Bonner Funding Announcements- Adjournment Speech 24 June 2014

Madame/Deputy Speaker, I’d like to speak tonight about some major commitments the Coalition government has made in this years Budget for my electorate of Bonner. It pleases me to say, we have managed to fulfil our election promises to the people of Bonner and delivered funding for a number of key projects in the area.

Firstly, I am proud to say we have secured $100,000 for the Mount Gravatt Men’s Shed. The Coalition government is investing this money to help the Men’s Shed build new facilities and upgrade its existing infrastructure. This is a big win for the Bonner community, in particular the men living in my electorate.

From the outstanding work of the Men’s Shed and its volunteers, the men of Bonner have the means to participate and interact within their local community.

I’ve been involved with the Men’s Shed for some years now. Two years ago I committed to securing this funding, so it’s with great pride that I make this announcement today. I have seen the Men’s Shed number of members grow to just over 275 as of this month. They’re a great group of men who’ve dedicated so much time and effort to support each other and those in the wider community.

I’m very pleased that the Coalition government is able to provide these funds to help the Men’s Shed continue to grow.

On top of these funds for the Mount Gravatt Men’s Shed, the Coalition government has also approved funding for several other key community projects. We promised funds for these projects during the election campaign and I’m happy to say we have delivered with this year’s Budget.

Wewill be investing $70,000 to install new CCTV cameras in Tingalpa’s Minnippi Parklands. The Brisbane City Council and Queensland Police Service have been working tirelessly to improve safety throughout Bonner. I’m pleased that the funds provided by the Federal Coalition government will contribute to strong preventative measures that will help make the Minnippi Parklands a safer and more family friendly environment.

We are also providing $26,000 to the Gumdale District Progress Association. This money will allow the Gumdale Association to seal their car park at the Gumdale Progress Hall on New Cleveland Road in Gumdale.

The Coalition government is also providing a great deal of funding to go towards new recreation and sporting facilities in Mansfield. One of those facilities is the Mount Gravatt Sports and Recreation Club Sports Complex. I was very pleased to attend the opening of the Sports Complex earlier this year along with the Deputy Prime Minister, Warren Truss. The Sports Complex will greatly increase the number of sporting activities available to people in the area.

We are also providing $59,400 in funds to the St Pauls United Sporting Club for the first stage of construction of the Yandina Park Mansfield Clubhouse Facility in Wishart. This will go towards change rooms, public amenities, and a first aid and referees room for the new clubhouse.

As part of the Coalition government’s Green Army Program, the Bulimba Creek Catchment Committee will have a Green Army team deployed to help with floodplain enhancement and maintenance of the Manly Road Reserve, rehabilitation of wetland corridors and vegetation at Moreton Bay College, and additional work to protect and enhance the Lindum Wetlands.

It is always with the greatest pleasure that I announce funding for projects such as these in Bonner. I have been able to help a great number of people in my electorate in my time as a Member, and you could not meet a more friendly and hard-working group. I look forward to providing more assistance to the people of Bonner in the future, and in turn I thank them for their wonderful friendship and support over the years. 

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Bonner students awarded top prize

Ross Vasta would like to congratulate students from Holland Park State High School, Iona College and Moreton Bay College who have been awarded one of the nation’s top prizes for Year 12 students undertaking Vocational Education and Training in School (VETiS).

 

The following students are among 500 students to receive the Australian Vocational Student Prize (AVSP), which recognises the skill, commitment and achievements of school students who take on vocational education in their final year.

 

Holland Park State High School

Sunni Bridgstock

Matthew Seabrook

Brianne Stitt

Ashlee Whitehouse-Rodman

 

Iona College

Thomas Borthwick

Max William VonRichter

 

Moreton Bay College

Zoe Atterbury

 

A further 20 prizes – the Prime Minister’s Award for Skills Excellence in School – have been awarded to the top AVSP recipients across state/territory, industry and Indigenous categories.

These students are not only ambassadors for their school, but representative of the first-class career opportunities that VETiS can provide,” Ross Vasta said.

“The Abbott Government is committed to delivering a VETiS system with stronger links to industry and training providers, ensuring our graduates get high-quality, on-the-job training that equips them with the skills employers need.”

 

In congratulating these student, Ross Vasta said “the future prosperity of our economy very much depends on a highly-skilled workforce with this generation given an opportunity to pursue a trade or training while at school and deciding on a future career”.

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