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$2.5 billion investment in the Hunter’s future

More than 1,000 Hunter jobs are secure, after the Albanese and the Minns Labor Governments have jointly contributed $2.5 billion to secure the future of aluminium smelting in the region.

The joint investment will deliver a long-term renewable energy solution for the Tomago Aluminium smelter that supports commercially sustainable operations beyond 2028 and accelerates decarbonisation of more than 10 per cent of NSW’s electricity grid, supporting and securing the future of one of the state’s most important industrial assets.

Tomago Aluminium has agreed to invest at least $1.1 billion in the facility as part of the deal. This includes $100 million to drive further decarbonisation activities at the smelter and undertake an innovative demand-response program to support the NSW grid. This demand-response program aims to position the Tomago smelter as the international leader in electricity demand response and flexibility services.

As part of the agreement, the NSW Government’s contribution is capped at $1.225 billion over 10 years from 2029, supporting the long-term future of Tomago and thousands of Hunter jobs.

As a result, Tomago Aluminium will continue operating beyond the expiry of its current electricity supply contract on 31 December 2028, providing certainty for workers, local businesses and the future of the Hunter region.

Tomago Aluminium is Australia’s largest single electricity user. Securing a long-term renewable energy pathway for the smelter is critical to preserving nationally significant industrial capability and strengthens Australia’s ability to supply the growing global market for low-emissions aluminium.

The joint investment will underpin nearly 3 gigawatts of new renewable generation and firming capacity, strengthening the state’s electricity system and supporting long-term energy affordability and reliability for New South Wales.

Australia is one of only a handful of countries with an end-to-end aluminium supply chain, spanning bauxite mining, alumina refining, aluminium smelting through to advanced manufacturing.

As a major value-added export, aluminium supports jobs, investment and industrial capability while playing a critical role in clean energy technologies, advanced manufacturing and national infrastructure.

The arrangements also ensure revenue comes back to the federal government when aluminium prices are high. This means all Australians will benefit from maintaining domestic aluminium capability and sovereignty, with the added benefit of a monetary return on investment from our governments’ contributions should aluminium prices rise.

This joint investment from the Albanese and Minns Labor Governments will secure 1,000 direct jobs at Tomago aluminium and 5,000 indirect jobs across the Hunter region, supporting a stronger and more resilient industrial future for New South Wales and Australia.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese

“In December last year I stood in the rain at Tomago and told the workers ‘we have your back’.

“Today, alongside the NSW Government, we deliver on that promise.

“This site isn’t just important for Newcastle and the Hunter, it’s a critical asset for the country and our manufacturing future.

“I’m proud of the work we’ve done with the company, with the Minns Labor Government, with local members and with the workers here on site to secure Tomago’s future beyond 2028.”

New South Wales Premier Chris Minns

“This is a good day for the Hunter. This agreement secures more than 1,000 jobs at Tomago and thousands more that rely on the smelter, and gives the region certainty about its future.

“I want to thank the Prime Minister and the Commonwealth Government. We’ve worked closely together to get to this point and deliver an agreement that to find a way through and secure the future of Tomago.

“The Hunter has powered NSW and helped build this country for generations. This agreement is about making sure it remains an industrial and manufacturing powerhouse for generations to come.

“This is part of our bigger plan for the Hunter, securing the good jobs and industries that are here today, while investing $12 billion to bring train manufacturing back to the Hunter and create good, secure jobs for decades to come.”

Minister for Industry and Innovation and Minister for Science Tim Ayres

“Australia’s end to end aluminium industry – from bauxite to complex aluminium finished products – is critical for Australia’s national resilience. Tomago is Australia’s largest and youngest smelter and is crucial to Australia’s industrial future.

”Keeping this capability here in Australia matters. It makes our economy stronger, drives new electricity projects and maintains thousands of good quality blue collar and engineering jobs right here in the Hunter.

“The Albanese Government is delivering a Future Made in the Hunter: good regional jobs, more industrial and energy investment and stronger regional economies.”

Minister for Climate Change and Energy Chris Bowen

“Tomago Aluminium has made it clear: to remain competitive and secure its future the smelter needs a reliable and affordable supply of renewable energy, with ageing coal-fired power options being prohibitively expensive.

