Month: July 2025

Landslip repairs are underway at two more sites on Cambewarra Mountain this week, with teams also preparing to start work on the last remaining landslip site on Brown Mountain. The Australian and NSW Governments are funding these repairs through the Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA). 

Since severe weather impacted the area in 2022, 37 landslip sites have been repaired on Moss Vale Road between Cambewarra Village and Fitzroy Falls, with 13 sites still to go. 

Transport for NSW has engaged specialist contractors to carry out slope stabilisation work beginning Sunday 6 July at two sites on the southern side of Cambewarra Mountain on Moss Vale Road. 

The Cambewarra Mountain work will involve four weeks of repairs at a site one kilometre north of Barfield Road.  Workers then move slightly south in early August to the second site, around 750 metres north of Barfield Road.  

On Brown Mountain, a series of natural disasters in 2022 and 2023 caused landslip damage at nine separate sites.

Work on the final site, located about 2.7 kilometres west of the Brown Mountain Power Station, will start in the coming months. Work is to be carried out in two stages. Transport will keep the community informed ahead of work starting.

The work on both mountains will involve clearing debris and vegetation, drilling long steel rods (known as soil nails) into the slope, applying heavy-duty mesh or spraying concrete (known as shotcrete) and improving drainage. 

Federal Minister for Regional Development Kristy McBain said:

“With $2.8 million in joint funding from the Australian and NSW Governments, we’re making sure these essential landslip repairs on Cambewarra Mountain and Brown Mountain can get underway and keep communities connected and safe.

“This builds on the $1.7 million worth of works on Brown Mountain that are almost finished, and follows a huge effort last year to get Moss Vale Road fully reopened for the first time since those severe weather events hit back in early 2022.”

NSW Minister for Regional Transport Jenny Aitchison said:

“When repairs at these latest two sites are complete, it will bring the total to 39 of 50 landslip sites repaired across Moss Vale Road between Cambewarra Village and Fitzroy Falls since the 2022 storm events. We will continue to update the community on repairs for the remaining sites.  

“I thank the crews who have undertaken this specialist repair work with great efficiency in a short time. I also thank motorists for their patience while this essential work has been completed.”

NSW Minister for Recovery Janelle Saffin said:

“This is a great example of what can happen when governments work together. Recovery is hard work and takes time, but we are getting on with this vital repair work and making repairs to roads an absolute priority.

“One of the best things we can do in recovery is to make sure that communities have the essential public infrastructure that they need, and we’re making good progress here.”

Federal Member for Gilmore Fiona Phillips said:

“This repair work at Cambewarra is very welcome. Keeping the network in good shape has been challenging due to the weather and I am delighted to see action being taken quickly to undertake important repairs.”

State Member for Bega Michael Holland said: 

“It’s encouraging to see we are nearing the final stage of landslip repairs on Brown Mountain following the significant weather events of 2022 and 2023.

We understand these works have been disruptive, and I thank the community—especially local motorists—for their continued patience as we prioritise safety and long-term resilience in our transport network.”

Three major arterial roads in Western Sydney will be transformed as the region braces for an airport boom, with the Albanese and Minns Governments calling on industry to deliver critical upgrades worth $2.24 billion.

The massive infrastructure investment, with the Australian and State Government each providing half of the committed funding, will deliver safer, faster journeys for Western Sydney communities as new employment zones drive unprecedented growth and Western Sydney International (Nancy Bird Walton) Airport nears completion.

Transport for NSW is inviting experienced contractors to register their interest in designing and constructing upgrades to Elizabeth Drive, Mamre Road Stage 2, and Garfield Road East – key arterial routes that will transform connectivity.

Elizabeth Drive: $800 million transformation

More than 28,000 vehicles use Elizabeth Drive daily, with the current single-lane road under traffic pressure. 

The upgrade will deliver a two-lane dual carriageway to priority sections between Devonshire Road and Western Road, with upgraded intersections providing safer access to Kemps Creek, Badgerys Creek, Luddenham and the emerging Bradfield city.

Mamre Road Stage 2: $1 billion employment corridor

Continuing the work currently underway on Stage 1, this $1 billion investment will upgrade the road from Erskine Park Road through to Kerrs Road, supporting the rapidly expanding employment zones along this critical corridor.

Investigation works are already underway between Erskine Park Road and Kerrs Road.

Garfield Road East: $440 million growth enabler

This key sub-arterial route between Piccadilly Street and Windsor Road will be converted to a two-lane dual carriageway, dramatically improving amenity for communities in the North West Growth Area as housing development accelerates.

Environmental assessments for all projects will be publicly displayed later this year, with construction expected to commence following community consultation.

Industry submissions must be submitted to Transport for NSW at: GREU_Procurement@transport.nsw.gov.au  

NSW Minister for Roads Jenny Aitchison said:

“With more than 28,000 vehicles using Elizabeth Drive every day, we have worked with our federal colleagues to secure the funding to turn the priority sections of the current single lane road, which is stressed by the traffic using it into a dual lane, dual carriageway which will mean safer trips and less congestion for road users and locals.

