Category: NSW News

This National AgDay, the NSW Minister for Agriculture Tara Moriarty has thanked the farmers and fishers of NSW for the commitment and resilience they have shown over the past 12 months and congratulated them on their achievements.

In delivering world-renowned food and fibre to consumers, last year NSW primary industries recorded the second highest gross value of production (GVP) on record, with a value of $21.2 billion during the 2022-2023 financial year.

In the same period, NSW primary industries’ exports increased 15% to a new record high of $13.1 billion.

The minister paid tribute to NSW producers first-hand during a visit to a cherry orchard in the state’s Central West, where she was able to sample some of the early-season fruit and learn more about the initiatives underway to continue to drive industry growth.

One such example is a new national communications and extension program for the cherry industry, which will see best practice information on biosecurity, resource availability, sustainable production, labour and climate change shared through grower-led trials, demonstrations, orchard walks, newsletters, training events and the soon-to-be-launched Cherry Picked podcast.

NSW Department of Primary Industries (DPI) will lead the program in partnership with Hort Innovation, drawing on expertise from Cherry Growers Australia, Fruit Growers Tasmania, South Australian Research and Development Institute and the Victorian Cherry Association.

With the theme for this year’s National AgDay being ‘Grow you good thing’, this new communications and extension program will be the cherry on top of a promising season for growers.

Further information on the economic value of NSW primary industries can be found at the DPI’s Performance Data and Insights websitelaunch.

Further information on the new cherry communications and extension program is available on the Hort Innovation websitelaunch.

Agriculture Minister Tara Moriarty said:

“AgDay is a day to celebrate our producers and reflect on the fact that this state continues to produce some of the best food and fibre in the world.

“We’ve got everything from prawns and pulses to cherries and Wagyu beef, and so much more in between.

“Our farmers and fishers continue to innovate and adapt to meet the needs of consumers, which is why people across the world love NSW produce.

“New season cherries are a great example of the delicious, local produce that consumers in NSW can enjoy right now, so this AgDay, I’m encouraging everyone to take advantage of the great food and fibre we have on our doorstep.”

Acting President Cherry Growers Australia Nick Noske said:

“The Australian cherry industry identified the need for the establishment of an effective industry-wide communications program such as this. 

“In recent years there have been several disruptions, such as unfavourable weather conditions (for example, excess rain and drought), COVID-19 and complications with overseas markets, which has challenged product quality and quantity, as well as reducing opportunities for direct industry engagement, peer-to-peer learning, knowledge sharing and next-generation development.

“This program will work to reverse these disruptions.”

Hort Innovation General Manager for Industry Services and Delivery Andrew Francey said:

The project is in direct response to a call from industry to deliver new, independent, and informative communications and extension activities to the Australian cherry industry. 

Growers have the opportunity to be involved in a regional growers program with a focus on regional challenges and opportunities through demonstration trials and local grower meetings.

The Minister for Health Ryan Park and the Minister for Mental Health Rose Jackson have announced a one-off $50,000 funding boost to men’s mental health support service The Man Walk Australia.

The Man Walk Australialaunch is a charity focused on improving the mental health of men and reducing the nation’s suicide rates through the delivery of opportunities to support men, including regular organised walks to ‘walk and talk.’

The organisation provides health related services and benefits by using preventative measures to support the physical and mental health and general wellbeing of men.  

The funding will support Man Walk’s objectives of bettering the mental, physical, and overall wellbeing of men, including starting new walk locations in NSW.

Minister for Health Ryan Park said:

“Too many men are not reaching out for help when they need it. We must turn that around.

“That’s why I am so pleased to announce this contribution to The Man Walk Australia to further their life-changing work in the men’s mental health space.

“I commend The Man Walk Australia for its ongoing work to support the physical and mental health as well as general wellbeing for men.

“I know how much this funding will mean to their team and to the people who rely on their services.”

Quotes attributable to Minister for Mental Health Rose Jackson said:

“We know it can be especially difficult for men to ask for help and that’s why we it is vital for us to reach out, lean in and meet people where they’re at.