“We’re fighting for the regions and bringing more renewables online faster – so we can deliver the modern and affordable energy grid Australian’s deserve and industry needs.”

NSW Minister for Climate Change and Energy Penny Sharpe

“This investment secures more than 1,000 local jobs and connects key manufacturing to a long-term pathway to run on renewable energy.

“It shows we can protect the industries and workers that power the Hunter while building a cleaner energy future in NSW.”

NSW Minister for the Hunter, Yasmin Catley

“Hunter workers and their families deserve certainty, and we have delivered it.

“Securing Tomago means securing jobs, skills and the future of our region.

“We said these jobs are worth fighting for and today that fight has delivered.

“The Hunter builds things and it powers our state. We have the skills, the workers and the industrial muscle, and I am incredibly proud to be part of a government that is willing to back the Hunter and everything we have to offer.”

Member for Paterson Meryl Swanson

“Hunter workers have helped make Tomago Aluminium one of Australia’s most important manufacturing assets, and today’s announcement provides certainty for the people, families and businesses who depend on it.

“As demand for aluminium continues to grow worldwide, with forecasts suggesting we’ll need around 40 percent more of it in the future, it is critical that Australia remains a producer and manufacturer of this essential material.

“We’re protecting local jobs, supporting local industry and ensuring the Hunter remains a manufacturing powerhouse for decades to come.”

Member for Port Stephens Kate Washington

“This is a massive investment in local families and our local economy. Tomago Aluminium is one of the largest employers in Port Stephens, and securing its future has been an absolute priority for me and the Minns Labor Government.”

Man charged over multiple alleged break and enters across Central Coast and Lake Macquarie

A man will face court today after being charged following an investigation into multiple alleged break and enters in the state’s north earlier this year.

Officers attached to Tuggerah Lakes Police District and Lake Macquarie Police District commenced investigations into reports of multiple break and enters in the Central Coast and Lake Macquarie regions between May 2026 and June 2026.

Police were told eight locations in Tuggerah, Charmhaven, Ourimbah and Cooranbong were broken into with items including firearms, ammunition, cars, cash and collectable trading cards allegedly stolen.

Following extensive inquiries, about 7.40am yesterday (Wednesday 12 August 2026), officers executed a search warrant at a property on South Tacoma Road, Tacoma South.

During the search, police located and seized a number of items believed to have been used in the alleged incidents, including a rifle scope and slingshot.

Small amounts of methylamphetamine and buprenorphine were also located and seized for forensic examination.

Following the search, a 32-year-old man was arrested at the property and taken to Wyong Police Station where he was charged with:
Break and enter house steal value less than or equal to $60,000 (five counts)
Aggravated break and enter dwelling in company steal less than or equal to $60,000
Receive property theft serious indictable offence less than or equal to $5,000
Take and drive conveyance without consent of owner
Participate criminal group contribute criminal activity
Possess or use a prohibited weapon without permit
Possess unauthorised firearm
Possess prohibited drug (two counts)

Police will allege in court the man had also hidden a firearm in bushland near Mardi, which had been stolen from a Cooranbong property in June 2026.

He was refused bail to appear before Bail Division Local Court 6 today (Thursday 13 August 2026).

Organised crime reforms cover for attacks on civil liberties

This vast expansion of anti-privacy laws, proposed by the Minns Labor Government, represents a further serious attack on civil liberties of every person in NSW with zero transparency over what impact, if any, these privacy invasion laws have had on organised crime.

Greens MP and Justice Spokesperson Sue Higginson said, “These changes are a matter of concern for every single person that lives in NSW, while couched as targeting organised crime, they will apply to everyone. The face of every single person with a licence in NSW will be up for sale to the highest bidder on the dark web if these laws pass,”

“They are part of the continuing trend towards personal privacy being diminished in favour of extensive and opaque police powers and a State that will soon have the right to permanently store your entire digital history as a result of relatively minor infringements,”

“Organised crime in NSW is complex and is a serious threat to the community, and in many instances is being driven and funded by the failed practice of prohibition or by forcing new powers on a Police Force that was never designed to surveil the public en masse,”

“There is a lack of accountability and transparency about the use of existing warrants and powers relating to Police accessing phones, and the Government will not tell the community what is happening to all of this very detailed and personal data. We should not blindly accept that further and extensive changes are necessary just because Chris Minns wants the electorate to be frightened,”

“Considering the weaknesses that have been repeatedly and increasingly exposed in data storage systems, National identity facial recognition databases could as easily make identity theft more likely when a cost-saving Government signs the wrong contract with some private for-profit data storage provider,”

“These new expanded police powers and capacity is about one thing, more control of the people by an increasingly hostile and arrogant Government. Organised crime must be dealt with, but not at the expense of our civil liberties, our privacy and our freedom from the arbitrary intervention of the state,” Ms Higginson said.

