A new Office of Solar Energy and a $30 million boost to support renewable energy technology will drive new investment and the development of cleaner energy in Victoria, Premier John Brumby announced today.

Visiting Solar System’s factory in Abbotsford with Energy and Resources Minister Peter Batchelor and Member for Richmond Richard Wynne, Mr Brumby said the $30 million funding boost would support the development of alternative energy technologies.

“This initiative is about partnering with industry to develop the technologies needed for the future to deliver clean energy for Victorian households,” Mr Brumby said.

“Our Government is rising to the challenge of climate change, supporting new initiatives to cut emissions and creating a climate of new economic opportunity.

“The funding will be available for parties interested in developing pilot-scale demonstration projects or research and development proposals for sustainable energy technologies in areas such as solar, wave, geothermal and bio-energy.”

Mr Brumby said the Victorian Government had committed to cut emissions by at least 20 per cent by 2020 and increase the amount of electricity supply from renewable energy.

“The results delivered from these grants will help us produce and operate the technologies we need to make renewable energy sources commercially viable,” he said.

The grants are part of alternative energy initiatives announced in the Victorian Government’s Climate Change White Paper and include $5 million for projects specifically in the Latrobe Valley as part of the Latrobe Valley Advantage Fund. Grant applications are open until September 30.

In addition to the $30 million fund, Mr Brumby announced a new Office of Solar Energy to bring together under one umbrella the extensive work being done on solar energy in Victoria.

“This new office will become the first point of contact for industry, small business, the community and educational institutes looking for information about Victoria’s solar potential and work already underway,” Mr Brumby said.

“The Office is another important step in positioning Victoria as a global player in solar development. It will be particularly important for assisting potential investors to access information about our comprehensive range of support programs for solar energy.”

Mr Batchelor said the new office would run through the Department of Primary Industries, providing a first point of contact for solar programs being run by various government agencies.

“International interest in Government-supported programs, intense competition for the $100 million Victorian Large Scale Solar Program tender and companies investigating opportunities in regional Victoria, demonstrates huge interest in our solar potential,” Mr Batchelor said.

“Work underway in Victoria includes mapping of the best locations for solar plants and grant programs to encourage solar energy development. We need to champion these efforts under one banner and that will be the Office of Solar Energy.”

Mr Brumby and Mr Batchelor visited the Solar Systems’ factory to inspect a solar receiver and dish due to be transported to the company’s pilot solar station at Bridgewater.

“The solar receiver and dish have been produced at the factory and are a great example of how we are making progress in developing the expertise and technology needed to harness our huge solar potential,” Mr Batchelor said.

Mr Batchelor also announced the appointment of a Medium Scale Solar Working Group, which will examine current barriers to investment and what additional measures are required to encourage the use of solar energy in Victoria.

The working group will be chaired by Tony Wood, Director, Clean Energy Program of the William J Clinton Foundation, which was set up by former US President Bill Clinton to focus on worldwide issues such as climate change.

Other members include technical experts in the solar and finance industries as well as representatives from the unions, the commercial building sector and the community:

• Ian Porter – Alternative Technologies Association
• Cameron O’Reilly – Energy Retailers Association of Australia
• Andrew Blyth – Energy Networks Association
• Peter Lunt – Vic Super
• Dean Mighell -  Electrical Trades Union
• Mark Twidell – Australian Solar Institute
• Mark Clover – ANZ
• Rod Menzies – Clean Energy Council
• Damon Moloney – Green Buildings Council

For more information on Victoria’s solar energy programs and resource visit the Office of Solar Energy Victoria website at www.dpi.vic.vic.gov.au/solar

Over 9,100 Victorian public housing properties have been upgraded under the $99.2 million Nation Building Repairs and Maintenance Program – almost double the original target.

Victorian Housing Minister Richard Wynne today announced that the Brumby Labor Government had continued to exceed expectations in the delivery of the Gillard Labor Government’s upgrade program.

“Through strong financial management and our partnership with the Gillard Labor Government, we are providing better and safer public and social housing for more Victorians than ever before,” Mr Wynne said.

“We believe vulnerable Victorians have a right to the same high standards of housing as the rest of the community and that’s why we have worked hard to upgrade 9,145 public and social housing properties under the $99.2 million Nation Building Repairs and Maintenance Program.

“This far exceeds the targeted 5,600 homes – an outstanding outcome for vulnerable Victorians.

“The repairs and maintenance program has allowed us to make significant improvements to our public and social housing properties and that will make a real difference to the safety, comfort and amenity for our tenants.

