Stuart Ayres - Your Local Member for Penrith

More than $100,000 has been approved to local arts organisations under the NSW Government's 2012 Arts program, Member for Penrith Stuart Ayres said today.

"These projects are of immense benefit to the Penrith region and will continue our strong support for the emerging creative, visual and performing arts culture in Penrith." Mr Ayres said.

"This arts funding builds on the natural strengths we have, our Joan Sutherland Performing Arts Centre, our performing arts school at Nepean High and the performing arts specialisation at the University of Western Sydney.

"I want to see our region take advantage of the opportunities made available through this funding which will showcase Penrith as a vibrant city, home to a creative and clever population."

Projects funded through the 2012 Arts Program include:

• $4,999 to Penrith Performing and Visual Arts Ltd to all of school students to see professional performing arts productions
• $10,196 to the Australian Ballet Education Ensemble
• $7,000 toward the annual program of the Penrith Symphony Orchestra
• $60,000 to Penrith City Council, to support the 'No Boundaries' disability art project
• $24,215 to Penrith Performing and Visual Arts Ltd for the upgrade of technical upgrade of audio lighting and visual systems as announced in November

"This mixture of arts projects provides a strong package of programs from supporting high school students through to showcasing our best and brightest in Penrith.

"I am proud to support the broad range of options available to those who wish to enjoy the arts in our region."

Liberal Member for Penrith Stuart Ayres said from 12 December, there will be changes to the Route 787 Free Penrith Shuttle bus service, with a new, shorter route and more frequent services.

“Passengers will benefit from more frequent services with buses running every 10 minutes, seven days a week, rather than every 15 minutes, as it currently does,” Mr Ayres said.

“The free service will provide a quicker, more frequent loop service within the Penrith CBD, making movement within the centre more convenient for shoppers and workers.

“The amended free loop service will run from Penrith Interchange along Station Street to Centro Shopping Centre, then along Woodriff Street and High Street as far as Kendall Street, then back to the Station along Henry Street.

“The changes are designed to attract more passengers to the service by better meeting access needs within the Penrith CBD.

“The Shuttle will no longer serve some locations south of Penrith CBD including Penrith Panthers and Centrebet Stadium.

“The shuttle will continue to operate from 9am to 2.30pm on weekdays and from 9am to 5.30pm on weekends.

“The new loop will take 15 minutes to complete and buses will run every 10 minutes in an anti-clockwise direction within the CBD,” Mr Ayres said.

The service will continue to be provided by wheelchair-accessible, low-floor, air-conditioned buses, which will maintain their distinctive green livery.

The new bus stops along the Shuttle route will be indicated with green Free Penrith Shuttle signs.

The Free Penrith Shuttle will continue on this changed loop until March 2012, when a decision on the preferred route of the service will be made.

Liberal Member for Stuart Ayres has announced $24,215 in State Government funding to develop arts and cultural infrastructure in Penrith.  

Penrith Performing and Visual Arts Ltd received the capital project grant under the 2012 Arts Funding Program.

“This funding is available for the construction, renovation or fitting out of buildings and other facilities for arts and cultural use." Mr Ayres said.

“This money will be put toward the technical upgrade of audio, lighting and visual systems at the 90 seat performance studio at the Joan Sutherland Performing Arts Centre."

Penrith Performing and Visual Arts Ltd Chief Executive Officer John Kirkman welcomed the funding.

"This funding will allow us to upgrade lighting and sound in our most intimate performance space. These changes continue to make the Joan the most accessible and affordable arts facility in Western Sydney."

Minister for Tourism, Major Events, Hospitality, Racing and the Arts, George Souris said the funding will support the development of a mix of NSW performing arts centres, galleries, museums and community arts centres.

“This is fantastic news for communities from Leeton to Walgett and Penrith to Dorrigo,” Mr Souris said.

“From the city to the bush, each year this type of financial support increases access to purpose designed and well managed facilities.

