The Royal Australian Navy’s ex-HMAS Tobruk is expected to arrive at the Port of Bundaberg between 2pm and 3pm on Wednesday 14 December 2016, subject to weather.

Federal Member for Hinkler Keith Pitt said he looked forward to seeing the ship become a popular tourist attraction in Queensland.

“After Tobruk’s distinguished 34-year naval career, this ship is one of the few that will continue to serve the nation by providing local jobs in the tourism sector,” Mr Pitt said.

“Wide Bay will not only become the custodians of the ship’s hull, but the rich history of this great ship and the stories of all those who have served in her.

“This history will continue to be shared as amateur and experienced divers alike explore the vast spaces a landing ship provides.”

Locals will receive the chance to see Tobruk as she approaches the entrance to the Burnett River on Wednesday.

Vantage points along Marina Drive and Harbour Esplanade are expected to offer the best viewing as the ship travels up the Burnett River.

Tobruk will be berthed at the Bulk Liquids Wharf at the Port of Bundaberg while the Queensland Government prepares her for scuttling.

Due to safety reasons, public access to Tobruk is unfortunately not available at this time.

A full history of HMAS Tobruk (II) is available at: http://www.navy.gov.au/hmas-tobruk-ii

A student from Fraser Coast Anglican College will today join 53 of Australia’s most talented year 8-10 female students at the Curious Minds Summer School.

Member for Hinkler Keith Pitt congratulated Emily Jean Lewis on earning the opportunity to follow their passion in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).

“Emily Jean will travel to the University of New South Wales, in Sydney, to explore all aspects of STEM subjects,” Mr Pitt said.

 The six-month program also includes a second residential camp and five-months of mentoring. All students will be partnered with a female mentor who has STEM expertise to guide them during their time in the program and assist them to establish personal goals.

“This once in a life time opportunity will allow Emily Jean to learn in a fun and supportive environment, make like-minded friends and grow in confidence and ability while expanding her critical thinking and problem-solving skills,” Mr Pitt said.

“The skills that Emily Jean will develop on this camp can develop a lifelong engagement with STEM and can lead them into tertiary studies and even a career in the field.”    

Assistant Minister for Vocational Education and Skills Karen Andrews said five students who participated in the 2015-2016 Curious Minds program had been accepted into the Australian Olympiad Science Summer Schools.

“This is a great outcome and reinforces our commitment to help promote female students’ interest in STEM subjects and ultimately pursuing STEM careers,” Minister Andrews said.

Curious Minds is funded by the Australian Government through the Department of Education and Training and the program is managed by the Australian Mathematics Trust  and Australian Science Innovations.

Ex-HMAS Tobruk will continue to serve Australia — now as a tourist destination — when it is scuttled off the coast between Bundaberg and Hervey Bay as a dive wreck.

Minister for Defence Personnel Dan Tehan today announced the Royal Australian Navy’s former Landing Ship, HMAS Tobruk (II), will be provided to the Queensland Government to be scuttled in the Wide Bay area east of Bundaberg and north of Hervey Bay.

Mr Tehan said today marks the final chapter for a fine Navy ship which has served Australia well since her commissioning in 1981.

“She will be fondly remembered by all those who served in Tobruk and those who have been supported by the many operational and humanitarian deployments she undertook,” he said.

“The scuttling of Tobruk in the Wide Bay Burnett area will be a permanent monument to Tobruk’s proud history and a reminder she served as her motto intended ‘Faithful and Strong’.”

Federal Member for Hinkler and Assistant Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment Keith Pitt said the hard-fought battle for more than three years had finally paid off.

“Christmas has come early for the Wide-Bay Burnett region. This dive wreck will not only bring domestic and international visitors to the region, it will bring much needed long term, sustainable jobs and a future for the next generation,” he said.

“That has always been the driver behind this campaign: more jobs for this region, with an economic boost of $4 million per year.

“This dive wreck will no doubt become one of the country’s premier diving sites, potentially attracting thousands of divers each year,” Mr Pitt said.

