Category: NSW News

The NSW Liberal and Nationals Government wants to hear from the community to fine tune the design for the East and West sections of the Great Western Highway Upgrade.
 
Deputy Premier Paul Toole said the final design for the game-changing upgrade was edging closer, with major construction on track to start on the West section early next year.
 
“The Great Western Highway upgrade is fast becoming a reality. This is another chance for the community to shape this legacy project by providing their feedback on the updated designs for both sections,” Mr Toole said. 
 
“Changes between Little Hartley and the Lithgow section will provide better connections that will make travelling between the east and the west easier and safer, and will include improvements to service roads and a second over-bridge.
 
“Locals wanting to travel between Little Hartley and Victoria Pass will be able to cross over the upgraded highway without having to contend with the highway traffic.
 
“Pedestrians and cyclists will also benefit, with the shared path to now start at an upgraded Berghofer’s Pass carpark and extend to Hartley historic village.”
 
Minister for Regional Transport and Roads Sam Farraway said the latest designs incorporated community feedback and will be on display for further feedback until 20 November.
 
“For the Katoomba to Blackheath ‘East’ section, one of the key design changes includes extending the carriageway towards Blackheath to improve connectivity and provide safer access between the upgraded highway and the existing Great Western Highway,” Mr Farraway said.
 
“An extension to the shared path access track has also been brought forward into the East section, connecting through to Valley View Road at Blackheath.
 
“The NSW Liberal and Nationals Government are building the infrastructure that matters to make daily life easier for the thousands of motorists who use the Great Western Highway each day.”
 
>ou can view the updated designs at nswroads.work/gwh.
 
The West section design will be available at Lithgow City Council Administration Centre, Lithgow Library Learning Centre and Hartley Fresh & Café. The East section design will be available at Blue Mountains City Council Administration Centre and Blackheath Community Centre.
 
Information sessions will be held so the community can talk to the design team:

• Katoomba to Blackheath design changes and Medlow Bath REF determination presentation and Q&A
  • Tuesday 1 November, 6:00-7:30pm, online
  • Tuesday 8 November, 5:00-7:00pm, Hydro Majestic Hotel, Medlow Bath
• Little Hartley to Lithgow design changes
  • Thursday 3 November, 6:00-7:30pm, online
  • Wednesday 9 November, 6:00-7:30pm, Hartley Community Hall

Registrations for all sessions or a request for a phone consultation should be made online at nswroads.work/gwh or by phone to 1800 953 777.

Community members can provide feedback on the updated designs:

• online at nswroads.work/gwhwestconsult
• by email to gwhd@transport.nsw.gov.au
• by mail to Great Western Highway Upgrade Program, PO Box 334, Parkes NSW 2870

 
The updated designs are now on display for community feedback until 20 November.
 
The REF Submissions Reports for the Katoomba to Blackheath, Medlow Bath and Little Hartley to Lithgow REF submissions reports are available for viewing on nswroads.work/gwh.
 
For more information on the project, visit nswroads.work/gwh

City of Newcastle (CN) has kicked off significant environmental works at a former landfill site that took waste from across the Hunter for more than 20 years.

The remediation of the Astra Street site at Shortland, which operated from 1974 to 1995, is one of four city-shaping projects included in this year’s record $132 million capital works program.

City of Newcastle’s 2022/23 Budget included $18.6 million to protect the Ramsar-listed Hunter Wetlands by remediating and improving environmental management of the former Astra Street landfill.

The project will include capping and reprofiling, drainage improvements to manage surface water and sediment runoff and revegetation and landscaping, with the works expected to be completed by mid-2024.

Newcastle councillors recently visited the 37-hectare site to inspect the early works and discuss the project’s long-term benefits, including the protection and maintenance of the local environment, safeguarding the water quality of surrounding wetlands and aquatic ecosystems, and increasing biodiversity values to promote long-term native vegetation growth.

City of Newcastle Executive Director City Infrastructure Joanne Rigby said CN is committed to ensuring sites like Astra Street, are managed with the environment front-of-mind.

“We’ve been working alongside the Environment Protection Authority on a landfill closure plan for the Astra Street site to ensure it adheres to environmental standards,” Ms Rigby said.