Charges withdrawn against 125 climate protestors from Peoples’ Blockade of Newcastle Coal Port

All charges made under the crimes and marine safety laws of NSW have been withdrawn by the NSW Police against 125 people at the Newcastle Local Court today. This follows the dismissal in October of last year of charges against eight other people in relation to the 2025 Peoples Blockade of the World’s Largest Coal Port in Newcastle with the Police already being ordered to pay $73,000 in legal costs for the defendants.

(Media release by Rising Tide below)
Greens MP, Solicitor and Climate Change Spokesperson Sue Higginson said, “This result is hot on the heels of the latest Net Zero Commission Progress Report which identified coal mining emissions as a likely cause for NSW failing to reduce emissions in line with NSW Labor’s climate laws,”

“The Net Zero Commission has already told the Government that extensions or expansions to coal mining in NSW are inconsistent with the Climate Change Act and the Paris Agreement. Ending coal must be a priority for the Minns Labor Government and their attention should be on that instead of trying to punish the community who are doing what good people have always done and that is protest, against coal exports,”

“Independent and expert legal advice is clear, no more coal can be approved in NSW under existing laws. Premier Chris Minns must stop his law and order response to climate change, accept that the community is legitimately expressing their concerns, and get his Government to stop any more coal from being mined and exported in NSW,”

Greens Councillor for Newcastle Siobhan Isherwood said, “This is a big win for peaceful protest and for climate action, our communities are sick of the over-policing of peaceful protests, and the waste of police resources is also wasting the time of the courts,”

“The people that faced court today are ordinary people from all over Australia who are simply fighting for a better future for us all, and us Novocastrians have a long history of peaceful, effective protest. The Rising Tide blockades are a peaceful and powerful demonstration of the power of people who are willing to stand up for the planet when government won’t,”

Vietjet next to land at Western Sydney International Airport

Direct flights from Western Sydney to South East Asia are on the way, with Vietjet signing on to fly from the Western Sydney International (Nancy-Bird Walton) Airport (WSI).

Taking off in January 2027, Vietjet will operate twice weekly to Ho Chi Minh City, increasing to three times weekly in March. The new services will be operated by Vietjet’s A330 fleet, with each plane carrying up to 377 passengers.

From November 2027, Vietjet Thailand plans to start fourweekly services from Badgerys Creek to Bangkok. The new services are subject to regulatory approvals.

The announcement was welcomed in Sydney today by General Secretary and President of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam To Lam, and Assistant Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Matt Thistlethwaite.

Vietjet is the fifth airline to announce flights in and out of Western Sydney International Airport, joining Jetstar, Air New Zealand, Singapore Airlines and Qantas.

Vietjet’s new flights to Ho Chi Minh City are supported by the NSW Government’s Take-Off Fund.

Western Sydney’s new 24-hour airport is the centrepiece of the Albanese Labor Government’s near $18 billion investment in Western Sydney, including the future Sydney Metro Airport rail connection and significant road upgrades to nearby Elizabeth Drive, Fifteenth Avenue and Mamre Road. This investment builds upon benefits already delivered through the recent opening of the M12 Motorway.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese:

“Western Sydney deserves an airport with global connections, and that’s exactly what we’re delivering.

“As we welcome the General Secretary and President of Vietnam To Lam to Australia, it’s great to see our growing partnership delivering practical benefits.

“These new direct flights will bring our people closer together, boost tourism and trade, and create new opportunities for Western Sydney.”

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

“This is Vietjet’s fifth Australian destination, and a sign of the momentum we’re seeing build at Sydney’s newest airport.

“With just 76 days until passenger flights begin at Western Sydney International Airport, testing at the terminal, fit out and final touches are underway to get it ready to welcome the new passengers.

“It’s an exciting few months ahead for Western Sydney and their new airport.”

