Author: admin

The NSW Government will provide a record $51.7 million from its Crown Reserves Improvement Fund (CRIF) to maintain and upgrade Crown reserves and community facilities across the State.
Minister for Water, Property and Housing Melinda Pavey said this year’s fund has received a $40 million stimulus boost to support communities impacted by bushfires and COVID with infrastructure improvements to support jobs and local economies.
“Last year the Crown Reserves Improvement Fund supported about 345 projects across NSW and this year’s stimulus boost will more than double the number of projects to 705,” Mrs Pavey said.
“The Crown Reserves Improvement Fund will support projects right across NSW which will contribute to the cultural, sporting and recreational life of hundreds of communities.
“It will support residents with quality open recreational space by maintaining and improving reserves and supporting bushfire, noxious weed and pest control to keep Crown land safe and functional and to protect the environment.”
Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Rob Stokes said CRIF projects include improvements to nature reserves, public halls, surf life-saving facilities, Scout and Girl Guide halls, showgrounds, caravan parks, amenities blocks, PCYC clubs, racecourses, playground equipment and more.
“Crown land is for the people of NSW to use and enjoy, and to support organisations at the heart of our communities,” Mr Stokes said.
“Across the State, Crown land provides space for local parks and nature reserves and a home for community organisations like showgrounds, surf life-saving clubs, Scouts, Girl Guides, RSPCA, PCYC, Rural Fire Service and SES groups.
“This record $51.7 million investment will protect and enhance Crown land while stimulating local economies with work for tradespeople.”
For more information visit: https://reservemanager.crownland.nsw.gov.au/funding/crif

Sports facilities across regional NSW will benefit from new and improved women’s change rooms and amenities thanks to $50 million in funding from the NSW Government’s $2 billion Regional Growth Fund.
Deputy Premier John Barilaro and Acting Minister for Sport Geoff Lee today announced that Round Four of the $100 million Stronger Country Communities Fund will have a regional sports focus, with up to $50 million to be made available for the delivery and enhancement of women’s sporting facilities, including change rooms.
Mr Barilaro said a lack of adequate facilities can be a barrier to female participation in sport and this funding will provide new and improved amenities to make it easier for girls and women to dominate on the field or courts.
“The NSW Nationals are building a safer and stronger regional NSW and these new facilities will increase participation and allow women and girls to receive the social and health benefits associated with sport,” Mr Barilaro said.
“Women have been flying the flag for Australian sport with our international teams achieving incredible status on the world platform, and many of these athletes come from regional communities.
“Too many women participating in local soccer, AFL, rugby or cricket matches in rural and regional locations don’t have access to suitable changing facilities so the NSW Government has committed this funding to level the playing field.
“Access to designated female change rooms will be of huge benefit to our future Matildas, Opals, Hockeyroos, Jillaroos and Wallaroos, as well as local athletes.”
Mr Lee said the provision of new and improved female change rooms is a step that will encourage more women to step out on the court or field.
“Some of Australia’s best sporting talents are women from regional NSW, and we want to see more females showcasing their talent at a grassroots level,” Mr Lee said.
“In many areas of regional NSW there is a shortage of female dedicated change facilities and amenities which can be off-putting, so this funding will be a huge win for women and girls who would have otherwise been deterred from playing sport.”
Minister for Women and Regional Youth Bronnie Taylor said women have been proudly stepping up to the plate, pitch or pool for years now and this next round of the Stronger Country Communities Fund will address a barrier for females when it comes to entering local and regional sport.
“I know this funding will be warmly welcomed by female athletes in regional communities who will now face one less barrier to taking up a sport,” Mrs Taylor said.
“Clubs and community sport provide friendship, fitness and a lot of fun and I’m delighted that this funding has been made available as a means of boosting participation in women’s sport.”
The remaining $50 million of the Stronger Country Communities Fund Round Four will be made available for further high quality community amenity and sports-related infrastructure projects to meet strong demand.
Applications for Round Four of the program will be open from 1 May. Guidelines and information about eligible applicants will be available on the Regional Growth Fund website in coming months.

A continuous green link connecting the Sydney Harbour foreshore is a step closer, with Callan Park set for a $14 million makeover under the new management of the Greater Sydney Parklands.
The new plans will see a missing link in the Bay Run fully pedestrianised and upgraded, the removal of two dilapidated buildings, new picnic areas, parks, accessible amenities, the protection of Indigenous cultural heritage and much more.
Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Rob Stokes said the major works represented a significant milestone for the new public parkland authority.
“Greater Sydney Parklands is the first body to have a Metropolitan-wide focus on the city’s green spaces, and these plans for Callan Park are the first step in our vision to connect Sydney’s stunning harbour foreshore with public parks and green links,” Mr Stokes said.
“These works will see a tricky section of the Bay Run fixed, meaning pedestrians and cyclists will no longer have to weave around motorists looking for parking in a space that will make better use of its prime position on the foreshore.
“We’re enhancing the best of Callan Park’s heritage while maximising public space to make this one of the true jewels in Sydney’s crown.
“I’d like to thank and acknowledge the Member for Balmain Jamie Parker, who has been a tireless advocate of Callan Park for more than 20 years.”
A development application for the first stage of improvements at the waterfront will be lodged in early March with work on site expected to begin later this year. The improvements will complement the $2 million upgrade to Waterfront Sports Ground undertaken by Inner West Council in 2019.
Greater Sydney Parklands will begin engagement on a Companion Animal Management Plan over the coming months to balance the needs of dog owners and other park users.

A man has been charged after he allegedly assaulted police after being found not wearing a face mask on public transport in Sydney’s north west last night.
Officers from The Hills Police Area Command were conducting routine patrols at Castle Hill Metro Station, about 9.30pm yesterday (Tuesday 19 January 2021), when they stopped and spoke to a man who was not wearing a mask.
He allegedly became aggressive and argumentative towards the two female officers, claiming it was a violation of human rights not to wear a mask.
The man, who did not have an exemption, allegedly continued to act aggressively when asked for identification and punched one of the officers several times.
The 72-year-old man was arrested and taken to Castle Hill Police Station where he was charged with;

• Not wear fitted face covering public transport waiting area,
• Assault officer in execution of duty, and
• Intimidate police officer in execution of duty without actual bodily harm.

The man was refused bail to appear in Parramatta Local Court today (Wednesday 20 January 2021).
The officers were not physically injured.

A man has been charged after a nurse, conducting COVID testing, was allegedly assaulted at North Ryde last week.
About 9.45am on Friday 15 January 2021, a nurse approached a vehicle that had pulled into a COVID-19 testing facility at Macquarie Hospital.
The passenger of the car was requested to extinguish a cigarette. The man refused and became verbally abusive towards staff before getting out and throwing a take-away coffee cup at the nurse.
She sought assistance from her colleagues and the car drove off. She suffered a minor laceration under her eye and red marks to her cheek.
The nurse attended Gosford Police Station yesterday (Monday 19 January 2021), and made a report of the incident.
Following inquiries, officers from Ryde Police Area Command attended a home at Steward Street, Dundas Valley about 5.15pm, and arrested a 43-year-old man.
He was taken to Ryde Police Station and charged with assault occasioning actual bodily harm.
The man was refused bail and will appear at Burwood Local Court today (Wednesday 20 January 2021).