WESTMEAD TRANSFORMATION ON THE WAY

Detailed new plans to transform Westmead into Australia’s most significant and dynamic health and innovation district have been released by the NSW Government.
Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Rob Stokes said the draft Westmead Place Strategy outlines a vision for a national centre for excellence in health, research and education.
“Westmead is already Sydney’s medical capital, home to leading researchers, entrepreneurs, health workers and students, but these plans will provide the precinct with a refresh and a platform to build even further,” Mr Stokes said.
“The arrival of the Sydney Metro West will be the catalyst for major change, transforming the area with a mix of housing types, better public transport, walking and cycling connections and thousands of jobs close to homes in Western Sydney.”
Minister for Jobs, Investment, Tourism and Western Sydney Stuart Ayres said Westmead will become a model 21st century smart city with a vision for approximately 50,000 jobs located close to transport and homes.
“This dynamic strategy will secure Westmead as one of Australia’s most significant hubs for jobs, investment and research of the future,” Mr Ayres said.
“This will be a precinct that everyone across Western Sydney can be truly proud of.”
Minister for Skills and Tertiary Education and Member for Parramatta Geoff Lee said the draft strategy will encourage new tertiary opportunities for Westmead allowing for synergies with the health cluster.
“Our strategic vision will put people at the centre of future development with a focus on pedestrian-friendly streets and new community facilities, including exploring potential new river crossings to improve access,” Mr Lee said.
“We will protect heritage buildings and find ways they can be repurposed for new community uses, where appropriate.”


Westmead has been divided into seven sub-precincts, each defined by its own purpose and distinct character to create an integrated, coherent and sustainable community.
The seven sub-precincts are:

  • Westmead South Precinct: A walkable residential neighbourhood, transformed by the proposed Metro Station to increase connectivity, offering housing choice and diversity, with an urban village at its heart;

 

  • Health and Innovation Precinct: Westmead’s engine room, defined by its world-class health, research, education and innovation facilities;

 

  • Westmead East Precinct: A bustling neighbourhood offering housing diversity, a thriving high street along Hawkesbury Road with connections to Parramatta;

 

  • Northmead Employment Precinct: An employment precinct that has the potential to capitalise on advance manufacturing and support health businesses. The precinct will take advantage of Toongabbie Creek to improve amenity and connections to the Health and Innovation Sub-Precinct;

 

  • Northmead Residential Precinct: An amenity-led residential neighbourhood embracing its proximity to Toongabbie Creek;

 

  • Northmead Enterprise Precinct: A revitalised enterprise precinct that strengthen the role of providing commercial and urban services to the local community; and

 

  • Parramatta North Precinct: A mixed use precinct set within a highly valued heritage and parkland setting. The precinct will attract new investment and renewal with facilities in innovation, tertiary education, enterprise, vibrant public domain spaces, community and cultural uses and housing diversity.

Following finalisation of this strategy, the Greater Sydney Commission will coordinate a whole of government response to deliver on the potential at Westmead. For more information and to have your say visit www.planning.nsw.gov.au/westmead

MORE GREEN DOTS IN TIME FOR SUMMER TRAVEL

More customers are being welcomed back to the public transport network today with an increase in the number of people allowed on trains, buses, ferries and light rail, in line with health advice.
Minister for Transport and Roads Andrew Constance said with community transmission remaining low, NSW Health recognises that transport usage will increase across the network.
“We know more people are moving around this summer and we are at a stage where we can safely let more people onto the public transport network to help people get back to jobs, recreational activities and public spaces in a COVID safe way,” Mr Constance said.
“A Waratah train will now be able to carry 86 customers per carriage, up from 68, and a typical two-door bus will be able to carry 27 customers, up from 23.”
NSW TrainLink services are already being booked to 50 per cent capacity, with additional demand being met by supplementary coach services, to maintain physical distancing when travelling long distances.
Transport for NSW Chief Operations Officer Howard Collins said green physical distancing dots will continue to guide customers on the best places to sit and stand on public transport.
“We have added 1,200 extra services to the 3,300 extra services rolled out in June giving customers plenty of options when planning their travel,” Mr Collins said.
“There are three simple steps for a COVID safe public transport trip – plan ahead and check physical distancing capacity, wear a mask and find a green dot.
“Enhanced cleaning continues with 1,600 extra cleaners employed and 1.5 million extra cleaning hours carried out since March 2020, while extra staff continue to help customers move through busy stations and interchanges in a COVID safe way.
“I want to thank all the commuters and businesses who have worked with us from day one and continue to work with us to keep services safe and moving.”

