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ENERGY SUPERPOWER PLAN TO TURBOCHARGE RENEWABLE ENERGY ZONES AND PUMPED HYDRO

More than 9,000 jobs and $32 billion of private investment is expected to roll into the regions by 2030, under the NSW Government’s Electricity Infrastructure Roadmap, released today.
The Roadmap lays out the Government’s 20 year plan to deliver Renewable Energy Zones, energy storage such as pumped hydro, and on demand supply like gas and batteries, needed to reduce emissions and provide cheap, reliable electricity across the State.
Deputy Premier John Barilaro said the Roadmap will deliver Australia’s first Renewable Energy Zones in the Central West and New England regions by 2030.
“The stimulus the Renewable Energy Zones will provide to regional communities will unlock over 9,000 new jobs and will be a huge boost to farmers and land owners, with $1.5 billion in lease payments expected to go to landholders hosting new infrastructure by 2042,” Mr Barilaro said.
“The Roadmap will make sure that renewables are developed where regional communities want them and where they are compatible with farming.”
Treasurer Dominic Perrottet said the Roadmap will grow the economy, create jobs and deliver an expected $32 billion of private sector investment in electricity infrastructure by the end of the next decade.
“Coming out of this crisis, not only are we stimulating the economy to create jobs now, we are looking toward the reforms NSW needs to secure our future,” Mr Perrottet said.
“This is a big productivity plus. The Roadmap will help boost our energy security and deliver to NSW some of the cheapest prices in the OECD, cutting power bills for families.”
Energy Minister Matt Kean said the Roadmap will support the private sector to bring 12 gigawatts of renewable energy and 2 gigawatts of storage, such as pumped hydro, online by 2030.
“Our priority is to keep the lights on and get power prices down, with the Roadmap forecast to save NSW households an average of $130 and small businesses an average of $430 on their electricity bills each year,” Mr Kean said.
“NSW has some of the best natural resources in the world and this Roadmap is about acting now to leverage our competitive advantage and to position NSW as an energy superpower.”
Water Minister Melinda Pavey said the Roadmap includes $50 million in grants to support the delivery of pumped hydro projects.
“Pumped hydro is a proven form of large-scale storage and NSW has some fantastic pumped hydro opportunities,” Ms Pavey said.
“This plan delivers the long term certainty needed for the private sector to invest now and drive jobs and investment in the regions.”
Member for Dubbo Dugald Saunders said the Roadmap cements the region as the renewable hub of the future.
“Our community is thrilled to have the State’s first Renewable Energy Zone right here in the Central West unlocking opportunities for jobs and investment that will be the foundation for our future prosperity,” Mr Saunders said.
The Roadmap sets out a plan to modernise the State’s electricity infrastructure by:

Cutting red-tape and speeding up approvals for transmission infrastructure in Renewable Energy Zones, while protecting the interests of consumers,
Creating a long term investment signal for new generation in Renewable Energy Zones, long duration storage such as pumped hydro, and on demand supply, like gas and batteries, and
Making sure that renewable projects proceed where local communities want them and in ways that are consistent with farming.

For further information and to view the Roadmap visit: https://energy.nsw.gov.au/government-and-regulation/electricity-infrastructure-roadmap

Missing woman and dog located – Hunter region

A missing elderly woman from the Hunter and her dog have been located safe and well this morning.
The 82-year-old was last seen about 6.20pm yesterday (Sunday 8 November 2020), at her home in Abermain, when she told her husband she was walking the dog.
Following extensive inquiries, she and her Maltese terrier, Susie, was located near Neath about 9.35am today (Monday 9 November 2020), both safe and well.
Police would like to thank the public and media for their assistance.

Search to resume for Hunter woman missing while walking her dog

Police are set to resume searching for an 82-year-old woman who has gone missing from her home in the Hunter region overnight.
Mrs Joy Morrow was last seen about 6.20pm (Sunday 8 November 2020), at her home in Abermain, when she told her husband she was walking the dog, but has not been sighted since
Officers from Hunter Valley Police District were alerted and a ground and air search commenced involving local police, SES volunteers, residents and the police airwing, PolAir.
The search has continued throughout the night but has been temporarily suspended with it to resume about 7.30am.
Police are renewing their appeal for anyone who may have seen Mrs Morrow, or her dog Susie, to call Muswellbrook Police or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
Mrs Morrow is described as being of Caucasian appearance, about 152cm tall and 80kg with a solid build and short dark hair; she speaks with an Irish accent.
At the time she was wearing a multi-coloured shirt with ¾ sleeves, black skirt and slippers. She was walking with her 13-year-old Maltese terrier called Susie. Mrs Morrow may appear disoriented or confused.
Police are especially asking local residents to check their sheds, backyards and garages in case Mrs Morrow has taken shelter overnight.
Anyone who may have seen Mrs Morrow is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Appeal to find Hunter woman missing while walking her dog

