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The Minns Labor Government has unveiled designs for a major new park near the Bella Vista Metro station, to be delivered as part of a $520 million investment in the Transport Oriented Development (TOD) Accelerated Precincts.

The designs for the three-hectare park are now on public exhibition so the community can help shape the park’s future.

Current plans will deliver a premier family-friendly open space which will provide shaded areas for nature-based recreation, community gatherings, and inclusive, accessible play.

Key design features include:

• A community green bordered by open woodland, which can be used for both casual ball games and community events.
• An amphitheatre for small performances with nearby picnic spaces.
• Extensive woodland and native plantings and a generous tree canopy to create cool shaded environments.
• Family-friendly play zones, including forest-themed play area, interactive waterplay and spaces for casual sport and active play.
• Terraced lawns and quiet gathering areas.
• A network of accessible paths and walking trails, winding through shaded groves, linking key play and gathering areas.
• Culturally enriched spaces informed by Traditional Knowledge to support learning and reflect Connection to Country principles.

This is one of seven major parks to be delivered alongside the Transport Oriented Development (TOD) Accelerated Precincts.

Bella Vista Park celebrates the Cumberland Plain Woodland and will connect to the nearby Kellyville Centre Park, with the designs for both parks now on public exhibition for community feedback.

The Minns Labor Government has worked in close collaboration with the local community, The Hills Shire Council and Traditional Custodians to deliver the design.

The TOD Accelerated Precincts will support the delivery of almost 60,000 homes and more than 126,000 commercial and retail jobs around key transport hubs.

The Bella Vista District Park design is on public exhibition until 5pm Thursday, 23 April. For more information and to have your say, attend an in-person pop up in the local area and visit, NSW Planning.

Deputy Premier and Minister for Western Sydney Prue Car said:

“The Minns Labor Government is working to deliver well-located, affordable homes near transport, jobs and amenities.

“Housing growth goes hand-in-hand with high-quality places for people to relax and play.

“This is the type of local infrastructure that we want to see come in preparation for new homes.”

Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Paul Scully said:

“This is another example of the Minns Labor Government delivering quality open spaces to support housing growth.

“The new Bella Vista park will be a place for people to come together to relax, play, exercise and enjoy nature for generations to come.

“The draft design has taken inspiration from the nearby Cumberland Plain Woodland to deliver a three-hectare park which reflects the area’s natural environment.”

Member for Riverstone, Warren Kirby said:

“This park will provide locals access to a great new open space right in the heart of Bella Vista where they can unwind, spend time together, and enjoy the great outdoors.

“As our communities grow, so too does the need for open spaces, I encourage people to have their say now to help shape the future of this great new park.”

Families across New South Wales are continuing to face relentless cost of living pressures, with new figures showing Sydney inflation remains higher than the national average.

Figures for the year to February 2026 show Sydney’s Consumer Price Index (CPI) sitting at 3.8 per cent, confirming a trend of persistent, high inflation under Chris Minns and Labor.

Crucially, these figures represent the economic landscape prior to the launch of the Iran conflict on the final day of February and the resultant global economic shock.

With Sydney’s cost of living already higher than the national CPI (3.7%), Melbourne (3.3%), and Brisbane (3.7%), Labor’s failure to rein in costs during the pre-conflict period has left already struggling families dangerously exposed to the coming global price shocks.

The following essentials have seen increases well above the 3.8% headline inflation rate in the year to February 2026:

• Electricity: up 14.5%
• Child Care: up 8.9%
• Beef: up 7.8%
• Gas: up 7.3%
• Property Rates: up 7.1%
• Urban Transport Fares: up 5.2%
• Medical and Hospital Services: up 4.5%

Shadow Treasurer, Scott Farlow, said these figures show the cost-of-living crisis in NSW is far from over and is getting worse every day.

“These inflation figures are bad news for families,” Mr Farlow said.

“What is worse is these figures are from before the shocks from the Iran conflict. Transport costs in particular will add further pressure in the months ahead.”

“Families are being squeezed at the supermarket, at the petrol pump and on their electricity bills with real risk this gets worse before it gets better.”

