A re-elected Turnbull Coalition Government will provide Manly Bowls Club with $1.15 million in funding to go toward the installation of a shade structure for the club’s second green, which will be enclosed so that it can also be air conditioned.

Making the announcement today, Liberal National Member for Bonner, Ross Vasta said the project would provide a significant boost to the bowls club and its members.

“This project will help the club build a more welcoming, protective environment for its bowls members, encouraging more people in the community young and old to take up this wonderful sport,” Mr Vasta said.

“Manly Bowls Club has been an important part of the local community for 62 years. I’m proud to support the club and its membership with funding for this worthy project.”

Secretary to the Board of Manly Bowls Club, Trevor Musche welcomed the funding announcement.

“We are finding with the harsh Queensland weather, our older participants are expressing greater preference to play in shaded area and that makes sense with the high risk of skin cancer in Queensland’s climate,” Mr Musche said.

“We are also trying to grow youth participation and we want to provide an environment which is different to other clubs and sporting codes, where we are looking after their health as well as trying to capture their mind and interest.”

“We have no doubt through the completion of this project our membership will grow significantly as more people wish to participate in a safe, friendly environment.”

A re-elected Turnbull Government will help community groups in Bonner to lower their power bills and play their part in reducing Australia’s emissions by providing $100,000 towards the cost of installing solar.

“The Solar Communities program will provide funding for groups across Australia to install rooftop solar PV, solar hot water and battery storage systems for community owned buildings,” Mr Vasta said.

Gateway Church in Carindale will receive $15,000 to assist with the cost of installing solar.

“Gateway Church provides a vital space for residents in Carindale and surrounding areas to practise their faith, while also offering valuable learning programs to young people,” Mr Vasta said.

The Coalition recognises the important role community and household solar plays in Australia’s transition to a low emissions economy with an increase in renewable energy.

“Community organisations such as churches, sporting clubs and scouts will also be able to apply for funding of up to $15,000,” Minister Hunt said.

“Around 350 community groups are expected to benefit from the expanded program, with $5 million available.”

“Unlike Labor, the Coalition is committed to tackling climate change without hiking up power bills for community groups, families and businesses and putting Australian jobs at risk,” Mr Vasta said.

“Bill Shorten’s carbon tax is a tax on electricity and will hurt community groups across Australia.”

By contrast, the Coalition is committed to supporting community groups with our expanded
Solar Communities program.

“Under the Turnbull Government, half a million households and businesses have already made the switch to solar,” Minister Hunt said.

Australia has the highest proportion of households with solar panels in the world – about 15 per cent.

The Australian Government’s Renewable Energy Target provides for an average rebate for a solar system of $3000, or about 30 per cent of the installation cost.

We have also established a $250 million Community Housing Program to help lower costs for low income families and residents through the construction of up to 1,000 new energy efficiency homes.

We have established a $1 billion Clean Energy Innovation Fund to support the latest technology which will transform our renewable energy use over the coming decade.

Only the Coalition is committed to tackling climate change without a job-destroying carbon tax.

A re-elected Turnbull Coalition Government will provide the Hope Foundation with $70,000 in funding to go towards the purchase of new equipment and supplies for their new social enterprise café at Mt Gravatt Lookout.

Making the announcement today at the café site, Liberal National Member for Bonner, Ross Vasta said he was pleased to be able to make the commitment to the charity.

“I’ve been proud to work with the Hope Foundation for many years and support its good work helping vulnerable women in our community,” Mr Vasta said.

“This café will not only help attract more visitors to Mt Gravatt Lookout, but also provide valuable work experience and skills for women in need.”

CEO and Founder of Hope Foundation, Bronwen Healy welcomed the funding announcement.

“This funding will help us complete the remodelling of our facility and purchase necessary equipment and supplies,” Mrs Healy said.

“I’d like to thank Ross for his support. I’d also like to thank the community for backing our fundraising efforts. We’ve had people approach us with substantial offers of assistance and equipment, service donations, or solutions resulting in savings.”

“Locals have been very supportive, with people stopping staff everywhere we go, asking how we're going and when we'll be opening the doors.”

Labor’s NBN policy will leave residents in Bonner waiting longer and paying more for broadband, Federal Member for Bonner, Ross Vasta said today.

“Under Labor’s NBN you’ll wait longer and pay more,” Mr Vasta said.

“Labor’s NBN policy is to slow down the rollout in Belmont, Hemmant, Lota, Lytton, Manly, Manly West, Murarrie, Tingalpa, Wynnum, Wynnum West and more because they will dig up everyone’s front garden and driveway – despite technologies being available that avoid this.”

“Labor’s NBN policy means these locations could be waiting until 2022 to connect to the NBN.”

