One of Australia’s fastest growing communities will soon see the construction of the new Green Square Public School following the State Significant Development Application (SSDA) lodgement.
The new primary school will provide fit-for-purpose learning spaces and core facilities to meet demand in the community. The project will include additional facilities designed for community use and shared spaces for both school and community use.
Minister for Education Sarah Mitchell said this was exciting news for the community and she looked forward to construction starting.
“This school is an exciting project for the growing community and will be a centrepiece for the local area,” Ms Mitchell said.
“The school will bring world class educational facilities home to Green Square and build a precinct that the community and families will love.
“The NSW Government has continued to deliver for communities right across the State and families in Green Square will soon benefit from the record $15 billion investment in school building projects since 2017.”
An SSDA has been submitted to the City of Sydney for assessment, as delegated by the Department of Planning, Industry and Environment (DPIE).
The project is expected to begin site establishment and early works at Joynton Avenue later this year.
City of Sydney Lord Mayor, Clover Moore, said that the school will sit at the heart of the growing Green Square community and set a new benchmark for urban development.
“This revolutionary school design will provide much-needed community facilities that will be activated day and night for the whole community to use. It is an important addition to the area’s educational, social and cultural life,” the Lord Mayor said.
“By 2030, over 60,000 people will call Green Square home. The school will serve as a lynchpin that connects our award-winning library and civic plaza, 40 new parks and the Gunyama Park Aquatic and Recreation Centre, which opened earlier this year. By planning for the community’s needs alongside residential development, we are transforming Sydney’s oldest industrial heartland into a lively, connected and well-serviced community.”
The NSW Government is investing $7.9 billion over the next four years, continuing its program to deliver 215 new and upgraded schools to support communities across NSW. This investment is part of the $15 billion school building program, the largest investment in public education infrastructure in the history of NSW.
Author: admin
New report offers roadmap for creating NSW hydrogen jobs of the future
Following its announcement of Australia’s largest hydrogen strategy, the NSW Government has released a new report outlining a roadmap to build a thriving Power-to-X (P2X) industry which could see the state become a global renewable energy superpower.
P2X technologies use cheap, excess renewable energy to split abundant molecules such as water, carbon dioxide and air to make green products like hydrogen, ammonia, methane and methanol for use as fuel, chemicals and feedstocks in NSW and for export to overseas markets as green energy commodities.
Minister for Jobs, Investment, Tourism and Western Sydney and Minister for Trade and Industry Stuart Ayres said the NSW P2X Industry Pre-Feasibility Study, led by UNSW Sydney, had unearthed the state’s potential to become a global leader in P2X.
“This is further confirmation that NSW intends to lead the country in green hydrogen production. Our state has an opportunity to capitalise on the global pivot to low-carbon fuels to commoditise our renewable resources and export to overseas markets, creating both clean energy and jobs for NSW,” Mr Ayres said.
“It’s critical that our future industry and investment planning aligns with NSW’s 2050 net-zero emissions target. NSW is revolutionising its industry and workforce by embracing new technologies to meet this commitment.
“A thriving P2X industry could also unlock opportunities to boost regional and NSW economics, with the report identifying opportunities to establish P2X industries in several regional centres including the Illawarra, Hunter and Parkes.
“By leveraging existing and planned infrastructure such as ports, inland rail and logistics hubs, our regional centres will become the powerhouse of P2X production to supply the local and global market.”
Treasurer and Minister for Energy and Environment Matt Kean said the study reaffirms NSW’s ambition to set the state up as a global hydrogen leader.
“P2X will not only help NSW in getting to net zero in 2050 and halving its emissions by 2030, it will create new opportunities for our heavy industry and make our state a global renewable powerhouse.” Mr Kean said.
NSW Chief Scientist & Engineer Professor Hugh Durrant-Whyte said P2X will unlock the next wave of clean technology development opportunities for NSW.
“With many states in Australia and countries around the world now joining the hydrogen race, NSW is thinking beyond the hydrogen economy and aims to take the first-mover advantage to build our capabilities and industries in P2X,” Professor Durrant-Whyte said.
