Memo from Memo 28 October 2020

28 Oct 2020
Memo Mayo Budget 2020 new website

Federal Member for Mayo Rebekha Sharkie has delivered $40 million worth of road, sporting and health projects for the community in this month's Federal Budget.

The funding, secured by the Centre Alliance MP, includes $15M for road upgrades near the Verdun interchange; $12M to build additional overtaking lanes on the Victor Harbor Road; $5M towards a regional Indoor Aquatic and Leisure Centre in Mount Barker; $5M to upgrade the Goolwa Sports Precinct; $1.6M for a full-service headspace centre in Mount Barker; $1.2M for a community nursing service on Kangaroo Island; $1M to upgrade the TAFE SA campuses in Mayo; $600,000 for a Community Hub at Houghton; $250,000 to upgrade the library at Yankalilla and $200,000 for a telecommunication upgrade in Cherry Gardens.

Rebekha spoke in the Parliament about the Budget. You can watch the speech on Youtube here or read it here.

Rebekha gave an overview of the budget to local journalist Jennie Lenman on radio station 5MU. You can listen to the podcast here.

$15M for Verdun traffic solution

The South Eastern Freeway is a step closer to having a fully-functioning, two-way interchange thanks to a $15 million Federal Budget commitment secured through Rebekha's direct advocacy.

The funding was announced by the Government over the long weekend, ahead of the Budget, and is included in the $200 million Hahndorf Township Improvements and Access Upgrade project.

You can read Rebekha's press release here.

And watch a Youtube clip of Rebekha raising the issue in Question Time here.

$12M for Victor Harbor Road

After years of advocacy, Rebekha has secured $12 million in the Federal Budget to upgrade the notoriously dangerous Victor Harbor Road.

The money will be used to build more overtaking lanes, over and above the lane promised last year by the State Government between Urimbirra Wildlife Park and the intersection of Crows Nest Road.

You can read Rebekha's press release here.

$5M for Aquatic Centre

Rebekha Sharkie has negotiated a further $5 million towards plans to build a Mount Barker-based regional Indoor Aquatic and Leisure Centre.

“The Federal Government has already committed $10 million to what is estimated to be a $30 million project for just Stage 1, so I am pleased that my advocacy has brought this project a significant step forward. Mount Barker is a rapidly growing region and it lacks an indoor community aquatic centre," Rebekha said.

You can read Rebekha's press release here.

$5M for Goolwa Sports Precinct

Rebekha has delivered $5 million towards the upgrade of the Goolwa Sports Precinct, including the building of new multi-purpose clubrooms that meet modern standards.

The funding is part of a $10 million proposal being facilitated by the Alexandrina Council which owns and manages the oval and adjoining courts and recreation areas.

You can read Rebekha's press release here.

$2.6M for Amy Gillett Bikeway

The Mount Torrens to Birdwood section of the popular Amy Gillett Bikeway can finally be completed thanks to $2.6 million in funding secured by Rebekha.

Rebekha said: "Securing funding for the completion of Stage 4 of the Bikeway is something I have been working on since I was first elected in 2016 and it is a project often raised with me by my community so I am delighted that we could secure the funding."

You can read Rebekha's press release here.

$1.5M for Flat to Vale Trail

A project to build a shared walking and cycling track between McLaren Flat and McLaren Vale has been allocated $1.5M in Federal funding thanks to Rebekha's advocacy.

The Flat to Vale Trail is a project being delivered by the Onkaparinga Council with input from the Flat to Vale Trail Community Group, the Coast to Vines Bicycle User Group and the McLaren Vale Grape, Wine & Tourism Association.

"The Flat to Vale Trail is a high-priority project in the McLaren Vale wine region and I have been pleased to advocate on behalf of our community for Federal support. It was great news to see the funding allocated in the Federal Budget,” Rebekha said.

You can read Rebekha's press release here.

$1.6M for headspace

The Hills, Fleurieu and Kangaroo Island will have their own headspace youth mental health centre headquartered in Mount Barker thanks to $1.6 million in federal funding secured by Rebekha.

The funding was announced in the Budget.

At present, the headspace services and outreach programs currently operating in the region are coordinated from the Murray Bridge headspace centre.

You can read Rebekha's press release here.

