Category: NSW News

More buses, better connections and earlier starts are coming to Tweed and Murwillumbah, with 175 additional weekly services hitting the road from 29 June.

Home to growing communities and one of the state’s most popular coastal destinations, Tweed and Murwillumbah are seeing more people choose to live, work and visit the region than ever before.

These additional services will help ensure the public transport network keeps pace with that growth.

Part of the Minns Government’s $150 million Bus Service Uplift Program, the changes deliver an 11 per cent increase in services, double the services on the critical longer-distance Route 605, and responds directly to community feedback.

This is about buses that better fit people’s lives – earlier starts, later finishes, and more services where people need them most. Extended evening and weekend services will also support the region’s growing night-time economy, making it easier for workers, locals and visitors to travel safely and conveniently.

For the first time, residents in the fast-growing Kings Forest community will be connected by regular public transport, with buses operating every 30 minutes linking residents directly to the Tweed Valley Hospital, TAFE NSW Kingscliff and surrounding communities.

One of the biggest wins is on Route 605, where services between Murwillumbah and Tweed Mall will double, with an additional 111 weekly services. Faster, more direct trips will cut travel times by up to six minutes, making every day journeys to work, appointments, education and shopping simpler and quicker.

The service uplift will also benefit healthcare workers, with additional evening and weekend services to the Tweed Valley Hospital better aligned with shift times, providing greater flexibility for staff and improved access for patients and visitors.

The changes include eight additional weekly services between Pottsville and Tweed Heads, extended operating hours for services in Pottsville and improved connections from Pottsville, Fingal Head and surrounding communities, making it easier for passengers to connect at Tweed Mall and travel onwards into Queensland.

The expansion will also create seven additional bus driver jobs and ensure public transport keeps pace with a rapidly growing North Coast.

As the region continues to grow, the Minns Labor Government is delivering the services communities asked for—keeping people connected, supporting local jobs, and ensuring Tweed and Murwillumbah remain great places to live, work and raise a family.

For a summary of changes from Monday 29 June please visit: https://transportnsw.info/news/2026/tweed-bus-changes-from-monday-29-june

Minister for Regional Transport, Jenny Aitchison:

“This is fantastic news for Tweed and Murwillumbah and the benefits will ripple right across both communities. With families putting down roots, new neighbourhoods growing, and more visitors discovering what makes this region special, 175 extra bus services every week will make a real difference to everyday life.

“The Minns Labor Government believes regional communities deserve the same investment and attention as anywhere else, and that means services built around how people actually live.

“This is about choice. Beach trip with a stop at the shops on the way home? That should be easy. Now it will be.”

Minister for the North Coast, Janelle Saffin:

“We have listened and are delivering the reliable, frequent and connected bus services our North Coast communities want, need and deserve.

“By doubling services on critical longer-distance routes like Route 605 and unlocking regular public transport for Kings Forest, we are providing more seats and creating more connections across our communities.

“Whether it’s healthcare workers getting to shift changes to help serve our community or locals accessing those essential services and shops, we are making sure our transport network grows as we grow.”   

Labor Spokesperson for Tweed, Emily Suvaal:

“Tweed is a special part of NSW – beautiful beaches, a relaxed lifestyle, and communities that are genuinely growing. People are choosing to move here and visitors keep coming back, meaning public transport needs to be up to par.

“For a lot of families and workers here, the bus isn’t a backup option – it’s how they get to work, reach their GP, drop the kids to school and get home at the end of the day. New weekly services means more people can get where they need to go, without it being a struggle.

“This is about making everyday life on the North Coast even better, and ensuring the buses actually work around the way people here live.”

The NSW Government has now appointed the inaugural SafeWork Advisory Council, a key component of the Minns Labor Government’s reforms establishing SafeWork NSW as a standalone regulator.

The Council was created through changes to the Work Health and Safety Amendment (Standalone Regulator) Act 2025 to strengthen SafeWork NSW’s governance framework and ensure the regulator has access to diverse strategic advice on work health and safety risks, priorities and emerging issues.

The Council is chaired by Emeritus Professor Michael Quinlan, a WHS Expert with over 40 years’ experience.

The tripartite Advisory Council brings together representatives of workers, employers, workplace safety experts and families with lived experience of losing a loved one to a workplace fatality to provide strategic advice to SafeWork NSW and the NSW Government.

