✅ APPROVED TODAY: A new way to get from the Beaches to the CBD and beyond. The original Sydney Harbour Tunnel was opened in 1992. Nearly 30 years later, the NSW Government is commencing work on another tunnel that will take pressure off the Harbour Tunnel and Bridge, improving our travel times from the Beaches. The new Harbour Tunnel will be 6.5 kilometre in length, with three lanes in each direction, and will help slash travel times from North Sydney to Sydney Olympic Park by up to 20 minutes. It is in addition to our Sydney Metro Harbour Tunnel of which the tunneling has already been completed. This project also fixes up Warringah Freeway where you turn onto Military Road (Falcon street area). 🚊 For all you public transport advocates, don’t worry! We’ve already completed tunneling for the Sydney Metro Project. A train every four minutes with a new station at North Sydney. It’s Australia’s BIGGEST public transport project. Well underway. ✅ The second component of the Western Harbour Tunnel project is the Beaches Link Tunnel. The Beaches Link Environmental Impact Statement is on public exhibition until 1 March 2021. 
#repost 👉🏼 @manlywavedancers *Pinch me* moment This time last year I never would have thought I’d be meeting with the MP of Manly @jamesgriffinmp to discuss what the future looks like for my surf business @manlywavedancers 🤯 A huge thank you to @jamesgriffinmp for taking the time to learn more about the vision for Manly Wave Dancers and the growing community of incredible, supportive women 🏄🏼♀️ 
🌯 Wonderful to meet Vitor from @freshiemex (in Freshwater). They do amazing food (I had the tacos)! Apparently the margaritas (which I did not try) aren’t too bad! Like a lot of businesses, they’ve done it tough. Fantastic to talk to them about the recently announced Dine and Discover vouchers and hear from them after they sent me an email outlining the challenges they’re facing. There’s plenty of opportunity in Freshwater, it’s a great place and we will work hard to support the local businesses. 
⚡️GOING LIVE TODAY! The Northern Beaches will be part of the pilot program for the 'Dine & Discover' Program. $25 x 4 for you and your friends to support our local businesses. ⚡ What is this? NSW residents aged 18 and over will be eligible for four $25 vouchers, worth $100 in total. Vouchers can be used at participating NSW businesses that are registered as COVID Safe. The Dine & Discover NSW vouchers will be divided into two categories: - two $25 vouchers to be used for eating in at restaurants, cafes, bars, pubs and clubs from Monday to Thursday (excluding public holidays) - two $25 vouchers to be used for entertainment and recreation, including cultural institutions, live music, and arts venues, any day of the week (excluding public holidays). 👉 Ok, what next? Before Dine & Discover NSW opens up across the state, the scheme will be tested with a small number of participants at The Rocks and Broken Hill in early February, and then piloted with a larger group including the Northern Beaches from late February. Businesses within these areas that successfully register can expect customers with vouchers during February. Service NSW will invite customers in the test and pilot areas to participate. ✅ I'm a business...how does this help me and what do I need to do? This program will create an economic boost for local businesses. Your business will be automatically paid typically within 5 business days for the value of vouchers redeemed in your shop/venue. After applying online, NSW businesses will be able to track the progress of the application through their MyServiceNSW Business Profile. Business owners will then receive a step-by-step process on how to get ready. The vouchers can only be used within businesses that have implemented a COVID Safety Plan and are registered as COVID Safe. (You can create a plan for your business using our templates on Service NSW website). ⚡ Other info... The findings from the pilots will inform the state wide rollout, expected to commence in March, that will run until 30 June 2021. I am lobbying for additional wellness businesses to be included in the rollout ASAP. REGISTER via servicensw 
@brookvale_2100 has a dynamic business community. Alison is the owner of @industrialespresso and wrote to me recently. She’s powering through and working as hard she can to recover from the restrictions. I really appreciated her time and insights as we finalise our report to Government. I’m backing our businesses! #workingforyou #strongertogether #lovemanly #lovebrookvale #backyoulocal 
GREAT NEWS: A second Freshwater Ferry will be saved and continue to service Manly, meaning half the fleet will now live on! 👍🏻 The MV Freshwater and the MV Collaroy will stay to service Manly every weekend of the year and public holidays year round! ✅ Thank you to everyone who so passionately campaigned to keep the ferries. I appreciate not everyone will be happ however as the Minister has said this is about balancing the needs of all our customers, with the community feedback and additional maintenance costs, and moving forward with a solution that we can all get onboard with. ✅ Do we get more services and frequency during the week? YES Weekday commuters, who want faster and more frequent services, will be served by the new generation Emerald class vessels, which are fully accessible, more energy efficient. 👉🏼 This decision strikes the right balance between keeping the grand old boats for tourists and residents who want to enjoy the scenic trip to Manly on weekends, and a more frequent service that commuters want during the week.” The Freshwater will temporarily cease operation in the first quarter of 2021 while it undergoes major maintenance. 