$1.2M for KI Nurse

Rebekha has secured $1.2 million in the 2020/21 Budget for a nursing outreach program for Kangaroo Island.

"Residents on the Island told me they would like to have an outreach service that would travel beyond Kingscote to help them manage their medical conditions and I am pleased that the Government has listened and acknowledged my advocacy and provided funding to develop a program," Rebekha said.

You can read Rebekha's press release here.

$1M for TAFE SA upgrades

TAFE SA will be given $1 million to upgrade its campuses at Mount Barker and Victor Harbor thanks to Rebekha's advocacy.

"This funding is urgently needed and I thank the Government for taking on board my submissions to upgrade TAFE campuses in our region, and their acknowledgement of my advocacy on this issue," Rebekha said.

You can read her press release here.

$600,000 for Houghton Hub

A ‘community hub’ is about to be built at the Houghton, Inglewood and Hermitage Soldiers Memorial Park thanks to $600,000 in funding secured by Rebekha.

The funding will cover about half the $1.2 million cost of the project, which will be built as a second storey to the new changerooms planned for the oval area.

Rebekha said: "I’m really excited for the Houghton, Inglewood and Hermitage community. When these projects are finished, they will finally have modern facilities for local sport but also an accessible and well-designed gathering place for everyone in the local area."

You can read her press release here.

$250,000 for Yankalilla Library

Rebekha has secured $250,000 to renovate the Yankalilla Library into a modern space for all ages.

The money will be used by the District Council of Yankalilla to fit out the new purpose-built library space. The new library will have improved mobility access, more engaging, multi-use spaces and will be fitted out with upgraded technology.

The area being used for the temporary library will be returned to a youth space.

You can read Rebekha's press release here.

Cherry Gardens Digital Project

The Cherry Gardens district will soon have better mobile phone and data services thanks to a $200,000 Federal funding commitment negotiated by Rebekha.

The money, set aside in the 2020/21 Federal Budget, will go towards a $350,000 Regional Digital Connectivity Infrastructure project to set up 4G equipment on the existing NBN tower on a site near the Blackwood Golf Course.

A competitive tender process with telecommunication companies to contribute some of the remaining funds is expected to be completed later this year.

You can read Rebekha's press release here.

Aged Care Spending Bill

A Private Member’s Bill seeking greater financial transparency about how the aged care sector spends its money on people living in residential facilities has been introduced this month by Rebekha.

The Bill mirrors legislation introduced by her Centre Alliance colleague Senator Stirling Griff in June last year that would have required aged care providers to disclose their income, costs of food and medication, staff and staff training, accommodation, administration and monies paid to parent bodies in annual financial transparency reports to the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commissioner.

You can read Rebekha's press release here.

KI Reef Restoration

Federal Government plans to invest up to $2 million to restore oyster reefs on Kangaroo Island has been hailed by Rebekha as a "job creator and a boost for the marine environment".

The proposed reef project near American River on KI is being facilitated through the environmental not-for-profit group The Nature Conservancy Australia and is being funded through a $20 million environment and heritage tourism package unveiled in the Federal Budget.

You can read Rebekha's press release here.

And watch a Youtube clip of Rebekha's trip to the proposed site here.

NBN Wireless Tower for Mylor

NBN Co has lodged a development application with the Adelaide Hills Council to build a wireless tower on the outskirts of Mylor.

If approved, the tower is expected to service just under 450 premises around the township. These households were originally promised wireless technology under the NBN roll-out but were assigned NBN Sky Muster satellite earlier this year after negotiations with a local landholder to build a tower fell through.

Rebekha then approached the Minister for Communication, Paul Fletcher, and senior NBN officials and successfully advocated for NBN Co to explore other sites.

You can read her press release here.

Job-Ready Graduates Package

Centre Alliance has agreed to support an amended Job-Ready Graduates Package that delivers funding certainty to the university sector while giving disadvantaged students and students from regional areas greater access to university education.

“These legislative reforms are by no means perfect but overall Centre Alliance recognises what the Government is trying to achieve and what the university sector is calling for which is funding certainty following the 2017 indexation cuts,” Rebekha said.

“Without change, many universities were at risk of significant job losses and campus closures going into next year."

You can read Rebekha's press release here.

You can read Senator Stirling Griff's speech here and watch it on Youtube here.

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