Category: NSW News

The NSW Government will continue the Shark Management Program in its current form for the upcoming summer swimming season.

The Shark Management Program is an effective mitigation program, with a mix of traditional and modern technologies along the NSW coastline.

Last year was the first summer where SMART drumlines, drones and tagged shark listening stations were deployed at beaches which also have shark nets.

Continuing the full suite of measures for the 2023-24 season will help us gather further data to make better informed decisions about possible changes for the following (2024-25) season.

The shark meshing program is actively managed to minimise the impact on marine animals while protecting swimmers at some of NSW’s most popular beaches.

The safety of beachgoers is the Government’s number one priority.

The NSW Shark Management Program is the largest program of its kind in the world, including:

• Nets at 51 beaches across 8 LGAs between Newcastle and Wollongong from 1 September to 30 April each year
• 305 SMART drumlines across the 19 LGAs, including 138 in LGAs with nets
• 37 tagged shark listening stations, including 13 in LGAs with nets
• Surveillance drone patrols at the current 50 beaches across 25 LGAs, including 15 in LGAs with nets

For more information on the NSW Government’s Shark Management Program, visit Sharksmart.

Minister for Agriculture, Regional NSW and Western NSW Tara Moriarty said:

“We will continue to work with Councils to assess options for different strategies in future, but for this summer we are sticking with the complement of nets, SMART drumlines, drones and listening stations.

“Nets are only set from September to April to avoid the majority of the whale migration season and are fitted with acoustic devices designed to deter marine mammals from interacting with them.

“The NSW Government will continue to listen to coastal councils and their communities to ensure that local preferences are balanced against effective, evidence-based shark mitigation for beachgoers.”downloadDownload as PDFprintPrint this page

The NSW Government has commissioned a giant mural at Stadium Australia to celebrate the Matildas’ historic success at the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023.

The permanent mural will capture some of the Matildas’ greatest moments during the tournament at the scene of today’s FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 final.

It will serve as a permanent reminder of how the Matildas’ run at this World Cup captured the imagination of the nation and inspired the next generation of female athletes.

The artwork will be installed on the external façade of the eastern side of Accor Stadium, closest to Olympic Park train station.

It is also the grandstand that will soon be named in honour of a female sporting legend, as the NSW Government completes another one of its election commitments.

The mural will also continue the NSW Government’s commitment to invest in the Olympic stadium, which benefited from more than $80m of capital works upgrades in preparation for the FIFA Women’s World Cup.

Tonight the stadium will host its fifth sold-out match as a part of the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 when England take on Spain in the tournament final.

More than 600,000 people attended the 11 FIFA Women’s World Cup matches in NSW, while hundreds of thousands more attended live sites around Sydney and NSW to cheer the Matildas throughout the tournament.

The project will be delivered by Venues NSW, which manages State’s major sporting and entertainment venues in Sydney, Newcastle and Wollongong.

Venues NSW will work with the advisory team that brought the Allianz Stadium public art project to life, overseeing a tender process in line with NSW Government procurement requirements.

The mural will be funded from an existing Budget allocation.

Premier of NSW Chris Minns said:

“NSW is the home of women’s sport in Australia, and this is about recognising the moments the Matildas’ brought our nation to a standstill.

“The Matildas’ campaign captured the imagination of Australia and the footballing world. I’m proud to announce that they will be permanently celebrated with a mural in their honour at Stadium Australia.

“Mary Fowler, Steph Catley, Caitlin Foord and Mackenzie Arnold joined Samantha Kerr as household names and put the world on notice that Australia is a football nation.”

Minister for Sport Steve Kamper said:

“The achievements of the Matildas at the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 will live on not only in our memories but also at Stadium Australia where they created history.”

“We’ve already committed to honouring a female sporting legend with a grandstand and this is the next step in honouring our elite female athletes.”

“It will be a daily reminder to the 10 million people who visit Sydney Olympic Park each year of the greatest FIFA Women’s World Cup tournament in history and how the whole nation got behind the Matildas.”