“This project is an important priority for protecting the long-term health of the nearby Ramsar-listed Hunter Wetlands and surrounding waterways and shows our commitment to ensuring the long-term sustainability of our current and former waste management operations.”

The existing 20-year-old capping and drainage will be improved through the delivery of new clay capping in accordance with environmental requirements.

The NSW Government has armed law enforcement with new powers to confiscate unexplained wealth and the proceeds of crime with tough new laws targeting organised crime passing NSW Parliament.

The laws are part of a suite of game changing reforms introduced by the NSW Government that target organised crime, including tougher penalties for money laundering and new offences to target the use of dedicated encrypted criminal communication devices.

Deputy Premier and Minister for Police Paul Toole said the NSW Government has acted swiftly to provide law enforcement with exactly what it needs to tackle the changing face of organised crime. 

“These are the State’s toughest ever organised crime laws and will cut organised criminals off at the source, incapacitating them financially so they can no longer reap the benefits of their insidious crimes,” Mr Toole said.

“In the last six months alone we have introduced world-leading legislation, tougher penalties and new powers to put our police and law enforcement agencies in the strongest position yet to fight organised crime.

“Gone are the days when criminal gangs can slip under the radar and hide their ill-gotten gains. If you are living the high life off the proceeds of crime, expect a knock at the door from police with a warrant to seize your most prized possessions.

“The NSW Government is backing our police every step of the way and these reforms are exactly what police they tell us they need to attack the very core of these criminal networks and keep our communities safe.”

The organised crime reforms the NSW Government has introduced in the last six months include:

• New powers for law enforcement to confiscate unlawfully acquired assets of major convicted drug traffickers
• Enhanced powers for law enforcement to target and confiscate unexplained wealth
• Expanded powers for law enforcement to stop and search for unexplained wealth and more effectively investigate organised crime
• New money laundering offences for those dealing with and caught trying to disguise the proceeds of general crime.
• A new offence that prohibits the possession of a dedicated encrypted criminal communication device (DECCD) – and orders to target high risk individuals likely to use them
• New powers to enable police to direct a person to provide access to a digital device, which is akin to gaining the keys to a safe
• New laws for the security industry to target industry integrity and safeguard against misconduct and organised crime
• New laws for the scrap metal industry to strengthen registration requirements and make it harder for illegitimate dealers who pay criminals cash in exchange for stolen parts and property to operate
• New laws making it illegal for members of a criminal organisation to hold a tattoo licence.

New South Wales Acting Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon said the reforms will target organised criminals from every angle and are a huge asset in the fight against organised crime.

“We will seize their illegally acquired assets, take away their loopholes, and ban their methods of communication,” Acting Commissioner Lanyon said.

“We are committed to using every power available to us in the dismantling of criminal networks across this State.”

The NSW Government welcomes a NSW Parliamentary inquiry regarding the development and use of artificial intelligence (AI) across the State.
 
The inquiry will be conducted by the Committee of Law and Safety in 2023 when it is reappointed following the commencement of the 58^th Parliament.
 
Minister for Customer Service and Digital Government Victor Dominello said the inquiry will explore ways in which AI can be used more broadly throughout NSW.
 
“AI has the potential to significantly improve service delivery and quality of life in a host of areas, including transport, health and cyber security. It is imperative that we remain at the forefront of this ever emerging space,” Mr Dominello said.
 
“Whether it’s facial recognition, use of biometrics to enable digital identity, or use of AI and algorithms for data analysis, we must strike the right balance between advancing technology and safeguarding privacy and security.
 
“The Committee will examine these issues in depth to help ensure our policies and legislative framework is fit-for-purpose.
 
“The Government has already taken a number of steps to ensure we play a leading role in AI, including releasing an AI Strategy and Ethics Policy in 2020, developing and mandating an AI Assurance Framework in 2021, and establishing an AI Review Committee in 2022. This inquiry will build on these foundations.
 
“I would like to sincerely thank the Committee, particularly its Chair Ray Williams, for their support and commitment on this important issue.”
 
Further information on the NSW Government’s engagement with AI is available at Artificial Intelligence (AI) | Digital.NSW

Westmead will be transformed into a world-class health and innovation district over the next two decades, under an integrated planning and transport vision unveiled by the NSW Government in Western Sydney today.
 
