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FEDERAL MEMBER FOR BEROWRA – JULIAN LEESER MP

INVESTING IN OUR COMMUNITIES

The 2017 Federal Budget includes vital measures to ease the pressure on housing affordability and help support small business owners. It provides opportunity, security and fairness, especially in education, infrastructure and the National Disability Insurance Scheme.

One of the biggest assets in our communities is the quality of our schools and the education they provide our children. The federal government is investing a record amount of almost $1.12 billion over the next decade to support the 51 schools and over 26,000 students that attend them across Berowra. By 2027, the 35 government schools will receive more than $514 million in funding. The 12 independent schools will receive more than $467 million in Commonwealth funding and over $137 million will be contributed to the Catholic education system on behalf of the 4 Catholic systemic schools. I have been making representations to the Minister for Education to ensure that he understands the needs of all of our schools. I look forward to continuing to work with local schools as the funding program is implemented.

The Budget contains $50 million for NorthConnex and we are receiving over $1.1 million to upgrade local roads, improving safety and reducing the cost of maintenance. This includes $750,000 for four sections of Annangrove Road in Kenthurst and Annangrove, $200,000 for Cattai Ridge Road and Old Northern Road; and almost $70,000 to be spent on Kenthurst Road.

The Budget ensures the full funding of the National Disability Insurance Scheme by moderately increasing the Medicare levy. This program will directly support around 2,000 residents in our community living with a disability.

OUT AND ABOUT

I was pleased the Government could contribute a $2,000 volunteer grant towards the renovation of the Arcadia Playgroup Shed which I opened at the Arcadia Public School markets last month. The Shed was renovated thanks to the generosity and hard work of Karen Prentice, Farah Miles, Jo Dawson, Dale Carn, Michael Carn, Fedi Abood, Trent Dawson, Geoff Lister, the Arcadia Public School P&C and Principal, Sharon O’Brien.

I attended the 1st Dural Scout Group’s Annual Awards & Reports Meeting to present the Bendigo Bank Achievement Award. I enjoyed meeting residents at Nati Roses as they were picking up flowers for Mother’s Day. I was delighted to attend the Dural Musical Society’s excellent production of Oliver!, directed by Julian Floriano. I look forward to their next production later this year which will be The Addams Family. I was also very pleased to join Norma Dunkin and her family to celebrate her 100th Birthday at Bupa Dural last month.

On 20 May, I met with the Rural Fire Service Brigades at Hillside, Sackville North and Middle Dural to thank them for their service to our community. If you would like to join the RFS go to: www.rfs.nsw.gov.au/ volunteer

If your community organisation has an event coming up, or I have yet to visit your group, please get in touch with me at julian.leeser.mp@ aph.gov.au.

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