“We look forward to delivering more for women’s sport as part of our September budget.”

Western Sydney is on the path to having a new go-to water destination, with the NSW Government starting work on a feasibility study that will look at opening Prospect Reservoir up for recreation in a phased approach.

The NSW Government is asking the community to have their say and have released a discussion paper with an overview of some of the recreational possibilities being considered for Prospect Reservoir.

There will also be local drop-in sessions and information webinars hosted throughout the month of September 2023 to provide more opportunities for the community to get involved.

A key outcome for this feasibility study is to understand how the area could be best managed to balance the opportunities for increased recreation whilst protecting Sydney’s drinking water supply and the significant environmental and cultural values of the area.

There are already dams across the state used for both town water supply and recreation, including Chifley Dam near Bathurst and Brogo Dam on the South Coast.

This study acknowledges Prospect Reservoir is an important part of Sydney’s drinking water supply and will explore how we can expand the use of the reservoir for the community.

Minister for Water Rose Jackson said:

“We promised Western Sydney residents we would prioritise this project and that’s what we’re doing by fast tracking the feasibility study.

“If it stacks up, it could pave the way for a new spot to swim and relax only a short drive from Blacktown, 20 minutes from Cabramatta and Badgerys Creek and 15 minutes from Parramatta.

“The COVID lockdowns were a wake-up call. You had eastern suburbs residents who had beaches and pools within a 5km radius, but most people in the western suburbs didn’t have any options for taking a dip while travel restrictions were in place.

“We’ve been working hard behind the scenes to drive this project forward to start the feasibility study and we look forward to receiving feedback from the community to help chart our path forward.”

Member for Prospect Hugh McDermott said:

“For Western Sydney families, getting to the beach means expensive tolls, long hours in a car or on public transport and extensive time spent away from home or work. Opening up the Prospect Reservoir would be a huge win for our local community.

“Prospect Reservoir is one of Sydney’s most beautiful public places and it would be a game changer for families in the west if we were able to open it up for swimming and non-motorised watercraft.

“Getting these feasibility studies right takes time, so we won’t have an answer overnight, but we are looking at all options that would enable us to turn the reservoir into a public space that would benefit the community for many generations.”

Have your say about Prospect Reservoirlaunch

A rescued female platypus puggle being cared for at Sydney’s Taronga Zoo has been named ‘Matilda’ after Australia’s much-loved women’s soccer team record breaking run at the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023.

Matilda, nicknamed ‘Tilly’ for short, was around four months old when she was admitted to Taronga’s Wildlife Hospital in April 2023. She was in poor condition and weighed only 280 grams.

She had been found under a bush on the NSW Central Coast and was weak, severely malnourished and covered in ticks, all of which compromised her waterproofing making it difficult for her to swim and survive on her own.

Thanks to attentive, around-the-clock care from Taronga’s expert Platypus team who hand-fed her 6 times a day for 2 months, she started to improve.

Matilda, who is now approximately 8 months old, is eating and foraging on her own and recently weighed in at 694 grams.

The name Matilda means ‘bold, battlefield warrior’ and represents both our mighty women’s soccer team and Taronga’s puggle who is going from strength to strength.

Premier Chris Minns said:

“We are incredibly proud of the Matildas and the spirit they have shown throughout the Women’s World Cup and Tilly is emblematic of that perseverance.

“We know their legacy will be remembered for generations and, now one of our most iconic native animals shares the same name.

“The work being done by Taronga Zoo to care for platypuses is absolutely vital and the recovery of Tilly is a testament to that.”

Minister for the Environment Penny Sharpe said:

“The performance of the Matildas during the Woman’s World Cup has inspired a conversation that will change women’s sport in Australia forever.

“It can be touch-and-go when rehabilitating a Platypus, and Tilly’s recovery is a testament to the calibre of the team we have working at Taronga’s Wildlife Hospital.

