February 2021
Monday, 08 February 2021 14:54

Major projects funded but Bully wants more!

Gippsland East Nationals MP, Tim Bull, said he was pleased some projects he had strongly advocated for bushfire fund support had been successful in the latest round of grants, but questioned why some of the other ‘no brainer’ projects missed out.

“I wrote letters of support and advocated strongly for a number of these projects, including the Mallacoota Abalone Cooperative, Slipway redevelopment at Lakes Entrance, Buchan and Bruthen streetscape enhancements and the Metung Hot Springs proposal and it is terrific they were funded.

“However, we were banking on getting other key tourist projects supported like the East Gippsland Rail Trail upgrade and the Paynesville-Raymond Island Koala project. I also strongly supported the e-vehicle recharging stations at Mallacoota, Cann River, Lakes Entrance and Bairnsdale, as put forth by the shire.”

Mr Bull said there was still more bushfire funds to be distributed and while there was a cap of
$2 million for the next round, was hopeful these projects would be supported.

“Of more importance, I just want to make sure we get our fair share of the pie as the most fire impacted local government area community in Victoria and quite possibly the country.”

Projects funded under the Regional Economic Stimulus and Resilience Grants program were:

• $3 million to help rebuild the Mallacoota Abalone processing facility, which was impacted by fire
• $2.8 million to revitalise and improve the Buchan streetscape
• $2.35 million for Sailors Grave Brewing to develop agri-tourism through relocation and expansion
• $1.5 million to support the first stage of the Metung Hot Springs tourism development
• $1 million to enhance the Bruthen streetscape
• $850,000 for Envite Environment to create trainee opportunities for young Aboriginal people to pursue careers in natural resource management
• $562,000 for the redevelopment of the iconic Old Slipway in Lakes Entrance.
• $400,000 for Tambo Valley Honey to develop an agri-tourism experience and destination honey shop
• $267,000 for Destination Gippsland to develop tourism through a Gippsland Dark Skies Visitor Trail
• $190,000 to help redevelop and expand the Riviera Nautic jetty infrastructure.

Caption: Mallacoota Abalone Cooperative is one of the projects that has attracted bushfire recovery funding through the Regional Economic Stimulus and Resilience Grant. Pictured is National MP’s Tim Bull (Member for Gippsland East), Peter Walsh (State Leader of the Nationals), Melina Bath (Member for Eastern Victoria Region) with Mark Touzeau, from Mallacoota Abalone Cooperative, when the MP’s visited the facility last year.

Monday, February 8, 2020

Published in Media
Monday, 08 February 2021 10:25

East Gippsland short changed on boat ramp maintenance

East Gippsland Shire Council is being short changed by the Andrews Labor Government on boat ramp maintenance.

Gippsland East Nationals MP, Tim Bull, asked questions in Parliament that highlighted the unfairness where a council like Frankston - with only two boat ramps - receives $112,000 every year for their maintenance, while East Gippsland - with 24 ramps - receives nothing.

“Over 10 years this will amount to more than one million dollars and is another example of how this State Government disadvantages rural communities,” said Mr Bull.”

“This came about when the Government determined to subsidise launch and car park fees for those councils that historically charged for their use. These councils, by their own admission, set these fees to meet maintenance costs.”

“However, those councils, like East Gippsland, that undertake ramp maintenance from general rate revenue and didn’t charge specific fees, get nothing.”

“I support East Gippsland council’s decision not to have charged ramp and parking fees as we want to make our area attractive to visitors, but how is that a council that has two ramps can get more than $1 million over 10 years in recurrent funds for maintenance - and a council that has 24 ramps gets nothing?”

“In the country we pay higher rates than our city counterparts and the government should not be subsidising urban councils that are much wealthier than our rural councils.”

“The answer is not to give metro councils more funding support and nothing to ours.”

“It’s not good enough, but is typical of this city centric Premier who continues to make decisions that disadvantage country communities,” said Mr Bull.

Caption: Member for Gippsland East Tim Bull at Nowa Nowa boat ramp, one of East Gippsland’s 24 boat ramps dependent on Council rate revenue for necessary maintenance.

Monday, February 8, 2021

Published in Media
Friday, 05 February 2021 12:42

Human safety or wildlife habitat?

Gippsland East Nationals MP, Tim Bull, has expressed frustration in Parliament that community protection from fire is not a consideration in this government’s roadside clearing program.

“Following the fires, there was some terrific roadside clearing taking place in locations like Gelantipy and Sarsfield late last year by VicRoads contractors, but it was stopped in its tracks after the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DELWP) intervened with concerns of impact on native vegetation and the right approvals being obtained.

“What this meant was that the fantastic work being done by the contractor, which was well supported by the community, was halted, which caused considerable angst in this fire impacted area.

Mr Bull raised the matter in Parliament, seeking the support of the Minister to have this work re-commenced, but found the response disappointing.

“What the Minister said was ‘trees can be removed that present an immediate risk to road users’.