“Under a Coalition Government they will have the NBN over the next two years,” Mr Vasta said.

“Monthly internet bills are also set to rise under Labor, because their policy costs $8 billion more than the Coalition’s.”

Under Labor’s last mismanaged rollout, just 61 premises in Bonner were able to connect to the NBN. 

Under the Turnbull Coalition Government, this has increased substantially to 379 premises able to connect in Bonner, with more than 59,500 premises to be connected under the Coalition’s accelerated three-year rollout of the NBN.

Minister for Communications Mitch Fifield said Labor had already tried and failed to deliver the NBN. 

“Under the Coalition, the NBN is hooking up more than 60,000 homes a month, compared to just 51,000 connections in six years under Labor.”

Labor’s last gold plated approach would have added up to $43 a month to internet bills,” Minister Fifield said.

Under the Turnbull Coalition Team, the nbn is rolling out better broadband across Australia in the fastest and most affordable way.

Under the Coalition, the NBN has met every roll out target; it is ahead of schedule and on-budget.

A re-elected Turnbull Coalition Government will assist with the construction and fit-out of the Moreton Bay Discovery Centre on William Gunn Jetty at Manly Harbour Village with $450,000 in funding.

Making the announcement today, Liberal National Member for Bonner, Ross Vasta said the Discovery Centre would act as a vital gateway to the Bay for locals and visitors to the area.

“The Moreton Bay Discovery Centre will be a high-profile environmental education, tourism and community facility that will greatly benefit the local region,” Mr Vasta said.

“It will help the community and visitors to this area understand and appreciate Moreton Bay, its waterways and beaches and the greater coastal region.”

“It will grow local and regional tourism while helping keep Moreton Bay healthy and attractive for generations to come.”

Chair of Moreton Bay Discovery Centre, David Farley welcomed the funding announcement.

“This is a significant project for the city of Brisbane, Moreton Bay and Wynnum-Manly,” Mr Farley said.

“This funding will help complete stage 2 of the project. It will enhance the viability for a number of commercial tourism ventures on Moreton Bay, creating investment and employment for this region.”

Mr Farley said the new Wynnum Manly Visitor Information Centre and Jetty Café at William Gunn Jetty had been operating successfully and the funding would assist efforts to extend the building to house the Moreton Bay Discovery Museum, which would accommodate displays showcasing the natural, social and cultural history of Moreton Bay.

The Bayside Police Citizens Youth Club in Lota and the wider community will see the benefits of $558,000 in funding towards upgrades of the local PCYC facility, as well as the upgrade of equipment for sections that currently service the local community, under a new commitment from the Turnbull Coalition Government.

Making the announcement today at Bayside PCYC, Liberal National Member for Bonner, Ross Vasta said he was pleased to be able to make the commitment that would allow the organisation to carry out much-needed repairs and maintenance.

“PCYC Bayside has been helping both young people and seniors in the bayside area for 49 years and I’m proud today to be able to make this commitment to an organisation that does so much good for the community,” Mr Vasta said.

“This funding will go toward vital upgrades that will ensure the club’s future. It will also ensure community groups that make use of the facility will continue to have access to quality equipment and resources.”

Bayside PCYC branch manager Tina Bowen welcomed the funding announcement.

“For now the efforts of the committee and management is to ensure structural safety to all those utilising this facility,” Mrs Bowen said.

“Upgrades will include repairing our driveway, the installation of fans in the main gymnastics hall, the replacement of all gymnastics matting to meet current requirements, and fixing our roof which is currently leaking.”

“We will also upgrade our kitchen so that it can be used by external community groups and used for the delivery of healthy nutrition and heart smart programs. We also intend to establish a gym facility.”

A re-elected Turnbull Government will help community groups in Bonner to lower their power bills and play their part in reducing Australia’s emissions by providing $100,000 towards the cost of installing solar.

“The Solar Communities program will provide funding for groups across Australia to install rooftop solar PV, solar hot water and battery storage systems for community owned buildings,” Mr Vasta said.

Wynnum & District Rugby Union Club and Wynnum Manly District Meals on Wheels and Community Centre will each receive $15,000 to assist with the cost of installing solar.

“Wynnum & District Rugby Union Club is an important central hub for sports on the Bayside with an important heritage,” Mr Vasta said.

“Wynnum Manly District Meals on Wheels and Community Centre provides a much-valued service to the community, cooking, preparing and delivering hot meals to people in need and helping them maintain their independence and stay in their own homes for longer.”

The Coalition recognises the important role community and household solar plays in Australia’s transition to a low emissions economy with an increase in renewable energy.

“Community organisations such as churches, sporting clubs and scouts will also be able to apply for funding of up to $15,000,” Minister Hunt said.

