Runs on the board for Calare

ACHIEVEMENTS AS THE STATE MEMBER FOR ORANGE

HEALTH

24 hour rescue helicopter for the Central West - Under Labor, Wollongong was given a 24 hour rescue service despite being a 10 minute flight from Sydney. Few issues raised such universal passion across the region, campaigning both publicly and privately, working with the communities of the Central West, groups such as the CWA, local councils, medicos and fellow MPs (Troy Grant and Paul Toole), to present a petition of over 30,000 signatures to Parliament to make it happen. Not only was a 24 hour service delivered, but a new larger chopper is on the way. The service has already save dozens, if not hundreds, of lives across the Central West. It was one of the most significant achievements in my first term of office.
Second radiotherapy machine at Orange Hospital - It was outrageous that people from Western NSW had to either travel to Sydney for radiotherapy or choose not to be treated. Worked with local medical practitioners and the community to deliver a second machine for Orange that services the whole region. Again, a vital treatment that has saved many lives across the Central West.
Construction has started on the new Molong MPS, with a NSW Government commitment for a new Ambulance Station as well, ending years of uncertainty over health services at Molong.
Helped save the Centre for Rural and Remote Mental Health in Orange with $16 million in funding.
New emergency department at Wellington Hospital – before the 2011 election there was great community angst about security at Wellington Hospital and its ageing Emergency DepartmentNew emergency department at Wellington Hospital – before the 2011 election there was great community angst about security at Wellington Hospital and its ageing Emergency Department
Lobbied for a new hospital at Mudgee - $60 million election commitment, with planning now underway
If country hospitals close, country communities can die. It’s that simple. No issue symbolised Labor’s neglect of the bush more than the closure of Gulgong Hospital in 2010. The whole town turned out to protest its closure.

AGRICULTURE

Subsidies for orchardists for fruit bat netting (and hail netting) – finally ending the yearly battle between farmers and the fruit bats!
Central Tablelands Local Land Services – created with the help of neighbouring MP – Paul Toole
Stopping cold Labor’s plans to sell and subdivide the Orange Ag institute
Burrendong Dam cold water pollution project

TRANSPORT

Wellington to Dubbo bus service – for decades Wellington was effectively isolated from its largest neighbour

INFRASTRUCTURE

Almost $54 million in water security pipelines around the Central West
Millions for the raising of Suma Park Dam Wall at Orange
Feasibility study for a new dam at Cranky Rock near Canowindra
Millions of dollars in funding for our local public reserves, including a new pavilion for the Orange Showground)

ROADS

$16 million for the cope and Ulan Roads near Mudgee
$40 million for the upgrade of the Mitchell Highway between Orange and Molong at Guanna Hill – residents have been pushing for this upgrade for over 30 years. After years of pestering NSW Roads Minister Duncan Gay and literally sitting outside his office urging him to “feed the goanna”, the work is now underway
$2 million for overtaking lanes on the Cargo Road
New bridge on the Cargo Road (old bridge had been there for more than 70 years)
The paving of Main Road 353 – Wellington’s link to the Golden Highway had been dirt for years – it was Wellington’s biggest road priority and we delivered
Concerned parents and communities were crying out for these extremely dangerous roads from Gulgong and Mudgee to the mines to be made safe. Through working collaboratively with local residents and the council, a community campaign resulted in a petition of over 11,000 signatures presented to the NSW Parliament and $16 million in Resources in Regions funding for the upgrades

COMMUNITY

Three new domestic violence refuges for Orange – Orange unfortunately has some of the highest rates of domestic violence in the state. Worked with Orange’s Domestic Violence Working Group to secure NSW Government funding for three domestic violence safe houses in Orange.
Securing $4 million in Payroll Tax Rebates to help keep Electrolux open
Following the announcement that Electrolux would close, spearheaded a massive Electrolux re-training program – completed by 400 employees
Fought for and delivered $6,000 Payroll Tax Rebates to hire ex-Electrolux worker
$3.4 million Aboriginal Learning Centre at TAFE in Orange
Wellington Courthouse Audio Visual Link
Located just north of Mudgee, The Drip consists of the magnificent Great Dripping Wall formed of sandstone that towers over the Goulburn River. Just before the 2011 State election, the State Labor Government sold this iconic piece of bushland to a coalmine without telling anyone. When the deal ultimately became public, it proviked local and international outrage. After a long and arduous campaign, the mine and the NSW Government were finally able to reach an agreement for The Drip to be declared a National Park in 2015

