Category: NSW News

The NSW Liberals & Nationals Government will invest $750 million in the redevelopment of Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, the largest investment in its 137-year history.
Health Minister Brad Hazzard said the significant investment is only possible due to the strong economic management of the NSW Liberals & Nationals Government.
“RPA is a shining jewel in our health crown, and it is about to get the biggest investment in its 137-year history. This $750 million commitment for the Stage 1 redevelopment of RPA is a game changer for medical staff and patients,” Mr Hazzard said.
“The NSW Liberals & Nationals Government is committed to ensuring RPA continues to deliver world-class patient and family-centred health care. The new facilities at RPA will build on the hospital’s strength of integrating treatment with research and innovation.”
The Stage 1 redevelopment will include expansion of the Emergency and Imaging departments, reconfiguration and expansion of operating theatres and integration of ambulatory care services.
Mr Hazzard said the Liberals & Nationals Government is investing more than $8 billion in health infrastructure over the next four years, and has invested nearly $10 billion since 2011.
“The NSW Liberals & Nationals Government has already built or upgraded more than 100 hospitals and other health facilities across the State and now RPA is getting its turn,” Mr Hazzard said.
“This investment will ensure that RPA continues to function as a fully integrated research and education precinct leading Australia with world-class clinical research facilities.
“This huge investment by the NSW Liberals & Nationals in the future of RPA Hospital will ease pressure on staff and enable them to continue delivering world-class care in the future,” Mr Hazzard said.
The NSW Liberals & Nationals Government commenced the transformation of this site with the Professor Marie Bashir Centre opened in 2014, and the $34.6 million staff car park opened in 2018, in addition to its ongoing support of Chris O’Brien Lifehouse.

The highly successful Opal Park and Ride program will be rolled out at 10 more train station commuter car parks giving more public transport customers access to free parking across the rail network.
Premier Gladys Berejiklian said planning work to convert 10 carparks to Opal Park and Ride will begin immediately, which will allow commuters travelling with an Opal Card to park for up to 18 hours for free.
“The goal is to make sure commuter carparks are available for those actually using public transport, and not those who might be shopping or working locally,” Ms Berejiklian said.
“Opal Park and Ride is already working at 10 locations and today the NSW Government is committing to convert carparks at Kiama, Sutherland, Penrith, Holsworthy, Gosford, Campbelltown, Hornsby, Warwick Farm, Revesby and Jannali.”
Minister for Transport and Infrastructure Andrew Constance said the program is needed because research showed almost half of people who use commuter car parks at train stations do not catch public transport.
“There is a high demand for commuter car parks and Opal Park and Ride is about ensuring car parks are saved for their intended purpose – for people who are using public transport,” Mr Constance said.
“At the same time this Government is delivering more commuter car parking spaces. We have added more than 6000 spaces with another 6000 in planning or under construction.”
Customers who do not catch public transport within 18 hours from the time of entry will be charged at a daily rate in line with the commercial rates for the local area.
Opal Park and Ride has already been rolled out to Ashfield, Brookvale, Dee Why, Gordon, Kogarah, Manly Vale, Mona Vale, Narrabeen, Seven Hills and Warriewood.

