Month: October 2025

The Minns Labor Government and RSPCA NSW are teaming up to encourage people to practice responsible cat ownership by expanding the successful Keeping Cats Safe at Home program.

The $6 million program, funded by the Environmental Trust, will help another 19 councils to curb the devastating impact cats have on our native wildlife, as well as help pet cats live longer, taking the total to 30 councils.

The program focuses on increasing rates of desexing, microchipping and lifetime registration while encouraging the uptake of voluntary containment of pet cats.

Domestic cats are estimated to kill many of our native animals each year, including an estimated 53 million reptiles, 61 million birds, and 67 million mammals.

We also know that two-in-three cat owners have lost a pet to a roaming-related accident, with a third of accidents involving cars.

The Keeping Cats Safe at Home program has successfully demonstrated that bringing together councils, veterinarians, wildlife groups, and the community results in more households using responsible cat-care practices.

Results from the pilot program involving 11 councils include:

• Reducing free-roaming cats by 50% in the Blue Mountains, 35% in Campbelltown, and 25% in Tweed Shire council areas.
• Desexing more than 2,700 cats and microchipping more than 1,700 cats across 11 council areas.
• Cutting cat-related nuisance complaints by more than 40% in seven council areas.

The expansion of the program will include a new statewide social marketing campaign to encourage communities to end cat homelessness and prevent domestic cats from roaming away from their home.

This will help keep cats out of shelters and improve animal welfare outcomes in NSW.

For more information about the program, visit: https://www.rspcansw.org.au/information-and-advice/caring-for-animals/cats-and-kittens/keeping-cats-safe-at-home/

Minister for the Environment, Penny Sharpe said:

“This collaborative project is a simple but effective solution, created by people who care deeply for cats and native wildlife.

“As Chair of the NSW Environmental Trust, I’m proud to be helping RSPCA NSW take the next step in shifting pet owners’ behaviour by tripling the number of local councils onboard to a record 30. This will drive real change to protect wildlife.”

Minister for Local Government, Ron Hoenig said:

“The recent cat management inquiry has shown there is a lot of evidence that desexing cats not only helps protect the environment but is an important way to reduce pressure on council pounds and rehoming organisations.

“Supporting this program is part of the government’s commitment to promoting responsible pet ownership through education and action. Our comprehensive review of the Companion Animals Act will also ensure NSW has an effective framework in place to manage cats in our communities.” 

RSPCA NSW CEO, Mr Steven Coleman said:

“RSPCA NSW is dedicated to improving the lives of all creatures great and small, and the Keeping Cats Safe At Home program delivers a win-win solution that benefits both pets and native wildlife.”

“The initiative is another example of how RSPCA NSW’s One Welfare focus is working to shape compassionate communities that care for their animals, while collaboratively supporting councils and wildlife groups across the state to achieve better outcomes.”

“RSPCA NSW supports evidence-based approaches to cat management and will continue to support the voluntary uptake of cat containment by cat caregivers.”

“We are incredibly grateful to the NSW Government and the Environmental Trust for their significant investment in this program, which will allow us to proactively help more people and animals in need while fostering a statewide cultural shift in how Australians care for their cats.”

The Albanese and Minns Labor Governments have hit the go button on the next major road project for North Western Sydney, awarding contracts for design and construction for the $744 million upgrade of Richmond Road.

This builds on the $7.4 billion the Minns Government has invested in Western Sydney roads since March 2023.

As one of the major gateways to Sydney’s North West, nearly four kilometres of Richmond Road will undergo a range of improvements including adding additional lanes, installing shared paths, boosting flood resilience and providing better access to growing suburbs.

Richmond Road already carries some 70,000 cars per day and this is predicted to increase sharply in coming years. However, with this upgrade and the construction of the M7 overpass, Transport for NSW expects to see a 21 per cent improvement in the AM peak and 34 per cent improvement in the PM peak for average travel times after the upgrades are complete.

The centrepiece of the upgrade will be a new flyover bridge from the M7 Motorway Rooty Hill Road North off-ramp to Richmond Road northbound which will address traffic congestion while boosting efficiency and safety. 

Construction is due to commence at the start of 2026.

The program of works includes three projects:

• $520 million M7 Motorway to Townson Road upgrade
• $150 million Elara Boulevard to Heritage Road upgrade
• $74 million Richmond Road Planning project, which will investigate further investment opportunities along the corridor.

