Month: May 2025

Blackwattle Bay’s First Nations and maritime histories will be honoured through a series of creative installations within the precinct.

Visitors to the new Sydney Fish Market will be able to learn about the history of the area through five permanent installations that celebrate the site as a community gathering place.

The first three sculptures revealed today, Saltwater People Stories, pay respect to the continued presence of local Aboriginal people and their ancestral fishing traditions in Blackwattle Bay and the surrounding area.

Three Aboriginal Australian artists have designed works which reference traditional cultural practices of the Aboriginal nations and communities connected to the new Sydney Fish Market site including:

‘The Nawi’ – a traditional nawi (fishing canoe) by Bidjigal elder Uncle Steven Russell

‘Birrang Narrami (Star Net)’ – a traditional woven fishing net by Wiradjuri, Yuin and Gadigal multi-disciplinary artist and master weaver Nadeena Dixon

‘The Call of Ngura (Country)’ – with eel-like forms representing the Dreamtime journey of the great Creator Gurangady, by Buruberong and Wumali (Dharug) creative Leanne Tobin.

The sculptures, cast in bronze at the North Head Foundry in Manly, will be installed on the eastern and western promenades of the new Sydney Fish Market later this year.

Two further installations will sit on the eastern promenade – an interactive water play area for families, and an installation paying homage to the site’s industrial history as a working harbour.

Placemaking NSW will also host a curated arts and cultural program featuring dance and music. This will take place in the public domain throughout 2026 featuring local artists.

For more information about the new Sydney Fish Market project, visit: new Sydney Fish Market. 

Minister for Lands and Property Steve Kamper said:

“For thousands of years, the Saltwater clans of the Sydney region have been traditional custodians of this land, with Blackwattle Bay serving as a vital site for fishing, swimming and gathering.

“These installations will honour ancestral fishing traditions and share the stories of the Saltwater People with the millions of visitors anticipated at the new Sydney Fish Market.

“Visitors can look forward to not only viewing the stunning architecture but learning about the site’s cultural significance through these installations – and, of course, savouring the freshest seafood in NSW.”

Infrastructure NSW Head of Projects Bruno Zinghini said:

“These Saltwater People Stories installations led by Aboriginal curator Tess Allas will enrich the public domain around the new Sydney Fish Market, providing both local and international visitors with a glimpse into our First Nations heritage.

“Forming part of the urban renewal of the Blackwattle Bay precinct, commissions like these will ensure the revitalised waterfront destination will deliver a lasting cultural legacy for Sydney, celebrating history through creative expression, infusing the area with vibrancy and a distinct sense of place.” 

First Nations Contemporary Artist, Leanne Tobin said:  

“As a First Nations artist, I’m excited to see our culture represented and visibly acknowledged as part of the new Sydney Fish Market.   

“This project is more than a world-class building and fish market. It is an opportunity for us to educate and inform visitors here by weaving our stories and culture into the precinct.

“These installations allow us a way to share our cultural stories and highlight our deep and ancient connection to this land while also creating a shared experience that reflects our heritage for all to enjoy.” 

The NSW Reconstruction Authority is releasing more homes for sale across the Northern Rivers after a very strong community response to the first-ever home relocation Expression of Interest process.

There will be a rolling release of homes available for auction and relocation, starting with 20 flood-affected properties in the Northern Rivers available online from today and more in the coming week.

This next release will include another 30 homes and build on the success of the first offering, which saw 31 homes made available for purchase and relocation in December 2024.

The Reconstruction Authority appointed PRD Northern Rivers to manage the sale process and received more than 130 offers for the initial 31 homes, with some properties attracting more than 10 individual offers.

PRD Northern Rivers are engaging with successful bidders from the first release to begin the contracting process, with homes to be relocated within 12 months.

The Reconstruction Authority remains firmly committed to reusing and relocating as many flood-affected homes as possible.

Most submissions for the EOI were from local community members who have land within the Northern Rivers.

Further details on the agents representing the next tranche of homes is available on the RA’s website.

Minister for Recovery Janelle Saffin said: 

“It’s great to see that there are so many people who are ready to buy and relocate homes that were bought back by the Reconstruction Authority.

“The demand from the public is there, and we want to resell as many homes as possible so people can relocate them to safer areas. I’m looking forward to seeing more homes available for purchase and relocation soon.”

“This isn’t just about making sure we keep using the existing housing infrastructure whenever possible, its also about making sure our region doesn’t lose its unique character while we help move people out of harm’s way.”