“This program has meant that some of our old and untenable homes have been repaired much quicker than without this funding and that means we have been able to offer more and better-quality homes to more people faster.

Mr Wynne made the announcement at a renovated rooming house in Church Street, Richmond – the site of one of the largest upgrades in the state, at an investment of $2.6 million.

The Church Street rooming house has been converted from a traditional rooming house with shared facilities into self-contained apartments that allow for private independent living.

A Church Street resident, Jason, said the transformation of his home had transformed his life.

“It is serene, beautifully comfortable and self-contained and it resembles a place you can call home and not be embarrassed to have friends or family visit here, which for me was the case previously,” Jason said.

Mr Wynne said people like Jason demonstrated why public and social housing was about much more than bricks and mortar.

“You can change people’s lives when you give them a home and when that home is comfortable, safe and secure, you can make an even bigger difference,” he said.

“Nation Building is the largest-ever investment in affordable rental housing in Victoria in decades and that’s good news for jobs in the building industry and good news for people needing an affordable home.

Community Housing Federation Victoria CEO Jacqui Watt said the Repairs and Maintenance Program was a great example of what community housing organisations could achieve in partnership with governments.

“It is vital that these kinds of developments are able to continue if we are to tackle the crisis in housing affordability,” Ms Watt said.

Today’s announcement comes after Premier John Brumby last month announced that Victoria had delivered 746 new homes by 30 June this year, and was on track to deliver 4,500 homes by 2012, exceeding the Federal Government’s target by 572 homes.

*Approximate

Cyclists and pedestrians will benefit from the construction of a new $4.1 million bridge over the Yarra River at Clarke Street in Abbotsford, Environment and Climate Change Minister Gavin Jennings said today.

Joining Member for Richmond Richard Wynne to announce the completion funds of $2.8 million, Mr Jennings said people would no longer need to climb the steep steps at Gipps Street to cross via the existing bridge which connects to the Capital City Trail on Dickinson Reserve.

“Melbourne has a world-class network of bicycle and walking trails which is why the Brumby Labor Government is taking action to help people more easily use and enjoy these already high quality community assets,” Mr Jennings said.

“The steep steps are a major impediment to cyclists, prams, and anyone with restricted mobility. This new bridge will greatly enhance the accessibility and enjoyment of the Capital City Trail.

“The bridge will be an alternative to the existing bridge and cross the river just to the south of the Abbotsford Convent.

“Melbourne’s extensive network of shared trails creates fantastic recreational opportunities for cyclists and pedestrians and contributes to our status as one of the world’s most liveable cities.

“Today’s funding announcement will allow for detailed design and construction of the bridge and is in addition to more than $1.2 million already committed to the planning and consultation.”

Mr Jennings said the new bridge would be located to the north of the existing bridge and local communities would be consulted on how the bridge will look.

“The structural elements of the bridge will be determined by engineering requirements but the community will have a say on the aesthetics of the bridge design,” Mr Jennings said.

He said further planning and design work will be completed over the next twelve months with construction due to commence in the second half of 2011.

Mr Wynne said the new bridge would have many social and economic benefits.

“It is important to provide a trail network that is accessible and inviting. This new bridge across the Yarra River will be more suitable to families, cyclists, and people with a disability,” he said.

“The bridge will create better opportunities for people to visit the Abbottsford Convent and the Collingwood Children’s Farm, which are important community destinations.

“It will also help residents in this built-up area of Melbourne to connect into the extensive parklands across the river at Yarra Bend Park.”

For more information on the Capital Trail and the Abbotsford Bridge project visit www.parkweb.vic.gov.au or call 13 1963.

A groundbreaking new supportive housing development in the heart of Melbourne will provide more than 160 new homes for homeless and low-income earning Victorians, with the first tenants to move in later this month.

Premier John Brumby today opened the $46 million Elizabeth Street Common Ground Supportive Housing development, the first of its kind in Victoria to provide housing for low-income earners and those at risk of long-term homelessness, with ongoing support under the one roof.

Mr Brumby said Common Ground was a great example of governments and the private and not-for-profit sectors working together to help change the lives of vulnerable Victorians.

“We believe that every Victorian deserves a decent place to live,” Mr Brumby said.

“It is because our Government kept its finances strong through the Global Financial Crisis that we’ve been able to invest in providing new support services for our must vulnerable Victorians through the construction of this world-class development.

“The Common Ground approach recognises that people need a stable and supportive home first, backed by an integrated support network that tackles the reasons that led them to become homeless in the first place.

