Month: September 2025

The Minns Labor Government is investing $3.17 million into two Central Coast projects as part of funding from the Government’s Regional Development Trust to promote economic growth and employment creation.

This is part of the Minns Government’s plan to drive regional economic development and support job creation based on demonstrated need and merit for projects that are ready to go.

Together with the co-contributions from the two successful applicants, these projects will inject a total of $5.88 million into the Central Coast.

The investments will deliver a purpose-built training facility at the Central Coast Food Manufacturing Precinct and Innovation Hub in Ourimbah, plus upgrading the visitor experience at the high-profile Australian Reptile Park in Somersby.

These two projects will see the Central Coast benefit from business infrastructure that will drive further economic benefits.

• $2.54 million – Expand and upgrade the visitor experience at the Australian Reptile Park
  • The upgrades will modernise the visitor facilities, improve accessibility, and increase the Park’s ability to cater for more international visitors.
  • The project will create local employment and strengthen the tourism industry across the Central Coast.
• $629,280 – Develop a training facility at the Central Coast Food Manufacturing Precinct and Innovation Hub
  • The project will deliver a needed state-of-the-art training facility at the Central Coast Food Manufacturing Precinct and Innovation Hub to provide training and workforce development opportunities for businesses, students, and job seekers.
  • The project aims to tackle skills shortages, drive technology adoption, strengthen the talent pipeline, and boost the region’s manufacturing sector.

This funding demonstrates the Minns Government’s smart approach to delivering sustainable and strategic investment on priorities that make a real difference to regional communities.

Investments from the Regional Development Trust are reviewed by the Regional Development Advisory Council, an independent body appointed by the Minister for Regional NSW to provide advice on investments and ensure the interests of regional communities are at the centre of government decision making.

Further announcements regarding other successful projects from the Regional Development Trust will be made in the coming months.

For more information, go to: nsw.gov.au/regionaldevelopmenttrust

Minister for Regional NSW, Tara Moriarty said:

“This funding backs regional communities with projects that create jobs, boost local businesses and improve services and forms part of the NSW Government’s plan to invest in projects in our regional and rural communities that deliver long-term benefits.

“The upgrades at the Australian Reptile Park will drive a bigger number of international and domestic visitors to the Central Coast and ensure this iconic family attraction stays on tourist’s must do list when visiting the region.

“The Central Coast is a powerhouse for food manufacturing and building a new training facility in Ourimbah will support the industry’s longevity in the region, ensuring skills gaps are identified and filled, and exploring how new technologies can be used to increase productivity.”

Minister for the Central Coast, David Harris said:

“It is fantastic to see this funding targeted to a burgeoning sector and a tourist institution that is already a significant contributor to the Central Coast on so many levels.

“The investment in a training facility at the Central Coast Food Manufacturing Precinct and Innovation Hub will further boost the region’s credentials as a cutting edge fine food and beverage producer.

“The Australian Reptile Park is the jewel in our region’s tourist crown, attracting hundreds of thousands of people and pumping around $50 million into the Central Coast economy every year, supporting many local jobs.”

Liesl Tesch, State Member for Gosford said:

“The Australian Reptile Park is such an exciting attraction, bringing in visitors from near and afar to learn about Australia’s native fauna.

“We know that visitors to the Reptile Park often go on to stay in our region, boosting our local economy and strengthening our regional tourism sector.

“The work of the Australian Reptile Park in conservation and venom research cannot be understated and I am thrilled that the Minns Labor Government is supporting their vital work.”

David Mehan, State Member for The Entrance said:

“The allocation of $3.17m by the Minns Government into these local projects will support our region’s position as a food manufacturer and allow the Reptile Park to continue providing its vibrant visitor experience.

“This funding boost is a welcome investment, which will not only create more local jobs but continue to drive economic growth to our region.”

Australian Reptile Park Managing Director, Tim Faulkner said:

“The Australian Reptile Park is proud to have been recognised as Australia’s Best Large Tourist Attraction, and this grant represents another exciting step in our expansion.

“Through the Regional Economic Development and Community Investment Program, we will further develop our entry precinct, creating an enhanced and elevated welcome for all guests, including our valued international visitors.”

Central Coast Industry Connect Executive Director, Frank Sammut said:

“Industry will benefit from upskilled workers across modern manufacturing operations, helping businesses lift quality, safety, and productivity while accelerating the adoption of advanced technologies such as automation and robotics.”

