Category: NSW News

Recovery efforts in the Central West will be boosted under the joint Commonwealth and State Government $100 million Central West Recovery and Resilience Package with a range of programs set to get underway next month. 
 

NSW Premier Chris Minns joined Minister for Emergency Services Jihad Dib and Member for Orange Phil Donato in Eugowra on Tuesday to make the announcement and update the community on the package.

Community consultation sessions across the flood affected communities of the Central West will commence in February ensuring local community members have the opportunity to influence the design of the $40 million housing program.

The NSW Reconstruction Authority, working with the 4 local councils, will lead the consultation stage of the housing program, engaging with communities through information sessions, workshops and online communication tools.

Community members will be briefed on technical data and flood modelling and will be asked to share their experiences and insights from the November 2022 floods to help build a shared understanding of risk in the region.

The $40 million housing program could offer a range of products to eligible households, including raisings and retrofits to floodproof existing dwellings as well as buybacks and relocations.

$57 million of the funding will be used for a Community Asset Program and a Regional Transport Resilience Fund – funding allocations for both will be released in February and both will also be open for applications from local councils.

The Regional Transport Resilience Fund will see vital transport infrastructure like bridges and flood crossings replaced and roads improved while the Community Assets Program will focus on places that bring communities together, like sporting fields, parks and playgrounds, recreational centres and libraries.

Importantly, both programs focus on building back better to ensure communities are better prepared in the face of natural disasters.

To help oversee delivery of the landmark $100 million package, Mayors from Cabonne Shire, Parkes, Forbes and Lachlan will join representatives from the NSW and Federal Governments at a Community Leaders Forum, to be chaired by the Member for Orange Phil Donato.

NSW Premier Chris Minns said:

“We know people just want to get back into their homes, that’s why flood recovery remains a key priority for the NSW Government.

“We’re committed to ensuring the community remains at the centre of recovery efforts.

“This is not about a simple fix, it’s a concerted effort making sure that communities in the Central West can build back stronger and an acknowledgement that the NSW Government is standing with them for the long-haul.”

Minister for Emergency Services Jihad Dib said:

“Recovery doesn’t happen overnight – it’s a long-term issue that requires evidence-based planning and community leadership.

“I’m proud to say the NSW Government is committed to delivering practical action on the ground to help people get back on their feet, with the involvement of local leaders and their communities.”

Member for Orange, Phil Donato said:

“We know a wide range of recovery and reconstruction work still needs to be done across the region and I am glad the work is progressing to make this happen.

“It is critical that the communities that are still dealing with the after-effects of the 2022 floods will remain at the centre of flood recovery efforts.”

The NSW Opposition is urging the Minns Labor Government to light up the iconic sails of the Sydney Opera House in red again this year, to mark the Lunar New Year celebrations.
 
Lunar New Year celebrations is a highly significant occasion, with the Year of the Dragon being considered to be particularly important.
 
NSW Liberal Leader Mark Speakman said that Sydney is one of the most diverse cities in the world.
 
“Multicultural communities across NSW, like our Chinese, Vietnamese and Korean communities, have made great contributions to this state,” Mr Speakman said.
 
“As in previous years, it’s appropriate that we show our respect and support for these communities by lighting the Opera House.”  
 
Shadow Minister for Multiculturalism, Mark Coure, said this has become a Lunar New Year tradition in NSW, one that has been ongoing for decades.
 
“From Hurstville to Chatswood to Liverpool to Fairfield, we have some of the largest Lunar New Year events in the world outside of Asia,” Mr Coure said.
 
“This year is particularly important as it is the Year of the Dragon, representing honour, good fortune and nobility for 2024.”
 
“I call on Premier Chris Minns to continue this wonderful display of unity and friendship by lighting up the Sydney Opera House to mark the beginning of Lunar New Year on Saturday, 10 February 2024.”
 
Celebrations for the Year of the Dragon are set to take place over 16 days, from Saturday 10 February 2024 to Saturday 25 February 2024.

The NSW Opposition is calling out Premier Chris Minns spin on the delivery of transport infrastructure in Western Sydney.
 
The former Liberal and Nationals Government together with the Coalition Federal Government invested over $15 billion to build the future transport infrastructure for the Western Sydney Airport and Aerotropolis including:

Projects	Total Investment
Sydney Metro – Western Sydney Airport	$11 billion
M12	$2 billion
The Northern Road	$1.6 billion
Bringelly Road	$500 million
Elizabeth Drive Upgrade	$200 million
Werrington Arterial Road Upgrade	$52 million

While Chris Minns takes the credit for the former Government’s investment, Labor’s own budget[1] reveals the transport and infrastructure capital spend is forecast to drop by 25% in four years.
 
