Lily D'Ambrosio

Minister for Solar Homes Lily D’Ambrosio today announced the appointment of Stan Krpan as the inaugural Chief Executive Officer of Solar Victoria. Mr Krpan will lead the implementation of the Andrews Labor Government’s landmark Solar Homes package, which is helping households across Victoria cut their energy costs while boosting supply to the grid, creating almost 5,500 new jobs and helping to tackle climate change. Solar Homes will cut Victoria’s carbon emissions by almost four million tonnes – the equivalent of taking one million of Victoria’s 4.6 million cars off the road. Household solar is expected to generate 12.5 per cent of Victoria’s 40 per cent target for renewable energy by 2025. From 1 July 2019, Solar Victoria will offer Victorians even more rebates for solar panels, solar hot water and battery energy systems. This will also mark the start of the no-interest loans offer, which will allow households to install solar with no upfront costs, as well as solar panels for 50,000 rental properties and 10,000 solar batteries Mr Krpan is an experienced chief executive with an outstanding track record for delivering energy, waste and sustainability programs. Until his appointment he was CEO of Sustainability Victoria, a role he held since 2012. Mr Krpan has led significant reforms in law, health, safety and environment regulation and sustainability within Sustainability Victoria, the Environment Protection Agency and WorkSafe Victoria, and served on various boards. The Labor Government’s Solar Homes package is helping Victorians take control of their energy bills by rolling out solar panels, solar hot water or solar batteries to 770,000 homes over the next 10 years. Quotes attributable to Minister for Solar Homes Lily D’Ambrosio “Mr Krpan has a strong record in this sector and the right experience to lead the delivery of our landmark Solar Homes package.” “Solar Victoria will help Victorians cut their energy costs while developing Victoria’s renewable energy industry and local jobs.” “We’re putting power back into the hands of Victorians – putting a power station on their roof to drive down energy costs, boost supply and fight climate change.”

More than one million passengers have used the $600 million Mernda Rail line, nine months on from the extension opening. Minister for Public Transport Melissa Horne and Member for Yan Yean Danielle Green today visited Mernda station where passenger trains were returned by the Andrews Labor Government last August for the first time in 60 years. The extension has provided passengers in the Plenty Valley, three more stations, more trains more often and better bus links, with the number of people using the line increasing by nearly 50 per cent since opening. Passengers travelling from Mernda to the city have access to 982 services every week running every six to eight minutes in the peak, with two new and seven realigned bus routes introduced to coincide with the opening of the rail extension. The rail extension and Plenty Valley Bus Network have given residents of the growing northern suburbs and surrounding areas, more and easier ways to travel with almost 2,600 passengers using Mernda Station each day and 1,000 trips at both Hawkstowe and Middle Gorge stations This has meant 5,000 car trips have been diverted from roads each day since the Mernda rail extension opened. Cycling to train stations, on newly constructed paths is also proving popular with close to 1,000 people using the bike storage facilities at South Morang and the three new stations, with almost 400 of those at Mernda. Work to improve safety and deliver more trains on the Mernda line is continuing with five level crossing removals and three new stations at Reservoir, Bell and Preston to be completed by the end of 2022. Planning for the second stage of the Hurstbridge Line Upgrade is also underway with construction expected to begin in early 2020. Quote attributable to Minister for Public Transport Melissa Horne “Last year we brought passenger trains back to Mernda for the first time in 60 years – one million trips in nine months show this was the right thing to do.” Quote attributable to Member for Yan Yean Danielle Green “We’re providing services where they are needed most and changing the way people live, work and travel in Melbourne’s growing northern suburbs.”

The Northern Metro Sport Fishing Club are among 386 grassroots sports clubs across Victoria who will share in more than $530,000 in grants to boost their equipment, skills and administration expertise. Member for Mill Park, Lily D’Ambrosio today announced the club that had successfully applied for funding in the second round of the Andrews Labor Government’s 2018-19 Sporting Club Grants Program. The grants provide clubs up to $1,000 for new uniforms and equipment, up to $2,000 to train coaches, officials and volunteers, and up to $5,000 to improve operational effectiveness. The grants include 31 initiatives to boost Aboriginal participation in sport with funding for uniforms, equipment and skill development, as well as travel for athletes, coaches, officials or teams that are required to travel to train or compete – whether it’s a local competition or an interstate festival. In Epping the Northern Metro Sport Fishing Club will use its grant to purchase new uniforms. The Sporting Club Grants Program is part of the Labor Government’s commitment to make sport more accessible and inclusive, increase local participation, stimulate local economies, and build sustainable sport and recreation and volunteer opportunities. Since coming to office, including this latest round of funding, the Government has provided more than 3,600 Sporting Club Grants across the state, totalling more than $4.9 million. Quotes attributable to Minister for Tourism, Sport and Major Events Martin Pakula “Sporting clubs are the lifeblood of local communities, that’s why we’re proud to support their development and open up a range of opportunities on and off the field for their members.” “We’re working hard to encourage and enable all Victorians to embrace a more active and healthier lifestyle so that people have every chance to realise their potential.” Quotes attributable to Member for Mill Park, Lily D’Ambrosio “The Sporting Club Grants Program is giving grassroots sports clubs in Mill Park the support they need to grow their ranks and help more people than ever play the sports they love.”

