COMMUNITY NEWSLETTER November 2012

Electorate Office: Suite 1, 25-33 Old Northern Road, Baulkham Hills NSW 2153

Phone: (02) 9686 3110 Fax: (02) 9686 3212 Email: baulkhamhills@parliament.nsw.gov.au

The Hills Shire has a new Mayor after therecent council elections, with Dr MichelleByrne elected unopposed as the new Mayorwith Andrew Jefferies elected as DeputyMayor.

Both Michelle and Andrew were returned asCouncillors at the recent Local Governmentelections.

In Parramatta's Caroline Chisholm ward, ScottLloyd was returned and former Councillor BobDwyer, returned to Council after an absence ofa few terms. John Chedid, was returned as LordMayor after a one year absence from the role.

Congratulations to all newly elected Councillors,and I am looking forward to working closely withthem all over the next four years.

David Elliott MP with Councillor Scott Lloyd of Parramatta CityCouncil and John Chedid, Lord Mayor of Parramatta City Council

David Elliott MP with the newly elected Liberal Councillors of the Hills Shire Council.From left to right: Clr Yvonne Keane, Clr Peter Gangemi, Clr Alan Haselden, Mayor Dr Michelle Byrne, Deputy Mayor Andrew Jefferies, Clr Dr Jeff Lowe, Clr Mark Taylor, Clr Robyn Preston and Clr Mike Thomas

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THE NEW HILLS M2 WINDSOR ROAD WEST FACING RAMPS OPEN TO TRAFFIC

The new Hills M2 Windsor Road west-facing ramps are nowopen to traffic and the ramps are reducing the travel timesfor thousands of motorists each day.The Windsor Road ramps provide improved access from themotorway to the Norwest Business Park and Castle Hillshopping precinct and better commuting times to the Hills andParramatta.

The expected travel time savings are being delivered, withmotorists saving approximately four minutes on each trip or fortyminutes a week.

The opening of the ramps has also provided further benefits toBaulkham Hills residents and businesses by reducing somecongestion on local roads like Windsor Road and the NorwestBoulevard.

Tolls on the new ramps are $1.89 for cars and motorcycles and$5.62 for trucks and buses. These tolls pay for the construction,operation and maintenance of the ramps. Like other fullycashless toll points, the toll is indexed each quarter to inflation.

Other upgrade works in the lead up to Christmas includes thelaying of asphalt between Watkins and Pennant Hills Roads, thecompletion of work at Barclay Road Bridge and planting andlandscaping in the western zone.

It’s a long project and I recognise that at times can be trying onboth motorists and residents. However, the benefits from theproject will be significant improving travel times, enhancingliveability of the community and productivity of local businesses.

I would like to thank Transurban for keeping myself andmy Federal and Council colleagues updated throughoutthe upgrade.

The next step is to work on better commuter parking forour community, and I have already written to the Ministerfor Roads and the Minister for Crown Lands to get theprocess for establishing a carpark at Torrs Streetunderway.

The Royal Couple visits AustraliaTheir Royal Highnesses The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwallwill visit Sydney during their six day tour of Australia.

This visit will excite a lot of people and it’s fantastic they have chosen to come toSydney. The visit will attract worldwide attention and it will be a great opportunityto again showcase Sydney as Australia’s premier city.

The Prince of Wales last visited Sydney in 2005. It will be the first visit to NSW bythe Duchess of Cornwall. The Royal couple will visit Australia from Monday 5 toSaturday 10 November 2012.

Details of the program, and locations where the public will be able to see theRoyal couple, will be made publicly available closer to the visit.

From left to right areWayne Merton, The Hon Duncan Gay MLCMinister for Roads, Andrew Headfrom Transurban, Clr YvonneKeane and David Elliott MP

Visit my website at www.davidelliott.com.au to keep up to date with the latest news and eventshappening in Baulkham Hills

SAFETY FIRSTAt a recent meeting of the Hills Community SafetyPrecinct Committee one of the major themes in themeeting was the change on behaviour of thieves.As technology has become more difficult to detect anddefeat, burglars have turned their eyes to what are known asaggravated break and enter offences.

Essentially, this means that thieves break into homes whenthe owners are home, often in the middle of the night whilethe owners are asleep.

It is important to remember, as we approach the warmermonths, not to leave doors or windows unlocked.

These criminals often enter through unlocked doors orwindows and help themselves to items downstairs whilefamilies sleep upstairs. This usually means that items leftdownstairs, such as wallets, are taken along with car keys.