“This funding boost will help shape part of that work. The Man Walk Australia creates a safe and inclusive environment for men to talk and support each other.

“Improving your mental health takes a holistic approach The Man Walk Australia provides the opportunity to get active, talk to others and become part of a supportive community.”

The 11th annual NSW Health Excellence in Nursing and Midwifery Awards were held in Sydney yesterday, to celebrate some of the outstanding nurses and midwives across the state. 

For the first time since 2019, the awards were held as a live ceremony at Parliament House.

Health Minister Ryan Park extended his sincere congratulations to the 29 winners and finalists.

“The professional achievements, compassion and dedication on display yesterday were nothing short of remarkable,” Mr Park said.

“I also want to thank all of our nurses and midwives across the state for the skill, professionalism, and heartfelt care they provide each and every day to the people of NSW.”

NSW Health Secretary Susan Pearce congratulated the winners and finalists in this year’s Excellence Awards, acknowledging the many nurses and midwives among them who were nominated from across rural and regional NSW. 

“The opportunity to celebrate the excellence and achievements of NSW Health nurses and midwives, many of whom travelled long distances to attend last night in-person, is a real highlight and I am so pleased for all the winners,” Ms Pearce said. 

NSW Health Chief Nursing and Midwifery Officer, Jacqui Cross, said it is a wonderful opportunity to recognise the outstanding work nurses and midwives do every day, and extended her gratitude and congratulations to all the winners and finalists.

“These awards celebrate all nurses and midwives across the continuum of their career,” Ms Cross said.

“One of many highlights was the Judith Meppem Lifetime Achievement Award, which recognises the contribution of an outstanding nurse or midwife who, throughout their career, has had a positive and sustained influence on patients, the health system and their profession.”

This year the Judith Meppem Lifetime Achievement Award went to Executive Director of Nursing Anna Thornton from St Vincent’s Hospital Network.

“The Excellence in Nursing and Midwifery Awards represent a significant opportunity to take a moment to stop, reflect and recognise the commitment, compassion, innovation and exceptional care being provided to the people of NSW by our nurses and midwives,” Ms Cross said. 
 
The winners in each of the 9 categories are:     

• Nurse of the Year (joint winners): John McAllister, Nurse Practitioner, HIV and Sexual Unit, St Vincent’s Hospital Network and Trent Williams, Clinical Nurse Consultant, John Hunter Hospital, Hunter New England LHD
• Midwife of the Year: Tracey Codner, Clinical Midwife Consultant, Nepean Hospital, Nepean Blue Mountains LHD
• New to Practice Nurse/Midwife of the Year: Garima Nepal, Registered Nurse, Coonabarabran Health Service, Western NSW LHD
• Nursing/Midwifery Team of the Year: Dorrigo Nursing Unit, Dorrigo Multipurpose Service, Mid North Coast LHD
• Nursing and Midwifery Leadership Award: Jane Jackson, Nurse Manager, The Forensic Hospital, Justice Health & Forensic Mental Health Network
• Judith Meppem Lifetime Achievement Award: Anna Thornton, Executive Director of Nursing, St Vincent’s Hospital Network
• Aboriginal Nurse/Midwife of the Year: Sharelle Anderson, Registered Midwife, Aboriginal Maternal Infant Health Service, Southern NSW LHD
• Healing Heart Award (colleague nominated): Gillian Prott, Clinical Nurse Specialist, Royal North Shore Hospital, Northern Sydney LHD
• Healing Heart Award (consumer nominated): Angela Kiss, Clinical Nurse Consultant, St Vincent’s Hospital, St Vincent’s Hospital Network.

For more information, including a full list of finalists, visit 2023 Excellence in Nursing and Midwifery Awardslaunch.

Communities, councils and event organisers will have a much easier and cost-effective path to hosting festivals, parties and events on their local streets and outdoor areas under landmark changes to the application process.

The NSW Government is also making outdoor dining permanent across NSW, with a law change to cement temporary arrangements introduced during COVID-19. 

Reducing costs and red tape to utilise our shared streets and outdoor spaces is part of the Government’s focus on finding all ways possible to ease the cost-of-living and help families.

