Address: Shop 23, Tattersalls Centre, 510-534 High Street, Penrith NSW 2750 Mail: PO Box 4006, Penrith Plaza NSW 2750

Phone: (02) 4722 8660 Fax: (02) 4731 4782 Email: penrith@parliament.nsw.gov.au

NEPEAN RIVER PRECINCT ACTIVATION

The NSW Government has led the way in bringing the Nepean River precinct to life. There is now over $100M invested in the Nepean River precinct and that is truly an outstanding outcome for Penrith.

The Western Sydney City Deal will contribute to the $24M transformation of Regatta Park on the Emu Plains side of the river while on the Penrith side, Tench Reserve will be revitalised through a $10M grant from the NSW Government’s Parks for People Program.

We recently announced $1.5M to go towards the restoration of the old Police Cottage. This wonderful community heritage asset will add to the dynamic location on the banks of the river.

Enhancements that have been made to the river precinct with funding support from the NSW Government include: Yandhai Nepean Crossing, Tench Reserve boat ramp upgrade, river walk footpath upgrades, new fishing platform and new children’s playground.

The opening of the Yandhai Nepean Crossing has been a catalyst in encouraging investment into the river precinct by the private sector.

Key examples of this investment include The East Bank restaurants and the repurposing of Emu Hall. Additionally, the newly approved The Orchard will be under construction this year and will offer a unique five-acre hospitality venue featuring new cafes, restaurants, bars and an inclusive playground and animal yards.

This year will also see the return of the Log Cabin with works now underway. The new Log Cabin design comprises of a two-storey hotel offering indoor and outdoor bars and dining options overlooking the Nepean River.

The Nepean River is an area loved by locals and visitors and these enhancements are a win for the Penrith Community.

The Orchard

Old Police Cottage The Log Cabin Regatta Park

Community Newsletter April 2021

A big welcome to the 66 intern doctors who have started working in the Nepean Blue Mountains Local Health District, launching a new phase in their careers.

The District’s new starters are among more than 1,000 intern doctors starting across NSW this year, the largest intake of any state or territory in Australia.

The NSW Government is investing $2.8 billion in a record workforce boost of 8,300 frontline hospital staff, including 5,000 nurses and midwives, with 45 per cent of those for regional and rural areas.

NEPEAN HOSPITAL UPDATE

NEW INTERN DOCTORS WELCOMED TO NEPEAN HOSPITAL

LIGHTING UPGRADE FOR DUKES OVALA lighting upgrade will be made at Dukes Oval, Emu Plains thanks to a NSW grant of $160,000 to Penrith City Council through the Crown Reserves Improvement Fund.

The NSW Government will provide a record $51.7 million from its Crown Reserves Improvement Fund to maintain and upgrade Crown reserves and community facilities across the State including Penrith.

This record investment will enhance Crown land while stimulating our local economies.

The floodlighting upgrade for Dukes Oval will enable evening competition to take place and make night-time training safer.

March was another big month for construction of the Nepean Hospital redevelopment Stage 1 tower:

• On the lower floors, joinery for the nurses’ stations, patient areas and treatment spaces is continuing.

• On the upper floors the installation of ceilings and floors, and painting is well underway.

• Support brackets were recently installed in the tower’s atrium to suspend a major artwork by Australian public artist, Jade Oakley. The artwork, called “Shine”, will hang over the internal courtyard will be enjoyed by patients and staff in the in-patient units.

• More of the building’s unique facade is being revealed as the scaffolding continues to come down.

• Tower construction is on track for completion at the end of the year and will open in 2022 following the hospital’s operational commissioning period.

I was pleased to present Joh Dickens with a Local Woman of the Year Award in recognition of the significant support she has given to the Penrith community.

Joh never hesitates to go above and beyond to serve and support the Penrith community with donations of her time and donations of floral arrangements and gift certificates.

The Local Woman of the Year Awards is an annual program which recognises and celebrates the support women give to their local communities throughout NSW.