Woman charged after allegedly sending threatening social media messages

A woman will face court today after being charged by counter terrorism police over alleged threats sent via social media at the weekend.
Just after 1pm on Sunday (13 December 2020), officers from Sydney City Police Area Command were contacted after a media organisation received threatening messages through social media.
An investigation was subsequently launched by the High Risk Terrorist Offenders Unit, and following inquiries, a 26-year-old woman was arrested with the assistance of officers attached to Lake Macquarie Police District outside a unit complex at Mayfield about 11.10am yesterday (Monday 14 December 2020).
Investigators seized the woman’s mobile phone, which will undergo forensic examination, before she was taken to Waratah Police Station.
The Argenton woman was charged with use carriage service to menace/harass/offend and stalk/intimidate intend fear physical harm.
Police will allege in court that the woman sent messages to the media organisation via social media and made various threats over a story that had been broadcast.
She has been refused bail to appear at Newcastle Local Court today (Tuesday 15 December 2020).
Anyone with information about extremist activity or possible threats to the community should come forward, no matter how small or insignificant you may think the information may be. The National Security Hotline is 1800 123 400.
Further, information relating to any criminal activity in the community can be reported to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au. Information is treated in strict confidence. The public is reminded not to report information via NSW Police social media pages.

Charges laid over fatal crash – Lake Macquarie

A man has been charged following an investigation into a fatal crash at Lake Macquarie last month.
Emergency services were called to Wakefield Road, Ryhope, just before 7.30am on Sunday 29 November 2020, after a Toyota Corolla and a Hyundai Getz collided head-on, trapping both drivers.
The Hyundai driver, a 42year-old man, died at the scene
The Toyota driver, a 38-year-old man, was freed and taken to John Hunter Hospital suffering leg injuries. He also underwent mandatory testing.
Officers from Lake Macquarie Police District established a crime scene with the Crash Investigation Unit commencing an investigation.
Following inquiries, the 38-year-old man was arrested at Waratah Police Station today (Monday 14 December 2020).
He was charged with dangerous driving occasioning death – drive manner dangerous, negligent driving (occasioning death), and not keep left of dividing line.
The Jesmond man was granted conditional bail to appear at Newcastle Local Court on Thursday 4 February 2021.

Man charged with high-range drink driving after driving into garden bed – Tanilba Bay

A man has been charged with high-range drink driving after allegedly being caught almost six times the legal limit at Port Stephens.
About 4.30pm yesterday (Sunday 13 December 2020), police were alerted to a Izuzu D-Max utility allegedly being driven erratically throughout the Tanilba Bay area.
A member of the public approached the vehicle after it mounted the kerb in a carpark on President Wilson Walk and stopped atop a garden bed. The keys were removed from the ignition and police were notified.
Officers attached to Port Stephens-Hunter Police District attended a short time later and spoke with the driver, a 49-year-old Mallabula man.
The driver was subjected to a roadside breath test, returning a positive result. He was arrested and taken to Raymond Terrace Police Station, where he underwent a breath analysis which allegedly returned a reading of 0.288.
He was issued with a Court Attendance Notice for the offence of high-range PCA. His licence was also suspended.
The man is due to face Raymond Terrace Local Court on Monday 11 January 2021.