Minister for Planning and Homes Anthony Roberts said the finalised Westmead Place Strategy would guide future planning and development decisions to create Australia’s premier health and innovation district.
 
“The plan includes 12 directions, supported by planning priorities, to transform Westmead and Parramatta North into a world-leading economic powerhouse,” Mr Roberts said.
                                                                                
“Prioritising new jobs, encouraging greater housing diversity, boosting open space and protecting some of our nation’s oldest heritage sites, are just some of the priorities underpinning our vision.”
 
Minister for Transport, Veterans and Western Sydney David Elliott today announced the Westmead Place-based Transport Strategy in Western Sydney, which will integrate with the wider Place Strategy to support jobs, public transport accessibility and high-quality open space.
 
“Central to this strategy is a transport vision for Westmead that is well-connected and sustainable while anticipating changes in land use, population and travel demand,” Mr Elliott said. 
 
“It will capitalise on more than $14 billion committed by the NSW Government for public transport, including the Parramatta Light Rail and Sydney Metro West, to support our target of 50,000 jobs in Westmead by 2036.”
 
Minister for Active Transport and Cities Rob Stokes said 43 initiatives have been identified to achieve the vision for future transport in the area.
 
“These initiatives include the transformation of Westmead Station as a centrepiece of the precinct, along with a walking and cycling network that links locals and visitors to nearby beautiful open spaces,” Mr Stokes said.
 
“The implementation of this strategy will greatly increase access to and from Westmead within a 30-minute public transport journey, and we will explore a trial of night-time on-demand services for the activation of a 24-hour economy.”
 
The NSW Government will now progress the outcomes of the Westmead Place-based Transport Strategy and collaborate with councils to prepare an integrated transport and traffic study to support the future rezoning of the area.
 
For more on the Westmead Place-Based Transport Strategy visit Future Transport (nsw.gov.au)
 
For more on the Westmead Place Strategy visit Westmead – (nsw.gov.au)

The NSW Government continued its reform agenda over the last two weeks by passing a number of key Bills in the NSW Parliament.
 
Premier Dominic Perrottet said the Government will always put the community and its safety first, with new laws to crack down on money laundering and encrypted devices, the introduction of ‘No Body, No Parole’, further support to ensure the safety of our frontline workers and much more.
 
“This is a Government that is relentless in its determination to improve the lives of everyday people in every community across the State, which is supported by our extensive reform agenda passed by the NSW Parliament,” Mr Perrottet said.
 
“We will be back in Parliament in two weeks’ time with more legislation to secure a brighter future for our State.”
 
Bills passed in the last two weeks include:
 

• Childcare and Economic Opportunity Fund Bill 
• Crimes Legislation Amendment (Assaults on Frontline Emergency and Health Workers) Bill
• Crimes (Administration of Sentences) Amendment (No Body, No Parole) Bill
• Confiscation of Proceeds of Crime Legislation Amendment Bill
• Criminal Procedure Legislation Amendment (Prosecution of Indictable Offences) Bill
• Security Industry Amendment Bill
• Crimes Amendment (Money Laundering) Bill
• Dedicated Encrypted Criminal Communication Device Prohibition Orders Bill
• Law Enforcement (Powers and Responsibilities) Amendment (Digital Evidence Access Orders) Bill
• Statute Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) (No 2) Bill
• Constitution Amendment (Appointment of Lieutenant-Governor and Administrator) Bill
• Electoral Legislation Amendment Bill (No 2) Bill
• Treasury and Energy Legislation Amendment Bill 
• Electronic Conveyancing Enforcement Bill
• Building and Other Fair Trading Legislation Amendment Bill
• Electoral Legislation Amendment Bill
• Royal Botanic Gardens and Domain Trust Amendment (Facilitation of Sydney Metro West) Bill
• Workers Compensation (Dust Diseases) Bill 
• Scrap Metal Industry (Review) Bill 

Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Amendment Bill 

With just over a week until NSW bans more single-use plastics, Minister for Environment James Griffin has joined dozens of citizen science scuba divers and snorkelers in a community effort to clean up Sydney Harbour and highlight exactly why the bans are needed.
 
