Latest News
Search my Latest News
GET NEW POSTS TO YOUR INBOX
Just put your email in and confirm the email sent to your inbox. You will be emailed when new posts are added to Darren’s website.
OPERATOR OF HEADSPACE SERVICE IN SALE ANNOUNCED
Federal Member for Gippsland Darren Chester has welcomed Relationships Australia Victoria as the operator of a new mental health service for young people in Sale. Mr Chester said the new headspace satellite service would provide free mental health support and...
JOBKEEPER $1500 WILL SAVE LOCAL JOBS
Member for Gippsland Darren Chester has welcomed a $130 billion Federal Government plan to protect the jobs of thousands of workers across the region impacted by the coronavirus. Mr Chester said the unprecedented ‘JobKeeper’ announcement was designed to keep as many...
COMMERCIAL ROAD REVITALISATION SHAPING UP
Parklets along Commercial Road are now installed and providing pedestrians with additional seating, gathering spaces and brightly coloured gardens. Gippsland MP Darren Chester recently enjoyed a walk down Commercial Road to see the progress. “These parklets enhance...
BUSINESSES URGED TO ACCESS BUSHFIRE RECOVERY SUPPORT
Primary producers and small business owners in East Gippsland are being urged to access the financial assistance available to them as part of the bushfire recovery process. Federal Member for Gippsland Darren Chester said many businesses had not taken up the support...
CHESTER OPTIMISTIC ABOUT SECURING FUNDING FOR PRINCES HIGHWAY UPGRADE IN SALE
Federal Member for Gippsland Darren Chester says he is optimistic about securing funding for a multi-million upgrade of the Princes Highway in Sale, after meetings in Canberra this week. Mr Chester said the Wellington Shire Council plan to overhaul the streetscape,...
CHESTER SUPPORTS FUNDING BID FOR REPLACEMENT OF BULLOCK ISLAND BRIDGE
Federal Member for Gippsland Darren Chester is supporting a $3 million bid for funding to replace the Bullock Island bridge at Lakes Entrance. The East Gippsland Shire Council is planning to replace the bridge which provides a critical link between the Lakes Entrance...
WORKS ON STRATFORD RAIL BRIDGE STEAMS AHEAD
Construction is well underway on the new rail bridge at Stratford as part of the $530 million upgrade of the Gippsland line. Federal Member for Gippsland Darren Chester stopped at the viewing area at Apex Park recently to check progress on the new bridge across the...
$20,000 TO RESTORE HEYFIELD PRIMARY SCHOOL’S OVAL
Work is now underway to restore the oval at Heyfield Primary School so it is safe for students to use when they return to school. Drought has created potholes and bare patches on the oval, creating a hazard for the school’s 195 pupils who like to run and play ball...
PUSH TO GET BONANG HIGHWAY UPGRADE MOVING
Local MP Darren Chester says work to seal a section of the Bonang Highway must get underway as a priority bushfire and Coronavirus recovery project. Mr Chester said local residents had waited for too long for 12 kilometres of the highway between Goongerah and Bonang,...
NEW HOME FOR ROSEDALE’S CENOTAPH
A ceremony has been held in Rosedale to rededicate the town’s cenotaph and honour wall after it was relocated to the Prince Street Reserve. The memorial was moved from near the Princes Highway and Lyons Street roundabout after the intersection was remodelled to...
A NEW WAY TO CONGRATULATE HEYFIELD’S STUDENT LEADERS
There was one topic at the forefront of most people’s minds when Federal MP Darren Chester visited Heyfield Primary School this week. Mr Chester was invited to the school’s Monday morning assembly to present achievement certificates to the school’s student leadership...
NEW $3 MILLION TIMBER PLANT OPENS AT ASH, HEYFIELD
Australian Sustainable Hardwoods (ASH) will today officially commission a new $3 million timber manufacturing plant in Heyfield. The centrepiece of the new plant at ASH’s Greenmill in Firebrace Road is a high-strain twin band resaw, which uses German sawing technology...
