Category: NSW News

A new pedestrian and cycling bridge will be built over the Manly Lagoon in Queenscliff after securing $3.95 million in funding from the Liberals and Nationals Government. 

Minister for Active Transport Rob Stokes said the investment would make it safer to walk and cycle around the Northern Beaches, delivering on the aims of the NSW Government’s Active Transport Strategy.

“The unprecedented funding commitment for walking and cycling by the Liberals and Nationals Government’s is all about making it easier for local families to move around, and this investment will have a transformative impact,” Mr Stokes said.

“This funding will allow for the construction of a new four-metre wide shared pedestrian and cycling bridge alongside Pittwater Road, delivering on our Strategic Cycleway Corridors plans for the Eastern Harbour City.”

Member for Manly James Griffin said the new bridge delivers on longstanding calls from the local community for this project, delivering a win for the people of Manly.

“This project resolves a significant chokepoint in our local walking and cycling network. Whether you’re riding to Manly Wharf as part of your daily commute or enjoying our beautiful coastline on the weekend, this investment will make a world of difference to the everyday needs of our local community,” Mr Griffin said.

“We know that the biggest barrier to people taking up cycling is concerns about riding on the road, so this project will encourage more people to leave the car at home and save on the household budget.”

Construction on the bridge is expected to begin mid-2024 following detailed design. The investment is part of the Liberals and Nationals’ record $950 million investment in active transport across NSW, transforming local communities and making every day better and easier for families.

For more information about the Get NSW Active program, go to: Get NSW Active | Transport for NSW.

Sydney will have its own high line to rival Paris and New York, with a re-elected NSW Liberals and Nationals Government committing to transform the rail corridor from Lavender Bay to Waverton into a new public space with sweeping views of the world’s best harbour.

The Lavender Bay high line project would start with a 300 square metre expansion of Wendy’s Secret Garden, followed by a strategic business case to canvas options for converting the 3.3-kilometre-long disused rail corridor along the Milsons Point foreshore.

Premier Dominic Perrottet said the project would return the Milsons Point foreshore to the local community as a spectacular harbour front attraction.

“Sydney is home the world’s most beautiful harbour, but for many years much of the foreshore has been left underutilised or inaccessible to the public,” Mr Perrottet said.

“We have made it a priority to transform our foreshore precincts so that Sydneysiders can make the most of the city they call home.

“The Lavender Bay high line project will unlock another part of our city that has been hidden away for more than a century, transforming it into a beautiful public space and no doubt a tourism drawcard.”

Minister for Infrastructure, Cities and Active Transport Rob Stokes said this commitment to delivering the community’s vision would create a world-class linear park and walking trail linking other public spaces in North Sydney.

“Once fully realised, this vision will result in a 3.3 kilometre linear park connecting some of Sydney’s most iconic landmarks including the Sydney Harbour Bridge and Luna Park while traversing public spaces like Wendy’s Secret Garden, Ball’s Head Reserve and Lavender Bay Parklands,” Mr Stokes said.

“We’ve committed to working with the community, including the Sydney Harbour High Line Association and Wendy’s Secret Garden volunteers to turn the vision into reality, starting with new landscaping, weed eradication and new tree plantings.”

Member for North Shore Felicity Wilson applauded the local community for their vision and pursuit of the high line, working alongside her to build on the legacy of Wendy Whiteley and the Secret Garden volunteers to expand public space from railway land.

“We get to call the most beautiful harbour in the world home – and our community has championed a transformation that will ensure visitors from across Sydney and the globe get to share in this iconic location,” Ms Wilson said.

“At a time where our cities are growing and more of us are calling apartments home, the shared vision of the Sydney Harbour High Line Association and the NSW Liberals and Nationals will ensure we retain beautiful places with the open space and active transport we need.”

Transport for NSW and North Sydney Council will work together to facilitate the use of the Land by Council for community use as public open space and active transport connections.

The Lavender Bay Rail Corridor Delivery Group will include representatives from Council. TAHE, Sydney Trains, Transport for NSW and the Sydney Harbour High Line Association.