Among its lived experience members is Debra Pascall, who tragically lost her son in a workplace incident in 2018 and has since become a passionate advocate for improving workplace safety and preventing future tragedies

The role of the Advisory Council is to:

• monitor emerging risks and trends in the field of work health and safety
• advise the SafeWork Commissioner on the strategic direction and priorities of SafeWork NSW
• advise the SafeWork Commissioner or the Minister on any matters referred to the Advisory Council by the SafeWork Commissioner or the Minister, and
• perform any other functions conferred on the Advisory Council by or under the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 or the regulations, or another law.

The commencement of the Advisory Council will support SafeWork NSW in its regulatory efforts to prevent fatalities, serious injuries and illness.

Under the Act, the SafeWork Commissioner is required to consider the Council’s advice when setting the regulator’s strategic direction and priorities.

In 2025 there were 60 fatalities in NSW workplaces, with most of these occurring in the construction, transport and warehousing, and agriculture sectors.

The formal commencement of the SafeWork NSW Advisory Council brings to a close the work of the SafeWork NSW Interim Tripartite Reference Group. The group served as an interim measure prior to the establishment the Advisory Council. 

The Interim Tripartite Reference Group played an important role in ensuring the perspectives of employers, unions, workers and government informed SafeWork NSW’s reform agenda and broader regulatory initiatives during the transition to a standalone regulator and we thank them for their service.

It also supported consideration of practical measures to strengthen work health and safety outcomes while formal governance and consultation arrangements were being established.

More details on the Advisory Council can be found on the SafeWork NSW website at https://www.safework.nsw.gov.au/about-us/safework-nsw-advisory-council.

In line with SafeWork NSW’s reporting requirements, a summary of actions taken in response to advice from the SafeWork Advisory Council will be publicly reported.

Minister for Industrial Relations and Work Health and Safety Sophie Cotsis said:

“This is an historic day. This Advisory Council has been a long time coming and marks an important step in strengthening workplace safety in NSW.

“When we came to government, we committed to creating safer workplaces. We established SafeWork as a standalone regulator to strengthen accountability, transparency and its focus on keeping workers safe.

“To create safer workplaces, we need real-world insight. The Council’s tripartite model ensures workers, employers and experts help inform SafeWork’s strategic direction and regulatory decisions.

“By bringing diverse voices to the table, including business, industry, unions and lived experience representatives, we are ensuring workplace safety decisions are informed by practical expertise and emerging risks.”

SafeWork Commissioner Janet Schorer said:

“The primary objective of the Advisory Council is to ensure that SafeWork NSW considers the diverse perspectives of workers and their representatives, industry, subject matter experts and individuals with lived experience when setting its strategic direction and priorities.

“Their input and partnership will support SafeWork NSW in securing safer and healthier workplaces in NSW.”

Advisory Council Chair, Emeritus Professor Michael Quinlan said: 

“It’s an honour to be chair of the SafeWork Advisory Council which is dedicated to improving safety outcomes for workplaces and families in New South Wales.

“The tripartite basis ensures that industry, unions and government get to work together, and we do it as a voice of expertise and lived experience.

“The model demonstrates best practice and provides the opportunity to have input and feedback on emerging issues warranting more attention.”

TWU Assistant Secretary Marija Marsic said:

“These lived experiences come to us from the coal face every single day.

“It’s so important for workers to have that representation from unions so we can advocate on their behalf in a way that is meaningful to policy and change.”

Business NSW Senior Project Manager Liz Greenwood said:

“It’s important to consider the perspectives of the many different voices on this council and to have those robust discussions before decisions that impact the safety of workers are made.”

Debra Pascall, Lived Experience Member said:

“I am honoured to have been appointed to the NSW SafeWork Advisory Council.

For me, safety is deeply personal after losing my son in a tragic, completely preventable workplace incident. Lived experience ensures the human impact of workplace harm remains at the centre of decision-making, reminding us that every policy and every regulation is ultimately about protecting people.

Every worker deserves to come home safely, and I hope my involvement in the advisory council contributes to this.”

The Minns Labor Government is enabling the delivery of around 1,300 new homes across the NSW South Coast, finalising three major rezonings that will transform underutilised land in Nowra and Kiama into vibrant, well-connected neighbourhoods.