After donning a wetsuit and snorkeling gear to collect plastic litter from Sydney Harbour, Minister for Environment James Griffin said the ban on single-use plastics is just the beginning of a massive shift away from single-use plastics in NSW.
 
“In June, we banned lightweight single-use plastic bags and from 1 November, we’re banning some of the most commonly littered single-use plastic items, including cutlery, plates, bowls, straws, and polystyrene food ware,” Mr Griffin said.
 
“About 95 per cent of the litter on beaches and waterways comes from suburban streets, and single-use plastic items and packaging make up two thirds of all litter in NSW.
 
“We know from Australian Microplastic Assessment Project (AUSMAP) data that Manly Cove is among the worst beaches in the country for microplastic pollution, with research finding more than 850 pieces of microplastic per square metre.
 
“This is exactly why we must end our reliance on single-use plastic, and why the NSW bans are critical for changing behavior and improving the state of our environment for the benefit of biodiversity and future generations.”
 
The Dive Against Debris event at Manly Cove saw dozens of concerned citizens don scuba gear and snorkels before heading below the surface to collect plastic waste and debris from Sydney Harbour.
 
Dive Against Debris was founded in 1995 by Dive Centre Manly’s Richard Nicholls and has grown into the world’s largest Citizen Science marine project.
 
Now thousands of PADI dive centres regularly conduct underwater plastic clean-ups across the globe, with an estimated 250,000 divers worldwide gathering important data about the scope of the plastic pollution problem.
 
“Sydney Harbour is choking on plastic so it’s absolutely fantastic that the NSW Government is banning many single-use plastics,” Mr Nicholls said.
 
“Marine mammals and fish are dying through plastic ingestion and entanglement, and items are breaking down into microplastics that end up in the human food chain. It’s shocking and we have to stop it.”
 
From 1 November, the NSW Government is banning single-use items including:

• plastic straws, stirrers, cutlery, chopsticks, plates, bowls and cotton buds
• food ware and cups made from expanded polystyrene
• rinse-off personal care products containing plastic microbeads.

 
This comes after lightweight single-use plastic bags were banned from 1 June.
 
The NSW Government bans will prevent almost 2.7 billion items of plastic litter from entering the environment in the State over the next 20 years.
 
Since February, the National Retail Association (NRA) has, on behalf of the NSW Government, been providing education and support to more than 40,000 businesses and community organisations around the State to implement the changes.
 
Educational material and in-person advice has also been provided in more than 15 different languages to support business owners and communities with diverse backgrounds.
 
The NSW Government has partnered with Great Plastic Rescue to collect excess stock from wholesalers, distributors, retailers, businesses and not-for-profits for recycling and remanufacturing into new items.
 
In September, the NSW Government launched the Stop it and Swap it advertising campaign, featuring shocking images of plastic pollution in the ocean and a turtle choking on a plastic bag, as an important reminder about why the state is banning certain single-use plastics.
 
For more information about the NSW Government’s single use plastic bans, visit http://www.dpie.nsw.gov.au/plastics-ban
 
The single-use plastic ban media kit is available here.

Tonight NSW Labor voted against proposed amendments to the Industrial Relations Act which sought to impose bigger penalties for unions taking illegal strike action in breach of orders made by the Industrial Relations Commission (IRC).

Under the proposed amendments, the maximum penalty that could have been imposed on unions or employers for contravention of dispute orders would have been aligned with those available in Queensland and in the federal industrial relations jurisdiction.

Minister for Employee Relations Damien Tudehope said that it was disappointing that Labor chose to support industrial disharmony and chaos for the people of NSW by voting against the proposed amendments.

“In recent times, unions have repeatedly chosen to ignore orders of the IRC prohibiting industrial action. The amendments proposed by the NSW Government were intended to deter unions from flouting IRC orders and disrupting essential services for the people of NSW,” Mr Tudehope said.

“This kind of illegal action interferes with the lives and livelihoods of ordinary workers and small business owners and should not be cheered on by the Labor party.

“These unions have deep pockets and consider the current penalties as a minor cost of doing business. Without increasing penalties, we can expect Labor’s year of the strike to continue.”

Labor’s position follows their conference over the weekend where parliamentarians gave Rail, Tram and Bus Union boss Alex Claassens a standing ovation after a speech promising to continue his political campaign of strikes.