Police are appealing for assistance to find an 82-year-old woman who has gone missing from her home in the Hunter region.
Mrs Joy Morrow was last seen about 6.20pm (Sunday 8 November 2020), at her home in Abermain but has not been sighted since and officers from Hunter Valley Police District were alerted.
Mrs Morrow is described as being of Caucasian appearance, about 152cm tall and 80kg with a solid build and short dark hair; she speaks with an Irish accent.
At the time she was wearing a multi-coloured shirt with ¾ sleeves, black skirt and slippers. She was walking with her 13-year-old Maltese terrier called Susie. Mrs Morrow may appear disoriented or confused.
A search of the area is now underway by local police with PolAir assisting.
Anyone who may have seen Mrs Morrow is urged to contact Muswellbrook Police or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

National Incident Centre: a year of continuous operation

For the first time in its history, Australia’s National Incident Centre (NIC) has been activated continuously for more than one year, working across Government to respond to unprecedented health emergencies faced by Australia and the world.
The NIC was activated in November 2019 in response to a measles outbreak in Samoa, and continued to act during the 2019–20 bushfires, the Whakaari Island volcano eruption and, most recently, the COVID-19 pandemic.
From December 2019 and into January 2020, the NIC was concurrently managing three different situations, also for the first time ever.
I want to thank all of the extraordinarily talented, dedicated and hardworking staff of the National Incident Centre over the past year. Led by the Department of Health, the staff have been drawn from across Government, including the ADF.
Their work around the clock allowed Australia to maintain an air bridge for critical and scarce global supplies of personal protective equipment (PPE) and test kits at a time of international shortage. The NIC has literally been the Operations Headquarters for Australia’s national response to the pandemic.
Never has the National Incident Centre been more important, and its worth is shown in the Medical Journal of Australia’s paper, which attributes the saving of 16,000 lives to the comprehensive and early nature of Australia’s response.
The staff of the NIC have embodied the concept of real and profound public service. We are fortunate to have had such a well-prepared and well-drilled centre as the NIC in place before the pandemic. We are even more fortunate to have such an extraordinarily capable and dedicated team to help save lives and protect lives across Australia.
As the Department of Health’s emergency operations centre, the NIC coordinates Australia’s health emergency response to national and international incidents. It is also the primary means of communication between the World Health Organization and Australia for public health events, including the COVID-19 pandemic.
A significant accomplishment was distributing millions of masks and other PPE from the National Medical Stockpile in response to the bushfires and COVID-19 to states and territories, aged care facilities, disability service providers and Primary Health Networks.
As part of the COVID-19 response, key staff from a range of agencies across the APS were seconded to help operate the NIC. At its peak, the NIC engaged more than 200 employees, including liaison officers from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Australian Border Force and the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet. Surge staff have included epidemiologists and analysts from the Department of Defence, the Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment and the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare.
The NIC has also engaged in public information, community awareness and communications. The Australian Government has the strongest commitment to informing the community about the latest health advice and developments. This includes a national campaign, website, fact sheets, media liaison and social media.
The NIC was first formally activated for the SARS outbreak of 2003. It has since been activated for a range of emergencies including the Indian Ocean tsunami in 2004, the Bali bombings of 2005, the H1N1 Pandemic in 2009, the Victorian bushfires of 2009, and the Christchurch earthquake of 2011.
I thank the hardworking public servants in the NIC, which will remain activated for as long as this national health emergency demands.

Missing man located – Lake Macquarie

A man reported missing from Lake Macquarie has been located safe and well.
The 59-year-old Macquarie Hills man was reported missing about 3.00am on Tuesday 3 November 2020 by members of his family.
About 10am today (Sunday 8 November 2020), police received notification from the man’s family that he had returned home.
Police would like to thank the public and the media for their assistance.

Driver charged after passenger killed in single-vehicle crash in Hunter

A driver has been charged after a passenger died in a single-vehicle crash in the Hunter region overnight.
Emergency services were called to Anambah Road at Rutherford, 8km north-east of Maitland, shortly after
9pm (Saturday 7 November 2020), after a Ford utility left the roadway and hit a guard rail.
The front passenger seat was thrown from the vehicle.
Officers from Port Stephens-Hunter Police District attended and commenced inquiries.
The passenger, a 29-year-old man, was declared deceased at the scene.
The driver, a 33-year-old man, was arrested and taken to John Hunter Hospital for mandatory testing, before being taken to Maitland Police Station.
He was charged with dangerous driving occasioning death – drive manner dangerous, and negligent driving (occasioning death).
The man has been granted conditional bail to appear at Maitland Local Court on Wednesday 9 December 2020.
A report will be prepared for the Coroner.

