Category: NSW News

While passengers are making the most of their fast and efficient new metro service beneath the city, around-the-clock construction is powering ahead to deliver the 24-kilometre new Sydney Metro West railway to Westmead.

The mega project has recently achieved a slew of tunnelling milestones, including overseeing the arrival of two mega tunnel boring machines (TBMs) at Sydney Olympic Park to complete the first two tunnel entries for the future station.

TBM Betty, named after Olympic champion Betty Cuthbert, was first to arrive at Sydney Olympic Park in June and was followed by TBM Dorothy, named after human rights activist Dorothy Buckland-Fuller, on 29 July.

The TBMs have spent 10 months completing the 4.6-kilometre tunnels from Clyde, where the future Sydney Metro West stabling and maintenance facility will be located, to reach Sydney Olympic Park.

TBMs Betty and Dorothy have excavated approximately 857,500 tonnes of material, equivalent to nearly 156 Olympic-sized swimming pools, to complete the first leg in the journey and have installed more than 32,600 concrete precast segments along the way to line the new tunnel walls. 

Having reached the finish line at the future Olympic Park station, 170 metre long TBM Betty has been disassembled, lifted out of the station box and transported on trucks back to Clyde, where she will be relaunched in the opposite direction towards Westmead.

TBM Dorothy’s disassembly at Olympic Park is ongoing, but is expected to join Betty on their journey to Westmead a month later. Both TBMs are expected to arrive at Westmead in mid-2025.

The focus at Sydney Olympic Park will now shift to the opposite end of the 200-metre-long, 37-metre-wide, and 27-metre-deep station box, where TBMs Beatrice and Daphne are due to break through later this year.

TBMs Beatrice and Daphne are building a 11-kilometre section of the line between The Bays and Sydney Olympic Park and have recently relaunched from North Strathfield. The TBMs have two more kilometres of tunnel to build before completing the final leg in the journey to Sydney Olympic Park.

The project’s newest addition, TBM Jessie is tunnelling from The Bays towards the Sydney CBD at a slow and steady pace, inching its way underground alongside the Anzac Bridge. The huge machine has excavated 230-metres of tunnel since its launch in May. The final TBM for the project is expected to begin the second of two new harbour tunnels later this year.

Sydney Metro West will double rail capacity between Greater Parramatta and the Sydney CBD. Fast and reliable metro services will make it easier to travel around western Sydney, link new communities to rail services and support employment growth and housing supply.   

This is all part of the Minns Labor Government’s plan to build better communities for NSW. To ensure we’re creating and building on well-connected, well-serviced neighbourhoods.

For more information about Sydney Metro West, visit sydneymetro.info/west/project-overview

Minister for Transport Jo Haylen said:

“We have welcomed the world’s fastest athletes and biggest rockstars to Sydney Olympic Park, and now it is time Metro West’s superstar TBMs to headline here in Sydney’s west.

“Sydney’s brand new rail line will give sports and entertainment fans unrivalled access to this part of town and significantly enhance transport options during major events.”

“Sydney loves its new Metro, and teams are working around the clock to bring Metro west.

“Metro West’s TBMs are digging dual tunnels as part of our Government’s $19 billion investment in extending Metro across Sydney and continuing the state’s infrastructure pipeline.”

Member for Parramatta Donna Davis said:

“It’s been great to welcome TBMs Betty and Dorothy to Sydney Olympic Park, and Daphne and Beatrice have been hard at work so they can join us here too.

“By 2032, Sydney Olympic Park won’t just be linked to the rest of Sydney by rail, but also by this new Metro and Parramatta Light Rail Stage 2.

“This will give the people who work, live or play in Sydney Olympic Park many ways to travel in and out.”

The NSW Government has released updated Climate Change projections to help governments, agencies, businesses, landholders and communities plan and adapt to the future climate.

Statewide and regional NARCliM projections are available online: https://www.climatechange.environment.nsw.gov.au/news/new-climate-projections-for-nsw

They illustrate the need for further action to reduce emissions and for informed planning to improve the resilience of households, communities and businesses to the impacts of climate change, such as extreme weather patterns.

The third version of the NSW and Australian Regional Climate Modelling (NARCliM) forecasts climate outcomes for NSW, based on global emissions scenarios. Earlier versions were released in 2014 (NARCliM 1.0) and 2021 (NARCliM 1.5).

Available at fine (4km) scale for south-east Australia and coarser (20km) scale over Australasia, the updated set of climate projections are among the most detailed available in the country.

