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The Minns Labor Government is continuing to back Western Sydney motorists, today announcing the completion of a study of congestion hotspots across the Cumberland Local Government Area. 

The traffic study, a 2023 election commitment, has analysed the impacts to local roads as a result of the opening of the M4 Widening Project.

The assessment identifies areas for further investigation for practical, high-value fixes to cut congestion, slash travel times, and improve safety throughout some of Sydney’s busiest corridors.

The study identifies a suite of priority locations, with funding allocated for deeper investigation as part of the M4 Widening Road Network Performance Review Plans (RNPRP), to reduce trips through the Cumberland LGA, including:

• Enhancing traffic efficiency and capacity at major intersections with Parramatta Road including James Ruse Drive and Silverwater Road, to reduce trips through local council roads, and to increase trips on the arterial network
• Improving connectivity to the M4 Motorway to reduce traffic on Parramatta Road, particularly between Woodville Road and Silverwater Road

The need for improvements was also identified in the 12 month and five-year RNPRP, which Transport for NSW is required to undertake for each WestConnex stage.

The M4 Widening reviews analyse how the opening of WestConnex Stage 1A has affected travel behaviour, safety and intersection performance on surrounding roads.

The RNPRP also covers the M4 Motorway Coleman Street to Church Street Project, which will focus on the 2.5-kilometre eastbound stretch of the motorway before the tolled section of the motorway at Parramatta.

This is being investigated in response to an increase in crashes at the Church Street off ramp following the opening of the M4 Widening Project (Stage 1A of WestConnex) and is one of four sites in the Cumberland LGA that is recommended for improvements, the others being:

• M4 entrance / Parramatta Road / Church St / Woodville Road
• Parramatta Road / James Ruse Drive / Berry Street
• Parramatta Road / Silverwater Road / St Hilliers Road

The Church Street off-ramp is the final exit before the start of eastbound tolling and provides access to the toll-free route along Parramatta Road.

Reviews into this section of road have identified an increase in traffic volumes and safety incidents on approach to the Church Street off ramp.

A contract has been awarded for early design work to address the issues at the Church Street turn-off while a revised design has been unveiled for the Homebush Bay Drive intersection upgrade and construction work continues on the Hill Road project.

Further updates on these projects will be announced.

Minister for Roads, Jenny Aitchison, said:

“Improving safety and easing congestion across the Cumberland area is a priority for our Government and this study gives us a strong direction for the next steps.

“We have listened to local communities, and we now have a path forward that supports safer travel, better connections and more reliable journeys for everyone who depends on these roads.

“As we move into the next stage of planning, we will continue working closely with residents, councils and transport experts to make sure the solutions deliver long-lasting benefits.”

Member for Auburn, Lynda Voltz, said:

“The reintroduction of M4 tolls by the former NSW Government did not just worsen an already congested Parramatta Road. It pushed even more traffic into our local streets, creating pressure that residents see every day.

“I am pleased this traffic study, promised by the Minns Labor Government, has been completed and will be addressing the major pinch points on Parramatta Road, particularly at Silverwater Road, and deliver real relief for our local roads.”

Member for Granville, Julia Finn, said:

“Granville residents live at the heart of the network, so these findings are incredibly important for our community.

“This work highlights the need to improve traffic flow, strengthen safety and support the growing demand on our local roads.

“I look forward to seeing these recommendations progressed and to continuing to advocate for improvements that make life easier for commuters across Granville and Cumberland.”

A minimum age to ride an e-bike in NSW is being introduced as part of the Minns Labor Government’s measured and staged reforms aimed at improving safety for riders, pedestrians and the wider community.

NSW will also adopt the European safety and performance standard to ensure e-bikes perform like bicycles, and the current crop of high-powered, illegal motorbikes masquerading as e-bikes are removed from the state’s roads and footpaths.

There are an estimated 760,000 e-bikes in NSW. The rapid growth has brought new opportunities for people to get around and to keep active, but it’s highlighted the need for clearer, more consistent rules to support their safe use.

The former Liberal-National government opened the floodgates to e-bikes with power up to 500-watts without introducing a rules framework.

