Category: NSW News

The Minns Labor Government’s much-hyped crackdown on illegal e-bikes has failed to get off the ground, with not a single e-bike crushed six months after the new powers were announced.
 
Despite Transport Minister John Graham promising tougher action in February just one portable “dyno” unit is available to test whether e-bikes comply with legal power and speed limits, with another two units not expected to arrive until later this year.
 
Legislation passed in May allowing police to seize and destroy illegal e-bikes is still not in force.
 
Shadow Minister for Transport Natalie Ward said the Government was all talk and no action.
 
“It’s been six months and not a single e-bike crushed. The only thing the Government has managed to crush is the Minister’s credibility,” Ms Ward said.
 
“Labor announced these powers with great fanfare, but six months later they haven’t even brought their own laws into force.”
 
“Meanwhile the community continues to raise concerns about illegal and overpowered e-bikes on NSW streets and call for tougher enforcement.”
 
The NSW Liberals and Nationals have put forward a clear, practical policy to introduce identification plates for young riders and commercial e-bike operators to enforce rules, change behaviour and prevent crashes.
 
“The Liberals and Nationals would have had identification plates on e-bikes two years ago, giving police a practical way to identify riders and hold them accountable,” Ms Ward said.
 
“John Graham needs to stop making announcements and tell the community exactly when these laws will commence and when police will have enough equipment to properly enforce them.”

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.”

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.”

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.”

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.”

Families with seriously ill children will benefit from staying closer to care and treatment, with new onsite accommodation by Ronald McDonald House Greater Western Sydney open at The Children’s Hospital at Westmead.

Located on Level 9 of the new 14-storey Paediatric Services Building, the accommodation is close to the cardiac and critical care inpatient units, ensuring families can stay together during some of the most challenging times.

Complementing the NSW Government’s $659.1 million Stage 2 Redevelopment of The Children’s Hospital at Westmead, the Family Accommodation will ensure children and families have greater access to world-class healthcare in a modern, purpose-built environment.

The new accommodation provides:

• Overnight accommodation for up to ten families
• Kitchen facilities for preparing meals, as well as grab and go meals for families
• Communal spaces including a living room, dining area, and outdoor terrace
• Laundry amenities
• Wrap-around support services including counselling and mental health support

Delivered in partnership with the NSW Government to support children and families, Ronald McDonald House Greater Western Sydney received funding contributions of $750,000, including $250,000 from NSW Health, matched by the Sydney Children’s Hospitals Foundation, and a further $250,000 through the NSW Community Infrastructure Grants program.

The accommodation is being delivered as part of a broader investment from the Minns Government in Western Sydney hospitals, including Rouse Hill Hospital, the new Bankstown Hospital, Blacktown and Mt Druitt Hospitals.

Minister for Health, Ryan Park:

“For families travelling from regional, rural and remote communities, we know that having a safe and comfortable place to stay can make an enormous difference while they’re accessing treatment.

“This new accommodation not only reduces the burden of travel and accommodation costs, but is a home away from home for families experiencing an already challenging time.

“The Coalition devastated our health system with less hospitals, less beds and less staff, we’re delivering health facilities that will have a lasting impact on children and families across NSW.”

Member for Parramatta, Donna Davis:

“When a child is seriously ill, families should be able to focus on supporting their child, not worrying about where they will stay during treatment.

“Delivering great healthcare is not only about clinical facilities, but also about supporting the families who are central to a child’s recovery.”

Ronald McDonald House Greater Western Sydney, CEO, Claire Barber:

“Keeping families close to their child while they receive hospital care is not a nice-to-have, it is a critical part of healthcare that contributes to better outcomes for children and their families.

“The new Ronald McDonald House Family Accommodation will provide vital support, comfort and stability for more families with seriously ill children.

“We’re grateful to have partnered with the NSW Government and the Sydney Children’s Hospitals Foundation to bring this important facility to life.”

Sydney Children’s Hospitals Network, Chief Executive, Cathryn Cox:

“The Ronald McDonald House Family Accommodation does far more than bring families closer to clinical care. It helps keep families together when they need each other most.

“Keeping parents, siblings, and loved ones close is an important part of a child’s wellbeing, care and treatment.