The M7 Motorway to Townson Road Upgrade will widen Richmond Road between Colebee and Marsden Park to ease congestion, improve safety and support future housing, development and connectivity of communities across Sydney’s north-west.

Around 2.2 kilometres will be upgraded from four lanes to six lanes, while a new concrete bridge over Bells Creek will include travel lanes as well as a path for pedestrians and cyclists.

The upgrade of the 1.6-kilometre stretch of Richmond Road between Elara Boulevard and Heritage Road will provide better access to the growing Marsden Park community and surrounding suburbs by delivering an improved connection to Blacktown.

This upgrade will widen Richmond Road from two lanes to a four-lane divided road with a wider central median for future expansion of the road to six lanes as required.

A new bus priority signalised intersection, an extended shared path connecting to Marsden Park and improved flood resilient facilities along this bustling corridor are included in the upgrades.

New traffic lights will ease congestion and reduce delays during peak periods, while dedicated bus priority lanes will help public transport services run more efficiently and shared paths will make cycling safer and easier.

For more information visit, Richmond Road upgrade between M7 Motorway and Townson Road, Marsden Park.

Federal Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government Catherine King:

“Richmond Road provides a vital link through an area of north-west Sydney that is set to undergo significant land-use and transport changes driven by rapid population growth, new housing, and expanding employment opportunities.

“The upgrade will improve access to the existing Marsden Park Industrial Precinct and future commercial and residential developments in the Marsden Park North Precinct.

“These projects build on years of planning to deliver the next tier of precinct roads that will unlock development and access new places to work and live.”

NSW Minister for Roads Jenny Aitchison:

“This is an essential project to deliver at a time when the North West is growing rapidly. We need to improve the efficiency and safety of this important route, addressing traffic congestion and key access points for local suburbs.

“Richmond Road is a vital corridor for the communities in north-west Sydney that connects them to employment, commercial and education centres as well as being an evacuation route for the community living in the Hawkesbury-Nepean flood catchment.

“These upgrades will turbocharge the development of the region that makes the North West a better place to live for local communities.

“These upgrades will improve access to the existing Marsden Park Industrial Precinct and future commercial and residential developments in the Marsden Park North Precinct.

“The upgrade between Elara Boulevard and Heritage Road has been carefully designed to improve safety, manage growth, and provide long-term resilience for the North West Growth Area.”

NSW Acting Minister for Western Sydney Courtney Houssos:

“The Minns Labor Government, together with the Albanese Labor Government, is powering ahead on works on one of the most congested roads in Western Sydney.

“The major improvements to these arterial roads will provide much-needed and long awaited relief for residents, allowing them to spend less time sitting in traffic and more time with their families.

“After the Liberals and Nationals left local families in limbo, we’re getting on with the job of delivering vital infrastructure Western Sydney deserves.”

Federal Member for Chifley Ed Husic:

“Punishing congestion has been a frustrating feature of Richmond Road for over six years now.

“Today’s a big deal because we can see how our joint Australian and NSW funding for Richmond Road is taking shape with the awarding of the construction contracts. We’re a big step closer to fixing this congestion.

“North-West Sydney is booming with new homes and businesses; the region needs the proper infrastructure to support that growth.

“And with this investment we are also a step closer to unlocking the longer-term development of the Marsden Park CBD and the jobs and amenities that will flow from that.”

NSW Member for Mt Druitt Edmond Atalla:

“This welcome investment will ease congestion, improve safety and deliver better connections for the fast-growing communities of Marsden Park, Colebee and surrounding areas.

“The addition of new lanes, a flyover from the M7, shared paths, together with a flood-resilient design, will make travel along Richmond Road safer, faster and more reliable for all road users.

“This infrastructure will keep Sydney’s north-west moving and is designed to support the region’s growth for decades to come.”

NSW Member for Blacktown Stephen Bali:

“The Richmond Road upgrade will improve people’s lives as we will have more home time and less road time.

“Appointing contractors is a key step forward in delivering the promised announcements by Minns and Albanese Government’s to deliver to deliver vital infrastructure for a growing community.”

NSW Member for Riverstone Warren Kirby:

“I left my business and entered politics largely try and deliver critical road upgrades for our growing community, including these upgrades to Richmond Road and I’m proud to be part of a Government that’s getting on with the job and delivering for Western Sydney.

