquarie Greg Piper said today. ... more
  • Work to start on Wyee Station upgrade 8th April 2019 Work on the upgrade of Wyee Station will start in coming months with Transport for NSW awarding a works contract to construction firm Gartner Rose. ... more
  • Statement regarding Myuna Bay Sport and Recreation Centre 29th March 2019 I’m angered by today’s announcement that Myuna Bay Sport and Recreation Centre will close on Monday. This is a statement I've just provided to local media. ... more
  • Piper welcomes $25m commitment to new indoor sports stadium 13th March 2019 Independent Member for Lake Macquarie Greg Piper has welcomed a $25m commitment to building a new indoor sports centre at Hillsborough. ... more
  • Multi-level car parks needed at rail stations 20th February 2019 New multi-level parking stations should be built at Morisset, Cardiff and Fassifern train stations to cater for the region’s growth, Independent Member for Lake Macquarie Greg Piper said. ... more
  • $6m to clear local school maintenance backlogs 31st January 2019 Member for Lake Macquarie Greg Piper has welcomed news that an extra $6-million will be spent on clearing the backlog of maintenance work at local schools. The money will allow the backlog to be completely cleared at every school in the Lake Macquarie electorate by July next year. ... more
  • Work to start on Wyee Station upgrade 22nd January 2019 Plans for the significant upgrade of Wyee Station have been formally approved with on-site groundwork investigations getting under way in March. Member for Lake Macquarie Greg Piper announced today that the upgrade will include lifts to the platforms, providing access for customers with a disability... ... more
  • Fishery Point Road traffic lights to be switched on next Thursday 11th December 2018 Work on the Fishery Point Road and Macquarie Street intersection at Morisset is ahead of schedule with the new traffic lights expected to be switched on next Thursday December 20. ... more
  • Morisset Hospital to be closed to the public to protect kangaroos and patients 27th November 2018 Public access to Morisset Hospital will soon be restricted to ensure the health and safety of hospital patients, the community and the local kangaroo population. Following a working group committee decision involving local MP Greg Piper, ... more
  • $330,000 for Lake Macquarie community projects 19th November 2018 Member for Lake Macquarie Greg Piper has today announced that 21 community, sporting and cultural organisations in the Lake Macquarie electorate have been awarded grants to improve or construct facilities under the Community Building Partnership scheme. ... more
  • Location confirmed for Toronto Service NSW 8th November 2018 Minister for Finance, Services and Property Victor Dominello and Member for Lake Macquarie Greg Piper today announced the location for the new Service NSW Centre at Toronto. ... more
  • Have your say on Wyee station plan 6th November 2018 Member for Lake Macquarie Greg Piper has invited the Wyee community to learn more about the proposed upgrade to Wyee Station. The new station is being delivered as part of the NSW Government’s Transport Access Program. ... more
  • Funding for Lake Macquarie Football 11th October 2018 Parliamentary Secretary for the Hunter Scot MacDonald and Independent Member for Lake Macquarie Greg Piper today announced a $2.25 million grant for Stage Two of the Lake Macquarie Regional Football Facility from the Regional Sports Infrastructure Fund. ... more
  • New fire tankers for Toronto and Killingworth 10th October 2018 Firefighting efforts across the Lake Macquarie region have been fortified today with the arrival of a $310,000 Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) tanker to Toronto Fire Station. ... more
  • Funding takes aim at plastic waste 9th October 2018 Member for Lake Macquarie Greg Piper has secured a $150,000 grant for an innovative Hunter-based pilot project which will continue the war on plastic waste in the region. ... more
  • Community projects to share in $3.5m funding haul 24th September 2018 More than $3.5 million in funding will breathe new life into local sporting and community projects, Member for Lake Macquarie Greg Piper has announced today. ... more
  • Turning down the heat on Morisset PCYC 14th September 2018 More than $140,000 has been secured to improve facilities at the popular Morisset PCYC centre. Member for Lake Macquarie Greg Piper has secured $140,312 in funding for the Kahibah Street centre, enabling it to install state-of-the-art insulation and fans. ... more