Central Coast Industry Connect Project Manager, Alex Blow said:

“This project will be a game-changer for our region, it will give people the skills, confidence and industry connections they need, and in turn this investment will help businesses grow and build a stronger local economy and more prosperous community.”

Expressions of Interest (EOI) are now open for the Minns Labor Government’s world-leading Pre-sale Finance Guarantee program (PFG).

From today, eligible applicants can apply to have the NSW Government commit to purchasing off-the-plan dwellings in eligible residential developments to help secure finance and bring construction forward on much-needed housing across NSW.

The Minns Government has introduced a range of reforms to increase the number of homes entering the system and speed up assessment timeframes, but getting homes built is the next big challenge.

Under the five-year initiative, the Government will leverage its strong fiscal position to commit to buy up to 50 per cent of homes off the plan in approved NSW housing projects.

Eligible homes will be valued at up to $2 million each, with support ranging from $5 million to $50 million per project.

Up to $1 billion in pre-sales will be committed to over the life of the project, through the use of a revolving fund.

As homes are sold and projects are completed, builders will have the option to:

• Rescind the commitments, releasing the funds and allowing the program to bring more homes forward for construction, or,
• Call on the Guarantee, where the homes are then purchased by the NSW Government at a discounted rate and either rented, or sold into the market.

The challenge of meeting pre-sale requirements is one of the most common issues cited by stakeholders in securing finance, and has been outlined as a key hurdle for industry in the NSW Productivity and Equality Commission’s Review of housing supply challenges and policy options for New South Wales

In the past five years, the time between approval and commencement of new apartments has increased 39 per cent, from 5.6 months to 7.8 months, and in NSW there are more than 13,000 developments approved but not commenced.

This landmark program will not only shorten the time between approval and construction but also reduce risk in the residential construction finance sector, giving lenders and homebuyers greater certainty.

The NSW Building Commissioner will also be engaged as part of the program’s application assessment process so only developers, builders and their projects that meet capability, credibility and capacity benchmarks are supported.

Developers are now invited to submit an Expression of Interest to join the program. Applicants, who have planning and indicative or binding finance approvals, and are ready to build within six months, will be initially assessed to determine if they and their projects are eligible to participate in the program.

To submit your Expression of Interest, visit Pre-sale Finance Guarantee

Treasurer Daniel Mookhey said:

“This guarantee will give lenders greater confidence, reduce risk in the housing finance market and accelerate the delivery of new homes across NSW.

“This is about turning approvals into actual homes, supporting jobs, boosting housing supply and strengthening the state’s economy at the same time.”

Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Paul Scully said:

“This is a game changer. This will bring forward the construction of homes, offer greater certainty for our building industry and reduce the level of risk in the financing sector.

“We have more than 13,000 homes sitting there approved but construction has not commenced. This is bad outcome for our housing delivery, our economy and our communities.

“We’re checking capacity, credibility and capability, we want good quality homes from reputable builders, and we want them soon.”

Minister for Building Anoulack Chanthivong said:

“We established Building Commission NSW as a dedicated building regulator to restore confidence in the residential construction sector.

“As the Pre-sale Finance Guarantee supports delivering the homes our state desperately needs, the Building Commission NSW will be doing all it can to make sure those homes are well-built by trusted professionals.

“The Minns Labor Government won’t be sacrificing quality for quantity as we get our housing supply back on track.”

NAB Group Executive, Corporate and Institutional Banking Cathryn Carver said:

“This initiative will provide certainty for developers and get more houses built in NSW – which is exactly what’s needed to provide access to housing, let alone keep home ownership within reach. NAB is proud to contribute to innovative solutions that contribute to housing supply, helping more Australians achieve their home ownership goals.”

All public school students from years 5 to 12 will soon have access to the Department of Education’s purpose-built, state-of-the-art generative AI app following a successful trial in 50 schools.

The NSW Government will roll out NSWEduChat to all schools from the start of Term 4, ensuring public school students are equipped with the necessary skills and technology to thrive as 21st century learners.

As the sophistication and use of generative artificial intelligence rapidly grows, access to the curriculum-aligned NSWEduChat will enable students to build AI literacy and skills in a safe environment where content is filtered and their data is secure.

The expansion will also help to bridge the digital divide by ensuring all students have equal access to this free education tool in the classroom.

Principals from trial schools strongly support its expansion, having found NSWEduChat to be a valuable tool for fostering independent learning, critical thinking, and student engagement. 

Students in the trial said it helped them understand their work better, develop their writing skills and break down complex tasks. 

