16 News

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.”

The Minns Labor Government is supercharging maritime safety with a $7.6 million investment to build a state-of-the-art response vessel – right here on the NSW North Coast.

This 21-metre high-tech super vessel is the first of its kind commissioned by NSW Maritime and will be proudly built in regional NSW using local expertise, materials and suppliers.

The investment marks a major step forward in how the state prepares for and responds to emergencies, rescues and natural disasters.

Importantly, it will boost the reach, flexibility and range of NSW Maritime services, giving crews access to thousands of kilometres of ocean, including as far as Lord Howe Island.

Dubbed the maritime ‘thunderbird’, the vessel will serve as a floating command centre, capable of deploying anywhere, anytime across NSW’s vast coastal and open water network.

From tackling marine pollution and supporting disaster recovery, to coordinating safety operations during major events, this vessel will transform on-water operations.

When complete, the vessel will be fully equipped with:

• Thermal imaging and satellite communication
• Drone launching capability
• Two jet skis and a 5.4-metre tender for shallow or congested areas
• Accommodation for eight crew for extended missions
• Live-streaming tech linking directly to the State Marine Incident Coordination Centre (SMICC) at Rozelle and Coffs Harbour for real-time emergency coordination
• Cutting-edge pollution response gear – ensuring it’s first on scene when oil spills or marine threats endanger our beaches, sea life and pristine waterways

Construction is already underway near Yamba, with local firm Yamba Welding and Engineering leading the build and Harwood Marine supplying the hull – supporting skilled jobs and boosting advanced manufacturing capability in Northern NSW.

Delivery of the vessel is expected in early 2027 and when not on a mission, the boat will be based at the SMICC in Rozelle.

This investment reinforces the Minns Labor Government’s commitment to protecting the environment, backing regional industry and manufacturing and building safer, more resilient communities.

Minister for Regional Transport Jenny Aitchison said:

“This isn’t just a boat, it’s a floating command centre.

“Not only will this state-of-the-art vessel enhance our response to marine incidents and natural disasters, but it also showcases the talent of our North Coast marine industry.

“It’s the first time NSW Maritime has commissioned a vessel of this kind. It will be fitted with pollution response gear, thermal imaging, satellite communications, drone launching capability, and accommodation for eight crew, enabling long-range missions.

“The Minns Labor Government is delivering the technology, jobs and emergency response capability needed to protect our coastline and support communities across all parts of NSW.”

Minister for Recovery and the North Coast, Janelle Saffin said:

“I am pleased to see the North Coast leading the way in innovation in how NSW recovers from disasters.

“It provides real peace of mind for communities up and down the Coast, knowing there is additional help close at hand.

“It is good to be part of a government that is committed to delivering this marine vessel, which is part of our response to disasters and making communities more resilient.”

NSW Maritime Executive Director Mark Hutchings said:

“This is a game-changer for maritime response in NSW.

“It shows how far NSW Maritime has come, and where we’re going.

“While it will be based at Rozelle, this vessel will be able to rapidly deploy throughout our waterways. From Botany Bay to the border communities on the Tweed and Eden. From Lake Macquarie to the Hawkesbury, up the Clarence and as far as Lord Howe Island.

“Whether it’s an oil spill in our shipping corridors, a flood emergency up the Clarence River or maritime safety on Sydney Harbour during New Year’s Eve, this vessel can do it all. It’s fast, flexible and built specifically for our waters.”

The Minns Labor Government is continuing its efforts to deliver connectivity and safety to communities, extending the Mount Ousley interchange project to include a $12 million shared pedestrian and cyclist bridge and shared path.

This follows overwhelming support received from the community during recent consultation for solutions for pedestrians and cyclists to cross busy Mount Ousley Road in safety.

The scope of the joint NSW-Australian Government project will include an accessible cyclist and pedestrian bridge and connecting paths. Work on the bridge and paths will now move into detailed design.

During the consultation period, Transport for NSW received 233 pieces of feedback, with more than 80 per cent of respondents agreeing that the shared path bridge would improve access to key destinations and encourage walking and cycling in the area.

The bridge was recognised by the community as a safer alternative to crossing Mount Ousley Road and a valuable link to surrounding suburbs and key destinations, such as the University of Wollongong and TAFE.

