Month: April 2024

The NSW Government is today fast tracking the largest expansion of public preschools in the state’s history, by cutting red tape to deliver 100 preschools co-located with public primary schools by 2027.

For years, key infrastructure projects particularly across Western Sydney have been unnecessarily delayed due to inefficiencies in the planning system accrued under the former government.

To address this, the government will change the transport and infrastructure State Environmental Planning Policy (SEPP) permitting new preschool buildings or preschools in existing buildings under complying development provisions.

Changes to this SEPP will permit the development of new preschool buildings or allow preschools to operate in existing buildings at all NSW public schools without the need for development applications.

This will speed up the delivery of new preschools for families desperately in need by up to 8 months.

These changes will enable the Department of Education to phase the delivery of 100 new preschools over the next 3 years, without concerns over delays through the planning process.

It comes as the NSW Government plans new public preschools including 51 across Sydney, with 49 of those in Western Sydney, South-West Sydney and North-West Sydney.

Some 49 preschools will also be built in regions outside of Sydney, including the Hunter and Illawarra, the South Coast, Mid North Coast, New England, Southern NSW, Northern Rivers, Far West, Riverina, South-West Slopes and Central West regions.

This historic $769 million investment in public preschools is part of the NSW Labor Government’s long-term plan to support young families.

The NSW Government has also committed $60 million to build and upgrade 50 preschools at non-government schools in areas of greatest need and has provided $17 million to support capital works for early childhood services in areas of need.

This is along with $29.4 million in funding to expand the number of early childhood workers in NSW through a major scholarship program, which continues to see a record number of applications.

Deputy Premier and Minister for Education Prue Car said:

“All children deserve access to high quality early learning.

“Our record investment to double the number of public preschools in the state is an important step towards growing access to early education across the state.

“We are cutting red tape as part of our plan to deliver this historic expansion of public preschools to the families of NSW.

Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Paul Scully said:

“The reforms to the planning system will make it quicker and easier to deliver public preschools in local schools.

“We are removing red tape in the planning system so that more children have the best possible start in their education journey.”

Frontline emergency care across the Mid-North Coast is set to receive a significant boost with the official opening of the brand new Old Bar Ambulance Station.

The purpose-built facility includes internal parking for up to four emergency ambulance vehicles, staff common areas, accommodation, and rest facilities for paramedics, administration and office areas, logistics and storage areas, and a vehicle wash bay.

Labor Spokesperson for Myall Lakes Emily Suvaal, joined NSW Ambulance paramedics, local families, and community members to mark the milestone opening.

The new Old Bar station is one of 54 new or refurbished stations being delivered by the NSW Government’s $232 million Rural Ambulance Infrastructure Reconfiguration (RAIR) program.

The RAIR program is the single largest investment in regional NSW Ambulance’s almost 130-year history, with ambulance stations being delivered in rural and regional NSW, to support the delivery of enhanced out-of-hospital emergency medical care to the community.

Minister for Regional Health Ryan Park said:

“The new Old Bar Ambulance Station is an essential addition to our regional healthcare network, and it will significantly enhance out-of-hospital emergency care for people in this community and beyond.

“The NSW Government is committed to investing in health infrastructure to support better health outcomes for rural and regional communities.

“This new modernised health facility equips our highly skilled paramedics with enhanced resources to meet the growing demand for emergency medical care in the area.

“Modern infrastructure is important, but what I am also really proud of is that we’ve already recruited an additional 54 paramedics to work on the Mid-North Coast under the Strategic Workforce Infrastructure Team program.”

Member of the Legislative Council Emily Suvaal said:

“The new station is a testament to the NSW Government’s dedication to providing first-class emergency services in regional NSW.

“This new Ambulance Station provides a more comfortable working environment for our dedicated paramedics tailored to the needs of the local community and enhancing emergency care in Old Bar and the surrounding areas.”

NSW Ambulance Chief Executive Dr Dominic Morgan said:

“Old Bar Station provides our paramedics with purpose-built facilities and equipment to continue to provide high quality emergency care throughout the Mid-North Coast, now and into the future.

“We’re excited to have this new station up and running for our local crews and the communities it will service in the Mid North Coast of NSW.”