EDUCATION

$2.5 million for new classrooms at Catherine McAuley Catholic Primary School in Orange – the single largest grant given in recent times for an upgrade

ACHIEVEMENTS AS THE FEDERAL MEMBER FOR CALARE

$18 million for world-class health research facility in Orange
$22 million for the new CSU medical school
$16 million for crossing at Dixons Long Point
Budget back in surplus
$225,000 for Molong’s Multi-Purpose Sports Facility
$44 million to local councils for roads
The biggest drought relief effort in Australia’s history
$12.5 million for Bathurst’s second race track
37 new mobile phone sites across Calare
$2.5 million for upgrades at Bathurst Airport
$6.95 million for the expansion of Mudgee’s Glen Willow sport complex
$9.5 million for Lithgow’s aged care facilities
$1.06 million for a headspace at Lithgow
$8 million to investigate fast rail for the Central West
MRI licence for Lithgow Hospital
$1.5 million for an intergenerational child care facility at Wellington’s Maranatha House
$650,000 for a new hall at Orange Christian School plus $1.24 million for St Mary’s Catholic Primary School
Decentralisation of two government departments to the Central West including the Regional Investment Corporation (25-30 jobs) and the Regional Programs Branch (25 jobs)
$6.45 million for the Southern Feeder Road in Orange
$12,647 for a memorial and heritage wall at Black Springs
$13,000 for the Oberon Military Museum
$47,339 for upgraded watering system and solar panels at Oberon Golf Club
$1.1 million for the Orange Crisis Centre for women and children
$954,250 for the construction of the new Bathurst Rail Museum
Tax cuts for low to middle income earners
$9,000 for Gulgong’s Pioneers Museum
$3,000 for memorial garden at the Canowindra Soldiers Memorial Hospital
$380,000 funding to support the rebuild of Glenray Industries
$181,818 funding to Bathurst’s War Memorial Carillon
$25,000 for CCTV in Oberon’s CBD plus $1.2 million for Wellington, Orange and Bathurst
$1.9 million to upgrade Blayney’s CentrePoint Sports and Leisure Centre
$480,000 to expand the Wallerawang Bowling Club
$200,000 for a multi-purpose sports complex in Wattle Flat
$152,500 for free WiFi in the Bathurst CBD
$117,396 to resurface the courts at the East Molong Tennis Club
$14.7 million for Mission Australia’s Benjamin Short Grove Aged Care facility
$460,000 for upgrades along The Escort Way near Eugowra
$560,000 for piped water for the Stuart Town community
$620,041 for the replacement of the Gundy Creek Bridge near Wellington
$200,000 for improvements at Wellington’s Kennard Park
$307,500 to replace the Goodiman Bridge near Goolma
$100,000 for a new scoreboard and discus nets for Kandos’ Waratah Park
$60,000 for an irrigation system at Rylstone Showground
$1.135 million for Lithgow’s Blast Furnace Park
$225,000 for the new Molong Multi-Sports facility
$21,788 for Canowindra’s Age of Fishes Museum
$308,175 for an education and info centre at the Australian National Field Days site at Borenore
$1.42 million to upgrade Clergate Road in Orange
$144,759 for refurbishment of Millthorpe’s Golden Memories Museum
$1 million each for Blayney, Cabonne, Dubbo Regional (including Wellington), Mid-Western, Lithgow, Bathurst and Oberon Councils through the Drought Communities Program for local projects
Record funding for local schools and public hospitals
Tax cuts for small business
Superannuation reforms sorted
Backpacker tax axed
$1.2 million to fix the infamous dog leg bridge on Peisley Street at Orange
$395,500 for new overtaking lanes on the Cargo Road, west of Orange
$1.5 million for pavement strengthening and realignment of Browns Creek Road at Blayney
$400,000 for Australian Functional Foods to develop products from waste grade fruit such as cherries and plums
$891,525 to Bioprocessing Australia for a fermentation process to produce high-quality protein food and feed yeast

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