The NSW P2X Industry Pre-Feasibility Study roadmap proposes:
- A P2X Innovation Network to enhance collaboration between industry, researchers and government in technology advancement and industry development
- Establishing a P2X R&D Commercialisation Hub to provide research infrastructure, expertise, and resources to support commercialisation-driven R&D
- Deploying early stage P2X projects to pave the way for technology adoption at commercial scale
- Identifying export opportunities for P2X products
- Targeted investment in homegrown disruptive technologies
- Building vertically integrated P2X value chains and local manufacturing capability
- Developing P2X eco-industrial precincts to lay the foundation for NSW’s P2X economy.
To read the full study, visit: https://www.chiefscientist.nsw.gov.au/rdnsw/future-industries-reports/p2x
Police appeal to locate missing man – Lake Macquarie
Police are appealing for public assistance to locate a man missing from Lake Macquarie.
Keith Metcalfe – aged 71 – was last seen at a facility at Toronto Road, Booragul, about 6.30pm yesterday (Monday 25 October 2021).
Officers from Lake Macquarie Police District were notified a short time later and commenced inquiries to locate Keith.
Police have serious concerns for his welfare as Keith lives with dementia.
He is described as being of Caucasian appearance, about 180cm tall, of medium build, with a bald head and grey goatee.
Keith was last seen wearing a striped white top with a blue collar and brown pants.
Anyone who sights Keith, or who has information about his whereabouts, is urged to contact police immediately
Woman charged as investigation into fatal stabbing continues – Tenambit
A woman has been charged as investigations continue into a fatal domestic-related stabbing in the Hunter region earlier this year.
About 7.20pm on Saturday (16 January 2021), emergency services were called to a home on Ronald Street, Tenambit, after reports a man had been injured.
Upon arrival, officers found a 51-year-old man suffering stab wounds to the stomach, he died at the scene.
A 23-year-old woman, known to the man, was arrested at the scene and charged; she remains before the courts.
Detectives from Port Stephens-Hunter Police District commenced Strike Force Creekborough to investigate the circumstances surrounding the man’s death.
Following extensive inquiries, strike force detectives attended a home in West Wallsend about 8am today (Tuesday 26 October 2021), where they arrested a 26-year-old woman.
She was taken to Waratah Police Station and charged with accessory after the fact to murder and hinder discovery evidence re. serious indictable offence.
She was refused bail to appear at Newcastle Local Court today, where she was granted conditional bail to appear at Maitland Local Court on Monday 20 December 2021.
Investigations under Strike Force Creekborough are continuing.
Record female representation on new NHMRC Council
The Morrison Government has announced the membership of the Council of the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC).
The new Council will play a key role in supporting the NHMRC in its mission of building a healthy Australia.
The Council will serve a three-year term to June 2024 and will be chaired by Professor Caroline Homer AO.
Membership of the Council brings together expertise in biomedical science, clinical and public health, nursing, health care training and the medical profession, as well as business and consumer perspectives, and expertise in the health needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
Eleven of the 15 non-ex-officio members are women, a record in female membership of the Council.
Professor Homer is an internationally-renowned midwifery researcher, scholar and leader in maternal and newborn health care and service delivery. With more than 25 years’ experience in clinical practice, research, education and international development, she is Co-Program Director of Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health at the Burnet Institute and an Emeritus Professor of Midwifery at the University of Technology Sydney.
Professor Homer is current Deputy Chair of the Australian Medical Research Advisory Board and Chair of the NHMRC’s Peer Review Analysis Committee. She was a member of the Council in 2018–2021 and has previously been a member of the NHMRC’s Research Committee and Chair of the NHMRC’s Women in Health Science Committee.
The NHMRC is the nation’s leading body supporting excellent health and medical research to improve health outcomes for all Australians. It provides the foundation for Australia’s medical research capability, funding the best research and researchers, ensuring consistent health standards and advising on ethical issues in health. The Council’s role is to ensure that robust expert advice reflecting a wide range of perspectives is provided to the NHMRC Chief Executive Officer, Professor Anne Kelso AO, to support these functions.
I would like to thank the former Chair of the NHMRC Council, Professor Bruce Robinson AC, and all members of the former Council for their contributions and commitment to supporting the work of the NHMRC throughout the previous triennium (2018–2021).