“Ensuring the survival of this iconic species is essential work for this government and that means protecting their habitat, addressing climate change and tackling plastic pollution.”

Taronga Wildlife Hospital veterinary resident Dr Jess Whinfield said:

“Each platypus we treat, and especially those that need intensive care like Matilda, offers an insight into their species and what we need to do to help them thrive.

“Tilly would have weighed a tiny 1.5 grams when she hatched from an egg the size of a marble. She then spent four months drinking her mother’s milk in the safety of the nesting burrow.

“After emerging, she has very quickly learned to swim and find her food – not by using sight, sound, or smell, but by using her bill to detect the tiny amounts of electricity her invertebrate prey produces.

“Everyone can help protect platypuses in the wild by responsibly disposing of fishing equipment and picking up rubbish – especially items such as hair ties and rubber bands which platypuses can become entangled in.”

The fourth and final name of the tunnel boring machine (TBM) for the Sydney Metro – Western Sydney Airport project has been unveiled during a special launch ceremony at the Orchard Hills metro station site.

On hand to witness the launch were representatives from six local primary schools who participated in a Sydney Metro competition to name the machine. The students were the first to be introduced to TBM Marlene, the winning name submitted by Claremont Meadows Public School.

The machine is named in honour of Dr Marlene Kanga AO, recognising her significant contribution as a global leader in engineering and role model to women in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics). 

TBM Marlene will tunnel 4.3km, carving out the metro tunnel from Orchard Hills to St Marys alongside TBM Catherine, which is currently about 100m into its journey.

The 900-tonne TBM will tunnel on average 120m per week and is expected to arrive at the St Marys metro station site in mid-2024.

The naming competition was an opportunity for local primary school students to learn more about the new 23km metro line currently under construction from St Marys to the Aerotropolis that will transform travel in their area.

It also provided a chance for students to explore achievements of inspiring Australian women in the community, with all names submitted required to be female – a tunnelling tradition stemming from the 1600s when miners working underground prayed to Saint Barbara for protection.

All six schools that participated in the competition – Claremont Meadows Public School, Our Lady of the Rosary Primary, Kurrambee School, St Marys South Public School, St Marys North Public School and Orchard Hills Public School – were commended for the significant thought and effort they put into their suggested names.

The launch of TBM Marlene means all four TBMs for the mega project are now in the ground, with TBMs Eileen and Peggy 1275m and 386m into excavating the 5.5km of tunnels between the Airport Business Park and the Aerotropolis, respectively.

New metro rail will become the transport spine for Greater Western Sydney, connecting communities and travellers with the new Western Sydney International (Nancy-Bird Walton) Airport and the growing region.

The Australian and NSW Governments have a shared objective of having Sydney Metro – Western Sydney Airport operational when Western Sydney International Airport opens for passenger services.

More information on the Western Sydney Airport Metro projectlaunch

About Marlene Kanga AO

Dr Marlene Kanga AO is listed among Australia’s top 10 women engineers and top 100 engineers. A chemical engineer, she was National President of Engineers Australia in 2013 and President of the World Federation of Engineering Organisations in 2017-2019.

Dr Kanga has had an executive career in complex systems safety in the oil and gas and chemical industry. She is now a non-executive director and a board member at Endeavour Energy, Business Events Sydney, Standards Australia and formerly, Sydney Water Corporation and Innovation Australia. She is a director of iOmniscient Pty Ltd which has developed advanced video analytic technologies and Rux Energy Pty Ltd which is commercialising new materials for hydrogen storage.

She is Chair of the global Institution of Chemical Engineers Safety Centre, advancing complex system safety engineering internationally.

Dr Kanga is an Honorary Fellow of Engineers Australia, an Honorary Fellow of the Institution of Chemical Engineers (UK), a Foundation Fellow of the International Science Council, a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering and a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

She was the Engineers Australia 2018 Professional Engineer of the Year, received the Chemeca Medal in 2019 for contributions to chemical engineering and the Ada Lovelace Medal as an outstanding women engineer, in 2023. She is an Officer of the Order of Australia “for distinguished service to engineering, as a global leader and role model to women.”