Maintaining safe and accessible traffic conditions on Dumfries Avenue emerged as a priority for residents, with concerns raised that single vehicle slow points may result in congestion and cause access issues for larger vehicles including buses. Transport and Wollongong City Council will continue to work together to carefully design traffic calming measures to enhance safety and minimise congestion, taking into consideration all road users.

Incorporating a fully accessible parking space to provide access to the shared path and bridge for all users was highlighted as a key concern for some stakeholders. In response to this feedback, Transport is developing a design for an accessible parking space in the cul-de-sac adjacent to the southern side of Mount Ousley Road. 

During the consultation period, 73 per cent of respondents agreed that additional vegetation clearing would be necessary to realise the benefits that the new bridge would deliver, with comments received highlighting the importance of maximising vegetation retention and replanting with appropriate species where possible.

Other feedback focussed on bridge materials and colours, Aboriginal cultural heritage interpretation, signage and wayfinding, and lighting. Feedback received on these elements will be considered as the detailed design phase progresses.

Following a period of detailed design, construction of the new shared path and bridge will begin in 2026 and be completed in time for the opening of the new interchange.

The additional funding for the bridge and connecting paths, combined with minor enhancements identified during detailed design for the project, now brings the total commitment from the Minns and Albanese Labor Governments for the project to around $400 million.

A copy of the consultation summary report is available at: www.transport.nsw.gov.au/projects/current-projects/mount-ousley-road-shared-path-bridge

An updated project animation provides the community and stakeholders with an overview of how the new interchange will operate once it open:   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C3k_hGiTw1Q&feature=youtu.be

Minister for the Illawarra and the South Coast Ryan Park said:

“The community has spoken loud and clear – this bridge is a much-needed link that will make it safer and easier to walk or cycle across Mount Ousley Road.

“It’s fantastic to see overwhelming local support helping drive this project forward, and I’m proud that the NSW Government is investing an additional $12 million to finalise planning and construct the shared path and bridge over Mount Ousley Road.”

Minister for Roads Jenny Aitchison said:

“Labor always cares about safety on our roads, and I am proud that we have been able to find additional funds for this important public safety project.

“There is no doubt the interchange will bring great benefits to the community but it’s essential as part of it that there are safe crossings that enable pedestrians and cyclists to get around what is a vibrant community precinct.”

Federal Member for Cunningham Alison Byrnes said:

“We know how important this bridge is for the community to improve safety, promote active transport and keep that vital accessibility with the University and TAFE.

“Local people want to see restoration of our vegetation and habitat, thoughtful design, minimised disruption and long-term care of rehabilitated areas, and I am really pleased that this feedback has been incorporated into the detailed design.

“I’d also like thank all the community representatives on the stakeholder working group for their collaboration in ensuring we get the best possible outcome on this critical project. This is a great example of the fantastic results we can achieve when three levels of government work together constructively for our community.”

NSW Member for Wollongong Paul Scully said:

“This additional investment by the Minns Government in the Mount Ousley Interchange Upgrade will deliver an even better outcome.

“Local federal and state MP’s have worked with community representatives to advocate for the inclusion of a pedestrian and bike bridge connection, along with the funding for it, making sure that this massive project will secure transport improvements for all users – from those on foot to those driving a B-double.

“The interchange project, addition of pedestrian and cycling connections and restoration of vegetation means that we have been able to secure benefits from this project for people that deliver massive safety and productivity benefits along with good outcomes for the built and natural environments.”

Today, New South Wales has lost a quiet giant. Father Chris Riley AM didn’t just serve the young and vulnerable, he gave them back their future. Where others saw brokenness, he saw potential. Where others walked away, he leaned in.
 
Through Youth Off The Streets, he lit a path for tens of thousands of young people, kids who were cold, hungry, and written off, showing them that they were not alone, not forgotten, and never beyond hope. One food van in Kings Cross became a movement. A sanctuary. A second chance.
 
Father Riley’s legacy will not be measured in awards or headlines, but in the eyes of every young person who found shelter, support, and strength because of him.
 
To his family, his community, and the countless lives he touched, on behalf of the NSW Opposition we grieve with you. And to every young person still finding their way, you mattered to Father Chris. And you matter to all of us.
 
May he rest peacefully, knowing the light he gave this world will never dim.