Joh has owned and operated her local floral business for over 30 years. Joh is a long-term supporter of numerous local charities and fundraisers including: Pink Up Penrith, OZWAC, Music for Life, Luke Priddis Foundation, The Haven – Women’s Shelter and International Women’s Day. She is an active member of the Penrith Rotary Club and is the incoming Vice President for 2021. Joh has been heavily involved with industry groups within the floral community including Chairman of Interflora NSW ACT for 8 years and President of the Professional Florist Association for over 10 years. Joh is a member of the Penrith PCYC committee and is a former board member of the Penrith Valley Chamber of Commerce.

I congratulate Joh on this well-deserved honour.

It was a pleasure to present Mr Terry Rae and Mr Robert Rayner with a NSW Government Community Service awards in recognition and appreciation of their contribution to the Penrith community.

Terry is a dedicated volunteer with the Penrith PCYC and I was pleased to acknowledge his work with this award. With an impressive 43 plus years of service to the PCYC community, Terry is very deserving of this recognition.

Terry, who is so giving of his time to young people locally has also toured as a musician with global artists such as Frank Sinatra, Judy Garland and Diana Krall.

Over the years Terry’s roles, just to name a few have included: being the Penrith PCYC Music teacher since 1978, various committee roles, worked on club renovations, assisted with fundraising days, driver of the PCYC bus to take local RSL pensioners on outings,

assisting with cooking and catering for Housie and other activities.

Robert is always on the lookout for ways to make our local community a better place for all and this included him being active in assisting with the launch of the Kingswood/Wainwright Park Street Library Exchange and the Street Food Pantry. Each evening Robert walks down to sanitise the pantries, he often restocks them, cleans up any rubbish in the park and waters the planter boxes.

Robert is also the administrator of the Kingswood Area Community Facebook page that he uses regularly to update locals on community events in the area, alerts to local traffic changes, product recalls, rebates and incentives that are on offer.

It’s people like Terry and Robert who make our community the wonderful place it is.

JOH DICKENS RECOGNISED WITH A LOCAL WOMAN OF THE YEAR AWARD

Mr Robert RaynerMr Terry Rae

COMMUNITY SERVICE AWARDS FOR MR TERRY RAE AND MR ROBERT RAYNER

Art & Cultural GrantsFOR PENRITH

Penrith Symphony Orchestra and the Museum of Fire will be receiving a combined $54,000 in NSW Government funding for local arts and cultural activities.

These recipients are among 97 diverse projects as part of the first round of Create NSW’s 2020/21 Arts & Cultural Funding Program on behalf of the NSW Government.

Open to individual artists, arts and cultural workers, partnerships and organisations, the funding supports professional projects at any stage of the creative process, with the aim of delivering a more vibrant and accessible arts and cultural sector in NSW.

Penrith Symphony Orchestra will utilise their funding towards their 2021 Performance Season while the Museum of Fire will develop a digital excursion program aimed at school groups.

Funding Boost to help restoreGLENBROOK TUNNEL

The NSW Government will provide $1.5 million for the restoration of the historic Glenbrook Tunnel as part of its COVID-19 stimulus program. This funding will help progress the adaptive reuse of the tunnel as a walking trail and tourist attraction for locals and visitors alike to enjoy.

The 660-metre long brick railway tunnel, which was originally constructed in 1891 and then shut in 1913, was used for mustard gas storage in World War II amid fears of a foreign invasion.

CONTRACT AWARDED FOR 750 ADDITIONAL COMMUTER CAR PARKING SPACES AT EMU PLAINSThe contract to design and build the new 750 additional car parking spaces for public transport customers at Emu Plains Station has been awarded to Stephen Edwards Constructions Pty Ltd.

The Emu Plains Commuter Car Park project is a joint initiative of the Federal and State Governments to provide additional commuter parking and ease congestion on roads.

Detailed design work has commenced and early works are due to start in the coming months.

For more information, please visit: www.transport.nsw.gov.au/commuter-car-park-program.

Putting MONEY BACK IN YOUR POCKETThe NSW Government is helping to ease the cost of living with more than 70 rebates and savings.

You can check these out online or you may book a face to face appointment with Service NSW staff.

For further details please scan the QR code or call 13 77 88.