“Our community will now be home to an important part of Australia’s military history that will also attract tourists from around the world.”

“I believe that Defence assets that are paid for by the Australian people can, and should, continue to serve the community long after they are no longer of use to the military.

“The Wide Bay-Burnett is the ideal resting place for ex-HMAS Tobruk and I look forward to the opportunities this dive wreck will bring to Hinkler,” Mr Pitt said.

BACKGROUND

Tobruk had provided 34 years of service to Australia, sailing more than 947,000 nautical miles. She was a multi-purpose, roll-on/roll-off heavy lift ship capable of transporting soldiers, armoured personnel carriers and tanks, delivering them to shore via landing craft or directly by beaching.

Tobruk was deployed on 26 major operations, including the Sinai Peninsula, Fiji, Solomon Islands, Bougainville, the Middle East, East Timor and the Philippines. She was awarded Battle Honours for her East Timor service in 1999.

Federal Member for Hinkler Keith Pitt has a message for the Senate cross bench: stop holding our farmers to ransom and finalise the backpacker tax.

“We have an agreed position on the backpacker tax, yet here we have a group of cross bench senators which are holding our farmers to ransom,” he said.

Mr Pitt is encouraging stakeholders to get on the phone to the Senate cross benchers.

“Ring the One Nation senators, ring the Labor senators and demand that they do something for regional economies. The instability and uncertainty has been incredibly unhelpful, the people it damages are the ones in the regions, particularly our farming communities.

“We need to ensure that the cross bench senators get the message loud and clear: we need this dealt with now.”

Mr Pitt said there was absolutely no science around what is being proposed.

“You can’t just run around and pluck numbers out of the sky like Senator Lambie has. The backpacker tax needs to be finalised and it needs to be done before next Thursday.

“The 19 percent figure is an agreed position, we’ve come to that after negotiations with agriculture and tourism industry stakeholders but now we need to get it through the Senate.

“I expect the Labor party to be shameless and use political tactics, but surely somebody can see sense on the cross bench and support the position being put forward.”

Member for Hinkler Keith Pitt is calling on residents of Hinkler to join the fight to show the Federal and State Government that Wide Bay is the ideal final resting place for ex-HMAS Tobruk.

“The decision on ex-HMAS Tobruk will be made very soon and we don’t want to see it get sunk in the south!

“I’ve been fighting to bring ex-HMAS Tobruk to Wide Bay since I was elected in 2013 and now I need you to join the fight.

Mr Pitt has launched an online petition to show just how much support there is in the community.

“All you need to do is head to: https://www.gopetition.com/petitions/dont-let-ex-hmas-tobruk-get-sunk-in-the-south.html and sign up – it’s that easy. Let’s show how much we want this dive wreck right here in Hinkler.

“Having ex-HMAS Tobruk as a dive wreck will bring not only jobs, but a much needed boost to the economy, and most importantly, a better future for our children. That’s why I won’t give up this fight.

“Ex-HMAS Tobruk sunk in Wide Bay waters will not only add vital tourism infrastructure to the region, it will add to our military history.

Bundaberg has the Rats of Tobruk memorial and the addition of a mighty vessel like ex-HMAS Tobruk would complement the Fraser Coast military trail.

An ex-HMAS Tobruk dive site has the potential to contribute between $1 million and $4 million each year to the local economy.

The Coalition Government’s new Building Better Regions Fund will invest in projects that will create jobs, drive economic growth and build stronger rural, regional and remote communities into the future.

This new $297 million fund – launched by Minister for Regional Development Fiona Nash – will deliver infrastructure projects and community activities located outside the major capital cities. 

Federal Member for Hinkler Keith Pitt said locals know our community best and the BBRF gives community groups and councils the opportunity to think outside the square.

“I look forward to seeing what projects local communities in Hinkler feel will best strengthen our region and its economy.”

Funding under the BBRF will be available in two streams:

• The Infrastructure Projects Stream will invest in projects that involve the construction of new infrastructure, or upgrade or extension of existing infrastructure.