  • Funding will provide report card on health of lake and beaches 28th August 2018 Member for Lake Macquarie Greg Piper has welcomed $180,000 worth of State funding to better monitor the condition of local beaches and the lake.The announcement follows a successful funding application from Lake Macquarie City Council which will fund the remaining half of the project cost. ... more
  • Work to start on Fishery Point Road intersection 23rd August 2018 Work to upgrade the intersection of Macquarie Street and Fishery Point Road at Morisset will start next week. ... more
  • Budget funding confirmed for Lake Macquarie projects 19th June 2018 Millions of dollars promised to a range of Lake Macquarie projects have been confirmed by State Treasurer Dominic Perrottet in today’s State Budget. There is funding for the Service NSW office coming to Toronto, and funding to begin the planning works for the installation of lifts at Wyee railway st... ... more
  • Lifts included in major upgrade of Wyee Station 4th June 2018 Parliamentary Secretary for the Hunter Scot MacDonald MLC and Greg Piper MP, Member for Lake Macquarie have welcomed today’s announcement that Wyee station is to be included in an extra $133 million investment in the Transport Access Program. ... more
  • $185,000 to help troubled Lake Macquarie teens 1st June 2018 The NSW Government will provide $185,000 to fund an 18-month program which supports at-risk youth in Lake Macquarie to help break the cycle of crime, Attorney General Mark Speakman and Member for Lake Macquarie Greg Piper announced today. ... more
  • People power wins fight for Government services at Toronto 1st June 2018 A full-scale Service NSW office will be built at Toronto, signaling a massive win for the southern and western Lake Macquarie communities which have fought for several years to have government services restored in their area. ... more
  • Wyee sewer scheme to be expanded 1st June 2018 Member for Lake Macquarie Greg Piper has today joined State Minister for Energy and Utilities Don Harwin to announce an expansion of the Wyee sewer connection project which will accommodate future growth of the township. ... more
  • $2m funding boost for arts and cultural facilities in Lake Macquarie 30th May 2018 More than $2 million in funding for art and cultural projects in Lake Macquarie has been formally unveiled today. Lake Macquarie MP Greg Piper has announced that funding applications for the extension of Lake Macquarie City Art Gallery and the establishment of a Multi Arts Space at Speers Point hav... ... more
  • Have your say on plans for Fishery Point Road intersection 3rd May 2018 Roads and Maritime Services is seeking feedback from the Lake Macquarie community on plans to improve the intersection of Macquarie Street and Fishery Point Road at Morisset. Member for Lake Macquarie Greg Piper said the NSW Government had allocated $150,000 this financial year to plan for safety an... ... more
  • Life-saving defibrillators for five Lake Macquarie sporting clubs 6th April 2018 Five sporting organisations in the Lake Macquarie electorate have been awarded State funding for life-saving defibrillators which will be installed at their clubhouses and grounds. Member for Lake Macquarie Greg Piper said it was great to see local groups submitting successful applications under the... ... more
  • $71,000 to combat illegal dumping in Lake Macquarie 23rd March 2018 Member for Lake Macquarie Greg Piper today announced that Lake Macquarie City Council has been awarded a $71,615 grant to continue targeting illegal dumping. The money will allow the council to expand its successful illegal dumping prevention program as well as target new hotspots. ... more
  • Million-dollar boost for hall and pool projects 20th March 2018 Almost $1million in State funding has been secured to provide solar-powered heating to Speers Point Pool and fund the long-awaited refurbishment of Rathmines Community Hall. Independent Member for Lake Macquarie Greg Piper said two grants had been successfully secured for Lake Macquarie City Counci... ... more
  • Domestic violence victims get a Safer Pathway in Lake Macquarie 5th March 2018 Domestic and family violence victims living in the Lake Macquarie Police District will now have a single contact point to access the support they need with the commencement of a new Safer Pathway site this month. Parliamentary Secretary for the Hunter Scot MacDonald MLC and Member for Lake Macquari... ... more