Deputy Premier Prue Car said:

“The students have done a great job naming this tunnelling machine after such an inspiring leader in STEM.

“The name Marlene was suggested by Claremont Meadows Public School, and it is fitting that students from nearby schools were here at today’s launch as this project will serve many generations to come.

“It has been a joy to have these local school children attend the launch and send the fourth and final TBM for this transformational project off in style.

“The entries from local schools demonstrated an awareness of the contributions and successes of many outstanding women, and I’m so pleased to see Dr Marlene Kanga AO recognised in this way.

“The naming of TBM Marlene is a tremendous legacy for its namesake, and I look forward to tracking the machine’s progress as the tunnel advances from Orchard Hills to St Marys.”

Minister for Transport Jo Haylen said:

“Major construction is well underway on the Western Sydney Airport Metro, with the fourth and final tunnel boring machine launching its journey to build Sydney’s newest rail tunnels.

“It is fantastic to see local schools get involved and learn more about this vital transport link that will revolutionise how people will move in the area putting Western Sydney on the doorstep of the rest of the world.”

NSW Premier Chris Minns has today announced that the Department of Planning and Environment will become two new departments to better deliver on the Government’s priorities of addressing the energy challenges, climate change, the environment and housing.

The NSW Government is committed to keeping the lights on for NSW households, leading the essential transition to clean renewable energy, setting up the Energy Security Corporation, securing the future of our natural environment, as well as addressing the cost of living by ensuring housing is more affordable.

From 1 January 2024, the Department of Planning and Environment will be split into two new dedicated entities, the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water, and the Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure.

The new departments will be joined by the Office of Energy and Climate Change which is currently in Treasury.

There will be no changes to Ministerial portfolios. The changes have been made following a detailed review and analysis of services and programs.  

The Public Sector Review is ongoing and any further machinery of government changes will take place post the budget.

The 2023-24 Budget and Appropriations Bill will be presented on 19 September on the basis of current administrative arrangements.

All changes to machinery of government covered in today’s announcement, due to take effect from 1 January, will be reflected in full in the 2024-25 Budget.

NSW Premier Chris Minns said:

“Our government will always keep people at the heart of our decisions, and it’s clear that we need to align our agencies with the most important issues facing our communities.

“That’s precisely what this change is designed to achieve.” 

“The new Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water pulls together the collective environmental expertise of government into one place – creating a team ready to tackle one of our biggest challenges in energy security.

“The changes announced today will also provide a renewed focus and deep expertise to address the housing crisis.” 

Minister for Climate Change, Energy and Environment Penny Sharpe said:

“We went to the election with a commitment to taking serious action on Climate Change and addressing the decline in biodiversity.

“This new department brings these key tasks together and will allow the Minns Government to deliver on our election commitments and focus on the future of NSW.

“This future secures clean energy, drives economic growth for households and businesses and protects our air, our water, our soil and our plants and animals.”

Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Paul Scully said:

“It’s my job to make sure there is enough housing for people in NSW. 

“We inherited a housing crisis more than a decade in the making and know how challenging the housing situation is for everyone.

“We’ve already established new planning rules which encourage the construction of more homes.

“We’ve reformed infrastructure contributions to get roads, schools, health services and open spaces delivered faster in areas of high housing growth. 

“These changes combined with departmental changes, will hone our housing delivery focus.

“I look forward to the new approach and fresh ideas that will be generated by bringing together the best minds and expertise in the public sector.”

Minister for Housing and the Minister for Water Rose Jackson said:

“Our government is focused on bringing solutions to the table that are thorough and informed.”

“We want to create a government for the future not just right now. Part of that work means pulling together the right teams.

“As the Minister for Water, this new department not only makes sense but is absolutely crucial to ensure NSW is ready for the future.