The Opposition is also calling out Chris Minns’ claim of $600 million in road investment over the next five years, asking if it’s an appropriate level of funding:
 

• What portion of the $600 million is for delivery and/or planning funding?
• Is the $600 million a new allocation of funding from the Labor’s first budget or is the funding provided by the former Government’s final budget?

 
Shadow Minister for Transport Natalie Ward commented “I don’t know how Chris Minns plans to deliver transport infrastructure with a cut of 25% in overall funding in the future.”
 
“Chris Minns is all complaints and no responsibility, in order to deliver the positive future Western Sydney deserves you need to invest in its future.”
 
“It is easy to claim credit for infrastructure projects you don’t have to plan, fund and start delivery on, what is difficult is managing the NSW Budget in order to be able to consistently fund infrastructure investment.”
 
“The Government needs to stop the spin and actually outline and commit to which roads in the region are on their infrastructure priority list, no answers can only mean no investment.”

Work is powering ahead on the Western Sydney Airport Metro line with nearly one kilometre of a new bridge (viaduct) located between Orchard Hills and Luddenham completed.

The bridge, consisting of 36 piers, one every 28 to 40 metres, and 308 concrete segments will be 3.5-kilometre long as part of the new Western Sydney Airport metro line.

The foundation for the new metro station at Luddenham is also complete, ready for work on the station build to commence next month.

Situated up to 13.5 metres above ground, Luddenham Station will be the only station on the new line located on a viaduct. 

Work on the remaining part of the metro line is also in full swing, with four tunnel boring machines excavating the 9.8-kilometre tunnels and earthworks underway to complete sections of the railway at ground level.

The Metro line’s six new stations will also become a crucial connection for workers and travellers making their way to Western Sydney’s new international airport and surrounding areas.

The NSW Government has already approved a number of major projects in the region including data centres at Huntingwood and Kemps Creek, each worth over $1 billion.

Significant investment is also being driven into the area surrounding Luddenham Metro Station with Sydney Water nearing construction completion of an Integrated Water Recycling Hub.

The government continues to work to cut red tape imposed by the former government on development, further driving the creation of jobs in this growing region of Sydney.

Find out more about Luddenham Station   

NSW Premier Chris Minns said: 

“This project represents a massive opportunity for NSW, driving billions of dollars worth of investment and thousands of new jobs in this growing region of Western Sydney.

“Since being elected the NSW Government has worked tirelessly to cut red tape to drive development while charging ahead with the construction of Australia’s largest public transport project.” 

Deputy Premier and Minister for Western Sydney Prue Car said: 

“Making progress on Sydney Metro – Western Sydney Airport is vital for Western Sydney residents, and the greater Sydney economy.

“This project will not only improve public transport access to the future Western Sydney Airport, it’s also delivering major economic stimulus for Western Sydney, supporting more than 14,000 jobs.

“There’s more to do, but I am delighted to see progress being made on this world class infrastructure project, which will benefit our local communities for generations to come.”

Minister for Transport Jo Haylen said: 

“Sydney Metro – Western Sydney Airport will become the new transport spine for Greater Western Sydney connecting travellers from the new airport to a growing region and the rest of Sydney’s public transport system. 

“People will be able to step off a plane and onto a train as soon as the airport opens its doors.

“When complete, Luddenham Station will deliver a rail service to the future research, innovation and commercial precinct in Luddenham and provide world-class travel for people in an area with limited public transport options.”   

The Minns Labor Government has today opened the grant funding applications for the second round of Women in Construction Industry Innovation Program.

Construction continues to be one of the most male-dominated industries in Australia, with 12% representation of women across the sector and only 2% in trade roles.

The Industry Innovation Program supports a range of industry-led initiatives across the state to increase the number of women working in construction, improve workplace culture, create inclusive and safe work environments, and to empower women in leadership roles.  

The 21 funding recipients under Year 1 of the Program, lead initiatives ranging from education opportunities for women entering the industry via mentoring, work experience programs and opportunity showcases and site visits for school-based students – to training for established workforces, with the introduction of training to influence existing workplace behaviours to develop respectful and safe cultures on site.

Initiatives also included embedding flexible work practices and providing a variety of child-care support mechanisms for parents and carers, which helps to address the obstacles that prevent women from considering a career in construction.

