Category: NSW News

Today Chris Minns and Jo Haylen have announced that Labor are “rescuing” Sydney Metro City & Southwest from themselves, reluctantly deciding to complete the Liberals’ and Nationals’ landmark infrastructure project.

Leader of the Opposition Mark Speakman said the Opposition welcomed the Government’s decision at last to honour their election commitment, to accept the visionary benefits of the project for commuters and to put commuters ahead of union demands to cancel the project.

“This Labor Government has made a big song and dance out of honouring an election commitment and delivering an infrastructure project that was planned, funded and underway by the previous government – it shows how unusual it is for Labor to deliver any infrastructure project,” Mr Speakman said.

Shadow Minister for Transport and Roads Natalie Ward declared today’s announcement a stunt.

“While we welcome today’s confirmation of the Sydney Metro Southwest, there is still a dark cloud hanging over the future of Sydney Metro West, with questions yet to be answered that Labor is considering delaying the project,” Ms Ward said.

“The Government has finally released the Interim Report Summary of their Sydney Metro Independent Review, which the Jo Haylen received on 23 June, which raises the option of delaying Sydney Metro West to complete Sydney Metro City & Southwest^[1]:

That the NSW Government should note that the City & Southwest project is likely to require an increase to the total cost envelope of around $1.1 billion. It is likely that this can be at least partly supported from a cashflow perspective within the existing total Sydney Metro capital funding provision of the Forward Estimates but may require deferring some non-contracted Sydney Metro West packages by up to 12 months.

Chris Minns and Jo Haylen must come clean today on their plans for Sydney Metro West – and tell the people of Western Sydney that their project will be delayed – locals in Parramatta through to Drummoyne deserve that at the very least.” 

The Opposition acknowledged the disruptions commuters will experience during the 12 month conversion, but refuted Labor’s claims that this was news to locals.

“As far back as 2016 we knew that this project would require months of disruption, with the former government flagging at least 7 months of train replacements^[2],” Mr Speakman said.

Mr Speakman also warned that Labor looked poise to introduce new taxes, in addition to delaying the Sydney Metro West to fund the completion Metro City & Southwest.

“The Government has today said that the additional funds required to complete this project will be allocated from existing transport budgets – yet at the same time are flagging new taxes on Western Sydney development,” Mr Speakman said.

“This Government went to the election promising no new taxes, but now the Treasurer is flagging a new tax on development.”

“The Government was very clear before the election – they would deliver Sydney Metro West and Southwest, and no new taxes – Chris Minns must keep his word and honour this commitment.”

The Opposition is calling on the Labor Government to declare whose side are they on, with an imminent decision due on the future of the Metro South-West project.

With the Rail Tram and Bus Union (RTBU) consistently on the record calling for the Metro line conversion to be scrapped, including in a submission to the NSW Parliament it is clear the Labor Government has a choice – back commuters or give in to their union masters.

The Metro South-West project will see the conversion of the Sydenham to Bankstown T3 line from a heavy rail line to a new Metro Line, which will:

· Triple the number of train services at stations like Hurlstone Park, Canterbury and Wiley Park,

· Over the three-hour morning peak move 51,000 people in each direction on the Bankstown Line – that’s an extra 15,000 more people than now.

· Deliver significant savings in travel times to key Sydney CBD destinations including:

o   Bankstown to Barangaroo achieving up to a 25 minute time savings

o   Dulwich Hill to North Sydney achieving up to 31 minutes time savings.

The Coalition Government was on the record that if the upgrade of the T3 Bankstown Line to metro standards does not proceed, the existing Sydney Trains heavy rail network will not have the capacity it needs to support Greater Sydney as it continues to grow.

In 2019 when asked in the NSW Parliament regarding cancelling the conversation at Sydenham, the current A/Secretary of Transport for NSW Howard Collins OBE said

Mr COLLINS: I think any reasonable railway operator, timetable … will explain to you that that means the worst of both worlds because we still are running the Bankstown line.

Shadow Minister for Transport Natalie Ward commented on the impending decision:

“The Government has a clear choice – back the RTBU or back commuters.

“The Acting Secretary of Transport supports the conversion, commuters support the conversion, the Minns Labor Government before the election supported the conversion – the only people who don’t is the RTBU and apparently now the Transport Minister.”