Having already secured major deals with aerospace, defence and education institutions, the NSW Liberals & Nationals Government will now turn its attention to attracting agribusiness to the Western Sydney Aerotropolis.
Ten MoUs signed to date will contribute to the creation of 200,000 jobs at the Aerotropolis, with Premier Gladys Berejiklian today announcing that a new agribusiness precinct will contribute 2500 direct jobs and support up to 12,000 more.
“We’ve worked hard to bring unemployment down to a record low of 3.9 per cent and our plans will continue to create more jobs for people across the State. I’m particularly excited about the jobs and opportunities that the airport will create for families and future generations in Western Sydney,” Ms Berejiklian said.
“Western Sydney Airport and the precincts we are delivering around the airport will create tens of thousands of jobs over the next decade and support employment across NSW.
“I’m also thrilled that the agribusiness precinct will support farming jobs by enabling even more of our world-class fresh produce to be exported to the world.” The new agribusiness precinct will link directly with the Sydney Markets, which has agreed to have a base at the Western Sydney Aerotropolis. It will see NSW’s worldclass fresh produce be exported to the rest of the world in record time.
The agribusiness precinct will consist of a series of high-tech farming and climate controlled glasshouses that will produce fresh food and handle incoming produce from NSW farms for global export.
For the first time, it will mean that food produced in NSW can be flown from the farm gate to international consumers within 24 hours.
Minister for Western Sydney Stuart Ayres said Western Sydney Airport was creating major opportunities for families and businesses.
“The airport is a game changer for Western Sydney and for NSW. If you are a young family living in Western Sydney, the employment opportunities being created through initiatives like the agribusiness precinct are incredibly exciting,” he said.
At the same time the NSW Government is creating the jobs for the future in the Aerotropolis, it is also making a significant investment to upgrade the road network in the area to support the new industries.
Some $3.6 billion is being invested to duplicate The Northern Road and Bringelly Road, with construction on both projects already well underway. Planning is continuing on the new M12 motorway which will link the M7 and The Northern Road to the Western Sydney Airport.
The NSW Government has also announced today that the Western City and Aerotropolis Authority (WCAA) will be located in Penrith. The WCAA is tasked with planning and leading the development of the Western Sydney Aerotropolis.

Having already secured major deals with aerospace, defence and education institutions, the NSW Liberals & Nationals Government will now turn its attention to attracting agribusiness to the Western Sydney Aerotropolis.
Ten MoUs signed to date will contribute to the creation of 200,000 jobs at the Aerotropolis, with Premier Gladys Berejiklian today announcing that a new agribusiness precinct will contribute 2500 direct jobs and support up to 12,000 more.
“We’ve worked hard to bring unemployment down to a record low of 3.9 per cent and our plans will continue to create more jobs for people across the State. I’m particularly excited about the jobs and opportunities that the airport will create for families and future generations in Western Sydney,” Ms Berejiklian said.
“Western Sydney Airport and the precincts we are delivering around the airport will create tens of thousands of jobs over the next decade and support employment across NSW.
“I’m also thrilled that the agribusiness precinct will support farming jobs by enabling even more of our world-class fresh produce to be exported to the world.” The new agribusiness precinct will link directly with the Sydney Markets, which has agreed to have a base at the Western Sydney Aerotropolis. It will see NSW’s worldclass fresh produce be exported to the rest of the world in record time.
The agribusiness precinct will consist of a series of high-tech farming and climate controlled glasshouses that will produce fresh food and handle incoming produce from NSW farms for global export.
For the first time, it will mean that food produced in NSW can be flown from the farm gate to international consumers within 24 hours.
Minister for Western Sydney Stuart Ayres said Western Sydney Airport was creating major opportunities for families and businesses.
“The airport is a game changer for Western Sydney and for NSW. If you are a young family living in Western Sydney, the employment opportunities being created through initiatives like the agribusiness precinct are incredibly exciting,” he said.
At the same time the NSW Government is creating the jobs for the future in the Aerotropolis, it is also making a significant investment to upgrade the road network in the area to support the new industries.
Some $3.6 billion is being invested to duplicate The Northern Road and Bringelly Road, with construction on both projects already well underway. Planning is continuing on the new M12 motorway which will link the M7 and The Northern Road to the Western Sydney Airport.
The NSW Government has also announced today that the Western City and Aerotropolis Authority (WCAA) will be located in Penrith. The WCAA is tasked with planning and leading the development of the Western Sydney Aerotropolis.