Crucially, NSWEduChat does not reveal full answers to students. Instead of providing direct answers like some other AI applications, it encourages critical thinking by asking guided questions and inviting students to reason on the outcome of their questions. 

Top five uses of NSWEduChat by students in the trial:

• General feedback on writing
• Brainstorming support for tasks
• Virtual assistant, including supporting planning to complete assessment tasks, prepare for exams, etc
• Consolidating learning e.g. prompting NSWEduChat with content from lesson and asking it to generate a quiz
• Planning and structuring written responses

A separate NSWEduChat platform for teachers was rolled out to all schools earlier this year, with surveys showing it streamlines their workload and saves time in producing classroom resources to meet different ability levels.

In addition to this tool, the Department is launching Lesson Library, a new online platform providing streamlined access to quality curriculum resources written by NSW teachers, for NSW teachers, to help them deliver lessons aligned to the new knowledge-rich NSW syllabuses and explicit teaching.

Acting Minister for Education and Early Learning Courtney Houssos said:

“The development of this safe, curriculum-aligned tool shows the power of our public education system to deliver world-leading innovation to classrooms across NSW.

“Generative AI is rapidly becoming part of everyday life, and through NSWEduChat we are helping our students to safely and responsibly build the digital literacy that will set them up for success in the jobs of the future.

“By making our free and effective AI tool available to all year five to 12 students, we are levelling the playing field when it comes to AI education in the classroom and ensuring that our educators, staff and students are at the forefront of emerging technologies.”

Bombala and surrounding communities are invited to provide feedback and learn more about the Bombala Multipurpose Service expansion, at a series of community consultation sessions in October.

The NSW and Australian Governments have committed $40 million for the project to deliver improved access to residential aged care services in Bombala, to help meet the current and future healthcare needs of the region.

Planning is progressing for the project which is expected to deliver 20 additional aged care beds, which will provide a significant boost to aged care accommodation in Bombala and surrounding areas.

The new aged care spaces will be designed to ensure comfort, safety and dignity for patients, within a welcoming, home-like environment. Planning for new staff accommodation is also underway to help attract and retain healthcare professionals in the region.

In October, Health Infrastructure and Southern NSW Local Health District, together with Nordon Jago Architects, will host a 2-hour community workshop to gain local insights and feedback that will help shape planning for the new facility and experience of residents.

The Bombala community can also attend an online presentation and Q&A or drop-in information session giving residents an opportunity to meet members of the project team, ask questions and learn more about the Bombala Multipurpose Service expansion.

Feedback can also be provided via an interactive online survey until Thursday 23 October 2025.

The project is being delivered by Southern NSW Local Health District and Health Infrastructure.

Construction timeframes will be confirmed following planning approval and the appointment of a building contractor.

Dates and locations:

Monday 13 October, 6.00pm to 7.00pm: Online community presentation and Q&A, registration is essential.

Tuesday 14 October, anytime between 3.00pm to 5.00pm:  Drop-in information stall, outside Bombala IGA.

Wednesday 15 October, 10.00am to 12.00pm: Community workshop, Bombala Library. Registration is essential and attendees must be available to attend for the 2-hour workshop.

To register interest in attending the workshop, or to complete the online survey visit Bombala Multipurpose Service expansion.

For more information about the Bombala MPS expansion, visit Bombala Multipurpose Service Expansion or email hi-bombalamps@health.nsw.gov.au.

Minister for Health Ryan Park:

“It’s exciting to see planning for the Bombala Multipurpose Service expansion progressing, helping to deliver a patient-focused facility for Bombala and surrounding communities.

“Feedback and valuable input from patients, families, carers, staff and community members will be integral in helping shape the design of this new facility that will improve access to residential aged care services.”

Member for Monaro Steve Whan:

“Older people should be able to get care wherever they live, and this is another step forward to delivering enhanced services for Bombala and surrounding communities.

“I encourage everyone to attend one of the upcoming community information sessions and speak with the project team to learn more about the expansion, to ensure the facility reflects the needs and priorities of our community.

“The Bombala Multipurpose Service expansion will boost access to quality aged care services in the community, while also supporting the broader health care needs of the whole community.”

The Minns Labor Government has accepted every recommendation of the Independent Rail Review into Sydney Trains, announcing an overhaul to maintenance, incident management and passenger communications after the system’s failings caused two days of chaos for commuters in May.

The Independent Rail Review is a sobering read. It makes clear the performance of Sydney’s rail system is not where it needs to be.