“By providing a welcoming place to stay in the hospital, we can reduce some of the pressure and impact that children, young people and their families experience because of hospitalisation. It creates further opportunity to strengthen patient-centred and family-centred care that is at the heart of everything we do.”

Sydney Children’s Hospitals Foundation, CEO, Kristina Keneally:

“The Ronald McDonald House Family Accommodation is a wonderful example of what can be achieved when government, philanthropy and the not-for-profit sector come together around a shared goal to make life better for children and families.

“We’re proud to partner with the NSW Government and Ronald McDonald House Greater Western Sydney to create a welcoming place where families can stay connected, supported and focused on what matters most – their child’s care and recovery.

“When a child is in hospital, having family close by can make an enormous difference, not only for the child, but for parents, siblings and carers navigating an incredibly difficult time.”

The NSW Liberals and Nationals welcome today’s announcement that a new public primary school will finally be delivered for families in Rhodes.
 
The school is long overdue. It was identified, planned and budgeted for by the former NSW Liberal and Nationals Government before 2023. Labor’s claim that there was no plan or commitment is simply wrong.
 
Instead of rewriting history, the Minns Labor Government should explain why it has allowed the project to stall for three years.
 
It was only after the Member for Drummoyne, Stephanie Di Pasqua, put the Government on notice in Parliament earlier this year that the Department of Education began to act. Until we raised the issue, the Department had not updated the Rhodes East Public School webpage since 2023.
 
The school is also necessary because Labor has approved thousands more homes in Rhodes than were proposed under previous master plans, without proper community consultation. More development must be matched by the schools, transport and community infrastructure residents need.
 
This school is welcome, but it is only one part of the infrastructure required to support a growing Rhodes.
 
Labor has removed the Rhodes Ferry Wharf from its infrastructure priorities and failed to commit to upgrading Rhodes Station, where overcrowded platforms are already a daily problem during peak periods.
 
The Government must also be upfront about its plans for Rhodes East. Does it intend to lift the current cap of 4,200 homes? If so, by how many? Why has the community not been consulted?
 
Labor cannot continue approving more dwellings while failing to deliver the infrastructure needed to support them. Communities deserve to be consulted before decisions are made, not informed after the fact.
 
The real credit belongs to the local parents, residents and community groups who have spent years campaigning for this school. Their advocacy ensured the project remained on the agenda and will now finally be delivered.

More than 9,100 patients in NSW who called Triple Zero in the first six months of 2026 avoided a trip to an emergency department by ambulance thanks to NSW Ambulance’s Virtual Clinical Care Centre (VCCC).

Through secondary triage, virtual assessment and clinical advice, the VCCC enables patients to be safely referred to alternative care options when an ambulance or hospital visit is not required. This ensures patients receive adequate and appropriate treatment while ensuring ambulance resources remain available for serious and life-threatening emergencies.

It plays a key role in supporting paramedics, volunteers, aged care providers and families by providing expert clinical assessment, advice and decision making through phone and secure video consultations.

After 14,800 patients were safely and appropriately diverted from hospitals by the VCCC in 2024, the latest 2025 data shows a full picture of the program’s success.

In 2025, more than 17,000 patients received care through the VCCC.

In 2025, the VCCC:

• Undertook almost 60,000 secondary triages of Triple Zero (000) calls.
• Of those calls, over 17,000 patients were safely diverted away from hospital and to alternative care options, a 15 per cent increase on 2024.
• Reviewed more than 30,400 interhospital transfers.
• Supported NSW Ambulance clinicians by answering close to 5,900 clinical advice line calls.
• Conducted 47,800 proactive follow-up calls to Triple Zero (000) callers with less serious conditions to provide reassurance and monitor patient safety.
• 96 per cent of patients who were referred to the VCCC reported a good or very good clinical outcome after being referred to more appropriate care.
• 96 per cent of patients also reported a good or very good experience.

The VCCC was established as part of the $1.76 billion Strategic Workforce Infrastructure Team (SWIFT) program, which is delivering more than 2,500 new staff over the coming years, with $135 million allocated to the VCCC.

While the VCCC may assist some patients who have called Triple Zero (000), the community are encouraged to access free health advice and be connected to care virtually or close to home by calling Healthdirect on 1800 022 222. A registered nurse will assess their condition and refer them to the most appropriate service depending on their clinical need. If your situation or condition is life-threatening, always call Triple Zero (000) and NSW Ambulance will respond.