“Outside road safety, authorisations have to be obtained to ‘ensure the protection of critical wildlife habitat’. These authorisations are rarely (if ever) granted to reduce fire risk.

“It makes no sense that you can remove vegetation to protect road users, but you cannot remove it to protect lives in fire prone communities.

“My view is roadside clearing should be allowed on roadsides adjacent to houses and particularly in small towns like Sarsfield and Gelantipy. What we saw last summer is the fire spreading along these unmaintained roadsides, that acted as wicks.

“In Gelantipy you could see where the fire did not burn heavily grazed paddocks but was able to continue on its way along roadsides and then into new bush areas. If we don’t maintain the roadsides in rural towns, we are assisting the spread of fire and putting lives at greater risk.

“It seems the Minister and the Department have to decide whether they are going to put human safety ahead of what they call roadside wildlife habitat,” he said.

Caption: Pictured, an example of roadside clearing works that was welcomed by fire affected Sarsfield locals, but who are now devastated that the works have ceased because wildlife habitat has taken precedent over all other considerations.

Thursday, February 4, 2021

 

Published in Media
Friday, 05 February 2021 12:33

Dan’s COVID relief business grants not being distributed

Many East Gippsland small businesses still haven’t received desperately-needed COVID support grants because only a fraction of the funds committed over six months ago have been distributed by the Andrews Labor Government.

Gippsland East Nationals MP, Tim Bull, said it is infuriating the promised funds were not going to those in need.

“There was a lot of grandstanding with the announcement of these programs, including that $100 million had been allocated to support sole traders.

“However, Victoria’s Parliamentary Accounts and Estimates Committee has uncovered that only $12m (12%) of the sole trader support fund has been handed out.”

“You can’t announce a figure then set the criteria so tight only a very small percentage are eligible, and a fraction is distributed. It is very misleading to business owners.

“The government is now saying it will review eligibility criteria, but they should have done this months ago if they were serious about helping small business and intended to distribute it all,” said Mr Bull.

The analysis presented to Victoria’s Parliamentary Accounts and Estimates Committee shows:

• Of the 20 Business Support Programs presented by the Government, 14 (70 per cent) of them were unable to provide any details of their efficacy or how much money was actually given out to support businesses.
• Of the six packages that were reported on by the government, less than half the promoted value of the package was actually distributed by 4 December 2020 (six months after the introduction of restrictions).
• Half of the six packages had distributed 12 per cent or less of the value of the packages.
• Only 4000 of the approximately 400,000 Victorian sole traders were eligible for support, and only $12 million of the Government’s $100 million allocated to sole traders was allocated by 4 December 2020.
• The hospitality industry suffered the longest and most severe lockdown restrictions imposed. Less than 50 per cent of the specialised support available was distributed by 4 December 2020.

“Having had many interactions with businesses in serious trouble, to read this data is very disappointing and Daniel Andrews needs to ensure these funds get to where they were promised rather than be sitting on it,” said Mr Bull.

“He has dismally let down mum and dad businesses, failing to support them in a timely and fair way.”

“Of the more than 600,000 small businesses in Victoria, the Government itself trumpets to have supported only 129,000 businesses of all sizes in Victoria - less than 22 per cent.

“It’s time that the hurdles placed in front of small businesses were removed.”

Caption: Member for Gippsland East Tim Bull with Deb Hahnemann from Forge Creek Free Range discussing the challenges her business encountered as a supplier to several hospitality and retail businesses, following last year’s statewide lockdowns.

Thursday, February 4, 2021

 

Published in Media
Friday, 05 February 2021 12:18

Still no commencement on East Cape boardwalk

Thirteen months on from the 2019/20 summer fires, there is no sign of the reconstruction of East Cape Boardwalk at Cape Conran being commenced.

Gippsland East Nationals MP, Tim Bull, said this was a disappointing outcome, having originally been advised it would be completed in 2020.

“This is a key piece of tourism infrastructure and visiting there over the holiday period, I was asked more than once when it will be rebuilt.

“Apart from expressing frustration, it is disappointing that this far down the track we do not even have a date.

“In late January this year, the Minister advised me (in response to a question asked in November) that archaeological records of the site need to be updated so that permits can be processed, and Parks Victoria was working with Aboriginal Victoria on this process.

“In my several discussions last year, there was no mention of this having to occur and the fact the Minister has provided no date, it seems commencement will not occur soon.

“One pleasing aspect is the Minister has committed to the rebuild, we just should not have to wait this long.”

Mr Bull said the popular Wingan Inlet boardwalk also needed to be replaced after fire damage and he was seeking assurances both projects would be completed in the first half of this year.

Caption: Thirteen months after last summer’s devastating bushfires, works on the East Cape boardwalk have still not commenced. Nationals MP’s Tim Bull and Darren Chester remain hopeful the rebuild will be completed in time for Easter holiday makers.

Friday, February 5, 2021

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