“This new development will link Victorians most in need with vital support services and give them a permanent home so they can plan for the future. It is part of our Government’s commitment to tackling social disadvantage and creating a fairer Victoria.”

The Elizabeth Street Common Ground Supportive Housing development is based on the Common Ground model which was pioneered in New York and provides a supportive housing approach for people who have experienced or are at risk of long-term homelessness

The $46 million project is a partnership between the Federal and Victorian governments, not-for-profit housing association Yarra Community Housing, HomeGround Services and Victorian construction and development company Grocon.

It involved construction of 131 studio apartments over six floors and 30 two-bedroom apartments for low-income families over 3 floors. Access to the building is restricted to tenants via a swipe card, with CCTV and security lighting featured throughout the building.

Mr Wynne said the Brumby Labor Government would invest a $3.4 million in addition to its $34.5 million project funding to deliver support services at Common Ground over the next four years.

“This is an innovative approach to strengthen support so that people can better connect to services they need, re-connect with their community and rebuild their lives with the support of a permanent place to live,” Mr Wynne said.

“And the project has come in $9.7 million under its original costing of $56 million which means that these savings can be reinvested back into initiatives to address homelessness and disadvantage in our State.

“I thank everybody here for their hard work and commitment to this important development.  I’m sure these new homes will make a profound difference to the lives of many Victorians.”

The Victorian Government committed $34.5 million towards the Elizabeth Street Common Ground Supportive Housing project. The Federal Government contributed $12.3 million through its ‘A Place to Call Home’ initiative while Grocon built the project on a zero profit, zero margin basis.

Member for Melbourne Bronwyn Pike said the exciting project broke new ground in providing services for Melbourne’s most vulnerable people.

“I’ve been delighted to work with the community on delivering this landmark development, which will provide our vulnerable people with a safe, secure place to live and provide opportunities for many people in our communities for years to come,” Ms Pike said.

“Also, thanks to the Brumby Labor Government’s investment, the building incorporates the latest 5-star environmentally-sustainable design features, such as grey water management and a solar-boosted hot water supply.”

The building will be owned and managed by Yarra Community Housing, with support services to tenants provided by HomeGround Services. The first of the supported housing tenants have been identified by HomeGround and are scheduled to move into their new homes later this month.

Grocon chief executive Daniel Grollo said it had been a privilege to be involved in the Elizabeth Street Common Ground Supportive Housing project.

“From our perspective, it has provided an opportunity to learn a lot about a client group for whom we don’t usually build – the homeless and low income earners,” Mr Grollo said.

“Our employees have gained a lot from the process and we believe it has been a good demonstration of commitment to our core value of community.”

HomeGround Services chief executive Stephen Nash thanked all the project partners for bringing this innovative new model of Supportive Housing to Melbourne.

“Elizabeth Street Common Ground will end homelessness for some of the most vulnerable members of our community by combining high quality housing and tailored on-site support services,” Mr Nash said.

“This has been made possible by significant government leadership combined with strong partnerships across the corporate, community and philanthropic sectors.”

Yarra Community Housing chief executive Rob Leslie said the Victorian community could be proud of what the Elizabeth Street Common Ground Supportive Housing project would achieve.

“This development tells a powerful story about how we want to treat the most vulnerable members of our community – and it’s a story that all Victorians can be proud of,” Mr Leslie said.

Man’s best friend now has a new park close to Melbourne’s CBD with the opening today of the Yarra Bend Dog Friendly Park in Fairfield.

Member for Richmond Richard Wynne today extended an invitation to all local dog lovers to use the new facility.

“The Brumby Labor Government is proud of its world-class parks system that helps our communities engage in healthy lifestyles and enjoy our great outdoors,” Mr Wynne said.

“There is considerable research exploring the health and wellbeing benefits that pets have on our lives.

“The new Yarra Bend Dog Friendly Park will help to get more people outside and enjoying the social interaction that comes with being a pet owner.”

The Brumby Labor Government provided $90,000 to make the dog friendly park a reality.  This included works to fence off the area, install signage and dog owner education information and landscaping works to ensure the safety of pets and park visitors.

Mr Wynne said the new dog friendly park had significantly increased dog walking opportunities of existing dog areas at Yarra Bend.

“This park has created an additional 12 hectares of dog off-lead zones, increasing the total dog off-lead area to 58 hectares.”

The Merri Creek dog walking path has also been extended to allow even more space in the park for pets and their owners to enjoy. There are also new rubbish facilities, park benches, picnic tables and shade sails.