“We know that climate change, pollution and land management are some of the biggest risks to water quality and security.”

Vietnam Veterans Day commemorations being held today around the state and Australia will hold special significance, marking 50 years since Australia’s withdrawal from Vietnam.

Vietnam Veterans Day takes place on 18 August, originally to acknowledge the Battle of Long Tan which occurred in 1966 and resulted in 18 Australian deaths and 24 wounded after 3 hours of fierce fighting before the withdrawal of the Viet Cong. But the day is used to broadly to remember the service and sacrifice of all who fought in Vietnam.

Minister for Veterans David Harris was at the Cenotaph alongside RSL NSW President and Vietnam veteran Ray James OAM, to pay tribute to the service and sacrifice of our veterans of one of Australia’s longest military engagements of the 20th century.

“This year, 50 years on from the withdrawal of Australian troops, we pay special tribute to all who served in Vietnam to keep us safe,” Mr Harris said.

“Sadly, 523 lost their lives and almost 2400 were wounded, with all involved carrying the scars and memories that only armed combat can bring. We will never forget your service and sacrifice.”

RSL NSW President Ray James OAM said commemorating significant moments in our military history is vital to Australia, as people, a community, and a nation.

“Today we will honour those veterans who lost their lives during a battle; returned home wounded, ill, or injured, lost their lives in the years since they returned, and still carry the physical and emotional scars of their service since Australia withdrew from the Vietnam War 50 years ago,” Mr James said.

“For those of us who are still here today, I say we must continue to honour the dead but fight like hell for the living as we support our fellow veterans of all conflicts, and connect them with the mateship, camaraderie, and services they need.”

Vietnam veterans and nurses are also being honoured in a new exhibition at the Anzac Memorial in Hyde Park. The Stories of the Dat Do Dogs is a photographic exhibition with digital stories from over 50 veterans sharing their experiences from Vietnam.

Minister Harris who opened the exhibition said the memories shared by these veterans will enable their legacy to continue.

“The photographs and digital stories produced are essential to ensuring the sacrifices of these veterans are not forgotten, and their legacy is passed down to future generations.”

The exhibition will feature in the Auditorium at the Anzac Memorial in Hyde Park Sydney through to March 2024.

For more information, visit the Anzac Memorial event pagelaunch.

The Minns Labor Government has delivered a $1.2 million upgrade to hair and beauty training facilities at TAFE NSW Campbelltown as demand for specialist skills and training in southwest Sydney grows.

The upgrade means TAFE NSW Campbelltown now has expanded training offerings and will teach hair and beauty courses for the first time, Deputy Premier and Minister for Skills, TAFE and Tertiary Education Prue Car said.

The funding has seen 2 generalist teaching spaces converted into specialist, adaptable classrooms, fitted with industry-standard tanning equipment, make-up bays, waxing tools, wash basins and cutting and styling tools.

Since the new facilities opening in July, some 95 hair and beauty students have enrolled at TAFE NSW Campbelltown in courses including the new Fee-Free Certificate III in Makeup, Certificate II in Salon Assistant, Certificate III in Beauty Services and Certificate III in Nail Technology.

After the Liberal National government spent 12 years cutting courses, sacking teachers and closing TAFE NSW campuses, the Minns Labor Government is committed to restoring TAFE NSW as the heart of vocational education in the state.

The Minns Labor Government is now making the careful and necessary decisions to address the holes left in the budget by the Liberals to ensure we fund the essential services people rely on.

This includes committing to a floor of 70% of its skills budget going to TAFE NSW.

The Minns Labor government is also conducting a comprehensive review of the vocational education system in NSW that has already begun consultation around the state.

Deputy Premier and Minister for Skills, TAFE and Tertiary Education Prue Car said:

“As southwest Sydney’s population goes from strength to strength, the demand for training skilled workers is continuing to grow.