“This is in addition to our funded upgrades to Garfield Road East, Garfield Road West, Bandon Road, Burdekin Road/Townson Road and Windsor Road.

“For locals, they mean less time stuck in traffic and more time at home with their family.

“There’s more work to be done, but this is all part of our comprehensive plan to deliver better roads for the North West.”

Critical road link Mamre Road will be widened to two lanes in each direction as part of a $1 billion upgrade by the Minns and Albanese Governments to ease traffic and improve safety in Western Sydney.

Early designs and an environmental assessment for Stage 2 of the Mamre Road upgrade between Erskine Park Road and Kerrs Road have been released today, showing its transformation from suburban road to major arterial link across the west.

Also released was a flythrough that shows how the 6.1 km route from St Clair to Kemps Creek will be developed to support the growth of local communities. Some 20,000 vehicles currently use the route daily and this is expected to double by 2041.

Mamre Road is a key link to Western Sydney’s growing employment areas, including the future Western Sydney International (Nancy-Bird Walton) Airport, and the upgrade will support more reliable travel as the region continues to expand.

This project builds on the $290M, 3.8 km Mamre Road Stage 1, already underway, and will improve the connection between the M4 Motorway and Elizabeth Drive.

The community has been asked to have their say on the Review of Environmental Factors (REF) which considers project impacts including noise, traffic, air quality, flooding, biodiversity and heritage. Community feedback on the REF will help shape the final design and reduce potential impacts.

The Mamre Road 2 upgrade is proposed to include:

• New traffic lights with pedestrian crossings at Abbotts Road and Darrabarra Avenue 
• Safer shared paths for walking and cycling 
• Improved bus stops and drainage 
• A smoother, safer drive with less congestion in peak times

Pending planning approvals, construction is expected to get underway in 2026 with construction expected to be completed in 2029.

This is one of several major road projects transforming travel in Western Sydney, including:

• The new toll-free $2.1 billion M12 Motorway (opening 2026) 
• $800 million in upgrades to Elizabeth Drive 
• A $1 billion overhaul of Fifteenth Avenue between Cowpasture and Devonshire roads

The local community is invited to the view plans and environmental report, and have their say by visiting www.transport.nsw.gov.au/mamreroadupgradeS2, emailing mamreroadupgradeS2@transport.nsw.gov.au or call 1800 696 564 (option 2 – toll free).  

Minister for Roads, Jenny Aitchison said:

“This upgrade is about future-proofing Mamre Road to meet the demands of a growing Western Sydney.

“We’re turning a single-lane road into a safer, higher-capacity route that supports local communities, connects workers to jobs, and keeps traffic moving as the airport and surrounding areas continue to grow.”

Acting Minister for Western Sydney, Courtney Houssos said:  

“Western Sydney is booming, and this investment ensures our infrastructure keeps up.  

“We want to get this right, and that means hearing from the people who use Mamre Road every day. Community feedback on the environmental assessment is critical and will help shape the final design to best meet local needs.” 

Construction of some of the first public preschools to be delivered by the Minns Labor Government is officially beginning today as the government works to deliver the biggest expansion of public preschools in NSW history.

This year, 25 public preschools that are co-located on public school sites will commence construction, with work starting today at Cartwright Public School in South West Sydney.

When built, the new preschools will offer a high-quality early learning to support childrens’ transition into kindergarten and schooling, as well as ease pick up and drop off for parents with older students at the same school.

In addition to state-of-the-art learning areas, each new preschool will include staff facilities, a kitchen, toilet facilities and landscaped outdoor areas.

This is part of the NSW Government’s $769 million commitment to build 100 new public preschools.

The investment doubles the number of public preschools in the state, the largest expansion of public early learning in NSW history.

Once complete up to 9,000 children will benefit from access to fee-free, high quality early education in their local community. Of the 100 new public preschools, 51 are in metropolitan Sydney and 49 in regional NSW, prioritised in areas of highest need based on a rigorous selection process.

The NSW government is making historic investments to giving every child across NSW the best possible start to their education, including:

• $100 million to help community preschools provide more hours and welcome more children
• $60 million to build and upgrade 50 preschools at non-government schools
• $200 million to support Aboriginal-led early learning
• $17 million for capital works at early childhood services in areas of need, and
• More than $29 million for scholarships to increase the number of early childhood workers.

