Category: NSW News

The Minns Labor Government is delivering better communities and building the infrastructure that matters with a new flood resistant road set to unlock the full potential of the Central Coast Wetlands – Pioneer Dairy and boost visitation to this gem.

Funded through a $472,535 Crown Lands grant, the road will connect to a Council public road, providing safe, reliable access to the 155-hectare reserve and boosting opportunities for nature-based tourism and community events.

This latest investment builds on the Minns Labor Government’s strong record at the site, including $570,000 for a sealed internal access road and $100,000 for weed management and other improvements over the past two years.

Together, these projects have strengthened access, protected sensitive ecosystems, and supported the long-term sustainability of the reserve, bringing the total Minns Labor Government support for the reserve to more than $1.14 million.

Situated on the south bank of the Wyong River next to Tuggerah Nature Reserve, the Central Coast Wetlands – Pioneer Dairy is a hub for birdwatchers, runners, walkers, golfers, and nature lovers, while also holding deep cultural significance for the Darkinjung people.

The new road will open up long-awaited opportunities for community markets, festivals, weddings, educational programs, and eco-tourism – ensuring this iconic Crown reserve can be enjoyed by all, rain or shine.

The Crown Reserves Improvement Fund helps deliver these community benefits, boosting local economies, protecting cultural heritage, and supporting recreation across NSW.

Minister for Lands and Property Steve Kamper said:

“The Minns Labor Government is focused on building better communities and investments in infrastructure like this can really make all the difference between surviving and thriving for regional communities.

“This new food-resilient road will enable the reserve to host larger-scale and evening events. It will increase community engagement and foster long term financial – and environmental – sustainability for Central Coast Wetlands – Pioneer Dairy.” 

Minister for the Central Coast and Member for Wyong David Harris said:

“This further grant funding to build a second access road to Central Coast Wetlands – Pioneer Diary will open up this special place to the community and unlock the reserve’s unrealised economic, cultural and sporting

potential, while safeguarding this pristine environment.

“The flood-resistant road is literally a pathway to supporting tourism and local jobs while protecting sensitive habitats for native plants and animals, and areas of cultural and heritage significance to local and Aboriginal communities.”

Central Coast Wetlands – Pioneer Dairy Crown land chair Jed Field said: 

“This is game-changing. A flood-proof access road is the crucial piece of infrastructure that has been missing since the reserve was established in 2001.

“It will really unlock the potential of the Central Coast Wetlands – Pioneer Dairy, by opening it up for broader community use as well as for the protection of the coastal environment.”

The Minns Labor Government is today unveiling a game-changing new precinct at Bays West – delivering up to 8,500 well-located homes, including a minimum of 10 per cent affordable and essential worker homes – directly above the new Bays West Metro Station currently under construction.

The landmark transformation will convert underutilised government-owned port land on the Harbour into Sydney’s newest suburb, while retaining important deep-water port facilities to support Sydney’s working harbour.

Located just minutes from the Sydney CBD and connected to a world-class metro, ferry, walking and cycling links, the Bays West precinct will rebalance housing growth towards well-serviced inner-city locations and help tackle the state’s housing crisis.

Affordable housing will be embedded from the outset, including dedicated homes for essential workers such as nurses, teachers, paramedics, firefighters and police so they can live closer to the communities they serve.

The precinct will combine new housing with public open space, opening public access to the waterfront for the first time in more than 100 years.

Night-time entertainment and creative industries will be anchored by the revitalisation of the historic White Bay Power Station as a cultural and community destination, connected to the harbour across a new expansive public forecourt.

Planning of the area will prioritise connectivity, including active transport links to neighbouring communities such as Rozelle, Balmain and Glebe, improved pedestrian access to the waterfront, and connections to the CBD, including an active transport link across the Glebe Island Bridge.

The Government will lead a master planning process that will include an international design competition to guide development across the precinct, ensuring homes, essential infrastructure, jobs, public spaces and transport links are delivered together.

It will be led by a new delivery agency to be established over the coming weeks, which will report to Minister Kamper who already has oversight of major precinct renewal projects including at Blackwattle Bay and Barangaroo. Once established, the publicly owned land in the precinct will be transferred to the new agency.