An example of a funded initiative comes from the Infrastructure Sustainability Council who lead the program, “Sustainability: a credible construction career path.” This program aims to attract women to the industry and empower inclusive work practices through the development of a skills framework, creation of educational resources for organisations and the delivery of a mentoring program for NSW construction businesses.

The Industry Innovation Program is being delivered as part of the NSW Government’s $20.2 million Women in Construction Program.

For information on how to apply for grant funding, visit the NSW Government Industry Innovation Program Year 2 grants page.

Minister for Skills, TAFE and Tertiary Education Steve Whan said:

“The demand for construction workers continues to be high across the state. As we continue to deliver infrastructure projects it is paramount we increase the proportion of women in construction to improve industry diversity and productivity.

“Increasing the participation of women in construction is not about meeting quotas; it is about cultivating a skilled, versatile and experienced workforce.

“Empowering more women to choose a career in construction will lead to greater innovation, diversity, and progress, ultimately building a stronger and more inclusive future for the industry.

The Minns Labor Government is wholeheartedly committed to encouraging more women in the construction industry.

Minister for Women, Minister for Seniors, and Minister for the Prevention of Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Jodie Harrison said:

“Our commitment to increasing participation of women in trades and non-traditional roles is unwavering. Through the Women in Construction program, we are actively working to empower women to consider a career in the construction industry through education and skills development.

“The future of our trades industry lies in embracing the diversity and capabilities of all workers. The Industry Innovation Program aims to engage the industry in creating a safe, inclusive and dynamic workforce that welcomes and supports women in all trade roles.

“Closing the gender gap in construction can lead to improved performance, enhanced innovation and ensures sustainable growth.

“By working with industry stakeholders, we can unleash the full potential of women in this industry and build a strong and diverse future.”

Infrastructure Sustainability Council Chief Executive Officer, Ainsley Simpson said:

“The NSW Government’s commitment of more than $20 million to increase the number of women working in construction shows the important steps the industry is taking towards a more gender-balanced workplace. 

“Thanks to the Industry Innovation Program funding, the Infrastructure Sustainability Council is playing a part in breaking down cultural barriers that may prevent women from considering careers in this field.

“The implementation of a skills framework and creation of resources will help companies throughout the industry to engage and attract women into construction roles.”

The NSW Minister for Agriculture Tara Moriarty has announced that the fire ants site detected late on Friday 19 January south of Ballina has today been destroyed and is no longer a risk to the community living in the immediate area.

To manage the risks of spread, a biosecurity control order has been put in place with immediate effect, restricting movement within the surrounding 5km area of the site in Wardell, south of Ballina.

Department of Primary Industry teams will support the local businesses and community who will need to lock down movement of landscaping, gardening, and building materials plus machinery until inspected and checked.

The NSW Government is working closely with the Commonwealth and the Queensland Governments, plus Ballina Shire Council. Experienced teams are on site and today chemically eradicated the infestation and treating a radius of 500m from the site.

Following detection of the fire ants the NSW Government instigated its action plan covering – eradication, control, tracing, and engagement of local businesses and community.

The fire ants in Wardell were originally reported in by a member of the community to the NSW Biosecurity Hotline on Friday 19 January and confirmed as fire ants late that day.

The NSW Department of Primary Industries team moved swiftly with colleagues from the National Fire Ant Eradication Program and Ballina Shire Council to destroy the fire ants, control the site, start tracing the source and survey the surrounding area.

The team will continue activities with sniffer dogs and boots on the ground to determine the extent of any infestation, undertake genetic testing of the fire ants, as well as engaging and supporting the impacted local community and businesses.

The following types of materials cannot be moved out of the 5km zone: mulch, soil, compost and manure, growing media, hay, chaff, silage, potted plants, turf, agricultural and earth moving equipment, grass/vegetation and clippings.

Everyone is urged to continue vigilance in keeping an eye out for fire ants, reporting suspected ants to the NSW Biosecurity Hotline at 1800 680 244 or online.   

There are strict restrictions for moving material from control areas. Breaching the emergency biosecurity order carries penalties of up to $1.1 million for an individual and up to $2.2 million for a corporation.

More information on fire ants and control restrictions

Minister for Agriculture Tara Moriarty said:

“Our teams were prepared for this discovery of fire ants south of Ballina and immediately implemented our response plan and destroyed the fire ant site.

“Red imported fire ants are an invasive pest and that is why the Minns Government increased the NSW contribution to eradication from $15 million to $95 million last year.

“Biosecurity is a shared responsibility and I encourage everyone to continue to check their properties for these pests. With the summer cross-border travel in peak times I ask everyone to be careful of what they’re moving and where.