NSW Tourism Minister Steve Kamper:

“Western Sydney International Airport is getting ready for take-off, and the Minns Labor Government is proud to support the flights from Western Sydney to Vietnam through the Western Sydney International Take-Off Fund.

“With the new airport getting closer to opening for passenger flights, this is an incredibly exciting time for local tourism, businesses and jobs.”

Assistant Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade Matt Thistlethwaite:

“Australia and Vietnam continue to build a partnership grounded in shared prosperity and deepening people‑to‑people links.

“Vietjet’s new services strengthen that relationship by creating more opportunities for travel, trade and connection between our two nations.”

History meets mystery as Civic Theatre lifts the curtain on paranormal activity

Seekers of the supernatural are being given a rare chance to go behind the scenes at the Civic Theatre in September and call out the spirits that supposedly haunt the historic venue.

Three Paranormal Investigation Nights will be held for the first time in the theatre’s history, using special equipment to record and measure unexplained activity in areas rarely accessed by the public.

Civic Theatre Executive Manager Leonie Wallace, Lord Mayor Gavin Morris and Cr Jenny Barrie go behind the scenes and use some of the special equipment that will be part of the Paranormal Investigation Nights, accompanied by Renata Daniel and Anne Rzechowicz from Newcastle Ghost Tours. Executive Manager Leonie Wallace said the tours will let visitors see the Civic Theatre in a whole new light.

“The Civic Theatre is almost 100 years old and has long been surrounded by rumour and speculation regarding the spirits of former staff and patrons,” Ms Wallace said.

“Probably the most famous is our supposedly friendly ghost, nicknamed Joe, who has been said to brush past staff every now and again. As the story goes, he warned a former Deputy Lord Mayor about the 1989 earthquake on the main stage.

“We’re thrilled to be working with well-known local operators Newcastle Ghost Tours to provide this unique experience and are curious to see who or what people discover along the way.”

Tickets for the Paranormal Investigation Nights will go on sale tomorrow, with sessions on 28,29 and 30 September.

Each experience will run for two-and-a-half hours, kicking off with a short historical introduction by a Civic Theatre guide before being led by Newcastle Ghost Tours.

CEO of the award-winning local business, Renata Daniel, said the Civic Theatre is one of the Hunter’s most requested locations for paranormal nights.

“The history of the Civic Theatre and the range of stories about ghost sightings make it a premium location for these types of tours,” Ms Daniel said.

“The entire experience is fully escorted and gives the guests the chance to become paranormal investigators. During the tour you call out to the spirits said to inhabit the theatre to see who responds.

“We’ll use equipment such as a spirit box, which is an electronic sweep-frequency radio to attempt real-time communication with ghosts, as well as a trip wire, an electronic sensor device used to detect invisible energy changes or movement.

“These tours will be suitable for first timers, the curious and the experienced seekers of the supernatural.”

The theatre is also expanding its popular series of Behind the Curtain backstage tours after the first two sessions launched earlier this year were fully booked within hours of going on sale.

Seven additional tours on 28, 29 and 30 September will go on sale tomorrow including one wheelchair accessible session.

The idea for the Behind the Curtain tours was developed by the Civic Theatre as part of City of Newcastle’s Product Mentoring Development Program, which helps to develop and promote new tourism products to attract more visitors from outside the region.

Lord Mayor Gavin Morris said both tours will provide visitors with new opportunities to experience the Civic Theatre beyond attending a performance.

“This is your chance to see the theatre from a different perspective,” Cr Morris said.

“We know artists love performing at the Civic Theatre and now you can see what they see behind the curtain.

“The tours will explore areas within the Theatre not usually accessible to the community including behind the stage and in the dressing rooms, giving participants a sneak peek behind the scenes while learning more about the iconic building’s history.”

Community and Culture Strategic Advisory Committee Chair, Cr Jenny Barrie said these tours are the perfect way to celebrate one of Newcastle’s most iconic buildings.

“Newcastle is a city of storytellers and those stories come to life at the Civic Theatre,” Cr Barrie said.

“Giving people more reasons to visit not only connects them with Newcastle’s arts scene but also contributes to our broader cultural economy.”

For more information visit the Civic Theatre website or visit the Ticket Office.

