$55,000 boost for community groups
A small business incubator, a school and a long day care centre were all given a boost today with the announcement by Federal Member for Dawson George Christensen that almost $55,000 in Stronger Communities Programme grants had been approved.I joined Split Spaces general manager Jarryd Townson to congratulate him on his successful application.Jarryd is creating a business incubator here in Mackay called Split Spaces which will provide support services and collaboration for start-ups and small businesses, and I was happy to recommend his project for funding of $19,800 under the Stronger Communities Programme.This funding is just the beginning of the project for Mr Townson, but it will allow for the renovation and fit-out of a co-working space as well as provide some office equipment and kitchen facilities.
Black lung disease in spotlight at new research centre
I joined the Minister for Northern Australia Matt Canavan at today's launch of an Occupational Health and Safety Research Centre focusing on work-related health issues.The Centre aims to reduce the incidence of death, illness and injury, including black lung disease.The Occupational Health and Safety Research Centre will provide cutting edge research and innovation capacity which will focus on illnesses, injuries and deaths in key regional industries, like the resources and agriculture industry.Mackay, as a coal mining centre, and as a hub for the mining services industry, is the right location for such an endeavour.
$150,000 to keep Aqua Fun Park afloat
I've made the pledge today that a re-elected Coalition Government will provide $150,000 to Aqua Fun Park Mackay - which is a tourism attraction which also provides jobs for young people.The enterprising operation, which will be auspiced under the Not For Profit Trinity Youth and Community Services group, will now be able to purchase their own inflatable fun park equipment so they can keep operating.Operators Amanda Pelagalli and Kirk Langford approached me some months back because they were having trouble keeping their great tourism venture afloat, literally.
$100,000 pledge for Eimeo SLSC
A small club which undertakes the big job of patrolling one of our region’s favourite beaches, Eimeo, was on the receiving end of some financial ‘first aid’ today with the announcement that a re-elected Liberal National Government will commit $100,000 for an to their facility.Everyone understands that our life saving clubs provide a vital service, and I salute their huge volunteer effort of training up young people who make sure our beaches are safe places to be.
Mackay's One Billion Dollar Man
28 JULY 2016: With the support of the Liberal National Government, I am driving a one billion dollar investment to create more than a thousand jobs for Mackay over the next three to four years.
$300,000 for Whitehaven Beach walking track
I MET with representatives of the marine tourism industry in Airlie Beach this morning to announce that a re-elected Liberal National Government will invest $300,000 towards a walking track at Whitehaven beach.The construction of a hardened circuit walking track and a lookout deck at the southern end of the famous Whitehaven Beach in the Whitsundays would help to address issues of overcrowding at the popular tourist destination.