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NSW will soon be home to new iconic multi-day walks in the State’s spectacular national parks, thanks to $80 million in funding as part of the 2021-22 NSW Budget.
Treasurer Dominic Perrottet joined Environment Minister Matt Kean in the Illawarra today to unveil the first walk – The Great Southern Walk – which will stretch 59-kilometres and showcase the natural and cultural beauty of the Illawarra Escarpment, Royal and Kamay Botany Bay National Parks.
Mr Perrottet said we want NSW’s national parks to become ‘must-see’ destinations of global significance.
“From Border Ranges in the north, to Kosciuszko in the south, to Hat Head in the east and Mungo in the west, visitation across our extraordinary National Parks estate has surged in the past 12 months,” Mr Perrottet said.
“This $80 million budget injection will enable us to add new iconic experiences to our tourism arsenal, drawing keen hikers from around Australia and when borders reopen  the world, to our spectacular regions giving local small businesses and tourism operators a much needed boost.
“The first of the walks – The Great Southern Walk – will provide a spectacular 5-day experience with a range of new accommodation options such as cabins and ‘glamping’ sites dotted along the track to welcome walkers at the end of each day’s trek.”
Environment Minister Matt Kean said a new mountain biking network will also be created across the Escarpment and become a major drawcard for visitors to the area.
“This new mountain bike track will offer riders over 44 kilometres of uninterrupted, sustainably managed track between Mount Keira and Mount Kembla,” Mr Kean said.
“Both this signature walk and biking network are major initiatives that will not only make our national parks more accessible to a broader audience but also bring new visitors to this spectacular region.”
The walk, expected to be complete in 2024, will boost the local tourism economy and create local jobs both during construction and as the walk welcomes national and international visitors. Details on a second iconic multi-day walk will be released in coming months.
NSW national parks already attract more than 60 million visits a year, generating $18 billion in economic activity for NSW and supporting more than 74,000 direct and indirect jobs.
Since 2019 the NSW Government has invested more than $257 million across the national park estate to improve visitor facilities – the biggest visitor infrastructure investment in the history of NSW national parks.

More women and children experiencing domestic and sexual violence will be supported by a $60 million funding boost to frontline services over two years from the NSW Government.
The Government will also commit an extra $32.5 million over four years to expand the Staying Home Leaving Violence (SHLV) program across the State to assist victim survivors.
Treasurer Dominic Perrottet said these commitments in the NSW Budget would help to tackle the scourge of domestic violence – one of the most difficult problems our communities face.
“NSW is one of the best places to live, but that doesn’t mean we’re immune from complex social issues like domestic and sexual violence, that impact thousands each year,” Mr Perrottet said.
“Our Government’s responsible fiscal management, even in the depths of COVID-19, has enabled us to make important investments like this, that will help stop the cycle of abuse and protect some of the most vulnerable members of our communities.”
Attorney General and Minister for Prevention of Domestic and Sexual Violence Mark Speakman said the Government will engage with the sector in delivering these significant investments to NSW communities.
“Our priorities will include helping children impacted by domestic violence, Aboriginal survivors, those from culturally and linguistically diverse communites, and victims from regional communities,” Mr Speakman said.
The funding announced today will:

• boost frontline specialist domestic, family and sexual violence services;
• help victim-survivors escape violent homes;
• support victim-survivors stay safe at home;
• hold perpetrators to account; and
• raise awareness about domestic and family violence services.

The NSW Government funding will also go towards trialling initiatives during the transition to the next National Plan to Reduce Violence against Women and their Children.
Mr Speakman said the state-wide rollout of SHLV was aimed at preventing victim-survivors from becoming homeless or having to move away from their support system of family and friends, instead supporting them to stay safely where they are.
“Women are often forced to flee violent homes, and in doing so they’re cut off from housing, community supports, employment, and education for their children,” Mr Speakman said.
“Perpetrators choose to inflict horrendous abuse on those they claim to love. It is they alone who should bear the brunt of re-locating if they refuse to change their behaviour.”
SHLV works in partnership with NSW Police and provides a range of wrap-around services including safety planning, home security, support for children, assistance in managing finances and navigating the legal process.
Delia Donovan, CEO of Domestic Violence NSW, the state’s leading organisation for specialist domestic violence services, welcomed the funding boost that will benefit services across the state.
“Frontline services have been advocating for greater support, particularly during COVID-19, to deliver crucial services to victim-survivors in communities across NSW, so we’re really pleased to see this critical funding commitment in the Budget,” Ms Donovan said.
“The expansion of Staying Home Leaving Violence is also fantastic news, as it will ensure that more women and their children can access this service no matter where they live, and therefore they can safely remain in their homes, if they choose to do so.”
The funding announced today is in addition to a record $538 million investment over four years announced in the last Budget to reduce domestic violence re-offending and support victim safety through early intervention initiatives, victim support and perpetrator interventions.