“For communities like Kemps and Badgerys Creek, it will mean safer access in and out of those villages along with access to other facilities such as sporting fields in the area.

“For Mamre and Garfield roads, we are improving these roads to cater for growth in the area. These projects will drastically improve community amenity as these suburbs continue to grow.”

NSW Acting Minister for Western Sydney Courtney Houssos said:

“This major investment is a strong example of the Minns Labor Government working with the Albanese Labor Government to deliver the infrastructure Western Sydney needs, as the new airport, new homes and new jobs arrive. 

“Under the neglect of the former Liberal National government, Western Sydney families have dealt with roads and infrastructure that struggled to keep up with the region’s rapid growth. 

“By investing in these arterial roads, we’re making sure local residents spend less time stuck in traffic and more time at home with their families.”

Business is set to take off with the finalisation of the Western Sydney Aerotropolis’ first private-sector Master Plan, which is expected to create nearly 12,500 jobs and attract significant investment into Bradfield, Australia’s newest city.

The Ingham Property Group-led project will transform 184 hectares around Badgerys Creek Road into a dynamic hub of industry and innovation, attracting both local and global companies.

The Master Plan assessed by the NSW Government aligns with strategic goals for the Aerotropolis, mixing industrial and commercial zones with accessible public green spaces.

Business growth will be supported across 625,000 square metres in an enterprise estate featuring warehouses, distribution centres, light industry and a local commercial centre.

It also includes 45 hectares of open space – twice the size of Barangaroo – featuring three protected riparian corridors and a public park where workers and visitors can relax, play and exercise.

The Master Plan supports job creation and liveable communities striking the right balance between growth and sustainability, with strong protections for biodiversity and access to green space built into the design.

Shaped in collaboration with Indigenous communities, the plan embeds “Design with Country” principles that reflect the cultural heritage of the Dharug, Dharawal and Gandangara peoples.

The development is in a prime position to benefit from the economic activity of the future Western Sydney International (Nancy-Bird Walton) Airport, when it opens in 2026.

This project builds on recent momentum across the Aerotropolis, including the opening of the first building in Bradfield City Centre and the release of the NSW Government’s infrastructure delivery plan to support growth in Western Sydney.

The Badgerys Creek Road Master Plan is a strong example of how we are doing development the right way—ensuring new communities and businesses grow together, with access to jobs, services, and green space.

Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Paul Scully said:

“This is another exciting step in the future of Western Sydney, delivering 12 500 jobs right on the doorstep of Western Sydney’s new Airport.

“Inghams masterplan forms part of $14 billion worth of private development applications currently in the pipeline for the Aerotropolis which are expected to create 120,000 jobs.

“The Minns Labor Government and industry are together building better communities by enabling businesses growth together, with access to jobs, services, and green space.”

Acting Minister for Western Sydney Courtney Houssos said:

“The Minns Labor Government is building better communities by investing in Western Sydney’s future, and this plan will help to enable the growing potential of the region.

“Providing well-paid, highly-skilled jobs close to where people live, with the right infrastructure, is key to improving the lives of local families.

“This is another crucial step towards this Aerotropolis becoming a hub for industry and innovation, attracting both local and global companies.”

Member for Leppington Nathan Hagarty said:

“It’s great to see momentum continuing to build in the Aerotropolis to deliver more opportunities for Western Sydney.

“This masterplan is reflective of the Minns Labor Government driving outcomes for our communities which support more jobs, homes and infrastructure.”

People are being reminded to protect themselves from the sun even during winter, with a new report estimating that almost one million adults across the state were sunburnt at least once over a four-week period.

Cancer Institute NSW’s latest Sun Protection Behaviours Report, released today, shows 15 per cent of people surveyed reported being sunburnt, up from 12 per cent in the previous report.

The report found young people were more likely to be exposed to the sun and experience sunburn, with one in four 18-24 year olds reporting a sunburn in a four-week period.

Young adults were also less likely to adopt sun protection behaviours such as wearing a hat and sunglasses.

Encouragingly, the report found more than 80 per cent of respondents used at least one form of sun protection, though only 35 per cent always or often used three or more. It also found exposure to the sun for more than 15 minutes when UV is at its highest reduced among NSW adults overall from 46 to 41 per cent.

Ninety-five per cent of melanoma and 99 per cent of non-melanoma skin cancers are caused by overexposure to UV radiation from the sun and can be prevented with proper sun protection. The general rule is to protect your skin from the sun when the UV index is at three or above, which in NSW is most of the year including in winter.

The most effective defence against overexposure to UV radiation is to follow these five key steps:

1. Slip on protective clothing
2. Slop on SPF50+ sunscreen. Sunscreen should always be applied 20 minutes before heading outdoors and re-applied every two hours.
3. Slap on a wide brimmed hat
4. Seek shade
5. Slide on sunglasses

Other report insights

• Close to 50 per cent of young adults (aged 18 -24 years) reported higher levels of sun exposure, compared to 41 per cent in the overall population.
• Close to 26 per cent of young adults reported sunburn, compared to close to 15 per cent of the overall population.
• Almost 50 per cent of males were likely to report being exposed to the sun, compared to  about 34 per cent of females.
• Participants from Sydney metropolitan local health districts (LHDs) were significantly less likely to report often or always being exposed to the sun compared to coastal and regional/rural LHDs.
• Shade is harder to come by, with a reduction in ease of finding shade down three per cent to 77 per cent.

