admin – Page 54

Kalang Road upgrade complete

Important upgrades to Kalang Road are now complete, improving the resilience and accessibility of a vital road in the Bellingen Shire.

A total of $11.4 million has been invested in upgrading Kalang Road, with just over $5 million provided by the Australian Government.

Over $6 million was invested as part of the NSW Government’s Fixing Country Bridges Program to upgrade seven bridges along Kalang Road between 2021 and 2025.

The project is part of both governments’ commitment to delivering tangible improvements in regional communities by addressing issues on key rural and regional road networks, to help communities remain connected.

Construction on the road upgrade by council began in late 2025, and significant improvements have been delivered to priority sections along the 26 kilometres of Kalang Road, including:

Rehabilitation of 36 culvert sites
Rehabilitation and widening of approximately 6.8 kilometres of the existing sealed pavement
Bitumen sealing and widening of 11.5 kilometres of unsealed road
Road alignment improvements near Baileys Bridge, Rickerbys Bridge and Cooks Creek Bridge
Replacement of Rickerbys Culvert with a dual-lane bridge
Replacement of Knights Bridge, Tysons Bridge, Hopsons Bridge, Duffys Bridge and Youngs Bridge.

These critical infrastructure upgrades will provide safer and more reliable connections for the local community.

With no alternative route, the one-way Kalang Road is now better set to provide residents continuity of access to their homes and essential services during severe weather events.

Stay up to date on upcoming infrastructure projects on the Council website.

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

“These critical road upgrades will boost community access and address safety risks for those who rely on Kalang Road each day.

“This is a great example of the type of project that benefits communities by addressing deficiencies on key regional and rural roads.

“Improving road networks in rural and regional areas is a key priority for the Albanese Government, to ensure regional communities are safely connected and have equitable access to services including schools and healthcare.”

NSW Minister for Roads, Jenny Aitchison MP:

“This is a vital connection for regional communities, helping people get to work, keep families connected and provide access to essential services.

“For far too long, regional communities have been left behind, dealing with ageing infrastructure and roads – vulnerable to weather and natural disasters.

“The Minns Labor Government is proud to be investing where it’s needed most – across regional NSW, delivering the infrastructure communities rely on every day.”

Bellingen Shire Council Mayor, Cr Steve Allan:

“Kalang Road is a vital rural road within our Shire, used multiple times each day by residents and local suppliers. Recent upgrade works have significantly improved safety and reliability, making travel along the road safer and easier for our community and visitors to the area.

“A great outcome of this project is that we were able to seal a significant portion of the existing gravel road. This will help to reduce maintenance requirements in the future and prevent damage to the road surface.

“I’d like to thank the residents along Kalang Road who were affected by the closures required for the project. We apologise for any inconvenience this may have caused you and appreciate your patience.”

Liberals and Nationals to collaborate with communities to deliver more homes

The NSW Liberals and Nationals will restore the voice of local communities in how homes are delivered and targets met under a new Low and Mid Rise (LMR) Alternate Plan Pathway.

The announcement comes as the Minns Labor Government’s flagship LMR policy continues to significantly underperform. The Government promised the policy would deliver 112,000 homes over five years, yet as of February 2026 only 4,900 homes had been approved under the scheme; just 22 per cent of where the policy should have been two years into its rollout.

Leader of the Opposition Kellie Sloane said the Liberals and Nationals support increasing housing supply, but the current one-size-fits-all approach has failed to deliver the homes NSW needs.

“We need to build more homes, but we also need to recognise that good planning isn’t about applying the same template to every community,” Ms Sloane said.

“The Minns Government has created an adversarial planning system where councils are effectively told to accept a rigid planning template or resist the State Government. This is in addition to new taxes and charges that are crippling the construction sector and contributing to our state’s lagging housing completions.”

“Our policy changes that. If a council can demonstrate it can deliver the same number of homes, or more, through a plan that is best for a community, it should have the opportunity to do so.”

Under the proposal, councils would be able to submit an alternate housing delivery plan that meets or exceeds their existing LMR housing allocation. Any proposal would be independently assessed and certified by the Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure.

If no alternate plan is approved, the existing LMR settings would continue to apply.

Shadow Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Chris Rath said the proposal would protect housing supply while encouraging better planning outcomes.

