16 News

Following the announcement in 2023 that the former Feros Care Village in Byron Bay would close, residents of the much loved and vital community asset faced an uncertain future.

Today, the renamed George’s Cottages is thriving under the new management of St Andrews Village Byron Bay Ltd, with a secure 40-year lease and major improvements to its facilities.

The dramatic turnaround followed a coordinated effort by the NSW Government, Crown Lands, Byron Shire Council, Member for Ballina, Member for Richmond and Federal Government, together with passionate residents and community advocates to find a new operator to keep the facility open.

Minister for Lands and Property Steve Kamper toured the site today to meet with management and residents and inspect the significant progress that has been made to improve the quality of life for residents.

St Andrews stepped up to deliver a smooth transition and a strong commitment to resident care, delivering $3 million in upgrades to enhance residents’ well-being.

Major refurbishments that have been completed include:

• Upgrades to all 40 resident rooms and shared spaces, enhancing safety and functionality while preserving the familiar cottage-style character
• Full landscaping and revitalisation of four central courtyards, including accessible pathways, seating, and garden features
• Replacement of the fire safety system and comprehensive electrical upgrades to ensure safety, compliance and efficiency.

Works will commence shortly on a $3.5 million upgrade to the George’s Cottages aged care facility, located on Crown land in Byron Bay, to deliver an improved experience for residents.

The $3.5 million grant from the Federal Government will support the redesign and upgrade of all 40 ensuites, address drainage and stormwater issues, improve building exteriors, and deliver further landscaping enhancements.

Work to deliver the further upgrades will begin shortly, with St Andrews to work closely with residents to ensure they are comfortable and supported throughout.

Minister for Lands and Property Steve Kamper said:

“The dedicated management of St Andrews and the significant improvements to the facilities at George’s Cottages have made a real difference to residents’ comfort, accessibility, and security.

“It’s rewarding to see the residents, who advocated so strongly for their homes alongside Crown Lands, council and the Federal Government, experiencing the benefits of those collective efforts.”

St Andrews Chief Executive Officer Todd Yourell said:

“Aged care facilities play a vital role in providing safe housing and essential services, and as a community-based organisation St Andrews is focused on investing in the wellbeing and quality of life of the residents it supports.

“St Andrews has been prioritising the residents of George’s Cottages throughout the delivery of the facility upgrades to ensure both their immediate and long-term comfort.”

Federal Member for Richmond Justine Elliot said:

“After the devastating news that Feros Care would close Byron Bay’s Feros Village, Federal and State Labor Governments worked together with the community in 2023 to find a new provider, St. Andrew’s, to keep the site open for residents.

“I’m proud to have delivered more than $3.5 million in federal funding to support St Andrew’s to continue delivering the very best care and support for our local seniors at George’s Cottages.”

Member for Ballina Tamara Smith said:

“Too often, older voices are sidelined in conversations that affect them most. It has been a privilege to support such a remarkable group, and uplifting to witness these elders step forward and speak out with such determination for the future of their home.”

“It is so powerful to see what can be achieved when a community comes together. We are so pleased to know that the care and support of the residents is now safe in the hands of St Andrews to look after our older people with the dignity and respect they deserve.”

21 experienced officers will officially join the ranks of the NSW Police Force (NSWPF) today after graduating from the Professional Mobility Program (PMP), a recruitment program designed by the Minns Labor Government to address the shortage of police officers and boost community safety.

The graduates are from Queensland (3), Victoria (5), South Australia (1), Northern Territory (1), the Australian Federal Police (4) and New Zealand (7).    

These officers have completed a 12-week training course and will start at their new home stations from Monday.    

The Professional Mobility Program allows current serving police officers from other jurisdictions within Australia and New Zealand to train and become police officers in NSW, while keeping their equivalent rank (up to Senior Constable level six).

Previously, there was no pathway for officers to move to NSW and keep their equivalent rank.

The 21 officers will be stationed across NSW:

• Central Metropolitan Region – 2
• Northwest Region – 2
• Northern Region – 10
• Southwest Metropolitan Region – 3
• Southern Region – 2
• Western Region – 2

Most graduates worked in General Duties at their past policing jurisdictions. Others worked in highway patrol, prosecutions, crash investigation, specialist units and detectives.

They are aged between 28 to 54 years old.

The former Liberal-National Government had no plan for police recruitment, no plan for police retention and drove wages backwards for over a decade. Thousands of experienced officers left the force as a result.

The Minns Labor Government is working hard to turn that around by delivering better frontline services and supporting the NSW Police Force to keep communities safe.

While there is most work to do, we have:

• Delivered a historic pay rise for police officers;
• Started to pay recruits to train, resulting in a 70 per cent increase in applications to join the NSWPF;
• Allowed graduates to serve closer to home via Be a Cop In Your Hometown;
• Fast-tracked experienced officers to transfer to NSW via the Professional Mobility Program;
• Established the Health, Safety and Wellbeing Command to support officers’ physical and mental health.