NHMRC Council 2021–2024:
| Appointees | Position | Expertise |
| Professor Caroline Homer AO | Chair | |
| Professor Steve Wesselingh | Member and Chair, Research Committee | Expertise in public health research and medical research issues |
| Professor Ingrid Winship AO | Member and Chair, Australian Health Ethics Committee | Expertise in ethics relating to research involving humans |
| Professor Emily Banks AM | Member and Chair, Health Research Impact Committee | Expertise in public health research and medical research issues |
| Professor Yvonne Cadet-James | Member | Expertise in the health needs of Aboriginal peoples and Torres Strait Islanders |
| Ms Ainslie Cahill AM | Member | Expertise in consumer issues |
| Ms Bronwyn Le Grice | Member | Expertise in business |
| Professor Ian Frazer AC | Member | Expertise in public health research and medical research issues |
| Professor Jane Gunn | Member | Expertise in health care training. Other expertise: mental health |
| Professor Elizabeth Hartland | Member | Expertise in public health research and medical research issues. Other expertise: basic/biomedical science |
| Professor Richard Murray | Member | Expertise in professional standards Expertise in the medical profession and postgraduate medical training |
| Professor Carolyn Sue AM | Member | Expertise in rare diseases |
| Professor Nicholas Talley AC | Member | Expertise in public health research and medical research issues |
| Professor Debra Thoms | Member | Expertise in the nursing profession |
| Professor Alison Venn | Member | Expertise in public health |
| Professor Paul Kelly | Ex-officio Member | Chief Medical Officer of the Commonwealth |
| Dr Kerry Chant PSM | Ex-officio Member | Chief Health Officer, New South Wales |
| Dr Kerryn Coleman | Ex-officio Member | Chief Health Officer, Australian Capital Territory |
| Dr Michael Cusack | Ex-officio Member | Chief Medical Officer, South Australia |
| Dr Hugh Heggie PSM | Ex-officio Member | Chief Health Officer, Northern Territory |
| Professor Tony Lawler | Ex-officio Member | Chief Medical Officer, Tasmania |
| Dr Andrew Robertson | Ex-officio Member | Chief Health Officer, Western Australia |
| Professor Brett Sutton | Ex-officio Member | Chief Health Officer, Victoria |
| Dr Jeannette Young PSM | Ex-officio Member | Chief Health Officer, Queensland |
Breast cancer treatment expanded on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme
The Morrison Government is helping improve access to an important treatment for Australians battling a form of breast cancer.
From 1 November 2021, the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) listing of Verzenio® (abemaciclib) will also be expanded for use in combination with fulvestrant.
Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in Australia, with approximately 55 Australians diagnosed every day. 1 in 7 women are diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime.
The treatment will be accessible for non-premenopausal breast cancer patients with hormone receptor positive (HR+) and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 negative (HER2-) inoperable locally advanced or metastatic breast cancer.
Verzenio® works by inhibiting two proteins that drive the growth of tumour cells and when used in combination with fulvestrant can slow the progression of breast cancers in some patients.
Minister for Health and Aged Care, Greg Hunt, said the expanded PBS listing will benefit around 1,600 Australians and their families each year.
“Without this PBS subsidy Australian patients would pay around $80,000 per course of treatment, instead they’ll only pay $41.30 per script or $6.60 with a concession card for these medicines,” Minister Hunt said.
“This listing will help improve the lives of many Australians, ensuring they can access the treatment they need, while reducing their out of pocket costs.”
In April 2021, the Government expanded the listing of Kisqali® (ribociclib) for use in combination with fulvestrant on the PBS for this patient group, this new further treatment option gives hope to more Australians battling breast cancer by providing access to a choice of treatments.
Since 2013, the Coalition Government had approved more than 2,700 new or amended listings on the PBS. This represents an average of around 30 listings or amendments per month – or one each day – at an overall investment by the Government of $13.8 billion.
The Morrison Government’s commitment to ensuring Australians can access affordable medicines, when they need them, remains rock solid.
These PBS listings have been recommended by the independent Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee.
Major events the ticket to Newcastle’s economic success
Major events have broad support from residents and businesses, while each Supercars Newcastle 500 delivers an average $36.2 million in economic output and 149 jobs, according to global accountancy firm Ernst & Young (EY).
City of Newcastle (CN) engaged EY to evaluate community perceptions of major events with a statistically robust survey of 650 locals and businesses, and to undertake an economic analysis of the Newcastle 500 as part of an ongoing review and planning process.
