From Susan's Desk

COVID has reminded us just how vital it is to be making things locally - and the important role our local manufacturing industry plays. And the last 18 months has also shown us that we need a healthy tourism sector.

Both are key planks in our local economies of the Blue Mountains and Hawkesbury.

That’s why I was very pleased recently to host two days of hearings by Labor’s Pandemic Recovery Taskforce in the Hawkesbury and Blue Mountains, to hear from local business operators on the best ways to help the sectors survive and thrive.

The Taskforce is gathering evidence from around the country to help shape post-COVID business recovery.

Local manufacturers from a broad range of sectors told us they wanted to see better pathways from education and training into employment, and challenges around power capacity and energy infrastructure in the local area addressed.

Tourism operators raised issues around the need for strategic regional marketing, skills shortages and career paths, and roadblocks for business that have been put in place at various levels of government.

The input from these local businesses was invaluable in giving the Taskforce an insight into what the businesses need to keep growing, which will in turn support more local jobs.

I would like to thank the business owners who took time out of their busy schedules to provide their expertise to the Taskforce, including those who emailed submissions to my office. If you’d like to share your ideas on either of these sectors, please email me.

The first Senate Inquiry hearing in Macquarie that anyone can recall also took place this week. Senators inquiring into Lessons to be learned in relation to the Australian bushfire season 2019-20 took evidence from individuals and organisations from the Blue Mountains and Hawkesbury at North Richmond Panthers. They also visited an orchard in Bilpin on a site visit. We will share a link to the transcript of the day’s proceedings when it becomes available. All of these activities are underway as the flood recovery continues – like the bushfires, the flood damage to land, the impact on businesses, and the hurt to people will take a long time to heal. I will walk alongside residents making that journey.

All of these activities are underway as the flood recovery continues – like the bushfires, the flood damage to land, the impact on businesses, and the hurt to people will take a long time to heal. I will be walking alongside residents making that journey.

COVID Information

Vaccinations 
People wanting a COVID vaccination can check their eligibility by visiting Healthdirect website’s eligibility checker. Healthdirect is the national platform for people to check their vaccine eligibility and locate general practices providing the vaccination. For the full roll-out strategy, click here.
 
Rules
Are you up to date on the latest COVID rules? The NSW Government is responsible for the rules and regulations that affect how we can move around the community. To keep up with the latest information, visit the NSW Health website. For other relevant sites, please see below.

• The Australian Government - here
• The Department of Health - here
• The NSW Government - here
• NSW Health - here
• Nepean Blue Mountains Health District - here
• Blue Mountains City Council - here
• Hawkesbury City Council - here
• Domestic travel - here

Flood Recovery

Small Business and Not For Profit Grant
Recovery efforts from last month’s floods are continuing. The $50,000 Small Business Grants are now live and are also available for Not-For-Profit organisations who were flooded.
 
The Grants are designed to provide short-term targeted assistance for recovery activities, including safety inspections, repairs to premises and internal fittings, and replacement of stock or equipment to help the community return to business as usual. Eligibility criteria are available on the Service NSW website. For those wanting to be assisted remotely, and for more information on all available disaster assistance, please contact the Disaster Customer Care Service at Service NSW on 13 77 88 or via the Service NSW website.

BizRebuild Grant
BizRebuild is a business-led initiative, developed by the Business Council of Australia, to provide practical and on the ground assistance to small and local businesses left devastated by the bushfires and floods. BizRebuild is offering two vouchers to help small businesses affected by the March storms and floods, in eligible NSW local government areas. The vouchers available are:

• $2,000 Retooling Voucher, and
• $500 Business Advisory (legal and accounting) Voucher

Businesses can visit www.bizrebuild.com.au/what-is-bizrebuild and complete an online inquiry form to request the application, or email [email protected]
 
