Month: September 2023

$200,000 Medium Business Support Grant extended to Central West and Southern NSW

Flood-impacted medium-size businesses across the central west and southern NSW can now apply for up to $200,000 in support through a jointly-funded Albanese and Minns Government grant program, delivered by Service NSW.

The Medium Business Support Grant is available to business and non-profit organisations with more than 20 and less than 200 full-time equivalent employees who were directly impacted by storms and floods from August to September 2022.

Funds can be used to help offset the costs of recovery and re-establishing a business, including for safety inspections, building repairs, cleaning equipment, materials needed to resume trade, disposing of debris and spoiled stock or leasing temporary space.

The Medium Business Support Grant will be available in the local government areas (LGAs) of Balranald, Berrigan, Bogan, Bourke, Brewarrina, Cabonne, Carrathool, Central Darling, Cobar, Cowra, Dubbo Regional, Edward River, Federation, Forbes, Griffith, Gunnedah, Hay, Junee, Lachlan, Leeton, Moree Plains, Murray River, Murrumbidgee, Narrabri, Narrandera, Parkes, Wagga Wagga, Walgett, Warren, Warrumbungle and Wentworth.

The grant is jointly funded by the Australian and NSW Governments under the Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements.

For more information and to apply, visit the Service NSWlaunch website or call Service NSW on 13 77 88launch.

Federal Minister for Emergency Management Murray Watt said:

“By expanding the Medium Business Support Grant to an additional 31 flood-affected LGAs, both levels of government are directly supporting flood-affected businesses to get back on their feet and help with the costs of clean-up.

“We know that these businesses play an important role in driving regional economies. Supporting them to get back up and running as soon as possible will benefit the broader community.

“This support is now available, and we encourage businesses to apply.”

Minister for Regional NSW and Western NSW Tara Moriarty said:

“From Dubbo to Bourke and Wentworth to Wagga Wagga, the Medium Business Support Grant will deliver more support and security for businesses and communities across the central west and southern NSW to reopen or continue operating through the recovery process.

“We know how badly regional communities have been impacted by storms and floods and this grant will complement the support already available to small businesses, primary producers and non-profit organisations and help get local economies moving again.”

NSW Minister for Emergency Services Jihad Dib:

“The NSW Government is committed to the long-term recovery of flood-affected communities and the $200,000 Medium Business Support Grant will help ensure these businesses bounce back stronger than ever.

“Service NSW business concierge staff will be proactively reaching out to business owners to provide support with applications and help ensure funds are provided where they are needed as quickly as possible.”

Putting truckies in the driver’s seat on plans for heavy vehicle rest area in Western Sydney

The NSW Government has begun work to deliver a heavy vehicle rest area in Sydney for truck drivers to rest, park, shower and access services.

Currently there are very limited rest areas that are fit for purpose for truck drivers between Pheasants Nest to the south of Sydney and Wyong to the north – a distance of 180km and nearly 2 hours driving.

There are other minor rest areas that provide single direction opportunity to stop but have limited facilities, including some with no toilet and wash facilities or capacity to host larger trucks.

This means truck drivers need to take significant detours off the motorways in order to take a break.

The NSW Government is calling for feedback from the freight industry and truck drivers to inform the development of the new proposed rest area for Western Sydney. This area will provide heavy vehicle drivers with a safe and accessible area to rest as part of their journey.

Roads are the workplace for heavy vehicle drivers, and rest areas are important facilities that support driver wellbeing and compliance with mandatory rest breaks.

Options for a rest area are being considered across 6 local government areas: Blacktown City, Penrith City, Fairfield City, Liverpool City, Camden and Campbelltown City.

Transport for NSW will be engaging with the road freight industry and heavy vehicle drivers, including the potential location, services and facilities, as well as consideration of oversize and dangerous goods requirements.

Heavy vehicle drivers and the road freight industry are invited to participate in an online survey to provide their insights and advice.

Have your saylaunch. Consultation will be open until Sunday 1 October 2023. 

The NSW Legislative Council Transport and Arts Committee has also commenced a parliamentary inquiry into pressures on heavy vehicle drivers. The inquiry will explicitly consider how these pressures impact on the use of rest areas and other fatigue management practices.

To make a submission to the parliamentary inquiry visit the NSW Parliamentlaunch website.

Submissions to the inquiry will be accepted until Monday 18 September 2023.

NSW Minister for Roads John Graham said:

“Truck drivers have said to me Sydney is the least friendly city for truckies on the east coast. That’s partly because there is nowhere to rest. We are determined to change that.

“We are committed to providing a new heavy vehicle rest area in Sydney for truckies travelling the 2 hours between Pheasants Nest and Wyong.

“Truckies are the backbone of our economy; we all rely on our goods getting to us in a timely, efficient, and safe manner.

“Current arrangements are simply not good enough for drivers, and we are working with the industry to do better.

“The Western Sydney area needs more parking facilities so our truckies can rest, stage their longer journeys, or if they are early for their timeslot and simply need a place to park.”

Member of the Transport and Arts Committee Dr Sarah Kaine MLC said:

“The parliamentary inquiry is examining the pressures on heavy vehicle drivers. This is a critical issue as freight volume are expected to rise 56% by 2061 in Greater Sydney alone.