In Nowra, the finalised Nowra Riverfront Precinct and Mandalay Sub-Precinct rezonings will enable up to 900 new homes along the Shoalhaven River foreshore, including social and affordable housing, alongside restaurants, cafes and new public spaces that will bring the riverfront to life.

In Kiama, the rezoning of a former council depot just steps from the beach, town centre and train station will unlock around 380 new homes on underutilised council land.

These rezonings will help make sure housing supply keeps pace with growth across the region over coming years, while also making sure that the liveability of local communities is improved.

The rezonings are another example of the Minns Labor Government using planning reforms to remove barriers to housing delivery, unlock well-located land and provide the certainty needed to get more homes built sooner.

Nowra Riverfront and Mandalay Sub-Precinct

The finalised rezonings will deliver:

• at least 30 per cent social and affordable housing on Homes NSW land, and two per cent affordable housing on private land across both areas;
• building heights between five and 12 storeys in the Riverfront Precinct, and up to six storeys in the Mandalay Sub-Precinct, with design excellence requirements for taller buildings; and
• vibrant foreshore activation including boatsheds on Scenic Drive, and restaurants and cafes.

Kiama Depot

The final rezoning has been refined in response to the feedback and will deliver:

• approximately 380 new homes, with a maximum building height of six storeys;
• a minimum of 10 per cent in perpetuity affordable housing;
• 600 parking spaces for residents and visitors; and
• housing that is aligned with the Low and Mid Rise Housing Policy, making sure a diversity of housing is available within walking distance of Kiama’s town centre and train station.
• The final planning controls have been informed and amended following public feedback.

Today’s announcement builds on a suite of major investments transforming the South Coast, anchored by the $440 million redevelopment of Shoalhaven Memorial Hospital.

Once complete in late 2026, the redeveloped hospital will serve as the region’s major health hub, delivering expanded and modernised healthcare services to the growing community.

Beyond the hospital redevelopment, the Minns Labor Government is delivering a new public primary school and preschool in Worrigee, upgrading Nowra East Public School, Vincentia High School, Ulladulla Public School, Ulladulla High School and Milton Public School, and redeveloping the former Shoalhaven Anglican School site for public education use.

Landcom’s construction of 60 new build-to-rent homes in Bomaderry is on track for completion by the end of 2026, helping to boost housing supply in the region.

Work is also underway on the major upgrade of the Jervis Bay Road and Princes Highway intersection, part of the Albanese and Minns Labor Governments’ $1.96 billion investment in improving safety, connectivity, and reliability along the Princes Highway corridor.

Shoalhaven City Council will now prepare a site-specific Development Control Plan for the Nowra precincts to guide detailed design, while Kiama Municipal Council will determine next steps for the depot site with future development applications to be publicly exhibited for community feedback.

For more information, visit Nowra Riverfront Precinct, Mandalay Sub-Precinct and Kiama Depot.

Minister for the Illawarra and South Coast Ryan Park said:

“These are exactly the kinds of projects our region needs by turning underutilised but well-located land into thriving neighbourhoods where people can live, work and stay connected to their community.

“Whether it’s revitalising the Nowra riverfront or unlocking new housing opportunities in the heart of Kiama, these rezonings will deliver lasting benefits for the South Coast.”

Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Paul Scully said:

“For too long, families have struggled to find somewhere to live, and activating underutilised sites allows us to deliver the new homes these families need.

“The Minns Labor Government is getting on with the job of unlocking well-located sites close to transport, jobs, and town centres and building the homes our communities need.

“These rezonings are about removing barriers to housing delivery and making sure land is put to better use so more people can find a place to call home within the communities they choose.”

Minister for Housing and Homelessness Rose Jackson said:

“Social and affordable housing is key to a strong housing system that is accessible for everyone and that’s exactly why we’re delivering it here.

“These rezonings are about turning plans into homes, giving more people in Nowra and Kiama a safe, affordable place to live.”

Member for South Coast Liza Butler said:

“Nowra’s riverfront has enormous potential and these plans will finally unlock it by bringing new life to the foreshore while delivering the homes our community desperately needs.

“Combined with the $5 million in federal funding to upgrade public spaces along the Shoalhaven River, this is a genuine transformation for Nowra City Centre.”

