Greens Leader Adam Bandt, Greens Education spokesperson Senator Mehreen Faruqi and Greens Health spokesperson Jordon Steele-John have joined teachers and parents calling for a national COVID Safe Schools action plan as students return to schools in NSW, Victoria and the ACT and public health restrictions are eased across the country.
The Greens want the Commonwealth to work with states and territories to ensure proper ventilation audits of schools, installation of HEPA filters and air quality monitoring and proper social distancing and mask wearing requirements are implemented as schools open up.
Medical experts have called for a national strategy and warned about spread of the virus in schools and increased illness amongst students, teachers and their families unless proper COVID-safe measures are implemented.
The OZ Sage medical expert group has warned that 1–3% of unvaccinated children could be hospitalised without proper protections. Currently children under 12 are not eligible for vaccination. Long COVID is likely to be experienced by large numbers of kids.
Greens Leader Adam Bandt MP said:
“The Prime Minister and National Cabinet must act. Schools are starting to open across NSW and Victoria and the virus is likely to circulate through zero COVID states. We need to ensure kids and teachers are protected as much as possible. There needs to be a national plan.”
Greens education spokesperson Mehreen Faruqi said:
“It’s important that school children are back in the classroom as soon as practicable, but we have to make sure it’s safe. School communities are understandably concerned. There must be Commonwealth support and coordination for all states and territories to implement comprehensive measures across all schools.”
Greens health spokesperson Jordon Steele-John said:
“We have already seen the virus spread through schools in Australia, and as schools have opened up in Europe and the United States, we’ve seen the virus spread.
“Vaccination of teenagers and teachers is not enough to ensure all school children are looked after. We need to address ventilation and other protections including masks in all schools, at all ages.
“NSW Parliament added ventilation when politicians returned to the building. If we are making these changes for politicians, we must urgently do it for our kids.”
Author: admin
Funding programs offer $1.25 million boost for COVID-affected sectors
Two street art festivals will help draw visitors into the city centre, increase spending with local businesses and showcase the talents of local artists, thanks to support from City of Newcastle.
The large-scale murals of Big Picture Fest will return to Newcastle in 2022 as one of 16 projects awarded a share of almost $800,000 through the City Centre and Darby Street Special Business Rate funding program, while the inaugural Little Festival will bring miniature street art to hidden locations across the CBD as one of 59 projects sharing in more than $450,000 of Community Support and Infrastructure Grants.
Newcastle Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said the funding being distributed across a range of grant programs will support industries hardest hit by COVID-19 and ensure that as restrictions continue to lift the city is ready to respond.
“City of Newcastle is committed to supporting our city as it emerges from the social and financial impacts of this pandemic and will continue to direct much-needed funds into developing opportunities in the local economy,” Cr Nelmes said.
“Supporting initiatives such as Big Picture Fest and Little Festival will not only provide a welcome influx of commissions for artists, it will also drive visitors into the city centre, increase expenditure at local businesses and help create more vibrant, activated spaces throughout the course of the events and beyond.”
Councillor Carol Duncan said Newcastle’s arts sector had been hit hard by the impacts of COVID-19, with lockdown restrictions curtailing opportunities for creatives, visual and performing artists.
“Newcastle is known for its thriving arts scene, but the challenges presented by COVID-19, including the recent lockdown restrictions, have had a massive impact on our creative communities,” Cr Duncan said.
“I can’t wait to see our creative communities emerge from the lockdown to deliver some of the fantastic initiatives being supported by these funding programs.”
Little Festival organiser Jacinta Fintan said the event would feature 40 tiny street art installations that would transform everyday city spaces into a canvas for storytelling and interaction, encouraging visitors to experience Newcastle on a different scale.
“City of Newcastle’s financial support for Little Festival has been a crucial step in turning my little idea into a brave new festival. After 18 long months of the pandemic flatlining the arts industry, it is really heartening to see bold and enterprising art funding underpin Newcastle’s arts recovery process.”
The Community Support and Infrastructure Grants assist a wide variety of projects across diverse funding streams including business façade improvements, recreational facility upgrades, sustainability and environmental programs and social inclusion initiatives. Arts, culture and heritage projects are also funded under this program, with successful applicants including the National Young Writers Festival, the next instalment in the Stories of Our Town documentary series, the Newcastle Music Festival and a multidisciplinary program of exhibitions and live events at The Lock-Up.