“While the cost of housing, food and essential bills continues to rise, state taxes have grown by 30 per cent since this Government came to power. Everywhere people look there is another tax or charge to pay under Chris Minns and Labor,” Mr Farlow said.

“The Minns Labor Government is sitting on their hands and has no plan to ease the cost burden on NSW families.”

The NSW Opposition is demanding the fuel excise be cut immediately to deliver critical cost-of-living relief to NSW families and businesses. 
 
The Liberals and Nationals are also urging the Minns Labor Government to pick up the phone to their Federal colleagues and ask for the fuel excise reduction, instead of choosing to remain silent.  
 
With petrol prices surging past $3 a litre in parts of NSW and global supply issues there is a great deal of uncertainty which is placing enormous pressure on households. 
 
Leader of the Opposition, Kellie Sloane, said a temporary cut in fuel excise would provide immediate and meaningful cost-of-living relief. 
 
“The Liberals and Nationals have continued to put forward measures to provide transparency, reliability and support families throughout the fuel crisis,” Ms Sloane said.  
 
“The Minns Labor Government has rejected all our proposals and has refused to use the levers available to them. At the very least Chris Minns must pick up the phone and demand the Prime Minister cut the fuel excise to provide immediate relief for motorists. His silence is a choice.” 
 
“The fuel excise currently sits at 52.6 cents per litre. A reduction like this at the bowser would significantly reduce current pressures people are facing.” 
 
Leader of the NSW Nationals, Gurmesh Singh, warned that rising fuel costs are having an even greater impact on our regional communities. 
  
“Truck drivers, farmers and regional families do not have the luxury of frequent public transport or short travel times. In regional and rural NSW, higher fuel costs flow through to everything from getting to work and transporting goods, to putting food on the tables of families in the cities,” Mr Singh said. 
  
“It’s time for Chris Minns to step up and stand behind the people of NSW.” 
 
Shadow Minister for Roads, Mark Coure, said the Minns Labor Government has not done enough to prevent this crisis from worsening.  
 
“Beyond their roundtable, the Minns Labor Government has failed to put pressure on Anthony Albanese or take meaningful action at a state level to stop motorists being slugged at the bowser,” Mr Coure said. 
 
“The NSW Liberals and Nationals have already put forward practical legislation for daily fuel price transparency and cap reporting and called for free public transport over the Easter long weekend which Labor has refused to even consider.” 

The Minns Labor Government must act following reports of a “campaign of disruption” by unions, impacting apprentices in Sydney. 
  
Industry leaders have raised serious concerns after former CFMEU officials now with the ETU exercised their right to entry at a Sydney training centre, with NECA NSW and ACT Executive Director Mark Stedfut warning it is a “calculated campaign of disruption that does nothing to benefit those apprentices”. 
  
Shadow Minister for Skills, TAFE and Tertiary Education, Justin Clancy, said apprentices are being caught in the middle — and the Government is failing to step in. 
  
“Our apprentices deserve to be learning their trade in a stable and supportive environment — not caught up in what has been described as a campaign of disruption that does nothing to benefit them,” Mr Clancy said. 
  
“When you have repeated disruption targeting the same group of young workers, it’s clear this has nothing to do with supporting apprentices and everything to do with pushing an agenda.” 
  
Mr Clancy said the issue goes to the heart of the state’s skills crisis. 
  
“Only around half of apprentices in New South Wales complete their training — and yet we are allowing disruption that makes it even harder for them to stay engaged and finish,” he said. 
  
Mr Clancy said the Minns Government cannot claim to be rebuilding TAFE and skills while failing to protect apprentices on the ground. 
  
“This is the test — will the Government stand up for apprentices, or will it stand back and allow this disruption to continue?” he said. 
  
“If the Government is serious about fixing skills shortages, it must start by protecting apprentices — because without them, there is no pipeline.” 

This is a joint release between the Australian Federal Police, NSW Police Force, Australian Security Intelligence Organisation and the NSW Crime Commission

A 16-year-old boy is set to appear in a NSW Children’s Court today (25 March, 2026) charged with terrorism offences following an investigation by the NSW Joint Counter Terrorism Team (NSW JCTT).

