Dear Mrs Irwin

Thank you for your letter dated 8 May 2009 about the petition submitted for the Committee’s consideration on the proposal to relocate the East Gippsland TAFE and to develop a multi—sports complex for the Gippsland region. An application for these activities was recently submitted by Wellington Shire Council under the Regional and Local Community Infrastructure Program—Strategic Projects (RLCIP-SP).

I am pleased to inform you that the application submitted to the RLCIP-SP by the Council for the Gippsland Regional Sports Complex - Sale has been approved for funding of $3,250,000. The Rudd Government is delivering record funding of

$800 million to local governments under the RLCIP to build and improve community infrastructure, support local jobs, and stimulate local economies during the global economic recession.

Thank you for raising this matter.