Special Business Rates are collected from businesses in Newcastle City Centre / Darby Street, Hamilton, Mayfield, New Lambton and Wallsend for the promotion, beautification and development of those precincts.
Other successful projects under this round of City Centre and Darby Street funding include the mouth-watering return of Newcastle Food Month, the inspiring creations of Chalk the Walk Newcastle, and a new project by Makers and Traders Newcastle.
Festival Director Katerina Skoumbas said Big Picture Fest is looking forward to bringing even more of Newcastle’s personality out onto the streets.
“This art is for everybody. It’s so important to reflect our local culture and to include the artists in this phase of change, a time when Newcastle’s urban landscape is shifting. There are so many blank walls throughout the city that we pass on our daily commutes and when you turn that blank wall into a canvas, you bring colour, joy and life to the whole community.”
$100 million invested in a skills-led recovery
The Perrottet Government has today committed to 103,000 additional free training places as part of a $100 million economic recovery package to turbocharge skills training and future-proof the workforce.
The recovery package contains new funding to extend the successful JobTrainer program, hundreds of fully-funded school-based apprenticeships and traineeships for Aboriginal students and funding for new ICT traineeships in the public sector.
NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet said the $100 million investment would support a pipeline of skilled workers and spearhead the State’s recovery by providing businesses with a highly- trained workforce.
“By investing in a skills-led recovery, the NSW Government is not only futureproofing jobs but ensuring people have the right skills to plug current shortages as the economy emerges from the pandemic,” Mr Perrottet said.
“NSW is leading the nation in free skills training in the joint Federal and State JobTrainer program with more than 136,000 people in NSW taking up a course since it was introduced last October.”
NSW Treasurer Matt Kean said the investment, part of the Government’s COVID-19 economic recovery package, will benefit critical industries including construction, health and IT to help NSW bounce back better.
“This is a significant investment to help the people of NSW get back to work, upskill or enter the workforce for the first time, particularly in critical industries like construction, IT, health and hospitality,” Mr Kean said.
“These critical industries are vital to our economic growth and prosperity and the NSW Government will continue to invest in training initiatives to get more people into jobs.”
Minister for Skills and Tertiary Education Geoff Lee said apprenticeships and traineeships were critical to supporting the careers of tomorrow.
“The NSW Government has always been committed to making training accessible to everyone, and this $100 million recovery package continues this Government’s unprecedented investment in skills training,” Mr Lee said.
The package includes additional Elsa Dixon Aboriginal Employment Grants and new ICT Traineeships, which will develop and support Aboriginal students and budding IT professionals across the State through the creation of training and employment opportunities in public sector agencies.
NSW Government Weekly Update – 15 October 2021
For the latest COVID-19 advice & information please visit www.nsw.gov.au/covid-19
NSW FLYING TOWARDS 80 PER CENT DOUBLE DOSE TARGET
- The State’s rapid rate of second dose vaccinations means that next Monday, 18 October is firming as the day that the Reopening NSW Roadmap’s 80 per cent settings will come into effect for those who are fully vaccinated.
- Community sport will resume, more friends and family will be reunited, and there will no longer be a cap on guests at weddings and funerals. Masks will also no longer be required in offices, and drinking while standing and dancing will be permitted indoors and outdoors at hospitality venues.
- From 1 November, bookings for hospitality venues will no longer be capped.
- Also from 1 November, the NSW Government will remove quarantine requirements and caps for overseas arrivals who the Commonwealth Government recognises as fully vaccinated with a TGA-approved vaccine, helping Australians stranded abroad get home before the end of the year.
- Travel between Greater Sydney (including the Blue Mountains, Wollongong, Shellharbour and the Central Coast) and Regional NSW will also be permitted from 1 November, to allow people in the regions more time to receive their second vaccine.
- To support regional businesses likely to be impacted by this change the NSW Government will defer the second taper of the JobSaver program until October 31. Eligible regional businesses will receive 30 per cent of weekly payroll, before tapering payments to the scheduled 15 per cent from November 1.
- If you are not booked in for a COVID-19 vaccine, please book an appointment as soon possible.
REGIONAL RECOVERY PACKAGE TO KICKSTART ECONOMY AND CREATE NEW JOBS
- The NSW Government has unveiled a $200 million recovery package for regional NSW that will create new jobs and support events, shows and festivals to boost tourism and help young people reclaim the best years of their lives.