• The Community Investments Stream will invest in local events and activities, strategic regional plans and leadership and capability building activities.

“There are key differences between the new Building Better Regions Fund and previous funds,” Mr Pitt said.

“Projects in major capital cities will not be eligible under the Building Better Regions guidelines. This is a fund for rural, regional and remote communities.

“A brand new source of funding will be available for community projects – a Community Investments Stream. The Community Investments Stream might help expand a local festival, attract a theatre production or major sporting event to the region to bring more visitors to the town.

“Projects in remote and very remote areas will receive a loading on their project score, and also will not need to produce 1:1 matching funding.

“Also, projects will now be assessed against projects of similar size, so small community projects are not competing against huge projects.”

Minister Nash said when the Government invests in a region it builds confidence across the entire community.

“Confidence is key in regional communities,” she said.

The Program Guidelines for the Building Better Regions Fund outline the type of project proposals sought, how to lodge an application, how assessment will be conducted, and critical program dates.

The Building Better Regions Fund replaces the National Stronger Regions Fund which has now closed.

To access the BBRF guidelines, and to lodge an application from 18 January 2017, visit www.business.gov.au/bbrf

• An information session on the Building Better Regions Fund will be held in Bundaberg on January 24, 2017 at CQUniversity. If you’re unable to make this session, a webinar will be made available in mid-January 2017. To register for the Bundaberg session head to: https://www.business.gov.au/events/building-better-regions-fund-information-session

Work to replace the old timber sleepers at the Sugar Cane Railway in the Bundaberg Botanic Gardens has started after the arrival of a track tamping machine.

Member for Hinkler Keith Pitt said the Bundaberg Steam Tramway Preservation Society received a $20,000 Stronger Communities grant which was used toward the purchase of the $70,000 machine.

“The 2km rail track has flooded twice, costing the not-for-profit group considerable time and money to repair. The tamping machine will dramatically reduce the time in replacing sleepers and any repairs required,” he said.

The machine arrived last month and Mr Pitt got to see it in action today.

“The Sugar Cane Railway is a wonderful tourist attraction in our region which has carried more than 540,000 passengers since it began in 1988. This new equipment will see the railway well into the future,” Mr Pitt said.

Australian Sugar Cane Railway secretary Ross Driver said the new machine – which packs the underside of the sleepers – had made a huge difference to the maintenance on the track.

“This is a major acquisition for our railway and allows us to tackle bigger sections of sleeper replacement. The unit is motorised and it’s amazing how fast it can tamp a sleeper,” he said.

“It used to take about three days for a gang of up to eight men to replace 80 sleepers. The machine can pack approximately 100 in an hour, with two men operating the machine.

Mr Driver said they’d already replaced about 300 sleepers manually and had about 3000 to go.

“The concrete sleepers – which are made at ISIS Sugar Mill in their major sleeper manufacturing plant – have a much longer lifespan than timber sleepers.”

Timber sleepers have a 10-15 year life span, while concrete sleepers will last 50-60 years.

Through the Stronger Communities Program, eligible community groups could apply for grants of between $5000 and $20,000 for small capital projects. All applications need to commit at least matching funding or in-kind contributions.

Each Federal Electorate is allocated $150,000 a year over two years. For more information go to www.infrastructure.gov.au/SCP 

Community organisations will have access to low-cost equipment to host pop-up events thanks to a Stronger Communities Programme grant from the Federal Government.

Federal Member for Hinkler Keith Pitt congratulated Creative Regions which was awarded $7064 to purchase a Place Activation Event Kit.

“This kit includes portable sound, lighting, furniture and marquees, reducing the cost of hosting pop up events through the Place Activation Program and will be made available to community groups,” he said.

“The Stronger Communities Programme has been a real boost for community groups and organisations like Creative Regions that would otherwise struggle to generate the funding for this type of program.”

Creative Regions director Shelley Pisani said after hosting ReSTAMPED in Post Office Lane in 2015, she realised there was a lack of equipment available to the community for low budget events.