The NSW JCTT began an investigation on 10 December, 2025, following a report of an individual posting threats of extremist violence online.

Investigators executed a search warrant at a home in Sydney’s Inner West on 11 December, 2025, and reviewed a number of electronic devices. A gel blaster and a flick knife were located and seized.

The young person was charged with:

• One count of possessing  an unathorised pistol, contrary to section 7(1) of the Firearms Act 1996 (NSW), and;
• One count of possessing a prohibited weapon without a permit, contrary to section 7(1) of the Weapons Prohibition Act 1998 (NSW).

These offences each carry a maximum penalty of 14 years’ imprisonment.

The young person appeared before a NSW Children’s Court on 12 December, 2025, where he was formally refused bail. They were subsequently granted bail by the same court on 19 December, 2025.

A further review of the young person’s electronic devices identified information relating to extremist violence. It will be alleged the young person held a mixed ideology and outlined plans for acts of violence. 

On 24 March, 2026 NSW JCTT investigators laid further charges on the young person:

• One count of collecting documents likely to facilitate a terrorist act, contrary to section 101.5 of the Criminal Code (Cth). This offence carries a maximum penalty of 15 years; 
• Two counts of making documents likely to facilitate a terrorist act, contrary to section 101.5 of the Criminal Code (Cth). This offence carries a maximum penalty of 15 years; and
• Two counts of did possess violent extremist material contrary to section 474.45C of the Criminal Code (Cth). This offence carries a maximum penalty of five years’ imprisonment.

The young person is expected to appear at a NSW Children’s Court today (25 March, 2026).

The NSW JCTT is comprised of members from the NSW Police Force, Australian Federal Police, Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO) and NSW Crime Commission.

Anyone with information about extremist activity or possible threats to the community should come forward, no matter how small or insignificant you think the information may be. The National Security Hotline is 1800 123 400.

The $95 million redevelopment of Temora Hospital has reached a major milestone, with the first concrete slab poured for the modern health facility that will bring all services under the one roof.

It marks the first of eight concrete pours that will take place over the coming months, which will form the footprint of the eastern wing of the new hospital building.

Once complete, the redevelopment will deliver modern health facilities and upgraded services for Temora and surrounding communities, enhancing access to high quality healthcare closer to home, now and into the future.

The community will benefit from new and expanded services, including a purpose-built operating theatre and procedure room in the new perioperative suite, along with an expanded medical imaging unit.

For the first time, the hospital will offer a CT service, as well as a new ultrasound service, significantly improving local access to diagnostic imaging.

The redevelopment will also include:

• A new Emergency Department
• A flexible Inpatient Unit supporting medical, surgical, rehabilitation, maternity and palliative care
• Allied health and ambulatory clinics, including a gymnasium
• Community health and mental health, drug and alcohol services
• Pathology collection service
• Improved car parking for patients, staff and visitors
• Separate emergency and service vehicle entry

The existing staff dining room rotunda at the rear of the current hospital will also be incorporated and repurposed as a new courtyard space for staff.

With the concrete slabs pours now underway, the building will soon begin to take shape, with several structural elements to be installed in the coming weeks.

The new hospital is being delivered in stages at the existing hospital site with hospital services continuing to operate, and every effort being made to minimise impacts to patients. 

The redevelopment is expected to be completed in 2028.

For more information, visit nsw.gov.au/temora-hospital-redevelopment

Minister for Regional Health, Ryan Park:

“The Minns Government is delivering more beds, building more hospitals, and recruiting more staff to deliver better health services for communities right across NSW.

“I’m thrilled to see construction of the new Temora Hospital progressing, bringing these expanded health services for the community one step closer.

“The Temora Hospital Redevelopment will ensure the community and our dedicated health staff have access to a modern, fit-for-purpose health facility closer to home.”

Labor Spokesperson for Cootamundra Stephen Lawrence MLC:

“The Temora Hospital Redevelopment will deliver an upgraded health facility for both patients and staff, which will better meet the growing health needs of the local community.

“I’m also delighted the existing rotunda at the back of the current hospital will be retained and transformed into a welcoming courtyard space.”