- The Regional Recovery Package includes a $50 million Regional Events Package, $30 million Regional Job Creation Fund and $40 million for priority infrastructure projects across Regional NSW. Further announcements will be made with respect to the remaining $80 million.
- The $200 million Regional package builds upon the NSW Government’s record investment in regional NSW through the $2 billion Regional Growth Fund and the $4.2 billion Snowy Hydro Legacy Fund and 30 per cent of the Restart NSW Fund.
DOUBLING DOWN ON DINE & DISCOVER
- Customers will have more reasons to celebrate catching up with friends and family this summer with two additional Dine & Discover vouchers up for grabs for NSW residents.
- The expanded program will support residents across the State and encourage economic activity as part of the government’s economic recovery strategy.
- To date, almost 4.8 million people have taken advantage of the voucher program since its launch in March, giving businesses a $430 million boost.
- NSW residents aged 18 years and over who are yet to apply will be able to do so until the program ends and will receive all six $25 vouchers.
- Participating businesses do not need to reapply. Those who want to join the program are encouraged to register, download the scanner app and get ready to redeem.
- More information will be made available in the coming weeks on the nsw.gov.au website.
INTEGRATED VACCINATION CERTIFICATE OPENS TO ALL ON SERVICE NSW APP
- Residents across NSW will be able to integrate the COVID-19 digital vaccination certificate into their Service NSW app, with the program now rolling out State-wide.
- As the vaccine data sits in the Federal Australian Immunisation Register to integrate the COVID-19 digital certificate into the Service NSW app you will need to:
- Ensure your Federal MyGov account is linked to Medicare
- Download the Express Plus Medicare app and sign in with your MyGov account details
- Select ‘Proof of vaccinations’ and then ‘View history’
- Select ‘Share with check in app’ and then ‘Service NSW’
- The Service NSW app will include a number of security measures to help compliance officers and businesses with checking and validating a customer’s vaccination status, including a NSW Waratah logo hologram and rotating QR codes, similar to the Digital Driver Licence.
- For more information, please visit nsw.gov.au or call 13 77 88.
NSW HYDROGEN STRATEGY TO DRIVE INVESTMENT, CREATE JOBS AND POWER PROSPERITY
- NSW is set to attract more than $80 billion of investment, drive deep decarbonisation and establish itself as an energy and economic superpower with the launch of the NSW Hydrogen Strategy.
- The Strategy will provide up to $3 billion in incentives, set the State up as a global hydrogen leader and increase the size of the NSW economy by more than $600 million by 2030.
- In addition to delivering an already committed $70 million to develop the State’s hydrogen hubs in the Illawarra and the Hunter, the strategy includes:
- Exemptions for green hydrogen production from government charges;
- A 90% exemption from electricity network charges for green hydrogen producers who connect to parts of the network with spare capacity;
- Incentives for green hydrogen production; and
- A hydrogen refuelling station network to be rolled out across the State.
NEW OPPORTUNITIES FOR TEACHING PROFESSION
- The NSW Government is implementing a raft of new initiatives to improve how it recruits, trains, and places high quality teachers where they are most needed.
- The $125 million NSW Teacher Supply Strategy will enable the NSW Government to create new opportunities and pathways to attract great people to one of the most rewarding professions.
- The strategy consists of three main pillars:
- Grow overall supply of teachers
- Encourage more teachers to upskill
- Provide targeted support in areas of need
- The strategy will immediately invest $14 million in an overseas and interstate recruitment drive, $15 million in a mid-career transition program and $44 million in a variety of scholarships.
- More than 3,400 teachers have already been recruited as part of the NSW Government’s 2019 commitment to add 4,600 teachers to the workforce. The Teacher Supply Strategy will add another approximately 3,700 teachers to the public education system in NSW.
LOCAL SPORT SCORES $4.6 MILLION FUNDING BOOST
- Initiatives which focus on increasing participation in sport through events, development programs and facilities are the focus of the latest round of the NSW Government’s Local Sport Grant Program.
- More than $4.6 million is available to local sporting clubs to make their ideas to boost participation a reality, as COVID restrictions ease.
- The NSW Government funded more than 930 projects across the State through the last round of the Local Sport Grant Program.
- Successful clubs can receive funding of up to $20,000, with up to $50,000 available for each electorate throughout NSW. Applications close on Friday, 19 November.
- For more information visit: www.sport.nsw.gov.au/local-sport-grant-program.
