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The NSW Government has today announced an Asbestos Taskforce to give more resources and support to the NSW Environment Protection Authority’s investigation into asbestos in mulch.

The taskforce will be led by the current Chair of the NSW Asbestos Coordination Committee, Carolyn Walsh, and will include senior representatives of several NSW Government agencies, as well as local government.

The Premier and Minister for the Environment have activated an additional surge workforce to assist the state’s environmental regulator, the NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA), as the scale of the investigation continues to grow.

Additional staff from the Natural Resources Access Regulator and NSW Fire and Rescue will be deployed to the EPA to increase capacity. This is in addition to the EPA’s already expanded workforce on the investigation.

The government’s number one priority is “contact tracing” down the complex supply chain, and then facilitating testing, reporting and management of any positive results. SafeWork NSW, NSW Health and Public Works Advisory will continue to provide support.

The taskforce will help co-ordinate government agencies and assist in prioritising sites considered of highest risk to the public, to ensure all resources are available to secure and remediate sites.

It will also support the EPA in ensuring environmental risks to public land are appropriately managed, as the EPA prioritises its criminal investigation into any breaches of the law.

The taskforce will meet for the first time tomorrow.

The NSW Government is considering regulatory changes to strengthen both penalties and deterrence.

Minister for the Environment Penny Sharpe said:

“The NSW Government is committed to ensuring the community is safe from any potential harmful impacts of contact with asbestos.

“This is the largest investigation the Environment Protection Authority has undertaken in recent decades. The complex, criminal investigation involves multiple lines of enquiry.

“Our number one priority is to finish contract tracing the supply chain – so that any potential receiver of the mulch is notified. That means we can take immediate action to make the area safe.

“The surge workforce means we can get to the bottom of the supply chain much faster.

“I am also taking advice on options to strengthen penalties for those who do the wrong thing.”

Better journeys are on the horizon for motorists who use the New England Highway, with work on safety upgrade to start at Burning Mountain north of Wingen.

The NSW Labor Government is investing $3 million to deliver the highway upgrade which will include stabilising and resealing the existing road pavement and making improvements to drainage.

Work will be carried out on a 2.7-kilometre section of the highway, about four kilometres north of Wingen from Monday 19 February.

To be carried out between 7am and 5pm on weekdays, the upgrade is expected to be completed by mid-April, weather permitting.

The Burning Mountain Rest Area will remain open to all motorists while the work is carried out. 

Regional Transport and Roads Minister Jenny Aitchison said:

“The NSW Labor Government is committed to improving safety for our regional road users.

“We know the fatality rate on roads in the country is higher compared with metropolitan residents.

“This highway is an important link in our road network for residents, local industries and tourism and this upgrade will ensure safer and smother journeys for the 6000 road users who use this corridor each day.”

Labor’s spokesperson for Upper Hunter, Emily Suvaal said:

“This upgrade is a win for road users who use this section of the New England Highway, near Wingen. 

“The NSW Labor Government is prioritising the people in the bush and we will continue to fund these vital safety upgrades.

 “Congratulations to Transport for NSW and its contractors for carrying out this important work which help ensure all road users make it home safely every day.”

A significant milestone for the New South Wales south coast road corridor will soon be reached as major construction begins in coming weeks on the Jervis Bay Road Intersection Project at the Princes Highway intersection with Jervis Bay Road at Falls Creek.

The Australian Government has committed $100 million toward the project, with the remaining $64 million to be provided by the NSW Government.

The project is being delivered as part of a $2.55 billion program of jointly funded investments in the Princes Highway including Milton Ulladulla Bypass corridor.

This project is the second within the corridor to reach construction following the new Nowra Bridge project.

This project will deliver a grade-separated flyover-style intersection, providing an overpass across the Princes Highway, with a roundabout on each side of Jervis Bay Road to deliver safer and smoother connections.

When complete, this upgrade will include expanding the Princes Highway to two lanes in each direction on the approaches to the intersection, longer entry and exit lanes, and free-flowing access to the highway when travelling north and south.

The intersection has the highest volume of vehicle movements on the Princes Highway between Nowra and the Victorian border. It has been the location of 15 crashes over the past five years, resulting in six serious injuries.

The upgrade will deliver around 110 jobs during construction, followed by safety and efficiency benefits for the community, when complete.

The construction schedule has been refined to reduce the impacts of out of hours work on residents.

The project will be delivered by contractor SRG Global Civil Pty Ltd and is expected to take up to four years to complete, weather permitting.

Find out more about the Jervis Bay Road and Princes Highway intersection project

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

“This marks the start of major work on the second project for the Princes Highway corridor, which is a total joint investment of $2.55 billion in the south coast.

“The Australian Government’s commitment to jointly fund this upgrade with the NSW Government ensures that the south coast region can benefit from safer roads for locals, tourists and freight industries.”

Premier of New South Wales Chris Minns said:

“This work will help locals and tourists get to places like Huskisson, Vincentia and Jervis Bay faster and safer.

“The Jervis Bay and South Coast communities deserve this important upgrade and we’re proud to be delivering it for them.

“I want to pay credit to those who have fought for this vital upgrade, including the Vincentia Matters group. This milestone reflects all your hard work and advocacy.

“Residents and motorists on the south coast will benefit for years to come from this work funded by the NSW and Australian Governments.”

Minister for Regional Development, Local Government and Territories Kristy McBain said:

“The start of major work on this project will be welcome news for all motorists on the NSW south coast, especially those who have campaigned for safety and efficiency upgrades at this intersection.

“The Australian Government is committed to investing in major infrastructure projects like the Princes Highway and this work will streamline access points to popular residential and tourist locations on the south coast.”