“This is not about reducing housing. The target number of homes stays exactly the same. What changes is how those homes are delivered,” Mr Rath said.

“Councils understand their communities better than anyone. They know where infrastructure has capacity, where heritage constraints exist and where growth can occur most effectively.”

“By giving councils a formal pathway to put forward better solutions, we can reduce unnecessary conflict, improve local infrastructure planning and ultimately deliver more homes.”

Mr Rath also said that the policy builds on planning approaches the Minns Government has already accepted in practice.

“In Bondi Junction, Waverley Council was permitted to pursue its own place-based masterplan rather than relying on blanket controls, while Burwood successfully worked with the Government to reshape where higher-density housing would be delivered to better align with local planning priorities.”

“What we are announcing today is simply a formal, transparent mechanism so every council has the same opportunity to put forward a better, locally-tailored, way of delivering the same, or a greater, number of homes.”

Man dies in two vehicle crash – Freemans Waterhole

A man has died after a two-vehicle crash in the state’s Hunter Region.

About 7.30pm yesterday (Friday 7 August 2026), emergency services responded to reports of a head on crash between a silver Audi hatch back and a blue Volkswagen Amarok 4WD along Freemans Drive, Freemans Waterhole.

NSW Ambulance paramedics treated the 29-year-old male driver and sole occupant of the Audi but he died at the scene.

The 53-year-old female driver and a 54-year-old male passenger of the Volkswagen were treated by paramedics and taken to John Hunter Hospital in a serious but stable condition.

Officers from Lake Macquarie Police District established a crime scene that will be examined by specialist police.

As inquiries continue police are urging anyone with information about the matter – or was in the area at the time with any relevant mobile phone/dashcam footage – to contact Belmont Police Station or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Two people charged following fatal crash – Hunter Valley

Two people have been charged following a fatal motor vehicle crash in state’s Hunter Valley region earlier this year.

About 6.25pm on Friday 24 April 2026, emergency services were called to the intersection of Cessnock Road and Kemp Street, Neath, east of Cessnock, following reports of a multi-vehicle crash.

At the scene, police were told three vehicles – a red Utility, a silver Utility, and a motorcycle had collided.

The rider of the motorcycle – a 50-year-old woman – was treated at the scene by NSW Ambulance Paramedics for serious leg injuries before being taken to John Hunter Hospital in a critical condition.

The male drivers, aged 21 and 57, were uninjured and were taken to hospital for mandatory testing.

On Saturday 25 April 2026, police received notification that the woman passed away in hospital.

Officers from the Hunter Crash Investigation Unit commenced an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the crash.

Following inquiries, on Friday 7 August 2026, police issued the older man with a Court Attendance Notice for drive vehicle, illicit drug present in blood etc and is due to appear at Cessnock Local Court on Thursday 17 September 2026.

On the same day, police issued the younger man a Court Attendance Notice for:
Dangerous driving occasioning death – drive under influence,
Negligent driving (occasioning death),
Negligent driving (no death of grievous bodily harm),
Cause bodily harm by misconduct, in charge of motor vehicle,
Special category driver drive with special range prescribed concentration of alcohol.

His licence was also suspended, and he is due to appear at Cessnock Local Court on Wednesday 23 September 2026.

Two charged after alleged assault, kidnapping – Raymond Terrace

Shortly after 8.30pm on Sunday 2 August 2026, police were called to Boomerang Park, Raymond Terrace, following reports of an assault.

At the scene, police were told that a woman had allegedly assaulted a man with a baseball bat after he was located on the woman’s property on a nearby street.

The woman and another man allegedly detained the man and forced him to walk to Boomerang Park, where two other men were also allegedly assaulted by the woman.

The woman also allegedly struck a vehicle with the baseball bat, shattering its windscreen.

Police attached to Port Stephens-Hunter Police District attended and commenced inquiries into the incident.

NSW Ambulance paramedics also attended and treated a 44-year-old man for facial injuries, bruising and swelling.

He was taken to Maitland Hospital for further treatment.

About 5.25pm on Monday 3 August 2026, police arrested a 52-year-old woman at Raymond Terrace Police Station.

She was charged with three offences,
Assault occasioning actual bodily harm in company of other(s)
Kidnap with intent commit serious indictable offence occasion actual bodily harm, and
Armed with intent commit indictable offence.