Drawing from the successful approach developed by Wollongong Council a ‘global approvals’ approach will be rolled out to 127 councils across the state.

A pilot will also be delivered which will aim to reduce the costs associated with street closures and traffic planning. Events on streets can require a development application and can incur traffic management costs of over $100,000 for a single day. The pilot will involve finding potential savings, by planning for multiple events in the same location in advance, making it easier and more affordable to put on local events over a period of time.

This will substantially reduce the costs associated with street closures and traffic planning for events to close a local street for an event.

Guidelines will be issued that help councils, event organisers and businesses use public lands and close streets in a more cost-effective and simpler way, without the need to keep going through the same process for the same location every time.

The global approvals model will facilitate events like the Sydney Streets street party events happening in the City of Sydney. 

The activation of streets is part of the NSW Government’s vibrancy agenda to remove red tape, bring back live music, encourage local entertainment zones and prevent single complainants from shutting down venues.

The package of reforms will be introduced to Parliament within days.

Outdoor dining will be freed up on a permanent basis from January 1, with businesses supported to use their privately-owned land for outdoor dining and events. This will make temporary measures introduced during COVID-19 permanent.

A faster, light-touch application process will provide a cost-effective and ongoing solution that provides certainty for businesses, including cafes, restaurants, Clubs, RSLs, certainty about where outdoor dining can take place and allow them to make the most of space outside their venues.

For more information about the NSW Government’s Vibrancy Reforms

For more details of the Outdoor Dining explanation of intended effect (EIE) exhibitionlaunch

Minister for Music and the Night-time Economy John Graham said:

“As a government we want to support communities, businesses and councils to bring life and vibrancy back to our streets. Councils will be helped to streamline pathways for creatives and community groups to stage pop-up events and festivals, including street closures and global pre-approvals for event sites.

“This is giving communities the chance to have more fun outdoors but is also way in which we can assist the cost-of-living crisis by making it cheaper to arrange events.

“People want to be able to use their streets as public spaces – they own them. The proposed reforms will permanently relax rules for outdoor dining that came into force during COVID, allowing venues to make the most of space outside their venues with a quicker, light-touch application process.

“COVID-19 showed us that Sydney is a city that does alfresco well. The reforms will permanently relax the rules for outdoor dining allowing venues to make the most of their outdoor space.”

Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Paul Scully said:

“Outdoor dining exemptions introduced during the pandemic helped build a more flexible and responsive hospitality industry.

“In meeting our election commitment to make outdoor dining permanently available across NSW, business will soon have permanent access to a faster and more cost-effective pathway instead of having to complete a detailed and costly development application.

“The outdoor dining changes are part of the Minns Government’s broader reform package to improve vibrancy in our streets and create a better environment for hospitality trading.”

Member for Parramatta Donna Davis said:

“Parramatta has such wonderful streets and outdoor spaces to be activated. This policy will help make our communities even more vibrant and lively, cementing Parramatta’s reputation as a destination.”

Related information

• 24-Hour Economy Legislation (Vibrancy Reforms) Amendment Bill 2023east
• Proposed reforms to outdoor dining on private land and live music venueslauncheast

downloadDownload as PDFprintPrint this page

The 2023 Premier’s Awards were held last night, recognising the exceptional work being done by public servants to make a meaningful difference in the lives of community members in every corner of NSW.

The eight award categories span the broad remit of the public sector including high-quality education and healthcare, the economy, and excellence in service delivery.

With over 265 nominations received, there was a strong field of high-performing finalists across all award categories.

The Public Servant of the Year Award celebrates an exceptional individual who demonstrates commitment to a world class public service.

The 2023 NSW Public Servant of the Year was awarded to Brad Fisher of NSW Public Works. Brad was recognised for his tireless commitment to delivering electrical upgrades to public schools across the state.

Each year, the Anthea Kerr Award is presented to a future public sector leader who exhibits outstanding achievement and a deep commitment to public sector values in their work. This award is given in honour of Anthea Kerr, who passed away suddenly at 38 years of age. At the time of Anthea’s death, she was an Assistant Director General at the Department of Finance and Services, a role which was the culmination of an outstanding career of more than 16 years in the NSW public sector.