Construction on the new Metro West rail line will be accelerated to begin next year – slashing travel times between Parramatta and the city to just 20 minutes.
Premier Gladys Berejiklian said the decision to bring forward construction is only possible because of the strong economic management of the NSW Liberals & Nationals Government.
“We always said we would build Metro West as fast as possible and today’s announcement shows we mean business,” Ms Berejiklian said.
“We have worked our guts out to get the budget in a strong position and now we are able to deliver crucial rail projects like Metro West quicker than anyone thought was possible.
“Metro West will more than double the existing rail capacity between Parramatta and the Sydney CBD and only the NSW Liberals & Nationals Government can be trusted to make it a reality.
“This crucial project will reduce the journey between Parramatta and the city to around 20 minutes, with trains running every two minutes.”
Under the Liberals & Nationals Government there will be stations at Westmead, Parramatta, Sydney Olympic Park, North Strathfield, Burwood North, Five Dock, The Bays Precinct and the City. Investigations are continuing into possible stations between Olympic Park and Parramatta such as Rydalmere, and at Pyrmont.
Minister for Transport and Infrastructure Andrew Constance said Labor can’t be trusted to deliver major infrastructure projects.
“During its time in office Labor promised to build 12 rail lines, but did not deliver a single one in full,” Mr Constance said.
“In fact Labor has promised a Metro to Western Sydney three times since the mid-90s and cancelled it every time. In 2010 they were so incompetent they handed $81 million back to the Federal Government after cancelling it once again.
“We already have the runs on the board. Metro North West will open in May and construction is underway on Sydney Metro City & South West.”
The NSW Liberals & Nationals Government will provide $6.4 billion for Metro West over the four year forward estimates.
“This is more than Labor is providing. Our funding is locked in. Labor is relying on billions of dollars of imaginary federal funding,” Mr Constance said.
Metro West is expected to take around eight years to complete from the start of construction. The final schedule for the project will be confirmed on completion of the final business case.

More than 14,000 extra weekly bus services will be delivered under a NSW Liberals & Nationals Government over the next four years to improve services across Sydney, the Illawarra, Hunter and Central Coast.
Minister for Transport and Infrastructure Andrew Constance said the NSW Liberals & Nationals have worked hard to improve bus services across the State and this commitment would take the total number of services added since we were elected to 50,000.
“We will continue our record investment in public transport by adding thousands of extra weekly bus services to boost service frequency and the hours buses operate,” Mr Constance said.
“More people than ever before are using the bus network. Patronage has risen by almost 55 per cent over the past eight years, from 214 million trips a year to 332 million trips.
“By putting on more bus services we are making it easier for commuters to leave their cars at home easing congestion on our roads.”
Suburbs that will benefit from the extra bus services include Riverstone, Schofields, Leppington, Macquarie Park, The Entrance, Raymond Terrace, and Shellharbour.
Member for Holsworthy Melanie Gibbons said the new bus services will be better aligned to connect with local train stations, including those along the new Sydney Metro line.
“The NSW Liberals & Nationals are building a better public transport network having already added more than 32,000 weekly bus services across the State,” Mr Constance said.
“In contrast, when Labor was last in Government they cancelled 1,500 weekly bus services.”
Liberal Candidate for Liverpool Paul Zadro welcomed the commitment to improve services in Liverpool.
“We have seen substantial growth in Liverpool so I want to see a focus on boosting service frequency and the hours buses operate in our community,” Mr Zadro said.