EY found more than two-thirds of residents and businesses believe the benefits of major events outweigh any negative impacts, along with strong support for CN’s investment in attracting large events.
Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said events were a key part of delivering on City of Newcastle’s vision of being a vibrant emerging global city.
“Newcastle’s position as an events city has been growing since the early days of Surfest in the 1980s, but it was only after delivering our first Newcastle 500 in 2017 that the rest of Australia has really taken notice,” Cr Nelmes said.
“Research tells us that events deliver both an immediate and ongoing benefit for the community and economy, with greater visitation, investment and liveability outcomes.
“Local tourism and accommodation providers that have been heavily impacted by COVID-19 will be looking forward to and benefit from the economic stimulus provided by the Newcastle 500’s return in March next year.
“Major events in Newcastle, be they motor racing, music festivals or world-class surfing, are here by design, not by chance. On the back of research like the EY reports, we’ll continue working to build Newcastle’s position as a global events city.”
Business support for events is especially strong, with more than three-quarters saying the benefits of major events outweigh any disruptions, while 88 percent believe major events are a benefit for businesses across the LGA.
The benefits of major events are also enjoyed throughout the region, with a resounding 96 percent of accommodation providers outside of Newcastle saying major events deliver benefits to the region as a whole.
When asked which major event had the most positive impact on turnover, the Newcastle 500 came out strongly on top for both local businesses and accommodation providers in the region. CN’s annual budget for the Newcastle 500 (including a licence fee to Destination NSW and services provided to Supercars) is $1.6 million, which means for every $1 of ratepayers’ money invested in the race, $22.60 is returned to the local economy.
More than 80 percent of residents said major events are a benefit for the city, and 60 percent were either supportive or neutral for the Newcastle 500 continuing.
EY’s economic assessment measured the impact of the 2017, 2018 and 2019 Newcastle 500 events, finding an upward trend in big-spending international and interstate visitors offsetting a slight decline in total spectators from the inaugural event.
Business Hunter CEO Bob Hawes said the return of major events to Newcastle was something to look forward to as the city emerges from COVID-19 restrictions.
“Events bring a significant amount of economic stimulus, particularly through the visitor and hospitality sectors, which are those that are hurting the most right now because of COVID-19,” Mr Hawes said.
“Confirmation from Supercars Australia that the Newcastle 500 would be returning in March 2022 has been very positive news for the Hunter’s businesses, and the research released by City of Newcastle matches the feedback we are receiving from many of our members.”
Ernst & Young Partner Erik Heller said a conservative methodology has been adopted in analysing the benefits of major events, while the economic impact of the Newcastle 500 was determined by estimating the direct and indirect expenditure of people that visited Newcastle for the event or extended their stay following the event.
“Ernst & Young has taken a balanced, statistically-driven approach in evaluating residents, businesses and accommodation providers’ awareness, perception and sentiment towards major events in Newcastle,” Mr Heller said.
“To capture a robust sample of people who live in the Local Government Area (LGA), quotas and weighting have been applied to provide results that are representative of the population of Newcastle based on age, gender and ward populations.
“The weighting process has also been applied to collecting data from businesses, considering 17% of businesses are located in the City Centre and 83% are in the wider Newcastle LGA.”
The relevant reports, the ‘Newcastle Major Events Evaluation’ and ‘Economic Impact of the Newcastle 500 Supercars Event’ can be downloaded here.
'First Lap' swim program extended to kindy kids
The NSW Government’s new learn to swim voucher program will be expanded from preschool-aged children to include kindergarten kids who missed out on lessons due to COVID restrictions.
Under the ‘First Lap’ program, eligible children can access a $100 voucher for swimming lessons with an approved provider, with businesses able to register for it from next month.
Premier Dominic Perrottet said the program, which starts on December 1, would be extended to cover children in kindergarten this year, or who are starting kindergarten in 2022.
“Because of COVID restrictions, our kindy kids have missed a crucial window of being able to develop the skills they need to stay safe in the water,” Mr Perrottet said.
“It’s really important they don’t miss out, so we’re making sure they can also access the First Lap voucher program now that our pools are back open for lessons.”
Minister for Sport Natalie Ward said the NSW Government will invest $54 million over two years in the program, which will also ease cost of living pressures for families.