  • $285,800 grant for Lake Macquarie art trail project 12th February 2018 An array of new public artworks will be created around the Lake Macquarie foreshore following a significant financial contribution from the State Government. Member for Lake Macquarie Greg Piper today announced that Lake Macquarie City Council will receive a grant of $285,800 to support the $571,600... ... more
  • $1.3m for Lake Macquarie jetty projects 12th January 2018 Public jetties at Wangi Wangi, Speers Point and Rathmines will be rebuilt or improved with funding secured by Lake Macquarie MP Greg Piper under the State Government’s Boating Now program. ... more
  • $300,000 for Lake Macquarie community projects 18th December 2017 Two dozen community organisations in the Lake Macquarie electorate have been awarded grants to improve or construct facilities under the Community Building Partnership Scheme. ... more
  • Summerhill now accepting lead-contaminated waste 2nd November 2017 Newcastle’s Summerhill Waste Management Centre is now accepting lead-contaminated soil removed from residences at Boolaroo under the Lead Abatement Strategy. ... more
  • It's time that the State's riches were better shared 20th June 2017 Today’s State Budget shows that the finances of NSW are in very good shape, due in no small part to the privatisation of public assets and massive stamp duty receipts. ... more
  • Road improvement works start at Toronto 12th June 2017 Roads and Maritime Services will start work this week to improve safety for motorists on Mount Waring Road at Toronto. ... more
  • Vital funds for suicide prevention in Lake Macquarie 4th May 2017 A suicide prevention initiative in Lake Macquarie will receive a $280,000 funding boost, State Member for Lake Macquarie Greg Piper announced today. ... more
  • Statement regarding the death of Michael Chamberlain 17th January 2017 I have known Michael Chamberlain since the early 1990s, so it was with great sadness that I learned of his passing on Monday night. ... more
  • Myuna Bay to stay in public hands 19th December 2016 The fight to save Myuna Bay and Point Wolstoncroft sport and recreation centres from privatisation has been won with the State Government announcing that the operations of both will stay in public hands. ... more
  • Lake MP Greg Piper welcomes amalgamation verdict 18th December 2016 Independent Member for Lake Macquarie Greg Piper has welcomed the State Government’s decision to rule against a merger of Newcastle and Lake Macquarie city councils as a victory for common sense. ... more
  • $300,000 for small community projects 12th December 2016 Fifteen community organisations in the Lake Macquarie electorate have been awarded grants to improve or construct facilities under the Community Building Partnership Scheme. ... more
  • Feedback wanted on new strategy for boats on Lake Macquarie 7th December 2016 Lake Macquarie MP Greg Piper today invited the community to provide feedback on a draft strategy for boat storage on Lake Macquarie. ... more
  • Deal done on new government services office at Toronto 17th March 2016 Western Lake Macquarie residents have scored a victory in their campaign to retain access to government services in their area. ... more
  • Community groups receive $300,000 in grants for facilities 9th December 2015 Eighteen community organisations in the Lake Macquarie electorate have been awarded grants to improve or construct facilities under the Community Building Partnership scheme, Independent State MP for Lake Macquarie Greg Piper has announced. Download the press release Download the list of grant r... ... more
  • Lake MP backs 'smart' regional approach to council mergers 11th November 2015 Independent Lake Macquarie MP Greg Piper has met with Minister for Local Government Paul Toole to put forward a proposal to create three merged councils of similar size between the Central Coast and Port Stephens as a regional solution to the amalgamation demands of the State Government’s Fit for Th... ... more
  • IPART gives no justification for council merger 20th October 2015 Independent Member for Lake Macquarie Greg Piper said today’s IPART report on council sustainability provided no justification for forcing Lake Macquarie City Council into a merger with Newcastle. ... more
  • Toronto Motor Registry closure a blow to Lake customers 20th August 2015 Independent Member for Lake Macquarie Greg Piper has slammed a State Government decision to close the Toronto Motor Registry. ... more
  • Lake MP Greg Piper welcomes blood lead test results 22nd July 2015 Independent Member for Lake Macquarie Greg Piper has welcomed the results of a recent testing program on children and pregnant women in northern Lake Macquarie that found the blood lead levels of participants were in line with the national average. ... more