Missing teen located – Lake Macquarie

A teenage boy reported missing from the Lake Macquarie area has been located safe and well.
The 16-year-old from Morisset was reported missing about 6.00pm on Friday 6 November 2020 by members of his family.
About 2.00pm today (Sunday 8 November 2020), police from Lake Macquarie Police District received notification from the boy’s family that he had found at a house in Dudley.
Police would like to thank the public and the media for their assistance.

Newcastle Art Gallery resumes tours and programs

Newcastle Art Gallery is set to reintroduce face-to-face educational programs and regular opening hours of 10am – 5pm Tuesday to Sunday as COVID-19 restrictions ease.
The Gallery will maintain its contact tracing systems, additional cleaning and will limit visitor numbers to adhere to physical distancing requirements and ensure a safe environment is maintained for all patrons.
Public programs, including Art Cart, will recommence from November 14 with a maximum capacity of 10 participants and their parent/guardian per session. Guided tours will also recommence with a limited capacity per group, facilitated by volunteer guides. See the website for session times and booking information.
Art Cart engages children with the exhibitions on display through discussion and art making. Led by Gallery educators, every weekend Art Cart engages with a different work of art on display, and the event is staged in the Gallery space as close as possible to the original work. Bookings are required as Art Cart will be initially returning every Saturday for two sessions and places will be limited.
Newcastle Art Gallery will continue to offer its digital programs. For more information, visit www.nag.org.au/home

Newcastle Art Gallery ready to rock with rare images of music royalty

Music lovers will be given a backstage pass to some of the biggest bands and gigs in the world when Newcastle Art Gallery showcases rarely seen and previously unreleased photographs of Australian and international musicians.
At a time when COVID-19 restrictions have seriously curtailed the slew of gigs usually packed into our summer music schedules, the Gallery is thrusting visitors into the thick of the action with its upcoming exhibition, WE CAN BE HEROES: a backstage pass.

From homegrown local musicians to international superstars, the exhibition showcases major acts from the 70s through to the contemporary heroes of today, including everyone from The Beatles, David Bowie and Iggy Pop, to Dave Grohl, Gang of Youths, Midnight Oil and Silverchair.
The images will also take audiences into the epicentre of festivals such as Austin City Limits, Big Day Out, and Lollapalooza, featuring the work of leading Australian music photographers including Charlie Hardy and Luke Kellett, who are both based in Newcastle, as well as Sydneysiders Maclay Heriot and Sophie Howarth.
The exhibition will also be supported with works of art drawn from the Newcastle Art Gallery collection.
Newcastle Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said the exhibition offered a window into the excitement and energy of live music.
“At a time when COVID-19 restrictions have changed the way we experience live music, this exhibition is a wonderful reminder of the joy of going to a gig and the memories that musicians create for their fans,” Cr Nelmes said.
Newcastle Art Gallery Director Lauretta Morton said the exhibition also showcased the amazing talents of the photographers who help preserve these moments in history.
“This major summer exhibition celebrates not only the connection and relationship between the photographer and their subject, it also showcases their incredible artistic talent in capturing unforgettable moments through rarely seen touring photos, unreleased press images and views from the stage that very few of us get to experience.”
Leading up to the exhibition, Newcastle Art Gallery put a call-out to Newcastle music fans to submit digital copies of posters from their favourite local gigs, with a selection to be included in the Gallery’s interactive smart space.
WE CAN BE HEROES: a backstage pass will run from 14 November 2020 – 14 February 2021 at the Newcastle Art Gallery.
Musicians featured in the exhibition:
Angus and Julia Stone, Baker Boy, Boy and Bear, Dave Grohl, David Bowie, Delta Riggs, DMA’s, Dr G Yunupingu, Flight to Dubai, Gang of Youths, Garbage, Grinspoon, Iggy Pop, Kira Puru, Kwame, Midnight Oil, Mo’Ju (formerly known as Mojo Juju), Nick Cave, Paul Dempsey, PJ Harvey, Powderfinger, Saltwater Band, San Cisco, Silverchair, Skeggs, The Beatles, The Jungle Giants, The Preatures, The Prodigy, Violent Soho, You Am I, plus more.