The reforms being introduced by the Minns Labor Government recognise the law needs to keep pace with the popularity of e-bikes  while ensuring families and riders who have already purchased devices are treated fairly.

We believe this approach strikes the right balance: improving safety for riders and the wider community, while preserving e-bikes as an accessible and popular form of everyday transport.

Minimum age

Under current NSW Road Rules, a child of any age can ride an e-bike and bicycle riders of any age can carry passengers if the bike’s design allows.

E-bikes are heavier and faster than traditional bicycles, which can increase the force involved in a crash, heighten the risk of serious injury, and make them more difficult to control and manoeuvre.

An expert review led by Transport for NSW will recommend a legal minimum age between 12 and 16 for riding an e-bike in NSW, while also considering whether children and teenagers have the skills, maturity and awareness of potential dangers required to safely carry passengers.

As part of this review there will be consultation with experts in child development and road safety, including the NSW Office for Youth and Young People, and will listen directly to parents and young people before making a final decision on the appropriate age threshold.

Advice and findings will be provided to the Minister for Transport and Minister for Roads by June, with the NSW Government to make a final decision on an age limit and passengers.

Age limit restrictions will build on e-bike reforms already announced by the Minns Labor Government, including:

• New powers for NSW Police to seize and crush illegal e-bikes.
• A trial of portable ‘dyno units’ to measure e-bike speed in roadside compliance checks.
• Tearing up the former Liberal government’s 2023 decision to allow 500-watt e-bikes on NSW roads.
• Introduced new standards for lithium-ion batteries to reduce the risk of fires associated with e-bikes and e-scooters.

NSW will adopt the EU Safety Standard

NSW will adopt the European safety standard (EN15194) in March this year to ensure e-bikes operate like bicycles, and not motorbikes.

Under this standard, e-bikes must have a maximum power output of 250 watts and power assistance must cut out at 25km/h. No power assistance is delivered at all after 6km/h if a rider is not pedalling the bike.

The standard also includes strict battery, electrical and fire-safety requirements, as well as anti-tampering protections to prevent power and speed limits being altered.

NSW will join only Western Australia in requiring this benchmark, giving riders clearer rules and stronger safety protections.

A Practical Transition

Recognising hundreds of thousands of e-bikes currently in use were purchased legally under the former Liberal National Government’s 2023 rule change, which increased the allowable power from 250 watts to 500 watts, a three-year transition period will apply.

From 1 March 2029, only e-bikes meeting the European standard will be road legal in NSW.

The three-year period reflects the typical lifespan of an e-bike and provides households, retailers and manufacturers with certainty and time to adjust.

However, after a period of consultation, retailers will be required to clearly specify whether a bike meets the EU standard and is therefore road legal in NSW.

The Government will also work closely with manufacturers to ensure future stock complies with the updated rules.

The reforms provide clarity and certainty: compliant bikes remain legal and accessible; higher-powered devices will need to meet higher regulatory requirements.

This is a staged, practical reform that recognises the reality on our streets while steadily moving toward a safer and more consistent framework for the future.

Minister for Transport John Graham said:

“We want children outdoors and active but keeping them safe is paramount.

“I am concerned that we have primary school-aged children trying to control e-bikes that in some cases are heavier than them.

“I acknowledge the concern in the community about groups of teens piling on to fatbikes – often three to a bike – and sometimes breaking simple road rules. This review has been tasked with investigating whether teens have the ability to safely double their friends and how young is too young to be in the saddle of an electric bike.

“We are increasing the powers of NSW Police to seize and crush illegal e-bikes, and the adoption of the EU standard is part of building a safe and clear framework of rules around this popular form of transport.”

“The community has spoken against souped-up motorbikes masquerading as e-bike and this new standard makes clear that e-bikes must perform like bicycles not motorbikes.

“Make no mistake, with more than 750,000 e-bikes on NSW roads, this is a huge challenge to solve, especially after the former Liberal government opened the door to 500-watt e-bikes.”

Minister for Police and Counter-terrorism Yasmin Catley said:

“Police see firsthand the consequences when powerful e-bikes are misused.