Frontline emergency care for residents in the Illawarra has received a major boost, with a new ambulance station set to be built near Unanderra.

Minister for Health Brad Hazzard said the announcement forms part of a record $1.76 billion NSW Government investment which will transform NSW Ambulance services over the next four years with more than 2,000 extra staff, including 1,858 paramedics, and 30 new ambulance stations across NSW.

“Ambulance services are experiencing unprecedented demand and this new station will not only keep us ahead of the curve but provide our hardworking paramedics with first-class facilities as they assist communities in their time of need,” Mr Hazzard said. 

“The NSW Government is investing in ambulance stations right across the state to ensure communities continue to receive emergency care when they need it, no matter where they live.”

Parliamentary Secretary for Wollongong and the Illawarra Peter Poulos welcomed the news which he said will ensure the local community has improved access to emergency care when and where they need it most.

“The investment will also bring more jobs to the local area as well as providing a better working environment for our paramedics who are doing their utmost to serve communities across the state,” Mr Poulos said.

“The new station will feature internal parking for emergency ambulance vehicles, vehicle wash facilities, staff parking, multipurpose spaces to support staff education and rest, logistics and storage spaces, an office area for administration as well as staff amenities.”

NSW Ambulance identifies suitable locations to improve ambulance response times for patients using best practice modelling software that maps Triple Zero call demands.

The new ambulance station at Unanderra is being delivered as part of the $615.5 million NSW Ambulance Infrastructure program, which is also delivering a new ambulance station at Warilla. Both new ambulance stations are in addition to the existing station in Wollongong and the new ambulance station underway for Fairy Meadow which will be located on the University of Wollongong’s Innovation Campus.

Minister Hazzard said the exact location for the new ambulance station at Unanderra will be determined once further planning is completed which includes working with key stakeholders to identify a suitable site.

“We will shortly commence a process to identify potential sites for the new ambulance station. This process will ensure we best meet the needs of the Illawarra community and our emergency staff and is currently underway for the Warilla location.”

The NSW Government is committed to increasing the capacity of NSW Ambulance. In total, more than $1 billion is being invested across three major NSW Ambulance infrastructure programs, with more than 100 projects announced since 2014.

The NSW Government’s $1 billion investment in NSW Ambulance infrastructure includes:

· Sydney Ambulance Metropolitan Infrastructure Strategy ($184 million) – 19 projects – 18 of these projects have been completed to date with one due for completion in late 2023. The program began in 2014

· NSW Ambulance Infrastructure Program ($615.5 million) 30 projects – eight of which are in early planning. The program was announced in 2022-23 State Budget.

· RAIR program Stage 1 & 2 ($232 million) – 54 projects – 39 of these have been completed, with 15 underway. The program began in 2015.

A re-elected Liberal and Nationals Government will commit a further $90 million to the Stronger Country Communities Fund to continue building the projects that make regional NSW the best place to live, work and raise a family.

In the past five years, the Stronger Country Communities Fund has delivered more than 2,500 grassroots projects benefitting every regional LGA in the State.

Deputy Premier and Minister for Regional NSW Paul Toole said the further $90 million commitment would take the total investment in the fund to three quarters of a billion dollars.

“Everywhere I go, people tell me about the big difference these Stronger Country Communities projects make to everyday life – whether it’s a new skate park that kids love, a new community hall, upgrades to the main street or programs that make living in the regions even better,” Mr Toole said.

“We aren’t just building playgrounds and sporting ovals, we’re building communities to be proud of.

“It’s the little things that make a big difference to the way we all work, live, play and do business, and the NSW Liberals and Nationals  Government is  delivering the projects that make a difference to everyday life right across regional NSW, from Byron Bay to Bega to Broken Hill.

“Not only do these projects improve life for those who already call regional NSW home, but they also act as a major drawcard for those visiting to consider staying longer term.”

The Stronger Country Communities Fund is part of the NSW Liberal and Nationals Government’s $3.3 billion Regional Growth Fund, designed to support growing regional centres, activate local economies and improve services and community infrastructure in the regions.