PUBLIC SERVANTS TO HIT THE PADDOCKS FOR HARVEST
- More than 4,500 staff from the Department of Regional NSW, including Local Land Services and the NSW Department of Primary Industries, will be able to access five days’ special leave to assist farmers for an expected bumper harvest season in 2021.
- The unprecedented move is another example of the good work this government is doing to help farmers source the workforce they need for another record harvest.
- The NSW Government has implemented a range of measures to overcome the agriculture workforce shortage, including subsidies for quarantine costs of 2,500 overseas agricultural workers, the Ag Workers’ Code and the ‘Help Harvest NSW’ website to connect agriculture employers with out of work Australians.
CLOSING THE GAP FOR ABORIGINAL PEOPLE IN CUSTODY
- Reducing the number of Aboriginal people in prison and improving the health and safety of people in custody are the focus of a renewed commitment by the NSW Government.
- The Government response recognises that systemic changes and increased accountability are required to close the gap, including:
- Releasing the NSW Implementation Plan, setting out the first roadmap for closing the gap;
- Commencing a Thematic Review of Aboriginal Deaths in Custody to review and improve processes related to deaths in custody in Corrective Services NSW;
- Boosting funding and support for the Coronial Jurisdiction, including a new full-time coroner;
- Expanding court services and programs, including the NSW Drug Court;
- Investments to remove hanging points in correctional facilities;
- Reviewing health services in correctional facilities, and improving support for mental health and people with disabilities; and
- Improving support for people leaving custody.
KEEPING SENIORS CONNECTED AS COVID RESTRICTIONS LIFT
- Seniors facing social isolation are the focus of a fast-tracked $600,000 funding boost by the NSW Government, as COVID restrictions ease.
- Round Two of the Reducing Social Isolation for Seniors Grant Program will fund community groups to provide activities which keep older people active and engaged.
- Grants of up to $60,000 will go towards new and existing programs that promote seniors’ social inclusion. Projects must have a COVID-safe plan and run until December 2022.
- Social inclusion is a key priority of the Ageing Well in NSW: Seniors Strategy 2021-2031.
- Applications for the Reducing Social Isolation for Seniors Grant Program close on Monday, 15 November.
Parramatta's Eat Street open for business
Parramatta’s renowned ‘Eat Street’ is now open following the completion of major light rail construction along the dining strip.
Premier Dominic Perrottet said the removal of construction fencing was even more significant as NSW opens back up after months of restrictions.
“We know how much the local community loves the Eat Street dining strip and it’s incredibly exciting to have it open as we head into the first weekend since restrictions were eased,” Mr Perrottet said.
“We know it’s been a tough time for local businesses and I want to thank them for their support and patience. It’s great to see all of the hard work has now paid off, with a modern and sophisticated dining strip open for business in the heart of Parramatta.”
More than 350 people worked on the Parramatta Light Rail project each day and night on Eat Street, which involved installing 717 metres of dual-track, using 86 tonnes of steel, 891 cubic metres of concrete, relocating 300 utilities, and hand-fitting 300,000 cobblestone pavers between the tracks as well as 34,000 footpath pavers.
Minister for Transport and Roads Rob Stokes said this was a great opportunity for locals and visitors to familiarise themselves with the rejuvenated area before trams start rolling in 2023.
“By giving the community access to the pedestrianised boulevard, we hope to better educate the community on how to use the area safely,” Mr Stokes said.
“With more people out and about enjoying Eat Street, the dining precinct is sure to become Western Sydney’s most vibrant food and entertainment hotspot.”
Major construction on Eat Street commenced in June 2020, with the construction approach designed to minimise impacts and support businesses as much as possible.
Member for Parramatta Geoff Lee said the combination of innovative technology and active engagement with businesses and stakeholders have been the cornerstone to delivering this achievement.
“This included using state-of-the-art 3D technology. We identified and relocated 300 utilities in the CBD prior to major construction. We also used a micro-tunneling boring machine to construct drainage underground to minimise noise, dust and vibration above the ground,” Mr Lee said.
“We formed a Business Reference Group to give businesses and stakeholders a ‘voice’ on key decisions, and we continue to offer businesses free support services, including one-on-one advisory services and local campaigns to encourage footfall.”
City of Parramatta Lord Mayor Steven Issa said people will be amazed when they see how much Eat Street has transformed during lockdown.
