Community Crime Reporting

Parliament resumed this week following the winter recess. It will now sit until the end of the year. This will be the last sitting period before the next election.

Community Crime Reporting

I encourage members of the Casino community to continue reporting crimes. At a recent (Police Accountability Community Team) PACT meeting it was pointed out that unless members of the community report crimes, proper statistics cannot be kept, which makes it difficult to lobby for extra police. It is vital the community assists police by contacting them if they suspect an offence, which in turn could provide intelligence in helping the officers to solve crime.

Casino Weir Consultations

I have been advised by Norco that they have distributed a letter to Casino residents regarding the removal of the Casino weir. Members of the community seeking further information in this regard can contact Elvin Robb, Manager Infrastructure and Property at Norco on 6627 8018 or the Richmond Valley Council.

Pollies for Small Business Day

For Pollies for Small Business Day last week, I took part in some work experience at a local caf‚ and a rural store. As a former business owner, I certainly appreciated the opportunity to spend some time with local small business owners and get a better understanding of the current issues they face each day in their businesses, particularly in regard to the amount of red tape caused by decisions of government.

Area Assistance Scheme Grant Applications Now Open

Community based organisations seeking grants are encouraged to apply for the 2006 funding round for the Area Assistance Scheme (AAS). The Area Assistance Scheme (AAS) provides grants to community based organisations for community development projects that connect communities through partnerships, build community leadership and capacity or promote safer communities.

The 2006 funding round opened on 5 August 2006 and closes on 6 September 2006. You can check eligibility and obtain further information by contacting my office or from the AAS website at www.communitybuilders.nsw.gov.au/aas

Setting Up Local Health Boards

The NSW Coalition has announced a plan to give rural hospitals more say in the way they are run and make health services more responsive to the local community by setting up District Health Boards whose directors will be local community members.

Under Labor, the NSW health system has ballooned into a massive bureaucracy run from Sydney. This is a big issue for people in the Casino area who rightly feel health is imposed on them from the city with little understanding of what smaller, rural hospitals need to deliver good service. Replacing Labor's centralised health structure with a local district boards will free up money to go to frontline services.

Having more community involvement in local hospitals will ensure a fairer distribution of resources between larger city hospitals and smaller country hospitals. The plan allows local communities to 'take back' their hospitals and health services and should be warmly welcomed in this area.

Seniors Week Awards

Applications are now open for 2007 Seniors Week Achievement Awards program. The awards recognise seniors from across the State for their contribution to the development of the community, for their leadership and for their initiative. The awards provide an opportunity to formally thank older people for the contribution that they make to the quality of life in our State. A group of individual can be nominated in one of the following categories; Education/Life-long Learning,
Health & Well-Being,
Intergenerational Understanding,
Community Service and Volunteering,
Environment/Science
Business Mentoring

Up to 60 awards are available for outstanding nominations. Nomination forms are available from my office. The closing date for nominations is yet to be advised.