NARCliM 2.0 projects that by the year 2100, NSW can expect:

• increased average temperatures in all parts of NSW, with the greatest rises inland,
• more hot days of 35°C and above for all regions across the state,
• fewer cold nights below 2°C, particularly along the Great Dividing Range, and
• more extreme weather events including severe fire weather days for all of NSW by 2050.

The updated data models two greenhouse gas emissions scenarios and what the climate in NSW is projected to look like under each. It is the first time NARCliM has provided low emissions scenario projections that show the benefits to NSW of achieving the Paris targets.

By 2090, under a low emissions scenario, temperatures are projected to increase by a further 1.3°C and there would be up to an additional 15 days above 35°C each year.

Under a high emissions scenario, temperatures are projected to rise by a further 4°C and there would be up to 45 days above 35°C.

This shows why further action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions is crucial to reducing the impacts of climate change that are damaging to health, the environment and the economy.

The NARCliM projections provide robust and trusted information about our future climate which will be used to inform risk assessments, planning and research into the threats facing NSW and how we can improve climate resilience.

The data reinforces the Minns Labor Government’s decision to make action on climate change a whole of government priority, enshrine emissions reduction targets in law, and legislate an adaptation objective for NSW to be more resilient to a changing climate.

NARCliM climate projections are led by the NSW Government with the support of the ACT, South Australian, Victorian, and Western Australian governments, National Computational Infrastructure, Murdoch University and the University of NSW.

The update is a commitment of the NSW Government under the NSW Climate Change Adaptation Strategy.

Minister for Climate Change and the Environment Penny Sharpe:

“The data shows two clear options – we can do nothing which will lock in more extreme weather events in the future, or we can reduce emissions now to play our part in limiting the damage.

“We can’t plan for the future without the best data. That’s what NARCliM provides. Government agencies, businesses, farmers and local decision makers can now access updated climate projections to make informed decisions about the steps they should take to prepare for the changing climate.

“This data will help protect critical infrastructure including hospitals, transport networks, dams and energy systems from climate change impacts such as extreme heat, fires and floods.

“The Minns Labor Government is taking strong action on climate change to reduce emissions, make our communities and environment more resilient to extreme weather events, and ensure our economy is strong, robust and built on local, secure jobs.”

Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Treaty David Harris has announced a $225,000 grant to support an Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisation to deliver services for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people living in the south of the Central Coast.

Today Minister Harris and Member for Gosford Liesl Tesch visited the recipient, Garawa Aboriginal Corporation at a morning tea hosted by NG Central School in Kariong, to celebrate the NSW Government funding to help address Closing the Gap outcomes.

The grant will support a number of programs, including a weekly homework hub for primary school-aged children, genealogy workshops, a youth life skills program, Elders ‘Know your rights’ workshops, and an on-Country camp for teenagers.

Garawa Aboriginal Corporation was established in 2023 in response to demand for additional support for Aboriginal people living in areas around Empire Bay, Ettalong, Woy Woy and Umina.

Garawa designed the project to address Closing the Gap targets for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in the region including education, health, economic and digital inclusion outcomes.

A weekly homework hub for Aboriginal primary school children will be established at Umina Public School to provide a culturally safe place for after-school learning.

A weekly cultural life skills program for high school-age students, will also be established in partnership with Community SOS, a Central Coast-based support and outreach organisation.

The high school student program will conclude with a three-day camp on Darkinjung Country where participants will be immersed in their culture.

Garawa will also invite representatives from agencies such as Legal Aid, Centrelink and Aged Care to support the needs of Elders.

For more information about upcoming NSW Government grant opportunities, visit www.nsw.gov.au/grants-and-funding.

Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Treaty and the Central Coast David Harris said:

“The NSW Government is pleased to be delivering this grant for Garawa Aboriginal Corporation in response to the needs identified by the community, particularly in supporting young people and elders.”

“We know that when Closing the Gap solutions are designed, led, and implemented by Aboriginal people and communities, in partnership with the government, we get better outcomes.

“I look forward to seeing how Garawa flourishes over the coming years as a result of its commitment to support community.”

Member for Gosford Liesl Tesch said:

“It is wonderful to see this grant funding delivered to Garawa Aboriginal Corporation, ensuring that Aboriginal people living across the Peninsula and Empire Bay region are able to access support in the areas the region needs most.

“It is clear that in order to address the Closing the Gap outcomes, services such as those provided by Garawa are critical, delivered through a deep partnership between government and Aboriginal people and communities.