I continued my visits to local businesses today with a stop at the Manly institution 🏄🏼@manlylongboardco. Grateful for the opportunity to chat with Mark and Julie about how they’ve experienced the past year, and recent restrictions. If you can, please get down and support them as independent retailers in the heart of Manly. They had plenty of great insights and ideas. There’s work to do, but we will prevail. #lovemanly #backyourlocal 
⚡️Hitting the streets with the NSW Small Business Commissioner to speak directly with local businesses about the impact of the restrictions on their businesses and what support they’d like to see. 👉🏼 Three observations from the chats: 1. Our community has been rock solid for our local businesses, supporting them in every way possible. 2. There is no ‘one size fits all’ solution here. Many different needs and challenges between industries and businesses. This means our support measures will need to be broad. 3. Winter is coming...these next few weeks and months are vital to help businesses get in a strong position for winter which is traditionally a tougher time. A HUGE thanks to the owners and operators who gave up their time to have a chat. I’ll be back out tomorrow visiting more. To all of you who shared your stories via email, thank you - and if I haven’t personally responded then I will soon. 🚧 I am absolutely committed to delivering an outcome for our community and helping our businesses. Meeting directly with businesses has been enormously useful to get data and information that will inform the final set of recommendations. Onwards! 
⚡️2021 let’s go! 🌿$124,873 to upgrade walking trails in the Manly Warringah War Memorial State Park. Manly War Memorial State Park aka Manly Dam is one of the best spots in the electorate (indeed across the Northern Beaches). Good walking tracks allow people to enjoy the area and conserve the beautiful natural environment. This funding from the NSW Government will ensure we continue to take good care of the Dam. (Note, I don’t usually get around Manly Dam in a white button up shirt 😝). #workingforyou 
“A future where we aren’t needed...” ☝🏼That is the vision of the wonderful team at @nbws_org This year alone they provided 3,071 bed nights to women in need. The efforts of the Committee including Chair, Rosy, Beth and the team is something to behold and I encourage you to read their annual report which is now published. 👉🏼 As Patron of the Shelter I am enormously grateful to all the individuals and organisations who have supported and continue to support the Shelter. Big shout out to: @bassike @jdvprojects @womenscommunitysheltersau @westpac and the amazing people in our community who fundraise big and small. Here’s to a kinder 2021! 
📈 We’ve navigated the restrictions, now it’s time to rebound. Huge thanks to @manlychamber and their members for sharing their views today at our ‘Business Recovery Roundtable’. ✅ The Roundtable was attended by: 👉🏼 Treasurer of NSW 👉🏼 Minister for Small Business and 👉🏼 NSW Small Business Commissioner. 👉🏼 12+ local businesses from all walks. The Chamber did a great job on behalf of their members and businesses throughout Manly and its surrounds to communicate the challenges and what support is needed. Thank you to everyone who emailed me the themes of your emails are being sent on to the Government. I’m determined to ensure we get back on our feet ASAP and reclaim lost ground. It’ll require all levels of government doing their part. 
WE ARE BACK. Well done folks! Manly update: From Midnight we are now back in the greater Sydney Bubble. Our hard work over the past few weeks has meant there is a hugely reduced chance of spreading the virus locally. Well done everyone. Greater Sydney Update: -Compulsory masks in indoor settings (retail, shops etc) not needed cafes and restaurants if you’re seated and eating. 😷 Compulsory from midnight, fines from Monday - Gyms reduced to 30 - Worship, weddings and Funerals 100 (subject to 4m rule)