Second giant Tunnel Boring Machine begins excavating for the Western Harbour Tunnel

The Western Harbour Tunnel project has reached another major milestone, with its second tunnel boring tunnel (TBM) now carving a path towards Sydney Harbour.

Launched 44.7 metres below Birchgrove Oval, the tunnel boring machine – named Barangaroo – has begun excavating the final section of the twin motorway tunnels between Birchgrove and Waverton.

Barangaroo joins its sister TBM, Patyegarang, which started tunnelling last month. Together, the pair will excavate the final 1.5-kilometres beneath the Sydney Harbour and complete the last stage of tunnelling for the 6.5-kilometre Western Harbour Tunnel.

At 15.7 metres in diameter and weighing 4,350 tonnes each, the two tunnel boring machines are the largest ever assembled underground, and the largest to be used in the Southern Hemisphere.

As they advance, they will install around 13,000 pre-cast concrete segments and 1,300 20-tonne culverts manufactured at a dedicated facility in Emu Plains.

During the launch process, Barangaroo will construct the first three tunnel rings, each using ten of the 15-tonne segments, before pushing through the launch chamber wall and starting her journey.

Named after prominent Aboriginal women and adorned with Indigenous artwork, Patyegarang and Barangaroo will operate around the clock and reach depths of up to 50 metres below sea level.

The tunnelling comes as another key milestone, the Berry St on-ramp in North Sydney on the other side of the Harbour, nears completion.

The future connection will link motorists to the WestConnex via the Rozelle Interchange, bringing the project a step closer to transforming the way motorists travel across Sydney.

Mechanical and electrical fit out is progressing, including lighting, traffic monitoring cameras and signage that will support the tunnel’s safe operation when it opens.

The Western Harbour Tunnel remains on track to open to traffic in 2028, and will reduce traffic by:

35% on the Western Distributor
20% in the Sydney Harbour Tunnel
And by 17% on the Sydney Harbour Bridge.

It will remain in public hands.

You can track the TBMs progress here

Minister for Roads and Regional Transport Jenny Aitchison said:

“Today marks another exciting milestone for the Western Harbour Tunnel project, with Barangaroo now beginning its journey beneath Sydney Harbour.

“With both tunnel boring machines now in action, we are making strong progress on the final stage of excavation for this important Harbour crossing.

“It’s taken extraordinary feats of engineering to get to this point, and the teams who’ve assembled and launched the TBMs entirely underground have done an outstanding job.

“Once complete, the Western Harbour Tunnel will provide a seamless connection between the Warringah Freeway at North Sydney and WestConnex at the Rozelle Interchange, improving travel across Sydney’s motorway network.

“The Western Harbour Tunnel remains on track to open in 2028, and we can’t wait for motorists to experience what it has to offer.”

Wee Waa Health Service extends operating hours

Residents of Wee Waa and surrounding communities will soon have greater access to healthcare closer to home, with Wee Waa Health Service extending its operating hours.

From Monday 5 October 2026, the health service will operate from 7am to 10pm, seven days a week.

The expanded operating hours have been made possible thanks to the recruitment of additional nurses who will be joining the service over the coming months.

Wee Waa Health Service is supported by virtual care when on-site medical coverage is unavailable, which provides access to Australian-trained emergency physicians.

The extension of hours is an important milestone in implementing the recommendations of the independent review into Wee Waa Health Service, which focused on models of care, workforce recruitment and retention, community engagement, integrated care and partnerships, and Aboriginal health.

Since the final report was delivered in July 2025, Hunter New England Local Health District has made significant progress implementing the 20 recommendations, including:

Introducing a shared leadership model across Wee Waa and Narrabri,
Appointing a permanent Health Service Manager for Wee Waa
Expanding clinical education and training for staff
Strengthening partnerships with local healthcare providers to support sustainable healthcare into the future.

Work is also underway to enhance clinical service planning, workforce capability and collaborative models of care across the region.

The District has worked closely with the Wee Waa Local Health Committee throughout this process, ensuring community voices remain at the centre of ongoing improvements to local health services.

Minister for Regional Health Ryan Park:

“Communities like Wee Waa deserve access to quality healthcare close to home, and these extended operating hours are an important step in delivering the recommendations of the independent review.

“We’ve worked closely with Hunter New England Local Health District to build a more sustainable local workforce and strengthen health services for the community.