It’s important the community sees it in full which is why we are releasing the Review in full and acting on every recommendation.

The Review, commissioned after the 20 May 2025 overhead wiring failure at Homebush, was led by Dr Kerry Schott AO, Carolyn Walsh, and Trevor Armstrong.

It examined the cause of the incident, the impact of recent repair and fleet investment, and whether passenger communications were adequate during major disruptions.

The Review found that:

• The overhead wire which failed had been identified as a risk in 2020 but was never entered into Sydney Trains’ defect management system and not repaired.
• The fault caused city-wide disruption, with the impact spreading across multiple lines.
• Recovery of services was far too slow, including a three-hour operation to detrain passengers.
• Communication with passengers and within the Rail Operations Centre (ROC) was inadequate, contributing to confusion and delay.

The Government has accepted all 12 recommendations of the Review and will implement them with clear timelines and accountability measures.

This will be supported by an investment of $458.4 million over four years.

Key actions in response to the Review include:

1. Maintenance overhaul and rapid response repair teams

• Sydney Trains will declare “maintenance critical zones” on the network, starting with the Homebush–Strathfield corridor where multiple lines converge.
• An additional four-year $423.4 million asset renewal program will upgrade track, signals, overhead wiring and drainage in flood-prone areas. Just over $41 million will be spent this financial year.
• A dedicated $35 million reliability program is being spent this financial year to fast-track repairs in these high-priority areas, covering overhead wiring, track, signalling and power systems.
• In a significant change, Sydney Trains will move from time-based to risk-based maintenance, targeting areas with the greatest impact on network reliability.
• Two new rapid incident response teams will be established, based at Redfern (by late 2025) and Homebush (by early 2026).
• Two teams of 32 skilled staff will be rostered from 3am to 10pm to cover both the morning and evening peaks.
• These teams will be deployed during major incidents and special events to minimise disruption and restore services faster.

TIMEFRAME: Underway. Next steps from October 2025

2. Technology upgrades

• Annual digital scans of the overhead wiring network have already been introduced, detecting 126 points of risk since May, all of which have been addressed.
• Sydney Trains will roll out new laser hand-held devices by December 2025. These devices check wire thickness and will replace binocular inspections and significantly improve accuracy.

TIMEFRAME: Underway. Next steps from December 2025

3. Reforming the Rail Operations Centre

• A new Executive Director of Incident Response and Service Recovery has been appointed
• A Crisis Management Team model is now in place, with simplified command structures to end “decision by committee”.
• Incident management procedures are being simplified, and new contingency timetables will be developed to allow faster recovery when the system is disrupted

TIMEFRAME: Underway. Next steps from December 2025

4. Passenger communications and care

• Sydney Trains will implement a new systems so passengers receive clearer information on platforms, in apps and on trains when services are disrupted
• Opal Travel App alerts will be triggered automatically when major incidents occur, with a campaign to encourage more users to opt in
• Passenger Care and Support teams will be established to provide assistance at stations or on-board trains during incidents

TIMEFRAME: Underway. Next steps from December 2025

5. Fleet and workforce improvements

• The new Mariyung intercity fleet will enter service on the Blue Mountains Line in October 2025, followed by the South Coast Line in 2026, replacing older V-Sets
• The existing $447 million Tangara Life Extension Program will refurbish 445 carriages, extending their life and improving safety, disability compliance and onboard information systems
• Sydney Trains will also recruit additional train crew in 2026 to address staff shortages that have caused cancellations and delays on intercity services

TIMEFRAME: Ongoing

The Independent Rail Review is available here

Minister for Transport John Graham said:

“The people of Sydney expect a safe and reliable rail network — and right now, it’s not up to scratch.

“The Review makes tough reading for the Government and will be disappointing for those 1.1 million people who rely on Sydney Trains every day. Even more so for commuters who were inconvenienced, or even stranded, on trains and platforms that day.

“This Review shows just how much work there is to do, and we’re determined to get on with it.

“Incidents are inevitable from time to time on a rail network the size and age of Sydney’s, but the missteps and mishandling of the response ensured two days of chaos on our city’s public transport system when a well-managed response could – and should – have limited disruption to one day.

“A well-managed rail maintenance program could – and should – have fixed this fault after it was detected and prevented the disruption affecting so many.

“I want to thank the Reviewers for their work. The Government is accepting all their recommendations and Sydney Trains and Transport for NSW will now have specific timelines to implement the improvements needed.