Category: NSW News

Due to unprecedented demand on the NSW SES website, we are aware that people are experiencing difficulty accessing current Evacuation Warning and Evacuation Order information. We apologise for this interruption, we will continue to provide up to date information via social media channels and our media partners. Please see below the list of current Evacuation Order and Evacuation Warnings: Evacuation Orders (31 locations) Redbank Dam Ballina Island Low Lying Areas of Western Lennox Head Low lying parts of Ballina CBD Low lying areas of South Ballina Low lying areas of Ballina and surrounding areas Wardell Low lying parts of Wharf St, Casino Low lying parts of Casino near river Low lying areas of Lawrence and surrounding areas Tweed Heads East Bellingen Low lying properties in Maclean Low lying areas Broadwater and Cabbage Tree Island Woodburn, Swan Bay and Surrounds Clarence River at Brushgrove and Cowper Low lying properties in Southgate Low lying properties in Ulmarra Murwillumbah CBD and low-lying areas of East Murwi Low lying areas of Coraki Rocky Creek Dam Brunswick River at Mullumbimby Marshalls Creek at Billinudgel Ocean Shore, New Brighton, Sth Golden Beach Low lying properties in Iluka Lismore CBD North Lismore South Lismore Sth Murwillumbah, Condong, and surrounding areas Kyogle Lower CBD Tumbulgum and Surrounding Areas Evac Warnings (9 locations) Picton CBD Camberwarra Dam Parts of Lansvale Parts of Milperra Parts of Chipping Norton 1 Parts of Chipping Norton 2 Northern Rivers Sth Murwillumbah, Condong, and surrounding areas Uki and surrounding areas

Netball NSW today announces that Tain Drinkwater has resigned from her role as the organisation’s Chief Executive Officer to take up a new opportunity with the National Rugby League (NRL).

Drinkwater joined Netball NSW in April last year and guided the organisation through the second COVID-19 lockdown of Greater Sydney and regional NSW, as well as the multiple relocations of the organisation’s two professional franchises – the NSW Swifts and GIANTS Netball – for the 2021 Suncorp Super Netball Season.

The Newcastle native, who previously held Senior Executive roles with the Brisbane Broncos and in the Mining Industry, is set to become the NRL’s new Head of Performance & Pathways for their men’s and women’s teams, and will finish up with Netball NSW at the end of March.

Former Cricket NSW Chief Executive Andrew Jones will join Netball NSW as interim CEO until the completion of the 2022 Super Netball Season.

Drinkwater said she was immensely grateful for the opportunity she’d been given by Netball NSW and the wider netball community over the past year.

“First and foremost, I would like to thank the Netball NSW President and Board of Directors for the opportunity to work in this brilliant game which truly is one of the benchmarks in Australian sport when it comes to grassroots and high-performance pathways,” she said.

 “I would also like to thank my Executive Team and the Netball NSW staff across all areas for their efforts over the past 12 months which have been some of the toughest the game has known.

“Despite the challenges we have been able to deliver very strong registration numbers and an all-NSW Super Netball Grand Final, and I leave knowing that the game is in a very strong position which is a testament to the brilliant team we have.

“A special thank you too to the NSW netball community who showed how innovative and agile they are to keep the game thriving, despite the once-in-a-generation challenges thrown up by COVID-19.

“This was not an easy decision to make and it was one that I thought about long and hard about for a significant period of time, however, the opportunity offered by the NRL was one that I couldn’t turn down.

“I am now looking forward to working with the Board, Executive Team, staff and wider stakeholders to ensure the handover process is as seamless as possible as Netball NSW gears up for a massive year of elite and community netball.”

Netball NSW President Louise Sullivan thanked Drinkwater for her significant contribution over the past year.

“While we are very disappointed to lose Tain we understand her decision and would like to commend her on everything she has achieved since joining us,” Sullivan said.

“Not only did Tain display admirable leadership when the game was plunged into lockdown again last year, she and her staff went above and beyond to ensure netball in NSW emerged from it in a very healthy position and we will always be very grateful for that.

“She also had the unenviable position of overseeing the Swifts and GIANTS as they moved from state to state, often late at night, to keep the Super Netball Season alive. Ultimately it was all worth it with both teams contesting the Grand Final and that is something Tain should be very proud of.

“We saw in Tain a very capable and emerging female leader and it is a credit to her achievements that the most powerful code in the state has offered her this brilliant opportunity.

“On behalf of the Board of Directors, and all of Netball NSW, I would like to wish Tain the best in her next venture and look forward to seeing her courtside as a fan in the future.”

Sullivan also welcomed Jones to Netball NSW in the role of Interim CEO.