The NSW Government is committing $50 million for planning and development works of Stage 2 of the Parramatta Light Rail in the upcoming 2021-22 NSW Budget.
Treasurer Dominic Perrottet said the funding will ensure we have the right transport links between Greater Parramatta and the Sydney Olympic Peninsula.
“This continues our record investment in public transport infrastructure, which is continuing to support thousands of jobs in our economy while also making Sydney and NSW a better place to live,” Mr Perrottet said.
“This money will go towards planning, utilities and geotechnical investigations. It will also progress the development of the project’s Environmental Impact Statement.”
Minister for Transport Andrew Constance said this funding would ensure the project is ‘shovel ready’.
“This area is growing at an exponential rate and requires infrastructure that is smart, futureproof and will offer the community a variety of transport choices,” Mr Constance said.
“It is important we get the next steps right so this project complements city-shaping projects like Sydney Metro West.”
The NSW Government previously announced a preferred route for the second stage of the Parramatta Light Rail that would connect Stage 1 and Parramatta CBD to Ermington, Melrose Park, Wentworth Point and Sydney Olympic Park.
Member for Parramatta Geoff Lee said it was exciting to see the planning funding committed for the next stage of this transport link.
“Locals have seen the great progress on Stage 1, with 50 per cent of tracks expected to be laid by the end of the month. Now, they can see the NSW Government is getting on with the job by laying the groundwork for the next stage of this project,” Mr Lee said.
The Parramatta Light Rail Stage 1 and 2 will provide links with Sydney Metro West at Parramatta, Westmead and Sydney Olympic Park and the existing rail network at Parramatta and Sydney Olympic Park as well as ferries at Parramatta, Rydalmere and Wentworth Point.

The NSW Government has committed $1.15 billion to kick start work on the Bradfield City Centre, supporting thousands of jobs on the doorstep of the new Western Sydney International (Nancy-Bird Walton) Airport.
Premier Gladys Berejiklian said the funding paves the way for work on the project to begin this year, starting the creation of a world class city precinct that will support up to 17,600 highly skilled jobs.
“This is another exciting step forward in realising the Government’s vision for this city-building project,” Ms Berejiklian said.
“We have named the new Aerotropolis city, Bradfield, and now work is set to begin to turn what is essentially a paddock today into a thriving global city centre.”
This commitment from the NSW Government includes $975.5 million in enabling works to establish, remediate and allow site access to about 100 hectares of land, driving the COVID-19 economic recovery not only in NSW, but across the nation.
The funding will also help to create a key Indo-Pacific economic hub, unleashing international investment in advanced manufacturing, aerospace and defence, agri-business, pharma, freight and logistics, health and education.
NSW Treasurer Dominic Perrottet said this vital investment would lay the foundations for Bradfield to be transformed into a world-class precinct that will drive jobs now and into the future.
“Bradfield City will be the next jewel in Sydney’s crown and we’re putting in the groundwork to deliver an iconic city that will unlock new economic opportunities, particularly for the people of Western Sydney,” Mr Perrottet said.
“The pandemic has shown us the importance of investing in our own backyard and this investment will create a precinct that will be home to businesses and industries that will create jobs not just today, but into the future as well.”
Minister for Jobs, Investment, Tourism and Western Sydney Stuart Ayres said there is also funding to establish the First Building in the Bradfield City Centre and for a four-year pilot of the New Education and Training Model (NETM).
“The government has committed $138.2 million for the First Building which includes a $24.9 million high-tech facility which will house $22.9 million worth of shared-use equipment for research institutions and industry to collaborate,” Mr Ayres said.
“The NETM is a new model of tertiary education aimed at helping advanced industries access skilled labour. We are dedicating $37.4 million to the program over five years to provide more than 7,000 courses for almost 3,000 students.”
The funding commitment will deliver the first stage of Australia’s first 22^nd century city, attracting global competitive advanced industries and driving the creation of 200,000 new jobs across the Western Parkland City.