Last week, the Supreme Court of NSW handed down a $60,000 fine to the NSW Teachers Federation for industrial action organised and promoted by the union in breach of dispute orders made by the IRC. The Court noted the union’s annual revenue from memberships alone is $37 million.

The Court held the breaches were ‘inimical to the orderly conduct of the conciliation and arbitration system established by the [Industrial Relations] Act’.

Penalties for breaching dispute orders can only be applied against industrial organisations or employers and not against the individuals or workers participating in industrial action.

Sydney’s Tech Central has further cemented itself as the country’s premier technology innovation district with the official opening today of a new scaleup hub on Pitt Street.
 
Minister for Enterprise, Investment and Trade Alister Henskens said the Tech Central Scaleup Hub, run by Stone & Chalk, is designed to help Australian technology scaleups and startups grow, create jobs and attract world-leading companies to NSW. 
 
“The Scaleup Hub is right in the heart of Sydney’s Tech Central District and is at the forefront of the NSW Government’s strategy to attract investment, accelerate growth and ensure the jobs of the future are created here in NSW,” Mr Henskens said.
 
“Set across six levels and 8,000 square metres of open and flexible space, the hub will help draw companies to Sydney and continue our push to make Sydney the major technology hub of the Asia Pacific.”
 
Stone & Chalk CEO Michael Bromley said several innovative tech companies working in advanced manufacturing, Fintech and education are already in place and working from the hub, with opportunities for more to join.
 
“This is Stone & Chalk’s second hub in Sydney and builds on our mission to help transform NSW into a sustainable technology-driven economy,” Mr Bromley said.
 
“We are calling on cutting-edge companies looking to expand and grow to set up in the scaleup hub and take advantage of all the exciting opportunities that Tech Central has to offer.”
 
Country manager of new resident 3D printing company Nano Dimension, Omer Tangi, said the hub’s proximity to leading industry experts and institutions such as the University of Technology was a major drawcard.
 
“As an international scaleup this is our first location in Australia and we are excited to be around other innovative scaleups as we use advanced 3D printing technologies to reshape and redefine the future of electronics production,” Mr Tangi said.
 
“Proximity to world-class universities such as UNSW and UTS plus other Tech Central residents including Atlassian, Commonwealth Bank and Cicada Innovations is great for our growing company.”
 
The new Scaleup Hub will support the NSW Government’s target of bringing 25,000 future-focused innovation jobs to NSW.
 
For more information, visit https://www.investment.nsw.gov.au/living-working-and-business/tech-central-scaleup-hub/.

Schools in a growing community of South West Sydney will be part of an innovative approach offering families the choice of attending one of three local primary schools.  

Minister for Education and Early Learning Sarah Mitchell said three public schools in Denham Court, Leppington and Edmondson Park will have a shared intake area from 2023 to maximise the use of the local school facilities.  

“The new intake model will allow the rapidly growing area to better utilise the new schools being delivered,” Ms Mitchell said.   

“This responsive approach allows us to be more flexible in how schools take students in through their enrolment boundaries, while still providing certainty to families.  

“In order to make sure every family in the area has a place at a great local school for their child, from next year they will have the option to send their child to either Denham Court Public School, Edmondson Park Public School or Leppington Public School.” 

Ms Mitchell highlighted how more than $1 billion of investment into public school infrastructure has been delivered or in the pipeline in South West Sydney. 

“This approach is about balancing enrolment demand in the growth area. We will continue to work with communities as the local area changes and grows.” 

A unique legislative cap is in place at Denham Court Public School which places a limit on the number of students and staff allowed onsite. Siblings of current Denham Court Public School students will be prioritised for the 2023 intake.  

Next year is the first year of operation for the new Edmondson Park Public School. An upgrade at Leppington Public School has also been funded as part of the NSW Government’s historic school building program.    

An enrolment panel, made up of the local school leadership, teachers and school community members, will determine applications.  

The NSW Government is investing $8.6 billion in school infrastructure over the next four years, continuing its program to deliver 160 new and upgraded schools to support communities across NSW. This builds on the more than $9.1 billion invested in projects delivered since 2017, representing an overall public education infrastructure program of $17.7 billion.