While the warmer weather can make things uncomfortable,please remember not to sacrifice your security for a littlecomfort.

On 13 September, Winston Hills resident Don Stein AM was inducted into theEarthmovers and Civil Contractors Hall of Fame, as the inaugural inductee.

Don was acknowledged for his continuing dedication to the earthmoving industryin many facets of its governance at both state and national levels over almost 50years.

In my previous role as CEO of the NSW Civil Contractors Federation, I workedclosely with Don and marvelled at his continued energy and enthusiasm even ashe passed 80 years of age!

Don’s efforts have contributed to the removal of stamp duty on the 'wet hire of planthire contracts' and a complete rearrangement of the registration of mobile industrial,earthmoving and civil contracting plant items.

Don drew together all the small contracting and earthmoving lobby groups in 1973,which saw the establishment of the Civil Contractors Federation, to which Don, as apast State and National President, was awarded life membership in 1996.

Don joined Rotary in 1969 and moved to the Rotary Club of Winston Hills in January1992. He has served as president and is still a serving member at Winston Hills.Rotary made Don a double diamond Paul Harris Fellow, in honour of his dedicationand work for humanity. He is also a Member of the Order of Australia. He alsoprovides serious and substantial support to the Rotary Foundation Global Polioeradication program, the Australian Rotary Health Research Fund and is an EmeraldCompanion of Australian Rotary Health.

He was honoured with the Rotary Award of Vocational Excellence in 1996.Congratulations Don!

WANDERLANDSydney’snewestedition ofWanderlandopened up on6 October atParramattaStadium, withSydney’snewest oldestfootball club, Western Sydney WanderersFC, kicking off its inaugural A-Leaguecampaign against last season’s minorpremiers the Central Coast Mariners.

The Wanderers honour the football traditionsof our region which go back to 1880, wherethe very first game of football in New SouthWales was played by a team called theWanderers. The brand, name and colours ofthe new team were all chosen by the peopleof Western Sydney, and this communityengagement will continue at the core of theteam into the future.

The Wanderers will become part of thesporting fabric of Western Sydney,particularly across the summer months whentop class sport in Western Sydney is hard tocome by.

If you are interested in signing up andbecoming a member of the Wanderers, emailmemberships@wswandersfc.com.au, call8020 4141 or visitwww.wswanderersfc.com.au to register yourinterest! See you at Wanderland!

Authorised by David Elliott MP, Suite 1, 25-33 Old Northern Road, Baulkham Hills NSW 2153 Printed by Zion Graphics, 3 Robertson Place, Bella Vista NSW 2153 using Parliamentary entitlements.

HOW CAN I HELP YOU?Your LOCAL COUNCIL deals withLocal Roads, Rubbish Collection, Rates, Sporting Fields,Parks, Footpaths, Street Lighting, Residential & CommercialDevelopment, Council By-Laws, Animal Control and Signage

Your STATE MEMBER David Elliott MP deals with

Health, Dental & Public Hospitals, Education, Land & WaterManagement, Industrial Relations, Primary Industries, PublicHousing, Main Roads, Public Works, Emergency Services,National Parks, Transport, Attorney-General, Ageing &Disability, Community Services, Police, Local Governmentand Fair Trading

Your FEDERAL MEMBER deals withImmigration, Taxation, Aged Care, Trade, Foreign Affairs,Higher Education, Defence, Aviation & Shipping,Telecommunications, National Highways, Veteran’s Affairs,Medicare, Centrelink and Child Support

MESSAGE FROM THE PREMIERLiving Within Our Means and Delivering Frontline Services

The NSW Liberals & Nationals Government is making tough decisions to ensure we are livingwithin our means while delivering more to the frontline – more police, teachers and nurses.

We are keeping our election promise to boost our police, teachers and nurses because evenwhen times are tough, we know these services are vital for us all.

Since March 2011 election, the NSW Liberals & Nationals Government has recruited:

3 1,478 new police officers. Police authorised strength is now at a record 16,016;

3 the equivalent of 520 more full-time teachers for a record 61,664 teachers in our publicschools and TAFEs; and

3 over 2,900 more public hospital nurses for a record workforce of 46,000 nurses.

The previous Labor Government allowed expenses to run out of control, leaving our Statewith a $5.2 billion budget black hole. I am pleased to report for the first time since 1995 wehave now reversed the historic trend of expenses growing faster than revenue.

As you know, we cannot keep spending more than we have.

Please visit www.premier.nsw.gov.au for updates and information on how the NSWGovernment is making NSW number one again.

Yours sincerely,

Barry O’Farrell MPPremier