This is the first new suburb that has been built in inner Sydney in decades, it will see homes built alongside the Bays West Metro Station ensuring young people, families and downsizers are only minutes away from the CBD. As part of the transformation of the Bays West precinct, bulk port operations – including cement, gypsum and sugar handling – will cease on Glebe Island by no later than 2030.

The Government will work closely with industry to minimise impacts and ensure the continuity of supply. This includes a commitment of $270 million to improve road connections around the port at Port Kembla and to investigate increased rail freight capacity.

Working harbour operations across the precinct will be consolidated, mostly into White Bay, ensuring the precinct will continue to provide critical services for the harbour, including boat maintenance and marine construction and as a base for tug boats and for emergency services.

A new staging area will be established in White Bay, securing the future of the New Year’s Eve fireworks, Vivid and other major events for decades to come.

The cruise terminal will be retained in its current location, meaning tourists arriving in Sydney will be welcomed by the new precinct, with new shore-power facilities currently being installed that will reduce noise and emissions. The Sydney Heritage Fleet will also be offered new premises in White Bay.

Deep-water berths will be retained to preserve Sydney Harbour’s strategic operational capability, and the removal of the existing 1970s industrial silos, currently used as a billboard, as well as to store cement and sugar, will unlock new opportunities for public space and future housing.

By unlocking Bays West, the Minns Labor Government is delivering new homes in the right places — close to opportunity, transport and public space — while preserving Sydney Harbour as both a working and living harbour.

This builds on the additional capacity for more than 620,000 homes that is being created by the Minns Labor Government’s 68 state-led rezonings, Transport Oriented Development areas, Low and Mid-rise Housing Policy and Housing Delivery Authority.

Premier of New South Wales Chris Minns said:

“Right above a new metro station and minutes from the CBD, we’re delivering thousands of homes where people actually need them – close to work, close to services and close to transport.

“Importantly, this precinct will include affordable and essential worker housing from day one, so nurses, teachers, paramedics and police can live closer to the communities they serve.

“We understand that not everyone will welcome change, but cities don’t stand still. If Sydney is going to remain a place young people and families can afford to live in, we have to use well-located land better and plan for the future.”

Treasurer Daniel Mookhey said:

“Bays West is about putting publicly owned land to work for the people of New South Wales — delivering thousands of new homes while keeping this strategic harbour site in public hands for generations to come.

“By transforming underutilised industrial land into a vibrant housing and jobs precinct, we are boosting housing supply close to the CBD while strengthening the state’s long-term economic capacity.”

Minister for Transport, the Arts, Music and the Night Time Economy John Graham said:

“The new Bays West Metro Station will unlock this precinct for thousands of future residents, and with the White Bay Power Station at its heart it will also become one of the most exciting cultural destinations in Sydney.

“This plan strikes the right balance of building thousands of well-located homes with world-class transport, whilst maintaining a functioning working harbour.

“With the metro, ferries, walking and cycling – this will be one of the best-connected communities anywhere in Australia.”

Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Paul Scully said:

“This is city-shaping renewal – delivering thousands of new homes alongside open space, jobs, culture and waterfront access.

“The master planning process will coordinate delivery and guide a good mix of homes and jobs, so the transition of the new precinct is smooth for industry and future residents. Importantly alongside the renewal of Glebe Island, we’re also investing $270 million in transport infrastructure to accommodate additional activity and support more jobs at Port Kembla port.”

Minister for Lands and Property Steve Kamper said:

“This is exactly the kind of development Sydney needs, well-designed homes in a central location, close to public transport, jobs, entertainment and essential services.

“If we want Sydney to stay liveable and affordable, we need to be bold about using underutilised government-owned land to deliver homes for the future.”

Minister for Housing and Homelessness Rose Jackson said:

“We want Sydney to remain a city where nurses, teachers, hospitality workers and young families can afford to live.

“That’s why affordable and essential worker housing will be built into this precinct from the beginning, not treated as an afterthought.

“This is about opening Sydney Harbour to more people and giving the next generation a fair chance to live close to opportunity.”

The Minns Labor Government is taking the fight to potholes across New South Wales, with more than 106,500 potholes repaired on roads in regional NSW this financial year.