Stage 2 Clean-up
Stage 2 Clean-up guidelines for residences, businesses, community and recreational assets and primary producers have also been released.  Flood impacted residents can access the clean-up by either registering with Hawkesbury City Council or through Service NSW on 13 77 88.  Stage 2 will involve a complex clean-up of all declared Local Government Areas (LGAs), a detailed review of damage, central coordination, and the removal of ‘difficult’ waste including:

• primary producer waste, hazardous waste, and cars/caravans;
• demolition of destroyed or structurally unsafe structures that require licensed demolition contractors;
• pump out of septic tanks and swimming pools;
• bulky items that may not have been able to be removed due to size or access issues; and,
• certain large trees, including those that have not fallen, but are assessed by suitably qualified professionals as dangerous.

For more information on flood recovery, see Hawkesbury City Council’s website. 

Reporting waterways debris 
There has been an announcement on the clean-up of waterways, and members of the community can assist the local clean-up by reporting flood debris in local rivers and beaches to the Environment Line on 131 555 or [email protected].

Legal Aid
Legal Aid is also providing legal help to people impacted by flooding through the Disaster Recovery Legal Service. Solicitors trained in disaster-related law and trauma practice are present at the Windsor and Wisemans Ferry recovery centres. They can help with problems including insurance claims and disputes, employment, financial hardship (loans, mortgages and credit cards), unpaid fines, housing, tenancy, and Centrelink issues. You can also get help online or over the phone (1800 801 529, 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday).

Recovery Centres
The main flood Recovery Centres remain open and are located in:

• Windsor - 6 Greenhills Way
• Wisemans Ferry - 5564 Old Northern Road

Primary Producer Grant
The $75,000 Primary Producer Grant is available for those recovering from the devastating impacts of floods. For information on eligibility and how to apply, click here.
 
Rural Financial Counselling Service
The free Rural Financial Counselling Service can help rural and small businesses apply for any of the available grants. Their Counsellors will guide you through the process, and ensure you are receiving your full entitlement.

For more information on the assistance that is available to you, I recommend completing the Disaster Assistance Finder on the Service NSW website. Once you complete an online questionnaire you receive a personalised list of available programs and services. See the Disaster Assistance finder here.

And of course, you can contact the Service NSW Disaster Customer Care Service on 13 77 88 or visit https://www.service.nsw.gov.au/floods

Community News

 
Mental health support
The Black Dog Institute provides mental health support services to emergency service workers and their families. The Institute’s research shows up to one in ten emergency service workers will experience mental health problems, which can take 12 to 18 months, or longer, to emerge after a major event. With the Blue Mountains and Hawkesbury affected by both bushfires and floods, the service can help guide people into mental health care that meets their needs. The Bushfire Support Service is a quick and easy online mental health assessment tool that individual emergency service workers or their family members can use when experiencing symptoms of depression, anxiety, or post-traumatic stress. Follow the link above or contact the clinical support team directly to make an appointment.

Artist in residence
The Old School, Mount Wilson, commenced an Artist in Residence program in 2019. The volunteer based, not for profit organisation, aims to share the beauty and tranquillity of Mount Wilson, providing an opportunity for artists to work, be supported by, and engage with, the local community.  The program provides residency, accommodation and studio, for one month for both emerging and established artists and suits musicians/composers, writers, visual and textile artists. Applications for the October 2021 to June 2022 period are now open. For more information, contact [email protected].
 
Women’s Cottage donation drive
Can you help support Hawkesbury women experiencing domestic violence and trauma? Demand has soared for The Women's Cottage services, and the team is running out of space. They have secured a grant from the State Government, and are matching this with additional funds to make sure they can fit out and build a long-needed extension. I was really pleased to donate money in lieu of sending out last year's Christmas cards, and I’d urge individuals, local businesses and groups to help them achieve their goal. All donations big and small will make a big difference to help bring safety and support to so many the team assists every year. You can lend a helping hand by donating here.

Banking assistance
The Australian Banking Association (ABA) has announced new financial assistance for customers still in hardship. The ABA has developed and launched a new Financial Assistance Hub, which provides a clear guide explaining how banks will approach cases of hardship to ensure customers know where they stand and how to find help as deferrals and government support measures like JobKeeper end or wind down.

