Press Releases

Nangiloc bowls enthusiasts are set for an even brighter future thanks to more than $22,000 in Victorian Government funding towards the installation of new competition lights at the Nangiloc District Bowls Club.

Making the announcement today, Member for Mildura Peter Crisp said the boost was from the latest round of the Community Facility Funding Program - Minor Facilities category.

“Regional sport and recreation clubs and their facilities play a vital role in bringing Victorian communities closer together, giving locals a place they can enjoy their sports and build on community traditions and pride,” Mr Crisp said.

“The Program ensures regional communities like Nangiloc can continue to depend on their facilities, as it provides funding assistance to improve the quality of existing facilities or develop new ones.

Mr Crisp said currently there were no lights at the facility. With the closest bowling green with lights 40 kilometres away this project would not only extend playing hours, but save bowlers time and money on travel costs.

“The new lights will also inject a new sense of community pride, boost community sport and ensure everyone can enjoy better access to this quality facility whatever their gender, age or ability,” Mr Crisp said.

“The Victorian Government is proud to invest in revitalising sport and recreation facilities like this so communities can host bigger and better sporting events and encourage even more people to get more active more often.

“That’s why we recently increased the maximum grant amounts for some categories of the Community Facility Funding Program so that we can continue to build, upgrade and develop excellent sport and recreation facilities that cater for more Victorians.

“Ensuring local people have access to sport and recreation facilities is a key element in the Victorian Government’s plan to ensure as many people as possible reap the benefits of active lifestyles,” he said.

For more information or to make an application to the Community Facility Funding Program, please visit www.grants.dpcd.vic.gov.au

Mildura Rural City Council has received $6,000 towards the provision of Heritage Advisory Services for 2011-12, Member for Mildura Peter Crisp announced today.

Mr Crisp said funding was used to provide Heritage Advisory Services through the appointment of an experienced professional to:

·    Provide free advice to owners of heritage places

·    Assist councils with the management of heritage assets

·    Promote heritage conservation in the municipality.

Mr Crisp said advisors helped residence make appropriate decisions on restoration and development plans for heritage sites.

He said the funding was based on previous expenditure, reflecting each council’s commitment to preserving local heritage and council supplemented the funds with a minimum $1 for $1 expenditure. 

Fifteen councils received the maximum funding. Four councils received $12,000, four received $8000 and 13 received between $3000 and $6000.

Planning Minister Mr Matthew Guy said the programs provided by heritage advisory services, first trialled in Maldon in 1977, had been successful in developing a positive attitude towards heritage through the provision of free heritage advice to councils, communities and owners and managers of heritage properties.

“The benefits of these services are now evident in many towns with restored heritage buildings, appropriate signage and upgraded streetscapes,” Mr Guy said.

“These services have helped people recognise the importance of early buildings, their role in our social lives and how they can enhance streetscapes and enrich our understanding of the past.”

Mr Guy said the Heritage Advisors would also be used to assist councils with the development of a Municipal Heritage Strategy for their municipality, a Coalition planning commitment.

Following a question raised by Member for Mildura, Peter Crisp, in Parliament this week, Deputy Premier and Minister for Regional and Rural Development Peter Ryan has announced that not-for-profit agency Sunassist will receive $25,000 to undertake a strategic review.

Mr Ryan said Sunassist would also develop business and implementation plans for its ongoing viability and service delivery, helping make it more financially independent.

"Sunassist Volunteer Helpers assists and supports people who are frail, aged and or disabled, and their carers," Mr Ryan said.

"It aims to maintain the frail, elderly and people with disabilities who are without family or, social support and are unable to access private or public transport to meet their basic needs and improve independence and quality of life.

"Sunassist needs to establish an alternative business and funding model to continue operating this important community service.

"Sunassist will struggle to meet the needs of the community if it does not plan for the sustainability of its services, which have increased by 15 per cent each year since 2002.

"A plan is required to provide for this growth due to the ageing community and high numbers of people with a disability requiring supported transport and social services.

Mr Ryan said Sunassist provided a critical service to the socially disadvantaged in the Mildura region.

"The Sunassist Review and Development project will help ensure the service can become financially independent," Mr Ryan said.

Mr Ryan said Victorian Government funding for the $45,000 Sunassist Review and Development project would be provided to Sunassist Volunteer Helpers through the $1 billion Regional Growth Fund's Putting Locals First Program.

"Putting Locals First is a $100 million initiative that enables regional communities to devise and deliver service and infrastructure responses that reflect local priorities," Mr Ryan said.

"It is supporting stronger and more sustainable regional communities by building their capacity to drive development in their region."

The project is expected to be completed by June 2012.

It is not too late to register for the Premier’s Active Families Challenge, The Nationals Member for Mildura, Peter Crisp has stated today.

The challenge, which began on March 19, continues through until April 30, 2012 and is a key component of the Victorian Government’s commitment to getting more people, more active, more often.

A family focused initiative, the challenge encourages all Victorians to do 30 minutes of physical activity per day for 30 days.

It is a great way of engaging with the local community, especially families with school-aged children, and around 67,000 Victorians participated in the last challenge in 2010.

Participation is free and registration provides access to fantastic offers from challenge partners and an opportunity to go into the draw for fantastic prizes.

There is also a rewards program for schools.

One of the best ways of getting more active is reducing inactive leisure time by limiting television viewing time, cutting down on video games and reducing the time spent surfing the net.

Getting the right nutrition will complement your physical activity.

Further information is available from www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/challenge , Mr Crisp concluded.

The Nationals Member for Mildura Peter Crisp will join students and families in a walk from Washington Drive to Mildura West Primary School tomorrow morning (FRIDAY) at 8.30am. 

“Mildura West is an excellent example of how walk and ride to school programs have been promoted and utilised by both students and parents,” Mr Crisp said. 

“A feature is the participation of mums, dads, grandparents, younger children in strollers and their siblings on bikes, scooters and skateboards. 

“Last time, while the event started with about 15 it grew to about 60 by the time procession reached the school. 

“What is special is the good feeling and the laughter,” Mr Crisp said.

The Nationals Member for Mildura, Peter Crisp, has encouraged Victorian duck hunters and those who oppose game shooting to do the right thing and respect each other at this year’s duck season opening.

The duck season will open this Saturday 17th March at 7.10am local time and Mr Crisp has encouraged duck shooters to respect private landholder’s rights.

“The main point for both duck shooters and those who oppose the sport is to respect each other’s point of view and abide by the rules, regulations and laws set out by Parks Victoria and Victoria Police,” Mr Crisp said.

Both Parks Victoria and members of Victoria Police will be on hand at many locations throughout the State on Saturday.

I am advised that duck numbers and the condition of wetlands across Victoria have been monitored in the lead-up to the duck season and locations accessible to duck hunters and those to be excluded have been monitored and assessed prior to the season’s opening.

The duck hunting season will generate economic activity for local businesses and regional communities, particularly for those communities affected by last year’s floods.

“The duck hunting season will generate a great deal of economic activity, particularly for our communities affected by last year’s floods,” he said.

“In relation to the effect of the floods on bird numbers, the game bird population has increased this year to levels not seen since 1984 with waterways and wetlands providing ideal habitats with an abundance of food following the breaking of the drought, Mr Crisp said.

“Bird populations are breeding in great numbers following the drought and our wetlands have made a rapid recovery,” Mr Crisp said.

All duck shooters and those who oppose the sport have access to up-to-date information concerning the rights of both parties in a document called Duck shooting and human safety via the Department of Primary Industries website at

www.dpi.vic.gov.au or can phone the Customer Service Centre on 136 186 for more information.

The duck season will end on Monday 11th June.