The repair blitz highlights the Government’s focus on getting the basics right – putting road maintenance and safety first, particularly in the wake of persistent and severe weather events.

Since March 2023, the Minns Government has filled more than 500,000 potholes, lifting the share of pothole-free state-managed roads across regional NSW to 82 per cent – a notable increase to conditions after 12 years of neglect under the previous government.

From local main streets to nationally significant corridors, the fight is on to make journeys smoother, safer and more reliable for regional communities.

Across regional NSW, crews are on the ground every day, and they’re fixing defects early before small problems become bigger, costlier failures.

The workforce includes some of the 71 new apprentices and trainees recently deployed by Transport for NSW, now getting to work supporting frontline maintenance and fixing roads across the state.

But we aren’t stopping here.

Work is supported by $155 million in accelerated funding, boosting the regional road maintenance budget to $1.25 billion this year.

Since July 2025, more than 1400 small but important uplift projects have been delivered across regional state-managed roads – including intersection improvements, shoulder sealing, drainage upgrades, localised repaving and targeted safety treatment.

The Minns Government is working hard to ensure people feel the difference: fewer bumps, safer verges, clearer markings, stronger surfaces.

Minister for Roads, Jenny Aitchison said:

“Under our watch, we have filled more than half a million potholes across NSW, and 106,500 across regional NSW in the past seven months.

“This is the biggest crackdown on potholes we’ve seen in decades – and that’s because the Minns Labor Government backs the bush!

“The job is by no means done, but it is a hell of a lot more than the Liberals and Nationals ever delivered. 

“We’ve repaired more than 106,500 potholes across regional NSW in the past seven months – because people want safer, smoother roads they can rely on.

“But we aren’t stopping there. Half a million in three years is a major milestone but our fight against potholes is ongoing – and we will be working hard to repair and resurface as many as we can.

“This work is not glamorous – but it’s the basics that matter. You can’t build a new tunnel every day, but you can use resources wisely to keep roads safe and reliable—and that’s exactly what we’re doing.”

Minister for Regional NSW, Tara Moriarty said:

“Strong regions rely on strong connections, and that starts with the basics.

“Repairing more than half a million potholes is practical delivery communities can see and feel.

“This is the work that matters to people every single day.”

Member for Bega, Dr Michael Holland said:

“Here, on the Far South Coast, our roads are our lifelines. They connect families to school and work and each other, they support freight movements and underpin our vital tourism industry.

“After years of severe weather and heavy use, road maintenance has needed sustained attention. The repair of more than 106,500 potholes across regional NSW in just seven months demonstrates a clear focus on getting the fundamentals right.

“In our region, smoother and safer roads mean fewer accidents, less damage to vehicles and greater confidence for locals and visitors.

“This is about practical delivery – investing in maintenance, supporting local jobs, and ensuring our road network remains reliable and resilient. This is the everyday work that keeps our communities moving and it’s work that makes a big difference.”

A vital stretch of the Kamilaroi Highway west of Burren Junction is set for significant rehabilitation, with the Minns Labor Government delivering long-term improvements to one of north-west NSW’s most important road corridors.

From Tuesday 3 March, work will begin on a full rehabilitation of a three-kilometre section between Walgett and Cryon, near the Goangra–Beanbri intersection, where the pavement has continued to deteriorate despite routine and heavy patching.

Rather than temporary fixes, crews will carry out a full pavement rehabilitation to rebuild and restore the road surface, improving ride quality and strengthening the highway for the long term.

The Kamilaroi Highway is a major east–west freight and community link across north-western NSW, connecting regional towns and agricultural industries and supporting local travel.

Work is expected to take around four months to complete, weather permitting. To keep workers and motorists safe, single-lane closures and temporary traffic lights will be in place during construction, with work carried out between be 6am to 6pm on weekdays andevery second weekend.

Motorists are advised to drive to the conditions, follow traffic control directions and allow up to five minutes of extra travel time.

Transport for NSW will continue to provide updates as work progresses.

NSW Minister for Roads, Jenny Aitchison:

“This rehabilitation work is about delivering long-term solutions for communities who depend on this highway day in, day out.