“Andrew has a fine record in sports administration, including as a former CEO of Cricket NSW, so our game is in safe hands for the months ahead,” she said.

“Like netball, cricket has a vast grassroots community across the State, vital pathways to the elite level, and multiple teams competing in national competitions.  

“Andrew understands the challenges and opportunities of having two professional clubs under the one organisation via the Sydney Sixers and Sydney Thunder.

“Andrew was also a key driver of the professionalisation of women’s domestic cricket and the formation of the Women’s Big Bash League so has a strong record when it comes to women in sport.”

Netball NSW will shortly begin the recruitment process for a new CEO and more information will be released in due course.

Making phonics compulsory in NSW public schools is already having a positive impact on student results, according to NSW Department of Education data.
 
Minister for Education and Early Childhood Learning, Sarah Mitchell, said analysis of the Phonics Screening check data has revealed that 57 per cent of Year 1 students were meeting or exceeding the expected target, up from 43 per cent when the check was trialled in 2020.
 
“These results are extremely pleasing and show the importance of the government’s reforms requiring phonics to be used to teach all students to read as part of our new English syllabus for Kindergarten to Year 2.
 
“The percentage of Aboriginal students that met or exceeded the expected achievement score increased from 18.4 per cent in 2020 to 29 per cent in 2021.”
 
“We know that early proficiency in phonics is the pre-curser to achievement in reading and writing.
 
“The best results in reading for our students occur when phonics is explicitly and systematically taught in Year 1 alongside other components of reading instruction.
 
“Therefore, phonics is a compulsory component of the teaching of reading under the K-10 English syllabus.”
 
Following a successful trial in 2020, the Year 1 Phonics Screening Check was made mandatory for public school students in 2021.
 
In 2021 the check was completed by more than 66,000 Year 1 students across 1,615 schools.
 
The Year 1 Phonics Screening Check includes 40 words, which consists of 20 real words and 20 pseudo words. The words are set each year to provide opportunities for students to demonstrate their ability to use their phonic knowledge to read a word.
 
The inclusion of pseudo words ensures that students will need to use their knowledge of letter/sound correspondences to blend through the sounds in the word to read it correctly.
 
The check is completed in Term 3 each year, with results immediately available for teachers.

The Department of Communities and Justice alongside partner agencies has registered more than 1,300 people impacted by the major floods that have engulfed parts of the Lismore region.
 
Minister for Families, Communities and Disability Services Natasha Maclaren-Jones said the NSW Government was committed to ensuring people affected by the flood disaster would be supported.
 
“We are doing everything we can to help those who are stranded and isolated due to this devastating event,” Mrs Maclaren-Jones said.
 
“In partnership with Resilience NSW and non-government agencies, DCJ is working to provide emergency accommodation to people affected by floods in northern NSW.
 
“DCJ staff are managing and assisting agencies with evacuation centres at 10 locations across the region.
 
“DCJ has existing partnerships with local accommodation and support providers in this region and is working closely with these services to meet demand.
 
“It’s heartbreaking to see so many people being evacuated from their homes due to such severe flooding, but I want to reassure everyone that we will continue to support flood victims and work with our government and non-government partners to respond to local needs as they evolve.”
 
DCJ Disaster Welfare provides support to people who have been affected by floods, storms, bushfires and other emergencies.
 
People needing assistance due to the flood disaster should contact the State Emergency Service on 132 500 and for emergency accommodation they can contact the Link2Home hotline 24 hours a day on 1800 152 152.

The Premier’s Reading Challenge marks its 21^st anniversary starting today, with children encouraged to join the party – by reading lots of books!
 
The Challenge aims to encourage a love of reading for leisure and pleasure in students, and to enable them to experience quality literature.
 
First started in 2002, the Challenge has grown in both student participation and completion numbers every year since its inception.
 
Premier Dominic Perrottet said despite disruptions from COVID-19 in 2021, participation in the Challenge was up almost 3 per cent (440,000 students) with individual books read reaching almost 9 million.
 
“It’s wonderful to see that the Challenge continues to grow, encouraging generations to enjoy reading,” Mr Perrottet said.
 
“The challenge encourages students to extend reading beyond the classroom where they can read for pleasure and knowledge.”
 
Minister for Education and Early Learning Sarah Mitchell said this year’s motto “stories that stay with you” was very suitable following the years we have had.
 
“Reading is so beneficial for students’ lives, it sharpens their knowledge and strengthens writing and vocabulary – but just as importantly it makes for happier, more creative kids who take that with them into adulthood,” Ms Mitchell said.
 