Member for Kiama Katelin McInerney said:

Finding a home, particularly one that suits the needs of our older residents looking to downsize, young people looking to get a foot in the ownership door, or workers looking for well-located homes close to their jobs, has become an insurmountable barrier in our pricey electorate.

Rezonings like this are crucial to providing diverse housing options in our community and utilising existing infrastructure and infill to achieve this.

It will also provide a significant boost to much-needed affordable and social housing, helping some of our most vulnerable community members into a home.”

A Liberal and Nationals Government will deliver a $100 registration rebate for NSW drivers as part of a broader plan to ease the cost of living and reduce the cost of driving.
 
Under our plan, individuals will be able to claim a $100 rebate on the registration of a private-use vehicle, with drivers eligible to a rebate on up to two private vehicles. The rebate will be available for 2027 vehicle registrations.
 
Leader of the Opposition Kellie Sloane said families across New South Wales were being squeezed from every direction and deserved practical support.
 
“Families are working harder than ever but too many are going backwards,” Ms Sloane said.
 
“Every bill is going up, every trip to the supermarket costs more, and getting behind the wheel is becoming more expensive under Labor.”
 
“This $100 registration rebate will put money back into the pockets of families and help ease the pressure on household budgets.”
 
“The NSW Liberals and Nationals have a plan to support drivers. We have already announced our Fuel Price Guarantee, which will require fuel retailers to publicly report and lock in their maximum daily fuel prices, giving drivers greater transparency and confidence before they fill up.”
 
“Whether it is the cost of fuel or the cost of registration, we are focused on practical measures that make life easier for families.”
 
Shadow Minister for Roads Mark Coure said drivers had been hit with a stealth tax under the Minns Labor Government.
 
“Since Labor came to office, annual registration charges for the most common private vehicle weight bracket have increased from $400 to $462, an increase of more than 15 per cent,” Mr Coure said.
 
“Motor vehicle tax revenue is forecast to grow from $3 billion to more than $4 billion by 2028-29, an increase of almost 36 per cent.”
 
“On Treasury’s own forecasts, drivers could be paying almost $100 more each year in registration charges by 2028 compared to when Labor came to office.”
 
“Drivers are being treated as a revenue source for this Government. We believe that money should stay in the pockets of the people who earned it.”
 
Ms Sloane said a stronger NSW starts with helping families get ahead and stay ahead.
 
“Families don’t expect government to solve every problem, but they do expect it not to make life harder.”
 
“Our registration rebate is practical cost of living relief. Combined with our Fuel Price Guarantee and the restoration of the Regional Seniors Travel Card, it shows the NSW Liberals and Nationals have a clear plan to support families and ease pressure on household budgets.”

The Minns Labor Government is helping ease cost of living pressures for patients and their families in regional, rural, and remote areas, with a $71.7 million boost in the 2026-27 NSW Budget for the Isolated Patients Travel and Accommodation Assistance Scheme (IPTAAS).

IPTAAS provides financial assistance towards travel and accommodation costs for patients who are required to travel more than 100 kilometres one way, or a total of 200 kilometres a week, for specialised health treatment that is not available locally.

Improving access to care for people living in rural, regional and remote NSW remains a priority for the Minns Government. Last year, IPTAAS helped 49,198 patients, an increase of 7,500 compared to the previous year.

IPTAAS has expanded significantly in recent years, with increased investment to support more patients and improvements in processing times and service delivery resulting in faster turnaround for applications.

The online claiming system has also been streamlined, making it easier for patients to submit claims and receive reimbursements directly into their bank account.

Reducing the financial burden for country patients to travel for their healthcare is just part of a comprehensive range of measures the Minns Government is embracing to improve access to care in our regional, rural and remote communities, including:

• Delivering more health worker accommodation in the bush;
• Doubling rural health worker incentives for the most critical and hard to fill positions to improve recruitment and retention;
• Boosting doctors in our regional GP surgeries as well as hospitals through the single employer model; and
• Deploying an extra 500 regional paramedics.

Minister for Health and Regional Health Ryan Park:

“IPTAAS ensures people in regional, rural and remote NSW can access the specialist care they need, no matter where they live.

“With cost of living pressures continuing to put pressure on households, this relief is more important than ever. It provides practical financial assistance that makes a real difference for patients and their families.