BUSHFIRE ROYAL COMMISSION NOW RECEIVING SUBMISSIONS
The Federal Member for Gippsland Darren Chester is urging Gippslanders to make their voices heard with the Royal Commission into National Natural Disaster Arrangements receiving public submissions. Individuals, organisations, community groups and the broader community...
SUPPORT FOR BUSHFIRE AFFECTED SMALL BUSINESSES
Gippsland businesses struggling as a result of bushfires will benefit from a new grants program and simplified access to existing loans and other services for small businesses. Federal Member for Gippsland Darren Chester said the Bushfire Affected Small Business...
$2.9 MILLION BUILDING PROJECT OPENS AT YALLAMBEE
Gippsland’s newest accommodation for older Gippslanders was officially opened in Traralgon today. Work on a $2.9 million project at Yallambee Traralgon Village for the Aged has been finished after construction began in July last year. Federal Member for Gippsland...
CHESTER ANNOUNCES $137,000 FOR BAIRNSDALE CENOTAPH
Local MP Darren Chester has announced more than $137,000 from the Federal Government to repair and restore Bairnsdale’s heritage-listed cenotaph. Mr Chester, who is also the Minister for Veterans’ Affairs, said the money would help fund a major refurbishment of the...
LATROBE CREATIVE PRECINCT HONOURS OUR TIMBER INDUSTRY
Local MP Darren Chester says Gippslanders should be proud the Latrobe Creative Precinct will be a landmark honouring the importance of the local timber industry and the skill of its workers, past and present. Mr Chester stopped by the site recently as construction...
CHESTER SUPPORTS COUNCIL’S PLANNED FACELIFT FOR SALE
The Federal Member for Gippsland Darren Chester is supporting a multi-million dollar plan to upgrade the Princes Highway through Sale and link pedestrian access via the Port of Sale to local wetlands. Mr Chester said the Wellington Shire Council had developed a...
TENDERS NOW CLOSED FOR SALE MAIN OVAL IMPROVEMENTS
Tenders have closed to undertake the detailed design for the $1.63 million upgrade of facilities at the Sale Main Oval. The improvements include upgrading the changerooms to better cater for female footballers, cricketers, netballers and officials. Federal Member for...
NOMINATIONS NOW OPEN FOR THE 2020 RESILIENT AUSTRALIA AWARDS
Gippslanders are being encouraged to apply for the 2020 Resilient Australia Awards celebrating those who have shown initiative to create more disaster resilient communities. Federal Member for Gippsland Darren Chester said the current challenging fire season had shown...
VISIT GIPPSLAND THIS LONG WEEKEND, URGES LOCAL MP
Local MP Darren Chester is urging people to spend this coming Labour Day long weekend in Gippsland to help towns and businesses suffering due to the bushfires. Mr Chester said this weekend was an ideal opportunity for people from Melbourne and elsewhere in Victoria to...
HIGHWAY UPGRADES BOOST SAFETY
More than $60 million of Princes Highway works over the past six years have improved safety and productivity east of Lakes Entrance, according to Federal Member for Gippsland Darren Chester. The local MP has campaigned for Princes Highway works throughout his...
BLACK SUMMER BUSHFIRES ROYAL COMMISSION
Gippsland MP Darren Chester hopes the royal commission into Australia’s Black Summer bushfires will give a voice to those who know the bush well. Mr Chester said there were many people throughout Gippsland with extensive knowledge and experience of managing the land...
A NEW STAGE FOR MONASH HALL
Monash Hall at Yallourn North will soon have a revamped stage area thanks to funding from the Federal Government’s Stronger Communities Program. Yallourn North Action Group (YNAG) was one of the numerous Gippsland recipients to receive financial support through the...