“I have no doubt that Garawa will continue to deliver fantastic outcomes for community here on the southern end of the Central Coast and I look forward to continuing this fantastic partnership with Garawa on the Coast.”

Garawa Aboriginal Corporation Executive Officer Wandid Young said:

“The grant application was developed in consultation with our community about gaps in existing services.

“The program will empower young people by teaching them life skills in a culturally safe way.

“Many young people not growing up on their Country may find that they are disconnected from culture. Those who have a strong identity are comfortable with their connection to Country.

“Transport continues to be an issue for Aboriginal people in our region. We will use the grant to purchase an eight-seater vehicle to transport community to events.

“It’s an exciting time and Garawa Aboriginal Corporation is looking forward to working with community to support their needs.”

Five NSW start-ups at the cutting edge of space technology are celebrating following the successful launch of the NSW Government-backed Waratah Seed – Australia’s first ride-share space mission.

The Waratah Seed-1 satellite launched at 4.56am Australian time on Saturday 17 August carrying payloads from NSW startups Euroka Power, Spiral Blue, Extraterrestrial Power, Contactile, and Dandelions to test and prove the functionality of their products in space.

The technology developed by the NSW based teams includes robotics that help repair satellites, silicon solar panel cells, technology that improves the transmission of earth imagery and natural fibres that allow spacecraft to continue to communicate during re-entry to Earth’s atmosphere.

The Waratah Seed-1 satellite was developed by CUAVA, part of the University of Sydney’s space training centre, and was launched on a SpaceX rocket from the Vandenberg Air Force Base in California.

The NSW payloads started sending back telemetry on day one and will now spend several months in space gathering vital information to transmit back to Earth to help develop further leaps in space technology.

The launch of Waratah Seed comes as the NSW Government and NSW Space Research Network (SRN) announce the successful recipients of $720,000 worth of grants.

The SRN’s $600,000 Pilot Research Program supports cross-disciplinary university collaboration on space technologies that address a space capability or industry challenge.

The five projects funded include the development of a solar cell that generates power in the dark, testing the agricultural potential of plant growth in space and studying new applications for signals obtained from constellations of Low Earth Orbit satellites.

The $120,000 Student Program Fund supports space-related university student projects that provide a pathway and experiences to produce the next generation of space researchers.

In total, the fund will support 196 students in 14 groups across eight universities.

Further information on the NSW Government funded Pilot Research Program and Student Program Fund can be viewed at the SRN website.

For more information on how the NSW Government supports the space industry visit Investment NSW.

Minister for Innovation, Science and Technology Anoulack Chanthivong said:

“Every day NSW based spacetech companies are bringing us closer to the Star Trek era and this launch puts these start-ups at the forefront of this revolution.

“It’s an exciting time for the industry as the Waratah Seed-1 satellite blasts off.

“It’s taken an incredible amount of collaboration between government agencies, universities and space businesses to get to this point, and I want to acknowledge those involved for their pioneering spirit which is taking the space industry in NSW to new and exciting heights.

“Space comes with many risks and technical challenges, so getting to the point of launch is a significant achievement. The startups involved and their research partners can be incredibly proud of the progress they’ve made for the industry.
 

“The NSW Government is also proud to support the next generation with the Pilot Research Program and Student Program Fund – an important part of the NSW Space Research Network’s mission to build and support collaboration to grow our space capabilities.”

The NSW Treasurer and Minister for Finance can announce a series of direct appointments to the boards of Sydney Water, Landcom, and Port Authority of NSW.

The appointments will help drive reform across the publicly owned corporations, and deliver on the Government’s priorities.

Sydney Water

Niall Blair has been appointed as a Director at Sydney Water. The shareholders intend to appoint Mr Blair as Chair when the current Chair’s term expires.

His appointment continues a long career of service to the people of NSW, including as Minister for Primary Industries, Trade, and Industry and Regional Water.

Mr Blair is charged with helping Sydney Water manage the demand for new infrastructure to support housing, while meeting the need to keep water bills low during a cost-of-living crisis.

Landcom

Ashley Mason has been appointed as Chair of Landcom, bringing extensive operations experience across a range of Tier 1 construction companies and in government.

Mr Mason will be joined on the Landcom Board by the Hon Craig Knowles AM, a former Minister for Urban Affairs and Planning, Health, Infrastructure, and Natural Resources.

Mr Mason and Mr Knowles will support the $800 million expansion of Landcom and its focus on developing key worker housing and build-to-rent projects.

