NSW Fair Trading Minister, Virginia Judge, will visit Port Macquarie to discuss proposed regulations affecting retirement villages and their residents.
Independent Member for Port Macquarie, Peter Besseling, commended the many seniors who had written to him in recent weeks about the proposed Retirement Villages Regulation 2009, and for their efforts in convincing the Minister to visit the Port Macquarie electorate.
“There has been a strong level of interest in this draft regulation from seniors in our community, and they have taken the time to inform themselves of the issues and to ask their local MP to take those views to the Minister,” Mr Besseling said.
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Port Macquarie Sea Rescue volunteer Ken Fletcher has been awarded the NSW Maritime Medal for his outstanding service to the boating community.
Independent Member for Port Macquarie, Peter Besseling, congratulated
Mr Fletcher on receiving the prestigious award at an official presentation ceremony in Sydney today.
“Ken is a dedicated volunteer who has been involved in about 1800 maritime rescues during his 25 years with Port Macquarie Sea Rescue,” Mr Besseling said.
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Independent Member for Port Macquarie, Peter Besseling, says this week’s cancelled surgery is a demonstrable example of our growing population pressures and the need for further expansion of Port Macquarie Base Hospital.
“The 160-bed facility simply is not large enough to cope with our growing population, and it is the sick and elderly who are paying the price for NSW Health’s lack of commitment to the fourth pod expansion at the hospital,” Mr Besseling said.
“A surge in emergency admissions over the weekend resulted in the elective surgery list being cancelled on Monday and again today, affecting about 10 people, and the situation is not about to improve with tomorrow’s surgery list also affected.
“These cancelled operations are not the result of flu outbreaks or other seasonal infections but are due to the ever present pressures on hospital infrastructure that is struggling to cope with our growing and aged population,” Mr Besseling said.
“We have some of the best doctors, nurses and associated hospital staff in regional NSW, and statistical and clinical evidence supports a major investment in health infrastructure.
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WORK on one of the first school stimulus projects to take shape on the Mid-North Coast will begin at Laurieton Public School this week.
Independent MP for Lyne Robert Oakeshott and State MP for Port Macquarie Peter Besseling were joined by school principal David Willard, P&C Secretary Joanne Kaul, school captains Blayne Lambert-Bignell and Erin Moss and vice-captains Lachie Price and Baldry in a sod-turning ceremony on Friday to mark the commencement of the $2 million project.
The development will involve construction of a new hall and covered outdoor learning area at the rear boundary of the school.
Mr Oakeshott said building sites would soon be established at more than 50 schools on the Mid-North Coast as the government’s stimulus program moved into full swing.
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International food connoisseurs will discover the delights of premium local produce next week when the Fine Food Australia 2009 trade show opens at Darling Harbour.
“Among the 1000 exhibitors will be two success stories from the Port Macquarie region,” said Independent Member for Port Macquarie, Peter Besseling.
“The Other Chef from Lake Cathie and Peak Coffee Roastery from Port Macquarie have been included in a regional NSW exhibit at Fine Food Australia, one of the largest food and beverage trade shows in the Southern Hemisphere.
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Independent Member for Port Macquarie, Peter Besseling, will not be supporting today’s vote of no confidence in the NSW state government.
“Despite media releases calling on all independents to support a vote of no confidence in the state government, the NSW opposition are very aware that the motion is headed for defeat,” Mr Besseling said.
“It is purely an exercise of simple mathematics. The government holds 51 seats, the opposition holds 36, with Independent members numbering 6. The only way for the motion to be successful is if the Coalition can convince government MPs to cross the floor and vote for their own demise.
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Independent Member for Port Macquarie, Peter Besseling, has welcomed state government involvement in addressing climate change issues such as coastal erosion that have particular relevance to local areas such as Lake Cathie.
“Given the current public exhibition and consideration of the draft Coastal Management Study for Lake Cathie, the commitment by both the Department of Lands and the Department of Environment Climate Change and Water (DECCW) to work with local councils to address issues such as sea level rises and erosion on beaches, is quite timely,” Mr Besseling said.
“Prompted by the erosion occurring further north, in areas such as Belongil Beach in Byron Bay, the state government has acknowledged that this is a broader problem affecting many individuals and local communities along NSW coastline.
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Seven has proved to be a lucky number for the Kendall Future Directions Committee.
The community group has received $7777 from NSW Lands Minister, Tony Kelly, to help with the construction costs of a Men’s Shed at Kendall, said Independent Member for Port Macquarie, Peter Besseling.
“The grant is fantastic news for the Kendall community, which already has worked hard toward its goal of building a facility through the acquisition, dismantling and transportation of a second-hand shed from Forster,” Mr Besseling said.
“The Men’s Shed concept has flourished in rural and regional areas as a way of contributing to the social, physical and mental wellbeing of local men.
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Independent Member for Port Macquarie, Peter Besseling, will join more than 80 of his state and federal colleagues across New South Wales as they are put to work as part of the NSW Business Chamber’s annual Pollies for Small Business program.
Mr Besseling will be behind the counter at Westport Newsagency with owner Scott Oxenberg for the Pollies for Small Business program on Monday morning (July 27).
“Small business operators face very specific challenges every day, be it finding new customers and keeping existing ones, sourcing goods and services, meeting statutory obligations, meeting staff obligations, finding skilled staff, mastering the tasks expected of a dozen or so job descriptions, and, at the end of a long day or week, finding time for family and friends,” Mr Besseling said.
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Independent Member for Port Macquarie, Peter Besseling, is urging community groups to apply for funds through the state government’s Community Building Partnership program.
“The timeframe on this economic stimulus package is limited, so we are encouraging as many community groups as possible to apply for a share in the $400,000 headed our way,” Mr Besseling said.
“The Community Building Partnership will help sports clubs, community groups, non-profit organisations and the like to access much-needed dollars to improve public facilities.
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