Premier of NSW Chris Minns said:

“This is about rebuilding the essential services that communities across NSW rely on – starting with the people who keep us safe.

“For too long, police stations across NSW were left short-staffed and overstretched. We’re working hard to recruit more police with real reform, better pay, and practical pathways for experienced officers to get to work in NSW.

“These new officers bring a wealth of experience to the job – whether they’ve served in general duties, crash investigation, or specialist units. They’re ready to hit the ground running and make a difference in their communities.

“This is what rebuilding looks like – more officers, better support, and safer communities.”

Minister for Police and Counter-terrorism Yasmin Catley said:

“Today’s graduates aren’t just new recruits – they’re seasoned professionals from across Australia and New Zealand who’ve chosen to make NSW their home.

“This is more than a career move – this is a life decision and it speaks volumes about the strength and reputation of the NSW Police Force.

“With paid study, historic pay rises and new pathways to help regional recruits stay close to home, there’s never been a better time to join. We’re proud to welcome these officers to the NSW police family today.”

NSW Police Force Deputy Commissioner Dean Smith said:

“Today we see 21 PMP recruits graduate in NSW after having started their policing careers at other Australian and New Zealand policing jurisdictions.

“They have completed 12 weeks’ training at the Police Academy, and from today are appointed as probationary constables for a period of 6 months.

“Each of these officers brings invaluable past experience from each of their individual jurisdictions, and we are delighted they have demonstrated a commitment to serve the people of NSW.

“This program is providing a boost to police numbers which will greatly help us best serve our communities.”

Transport for NSW is warning people to expect major delays and disruptions across Sydney’s road and public transport network this Sunday, 3 August, due to a public assembly. 

A public assembly across the Sydney Harbour Bridge will result in the closure of north and southbound lanes of traffic from around 11:30am to around 4:00pm, but may be later.

Motorists and passengers should delay non-essential travel in the Sydney CBD and North Sydney during the closure, and if you must travel, allow plenty of additional journey time to get around Sydney on Sunday.

The Sydney Harbour Bridge closure will have a flow-on effect across the road and public transport network throughout the day.

Other roads in the Sydney CBD and North Sydney will also be closed at various points during the day and there will also be a significant amount of congestion in the Sydney CBD and North Sydney, and potentially surrounding areas.

There will be extensive queues in both directions to the Sydney Harbour Tunnel which will extend to the Western Distributor, Anzac Bridge, Rozelle Interchange as well as Eastern Distributor in the south, and also the Gore Hill Freeway and Lane Cove Tunnel and all of the roads linking into these major corridors.  

For any critical travel, such as going to the Airport from the north shore, we suggest people allow plenty of time, or consider alternative routes such as the Gladesville Bridge and Victoria Road.

It is important that motorists follow instructions from the tunnel operators if there is any queuing in tunnels.

Bus services that cross the Sydney Harbour Bridge will terminate at North Sydney or Wynyard during the closure times. Travellers should expect crowding at platforms on and around North Sydney and Wynyard stations. Passengers should also allow extra travel time. 

Due to scheduled trackwork Metro services will not run between Tallawong and Sydenham on Sunday. Buses replace services between Tallawong and Chatswood only.

Use trains between Chatswood, the City and Sydenham.

Buses also replace trains between Central and Bondi Junction on the T4 Eastern Suburbs & Illawarra Line and South Coast Line on Sunday. 

Ferries may also be overcrowded due to commuters utilising this mode of transport.

There will be no light rail between Circular Quay and Town Hall. The L2 Randwick and L3 Kingsford light rail line will truncate at Town Hall from 12pm and will reopen when deemed safe to do so. 

Motorists and passengers should stay across any updates to services by checking transportnsw.info/alerts and get the latest road updates by visiting the Live Traffic app or livetraffic.com.

Transport for NSW apologises to our passengers for the disruption and thanks commuters for their understanding. 

For the latest information visit:

• Road closure information and real-time traffic conditions, check livetraffic.com or visit the Live Traffic app
• Transport disruptions, check travel alerts

The Minns Labor Government is continuing work to build a safer New South Wales for victim-survivors of domestic and family violence, with an investment of more than $6.4 million into a new Core and Cluster refuge to be built by Orana Support Service.

The refuge will have six self-contained units and is designed to be inclusive of women and children with disability. A children’s play area and pet-friendly common spaces will also cater for all types of families who stay there.

On site support services, which are a feature of the Core and Cluster model, include a mixture of communal and private spaces to facilitate services such as counselling, legal assistance and group programs.

Other features will include meeting rooms and advanced technology to allow residents to participate remotely in court hearings, if required.

The NSW Government has invested $426.6 million over four years in the Core and Cluster program, which provides crisis accommodation and on-site support services to women and children escaping domestic and family violence.

Once all 49 new Core and Cluster refuges are completed, they will support more than an additional 2,900 victim-survivors of domestic violence each year.