“It’s clear who benefits from scrapping this project, the RTBU, because a metro train is a union-less train.”

“Either the people of Sydney will get what they were promised by Labor or the RTBU gets what it wants – the Premier and Transport Minister need to decide.”

Students in NSW will soon be equipped for the digital and IT jobs of the future, as the first update to the state’s Computing and Technology curriculum in two decades is rolled out under the Minns Government.

The new Computing and Technology syllabuses will be the most significant overhaul to the NSW computing curriculum since 2003, empowering students with the skills they need to thrive as advancements in technology continue to transform the way we work and live.

Students from Blakehurst High School in Sydney’s south have become early adopters of the new courses, taking part in a pilot program this year ahead of the broader rollout.

The new and improved Computing and Technology syllabus for Years 7 to 10 and Software Engineering, Computing Technology Life Skills and Enterprise Computing for Years 11 and 12, will be rolled out across NSW high schools in 2024, giving students the opportunity to gain the knowledge and skills needed for jobs of the future.  

The updated syllabuses include user experience design, mechatronics, data analysis and visualisation and object-oriented programming as well as machine learning, Artificial Intelligence (AI), and virtual and augmented reality.

The new syllabuses will encourage students to think innovatively by engaging in hands-on projects and real-world, problem-solving scenarios, giving them practical skills and experience building on their digital literacy. 

It’s hoped the new syllabuses will attract more students to computing subjects after a decade of falling numbers, with the NSW Department of Education also launching a campaign to encourage more high school students to enrol in the courses. 

It is also hoped the overhaul will attract more Technological and Applied Studies (TAS) teachers to the profession. 

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

“I am so excited to be rolling out the state’s new Computing and Technology courses for NSW high school students to get a head start on future careers in these fields.

“These are vital skills for tomorrow’s leaders to develop, and in a rapidly-changing field it’s well past time for a proper update to the curriculum.

“Our teachers will now be able to draw from up-to-date content, so they can focus on getting the best outcomes for students, not spending unnecessary hours reworking old syllabuses.

“I look forward to seeing NSW students embrace this opportunity to develop skills, knowledge and ways of thinking that will set them on track for future careers in technology and other fields.”

Blakehurst High School Principal Sophie Kapsimalis said:

“The students love the new Computing and Technology courses. It not only helps students to develop transferable skills that are applicable to many different industries, but also to develop critical thinking, problem-solving, and creativity.

“By choosing Computing and Technology subjects, students gain a competitive edge and position themselves for wide range of career opportunities.”

Blakehurst High School student Diana Sheptitskaya said:

“I really like the idea of designing my own projects. It’s made me more interested in design and technology, making me want to grow my knowledge in these subjects.”

Grants of up to $10,000 are available to fund programs focused on getting older people out and about during the 2024 NSW Seniors Festival. 

Minister for Seniors Jodie Harrison said the $200,000 NSW Seniors Festival Grants Program helps organisations deliver engaging activities for people aged 60 and over to keep them active and connected to their communities.

“We would love to see as many organisations and local councils as possible apply for these grants and plan exciting events for seniors to enjoy across the state,” Minister Harrison said.

“The Seniors Festival is a wonderful time of the year, and we want to make sure older people are treated to a diverse selection of activities such as art, sport, music, technology, travel, recreation, and health.

“We know connection is so important as we age, and the NSW Seniors Festival is a great way to encourage seniors to get out and meet like-minded friends in their communities, while participating in the various activities on offer.”

Previous grant recipients delivered a wide range of activities from dance classes to modified sports, computer classes and gardening workshops.

“The Seniors Festival celebrates the valuable contribution seniors make to families and our community as volunteers, role models and carers,” Minister Harrison added.

The Seniors Festival will run from Monday 11 March to Sunday 24 March 2024.

Applications for grants are open from 31 July to 28 August 2023. Apply at NSW Seniors Festival Grant Program 2024launch.

Communities across far western NSW are set to benefit from the start of a new virtual fracture clinic trial for uncomplicated fractures.

