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An Australian first trial has commenced at Sydney Water’s Malabar Wastewater Resource Recovery Plant, which will see renewable biomethane support the energy demands of up to 13,000 homes.

Minister for Lands and Water Kevin Anderson said the commencement of these works at Sydney Water’s Malabar facility is an exciting and significant milestone that will deliver reliable and cleaner gas to Sydneysiders and help to reduce the carbon footprint of households.

“The Wastewater Resource Recovery Facility will create approximately 95,000 gigajoules of biomethane, from organic material in wastewater, to supply gas to around 6,300 homes by the end of the year, with the capacity to double production by 2030,” Mr Anderson said.

“This five year pilot will put gas directly into the supply network and will also help industries across NSW meet their net-zero emissions targets, with the facility able to turn waste material into a new clean energy source.”

Sydney Water’s General Manager of Asset Lifecycle Paul Plowman said this first of its kind biomethane project, is expected to remove 5,000 tonnes of carbon emissions each year – the equivalent of almost 2,000 cars off the road.

“As Greater Sydney grows and the volume through our network increases, innovation-based partnerships will be crucial to unlocking the potential of wastewater to help power Greater Sydney”, Mr Plowman said.

The $16 million project is a joint partnership between the Federal Government’s Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA), that is providing a $5.9 million grant, the NSW Government, Sydney Water and energy infrastructure company, Jemena.

The project is due to be completed by the end of this year and will see the first renewable gas products supplied to the network soon after.  

With a new wave of COVID-19 cases continuing to increase across the state, people with disability are encouraged to get the latest COVID-19 vaccine booster dose.
 
Minister for Families and Communities and Minister for Disability Services Natasha Maclaren-Jones said people with disability can be more vulnerable to the harmful effects of COVID-19.
 
“Protecting people with disability is vital as they can be at greater risk of developing serious illness if they become infected,” Mrs Maclaren-Jones said.
 
“Vaccination is readily available at GPs and pharmacies and we are urging everyone to book in without delay.”
 
COVID-19 booster doses are recommended for anyone 16 years and older who had their last dose of a primary course at least three months ago.
 
The COVID-19 vaccine can be taken at the same time as the influenza vaccine, which people with disability are also being urged to take.
 
While the free flu vaccination program in NSW ends on 17 July 2022, those considered to be at higher risk of severe illness from influenza remain eligible for a FREE flu vaccine beyond this date, under the National Immunisation program. This includes:

• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people from six months of age
• Children from six months to under five years of age
• People with serious health conditions (including severe asthma, diabetes, cancer, immune disorders, obesity, kidney, heart, lung or liver disease)
• Pregnant women
• People aged 65 and over.

 
The NSW Government is also providing up to 7.9 million rapid antigen tests (RATs) to people with disability and other vulnerable community members with the program recently expanded to 31 October 2022.
 
To find your nearest vaccination clinic, visit nsw.gov.au.

The NSW Government is driving down emissions and boosting jobs and industry, co-delivering Australia’s first renewable hydrogen highway on the east coast with the Victorian Government.

NSW Treasurer and Minister for Energy Matt Kean said applications are now open for $20 million in grant funding to support the design and delivery of renewable hydrogen trucking along Australia’s busiest freight corridor.

“This initiative aims to show the potential of renewable hydrogen for heavy vehicles with the goal of transitioning the freight sector to zero emissions energy sources,” Mr Kean said.

“The Hume Hydrogen Highway will create new jobs and attract investment to NSW and Victoria. It’s expected to drive uptake of renewable hydrogen in the heavy transport sector.”

The NSW and Victorian Governments have each invested $10 million in grant funding for the Hume Hydrogen Highway, a joint grant initiative to support the development of at least four refuelling stations along the highway and approximately 25 hydrogen-powered trucks.

Transport is one of Australia’s largest sources of greenhouse gas emissions.

Renewable hydrogen shows strong potential to be cost competitive with diesel for trucks.

Victoria’s Minister for Energy and Minister for Environment and Climate Action Lily D’Ambrosio said transport accounts for 25 per cent of Victoria’s total carbon footprint.

“Australia’s busiest corridor is the perfect place to kickstart the transition to a zero-emission freight sector,” Ms D’Ambrosio said.

“The renewable hydrogen highway will create new jobs, drive investment across the east coast and is a landmark step towards meeting Victoria’s target to halve emissions by 2030 as we work towards net-zero by 2050.”

Mr Kean said the Hume Hydrogen Highway is the first initiative of a statewide hydrogen refuelling network.
“What we’re looking for is strong industry collaboration between refuelling station operators, fleet operators, truck manufacturers, major freight customers, and other entities which will be vital to the success of the initiative,” Mr Kean said.

The Victorian, NSW and Queensland Governments will collaborate on the development of the renewable hydrogen highway by 2026, focusing on the Hume Highway, the Pacific Highway and the Newell Highway.

Grant applications close 21 October 2022. The successful applicant must enter into a joint funding agreement with both Governments.

The NSW Government has today announced an additional $20 million investment over four years in justice initiatives to help reduce the over-representation of Aboriginal people in the criminal justice system.
 
Attorney General Mark Speakman said the package involves significant expansions of the Youth Koori Court, Circle Sentencing in the Local Court, and the Justice Reinvestment program.
 
“The NSW Government is committed to working closely and collaboratively with Aboriginal communities to address disproportionate rates of Aboriginal incarceration,” Mr Speakman said.
 
Minister for Aboriginal Affairs Ben Franklin said investing in these programs will enhance the NSW Government’s commitment to the National Agreement on Closing the Gap.
 
“Investing in these programs aims to meet targets within the Closing the Gap agreement, including reducing the over-representation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander adults and young people in the criminal justice system,” Mr Franklin said.
 