This is part of a wider effort by the Minns Labor Government to support women and children escaping domestic and family violence, including boosting frontline services such as the Staying Home Leaving Violence Program, strengthening bail laws, earlier intervention and primary prevention.

The government has also invested an historic $5.1 billion in social and affordable housing, with at least half of new homes built prioritised for victim-survivors of domestic and family violence.

Minister for Housing and Homelessness Rose Jackson said:

“When a woman makes the courageous decision to leave an abusive relationship, she should not have to worry about whether she will have a safe place to stay, or whether her children will have a bed to sleep in.

“This Core and Cluster refuge in Coonamble will ensure that women and children escaping domestic and family violence will be supported with crisis accommodation and on-site services to heal from abuse and rebuild their lives.

“Victim-survivors will not have to choose between homelessness and staying in a violent and abusive relationship anymore once this refuge is up and running.”

Minister for the Prevention of Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Jodie Harrison said:

“Coonamble Shire has one of the highest rates of recorded domestic violence related assault in the state, and there is a great need for more crisis support and accommodation for domestic violence victim-survivors in this area.

“Women and children fleeing violent and abusive homes have experienced trauma, and this Core and Cluster refuge will provide a safe place for residents to heal and recover from the trauma they’ve endured.

“Core and Cluster refuges are an important addition to the wraparound support we continue to provide victim-survivors because they not only provide a safe and secure place when they leave, on-site services also help them rebuild their lives so they can live free from violence.”

Independent Member for Barwon Roy Butler MP said:

“This is a very welcome announcement from the NSW Government for the Coonamble community. Domestic violence is often exacerbated in small rural and regional towns due to the challenge of finding safe and appropriate accommodation for victims and their families. These facilities will provide a much-needed safe and supportive environment for people experiencing family or domestic violence, it will allow victims time to recover and the space to plan for their future.”

Tina Reynolds CEO of Orana Support Service said:

“Orana Support Service is committed to expanding our provision of safe emergency and crisis accommodation into the Coonamble region, and this new Core and Cluster refuge will do just that for women and children fleeing domestic and family violence.

“We are proud to partner with the NSW Government to build this refuge, which will be a safe place that will promote healing and hope for women and children who have experienced trauma.

“Once completed, the residents of this refuge will be supported to move forward with their lives, develop skills and find safe, longer-term accommodation.”

In the latest boost for screen industry jobs, the Minns Labor Government has agreed to support a proposed Coffs Harbour film studio with a noise wall next to the neighbouring highway.

The privately owned Pacific Bay Resort is proposing a $600 million film studio and associated developments. The proponent has indicated funding for a noise wall on its boundary with the Coffs Harbour Bypass is a potential barrier to the film studio going ahead.

The NSW Government is committing to provide a $5.5 million grant and assistance with Transport approvals for the noise wall if the proponents receive development approval and construction work on the studio project commences.

This announcement comes after the recent commitment for a $100 million capital fund to begin the search for a second major studio location in Sydney. This will address the current shortage of production space in Sydney, with the only large-scale film studio at Moore Park being used exclusively by Disney Studios Australia.

This was part of a $380 million package in the 2025-26 Budget to support the world-leading NSW screen and digital games sector.

NSW is the home for screen production in Australia and our local screen industry is full of highly creative, highly skilled workers.

The importance of this industry for the NSW economy cannot be understated, with the screen sector contributing over $1 billion in expenditure and employing over 13,000 people. The screen sector generated additional expenditure in hospitality, tourism and transport, particularly in our regional areas where these dollars are needed.

NSW regional communities benefit from screen production with notable projects including Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga in the Far West, The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart in the Hunter Valley Region, The Narrow Road to The Deep North in the Illawarra region, and Nine Perfect Strangers and God’s Favourite Idiot in Northern NSW.

Minister for the Arts John Graham said:

“We’re making sure that a noise wall is no barrier to screen investment. So once work on the studio gets underway, the government will provide funds for the noise wall.

“A private investment in studio facilities in Coffs Harbour would be extremely welcome.

“The more studio space we have in NSW, the more productions and jobs we can attract.

“Having quality film productions on the mid-north coast would be a great win for the local economy. Regional communities play a vitally important role in our screen sector, providing incredible locations. skills, stories and hospitality.” 

Minister for Roads Jenny Aitchison said:

“The NSW Government has come to the table to enable investment in film jobs on the North Coast now we’re excited to see them progress their project.

“This is an example of the Minns Labor Government building better communities to support jobs and investment in the regions. This will be a huge positive economic benefit to the entire North Coast.

“We hope the artists and businesspeople backing this development see government is behind them as they embark on making this plan a reality for ongoing investment and jobs in Coffs Harbour.”

Minister for the North Coast Janelle Saffin said:

“This is a welcome milestone in the realisation of a major new employment hub for the North Coast.

“Many film professionals already live on the coast and this proposal for sound stages and film facilities will create a new world of creative opportunity.

“We look forward to the realisation of this visionary project and all that it means for the North Coast community.”