“The Kamilaroi Highway is a lifeline for freight, farming and families across north-west NSW — and this upgrade will make it stronger, safer and more reliable.

“We know this section has been impacted by flooding and repeated damage. Rather than continuing with temporary fixes, we’re rebuilding it properly so it can better withstand the conditions and serve the community for the long haul.”

Member for Barwon, Roy Butler:

“Anyone who travels this stretch knows it has needed more than patching for some time.

“This rehabilitation work will make a real difference to safety and comfort for local drivers and heavy vehicles alike.

“It’s important we continue investing in practical upgrades that keep regional roads serviceable and reliable.”

Families in Orange and Bathurst now have access to free, walk-in mental health and wellbeing support for their children at the Medicare Mental Health Kids Hub.

Kids Hubs provide free mental health and wellbeing services for children aged 0-12 and their families, carers and kin. These services support children who may be experiencing mild to moderate developmental, emotional, social or behavioural challenges.

There is no need for a diagnosis or referral to access services or support at a Kids Hub.

Labor is firmly committed to universal, free healthcare where everyone can get the mental health care they need. Medicare Mental Health Kids Hubs take pressure off families by saving time and money, while putting mental health support close by.

The Orange site is one of four being rolled out across NSW as part of a $35.8 million joint investment of $17.9 million from each of the Australian and NSW Governments to support children’s mental health.

Mental health clinicians, allied health professionals, care navigators at the service will tailor care to the needs of each child and family who visits.

The Orange Medicare Mental Health Kids Hub at 60-62 McNamara Street is open from 8.30 am to 5 pm Monday to Friday.

Minister Rose Jackson:

“The Orange Kids Hub is giving mums and dads an accessible, safe and trusted space to get care for their child when facing mental health challenges.

“You don’t need a referral, an appointment, or even your credit card – it’s free, specialised mental health support for kids in New South Wales.

“It’s a great example of how the Minns and Albanese Labor Governments are working together to improve access to mental health care, with four Medicare Mental Health Kids Hubs opening across the state.”

Assistant Minister McBride:

“The Albanese Labor Government is putting mental health at the heart of Medicare and quality care in the heart of our regional communities like Orange and Bathurst.

“We know that early intervention is best and the new Kids Hub is providing a safe and welcoming place for children and their parents, carers and kin.

“Local access to free mental health information and clinical services together with the support of multidisciplinary teams will make sure kids in our regions thrive.”

Premier Chris Minns has given up on the people of NSW after admitting today he doesn’t have a long-term plan to lead NSW. 
 
When asked about his vision for NSW after the opening of Sydney Metro West in 2032, the Premier revealed the only thing on his mind was not being Premier saying: “Well, I won’t be here, at least in this role…”  
 
This revelation confirms much of the speculation about the Premier’s plans to resign part way through the next term with an anonymous source telling the Sydney Morning Herald: “they would expect Minns to stand down early into the next term of parliament.” 
 
It’s now clear why the Minns Labor Government has no long-term vision or plan for future infrastructure, like new Metros, because Chris Minns won’t be in the job for much longer. 
 
The question voters deserve answered is which member of Minns’ incompetent team will lead Labor when he pulls the pin? 
 
Will it be Yasmin Catley, who has overseen an explosion in gangland violence or Ryan Park, who has overseen a deadly fungal cluster in a NSW hospital, will it be Jo Haylen, who resigned in disgrace over the misuse of her Ministerial driver, or will it be someone handpicked by faceless union bosses? 
 
NSW deserves to know who they are voting for at the next election if Chris Minns doesn’t intend to serve a full term. 
 
While the Premier has made his future clear the future of NSW under Labor is mired in uncertainty.  
 
I’m committed to the long term and will lead a team that backs families, strengthens communities and plans for the future. 

Every public-school student in NSW can now access opportunities to pursue their talents and potential at their local school, with the ground-breaking Inspire program rolling out as part of the Minns Labor Government’s commitment to put high potential and gifted education (HPGE) offerings in every public school.

All public schools in NSW are now embedding HPGE in their teaching practices and co-curricular activities, with a range of new programs tailored to each school, such as enrichment streams, extension opportunities and STEM programs.

The fulfilment of the major policy commitment will be announced today by NSW Deputy Premier and Minister for Education Prue Car at the SMH Schools Summit.