“Around 350 community groups are expected to benefit from the expanded program, with $5 million available.”

“Unlike Labor, the Coalition is committed to tackling climate change without hiking up power bills for community groups, families and businesses and putting Australian jobs at risk,” Mr Vasta said.

“Bill Shorten’s carbon tax is a tax on electricity and will hurt community groups across Australia.”

By contrast, the Coalition is committed to supporting community groups with our expanded Solar Communities program.

“Under the Turnbull Government, half a million households and businesses have already made the switch to solar,” Minister Hunt said.

Australia has the highest proportion of households with solar panels in the world – about 15 per cent.

The Australian Government’s Renewable Energy Target provides for an average rebate for a solar system of $3000, or about 30 per cent of the installation cost.

We have also established a $250 million Community Housing Program to help lower costs for low income families and residents through the construction of up to 1,000 new energy efficiency homes.

We have established a $1 billion Clean Energy Innovation Fund to support the latest technology which will transform our renewable energy use over the coming decade.

Only the Coalition is committed to tackling climate change without a job-destroying carbon tax.

A re-elected Turnbull Coalition Government will provide Mt Gravatt Youth and Recreation Club (MGYR) with $200,000 in funding to go towards the installation of new lighting for their baseball field.

Making the announcement today at the club’s juniors under-14 training night, Liberal National Member for Bonner, Ross Vasta said the new lighting would greatly benefit MGYR as well as many other local groups that used the MGYR complex.

“The new lighting for this baseball field will allow a number of local sports teams to use the baseball field, as well as its two neighbouring sports fields, for night time practice and games,” Mr Vasta said.

“The lights will also help to improve safety for children and families that make use of these grounds on a regular basis.”

President of MGYR, Bruce Wilson welcomed the funding announcement.

“This project will help make our complex available to more groups in the Mt Gravatt, Mansfield, Wishart and Mackenzie areas,” Mr Wilson said.

“It will help us cater to the sporting needs of new residents and local schools in our community.”

Mr Wilson said around 35 groups currently made use of the MGYR complex, including Mt Gravatt Eagles Baseball Club, Mansfield Eagles Soccer Club, Holland Park Hawks Soccer Club, South Brisbane Eagles Hockey Club, Brisbane Eagles Lacrosse Club, and Queensland Oztag.

A re-elected Turnbull Coalition Government will provide St Agnes Catholic Primary School with $211,000 in funding to go towards the construction of three new multi-use courts for use by students and community sports groups.

Making the announcement at St Agnes today, Liberal National Member for Bonner, Ross Vasta said the project would greatly benefit the wider Mt Gravatt community.

“The courts will be used for after school and weekend tennis, netball, basketball and volleyball programmes, and will be shared between St Agnes and the community,” Mr Vasta said.

“This project will give children and families in the area better and more affordable access to recreational activities and encourage them to lead a more active and healthy lifestyle.”

Principal of St Agnes, Rick Sheehan welcomed the funding announcement.

“Our project, the St Agnes Recreational Masterplan, involves constructing three full-size multi-use courts, two tennis HotShots courts, and a tennis training wall,” Mr Sheehan said.

“The local community will be able to use the courts through programs conducted by Southside Tennis and St Agnes Netball Club. They will collaborate with groups such as TAG5, Cerebral Palsy League, Sporting Wheelies and Disables Association, and Indigenous groups to conduct specially targeted sports programs for juniors, Indigenous, seniors, families, and disabled people.”

A re-elected Turnbull Coalition Government will provide Moreton Bay Trailer Boat Club with $8,000 in funding to go towards the upgrade of their existing radio antennas.

Making the announcement today at Moreton Bay Trailer Boat Club with Minister for Communications, Senator the Hon Mitch Fifield, Liberal National Member for Bonner, Ross Vasta said the project would increase safety for the local boating community.

“This is a highly valuable project that will help keep local boat users safe,” Mr Vasta said.

“These upgrades will ensure the club continues to be able to support local recreational boating groups in Bonner as well as adding to the vital safety infrastructure on the coast of Bonner.”

Commodore of the Moreton Bay Trailer Boat Club Committee, Gerald Grubwinkler welcomed the funding announcement.

“This project will upgrade an existing HF marine radio antenna and relocate the automatic tuner to suit at the base of the antenna; also to be upgraded are three VHF antennas,” Mr Grubwinkler said.

“The club covers a vast central bay area and the integrity of the antenna is essential.”

“The club makes roughly 6500 calls each year, providing logging on and off procedures, weather forecasts, security broadcasts and general boating information on air. The club also receives mayday and assist calls to vessels in distress on a regular basis.”