“By introducing sensible age settings and cracking down on illegal, high-powered bikes, we are helping police prevent dangerous behaviour before more people are seriously hurt.

“The vast majority of people do the right thing, and these laws are designed to support them.

“This is about getting the balance right so e-bikes remain a useful transport option without putting the public at risk.”

Minister for Roads Jenny Aitchison said:

“While there may be some people who would prefer no age restrictions on riders, we believe the safety risks are significant enough that restrictions need to be rolled out.

“We want to make sure riders are physically and cognitively capable to handle e-bikes, so they can be ridden safely within the road rules.

“Age restrictions for young riders will help ensure this can be done and reduce the risk of injury for not just young people but also other road users too.

“We think the risks are significant enough to warrant a change, and now we want to draw on the best evidence and expert advice available to make a call on what the limits could be. As a result, we will make a decision on the age limits after the findings of Transport for NSW’s review and recommendations are handed down.”  

The Minns Labor Government is investing $52 million to supercharge NSW’s renewable manufacturing sectors, unlocking more than 100 construction jobs and 67 ongoing positions.

The investment is part of the NSW Government’s Net Zero Manufacturing Initiative, a $480 million push to help fast-track emissions reductions and build the technologies that we need to further our renewable transition.

The program is supporting over 1100 jobs across NSW in 40 different projects. 

This grant supports innovative businesses that will serve as the building blocks to a sustainable low carbon manufacturing industry in NSW. 

The successful businesses and projects announced:

• Optimal Renewable Gas in Griffith will receive $20 million to convert agricultural organic waste from farms into a gas fuel. The gas can be used for gas heating and power generation.
• Hiringa Energy near Moree will receive $9.4 million to expand the production of their low carbon ammonia fertiliser, to be used on cotton farms. This will help produce sustainable cotton and decarbonise farming operations.
• Hiringa Refuelling Australia will receive $778,000 to help create hydrogen refuelling stations which aim to replace diesel in heavy vehicles – an important step towards building a green freight corridor between Sydney and Southeast Queensland.
• Tyree Transformers will receive $22 million to build their transformers, which stop us from losing energy while its being transported from our solar and wind farms.

The Minister visited the Tyree Transformers facility in Braemar to launch the four grant recipients. Tyree will be expanding its facility’s operational capacity, helping us get the most out of the renewable energy we are already creating.

Find out more about the Net Zero Manufacturing Initiative: https://www.energy.nsw.gov.au/business-and-industry/programs-grants-and-schemes/net-zero-manufacturing

NSW Minister for Energy Penny Sharpe said:

“This is part of a $480 million investment to help NSW industries lead the clean energy transition and create skilled manufacturing jobs in our regions.

“We should be building the technology that will power our future right here in NSW.

“These projects will unlock 67 permanent jobs and support growth in communities across the Southern Highlands, Riverina and the state’s northwest.

“They show the power of partnering with industry to create jobs, cut emissions and build the clean technologies of tomorrow right here in NSW.” 

The Minns Labor Government’s latest rushed policy on e-bikes to impose age limits raises serious questions about enforcement, consistency and whether the reforms will actually change rider behaviour.
 
Media reports today show that the Government isn’t even sure what its own age limit policy is going to be, with the Government intending to ban children under 12, while Transport for NSW will look at banning children under 16, and a massive admission that the Government has no idea how it will be enforced.
 
Speaking on Sydney’s 2GB Radio in January 2026, Minister for Transport, John Graham, said of the NSW Liberals and Nationals’ proposal for an e-bike licence plate registration that it would be too hard to work out whether a 17-year-old rider was just saying they were 18-years-old to avoid needing a licence plate.
 
Now, under pressure, the Minister wants the NSW Police Force to read up on Puberty Blues.
 
The only feasible way to enforce the proposed age limit requires all legal riders, including those between the ages of 12 and 16 to carry a form of mandatory government-issued identification to prove basic identity information such as name, age and address.
 
Communities across NSW are not raising concerns about technical definitions; they want clear action that enforces behaviour to stop the reckless riding, the intimidation of pedestrians and a lack of visible enforcement.
 