Port Authority of NSW

The Shareholder Ministers intend to appoint Kris Neill, former Chair of Women’s Community Shelters, former Macquarie Group Executive Director and former Chief of Staff to Premier Bob Carr, to the Port Authority of NSW Board. Ms Neill was also interim chief of staff to Minister Houssos.

Ms Neill’s extensive governance expertise will help the Port Authority maximise opportunities presented by the Freight Reform Policy Program and the delivery of NSW infrastructure projects.

The NSW Government thanks the outgoing directors for their services. A selection process is underway for other vacancies across the corporations.

The wrecking ball has moved in at the Manly Sea Life site as demolition works begin.

The dilapidated building has become an eye-sore on the Manly foreshore and currently poses an ongoing safety risk as a result of continued unauthorised access.

The Minister asked Transport for NSW to expedite the removal of the building as soon as possible, in response to these safety risks and the ongoing impact on neighbouring businesses. Preparation works began in early May, as water was removed from the old Sea Life tanks.

The building will be demolished to promenade level only, maintaining the circular footprint for future public use. The advantages of retaining the existing structure instead of removing it and building a new boardwalk include:

• More available space for future use on the foreshore
• Reduced demolition time
• Reduced construction costs for taxpayers
• Less environmental impacts

Following demolition, the space will be opened for community use while planning for the site’s revitalisation is completed.

Several options will be put forward for community feedback.

These may include public open space for community use, such as an open piazza or grassed area, commercial food and beverage opportunities and public space to encourage play such as fountains or seating.

For more information about the project, visit www.transport.nsw.gov.au/manlycovewest

Transport Minister Jo Haylen:

“It was my priority to get this building demolished as soon as possible. It’s an eyesore and its dangerous. I’m glad that work has now begun.”

“As we revitalise this corner of the harbour, we’ll work with the community to determine how we can make the best use of this new foreshore space.

“I want to thank the community for their patience during these upcoming works and look forward to their ongoing involvement in the future of the site.”

Thousands of first home buyers are building a future in Western Sydney with help from the Minns Government’s expanded First Home Buyers Assistance program.

In its first year, 33,365 first home buyers in the expanded program have paid no stamp duty, or discounted stamp duty when buying their first home.

More than 12,500 of those first home buyers purchased a home in Western Sydney.

From Camden to Penrith, The Hills, Parramatta, Bankstown and Liverpool, first home buyers across Western Sydney have saved an average of $20,562.

Specifically, in Blacktown, the Blue Mountains, Cumberland, Parramatta and Penrith local government areas (LGAs), first home buyers saved an average of $21,092 on their purchase.

Across The Hills and the Hawkesbury LGAs, first home buyers saved $22,239 on average.

And in Camden, Campbelltown, Canterbury-Bankstown, Fairfield, Liverpool and Wollondilly LGAs, the average saving for a first home buyer under the expanded program was $19,421.

Data by suburb shows Western Sydney suburbs make up eight out of the top ten metro suburbs for first home buyers, including Campbelltown, Liverpool, Parramatta, St Marys and Westmead.

In the middle of a housing crisis, the First Home Buyers Assistance program is one of the Minns Government’s biggest cost of living relief measures, providing meaningful support to help tens of thousands of people to buy their first home.

From 1 July 2023, the Minns Labor Government expanded thresholds to mean that first home buyers purchasing for under $1 million would pay either no, or discounted stamp duty.

The threshold for a full stamp duty exemption was lifted from $650,000 to $800,000.  And the stamp duty concession threshold increased from $800,000 to $1 million.

The higher thresholds allowed for more than 18,000 first home buyers across NSW to receive greater support than they would have under the previous government.

Overall, the average saving for a first home buyer in NSW increased by almost $4,000 under the Minns Government’s expanded program.

Multiple Western Sydney local government areas recorded a major increase in the number of first home buyers receiving support.

That includes the Hawkesbury LGA which has seen a 127 per cent increase and Camden LGA which recorded a 110 per cent increase over the last year.

Premier Chris Minns said:

“We’re delivering real cost of living relief that’s helping tens of thousands of people buy their first home and build a life in Western Sydney and across the state.

“In its first year, our program has helped first home buyers get into the market, without having to leave Sydney or NSW.

“We have helped more singles, couples and families to create a future in our state.”

Treasurer Daniel Mookhey said:

“Savings of just over $20,000 on average mean that a first home buyer in Western Sydney is in a far better position to compete against investors to buy their home.