The deaths of eight people on NSW roads across the Easter long weekend has again highlighted the importance of road safety research in helping to reduce this tragic toll.

The NSW Government has awarded $1 million to two research partners with their work to focus on young driver behaviour.  The University of Melbourne and Suncorp (AAMI) will carry out different innovative research projects that will seek to improve young driver behaviour and safety on the road.

The primary approach of the research funding is to influence and improve young driver behaviour using technology, making NSW roads safer and CTP Green Slip premiums more affordable for road users.

AAMI will use their smartphone app, financial incentives and nudge theory as part of their research.

The University of Melbourne will conduct an experimental test using Urban Analytica’s (UA) in-vehicle telematics and smart phone apps. The UA smartphone app will provide personalised safety feedback to drivers in real-time after each journey. Participants will also receive financial incentives via the app to encourage safe driving and emission reduction.

The results of the research projects which will be delivered within 24 months will aim to reduce the number of motor vehicle crashes involving young drivers and minimise NSW’s compulsory third party scheme costs.

Minister Chanthivong:

“The $1 million awarded by the State Insurance Regulatory Authority (SIRA) is part of the NSW Government’s ongoing commitment to fund road safety research and programs that prevent or reduce injuries from motor crashes.

“The tragic deaths of eight people across the Easter weekend demonstrates the value of this sort of research in helping to reduce future road deaths and trauma.”

Acting SIRA Chief Executive, Dr Petrina Casey

“Drivers under the age of 25 are still up to four-and-a-half times more likely to be involved in a motor crash and up to five times more likely to be involved in a motor crash resulting in death or serious injury.

“The outcomes of this research will give us a better understanding of what incentives are most effective for modifying young driver behaviour,“ Dr Casey said.

NSW State Emergency Service (SES) Commissioner Carlene York APM is retiring from the role in May, after almost five years leading the emergency service agency.

Commissioner York will step down next month and hand over to Deputy Commissioners Damien Johnston and Deborah Platz.

Commissioner York joined the NSW SES in October 2019, becoming the first woman to lead the agency in its almost 70-year history, and the first woman leader of any emergency service in the state.

Her time at the SES saw her leading the agency through some of the state’s worst natural disasters, including record-breaking floods and the COVID-19 pandemic, and providing support during the Black Summer bushfires.

Commissioner York joined the SES after almost 40 years in the NSW Police Force, where she served as director of the Forensic Service Group, Commander of Northern Region, Human Resources Commander and led the strike force that captured convicted murderer Malcolm Naden in 2012.

Her professionalism and work ethic have seen her receive numerous awards, including the Australian Police Medal and the Commissioner’s Commendation for Service.

Deputy Commissioners Damien Johnston and Deborah Platz will alternate as Acting Commissioner while a recruitment process is undertaken.

Emergency Services Minister Jihad Dib said:

“This milestone is an important opportunity to recognise Commissioner York’s significant leadership achievements over a long and distinguished career dedicated to serving the people of NSW.

“She leaves the NSW State Emergency Service in a stronger position to face future disasters, with a strengthened organisation a testament to her leadership.

“I know that she will be greatly missed by many at the SES where she has established a positive culture amongst volunteers and worked hard to make the agency an attractive organisation to join.

“In my time as Minister, Commissioner York has demonstrated her longstanding commitment to be there to help when NSW communities need it the most.

“I wish her all the best as she enters retirement, as will countless others who have worked with the Commissioner as she has driven change to improve workforce welfare, community preparedness and our emergency response.”

SES Commissioner Carlene York said:

“It has been an honour to lead an organisation made up of such committed and professional individuals. Over the years I’ve drawn inspiration from their strength, resilience and selflessness.

“I am so proud to have had the experience of being the first female Commissioner. While it is bittersweet to be leaving a job I love, I look forward to seeing the future achievements of the incredible SES team.

“It has been such a privilege to lead an organisation which at the very heart is run by its volunteers. I have been so honoured and humbled to be a part of this and to witness the incredible goodwill of our volunteers and the resilience of our state’s communities.

“There have definitely been days that are heartbreaking and tough. But even in the very worst of times I have witnessed the very best of humanity.”

