Cathy McGowan (Indi, Independent) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Colleagues, I was delighted to welcome to Parliament House this morning parents, teachers and students from Eildon Primary School. The Eildon community is on the banks of Lake Eildon on the Goulburn River, in the foothills of the Great Dividing Range, and it's home to some of the largest employers in the Murrindindi shire. I give a call-out to the Outdoor Education Group for the terrific work they do in providing education. The students tell me what they love about their school is it's a friendly place. They love the BMX track. They love the teachers. And they tell me it's very beautiful.

Eildon, I have to say, is very beautiful. One of the things that makes it so special is the growing houseboat industry that's developed right around the deepwater harbour of the Eildon weir. In excess of 10 apprentices and many, many builders work there, in conjunction with up to 5,000 visitors who come to Lake Eildon at a busy time. Innovation is happening in the houseboat industry. There are self-contained houseboats five and six storeys high, all connected up with solar electricity. Amazing work is happening.

I call out to my colleagues: if you're looking for a holiday, if you're near Melbourne, go north to Eildon, to the Great Dividing Range. I'd also like to acknowledge the CEO and the mayor of Murrindindi Shire Council, who visited parliament last week.

In February next year, it's 10 years since the Black Saturday fires. There's still unfinished business, and I'm working with Murrindindi to make sure that community is ready to do what it needs to do.