The NSW Government will invest $7.7 million to trial a new model of care and management for children with behavioural issues including attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in regional NSW.
Treasurer Dominic Perrottet said the funding would be included in the upcoming 2021-22 NSW Budget to provide greater support for families in the bush.
“This is about ensuring kids and young people across our State are able to get the help they need when challenges arise. We don’t want families to just survive, we want them to thrive and meeting health needs plays a vital part in that,” Mr Perrottet said.
Health Minister Brad Hazzard said the pilot program will give people greater access to vital services closer to home.
“We are pleased to invest in a trial that will help children and young people with behavioural issues including ADHD and their families seek the care they need in their local community,” Mr Hazzard said.
“Medical and allied health staff will be employed in regional areas to work directly with the families to help children and young people transition from school to tertiary education or work while managing their behavioural issues.”
The mixed model service will connect children and young people with behavioural management and support needs to a range of state-wide services including:

• existing diagnostic services;
• paediatric psychiatry support;
• tertiary children’s services;
• transition care and management; and
• telehealth and outreach clinics.

The trial builds on the recommendations of the Henry Review which examined the current model of care for the assessment and management of children and young people with behavioural issues including ADHD in NSW.
“We have taken on board the three recommendations of the Henry Review, and the new model of care will be informed by input from medical and allied health staff across NSW,” Mr Hazzard said.
In 2021-22, the NSW Government will contribute $1.8 million funding for the ADHD pilot program, with a total investment of $7.7 million over four years.

Regional communities will benefit from the NSW Government announcing it will invest $107.7 million as part of its Legacy Mines program in the 2021-22 Budget to remediate historic and abandoned mine sites across the state.
Deputy Premier John Barilaro and Member for the Upper Hunter Dave Layzell today visited a recently rehabilitated mine site at the Mount Thorley/Warkworth Mine in Singleton where they made the announcement.
Mr Barilaro said mining continues to drive prosperity in NSW and remedying legacy mine projects of the past while developing the mining projects of tomorrow will accelerate economic growth, support jobs and ensure mining communities remain great places to live and work.
“Regional communities were built on the back of mining projects, but these legacy mines were operating at a different time, well before the procedures and requirements we have today for managing chemical use and rehabilitation were put in place,” Mr Barilaro said.
“This significant funding boost will allow major remediation works to be completed across ten years at abandoned mine sites, primarily in locations where production ceased between 50 and 100 years ago – in places like Captains Flat and sites in the Central West and Northern Tablelands.
“Intensive remediation at these locations will increase safety, reduce impacts to the environment, and reinvigorate land for other possible uses, such as for community parklands, to create tourist attractions, or accommodate select business operations.”
Mr Layzell said while remediation works have been completed at many sites over the years through the Legacy Mines program, the additional funding will make a real difference to communities in proximity to higher risk legacy mines.
“As someone who comes from an electorate built on mining at a time when we’re fortunate to have safeguards in place to protect people and the environment, I know this will help people feel more confident about living and working around legacy mines,” Mr Layzell said.
“Many people who live in these communities will know about the long and proud local mining history in their town, but I know confirmation of further work to rehabilitate land will provide greater certainty about their wellbeing, the value of their land, and the future of the region they love.”
For further information about the NSW Government’s Legacy Mines program, visit: https://www.resourcesandgeoscience.nsw.gov.au/landholders-and-community/minerals-and-coal/legacy-mines-program.

Vulnerable children in out-of-home care will be provided permanent and loving homes sooner and with more support, as part of a plan to turbocharge the open adoption and guardianship process.
Treasurer Dominic Perrottet said the 2021-22 NSW Budget would include $12 million to scale up initiatives aimed at increasing the number of adoptions and guardianships, including through the establishment of a Permanency Taskforce.
“A permanent and loving home is the foundation for a happy and healthy life and this investment will help make open adoption or guardianship a reality for more kids,” Mr Perrottet said.
“The NSW Government has made providing permanency for vulnerable kids a priority, and this funding will enable a significant increase in promotion of open adoption and guardianship, raising awareness of the life-changing benefits of a permanent home.”
NSW is leading the nation in providing permanency for children in out-of-home care, accounting for almost 99 per cent of all open adoptions from care in Australia in 2019-20. NSW is also providing permanency through guardianship, with 3,267 children currently on guardianship orders.
Minister for Families, Communities and Disability Services Alister Henskens said the dedicated Permanency Taskforce will change lives for the better, cementing NSW as the leading light when it comes to providing permanency for kids in care.
“The Taskforce aims to fast-track the number of matters progressing through the open adoption and guardianship pipeline and in doing so, boosting the number of children exiting out-of-home care into permanent homes,” Mr Henskens said.
“The NSW Government will also enhance support for prospective adoptive parents and guardians by establishing a new information hotline, providing free online courses, face-to-face training and counselling services.”
The investment aligns with the Premier’s Priority of increasing permanency for children in out-of-home care.