More than $167,000 in upgrades have been undertaken to fire trails near Cootamundra by the NSW Labor Government to improve safety and protect the local community.

The upgraded trails on the Matilda Fire Trail Network west of the town, will allow firefighters to efficiently access the area to fight bushfires if they break out to protect homes and property, and support hazard reduction burns to reduce bushfire risk.

Crown Lands accounts for 30.8 million hectares of NSW. Making up roughly 40 per cent of the state, maintaining and caring for this land is a mammoth task.

The NSW Labor Government is taking a responsible approach to managing the state, to deliver the facilities and services our communities require.

The Matilda Fire Trail Network is located on a 66.26 hectare reserve. About 1.4 kilometres of fire trails have been repaired and upgraded to Rural Fire Service standards as part of the project.

Fire trails have been graded to eight metres wide, reshaped and capped with gravel so that they can be used by fire fighting vehicles year-round.

Work has included construction of vehicle turning and passing bays to allow fire vehicles to better manoeuvre.

Water and erosion control work has included installation and clearing of drains, installation of new bed level crossings and cross banks to manage the movement of stormwater, and maintenance of culverts. The project also removed seven dumped car bodies to protect the environment and improve the amenity of the area.

The upgraded fire trail network will support an ongoing program of low-intensity hazard reduction burns in the area over coming years, with the first burn to occur in late autumn to reduce vegetation growth and bushfire fuel levels.

Minister for Lands and Property Steve Kamper said:

“The NSW Labor Government is focused on delivering the essential services and infrastructure our communities need to be safe.

“The community can be confident that with the completion of these fire trail upgrades firefighters will be able to do their job battling bushfires if they break out, and teams will also be able to safely conduct hazard reduction burns to reduce bushfire risk.

“Crown Lands does about 800 projects each year to maintain and upgrade fire trails and Asset Protection Zones to guard against bushfires. It manages over 1,300 fire trails covering about 2,200km.

“Annual helicopter inspections are also used to check more than 540 fire trails including remote areas difficult to access by ground vehicles. Aboriginal traditional burning techniques are also being used to help support appropriate land management practices using traditional knowledge.” 

The Minns Labor Government’s plans to address Sydney’s housing affordability crisis is failing, with their own plans being thrown into chaos, with mixed messages on its proposed re-zoning across Sydney causing confusion and inaction. 

The NSW Opposition is calling on the Minns Government to concede its approach hasn’t worked, and has called on it to work with communities to implement a better plan to deliver much-needed housing. 

Leader of the Opposition Mark Speakman said Labor’s arrogant, lazy one-size-fits-all approach is falling apart. 

“It has now been reported that the Minns Labor Government is telling some councils that they can have an extension, while telling others may be able to ignore the Transport Oriented Development State Environmental Planning Policy altogether,” Mr Speakman said. 

“If Chris Minns had consulted with local communities from the start, instead of telling them to ‘get out of the way’, we would be down a constructive path to delivering more housing instead of his Government having to make concessions because its approach is falling apart.” 

Shadow Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Scott Farlow said that with the chaos around Minns Government’s plans, it needed to answer ten key questions about the status of its mishandled reforms. 

“Addressing the housing crisis will require a clarity of vision and policy, as well as co-operation with local communities, and that can only come with complete transparency on the part of the Minns Government about its planning reforms,” said Mr Farlow. 

Ten questions the Minns Labor Government must answer: 

1. What are the Government’s housing targets for this year and for the next four? 

2. What is the definition of a town centre under the proposed low-and mid-rise changes? 

3. When will the Government make land available for development that has been identified by its Land Audit? 

4. What are its infrastructure plans for roads, school and hospitals around the newly rezoned sites? 

5. Has the Minns Government made any progress on the Vacant Housing Audit to which it committed? 

6. Has the Government’s Rosehill MoU with the ATC lapsed? 

7. When will Councils receive their housing targets? 

8. Which Councils will get an extension for the provision of the TOD SEPP as it comes into effect? 

9. After Chris Minns abolished the Western Sydney Parkland Authority and the Greater Sydney Commission, will he just recreate these agencies under a different name? 

10. When will the Government release the infrastructure priorities list for its $1.5 billion tax on new homes?