“Summer in Australia is all about swimming, at your local pool, beach or river. We know families have been doing it tough during the COVID lockdown and the First Lap program will also ensure family budgets aren’t stretched so our kids have these crucial skills,” Mrs Ward said.
Minister for Digital and Customer Service Victor Dominello said the program was one of more than 70 NSW Government savings helping to ease cost-of-living pressures for households, including the Active Kids and Creative Kids programs.
“This is in addition to a host of other savings including energy rebates, free car registration and lower green slip costs,” Mr Dominello said.
Active Kids vouchers can be used by school-enrolled children, including those in kindergarten, for sport and recreation activities such as swimming lessons. Families can apply for the First Lap vouchers from 1 December, through Service NSW.
School sport and HSC support as students return to the classroom
The final stage of the return to school begins today with more than 500,000 students from Years 2 to 11 welcomed back to classrooms across Greater Sydney and remaining regional areas of NSW.
To help students return to normal life and support their studies, restrictions on school sport will be lifted and HSC special consideration extended for students most impacted by the learning from home period.
From Monday, November 1, school sport can resume on site, schools can utilise external sport facilities in line with community sport guidelines, and schools can engage in inter-school sport outside of school hours.
Other restrictions will similarly be reviewed over the next few weeks, with a focus on continuing to ensure the health and safety of children and families as we progressively re-open NSW.
Premier Dominic Perrottet said he was thrilled students were finally all back in the classroom and returning to normal life and praised students, teachers and parents for their patience.
“The majority of students returning today have not been in the classroom since the end of Term 2 and it is fantastic they are back where the best learning happens,” Mr Perrottet said.
“Now that we’ve achieved our goal of returning students to the classroom as quickly and safely as possible, our focus is on helping students settle back in and catch up on their education.”
“It’s important life gets back to normal as quickly as possible for students, and school sport resuming is a big step towards this goal.”
Schools are also now able to make applications on behalf of HSC students who have experienced severe disruption during the learning from home period through the NSW Education Standards Authority’s (NESA) new COVID-19 Special Consideration Program for HSC written exams.
The program is open to students whose learning was significantly compromised for six weeks or more due to COVID-19 restrictions.
Minister for Education and Early Childhood Learning Sarah Mitchell said with students back, the job of helping them recover and excel in their education begins.
“Of the 512,000 students returning today, more than 180,000 are from former LGA’s of concern, and a number of these students are sitting their HSC this year ,” Ms Mitchell said.
NESA’s COVID-19 Special Consideration Program for HSC written exams is designed for those hardest hit by the pandemic, enabling NESA to take into consideration these unique circumstances while still maintaining a fair and equitable HSC.
Strict safety measures remain in place at all NSW public schools. A recent survey of more than 88,000 parents from 799 schools returning today found 82 per cent of parents were supportive of a return to the classroom and happy with the safety measures in place.
More information on the COVID-19 Special Consideration Program can be found here: educationstandards.nsw.edu.au/covid-advice
Medicare rebates for bowel inflammation testing
From 1 November 2021, patients with chronic bowel inflammation will be able to claim a Medicare rebate for non-invasive laboratory tests, reducing the need for diagnostic endoscopy and colonoscopy procedures.
The Morrisonac Government is listing faecal calprotectin testing to diagnose inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) on the Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS).
Its use means that fewer patients will require diagnostic endoscopy and colonoscopy, with faecal calprotectin shown to be an effective, safer and significantly cheaper alternative.
Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis – collectively known as IBD – are chronic diseases that require complex and long-term care.
Two new items will be listed on the MBS – one to test faecal calprotectin levels for diagnostic purposes as requested by a medical practitioner and another for follow-up testing for diagnostic confirmation when requested by a specialist gastroenterologist.
Patients presenting to a medical practitioner must have been experiencing symptoms suggestive of inflammatory or functional bowel disease for more than six weeks, be under 50 years of age, and have had infectious causes excluded to be eligible for the MBS rebated test, which will assist in distinguishing inflammatory from functional bowel disease.
A further test can be requested by a specialist gastroenterologist when an initial test is inconclusive.
The new items have been recommended by the expert Medical Services Advisory Committee (MSAC) and the Australian Government has agreed with the recommendations.
Consultation has been undertaken with key stakeholders, clinical experts and providers, and consumer health representatives as part of the MSAC process.