Tim Wilson (Goldstein, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

It is a pleasure to stand up and talk about so much important work being done by community based organisations in the Goldstein electorate, particularly as a result of the Stronger Communities Program. We have recently made recommendations for funding under this program for many important community organisations. You just need to look at some of those who are doing fantastic work, like the Beaumaris Sports Club, where an independent panel recommended an extra $20,000 be provided to Banksia Reserve to establish an LED scoreboard. I know under the earlier version of the Stronger Communities grants, funding was provided in Brighton East for the Hurlingham Park facility for a similar scoreboard. An enormous amount of work is being done by bowls clubs across the Goldstein electorate to make sure they have sufficient resources, including $20,000 for the conversion of new greens. We also have recommendations for funding for the Bentleigh Early Child Education Co-operative, particularly for the upgrade and expansion of their cooperative centres. There is a similar recommendation to support and assist the Bentleigh Recreational Tennis Club—$15,000 for an upgrade in its facilities.

Goldstein is a particularly sporty electorate, where people like to enjoy the benefits of Port Phillip Bay but they also like to live a healthy and active life across the board. We have tennis and sporting clubs all through the electorate, and all of them are doing important work in ensuring that people, at all stages of their life, live healthy lives. We also recommended that $20,000 for Bayley House, one of the great community support organisations for people with a disability, for a new performing arts and multipurpose space. If you ever get the chance, Deputy Speaker, you should get down to Bayley House to see their end-of-year concert, which is absolutely hilarious. They did it last year at Brighton Grammar and my hope is that, with the funding they need for a performing arts space, they might be able to do more regular activities within their existing facilities.

Separately, we made a recommendation for $5,610 for the Allnut Park toddler's playground upgrade—a critical piece of infrastructure in the city of Glen Eira. It is an important park that many people around the McKinnon and Bentleigh areas come to and enjoy, particularly at this time of year as the trees blossom and the sun comes out. It's a perfect environment for children and community engagement. Similarly, recommendations have been made for funding for the Half Moon Bay Surf Life Saving Club—one of many of the lifesaving clubs across the Goldstein electorate. They provide support and assistance when people are vulnerable at critical times of need. We all know the importance of lifesaving clubs and how they can lead to protecting and helping people. A lot of visitors and tourists come to Goldstein. They might come to look at the Brighton beach boxes. Often there are issues around people's capacity to swim. Port Phillip Bay doesn't always have treacherous waters, but, at the same time, if people can't swim, they can get themselves into dangerous circumstances. It's not just the Half Moon Bay Surf Life Saving Club; all lifesaving clubs play a critical role. They will use those resources for new rescue boards, a barbecue and website redevelopment so that they can properly engage with the community.

One of the most exciting proposals put forward as part of the Stronger Communities Program is for MESAC—the exploration and feasibility study for a new marine science centre in the southern part of the Goldstein electorate, recognising the marine sanctuary that sits around Beaumaris at the existing sailing club. There is potential for MESAC to work in partnership with universities and local schools to expand scientific research in Port Phillip Bay, but it can also support and assist in other activities in education, which is very exciting. If they were to secure that funding, it would make a huge difference for that feasibility study to lead to the development of MESAC into the future. Similarly, the Sandybeach Community Co-operative Society had recommendations for new facilities, particularly around their kitchen, which is an important piece of community infrastructure in the Sandringham area, just around the corner from where I live. It is particularly important for people with a disability but also important for the ageing population in order to make sure they have an opportunity for community engagement. The Stronger Communities Program provides that opportunity and that's why we support it.

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