“Member for Barwon Roy Butler has been an incredibly important voice for the Wee Waa community and I thank him for his ongoing advocacy to increase healthcare access in the region.

“This announcement reflects our commitment to delivering better healthcare for rural and regional communities right across New South Wales.”

Member for Barwon Roy Butler:

“The people of Wee Waa have been clear about how important their local health service is, and today’s announcement is another positive step forward.

“I want to thank the local people participating on the Wee Waa Local Health Committee for helping shape the improvements we’re seeing today.

“These extended operating hours will make a real difference for local people, giving them greater confidence they can access the care they need, closer to home.”

Wee Waa Health Service Manager, Natasha Middlemiss:

“This is an exciting milestone for our staff, our Local Health Committee and the wider Wee Waa community. It reflects the hard work and commitment of so many people who have worked together to strengthen healthcare close to home.

“I’m incredibly proud of our team and excited to welcome our new nurses over the coming months. Their skills and experience will help us expand our operating hours while continuing to provide safe, high-quality care for our community.

“Our Local Health Committee has been a valued partner throughout this process, providing local insight and helping ensure the community’s voice has remained central as we’ve implemented the review’s recommendations. We look forward to continuing that partnership as this work progresses.”

Minns Labor Government opens first regional public preschool in more than 20 years

The Minns Labor Government has opened the first of its 49 new public preschools in regional NSW, giving Tamworth families greater access to fee-free, high-quality early learning, close to home.

Hillvue Public Preschool was officially opened today by the Minister for Roads and Regional Transport Jenny Aitchison and will accommodate up to 80 children a week from the growing Tamworth community.

Located on the grounds of Hillvue Public School, the new preschool features two state-of-the-art learning spaces, dedicated staff facilities, a kitchen, and landscaped outdoor play areas.

The opening marks a major milestone in the Minns Labor Government’s $769 million commitment to double the number of public preschools across the state. Hillvue is the first new public preschool opened in regional and rural NSW in more than 20 years. This stands in stark contrast to the former Liberal National government, which failed to deliver a single new public preschool during their 12 years in office.

Built in just six months, Hillvue is one of three new public preschools being delivered in the New England region, alongside Warialda and Toomelah Public Preschools.

All 49 new public preschools across regional and rural NSW will be ready for children by early 2027.

These new preschools form part of the Minns Labor Government’s work to rebuild public education, backed by a $2.3 billion investment in new and upgraded schools across regional NSW as part of the 2026-27 NSW Budget.

The Minns Labor Government is working to ensure every family has access to a world-class public education with a qualified teacher in every classroom and preschool.

As one of 33 Connected Communities schools in NSW, the new preschool at Hillvue will expand access to high-quality, culturally responsive early learning, strengthening partnerships with Aboriginal families and communities, and supporting continuity of learning through to school.

Enrolments at Hillvue Public Preschool are now open. Families can contact Hillvue Public School or visit the NSW Department of Education website for further information.

Deputy Premier of New South Wales and Minister for Education and Early Learning Prue Car said:

“The Minns Labor Government is committed to rebuilding public education from the earliest years right through to Year 12 and we’re delivering for families in Tamworth and across regional NSW.

“We know families in regional communities missed out on access to high-quality early learning, close to home, for too long during more than a decade of neglect by the Nationals and Liberals.

“For parents, today’s milestone means access to a fee-free preschool program in a trusted local public school environment. It makes the transition to school much easier and gives children the confidence and foundational skills they need before starting kindergarten.”

Minister for Roads and Regional Transport Jenny Aitchison said:

“Hillvue is the first new public preschool to open in regional or rural NSW in more than 20 years – and it’s only fitting that it’s opened right here in Tamworth. One of the states most iconic regional cities.

“This is what real investment in the regions looks like: a purpose-built, fee-free preschool giving 80 local children a week the best possible start, close to home, in a community they already know.

“For too long, regional families were left behind, with more than a decade going by without a single new public preschool built anywhere in regional NSW. The Minns Labor Government is changing that.”

Minister for Regional NSW Tara Moriarty said:

“This new preschool at Hillvue is a fantastic outcome for Tamworth families, giving local children access to quality early education right in the heart of their community.