The Inspire program brings together all schools’ high potential and gifted offerings under one banner, shared on school websites, giving parents and carers easy access to information about the opportunities available at their local school.

Paired with an updated school-finder website, where schools are now proactively sharing their availability of places with local communities, parents can more easily plan their child’s schooling if they wish to explore the option of a non-local school.

The rollout of the Inspire program is backed by targeted teacher professional development in gifted education which took place state-wide in 2025, to help ensure all students are challenged to achieve their full potential across academics, the arts, leadership and sport.

As part of its commitment, the Minns Labor Government is investing $100 million to develop state-of-the-art learning facilities for students in 33 high schools selected as HPGE Partner Schools, eight of which completed upgrades for the start of the 2026 school year.

Under the Minns Labor Government’s Inspire program, new extension classes are being offered across comprehensive public high schools.

HPGE Extension Classes are now running in eight public high schools, with more schools to join the initiative next year. The schools were selected to address unmet demand for extension class offerings.

The high schools running new classes in 2026 are:

• Chifley College: Dunheved Campus
• Kooringal High School
• Hunters Hill High School
• Lisarow High School
• Elderslie High School
• Georges River College: Peakhurst Campus
• Port Hacking High School
• Riverstone High School

This commitment to support students to reach their full potential is backed by a rebuilt teaching workforce, with vacancies dropping to a 12-year low following Labor’s historic wage rise and additional policies to reduce workload.

Deputy Premier and Minister for Education and Early Learning Prue Car said:

“We are determined to ensure our public schools are places of excellence, where all students can access opportunities to develop their talents and reach their full potential.

“The Inspire program ensures high potential and gifted students in NSW public schools are identified and their teachers are equipped to provide world-class opportunities for these students to be challenged and pursue their talents.

“The Minns Labor Government is backing the roll-out of Inspire with our $100 million investment in infrastructure upgrades for 33 HPGE Partner Schools, with new extension classes also now in place in more public high schools.

“Importantly, teachers are receiving targeted training to deliver these opportunities in every school, something that can happen thanks to the Minns Labor Government’s wage reform which has seen vacancies shrink to a 12-year-low.

“Selective schools and opportunity classes are no longer the only public pathways for gifted students to pursue excellence. Parents, carers and the community will see high potential and gifted education in action in their local public schools.”

The Minns Labor Government is continuing to slash red tape and speed up assessment times with the second proclamation that enacts reforms introduced through the NSW Planning Systems Reform Act 2025 enabling fast-tracked pathways that could halve assessment times.

The rollout of landmark planning reforms is now well underway, creating a faster, fairer and modern planning system.

The latest changes will come into effect on 21 March 2026 and include:

• The ability to create targeted assessment pathways, that could reduce assessment timeframes by up to 50 per cent for low-risk development that have already been subject to strategic planning and community consultation. For example, this could be used to further fast track the approval of Mid-rise pattern book homes.
• Streamlined 14-day approvals for minor modifications to existing development applications (DAs) that don’t have environmental impacts, to increase certainty for applicants and help avoid construction delays.
• Where a development application is notrequired – making the environmental assessment of works carried out by state agencies, councils and other public authorities proportionate to the works being done.
• Fairer review and appeal processes, which give applicants greater flexibility.

The Minns Labor Government is also making the planning system easier to navigate by halving the number of active planning circulars which are in place to help guide people through the planning system. This change will cut the confusion and help applicants speed up planning proposal preparation to further accelerate planning.

This builds on the first proclamation of reforms under the new Act introduced in December 2025 which:

• Allowed the Development Coordination Authority to begin initial operations.
• Cemented the Housing Delivery Authority as a permanent pathway.
• Updated the objects of the act to include climate change, housing delivery and proportionality in assessments.
• Established new powers to deal with ‘Zombie’ development applications.

Since then, the Government has also exhibited regulatory changes to fully establish the Development Coordination Authority and currently have on public exhibition a new proposed Climate Change and Natural Hazards State Environmental Planning Policy.

This implementation of the Government’s landmark planning reforms will continue over the coming months, with consultation on the first potential targeted assessment pathways and a new consistent statewide community consultation plan. 