“Reading is a gift that unlocks future success for students. I’m excited for this year’s challenge to start.”
 
The Premier’s Reading Challenge begins on Monday, 28 February and is open for student entries until Friday, 19 August. Students from government, independent, Catholic and home schools in Kindergarten to Year 10 can participate.
 
See www.premiersreadingchallenge.nsw.edu.au for the rules of the competition.

The NSW Government’s $60 million Aviation Attraction Fund has landed its first airline on its runway to recovery, with a new service between Ho Chi Minh and Sydney.

Bamboo Airways today announced it will begin operating a new, twice-weekly service from 30 March 2022 that will see greater connectivity between the two most populous cities of Australia and Vietnam, providing a boost to the NSW visitor economy.

Minister for Enterprise, Investment and Trade, Minister for Tourism and Sport and Minister for Western Sydney Stuart Ayres said NSW was a key destination for Bamboo Airways, with more than 123,000 Vietnamese visitors arriving in Australia in 2019.

“NSW has the highest percentage of Vietnamese-born population in Australia and with the reopening our international border we can once again look forward to welcoming the family and friends of our sixth largest migrant community,” Mr Ayres said.

“NSW is also a popular destination for international students, working holidaymakers and recreational travellers from Vietnam. This twice-weekly service to Sydney will provide a significant boost for both the consumer and business sectors.

“Our airports are the gateway to our state, so supporting the return of airlines to them through the Aviation Attraction Fund is key to our recovery roadmap and achieving our goal of making NSW the premier visitor economy of the Asia Pacific.”

CEO of Bamboo Airways Dang Tat Thang said the support of the NSW Government’s Aviation Attraction Fund was key to making this new route viable.

“With the valuable support of the NSW Government and Australia’s busiest airport, we are committed to making the new regular nonstop Sydney – Ho Chi Minh City service a great success and look forward to further developing our partnership,” Mr Dang said.

Sydney Airport CEO Geoff Culbert said this new service would provide greater connectivity between two cities that share close ties.

“Hot on the heels of Australia’s borders re-opening it’s terrific to be announcing a new airline partner in Bamboo Airways. Vietnam is an incredibly popular destination for Australian leisure travellers and with a big Vietnamese diaspora in Sydney it makes sense to build greater connectivity between our two cities,” Mr Culbert said. 

Applications for the Aviation Attraction Fund are open until 30 June 2023 and will be managed by Destination NSW on behalf of the NSW Government. For more information or to submit an application visit www.destinationnsw.com.au/aviation-attraction

The Premier’s Reading Challenge marks its 21^st anniversary starting today, with children encouraged to join the party – by reading lots of books!
 
The Challenge aims to encourage a love of reading for leisure and pleasure in students, and to enable them to experience quality literature.
 
First started in 2002, the Challenge has grown in both student participation and completion numbers every year since its inception.
 
Premier Dominic Perrottet said despite disruptions from COVID-19 in 2021, participation in the Challenge was up almost 3 per cent (440,000 students) with individual books read reaching almost 9 million.
 
“It’s wonderful to see that the Challenge continues to grow, encouraging generations to enjoy reading,” Mr Perrottet said.
 
“The challenge encourages students to extend reading beyond the classroom where they can read for pleasure and knowledge.”
 
Minister for Education and Early Learning Sarah Mitchell said this year’s motto “stories that stay with you” was very suitable following the years we have had.
 
“Reading is so beneficial for students’ lives, it sharpens their knowledge and strengthens writing and vocabulary – but just as importantly it makes for happier, more creative kids who take that with them into adulthood,” Ms Mitchell said.
 
“Reading is a gift that unlocks future success for students. I’m excited for this year’s challenge to start.”
 
The Premier’s Reading Challenge begins on Monday, 28 February and is open for student entries until Friday, 19 August. Students from government, independent, Catholic and home schools in Kindergarten to Year 10 can participate.
 
See www.premiersreadingchallenge.nsw.edu.au for the rules of the competition.

The NSW Government has extended trading hours for hotels and registered clubs during special sporting and cultural events in 2022.

The extension allows some venues to trade longer hours so patrons can celebrate events such as Vivid Sydney, the Tamworth Country Music Festival, the Parkes Elvis Festival and the NRL Grand Final.

Minister for Hospitality and Racing, Kevin Anderson, said the move would give patrons extra time to socialise and enjoy major entertainment events while opening more trading opportunities for businesses.

“We understand that it has been tough for hospitality venues recently which is why we are extending trading hours for certain events. This will create jobs and put valuable dollars back into the tills of small businesses,” Mr Anderson said.

“NSW hospitality venues are waiting with open arms to welcome patrons through their doors so now is the time to get out and enjoy yourself in a COVID safe way.”

