Latest News

24-03-2011
MAJOR INVESTMENT IN NATURE TOURISM

Two local tourist facilities are undergoing significant renovations on the back of welcome news that tourism visitation numbers to the Hastings have grown by 19 per cent, Independent Member for Port Macqaurie, Peter Besseling said.

The first sod was turned on Wednesday for the $600,000 upgrade of Sea Acres, a significant local tourism facility for our region that attracts 200,000 visitors a year.

"This is complemented by the first stage of the $500,000 revamp of Roto House, another tourism driver whose refurbishment started earlier this month," Mr Besseling said.

[Caption: Environment Minister Frank Sartor visits Sea Acres at the invite of Mr Besseling in May 2010. A month later, the centre's upgrade was announced in the state budget.]

Read More >
17-03-2011
NOW'S THE TIME FOR THE COALITION TO MAKE GOOD ON ITS PLEDGE

Independent Member for Port Macquarie, Peter Besseling, says mental health services and parking at Port Macquarie Base Hospital could be addressed during the 4th and 5th pods' construction if the Coalition stands by its $75 million health pledge.

Mr Besseling said the $110 million upgrade announced last week would deliver new operating theatres, a new medical bed inpatient unit, a critical care unit and an expanded emergency department, as well as the cardiac cath lab and other medical services.

However, he said two problem areas remained –mental health services and car parking.

Read More >
13-03-2011
HISTORIC DAY FOR PORT MACQUARIE BASE HOSPITAL

Independent Member for Port Macquarie, Peter Besseling, has welcomed a $110 million upgrade of Port Macquarie Base Hospital, describing it as a watershed event for the Hastings.

"Today's funding commitment from federal and state governments ensures that the doctors, nurses and ancillary staff at the hospital will have the infrastructure and equipment they need to continue delivering first- class health care to our community," Mr Besseling said.

Read More >
08-03-2011
EMPTY PROMISES FROM THE NATIONALS
Independent Member for Port Macquarie, Peter Besseling, has called on the National Party to release the details of the Lake Cathie School project announced in a letter box drop this week.
 
"This announcement has been slipped through people's letterboxes, without any detail whatsoever as to where the school will be located, how much it will cost and what is going to be the impact upon the newly-upgraded North Haven Public School.
 
"This continues the trend of National Party announcements for this campaign, that have either been previously announced by the current government ($2 billion for Stronger Together), are tokenistic  ($1.5m for dredging) or have been completely misleading (an extra $75m for PMBH).
 
Read More >
04-03-2011
NATIONALS 'CONFUSION' COSTS US $75M

The Independent Member for Port Macquarie, Peter Besseling, says The Nationals' Port Macquarie candidate must apologise to the community for making misleading funding and infrastructure announcements for Port Macquarie Base Hospital.

"For The Nationals to try to play games with our base hospital is unforgiveable, although it comes as no surprise. They've done it in the past and now they're doing it again," Mr Besseling said.

"Last week Leslie Williams happily announced 'additional' money and infrastructure for Port Macquarie Base Hospital. This week The Nationals have 'clarified' the situation, admitting there is no extra money; it's a back-up plan if federal funding isn't allocated.

Read More >