As well as the Yarra Bend Dog Friendly Park, the State Government has also funded the Banksia Dog Friendly Park in Bulleen, which will open in the coming months.

“Dogs provide a strong motivation for their owners to get out and about within their community, which in turn enhances the sense of community and safety,” Mr Wynne said.

“These parks have been specifically chosen to cater to the recreational needs of the community, while still maintaining their environmental values.”

The Yarra Bend Dog Friendly Park is located on Yarra Bend Road, Fairfield (Melways ref 2D, E3)

For more information on dog friendly parks visit www.parkweb.vic.gov.au or call Parks Victoria on 13 1963.

Housing Minister Richard Wynne today announced the allocation of almost 1,500 new affordable private rental homes under an innovative partnership between the Gillard and Brumby Labor Governments.

“Our Government believes all Victorians have a right to safe, secure and affordable housing, which is why we are working in partnership with the Gillard Labor Government to deliver a record investment to public, social and affordable rental housing,” Mr Wynne said.

“Today, we are allocating almost 1,500 additional subsidised private rental homes, to be delivered under the Gillard Labor Government’s National Rental Affordability Scheme (NRAS).

“The allocation of these new homes means we are able to support more vulnerable Victorians who are battling to access private rental homes amid record private rental values, historically low vacancy rates and strong population growth right across Victoria,” Mr Wynne said.

“These new homes are part of the 4,500 subsidised rental homes announced at the launch of the Victorian Integrated Housing Strategy in March. The new investment takes the total commitment to 7,500 NRAS properties. So far, 4,300 NRAS incentives have been allocated across the state.”

Mr Wynne made the announcement at a meeting of the Urban Development Institute of Australia in Melbourne.

“We understand many vulnerable Victorian families are struggling in a tough private housing market and housing affordability continues to be one of the biggest issues our community faces,” he said.

“The private rental market is under significant pressure, with rental costs rising and vacancies at a sustained low rate, while population growth for Victoria is above the national average. ABS data shows 2.1 per cent growth in the Victorian population in 2009, or 114,600 people.

“Since 1999, Victoria’s population has increased from 4.7 million to 5.5 million people. These new NRAS homes will play a vital role in making sure lower-income people have access to secure, affordable accommodation.”

The NRAS initiative is a joint Federal and State/Territory plan to deliver up to 50,000 new affordable rental homes nationally by June 2012 in partnership with the private and not-for-profit sectors. The private rental homes are let at 20 per cent below market rate.

“The NRAS initiative in Victoria has been a tremendous success, with 384 finished to date, and over 2,400 currently being built,” Mr Wynne said.

“On top of our commitment to affordable rental properties, we are also working in partnership with the Gillard Labor Government to deliver a record investment in public and social housing.

“We are committed to delivering this as quickly as we can, which means by 2012 we will have built more than 6,500 new public and social housing properties across Victoria.”

Richard Wynne with students Nikkola Mikocki-Bleeker, Michael Kruger and Georgia Bettoli.

The opening of a $3.5 million building has signalled a new era of education at Fitzroy High School – a thriving Victorian school which reopened after being closed by Jeff Kennett’s Liberal Party in the 1990s.

Member for Richmond Richard Wynne today visited the iconic school to officially open the new building – which features science, art and technology studios, a student lounge, careers centre and private study spaces.

“Fitzroy High has almost 100 years of history, and the Brumby Labor Government has invested more than $10 million modernising its facilities since it reopened in 2004,” Mr Wynne said.

He paid tribute to the commitment and dedication of the community, which refused to allow the school to be sold off to the highest bidder after it was closed by the Liberal Party in 1992.

“Our Government supports the ongoing hard work of the school community, which refused to allow Fitzroy High to become a statistic in the Liberal Party’s attack on public schools,” Mr Wynne said.

“Today is another great cause for celebration for a community that has been so focused on getting this magnificent outcome.

“It is a great achievement that a school with such a long history can now provide 21st Century facilties for its students.”

Education Minister Bronwyn Pike said the school now had students from years 7 to 12 and had partnered with Collingwood College to provide a broad set of educational options for students across the two campuses.

“The new building not only looks amazing, but the school’s Year 11 and 12 students are saying the new facilities and spaces are excellent,” Ms Pike said.

“The student lounge and private study spaces give the students somewhere to relax and focus on their studies – and the gymnasium was also refurbished as part of the works.”