The latest Sun Protection Behaviours Report analyses data from the 2022 NSW Health Population Health Survey, which asked about 13,000 people to report on their sun exposure, episodes of sunburn, adoption of the five sun protection behaviours and the ease of finding shade at public parks.

The Cancer Institute NSW has several initiatives in place to reduce the impact of skin cancer in NSW as part of its Skin Cancer Prevention Strategy 2023-2030.

More information on how to reduce your risk of skin cancer is available on the Cancer Institute NSW website.

Minister for Health Ryan Park:

“The release of the latest Sun Protection Behaviours Report is a good reminder, especially to the state’s young adults, to always take protective measures when outdoors.

“Being sun smart isn’t just for summertime. Skin damage is still a serious risk in winter, when you often don’t think about harmful UV because the weather is cooler.

“Australia has one of the highest skin cancer rates in the world and we need to take the threat of skin cancer seriously and follow the simple, life-saving steps needed to reduce our risk of this deadly disease.”

Member for Coogee Marjorie O’Neill:

“Sun safety isn’t just a summer concern — the UV index can be high even in the cooler months.

“I’m particularly concerned about the high sunburn rates among young people, with one in four 18 to 24-year-olds reporting they were sunburnt in the previous four weeks prior to the survey.

“We know habits formed early can last a lifetime, and that’s why the work of the Cancer Institute NSW in raising awareness and promoting sun safety is so important — especially for younger generations.”

NSW Chief Cancer Officer and Chief Executive Cancer Institute NSW, Professor Tracey O’Brien AM:

“Two out of three Australians will be treated for skin cancer in their lifetime and skin cancer is the most common cancer affecting young Australians, so it is worrying to see that an estimated one in four young people report getting sunburnt.

“I urge everyone to do the simple things like seeking shade when outdoors, wearing sunscreen, putting on a hat, sunglasses and protective clothing to safeguard themselves from the sun’s harmful UV radiation.

“In NSW, UV radiation levels are high 10 months of the year, so even in winter, adopting sun protection behaviours is essential, particularly at high altitudes and on reflective surfaces such as snow or ice.”

Grace Passfield – diagnosed with stage four melanoma in 2021 at age 33:

“As a young mother with two small boys, being diagnosed with metastatic melanoma was a huge shock, it was my worst nightmare.

“As well as wearing sunscreen, hat and long sleeve shirts, I encourage everyone to be aware of the UV each day and avoid being outdoors when it is really high. I think as a parent, it’s important to model our behaviours to our kids and to always wear sun protection, in the same way we insist they do.

“It’s also important that everyone knows their own skin and what’s normal for them and takes the time to get regular skin checks.”

The Minns Labor Government has struck yet another secret backroom deal, this time with the Rail, Tram and Bus Union (RTBU) – delivering more than 100 perks and sweeteners with zero transparency and no costings revealed to the public.
 
According to media reports last night, the deal includes training bonuses, free travel gold passes, no forced redundancies, and union representatives embedded in every future network decision. Meanwhile, everyday workers, families and commuters are left in the dark.
 
No one disputes that our frontline workers and public servants deserve fair pay. They are the ones who keep the State running, not the Minns Labor Government, which has become addicted to headlines, inquiries, spin and re-announcements to appear to be doing something.
 
But while nurses are still waiting for a pay rise and are forced to pay to park at the very hospitals they work in, this deal gifts free lifetime travel passes to RTBU members, something not afforded to any other part of the public sector. Where is the fairness? Where is the equality?
 
For all the disruption, all the delays, all the spin and all the secret meetings, the only thing the public receives is two days of free travel as small compensation for the months of chaos on our rail network. That’s it. No meaningful cost-of-living relief. No new infrastructure. No new ideas. Just another union payoff from an already tired Labor Government that’s already run out of steam who will say sorry and that they need to do better.
 
The Minns Labor Government has:
 
Refused to publicly release the full agreement
 
Stacked the transport network with embedded union veto power
 
Axed the Country Trains division with no community consultation
 
Offered nothing to struggling households battling the cost-of-living crisis
 
Failed to deliver any new infrastructure on their own since taking office
 
Acting Leader of the Opposition, Damien Tudehope said this is a government that says one thing in public and does another behind closed doors.
 
“The public deserve transparency, not cover-ups, not secrecy, and not a train deal that reads more like a union Christmas wish list,” Mr Tudehope said.
 
Acting Shadow Minister for Transport and Roads, Scott Farlow said while nurses pay to park and families get no help with bills, Labor has gifted the RTBU gold passes, free travel and total control over the transport system.
 
“This is not a fair deal—this is political protection dressed up as policy,” Mr Farlow said.
 
The State Budget contained nothing for cost-of-living relief. No back-to-school help. No energy reprieve. Instead, the Minns Labor Government gave the RTBU free travel and left everyone else behind.