The Minns Labor Government is getting on with delivering $85,100,000 in crucial upgrades to the Wakehurst Parkway, today announcing the award of the construction contract to Ertech Pty Ltd.

With detailed design work now complete, construction is on track to begin in mid-year, with site establishment works taking place in the coming months.

Wakehurst Parkway is a key arterial route connecting Pittwater Road at North Narrabeen with Warringah Road at Frenchs Forest. The Parkway currently experiences peak period congestion and flood-related disruptions that affect travel reliability for local communities.

The upgrades to Wakehurst Parkway – a commitment by the Minns Labor Government, will deliver targeted upgrades along Wakehurst Parkway to enhance network efficiency and traffic flow, improve safety by reducing crashes in key cluster areas, increase capacity for future traffic growth and support better access for walking, cycling and public transport.

Importantly, these upgrades will include flood-improvement work between Dreadnought Road and Oxford Falls Road, marking the first step in improving flood resilience on the Wakehurst Parkway.

The contract award comes as the Minns Government today commences consultation on the Northern Beaches Network Review, a network-wide analysis of the key road corridors moving people and goods across Sydney’s Lower North Shore and Northern Beaches.

The review examines the performance of the current transport network and identifies short and medium-term opportunities to improve travel reliability, reduce congestion, and enhance safety to and from the Northern Beaches and Lower North Shore.

The review adopts a holistic approach and recognises key challenges across the road network, identifying practical opportunities to improve the network by making better use of existing roads and infrastructure.

Opportunities include improving bus reliability, upgrading busy intersections, improving traffic flow on key corridors, addressing rat-running through local streets and targeting safety hot spots.

The Minns Government is committed to getting the essentials right, with a focus on practical improvements that can be delivered in the short to medium term to make trips safer, more reliable and more predictable while also supporting future growth and complementing major projects already underway.

Community feedback is now being sought to test whether the Northern Beaches Network Review reflects lived experience of motorists and commuters and to help shape next steps. The community can have their say at https://nswroads.work/haveyoursay-nbnr

Minister for Roads Jenny Aitchison said:

“This is a good day for the thousands of commuters who use the Wakehurst Parkway daily. 

“The award of this contract represents an important step towards smoother, safer journeys for Northern Beaches motorists.

“I’d like to thank the Member for Wakehurst, Michael Regan and Member for Pittwater, Jacqui Scruby and their local communities for their steadfast advocacy on this project.

“The project forms part of broader work underway to improve the road network across the Northern Beaches.

“The Northern Beaches Road Network Review puts the Northern Beaches community in the driver’s seat, and we want to hear from locals, to help shape the future of transport in their community.

“People who use the network every day know what works and what doesn’t, and their voices will help shape the next wave of realistic, deliverable improvements.

“By listening to local experiences, we can deliver improvements that make a real difference now and into the future.

Member for Wakehurst, Michael Regan said:

“Today we’re marking a major milestone for the much-anticipated upgrades to Wakehurst Parkway. I campaigned on securing funding for these works in the 2023 election and I’ve been holding the NSW government to account on delivering their commitment ever since. The awarding of the contract, with a clear timeframe, gives me confidence we will see these critical works delivered.

“But there is so much more to do to improve our road network, especially our key corridors along Warringah and Pittwater Roads connecting us to Chatswood and the CBD. That’s why I’m encouraging everyone to participate in the Northern Beaches Network Review consultation.

“With no rail, metro or light rail, roads are absolutely critical to the functioning of our daily lives – for both private vehicle use and mass public transport. I want to see every step possible taken to make our road and public transport network work better for Northern Beaches residents. This is an important opportunity to tell the NSW Government what we want and expect to see – please have your say.”

Member for Pittwater, Jacqui Scruby said:

“After decades of broken roads and promises we now have a contractor for Wakehurst Parkway and the green light and preparatory works underway for the $500,000,000 Mona Vale Road West upgrade project.

“Upgrading these major roads will be a gamechanger for Pittwater residents.

“However, we rely on the whole road and transport network, and we know it better than anyone – that’s why I’m calling on everyone who commutes to have their say on the NB Network Review to ensure our intersections, corridors and bus suggestions inform our transport corridors.”