Dine and Discover

The Dine & Discover program will create an economic boost for dining, arts and tourism businesses, which have been impacted by COVID-19, and encourage customers to get out and about safely.

From later this March every NSW resident aged 18 and over will be eligible for four $25 vouchers worth $100 in total, to spend in participating businesses.

The vouchers will be divided into two categories:

• Two $25 vouchers to be used for eating in at restaurants, cafes, bars, pubs and clubs from Monday to Thursday, excluding public holidays.

• Two $25 vouchers to be used for entertainment and recreation, including cultural institutions, live music, and arts venues, available 7 days a week, excluding public holidays.

For more information on Dine & Discover NSW business registration and eligibility, visit www.nsw.gov.au.

Nepean Therapy Dogs

Shelley Hancock, Minister for Local Government recently joined me during a visit to Nepean Therapy Dogs.

Nepean Therapy Dogs provide experienced therapy dog teams to hospitals, schools, aged care visits and court support. Established almost 30 years ago, their dogs and handlers are there to help people overcome difficult times in their lives.

For further information please visit: www.therapydogs.com.au.

Thinking about how to best enter the workforce, change career, or go for the next promotion? Skills training is a great way to build new skills and complement the ones you already have.

The NSW government is currently delivering thousands of fee-free training courses, and now is a great time to think about developing your skillset with TAFE NSW or another Government funded provider.

The JobTrainer Program is delivering over 100,000 free training places relevant to jobs of the future to young people, unemployed people, and those receiving government benefits.

For those interested in on-the-job training, a fee-free apprenticeship or traineeship is a great choice. Choose from hundreds of courses in industries like construction, healthcare, technology, and personal support (and many more!).

As we adapt to the ‘new-normal’, consider free infection control training, ensuring business owners and employees have the skills they need to better respond to COVID-19 risks in the workplace.

People 35 years or older who are looking for work may be eligible for a TAFE Mature Age Worker scholarship. As well as fee-free training, TAFE NSW provides career advice and a learning plan that takes into account skills, experience and support needs.

For more information on free training in NSW, contact Training Services NSW on 13 28 11.

FEE FREE TRAINING

Contact: Phone: (02) 4722 8660 Fax: (02) 4731 4782 Email: penrith@parliament.nsw.gov.au Mail: PO Box 4006, Penrith Plaza NSW 2750 Address: Shop 23, Tattersalls Centre, 510-534 High Street, Penrith NSW 2750

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Authorised by Stuart Ayres MP, Shop 23, Tattersalls Centre, 510-534 High Street, Penrith NSW 2750. Printed by Zion Graphics, Suite 211, 11-13 Solent Circuit, Norwest NSW 2153 using parliamentary entitlements. April 2021.

COMMUNITY BUILDING PARTNERSHIP RECIPIENTSThe Penrith electorate secured $300,000 in funding for five projects through the NSW Government’s 2020 Community Building Partnership Program.

I congratulate all the organisations that were successful in their application and look forward to seeing how these projects make a real difference for our community.

Successful projects in Penrith for the 2020 round are:

• NeuroMoves/Spinal Cord Injuries Australia, $39,358 to purchase specialised equipment for the treatment of individuals with neurological conditions;

• Emu Heights Public School P&C, $119,614 to go towards construction of a covered outdoor learning area (COLA);

• St Nicholas of Myra Primary School, $80,000 for an upgrade of their playground with a level playing surface and shade covering;

• Uniting Church of Australia/Gateway Family Services, $28,000 towards an upgrade of their Children’s Art and Play Therapy area; and

• Penrith City Council, $33,028 for the delivery of an upgrade to the Spence Park Playground.

For more information about the NSW Government’s Community Building Partnership Program, visit www.nsw.gov.au/cbp.

Open to women of all ages, the Penrith Women’s Walk and Talk

follows on from the outstanding success of Penrith Men’s Walk

and Talk.

Launched in late 2020, Penrith Women’s Walk and Talk provides a

positive environment for women to join together and have a chat

about issues they may be facing and break down the stigmas

associated with mental health.

PENRITH WOMEN’S WALK AND TALK