HAZELWOOD NORTH VETERAN HONOURED FOR HIS SERVICE
David O’Reilly from Hazelwood North spent nearly three decades serving his nation as a member of the Australian Defence Force. The father of three says one of the highlights of his 27-year career was attaining the rank of Warrant Officer. Minister for Veterans Affairs...
APPLICATIONS OPEN FOR BUSINESSES TO GET HELP AFTER THE FIRES
Small businesses, primary producers and not-for-profit organisations in East Gippsland and Wellington shires suffering as a result of the bushfire crisis can now apply for government loans of up to $500,000. Applications are now open for concessional loans of up to...
BLOCK CONTESTANTS HELP MALLACOOTA
Former contestants of The Block as well as the Today Show have visited Mallacoota to help the community recover from the recent bushfires. The group came to Mallacoota to help the locals with the recovery process and helped rebuild Mallacoota P-12’s chicken coop,...
NEW FLAGS FOR MALLACOOTA P-12 COLLEGE
New flags will fly from the flagpoles at Mallacoota P-12 College this week after Federal Member for Gippsland Darren Chester presented students with new Australian and Indigenous flags. “The community of Mallacoota has faced an extremely challenging summer with the...
WORK PUSHES AHEAD ON NEW LOOKOUT AT KALIMNA
The site of the old lookout at Kalimna has changed yet again as work to build a new modern, fully-accessibly viewing platform pushes ahead. The foundations of the old lookout have now been removed to make way for the new structure. Federal Member for Gippsland Darren...
TACKLING THE RURAL DOCTOR SHORTAGE
The creation of 100 new training places for medical students wanting to become rural generalists will be welcome news to many people living in country areas, according to local MP Darren Chester. Mr Chester said the new training positions would help to address a...
CHESTER THANKS HMAS CHOULES FOR HELP DURING BUSHFIRES
The story of the HMAS Choules will forever be linked to the story of Mallacoota and the East Gippsland bushfires. Federal Member for Gippsland Darren Chester visited the Choules this week in Darwin and thanked the crew for their service during what was a difficult...
CHESTER CALLS FOR REVIEW OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS IN EAST GIPPSLAND
Federal Member for Gippsland Darren Chester is calling for more money for telecommunications in the aftermath of the bushfires in East Gippsland. Mr Chester said he was concerned by how many Gippslanders completely lost connection during high risk bushfire activity...
A WELCOME GIFT FOR YALLOURN NORTH PRIMARY SCHOOL
Yallourn North Primary School will receive $20,000 to replacing its aging, non-compliant outdoor play equipment with a modern $50,000 playground for its children. Federal Member for Gippsland Darren Chester visited the school this week which was one of 11 across...
FOREST CONTRACTORS TAKE JOBS FIGHT TO CANBERRA
Forestry contractors from Gippsland have taken their fight to protect their industry and jobs to Canberra. Reynolds Logging managing director Reece Reynolds (centre left) from Buchan South and Blair and Campbell managing director Adam Campbell (centre right) from...
MORE MONEY FOR GIPPSLAND’S BUSHFIRE RECOVERY
Two municipalities in Gippsland will receive extra money from the Federal Government to help rebuild infrastructure lost in the bushfires. East Gippsland Shire Council and Wellington Shire Council will receive the funding through the National Bushfire Recovery Agency....
Free mental health coaching now available in Gippsland
Gippsland communities, including those affected by recent bushfires, will be the first in Victoria to benefit from Beyond Blue’s NewAccess – a free program delivering practical advice about how to manage the pressures and stresses of everyday life. Designed by Beyond...
BACKPACKERS GIVEN GREEN LIGHT TO HELP WITH BUSHFIRE RECOVERY
Foreign backpackers and others on working holiday visas will be able to help bushfire-affected communities get back on their feet following changes announced today by the Morrison Government. Acting Minister for Immigration, Citizenship, Migrant Services and...