Venues already able to trade beyond these longer hours on can trade as usual.

“We need to recognise and support events that cater to a range of interests and cultures and that are both locally and globally significant,” Mr Anderson said.

“If you’re keen to flag dates in your social calendar, check the list of events to see when and where pubs and clubs can stay open later and get out and enjoy the yourself at one of our excellent hospitality venues.”

These trading extensions do not affect takeaway alcohol trading times. Individual trading restrictions or other special conditions that apply to a venue’s liquor licence also remain in place for these events.

The NSW Government’s $155 million program for Before and After School Care (BASC) vouchers is now live for parents and carers of children enrolled in a NSW primary school.
 
The $500 vouchers are available now to use at participating providers to assist families with access to BASC services by covering a parent gap fee component of their session fees.
 
Premier Dominic Perrottet said the $500 vouchers are more important than ever in supporting our working families as they get back into the office.
 
“The vouchers will offer parents greater flexibility as they return to the office,” Mr Perrottet said.
 
“They’ll also ease pressure on household budgets as we recover from the disruptions of the pandemic.”
 
Treasurer Matt Kean said the NSW Government is focused on making it easier for women to enter, re-enter and stay in the workforce.
 
“Covid-19 was the first economic shock where women lost more jobs than men, and providing more affordable Before and After School Care services can give working mothers greater choice when it comes to their careers,” Mr Kean said. 
 
Minister for Education and Early Learning Sarah Mitchell said this is a great opportunity for families to access a BASC service in their local school community.
 
“Every family with children at a NSW primary school is eligible for one voucher per child, which will provide each child with approximately 60 sessions of free BASC,” Ms Mitchell said.
 
“These vouchers are all about providing affordable access to care for families, particularly after a tough two years where we have had disrupted access to school and BASC.”
Minister for Customer Service and Digital Government Victor Dominello said the vouchers are now live on the Service NSW app.
 
“Similar to Dine & Discover, First Lap and other voucher programs, eligible parents and carers will be able to store and re-use their Proof of Identity documents, such as Medicare Card and Driver’s Licence, to speed up the application process,” Mr Dominello said.
 
Families can access the vouchers online via MyServiceNSW account, in the app, or by visiting their nearest Service Centre.

In another win for conservation, three mammal species once locally extinct, are booming since their reintroduction to Sturt National Park.

Environment Minister James Griffin said recent surveys have shown bilbies, crest-tailed mulgaras and Shark Bay bandicoots, were busy breeding and in good numbers, reflecting the conditions in the far-west of NSW at the moment.

“There is a baby boom underway in far-west NSW and I’m thrilled to see this important rewilding program going from strength to strength,” Mr Griffin said.

“I want people from right across NSW to be able to see the conservation efforts in the bush at their best and this program is one of seven programs just like it working towards that goal.

“Nineteen crest-tailed mulgaras were originally translocated from wild populations in South Australia in August 2020 and from recent surveys, the numbers have rocketed up to be between 160 and 240 individuals, eventually we are hopeful they will number around 480.

“In September 2020 10 greater bilbies were reintroduced from Taronga Western Plains Zoo and were supplemented by another 30 bilbies in May 2021.

“The bilby population is now also booming and is estimated to number up to 60, including female bilbies, who are now having pouch young of their own.

“Sturt National Park has been an ideal location with incredible rainfall over the past year and it is heartening to see locally extinct species thriving in their natural habitat.”

Sturt National Park site is one of three feral-predator free areas already operational funded by the NSW Government and managed in partnership by the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS), Wild Deserts led by UNSW and the Australian Wildlife Conservancy.

The NPWS is currently establishing a further four sites which will expand the fenced feral-free area in our national parks to more than 65,000 hectares and provide a conservation benefit to more than 50 threatened species.

“It’s a ground-breaking program to counter damage done to wildlife by feral animals including feral cats which kill 1.5 billion native animals every year in Australia,” Mr Griffin said.

University of NSW Wild Deserts Project Leader Professor Richard Kingsford is excited about the early results at Sturt National Park.

“It’s wonderful to see these animals back in their original home, prospering, and restoring this desert ecosystem to some of its past magnificence,” Prof Kingsford said.

“As well as mulgara and bilbies, 13 Shark Bay bandicoots translocated in May last year have not wasted time either.

“The population is estimated to have doubled, only six months after they were released. Each female bandicoot can have two young and the six females translocated have already had two litters each since arriving at Sturt National Park.” 

Based on the success of these three species, there are plans to translocate a fourth species to the national park, the golden bandicoot, in 2022.