Peninsula No 33
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Bolkus visits bushcare Shadow Minister for the Environment, Senator Nick Bolkus, has joined Robertson Labor candidate Ms Trish Moran to visit bush care projects on the Peninsula.
Member for Robertson, Jim Lloyd with Dion Richardson outside the Woy Woy community centre, currently under construction
Youth drug and alcohol worker for Peninsula The Peninsula is to have a fully-funded youth-specific drug and alcohol worker to assist in the fight against drugs. Dion Richardson, support worker at The Web Youth Service, designed the project and applied for funding. Member for Robertson Mr Jim Lloyd recently announced the success of the application. The new alcohol and other drugs (AOD) worker will be working directly with Dion 22 hours a week for two years. Five hours a week will be spent at each high school, and 12 hours per week will be one on one counselling and assessment.
"The Howard Government will provide $94,818 to run this program for the next two years," said Mr Lloyd. "There has been an urgent need to have this program available and the NSW Government have failed to provide the service. "In the Gosford City area there is only one Alcohol and Drug worker who is employed by the NSW Department of Juvenile Justice at Mt Penang, resulting in the crazy situation where young people can get access to a trained counsellor only after they have broken the law," Mr Lloyd said. "The role of the AOD Worker will be to integrate and complement the services already provided by the Web Youth Service.
"They will also provide Drug & Alcohol Education and Counselling to the target age group 12-18 year olds, at 'The Web' and also to the broader community through local high schools," Mr Lloyd said. "Where possible immediate access to the AOD worker will be available for counselling and assessment in crisis situations. "Drugs are one of the most evil threats to our society and this program is part of the Howard Government's 'Tough on Drugs' initiative, which is providing practical support in the fight against drug abuse," Mr Lloyd said.
Bush care leader Mr Tony Whitehead said that they had 25 people working voluntarily from time to time on the Ettalong sand dunes and considerably less on the Blackwall Mountain Reserve. "They have been paying for their own tools and have been fighting a losing battle on Blackwall Mountain for over four years," he said. "We have had supervision from Council but need regular funding from a secure source, as well as
much more public awareness to help share the workload." The Black wall Mou nta in Reserve has lyrebirds (one male and three female), bandicoots, large pythons and echidna in an area surrounded by human development, he said. Senator Bolkus said that the work being done by these voluntary groups was extremely important. "One person working for one hour can make a real difference if properly supervised. "The bushcare component of the program should be promoted more than the Natural Heritage Trust," he said. Cec Bucello, November 2
From left, Tony Whitehead from Bushcare speaks with Labor candidate for Robertson, Trish Moran and Shadow Minister for the Environment, Senator Nick Bolkus
Press release, October 25.
Extra $50,000 to fight drugs The Peninsula Community Drug Action Team is to receive a $50,000 grant from the Howard Government’s “Tough on Drugs” initiative under the National Illicit Drug Strategy. Member for Robertson Mr Jim Lloyd has announced the funding saying: “The initiative aims to encourage quality practice in
community action to prevent illicit drug use and to build on existing activities occurring across Australia." The Peninsula Community Drug Action Team project is one of 23 projects funded nationally, and aims to target parents and youth who regularly attend sporting events, to provide them with information on the use and effects of drugs on individuals, families
and the community. "I am confident that this project will make an important contribution to the prevention of drug related harm in the Gosford area,” Mr Lloyd said. “This comes on top of the recent announcement of a $94,000 grant to employ a Youth Specific Drug and Alcohol Worker for the Peninsula,” Mr Lloyd said. Press release, November 1
From left, Labor candidate for Robertson, Trish Moran, Shadow Minister for Financial Services, Stephen Conroy and some Umina locals outside the National Australia Bank Branch in Umina as part of the Labor election campaign