$20,000 TO IMPROVE POPULAR LAKES ENTRANCE WALK
Federal Member for Gippsland Darren Chester has announced $20,000 in funding to help protect and enhance a popular walking track at Lakes Entrance. The Entrance Walk starts near the pedestrian bridge at Main Beach and continues 2.4 kilometres towards the entrance. Mr...
MORE IMPROVEMENTS TO FARM HOUSEHOLD ALLOWANCE
Local MP Darren Chester has welcomed changes that promise to better help drought-affected farmers seeking financial assistance from the Federal Government. Mr Chester said many farmers had raised concerns with him about the complexity of the application process to...
A FIRST LOOK AT WHATS INSIDE THE LATROBE CREATIVE PRECINCT
Gippslanders have been given a first look at what the Latrobe Creative Precinct will look like when it’s completed. A digital flythrough created by Jackson Architecture and Katsieris Origami has been released that shows what patrons can expect when they visit the...
LOCAL GIPPSLANDER A HEYWIRE RECIPIENT
One young Gippslander is one of the 37 regional winners of this year’s ABC Heywire competition. Federal Member for Gippsland Darren Chester congratulated Sale local Chloe Bethune on her selection at the Heywire Regional Youth Summit in Canberra this week. “Chloe has...
DON’T FORGET GIPPSLAND, CHESTER TELLS AUSTRALIA
Local MP Darren Chester has urged Australians not to forget Gippsland after the bushfire emergency has passed and the recovery process gathers further momentum. Speaking in Federal Parliament this week, the Federal Member for Gippsland said he could not be prouder of...
STATEMENT ON MINISTRY APPOINTMENTS
I am honoured to have been reappointed as Minister for Veterans’ Affairs and Defence Personnel as part of the Morrison-McCormack Government. I understand this is the first time in 27 years the Veterans’ Affairs portfolio has been included as a Cabinet portfolio,...
CHESTER THANKS WORKERS AS HIGHWAY FINALLY REOPENS
The Princes Highway has finally reopened in its entirety weeks after devastating bushfires that impacted East Gippsland. Federal Member for Gippsland Darren Chester has welcomed the news after strongly advocating for the reopening. “After weeks of frustration we have...
TRARALGON-MORWELL SHARED PATHWAY ALMOST FINISHED
The Traralgon-Morwell Shared Pathway is expected to be ready to use in its entirety next month. The last elements of the 10-kilometres shared pathway are being completed and should be finished within six weeks. The $4.55 million pathway for cyclists, runners and...
DON’T FORGET GIPPSLAND, URGES CHESTER
Federal Member for Gippsland Darren Chester has urged locals to continue to support businesses experiencing a damaging downturn in revenue due to bushfires. Mr Chester said the plight of Gippsland, including its businesses, needed to remain at the forefront of...
CHESTER THANKS SINGAPOREAN AIR FORCE FOR BUSHFIRE SUPPORT
Federal Member for Gippsland Darren Chester has thanked the Singaporean Air Force for their support during the bushfire crisis in East Gippsland. “I sincerely thank the Singaporean Air Force for their work during the bushfire crisis and now as we enter the recovery...
CHESTER WELCOMES NATIONAL EMERGENCY MEDAL ANNOUNCEMENT
Federal Member for Gippsland Darren Chester has welcomed the announcement that those who have served in this season’s bushfires will be eligible for the National Emergency Medal. Mr Chester said fire, police, ambulance and emergency services volunteers and workers,...
OLD LOOKOUT AT KALIMNA DEMOLISHED
The old lookout at Kalimna has been demolished to make way for a new modern, fully-accessibly viewing platform. Federal Member for Gippsland Darren Chester stopped by the Hotel Road site adjacent to the Princes Highway this week after heavy machinery began tearing...
WORK UNDERWAY ON CASE FOR TRARALGON TO CITY FASTER RAIL
Federal Member for Gippsland Darren Chester says the public must have an opportunity to help shape the business case for faster rail between Traralgon and Melbourne. Mr Chester said he had been advised the National Faster Rail Agency (NFRA) was working with officials...