Printed Post issue 23 | Page 20

$1,000,000 for HWMHS $355,00 payment for levees More good news came from Mr. Williams office in December when the NSW Government announced $355,000 in funding to Hay Shire Council to cover the cost of flood levees which helped to prevent localised flooding in the area following severe weather in 2012. Senator Scott Ryan, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Education and local MP Sussan Ley have announced $1m funding for Hay War Memorial High School Trades Skills Centre. The funding for the Centre will assist the refurbishment of an existing kitchen to include a commercial kitchen and a new outdoor covered area for use as a teaching bistro and the provision of equipment. Minister for Finance and Services, Andrew Constance, said given the special circumstances, the Government would provide a ‘one-off’ payment for the levees. “While Councils can obtain financial assistance for flood mitigation under the Natural Disaster Relief Assistance Program, these mitigation works need to be approved before they are carried out – Hay Shire Council did not do this,” Mr Constance said. “Under normal circumstances Council would not qualify for funding assistance as they did not follow the proper processes. It will also deliver qualifications in hospitality to address skills shortages in the trade of cook. The announcement is one of a number of new Trades Skills Centres, benefitting over 220 schools, which aims to forge closer links with business and industry as the Australian Government strengthens its focus on vocational education and training in schools. “However, in this instance, works undertaken helped to save the local area from inundation and Council’s preventative actions deserve not to be caught up in bureaucracy.” Senator Ryan said the $209 million offer for Round Five (Phase One) of the trade training centre program will continue with the 136 new centres to now be known as Trades Skills Centres. Mr Constance acknowledged the contributions of Member for Murray-Darling, John Williams, in helping to secure the special funding. “These centres will have a renewed focus on delivering excellent vocational training in secondary schools through stronger partnerships between schools, local businesses and industry,” Senator Ryan said. Mr Williams welcomed the support and said the cheque would help ease the financial burden for Council and ratepayers. “We want to improve the delivery of vocational education and training in schools and we have started by better focussing the funding agreements to deliver improved industry engagement and collaboration.” “We want to ensure these facilities are used effectively while also enhancing the role of industry and employers in vocational training”, Senator Ryan concluded. Fair Go For Safe Drivers John Williams, the Nationals Member for Murray-Darling, has announced 3,955 motorists in the Murray-Darling Electorate have been rewarded with half price drivers’ licences as part of the ‘Fair Go for Safe Drivers’ incentive scheme . “Dangerous, selfish and stupid behaviour on our roads kills or injures hundreds of people each year,” Mr Williams said. “In July last year the NSW Government launched the ‘Fair Go for Safe Drivers’ scheme which rewards safe motorists and encourages others to obey the law on our roads.” Gift Vouchers now Available CID Data and Electrical “The scheme rewards motorists with an unblemished driving record for five years with a 50 per cent reduction on the price of their drivers’ licence renewal.” Thomas “The ‘Fair Go for Safe Drivers’ scheme provides a discount of up to $81 on a licence renewal. It’s our way of saying thank-you to motorists who do the right thing and encouraging better driving behaviour in others. The 50 per cent discount applies whether the licence is renewed for one, three or five years. Pensioners are unaffected as they pay nothing for their licence.” 0429 962 972 Geoff 0408 962 972 Lachlan St, Hay Check us out on 20