For more information, visit: nsw.gov.au/sccf

The NSW Liberal and Nationals Government is utilising digital technology to improve the renewal process for Working with Children Checks by piloting the use of photo verification to offer a new convenient and secure online government service.

Minister for Customer Service and Digital Government Victor Dominello said enabling people the option to securely prove who they are online anywhere, anytime will save customers valuable time.

“There are more than 1.8 million customers in New South Wales who currently hold a Working with Children Check, which is required to be renewed every five years. Until now, customers would need to go into a Service NSW Centre to verify who they are in order to renew it,” Mr Dominello said.

“Having the choice to complete a digital photo verification, customers will now be able to complete their Working with Children Check renewal online instead of attending in person, which will save them on average about two hours per check.

“The innovative technology relies on customers to use their desktop, laptop or phone camera to verify their real-time photo image against their own government-issued ID, which ensures their identity remains safe, and is not being imitated online by scammers or hackers.”

Minister for Families and Communities, and Minister for Disability Services Natasha Maclaren-Jones said results of the pilot phase would optimise the final experience for customers as part of the state-wide rollout.

“This pilot will help unlock greater accessibility to government services, particularly for customers with a disability, those who are time poor or living in rural or regional areas where it can be difficult to access a Service NSW Centre in person,” Mrs Maclaren-Jones said.

“We want to make sure this service delivers for all customers and with the technical foundations in place and tests underway, we look forward to hearing participant feedback and identifying opportunities for further enhancements.”

The NSW Liberal and Nationals Government has allocated $2.1 billion across four years to the Digital Restart Fund to build smart, simple technology solutions for customers across the State.

For more information on the NSW Digital Identity and Verifiable Credentials program go to: https://www.nsw.gov.au/nsw-government/projects-and-initiatives/nsw-digital-id

The NSW Liberal and Nationals Government is investing $250 million into essential infrastructure across the state to support the delivery of close to 140,000 new homes. 

This funding will deliver new cycleways and active transport options in Parramatta and Ryde, road and bridge improvements in regional NSW, and sewerage upgrades on the Central Coast to enable more homes needed to cater for growing communities.

Premier Dominic Perrottet said an initial 36 councils and agency-led projects will receive funding through the third round of the Accelerated Infrastructure Fund (AIF).

“We are fast-tracking the delivery of essential infrastructure required to speed up the construction of thousands of new homes right across our state,” Mr Perrottet said. 

“This is part of our strategy to get people into homes faster by cutting red tape, speeding up development applications and boosting construction by getting more shovels into the ground sooner.

“Our long term economic plan is delivering major infrastructure projects for the future and will support communities as they grow.”

Deputy Premier and Minister for Regional NSW Paul Toole said the new funding builds on a $215 million investment from the Government in the first two rounds of the program, with eligibility extended to regional councils for the first time.

“We know that getting infrastructure right is the key to unlocking land for housing in regional NSW, which is why we have allocated almost $120 million for regional councils in this round, including fast growing areas in the Central West and the Mid-North Coast,” Mr Toole said.

“The areas eligible for this funding account for 94 per cent of NSW’s total population growth over the next 10 years, according to the latest population projections.

“Towns across regional NSW are booming, with more and more people moving away from the city. These projects will help set the foundations for future growth.”

Minister for Planning and Minister for Homes Anthony Roberts said the councils successful in this round of the AIF will also provide their own funding for projects, amounting to a combined $517 million worth of infrastructure on the way for NSW. 

“We had an outstanding response from regional councils eager to work in partnership with the NSW Liberal and Nationals Government to unlock land for new homes faster and boost economic growth. We share their ambition and look forward to working together,” Mr Roberts said. 

The Accelerated Infrastructure Fund is part of the $2.8 billion NSW Housing Package, announced in the 2022-2023 NSW State Budget.

For further details and the complete list of projects visit the AIF webpage here.

Liberal candidate for Coogee, Dr Kylie von Muenster, has been campaigning for pedestrian safety in Randwick, and has welcomed the Perrottet Government’s decision to install new signage near two bus stops on Avoca Street.