CCTV released as police reappeal to locate Patrick Thaidy

Police are renewing an appeal to help locate a missing man in Lake Macquarie.
Patrick Thaidy, aged 60, was last seen at his home on Delasala Drive in Macquarie Hills about 12am on Sunday 6 December 2020.
Family members reported him missing to police later that day and officers from Lake Macquarie Police District commenced inquiries into his whereabouts.
Officers from Lake Macquarie Police District have conducted several searches in bushland in Macquarie Hills, with assistance from several emergency service resources.
Police and family members hold grave concerns for Patrick’s welfare due to medical conditions and he’s never gone missing this long.
As they continue their inquiries, police have released CCTV images of Patrick on the day he was last seen.
The first image and video is taken about 9.25am on Macquarie Road at Cardiff, the second image is about half an hour later from Macquarie Road at Warners Bay.
Police are asking members of the public who may have driven down Macquarie Road or Hillsborough Road on Sunday 6 December between 9am and 12-midday and who may have dashcam footage, or anyone who may have CCTV along either of these roads to check their footage for Patrick.
He is described as being of Aboriginal/Torres Strait Islander appearance, about 175cm tall, with a medium build, short black hair, scruffy facial hair and brown eyes. He is not currently wearing his dentures.
He was last seen wearing a dark coloured long sleeve shirt, light-grey tracksuit pants tucked into black socks, and white slides
Anyone who may have seen Patrick or knows his whereabouts is urged to contact police or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Australia's climate pariah status confirmed by UN Summit speaking list

Australia has been confirmed as a climate pariah as the UN’s Climate Ambition Summit speaking list released today confirms the Prime Minister has been barred from speaking at the key international meeting.
The list also confirms the Prime Minister misled Parliament when he claimed he would be attending in the Summit.
The government this morning is also defying a Senate Order to release the rejection letter from the Summit organisers which would show the reasons why Australia has been barred.
Leader of the Australian Greens Adam Bandt MP said:
“Australia is now a climate pariah with the rest of the world turning their backs on us,” Mr Bandt said.
“The world is sending Scott Morrison a clear message that his weak 2030 targets are not enough to tackle the climate crisis.
“With Donald Trump on his way out, there is now nowhere left for Scott Morrison to hide.
“Australia now sits with Russia and Saudia Arabia in the club of climate deniers.
“World leaders recognize we are on track for climate catastrophe unless everyone lifts their ambition, but Scott Morrison refuses to do what’s needed to protect Australia and its people.
“The Prime Minister is now scrambling to create a fig leaf for his humiliation by using a Pacific Islands climate roundtable tonight to announce Australia would no longer cheat on its climate targets with so-called Kyoto credits.
“If he bullies the Pacific Island leaders like he did at the last Pacific Islands Forum, Scott Morrison risks further damaging our relationship with our neighbours.
“Committing to science-based 2030 targets and a green recovery would also help with our big problems with China.
“It is not too late for Australia. The Prime Minister should change course and join with President-elect Biden and Europe and lead the world in confronting the climate emergency.”
LIST OF CONFIRMED SPEAKERS ON 10 DECEMBER, 17:00
Afghanistan, Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Austria, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belize, Bhutan, Cambodia, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Ecuador, Ethiopia, European Union, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Germany, Grenada, Guatemala, Holy See, Honduras, Iceland, India, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kiribati, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Luxembourg, Malawi, Maldives, Marshall Islands, Mauritius, Monaco, Mongolia, Montenegro, Myanmar, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan, Panama, Peru, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Serbia, Singapore, Slovakia, Spain, Sri Lanka, Suriname, Sweden, Ukraine, United Kingdom, United Nations, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Zimbabwe
https://climateambitionsummit2020.org/