“We are committed to supporting patients living in regional communities and making sure distance is not a barrier to care, while also helping to ease cost of living pressures for patients and their families.”

The Minns Labor Government is continuing its commitment to creating safer workplaces with the inaugural Construction Safety Roundtable held in Parramatta.

The roundtable brings together construction industry leaders to discuss ways to improve safety and reduce the number of workplace injuries across the sector which employs 400,000 people in NSW.

Minister for Work Health and Safety Sophie Cotsis and SafeWork Commissioner Janet Schorer were joined by leaders from construction firms, key industry associations, unions and community organisations.

The roundtable discussed the sector’s safety performance, key risks and opportunities for collaborative improvement.

While recent SafeWork NSW compliance activities have shown most construction businesses are doing the right thing, there are still too many employers putting workers at risk by not having adequate systems to manage work health and safety.

With 13 deaths in the construction industry in NSW alone since July 2025, construction is on the most dangerous industries to work in.

Falls from height remains the top cause of traumatic fatalities in the State’s building and construction industry, as well as a significant cause of injuries in the sector.

Over the past year SafeWork has recorded:

• 5 x more Requests for Service in the construction industry than in any other industry (6,698 in 2024/2025) (4,872 this financial year – to March 2026)
• 3 x more incidents than any other industry (2,087 in 2024/2025) (1,609 so far this financial year – to March 2026)
• Between 1 July 2024 and 31 December 2025, there were 401 serious injuries from falls from heights in NSW

The Minns Labor Government is committed to creating safer workplaces.

In 2025 the NSW Government established SafeWork as a stand-alone regulator to increase accountability and transparency.

The NSW Government has also increased penalties for non-compliance and in one of the toughest measures in NSW history, the Minns Government introduced industrial manslaughter laws with 20-year jail terms.

There is also an increasing focus on psychosocial hazards in construction workplaces, with the number of mental health claims on the rise.

With request for services for psychosocial issues increasing, the Minns Labor Government has invested $127.7M into SafeWork which has included the largest expansion of its inspectorate. An additional 52 inspectors, including 20 specialised psychosocial inspectors and five psychosocial investigators have been appointed.

Workers who have concerns about workplace health and safety can anonymously contact SafeWork on 13 10 50 or through the Speak Up Save Lives platform at https://www.safework.nsw.gov.au/advice-and-resources/speak-up-app.

For more information on how to manage the risks of working at heights, mobile plant safety and how to how to manage psychosocial risks in construction, visit the SafeWork NSW website at https://www.safework.nsw.gov.au/your-industry/construction.

Minister for Industrial Relations and Work Health and Safety Sophie Cotsis said:

“Since July last year, there have been 13 lives lost in the construction industry alone in NSW – one life lost at work is one too many.

“This inaugural Round Table is an opportunity for the Government and Safework to hear from leaders in the industry, workers, unions and the families of construction workers who have tragically lost their lives about what we can to do to improve safety in construction.

“We need the number of fatalities and the number of seriously injured workers in the construction industry come down because everyone who goes to work deserves to come home safely to their families.”

SafeWork NSW Commissioner Janet Schorer said:

“The construction sector is one of the most high-risk industries in NSW.”

“This roundtable is an opportunity to raise awareness of the common failings and harms SafeWork NSW has identified which are contributing to workers being placed at risk.

“I look forward to harnessing the collective knowledge and influence of attendees to contribute to the development of strategies and approaches which will drive industry-led safety improvements.”

Eligible households will now be able to access zero-interest loans of up to $15,000 to install energy-saving and cost-cutting upgrades such as rooftop solar, household batteries, insulation, reverse-cycle air conditioning, switchboard upgrades, ceiling fans and draught-proofing.

From today, the Minns Labor Government’s $557 million Home Energy Saver program is available to help NSW families lower their power bills by making energy-saving upgrades more affordable.

Many NSW households are already saving money through rooftop solar, home batteries and efficient appliances – with just over half of all houses in the state equipped with solar and 13,000 new batteries being installed each month.

While energy-efficient upgrades reduce costs in the long run, the upfront costs have locked many people out, and this program will make upgrades significantly more affordable.

In addition to loans, the program will provide discounts of up to $4,000 to eligible families looking to upgrade with energy-saving measures.

