Member for Bonner Ross Vasta has called on local service providers to apply for funding to help them support financially vulnerable Australians access critical services in Bonner.

Mr Vasta said the Turnbull Government was providing $328 million in grant funding for community organisations to administer financial crisis assistance and education programs.

“Programs funded through this grant round will help people in Bonner to navigate financial crises and build financial wellbeing, financial capability, and resilience,” Mr Vasta said.

“The Turnbull Government’s investment in these grants acknowledges the central role of grassroots services in helping financially vulnerable Australians transcend issues and strive for a better life.

“Only because of our stronger economy and by keeping spending under control can the Government guarantee the essential services that Australians rely on, like financial crisis funding.”

Under the Financial Wellbeing and Capability grant round:

• Up to $200 million will be provided to Emergency Relief;

• $80 million will be for Food Relief, Commonwealth Financial Counselling and Financial Capability and the Financial Counselling Helpline services;

• $48 million in funding will be available for further services such as Financial Counselling for Problem Gambling, Money Support Hubs and Financial Resilience.

Applications for the Financial Wellbeing and Capability Activity open grants round close on 22 August 2018.

New grant agreements will be in place from 1 January 2019. For more information including eligibility criteria or to apply for a grant, go to GrantConnect.

Australian Government funding will benefit a Tingalpa business to develop and commercialise their state-of-the-art mine haulage truck.

Loadpro Australia is one of six Australian businesses sharing in $3.2 million worth of the Australian Government’s Accelerating Commercialisation grants.

Loadpro has been offered $1 million to assist in completing the final design of their X60 Truck, commercialising the X60, achieving domestic sales and laying the foundation for global sales yielding national benefits through job creation and export revenue.

Loadpro founder and Managing Director Ron Schliebs said development of the X60 Truck will fill a product gap for off-highway trucks in the mining and construction industries, in particular for extended hauls that other off-highway and articulated trucks are not suited for.

“The project will lead to a commercial production run to meet expected advance orders for the X60 in Australia and Indonesia from companies with which Loadpro has already established a relationship,” Mr Schliebs said.

“Features [of the X60] include high payload with low tare/gross weight, with less fuel burn. Future development for military/defence applications is also envisaged.”

Federal Member for Bonner Ross Vasta said Accelerating Commercialisation grants support businesses on the pathway to commercialisation.

“Businesses around the country are putting their hands up to work with the Australian Government on developing their ideas, and taking their products to domestic and international markets,” Mr Vasta said.

“The support to Loadpro will encourage other local businesses to think outside the box, and come up with ways to improve their business.

“I strongly encourage all businesses in Bonner to partner with the government to enhance their success, both locally and globally.”

For more information about how to apply for an Entrepreneurs’ Programme Accelerating Commercialisation grant, visit www.business.gov.au/ep.

More information on the grant recipients is available at www.business.gov.au/ac-funding-offers.

The Coalition Government has committed an additional $22.5 million in Budget 2018-19 to continue the highly successful Stronger Communities Programme (SCP).

Federal Member for Bonner, Ross Vasta, said the fourth round of the program would ensure funding was available for a range of important community infrastructure projects such as sporting facilities and community halls.

“Bonner has been very successful under previous rounds of the Stronger Communities Programme,” Mr Vasta said.

“In the first three rounds of the Stronger Communities Programme, I have been proud to secure $397,028 in Stronger Communities grants for 35 community groups—including school P&Cs, sports clubs, environmental groups, men’s sheds, and community kindergartens—in my electorate.”

Mr Vasta said the additional investment for a fourth round of SCP would ensure that local decision-making continues to play a decisive role in funding community building projects. He encouraged local community groups to start 

“The Coalition Government will fund up to 50 per cent of costs for successful projects from a pool of $150,000 in each electorate, delivering more than 1,000 further projects in this round.

“Grants will be available between $2,500 and $20,000 for successful applications and I will soon invite organisations within the community to put forward their high-quality projects for assessment.”

“This Budget continues the Coalition Government’s commitment to building strong communities with extensions to vital community grants programs that invest directly in economic and social infrastructure,” Mr Vasta said.

Successful Round 3 Stronger Communities projects included: 

For more information on the Stronger Communities Programme visit: http://regional.gov.au/regional/programs/stronger-communities.aspx or call 3893 3488.

Mr Vasta today congratulated Bonner’s successful applicants for the Australian Government’s Local Sporting Champions (LSC) program at a special presentation ceremony in Wynnum. 

The LSC program provides $500 grants to young sportsmen and women aged 12-18 to assist them with the costs of attending state, national and international sports championships.

“I’m proud to support our talented young sports stars and help them achieve their sporting dreams,” Mr Vasta said.

“I wish you the best of luck with your upcoming championships and I look forward to hearing the outcome of your events.”