The virtual fracture clinic went live throughout the Far Western NSW Local Health District on 26 April and is running in partnership with Sydney LHD to allow patients to receive follow-up care for their injury at home, at work or school, without having to travel to a hospital or wait in a busy clinic.

Broken Hill Health Service physiotherapy staff are supporting and facilitating the implementation of the project, in partnership with RPA Virtual Hospital (rpavirtual) service.

NSW Regional Health Minister Ryan Park said the virtual fracture clinic means patients in remote and regional areas can access treatment without having to travel long distances.

“It’s all about making sure that people can have confidence in virtual medical care right across NSW,” Mr Park said.

“What we’re doing is combining the very best in medical staff and care with virtual services which mean our patients can get their treatment closer to home.

“That’s good for the system, that’s good for the community and it’s good for people who live outside our major centres.”

Project Lead and rpavirtual Physiotherapist, Min Jiat Teng, said the partnership is ensuring eligible patients receive quality care regardless of where they live.

“Virtual fracture clinic patients at Sydney LHD have reported excellent experiences and access to care,” Mr Teng said.

FWLHD Senior Physiotherapist Brianna Turley said the new service will reduce time spent on case managing patients with simple fractures through a more streamlined process.
 
“Min Jiat and the rpavirtual team have done an amazing job at providing easy to understand resources that detail the patient’s journey with their fracture,” Ms Turley said.

Patients with specific uncomplicated fractures seen at the Broken Hill Health Service Emergency Department can be referred to rpavirtual’s Virtual Fracture Clinic by their treating ED clinician for the follow-up care of their injury.

The rpavirtual physiotherapist contacts the patient at home to provide support and a suitable management plan.

In most cases, the patient does not need to return to the health service to be seen by local clinicians.

More complicated fractures needing a cast are still referred through usual channels and seen by the physiotherapists at Broken Hill Health Service.

As the NSW Labor Government heads to Penrith today for a Cabinet meeting, Leader of the Opposition Mark Speakman has called on Premier Chris Minns to stay true to his word and deliver on his promises to Western Sydney.

“Rolling into Penrith can’t disguise the fact looks like being a do-nothing Premier with no plans other than cutting vital infrastructure and slashing essential cost of living relief programs,” Mr Speakman said.

“Labor’s broken election commitments are a betrayal of Western Sydney, and locals in Penrith deserve honesty from the Premier and his Ministers.”

Labor’s decision to limit energy relief and other cost of living relief programs including Active Kids will impact more than 15,000 families in the Penrith electorate.

“Chris Minns went to the election saying he would ‘roll over Active Kids’, and now he’s slashed the program,” Mr Speakman said.

“Chris Minns went to the election saying he would build vital infrastructure including Sydney Metro West, and now he’s looking to delay or cancel the project.”

“The Premier said one thing to win votes before the election, but is now breaking promises.”

The NSW Opposition is renewing calls for the NSW Labor Government to put families and households ahead of their union mates and immediately deliver additional cost of living relief.

“Families, households, and businesses are struggling through Labor’s cost of living crisis, with record inflation and rising interest rates. Chris Minns could show that he’s on the side of hard working locals by extending energy bill relief to all households, restoring Active Kids vouchers and committing to infrastructure that will support the growth and prosperity of Western Sydney.”

“It’s time the Premier put people before unions and delivered on his promises.”

Rural Fire Service (RFS) aerial firefighting capabilities received a significant boost today with the arrival of a $9 million high-capacity waterbombing helicopter at Richmond.

The new helicopter will allow for aerial firefighting at night and expand on existing air capabilities.

Minister for Emergency Services Jihad Dib was joined by Commonwealth Member for Macquarie Susan Templeman and Commissioner of the RFS Rob Rogers, to welcome the CH-47 Chinook at RAAF Base Richmond.

The impressive aircraft will carry up to 11,000L of water or retardant — a payload comparable to that of a Large Air Tanker — and will soon have the capability to support firefighting operations at night.

In its first year of operations, the Chinook will assist firefighters on the ground using a bucket of up to 10,000L. An 11,000L internal tank will be installed during the winter of 2024, which will allow it to commence night-time aerial firefighting.

The arrival of the aircraft comes ahead of the start of the Bush Fire Danger Periodlaunch in six local government areas (Armidale Regional, Walcha, Uralla, Glen Innes Severn, Inverell and Tenterfield) on 1 August, and with fire conditions expected to return across NSW after three years of wet weather.