The Home Energy Saver program includes:

Zero-interest loans available from today to households with a combined taxable income of up to $210,000. This will allow eligible households to pay off up to $15,000 in upgrades over ten years rather than upfront. This is expected to benefit more than 32,000 households. This is a $480 million commitment.

Targeted discounts of up to $4,000 will be available later in 2026 to households with a combined annual income of up to $80,000, or eligible concession card holders. This is a $77 million commitment.

For example, if your household earns $200,000 and you want to purchase a solar and home battery system for $10,000, you can apply for a loan and pay it off over ten years.

Eligible households wanting to apply for a discount and a zero-interest loan on a single upgrade are advised to apply for the discount first, then seek a loan to cover the remaining amount.

Discounts will also be available to renters, to make upgrades with their landlord’s permission.

Households will enjoy benefits such as lowering their monthly power bills and making their homes more comfortable year-round, cooler through summer hat and warmer through winter.

For information and to apply, visit www.energy.nsw.gov.au/home-energy-saver.

Premier Chris Minns said:

“We know energy bills are putting pressure on families right now, and while this won’t solve every cost-of-living challenge people are facing, it’s practical help that can make a real difference.

“For many households, the upfront cost of these upgrades has simply been too high. We’re stepping in to help where we can, so more families can access technology that lowers their bills and makes their homes more comfortable.

“We’re doing what we can to help families now, while making sure NSW has a more reliable and secure energy system for the future.”

Minister for Climate Change and Energy, Penny Sharpe said:

“For too many households, energy-saving upgrades have felt like something other people can afford. This is about changing that and giving more families a fair opportunity to access the kinds of improvements that make their homes more comfortable, more efficient and better to live in.

“Every household that upgrades to more efficient technology is playing a part in NSW’s energy future. Making these technologies more accessible helps more households enjoy a cooler home in summer, a warmer home in winter, and smaller power bills every month.”

Smart Energy Council CEO, David McElrea said:

“This program is a massive win for households looking to take control of their energy bills.

“Helping lower-income earners and renters to overcome the cost barrier to modernising their homes with smart solar, batteries, efficient cooling and heating is the fastest way to permanently drive down household expenses while building a more resilient grid.”

Patients, visitors and staff accessing Tweed Valley Hospital now have more car parking options, following the recent completion of more than 125 new car parking spaces on the hospital campus. New signage, line marking, and enhanced parking management systems have also been delivered as part of the project.

The new parking spaces are located to the south of the multi-level car park and along the ring road on the northern boundary of the hospital campus.

The $723.3 million Tweed Valley Hospital opened to patients in May 2024 and has transformed the delivery of healthcare in the region.

Since opening, the new hospital has expanded its health services, including interventional cardiology and radiotherapy. Outpatient services have also more than doubled in capacity, allowing residents to access services locally without needing to travel outside the region.

The additional parking was delivered by the Northern NSW Local Health District, in partnership with Health Infrastructure.

Minister for Regional Health Ryan Park:

“Tweed Valley Hospital is a very busy health facility, with hundreds of staff delivering high-quality healthcare every day to the communities of the growing Tweed-Byron region.

“These works have boosted parking capacity on site, improving access to the hospital and vital health services for the local community.

“This additional free parking will ensure a better experience for patients, their families and carers and of course our wonderful staff, when they attend the hospital campus.

Labor Spokesperson for Tweed Emily Suvaal:

“The additional parking at Tweed Valley Hospital is already making a difference    for our community, with those who visit the hospital campus every day finding it easier to park.

“Improved access to the hospital means less stress for our staff and reduced anxiety for our patients and their visitors.

“I’d like to thank all the project team who delivered this project, as well as our staff and volunteers at Tweed Valley Hospital, and the local community for their feedback.”

Landholders across the Northern Rivers are working to repair creeks and riverbanks damaged by the 2022 floods, replanting native vegetation along 40km of riverbanks, fencing off waterways, and improving how water moves as part of a pilot program. 

As part of the Caring for Catchments program, 35 projects across four catchments are underway on private land to stabilise waterways and support long-term catchment health.

So far, about 62 hectares have been revegetated, 40km of riverbank restored, and more than 84,000 native trees and sedges planted, to reduce erosion and improve the condition of creeks and river systems.

Nearly 7,000 people have participated in the initiative – through training, education and project delivery – helping build local capability to continue this work.