Renters’ first look at the Minns Labor Government’s Smart Rental Bonds system is here, as testing kicks off ahead of its launch in mid-2026.

Smart Rental Bonds will allow tenants to digitally transfer their bond between properties for a small fee of $25. This means they will no longer have to find thousands of dollars for a “second” bond while waiting for the previous bond to be refunded.

Smart Rental Bonds will deliver on the Minns Labor Government’s election commitment to introduce a portable rental bonds system to provide cost-of-living relief for renters and make renting fairer.

With the IT build done and extensive system testing beginning, the more than 2.3 million renters in NSW are a step closer to accessing this critical cost-of-living measure.

Around 330,000 households move each year, with most rental tenancies lasting less than two years, meaning thousands of renters face repeated upfront costs when changing homes. This requires people to save for several months before they can leave a property or potentially have to take out hefty loans if they have to move out of the property unexpectedly due to the property being sold or the homeowner moving in.

Accessible through the existing Rental Bonds Online platform, this new system maintains the integrity of the bond system by ensuring that landlords have security, while improving cashflow for renters.

With the average renter spending $4,000 each time they move, Smart Rental Bonds has been designed as a simple, easy-to-use solution for renters to alleviate financial stress:

• Renters will be notified once a landlord or agent lodges a bond request online.
• The renter logs onto Rental Bonds Online and chooses to either pay their new bond upfront, or use Smart Rental Bonds to move their existing bond to the new property.
• If the new bond is higher than the old one, the renter will need to pay the difference – but if the bond is cheaper, they will get the difference back provided no agreed claim on the bond.
• If a landlord makes a claim on a bond and the renter agrees, the NSW Government will pay the landlord upfront. The renter will then repay the Government, meaning landlords face no financial risk.

The Minns Labor Government is committed to improving the lives of renters, delivering substantial reforms such as ending no-grounds evictions, limiting rent increases to once a year, making it easier to have pets in rentals and introducing an $8.4 million NSW Rental Taskforce to hold landlords and real estate agents to account.

For more information on renting in NSW visit: https://www.nsw.gov.au/housing-and-construction/renting-a-place-to-live

Premier of New South Wales Chris Minns said:

“This reform is about easing cost-of-living pressure and making renting fairer, simpler and more flexible for more than 2.3 million renters in our state.

“Every cent counts and making sure that renters don’t have to put money forward for a bond while waiting for a refund will save them thousands of dollars each time they move.”

Minister for Housing Rose Jackson said:

“When we came into Government, the message we heard from renters was clear – having to fork out for two bonds at once when moving properties is a major expense that many just cannot afford.

“It’s creating stress, real hardship and even homelessness for some people struggling in our rental market. This landmark reform is a practical way to save millions of people thousands of dollars.

“With more people renting in NSW – many of them for extended periods, involving multiple moves – there has never been a more important time to provide this crucial cost of living relief.”

Minister for Better Regulation and Fair Trading Anoulack Chanthivong said:

“Over the last three years, the Minns Labor Government has delivered significant financial help for renters – from limiting rent increases to once a year, to mandating fee-free ways to pay rent.

“Smart Rental Bonds is the latest way the Minns Labor Government is delivering on its promise to make renting fairer and give renters cost-of-living relief.

“No one likes having to put forward thousands of dollars while waiting days, possibly weeks for their old bond to come back – that’s money which renters need to set up their new home.

“Smart Rental Bonds is not only a win for renters, but a solution which won’t disrupt how landlords and real estate agents conduct their business either.”

NSW Rental Commissioner Trina Jones said:

“The NSW Government is aware of the challenges renters face when moving home.

“Technology like the Smart Rental Bond system is just one way we are empowering renters by alleviating financial pressure and creating a fairer and more flexible rental experience for tenants in NSW.

“Allowing the bond to be a portable asset which can move between properties digitally will alleviate the financial strain which comes with moving such as having to hire a van or organise connecting utilities.

“Nothing will change for landlords in the process either, because the NSW Government will pay out the agreed claim to the bond once a tenant moves out.”