The Minns Labor Government is committed to easing pressure on hospitals by increasing access to care through alternate pathways and avoiding unnecessary ED visits. This includes:

• Investing in virtual and urgent care services
• Supporting geriatric outreach and Hospital in the Home.
• Expanding scope of practice for pharmacists to treat uncomplicated skin conditions and UTIs, and resupply the contraceptive pill
• Expanding scope of practice for GPs to diagnose and treat ADHD

Minister for Health Ryan Park

“The Virtual Clinical Care Centre is an incredible investment in how we deliver healthcare across NSW.

“It ensures people are connected to the world-class care while keeping ambulances available for time-critical emergencies and, importantly, helping to relieve pressure from hospitals.

“By supporting people to access the most appropriate care for their situation, the Virtual Clinical Care Centre helps avoid unnecessary trips to the ED, relieving pressure from busy hospitals and saving patients from long wait times.”

NSW Ambulance Interim Chief Executive Clare Beech

“Our VCCC teams are experts at working with patients to navigate them to the most appropriate care. Whether that is services such as virtual hospitals, urgent care clinics or simply advice to help manage their condition at home.

“In one case we heard from a mother who called Triple Zero (000) late at night worried about her unwell toddler. She received support through a phone and video assessment and after a thorough clinical review and clear advice, she felt confident managing her child’s symptoms at home.

“She described the experience as extremely reassuring and said it was a relief to speak to a clinician in real time, which is a sentiment that has been shared with us time and time again.”

The Minns Labor Government has finalised the rezoning of 33 hectares of the Parramatta North precinct and will invest $124.5 million to power its transformation into a thriving, mixed-use community adjacent to one of Australia’s most important heritage sites.

The rezoning will create a vibrant new community that celebrates its nationally significant heritage and will establish new social and cultural assets, alongside housing, commercial, innovation and education facilities.

The Parramatta North transformation is another step in the Minns Labor Government’s plan to address Sydney’s housing supply challenge, by creating opportunities to build new homes close to public transport, jobs, and essential services, while creating vibrant communities where people can live, work, and thrive.

Situated along the new Parramatta Light Rail corridor and serviced by both the Ngara and the Children’s Hospital stops, the precinct has easy access to the Parramatta CBD and the Westmead Health and Innovation District, with direct and fast connections to the wider Sydney Metro system.

A revitalised Parramatta North will deliver a range of social, community and economic outcomes.

Key features of the rezoning include:

• around 2,000 new homes, including at least 100 affordable homes
• a mix of building types ranging from two to 23 storeys, scaled sensitively in response to their natural and heritage environments
• up to 12,000 potential new jobs across health services, research, education and supporting industries
• provisions for a new university campus to support the Westmead Health and Innovation District
• new and enhanced multipurpose community facilities, including an upgraded heritage-listed recreational hall, a new First Nations pavilion adjacent to a natural riverside play space, and enhanced spectator and user amenities alongside the Green
• up to 10 hectares of public open space, including sports fields, extended riverside pathways, parks and gardens, plazas and play spaces
• a Country-centred approach to landscape design through enhanced riparian corridors, replacing native species, water-sensitive urban design and natural play spaces.

The finalised rezoning carefully balances the need for additional housing and complementary uses including tertiary education, commercial and retail, alongside the cultural history and important national heritage of Parramatta North.

Buildings with high or exceptional heritage significance will be conserved, while the number of buildings and their heights have been reduced next to the Parramatta Female Factory and Institutions Precinct.

Over the next four years, underutilised government-owned land will be progressively released for housing, jobs, and mixed-use development, driving new economic activity across the region.

The staged development will ensure the site grows into a well-serviced destination that respects its significant cultural heritage, including Aboriginal peoples’ connections and significant buildings.

For information on the Parramatta North rezoning, please visit the NSW Planning Portal.

For information about the investment in the Parramatta North precinct, please visit Property and Development NSW.

Premier of New South Wales Chris Minns said:

“This is a great opportunity to create a new community that delivers for the people of Western Sydney while protecting and celebrating one of Australia’s most significant heritage sites.

“We want a city where people can afford to live, where young people have the opportunity to stay close to their families and communities, and where working people aren’t locked out of the city they helped build.”

Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Paul Scully said:

“Good neighbourhoods don’t happen by accident; they are built through a combination of careful planning and the right infrastructure.

“This ambitious rezoning proposal sets Parramatta North up to become a well-connected, vibrant precinct for thousands more Sydneysiders to call home.

“We’re delivering the homes, jobs and open space our growing community needs while retaining Parramatta’s cultural heritage at the heart of this precinct.”

Minister for Lands and Property Steve Kamper said:

“Our $125 million investment is the next step in the opportunity to reshape the Parramatta North precinct into a well-connected, mixed-use community.

“By bringing together heritage, open space, employment and new development, the NSW Government is shaping a place of connection and renewal that honours Parramatta North’s past while building a better future for Western Sydney.

“The new Parramatta North community will stitch together the bustling Parramatta CBD with the Westmead Health and Innovation Precinct, finally combining these economic and job centres to establish Sydney’s new ‘Central River City’ that has long been proposed, but not delivered until now.”

Member for Parramatta Donna Davis said:

“This is a great outcome for our local community.

“As a result of extensive community consultation, we will get 10 hectares of public open space, parks and gardens.

“We are committed to maintaining the 6-hectare Parramatta Female Factory and Institutions Precinct in Government ownership and it is not included in the rezoning.

“The approved master plan and rezoning have reduced the number and scale of building adjacent to the precinct, opening sightlines and vistas to and from the heritage buildings.

“I look forward to working with the community as this project unfolds.

“Together, we will create a place where people can live, visit, work and enjoy all that Parramatta has to offer.”

The Fairfield community is being given its first look at the design for the new Prairiewood Ambulance Station.

The new ambulance station, which will be located on the Fairfield Hospital campus, is part of the NSW Government’s $615.5 million NSW Ambulance Infrastructure Program.

The new modern, purpose-built station will be built on the corner of Polding and McKeown streets and include internal parking for up to 10 emergency ambulance vehicles, on-site vehicle wash facilities, administration and logistics areas, multipurpose spaces, staff amenities including a gym, and on-site parking.

The new artist’s impression showcases the station’s exterior design, including its façade and surrounding front landscaping.

Construction is expected to commence in 2027.

The site was selected following a comprehensive service planning process by Health Infrastructure and NSW Ambulance using best practice modelling software to map Triple Zero (000) calls.

The location of the new ambulance station will optimise response performance to better meet the emergency and mobile medical care needs of the local community.

The NSW Government is delivering 30 new ambulance stations and supporting infrastructure across Sydney, the Central Coast, Newcastle, the Hunter, and Illawarra regions over the coming years.

In addition to the Ambulance Infrastructure Program, the Minns Labor Government is recruiting an additional 500 paramedics in rural and regional areas, to boost emergency and mobile healthcare across the state.

For more information, visit NSW Ambulance Infrastructure Program.

Minister for Health Ryan Park:

“The Minns Labor Government is building more ambulance stations and recruiting more paramedics to deliver better health services for communities in Southwest Sydney and across NSW.

“Southwest Sydney is one of the fastest-growing regions in the state, and the new Prairiewood ambulance station is one of nine stations the Government is delivering across Sydney’s west and southwest to ensure local communities continue to have access to timely emergency care now and into the future.”

Member for Prospect Hugh McDermott:

“This new ambulance station at Prairiewood will deliver modern facilities for our hardworking paramedics and help support our local families in their time of need.

“With the Minns Labor Government investing in the biggest redevelopment of Fairfield Hospital in its history, I’m delighted that we are ensuring our ambulance infrastructure is fit-for-purpose both now and into the future.”

Member for Fairfield David Saliba:

“This is fantastic news for local families, who will benefit from enhanced access to emergency and mobile healthcare services.

“Prairiewood and surrounding suburbs continue to grow, and it’s important essential health infrastructure grows with them.

“The new ambulance station will support our hardworking paramedics with a purpose-built facility while helping deliver better health outcomes for the community.”

Member for Cabramatta Tri Vo:

“This is wonderful news for all the families and communities right across my Cabramatta Electorate.

“Co-located with the redeveloped Fairfield Hospital, this new Prairiewood Ambulance Station will help emergency care, support our hardworking paramedics and hospital staff, and deliver better outcomes for patients when they need it most.”