A further 68 train stations will receive upgrades such as new lifts, ramps and footbridges to make them more accessible under a NSW Liberals & Nationals Government.
Minister for Transport and Infrastructure Andrew Constance said the NSW Liberals & Nationals Government’s strong economic management has made it possible for the total investment in the Transport Access Program (TAP).
“We are committed to making public transport accessible for all customers, including those with a disability, the less mobile and parents with prams,” Mr Constance said.
“Currently more than 90 per cent of customer journeys are accessible but we want to make sure everyone can access public transport easily and with dignity.
“When we came to Government accessible public transport had been neglected. Labor was only doing two access upgrades a year and it would have taken them 90 years to upgrade all stations on the network.”
The funding to be delivered by the NSW Liberals & Nationals will supercharge the station upgrade program and include upgrades at Dapto, Faulconbridge, Tuggerah, East Hills, Point Clare, Moss Vale, Goulburn, Griffith, Dubbo and Queanbeyan.
Five stations between Sydenham and Bankstown will also become accessible for the first time as part of Sydney Metro, upgrades Labor has vowed to cancel.
“We have delivered 52 wheelchair accessible train stations since 2011 and we will deliver dozens more as we keep cutting through Labor’s backlog,” Mr Constance said.
“Our Government listened to communities across the state and we know accessible transport is key to good quality of life so we made these upgrades a top priority.”
Member for Penrith Stuart Ayres welcomed the commitment to improve access at Kingswood station.
“This is a big issue for my community, which I have been campaigning for and I am so pleased we can make this station accessible,” Mr Ayres said.
The NSW Government is working to deliver safe, modern and accessible public transport infrastructure statewide. The program provides new lifts, ramps and footbridges across the network to achieve this.

Previously announced station upgrades
Rooty Hill Edgecliff Millthorpe North Strathfield Kingswood Hazelbrook Wyee Blayney Mittagong Clarendon Hawkesbury River	Wahroonga Taree Roseville Glenbrook Beecroft Como Bexley North Fairy Meadow Petersham Waratah
Additional station upgrades
Warrawee Canley Vale Birrong Dapto Wollstonecraft St Peters Blackheath Yagoona Banksia Ourimbah Lisarow Niagara Park Narara Lapstone Waitara Faulconbridge Towradgi Erskineville Pymble Stanmore Point Clare Tuggerah	East Hills Denistone Goulburn Normanhurst Thornleigh Bellambi Dubbo Armidale Griffith Moree Queanbeyan Grafton Narrabri Parkes Gunnedah Casino Wauchope Redfern Moss Vale Unanderra
Currently non-accessible stations being upgraded by Sydney Metro
Dulwich Hill Hurlstone Park Canterbury	Wiley Park Punchbowl

Kids sick with cancer or needing emergency care are set to benefit from Australia’s first Comprehensive Children’s Cancer Centre and a rebuild of the Children’s Hospital at Randwick.
The $608 million investment overseen by the NSW Liberals & Nationals Government will transform cancer care, and add more than 50 per cent to the size of the Sydney Children’s Hospital at Randwick, with a new Emergency Department among the additions.
A funding commitment of $428 million from the NSW Liberals and Nationals Government, $100 million from the Commonwealth Government, $30 million from the University of New South Wales, $25 million from Sydney Children’s Hospital Foundation and $25 million from the Children’s Cancer Institute are contributing to the historic establishment of the Comprehensive Children’s Cancer Centre and redevelopment of the hospital.
NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard said this significant investment was possible only because of the strong economic management of the NSW Liberals & Nationals Government.
“The Comprehensive Children’s Cancer Centre brings clinical care, research and teaching together in the one place.  Importantly, that means better outcomes for kids and for NSW it cements our position as a world leader in care for children with cancer”, Mr Hazzard said.
Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt said today’s announcement will give children for the first time the same level of integrated cancer care experienced by adults.
“If your child is battling cancer, you want to know that the latest research is translating into effective treatment as fast as possible.  This Centre will ensure kids have that next level care with many experts working together on the same campus,” Mr Hunt said.
The investment in both the CCCC and the redevelopment of the Children’s Hospital is projected to create more than 6080 direct and indirect jobs.
“All of those jobs will be great for the area and for the economy and they build on the Liberals & Nationals’ strong track record when it comes to delivering health infrastructure.  Our government has already built or upgraded more than 100 hospitals and other health facilities across the State,” Mr Hazzard said.
Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt said the Federal Government is investing significant funding into medical research and this collaborative model is the exciting model of the future.
“Children will receive the finest possible care in both general medicine and specialist cancer treatment and research,” Mr Hunt said.
The project will be built over two levels.  On the ground floor will be a brand new Emergency Department as well as new short stay units while above it will be the Comprehensive Children’s Cancer Centre, bringing the very latest in research from the laboratory bench to the bedside.
“For staff too, they will have all of the opportunities that come with having state of the art facilities so they can continue the wonderful work they already do looking after our kids,” Mr Hazzard said.
Today’s announcement is on top of the $720 million investment already announced for the redevelopment Prince of Wales Hospital also at Randwick, bringing the total value of the site works to $1.3 billion.
The Member for Coogee, Bruce Notley-Smith, said when completed, the expanded Children’s Hospital would be integrated with a new Acute Services Building and the recently announced $250 million University of NSW Health Translational Hub.
“Randwick will host a Health and Education Precinct that will be the envy of the world.  When you combine these substantial investments and the calibre of our health clinicians and academics, you can expect an incredible result,” Mr Notley-Smith said.
“Our community can have peace of mind that we have the very best healthcare available in the world, close to home.”