“We will continue to keep the community informed of progress and will continue working closely with industry, the local community and our state and federal counterparts.”

The NSW Government has today announced that former Chief Justice of the NSW Supreme Court, the Honourable Tom Bathurst AC KC will conduct a review of state laws regulating incitement to violence. 

Mr Bathurst, who is currently the Chairperson of the NSW Law Reform Commission, will review the policy objectives and effectiveness of section 93Z of the Crimes Act 1900 (NSW).

The review will consider similar laws in other jurisdictions, including the UK, and consider options for reform of section 93Z.

The review comes in the wake of concerns raised by some community groups about the effectiveness of section 93Z, which makes it an offence to publicly threaten or incite violence against a person on the grounds of race or religious belief or affiliation.  

This follows recent procedural changes to section 93Z to streamline prosecutions, removing a requirement for the Director of Public Prosecutions to agree to the prosecution.    

The Terms of Reference for the Review are currently being developed with Mr Bathurst.

Premier of NSW Chris Minns said:

“There is no place in NSW for hate speech or incitement to violence. We live in a multicultural society, and it is vital that we have laws that protect people who come from communities all around the world and call NSW home.”

“This review, to be conducted by one of the State’s most respected legal minds, will be considered and thorough and help provide the community with confidence that our laws are operating effectively. 

“The widespread loss of life and impacts of war in the Middle East is traumatic for many families and communities. The impacts are felt deeply by many. 

“The NSW Government is deeply committed to ensuring that all communities are able to live peacefully without fear of violence, or threats of violence. 

“Along with our legal frameworks, NSW has a deep commitment to maintaining social cohesion and many measures in place to raise awareness, to educate and strengthen community cohesion.” 

Acting Attorney-General Ron Hoenig said:

“This review is an important step in ensuring we are strengthening our legal frameworks and working to promote social cohesion.”

“NSW has many support services in place for people experiencing vilification including access to help from the NSW Anti-Discrimination Board and NSW Police.  

“But if there is more to be done, we will do it, because we are committed to protecting our harmonious, multicultural community.” 

The Wollongong community has provided feedback and support for 3 new bus layover sites, with planning work set to continue in 2024.

A 3-week consultation period revealed support for the plan to relocate the existing bus layover at Marine Drive to 3 new sites in the Atchison Street car park, Wollongong Train Station car park and Oak Flats Train Station car park.

Transport for NSW received 328 survey responses and 7 submissions during the consultation period from 6 to 26 November 2023, with respondents including bus drivers (7.3% of respondents), bus users (25.3%) and car park users (30.5%).

Key themes included the need for suitable facilities for bus drivers along with concerns over congestion and a loss of car parking spaces.

The community was positive about the relocation of the Marine Drive bus layover and supportive of a site more centrally located in Wollongong CBD, closer to other modes of transport.

Transport for NSW, in collaboration with Wollongong City Council, local bus operators and the Transport Workers’ Union, reviewed more than 20 locations as part of the site selection process and considered all necessary requirements including passenger outcomes, layover capacity, vehicle access, route coverage, adjacent land use, driver safety and access to facilities.

Design and planning work will progress on the new layover sites in 2024, including detailed bus service and operational planning to inform a business case to permanently relocate the bus layover to the new sites.

It is proposed that the project will be delivered in a staged process, with development of the Atchison Street car park site to be the first priority.

The site on Atchison Street will provide 11 bus parking spaces and facilities for bus drivers to rest and rejuvenate between shifts including bathrooms, kitchen facilities and space to relax. The community will be kept informed as the project progresses.

A community consultation summary report has been released and can be found on the Transport for NSW website.

Transport Minister Jo Haylen said:

“Bus layovers are an important part of bus operations. They ensure our drivers are safe, rested and comfortable, and have easy access to facilities like bathrooms and kitchens, which is a huge benefit for both drivers and passengers.

“Each selected site is located close to a train station and a bus stop, the natural starting and stopping point of many bus routes, reducing unnecessary extra trips between the final stop and the new layover.”

Member for Wollongong Paul Scully said:

“We have done a lot of careful work to make sure the community’s voices were heard and transport needs understood during this consultation process, while balancing the essential needs of our frontline public transport workers.

“The move from a single layover site at Marine Drive to 3 layovers across the Illawarra will help local bus services continue to expand while supporting the Illawarra region into the future.”

Today the reality of the challenge facing the NSW Government in tackling the housing crisis has been laid bare, further highlighting the significant need for the once in a generation planning reforms that the government introduced in December last year.