The program is funded by the Albanese Government through the Northern Rivers Recovery and Resilience Program, administered by the NSW Reconstruction Authority (RA) and delivered by the North Coast Regional Landcare Network in partnership with landholders and communities.

The work focuses on practical, on-ground measures, restoring riparian corridors and improving how water is stored and moves through the landscape.

At Coffee Camp near Nimbin, work on a cattle property over the past year shows how these approaches operate at a property scale, with revegetation, fencing and water management already improving creek condition and water quality at the confluence of Bishops and Goolmangar creeks.

The projects include planting around 11,000 native trees, managing invasive weeds, installing cattle exclusion fencing and providing off-stream watering, alongside ongoing maintenance to stabilise creek banks and reduce erosion pressure.

The work is being delivered by third-generation cattle farmer Jeff Imeson, with his son-in-law Kieran Rangger managing the projects and overseeing how the works are integrated into the broader property.

Flood recovery is also continuing at the property, with two buyback homes being relocated so family members can remain in the area, showing how environmental repair and community recovery can happen alongside each other.

Lessons from Caring for Catchments will feed into the RA-led Northern Rivers Disaster Adaptation Plan.

Community information sessions on the plan are currently being held across the region until 26 June.

For more information on the Disaster Adaption Plan drop-in information sessions go to: https://www.haveyoursay.nsw.gov.au/northern-rivers-dap.  

Federal Minister for Emergency Management Kristy McBain:

“While we recognise there is still a significant amount of work to do, initiatives like the Caring for Catchments program and the progress local landholders have made to address damage and minimise the impact of future floods is making a difference.
“The Albanese Government remains committed to supporting recovery and resilience in the Northern Rivers, with $150 million invested through the Northern Rivers Recovery and Resilience Program.

“These measures are not a standalone solution to flooding, but they play an important role in how the catchment functions, helping to slow water, reduce erosion and support recovery, particularly during smaller and more frequent flood events.”

NSW Minister for Recovery Janelle Saffin:

“I know how vital this on-ground work is to our landholders as they repair and strengthen our catchments and advocated for this program in the aftermath of the 2022 floods that ripped through our rivers, riverbanks and landscapes.

“Nature-based solutions grounded in science, such as these works are a critical part of the puzzle – they are small scale management works that help water flow and reduce erosion – but we know they are only one piece of a much larger flood-resilience strategy.

“That’s why we are taking a comprehensive, multi-hazard approach to flood risk. The consultation for the Northern Rivers Disaster Adaptation Plan is open right now, and I encourage everyone to have their say and help us build a safer, more resilient future for our region.”

Senator for NSW, Jenny McAllister:

“It’s essential we restore riverbanks to ensure people in the Northern Rivers are protected from future flooding events.

“This is a great project that has already repaired more than 35 kilometres of riverbank and counting. I look forward to seeing this practical work continue.”

North Coast Regional Landcare Network Project Officer Fiona Berry:

“We’re incredibly proud to be delivering the Caring for Catchments project and the positive impact it’s having across the Northern Rivers: healthy catchments, restored riparian zones and engaged landholders are part of a complete flood resilience system.

“Caring for Catchments is a great example of what can be achieved when landholders, Landcare groups, community members and government work together toward a shared goal.

“The results speak for themselves – 40 kilometres of riverbank restored,62 hectares revegetated, more than 84,000 native trees and sedges planted and nearly 7,000 people trained and educated. Effective Nature-Based Solutions like Caring for Catchments require landholder trust, Aboriginal knowledge, community participation, technical expertise and long-term funding which North Coast Landcare is in a unique position to deliver.” 

The community of Canterbury is one step closer to much needed hospital upgrades with the first artist’s impressions of the Canterbury Hospital Redevelopment unveiled, as the Minns Labor Government commits an additional $50 million in funding to fast-track the delivery of enhanced maternity services at the hospital.

The Canterbury Hospital Redevelopment’s main works planning application is now on public exhibition, with the project to deliver new and expanded health services and facilities, along with upgrades and enhancements to the existing hospital campus, representing the largest upgrade at the hospital in more than 26 years.

A $50 million investment in the 2026-27 NSW Budget will bring forward the next stage of the redevelopment to deliver upgraded maternity and special care nursery facilities for families in Canterbury and surrounding areas.