Following a review of road safety on Avoca Street near Bundock Street and Sturt Street, two pedestrian warning signs will be put in place in Bundock Street and one on the approach to Sturt Street, to warn motorists of foot traffic in the area.

“We care about the safety of every person using our roads, whether motorists or pedestrians or cyclists, and have always been prepared to invest in keeping our community safe,” Dr von Muenster said.

“With three schools nearby – Rainbow Street Public School, Randwick Girls’ High and Randwick Boys’ High – there is often increased foot traffic on Avoca Street so it’s imperative motorists heed the soon-to-be installed pedestrian warnings signs and slow down in this area.

“We encourage motorists to be extra vigilant in all zones where there’s pedestrian movement, particularly around schools, shops and bus stops.

“The Perrottet Government will continue to look at ways to improve our local roads so that all users can keep moving forward safely and confidently.”

The two pedestrian warning signs are expected to be installed by the end of February.

Children with life limiting conditions and their families will benefit from a $16 million funding boost to enhance paediatric palliative care respite and hospice services.

Premier Dominic Perrottet said the new services will complement those already provided by Bear Cottage and at the children’s hospitals in Sydney and Newcastle.

“Few of us could ever imagine the extraordinary courage and resilience needed to support a much-loved child as they progress through their illness,” Mr Perrottet said.

“I am absolutely committed to ensuring we improve the quality of life of these kids and their families, whether the care is being provided at home, in a hospital or a hospice.”

The additional enhancement brings the total funding for palliative care from the NSW Liberal and Nationals Government to more than $2.2 billion over the next five years.

Treasurer Matt Kean said the funding would help provide vital care closer to home.

“Parents going through such inconceivable sadness deserve our support to ensure they can receive respite and assistance when they need it most,” Mr Kean said.

Paediatric palliative care aims to improve quality of life of children with a life-limiting illness as they head towards the end of life. It can include the prevention and relief from pain and other symptoms.

Health Minister Brad Hazzard said those caring for children with life limiting conditions face the most challenging situation imaginable and need our every support.

“Families often choose to care for their loved ones at home but many children have complex medical and nursing needs which make that task difficult,” Mr Hazzard said.

“By further enhancing paediatric palliative and end of life care services, we are giving more families support and access to the care they need in a home-like environment.”

NSW Health will work with stakeholders including families and carers, relevant non-government organisations and paediatric palliative care clinicians to identify and fund appropriate services, ensuring the best outcomes for children and their families.

These services may include, but are not limited to, providing dedicated end of life care space for children and their families in children’s hospitals and the provision of additional respite care capacity and support services.

The new $632 million Campbelltown Hospital –  with an emergency department that has tripled in size – has had 33,000 emergency presentations and over 950 babies born since opening last year.

Premier Dominic Perrottet, joined by Health Minister Brad Hazzard, Member for Camden Peter Sidgreaves and Member for Wollondilly Nathaniel Smith, today officially opened the clinical services building, the centrepiece of the $632 million Stage 2 redevelopment.

“The NSW Government is delivering major projects across South-West and Western Sydney to make these communities an even better place to live, work, play and raise a family,” Mr Perrottet said.

“It has been wonderful to see this amazing project progress to a modern facility, enabling our dedicated frontline staff to deliver high-quality care to the people of Macarthur.” 

Mr Hazzard said the $632 million investment is on top of the $134 million Stage 1 redevelopment of Campbelltown Hospital and the new $34 million hospital car park.

“No matter whether you look north, south, east or west, the NSW Liberals and Nationals Government is delivering more hospitals and health facilities across the State than any other NSW Government in history,” Mr Hazzard said.

“This magnificent new $632 million clinical tower will help future proof local health services for years to come to accommodate the growing population of Macarthur.”

Mr Sidgreaves said the new tower includes a new maternity unit, increased medical and surgical services, expanded children’s services and integrated mental health services.

“The record investment in our health system ensures people from within the Macarthur region have access to the healthcare they need, close to home,” Mr Sidgreaves said.

“The state-of-the-art building will service the more than 130,000 new residents expected to call the Macarthur Region home over the next decade.”