“ReSTAMPED included markets, food stalls, performances, street art, projections and interactive games that encouraged people to interact with a space that they normally wouldn’t explore.

“The design and implementation of this project draws on best practice in place activation principles.

“We will engage with a range of creative people including artists, designers, planners and artworkers to collaborate on future projects, so we can reflect the stories, people and places of our region in a positive light through events and promotions,” Ms Pisani said.

“I hope we can attract a broad range of businesses and industry to be involved and we can get people actively engaged in the arts that normally would not consider themselves a participant in or audience of the arts.”

Through the Stronger Communities Programme, eligible community groups can apply for grants of between $5,000 and $20,000 for small capital projects. All applications need to commit at least matching funding or in-kind contributions.

Each Federal Electorate is allocated $150,000 a year over two years. For more information go to www.infrastructure.gov.au/SCP

Member for Hinkler Keith Pitt is asking residents to shop local this holiday season to support businesses in the Wide Bay Burnett region.

The #bundybayandbush campaign will feature on social media and local television for the next four weeks to promote the benefits of shopping locally.

“Christmas is just around the corner and regardless of whether you finished your shopping back in July or will be a last minute shopper like me, I encourage everyone to buy locally,” he said.

Mr Pitt said buying and spending locally starts a cycle that benefits everyone in the Hinkler electorate.

“Supporting our local businesses and being a tourist in your own backyard will inject money and confidence into the local economy.

“This helps businesses create jobs and opportunities for current and future generations.

“There are also plenty of places to explore right here in Hinkler, get out there and see what’s on offer. Then go and tell as many people as possible, so they want to come and visit.”

There are an estimated 8541 small businesses within the Hinkler electorate and across Australia small businesses employ more than four million people.

“Small and medium businesses are the engine room of our nation – many are family run by mums and dads, aunts, uncles and siblings – contributing $340 billion to the economy, including to regional economies right across Australia,” Mr Pitt said.

Takalvans owner Dale Rethamel knows first-hand the importance of communities supporting local businesses.

“It’s immensely important that people shop local. If people spend locally, then those businesses can invest and expand, hire more staff, support sporting and community groups, and the wheels will keep spinning,” he said.

It’s a philosophy Mr Rethamel has held for many years and one that he is very passionate about.

“Where ever possible I shop local myself, and encourage my staff to shop local too. I don’t understand why people say they need to travel to shop: the variety we have right here in this region is mind-blowing.

“I think it would be hard to replicate the amount of choice we have here in this region anywhere else in Australia,” he said.

Fresh fruit and vegetables will become a regular feature of food parcels from Global Care Bundaberg thanks to a Stronger Communities Programme grant from the Federal Government.

Federal Member for Hinkler Keith Pitt congratulated the organisation which was awarded $8394 to purchase a cold room and install new shelving.

“Global Care Bundaberg has provided food hampers and low-cost groceries for nine years now and once the upgrade is completed people can be provided with fresh produce – an integral part of a well-balanced diet,” Mr Pitt said.

“The Stronger Communities Programme has been a real boost for community groups and organisations that would otherwise struggle to generate the funding for this type of work to be done.”

Global Care Bundaberg executive committee leader Yale Morgan said demand is growing.

“The cold room will allow us to provide fresh food and perishables, as well as store ingredients to provide free tea/coffee and fresh snacks to the vulnerable and lonely that visit our site and talk with counsellors,” he said.

“Freshly-made items make the clients feel special and provide a luxury they are not used to. All this contributes to them feeling welcome and respected, encouraging them to return.

Mr Morgan said the number of people using their services was increasing by 10 percent each year.

“Weekly, we provide low-cost groceries to approximately 100 families or individuals, and free food hampers to 23-30 families.”

Through the Stronger Communities Programme, eligible community groups can apply for grants of between $5,000 and $20,000 for small capital projects. All applications need to commit at least matching funding or in-kind contributions.

Each Federal Electorate is allocated $150,000 a year over two years. For more information go to www.infrastructure.gov.au/SCP