The winner of the 2023 Anthea Kerr Award is Alexandra Rumore from Legal Aid NSW. Alexandra was recognised for her work supporting flood devastated communities across NSW. Working as a Senior Outreach Solicitor with the Disaster Response Legal Service, Alex travelled thousands of kilometres over several months to deliver trauma-informed help, ensuring communities had their legal needs met.

2023 Premier’s Award winners:

Category	Winner(s)	Agency
Anthea Kerr Award	Alexandra Rumore	Legal Aid NSW
NSW Public Servant of the Year	Brad Fisher	NSW Public Works
Building a resilient economy	Innovation project – podular construction	Department of Planning and Environment
Connecting communities	Assertive outreach program – Tweed Heads	Department of Communities and Justice
Driving public sector diversity	Quiet Hour	Department of Customer Service NSW
Excellence in service delivery	Digitising of vehicle inspections (RSafety App)	Transport for NSW
Highest quality healthcare	Testing donors for emerging infectious diseases	NSW Health Pathology
The Murrumbidgee Model	Murrumbidgee Local Health District
World class education and training	Going the extra mile for civil construction training	TAFE NSW
Assessment for complex learners project	Department of Education

Details on all the winners and finalists can be found at Premiers Awards 2023launch.

Premier Chris Minns said:

“These awards celebrate people who set the standard for our public sector.

“Congratulations to all our winners and finalists for your commitment and contributing to a better future for our state.

“I’m proud of our public service and am already looking forward to what we will achieve together for the people of NSW over the coming year.”

NSW Public Service Commissioner Kathrina Lo said:

“Brad Fisher’s dedication to delivering the Cooler Classrooms Program, ability under pressure and willingness to go above and beyond, enabled the program to reach more schools than originally forecast.

“Congratulations Brad and all the other deserving winners from this special evening.”

The Minns Labor Government will help deliver more desperately needed homes for families by fast-tracking buildings that choose to use high-quality, pre-approved designs – speeding up the construction of homes for buyers and renters.

The Government is developing a pattern book of endorsed housing designs for both low-rise and mid-rise (up to six storeys) buildings.

The NSW Government Architect, Abbie Galvin, is leading a process of developing the pre-approved list of designs, alongside established private-sector architects, as well as the community, as part of a comprehensive consultation process.

As part of this process, the Government will launch an international competition, calling on Australian and international architects and architecture schools to design a best-practice Sydney terrace and mid-rise apartment for the 21st century. The winning designs will be included in the pattern book.

Details of the competition will be announced in early 2024.

Developers who choose to adopt the endorsed pattern book designs will have an accelerated approval pathway – meaning builders can get on site faster, and people can move into new homes sooner.

The Minns Government is working hard to change the trajectory on the long-term housing supply crisis it inherited.

NSW has been completing fewer new builds (on a per person basis) than Victoria or Queensland. NSW last year also recorded fewer overall completions than Victoria – despite NSW’s higher population.

The housing supply shortfall is behind Sydney unit rents increasing by 24 per cent over the year to the end of September 2023, along with house rents lifting by 11 per cent.

The development of low-rise and mid-rise terraces and apartments will support density in well-located pockets of Sydney – close to transport, green space, amenities and jobs.

The pattern book will include both low-rise housing (terraces, semis, manor houses), along with apartment buildings of up to six storeys. This signals greater role for low-rise, such as a new generation of Sydney terraces. 

These endorsed designs will be made specifically for Sydney and New South Wales and will include different styles of housing.

The modern homes will be made for NSW’s climate, allow for natural light, and look to include community spaces, allowing residents to still enjoy a barbeque and a makeshift game of cricket or footy, for example.

The Government Architect is leading the process and working with the best minds in the development and construction industry, the planning and architecture profession, and councils.

While this pathway will be attractive for some developers, it will not be compulsory; builders and their architects can still design bespoke developments that will go through the regular approval pathway.

The Government wants the community involved in this process, with the public able to view draft designs and provide feedback.