The funding boost, which brings the total investment in the redevelopment to $400 million, will support the fit-out and relocation of an existing inpatient unit into the new nine-storey building, enabling the enhancement of maternity and special care nursery facilities.

The investment will give women and their babies in the Canterbury-Bankstown area access to enhanced maternity and neonatal services closer to home, and further complements the expansion and refurbishment of existing antenatal facilities, which are being delivered as part of early works for the project.

The redevelopment will include a new three-storey eastern expansion and refurbishment to the existing hospital that will house an expanded emergency department, operating theatres and a new Central Sterile Services Department (CSSD).

The modern, purpose-built facility will integrate seamlessly with the existing hospital, with outdoor spaces and landscaping to create a welcoming and supportive environment for patients, visitors and staff.

The community is encouraged to attend community information sessions where they can ask questions, provide feedback and learn more about the hospital redevelopment:

Information sessions are scheduled on:

• Tuesday, 30 June 2026 11:00am – 2:00pm – Main entrance foyer at Canterbury Hospital
• Thursday, 2 July 2026 5:00pm – 7:00pm – Roselands Shopping Centre (with in-language support)
• Friday, 3 July 2026 11.00am – 2.00pm – Lakemba Mosque (with in-language support)
• Saturday, 4 July 2026 10:00am – 12:00pm – Clemton Park Shopping Village (with in-language support)

Online session:

• Tuesday, 7 July 2026 6:00pm – 7:00pm Online via Microsoft Teams (RSVP required – forms.office.com/r/LBb5sgBL6V)

The scope for the Canterbury Hospital Redevelopment is expected to include:

• a new expanded and enhanced adult Intensive Care Unit
• new purpose-built adult inpatient accommodation
• expanded and enhanced emergency department
• additional surgical theatres
• enhanced maternity and neonatal services and facilities
• additional ambulatory and outpatient care capacity
• new and enhanced facilities to support clinical education, workforce training, and research
• new Diagnostic Services Unit to support diagnosis and medical condition management
• enhancements to hospital support services, including pathology and pharmacy,
• improved accessibility to the campus, including internal access, outdoor spaces, landscaping and wayfinding, and two dedicated levels of parking in the multi-storey building.

Main works construction timeframes will be confirmed following planning approval and the appointment of a contractor.

The planning application and technical documents are available to view online and feedback can be provided online until 11:59pm on 17 July 2026: www.haveyoursay.nsw.gov.au/canterbury-hospital-redevelopment/MWREF

A separate planning application process will take place for the enhanced maternity services to be delivered. Planning for the maternity and neonatal facilities will commence in the coming weeks with staff and stakeholder consultation playing a key role in shaping the design.

Early Works for the project are progressing with construction to commence on site shortly.

For more information on the Canterbury Hospital Redevelopment visit www.nsw.gov.au/canterbury-hospital-redevelopment

Minister for Health Ryan Park:

“The Minns Government is building the hospitals the Coalition failed to deliver.

“We are delivering the largest upgrade to the hospital for more than 26 years, ensuring local families have access to modern, high-quality care close to home.

“We promised to upgrade maternity services at Canterbury Hospital and we are delivering. This investment as part of the Budget will bring forward the delivery of these enhanced services, so families can benefit from them sooner.”

the Member for Canterbury Sophie Cotsis:

“This investment delivers on our commitment to provide enhanced maternity and neonatal facilities to support families in the local area, and ensure women can continue to access safe, high-quality care close to home.

“The valuable feedback from hundreds of community members and health staff will ensure that we get the hospital that Canterbury deserves.

“I encourage everyone to attend one of the upcoming information sessions or go online to see the plans for the redevelopment and have their say.”

Member for Summer Hill Jo Haylen:

“I know how much people in our community rely on Canterbury Hospital, and this upgrade will make a real difference. It will give local families access to better care, closer to home.

“Bringing forward these maternity upgrades means women and their babies will benefit sooner, with state-of-the-art facilities and the level of care our community expects and deserves.

“As our community continues to grow, it is essential that our local hospitals keep pace. I encourage everyone to have their say and help shape this redevelopment”

Member for Strathfield Jason Yat-sen Li:

This is a proud day for our community. After more than two decades, Canterbury Hospital will get the upgrade it deserves — better maternity care for new families, improved emergency and critical care capacity, and a hospital that meets local needs.”