The Minns Labor Government’s work towards delivering universal preschool access across the state is in sharp contrast to the former Liberal National government, who over twelve years failed to build a single public preschool.

With the one new public preschool already open to students, the first built in NSW in almost 20 years, the Minns Labor Government is on track to deliver its commitment of 100 public preschools in full by 2027.

Premier of New South Wales, Chris Minns said:

“I don’t think there’s a more important investment we can make than in our kids’ education. These 100 new public preschools will give thousands of children across NSW the best possible start in life.

“For too long, families have struggled to find affordable, high-quality early learning close to home. We’re changing that, building public preschools right alongside public schools to make life easier for parents and give every child the opportunity to thrive.

“The former government didn’t build a single public preschool in twelve years. We’re building one hundred, because every child in NSW deserves access to early learning, no matter where they live.”

Acting Minister for Education and Early Learning Courtney Houssos said:

“The Minns Labor Government is delighted to be kicking off construction on the first tranche of new public preschools, marking a historic expansion in access to early learning for families across NSW.

“For far too long, families in Western Sydney and Regional NSW had limited access to quality early childhood education, especially public early childhood education. Despite being in government for 12 years, the Liberals and Nationals failed to deliver for them.

“The Minns Labor Government, with the leadership of Deputy Premier Prue Car, made this historic commitment because we strongly believe all children should have access to high-quality early education, no matter their postcode.”

Member for Liverpool Charishma Kaliyanda said:

“This is a wonderful opportunity for our families across the Liverpool community to access high quality early learning for their children. 

“With the public preschool on school grounds, it will make children’s transition to kindergarten that much easier, here in the 2168.

“We are very excited to welcome our youngest learners, supporting the beginning of their school journey at a new public preschool at Cartwright Public School, and I know it will make a huge difference for these learners.”

Cartwright Public School Principal Elizabeth Harris said:

“This is a wonderful opportunity for our families across the Liverpool community to access high quality early learning for their children.

“With the public preschool on school grounds, it will smooth children’s transition to kindergarten.

“We are very excited to welcome our youngest learners, supporting the beginning of their school journey at a new public preschool at Cartwright Public School.”

The Minns Labor Government is contracting with private companies to take over parts of New South Wales national parks.
 
Under a new “supported camping” scheme, Labor is handing exclusive control of 23 campgrounds across 16 of the state’s most loved national parks to private operators.
 
These include Kosciuszko, Blue Mountains, Killalea, Bouddi, Mimosa Rocks, Dharug, Booti Booti, Wollemi, Warrumbungle, Ku-ring-gai Chase and Murramarang.
 
Private operators will have the right to book and resell campsites, hire out caravans, tents and equipment, and sell food packages. They’ll be exempt from park entry fees. Families will still have to pay.  Labor says it’s about “accessibility” and “visitor experience”, but those are just buzzwords to hide the truth. This is privatisation of public land.
 
Leader of the Opposition Mark Speakman said this is gobsmacking hypocrisy from a government that said it was opposed to privatisation. 
 
“Labor promised transparency and fairness, but after three budgets they’ve delivered spin, slogans and now privatisation of camping sites,” Mr Speakman said.
 
Shadow Treasurer Damien Tudehope said that Labor‘s “supported camping” is just a money grab. 
 
  “It’s symptomatic of a government which has lost control of its budget and is now reaching into the pocket of every household that loves getting outdoors,” Mr Tudehope said
 
Shadow Minister for the Environment James Griffin said Labor criticised the former Coalition governments plan to create multi-day walks to ensure everyone in NSW, whether a seasoned hiker or budget conscious family could enjoy our national parks.
 
“This plan from Labor is another example of them picking the pockets of people trying to visit a NSW national park” Mr Griffin said.
 
Shadow Minister for Tourism Kevin Anderson said this could put the great outdoors out of reach in the middle of a cost-of-living crisis.

“Camping has always been a great Australian pastime, with generations of families enjoying some time away from the rat-race in the peace and tranquillity without breaking the bank,” Mr Anderson said.
 
“Our national parks are a huge draw card for rural and regional areas, receiving more than 50 million visits every year, including 1.8 million overnight campground stays, but now Labor wants to put our most treasured natural assets behind a paywall which is absolutely outrageous.”