In addition to the pattern book and design competition for low-rise and medium-rise dwellings, the Government will also help developers of high-rise apartments to get building sooner.

Commencing with well-located places supported by transport infrastructure, the NSW Government will allow developers of high-rise to select a designer from a list pre-approved by the NSW Government Architect. This new process will allow developers to bypass the current requirement to run a design competition, slashing assessment times by between 6-12 months.

This will ensure speed and design excellence, and the Government will later consider this approach for high-rise developments across the state.

Premier of NSW Chris Minns said:

“The NSW Government wants to ensure the future homes and apartments of Sydney are world class.

“We want to see building designs that embrace what we love about Sydney and NSW.

“I’ve heard builders and other stakeholders explain some of the long approval times they encounter.

“What I’ve announced today is the start of addressing those delays.”

Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Paul Scully said:

“Despite being in the top 30 cities in the world by GDP, Sydney ranks 859th in the world when it comes to density.

“We want homes and buildings fit for 21st century Sydney. And we want them fast.

“This gives developers certainty and will make sure more homes are delivered. 

“Increasing density in well-located and well-connected parts of Sydney is a key part of the NSW Government’s housing plan.

“We want to ensure density is done well, and this package will ensure that happens.”

School leaders and health experts convened today for the Minns Labor Government’s roundtable on the growing issue of vaping in NSW schools.

Delivering an election commitment to host the panel and discuss solutions, the Vaping Roundtable heard first-hand accounts from students, teachers, principals and evidence from health experts and researchers, about vaping behaviour and how it is affecting young people.

The Roundtable also heard about the impact vaping is having on schools, and the role the wider community plays in supporting young people.

Vaping is harmful, especially for non-smokers and young people, with direct health risks including nicotine addiction, nicotine poisoning, burns and injuries from devices exploding, and lung damage, according to a comprehensive systematic review from the Australian National University.

New data shows a third of children aged 14 to 17 have vaped or used an e-cigarette, and 9 out of 10 young people found it easy to access vapes, according to University of Sydney Associate Professor Becky Freeman, who presented to the Roundtable on behalf Generation Vape and Cancer Council NSW.

Representatives from NSW Health, Cancer Council NSW, the Advocate for Children and Young People as well as students and primary and high school principals addressed the panel, with members of the public, independent and Catholic school sectors also represented.

Vaping is a complex, community-wide issue which is having an acute impact on school-aged children. Where there are opportunities for the NSW Government to help, we are determined to have a positive impact.

The Minns Labor Government thanks all the contributors, and will now consider all it heard, including solutions that can be implemented in education settings.

As we chart a path forward, a number of actions have been proposed, including creating a vaping guide to assist teachers and help students trying to quit, updating the curriculum so it better addresses the dangers of vaping, creating an online support platform for students, and building better referral pathways between schools and community services.

This is part of other reforms introduced by the Minns Labor Government to protect children from the harms of illegal vapes, including $6.8 million invested over three years to crack down on the sale of illegal vapes and to increase support for young people who are addicted to vaping.

The NSW Government’s work will complement other measures introduced by the Australian Government, which includes the commitment to restrict the sale of vaping products.

Minister for Education and Early Learning Prue Car said:

“Today we heard from students, teachers, principals and health experts about the significant concern vaping is causing across the NSW schooling community.

“Vaping among young people is a community-wide issue that is only increasing in its negative impact.

“It is clear from what we heard today than an evidenced-based approach is needed to tackle this problem.

“This is a complex issue and we need to work together as a community to tackle this serious problem.”

Minister for Health Ryan Park said:

“Vapes can have harmful impacts, especially on young people’s growing brains and bodies and we will continue to crack down on retailers who illegally sell nicotine vapes.

“Ask any parent, and they will tell you that these products are pervasive. We are determined to get in front of this growing public health crisis.

“In the intermediate term, we have ramped up our compliance capacity, while boosting our cessation support for young people. But where we can improve our efforts moving forward, we will, and this Roundtable is critical to bringing together the leading expert advice in tackling the prevalence of vaping.”