“Eat Street is Western Sydney’s premier dining strip, and these businesses are the lifeblood of our community, so it’s fantastic to see them welcoming back customers as the City opens up and Parramatta Light Rail edges closer to completion. I encourage everyone to come down and experience the revitalised Eat Street.”
‘Eat Street Uncovered’, a TfNSW activation, will be rolled out over the coming months to celebrate the completion of major works on the dining strip, in a COVID safe way.
Stage 1 of the Parramatta Light Rail will connect Westmead to Carlingford via the Parramatta CBD and Camellia, and is expected to commence services in 2023.
Regional recovery package to kickstart economy and create new jobs
The NSW Government today unveiled a $200 million recovery package for regional NSW that will create new jobs and support events, shows and festivals to boost tourism and help young people reclaim the best years of their lives.
Deputy Premier and Minister for Regional NSW Paul Toole said the Regional Recovery Package includes a $50 million Regional Events Package, $30 million Regional Job Creation Fund and $40 million for priority infrastructure projects across Regional NSW.
“This package will deliver long term support and certainty for businesses as the state reopens, tourism rebounds and investors eye new opportunities in the bush,” Mr Toole said.
”The package includes $25 million to help regional councils stage events such as festivals that help drive tourism and allow locals to reconnect.
“Immediate financial support will also be provided for country shows to be held in 2021-2022. Country shows have been disrupted by drought, bushfire, floods and COVID-19 and the $5 million we are announcing today will help agricultural show societies come back bigger and better than ever, in the lead up to the 2022 Royal Easter Show.
“There’s no better way for Sydneysiders to experience the tastes, sights and sounds of the bush and support rural communities than to get along to a country show.
“I am also proud to confirm a second round of the successful Regional Job Creation Fund and the Regional Events Acceleration Fund in 2022. I am looking forward to announcing successful projects from the first round of these projects in the coming weeks which will help businesses create more jobs and give tourists even more reasons to visit the bush.
“This package has laid the foundations for a strong recovery for regional NSW and I look forward to making further funding announcements in the coming weeks that will ensure the regions bounce back better than ever.”
Treasurer Matt Kean said the $200 million of new funding is a key part of the NSW Government’s COVID-19 Economic Recovery Strategy.
“We know businesses in the bush have done it tough through the pandemic,” Mr Kean said.
“We want to arm our regional communities with the economic stimulus they need not only to recover, but to bounce back bigger and better than before.
“This package will not only provide a boost to business but deliver better services, new projects and more jobs for regional communities across the state.”
The $200 million Regional package builds upon the NSW Government’s record investment in regional NSW through the $2 billion Regional Growth Fund and the $4.2 billion Snowy Hydro Legacy Fund and 30 per cent of the Restart NSW Fund.
$200 million Regional Recovery Package includes:
- $30 million for the Regional Job Creation Fund Round Two (to be open for applications in early 2022)
- $50 million Regional Events Package, including;
- $20 million Regional Events Acceleration Fund Round Two (to be open for applications in early 2022)
- $5 million Country Shows support package
- $25 million Reconnecting Regional NSW: Community Events Package
- $40 million for priority infrastructure projects across Regional NSW.
Further announcements will be made with respect to the remaining $80 million.
Missing man located – Newcastle
A man reported missing from the Newcastle area has been located safe and well overnight.
The 62-year-old man was last seen in the vicinity of Vickers Street, Mayfield, about 9.40am yesterday (Friday 15 October 2021).
He was reported missing to officers from Newcastle City Police District, who commenced inquiries to locate him.
Following extensive inquiries, the man was located safe and well about 11pm at a house in nearby Warabrook.
Police would like to thank the community and the media for their assistance.
A teenage boy reported missing from Singleton has been located
Great news! A teenage boy missing from the Hunter region has been found safe and well.
The 13-year-old was last seen leaving a school on York Street, Singleton, about 2.45pm yesterday (Friday 15 October 2021).
Officers from Hunter Valley Police District commenced inquiries to locate him and he was found earlier today (Saturday 16 October 2021).
Police would like to thank the community and media for their assistance.
Community satisfaction increases as major projects are delivered throughout the city
Independent research shows commun
ity satisfaction with City of Newcastle (CN) has increased progressively since 2012, correlating with increased investment in capital works of almost 200 per cent in the same period.
CN undertakes a quarterly Community Survey to understand key issues, obtain community input to inform decision making, and measure satisfaction with the services and facilities it provides.