Local recipients for Round 3 of the 2017-18 Local Sporting Champions grants who attended:

• James Hardy – Burbank – Gymnastics – Austrian Future Cup
• Jordan Howells – Mackenzie – Basketball – QLD State Champs. 
• Mitchell Tinsley – Tingalpa – Swimming – Pacific School Games
• Elliot Weber – Wakerley – Swimming – 2018 Georgina Hope Aust. Champs. 
• Jaymie Wood – Mackenzie – Archery – International Competition
• Taylah Spall – Manly West – Water Polo – 18 & under National Aged Champs. 
• Alysha Gallagher – Carindale – Swimming – 2018 Georgina Hope Aust. Champs. 
• Roland Skepton – Manly West – Baseball – School Sport Aust. Baseball Champs.  

Carindale swimmer Alysha Gallagher says she will be making good use of the grant and buying a brand new swimming suit for the Championships next week. 

“This money will allow me to buy another professional swimming suit for the competition in Sydney next week. The suits make a huge difference and shave seconds off my swim times but they’re almost $500 a pop and they wear out after about 40 swims.

“Every year I go through so many suits at an enormous cost to my parents. I’m so thankful to have been awarded this grant to ease some of the pressure on my family.”

Further information on the LSC program is available at www.ausport.gov.au/participating/local_sporting_champions

A much-needed upgrade of bathroom facilities at C&K Tingalpa & District Kindergarten has been completed thanks to a $6,348 grant provided through the Australian Government’s Stronger Communities Programme.

Federal Member for Bonner, Ross Vasta, said he was proud to have helped the not-for-profit community kindergarten secure the grant for local families.

“I congratulate the staff and parents at Tingalpa C&K for fundraising the money needed to cover the remainder of the project costs. It goes to show the strong community support behind Tingalpa C&K,” Mr Vasta said.

The Stronger Communities grant went toward an upgrade of the only adult toilet at the kindergarten that staff and parents can access. This has saved the kindergarten in plumber call out fees.

The kindergarten has also installed a new hot water system using the grant, which has decreased their water costs.

Local ex-service organisations can now apply for Building Excellence in Support and Training (BEST) grants and Grants-in-Aid, Federal Member for Bonner, Ross Vasta said today.

“These grants help ex-service organisations provide vital advocacy services for current and former serving men and women which help veterans with their compensation claims and also ensure they get correct access to entitlements and services,” Mr Vasta said.

“More than $4 million in over 155 grants have been provided to ex-service organisations supporting veterans under these programs in 2017-18 and I encourage all ex-service organisations to apply for this round of grant funding.”

Applications for both grant programs close on Thursday, 19 April 2018 with payments to the successful applicants to be made before the end of 2018-19 financial year.

“Organisations needing assistance with online lodgement are encouraged to seek help through the Community Grants Hub,” Mr Vasta said.

“If you think you may need help with your application please call or email the Hub as soon as possible to ask for help. This will ensure any issues can be worked through in time for your application to be considered for funding.”

For information about how to apply for grants online, see the Community Grants Hub website: www.communitygrants.gov.au or the Department of Veterans’ Affairs website: www.dva.gov.au.

Support is available by phone: 1800 020 283 or by email: support@communitygrants.gov.au.

To receive an email alert when veteran and other community grants are open for applications on the Hub, visit www.communitygrants.gov.au.

Federal Member for Bonner, Ross Vasta said it had been a productive and successful year for the Bonner electorate, with his constituents benefitting from a number of projects and initiatives he had fought for and delivered in the area.

Mr Vasta said he was pleased that many local projects he had delivered Federal funding for had been completed this year:

• Wynnum Manly Seagulls Clubhouse dressing sheds upgrade ($400,000);

• Manly Bowls Club second green enclosure ($1.15m);

• Mt Gravatt Bowls Club new surface and shade system ($178,000);

• Wynnum Manly Men’s Shed installation and fitting out of new sheds ($100,000);

• Mt Gravatt Men’s Shed solar panels and facility upgrades ($22,612);

• Eastside Community Church fencing, shade sails and path upgrade ($20,000);

• Hope Foundation new equipment and supplies ($70,000).

Mr Vasta said works were now underway, or were soon expected to be underway, for several more important infrastructure projects in Bonner:

• Rickertt Rd-Green Camp Rd intersection upgrade ($10m): construction expected to begin mid to late 2018;

• M1-Gateway Motorway merge upgrade at Eight Mile Plains: construction to begin early 2018 after the Commonwealth Games;

• NBN rollout: over one-third complete in Bonner, with all premises to have access by 2020;

• Moreton Bay Discovery Centre extension to house Moreton Bay Discovery Museum displays ($450,000);

• Australian Academy of Martial Arts Karate-Do Club Dojo training hall ($185,000).