Minister for Emergency Services Jihad Dib said:

“The RFS Chinook will be the first helicopter of its kind to be permanently based in Australia. This helicopter will be a valuable asset and is one of a number of proactive steps we are taking to ensure we are prepared for bushfires in the summer ahead.”  

“The helicopter brings a new capability to the RFS, including the future ability to use it at night which means we can directly attack fires at times when weather conditions are more favourable and fire activity is typically lower.” 

“The NSW Government is providing the resources and facilities to protect people across the state. The helicopter will be based in Richmond but can be moved around the state depending on the fire risk.”

Commissioner of the RFS, Rob Rogers said:

“The Chinook carries a similar load to a 737 Large Air Tanker but can fill up and turn around faster, protecting people and homes from fires.”

“We’re very grateful to the Royal Australian Air Force, with which the RFS has had a strong working relationship for over a decade, for its assistance in delivering this helicopter in time for the coming fire season.”

Work has started as the NSW Government prepares to dredge the Swansea Channel for the summer boating season.

Dredging will extend from the Pelican Foreshore in the south, including the channels south-west and east of Elizabeth Island. 

The dredge is being assembled at Rathmines Boat Ramp before it is towed into Swan Bay.

Work will then begin to remove up to 30,000 cubic metres of sand from the Swansea Channel bed via two dredging campaigns to create a safe, navigable 30-metre wide channel for boats. 

Measures will be put in place to protect environmentally sensitive areas including buffer areas to prevent disturbance of seagrass and daily water quality monitoring.

A Shorebird Management Plan has been developed that specifically addresses the protection and habitat creation for the Pied Oystercatcher.

GPM Marine have been appointed to carry out the dredging.

Site establishment and preparation works now under way mark the start of the dredging project and sand pumping will begin in August.

Minister for Transport Jo Haylen said:

“This much needed dredging work will get Swansea and the Lake Macquarie Region ready for the summer ahead.”

“Removing years of build-up from the Swansea Channel will make it safer and easier for boat users in the region.” 

Our aim is to get the first round of work done by the end of November, so everyone in and around Swansea and the broader Lake Macquarie region can make the most of the summer boating season.

Member for Swansea Yasmin Catley said:

“The community has been crying out for Swansea Channel to be dredged for too long and I am thrilled that this important work has now begun.  

“This work will seriously improve the channel’s boating capacity and it recognises the importance of our local waterways as an environmental, social and economic asset.

“The previous Government allowed the dredging backlog to build up over 12 years, so now we are fixing the issues we inherited and fulfilling an election commitment to dredge Swansea Channel.” 

External gambling related signage is being stripped from venues across the state, following the NSW Government’s election commitment to ban all external gambling signage.

Since the changes were announced in May, Liquor & Gaming NSW inspectors have engaged with 530 venues across 20 metropolitan and 12 regional Local Government Areas (LGAs), to provide education and support to industry to meet their new obligations by 1 September.

215 of the 530 venues visited so far were already complying with the new requirements ahead of the 1 September deadline, with the highest levels of early compliance identified in the Bayside, Canterbury-Bankstown and Fairfield LGAs.

Minister for Gaming & Racing David Harris commended venues that have already removed offending signage and urged other pubs and clubs to get on board.

“It’s great to see industry and government working together to prevent and reduce gambling harm in the community,” Mr Harris said.

“We announced these changes back in May as a staged approach to ensure pubs and clubs were given the appropriate amount of time to conceal, remove and switch off any gambling promoting signage.

“While venues have until 1 September to comply, our expectation is that they remove signs as quickly as possible and not leave it until the last minute.

“Removing this signage is just one important part of our commitment to gambling reform to reduce harm and tackle money laundering head on in NSW, and we are delivering.” 

Venues must remove, alter or conceal all external gambling-related signs, including fixed unilluminated awning signs and digital video displays. Names such as VIP Room/VIP Lounge, Golden Room/Lounge and Players’ Room/Lounge are among the names banned, as well as images of dragons, coins or lightning motifs.

The maximum penalty attributable for those who fail to remove their signs and breach the Act is $11,000, per offence.

