with Robyn Preston MP

I encourage all community sport organisations in Hawkesbury to apply for a major funding boost with applications now open for the NSW Government ’ s Local Sport Grant Program .

This program provides grants up to $ 10,000 , with up to $ 50,000 available in each NSW electorate .

Community sporting clubs are the lifeblood of our community and so many are in real need of a cash injection so that they can upgrade their facilities .

This funding will help provide a modernised environment for locals and is a great way to encourage more people

to stay active and boost participation in community sport and recreational activities .

The program will focus on initiatives that enable more people to enjoy the benefits of playing sport , regardless of their age , gender , background or ability . The Local Sport Grant Program is about giving community sporting clubs a boost , by investing in clubs to improve facilities , enhance accessibility and hold new and exciting events and development programs that engage people of all ages and abilities .

If you are interested in applying for funding to help a community sport organisation you are a part of , you can find

more information at www . sport . nsw . gov . au / grants / local-sport-grantprogram .

Applications for the program close Monday , 21st November .

Return and Earn Set to expand The wildly popular Return and Earn scheme is expanding to include glass wine and spirits bottles and large containers .

This scheme has already seen more than 8 billion containers returned and this planned expansion would see up to an additional 400 million eligible bottles recycled each year , including 233 million glass bottles .

Return and Earn began as a litter reduction tool and has become incredibly

popular with almost 80 per cent of adults in NSW having used the scheme , which has more than 620 return points across the State .

The 10 cent refund associated with the Return and Earn scheme is a great way to incentivise everyone to recycle and the latest planned expansion means even more items will become eligible for a refund .

The scheme expansion would boost recycling rates , reduce landfill and supercharge our push towards a circular economy in NSW .

Expanding Return and Earn is a win for the environment , a win for communities and a win for businesses .

with Susan Templeman MP

Last month ’ s Albanese Government budget was all about easing the costs of living on Hawkesbury families – young and old , delivering on our election commitments and starting to pay down the trillion dollars of debt that we inherited .

We made safe and sensible decisions and bit the bullet to end the previous waste and rorts .

Those responsible decisions mean we can make investments that support people now and in the future .

We ’ ve focused on cheaper childcare and expanded paid parental leave , so young families have some relief .

We ’ ve brought in cheaper medicines - in fact it ’ s the biggest cut to the cost of medicines in Australia ’ s history with the general patient co-contribution slashed from $ 42.50 to just $ 30 from 1 January 2023 . We ’ re delivering on our election commitments by creating a stronger ,

more resilient economy with fee-free TAFE , stronger wages , affordable housing , cheaper and cleaner renewable energy and ensuring our future is made in Australia .

There ’ s $ 11.2 million for road upgrades in the Hawkesbury because safe and driveable roads are essential to our region . There ’ s more than $ 5 million for our local SES and RFS and upgrades to North Richmond Community Centre . And Hawkesbury hospital will have a Medicarelicense for an MRI , now an essential

technology that helps save lives .

There ’ s $ 3 million for Woodbury Reserve in Glossodia and smaller amounts for parks in South Windsor and Bligh Park .

Some of the Budget measures will be felt immediately , others will have long term impact , bettering our community for years to come .

This is not the end of the work we have to do to get the Australian economy back on track , but we ’ ll continue to make safe and sensible decisions to support what matters most – the Australian people .