16 News

Households and small businesses impacted by the mouse plague across regional NSW can now claim rebates as part of the NSW Government’s $150 million Mouse Control Program by visiting the Service NSW website.
Deputy Premier John Barilaro said eligible households can claim up to $500 and small businesses up to $1,000 to help meet the cost of mouse baits, traps and cleaning materials bought after 1 February 2021.
“These rodents haven’t just impacted farmers and crops, they have also been a scourge on homes and businesses right across the regions,” Mr Barilaro said.
“Fighting this plague has come at a financial cost and this rebate is putting money back in the pockets of hard-working families and business owners.
“Claiming rebates is simple but you can only claim once, so I encourage residents and small business owners who have spent close to the maximum amount available to visit the Service NSW website today.”
Minister for Agriculture Adam Marshall said primary producers who lived where theyworked could claim a single rebate of up to $1,000 to help meet the cost of protecting their premises.
“Farmers know how to protect their crops and are well prepared to meet a potential mouse surge as we draw closer to the spring harvest and this rebate will help them to also safeguard their homes,” Mr Marshall said.
“By the end of the month, primary producers will also be able to claim a 50 per cent rebate on purchases of zinc phosphide based bait, to a maximum of $10,000, through the Rural Assistance Authority.”
Eligible customers can make a claim for the household or small business rebate via the Service NSW website, where they can upload receipts for mouse bait, trap and cleaning purchases dating back to 1 February 2021.
Customers wanting to claim the rebate by calling the Service NSW hotline should expect longer than usual call waiting times, due to the current COVID-19 situation. For further details about the mouse rebate program, including eligibility and the claims process, go to www.nsw.gov.au/mice.

The next round of the NSW Government’s Infrastructure Grants program opens today, with community organisations impacted by COVID-19 encouraged to apply for funding.
The NSW Government offers grants to communities across NSW to support the building, renovation and fit-out of local community infrastructure. Each year $12.5 million is available for projects across arts and culture, sport and recreation infrastructure and projects that assist communities with essential infrastructure and disaster readiness.
Minister for Digital and Minister for Customer Service Victor Dominello >said the impacts of COVID-19 are still being widely felt and support for community organisations will remain a priority for this latest round.
“Community organisations play an invaluable role in promoting social inclusion, participation and boosting local economies,” Mr Dominello said.
“Community infrastructure is now a standalone category and it can be used for spaces like halls and meeting rooms, community transport, and infrastructure that supports youth, disability, mental health, homelessness, and domestic violence services.
“During the pandemic, some communities have struggled to maintain sports, cultural and other social activities. Now is an opportunity for local organisations to apply for funding that enables them to strengthen and grow.”
Infrastructure Grants are made possible through the NSW Government’s Clubgrants Category 3 Fund, which reinvests a contribution from the state’s registered clubs gaming machine profits back into community projects.
To be eligible for funding, applications must meet eligibility conditions including, the project location, the applicant and project benefit, purpose and development status. There is also a requirement for local government applicants to match funding.
Infrastructure Grants can be used toward the costs of construction, alteration, renovation, completion and fit-out of buildings and community infrastructure in the following categories:

• Arts & Culture: $50,000 to $200,000 available per project
• Community Infrastructure: $10,000 to $200,000 available per project
• Disaster Readiness: $10,000 to $200,000 available per project
• Sport & Recreation: $50,000 to $300,000 available per project

Since 2015, the NSW Government has funded more than 441 community projects worth $73 million under the Infrastructure Grants program.

The last of the NSW Government’s 41 Waratah Series 2 trains has entered service, on the 10^th anniversary of the original Waratah series hitting the tracks.
Minister for Transport and Roads Andrew Constance said the new trains will help support future patronage growth across the network, and will be more comfortable and reliable for passengers.
“We based the design of our Waratah Series 2 trains on the original Waratahs which meant we could get the new trains on the network in record time,” Mr Constance said.
“The introduction of the Waratah Series 2 fleet also led to the retirement of the S-Sets after almost 50 years in service, which means 100 per cent of the Sydney Trains fleet is now air conditioned.”
“The new Waratah also feature high definition customer information screens, internal and external CCTV, priority seating, wheelchair spaces and hearing aid loops.”
Sydney Trains Chief Executive Matt Longland said the initial order of 24 trains Waratah Series 2 trains was placed in late 2016, before the size of the fleet was increased to 41 in February 2019.
“The time between the delivery of the first and the last of the additional 17 Waratah Series 2 trains was just 302 days,” Mr Longland said.
“This Waratah fleet is the workhorse of our network and has not only proven to be the most reliable double deck train in Australia but is clearly a favourite with our customers.
“We want to thank those behind the scenes at the Auburn Maintenance Centre, who have played a huge part in this successful rollout, as well as the ongoing maintenance and training of our crew.”