The latest results show that in 2020 and 2021, satisfaction with CN’s overall performance rose to 55% and 61% respectively, up from 41% in 2019. Dissatisfied or very dissatisfied fell from 36% to just 13% during the same period. The mean satisfaction score in the 2021 survey is a favourable 3.7 out of 5.
Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said City of Newcastle’s leadership team and staff have remained focused on delivering projects in line with Newcastle 2030, City of Newcastle’s Community Strategic Plan (CSP), particularly amidst the challenging COVID-19 period.
“City of Newcastle has delivered The Bathers Way, Stockton Active Hub, Blackbutt Reserve upgrade and improved cycleways throughout the city, demonstrating our commitment to supporting our growing population with key infrastructure renewal and revitalisation projects,” Cr Nelmes said.
“We have continually met the objectives set out in our Community Strategic Plan, Newcastle 2030, which was developed based on extensive community consultation and has guided each and every project delivered under record capital works budgets in recent years.
“I’m also incredibly proud of the way City of Newcastle’s staff have adapted to COVID-19 restrictions in order to continue delivering for the community while coming up with meaningful ways to support vulnerable people and the local economy.
“During the early and uncertain days of the pandemic, we responded quickly to our community’s needs by implementing an award winning $5 million community and economic resilience package, along with additional investment in infrastructure to support 700 jobs.
“This year, we’re committed to continuing that support and recently announced a $10 million increase to our 2021/22 works program to help create more than 100 new jobs in the local government area and increase total economic output by more than $27 million.”
City of Newcastle regularly seeks opinions and ideas from the community across a range of topics from parks, playgrounds, beaches and ocean baths, to events, heritage, climate action and cycling.
In the past year, City of Newcastle has received feedback from over 20,000 people across 33 projects.
The 2021 Winter Quarterly Community Survey was carried out by Woolcott Research and Engagement, using a combination of random telephone surveying and online surveying. In total 409 people completed the survey from across the local government area, allowing CN to report the results at a 95% confidence level, with accurate representation in terms of respondent age, location and gender.
The survey report can be downloaded at newcastle.nsw.gov.au/quarterly-community-survey
Areas with strong improvement in satisfaction since 2016:
ity satisfaction with City of Newcastle (CN) has increased progressively since 2012, correlating with increased investment in capital works of almost 200 per cent in the same period.CN undertakes a quarterly Community Survey to understand key issues, obtain community input to inform decision making, and measure satisfaction with the services and facilities it provides.
The latest results show that in 2020 and 2021, satisfaction with CN’s overall performance rose to 55% and 61% respectively, up from 41% in 2019. Dissatisfied or very dissatisfied fell from 36% to just 13% during the same period. The mean satisfaction score in the 2021 survey is a favourable 3.7 out of 5.Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said City of Newcastle’s leadership team and staff have remained focused on delivering projects in line with Newcastle 2030, City of Newcastle’s Community Strategic Plan (CSP), particularly amidst the challenging COVID-19 period.
“City of Newcastle has delivered The Bathers Way, Stockton Active Hub, Blackbutt Reserve upgrade and improved cycleways throughout the city, demonstrating our commitment to supporting our growing population with key infrastructure renewal and revitalisation projects,” Cr Nelmes said.
“We have continually met the objectives set out in our Community Strategic Plan, Newcastle 2030, which was developed based on extensive community consultation and has guided each and every project delivered under record capital works budgets in recent years.
“I’m also incredibly proud of the way City of Newcastle’s staff have adapted to COVID-19 restrictions in order to continue delivering for the community while coming up with meaningful ways to support vulnerable people and the local economy.
“During the early and uncertain days of the pandemic, we responded quickly to our community’s needs by implementing an award winning $5 million community and economic resilience package, along with additional investment in infrastructure to support 700 jobs.
“This year, we’re committed to continuing that support and recently announced a $10 million increase to our 2021/22 works program to help create more than 100 new jobs in the local government area and increase total economic output by more than $27 million.”
City of Newcastle regularly seeks opinions and ideas from the community across a range of topics from parks, playgrounds, beaches and ocean baths, to events, heritage, climate action and cycling.
In the past year, City of Newcastle has received feedback from over 20,000 people across 33 projects.