She said the new building’s cutting-edge construction work led to the school being nominated as a finalist in the 2010 School Design Awards and winning an Australian Institute of Architecture award.

“The students at Fitzroy High were involved in the design process, so the awards and nominations are a reflection of their creativity and collaboration,” Ms Pike said.

“The entire community will be hoping the school scoops the pool when the design award winners are announced next month.

“Our Government is rebuilding, renovating or extending every Government school in the state and we’ve employed more teachers to bring down class sizes so that Victorian children can reach their full potential.”

Construction has started on the $24 million redevelopment of the North Richmond Community Health Centre.

Health Minister Daniel Andrews today joined the community to turn the first sod at the site of the new state-of-the-art community health facility on Lennox Street.

“We are taking action to give Victorians a better health system and that’s why we have committed $22.5 million to this redevelopment that will bring a range of vital community health services together under one roof in North Richmond,” Mr Andrews said.

“The new facility will allow the centre to locate all services on the one site and to expand and improve existing services.

“The new facility will include a much larger dental clinic, including four extra public dental chairs.

“There will be additional medical facilities, enabling North Richmond Community Health to offer expanded services such as physiotherapy, podiatry and school dental service and boost its health promotion programs.

“Residents will have even better facilities, with the redevelopment to include a large community room, a community group room for smaller groups and a community café and piazza.”

The City of Yarra has provided $1.5 million to co-locate their Maternal and Childcare services at the centre.

The project will create more than 120 jobs and is expected to be completed in late 2012. It will be built in two stages to ensure the health service can remain operational.

Member for Richmond Richard Wynne said the 3290 square metre facility included sustainable design, incorporating energy and water efficient features.

“Specific features include maximal daylight, natural ventilation, rainwater collection, solar domestic hot-water and bicycle storage area for staff,” Mr Wynne said.

“This new facility is a great example of how the Brumby Labor Government is responding to the increased demand for quality public health services and changing needs of the North Richmond community.

“North Richmond residents can look forward to even better access to more high-quality community health services.”

The Brumby Labor Government’s record commitment to public and social housing will help ease pressure on the housing waiting list across the state, Housing Minister Richard Wynne said today.

“We are making the biggest investment in public and social housing in decades because we are committed to putting a roof over the heads of our most vulnerable people,” Mr Wynne said.

“We understand many vulnerable Victorian families are struggling in a tough private housing market and housing affordability continues to be one of the biggest issues our community faces.

“That’s why we are committed to delivering our record building program as quickly as we can, which means between 2009 and 2012 we will have added about 8,000 new public and social housing properties across Victoria, along with 7,500 subsidised private rental properties for low income earners.

“The pressure on public housing reflects the wider housing market, where we have record private rental values, historically low vacancy rates and strong population growth right across Victoria.

“The private rental market is under significant pressure, with rental costs rising and vacancies at a sustained low rate, while population growth for Victoria is above the national average. ABS data shows 2.1 per cent growth in the Victorian population in 2009, or 114,600 people.

“Since 1999, Victoria’s population has increased from 4.7 million to 5.5 million people.

Mr Wynne said market pressures had contributed to a rise of 3.1 per cent on the public housing waiting list across Victoria in the three months to June – from 39,794 in March to 41,017 in June.

“This is a challenge we are committed to addressing so we can help those who are most vulnerable to the effects of the market,” he said.

“Our Government believes all Victorians have the right to safe, secure and affordable housing and that is why we are working to provide affordable housing for Victorian families.

“Just last month, we announced we’d exceeded the number of homes expected to have started construction under the Federal Government’s record $1.26 billion Nation Building investment, which will deliver 4,500 new homes by 2012.

“By 30 June, Victoria was expected to have started building 3,102 homes across the state, but that number has reached 3,520. Victoria delivered 746 new homes by 30 June, exceeding the Federal Government target of 572.

“By the time we finish construction in 2012, we will have built 4,500 new homes. This is on top of our own record $510 million investment, which will deliver about 2,000 new homes in the same period.

“And, thanks to the Federal Government’s National Rental Affordability Scheme, we will also build another 7,500 private rental properties, to be rented out at 20 per cent below market value.

“This record investment means that by 2012, we will have acquired over 20,000 social housing properties since 1999.

“But we know there is more to be done and we are committed to supporting vulnerable Victorians for the long term.

“In stark contrast, the lazy Liberal Opposition has still not offered one policy, not one idea and not one cent beyond the pitiful $5 million pledge at the 2006 election.”

The current waiting list information is available at www.housing.vic.gov.au.