NSW Reconstruction Authority CEO Mal Lanyon said: 

“The people of the Northern Rivers told us that as well as having access to homes safely located away from floodplains, they wanted to retain and preserve where appropriate the sense of community by repurposing older homes in the area, and we are excited by the response from potential homeowners.”

“We know there are more people who are seeking homes, and we are working quickly to make more homes available to the community.”

The NSW Government is expanding the successful Circle Sentencing program to Sydney’s Downing Centre. 

Circle Sentencing is a program to help reduce reoffending, improve justice outcomes and improve community safety.

It is available to eligible defendants who plead guilty to or are found guilty of criminal offences in a local court.

Rather than being sentenced by a magistrate alone, defendants are sentenced by a magistrate alongside representatives from the local Aboriginal community, such as elders.

In addition, the police prosecutor is always involved while the victim can choose to participate if they wish.

The court has the full sentencing power of a traditional court for offenders who meet the criteria and are assessed as suitable.

A 2020 study by NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research found Aboriginal people who participated in Circle Sentencing were 9.6 per cent less likely to reoffend, compared to those sentenced to a non-custodial sentence in a traditional way.

In developing the sentence, the group discusses factors including the impact on the victim and what can be done to prevent further offending.

Sydney Downing Centre will hold its first Circle Court today presided over by NSW Chief Magistrate, Judge Michael Allen.

Including the Downing Centre, Circle Sentencing now operates at 23 high-priority locations after beginning in Nowra in 2002.

The Downing Centre will become the third metropolitan location following Mt Druitt in 2007 and Blacktown in 2010.

Attorney General Michael Daley said:

“The NSW Government is investing in prevention and diversion measures to improve long-term outcomes for Aboriginal people in the criminal justice system.

“People who participate in Circle Sentencing are less likely to reoffend.

“Expanding Circle Sentencing to Sydney’s Downing Centre Local Court will empower more Aboriginal communities to be involved in the sentencing process.”

Chief Magistrate Judge Michael Allen said:

“Circle Sentencing elsewhere in the state has been effective for a number of years in reducing recidivism, and I look forward to seeing similar success in Sydney.”

The Minns Labor Government is continuing work to address the housing affordability and availability crisis by delivering more, well located homes, sooner, with the first factory built modular social homes nearing completion.

Three modular homes are being finished in Smithfield and will soon be delivered and installed in Wollongong – the first dwellings rolling out statewide as part of the historic Building Homes for NSW Program. A further 10 homes are due in Shellharbour and Lake Macquarie by the end of the year.

Modern Methods of Construction slashes build time by up to 20% and supports around 100 local manufacturing and construction jobs. The homes are being built by Smithfield-based supplier Wild Modular and will be managed by Homes NSW.

This new approach is guided by the Modular Housing Taskforce and is part of the Government’s plan to scale up Modern Methods of Construction– including prefabrication, offsite builds, and cutting-edge tech – to get more high-quality homes on the ground faster.

Each of the first sites will feature a one-bedroom plus multipurpose room modular home installed in the backyard of an existing social housing property, creating extra homes for people in need on the land we already own.

Modern Methods of Construction refers to the wide variety of construction methods that are different to traditional onsite construction. This includes prefabrication, off-site manufacturing, and modular or volumetric dwellings, as well as new technologies such as 3D printing, robotics, and artificial intelligence (AI).

For more information visit: http://www.nsw.gov.au/homes-nsw/MMC

NSW Minister for Housing and Homelessness Rose Jackson said:

“This is the future of social housing – smarter, faster, modern and built to provide tenants dignity. Modular homes aren’t ‘shit-boxes’ they are the future.

“We’re using modern construction to deliver beautiful homes for people who need them most, cutting wait times and creating good local jobs along the way.

“These homes show what’s possible when we stop dragging our feet and start thinking differently.”

Wild Modular Co-founder & Executive Director, Tahi Merrilees said:

“Our team are proud to support Homes NSW in delivering this program which proves that there is a smarter, faster, and more sustainable solution to the state’s housing needs.

“These homes reflect the what’s possible with volumetric modular construction—designed with precision, built under controlled conditions, and installed with minimal disruption.

“Modern methods of construction isn’t just about efficiency; it’s about innovating with dignity, and quality, building a better future for our communities.”

The Mount Druitt community is being provided with their first look at plans for the expanded Mount Druitt Hospital. 

The Minns Labor Government is investing $120 million in the upgrade of Blacktown and Mount Druitt Hospitals to provide expanded and contemporary acute medical and surgical capacity.

The project will include 60 additional beds across Blacktown and Mount Druitt Hospitals.

The plans show the area for the planned upgrades, which will deliver modern health care facilities to service one of the country’s fastest-growing communities.