The Planning System Reform Act 2025 passed in November 2025 with almost universal support if the NSW Parliament, enabling the most substantive changes to the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 in a generation.

Further information on the planning reforms is available at the Planning website

Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Paul Scully said:
“The Minns Labor Government is removing unnecessary roadblocks that have hindered the delivery of new homes, jobs and infrastructure.

“For too long the planning system in NSW has been focused on process rather than outcomes. This led to a situation where around 90 per cent of the development applications being assessed were for lower value projects of $1 million or less.

“We’ve been sweating the small stuff which has led to delays and a system that had lost focus on its role to help deliver more homes, jobs and better environmental outcomes. We’re refocusing planning effort where it matters most by making it faster for low-risk development to get moving so we can get more new keys in more new doors faster.

“By introducing targeted assessment and streamlining modifications we are cutting approval timelines without cutting corners and ultimately improving feasibility for projects right across NSW. Ultimately these changes will help us build a better NSW.”

NSW Health Inspectors have now issued 105 short-term closure orders since new laws strengthening tobacco and vaping control efforts came into effect in November 2025.

This milestone comes ahead of a further increase to the federal tobacco excise expected tomorrow, driving concerns this will push more people to illicit market tobacco as the cost disparity between illegal and legal tobacco continues to grow.

Under the November 2025 laws, NSW Health supported by NSW Police make short-term closure orders of up to 90 days for premises selling illicit tobacco, illegal vaping goods, or selling tobacco without a licence.

In the past 10 days, 30 more stores across Hunter New England, Murrumbidgee, Nepean Blue Mountains, Northern Sydney, Sydney, South Eastern Sydney, South Western Sydney, Western Sydney, Illawarra Shoalhaven, and Western NSW Local Health Districts have been shut down immediately for 90 days.

NSW Health inspectors seized approximately 700,000 illicit cigarettes and 3,900 illicit vapes while implementing the Closure Order at these 30 premises.

Further investigations will follow and additional enforcement action, including prosecution, may take place.

In mid-February, NSW Health took action to close a tobacco retailer in Rutherford for the second time after it was found to be in breach of a 90-day closure order for selling illicit tobacco and vapes.

A NSW Local Court can issue a long-term closure order of up to one year if it is satisfied that illicit tobacco or illegal vaping goods have been or are likely to be sold, or if tobacco or non-tobacco smoking products are sold or are likely to be sold without a licence.

The long-term closure orders are part of the NSW Government’s tough new laws to disrupt the supply of illicit tobacco and vaping goods across the state.

Additional reforms under the new legislation include:

• ​a new offence for the possession of a commercial quantity of illicit tobacco with a maximum penalty of over $1.5 million and 7 years’ imprisonment, or both
• new penalties for the sale of illicit tobacco with a maximum penalty of over $1.5 million and 7 years’ imprisonment, or both
• new lease termination powers for landlords where a closure order is in place
• new nation-leading offences for falsely claiming to be licensed, resisting seizure, and attempting to retake seized products.

As part of ongoing efforts to strengthen compliance and enforcement of tobacco and vaping goods laws, the NSW Government recently announced the addition of 30 additional full-time equivalent tobacco Inspectors. The new Inspectors brings the dedicated state-wide team, which includes licensing, operational policy and project officers to a total of 78 staff.

Members of the public can lodge complaints about retailers they believe are doing the wrong thing via the complaints portal on the NSW Health website.​

More information on closure orders and penalties can be found on the NSW Health website: https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/tobacco/Pages/tobacco-retailing-laws.aspx

Minister for Health, Ryan Park:

“The recent closures should serve as a reminder for those people in the community who are doing the wrong thing that we are serious and they will be prosecuted.

“Now with the boost to the numbers of Inspectors on the ground, our work to disrupt the supply of these products is only going to ramp up to continuing protect public health across NSW.

“Our Inspectors actively monitor retailers, and if we find that you are continuing to sell these illicit products after being served a closure order, we will shut you down again and you will face further penalties.

“Despite the increase in the federal tobacco excise this week potentially bolstering the illicit market, we’re getting on with the job of cleaning up our communities and suburbs, doing our part to crack down on illicit tobacco.”