World leaves Australia behind on climate

Last night’s global Climate Ambition Summit confirmed Australia’s status as the world’s climate reject. While Scott Morrison was barred from the Summit, world leaders lined up to announce ambitious new 2030 targets and action.
The Europe Union upped their 2030 target to 55% and the UK to 68%. Japan announced they would raise their targets next year and Canada released modelling showing they would beat their 2030 target.
The Summit opened with the UN Secretary General calling on all countries to declare a climate emergency, which was followed by a long list of leaders promising more strong action, from famous cricketer turned PM Imran Khan saying Pakistan would ban coal plants to Finland’s PM announcing carbon neutrality by 2035.
Lame duck President Donald Trump wasn’t there, but President-elect Joe Biden announced just beforehand that he would lead a further summit of the world’s major economies before April next year, which will further boost 2030 ambition ahead of the Glasgow climate talks in November next year.
Lines from Greens Leader Adam Bandt MP:
“Scott Morrison’s Australia is now the world’s climate reject,” Mr Bandt said.
“Scott Morrison’s weak 2030 target doesn’t just put lives at risk, it isolates Australia.
“The PM has isolated Australia, but he won’t be able to hide when Joe Biden calls together the key world economies by April next year.
“The Liberals now have no choice but to increase Australia’s 2030 climate targets in the next few months.
“The acid is also now on Labor, who continue to let Scott Morrison of the hook by failing to put forward their own 2030 targets.
“Both Liberal and Labor are failing the climate test. I call on Scott Morrison and Anthony Albanese to join with the Australian Greens next year in declaring a climate emergency and a science-based target of 75% cut to pollution by 2030.”

$311 million for dementia, cancer and additional medical research

Twelve grant opportunities from the Morrison Government’s Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF), with a total value of almost $311 million, will launch today.
The funding aims to generate improved health care and outcomes by supporting health and medical research and innovation projects in key areas such as dementia, aged care, and applied research led by clinicians.
A total of $17.5 million is on offer for research into dementia and aged care. Dementia is the second leading cause of death in Australia, and the number one cause of death for women.
Almost half a million people are currently living with dementia in Australia, with this number expected to reach around 1.1 million in less than 30 years.
The 2020 MRFF grant opportunity from the Dementia, Ageing and Aged Care Mission targets large scale, interdisciplinary research into dementia and aged care in four streams.

  • $1 million to develop measures to assess dementia care at a local organisational level and improve its quality
  • $6 million to develop interventions for holistic and multidisciplinary care, including new digital technologies to support care, managing transitions between care types, and managing the progression of dementia
  • $8 million for research to develop better diagnostic and prognostic tools for dementia, including biological markers of disease onset and progression
  • $2.5 million for research into effective infection control practices in aged care settings and during transitions.

Through the Clinician Researchers Initiative, the Government will make $25 million available to support clinician’s research health issues of significance to their patients.
Historically, clinician researchers have faced multiple challenges to effectively combine their patient care and research roles.
Grants of up to $3 million are available for research teams comprising a mix of senior and early- to mid-career clinician researchers, and supported by academic researchers.
The research will have potential to improve outcomes for patients, address an area of high need, improve the safety, quality and effectiveness of health services, and/or improve the efficiency of health services.
Funding will be allocated across three streams—teams led by general practitioners (GPs), medical specialists, or allied health professionals.
The chosen research projects will be embedded within a health service, such as hospitals or general practices, or health networks (Primary Health Networks or Local Health Networks).
The $190.8 million MRFF Clinician Researchers initiative will build research capacity in our health system, to ensure research is matched to clinical practice and leads to improved safety and quality in health services.
The MRFF is a capital preserved fund which matured at $20 billion in July 2020. It is long-term, sustainable investment in Australian health and medical research and innovation to improve lives, build the economy and contribute to health system sustainability.
In total, our Government directly invested a record $1.28 billion in health and medical research in 2019-20, which represented 13.6 per cent of Australian Government investment in Australian research.
The Morrison Government will invest a record $6.6 billion in health and medical research between 2020-21 and 2023-24.
Details of the 2020 MRFF grant opportunities are below.