A mix of new and refurbished clinical areas and support spaces will form part of the redevelopment. 

Welcoming and culturally inclusive spaces for consumers, staff, and visitors will be central to the planning and design process.

Staff, stakeholders and the community are invited to attend an information session at Mount Druitt Hospital to meet the project team and learn more:

• Mount Druitt Hospital main entrance
• Thursday, 22 May 2025 at 9:00am-11:00am

Staff, stakeholders, and the community will continue to be consulted as the project progresses.

Planning and design will continue throughout 2025, with construction timeframes to be finalised as part of planning and once a builder has been appointed.

Construction work will be carried out in stages to minimise disruption to clinical services, which will remain operational throughout the redevelopment.

The project will build on the $700 million expansion of Blacktown and Mount Druitt Hospitals completed in 2020 which has expanded capacity at both hospitals. This included a new Emergency Department (ED), cancer centre, and inpatient facilities at Blacktown Hospital and additional renal dialysis and inpatient facilities at Mount Druitt Hospital.

The redevelopment is being delivered by Health Infrastructure and Western Sydney Local Health District.

For more information visit:  Blacktown and Mount Druitt Hospitals – Additional beds – Health Infrastructure NSW.

This is part of the Minns Labor Government’s delivery of more than $3 billion in hospital infrastructure across western Sydney, including:  

• $1.3 billion for the New Bankstown Hospital; 
• $550 million for the Fairfield Hospital Redevelopment;
• $910 million for the new Rouse Hill Hospital.
• $120 million for additional treatment spaces for Blacktown and Mount Druitt Hospitals; and
• $350 million for the Canterbury Hospital Redevelopment.

Minister for Health, Ryan Park:

“This is the first important stage of the $120 million investment into Blacktown and Mount Druitt Hospitals.

“The project will expand medical and surgical capacity at both hospitals boosting healthcare access for the growing local community.

“This project will minimise the need to transfer patients from Mount Druitt Emergency Department to Blacktown ED leading to more efficient operation of both EDs, and a better service offering for the community.”

Member for Mount Druitt, Edmond Atalla:

“I’m delighted to see continued investment in Blacktown and Mount Druitt Hospitals to support our growing area.

“I, along with the community look forward to seeing this project take shape as the planning and design process progresses.

“The Blacktown and Mount Druitt project is estimated to support approximately 200 direct jobs with the potential for supporting hundreds of indirect jobs.”

Graeme Loy, Chief Executive, Western Sydney Local Health District:

“This expansion will strengthen the services available to the people of Mount Druitt making a more specialised level of care available to the local community.

“Providing increased health services is essential to continuing to support the local Aboriginal community, patients and their families and carers to access the care they need at their local hospital.

“The additional medical and surgical capacity will add to the comprehensive paediatric and renal services currently available at Mount Druitt Hospital.”

NSW Ambulance has today welcomed 116 new paramedic interns and 24 trainee emergency medical call takers, after they were officially inducted into the service at a ceremony.

These new recruits will commence 12 months on-road placements to consolidate their training, prior to permanent postings across metropolitan and regional NSW, boosting frontline health services.

NSW Ambulance has welcomed 466 new recruits so far this year.

The new recruits joining the service come from a range of backgrounds and experiences, including paramedic intern Paris Alcorn who is fulfilling a long-held ambition to be a paramedic, and trainee emergency medical call taker Melissa Moore, who has previously worked as a neonatal nurse and volunteer firefighter, while juggling being a mother-of-four.

The emergency call takers will be posted to the Northern, Western and Sydney control centres.

Minister for Health, Ryan Park:

“During my time as Health Minister I’ve met many paramedics, both in larger metro areas and the bush.

“Whether they’re based in Wollongong, Broken Hill, Dungog, Kingscliff, Randwick or Liverpool they’re some of the most valued members of their communities.

“A career of service, like the one these 140 graduates are embarking on today is incredibly rewarding, and I wish them the very best as they head out across the state.”

NSW Ambulance Chief Executive, Dr Dominic Morgan:

“These paramedics and control centre interns are stepping into a role that demands not just clinical skill, but compassion, resilience, and courage.”

“Whether responding to emergencies or supporting community healthcare, these graduates will become an integral part of NSW Ambulance”

Paris Alcorn:

“I knew my future profession would be in healthcare as a paramedic – a profession underpinned by kindness and compassion.”

“Spending time working as a teacher’s aide for children with autism, showed me how even the simplest of kind acts make such a difference to people in need.”

Melissa Moore:

“Combining my love of healthcare and emergency services, I am very excited to be working in ambulance control.”

“Knowing I am that first contact for people in need, will be very rewarding.”