A 14th person has been issued with a $1000 fine after further investigations into a gathering at a home in Shellharbour at the weekend.
Officers from Lake Illawarra Police District attended the home about 9.40pm Saturday (3 July 2021), responding to reports of visitors at the location. One woman and 12 men, aged between 21 and 30, were issued with Penalty infringement Notices (PINs) for breaching stay at home directions.
Following inquiries, another 30-year-old man was identified today (Monday 5 July 2021), as being at the home; he has now been issued with a $1000 PIN for breaching a stay at home direction.
Police are concerned the community doesn’t become complacent about complying with Public Health Act guidelines, as residents of Greater Sydney, Wollongong and the Central Coast enter their second week under a stay at home direction.
Deputy Commissioner Gary Worboys said he wanted to thank the overwhelming majority of people who are complying with the PHO directions.
“I’d like to thank everyone who is doing the right thing and complying with the directions; these people are aware of the risks and are demonstrating they care for their community and are making the job of police easier,” he said.
With 125 PINs issued in the past 24 hours across the designated area, police are finding many of the fines are being issued to groups of people gathering in breach of the current Public Health Order.
Complaints from members of the public have led to 10 men being issued with PINs of $1000 each after they were found gathered in a home in Fairfield Heights at the weekend.
About 11.45pm on Saturday 3 July 2021, officers from Fairfield City Police Area Command were called to a unit at The Boulevarde, Fairfield Heights, where police found 10 men – who were not residents – inside.
They have each been issued a $1000 PIN for fail to comply with PHO and given a direction by police to return to their homes immediately.
Complaints from the public have also resulted in two men again being arrested at a fruit store in Mascot about 6.30pm yesterday (Sunday 4 July 2021). Officers from South Sydney Police Area Command charged the owner with ‘not wear fitted face covering in retail business’ and ‘not ensure hospitality worker wear fitted face mask.’ The employee was charged with ‘not wear fitted face covering in retail business.’ Both men were granted conditional bail and will appear at Downing Centre Local Court on Monday 19 July 2021
Officers from Raymond Terrace Highway Patrol stopped a sedan on Adelaide Street at Raymond Terrace about 6.40pm yesterday, and spoke with the occupants. The men, aged 24 and 26 from Liverpool, were issued a $1000 PIN for breaching the stay at home direction, and failing to wear a face covering. The driver was also issued a number of penalty notices for defects to his vehicle. Both men were given a direction by police to return to their homes immediately.
On Day 10 of the stay at home direction, the Minister for Police and Emergency Services David Elliott reminds the community to abide by the health orders.
“It is disappointing to see so many people ignoring the rules and putting the health of our community at risk,” Mr Elliott said.
“We must not get complacent with the health orders and must continue to work to stop the spread of this virus.”
In total, 125 PINs were issued yesterday and of those 45 were $200 infringements for failing to wear a fitted face covering.
Police continue to appeal to the community to report suspected breaches of any ministerial direction or behaviour which may impact on the health and safety of the community.
Anyone who has information regarding individuals or businesses in contravention of a COVID-19-related ministerial direction is urged to contact Crime Stoppers: https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au. Information is treated in strict confidence. The public is reminded not to report crime via NSW Police social media pages.

An unregistered car parked in a ‘no stopping’ zone in a Central West town has led police to issue $1000 fines to three Sydney people who breached Public Health Orders overnight.
Officers from Orana Mid-Western Police District noticed an unregistered car parked in a no parking zone outside a hotel on Bolaro Street at Dunedoo, 90km north-east of Dubbo, about 8.50pm (Saturday 3 July 2021).
They identified the driver and discovered he was one of three people who’d travelled from Sydney that day and were booked to spend the night in the town. A 44-year-old man from Haberfield, a 51-year-old man from Fairfield West and a 38-year-old woman from Burwood have now been issued $1000 PINs for not comply with noticed direction 7/8/9 Covid-19. They have also been issued traffic infringement notices for driving an unregistered vehicle and being parked in a ‘no stopping’ zone.
Four people were yesterday each issued with $1000 PINs after being stopped by Chifley Highway Patrol at Little Hartley, about 150km west of their home in Maroubra. Officers stopped the group – two women aged 23 and 25, and two men aged 25 – on the Great Western Highway about 9am (Saturday 3 July 2021). All four were directed to return to Sydney.
The owner of a Mascot fruit shop and an employee of the same shop were also issued with PINs for breaching the PHO overnight. Officers from South Sydney Police Area Command attended a fruit shop on King Street, Mascot, about 6.30pm, after receiving complaints from the public the business was not using QR sign-in protocols and staff were not wearing masks.
Police spoke with the owner, a 57-year-old man, and an employee, a 26-year-old man, neither of whom were wearing masks. The older man was issued a penalty notice for not comply with noticed direction 7/8/9 Covid 19, while the younger man was issued a penalty notice for not wear fitted face covering in retail/business premises. They have been fined $1000 and $200 respectively.
Staff from a store in Bowral have also been charged with further breaches of the Public Health Act after officers attached to The Hume PD conducted a compliance check yesterday, and found 20 people inside allegedly not wearing face masks. Police requested those not consuming food or drink to put a face mask on; however, will allege the female staff, aged 62 and 43, refused. They were arrested and taken to Southern Highlands Police Station where they were charged with not wear fitted face covering in retail/business premises. They’ve been bailed to appear in Moss Vale Local Court on Tuesday 17 August 2021.
In total, 86 PINs were issued yesterday and of those 55 were $200 infringements for failing to wear a fitted face covering.
Police continue to appeal to the community to report suspected breaches of any ministerial direction or behaviour which may impact on the health and safety of the community.
Anyone who has information regarding individuals or businesses in contravention of a COVID-19-related ministerial direction is urged to contact Crime Stoppers: https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au. Information is treated in strict confidence. The public is reminded not to report crime via NSW Police social media pages.