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.”

Member for Bonner Ross Vasta together with the Minister for Communications Mitch Fifield today announced that a re-elected Turnbull Coalition Team will deliver improved mobile phone coverage in Belmont, Burbank, Moreton Island and Gumdale, as part of an additional $60 million commitment to extend the successful Mobile Black Spot Programme.

“New mobile base stations in Belmont, Burbank, Moreton Island and Gumdale will bring a much-needed boost to mobile coverage, providing benefits to emergency service operators, businesses, and residents,” Mr Vasta said.

“I am pleased that under Round 1 of the Mobile Black Spot Programme, the electorate of Bonner will receive new mobile coverage to one mobile black spot area nominated by the public, with the results of Round 2 to be announced in the second half of 2016.

“The Turnbull Coalition Team understands the importance of mobile coverage in regional and remote areas of Australia and that is why we are committing an additional $60 million on top of the $160 million already invested in mobile black spots, bringing the Coalition’s total investment to $220 million,” Mr Vasta said.

To date, the Mobile Black Spots Programme has committed to 499 new or upgraded base stations covering around 3,000 black spots, which is the most significant one-time increase in mobile network coverage to regional and remote Australia.

Minister Fifield said the Coalition is committed to improving mobile coverage along major transport routes, in small communities and in locations prone to experiencing natural disasters, as well as addressing unique mobile coverage problems such as areas with high seasonal demand.

“Despite being in Government for six years, Labor did not spend one dollar on fixing mobile black spots in regional and remote Australia,” Minister Fifield said.

“The Coalition’s $220 million plan to address mobile black spots will ensure regional and remote communities have access to wider and more reliable mobile phone coverage.”

A re-elected Turnbull Coalition Government will provide Mt Gravatt Bowls Club with $178,000 in funding to go towards the conversion of its existing grass surface to an artificial surface, as well as the construction of a cover over the new green.

Making the announcement at Mt Gravatt Bowls Club’s open men’s competition today, Liberal National Member for Bonner, Ross Vasta said he was happy to pledge the funding that would help secure the club’s future.

“This project will significantly reduce the club’s operating costs,” Mr Vasta said.

“It will provide an excellent playing surface that will protect players from the elements. This will also help attract new members to this wonderful club.”

Business manager of Mt Gravatt Bowls Club, Reg Walls welcomed the funding announcement.

“This funding will provide much-needed certainty and a more secure future for the club,” Mr Walls said.

Mr Walls said the project would be a great benefit to the community and community organisations that utilised the club’s facilities.

“This includes barefoot bowlers, corporate bowlers and people who in part use the Licenced Club facilities in conjunction with the bowling greens.”

“We are also encouraging schools to use the greens facilities and have procured 30 sets of smaller sized bowls to facilitate and encourage students to take up the sport.”

A re-elected Turnbull Coalition Government will provide the Australian Academy of Martial Arts Shito-Ryu Karate-Do Club (AAMA) with $185,000 in funding to go towards the construction of a new building to be used as a dojo and for additional health and wellness classes.

Making the announcement today at Mt Gravatt Hawks Soccer Club, Liberal National Member for Bonner, Ross Vasta said he was pleased to be able to make the commitment to the long-running club.

“The Australian Academy of Martial Arts has been the leading teacher of karate to children and adults in the Mount Gravatt, Wishart and Mansfield areas for over 40 years,” Mr Vasta said.

“I’m proud to be able to commit this funding today, which will help the club expand its programmes and preserve the Academy’s heritage in the community.”

AAMA Committee member, Glenn Weiss welcomed the funding announcement.

“This will be a multi-purpose facility that will provide the club with twice as much space, which will allow us to offer more options to parents as well as students,” Mr Weiss said.

“With this additional space we intend to offer regular classes related to health and wellness as well as healthy aging programs.”

“We have recognised the need for healthy aging programs for older people through consultation with the community. We are now planning to broaden our focus in this area through collaboration with other community groups.”

A re-elected Turnbull Government will provide funding for the upgrade of the intersection of Rickertt Road and Green Camp Road, relieving congestion for motorists in the electorate of Bonner and Bowman.

The intersection, which is a key route for commuters between Redland City and Brisbane, is currently plagued by congestion during peak times. Around 1,000 vehicles per hour pass through the intersection during peak times, resulting in traffic queues of up to two kilometres.  

The Turnbull Government will provide $5 million for the upgrade which will be matched by the Brisbane City Council.  

The funding will enable the re-phasing of traffic signals as well as the upgrade and extension of the dual carriageway.

The announcement was made today by Minister for Major Projects, the Hon Paul Fletcher MP, Member for Bonner, Ross Vasta MP, and Member for Bowman, Andrew Laming MP. 

Mr Vasta said, “I’ve heard from countless residents and commuters in Bonner who’ve had issues with this particular intersection. After fighting for years on their behalf for this much-needed upgrade I’m pleased the Government is now able to commit this funding.”

Mr Laming said, “This upgrade transforms the commute between Redland City and Brisbane. The morning congestion in particular has caused frustration for around 15,000 Redland city families.”

The Turnbull Government is investing $13.7 billion in Queensland infrastructure and is spending a record $50 billion on land transport infrastructure nationally as part of our carefully structured economic plan to provide jobs and growth and a secure future for Australian families.

A re-elected Turnbull Coalition Government will provide Wynnum-Manly Meals on Wheels with $300,000 in funding to go towards the purchase of new kitchen facilities for their Kitchen and Community Centre to be built at Wakerley.

Making the announcement today at Waterloo Bay Leisure Centre in Wynnum, Liberal National Member for Bonner, Ross Vasta said he was proud to be able to support Wynnum-Manly Meals on Wheels’ move to their new site at 880 Manly Road, Wakerley.

“In the last 20 years, Wynnum and Manly Meals on Wheels has fundraised tirelessly to move into their new and improved home and I’ve been proud to support their efforts,” Mr Vasta said.

“The Wakerley facility will be a fantastic asset for the community. It will have a state-of-the-art kitchen that will see many more hot meals delivered to locals. It will also have many other features that will be available to local groups, including meeting, training and sporting spaces.”

President of Wynnum-Manly Meals on Wheels, Ken Edwards welcomed the funding announcement.

“The new Meals on Wheels kitchen will improve the facilities available to over 280 volunteers,” Mr Edwards said.

“This will allow for more hot meals to be cooked, prepared and delivered more efficiently to homes in the area. This helps us assist people to maintain their independence and stay in their own homes for longer.”

Mr Vasta thanked Mr Edwards for his unwavering dedication to the project.

“I’m looking forward to seeing the completed facility and joining everyone on opening day,” Mr Vasta said.

“I commend Wynnum-Manly Meals on Wheels for its work delivering meals to residents in our community.”