“It is wonderful to see students at this TAFE NSW campus learning on industry-standard hair and beauty teaching facilities.

“Students will also be able to learn their trade and gain hands-on experience in an environment just like a regular salon.

“This investment will ensure people who want to start their own business or work as beauticians, hairdressers, barbers and salon assistants can learn skills in their local area for years to come.”

TAFE NSW Head Teacher Beauty, Rebecca Hamilton said:  

“The new simulated beauty salon and multi-purpose learning space provides three new practical spaces for specialised training and will give students the edge they need to excel in their apprenticeships and career.

“Thanks to the new facilities, we’ve been able to meet high local demand for our hair and beauty courses, with another class already added to accommodate interest in Certificate III in Makeup,’ Ms Hamilton said.”

Assistance for agricultural processing businesses to re-establish operations following the February and March 2022 floods continues, with round 2 of the $22 million Supply Chain Support Program now open for applications.

Businesses in 62 local government areas are eligible, with support available to help long-term recovery efforts.

The program is jointly funded by the Albanese and Minns governments under the Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA).

Federal Minister for Emergency Management Murray Watt said support is available to rebuild, repair and improve the resilience of eligible first receivers and processors, or harvesters of primary produce that operate within the fisheries, horticulture and agriculture sectors.

“Round 1 of the Supply Chain Support Program has already helped to repair premises and support employers to keep their employees in jobs at multiple flood-impacted operations across NSW, including dairies, distilleries and seafood suppliers,” Minister Watt said.

“Under round 2 of the Supply Chain Support Program, eligible businesses and cooperatives that experienced direct flood damage can apply for up to $2 million to support projects such as the replacement of damaged plant and machinery, for business and product diversification, or for transporting product from outside the area.

“Processing businesses and cooperatives indirectly impacted by floods through major supply chain disruptions can apply for up to $250,000.”

Minister for Agriculture, Regional NSW and Western NSW Tara Moriarty said the NSW Government is making sure no one is being left behind, including those who work to get our agricultural products from paddock to plate.

“From berry and dairy processors to fishing cooperatives, the Supply Chain Support Program is strengthening primary industries by assisting companies to modernise their operations to reduce workforce disruptions and build industry sustainability,” Ms Moriarty said.

“The program has delivered vital support in the form of building and roof repairs, replacement equipment and freight assistance, which has helped to keep local people in work during the ongoing flood recovery.

“Reducing the impact of future natural disasters is essential to keeping specialised jobs and skills in regional areas and helping businesses to become more resilient.”

For further information and to apply, visit the Supply Chain Support Program website.

The Supply Chain Support Program is designed to complement existing recovery measures in disaster-declared regions.

The 2024 NSW Seniors Festival is shaping up to be bigger and better, with the theme ‘Reach Beyond’.

Minister for Seniors Jodie Harrison said the NSW Seniors Festival is the biggest gathering for seniors in the state and provides an opportunity for older Australians to celebrate and connect. 

“The NSW Government is looking forward to delivering a festival that embraces everybody and recognises the important contributions seniors play in our community,” Minister Harrison said. 

“We want to see NSW seniors taking advantage of the many activities, that include the popular signature events – the Premier’s Gala Concerts and Expo.

“The NSW Seniors Festival is a great time for older Australians to ‘reach beyond’, to seek out new experiences and make new friends by participating in the festivities.”

Next year’s NSW Seniors Festival will run from 11-24 March 2024, with the Expo and Gala concerts taking place between 13-14 March. Each year the festival provides a full program of events and entertainment, with a huge variety of exciting activities across the state.

Discounted early bird applications for prospective Seniors Festival Expo stallholders are now open and will run until 22 September 2023. Prospective Seniors Festival Expo exhibitors can visit, https://seniorsfestival.info/be-exhibitor. 

The Premier’s Gala Concerts will be live-streamed so people can watch no matter where they are. Further details on the Premier’s Gala Concerts will be announced later this year.

Find out more about the NSW Seniors Festival