While these reforms will take time to effect significant housing uplift, these changes will deliver hundreds of thousands of well-located, well-designed and well-built homes close to transport, jobs, services and amenity over the coming years.

All advice and industry feedback is that these reforms will have the major impact on housing uplift that our city and state so desperately needs.

The NSW Labor Government has been clear that while building 75,000 new homes off a base of only 48,000 completions in 2022 will be a big challenge, the goal is to meet the states 377,000 housing goal over the 5 years of the accord.

The NSW Government is determined to meet the state’s housing goals under the 5 year housing accord, and it’s the major announcements that the government made only weeks ago that will help get us there.

These reforms include: 

• Changes to low to mid rise housing – with the aim to increase capacity for an additional 110,000 homes in well-serviced areas by the end of 2029.
• Infrastructure contributions reforms – a program designed to ensure supporting infrastructure is aligned to housing delivery, so we don’t end up with suburbs having no schools or sewage systems to support growing communities.
• The Transport Oriented Development (TOD) program, the first of which will deliver state-led rezonings within 1,200 metres of 8 priority transport hubs. The second will deliver a new SEPP to increase the capacity for more mid-rise housing and mixed-use development within 400 metres of 31 other well-located transport hubs and town centres.
• More affordable housing – the introduction of a new bonus Floor Space Ratio (FSR) of up to 30 per cent and a height bonus of up to 30 per cent where a proposal includes a minimum of 15 per cent of the gross floor area (GFA) as affordable housing.
• Transparency – we’ve committed to publishing performance tables to identify best performing councils and to show the performance of government approval processes as well.

NSW is the best state, in the best country in the world but it’s getting harder for people to move here, to start a family, or start a business. Every step the NSW Government is taking is to help tackle this issue.

Minister for Planning Paul Scully said:

“We are reforming planning rules to support the delivery of thousands of new homes and a pipeline of housing supply into the future, and are determined to meet our housing goals.

“If there’s no supply, there’s no homes for the next generation. The NSW Government is not going to turn their back on housing, it’s a basic need.

“We’ve inherited a confused and confusing planning system from the previous Liberal Government that has delivered the housing crisis that NSW residents are experiencing today.

“I think most fair-minded people will recognise that our reforms are significant and need time to take effect.  I think they also recognise that there are many factors that influence housing like interest rates, and access to finance and materials.

“The NSW Government is starting from a long way back but has taken immediate action to turn around housing completions of the incredibly low base of only 48,000 homes delivered in 2022.”

The NSW Government is helping teachers and educators get ready for term 1 2024, with the new option to renew their mandatory Working with Children Check online in as little as 10 minutes.

The new renewal option saves busy workers up to 1 hour and allows people to complete the administrative task from the comfort of their own home or office.

Teachers, childcare workers, and volunteers are among the roughly 1.9 million people in NSW who hold a Working with Children Check, and those in regional areas will particularly benefit from the new online renewal option.

More than 3000 people have renewed their WWCC online since the option launched late last year, with 98% providing a ‘thumbs up’ in their feedback on the transaction.

The online verification for WWCC is a significant step in the NSW Government’s digital identity journey, removing the need to share copies of physical documents and cards to prove an identity.

The identity checks use advanced facial verification technology that can securely verify a person’s identity and detect their presence through a liveness check, to confirm authenticity.

Service NSW will confirm the identity of a person by matching their live facial scan with the reference image associated with them, such as the photo that was taken when a driver licence was issued.

To preserve privacy and safeguard against fraud, photographs used for verification are immediately and permanently destroyed after the real-time check is completed.

Renewing a WWCC using digital proof of identity is optional and people can still apply in-person at Service NSW.

Minister for Customer Service and Digital Government Jihad Dib said:

“The new online option for renewing your Working with Children Check is a great example of how we are using technology to improve access to government services and helping people save valuable time.

“The state’s teachers, volunteers and childcare workers no longer need to travel to a Service NSW Service Centre to renew their Working with Children Check.

“The new process is streamlined, efficient and secure, cutting the transaction time from 70 minutes to 10 minutes on average and helping to pave the way for more uses of photo verification technology in the future.”

Executive Director Identity NSW Lenka Bradovkova said:

“Digital Working with Children Check renewals allow those who need to renew this important credential to do so without needing to present documents in person at a Service Centre to prove who they are.

“We hope this new option will become the go-to renewal method for essential workers looking to easily meet their compliance obligations and reclaim valuable time.”