She was refused bail to appear before Bail Division Court 2 on Tuesday 4 August 2026, where she was formally refused bail to appear before Newcastle Local Court on Wednesday 30 September 2026.

About 9.15am yesterday (Thursday 6 August 2026), a 56-year-old man was arrested at Raymond Terrace Police Station.

He was charged with assault occasioning actual bodily harm in company of other(s), and kidnap with intent commit serious indictable offence occasion actual bodily harm.

He was refused bail to appear before Bail Division Court 2 yesterday, where he was granted strict conditional bail to appear before Newcastle Local Court on Wednesday 30 September 2026.

Inquiries into the incident are continuing.

Delivering new advanced missiles for Australia’s Air Force

The Albanese Government is acquiring the AIM-260 Joint Advanced Tactical Missile (JATM), investing almost $736 million to equip the Royal Australian Air Force with new high speed, long-range air-to-air missiles.

The Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister, Richard Marles, made the announcement today at Exercise Pitch Black in Darwin, which is Australia’s premier international air combat exercise.

The AIM‑260 JATM, which is being acquired via foreign military sales from the United States Government will be first integrated onto Australia’s F/A-18F Super Hornet, followed by the F‑35A Lightning II and EA-18G Growler.

Through this investment, Australia will be the first country to operate the AIM-260 JATM outside the United States.

The 2026 National Defence Strategy and Integrated Investment Program reiterated the need to invest in a layered air and missile defence architecture that can detect and counter threats.

The acquisition of the AIM-260 JATM will provide Air Force platforms with a credible deterrent against airborne targets, complementing existing air-to-air missile capabilities and other surface-based missile capabilities across the Australian Defence Force (ADF). It will also further enhance Australia’s interoperability with the United States.

This decision builds on the Albanese Government’s earlier investments in medium‑range air defence and aerial strike capabilities, ensuring the ADF is capable, equipped and prepared to meet Australia’s strategic circumstances.

Deputy Prime Minister, Richard Marles:

“This announcement is the latest milestone in the delivery of long-range, high‑tech capabilities for our Defence Force.

“The Albanese Government continues to deliver critical capabilities that will allow the ADF to strike at a longer range, deter any adversary and protect our national interests.

“It is fitting to make this announcement at Exercise Pitch Black, which is an important demonstration of Australia’s commitment to the peace, stability and security of our region.”

Minister for Defence Industry, Pat Conroy:

“JATM missiles are some of the most sophisticated air-to-air weapons in the world, and Australia will be the first country to operate them outside the US.

“This investment will deliver the most advanced capability for our ADF to detect and counter threats, and keep Australians safe.

“This is made possible thanks to the Albanese Government’s record investment in Defence, including up to $36 billion over the next decade for Guided Weapons and Explosive Ordnance.”

Australian rocket motor takes flight

The first successful test flight of a fully Australian-designed and manufactured advanced solid rocket motor has taken place at the Koonibba Test Range near Ceduna, South Australia.

This milestone marks another significant step towards Australia’s sovereign guided weapons capability, demonstrating the ability of Australian industry to design, manufacture, integrate and test rocket motor technologies relevant to future tactical missile systems.

Key facts about the Koonibba Rising 3.0 solid rocket motor:

A 100kg-class solid rocket motor.
Incorporates technologies and design features required for high-performance, military-relevant applications.
Launched in a flight test conducted by Southern Launch, a South Australian industry partner.
Rocket motors are a critical component of most missile systems, providing propulsion during flight.
Solid rocket motors are generally used for military applications due to their simplicity, high energy density and ability to be stored for extended periods while remaining ready to launch at short notice.

Post-flight analysis confirmed the rocket motor performed as designed throughout the test. The test also successfully demonstrated real-time monitoring of flight vehicle and rocket motor performance data and enabled the recovery of the flight vehicle for inspection and data validation.

This test builds on the successful static firing of the larger-scale DRACO solid rocket motor at Woomera in February 2026.

Koonibba Rising 3.0 was developed through the Advanced Rocket Motor Technology Demonstrator Program program, a partnership between the Defence Science and Technology Group and Thales Australia. The program brings together a network of Australian industry partners involved in component design and manufacturing.