“This type of funding adds value to the NSW network of arts and cultural facilities, particularly where it meets a specific local need.

“Capital Project Funding helps councils develop projects which add to local infrastructure and services.

“It also encourages active co-operation between local community groups, arts organisations and local councils to ensure the most efficient use of available recourses.”

The 2012 Arts Funding Program is worth more than $58 million in total. 

The NSW Government has already announced funding for regional conservatoriums and regional performing arts touring projects as part of the 2012 program.   

There will soon be more grant announcements under the Arts Funding Program.

Liberal Member for Penrith Stuart Ayres has welcomed the NSW Government's audit of speed limits across the road network with three roads in the Penrith area being identified for review in the first quarter of the new year.

"Residents across the state have contacted the NSW Government to raise their concerns about speed limits along the M4, the Great Western Highway and Castlereagh Road." Mr Ayres said today.

"Of these roads, the one to receive the most submissions was the M4 with 33 responses, with the Great Western Highway on 7 and Castlereagh Road on 6.

"This move forms part of the delivery on our election commitment to an audit of speed limits on NSW roads. This audit is designed to determine whether the speed limits on these roads are inappropriate, inconsistent or dangerous - a necessary move to ensure smoother, safer traffic flows into the future."

 NSW Roads Minister Duncan Gay encouraged people to continue visiting the Safer Roads NSW website to provide comments and feedback.

 “We want to hear what people have to say about speed limits or speed limit signs so we can continue looking into the areas where people have concerns,” he said.

“The information provided by the community has helped the NSW Centre for Road Safety prioritise the corridors to be reviewed. 

“Feedback received will be used to determine roads for future speed limit reviews, so keep visiting the website and sending in your comments.”

Feedback can be provided by going to www.rms.nsw.gov.au, clicking on the Roads tab and following the Safer Roads NSW website link.

Liberal Member for Penrith Stuart Ayres today confirmed that Nepean Creative and Performing Arts High School and Blaxland High School will benefit from improved facilities under funding arrangements in the 2011/12 Budget.

"The NSW Government will be converting two general learning spaces to dance and drama spaces at Nepean Creative and Performing Arts (CAPA) High School while replacing the damaged stormwater system at Blaxland High School.” Mr Ayres said today.

"This investment is an early recognition of the government's commitment to providing excellent learning environments for students in public schools.

"Despite very little in the way of follow-through from the previous government after it announced a creative and performing arts high at Nepean High, the students are going to see a direct and timely benefit from this investment.

"These measures ensure that students have improved access to creative and performing arts facilities while we engage in the appropriate planning process to deliver the creative and performing arts centre we committed to before the election."

Liberal Member for Penrith Stuart Ayres today announced flashing lights have been installed at Jamisontown Public School before school goes back for term four to increase school zone pedestrian safety on Ikin Street in Jamisontown.

“These lights were installed ahead of schedule to maximise safety from the start of the new term,” Mr Ayres said.

“Flashing lights slow motorists down around schools and warn them they are approaching a school.”

Mr Ayres said the lights will operate automatically when school zone speed limits are in force and increase drivers’ awareness of school zones.

“The lights have been installed on Ikin Street and will operate automatically between 8am and 9.30am and 2.30pm and 4pm on school days during term time,” Mr Ayres said.

Flashing lights are linked to a central computer system which operates lights across the state.

The lights use LED (light-emitting diode) technology which provides brighter light and is more energy efficient.

By the end of 2011 there will be 746 flashing light school zones across the state covering more than 900 schools.

This is more than a quarter of all the schools in NSW.

The full list of installed sites is available on the RTA website, and is regularly updated.

Sites are chosen based on set criteria including traffic and pedestrian volumes, crash history and risk, speed limits, the road environment and visibility.

Flashing lights are one component of the RTA’s road safety program.

Other measures include marked foot crossings, dragon’s teeth markings, traffic lights and pedestrian refuges.