Business News

NewAccess for Small Business
NewAccess for Small Business Owners is a free and confidential mental health program, developed by Beyond Blue, to give small business owners the support they need. Over six sessions, coaches with a small business background will work with you to overcome difficult issues, providing you with practical skills to manage stress and get you back to feeling like yourself. NewAccess for Small Business Owners is available nationally by phone or video call. Click here for more information.
 
Helping Mountains businesses
In addition to the program above, Ahead for Business is another new digital hub developed to support the mental health and wellbeing of Australian small business owners. The Ahead for Business team at Everymind will be working with small business owners and those who support them in the Blue Mountains until June 2021, with online training sessions taking place on May 12 and June 9 from 12 noon to 1pm. Join an online training session and learn about mental health and wellbeing in small business by registering here. For more information, contact [email protected] or (02) 4924 6900.

Grants News

Volunteer Grants Update
Our community consultative committee has begun reviewing more than 90 Expressions of Interest lodged with my office. At my request, the Minister has given my office a short extension of time for the review and nomination process to be completed, in recognition of the impact of the floods on our electorate. Once again, this program was heavily oversubscribed. I will be emailing all groups to notify them of the outcomes.

Bushfire Recovery Grants

• A new Black Summer Bushfire Recovery Grants program from the Australian Government will be available to communities still recovering from the 2019-20 bushfires. The new grants program will help communities address priority work that hasn’t yet been supported under other funding programs. The grants will fund projects to support social, economic, built and environmental recovery. The government is currently working through the criteria and processes, however the program is being flagged early to give people time to think about the kinds of projects they want funded in their area. Potential applicants can express their interest in receiving further information, once it is available, via the online Black Summer Bushfire Recovery grants contact form.
• Community Wellbeing grants are for conducting activities in areas directly impacted by bushfires. The Blue Mountains and Hawkesbury are included.
• Hawkesbury Council Resilient Hawkesbury Grants offer communities impacted by the 2019-2020 Summer Bushfires grants of $500 to $5,000, subject to application and funding availability. The grants support community groups, joint organisations and not-for-profit groups to undertake projects that enhance social recovery and preparedness activities.
• Blue Mountains City Council is offering grants up to $7,000 to fund community-led projects that help social and environmental recovery, and support community disaster resilience. Projects can include initiatives that support social, economic, and environmental recovery, or that build emergency preparedness and improved community disaster resilience. The grants are open until May 15, and successful applicants will be announced by May 30. Request forms can be downloaded via council’s website.

 
Cancer support
The Supporting People with Cancer Grant initiative 2021 aims to support people affected by cancer through the provision of grants to community organisations and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community organisations.

Mountains assistance
Blue Mountains City Council’s Community Assistance Program assists community organisations to provide a diverse range of activities and services to meet the changing needs of local residents.

Grants bulletin
Would your organisation be interested in hearing about some of the latest government grants available? Sign up to my grants newsletter.


In the news
The seat of Macquarie in the media:
 
Royal Commission into veteran suicide welcomed I’ve stood with Blue Mountains and Hawkesbury veterans and their families in repeatedly calling for a Royal Commission into veterans’ suicide, and welcome the fact an announcement has now been made on its establishment.

Battle to stabilise Hawkesbury riverbanks following flood Riverbanks have been left extremely unstable following the floods, with some holes larger than Olympic swimming pools. Banks have collapsed or are in danger of collapsing, and they need to be fixed quickly.

Federal department criticised over program spruiking Western Sydney Airport to school children Material given to school children about Western Sydney Airport by the Federal Department of Infrastructure needs to be reviewed.

Seniors’ Week recognition awards Blue Mountains Congratulations to the winners of the Blue Mountains Seniors’ Week awards!

Keep in touch.

Susan Templeman
Federal Member for Macquarie