Volunteers helping to protect and restore Victoria’s land and environment can now apply for a funding boost, thanks to the Andrews Labor Government. Minister for Energy, Environment and Climate Change Lily D’Ambrosio today opened the latest round of the Victorian Landcare Grants, with $1.76 million in funding available to environment volunteer groups. Landcare, Friends of Coastcare and other environment volunteer groups can apply for project grants of up to $20,000 for on-ground works, education and capacity building projects that help to improve Victoria’s environment for future generations. Support grants of $500 are also available for new and existing groups and networks to assist with operating costs and provide a stable base for Landcare and environmental volunteering across Victoria. This funding will be delivered through Victoria’s 10 catchment management authorities (CMAs), highlighting the great environmental outcomes that can be achieved through cooperation between CMAs, environment groups, local communities and the government. The Labor Government invests over $9 million each year into the Victorian Landcare Program to ensure the ongoing protection and improvement of Victoria’s land, water and biodiversity. Additional support is delivered to this vital sector through a $4.11 million investment to extend the funding for 78 Landcare facilitators for the next 12 months. Victorian Landcare Grants support the implementation of Protecting Victoria’s Environment – Biodiversity 2037, the Government’s long-term plan to protect our environment and Victorians Volunteering for Nature – Environmental Volunteering Plan. For more information on the grants contact your local CMA, Regional Landcare Coordinator or go to www.environment.vic.gov.au/grants. Quotes attributable to Minister for Energy, Environment and Climate Change Lily D’Ambrosio “Volunteers are at the front line in protecting our environment and we’re giving them the support they need to continue this important work.” “These grants will help volunteer groups to boost their capacity and undertake new projects that protect and restore our environment.” Quote attributable to Member for Bass Jordan Crugnale “The Bass Coast is home to some of Victoria’s best natural landscapes and habitat – I encourage all our wonderful hardworking volunteers to apply for these grants.”

The Bass Coast Shire Council is taking charge of their energy bills and helping tackle climate change, thanks to a funding boost from the Andrews Labor Government. Minister for Energy, Environment and Climate Change Lily D’Ambrosio today officially opened a new 100kw solar PV system on the Wonthaggi Civic Centre which is set to save the council almost $40,000 a year on energy bills. The project has been delivered by the Bass Coast Shire Council and received $58,460 in funding from the Labor Government’s Local Government Energy Saver Program. The $3.4 million fund supports resource constrained councils across regional Victoria to reduce their energy consumption and operating costs of community facilities. The program also provides councils with specialist expertise and resources to assess their emissions profile, undertake energy audits and co-fund energy upgrades to areas such as lighting, ventilation, heating and cooling. The Labor Government is also supporting Bass Coast Shire Council in their goal to transition the community to zero-net emissions through a $15,000 grant. This grant will support the expansion of work already started by the coastal community of Phillip Island, which has made a commitment to being carbon neutral by 2030. The Labor Government is increasing Victoria’s Renewable Energy Target to 50 per cent by 2030 – putting more clean energy into the grid, increasing investment and driving down energy prices. For more information on the program visit sustainability.vic.gov.au/EnergySaverProgram. Quotes attributable to the Minister for Energy, Environment and Climate Change Lily D’Ambrosio “We’re helping regional councils take control of their energy costs – so they can invest more in the essential services their communities need.” “Local councils are playing a critical role in helping us achieve our target of zero net emissions by 2050.” Quote attributable to Member for Bass Jordan Crugnale “It’s fantastic to see this important local facility giving back to the community, as well working alongside us to reach our ambitious emission targets.”

The Andrews Labor Government has stepped in to clean up a huge waste stockpile at Lara, with the Environment Protection Authority Victoria (EPA) taking action to reduce the risk to community and environment. EPA has used its powers under the Environment Protection Act 1970 to take over management of the stockpile after the previous operator let the recycling waste grow to dangerous levels. This action from the EPA will ensure that fire prevention can continue in the short term, ahead of a full clean up. Poor site management practices by the previous operator, C&D Recycling, have resulted in an unacceptable risk to the local community, the environment and emergency services in the event of a fire at the site. The occupier and owner of the site have gone into liquidation and the funding available to the liquidators to maintain security and fire prevention measures on site ends today, which is why the EPA is stepping in to make sure community safety is maintained. The Labor Government has provided initial funding of $30 million to maintain fire prevention measures and clean up the site – a job that could take several years as the site contains an estimated 320,000m3 of mostly construction and demolition waste, including materials such as timber, concrete, bricks, plaster, glass and ceramics. EPA will rigorously pursue the previous site occupiers, owners, company directors and any other relevant parties to recover the costs of the fire prevention measures and clean up. The City of Greater Geelong will project manage the works on behalf of EPA and Government. Since August 2017, EPA has had additional powers to support Victoria’s fire services and issue remedial notices to facilities not properly managing potential fire risks. These powers will be strengthened further under the new Environment Protection Act which will come into effect on 1 July 2020. Quotes attributable to Minister for Energy, Environment and Climate Change Lily D’Ambrosio “The former operator’s complete disregard for health and safety is disgraceful and has put the community at risk. We’re stepping in to reduce the risk to community and the environment.” “We will be pursuing the private operators involved for every cent of the clean up cost. They created this mess, it’s only right they pay for it to be fixed.” Quote attributable to Member for Lara John Eren “It’s excellent news for the whole community to know that the EPA will now take control of the clean up. This site has been a cause for local concern for some time so it’s time to get on with fixing the problem once and for all.” Quote attributable to EPA Chief Executive Officer Dr Cathy Wilkinson “EPA has had to step in because the site owner, TASCO, and C&D Recycling have failed in their duties under the Environment Protection Act to manage the unacceptable fire risk.”