The NSW Government is today committing:

• $5.8 million to expand the Youth Koori Court to the Children’s Court at Dubbo and to provide more funding for Aboriginal Legal Services, Legal Aid NSW and a specialist Children’s Magistrate to oversee the Youth Koori Courts including at Surry Hills and Parramatta.
• $4.2 million to expand the Circle Sentencing program from 12 to 20 high-priority Local Court locations.
• $9.8 million for new Justice Reinvestment pilots, which aim to divert people away from the criminal justice system by investing in evidence-based community-led initiatives that address the underlying causes of crime, with a focus on Aboriginal people. A Justice Reinvestment pilot is presently operating in Bourke.

 
Minister for Aboriginal Affairs Ben Franklin said: “The National Agreement provides us with the framework to empower and support Aboriginal communities across the State to create fundamental change and achieve meaningful, permanent outcomes.”
 
Mr Speakman said as part of the funding package the Circle Sentencing program will be expanded to include Local Courts at Penrith, Campbelltown, Wollongong, Broken Hill, Wagga Wagga, Batemans Bay, Waverley and the Sydney Downing Centre.
 
Circle Sentencing is an alternative sentencing method in which a Local Court Magistrate works with Aboriginal Elders, victims, respected members of the community and the offender’s family to determine an appropriate sentence.
 
“In the 20 years since the program was first piloted in Nowra, more than 1,450 Circle Sentencing sittings have been held,” Mr Speakman said.
 
“This approach has been found to reduce rates of imprisonment and reoffending compared with traditional sentencing methods.”
 
Uncle John Bolt, a proud Bundjalung man who has been involved as an Elder in the Circle Sentencing Program for 20 years, said: “I’m honoured to be part of this program, and over the past 20 years it’s been really strong and positive, giving our community the opportunity to see our young people get a better start in life and stop being incarcerated.”
This funding package complements other new NSW Government initiatives already underway, such as the Walama List pilot that started in the District Court on 31 January, 2022.
 
The NSW Government is also investing $27.9 million over four years to expand the NSW Drug Court to Dubbo.
 
Plans are also underway to expand the Aboriginal List in the Drug Court already operating at Parramatta to Dubbo and Sydney.
 
Specialist roles attached to the Drug Court will enhance the provision of culturally safe and responsive support for Aboriginal participants going through the Drug Court.

Construction on the Rozelle Interchange has entered the final stage with confirmation today that major tunneling excavation on the world-class project is now complete.
 
Premier Dominic Perrottet said the NSW Government is delivering on its vision of state-changing transport infrastructure for motorists that is more reliable and better connected. 
 
“This government is committed to transforming our state’s transport infrastructure for this generation and the next with our almost $77 billion investment over the next four years,” Mr Perrottet said.
 
“Rozelle Interchange will become a critical link in our Sydney road network, connecting drivers not only to the M4-M5 Link Tunnels, but to the City West Link, the Western Distributor and the future Western Harbour Tunnel. 
 
“This milestone represents a major piece of the jigsaw coming together as we move another step closer to a better-connected Sydney, one with safer and less congested roads meaning motorists will ultimately have more time to do the things they want to do.”
 
Minister for Metropolitan Roads Natalie Ward says the Rozelle Interchange will transform travel for motorists across Sydney.
 
“Rozelle Interchange is the final and signature component of the WestConnex project, which will ease congestion on the road network and provide Sydney motorists quicker and safer trips,” Mrs Ward said.
 
“Once completed WestConnex will cut travel time from Western Sydney to the CBD by up to 20 minutes with 100,000 vehicles expected to travel through the interchange every day.”
 
The Rozelle Interchange project includes Western Harbour Tunnel enabling work, and completing the M4-M5 Link tunnels.
 
The Rozelle Interchange project will now move into the final fit out and then commissioning stage for the tunnel, as it gets ready to open to motorists in late 2023. 

A significant boost to specialist police units to target organised crime, domestic violence and terrorism will form part of 550 new positions in the NSW Police Force this financial year.

The final allocation of positions delivers on the State Government’s $583 million commitment for 1500 extra police positions over four years.
 
Deputy Premier and Minister for Police Paul Toole said the commitment represented the biggest increase in police numbers across the State in more than 30 years.
 
“We’re boosting every area and aspect of the NSW Police Force – including our general duties police, domestic violence specialist investigators, police prosecutors, counter terrorism police and organised crime squads,” Mr Toole said.
 
“These extra positions mean more proactive policing, more foot patrols, more visibility of police in high-risk areas, more support for victims, and more time to investigate crime.
 
“An effective police force requires the support and resources to stay ahead of the game and disrupt crimes before they occur.”

Commissioner Karen Webb said the new positions would make a significant impact across the Police Force, improving community safety. 

“Our population as a state is continually growing, and with that comes greater responsibility as a police service,” Commissioner Webb said.

“These allocations have been carefully considered to ensure we boost numbers in areas that need it the most.
“It is crucial to have resources in the right areas to prevent and respond to crime and see those matters through the court process.”

The new positions will see various specialist units and commands bolstered with extra resources. These include:

• State Crime Command – 41, with 30 positions for the Raptor Squad and 11 positions for the Organised Crime Squad to help tackle gangland and high level organised crime;
• Police Prosecutions – 35, including 20 training positions to achieve conviction outcomes;
• Counter Terrorism and Special Tactics – 19, with nine positions for the Rescue and Bomb Disposal Unit and 10 positions for the Tactical Operations Group;
• High Risk Domestic Violence Team – 15 to proactively target and investigate high risk domestic violence offenders;
• Rural Crime Investigators – 10 additional investigators to investigate stock and equipment theft on farms.

The pool of general duties police officers will also be boosted across metro, regional and rural locations.