Press Releases

Deputy Premier and Minister for Emergency Services Peter Ryan today urged Victorians to be vigilant against fire this winter when the likelihood of house fires can increase by up to 20 per cent.

Mr Ryan joined a young burns victim at the Royal Children’s Hospital burns unit to officially launch the joint CFA and MFB Winter Fire Safety campaign and warn Victorians about the high fire safety risks this time of year.

“The Royal Children’s Hospital burns unit is a stark reminder of the human cost of fire ,” Mr Ryan said.

“In 2011 six people tragically lost their lives in residential fires in Victoria, three more than in the year prior. There were 1,04 2residential fires in total last winter causing $20 million worth of estimated damage.

“This winter the CFA and MFB have a very clear message to Victorians – they have an individual responsibility to be vigilant to help minimise the fire risk.”

Mr Ryan said unattended cooking remained the single biggest cause of domestic fires throughout the year with more than one-third of residential fires started in the kitchen.

“The number of fires in bedrooms, caused by heating equipment, also increases dramatically during the winter months, while blocked chimneys can also be a hazard,” Mr Ryan said.

Mr Ryan said the Winter Fire Safety campaign would use a combination of advertising and educational materials that focused on fire prevention in the home.

“The CFA and MFB will be targeting key community groups including schools and maternal child health centres as well as vulnerable groups such as the elderly,” Mr Ryan said.

The CFA and MFB are asking everyone across the state to start their own winter safety campaign by being vigilant, planning ahead and:

• checking that the smoke alarms in your house work;
• plan how you would get out of your house if there was a fire; and
• be aware of fire risks in the home.

For more information visit www.homefiresafety.com.au.

Media contact: Sonia Heath 0413 485 526  Read More

The Bena Community Group has secured a Local History Grant worth $7,600 for the publication of the Bena and District History Book and DVD, Deputy Premier and Member for Gippsland South Peter Ryan announced today.

Mr Ryan said the funding would be used to design the book’s layout, pay for printing and distribution costs as well as the production of DVDs containing a digital version of the book.

“The Victorian Coalition Government is committed to the preservation of local history, and grateful for the hours contributed by historical societies and community groups in achieving that goal,” Mr Ryan said.

“The Bena Community Group has already produced a manuscript with the aid of a Local History Grant it received in 2006–2007, with this year’s funding enabling the group to complete this worthwhile project.”

Premier of Victoria and Minister for the Arts Ted Baillieu said 58 Victorian community groups would undertake important local history projects this year thanks to more than $340,000 in grants through the Local History Grants program.

The projects include writing and publishing books, developing displays and exhibitions, oral histories, heritage trails and multimedia projects.

“The Victoria of today has been shaped by the aspirations and actions of millions of people and groups with a range of backgrounds – all with a fascinating story to share,” Mr Baillieu said.

“These community-based projects are driven by volunteers, whether through historical societies, community museums, cultural centres or primary schools. These groups work hard to gather and preserve historical materials and memories, and are passionate about telling their local stories.”

A full list of grant recipients is available on Public Record Office Victoria’s website www.prov.vic.gov.au.

Media contact: Ben Bulmer 0437 108 870 Read More

Victoria’s army of dedicated volunteers have been formally thanked for their contribution to the State at the launch of National Volunteer Week in Melbourne today.

Deputy Premier and Minister for Regional and Rural Development Peter Ryan officially launched volunteer week celebrations during a visit to the Royal Children’s Hospital and the Red Cross Australia headquarters.

Mr Ryan said volunteers came from all walks of life and were often the lifeblood of Victorian communities.

“More than 1.5 million Victorians make a huge contribution to our local communities as volunteers, doing important work across a range of sectors such as emergency services, in health and ageing, education, social justice, heritage and culture, and sport and recreation,” Mr Ryan said.

“The courageous and sensitive support of local volunteers both during and following devastating emergencies such as bushfires and floods has been particularly highlighted in recent years.

“This year’s theme for National Volunteer Week is ‘every volunteer counts’ and there are many people in our community who know first-hand just how valuable volunteers can be, and for that we are very thankful.”

Mr Ryan said volunteers often got as much out of the experience as the communities that they supported, and took the opportunity to encourage more people to volunteer.

“Volunteers participate in a range of areas and often pick up new skills, extend networks and enjoy a sense of fulfillment through helping others,” Mr Ryan said.

“I’d encourage everyone to consider volunteering and have a look at the many opportunities that are available on Victoria’s Volunteering Portal,” Mr Ryan said.

“The volunteering portal has more than 3,500 volunteering opportunities on offer from more than 500 organisations – from fire fighting, floods recovery and lifesaving, to pre-school care, adult education, sport and recreation, health, arts, heritage, tourism and local government.”

For more information visit: www.volunteer.vic.gov.au.

Media contact: Clare Siddins 0429 507 541 Read More

The Coalition Government has today announced details of the next phase of the rollout of its $100 million Energy for the Regions program.

Deputy Premier and Minister for Regional and Rural Development Peter Ryan said the innovative strategy would explore new opportunities to get energy and infrastructure sectors focused on delivering natural gas to communities in regional and rural Victoria.

“Over the past 12 months, Regional Development Victoria and its independent technical advisers have been engaged in a rigorous process of reviewing bids received from gas suppliers as part of the first direct negotiation phase,” Mr Ryan said.

“We are very pleased to announce that through this process, the Coalition Government has successfully reached agreement for two regional gas projects in Mildura and Huntly.

“Now the government is stepping up its campaign with a broadened strategy to engage natural gas suppliers to deliver natural gas to other priority areas.”

Mr Ryan said the expanded strategy would explore both conventional and alternative options for the delivery of reticulated natural gas to communities and industry in regional Victoria.

“The uncertain economic climate impacted on the direct bidding process, which ultimately did not elicit the strong response we had anticipated for a number of communities,” Mr Ryan said.

“This new strategy will look at a wider range of options, such as proposals to decant and transport Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) or Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) to the outskirts of regional towns or industrial estates, reducing the significant costs involved in the construction of major pipelines and associated infrastructure.”

Mr Ryan said the expanded strategy, due to commence in the second half of 2012, would include a plan to offer gas distributors a fixed subsidy ‘bounty’ amount to supply priority towns.

“The ‘bounty’ offer will utilise information gained through the process to date along with work separately completed by RDV’s technical advisers,” Mr Ryan said.

“In addition, bids will be invited from the market for a CNG/LNG delivery system and local town reticulation networks.”

Mr Ryan said the Coalition Government remained strongly committed to providing more regional Victorians with access to natural gas.

“Connecting homes and businesses to a more dependable energy source that is cheaper and better for the environment will have many benefits to regional and rural Victorians,” Mr Ryan said.

“With a positive result for the people of Huntly and Mildura now achieved, the government will focus on the delivery of natural gas to other priority communities including Avoca, Lakes Entrance, Invermay, Winchelsea, Heathcote, Orbost, Warburton, Marong, Bannockburn, Terang, Wandong-Heathcote Junction and Maldon.”

Media contact: Clare Siddins 0429 507 541 Read More