This achievement demonstrates a viable pathway for the domestic development, manufacture, testing and evaluation of future rocket motors, reinforcing Australia’s sovereign industrial capabilities and supporting the delivery of advanced defence technologies.

Minister for Defence Industry Pat Conroy:

“This is a significant achievement for Australia’s defence industry and a major step forward in our ability to design, develop and test advanced rocket motor and missile system technologies right here in Australia.

“It showcases the strength of collaboration between Defence, Australian industry and research organisations in delivering cutting-edge capabilities that support our national security and sovereign industrial resilience.”

Visit to Fiji for the Pacific Islands Forum Foreign Ministers Meeting

Today I will travel to Fiji to attend the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) Foreign Ministers Meeting.

At a time of global uncertainty, it is more important than ever that Pacific countries work together to advance our shared interests, uphold Pacific priorities and strengthen the peace, stability and prosperity of our region. By bringing together its 18 members, the PIF makes us stronger and more resilient.

The meeting will help prepare for the PIF Leaders Meeting in Palau next month and provide an opportunity to advance discussions on the region’s key priorities, including peace and security, climate change, and economic development.

The visit comes a month after Australia and Fiji signed two historic treaties in Suva – the Vuvale Union and Ocean of Peace Alliance – that will deepen our bilateral relationship and contribute to our countries’ prosperity, security and resilience for decades to come.

They are also the first treaties to implement the Ocean of Peace Declaration, endorsed by Pacific leaders in 2025, with regionalism at the heart of both agreements.

As a founding member of the PIF, Australia is a partner the region can count on.

Australia strongly supports the PIF’s role in bringing countries together and advancing our shared vision of a region where nations can make their own choices and shape their own futures.

Imagery from the visit will be available on the DFAT multimedia website.

Inquiry report highlights failure of ongoing public-private partnerships at NSW Health services

An explosive and damning Parliamentary inquiry has unanimously recommended the Calvary Mater Hospital in Newcastle be brought into public hands, like the Northern Beaches Hospital, and for all other existing NSW Health public-private partnerships to be scrutinised to protect patient and staff safety.

These are two of the key recommendations to come out of the Inquiry into management, maintenance and operational issues at the Calvary Mater Hospital, chaired by Greens spokesperson for Health and former GP Dr Amanda Cohn MLC, with the final report tabled in the NSW Parliament today.

Dr Cohn said the revelations shared by staff and whistleblowers were shocking.

“We heard about maggots falling from the ceiling onto a patient, nurses funneling rainwater into garbage bins during the night, a doctor fainting during surgery because of high humidity in the operating theatre, and explosive allegations of falsified maintenance records,” Dr Cohn said.

“All these problems could have been prevented. Hospital management and the NSW government knew about these issues for years, and failed to address them.

“The only solution that will fix the infrastructure issues, and restore the trust of staff and the community, is for the ownership and management of the hospital to be brought into public hands.

“The Minns Labor Government already conceded the PPP model doesn’t work when it bought back the Northern Beaches Hospital, but it has failed to take that same decisive action for Newcastle.”

For years, staff raised maintenance issues at the Calvary Mater, without an adequate response. Dr Cohn said the issues only started to be taken seriously when whistleblowers exposed the problems in the media.

Luke Carroll was a project manager for Honeywell at the hospital and felt compelled to speak out about the neglect and bandaid solutions he witnessed.

“It was very dark days when I first realised how serious the maintenance issue was in the cancer ward,” he said. “I was shocked and, naively perhaps, thought Honeywell would do the right thing. Instead, I was interrogated, confined to my home, and ultimately I lost my career.”

“I knew well for those months that they kept me and their secret hidden, that people were likely to be dying in the cancer ward of the Mater. The weight of that overwhelmed me and I eventually had to act.”

Dr Cohn said patients and healthcare workers should not have to rely on whistleblowers, tragedies or parliamentary inquiries before governments act on serious safety concerns.

Dee Spoljaric and Camilla Smith, on behalf of nurses at the Mater said “We have waited far too long for decisive action. Our optimism now rests on the recommendations of the Inquiry being implemented in full. We would be deeply disappointed if this opportunity for reform was ignored.”