A former police officer has been charged following investigations into an alleged sexual assault.
Between July and August 2013, it’s alleged a woman was sexually assaulted by a police officer in southern Sydney.
The senior constable was on-duty at the time.
Following inquiries by the Professional Standards Command, a 43-year-old man was arrested on Wednesday (27 February 2019).
He was charged with sexual assault without consent and was given bail to appear at Downing Centre Local Court on 20 March 2019.
The man is no longer a member of the NSW Police Force.

Sydney’s new underground CBD metro railway stations are taking shape about 25 metres under the centre of the city where new platform caverns and pedestrian tunnels are being excavated.
The gamechanging Sydney Metro City & Southwest project is the first new rail line through Sydney since the 1970s and will massively cut travel times for commuters across the whole system.
The Sydney Metro projects in the Northwest, City & Southwest have also created more than 20,000 jobs, while the NSW Government’s record infrastructure program has created more than 100,000 jobs.
Premier Gladys Berejiklian and Minister for Transport and Infrastructure Andrew Constance today met some of the Sydney Metro workers and had the first look at major construction work at the Martin Place Metro Station.
“It’s incredible to see the progress that’s been made by machines and workers underground with thousands of pedestrians moving aboveground,” Ms Berejiklian said.
“Two roadheader tunnelling machines are working 24-7 to excavate the new Martin Place station, which stretches underground between Hunter Street and Martin Place.
“This project is really taking shape and when it opens, customers in the heart of Sydney’s CBD will be more connected than ever before.”
Mr Constance said the Martin Place metro platform caverns will be about 220 metres long, 16 metres high and 14 metres wide when fully lined with concrete.
“Roadheaders and about 95 workers have already excavated more than 166,620 tonnes of crushed rock at Martin Place – enough to fill about 26 Olympic swimming pools,” Mr Constance said.
“They are also digging underground pedestrian connections to the existing Eastern Suburbs Line, making it easier to get around our great city.
“This once again shows that only the NSW Liberals & Nationals Government will deliver Metro rail across Sydney.
“When Labor was last in office they announced 12 rail projects. They did not deliver a single one in full and they are already promising to cancel the Sydenham to Bankstown Metro upgrade.”
Sydney Metro will deliver a turn-up-and-go train service up to every two minutes to the four train stations being built in the Sydney CBD – Martin Place, Pitt Street, Barangaroo and Central.
Sydney Metro Northwest is on track to open in the coming months and is at least half a billion dollars under budget. It includes 13 Metro stations and 4000 commuter car parking spaces.
Metro rail is being extended from the north west, into the CBD and beyond to Bankstown in 2024, delivering Sydney 31 metro stations and a 66km standalone metro railway line.