Mr Vasta also secured funding for the following projects under Round 3 of the Stronger Communities Programme:

• Moreton Bay Girl Guides flooring upgrades ($8,901);

• Silky Oaks Children’s Haven multi-purpose community hub area makeover ($9,475);

• C&K Tingalpa & District Kindergarten toilet upgrades ($2,574);

• Sporting Shooters’ Association of Australia Belmont gravel car park upgrade ($20,000);

• Manly Community Kindergarten sensory garden ($2,521);

• Wynnum General Gordon Community Pre-School and Kindergarten outdoor play space upgrade ($6,750);

• EDit (Ex-Defence Integration Team)’s work helping local ex-defence personnel back into the workforce ($6,000);

• Mt Gravatt Men’s Shed new awnings over verandah ($6,630).

In 2017 Mr Vasta launched the inaugural Bonner Volunteer Awards as well as the inaugural Bonner Bright Star Awards, both of which attracted many nominations and helped recognise outstanding local volunteers and local students in the electorate.

Mr Vasta held the first Bonner Seniors’ Expo to provide a helpful and entertaining event for older people who live in the electorate. The Expo was a success with hundreds of locals attending on the day.

Mr Vasta’s Coffee with a Cop community safety events also proved popular, with locals benefitting from the opportunity to chat face-to-face with local police and other organisations about keeping their homes and businesses protected from crime.

Mr Vasta said fixing the Lindum intersection would be one of his top priorities in 2018, and encouraged locals to sign his petition online. His petition, to be presented to Federal Parliament in February next year, has attracted over 2,500 signatures in a short amount of time.

He said he would continue to fight for important projects in his electorate and thanked those who had helped him deliver vital funding for the area.

Today I want to focus on young high achievers I’ve met recently from my electorate of Bonner.

I recently had the pleasure of presenting young sports stars from my electorate with their Local Sporting Champions awards. The Local Sporting Champions program is an Australian Government initiative that provides $500 grants to young sportsmen and women aged 12 to 18 to help them cover the costs of attending state, national, and international sports championships.

There were 35 successful applicants from Bonner for the latest Local Sporting Champions round. Five of these sports stars attended my presentation ceremony last week:

• Ella O’Grady from Wynnum North, representing Metropolitan East School at the Football State Championships. Ella one day hopes to play for the Matildas;

• Luisa Gauci from Chandler, representing Queensland at the Youth Women’s Nationals baseball championship. Luisa is the first Brisbane girl to compete in the national Kookaburras team, and was recently in Korea representing Australia;

• Mitchell Torrens from Manly West, participating at the BMX QLD State Championships at the junior elite level;

• Ethan Bennetts from Carindale, representing Queensland Athletics at the Australian Athletics Championships. Ethan is a gold medallist in the hammer throw event and intends to represent Australia at the Olympics one day;

• Erin Hopgood from Wynnum West, representing Redlands City Gym Sports at the TRP State Age Championships.

The Government is proud to support our talented young sports stars and help them achieve their sporting dreams. Good luck to our Local Sporting Champions at their upcoming championships! I encourage other eligible sportsmen and women in Bonner to apply online.

I also recently got to meet some outstanding language students from Mansfield State High School. Eight of these students have received scholarships to travel to Kobe, Japan this month. I also wished bon voyage to French language students heading off to Rouen on exchange. Congratulations to these excellent students, I was happy to present them with Aussie flags and other goodies they can take with them on their trip.

Today I want to talk about a key part of my electorate: the suburb of Wishart. I spent some time in Wishart over the winter break, talking with residents and local groups about what's important to them.

There was a great turnout at the NBN information session that I held recently for local residents and businesses. NBN Co has confirmed with me that this week over 4,300 premises in Wishart will be switched over to the NBN. These homes and businesses can expect a letter in the mail soon about the next steps they should take to connect to the NBN.

I recently met with the Wishart State School P&C Association to hear the latest on their five-year improvement plan. The P&C adopted this plan in July last year to help focus their fundraising efforts. They've already completed their first goal of putting air-conditioning in their resource centre. This October they're holding a spring carnival to raise funds to help them complete more of their goals, and I look forward to being there.

I also met with the Neighbourhood Watch Upper Mount Gravatt Area 16 to discuss the best ways to tackle local crime in Wishart and surrounding areas. The next round of the government's Safer Communities Fund is coming up soon, and I encourage them to apply.

It's always great to catch up with my constituents in Wishart. I will be doing so again this weekend at a mobile office in Devlin Street Park, with the state member for Mansfield, Mr Ian Walker, and councillor for MacGregor, Councillor Steven Huang.

Grants of between $2,500 and $20,000 are available to help fund small capital projects in the Bonner community, thanks to the Turnbull Coalition Government’s extension of its Stronger Communities Programme, Federal Member for Bonner, Ross Vasta said today.

“My office is now accepting expressions of interest from local schools and not-for-profit organisations and groups for funding through Round 3 of Stronger Communities,” Mr Vasta said.

“Grant amounts will cover up to 50 per cent of eligible project costs. You can fund your share of eligible project costs from any source including state and local government. Your contribution can be either cash or in-kind.”

Previous recipients of Stronger Communities funding in Bonner include:

Round 1