“There has been decades-long research into the relationship between pay and conditions and wellbeing of heavy vehicle drivers and mortality rates, for not just heavy vehicle drivers but also other road users. Understanding the pressures on heavy vehicle drivers in NSW is a step in the right direction to decreasing the fatalities in this industry, and our community.”

“This year alone there have been 28 fatal vehicle crashes resulting in 40 fatalities in NSW. A large body of established research shows the wellbeing and pay and conditions of truck drivers is intimately linked to safe driving and reducing fatalities on our roads – providing adequate rest areas has an important part to play in the wellbeing of drivers.

“We look forward to helping shape a positive way forward for drivers and the industry.

“Western Sydney is the perfect spot to service the industry due to its proximity to major freight routes across Sydney, connecting the north-south, east-west axis between ports and where freight needs to go.

“A new rest stop would remove semi-trailers parked in Western Sydney streets and would also provide essential facilities between Pheasants Nest and Wyong where there are limited rest stops for truckies.”

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Rallying call to stop Voice

As the Prime Minister announces the date for the Voice Referendum, October 14th, we face a critical juncture in our nation’s history. In these last remaining weeks before the referendum, the Left will be more resolved than ever to rally all their resources for the Yes campaign and redouble their efforts to turn around the disastrous polling that they have been facing these last few months.

We mustn’t allow them to hoodwink voters in this final stretch before polling day. Those of us who stand against this madness mustn’t get complacent. Voters have woken up to Albanese’s divisive agenda, but we must continue fighting until this threat to our national unity is buried.

As Australians who cherish the values that have defined our great nation, we cannot allow this left-wing lunacy, which has already infiltrated so much, to enter even our Constitution.

What is at stake here is the very core of our national identity. The radicals pushing for this change want nothing more than to undermine our values, our traditions, and our unity. They seek to create a parallel structure that would only fracture our society and provide an opening for those who want to undermine the foundations of our democracy.

We have seen the devastating consequences of these left-wing ideologies in other parts of the world; we cannot stand by and allow our great nation to be consumed by the same divisive forces. We must stand firm to show everyone who wants to divide and subvert our foundational institutions that we are still One Nation. We must redouble our efforts to ensure Australians stop this divisive agenda and Vote No.

APPOINTMENT OF NEW SECRETARY OF THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FORESTRY

I am pleased to announce the Governor-General has accepted my recommendation to appoint Adam Fennessy PSM as Secretary of the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry.

Mr Fennessy is an accomplished public sector leader including as the Secretary of the Victorian Department of Environment and Primary Industries and then the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning between 2013 and 2017. Mr Fennessy was the Victorian Public Service Commissioner between 2020 and 2022. He was awarded a Public Service Medal in 2018 in recognition of his outstanding public service to government departments in Victoria.

Mr Fennessy is currently the Dean and CEO of the Australia and New Zealand School of Government.

With his strong subject matter knowledge in primary industries, including well-established relationships with industry, and significant experience in organisational transformation, Mr Fennessy will be able to make an immediate contribution to the strategic leadership of the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry and the broader Australian Public Service.

The five year appointment begins on 18 September 2023.

The office of the Secretary of the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry was vacated on the retirement of Mr Andrew Metcalfe AO, on 4 August 2023. On behalf of my government I thank Mr Metcalfe for his dedicated service and leadership, including as Secretary of three Departments of State since 2005.

$6 million to address Speers Point bottleneck

Lake Macquarie locals are a step closer to smoother and faster journeys through Speers Point with the NSW Government today announcing $6 million in funding to progress plans for an upgrade of the Speers Point roundabout.
The NSW Government has been working with stakeholders including Lake Macquarie City Council to support the growth of the North West Lake Macquarie area.
Improving transport movements in this key growth area for the region is essential, with predicted increases of nearly 12,000 residents and 6,000 jobs over the next 20 years.
Transport for NSW is focusing on providing a safe and reliable road network in the area along with increased opportunities for people to walk, ride and use public transport.
We’ll begin to develop a range of opportunities aimed at reducing congestion on Five Islands Road and TC Frith Avenue.
These plans will then be presented to the community and other stakeholders, allowing them to provide feedback which Transport will use to refine these plans and deliver the best possible outcome for all.”

NSW Premier Chris Minns said:
“The NSW Government is delivering on our commitment to a further $6 million towards an upgrade of this busy intersection.
“We want to get more motorists home quicker by ensuring a smoother and safer journey and clearing this notorious bottleneck.
“We made a clear commitment to put regional infrastructure at the core of our agenda. To demonstrate our commitment, this funding more than doubles funding promises made by the former government.
“We’re keen to leave dithering commitments and empty promises by governments of the past in the past.”

Minister for the Hunter Yasmin Catley said:
“This funding is an investment in our future and will ensure that the right infrastructure is in place to support growth in the Hunter.
“We know the community has been desperate for an end to the frustrating and lengthy traffic delays at this bottleneck, this funding will go a long way towards addressing that.”

NSW Regional Transport & Roads Minister Jenny Aitchison said:
“We know the Speers Point roundabout is a local bottleneck, causing long delays during peak hours.
“The funding we’re providing today will allow Transport for NSW to examine the best way of improving the traffic flow around this key intersection.
“This could involve changes to the layout of the existing roundabout, adding traffic signals and may also include changes at surrounding intersections.
“Transport will also use this funding to develop cost estimates and schedules to help inform decision making about the project.”