The 2021 Winter Quarterly Community Survey was carried out by Woolcott Research and Engagement, using a combination of random telephone surveying and online surveying. In total 409 people completed the survey from across the local government area, allowing CN to report the results at a 95% confidence level, with accurate representation in terms of respondent age, location and gender.
The survey report can be downloaded at newcastle.nsw.gov.au/quarterly-community-survey
Areas with strong improvement in satisfaction since 2016:
NSW flying towards 80 per cent double dose target
The State’s rapid rate of second dose vaccinations means that next Monday, 18 October is firming as the day that the Reopening NSW Roadmap’s 80 per cent settings will come into effect for those who are fully vaccinated.
Community sport will resume, more friends and family will be reunited, and there will no longer be a cap on guests at weddings and funerals. Masks will also no longer be required in offices, and drinking while standing and dancing will be permitted indoors and outdoors at hospitality venues.
From 1 November bookings for hospitality venues will no longer be capped.
Also from 1 November, the NSW Government will remove quarantine requirements and caps for overseas arrivals who the Commonwealth Government recognises as fully vaccinated with a TGA-approved vaccine, helping Australians stranded abroad get home before the end of the year. Further advice about testing requirements for arrivals will be provided in the coming days.
Fully vaccinated travellers already in quarantine will also complete their quarantine requirements on November 1, even if it is less than 14-days.
Overseas arrivals who are not fully vaccinated will be capped at 210 people per week, and will be required to undergo mandatory 14-days hotel quarantine.
Travel between Greater Sydney (including the Blue Mountains, Wollongong, Shellharbour and the Central Coast) and Regional NSW will also be permitted from 1 November, to allow people in the regions more time to receive their second vaccine.
To support regional businesses likely to be impacted by this change the NSW Government will defer the second taper of the JobSaver program until October 31. Eligible regional businesses will receive 30 per cent of weekly payroll, before tapering payments to the scheduled 15 per cent from November 1.
Premier Dominic Perrottet said the easing of restrictions and return of overseas travellers would help reunite families and be a significant boost for the economy.
“We have reached this vaccination milestone quicker than anyone thought we could, and that is a testament to the hard work of people across the State turning out to get vaccinated,” Mr Perrottet said.
“Welcoming back fully vaccinated travellers will not only mean families and friends can be home in time for Christmas, it will also give our economy a major boost.”
Deputy Premier Paul Toole said the tough decision had been made to delay travel between Regional NSW and Greater Sydney, with the NSW Government extending the JobSaver program for regional businesses. By 1 November, it’s expected more than 77 per cent of regional LGAs will be fully vaccinated.
“Everyone has done a brilliant job of getting vaccinated and rates are rising fast; however we have looked at the health modelling and listened to feedback from regional communities who want more time to get their double dose vaccination rates up as high as possible before they welcome back visitors,” Mr Toole said.
“We know businesses in regional NSW were getting ready to welcome people back, but it’s important we get this right so that we can have greater confidence the vaccines will do their job – and that when we re-open travel to the regions, they can remain open and that businesses have continued support in the meantime. We thank people for their patience.”
Minister for Jobs, Investment, Tourism and Western Sydney Stuart Ayres welcomed the 80 per cent reopening and recognised it as an important step on the road to recovery.
“We are opening up locally and we are opening up to the world. Now is a time for people to come together in safe way whether it be returning home from overseas or enjoying your favourite local venue,” Mr Ayres said.
All premises continue to operate at one person per 4sqm indoors and one person per 2sqm outdoors.
Health Minister Brad Hazzard said the NSW community had done an extraordinary job to reach the 80 per cent double dose vaccination target and was leading Australia out of the pandemic.
“The people of NSW have pulled together to achieve this fantastic outcome and bring us closer to life as we knew it before the pandemic, but we’re not there yet,” Mr Hazzard said.
“We can’t forget that COVID is still circulating amongst us in NSW and we need to keep getting vaccinated to push the double dose rates even higher. We want to get as close to 100 per cent double vaccination as possible to keep everyone safe.”
NSW residents will still need to comply with COVID-Safe check-ins and provide proof of vaccination to staff in most settings.
More restrictions will be relaxed on 1 December, as previously announced in the Reopening NSW Roadmap.
To find out how to download a copy of your vaccination certificate visit Services Australia website.
If you are not booked in for a COVID-19 vaccine, please book an appointment as soon possible.
For the latest information and to view the 80 per cent Roadmap and lifting of restrictions, visit nsw.gov.au