 
Grant opportunity MRFF stream Funding
2020 Dementia, Ageing and Aged Care Mission 2020 Dementia, Ageing and Aged Care Mission $17.5 million
2020 Clinician Researchers: Applied Research in Health Clinician Researchers $25 million
2020 Paediatric Cancer Emerging Priorities and Consumer Driven Research (EPCDR) $9.6 million
2020 Improving Diagnosis in Cancers with Low Survival EPCDR $25 million
2020 Rapid Applied Research Translation Rapid Applied Research Translation $55 million
2020 Early Stage Translation and Commercialisation Support Medical Research Commercialisation $79 million
2020 Genomics Health Futures Mission Genomics Health Futures Mission $45 million
2020 Stem Cell Therapies Mission Stem Cell Therapies Mission $19 million
2020 Cardiovascular Health Mission Cardiovascular Health Mission $20.3 million
2020 Traumatic Brain Injury Mission 2020 Traumatic Brain Injury Mission $4.3 million
2020 Indigenous Health Research Fund Indigenous Health Research Fund $11.1 million
Total   $310.8 million

Further to the launch to the 12 MRFF grant opportunities, public consultation opened today on the Roadmaps and Implementation Plans for six MRFF Missions: Cardiovascular Health Mission; Dementia, Ageing and Aged Care Mission; Genomics Health Futures Mission; Indigenous Health Research Fund; Stem Cell Therapies Mission; and Traumatic Brain Injury Mission.
The Roadmaps and Implementation Plans set the strategic direction for the Missions, including identifying the research questions and priorities MRFF funding will focus on. Written submissions can be made at any time via www.consultations.health.gov.au, and webinars will be held in February and/or March 2021.
Further information on the MRFF is available at www.health.gov.au/mrff and on the grant opportunities is at www.grants.gov.au.

New teaching facilities for rural doctor training in Dubbo

New purpose-built teaching facilities that will train the next generation of rural GPs in Dubbo following the Morrison McCormack Government’s investment of more than $9 million to start construction.
Federal Regional Health Minister and Member for Parkes, Mark Coulton said the new facility will boost local training opportunities and in turn, improve the future distribution of Australia’s rural medical workforce.
“A strong rural health workforce is central to improving the health of people living in rural, regional and remote Australia,” Minister Coulton said.
“We also know that when students train in rural settings, they are more likely to live and work in the regions at the end of their studies.
“Improving access to health services and creating more training opportunities in rural communities is a priority for the Federal Nationals in Government.”
Minister Coulton said the Liberal and Nationals Government investment of $9.27 million to establish the new school included more than $7 million for the construction of the new facility at the University of Sydney’s School of Rural Health in Dubbo.
“The facilities at the new medical school will include a state of the art anatomy space including 2D and 3D visual technologies, virtual and augmented reality and 3D printing, learning studios, simulation space, service rooms, and amenities,” Minister Coulton said.
“The investment in the School of Rural Health is expected to directly benefit rural communities as well as boost local jobs in construction and strengthen the region’s future health workforce.”
The program will see GPs training at locations including Broken Hill, Balranald, Bourke, Brewarrina, Dareton, Lightning Ridge, Menindee, Walgett, Wentworth, Wilcannia, Gilgandra, Forbes and Wellington.
Sydney University has a vigorous selection process that targets applicants from rural origin and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander status as well as those from the western, north western and far western NSW.  The new school is expecting its first cohort of medical students in January 2022.
The campus will be part of the Murray-Darling Medical Schools Network which enables medical students to stay in their communities while they study and train to become a doctor, increasing their likelihood of staying and working in rural areas. The school will provide an end-to-end approach to rural training.
Planning for the new medical school is well underway. Patterson Building Group will carry out the redevelopment, with completion scheduled for October next year.