Today’s “announcement” shows that the Minns Labor Government will do everything they possibly can to not adopt the NSW Liberals and Nationals’ sensible licence plate registration scheme for those under 18, delivery rider and shared service schemes.
 
The NSW Liberals and Nationals maintain that reforms must prioritise enforcement mechanisms that police can realistically apply on the ground and that parents can rely on when setting boundaries for their children.
 
Shadow Minister for Transport Natalie Ward said that the announcement seemed designed for media attention and continues the tin-ear approach of the Government when it comes to e-bikes.
 
“Labor’s announcement still doesn’t answer the most basic question: how behaviour will be enforced,” Ms Ward said.
 
“Until you enforce the rules and have accountability, nothing will change.”
 
“Police need a clear tool for enforcement of rider behaviour, and the NSW Liberals and Nationals’ policy will give them one.”
 
“This looks like another headline designed to sound tough and look like something is happening, while questions on practical enforcement remain unanswered.”

Shadow Minister for Digital, Artificial Intelligence and Investment, James Griffin, has today warned that NSW is losing ground in the global race for data centres and artificial intelligence infrastructure because the Minns Labor Government has no coordinated strategy across energy, planning or investment.
 
“This is not about one Minister or one department getting it wrong,” Mr Griffin said.
 
“This is about three critical failures, in energy, in planning, and in strategic coordination, that are feeding off each other and creating a toxic environment for investment.”
 
“Individually, each failure is a serious problem, but collectively they are handing NSW’s economic opportunity to Victoria on a silver platter,” Mr Griffin said.
 
Failure 1: An energy system that cannot guarantee scale or certainty
The energy transition in NSW is failing, with energy prices remaining high, significant transmission delays, and the government failing to listen to concerns about renewable energy projects.
 
At this rate, households will have to turn off their air-conditioning in summer, and that’s before having the state ready to power data centres.
 
Data centre demand is growing.
 
Transgrid reports more than 10GW of data centre connection enquiries, with electricity demand projected to grow from 307 GWh to 6,723 GWh by 2035, representing more than a twenty-fold increase.
 
Without firm, reliable and timely grid capacity, data centre projects will go elsewhere.
 
“Right now, NSW cannot guarantee the scale, speed or certainty that global and domestic investors require, and because of that, we are losing out to Victoria,” Mr Griffin said.
 
Failure 2: No critical digital infrastructure planning strategy
NSW still lacks a coherent planning and precinct strategy for digital infrastructure
 
There is:
No statewide data centre action plan
No identified digital infrastructure precinct strategy
No integrated land-use and energy coordination model

Industry feedback highlights inconsistent agency advice and uncertainty around zoning, grid access and water allocation.

In contrast, Victoria has funded a dedicated Sustainable Data Centre Action Plan and released a 2026 Artificial Intelligence Mission Statement, sending a clear signal it intends to lead.
 
“In NSW, there is no coordinated approach to zoning land, aligning utilities, or fast-tracking strategic AI infrastructure; we risk repeating mistakes of the past by not coordinating the placement of data centres.” Mr Griffin said.
 
 
Failure 3: No whole-of-government AI strategy
Most concerning is the absence of strategic coordination.
 
NSW has:
No AI mission statement with funding attached
No AI infrastructure roadmap
No cross-portfolio coordination linking Energy, Planning, Treasury and Investment NSW

“No one in the Minns Government is clearly responsible for ensuring NSW wins the AI and data centre investment race,” Mr Griffin said.
 
“Like in many other areas, the Minns Labor Government has packed up and gone home.”
 
The global data centre market is projected to reach US$4 trillion by 2030.
 
NSW should be the natural home for Asia-Pacific AI and data centre investment.
 
But without reliable energy delivery, coordinated planning and a clear AI strategy, capital will lock in elsewhere
 
“These three failures are not separate problems; they are one problem with one cause: a complacent government in the face of a global AI economy scaling at speed,” Mr Griffin said.
 
The upcoming Parliamentary Inquiry into data centres will test whether the Minns Labor Government intends to lead, or continue to drift while other states secure the jobs, investment and productivity gains of the AI era.