Dr Kerry Chant NSW Chief Health Officer said:

“NSW Health is increasingly concerned about the harmful health effects of vaping, particularly for young people.

“Vapes can cause harm to the health and development of young people, including changes to brain development, impaired learning and memory, and may worsen stress, depression and anxiety.

“NSW Health is committed to increasing support to help young people quit vaping. We have developed the ‘Do you know what you’re vaping?’ campaign and Vaping toolkit to increase awareness among young people and provide parents, schools, and health and community services with strategies to protect young people from the harms of vapes.

“NSW Health has also released a new guide to support health professionals and others who work with young people to assist young people to quit vaping.”

The NSW Opposition has slammed the Minns and Albanese Labor Governments for turning their backs on NSW and cutting major infrastructure projects that would improve safety and productivity.
 
Leader of the Opposition Mark Speakman said Chris Minns has failed to stand up to Anthony Albanese and the Federal Labor Government, who have taken the axe to a swathe of significant projects.
 
“Chris Minns must now confirm that his Government will find a way to fund these key projects,” Mr Speakman said.  
 
Leader of the NSW Nationals Dugald Saunders said the regions will be hit hard by the cancellation of crucial projects like the upgrade to the Great Western Highway from Katoomba to Lithgow.
 
“The decision to axe this project, that would better connect Sydney with Western NSW, sends a very strong message to the regions,” Mr Saunders said.
 
“It is abundantly clear that our bush communities are not a priority for the Albanese and Minns Labor Governments, and as a result our important legacy infrastructure projects will come to a sudden stop and thousands of regional jobs will be lost.”
 
Shadow Minister for Infrastructure Natalie Ward said “Western Sydney commuters will be outraged that funding for two of their key road upgrades has been cut, placing a question mark on the future of Mulgoa Road Stage 2 and the M7-M12 Interchange”.
 
“These cuts mean more congestion, less productivity and more pain for commuters and businesses. It’s clear that Chris Minns has turned his back on Western Sydney after promising to invest in transport infrastructure.”
 
Shadow Minister for Regional Transport and Roads Sam Farraway said the move will impact residents, tourists and businesses.
 
“These significant upgrades are needed to provide a safer and more reliable journey for the thousands of residents, commuters and freight operators, including those who travel between Sydney and the Central West every single day,” Mr Farraway said.
 
“This decision is also going to significantly impact the ability to move goods and products out of the regions by road, which will not only make things more difficult but cause safety issues as well.”
 
Labor’s Cancelled Projects:

1. Blaxland Road/Balaclava Road Intersection Improvements
2. Bruxner Highway – Wollongbar to Goonellabah
3. Commuter Car Park Upgrade – T1 North Shore, Northern and Western Line – Kingswood
4. Commuter Car Park Upgrade – T1 North Shore, Northern and Western Line – St Marys
5. Commuter Car Park Upgrade – Woy Woy
6. Great Western Highway Upgrade – Katoomba to Lithgow – Construction of East and West Sections
7. Gwydir Highway Improvements – Planning
8. M7-M12 Interchange
9. Mulgoa Road Stage 2
10. Northern NSW Inland Port – Narrabri
11. Oxley Highway Stage 2 – Planning
12. Remembrance Driveway Corridor Upgrade – Camden Council
13. Southern Connector Road, Jindabyne
14. Sydney to Newcastle – Tuggerah-Wyong faster rail upgrade
15. Toowoomba to Seymour – NSW – Moree Intermodal Overpass
16. Werrington Arterial Stage 2 – Planning
17. Western City Road Transport Network Development – Planning

The NSW Government will next week commence essential remediation work to improve safety and reduce environmental risks at the historic Lake George Mine site in Captains Flat.

Historic mining operations in NSW such as Lake George Mine were not subject to the stringent rehabilitation regulatory requirements in force today.

Under contemporary mining regulations, mine operators are required to submit and implement comprehensive rehabilitation plans, lodge security bonds, and progressively remediate sites to limit poor environmental and safety outcomes.

The NSW Resources regulator is responsible for ensuring compliance with rehabilitation plans approved through the planning process.