“This Government is committed to evidence-based reform. We have achieved more in four months than the Coalition managed in twelve years,” Mr Harris said.

Removal of all external signage is just one part of the NSW Government’s broader gaming reform to reduce harm including:

• reducing the cash input limit from $5,000 to $500 for all new electronic gaming machines from 1 July 2023
• capping the number of gaming machine entitlements in circulation
• banning political donations from clubs involved in gaming
• introducing Responsible Gaming Officers at venues with more than 20 machines
• expanding a third-party exclusion register to the whole state
• establishing an independent panel of expert stakeholders including industry, harm minimisation organisations, academics, law enforcement, cyber security and the union movement to oversee the cashless gaming trial and recommend an implementation roadmap for gaming reforms.

More information on gambling related signage removallaunch.

Threatened species and vital wetlands in outback NSW will be protected in a new National Park, following the acquisition of Comeroo station northwest of Bourke.

The NSW Government has acquired Comeroo, Muttawary and Maranoa stations (known collectively as Comeroo).

The purchase will see more than 37,000 hectares containing endangered ecological communities and an array of threatened species added to the NSW national park estate, managed by the National Parks and Wildlife Service.

Comeroo features diverse habitat including alluvial floodplains and swamps with permanent waterholes, ephemeral wetlands, grasslands, woodlands and shrublands.

More than one quarter of the new park stretches across Yantabulla Swamp, which is recognised as an Important Bird Area, based on criteria used by BirdLife International. Yantabulla Swamp hosts thousands of internationally protected migratory shorebirds as well as up to 50,000 waterbirds including threatened freckled ducks, pink-eared ducks, grey teals, night herons and many other species.

Three ecological communities listed as endangered cover one-third of Comeroo. These are the Coolibah-Blackbox woodland, Brigalow-Gidgee woodland/shrubland and critically endangered artesian springs.

At least 13 known threatened species will benefit from permanently protecting this area. They include the stripe-faced dunnart, ringed brown snake, black-breasted buzzard, brolga, pink cockatoo, little eagle and Hall’s babbler.

Comeroo is located in in the traditional Paroo and Warrego River country of the Budjiti, Kunja, Gurnu Baarkandji and Muruwari People. It contains extensive Aboriginal cultural sites including wells, waterholes, stone arrangements, widespread artefact scatters and scarred trees.

When combined with nearby recently reserved Brindingabba National Park and properties Yantabulla and Naree which have agreements with the Biodiversity Conservation Trust, this acquisition secures a contiguous area of more than 100,000 hectares for conservation.

The purchase is funded by the NSW Government with support from The Nature Conservancy which has brokered funding from the Wyss Foundation.

The new National Park will be established after the statutory process is completed, and is expected to be named then opened to the public in late 2024.

Minister for the Environment Penny Sharpe said:

“This addition to the NSW national parks estate will protect vital wetlands in the Cuttaburra basin, part of the Paroo and the Warrego floodplains and some of NSW’s and Australia’s best waterbird breeding sites.

“Wetlands are some of the most endangered ecosystems on the planet, which is why this acquisition is so important.

“National Park management and visitation are an important economic driver for regional NSW. In time, this will become another must-see National Park destination. The construction of visitor experiences and driving tours will help people explore this vast new park.”

James Fitzsimmons, Senior Advisor, Global, The Nature Conservancy said:

“The Nature Conservancy is proud to have worked in partnership with the NSW Government and the Wyss Foundation on the protection of Comeroo.

“The property is in the Mulga Lands bioregion, which has some of the lowest levels of protection in NSW.

“These types of partnerships will be critical to achieving large-scale protection outcomes and meeting Australia’s commitment to protecting 30 per cent of land, freshwaters, and ocean ecosystems by 2030.”

Professor Richard Kingsford, Director, The Centre for Ecosystem Science, UNSW Sydney said:

“Yantabulla Swamp lies at the heart of the Murray-Darling Basin’s healthiest river systems, connecting and supplied by the Paroo and Warrego Rivers.

“Permanent protection of this site is fantastic news for biodiversity and especially for waterbirds. The swamp is in excellent ecological condition, largely unaffected by upstream water resource development.”