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HELPING PEOPLE IN BAULKHAM HILLS LIVE LONGER AND BETTER LIVES

The NSW Government has launched a whole-of-government, whole-of-community plan to help older people in Baulkham Hills live longer and better lives.

The renewed NSW Ageing Strategy 2016-2020 is the NSW Government’s response to the challenges and opportunities being created by the ageing population. The strategy focuses on ageing and creating an age-friendly society.

It is great that people are living longer than ever before, but we want them to maintain their high quality of life so we want them to live better as well.

I have spoken to older people across the Baulkham Hills community, and I am pleased to say the NSW Ageing Strategy reflects and addresses their views.

Launched in 2012, the first NSW Ageing Strategy led to the creation of highly-successful initiatives, including the Tech Savvy Seniors program, the Elder Abuse Helpline and Resource Unit, and the Liveable Communities Grants Program.

The renewal of the Ageing Strategy was deeply informed by extensive state-wide consultations with older people and stakeholders. The renewed NSW Ageing Strategy focuses on five key priority areas – health and wellbeing, working and retiring, housing choices, getting around, and inclusive communities.

The 2016-17 NSW Budget provided for $6.5 million to deliver the renewed NSW Ageing Strategy, including $1 million for the Liveable Communities Grants Program, $600,000 for the Elder Abuse Helpline and over $500,000 to expand the Tech Savvy Seniors Program.

For more information about the renewed NSW Ageing Strategy, go to www.facs.nsw.gov.au/ageingstrategy.

BOTTLER OF A RECYCLING SCHEME

I was delighted to see the successful passage of the NSW Government’s landmark 10-cent Container Deposit Scheme legislation through Parliament.

Community groups will be able to swap their cans and bottles for cash from 1 July 2017 following the successful passage of the legislation on Wednesday 19 October.

The Container Deposit Scheme’s introduction fulfils a key election commitment, which I strongly pushed for on behalf of the overwhelming majority of Baulkham Hills residents who supported the scheme, and will help the Government to meet the Premier’s Priority goal of reducing litter in NSW by 40 per cent by 2020.

The Waste and Resource Recovery Amendment (Container Deposit Scheme) Act 2016 paves the way for a cost-effective, best-practice scheme that will benefit both the community and the environment.

Under the container deposit scheme:

• People in NSW will be able to return empty prescribed beverage containers between 150 ml and three litres to collection points for a 10-cent refund.

• A single Scheme Coordinator will be responsible for the financial management of the scheme and for ensuring the scheme meets state-wide targets.

• Beverage suppliers will be responsible for covering the costs of refunds through agreements with the Scheme Coordinator.

• The Environment Minister Mark Speakman will appoint the coordinator in early 2017, as well as appointing Network Operators who will be responsible for the operation of the scheme.

Containers not eligible for the scheme are those generally consumed at home and not typically found in the litter stream. They include plain milk, wine, pure fruit juice (more than 1 litre), health tonics and large flavoured milk containers.

This is something that the community has been asking their political representatives for decades and this government is finally delivering it.

The 2015-2016 National Litter Index found that 49 per cent of litter by volume was made up of beverage containers – and 43 per cent of the total volume was containers that will be caught by the NSW CDS.

This is a clear sign that there is likely to be a direct environmental benefit to our parks, waterways and beaches when the CDS comes in. Giving people a financial incentive to do the right thing will benefit everyone.

More information is available at www.epa.nsw.gov.au/waste/containerdeposit- scheme.htm.

DOES YOUR CHILD HAVE A PROBLEM WITH SCHOOL WORK?

If so come along to our information night on a drug free way to treat children with learning difficulties.

This information will be presented by the Optimal Learning Centre who use a range of different non drug therapies for children.

Neurofeedback, Reflex Therapy, Kinesiology and Samonas Sound Therapy are just some of the therapies used.

Where: Kenthurst Uniting cnr. Kenthurst and Jones Road, Kenthurst
Date: 9th November, 2016 starting at 7pm. (Gold coin donation) Supper provided.
For further information contact Christine on 9679 1757 mob. 0400490691.

THE SYDNEY HILLS BRANCH OF THE ASSOCIATION OF INDEPENDENT RETIREES

Our next meeting will be a change of date for November only. Friday 11th November, 2016. Beecroft Presbyterian Church Hall, Welham Street Beecroft. Meeting will commence at 10.30 am. Do come along we have an interesting speaker for this meeting.
For more details call President Lauris Rennie 9634 1186

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