While it was operative, Lake George Mine was one of the largest base metal mines in NSW. It produced lead, zinc, copper, pyrite, silver and gold and spanned approximately 100 hectares of legacy mine workings, extending underground to a depth of over 600 metres. The mine operated over several decades, starting in the late 1800s and closing in the 1960s.

Up to $33 million of remediation work at the Lake George Mine will be carried out under the NSW Government’s Legacy Mine Program. The fund includes a total of $107.7 million for high risk historic and abandoned mine sites.

During the work period, the site’s historic mining structures will be preserved to maintain the mining history of the site.

Work at Lake George Mine will commence on 20 November 2023 and be carried out until mid-2026.

Get more information on the Lake George Mine Remediation Projectlaunch.

Minister for Natural Resources Courtney Houssos said:

“The Minns Labor Government is committed to safeguarding the environment and protecting local communities, including through the Legacy Mines Program.

“Mining continues to drive prosperity in NSW. Remediating historic legacy mines is an important way that the NSW Government can support local economies and ensure regional communities are great places to live and visit.

“By addressing the legacy of historical mining practices, we are ensuring a better and safer future for our communities.”

Member for Monaro Steve Whan said:

“The further remediation of the Captains Flat mine surrounds reflects the fact that our knowledge of the dangers of this type of site continues to get better. This is a big job and I’m pleased the Government continues to work to ensure community health.

“I am also very conscious of the fact that private landowners in Captains Flat also face considerable uncertainty and potentially high costs as a result of the Government identifying issues on town blocks. I have not forgotten those people.”

NSW has a fully sealed highway road network for the first time in its history following completion of a mammoth $195 million project to bitumen seal two Outback highways.

The historic milestone was reached after crews finished sealing the final 3.9-kilometre section of the Cobb Highway near Halfway Tree between Ivanhoe and Wilcannnia.

Completion of the 132-kilometre total Cobb Highway sealing work follows finishing of the 153-kilometre Silver City Highway sealing in late 2022.

About 150 workers — including engineers, road workers, trainees, apprentices and contractors —   were employed each year on the project which commenced in 2011.

The remote location meant workers had no access to an established base or nearby infrastructure, and they were away from their families for months at a time living in caravans at makeshift camps which were built near highway work sites.

About 700,000 tonnes of crushed gravel and 43,000 tonnes of aggregate was used to build and seal the Cobb Highway while work crews camped on-site to ensure the work was completed, battling the elements and isolation.

Key features of both highway projects include:

• New drainage structures to combat flooding
• A new bridge at Packsaddle Creek
• A new landing strip for the Royal Flying Doctor Service at Shannons Creek
• Close consultation with local Registered Aboriginal Parties to preserve and document culturally-sensitive areas such as those near Mount Manara

Minister for Regional Transport and Roads Jenny Aitchison said:

“The sealing of these Outback highways will improve safety, slash journey times, reduce the risk of fatigue and increase resilience against extreme weather events.

“Importantly, this work also means there will be more reliable access to hospitals, schools and essential services for the communities living in the most remote parts of NSW.

“On behalf of the Minns Labor Government I want to thank all the workers who’ve delivered this project for the incredible legacy they have built for our state.”

Independent Member for Barwon Roy Butler said:

“Prior to being sealed, both highways could be closed several weeks a year due to wet weather and these closures hit residents and businesses hard while cutting access to essential services and isolating interstate road users.

“The sealing of both highways now means the need for road closures has been reduced.

“The highways will also be safer for tourists visiting the Outback who, along with people moving livestock and freight operators, will also benefit from reduced travel times.”

Wilcannia Tourism Association president Bill Elliott said:

“We never thought we’d see the day the Cobb was sealed the whole way.

“It’s felt like a never-ending push to get it done, but it is amazing to have seen this project completed.”

Transport for NSW Works supervisor Kevin Bath said:

“The hardest part is living away from family, but we build bonds while we build the roads and try to make camp life as fun as we can.

“There’s also a great sense of pride amongst the team, working on projects that will directly benefit the communities that we come from.”