“Right across NSW, over two thirds of first home buyers using the expanded program now pay no stamp duty at all.”

Sydneysiders are voting with their feet on the new Sydney Metro City line, with the first full day of services completed yesterday after the historic opening of the extended M1 Northwest & Bankstown Line.

More than 190,000 trips were made along the brand-new driverless service yesterday marking the first ever trains under Sydney Harbour. For the first time, people in Sydney’s north west can now stay on the train at Chatswood, travel below the harbour and through the Sydney CBD, to Sydenham.

A game-changing 30 services ran every hour through the heart of the city during the peak, starting at Tallawong at 4:38am and Sydenham at 4.54am, with more than 425 trains making the trip.

Central took out the title of busiest station, with over 18,000 passengers entering and exiting from the state-of-the-art transport hub, followed closely by Martin Place.

Sydneysiders were seamlessly switching between travel modes with 6% percent of trips coming from buses and 20% percent from Sydney Train services.  

The new service launched to a weekday timetable with a train running every four minutes during the peak, and from today interpeak trains will run every seven minutes, increasing after the first month to a train every five minutes.

Additional staff are present at each station and on trains during operational hours, while commuters become familiar with the new service.

Passengers can plan their metro trips by visiting transportnsw.info.

The Metro North West line opened in 2019, and with this extension now reaches 51.5-kilometres through Sydney with stops at 21 stations between Tallawong and Sydenham. The remaining 13-kilometres of the M1 Line will open after the conversion of 10 existing stations on the T3 Bankstown Line.

With unprecedented travel times including from Victoria Cross in North Sydney, under the harbour to Barangaroo in 3 minutes, Martin Place to Chatswood in 11 minutes and from Sydenham to Tallawong in under 60 minutes, this new line is already alleviating pressure on existing transport options and road networks.

Minister for Transport Jo Haylen said:

“As of 10am this morning, 55,000 people have tapped on to our new Metro service. That’s up from 40,000 this time yesterday.

“As we start our second day of full operation, it is amazing to see thousands of Sydneysiders trying this new form of public transport, getting to work and home faster, and giving north west residents their first direct rail service to the CBD.”

“Commuters have been waiting patiently for this game-changing service, and we can proudly say this will forever change the way Sydneysider travel, from their daily commute to work, to weekend adventures and everything in between.”

Transport for NSW Secretary Josh Murray said:

“Yesterday we saw 37,500 people change between trains and metro services and 11,500 people changed between metro and buses.

“It shows all the pieces of the public transport network are working together and people are making the most of these new ways to travel around our city.

Sydney Metro Chief Executive Peter Regan said:

“It was a fantastic first day of passenger services and we were blown away by the positive feedback and incredible reactions to seeing these brand-new stations integrated seemly into the transport network.”

Sydney Metro City Project Director Hugh Lawson said:

“It was a really proud moment for me and my team as we saw people tap onto Metro under the CBD for the first time.

“Years of work is finally on show as hundreds of thousands of Sydneysiders flow through our brand new stations.

“Well done to everyone who played a role in the project and thank you to everyone who’s given Metro a go and tapped on.”

Labor, the CFMEU and the Cbus super fund plan to use taxpayer funds invested in the Housing Australia Future Fund (HAFF) for housing developments.

These are the same parties which have imposed a 30% CFMEU tax on construction costs.

The criminal activities of the CFMEU, financed by Cbus and enabled by Labor, are locking young people out of the Australian Dream.

The Coalition will act to protect taxpayer funds invested in the Housing Australia Future Fund being plundered by the CFMEU. As it stands, Cbus could be a participant and beneficiary of the HAFF. Cbus is the only super fund to have publicly committed funding to the HAFF.

The irony of Labor seeking help from the CFMEU/Cbus cartel to fix the housing crisis that has corrupted the construction industry, is not lost on anyone.

Three of the 14 directors of Cbus Super are CFMEU officials. Labor and Cbus have failed to recognise any issue with CFMEU representatives sitting on the board of a $94 billion fund despite the government seeking to put the CFMEU into administration.

Today, the Coalition will introduce a new Bill to ban Cbus from involvement in the HAFF.

The Bill prohibits the HAFF from making any payments to Cbus or housing related entities financed by Cbus. The prohibition will operate while the CFMEU is under administration.

The Coalition reaffirms our strong opposition to Labor’s HAFF. However, we believe taxpayer funds should not be exposed to criminal elements.

If Labor is serious about stamping out corruption and protecting taxpayer funds, they will support our Bill.