“We know that investing in early learning in regional and rural areas makes a real difference, supporting children to thrive while helping families stay and build their lives locally.

“By delivering new public preschools across regional NSW, we’re ensuring families outside our major cities have the same opportunities and access to services close to home.”

Hillvue Public School Principal Jayne Johnson said:

“We’re so excited to welcome our new preschoolers to Hillvue Public Preschool today, and to support those children develop their curiosity, connection and confidence in this wonderful new service.

“The preschool’s culturally responsive environment will support our children to explore and learn, easing the path to kindergarten for them and their family.

“We look forward to providing high-quality education and care to all our Tamworth families.”

First tracks begin to go down on Sydney Metro West

Tracks on the 24-kilometre Sydney Metro West line between Westmead and Hunter Street will soon begin to be laid at Sydney Olympic Park, marking a huge milestone in the project that is going to transform the way people move between the city and Parramatta.

5,316 tonnes of rail will progressively be lowered 27 metres down into the future Sydney Olympic Park Metro station box, with the project moving into the fit-out stage after tunnelling was completed earlier this year.

A precision lifting process is required to manoeuvre the 4,376 individual pieces of steel, each 20 metres in length, from the surface to the floor of the station box.

From there 20 skilled workers will spend the next three months welding the rail together which will progressively be moved into the tunnels using a specialised road-rail vehicle excavator. Work on the structural track base slab will commence after this and be followed by the electrical and mechanical fit-out by the end of the year.

Across the entire project, 60 kilometres of track will be installed within the twin tunnels and the Clyde Stabling and Maintenance Facility featuring four crossovers, one junction, and one turnback that will support the seamless operation of Sydney Metro West.

Due for completion in 2032 Sydney Metro West will double rail capacity between Greater Parramatta and the Sydney CBD and reduce travel times down to:

Westmead to Hunter Street: 22 minutes.
Sydney Olympic Park to Hunter Street: 15 minutes        
Westmead to Sydney Olympic Park: 7 minutes        
The Bays to Sydney Olympic Park: 11 minutes

The rail system is being delivered by John Holland, enabling the safe, fast and efficient operation of Sydney Metro West. This includes the complete fit-out of tunnels, track, cross passages, station caverns and key operational facilities across the entire two track 24-kilometre project.

Sydney Metro West will be complemented by the delivery of tens of thousands of well-located homes, forming the backbone of some of the state’s most significant rezonings including Bays West (8,500 homes), Pyrmont (7,300 homes around Wentworth Park), Sydney Olympic Park (15,000 homes), Burwood North (18,000 homes) and North Strathfield (18,000 homes – Homebush Transport Oriented Development Accelerated Precinct).

Premier of New South Wales Chris Minns said:

“When Sydney Metro West is up and running it will transform the way people move between Parramatta and the city.

“This line will open connections between parts of the city like never before, creating new destinations across the city and revitalising suburbs which have been difficult to navigate with public transport.

“Along with the huge transport boost, the rezonings around the Metro West stations including The Bays, Sydney Olympic Park and Burwood North will deliver tens of thousands of new homes within walking distance of this reliable, fast and easy to use public transport.”

Deputy Premier of New South Wales and Minister for Western Sydney Prue Car said:

“Fast, affordable public transport is part of our plan to deliver long-term cost of living relief, which is exactly what Metro West will deliver.

“For too long Western Sydney communities took on the lion’s share of housing development without the much-needed local infrastructure to accompany it.

“Metro West will bring transport, jobs, and services closer to where people live, whilst reducing congestion on our roads for Western Sydney residents and businesses who need to drive.”

Minister for Transport John Graham said:

“Metro West will transform life in Sydney, providing rapid east-west transport that will drive jobs, homes and vibrancy.

“Most of this work happens underground so it’s not always front of mind for everyone, but there is an incredible amount of city shaping infrastructure being built in these tunnels.

“The arrival of the first rail is a major step forward for Sydney Metro West which we’re delivering alongside Western Sydney Airport Metro and Southwest Metro.”

Member for Parramatta Donna Davis said:

“Laying the tracks for Metro West is a significant milestone bringing Western Sydney closer to having this important transport link.

“This critical infrastructure will give Parramatta and the surrounding suburbs well-deserved access to jobs and opportunity.

“The work may be underground, but the city above has a bright, better-connected future.”