NSW Minister for Regional Transport and Roads Jenny Aitchison said:

“This work is long overdue and with the highest volume of vehicle movements on the Princes Highway between Nowra and the Victorian border, it is vital to local people, businesses, tourists and freight operators.

“It is great to see the Australian and NSW Labor Government’s breaking ground on this transformative project that will improve safety for our communities.

“The NSW Government is committed to working with the community and transport industries to deliver this project and we thank everyone for their advocacy and input into the plans for this incredible project.”

Federal Member for Gilmore Fiona Phillips said:

“As the key gateway to beautiful Jervis Bay, local people know how dangerous and inappropriate this intersection is for the volume of traffic that passes through it. I have fought alongside the community for years to ensure this important road receives the upgrade it deserves.

“I am absolutely delighted to see that hard work pay off with major construction of our hard-won flyover about to start – this is a relief for locals and tourists alike and I look forward to seeing it complete.”

NSW Member for South Coast Liza Butler said:

“The commencement of these works is such an exciting milestone for this vital project. I join with the entire community of the South Coast in looking forward to this work progressing and the benefits it brings and I thank Vincentia Matters for their advocacy to make this happen.

“This intersection is the busiest between Nowra and the Victorian border and this upgrade will make it safer for locals, visitors and all who are passing through.”

Disaster assistance is now available in the Bega Valley, Eurobodalla and Queanbeyan-Palerang Local Government Areas (LGAs) following impacts of flooding from 25th December 2023.

The assistance measures are being provided by the Albanese and Minns Governments through the Commonwealth-State Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA).

Support includes:

• Support for affected local councils to help with the costs of cleaning up and restoring damaged essential public assets, like bridges and roads.

Federal Minister for Emergency Management Murray Watt said the heavy rain and subsequent flooding affected the Christmas plans of many residents of South-East NSW.

“The rainfall was intense and I want to thank those who put their own Christmas plans on hold to start the clean-up efforts,” Minister Watt said.

“This assistance will ensure Councils, businesses and residents have access to the funds they need to clean up and undertake important repairs, so the region can bounce back as quickly as possible.

“The Albanese Government is committed to working with the Minns Government throughout the recovery process.”

NSW Minister for Emergency Services Jihad Dib said flood impacted Local Government Areas will be supported in their clean-up and recovery.

“The South-East took an unwelcome hit at Christmas, but the good news is that having now completed their assessments, local government can use Disaster Recovery funding to clean up and get much needed roads and bridges back in working order,” Minister Dib said.

“It was a difficult time for everyone in the region who know only too well the impact of natural disasters and we want to reassure them we will continue to help.”

For information relating to financial assistance, replacing lost documents, location of your nearest recovery centre and more, please contact Service NSW on 13 77 88 or visit nsw.gov.au.

To apply for a concessional loan or primary producer grant, contact the NSW Rural Assistance Authority on 1800 678 593 or visit raa.nsw.gov.au.

Further information on disaster assistance can be found on the Australian Government’s Disaster Assist website.

The NSW Government has confirmed Goulburn Correctional Centre will continue to play a critical role in the NSW prison system well into the future.

While visiting the centre today Minister for Corrections Anoulack Chanthivong was briefed on operational changes to the way prison beds are being used at the facility.

The Minister also had an opportunity to see work being done this year on a new 20 bed segregation unit.

While the inmate population is still low following the pandemic, CSNSW is organising operations to house inmates in the most modern facilities available.

Goulburn will continue to operate as a mixed security facility.

There are no job losses associated with these changes and staff are able to continue working at their current complex.

Minister for Corrections Anoulack Chanthivong said:

“This facility has been the heart and soul of the region for more than a century, and that isn’t changing.

“The entire community in Goulburn is right to be proud of the contribution this facility makes to keeping people in NSW safe.

“When I visited last year, I saw firsthand the incredibly tough job staff are doing. It isn’t made any easier when they’re working from outdated facilities built in the 1880s.

“Goulburn continues to house some of the state’s toughest inmates in the supermax facility as well as lower security inmates in other sections of the jail.

“We’ll engage closely with the local community and staff as we continue to build a better justice system, here in Goulburn and across the state.”

The NSW Opposition joined fed-up Hawkesbury residents today to call on Chris Minns and Transport Minister Jo Haylen to urgently intervene in the rolling Maritime Union of Australia (MUA) ferry strikes that have left the community stranded.
 
The MUA has cancelled Monday services with minimal notice, with a 24-hour strike that will affect thousands of people trying to get to work, school and medical appointments.
 
The cancellation of ferry services at Wisemans Ferry, Webbs Creek and Sackville will force people to drive up to an extra five hours on remote roads.
 
Shadow Minister for Transport and Roads Natalie Ward said the Minns Labor Government needed to put the community needs first.
 
“The Hawkesbury ferry routes are an essential service, with the local community having no alternative options when union industrial action stops them from operating,” Mrs Ward said. “Monday’s strike means workers miss shifts, kids miss school classes and families are forced to bear the brunt of both.”
 
Shadow Minister for Industrial Relations Damien Tudehope slammed the Minns Labor Government for inaction in the face of this strike that already has businesses reporting financial losses.
 
“Chris Minns and Jo Haylen need to fix this ferry fiasco – they need to stand up to their union mates, and help keep these vital community services operating,” Mr Tudehope said. “It is far past the point when the Minister should have intervened.”
 
Member for Hawkesbury Robyn Preston said the local community was at their wits end with local households and businesses severely hurt by these strikes.
 
“Every day I am getting feedback that the union seems to have no regard for the communities that rely on these ferry services,” Ms Preston said.
 
“It isn’t good enough that residents are being held to ransom. I am very concerned that emergency services are being delayed during time-critical incidents. Police, firies and ambulance cannot be kept waiting for a ferry service to resume operation. Transport Minister Jo Haylen needs to resolve this stand-off urgently.”