Mr Smith said over the past three years, some 4,000 workers were employed to support construction for the $632 million Stage 2 redevelopment.

“This new hospital is a major boost to the local economy and jobs. It is an extraordinary achievement to support our health staff and patients,” Mr Smith said.

Since commissioning of the new building, staff have performed more than 1,500 surgical procedures and cared for more than 780 inpatients through its new children’s unit.

The redevelopment is on track for overall completion in late 2023, with works commencing on the first nuclear medicine department, an expanded medical imaging department and an additional entrance.

The new 12-storey clinical services building includes:

·       New state-of-the-art digital operating theatres and procedure rooms;

·       Double the ICU bed capacity in the future;

·       Almost double the number of maternity beds (as well as an almost 60 per cent increase in the special care nursery and 50 per cent increase in birthing suites);

·       New and expanded surgical services, including interventional radiology; and

·       Significantly expanded mental health services, including a specialised older people’s unit and civil secure unit for adults.

Former buildings have already received a range of refurbishment works, including significant expansion of the hospital’s Pathology Laboratory, Pharmacy, Clinical Information Department (medical records), and for the first time a new Dental Centre.

The works also include landscaping and a range of enhancements to Cancer Therapy Centre, staff administration areas, overnight stay rooms and a dedicated area for Junior Medical Officers.

The NSW Government is investing a record $11.9 billion in health infrastructure to 2025-26. More than 180 hospitals and health facilities have been built since 2011, with a further 130 currently underway.

More than 3,600 graduate nurses and midwives will begin their career across 130 NSW public hospitals and health services this year in a major boost for patients and communities throughout the state.

The latest intake of graduate nurses and midwives is an 18 per cent increase on last year. It is also the largest intake of any state or territory in Australia ever.

Premier Dominic Perrottet, Minister for Regional Health Bronnie Taylor and Minister for Health Brad Hazzard today extended a warm welcome to the new nursing and midwifery recruits, many of whom start work across NSW public hospitals this month.

“This is an exciting time for the thousands of graduate nurses and midwives who are starting their careers in our world-class health system and it’s a terrific day for our state,” Mr Perrottet said.

“Our nurses and midwives are highly valued and it’s encouraging to see so many people joining their profession, perhaps inspired by the commitment shown by our frontline services in recent years.”

“The dedication and professionalism of our nurses and midwives across the state is nothing short of extraordinary,” Mr Hazzard said.

“These enthusiastic graduates have a unique opportunity to play a vital role in our healthcare system at a time when it continues to adapt and innovate to the changes and challenges brought by the COVID-19 pandemic.”

Minister for Regional Health Bronnie Taylor said more than a third of the record number of graduates beginning their careers with NSW Health have chosen to work in our rural and regional hospitals.

“It is so wonderful to see so many nurses and midwives either choosing to move to the bush or returning home so they can care for their communities,” Mrs Taylor said.

“As someone who spent the best part of their nursing career at a regional hospital, I know the skills and experience these new nurses will gain will set them up for success into their future nursing career.

“On behalf of our regional communities, I am thrilled to welcome this next generation of nurses and midwives and wish all our new starters the very best of luck as they embark on their new career.”

NSW Health’s Chief Nursing & Midwifery Officer, Jacqui Cross, said the new graduates will make a big difference to the health and wellbeing of the communities they serve.

“Remember what you do as nurses and midwives is at the very heart of the public health system, caring for people in our hospitals, at home and in our communities,” Ms Cross said.

“The commitment, compassion and skills you bring to the role make a huge difference and contribute greatly to the health and wellbeing of the people of NSW.”

NSW Health has the largest health system in the country and employs more than 53,000 nurses and midwives, more than ever before.

Overall, between mid-2012 and mid-2022 NSW Health increased its workforce by an additional 25,700 full time equivalent staff – an increase of 25.2 per cent, including 9,340 more nurses and midwives, 4,140 more doctors, and 2,490 more allied health staff.

The NSW Government recently announced the largest workforce boost in the nation’s history in the 2022-23 Budget with a $4.5 billion investment over four years for 10,148 full-time equivalent (FTE) staff to hospitals and health services across NSW.