The inquiry also heard from staff at other NSW services that operate under a private-public partnership model, including Orange and Bathurst Hospitals and the Northern NSW Helicopter Rescue Service. The report recommends further investigation of these services.

“The findings of the inquiry are further proof that the public-private partnership model has failed NSW patients, healthcare workers and communities. Every community deserves a public hospital that puts patients first, not private operators,” Dr Cohn said.

“The Minns Labor must urgently bring the ownership and management of the Calvary Mater Hospital into public hands and review other services operating under the private-public partnership model – before the next tragedy, not after.”

whistleblower Luke Carroll who was a Senior Project Manager for Honeywell at the hospital

“It was very dark days when I first realised how serious the maintenance issue was in the cancer ward. I was shocked and, naively perhaps, thought Honeywell would do the right thing. Instead, I was interrogated, confined to my home, and ultimately I lost my career.”

“It was a very difficult time for me, but on the other side of the ledger, the good side, people helped me to get this story where it belonged, and I thank XD Law, Bilbie Faraday Harrison, the Newcastle Herald, and ultimately the Parliamentary Inquiry.”

“It won’t help the people who died, but I hope it’s some comfort to their families, and the other victims, to finally be told the truth about what happened in that hospital.”

Calvary Mater Newcastle, Dee Spoljaric and Camilla Smith said:

“Nurses and staff at Calvary Mater Newcastle are incredibly grateful to Amanda Cohn and all members of the Parliamentary Inquiry Committee for giving nurses, patients and staff the opportunity to tell the truth about what has been happening at the Mater.

“Our gratitude extends to every patient, family member and staff member who had the courage to speak. Their voices have been instrumental in exposing issues that could no longer be ignored.

“Many of us have spent years raising concerns about the condition of our hospital and the impact it has had on both staff and patients. The Inquiry gave us hope that those concerns were finally being taken seriously.

“We care about our patients, our colleagues and the future of this hospital. We sincerely thank the Committee for listening.

“The evidence presented throughout the Inquiry painted a clear picture of years of infrastructure failures and governance issues. We are hopeful the final report will deliver strong recommendations that finally drive meaningful and lasting change.

“We have waited far too long for decisive action. Our optimism now rests on the recommendations of the Inquiry being implemented in full. We would be deeply disappointed if this opportunity for reform was ignored.

This is a crucial opportunity to restore confidence in The Mater. We hope everyone involved will embrace the Inquiry’s recommendations and work together to deliver the safe hospital our staff and community deserves.”

Statement by NSW Premier on sexual harassment allegations should be produced to Parliament

Two sets of independent legal advice have found that a statement made by Chris Minns in relation to historical allegations of sexual harassment in the NSW Parliament have disagreed with the Minns Labor Government’s argument that the statement cannot be provided to the Parliament because it is a Police document. Georgina Wright SC has recommended that the statement by Minns should be produced under the powers of the Legislative Council if it was not formally served on Jamie Clements as part of an apprehended violence order civil case, and Geoffrey Watson SC has recommended that the statement should be produced under the existing order for the statement to be produced to the Parliament.

In an answer to a question provided to the Parliament today, the Government has confirmed that “The limited documentary evidence available does not reveal whether a copy of this brief (statement) was served on Clements”.

Greens MP and spokesperson for justice Sue Higginson says “The Leader of the Government has refused to produce this statement made by Minns on multiple occasions, the legal basis for that refusal is now clearly in question by two independent Senior Counsels,”

“The Greens ensured independent legal advice on this issue was requested, in an effort to prevent the Leader of the Government from being repeatedly found in contempt of the Parliament. We now have two separate opinions that do not support the Government’s refusal to produce the Minns statement, as ordered by the Parliament,”

“When asked directly whether the Minns Statement was served on his friend Jamie Clements, the Minister for Police referred back to the Crown Solicitor’s advice which said ‘The limited documentary evidence available does not reveal whether a copy of this brief was served on Clements’ legal representatives’. The presumption must be made that this document is a document that must be produced to the Parliament as ordered,”

“The advice of Geoffrey Watson SC is very clear, this statement should be produced as ordered. It’s time the Minns Labor Government accepts the legal position and complies with the order of the Parliament. This is a document that a brave young woman is calling to be released and it goes directly to the character of the Premier of NSW,” Ms Higginson said.